222: Chapter 222 Jealousy Between the Dragon and Phoenix: When Will Our Child Be Born?

North Courtyard.

This was a residence specially built by the Xu Family for the Dragon Clan and the Divine Phoenix Clan.

To accommodate the habits of these two great divine beasts, the courtyard was arranged with an extremely profound "Yin-Yang Two Forms Array". On one side was an ice-cold spiritual pool that never thawed all year round, and on the other was a phoenix tree forest burning with the fire from the earth's core.

Usually, this was the most heavily guarded place within the Imperial Palace.

But today, it had become the most dangerous "powder keg" in the Xu Family.

The moment Xu Chen stepped into the North Courtyard's vicinity, even without activating his spiritual sense, his skin felt a terrifying wave of air interwoven with extreme cold and extreme heat.

Agitated spiritual energy particles filled the air, as if a single spark could blow the entire courtyard sky-high.

"Tsk, seems they're really furious."

Although Xu Chen felt a bit guilty inside, not a trace of it showed on his face.

As the head of the family and a powerhouse who had just achieved physical sanctification, he straightened his lapels, wore a spring-like smile on his face, and pushed open the courtyard gate with steady, confident strides.

"Boom—!"

The moment the gate was pushed open, a gust of wind carrying ice shards rushed towards his face.

Two stunning figures sat beside the stone table in the center of the courtyard.

The one on the left wore silver-white dragon-scale soft armor. To accommodate her pregnant belly, the waist and abdomen area had been specially replaced with soft deep-sea mermaid silk.

Her silver hair was wildly disheveled, her facial features delicate and three-dimensional, exuding a wild and arrogant aura.

It was none other than the Dragon Emperor of the Demon Realm, Long Aoxue.

At that moment, she was holding a huge, sizzling, oil-dripping leg bone of a Saint-rank demon beast in her hand. Tearing into it fiercely with her teeth, she stared fixedly at Xu Chen at the gate with those vertical pupils. The look in her eyes suggested she wasn't biting meat, but Xu Chen's arm.

The one on the right wore a gold-red phoenix feather gown, noble and aloof. A cinnabar dot between her eyebrows added an air of sacred inviolability.

The Divine Phoenix Clan Leader, Feng Jiuyou.

She held an exquisite jade cup, seemingly sipping tea elegantly. However, the tea inside had long been boiled by the temperature of her palm, bubbling and gurgling, betraying the unrest in her heart.

"Well, well, my two wives enjoying morning tea?"

As if completely ignoring those two murderous gazes, Xu Chen cheerfully approached, wanting to put an arm around Long Aoxue's shoulder.

"Get lost!"

Long Aoxue twisted her body away disdainfully, dodging Xu Chen's hand.

Immediately after, she sniffed the air forcefully. Her already vertical pupils instantly constricted to pinpoints, revealing a beast-like vigilance and anger:

"Such a strong medicinal smell! And that annoying fiery stench!"

Long Aoxue suddenly stood up, pointing at Xu Chen's nose:

"You just came back from those two women who refine pills, didn't you? What, the calming medicine all over you hasn't marinated you enough, you have to come here and stink up our place?"

Beside her, Feng Jiuyou, who had remained silent until now, also set down her tea cup.

"Xu Chen."

Her voice was clear and cold, not as explosive as Long Aoxue's, but carrying a chill that pierced straight to the heart:

"While we don't mind how many women you have, everything should follow the principle of first come, first served, right?"

"After the Saint's Banquet ended last night, you went to the Listening Sword Pavilion first. We tolerated that. After all, Wan'er just gave birth to an innate Sword Embryo. That's a joyous event, and she's a great contributor. But this morning, you left the Listening Sword Pavilion, didn't even glance our way, and went straight to the East Courtyard..."

Feng Jiuyou pointed at her slightly swollen belly. In those proud phoenix eyes, a trace of barely concealed grievance finally surfaced:

"What? Is it because we're carrying eggs, not as precious as the human babies they're carrying? Or do you think we're tough-skinned and thick-fleshed, so it doesn't matter if we're last?"

Looking at the two women, who were putting on a strong front of pride but whose eyes held hidden disappointment, Xu Chen's heart suddenly softened.

He wiped the playful grin off his face.

Ignoring Long Aoxue's struggles, he forcefully stepped forward, spread his arms, and pulled these two divine beast wives who were throwing a tantrum into a domineering embrace, one on each side.

"Let go... you reek!" Long Aoxue was still stubborn, but the strength of her struggle noticeably diminished.

"No."

Xu Chen held them tightly. A gentle, mellow Primordial Saint Force surged from his palms, slowly smoothing the restless primal energies within their bodies stirred by their emotions.

"My two ancestors, where did you get such ideas?"

