223: Xiao Fan learns the truth

After all, she was in an excellent mood now, and with a true sustenance in her womb, the glow of motherhood made her a few degrees more tolerant of everything around her.

"Fan'er, you are very thoughtful." Qin Mengyao nodded slightly, not deliberately hiding it as she usually did. "My injuries are no longer a concern. I have already refined that true dragon undying medicine. Now, not only have my old wounds healed, but my cultivation has also improved."

Having said that, she even gave a rare word of praise. "During your time cultivating in the Qin Family, it seems you haven't been slack. Your Foundation has solidified quite a bit. Not bad."

After speaking, she didn't stay any longer, walking hurriedly toward the back mountain Forbidden Ground. "The Old Ancestor is still waiting for me. I'll head over first."

Watching his mother's departing back, Xiao Fan stood frozen in place, a wave of unprecedented warmth welling up in his heart.

Mother praised me?

And that concerned look in her eyes... This was the first time in all these years that he had felt this kind of warmth that truly belonged to maternal love.

"Teacher, did you see that? Mother is fine! She really refined the divine medicine! And her attitude toward me has changed; she still cares about me!" Xiao Fan said excitedly to the Venerable Yao in the depths of his heart.

However, the Venerable Yao's grave and somewhat hesitant voice echoed in his mind.

"Fan'er... there are some things I don't know if I should say."

Xiao Fan's brow furrowed. "Teacher, if you have something to say, just say it."

The Venerable Yao sighed and said in a heavy voice, "Your mother... she's lying. She didn't refine the true dragon undying medicine at all."

"What?!" Xiao Fan's expression changed. "Impossible! The vitality on Mother's body is so rich, and her injuries have healed. How could she not have refined it?"

"It's precisely because the vitality is too rich, even carrying a trace of an imperceptible... new life force."

The Venerable Yao's tone became extremely serious. "Although I am only a remnant soul now and my Divine Sense is not what it used to be, I would never mistake this kind of fluctuation in the Origin of life. If she had truly refined the undying medicine, that medicinal power would have integrated into her limbs and bones, turning into cultivation, rather than gathering in one spot in her lower abdomen as it is now, as if it's nourishing something."

"Furthermore, think carefully. That true dragon undying medicine back then, although it already had spirituality, was still some distance away from true maturity.

An immature undying medicine has its efficacy greatly reduced; it simply cannot achieve the miraculous effect of bringing someone back from the dead.

Your mother is a powerhouse at the Body Integration Stage; it's impossible for her not to know this."

Xiao Fan's heart sank abruptly, and an ominous premonition surged within him. "Teacher, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"The true dragon undying medicine, besides extending life and healing injuries, had an even more important use in the Primordial Era—it was a supreme sacred object used by various Immortal Clans to nourish the pregnancies of their noble daughters! Legend has it that nourishing a fetus with true dragon medicinal power can forge an immortal fetus, born as a Saint."

"Combined with your mother's current state... I have reason to suspect that when she asked you to get the medicine before, it wasn't for healing at all, but for... nourishing a pregnancy."

Boom!

The Venerable Yao's words were like a bolt from the blue, directly making Xiao Fan's head spin. His figure staggered, and he nearly failed to keep his footing.

Nourishing a pregnancy?!

Mother... is pregnant?

How could this be possible? Father had fallen many years ago, and Mother had always remained chaste. How could she be pregnant?

Could it be... a name that he hated to the bone instantly surfaced in his mind—Lu Yuan!

"No! It's impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Xiao Fan's eyes were bloodshot as he roared frantically in his heart. "Mother is such a proud person, how could she possibly give birth to Lu Yuan's child? This must be a mistake! Teacher, you must have seen it wrong!"

The Venerable Yao fell silent for a moment and said faintly, "I also hope I saw it wrong, but... the facts are right before us. That true dragon Qi and vitality are indeed continuously gathering toward her lower abdomen. Fan'er, you must be mentally prepared."

Xiao Fan gritted his teeth hard, his nails sinking deep into his palms as blood dripped down.

He didn't believe it!

He had to ask clearly!

...Inside a simple and ancient hall in the Qin Family's back mountain.

Qin Mengyao didn't notice her son's abnormality. At this moment, she was standing respectfully before an old man with white hair and a white beard.

The old man was none other than the Qin Family's Old Ancestor, Qin Shouzhuo.

"Mengyao!"

Qin Shouzhuo looked at Qin Mengyao, his old face full of a gratified smile. "Although our Qin Family and the Qingyun Dao Sect are allies now, I feel that this is not enough."

Qin Mengyao was somewhat puzzled. "What does the Old Ancestor mean?"

Qin Shouzhuo's eyes were bright, and his tone carried a hint of fanaticism. "This boy Lu Yuan is truly a hidden dragon in the depths; he will surely become a True Immortal! Only by following such a figure will our Qin Family have hope in the future to break through the shackles and achieve Ascension to the Immortal Realm."

So, I have decided that the Qin Family is willing to submit as a whole and become a vassal of the Qingyun Dao Sect!"

"Vassal?" Qin Mengyao was startled.

How proud was a Longevity Family? They were actually willing to be someone's vassal?

"That's right. When one person attains the Dao, even his pets ascend to heaven."

As long as Lu Yuan can become an Immortal, what does it matter if we are vassals?" Qin Shouzhuo waved his hand. "Find an opportunity to convey this intention to the Ancestor Qingyun. Additionally..."

Qin Shouzhuo flipped his palm, and several jade boxes emitting treasure light floated before Qin Mengyao.

"These are the Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Lingzhi, Tianshan Snow Lotus Heart, and this bottle of Heaven-Mending Pills treasured in the Family vault."

Although they cannot compare to the undying divine medicine, they are all top-tier sacred objects for nourishing a pregnancy."

Qin Shouzhuo looked meaningfully at Qin Mengyao's lower abdomen and lowered his voice. "What is in your belly is the future hope of my Qin Family, and also the most crucial bargaining chip for us to bind ourselves to the great ship that is Lu Yuan."

Mengyao, you must nourish the pregnancy well. Whether the mother can gain status through the child depends on this birth."

Qin Mengyao's heart skipped a beat, followed by a surge of warmth.

She solemnly put away the treasures and performed a bow. "Mengyao understands and will not fail the Old Ancestor's high expectations."

"Go then."

Taking her leave from the Old Ancestor, Qin Mengyao walked out of the hall with a complex mood.

Just as she stepped out, a figure blocked her path.

Xiao Fan's face was as dark as water, his eyes bloodshot as he stared fixedly at Qin Mengyao, his voice terrifyingly hoarse. "Mother... I want to ask you something."

Qin Mengyao's brow furrowed slightly. "Fan'er? Why do you look like this? Is there something that can't be discussed properly?"

Xiao Fan took a deep breath, pointed at Qin Mengyao's lower abdomen, and asked through gritted teeth, "Are you... pregnant? Are you carrying that Devil Head Lu Yuan's bastard child?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding air instantly froze.

Qin Mengyao's face suddenly went cold. The gentleness belonging to a mother vanished instantly, replaced by a heart-palpitating majesty.

Slap!

Without any hesitation, Qin Mengyao raised her hand and waved. A large hand condensed from spiritual power slapped Xiao Fan directly across the face, sending him flying and crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Presumptuous!"

Qin Mengyao looked down at Xiao Fan from above, her eyes full of disappointment and anger. "Who taught you to speak to your mother like that? And what 'Devil Head'? That is your Uncle Lu! Show some respect!"