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Chi Ling replied, "I've seen others of my kind endure unbearable pain when giving birth, only to die from exhaustion after their young were born."

"Snakes shouldn't be like that, should they?" Vanguard Hu asked, confused.

"She mated with a rhinoceros and gave birth to six rhinoceros spirits in one go, which drained her life force," Chi Ling explained, but Zhuang Yan had already followed Lu Hanzhi into the cave dwelling.

Five or six flower spirits were tending to the woman in labor. Lian'er lay on a wooden couch, her belly distended and her lower body stained with blood. A flower granny spotted Zhuang Yan and rushed forward to shoo him away, "Men are not allowed in here!"

"I've come to examine her," Zhuang Yan said.

The flower granny pushed him, "Go home and check on your wife! Lu Hanzhi quickly introduced him, "This is the Spirit Platform Divine Lord."

All the flower spirits immediately knelt in reverence. After bowing, the flower granny still insisted on driving him away, "The blood and malevolent energy from childbirth might offend the Divine Lord." She forcefully pushed Zhuang Yan out of the cave.

Zhuang Yan could only instruct, "Be sure to deliver the baby carefully." The flower granny teased, "The Divine Lord is so concerned, could this be your offspring?"

"This Lord cares for all beings under his dominion," Zhuang Yan stated seriously. "Her labor pains, I am equally concerned about."

"Oh my~" The flower granny blushed, wriggling coyly. "You're so naughty~" With that, she turned and ran back into the cave. Zhuang Yan wiped away a bead of cold sweat and asked Lu Hanzhi, "Where did this strange, old woman come from?"

Lu Hanzhi chuckled, "She's Granny Hua, a flower spirit from the mountains, the best at delivering babies." Just then, Fire Spirit True Immortal suddenly pointed outside the courtyard, "Divine Lord, look quickly."

Two underworld officials, carrying soul-reaping ropes and ghost-beating rods, were walking towards the courtyard.

The two underworld emissaries stepped into the cave and their expressions changed drastically upon seeing Zhuang Yan. They quickly stepped forward to pay their respects, "Greetings, Spirit Platform Divine Lord."

Zhuang Yan waved his hand with a smile, "Rise. Whom are you here to apprehend today?"

The underworld emissary on the right replied, "Reporting to the Divine Lord, the woman in this cave has reached the end of her lifespan. We are here under the orders of King Yan to reap her soul."

Zhuang Yan pondered for a moment, "Wait until she gives birth to her infant."

The underworld emissaries bowed in assent and stood still like statues. Lu Hanzhi peered curiously, "Who is the Divine Lord speaking with?"

"Soul reaping emissaries from the Underworld," Zhuang Yan said. Before he finished speaking, Lu Hanzhi's hair stood on end in shock. Chi Ling pointed to her side, "There, right beside you."

The deer spirit jumped back three feet in fright. The underworld emissaries glanced at her coldly and continued to stand like puppets, exuding a chilling aura.

As the wails inside the cave gradually weakened, the underworld emissaries gripped their chains, eager to act, but still remembered to ask Zhuang Yan for permission first. When the baby's cry rang out, Zhuang Yan nodded in acknowledgment, and two dark figures immediately darted into the cave.

Not long after, they emerged, escorting Liu Lian'er's soul. The soul kept looking back, gazing longingly in the direction of the cave. Zhuang Yan said solemnly, "You know the origin of this child. Today's tribulation was sealed the moment he was conceived. Go to reincarnation in peace. This child will surely achieve greatness under my tutelage."

Liu Lian'er knelt and kowtowed three times, then floated away with the underworld emissaries. No one present pitied her—her crime of harming her entire family to nurture a demonic fetus was not worthy of sympathy.

The flower granny rushed out excitedly, holding a swaddled infant, "It's a chubby little boy!" She handed the baby to Zhuang Yan, pointing disdainfully at the dark purple pattern on the infant's forehead, "This pattern is quite unsightly."

Vanguard Hu leaned in for a closer look, "He's acceptable. Though not as handsome as my own cubs." Zhuang Yan gazed at the Moluo flower pattern, knowing it was the sign of a Moluo reincarnation.

Suddenly, a cry came from inside the cave, "Miss Lian'er has passed away!" The flower granny hurried back. Zhuang Yan took the infant and instructed, "Fire Spirit, Vanguard Hu, Chi Ling, stay behind to clean up. This Lord will return to the Divine Manor first." The three responded in unison.

Zhuang Yan turned to Lu Hanzhi and ordered, "After the cleanup is complete, you will come to the Divine Manor with Fire Spirit True Immortal and the others."

Lu Hanzhi bowed in response, "Yes, Divine Lord."

