My Husband’s Ascension Chapter 1
TL Note: Yesssss 🎉🎉 I just picked up a new novel to translate!! And it’s a BG novel this time, for the readers who don’t enjoy danmei ;)
Get your tissues ready because it’s a pretty angsty one (๑˃́ꇴ˂̀๑)
Oh, do note before reading: Xie is Zhao Zhao’s surname. Her full name is Xie Tanzhao, Zhao Zhao is just our mc’s pet name. Also, from the feedback I got from ‘Chang’an Small Restaurant’, I decided to insert in-text notes for terms that need immediate explaining, the others will remain as footnotes. That’s it for now, enjoy the read!!
Chapter 1 Our Roads Need Not Cross Again
Zhao Zhao dreamt of Xie Lanshu once again.
Truthfully, Zhao Zhao didn’t dream often. When her parents had just passed away during her childhood, she often had trouble sleeping, but as time passed, she no longer woke up crying at night, searching for them.
And in the past two years of her marriage, Zhao Zhao had slept more peacefully and soundly than ever before.
On hot summer nights, Xie Lanshu would fan her and stay by the bedside to catch mosquitoes whenever she woke from their bites. In winter, when dripping water froze into ice, he would tuck her cold feet into his warm arms, using his own body to keep her warm.
He was the husband she had picked up from the snow when she was fifteen.
He had no place of origin, no memory—even his surname and given name had been given to him by her.
Zhao Zhao took the amnesiac home and found doctors to treat his injuries. She bought him new clothes and personally taught him how to read and write. Xie Lanshu had an eidetic memory and was exceptionally intelligent. He picked up everything quickly, and his physical strength was greater than most.
Whenever Xie Lanshu went out to run errands for her, the servants who accompanied him would always return with something to report to Zhao Zhao.
Either the young woman from the Zhang Residence would deliberately sprain her ankle as he passed by, or the young lady from the Li Residence would invite him to sit and have tea.
Zhao Zhao would often fall into a daze while looking at him, wondering how someone could be so good-looking.
She waited and waited, until the day finally came when she turned sixteen and completed her coming-of-age ceremony. On that day, Zhao Zhao wore a new dress and spent an hour having her makeup done.
When she arrived outside Xie Lanshu’s courtyard, she didn’t dare go in.
After lingering for a long time, the wooden window creaked open. The young man, with long hair and flowing robes, lifted the curtain. The flickering candle in his hand lit up his handsome silhouette.
He smiled and asked, "You’re up so late. Is something on your mind?"
Zhao Zhao fidgeted against the window, her fingernails gently picking at the uneven wooden thorns of the lattice. Suddenly, she raised her eyes to look at him.
"I am the only daughter of the second branch of the Xie Residence. My family owns some land and property. My uncle and aunt from the main branch treat me very well and wouldn’t casually marry me off to just anyone... You know this, right?"
The moonlight reflected in the young man’s eyes, as clear and beautiful as autumn water. He seemed to already know what she was going to say.
"I’m aware," he replied, his voice warm and gentle.
"Then will you…" Zhao Zhao’s ears were burning, and her heartbeat was growing louder and louder, nearly drowning out her own voice. Still, she summoned her courage and asked, "Would you be willing to join my household and walk with me through the years to come?"
The wind stirred the bamboo stalks, and the moon’s shadow, filtered through the leaves, fell softly by the window.
When no answer came for a long time, Zhao Zhao’s long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings before she shut her eyes tightly.
Only when a cool fingertip brushed her flushed cheek did she open her eyes in a daze. She saw the jade-like young man looking at her, his gaze filled with a tenderness as gentle as a breeze caressing a mountain of spring blossoms.
He replied, "Yes."
…
Uncle and Aunt Xie organized a grand wedding ceremony for Zhao Zhao.
Many people in Yunmeng Pier mocked Xie Lanshu behind his back. They ridiculed him, saying that a man who married into a young woman’s household would never be able to hold his head high for the rest of his life.
(TLN: In ancient China, for a man to marry into his wife’s family (招赘) was considered deeply shameful. Society was strictly patriarchal, so by joining his wife’s family, a man often gave up his surname, status, and role as head of the house, effectively becoming part of her lineage.)
