Bi Ji Arrives!

For Lu Chuan, who possessed the Godhead of Destruction and commanded the Great Path of Annihilation,

the Great Path of Creation had always been beyond his reach.

The two opposing Great Paths

were simply too difficult

to master!

It was like trying to fight with both hands against each other.

But this time,

Lu Chuan had succeeded!

A wisp of the true meaning of creation peeled away from the laws of heaven and earth

and surged into his body.

Though it was only an imperceptible wisp,

the benefits it brought were considerable.

From nothing to something,

it not only unlocked one-tenth of the Golden Dragon King's sealed essence within Lu Chuan,

but also raised the ceiling of his future potential!

From now on, Lu Chuan could continue comprehending the Great Path of Creation

until he mastered it completely.

Once all of the Golden Dragon King's essence was unsealed,

and he commanded both the Great Path of Annihilation and the Great Path of Creation,

his strength would surely reach another level,

perhaps even surpassing that of a God King!

"How did he break through while hammering away? Could there be a talent in this world that makes you stronger through forging?"

Mang Tian stared at the second dazzling golden Soul Ring rising beneath Lu Chuan's feet, the corner of his mouth twitching.

It was one thing for his forging talent to be exceptional,

but his Soul Master talent was incredible too!

"Could this kid become a Godsmith someday?"

A strange premonition stirred in Mang Tian's heart.

And so,

Lu Chuan went to school during the day

and came to the workshop to forge at night,

keeping himself busy and fulfilled.

The only problem was

that two hours of forging was far too short.

Just as Lu Chuan was getting into the rhythm,

it would already be time to go home again.

He called Lang Yue and told her not to come pick him up,

then set off for home.

It was Mother's Day,

and he wanted to surprise his mother!

Dusk deepened,

and the Soul Guidance streetlamps on either side of the road lit up one after another,

casting warm yellow halos across the bluestone pavement.

Lu Chuan turned the corner,

and saw a figure standing beneath a Wutong Tree.

She wore a flowing emerald-green dress,

its sleeves fluttering gently in the evening breeze,

as if she had draped herself in the vitality of an entire forest.

Fine silver threads adorned the hem,

shimmering like moonlight as she walked.

The Emerald Swan, Bi Ji.

At Lu Chuan's request,

she had arrived early and waited for him!

"Greetings, my lord!" Bi Ji bowed to him from a distance.

"Have you been waiting long?" Lu Chuan asked as he approached, his voice unconsciously softening.

Bi Ji looked up at him, a smile blooming at the corners of her lips. "Not long. When it's you, my lord, no amount of waiting feels long!"

Lu Chuan laughed at her words. "You! Where did you learn to say things like that?"

In his mind,

Bi Ji was like a well-bred young lady from ancient times—

courteous, gentle, and never quarrelsome.

She was the perfect supportive partner!

But today she was spouting cheesy pickup lines.

She must have learned them from Zi JI while he was away.

Unlike Bi Ji, with her refined, well-bred air,

Zi JI was more like a tiger general's daughter.

Each had her own charm!

"Come home with me first. I'd like you to check on my adoptive mother's health."

Lu Chuan had asked Bi Ji to come this time

to treat Lang Yue.

Though they hadn't been together long,

Tang Ziran and Lang Yue's family had given him a warmth he had nearly forgotten—a warmth that felt as if it had been lost for a very, very long time.

The couple had truly treated him as their own son.

He could genuinely feel how much they loved him.

Lu Chuan thought

that good people like them

deserved to have a child of their own,

rather than becoming sacrifices in Tang San's grand plan spanning ten thousand years!

"Dad, Mom, I'm home!"

When he got back, Lu Chuan called out automatically.

He'd picked it up from Xiao Wuyue.

It didn't mean anything special,

but somehow, saying it made the warmth of home come alive!

The door was unlocked.

As soon as he opened it,

the aroma of food greeted him.

Lang Yue was just coming out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup.

Hearing him, her face immediately lit up with a tender smile.

"Xiaochuan, you're back? How did your lessons with Uncle Mang Tian go today...?"

