Demoted to Concubine

Zhao Ping'an felt slightly reassured and turned his attention back to the Ancient Sacred Body Bloodline. He saw that the Ancient Sacred Body Bloodline had risen to two ten-thousandths.

"10 Bloodline Potential Points can raise the Ancient Sacred Body Bloodline by one ten-thousandth. Adding another 11 Bloodline Potential Points can raise the Ancient Bloodline from one ten-thousandth to two ten-thousandths. Then, to raise the Ancient Sacred Body Bloodline to one hundred percent, I'll probably need 100,000 Bloodline Potential Points."

He could not help but ponder. "As the saying goes, a pregnancy lasts ten months. I am already three months along, and I will be born in seven months. That means I have 210 days left until birth. At my current rate of obtaining Bloodline Potential Points, I can only gain over 2,000 Bloodline Potential Points, enough to raise the Ancient Sacred Body Bloodline to just over 2%!"

"I must find a way to obtain more Bloodline Potential Points!"

Worry rose in Zhao Ping'an's heart.

"Although I am a fetus, my Divine Soul is awake. I should be able to actively absorb nutrients and obtain Bloodline Potential Points."

Thus, he tried consciously absorbing his mother's nutrients and immediately felt energy flowing into his body at an accelerated rate.

"It really works!"

Overjoyed, he continued absorbing nutrients.

Jiang Shuyue clearly sensed her qi and blood constantly flowing toward the fetus. She was startled, but even more delighted.

"Child, they all say you will be weak from birth, but Mother believes you will surely be extraordinary!" she said softly, her face filled with love and expectation. "Even if you truly are weak from birth, you are still Mother's child!"

About a quarter of an hour later, an irresistible wave of drowsiness washed over him, and Zhao Ping'an stopped actively absorbing nutrients.

He fought against sleepiness and barely managed to open the panel for a glance. He saw that he had gained 20 Bloodline Potential Points.

Immediately afterward, he fell into a deep sleep.

On the third day, Zhao Ping'an woke up.

The first thing he did was open the panel. He saw that he had a total of 32 Bloodline Potential Points.

"After deducting the daily amount granted by the system and what I actively absorbed yesterday, I automatically absorbed 2 Bloodline Potential Points—1 point more than the day before yesterday. This means that the more Ancient Sacred Body Bloodline I possess, the more Bloodline Potential Points I automatically absorb."

"There were two factors that affected how effectively I absorbed nutrients yesterday. First, the time was too short. Second, my absorption speed was too slow."

"Both factors will improve as I grow."

Setting aside his thoughts, Zhao Ping'an began sensing the outside world and discovered that his mother, Jiang Shuyue, was sitting cross-legged on the bed, cultivating.

Out of curiosity, Zhao Ping'an carefully sensed Jiang Shuyue's cultivation, wanting to learn about cultivation in advance.

After roughly half a cup of tea, Zhao Ping'an suddenly came back to himself. "The time I am awake each day is limited. I need to hurry up and absorb nutrients."

Before actively absorbing nutrients, of course, he did not forget to first upgrade the Ancient Sacred Body Bloodline.

Thus, he opened the panel and prepared to allocate points, only to unexpectedly discover that the panel had changed. A Maternal Technique had appeared beneath the cultivation arts.

Maternal Technique: "Clear Void Xun Wind Art" second layer (0/) (disappears after birth)

"The Maternal Technique should be the cultivation art Mother practices." Zhao Ping'an could not help feeling delighted. "That means I can also assist Mother's cultivation."

With that thought, he added Proficiency Points to the Maternal Technique.

However, he did not dare fill it all at once, worried that something might happen to Jiang Shuyue. For his first attempt, he only added 2,000 Proficiency Points.

The next moment, Jiang Shuyue entered a state of enlightenment. Everything suddenly became clear, and she completely understood how to open an Essence Sea in accordance with her own circumstances.

