Feeling the small amount of Shanhe Qi-veins injected into Lu Xingzhou’s palm, Jiang Yuan’s somewhat muddled mind’s first reaction was, “It’s time to eat again…”

Then her face flushed crimson.

“Oh no, these scoundrels have led me astray.”

But the problem arising from her absorption of that drop of blood was indeed this. Theoretically, the blood’s energy was perfectly within the range she could absorb and utilize, and she initially thought it would be easy to resolve. Only in practical application did she realize that some things aren’t just about energy.

Although that blood wasn’t Emperor’s Blood, it was from a few generations close to it. The imperial intent, the tyrannical aura of looking down upon the world, compared to her little clueless princess self, was almost like a different species.

It seemed to sense the residual intent within the blood cursing, “Where did this stinky beggar, impersonating my descendant, come from?”

Thus, the Shanhe surged, unable to integrate.

If it weren’t for the fact that she was indeed a true descendant, with some affinity, she probably would have exploded long ago.

Lu Xingzhou’s wisp of Qi-veins entering her body was like a timely rain delivering ginger, giving her a certain imperial aura that could resonate and neutralize with that drop of blood. Slowly, it finally calmed down and was completely absorbed and digested.

Lu Xingzhou could feel Jiang Yuan’s power beginning to skyrocket. The purer ancient Emperor’s Blood clearly boosted her cultivation. She was already half-step Huiyang when she released her suppression, and now she broke through with a roar, directly surpassing the great threshold of Huiyang.

Then, due to the suppression of a certain secret technique, her bloodline was concealed, Huiyang reverted to Tengyun, and what manifested externally was merely a peak first-grade.

Lu Xingzhou was secretly astonished. This might be the youngest super-grade he had ever seen. Is ancient bloodline really that formidable? No wonder they said the pursuers might come for this bloodline; this is clearly a game-breaking bug, isn’t it?

Lu Xingzhou’s professional habit as an alchemist was triggered. His mind probed her body for examination, and Jiang Yuan, with her eyes closed, was too embarrassed to open them.

The blood was given by him, and this time even the harmonizer to absorb the blood was given by him. What did she even have left of her own?

How could the dignified little princess of the Eight Ancient Clans truly become a beggar when she came to the backward human realm… The debt was accumulating, and she was almost at a loss for how to repay it.

Also, why was his hand still on her stomach…?

She wanted to tell him to take it off, but it felt like burning bridges, making her a bit embarrassed. He was only concerned about her condition, after all… Jiang Yuan felt the warmth of his palm on her stomach, as if a strange energy was entering her entire body through her Dantian, making her feel as if she was being slowly stripped bare and scrutinized.

What was entering…? The young girl’s goosebumps rose little by little, but she dared not utter a sound.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Voices suddenly rose. Dugu Qingli, Yuan Muyu, and even Ji Wenchuan all rushed in, “The energy here is boiling, the reaction is wrong, what happened? Uh…”

Then everyone stared blankly at Lu Xingzhou touching Jiang Yuan’s stomach. Ji Wenchuan silently retreated outside.

Yuan Muyu crushed the armrest of her newly repaired wheelchair for the third time.

Wheelchair: “…”

Next time, it’s advised not to repair it yet.

A great chill rose in the room, and frost covered everything. Dugu Qingli strode forward, sizing them up, her voice sounding as if it was squeezed through her teeth, “I don’t see anything wrong. Lu Xingzhou, when are you going to take your paws off your stepmother?”

Lu Xingzhou reluctantly withdrew his probing spiritual energy and retracted his hand, saying, “She’s not my stepmother.”

“Oh, she’s your aunt then.”

“…Neither.”

“We in the Demonic Dao understand this best,” Yuan Muyu’s tone was icy, “This is about playing with the women of the opposing clan after eliminating their branch. Marquis Lu is quite skilled now.”

Jiang Yuan could no longer play dead and opened her eyes indignantly, “This is just an alchemist treating an illness! Do you, the esteemed Saintess of Tianyao and the Yama King of the Demonic Dao, only have such brains?”

Yuan Muyu spun her wheelchair and left, “That spiritual energy has reached the mammary glands. I wonder what kind of illness he’s treating. It must be very comfortable.”

Jiang Yuan was certain that even if she weren’t ill to begin with, encountering this group would give her mammary nodules. Wouldn’t it be perfectly normal for him to clear them in advance?

Besides, did the Yama King even have such things, to be so concerned?

Ji Wenchuan and Yuan Muyu had left, unable to bear watching. Only Dugu Qingli remained, arms crossed, looking down at Jiang Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, “Cultivation deviation?”

Jiang Yuan braced herself and said, “Something like that.”

“Don’t your ancient bloodlines grant immunity to negative effects? Can you still experience cultivation deviation? It seems it’s not such a good bloodline after all.”

Jiang Yuan said, “Yes, yes, it’s not as good as the Ice Demon bloodline.”

Dugu Qingli said, “I don’t have the Ice Demon bloodline, I have a human bloodline, the Ice Soul Sword Body.”

Lu Xingzhou really couldn’t hold back. Now they’ve gone from appraising cultivation methods to appraising bloodlines, haven’t they? There’s nothing good in this world.