Some people also warned Zhao Zhao that, since his origins were unknown, she should be cautious—he might be plotting to seize the Xie Residence’s property.
The Xie Residence owned only a few hundred acres of land and could only be considered a small-time landowner in Yunmeng Pier. With Xie Lanshu’s talent, he would surely rise to the top if he took the imperial examination. So Zhao Zhao was not worried at all.
In fact, she hoped that he would covet something.
When she was five years old, Zhao Zhao once rescued an injured white crane. People in Yunmeng Pier regarded the white crane as an otherworldly creature. However, Zhao Zhao loved it dearly, so her father tied a long iron chain around the crane’s leg and kept it imprisoned in Zhao Zhao’s courtyard.
The crane’s injuries improved day by day, and it had no worries about food or shelter, but it gazed into the distance every day, growing more and more depressed.
Zhao Zhao finally couldn’t bear it any longer and set it free.
Sometimes, Zhao Zhao felt her husband was like the white crane, living in the mortal world but yearning to return to the Immortal Realm.
And that vague, uneasy premonition finally came true half a month ago—
On a spring night two weeks earlier, Xie Lanshu left without saying goodbye and vanished without a trace.
He didn’t take anything the Xie Residence had given him and left only a note:
[Two years of mortal entanglement; brought together by fate, parted by its passing. I have signed the Letter of Divorce. May you, after our parting, let go of all attachment and live a thousand autumns in peace.]
Before Zhao Zhao could come to terms with her husband’s sudden and unexpected departure, she suddenly began having the same dream.
Enshrouded in dreamlike mist, the Thirty-three Heavens loomed as sword-riding disciples in black-and-white robes drifted between them.
This was the Immortal Realm of Kunwu, isolated from the mortal world.
At the very top of the Thirty-three Heavens was ‘Separation’s Regret Heaven[1]’, home to a ruthless Dao Lord* who held the power of life and death in the cultivation world. He had a face exactly like her husband’s, and the disciples and elders respectfully called him—
(TLN: Dao Lord (道主; 道君) is the highest known Cultivation Level)
Dao Lord Tianshu.
(TLN: Tianshu (天枢) is the ancient name of Dubhe, the brightest star of Plough. In Chinese classic literature, Dubhe is the metaphor for the virtue of an emperor.)
Only then did Zhao Zhao realize that there was no such person as Xie Lanshu in this world. It was merely a tribulation[2] Dao Lord Tianshu had to face in order to transcend emotions and desire.
What’s more, the protagonist of her dream was neither Xie Lanshu nor herself. It was a young woman whose entire family had been massacred by the possessed Xie Lanshu after he succumbed to demonic corruption[3].
To avenge her family, she entered an immortal sect with a single purpose: to kill Xie Lanshu and settle the blood debt.
The male lead was the prince of the Demon Realm. However, since both the Demon and Ghost Realms had long since submitted to Xie Lanshu, he was nothing more than a puppet in Xie Lanshu’s hands.
The two leads had known each other since childhood, but as they grew up, they became enemies by mistake and ended up crossing swords.
In the end, after facing countless trials and dangers, they joined forces with hundreds of immortal families to encircle and suppress Dao Lord Tianshu.
That final strike tore through his chest, shattered his soul, and banished him from the Ninth Heavens[4].
This Daoist couple became famous from then on, rising as leaders of the cultivation world and heroes of salvation. That was the end of the story.
Zhao Zhao dreamed of this scene again and again, until even her anger toward Xie Lanshu was softened by the sword that pierced his heart.
She had indeed been deeply dissatisfied with Xie Lanshu for leaving without saying goodbye, but not to the extent of wanting to see him die.
After countless awakenings from the same nightmare, Zhao Zhao was ultimately left with one thought:
—No matter what, I have to see Xie Lanshu one more time.
…
A fine spring rain pattered softly, with muffled thunder rumbling behind the clouds.
Dawn had yet to break, and Zhao Zhao couldn’t fall back asleep. She pushed open the window of her second-floor room at the inn and gazed out—halfway up the mountain, the morning mist blurred the distant view.
