119: Chapter 119 The Daughter of Zhu Xiao, A Twisted Fate

Chen Zhuxiao had an invisible wall of Qi around him for three zhang. His eyes held a lingering exhaustion, but the infant in his arms was very quiet, looking around with bright, curious eyes, full of spiritual energy.

On Luoyun Mountain, several people noticed him the moment he appeared, but since this was clearly a family matter for the Chen family, they, as outsiders, found it inappropriate to interfere, so they remained silent.

Chen Zhuyun, having just finished his business, stood up with a swoosh. Under Ruan Zhirou's puzzled gaze, he pushed the door open and walked out.

As a Martial Artist who had fought various Yao Beasts in trial ruins for over a decade, he was extremely sensitive to sudden presences and could react to the slightest disturbance.

"A familiar presence... Is that Zhu Xiao?"

The dormant Qi and blood within Chen Zhuyun began to revive. His entire being seemed to transform into a blazing furnace, and rich essence energy surged from his crown, forming a pillar that swept away the dark clouds above Luoyun Mountain.

The heavy rain stopped instantly, revealing the deep night sky, dotted with stars, with a crescent moon hanging high, casting down ethereal moonlight.

A Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator could already topple mountains and break peaks. As a Martial Artist comparable to a Foundation Establishment Peak Great Cultivator, Chen Zhuyun could fully alter the weather within a small area.

If Yuan Feng, that Purple Mansion Demon King, were to make a move, the dark clouds for thousands of miles would be shattered, turning a rainy day into a sunny one.

Under normal circumstances, Cultivators would not alter the weather, preferring to let nature take its course.

Chen Zhuyun walked out of the courtyard, covering the distance of thousands of feet in a few steps, and soon stood on the expanded White Jade Plaza.

"Zhu Xiao, you're back."

"Big Brother, you're back."

Azure lightning bloomed between Chen Zhuxiao's brows, and a lightning mark appeared on his forehead. His black hair danced wildly, and in the Void Realm behind him, it seemed as if countless lightning bolts were exploding, with rolling thunder echoing through the sky.

"Have you opened up a Realm beyond Innate for Martial Artists?"

Chen Zhuyun nodded. He could feel the intense Battle Intent in his younger brother's eyes, like a sharp sword of lightning, wanting to have a fight with him.

However, now was not the time to consider sparring. He was very curious about who the baby girl in Chen Zhuxiao's arms belonged to, and whether she was of the Chen family Bloodline.

"Zhu Xiao, is this... your daughter?"

Hearing this, a complex look appeared on Chen Zhuxiao's face. He hesitated, but eventually replied, "Yes."

"Oh?"

Just then, a fiery red stream of light sped over, transforming into a burning Vermilion Bird descending from the sky, revealing a tall, graceful figure.

"Second Brother, you have offspring too!"

Chen Zhuxiao was stunned. What did she mean by he had offspring too?

"You kid are something else, bringing back a daughter without a word. Come, let me see my niece."

Chen Zhuyun patted his shoulder, then looked at the baby girl in his arms, feeling somewhat surprised and shocked.

Between the baby girl's brows was a flame pattern, reddish-gold in color, as if it were burning fiercely—she was naturally extraordinary.

A touch of crimson between Zhu Hong's brows gradually grew larger, manifesting a Vermilion Bird about to spread its wings and fly. Her three thousand strands of dark hair fluttered, making her look like the Reincarnation of a Vermilion Bird Goddess, peerlessly beautiful.

"Very unique. There is a terrifying power sealed within her body. If I'm not mistaken, this should be... Supreme Fire among the five fires."

The five characteristics of the fire Dao in this world had all been discovered: Li Fire, Ding Fire, Bing Fire, Supreme Fire, and Si Fire.

Li Fire, also known as the Southern Li Vermilion Bird Fire, was initially occupied by the Innate Holy Vermilion Bird, corresponding to the due south position in the Five Elements, symbolizing energy as vigorous as the midday sun. Thus, it belongs to Yang Fire and can represent imagery such as civilization and etiquette.

