Chapter 36

A few little creatures, perhaps just arrived in this unfamiliar place, seemed uncertain and huddled timidly at Li Mengze’s feet, unwilling to move. After a while, Li Mengze comforted them and explained that apart from themselves, there were no other beings in this space. Only then did the little ones begin to relax, slowly adapting to their new environment.

Watching them wander off, Li Mengze collapsed onto the bed with a sigh. When she could enter the space at any moment, she had felt nothing particular; now, suddenly barred from entering, she found herself stifled. Was this the prelude to suffering she had sought?

As Li Mengze pondered, Wei Qingtong, upon returning to Kunlun, did not go back to his own peak. After advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, the sect had granted him an empty peak; aside from a few disciples who guarded it, there was no one else. He had moved away from his parents’ island and their domain. Upon returning, his first act was to visit his parents. After all, pregnancy was a rare occurrence for female cultivators, and the higher their cultivation, the more realms they risked losing, making it even more dangerous. This time, he had indeed found the Divine Pregnancy Fruit, though refining it was no simple task, and he did not know whether it would help his mother.

As the fifth cultivator in Kunlun to advance to the Divine Transformation stage, he was treated very well. Not only did he have his own island, but if any cultivator had special needs, they could command servants and maids; many below the Golden Core stage were eager to serve a Divine Transformation cultivator. The benefits left over by such a master were more than enough for their own cultivation, sparing them the hardship of striving outside. Moreover, if a master took a liking to them, they might be accepted as disciples—a meteoric rise.

Wei Qingtong’s father was accompanying his mother on a stroll through the spiritual herb garden. For a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage to become pregnant was nothing short of miraculous, and thus, immensely arduous. Though their partnership had been arranged by the sect, they had spent time together beforehand, found their temperaments compatible, and thus became Dao companions.

Her cultivation speed was already considered fast in the Misty Cloud Sect. When they bonded, their cultivation was comparable—one at early Nascent Soul, the other at late Golden Core. Unexpectedly, after dual cultivation, his progress was rapid; once evenly matched, their levels diverged greatly following childbirth.

Looking at the man beside her—youthful despite nearly a thousand years—Celestial Lady Ruihe smiled gently. Over centuries, many Dao companions became estranged, with male cultivators taking young attendants or female cultivators growing weary. Yet the man beside her remained unchanged; their feelings had not faded with time, but flowed like a gentle stream, unceasing.

True Sovereign Xiangyun gazed at his Dao companion, not knowing what she was thinking, but their hearts were bonded, and he could sense it faintly. Smiling, he recalled how his wife always believed her father had chosen him for the marriage, unaware that he had initiated the union. Otherwise, as Kunlun’s chief disciple at the time, he would never have been selected.

But let her continue believing so; as a dignified Divine Transformation cultivator, being known for such deep affection for his dual-cultivation companion would surely invite teasing from the other elders.

The restriction outside moved—someone had entered. Aside from their own son, no one could come in unbidden. Ah, a year had passed swiftly; he wondered if the boy had made any progress lately?

“Is that Qingtong returned?” Celestial Lady Ruihe asked. Since becoming pregnant, releasing her spiritual sense was no longer easy. She avoided using spiritual energy whenever possible, lest the little one in her belly protest.

“Greetings, Father and Mother!” Wei Qingtong respectfully saluted. His father truly lacked dignity—such an old man still acted like a lovesick youth, utterly disgraceful. Outside, he posed as upright, but inwardly he was a domineering, possessive schemer. Whenever Wei Qingtong had gotten too close to his mother as a child, his father would claim unstable cultivation and retreat to seclusion. Thus, upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, Wei Qingtong had been kicked out. Hmph, his mother probably had no idea of his father’s true nature!

True Sovereign Xiangyun smiled at his son, who looked much like himself. The boy had improved greatly after his journey—his cultivation was stable, and it seemed he had made breakthroughs in swordsmanship.

He produced a box. “Father, I found a Divine Pregnancy Fruit in the secret realm. It can be refined into the Divine Pregnancy Pill for Mother.” Xiangyun stretched out his hand; the box flew to him. Noting that the restriction set by his son was still intact, he glanced at Wei Qingtong—so the boy wanted to embarrass his father in front of his mother? Still too inexperienced.

Balancing the box in one hand and making a sealing gesture with the other, he lifted the restriction, casting a sidelong glance at Wei Qingtong. He underestimated his father—there was much more to learn.

Opening the box revealed four Divine Pregnancy Fruits, pale gold in color, exuding a tempting fragrance of wine as soon as the lid was removed.

