My Celestial Ascension

"That\'s right," Valeria replied with a smile. "Although it looks small from here, it\'s actually enormous. Over fifty thousand people live in the Imperial City."

"I see... You\'ll have to show us around when we get there," Anna said eagerly, already looking forward to exploring the city and going shopping.

"Of course, I will, Mother-in-law Anna," Valeria responded warmly.

They continued to speed toward the city, the towering white walls becoming more impressive as they approached. The walls were the tallest they had seen, exuding an air of majesty. Above the enormous city gate flew a large flag with a lion\'s head insignia, fluttering grandly in the wind. The same insignia was engraved on the heavy metal gates, adding to their intimidating appearance.

A long line of people and carriages waited in front of the gate, each person presenting their identification and stating their reason for visiting the city. A group of guards managed the entrance, checking documents and collecting the entry fee.

"Move forward! Show me your identification and state your business in the Imperial City," one guard commanded.

"I\'m a merchant here to sell my goods. Here is my identification," replied a man wearing a tall hat, handing over his papers along with the fee.

The guard examined the identification card briefly before nodding. "Everything checks out. You and your carriage may enter the city."

"Thank you," the merchant said, signaling for his people to proceed.

Unbeknownst to those on the ground, Yuan and his group hovered above the city gate, observing everything.

"Let\'s head straight to my mansion and relax for a bit before we visit the Imperial Palace," Valeria suggested. "I\'m not in the mood to see that idiot just yet."

"Alright," Yuan agreed. "We\'ve all been flying continuously for an entire day and need to replenish our Qi." His wives nodded in agreement.

"Me too. I\'m not ready to meet anyone yet, but I\'m very excited to see what kind of mansion my daughter-in-law lives in. Fufu~" Anna added with a playful chuckle.

Valeria\'s eyes brightened at Anna\'s words. "Well, I can tell you that it\'s a grand mansion with many servants to cater to our needs. And don\'t worry, they\'re all handpicked by me," she said proudly. "Most of the servants are commoners I\'ve rescued from slavery, bandits, or monster attacks. They\'re fiercely loyal to me and are also skilled fighters—I trained each one of them personally."

"I see... Well, let\'s get going. I could really use a relaxing bath to soothe my muscles. I\'m feeling pretty tired too," Yuan said, smiling.

Valeria\'s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Then let\'s take a bath together once we arrive at my mansion. What do you think?" she suggested.

"That would be amazing… I can\'t wait," Yuan said, his face lighting up with excitement.

"We\'d love to join as well," Anna chimed in, exchanging a quick glance with Grace. "I hope you have a bath large enough to fit all of us."

Valeria smiled confidently. "Don\'t worry. My bathtub is spacious enough to fit everyone comfortably, with room to spare," she assured them before leading the way toward her mansion.

They moved leisurely, savoring the view of the Imperial City from above. Though a few people noticed the group gliding through the air, heading slowly toward the palace, Yuan and his wives vanished from sight before anyone could spread the word, leaving those who saw them awestruck.

The city below looked breathtaking. It was bustling with people crowding the streets, and every corner teemed with shops and vendors. Compared to the other cities Yuan had visited, the Imperial City was strikingly advanced. The buildings towered impressively, adorned with rare and expensive glass windows. Even the roads appeared modern, surprising Yuan with the city\'s development.

A few minutes later, Yuan and his companions arrived at the entrance of an enormous and luxurious mansion, the largest they had ever seen.

"Is this your mansion? It\'s huge!" Lily exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief at the mansion\'s grandeur.

"Are we really going to live here?" Little Zoe asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Valeria nodded with a warm smile. "That\'s right. You can be a little princess here. I\'m sure you\'ll love it."

"A princess? That\'s amazing!" Little Zoe burst with joy, twirling around in celebration.

They descended in front of the mansion\'s grand entrance, where a group of well-dressed servants awaited them, lined up neatly to welcome their lady and her guests.

"Welcome back, Lady Valeria, and greetings to the esteemed guests," the servants said in unison, bowing gracefully. Their uniforms were immaculate, and they maintained perfect composure, eager to meet Valeria\'s high expectations.

