Jin Zhan looked at the soul pearl in Dong Tianyun’s hand, his breathing unconsciously becoming rapid. Now was the best opportunity to reveal everything!

“Why is this taking so long?” Chilin’s distinctive tone sounded in the corridor outside the door, in a place Jin Zhan couldn’t see. After becoming a celestial lord, she always deliberately dragged out each word when speaking, appearing arrogant and cold. This was where she learned from Dong Tianyun best and most convincingly. But when she spoke to Dong Tianyun, she inevitably added a somewhat coquettish tone.

Thin beads of sweat seeped out at Jin Zhan’s temples. In an instant, it felt as if he’d been rolled through Haotian Fire.

“Give it back—this is my pearl!” Yanji glared at Dong Tianyun. Perhaps because he was truly young in this reincarnation, his displeasure showed no威力 (power) at all. He was very much like a child throwing a tantrum with an adult.

Chilin had already walked up behind Dong Tianyun. She had originally shown some impatience, but when she saw the soul pearl in Dong Tianyun’s hand and smelled the fragrance of gardenia, her expression became blank.

Jin Zhan felt that she was desperately trying to hide her inner doubts and unease, deliberately no longer revealing any emotions. She even looked at him for a long moment.

“Yours?” Dong Tianyun naturally saw that this was indeed a piece of Xuantian Heavy Water, yet still asked deliberately, “Why is there…” He raised his hand higher to discern more carefully. “A wood spirit soul inside?”

Yanji was infuriated by his attitude. “Cut the nonsense—give it back!” He walked over, wanting to snatch it back forcefully.

Dong Tianyun’s lips curved up as he nimbly dodged. “I like it very much. It’s mine now.”

Hearing this, never mind Yanji—even Jin Zhan was left speechless. Qingsui had once told him that the relationship between Dong Tianyun and Water Lord Qingze had always been quite amusing—like friends yet not friends, like enemies yet not enemies. When Dong Tianyun teased Yanji, he appeared especially shameless.

Sure enough, Yanji’s face went white with anger. He watched helplessly as Dong Tianyun absorbed the soul pearl into his palm. This was clearly just playing the rogue! “Give it back!” Jin Zhan felt that Yanji had been angered into confusion. Forgetting all about magical techniques and cultivation, his posture clearly showed he wanted to throttle Dong Tianyun.

Jin Zhan had been secretly watching Chilin’s reaction the whole time. Fortunately, with Yanji making this commotion, Chilin seemed to relax somewhat. She definitely couldn’t have imagined that Xiang Su and Yanji would have such a coincidentally strange connection.

Dong Tianyun had originally wanted to tease Yanji, but didn’t expect him to truly care so much—his complexion had changed and his eyes were bloodshot. It was only because of that trace of gardenia fragrance. At this moment, he also felt somewhat disinterested. “Take it.” He had wanted to mock Yanji with another line, but unexpectedly discovered the soul pearl had become dim and lightless, as if it had died.

Yanji snatched the soul pearl back, completely flustered and panicking. He questioned Dong Tianyun anxiously, then turned to Jin Zhan for help. “What on earth is going on?”

Though Jin Zhan was anxious, he didn’t dare show it in front of Chilin. He only said lightly, “Put it in the basin first and then see.” He had actually guessed long ago that it was due to metal overcoming wood. Dong Tianyun’s fate belonged to heavy metal, so absorbing the soul pearl into his primordial spirit would naturally cause mutual restraint.

When Yanji put the soul pearl into the Biyu Basin, he appeared somewhat flustered and clumsy. Even Jin Zhan was somewhat surprised. If he knew that Xiang Su’s soul was in the heavy water, it would be understandable, but this urgent behavior he was displaying now was inexplicable.

Chilin had been watching coldly from the side. Seeing Yanji’s strange reaction, then seeing Jin Zhan’s indifference, she finally completely let down her guard. There were countless gardenia flower spirits throughout the Three Realms. Perhaps she had been too paranoid, jumping at shadows. Xiang Su had died before her eyes—she shouldn’t always be so anxious and uneasy.

When the soul pearl fell into the Biyu Basin, after recovering for a while, though it regained some spiritual light, it still wasn’t stable. It flickered in and out like a candle struggling in the wind.

“This… this…” Yanji’s face was deathly pale, at a complete loss.

Jin Zhan also panicked somewhat. Xiang Su’s own cultivation wasn’t deep to begin with. Xuantian Heavy Water could avoid fire but couldn’t avoid metal. Dong Tianyun’s primordial spirit was powerful and he was half-immortal, half-demon. With several attacks in succession, Xiang Su’s soul was truly in danger.

“The only plan now is probably to immediately extract the soul.” The words left his mouth and Yanji’s expression froze. He lowered his eyelashes silently. He had tried many times in private but never succeeded. Jin Zhan also understood that given Yanji’s current situation, even if he gave it his all, he would still be helpless.