The path of cultivation was divided into Seven Realms: the Channel Opening Realm, Primordial Sea Realm, Divine Treasury Realm, Dragon Transformation Realm, Law Manifestation Realm, Dao Unification Realm, and Celestial Realm.

One realm was one world, one realm was one heavenly chasm. Not only was there a gulf as vast as heaven and earth between their strengths, but breakthroughs were also extraordinarily difficult, like crossing a heavenly chasm.

Jiang Shuyue had been stuck at the perfection of the Channel Opening Realm for over three years.

After her enlightenment, Jiang Shuyue struck while the iron was hot. She immediately took One Primordial Sea Pill, circulated her True Essence with all her strength, and opened her Essence Sea.

Boom—

As though heaven and earth had been split open, Jiang Shuyue successfully opened an Essence Sea within her body.

Under the ceaseless scouring of True Essence, the Essence Sea rapidly expanded.

One zhang!

Ten zhang!

A hundred zhang!

A thousand zhang!

When the Essence Sea expanded to a thousand zhang, Jiang Shuyue's True Essence was exhausted, and she no longer had the strength to expand it further.

The size of a Newly Opened Essence Sea was extremely important, because the final Essence Sea could only reach roughly ten times the size of the Newly Opened Essence Sea. The larger the Newly Opened Essence Sea, the stronger one would be, the greater one's potential, and the farther one could go.

Ten Zhang Talent.

Hundred Zhang Elite.

Thousand Zhang Genius!

Jiang Shuyue stopped cultivating and opened her beautiful eyes, beside herself with joy and pleasantly astonished.

The human body had a total of 108 meridians. The "Clear Void Xun Wind Art" she practiced could only open 45 meridians. By all reason, it should have been nearly impossible for her to open a thousand-zhang Essence Sea.

However, she had gained an extremely profound enlightenment. During the process of opening her Essence Sea, she had not wasted a single thread of True Essence. Only then had she, for the first time in history, opened a thousand-zhang Essence Sea in one breath.

"Child, was it you who helped Mother cultivate?" Jiang Shuyue lowered her head and gently stroked the fetus with her delicate hand, her voice exceptionally tender.

The enlightenment just now had seemed divinely aided. She knew full well that her comprehension and aptitude were not particularly good; otherwise, she would not have spent over three years without being able to open an Essence Sea.

Therefore, there was only one explanation: the fetus had helped her.

It was not merely speculation. She herself had also felt a spiritual connection.

Hearing his mother's question, Zhao Ping'an stretched his body a little in response.

Feeling the fetus move, Jiang Shuyue became even happier. Maternal love overflowed from her as she continued stroking the fetus through her belly, saying with great tenderness and affection, "Good child, Mother's good child..."

Sensing the dense warmth of maternal love, Zhao Ping'an felt comfortable all over.

He opened the panel and added all his Bloodline Potential Points to the Ancient Sacred Body Bloodline.

An ancient, weathered scene appeared in his mind.

That Towering Man stood atop the peak of a mountain that pierced straight into the clouds. Half-lowering his gaze, he searched the far distance. Golden light flowed through his eyes, and obstacles such as clouds, mist, mountains, and forests became transparent. A Wounded Beast fleeing through the mountains and dense woods thousands of li away came into his field of vision.

The Towering Man's eyes narrowed slightly. Terrifying lightning suddenly descended above the Wounded Beast, blasting it into ashes on the spot, until it vanished like smoke and dust.

At the end, the Towering Man slowly turned his head and cast a glance toward Zhao Ping'an.

Boom—

The scene shattered, and Zhao Ping'an snapped back from his shock.

He opened the panel to check. Sure enough, an additional divine ability had appeared on it.

Divine Ability: Heavenly Punishment Sacred Eye (0/1,000,000)

Heavenly Punishment Sacred Eye: See heaven and earth as clearly as palm lines; nothing in creation can hide. Shatter all illusions. Wherever the sacred gaze reaches, heavenly lightning descends in punishment.