The barrier was removed, and Zhuang Yan transformed into a stream of light, returning directly to the Divine Manor. Inside the Mountain God Hall, he set up a new barrier and retrieved the Primal Golden Body from the void. The infant in his arms suddenly opened its eyes, black pupils surging with demonic energy, and the Moluo flower bud on its forehead slowly bloomed—revealing an empty cavity within.

The Golden Body suddenly emitted a brilliant glow, and golden light simultaneously appeared within the flower bud. The moment Zhuang Yan released his grip, the Golden Body transformed into a stream of light and merged into the flower bud. As the petals closed, a black-and-gold patterned demonic flower was vividly imprinted on the infant's forehead. Instantly, demonic sounds flooded Zhuang Yan's ears, and monstrous demonic flames erupted from the infant's eyes, plunging the entire Divine Manor into a demonic realm, with countless demons roaring and charging towards Zhuang Yan.

His expression remained unchanged as he unleashed the One Thought Capture. The demonic flames and energy collapsed entirely, instantly refining into a gourd of demon poison. The demonic energy around the infant dissipated, leaving only a faint dark glow emanating from the demonic flower on its forehead. It then fell into a deep sleep.

As soon as the barrier was removed, Fire Spirit True Immortal led the others back. After everyone paid their respects, Zhuang Yan ordered Vanguard Hu to summon Lan'er and inquired about the cleanup. Upon learning that the flower spirits each received fifty Purple Coins and the deceased had been buried, he nodded slightly.

Chi Ling suddenly remarked with a smile that the Divine Lord's posture while holding the infant was peculiar. Zhuang Yan handed the swaddled baby to her. Seeing her fumbling to take it, he then summoned Lu Hanzhi closer and bestowed upon her a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, "Take this for three days, and you will ascend the immortal path. Consider it a reward for your service."

Lu Hanzhi sniffed the elixir's fragrance and asked in surprise, "Is this a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir refined by Laojun?"

"Indeed," Zhuang Yan confirmed with a smile. "Refine it well, and in three days, you will be an Earth Immortal."

Lu Hanzhi's expression was one of shock. Her hands trembled as she accepted the Golden Elixir and respectfully said to Zhuang Yan, "Divine Lord, this humble woman has rendered no merit, how can I dare accept such a generous gift?"

Zhuang Yan waved his hand dismissively, "This Lord's actions have their own order. What is given to you is yours. Speak no more, you may withdraw."

Lu Hanzhi quickly tucked the Golden Elixir into her embrace, prostrated herself, and kowtowed three times before leaving. The moment she stepped out of the Lingtai Divine Manor, her heart pounded like a drum. She rushed back to her cave dwelling, and after closing the stone door, immediately sat cross-legged on the stone couch, eagerly swallowing the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir.

Meanwhile, in the Mountain God Hall of the Lingtai Divine Manor, Vanguard Hu brought his wife Lan'er to pay their respects. Having known each other for a long time, Lan'er asked with a smile, "Divine Lord, why have you summoned me?"

Zhuang Yan nodded slightly and pointed to the infant in Chi Ling's arms, "Daoist Lan'er, would you be willing to care for this child for this Lord?"

Lan'er followed his gaze and looked at the swaddled infant, her face showing surprise, "Does the Divine Lord wish for me to raise this child?"

"Precisely," Zhuang Yan said with a smile. "If you find it difficult, this Lord will find someone else."

Lan'er hesitated slightly, "Raising him is not impossible, but... I no longer have milk to nurse him."

Zhuang Yan calmly replied, "It matters not. You can feed him with the juice of spiritual fruits from the mountain."

"This..." Lan'er looked skeptical. "Is it truly possible?" She had never heard of such a method.

Zhuang Yan laughed heartily, "This child's fate is extraordinary. Let alone spiritual fruit juice, he could survive on bark."

Hearing this, Lan'er no longer refused and readily agreed, "If that is the case, I will certainly raise him with care."

Zhuang Yan nodded in satisfaction and took out another Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, sending it floating before Lan'er, "This elixir is for your service."

Seeing the Golden Elixir floating in the air, Lan'er was still dazed, but Vanguard Hu's face turned pale with shock. He quickly took the elixir for his wife and said with a trembling voice, "Hurry and thank the Divine Lord! This is a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, and taking it for three days will allow one to ascend the immortal path!"

Lan'er was greatly alarmed upon hearing this, and she quickly knelt to express her gratitude. After accepting the Golden Elixir, she took the infant from Chi Ling's arms. Just as she was about to leave, she turned back, "Divine Lord, have you named this child?"

Zhuang Yan pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Let him be called Hu."

After entrusting Moluo to Lan'er, Zhuang Yan's burden gradually lessened. Currently, all affairs of the Lingtai Divine Manor were managed by the Fire Spirit True Immortal. This woman was truly a born administrator, handling both immortal and mortal matters with perfect order. Zhuang Yan was greatly relieved and even assigned the task of visiting Sun Wukong to the Fire Spirit True Immortal and two others, who would take turns. They were to visit him at Five Finger Mountain once a year.