Dong Tianyun made an “oh” sound. With a bland expression, he crooked a finger and drew the soul pearl from the Biyu Basin into his palm. With a squeeze, when he opened his palm again, the soul and the Xuantian Heavy Water had already separated. The green soul light swayed gracefully in his palm, extraordinarily enchanting.

Before Yanji and Jin Zhan could cry out in alarm, Dong Tianyun unhurriedly bit through the index finger of his other hand and dripped spirit blood onto the soul light. Immediately purple qi flourished greatly, and for a time everyone couldn’t see the surrounding objects clearly.

Jin Zhan couldn’t help but sigh softly. So-called fate was nothing more than this. Just as he was feeling emotional, he heard Dong Tianyun give a low exclamation, as if something unexpected had happened.

“What’s wrong?” Both Jin Zhan and Yanji were extremely anxious, afraid of yet another mishap. They vigorously fanned away the purple qi.

Dong Tianyun was looking with a cold expression at the baby hooked in the crook of his arm—truly a little baby, plump and tender, bare-bottomed, about the size of a three or four month old mortal infant. Dong Tianyun also seemed not to have expected this. His expression was very strange. He had almost dropped this little ball of flesh on the ground just now. The last time he used spirit blood to create a person… it had been a pretty and absolutely beautiful young girl.

The little infant’s silly, blank expression was especially adorable. She stared directly at Dong Tianyun with no reaction whatsoever.

Chilin, who hadn’t spoken the whole time, couldn’t help but frown. “How could this happen?”

Dong Tianyun’s face was expressionless as he tossed both the child and the soul pearl to Yanji. “Your child. Returning her to you.”

Yanji was also dumbfounded. He accepted her in a daze, staring wide-eyed at the infant in his arms, momentarily losing all reaction.

“What on earth is going on?” Jin Zhan couldn’t care that Chilin was beside them and shouted the question sharply.

Dong Tianyun gave him a cold look, as if he couldn’t quite understand his anger. “I’m now half-immortal, half-demon. My magical power isn’t pure. I probably sealed part of the wood spirit’s spiritual consciousness.” He paused, probably finally feeling a bit apologetic. “When I restore my immortal body, I’ll naturally help her break the seal.” He looked at Yanji consolingly. “No need to worry. She’ll grow up slowly.”

Yanji had already become so angry that he had no emotions left. He looked at him coldly.

“Are you done with the Biyu Basin? Give it to me.” Having caused trouble, Dong Tianyun acted more nonchalant than anyone, still wearing that arrogant expression as if everyone owed him something.

Watching this, Jin Zhan felt that if the false Xiang Su were real, choosing Longzhun wouldn’t have been wrong at all. Just as he turned around, the little infant in Yanji’s arms suddenly burst into loud wails. Yanji held her woodenly, as if holding a ball of fire, not even knowing how to comfort her.

“Let’s go.” Dong Tianyun clearly found the child’s crying very annoying. As if it had nothing to do with him, he called to Chilin to leave.

Chilin pressed her lips together, watching with schadenfreude as Yanji and Jin Zhan faced the crying infant, completely at a loss for what to do.

Seeing Dong Tianyun and Chilin walk out the door, the little infant cried even more earth-shatteringly. While crying, she also raised her hands toward the direction Dong Tianyun had left, trying to grab. Jin Zhan seemed to understand. He quickly took off his outer robe and wrapped up the little infant. This was the second time he had dressed Xiang Su to cover her embarrassment. Actually, it was quite worthy of reflection, but he had no time to care. He quickly chased outside the hall.

“Dong Tianyun!” Jin Zhan was also anxious now. Calling out his name to stop him, he shoved the child into his arms. “Since you created her, you should take care of her!”

Strangely enough, the little infant who had just been crying as if the world were ending immediately stopped making noise once she was in Dong Tianyun’s arms.

The corner of Dong Tianyun’s mouth twitched. He created her… why did this phrasing sound so strange? The little ball of flesh in his arms was soft and sweet-smelling. He suddenly felt reluctant to touch her. She was too fragile and too adorable. He also didn’t know what to do.

“I’ll do it instead.” Chilin said somewhat unhappily. She reached out to hold the infant. Even though it was just a child, this behavior of obviously clinging to Dong Tianyun greatly displeased her. She had no experience with children either. When she reached out to hold the baby, her movements were clumsy and she couldn’t quite use the right amount of strength.

The little infant clearly didn’t like Chilin. Taking advantage of her proximity, she kicked her foot against Chilin’s eye, making Chilin scream.

Chilin had never suffered such humiliation. Her temper flared and she didn’t care that the other party was just such a small child. With a casual swipe, she swept the infant, whom Dong Tianyun wasn’t holding firmly, right out of his arms to fall.

Dong Tianyun quickly bent down and scooped her up, managing to catch the child back in the crook of his arm. Both Jin Zhan and Yanji, who had followed out, broke out in a cold sweat.

