Xu Lai and Ruan Tang looked at each other, the air falling into an eerie silence.
After a long while, Ruan Tang patted Xu Lai on the back. "How could you forget about Yiyi!"
"I thought…"
"You thought what? Is this how a father should act!"
"..."
Xu Lai didn't dare make a sound.
How could he have known that Yan Chunfeng wouldn't bring Yiyi and Qian Xiao back, but a flower instead?
Of course, whether the flower was beautiful or not didn't matter; its utility was what counted. It could be used in alchemy, as a dicinal ingredient, and could even extend one's life, allowing them to live a second ti. Another plant like it absolutely couldn't be found in the entire Immortal Domain.
But no matter how important the Snowflower was, could she be more important than his daughter?
When Ruan Tang was about done scolding him, Xu Lai coughed. "Honey, don't be angry. I'll be sure to have a serious talk with Divine General Yan later."
"You still have the nerve to bla soone else? This is clearly your fault!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
"..."
Bai Xue was dumbfounded. She had seen those in the Emperor Realm before, but she had never seen one who wouldn't dare retort while being scolded continuously by his dao companion.
It's just one daughter...
Wait. A daughter?
Only then did Bai Xue belatedly realize that Xu Lai actually had two children. She had sensed the life in Ruan Tang's belly long ago and had been shocked at the ti, but she never expected Xu Lai to have another child.
Her expression grew worried. In years past, no Great Emperor had ever t a good end, and their exceedingly few children fared even worse than their parents.
As if he hadn't noticed the change in Bai Xue's expression, Xu Lai changed the subject. "Honey, has our little number four been misbehaving lately?"
"Number four?" Ruan Tang was montarily confused before she realized Xu Lai was talking about the child in her belly.
Her tone beca tender. "The baby has been very good. I tell stories every day, and our little one doesn't kick my belly, just listens quietly."
"That's because the little one is afraid of getting a spanking after coming out," Xu Lai said, pouting his lips. "What a little thing, bullying the weak and fearing the strong."
"Don't you talk about our child like that."
"..."
Xu Lai felt like he was going to cough up blood. Their second child hadn't even been born yet, and his status in the family had already plumted. At this point, he was probably at the very bottom.
At that mont, Ruan Tang finally noticed Bai Xue, who had fallen to the ground. She helped her up, asking with concern, "How did you fall?"
Bai Xue subconsciously glanced at Xu Lai, then timidly lowered her head. "It's nothing, I just slipped."
Ruan Tang didn't think much of it. Although Bai Xue did evoke a protective instinct—or even the desire to tease her—she always had complete faith in Xu Lai.
Back at ho, Ruan Tang shot her husband a look. "Hurry up and bring Yiyi and Qian Xiao ho."
"Is Luo Chu getting anxious?"
"Not really. She and Qian Song are very happy enjoying their ti alone. In fact, she said you should spend more ti with Qian Xiao."
"..."
That's his mother, all right. Treating her own kid like he was picked up off the street.
Xu Lai pondered, "Let them play in Qingfeng Camp a bit longer. It's a rare training opportunity, and they might be having fun."
Xu Lai didn't know if Yiyi, Qian Xiao, and Yun Jin were having fun, but he was sure the conch girl, Beibei, must be overjoyed. She had been trembling all alone in the camp, and now she suddenly had four little companions. It was like a surprise gift from the heavens.
As for Bai Xue, she settled down in Haitang Court.
In Xu Lai's mind, having a Spirit Plant that had survived for a hundred epochs living in his ho was sothing no Emperor Realm expert from the past could have ever imagined. This was because a Snowflower was completely imasurable in value. She was a truly priceless treasure!
Xu Lai would protect Bai Xue from harm during the Fallen Emperor Epoch, and in return, she would have to offer her Essence Blood or leaves when needed. It was an arrangent of mutual benefit.
"I generally won't disturb your lives," Bai Xue said softly. "There's a waterfall on the back mountain. I'll spend most of my ti rooted there."
Xu Lai nodded without refusing. After all, it was no big deal to keep a room for her in Haitang Court.