Ding Fire belongs to Yin Fire, symbolizing the light of a lamp or candle. It burns upon encountering Jia Wood and is one of the Three Calamities—the fire disaster.

Bing Fire belongs to Yang Fire, a pure Yang fire symbolizing the sun. It possesses the nature of illuminating everything, and its nature is fierce, capable of greatly boosting the life force and physique of living beings.

Supreme Fire also belongs to Yang Fire, representing the extremely prosperous position of fire, extremely fierce. Cultivators of this path ignite at the slightest touch, like gunpowder made from a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, with extremely strong lethality, even a notch above Li Fire.

Si Fire belongs to Yin Fire, which is mutually generated with Bing Fire. It represents damp heat, which can cause living beings to contract external evils and internal heat, causing Meridians to become congested, exhibiting the characteristic of being Yin on the outside and Yang on the inside.

Because all five fires of the fire Dao had been proven, the status of fire Dao Cultivators among the Five Elements Cultivators was very high, much higher than those of the Wood and Fire paths.

Among the Five Elements, except for Metal, Fire, and Earth, the Water and Wood paths had only had four characteristics proven, with one characteristic still unproven, placing them at the end of the Five Elements.

"Supreme Fire... Cultivators of this path are not common in Xuan Prefecture; they are basically concentrated in the Western Territory of Great Qi. Here in the Eastern Territory, fire Dao Cultivators are still mostly of the Li, Ding, and Bing types."

A gentle voice came, and Ruan Zhirou, dressed in a plain white dress, appeared silently beside the three.

"Second Brother, did you go to the Western Territory of Great Qi?" Zhu Hong asked, immediately understanding something.

Chen Zhuxiao nodded slightly and pretended to be carefree, saying, "I am a swordsman; isn't it normal to travel the world? If it weren't for an accident on the way, I would have visited all four territories of Great Qi."

Originally, according to his plan, after leaving Xuan Prefecture, he would head straight to the Western Territory of Great Qi, cross the Dragon Spine Desert, and see the scenery of the Western Territory.

In addition, since Zhu Hong was going to the Zhiyang Sect in the Western Territory to seek the Dao in the future, it was a good thing for him, as an older brother, to understand it in advance.

After traveling through the Western Territory, he would turn from west to south, then from south to north, heading straight for the capital.

At that time, he should be able to reach the Purple Mansion and have the qualifications to meet Su Qingyu and stand before her with dignity.

But man proposes, heaven disposes. In the Dragon Spine Desert, he encountered an Immortal Cave of an ancient mighty figure and was accidentally trapped inside.

It would have been one thing to be trapped alone, but as luck would have it, there was a woman trapped in the ancient Immortal Cave with him.

Later, due to some unexpected events, the two of them ended up having a relationship.

Having a relationship was one thing, but he also scored a hit, resulting in a daughter with her.

Later, after a series of events, he was forced to bring his newborn daughter across the eastern and western territories and return to Luoyun Mountain.

"Second Brother, the accident that happened on the way, wouldn't it be that you suddenly have an extra daughter?" Zhu Hong pointed at the baby girl and made a face at her, making the baby giggle.

Chen Zhuxiao nodded and said, "That's right."

After speaking, he looked at the baby girl in his arms and sighed, "This is all karmic retribution."

He was not the kind of man who would shirk responsibility after finishing his business. Since he had a relationship with her, he would naturally take responsibility to the end.

However, the other party's status was somewhat special, and whether she was a virgin had a great impact. Her status, position, and future Dao path would all be affected.

But he was only a Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator who had just made a Breakthrough, insignificant in the eyes of the forces behind her.

Even if he had comprehended Sword Intent, forged a Sixth-Grade Divine Thunder immortal foundation, and had a Purple Mansion Demon King in the clan protecting him, it was still not worth mentioning.

Unless he was a Golden Core True Monarch, or the Chen family could produce a Golden Core True Monarch, only then could he attract her attention.

The three siblings fell silent, and the atmosphere in the scene became heavy.

Even though Chen Zhuyun was the eldest brother, when it came to his younger brother's affairs of continuing the family line, it was not easy for him to say much. It was better to let Chen Fufeng and his wife worry about it.