But

before she could finish,

she spotted the emerald figure behind Lu Chuan

and froze for a moment.

She wasn't a powerful Soul Master,

but she could still sense Bi Ji's strength,

and couldn't help feeling a little ill at ease.

When had Xiaochuan met someone so powerful?

As she wondered,

Lu Chuan had already begun introducing Bi Ji.

"Mom, this is a venerable from the Federation. I met her on the way here. She took one look at my extraordinary bone structure and said I was a natural cultivator. She wants to take me as her disciple."

It felt a little like introducing his new bride.

That was what Bi Ji had thought before.

She often read human storybooks,

and there was one saying

she remembered very clearly:

A new bride always had to meet her parents-in-law.

"An adoptive mother is still a mother, right?"

Bi Ji thought, smiling as she dipped into a slight curtsey and said,

"Hello, Auntie! You can just call me Jade."

"Hello, Jade! Come in, come in!"

Bi Ji's voice really did have a sweetness that went straight to the heart.

For a moment, Lang Yue forgot that she was a powerful Soul Master

and simply thought of her as a friend Lu Chuan had brought home.

When she came to her senses,

she realized she might have been a little discourteous.

But seeing the smile still at the corners of Bi Ji's lips,

she relaxed a little.

Just then,

Tang Ziran came home with Xiao Wuyue.

After a full day of classes,

Tang Wuyue felt exhausted all over.

The moment she stepped inside,

she collapsed onto the sofa,

not noticing at all that they had a guest.

Tang Ziran, however, was in high spirits,

because she had discovered

that her daughter was a genius at mecha design!

She could already draw the blueprints for a white-grade mecha—

and those called for thousands upon thousands of parts!

"Eh, who's this?"

Tang Ziran looked at Bi Ji, puzzled, then turned to Lang Yue.

Lang Yue repeated what Lu Chuan had told her.

Tang Ziran was both surprised and delighted.

She hurried forward and bowed respectfully. "So you're a venerable. Please forgive our poor hospitality. It's Xiaochuan's good fortune to have earned your favor."

He marveled inwardly at how accomplished his son had become. He could even meet someone of such standing.

Bi Ji returned his smile,

but kept her attention fixed on Lang Yue.

She hadn't forgotten Lu Chuan's request.

In just a moment,

she had gotten a clear picture of Lang Yue's condition.

After signaling to Lu Chuan that it could be treated,

she spoke gently:

"Auntie, I'm a healing-type Soul Master.

Xiaochuan told me that you often suffer from soreness in your lower back and weakness in your qi and blood.

If you don't mind, let me take a look."

The sudden offer to examine her

left Lang Yue at a loss.

For some reason,

she instinctively looked at Lu Chuan.

She wanted to ask his opinion.

Seeing this, Lu Chuan quickly nodded, encouragement in his eyes.

"Mom, let Teacher take a look. Your back has never been in good shape, and you still have to shoulder the burden of the family. Teacher is a Titled Douluo; perhaps she can help you feel better!"

Tang Ziran quickly added, "Let the honored one take a look. It's my son's heartfelt wish."

Hearing the two of them say this,

Lang Yue finally felt more at ease.

Her nervousness eased a little, too.

She smiled at Bi Ji.

"Sorry for the trouble, Your Highness!"

"It's no trouble, Auntie."

Bi Ji smiled gently, the resentment

then rose and went to Lang Yue's side,

beginning the treatment.

Her technique was like that of an ancient physician.

She rested one hand lightly over Lang Yue's pulse,

but in truth,

she was secretly sending life energy into Lang Yue's body.

As the treatment continued,

Lang Yue felt comfortable from head to toe.

Her body felt warm,

especially her stomach.

What was more,

the lingering fatigue she'd felt for days receded like the tide.

"As expected of a Titled Douluo. Her touch is on another level!"

Lang Yue marveled inwardly.

The treatment was finished in less than a quarter of an hour.

Bi Ji withdrew her hand.

Lu Chuan pretended he knew nothing and asked how the treatment had gone.