Jiang Yuan retorted angrily, “That’s not a human bloodline of yours, it’s a spiritual body born of heaven and earth, essentially a materialized embodiment of the origin of ice. Generally speaking, you can’t have children.”

Dugu Qingli’s contemptuous expression vanished, as if she had suffered a critical blow, and she took a small step back.

Actually, Xiaobaimao had never considered having children, but for some reason, hearing it made her feel very uncomfortable.

Lu Xingzhou also felt a jolt in his heart, “You know this?”

Jiang Yuan said, “I don’t know about hers specifically, but I know all such spirits of heaven and earth are like this.”

“Then do you know a solution?”

Jiang Yuan stated matter-of-factly, “No.”

Silence filled the room for a moment. Jiang Yuan looked at the dog-and-bitch pair, who looked stricken and worried. With a mix of disdain and a little sympathy, she said, “There should be a way. If we go to the Ancient Realm in the future, we can try to find it.”

From then on, the concept of the “Ancient Realm” became deeply ingrained in Dugu Qingli’s mind.

Lu Xingzhou also secretly kept this in mind, and let out a long breath, “I came to find you, originally wanting to ask if you’re coming back to Daqian with us.”

Jiang Yuan was startled, “Why go back right after leaving?”

“Of course not back, but to the south of Daqian.”

Jiang Yuan’s heart stirred; she actually wanted to go. Coming from the Ancient Realm to the human world, anywhere was an opportunity to broaden her horizons, everywhere was exciting, and having companions was quite nice.

But seeing Dugu Qingli’s look like a mistress, she finally said, “I don’t want to go. If you want me to fulfill my promise and be your guard, then I can only obey you, right?”

Those peach blossom eyes blinked and blinked, the implication being “hurry and order me.”

But Lu Xingzhou said, “Since you don’t want to go, then forget it. Be careful traveling alone.”

Jiang Yuan: “?”

Dugu Qingli’s lips curled into a slight smile, a rare display of amusement.

Jiang Yuan was like a dumb person eating bitter herbs, unable to speak of her suffering. If she were to say she wanted to go now, would it seem like she was throwing herself at a man?

But I just wanted to go to the south to play.

Going to the south of Daqian, at least a large part of the journey could be shared with Yuan Muyu and others returning.

Yuan Muyu took out an airship, and the group all got on.

Only Jiang Yuan, who “didn’t want to go,” didn’t board the ship. She sat alone in her small wooden boat, sniffing from a distance as she followed behind.

Yuan Muyu quietly asked Ji Wenchuan, “You say I’m difficult, isn’t that little girl in red much more difficult than me? Why do you think she does that?”

Ji Wenchuan cupped his hands, “That’s a maiden’s shyness.”

The implication was, “You’re an old lady, don’t be like that anymore.”

Yuan Muyu said, “You’re hypocrites.”

“This is really different.” Ji Wenchuan sighed, “Besides, I’m really not an expert. I haven’t known as many women as Old Lu has been with, so what’s the use of asking me?”

Yuan Muyu took a deep breath, “You can use a different comparison.”

Ji Wenchuan shut his mouth.

Yuan Muyu said, “You don’t have women, but what you said before made a lot of sense.”

“That’s just common sense.”

“Why does a killer like you understand common sense so well?”

Ji Wenchuan was silent, not replying.

Where there are people, there are rivalries, you think the Yanluo Temple workplace isn’t a workplace?

Besides, accompanying a monarch is like accompanying a tiger. With a temperamental superior like you, if I didn’t understand, I wouldn’t even know if you’d kill me first. Even now, I’m worried whether you heard those slanders that night…

Yuan Muyu was too lazy to say more to him and turned to look into the cabin.

Lu Xingzhou and Dugu Qingli were not on the deck enjoying the breeze and scenery, but were hiding in the cabin, whispering who-knows-what sweet nothings like a young couple.

Yuan Muyu’s heart felt like ants were biting it watching this scene, and she suddenly regretted it. Perhaps they should have traveled separately; watching them in sweet love every day was pure self-torture.

But this was the first time in so many years that she had spent such a long time interacting normally with Lu Xingzhou, and Yuan Muyu couldn’t bear to leave.

Fortunately, she didn’t listen to what the young couple was actually saying; if she had, she probably wouldn’t have been able to stand it.

Dugu Qingli whispered to Lu Xingzhou, “Can I really not have a baby?”

Lu Xingzhou’s hand was also on her lower abdomen, examining it. After a long moment, he said, “From a medical perspective, at most you have a cold uterus. But from a cultivation perspective, what Jiang Yuan said is very reasonable. As a spirit born of heaven and earth, there’s no reason you should be able to reproduce offspring.”

“Does it really require going to the Ancient Realm to solve?”

Lu Xingzhou bit her clear, translucent ear, “You want to have a child?”

Dugu Qingli didn’t know if she did or not; logically, she had no such thoughts. They were still in a romantic relationship, not an illicit affair; many things hadn’t even been done, so why was she thinking about having a baby?

But it also couldn’t be that she couldn’t have one.

Lu Xingzhou said, “Purely from an alchemist’s medical perspective, my current cultivation goal might actually be able to solve your problem.”

Dugu Qingli was stunned, “What?”

“Solar True Fire.”