Chen Zhuxiao also sensed that the atmosphere was a bit off. He looked at Chen Zhuyun and Ruan Zhirou standing close together and smiled, "It seems Big Brother and Young Miss Zhirou have succeeded. Congratulations, congratulations."

Chen Zhuyun seized the opportunity to smooth things over, put his arm around Ruan Zhirou's slender waist, and explained, "We have experienced life and death in the ruins and long understood each other's intentions. To be reserved any longer would be foolish."

"By the way, your sister-in-law and I have had twins. I'll introduce them to you when the time comes. But it's late now, and you've had a long journey, so you should rest early and don't tire out your little niece."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered what Chen Fufeng had told him and warned, "Zhu Xiao, Father once said that you have a peach blossom fate. You may meet many beautiful women in this life. He hopes you will not let any of them down. The Chen family's rules can be changed; they aren't that rigid."

Chen Zhuxiao knew this was for his own good and nodded heavily.

Afterward, the siblings chatted for a few more sentences before returning to their respective courtyards.

The next day, after Chen Fufeng and his wife learned the news that Chen Zhuxiao had brought back a daughter, they were very shocked and hurriedly rushed to his courtyard.

Before long, Chen Zhuxiao's courtyard was filled with people from the Chen Family Main Lineage, and even Liu Luojun and Huang Shanrou were dragged over.

Unfortunately, Yuan Feng was in seclusion for a Breakthrough, otherwise, he would definitely not have missed such a good opportunity to gossip.

As Chen Zhuxiao narrated, everyone gradually understood what he had experienced over the years.

After leaving Changli Commandery, this Qilin Son of the Chen family traveled to several large commanderies in Xuan Prefecture, fighting with Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators from all over the world to hone his Sword Intent and combat skills.

After making a name for himself, he set off for the Dragon Spine Desert, preparing to cross this vast desert to reach the Western Territory of Great Qi.

But the Dragon Spine Desert was not so easy to cross. It was thirty million miles long and wide, no less than the size of a prefecture, and was rampant with sand bandits and thieves, with all kinds of strange Yao Beasts.

Even Purple Mansion True Persons did not dare to travel through the Void Realm in the Dragon Spine Desert, but could only fly by turning into rainbow light.

This was because the environment inside the Dragon Spine Desert was extremely harsh, and terrifying sandstorms could occur anytime, anywhere. The power erupted from the very center was no less than the Divine Ability displayed by a Purple Mansion Great True Person with Five Methods at Perfection, enough to affect the Void Realm, and even tear space apart.

Only a Golden Core True Monarch could walk safely in the Void Realm of the Dragon Spine Desert without being affected.

But this was only relative. The more powerful the existence that appeared in the Dragon Spine Desert, the more it could trigger abnormalities in the Dragon Spine Desert.

Because buried deep beneath the Dragon Spine Desert was a true dragon spine. Its owner was rumored to be a supreme True Dragon who failed to compete for the ren water dao position, a majestic existence that even big figures at the Immortal Lord level had to avoid.

A Nascent Soul Earth Immortal once refused to believe it and went straight into the ground, intending to take the true dragon spine for himself and refine it into a supreme Immortal Artifact.

In the end, the true dragon spine revived on its own, and a dragon roar shook the heavens and the earth, echoing not only in the Great Qi Cultivation Kingdom but also in other cultivation kingdoms.

That Nascent Soul Earth Immortal's Physical Body disintegrated on the spot, his Nascent Soul was destroyed, and his Divine Soul turned into dust. He died before he could even react, turning into a handful of dust.

Since then, beings above the Golden Core True Monarch level in the Great Qi Cultivation Kingdom generally would not go to the Dragon Spine Desert, so as not to accidentally activate the true dragon spine and face the Divine Might of the True Dragon.

And the woman who had a relationship with Chen Zhuxiao was the contemporary Saintess of the Sacred Fire Cult, a Golden Core Upper Sect in the Western Territory, known as the number one talent in 30,000 years.