Xu Chen lowered his head, his tone unprecedentedly serious:

"Haven't you considered your own status? One of you is a True Dragon ruling the four seas, the other is a Divine Phoenix reborn from nirvana! Is there any bloodline in this world more noble than yours?"

"Our children are destined to inherit the most supreme divine beast bloodlines! They might even become forbidden existences surpassing divine beasts!"

Xu Chen activated the advanced mode of his "Art of Persuasion," his eyes sincere:

"Look at those Chaos Divine Beasts from ancient legends that could destroy heaven and earth. Weren't they all nurtured for hundreds or thousands of years before being born? Our children needing to be carried for so long, what does that signify?"

"It signifies profound foundation! It means they're laying the groundwork, brewing a big move while still in the womb! Preparing to astonish the Three Realms and suppress all races the moment they're born!"

"Really?"

Long Aoxue felt a bit lightheaded from this flattery. The fire in her vertical pupils dissipated somewhat as she looked up suspiciously:

"It's not because the seeds you gave were of poor quality? Or something's wrong with our bodies?"

"Pfft—"

Xu Chen nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

To question her husband's ability at a time like this... truly typical of you, Long Aoxue.

"Aoxue, you can't say things like that!" Xu Chen began spouting nonsense with a straight face. "That's questioning a Saint's capability, and even more, questioning the powerful genes of your Dragon and Phoenix clans! You must firmly believe that the best things always make their grand entrance last!"

"Hmph, then why have the others already given birth?"

Feng Jiuyou's expression had softened a bit, but she still felt wronged. "Seeing Auntie Ji carrying those little ones around the courtyard every day, hearing their cries and laughter... we want that too..."

At this point, the voice of this usually incomparably proud Phoenix Clan Leader actually lowered. Her hand unconsciously stroked her own belly.

"I know, I know."

Xu Chen soothed them softly, planting a kiss on each of their foreheads:

"The pregnancy period is long and indeed monotonous. Plus, you two are naturally free spirits who soar through the Nine Heavens. Being confined to this courtyard every day for prenatal care, unable to fight or fly, must be very difficult for you."

"Exactly!"

Long Aoxue seemed to have found an outlet. Leaning her head on Xu Chen's shoulder, she complained pitifully:

"I feel like my bones are going to rust! I want to fight, I want to go to the deep sea and catch flood dragons, I want to transform back to my true form and fly a few laps... even letting me tear down a couple of mountains would be fine! When will these days of drinking prenatal medicine every day ever end!"

"I also feel the Primordial Fire within me is getting hard to suppress," Feng Jiuyou sighed softly. "I always feel like burning something."

Looking at these two "Destroyers" who might go on a rampage at any moment, Xu Chen could only continue to soothe them gently.

"Just bear with it a little longer, be good."

Xu Chen stroked Long Aoxue's silver hair, then squeezed Feng Jiuyou's palm:

"After the children are born and your bodies recover, I'll take you to beat up all those disobedient old monsters in the Demon Realm, how about that? You can tear things apart however you want then."

"You said it yourself."

Long Aoxue's eyes lit up. "No going back on your word!"

"I won't go back on it," Xu Chen promised.

"Then... what about tonight?" Feng Jiuyou looked up, a trace of barely perceptible expectation in her phoenix eyes.

"Tonight, I'm not going anywhere."

Xu Chen looked at the two of them, his eyes full of doting affection:

"I'll stay here with you. Not just tonight, but tomorrow night too. Until I've properly appeased our two Divine Beast Matriarchs."

"That's more like it."

Long Aoxue was finally satisfied. She snorted, wriggled out of Xu Chen's embrace, sat back down by the stone table, shoved the half-gnawed bone into Xu Chen's hand, and resumed her queenly demeanor:

"Since you're making amends, show some sincerity. I want barbecue! You, Xu Chen, grill it personally! Make it extra spicy! I was so angry earlier, I didn't even finish breakfast!"

"I want some too," Feng Jiuyou also sat down elegantly, stating calmly. "I want to drink the phoenix tree dew you brew personally. The heat must be just right, not a degree less."

"As you command, my queens."

Xu Chen shook his head with a wry smile, resignedly rolling up his sleeves and taking on the role of chef.

Soon, wisps of cooking smoke rose from the North Courtyard.

Xu Chen skillfully set up a grill, using extremely precious spiritual fire to roast Saint-rank demon beast meat retrieved from the family treasury. The aroma filled the air.

Long Aoxue sat beside him without any regard for image, directing him while drooling, occasionally sneaking a piece of half-raw meat when Xu Chen wasn't looking.

Feng Jiuyou sat quietly to the side, watching Xu Chen's busy back. The coldness in her eyes had long melted away, leaving only gentleness.