Chapter 2: Heaven and Earth Reversed, Supercharged!
"Primordial Dao Embryo, activate!"
As the thought flashed through his mind, a chaotic aura surged from Ling Tian’s body.
Ye Qingwu halted her movements, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief as she gazed at Ling Tian.
Even she, with her profound cultivation, found herself unable to see through the aura enveloping him!
"This... this is the Primordial Dao Embryo!"
As an Emperor, Ye Qingwu had seen much in her life—she could not possibly be unfamiliar with the Primordial Dao Embryo. This meant Ling Tian had nearly attained the Primordial Dao Physique!
The Dao Embryo required nurturing; the longer it was cultivated, the stronger the Dao Physique would become upon its awakening.
"I knew it. The child of Zhan Tian and me could never be ordinary!"
The slight furrow in Ye Qingwu’s brow relaxed, a spark of delight shining in her dreamlike eyes.
Thunder rumbled above Ling Tian’s palace, as tribulation clouds gathered in the sky. The mighty ones from all clans turned their gazes, wondering—who was summoning the lightning tribulation?
Ye Qingwu snorted coldly, setting up a barrier to block prying eyes and severing the tribulation itself.
Of course, she would never allow her beloved child to face the thunder’s wrath.
"Qingwu, what is happening..."
Ling Tian’s grandfather, Ling Batian, sensed the disturbance and appeared in an instant.
Ling Tian’s father had not returned from suppressing the Abyss of Demons, so Ling Batian took a particular interest in this grandson of his.
Clad in white, with an immortal’s bearing and a long white beard, Ling Batian viewed the scene, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes.
As one of the Ling Clan’s Grand Elders, he immediately saw the anomaly in Ling Tian. However, he recalled that Ling Tian was not born with such a constitution, which prompted his question.
"It appeared out of nowhere, as if it was hidden within him," Ye Qingwu replied uncertainly, shaking her head.
"Hahaha! My grandson is destined for greatness!"
Ling Batian did not press further. Stroking his beard, he broke into laughter.
As soon as the tribulation dissipated, Ling Batian scooped Ling Tian into his arms, gazing at him with loving affection.
"You little rascal, I’m your grandfather..."
Ling Tian’s little face darkened, and he turned away with obvious distaste.
Although what Ling Batian said was true, Ling Tian’s mental age was already a hundred years old—this sort of address felt quite inappropriate.
"Qingwu, is he... is he despising me?" Ling Batian rubbed his eyes, incredulous as he watched Ling Tian’s reaction.
Ye Qingwu made no reply, but her eyes sparkled with delight.
Her son was a genius—he could already understand human speech!
"Here, look at this. Isn’t it a sacred artifact? Call me Grandfather, and this will be my gift to you."
Ling Batian produced a bracelet inlaid with bells, shaking it before Ling Tian’s eyes.
It was a defensive sacred artifact—not particularly precious by Ling Clan standards, but for a child, Ling Batian believed it was quite attractive.
After all, when Ling Zhantian was young, he had often amused him with bells.
Ling Tian had no intention of entertaining this old man, but suddenly, a mission prompt appeared before his eyes.
[Since learning you were of mediocre talent, Ling Batian has publicly denied you as his grandson.]
[Reversal mission triggered.]
[Call Ling Batian "Grandfather" and have him accept it to dissolve the ice.]
[Reward: The highest realm of swordsmanship—Unity of Man and Sword!]
Ling Tian swallowed, his gaze burning as he looked at Ling Batian.
He was his grandfather after all—what harm was there in calling him so?
Ling Batian, seeing Ling Tian’s eager eyes, felt a bit puzzled.
"My grandson is even more interested in this than my own son?"
"He’s still young, how could he possibly speak?" Ye Qingwu tried to smooth things over, her tone casual. She never addressed Ling Batian formally—she was an Emperor, with the dignity to match, unconcerned with such social niceties.
As she reached to take Ling Tian from Ling Batian’s arms, Ling Tian resisted. This was the pinnacle of swordsmanship—years of arduous cultivation saved by a single word!
"Grand... Grandfather!"
A crisp, clear voice rang out, striking Ling Batian and Ye Qingwu like a clap of thunder.
Their gazes fell upon Ling Tian in unison.
He spoke! He actually spoke!
A child of only three or four months, speaking human language—wasn’t this far too precocious?
Even infants born with extraordinary constitutions could not speak at such an age!
Ling Batian, without betraying his excitement, fastened the sacred artifact to Ling Tian’s wrist and held him up, eyes meeting his grandson’s.
"What did you just call me?" Ling Batian asked, coaxing Ling Tian to repeat the words.
[Mission complete.]
[Reward: The highest realm of swordsmanship—Unity of Man and Sword!]
With the task done, Ling Tian had no desire to address Ling Batian as grandfather again. Who was this old man to him, anyway?
"Grandfather~, say Grandfather~," Ling Batian, unwilling to give up, puckered his lips and tried to teach him.
Ye Qingwu, watching this spectacle, turned her head away—it was almost too much to bear.
Had the old man truly abandoned all dignity for a single word? Even with her standing right there!
If Zhantian were present to see his father so, who knew what he’d think.
"Grandfather~ Grandfather~, call Grandfather, Grandfather!" Ling Batian persisted.
Ling Tian’s ears were ringing from the barrage. Unable to endure any longer, he replied with a single word.
But that single word was enough to shatter Ling Batian’s composure.
"Grandfather?"
"Yes!"
"Grandfather?"
"Yes!"
...
"You little scamp, are you making a fool of me?" Ling Batian finally lost his composure, bursting into laughter and cursing good-naturedly.
Who would have thought that he, Ling Batian, would one day call someone "grandfather" so many times?
Yet, the rage had nowhere to go. Ling Tian was just a tiny rascal, not even half the size of his palm—a single slap might kill him.
"Forget it—you little rascal, you’re far too clever!"
An old monster who had lived countless years, Ling Batian would not stoop to squabbling with a child. Shaking his head in resignation, he handed Ling Tian back to Ye Qingwu, who was struggling to contain her laughter.
"I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, let me know. For now, I still hold authority in the Ling Clan!"
His face flushed with embarrassment, Ling Batian left in haste, having been taken advantage of so thoroughly.
"You little scoundrel, you nearly drove your grandfather mad! Don’t do that again," Ye Qingwu said, a doting smile on her lips as she pinched Ling Tian’s cheek.
She would never think of punishing him.
With that, she started to loosen her collar to nurse him once more.
Ling Tian’s mouth twitched—was there no escaping this?
"Food... food..." he protested, wriggling in resistance.
Ye Qingwu’s eyes narrowed. If she hadn’t failed to detect any soul fluctuations, she might have believed her son had been possessed.
But she was an Emperor—how could she possibly be mistaken?
Still, she frowned and muttered under her breath:
"Not long ago, this little fellow couldn’t speak, and now he can. Could it be... that I taste bad?"