"This divine ability is formidable. It kills people without leaving a trace—perfect for playing the sixth man! I like it." Zhao Ping'an was overjoyed and greatly pleased with the Heavenly Punishment Sacred Eye.

From a thousand li away, he could kill an enemy with a single glance. Not only would he have the perfect alibi, he could even make others believe the enemy deserved to die—that even the Heavenly Dao had sent down punishment.

Closing the panel, Zhao Ping'an thought, "Mother used up all her True Essence opening her Essence Sea. I won't actively absorb nutrients today."

Thus, he voluntarily fell asleep.

Sensing that the fetus had become completely still, Jiang Shuyue took out a Thousand-Year Ginseng Pill and refined it, recovering some of her True Essence.

Afterward, she rose to her feet and went to find her husband, Zhao Yingpeng, full of joy.

The fetus being able to help her enter enlightenment was enough to show that it was exceptionally extraordinary.

Before long, Jiang Shuyue found Zhao Yingpeng practicing at the Martial Arts Field.

After hearing Jiang Shuyue's words, Zhao Yingpeng said dismissively, "It has nothing to do with the fetus. You have already spent over three years preparing to open your Essence Sea. That is a long time."

Back then, after cultivating the first layer of the ancestral "Divine River Dragon Song Art" to perfection, he had opened a ten thousand feet Essence Sea in merely seven days. He had never considered opening an Essence Sea difficult.

Immediately afterward, he earnestly advised her, "Now that you have entered the Primordial Sea Realm, you should press on with all your strength and enter the Third Realm, the Divine Treasury Realm, as soon as possible. Then we can have many children."

"This fetus must be aborted as early as possible, lest it drag down your cultivation."

Jiang Shuyue firmly shook her head, wanting to continue proving that the fetus was extraordinary. "I truly entered enlightenment with the fetus's help. After my breakthrough, I asked the fetus, and it responded to me as well."

"Husband, our child is extraordinary. Let us give birth to him." She stepped forward and grasped Zhao Yingpeng's arm. Her peerlessly beautiful face tilted up toward him, her lovely eyes full of pleading, entreaty, and supplication.

Zhao Yingpeng sighed softly. He brushed Jiang Shuyue's hands aside, then held out his hand before her. "Give me the Abortion Pill."

Thinking she had persuaded Zhao Yingpeng, Jiang Shuyue happily and hurriedly took out the Abortion Pill and handed it to him.

Zhao Yingpeng removed the stopper and poured out a black pill the size of a longan, carrying a pungent odor. Pinching it between his thumb and forefinger, he told Jiang Shuyue in an unquestionable tone, "Open your mouth."

It turned out that he had already seen through the fact that Jiang Shuyue had no intention of aborting the fetus. So he simply decided to personally feed her the Abortion Pill, lest unexpected complications arise.

Jiang Shuyue's expression changed drastically. Terrified, she swiftly covered her mouth tightly with one hand and retreated again and again, putting distance between herself and Zhao Yingpeng.

"I won't take it! I won't take it!" she cried emotionally. "If you want me to abort the child, I would rather die!"

Zhao Yingpeng's face turned ashen. Jiang Shuyue had always been exceptionally gentle and obedient, following her husband's lead. He had never expected her to oppose him and sing a different tune over such a major matter!

"Husband, you are the child's father too. Can you truly bear to abort him?" Jiang Shuyue begged bitterly. "Please, let me give birth to this child."

Zhao Yingpeng said coldly, "Precisely because he is my child, he has no right to be born. A tiger father does not raise a dog son. I, Zhao Yingpeng, have no need for a mediocre descendant!"

"Aborting it would be good for everyone, including itself!"

As he spoke, he stepped toward Jiang Shuyue and barked, "Take it!"

Jiang Shuyue fell into utter despair.