She was thousands of miles from home, having spent half a month journeying through trials and hardships. This was the last human inn before the Immortal Realm of Kunwu.
All she needed to do was walk ten more kilometers. If she moved quickly, she would arrive by the next morning.
With that thought, Zhao Zhao could no longer sleep soundly. She got up, washed, and went downstairs to pay the fee before setting off.
"Miss! Miss! This is too much money!"
Zhao Zhao stopped, slightly confused, as the innkeeper called after her.
Beaming, the innkeeper explained, "Dao Lord Tianshu, who has been missing for two years, has returned! All Ten Continents under the sun are celebrating for forty-nine days. We’re only charging ten percent of the listed room rate. This is your refund, please take it."
It took Zhao Zhao a moment before she slowly realized who Dao Lord Tianshu was.
Xie Lanshu, that jade-like man and orchid-like grace, ethereal in bearing.
She clung to that name, the one she had given him; Zhao Zhao whispered it repeatedly in her mind, as if it could give her courage.
What she wanted to see was not the Dao Lord Tianshu everyone was talking about, but the person who had slept beside her for two years.
Before the innkeeper’s grin had time to settle, the young woman shoved the silver back into his hand, turned on her heel, and strode into the rain.
"Won’t even take a free refund… what a strange one."
Zhao Zhao knew full well what the innkeeper was whispering behind her. She drew the coarse raincoat tighter around her shoulders and walked on, her thoughts bitter: she had no intention of accepting any so-called charity from those ‘grand immortals’. For all she knew, they were the very ones who dragged Xie Lanshu back to Kunwu—just because he was their precious ‘Dao Lord’.
Moreover, the glimpses Zhao Zhao had seen of Dao Lord Tianshu in her dream painted him as a man utterly consumed by the pursuit of the world’s most supreme arcane arts. His sword pointed at the Heavenly Dao, and every thought was fixed on attaining immortality. He would stop at nothing, even if it meant descending into demonic ways.
A madman, truly—compassionate in appearance, but with a heart like a demon.
How could that possibly be the same Xie Lanshu, the one who once seemed to want nothing at all?
The more Zhao Zhao thought about it, the more she felt like there was something fishy.
Maybe they had the wrong person.
Or perhaps someone was controlling him, using him as a tool to carry out terrible deeds.
If that were true, then she had to find Xie Lanshu as soon as possible—to tell him what she had seen in her dream, to help him escape that cruel and dreadful fate.
The rain was coming down harder now. Heavy drops lashed against her, and even her raincoat was no match for the downpour. Her soaked clothes clung to her skin, cold and clammy.
Almost there.
Zhao Zhao comforted herself.
Xie Lanshu…is in the immortal palace atop the mountain, waiting for her to save him.
…
After walking for a full day and night, the majestic, golden-domed Immortal Palace finally emerged clearly through the rain.
But just as Zhao Zhao was about to reach the gate, an invisible barrier blocked her path. A moment later, two Kunwu disciples descended from the sky, their black-and-white sect robes crisp and spotless despite the downpour. Each held only a simple umbrella, yet not a drop of rain had touched them.
"The Immortal Palace is a restricted area," one of them said coldly. "State your purpose here, mortal."
In stark contrast, Zhao Zhao was in a sorry state. She had been climbing the mountain for a day and a night, stumbling along a treacherous path. She had fallen three times—once nearly tumbling off the edge.
One glance was enough to see how wretched she looked.
But Zhao Zhao couldn't be bothered with appearances.
"I... came to see Dao Lord Tianshu."
Perhaps even she knew how presumptuous that sounded, her voice lacked confidence, the words uncertain.
The two disciples clearly heard her and exchanged a surprised glance.
They had seen many come to the Immortal Realm of Kunwu: some hoping to become disciples, others seeking celestial medicine. But this was the first time anyone had so bluntly declared that they wanted to see Dao Lord Tianshu.
One of them stepped forward. "May I ask, are you acquainted with Dao Lord Tianshu?"
