Chapter 17: The First Birthday Celebration, Ling Zhantian’s Impatience, and the Daylight Yet Unfaded

“Iron sword, just an ordinary one…” Even Elder Xu standing nearby was dumbfounded. Good heavens, only now did he realize how he had lost. It was clearly just an ordinary iron sword, yet after all those elaborate, seemingly profound words, there was no actual fault to be found upon closer inspection. Truly baffling.

It seemed that flattering others was indeed a technical skill; without the right words, your flattery might end up backfiring. In such circumstances, your life could easily be forfeit.

Luo Qingqiu, upon hearing this, was speechless. She glanced at Ling Tian with a look of helplessness. If this had truly been her own disciple choosing such a thing, she would have been angry. But this was Ling Tian—his family was wealthy and influential; squandering a bit was of no consequence. The Ling clan really didn’t lack a single imperial weapon. Otherwise, Ling Tian wouldn’t have so many treasures on him.

Forget it, he made his own choice—he had no one else to blame. She was, however, curious as to why Ling Tian had chosen that sword. He never did things by the book.

Elder Qiao and Elder Xu, seeing that Luo Qingqiu had nothing more to say, breathed a slight sigh of relief. At least they had muddled through. After all, they had gone to great lengths to invite her here, and if all she got was an ordinary iron sword, and if she was angered by that, the Sword Pavilion in its current state could hardly withstand further trouble.

Damn it, it was all Lin Pingfeng’s fault. Why couldn’t he behave himself? He just had to arrange a contest and make it known to everyone. That would have been manageable, but to lose to a two-year-old child—there was simply no excuse. Whether the Sword Pavilion would be able to recruit new disciples in the future was now an open question.

“Let’s go.” When Ling Tian returned to Luo Qingqiu’s side, she spoke coolly. Before Ling Tian could reply, she vanished from the spot.

“Why did you choose this sword?” Luo Qingqiu asked curiously on the way.

“Why did you teach me?” Ling Tian did not answer directly; instead, he played with the sword in his hand and posed a counter-question.

Luo Qingqiu merely smiled, saying nothing. She had already given her answer. Luo Qingqiu was willing to teach Ling Tian because she wanted to. Likewise, Ling Tian chose this sword simply because he wished to. Besides, this was his opportunity, and however he chose was not for her to worry about.

With that, the two fell silent.

Ling Tian lowered his head, playing with the sword, his movements growing ever more fluid—as if he was already quite familiar with it. What other secrets do I harbor? he muttered to himself, shaking his head as he put the sword away.

…

Back at the spiritual peak where Luo Qingqiu resided, Ling Tian spent several months cultivating there. He had grown much taller, looking now like a child of three or four. With the pills given by Ye Qingwu and the tempering of the “Heavenly Emperor’s Chaos Art,” Ling Tian’s physique had become remarkably resilient—though to be clear, that referred to toughness, not that his skin was as hard as stone.

“Tomorrow is your first birthday celebration. You ought to return home,” Luo Qingqiu appeared before Ling Tian, a trace of approval in her eyes.

Unknowingly, Ling Tian had spent several months here. She had thought the child would have trouble adapting, but he had performed surprisingly well—as if he had returned to another home of his own. When Ling Tian’s chaotic physique began to take shape, she had observed him for several days, fearing he would become arrogant and neglect his cultivation. Unexpectedly, aside from visiting the girl named Xiao Ling’er, he spent all his time training. His cultivation had already reached the fourth level of the Yuanyang Realm!

If not for his sensitive status, Luo Qingqiu truly would have considered taking him as a disciple. Now that she was about to send Ling Tian back, she found herself feeling oddly empty. With the child gone, the spiritual peak would be left to her alone—rather lonely, really.

Everyone envied the position of an emperor, but the loneliness endured after attaining such heights was unimaginable to others. No wonder Luo Qingqiu sometimes entertained the fanciful thought of having a child.

“Sister?” Ling Tian waved his small hand in front of the dazed Luo Qingqiu, snapping her out of her reverie.

“Hmm?”

“My chaotic physique is still some way from completion. I’ll need your guidance again in the future!” Ling Tian said, as if sighing.

Luo Qingqiu smiled without answering—this little one seemed to know her thoughts exactly, as if he were a worm in her belly.

With that, Luo Qingqiu seemed to relax, taking Ling Tian’s hand as they left the spiritual peak.

…

Ling Clan, Ye Qingwu’s bedchamber.

“What did you say? Tian’er awakened the Chaotic Dao Embryo? Impossible, absolutely impossible!” Ling Zhantian had rushed home from the Demonic Abyss to attend Ling Tian’s first birthday, only to be greeted by this unbelievable news.

It wasn’t that he doubted his son, but Ling Tian’s aptitude had always been ordinary—he had checked personally and was confident in his own judgment.

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying my son is useless?” Ye Qingwu frowned at Ling Zhantian’s words, hands on her hips, ready for a confrontation.

“Ahem, that’s not what I meant—I’m just… surprised, that’s all…” Ling Zhantian coughed, helpless in the face of Ye Qingwu’s fiery temperament. He could best her in a fight, but he couldn’t bear to. Ling Zhantian loved Ye Qingwu deeply; while other powerful figures might have several partners, this peerless legend had only her, which spoke volumes.

“That’s more like it. Now that Tian’er’s talent has awakened, you needn’t worry about this anymore,” Ye Qingwu replied proudly, then her gaze softened as she noticed Ling Zhantian’s left arm. She produced a bottle of pills. The Demonic Abyss was a place where, if one were careless, even an emperor could perish.

Ling Zhantian hugged Ye Qingwu and laughed gently. When it came to who had worried most over all this, surely it was Ye Qingwu.

“It’s been so long, and yet, Qingwu, you are still as breathtaking as ever.” There was no one else in the palace, and the two were so close—after all, as the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and to not let something happen now would be a shame.

“You rascal!” Ye Qingwu rolled her eyes at Ling Zhantian, her tone coquettish and full of charm.

Ling Zhantian, unable to contain himself, swept Ye Qingwu into his arms, pressing her down, intent on mischief. At this moment, the two of them were true lovers—Ling Tian was merely a happy accident.

Just as Ling Zhantian was about to unleash his vigor, two figures—one large, one small—appeared.

“Ahem, I think certain matters are best left for the evening,” Luo Qingqiu said, covering Ling Tian’s eyes and turning her head aside, coughing awkwardly to remind them. Really, could they not be a bit more careful? At the very least, set up a barrier!

“Get up this instant!” Ye Qingwu pursed her lips and patted Ling Zhantian’s chest. It was all his fault—so impatient.

Ling Zhantian smiled awkwardly, got up, and the two hastily straightened their clothes. Once they had finished, Luo Qingqiu finally let go of Ling Tian’s eyes.

Ling Tian looked at the imposing, strikingly handsome Ling Zhantian before him and instantly recognized his identity, inwardly sighing: This old guy is a bit too eager, isn’t he? It’s not even dark yet!

“Tian’er, let me introduce you—this is your father…” Ye Qingwu reached out to stroke Ling Tian’s head, glancing at Ling Zhantian, but before she could finish, Ling Tian blurted out:

“Ling Zhantian!”