As she backed away, she swiftly drew a dagger and pressed it against her throat. Though tear stains covered her gentle, beautiful face, she said with incomparable determination, "My husband, do not force me."

Zhao Yingpeng had no choice but to halt his advance. He trembled with rage from head to toe. "You are truly being unreasonable!"

Jiang Shuyue knelt down, keeping the dagger pressed tightly against her throat as she pleaded sorrowfully, "I beg you, husband, let me give birth to this child."

Zhao Yingpeng flung his sleeve and left in fury.

Jiang Shuyue remained kneeling without rising, hoping Zhao Yingpeng would soften his heart.

Originally, she had planned to lull the Zhennan Marquis and his wife, along with Zhao Yingpeng, into lowering their guard. Then she would find an opportunity to secretly leave the Zhennan Marquis Estate, hide away, and give birth to her child. But now that she had been seen through, she no longer had any chance of leaving the Zhennan Marquis Estate.

Half a day later, the Zhennan Marquis Dowager came before Jiang Shuyue.

"Jiang Clan, you have greatly disappointed everyone." With a dark expression, the Zhennan Marquis Dowager rebuked her in disgust. "You threatened Yingpeng with death. Are you trying to place Yingpeng in a position of unrighteousness?"

Jiang Shuyue pleaded sorrowfully, "Mother, please permit me to give birth to this child. I am willing to endure any punishment."

"Since you are so ignorant of the bigger picture and insist on giving birth to this bastard fetus, you are unworthy of being Yingpeng's principal wife." The Zhennan Marquis Dowager said coldly, "From today onward, you are Demoted to Concubine. The bastard you give birth to will be concubine-born and have no inheritance rights. Furthermore, after the bastard fetus is born, the Marquis Estate will not spend a single copper coin on him!"

Having said that, she threw a document and a writing brush before Jiang Shuyue. "If you want to give birth to that bastard, sign the confession!"

Jiang Shuyue lowered her head and looked at the document. In black ink upon white paper, it read:

Confession

I, Jiang Shuyue, deceived my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and husband; defied my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and husband; refused to repent; and willingly accept punishment. I voluntarily lower myself to concubine status. All children I bear shall be concubine-born and possess no inheritance rights.

After reading the confession, Jiang Shuyue picked up the brush through her tears and signed her name upon it.

"Press your fingerprint." the Zhennan Marquis Dowager ordered coldly.

Jiang Shuyue could only bite her finger open, dip it in blood, and press a bloody fingerprint onto the confession.

The Zhennan Marquis Dowager made a beckoning gesture, and the confession flew into her hand. Then she snorted heavily and swept away with a flick of her sleeve.

After turning around, she rolled the prayer beads that emitted a faint Buddha Light in her hand, and a trace of a smile appeared on her face, as though her calculations had succeeded.

It turned out that when Jiang Shuyue had first married into the Zhennan Marquis Estate, she had fiercely opposed it. She despised Jiang Shuyue's lowly background and poor cultivation aptitude, believing Jiang Shuyue was utterly unworthy of her son, a dragon among men.

Only because Zhao Yingpeng had been deeply infatuated with Jiang Shuyue's beauty—the foremost beauty of White Emperor City—and refused to marry anyone but her, coupled with the Jiang Family's willingness to provide an immense dowry, had she reluctantly agreed.

Now that Jiang Shuyue had brought ruin upon herself and been Demoted to Concubine, she could finally have Zhao Yingpeng marry the ideal candidate she had chosen long ago.

The daughter-in-law she favored was named Su Yingluo. Not only was she the young lady of the Qingzhou Su Clan, she was also the sole personal laywoman disciple of the Pudu Mountain Buddha Lord, a sacred land of cultivation.

Pudu Mountain was one of the two great cultivation sacred lands of the Great Qian Kingdom. The Buddha Lord possessed boundless divine abilities and limitless magical power; even Emperor Qian had to show him considerable respect.