Zhao Zhao nodded: "Please inform Xie—Dao Lord Tianshu that Xie Tanzhao is here. He will know who I am."
The two disciples exchanged another look.
Kunwu had strict rules. If they reported that a mortal wanted to see Dao Lord Tianshu, they would probably be beaten by their senior brothers and sisters, without the Dao Lord ever being informed.
Just as they stood there, caught in a bind, a voice suddenly sounded through the rain.
"...Xie Tanzhao? Are you from Yunmeng Pier?"
The voice seemed to come from the clouds, lofty and distant, like that of a celestial high above. Even though Zhao Zhao had witnessed many immortal arts in her dreams, facing it in reality still left her momentarily stunned.
"It—It is I!"
The voice muttered as if to itself, "She actually made it all the way here," then addressed the two disciples. "Take her to Reflecting Shadows Heaven(照影天)."
Though surprised, the disciples bowed their heads and gave their assent.
Everything changed in an instant.
Just moments ago, Zhao Zhao had been filled with hopelessness—now, excitement surged within her.
This person knew who she was.
Did Xie Lanshu tell him? Is Crimsonshade Nebula Palace(绛云宫) where Xie Lanshu lives? Would she be seeing him soon?
(TLN: I’m assuming Crimsonshade Nebula Palace is a building in one of the 33 Heavens.)
With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Zhao Zhao forgot all about the cold seeping through her clothes. Her steps grew lighter, quicker, as if the excitement alone was enough to carry her forward.
…
The remaining Five Elders of the Immortal Realm of Kunwu had countless means of staying informed. Almost the moment Lord Yaoguang* extended his invitation to Zhao Zhao, they received word and immediately set aside what they were doing, hurrying toward Reflecting Shadows Heaven without delay.
(TLN: Yaoguang (摇光) - eta Ursae Majoris in the Big Dipper.)
Lord Yaoguang leaned back in his seat and spoke with lazy indifference, "She’s just a mortal woman. Is she truly worthy of an audience with all Six Elders of the Immortal Realm?"
White-haired and bearded, yet brimming with vitality, Lord Tianxuan* closed his eyes and responded with serene composure. "During these two years that Dao Lord Tianshu descended into the mortal realm to undergo tribulations, it was through marrying this woman that he overcame the trial of love and solidified his Dao heart. She has rendered great merit to Kunwu, and thus must be received with due honor."
(TLN: Tianxuan (天璇) - beta Ursae Majoris in the Big Dipper)
Lord Yaoguang let out a cold laugh. “Are you here to welcome her, or are you just afraid she’ll linger and refuse to leave—so you came to drive her off yourself?”
"Lord Yaoguang!" Lord Tianji* interjected, visibly displeased. “Are you suggesting you'd rather see her remain by Dao Lord Tianshu’s side day and night, bound by deep affection, and become a devoted Daoist couple?”
(TLN: Tianji (天玑) - gamma Ursae Majoris in the Big Dipper)
Unlike the other senior Elders, Lord Yaoguang had grown up alongside Dao Lord Tianshu since childhood. He was younger than the rest, and far more outspoken.
He laughed. “And what if I do think it’s fine?”
The other five elders’ expressions shifted at once.
It wasn’t Lord Yaoguang’s attitude that alarmed them. His flippancy was nothing new; everyone was used to it.
What unsettled them was not what Lord Yaoguang wanted—but what Dao Lord Tianshu, who stood behind him, might want.
Dao Lord Tianshu had summoned everyone to Separation’s Regret Heaven only once, on the very first day after his return to Kunwu. Since then, only Lord Yaoguang had been allowed to enter and leave at will.
No one knew how Dao Lord Tianshu truly regarded this love tribulation.
While the elders each entertained their own thoughts, the sound of footsteps came from outside Reflecting Shadows Heaven.
A young woman, soaked in rain and caked with mud, stepped into the hall under a disciple’s guidance.
It was clear her journey had been arduous. Her shoes and socks were nearly lost in the mud, and after removing her raincoat, her hair was a tangled, dripping mess. Beads of water slid down her forehead, her disheveled appearance a stark contrast to the grandeur of the palace.