The three men were silent for a while, clearly all agreeing that Chilin was absolutely not a good candidate for taking care of children.

“It seems she’s recognized you as her father.” Yanji said, feeling somewhat unhappy yet somewhat relieved.

Father… The corner of Jin Zhan’s mouth twitched. When the Water Lord schemed against Dong Tianyun, he showed no mercy either.

To Dong Tianyun, this sounded completely like shirking responsibility. The soul pearl was Yanji’s, so naturally the child was also Yanji’s. He fully expressed this meaning with his gaze. Yanji turned his face away, resisting to the end.

Jin Zhan glanced at the little infant. The little infant was also looking at him, clearly with a plea. Jin Zhan became even more certain that Xiang Su’s spiritual consciousness was still there, just suffering from a body too small to express herself.

“We should… let the child decide.” Jin Zhan stammered slightly. He very demonstratively went to hold Xiang Su from Dong Tianyun’s arms. Xiang Su immediately cooperatively wailed. When Yanji also came to hold her, Xiang Su cried even louder.

Dong Tianyun’s face showed a green tinge as he jiggled the child, ordering fiercely, “Shut up! Stop crying!” The world indeed became quiet.

Both Yanji and Jin Zhan squinted at him, expressing in unison: It has to be you!

Dong Tianyun’s face was as dark as water. Holding the child, he turned and left. Judging by the direction, he was going to find Qingsui. Chilin naturally followed closely. Jin Zhan and Yanji worriedly followed along. The whole group marched in great force toward the palace chamber where Qingsui was temporarily staying.

Qingsui was in a bad mood, sitting in front of her vanity mirror in a daze. Seeing a group of people rush in, she stood up just about to ask when a baby was stuffed into her arms.

Dong Tianyun stated emphatically, “This little wood spirit—you take care of her!” He even specially emphasized the words “wood spirit.”

Qingsui looked down at the infant. Xiang Su was a bit excited to see Elder Sister Qingsui and showed an affectionate expression. Suddenly realizing that Junshang planned to pawn her off on Elder Sister Qingsui to raise, she immediately pulled out her voice and threw a fit again.

Qingsui was so frightened she was at a loss, holding the child without knowing what to do. Unable to use the right amount of strength, the child kept sliding down from her arms. “What is this? What is this?” Qingsui was about to jump up.

Everyone looked at her speechlessly. Even if she wasn’t the Wood-Governing Celestial Lord, at least she was a female immortal, right? Her mentally disordered appearance was even worse than Chilin’s.

“This is the child extracted from Yanji’s heavy water pearl.” Jin Zhan’s mind was also confused amid Xiang Su’s vigorous wailing. He actually meant to say it was Dong Tianyun who extracted the soul from the heavy water pearl and created the child.

Qingsui was in a complete fluster, having long forgotten about the soul pearl. She said in confusion, “What? Yanji’s child?”

Yanji stared, wanting to refute, but Dong Tianyun spoke first. “Right! It’s Yanji’s child. Take good care of her.” Having said this, as if afraid of being chased by ghosts, he turned and left without caring how the child cried.

Yanji and Jin Zhan also left swiftly and decisively. By the time Qingsui came to her senses, only she and the crying infant remained in the room.

Xiang Su felt somewhat reluctant. Actually, she didn’t want to torment Elder Sister Qingsui either, but if she compromised, she would absolutely be conveniently pawned off to Elder Sister Qingsui by Junshang. She knew his shamelessness better than anyone. Having finally returned to his side with great difficulty, she absolutely would not be separated from him by even half a step.

The infant’s crying echoed throughout the entire Jiuyou Palace. The earth spirits performing techniques went from initial irritation and unease to gradually becoming accustomed to it. When they finished completely and invited Dong Tianyun to come look, one earth spirit, unaccustomed to the silence, tilted his head to listen and said, “Why isn’t the child crying anymore?”

Everyone felt relieved. Qingsui had finally found the knack for taking care of children.

When Jiuyou Palace was officially completed, inscribing the plaque was a major matter. When everyone walked together to Dong Tianyun’s new study, they discovered that the little infant, who had cried herself breathless, had been placed on the desk.

“Qingsui!” Dong Tianyun ground his teeth. Very obviously, Qingsui had abandoned this troublesome burden and left in style! He had been hiding all day without returning to the main hall, and this little ball of flesh had been crying helplessly here for so long!

Yanji even dramatically checked the infant’s breathing. Fortunately, she was still alive.

Jin Zhan’s face showed anger and also heartache. He stepped forward and picked up the little infant who had already passed out. Her originally plump pink round cheeks were deathly pale.

“Shouldn’t we feed her some milk?” Yanji, the only one who came from the mortal realm, finally thought of the food issue.

Jin Zhan snorted coldly. Holding the child, he walked straight outside, clearly going to “find milk.” Yanji hesitated for a moment, then finally caught up with Jin Zhan and said, “I’ll go with you.”