With free time, Zhuang Yan began organizing the Golden Cores he carried. Inside his dwelling, forty-nine gourds were lined up, categorized by the labels on them. They included:

Zhuang Yan was presented with various Golden Cores: 10 gourds of Taiyi Purple Gold Pills, 5 gourds of Strength-Promoting Vajra Pills, 6 gourds of Jade Lotus Purple Gold Pills, 7 gourds of Jiangzhen Great Returning Pills, 5 gourds of Mystic Spirit Seven Treasures Pills, 5 gourds of Yin-Yang Great Returning Pills, 5 gourds of Nine-Turn Soul Returning Pills, and 6 gourds of Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs. Each gourd contained thirty-six Golden Cores, totaling one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four.

He used his Cave Heaven True Sight to examine the effects of each Golden Core:

Taiyi Purple Gold Pills could avert disaster and extend life by a thousand years; Strength-Promoting Vajra Pills could forge an indestructible Vajra body; Jade Lotus Purple Gold Pills could enhance cultivation and awaken intelligence; Jiangzhen Great Returning Pills could extend life by three thousand years; Yin-Yang Great Returning Pills could heal all injuries and illnesses; Mystic Spirit Seven Treasures Pills could instantly restore magical power and stamina; Nine-Turn Soul Returning Pills could bring the dead back to life and extend life by thirty years; Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs could grant the Earth Immortal Fruit Position in three days.

All were rare treasures. Zhuang Yan's gaze was sharp; among these numerous Golden Cores, the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir was actually the most common. He suddenly thought: Since Grand Supreme Elder Lao displayed these elixirs publicly, were there even more precious ones hidden elsewhere? This thought made him certain that the treasures displayed on the surface were often not the most supreme.

The Dao Ancestor was indeed unfathomable. Zhuang Yan praised him inwardly, then collected all the gourds into his Infinite Space. After finishing his organization, he decided to begin cultivating. He first took one each of the Taiyi Purple Gold Pill, Strength-Promoting Vajra Pill, and Jade Lotus Purple Gold Pill, then circulated the Essence of Purity Meditation Method to enter a deep cultivation state.

Time flew by, and a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. During this period, Moluo, raised by the Hu couple, displayed astonishing talent: achieving Earth Immortal in ten years, advancing to Profound Immortal in fifty years, and reaching the Celestial Immortal realm fifty years later. By the time Zhuang Yan emerged from seclusion in his one hundred and seventeenth year, Moluo had already broken through to the Golden Immortal level.

Moluo inherited the Dharma form and innate body of Moluo, so his cultivation naturally grew without deliberate effort. However, he had lost all of Moluo's memories. He was exceptionally handsome, a stark contrast to his two tiger spirit elder brothers.

One day, Moluo was sparring with Hu Lailai and Hu Ququ. He was quickly subdued by his two elder brothers, who were only at the Refining Void into Dao realm. Bai Yulan, watching from the side, laughed, "Don't always bully your little brother." The two brothers smiled and helped Moluo up. Hu Lailai explained, "Little brother, we can only take advantage of you in terms of physical combat. When it comes to divine abilities and magical power, we are no match for our little brother who is at the Golden Immortal level."

Moluo smiled, appearing spirited and heroic.

Just now, he hadn't used any divine abilities or magical power. If he had, Hu Lailai and Hu Ququ wouldn't have been able to withstand even one move. But in a contest of physical martial arts alone, he was quickly subdued by his two elder brothers.

"My elder brothers' martial arts are superb, and I, your little brother, humbly admit defeat," Moluo said with a cupped fist and a laugh.

Hu Lailai slung an arm around Moluo's shoulder, "Don't be so formal! Look at me and your second brother, roaring through the mountains every day, how majestic we are. Look at these muscles, the tiger stripes on my forehead, these sharp fangs, and these abs—" With that, he let out a long roar that startled birds and beasts, scattering them in all directions.

"How? Impressive, right?" Hu Lailai laughed heartily, patting Moluo's shoulder.

"Truly majestic," Moluo's eyes were full of longing. "It's a pity that I was born this way and can't learn from my elder brothers..."

Hu Ququ stepped forward, "Even without a tiger's form, you can still cultivate tiger's might. Change your temperament, and your demeanor will naturally be different."

Moluo solemnly agreed.

From afar, Lan'er watched her three sons chatting and laughing, her happiness tinged with worry.

On a night where stars and moon intertwined, the three brothers were happily conversing in a peach grove. As they were halfway through their drinks, Hu Lailai said seriously, "Little brother, tomorrow we will descend the mountain to travel."

Moluo's drunkenness vanished instantly. "Elder brothers are leaving Spirit Platform Mountain?"