Such an appearance inevitably stirred a sharp contrast in everyone’s minds.
Dao Lord Tianshu had governed the cultivation world for thousands of years. He was the only cultivator just one step away from ascending.
With such a powerful status and unmatched grace, countless young female immortals had quietly expressed their interest in him. Yet all had been rejected by the Dao Lord, who remained wholly devoted to the path of Dao cultivation.
They believed there must be something extraordinary about this mortal woman to have married the Dao Lord, yet none expected her to appear in such a wretched state.
That, however, was not without merit.
"Where’s Xie Lanshu?"
Before the Elders could speak, her voice rang out clearly.
Crimsonshade Nebula Palace was built from white jade bricks with a roof tiled in gold. It was a celestial jade tower beyond anything imaginable in the mortal world. Yet from the moment she stepped inside, save for a brief worry about dirtying the pristine floor, the young woman showed no curiosity or interest; she barely glanced around.
Her gaze was fixed solely on Lord Yaoguang, who sat at the very top.
"Where is Xie Lanshu?"
Soaked from head to toe, she looked fragile—her pale skin wet like a flower battered by the rain. In truth, she was a real beauty.
In fact, from Lord Yaoguang’s perspective, calling her a peerless beauty was no exaggeration.
Only when she asked again did he notice her remarkably bright eyes. Like a fearless little mountain creature, pure and brave, harboring an indomitable energy within her petite frame.
Fragile enough to shatter with a single blow, yet unyielding in spirit, such is the unique nature of mortals.
Lord Yaoguang smiled. "After such a long journey, why not change into fresh clothes before we sit down to talk? May I ask how you managed to find your way here, miss?"
Zhao Zhao shook her head, alert and guarded. "You didn't answer my question. Where is Xie Lanshu? Did you hide him?"
"There is no Xie Lanshu here." Lord Tianquan interjected coldly. "If the one you seek is the husband who has already signed the divorce papers with you, then I can tell you this: he is not Xie Lanshu, but the Dao Lord Tianshu of Kunwu Immortal Realm. Two years ago, he was gravely wounded in a great battle with the Ghost Realm, his Dao heart damaged. At that time, the Heavenly Dao imposed a trial of love, sealing his memories and cultivation. It was this that created the chance for him to meet you."
"Now that the tribulation has passed and the cosmos restored, the Lord’s cultivation has greatly advanced. Gratitude for your benevolence fills the Immortal Realm of Kunwu. Yet, as Dao Lord Tianshu governs the cultivation realm, he cannot entertain personal attachments. Thus, miss, your fate with him must end here."
Lord Yaoguang saw the young woman's eyes turn red instantly.
But she didn't cry and still insisted on calling that name.
"Is this what Xie Lanshu said?"
The Elders fell silent.
As if she had gained courage from the silence, Zhao Zhao cheered up. "I don't believe Xie Lanshu would say such a thing. You all must have imprisoned him and want to trick me into leaving."
"Miss Xie." With a quiet sigh, Lord Yaoguang pulled out the items he had guarded for a short while. “This was entrusted to me by Dao Lord Tianshu, to be given to you. I had planned to deliver it to Yunmeng Pier myself, but preparations for the upcoming celebrations in the Immortal Realm delayed me. In the end, I’ve troubled you to make the journey and collect it in person.”
Zhao Zhao lowered her eyes and glanced down. Her long eyelashes, still wet with rain, trembled slightly.
"What is it?" she asked quietly.
Lord Yaoguang replied with a gentle tone, "It’s a gift the Dao Lord asked me to give you."
Zhao Zhao’s expression shifted as if she had just seen something dreadful. She took a step back, her entire posture filled with resistance.
"According to the Dao Lord," Lord Yaoguang continued, "Miss Xie has no shortage of wealth. What she truly desires is to travel freely, to see the finest sights and savor every exquisite dish. This longevity pill will preserve your beauty and extend your life for five hundred years. You’ll have all the time you need to do as you please."
In her blurred vision, voices rang in Zhao Zhao's ears:
—After everything at home is taken care of, how about we go traveling
—Where would you like to go, wife?