「That evening.」
His sister-in-law Ruan Lan didn't co back, so Xu Lai made a lavish feast to pamper his beloved wife.
Bai Xue was endearingly dramatic. Everything she ate was t with a blissful expression. "This is so delicious! This fish just lts in your mouth..."
"This venison lts in your mouth."
"And these Spirit Shrimp, they also lt right in your mouth."
"..."
Xu Lai sighed, "I really worry for your future partner."
Bai Xue responded confusedly, "I'm a flower. I don't need a partner."
Ruan Tang, however, blushed and kicked Xu Lai under the table. Her grin didn't quite reach her eyes as she said, "Mr. Xu, if you're full, go back to your room and spare us the useless chatter."
"I'm full." Xu Lai decisively put down his chopsticks and returned to their room.
Bai Xue went to the back mountain by herself. With a wave of her hand, her clothes fell away. As silvery moonlight spilled down, she plunged into the waterfall and transford back into a white flower, sending gentle ripples across the water's surface.
「Later in the bedroom.」
Xu Lai leaned against the headboard, holding Ruan Tang in his arms. The two of them said nothing, simply enjoying the undisturbed quiet.
After being back on Earth for two months, Xu Lai found that its Spiritual Energy had greatly improved, shaking off its previous barrenness. During these two months, Hua Country had also seen a sudden ergence of nurous Martial Artists. Of course, the One School, Three Sects, and Eight Pavilions also found that so-called good seedlings were becoming more and more nurous. In the past, finding one or two talented youngsters in an entire year was considered astonishing; now, in these two months, several were discovered almost every few days.
While they were pleasantly surprised, they also sensed the changes in the world around them. They knew the world had changed.
Xu Lai also clearly sensed that several Cultivators on Earth, who had long been dormant at the Peak of the Golden Core Realm, had broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm. This seed like a single step, but it represented an imnse gap.
In the Immortal Domain, there was one basic condition for a star to be called a cultivation civilization: it had to have native Cultivators who had reached the Nascent Soul Realm. Previously, Xu Yanyang had been stuck at the Golden Core Realm, never managing to step into the Nascent Soul Realm. Strictly speaking, the Yunxiao Sect weren't considered Earth Cultivators. They cultivated within a small Barrier left by their ancestors, which was a true blessed land.
Now, with the breakthrough of native Nascent Soul Cultivators, Earth's na was qualified to be recorded in the annals of the Immortal Domain.
Heavenly Dao Sikong Jiu once said he wanted to lead Earth, step by step, to beco the brightest star in the sky. Whether that could be achieved remained to be seen, but Sikong Jiu was indeed trying.
Lying in Xu Lai's embrace, Ruan Tang spoke softly, "Xu Lai, teach how to cultivate."
"Hmm?" Xu Lai gently stroked Ruan Tang's smooth, jade-like arm and smiled. "Why the sudden desire to cultivate?"
"I don't want you to bear everything alone. I want to help you."
Ruan Tang sat up, her eyes like clear autumn pools.
Xu Lai was startled for a mont, then smiled with relief. "If that's the case, then you should cultivate."
Ruan Tang's face grew warm, and she nervously twirled a strand of her hair around a finger. "So... what was that about the dual cultivation you ntioned before?"
"For that, you would need to cultivate alongside Yiyi or Ruan Lan." Xu Lai's spirits lifted as he carefully explained the 'Spirit' Cultivation Technique of the Spirit Tribe. The cultivation conditions weren't harsh, only requiring relatives with close blood ties to cultivate together. However, the resulting Spiritual Power they acquired would be their individual amounts multiplied together!
Because of this, the Spirit Tribe, which resided in a corner of the Southern Immortal Domain, had been hunted by the major Holy Lands and Tao Lineages of the Immortal Domain, all of whom tried to force this heaven-defying Cultivation Technique from them. Had it not been for Xu Lai's protection, the Spirit Tribe would have been annihilated long ago.
"So it's not with you," Ruan Tang muttered with a hint of disappointnt.
"Hmm?" A broad smile spread across Xu Lai's face. "Honey, the kind of dual cultivation you're thinking of... well, that exists too."
Reviews
All reviews (0)