Chapter 280: Zhenyuanzi's Thoughts

Watching the two toddlers having fun playing with Ao Yifan, Zhenyuanzi's mood was quite complicated.

You see, he has spent a great deal of effort lately taking care of these two little ones.

Even the lectures that his disciples rarely get to hear have been used to coax these two toddlers.

Yet even so, when facing Zhenyuanzi, the two little ones only grew a bit quiet—how could they now be smiling like blossoms?

"Cough—cough"

After a light cough, Zhenyuanzi gave Ao Yifan a somewhat resentful look and said, "Fellow Daoist, what brings you over?"

Noticing Zhenyuanzi's resentment, Ao Yifan smiled and said, "I came over naturally to see Nian Nian and Si Si's mothers—by the way, where are Qing Feng and Ming Yue?"

"Qing Feng and Ming Yue began closed-door cultivation to break through after giving birth, and they haven't emerged yet; you probably won't be able to see them for a while."

Zhenyuanzi said.

"Oh, I see—that's a pity!"

Ao Yifan's face showed a hint of regret, after all, he hadn't seen Qing Feng and Ming Yue in a while and missed them greatly.

However, cultivation is paramount; Ao Yifan could not possibly disturb them.

Beside him, Zhenyuanzi's face flickered with hesitation, as if he had a question for Ao Yifan but didn't know how to bring it up.

Ao Yifan naturally noticed this, smiled at Zhenyuanzi and said, "Fellow Daoist, if you have something to ask, given our relationship, you needn't be so reserved."

Saying that, Ao Yifan picked up the two toddlers, found a seat, sat down casually, and poured himself a cup of tea.

Seeing this, a flash of speechlessness crossed Zhenyuanzi's eyes.

He always felt that this fellow Daoist Ao was rather overly familiar.

This Five Zhuang Temple is, after all, Zhenyuanzi's daoist sanctuary; the other's casualness made it seem as if he were the guest.

However, given Zhenyuanzi's temperament, he didn't really mind such a small matter.

"Fellow Daoist, what I want to ask is, what's going on with the spiritual qi infusion appearing on Qing Feng and Ming Yue?"

Zhenyuanzi asked.

"Ah, so that's what you wanted to ask, Fellow Daoist—I thought it was something else."

Ao Yifan said, "Just as you suspected, Fellow Daoist, anyone who bears my child receives a gift from heaven and earth, accepting the spiritual qi infusion!"

"Indeed, it really is like that!"

Zhenyuanzi's face showed a hint of shock.

Although Zhenyuanzi had already suspected this earlier—after all, one occurrence might be coincidence, but Qing Feng and Ming Yue both showing spiritual qi infusion at the moment of childbirth makes it absolutely impossible to be chance.

Still, this matter is truly absurd.

After all, Zhenyuanzi has never heard of any existence that could enable women who bear his child to receive spiritual qi infusion.

If that were the case, wouldn't cultivation be far too child's play?

One only needs to bear Ao Yifan's child to enjoy spiritual qi infusion; if they kept doing so, they might even become a sage.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be so surprised—in fact, I have many children, and every woman who bears my child receives the spiritual qi infusion."

Ao Yifan said, "However, while this spiritual qi infusion can quickly raise one's cultivation realm, it is not without limits."

"Indeed!"

Zhenyuanzi nodded and said, "I've also noticed that although Qing Feng and Ming Yue have broken through a major realm, they show signs of overhaste; now they're in seclusion to consolidate their realm."

Saying this, Zhenyuanzi also let out a relieved breath.

Fortunately, this has limits; otherwise, wouldn't my disciples just need to keep bearing children to reach—or even surpass—my level? Where would the heavenly principle be then?

"Still, even with such limits, the idea of breaking through a realm by bearing children remains utterly fantastical!"

Thinking this, Zhenyuanzi's gaze toward Ao Yifan gained a hint of something unusual.

Noticing Zhenyuanzi's gaze, Ao Yifan involuntarily shuddered.

"Fellow Daoist, don't look at me like that—I'm scared!"

Hearing that, Zhenyuanzi's face darkened and he said coldly, "Don't spout nonsense—I'm merely curious whether your fantastical ability works only on humans or..."

"Well, it should work for all races, after all—Fellow Daoist, you know about Hou Tu Niangniang!"

Ao Yifan said.

Upon hearing that, Zhenyuanzi widened his eyes, as if something had occurred to him, and his right thumb instinctively wanted to give Ao Yifan a thumbs-up.

Suppressing the urge to give Ao Yifan a thumbs-up, Zhenyuanzi glanced at the branch protruding from the corner of the hall.

However, Zhenyuanzi still felt some hesitation deep down—after all, if this matter is mishandled, it's all over.

But once the idea arose in his mind, Zhenyuanzi could no longer stay calm.

After all, if it truly succeeded, he might just be able to take that final step in one fell swoop!

Ao Yifan still didn't know what Zhenyuanzi was thinking; seeing the two toddlers worn out from play and asleep, he revealed another purpose for his visit.

"Fellow Daoist, I came this time hoping to borrow something from you."

Ao Yifan said.

"Oh? Fellow Daoist, what do you wish to borrow?"

Zhenyuanzi asked curiously, after all, the other party is a son-in-law of the Heavenly Court; he wondered what, given the Heavenly Court's wealth, his Five Zhuang Temple could possibly have that would catch such a person's eye.

"Ginseng fruit!"

Ao Yifan didn't beat around the bush, saying directly, "I only need one ginseng fruit."

"This..."

Hearing that Ao Yifan wanted a ginseng fruit, Zhenyuanzi couldn't help but become even more curious.

"Fellow Daoist, with your status as a son-in-law of the Heavenly Court, the peaches of the Peach Orchard should spare you any lifespan worries—why would you still need a ginseng fruit?"

Zhenyuanzi said.

"Naturally, it's not because of lifespan concerns!"

Ao Yifan shook his head and said: "I came this time actually for him!"

As he spoke, Ao Yifan waved his hand, and immediately Yang Jiao's soul was released by him.

"Huh?"

With Zhen Yuanzi's eyesight, the moment he saw Yang Jiao, he could see his background.

"Half-human, half-divine, he is the child born of an immortal and a mortal!"

Zhen Yuanzi exclaimed in surprise: "But how did he end up in such a state?"

"There's nothing to be done; it's the karma my father-in-law created!"

Ao Yifan then briefly recounted the matter of Yunying Xianzi; of course, some details between himself and Yunying Xianzi need not be spoken.

The focus was on describing how his father-in-law acted ruthlessly, bringing harm to Yunying Xianzi's family.

And as Yunying Xianzi's brother-in-law by marriage, he likewise did not shy from hardship, painstakingly handling the follow-up affairs for his father-in-law.

In short, Ao Yifan is a truly upright and good person!