—Hmm... In spring, we’ll go see the jade rain in Yingzhou. In summer, we’ll visit the lake to pick lotus seeds. Autumn is perfect for Wanzhou, to admire the red maples. And in winter, we’ll head to the grasslands of Qingzhou to feast on roasted mutton!
—The journey will be long. It could take years just traveling by carriage and horse.
—That’s all right! Two years, three years, ten, or even twenty—it doesn’t matter. As long as I’m with you, even when we grow old, I won’t fear a thing.
Zhao Zhao bit her lower lip until it turned pale, her eyes growing red around the edges.
She wanted Lord Yaoguang to stop speaking.
She hadn’t traveled thousands of miles just to hear this.
And yet, that seemingly compassionate voice continued to deliver one cruel word after another.
"Dao Lord also mentioned—"
His voice was as soft as a single drop of water falling into an endless sea of suffering.
"All that came before was merely inexorable tribulation. Now that it has passed, mortal ties must be severed. Henceforth, our roads need not cross again."
.
.
.
Author’s Note:
A few important content warnings before continuing: This is NOT a feel-good novel and the mc is NOT OP!!
The mc slowly learns and grows, and the plot serves the romance—a simple, sweet-and-sour wife-chasing story with no switching of male leads!
The most important thing is to enjoy the story, keep that in mind~
TL Note: Man, the first chapter always takes the longest to translate, this one was not an exception. It took be three whole days of non-stop work to get it the way I like (˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥)
Also, unlike the previous translator, I personally do not enjoy angst novels. I don’t like pain, and most importantly, I suck at translating wuxia and xianxia LMAO. So if you have specific questions regarding cultivation, I may not be able to answer—sorry! But honestly, this story is worth all of the torture the mc and I are about to be thrown into. (To lessen my suffering, I’ll be taking reference from Pear Blossom Pavilion for the first eight chapters.)
The update schedule for this novel will be once a week. This is because this is my third ongoing project, and I’m not used to the author’s writing style just yet (and the fact it’s a cultivation novel (つ╥﹏╥)つ). Please be patient, and maybe in a couple months, I’ll be able to churn out chapters faster. Thank you for your support! 💕
Footnotes:
[1] Separation’s Regret Heaven (离恨天; Lihentian) - refers to the Buddhist Idea of the "Thirty-Three Heavens". The early chapters of ‘Journey to the West’ state that Laozi and his furnace reside in the Tushita Palace of the Separation’s Regret Heaven, which is the highest of the thirty-three heavenly realms. These realms were borrowed from Buddhism, but Separation’s Regret does not appear among them. It is instead a trope from Yuan-era drama denoting the frustration of being separated from a lover. One Yuan play in particular mentions Separation’s Regret together with the Tushita Palace, a clear reference to the Buddhist heaven of the same name, showing how they might have been associated.
Source: https://journeytothewestresearch.com/tag/separations-regret-heaven/
[2] Tribulation - In xianxia stories, "tribulation" comes from Taoist-inspired cultivation, where refining one’s qi (life energy) is believed to extend life or attain immortality. But going against natural laws invites "tribulations"—heavenly trials or punishments. Surviving them means progressing in cultivation; failure often means death. This ties into Taoist beliefs about harmony with nature and Buddhist ideas of reincarnation and enlightenment. Characters often face emotional trials (like love and betrayal) that lead to spiritual breakthroughs.
[3] Demonic corruption (入魔) - occurs through prolonged exposure to Abyssal energies or demons, tainting both mind and body. It often begins with a single contact, like accepting gifts from demons or being exposed to Abyssal forces, but worsens when a person acts on their deepest sins.
[4] Ninth Heavens - In many cultivation novels, the 33 Heavens and 9 Heavens coexist through a layered cosmological system that blends different mythological traditions. The 9 Heavens typically serve as the major realms of existence, representing broad tiers of power and spiritual attainment—from the mortal world at the bottom to the supreme divine realms at the top. Each of these 9 Heavens may contain multiple sub-realms, collectively forming the 33 Heavens, which provide a more detailed hierarchy for cultivators to ascend through.
