Besides practicing swordsmanship on Clear Snow Peak, Song Zhizhi also leafed through her master's collection of books in her spare time. Qingyu seemed more skilled in artifact refining and Formations, so her collection contained quite a few books on those subjects.
Song Zhizhi only had a superficial understanding of artifact refining and Formations, but it was enough for now.
Hearing Song Zhizhi's words, the stall owner immediately wiped the guileless expression from his face and stared at her intently. "Are you an Artifact Cultivator?"
The vast majority of cultivators in the Sword Sect were Sword Cultivators, though there were a few exceptions, such as the Healing Cultivators of Medicine Peak and the Artifact Cultivators of Artifact Peak. The former mainly refined pills, while the latter refined artifacts. It was merely that their professional skills were not outstanding enough for them to become particularly famous in the Cultivation World.
"No, I'm a Sword Cultivator. Nine Middle-grade Spirit Stones for this rattle drum. Are you selling it or not?"
The pattern of the little golden-feathered bird on the drumhead was simply too adorable, especially its golden feathers, which looked as lifelike as living things. Song Zhizhi wanted to buy the rattle drum and let her child play with it after the baby was born.
Never mind the child—even she liked it very much.
The stall owner gritted his teeth with a pained expression. "Add a little more!"
Song Zhizhi thought for a moment. "I'll add one more Spirit Stone, and you'll help me alter the sound-attack Formation on it. Change it into a Formation that automatically plays music when it's shaken."
After all, it was a toy meant to amuse a child. Having an attack Formation on it was not very safe.
Stall owner: ...
Seeing that Song Zhizhi would not possibly raise the price any further, the stall owner hesitated for a while before ultimately agreeing—however small a mosquito was, it was still meat!
Song Zhizhi's request was simple. The stall owner altered the Formation on the spot. Song Zhizhi tried shaking the rattle drum, and the Formation activated at once, producing a crisp, pleasant melody brimming with childish delight.
Song Zhizhi happily put away the rattle drum and paid for it.
After leaving Hundred Treasures Market, with no one around, Liu Changfei lowered her head and glanced at Song Zhizhi's stomach. She seemed to want to say something, but stopped herself. "You..."
Song Zhizhi touched her stomach. She knew what Liu Changfei wanted to ask and smiled gently. "I've decided to give birth to the child."
Speaking of the child, Song Zhizhi remembered the question she had intended to ask Liu Changfei. "Oh, right, Feifei. A few days ago, I think I felt the child move. Is that normal? When female cultivators in our Cultivation World become pregnant, about how many months do they carry the child?"
Liu Changfei considered for a moment. "Most female cultivators carry a child for around a year. The exact situation depends on the child's talent—the higher the talent, the longer the gestation period. Fetal movement after just one month is rare, but not unheard of. Here, hold out your hand. I'll carefully take your pulse and examine the fetus."
Song Zhizhi extended her hand. Not long after Liu Changfei placed her fingers on her pulse, she could not help frowning.
Seeing Liu Changfei's expression, Song Zhizhi grew uneasy. "What is it? Is there something wrong with the child?"
Liu Changfei shook her head. "There's nothing wrong with the child. It's very healthy and full of vitality. If all goes well, it should be born in about ten months. But you..." Liu Changfei paused. "Have you often felt drowsy and weak lately, lacking energy?"
Song Zhizhi thought about it and nodded. "I've been practicing swordsmanship for at least six hours every day lately. By the end of each day, I'm so exhausted I can't even lift my hands. Maybe I'm just too tired, which is why I always feel like I haven't slept enough. Sometimes I get so sleepy halfway through cultivating that I fall asleep."
She glanced at Liu Changfei's expression, and a suspicion surfaced in her heart. "Could it be that this isn't because I've been exhausting myself practicing swordsmanship?"
"That isn't the reason." Liu Changfei shook her head. "When we female cultivators are pregnant, we do not need to be as cautious as mortal women. Cultivating for seven or eight hours a day, fighting others with spells, or competing with swords is completely fine. As long as your stomach is not injured, it will not affect the child."
"After cultivators draw qi into their bodies, cultivation can replace sleep. No matter how tired we are, we only need to meditate to recover. Pregnancy is the same, except for one possibility."
Song Zhizhi pressed her lips together. "What possibility?"
Liu Changfei's expression turned grave. "The child in your womb possesses extraordinary talent—perhaps even greater than yours. But a child with talent that is too high is not a good thing for the mother."
Author's note:
A little angel guessed correctly in the previous chapter—it was Song Miaomiao.
In about seven or eight more chapters, the male lead will learn that Zhizhi is pregnant. Don't be anxious, everyone~
The Sword Venerable Coaxes Someone
"The more outstanding the child a female cultivator carries, the heavier the burden on the mother. From the moment this child began forming, it has required a vast supply of spiritual power. Your cultivation is too low, and most of the spiritual power in your body is being supplied to the fetus. That is why you have been lacking energy, drowsy, and weak. As the child grows older, it will require more and more spiritual power, and your symptoms will only become increasingly severe. In the worst-case scenario, before the child is even born, you will be drained dry by it—one corpse, two lives."
Song Zhizhi's pupils trembled slightly, and her face went a little pale. Clutching the corner of her skirt, she asked, "Then what should I do now? Is there any solution?"
Liu Changfei patted her hand to comfort her. "Don't be afraid. The solution is simple. If you don't have enough spiritual power, have the child's father transfer spiritual power to you."
The child's father?
A cold, handsome face flashed through Song Zhizhi's mind, and she instinctively wanted to retreat. "...Would someone else's spiritual power work?"
Liu Changfei had never seen any male cultivator close to Song Zhizhi by her side. She guessed that the two might have separated because their relationship was poor. Such situations were not uncommon in the Cultivation World.
"The child's father's spiritual power is best. Their bloodlines are connected, so there will be no rejection of spiritual power. But if the child's father is not around, you can also find a cultivator with the same Spiritual Root attribute as yours to transfer spiritual power. The effect will simply be much worse."
"You should make a decision as soon as possible. The child has already begun moving. Once it reaches two months, the spiritual power it needs will multiply. If you delay too long and the child does not receive enough spiritual power to nourish it, it will instinctively seize your spiritual power. That will be bad for both you and the child."
*
Song Zhizhi returned to Clear Snow Peak on a white crane in a daze. After feeding the crane some spirit fruits, she shut herself inside the small building, Liu Changfei's words replaying endlessly in her mind.
```