Valeria addressed them with a commanding tone, "Enough with the formalities. Prepare the large bathtub for us. We\'ll be taking a bath to relax."

"As you wish, Lady Valeria," a few maids replied, quickly hurrying off to carry out her orders.

"Mina, please show Miss Zara and the little princess to their room," Valeria instructed, pointing at Miss Zara and Little Zoe. "And make sure it\'s comfortable and close to my room."

"As you wish, Lady Valeria," Mina replied with a polite nod. She turned to Miss Zara and Little Zoe, smiling. "Please follow me. I\'ll show you your room."

Miss Zara and Little Zoe followed Mina, their eyes wide with curiosity as they took in the mansion\'s opulent interior. Every detail exuded luxury, from the polished marble floors to the intricate decorations crafted from rare and powerful monster materials.

Meanwhile, Valeria led Yuan and the rest of his wives to the lavish bathroom where the maids had prepared their baths. To respect Miss Zara and Little Zoe\'s privacy, Valeria had arranged a separate bathroom for them.

They soon reached a grand, steamy bathroom with an enormous bathtub, easily spacious enough to accommodate more than twenty people. The hot water released gentle clouds of steam, creating a soothing, misty atmosphere.

Valeria turned to Yuan and the others, a proud grin on her face. "So, what do you think of my bathroom?" she asked.

"It\'s magnificent… just as I\'d expect from the Elder Sister of the Emperor," Yuan replied, smiling as he pulled Valeria into a gentle embrace and kissed her.

When the kiss ended, Valeria undid her clothes, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Let me help you with your clothes," she said seductively. "After all, it\'s a wife\'s duty to assist her husband with his bath."

Yuan chuckled, shaking his head with a smile. Before he knew it, Valeria had skillfully removed his garments, leaving him standing naked by the large bathtub.

Anna and the other wives followed suit, undressing before stepping into the warm, inviting water. They all sighed in relief as the heat eased their travel-weary muscles, melting away their exhaustion.

Yuan and Valeria joined them, sinking into the soothing water at the edge of the bathtub. The warmth enveloped them, bringing instant relaxation.

"This is heavenly," Yuan murmured, his voice low and content. "After such a long, tiring journey, I feel like I\'m melting away."

Valeria smiled, her expression serene. "It really is," she agreed, closing her eyes for a moment. Then, she opened them and looked at Yuan with a tender smile. "Do you know the best part about it?"

Yuan glanced at her, curious. "What would that be?" he asked.

Valeria\'s smile softened. "It\'s having you and everyone here with me," she said. "I\'ve always taken baths alone in this massive room, and it\'s felt so lonely. But now…" Her voice trailed off, happiness lighting up her face.

"Sometimes, Mina would join me if she doesn\'t have any work, but that isn\'t always the case. Now, I have you and my other sisters with me, which really excites me." Valeria then shared a long, passionate kiss that lasted several minutes.

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Palace of the Royal Capital City, a middle-aged man sat on the majestic throne, a crown resting on his head. He looked down at an old man kneeling before him.

"So, it appears my elder sister has returned to the Imperial Capital, huh? And did you say she brought a group of unfamiliar people with her?" The Emperor muttered, his gaze fixed on the man kneeling in the throne room.

The Emperor was so shocked by the information that he became momentarily dazed, his eyes widening as he processed the news. The thought that his days of peace might soon be over filled him with anxiety.

"That\'s right, Your Royal Highness," the old man replied, lifting his head. "What\'s peculiar about this group is that there is only one male among them; the rest are all women."

The man continued, "Furthermore, the man she brought is exceptionally handsome. Even the gods would feel ashamed of their own appearances if they saw him."

"What?! She brought a man with her? Impossible!" The Emperor, shocked beyond belief, immediately rose from his throne.

The old man went on, "Moreover, the women with him are all extraordinarily beautiful, each surpassing the beauty of a goddess. I\'ve never seen such stunning women before. And, apparently, Lady Valeria\'s appearance has also changed."

"Changed? How so?" the Emperor asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"Well, she looks much younger and more feminine than before, and the massive scar on her face has mysteriously vanished. Also, it seems she has become unbelievably strong; my men couldn\'t even sense her power anymore," the old man explained.