Refining the Divine Pregnancy Pill was no easy task; at minimum, it required a Nascent Soul cultivator. Kunlun lacked alchemists, especially those of sixth grade or higher. Wei Qingtong knew that among his father’s acquaintances, few matched his cultivation, and alchemists were even rarer. Had his mother not been pregnant, she might have refined it herself; now, even using spiritual energy was difficult, let alone prolonged pill refinement.

True Sovereign Xiangyun, sensing his son’s thoughts, curled his lip. Don’t underestimate your father.

“The wife of Li Yunran, elder brother to Li Yunzan, master of Hidden Sword Peak, is at mid-Nascent Soul and a sixth-grade alchemist, with a success rate over eighty percent. I plan to commission her to refine it.”

At the mention of Hidden Sword Peak, Wei Qingtong recalled the days spent with Li Mengze in the illusion realm, a trace of discomfort appearing on his face.

True Sovereign Xiangyun noticed the subtlety—so the boy had reached the age for spring feelings.

He leaned in, gossiping, “Son, did you take a fancy to some young lady in the secret realm? Tell your father, let me gossip and advise you.”

Wei Qingtong, maintaining his composure, was nearly rolling his eyes. Were the Kunlun elders too idle? They made gossiping about others their duty, eager to eavesdrop under windows, caring nothing for their own dignity. If anyone had an amusing story, they would gather to gossip, their tongues venomous. Any secret that reached their ears would soon be known throughout the world.

How foolish would he be to confide in them?

Celestial Lady Ruihe watched her still-bickering husband and son, shook her head, and gently caressed her belly. The higher one’s cultivation, the longer the pregnancy might last. She only hoped the child wouldn’t be too troublesome!

Leaving aside how True Sovereign Xiangyun contacted Li Mengze’s mother, Li Mengze herself, after a restful sleep in her courtyard, had the dining hall send over a table of delicacies to fill her belly, then went to visit Li Yunzan.

Li Yunzan had met with his two disciples early in the day, learning about the events in the secret realm. After grasping the situation, he sent them to seclusion to properly contemplate their gains. Not long after they left, Li Mengze arrived.

His care for her was exhaustive, from daily needs to cultivation and resources—no less than a parent. Thus, Li Mengze and Li Yunzan shared a deep bond; upon entering, she skipped the formalities, rushing straight to him like a young girl, crouching at his knee and lifting her head with pride. “Uncle, guess what? I found an exotic flame, and I’ve almost finished absorbing it.” Her face shone with pride, big eyes fixed on him, as if demanding praise, leaving him both amused and exasperated.

Yet, even so, he had to speak sternly, lest she think her actions were right.

His expression turned serious. “Didn’t I put talismans in your storage pouch to seal exotic flames? Why did you choose to refine it in an unfamiliar place? Don’t you realize how dangerous that was?” Li Yunzan hadn’t thought much of it before, but now realized how daring she had been. Thankfully, her senior brother and sister were present—who knows if she would have made it back otherwise.

Li Mengze: (☝՞ਊ՞)☝ Was there such a high-level item? She was oblivious.

Having raised her from childhood, Li Yunzan instantly recognized the meaning of her expression. Even this almost omnipotent Nascent Soul cultivator felt a headache brewing—how could there be such an unreliable troublemaker, and worst of all, she was theirs.

With a gesture, Li Mengze’s storage pouch flew into his hand.

She sheepishly opened the pouch and handed it over. Watching as he emptied its contents, letting them float in midair, he picked out an inconspicuous talisman, shook it, and said calmly, “This is a seventh-grade talisman, able to seal any exotic flame on the rankings, even those with intelligence.” Putting it back, he drew another: “This is a sixth-grade Fire Crane Talisman, containing the soul of an adult Fire Crane, equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator.” Back it went; then he drew another: “Sixth-grade Teleportation Talisman, instantaneous travel over thousands of miles.” He replaced it, preparing to pull out yet another.

Li Mengze saw the pattern—he was about to introduce every talisman one by one! This was only going to make her more culpable; if she let him continue, she might end up at the Cliff of Reflection tomorrow.

“Uncle, I know I was wrong. Next time, I won't rush into things; please forgive me this once. When I return, I’ll thoroughly study all the talismans and formations, so as not to let your painstaking efforts go to waste.” Then came a string of flattery, finally coaxing her uncle into good humor. He checked her meridians, found them well-repaired—not only unharmed, but, to her benefit, widened. Only then did he let the matter drop, giving her some superior pills and instructing her to go into seclusion for a while to contemplate the gains from the secret realm, finally letting her depart.

Li Mengze’s residence was very close to Li Yunzan’s. As she left the main gate, she saw a cloud of auspicious colors approaching in the distance, with a glittering pavilion atop, rainbow ribbons fluttering—remarkably conspicuous.

But Li Mengze quickened her pace, taking three steps in two, darting into her own courtyard, heedless of whether her actions seemed rude to any onlookers.