Bi Ji had no choice but to play along for her master.

"Auntie's constitution is fairly good. It seems she suffered some mishap in her youth, which left behind a few underlying ailments. And years of hard work have caused her blood and qi to circulate somewhat sluggishly.

"I'll prescribe a gentle restorative remedy, and come back to help clear your channels a few more times. You should be fine.

"In the future... the two of you might even consider having another wonderful child."

She put it tactfully,

but she was really saying it for Tang Ziran and Lang Yue to hear.

Tang Ziran and Lang Yue were clever, too, and both understood the unspoken meaning.

In other words,

Lang Yue's illness was cured, and all she needed to do now was recuperate.

Once she'd recovered, she could have a baby.

In an instant,

Lang Yue's eyes reddened.

Tang Ziran excitedly took his wife's hand.

How could they not want another child of their own?

But over the years, they'd seen many doctors, and they'd all said their chances were slim. They'd gradually given up hope.

Now that hope had been rekindled, how could they not be overwhelmed?

"R-really? Is it possible?" Lang Yue still couldn't believe it.

"I'm ninety percent certain."

Bi Ji gave them a firm answer.

After hearing this,

if they hadn't been in the main hall,

Tang Ziran would have wanted to kneel before Bi Ji.

"That's wonderful! Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you!"

Tang Ziran thanked her again and again.

His excited voice

even roused Tang Wuyue, who'd been sprawled on the sofa, exhausted.

The little girl belatedly sat up,

rubbing her eyes as she looked at Bi Ji, then at her excited parents.

Still half asleep, she asked,

"What happened? What's so wonderful? Dad, Mom, who's this pretty big sister?"

"Wuyue, be polite. This is your brother's teacher, a very powerful... senior Soul Master."

Lang Yue hurriedly explained, then apologized to Bi Ji. "Your Highness, this is my daughter, Wuyue. She's a little silly, so please don't take offense."

Hearing her mother say that about her, the little girl nearly burst into tears.

Bi Ji looked at Tang Wuyue with a smile.

She knew Tang Wuyue carried the Silver Dragon King Bloodline.

But being the Silver Dragon King and merely carrying the Silver Dragon King Bloodline were two completely different things.

So Bi Ji didn't show Tang Wuyue any particular reverence.

"Not silly at all, not silly at all! You're very pretty. You'll definitely be a great beauty when you grow up."

Bi Ji smiled and soothed her.

Only then did the little girl feel a little better.

But she still puffed out her cheeks in a huff.

Bi Ji gave her a piece of candy,

then took a small, smooth jade-green bottle from her Storage Soul Tool

and handed it to Lang Yue.

"Auntie, there's dew in this bottle. Take one drop each day with warm water. It will strengthen your foundation and nourish your body."

After that,

everyone sat down to dinner.

The meal was especially lavish.

Lang Yue prepared all her specialty dishes,

and Tang Ziran brought out his best wine.

The atmosphere at the table was warm and friendly.

Though Bi Ji was a person of high status,

she was not at all haughty.

Her words and manners were elegant and refined,

and she soon felt like part of this cozy little family.

Tang Wuyue was especially affectionate, calling her "Sister Jade, Sister Jade" over and over.

After dinner, Bi Ji left behind a detailed regimen and some rare, though not world-shaking, medicinal ingredients, and arranged a time for her next visit.

Only then did she take her leave with Lu Chuan, accompanied by the gratitude of the three members of the Tang Family.

By the time they walked out of the alley, night had fallen, and stars dotted the sky.

"How do you feel?" Lu Chuan asked.

Walking half a step behind him, Bi Ji replied softly, "Auntie seems to bear a great destiny. Just treating her injuries brought my cultivation another step closer. Her hidden ailments are gone, and her foundation has been restored. In at most half a year, her wish should come true."

"Good." Lu Chuan nodded, a weight lifting from his heart.

Once Lang Yue had recovered,

she and Tang Ziran would be able to have a child of their own in the future.

Then he could feel all the more justified in stealing the little cabbage!

I taught you how to fish. You can at least give me one fish, can't you?