Chapter 636 357: Half a Day of Leisure

Shenluo Celestial Palace.

In a mysterious hall shrouded in Spiritual Mist and resplendent with rosy light, a profound and ancient aura of Dao Rhyme filled the space.

A woman with her dark hair worn down, dressed in a Water and Fire Daoist Robe, sat upon a jade meditation cushion. Her full, voluptuous curves could not be concealed. Her elegant back was straight as she toyed with a diamond-shaped Ancient Bronze Mirror, its surface hazy with light and shadow.

This was the current Elder Sect Leader of Shenluo Celestial Palace: Ye Yunni. She had held the position for just over three hundred years, and her current Cultivation Realm was the Middle Stage of Void Refining.

Chen Chuyu stood behind her master, the Sect Leader, exuding a cold and aloof aura, her bearing graceful and demure. Beneath the hem of her deep purple ceremonial gown, the outline of her astonishingly long, beautiful legs was faintly visible.

The closed-door disciple with the Sword Spirit Dao Body, Qi Yu, was also present. She had the appearance of a beautiful, doll-like girl of thirteen or fourteen, dressed in a magnificent ink-wash patterned gown. Her full, exaggerated curves were no less impressive than those of a mature woman. Her ink-black hair was draped over her shoulders, and her lively, beautiful eyes held a calm expression.

"...So, you're saying the situation in Yuzhou has taken a strange turn?"

Ye Yunni, who was also the Grand Palace Master of Shenluo Celestial Palace, asked leisurely.

Chen Chuyu replied in a low voice, "Master is correct. That newly emerged Ling Family actually devoured two major families, both of which were overseen by Refining Void Powerhouses, in a matter of months."

"This is definitely not something they could have accomplished on their own. Lu Hua Palace and the Liu Ying Clan must have made a move, and Xianyin Pavilion was likely involved as well."

Ye Yunni nodded slightly. "There are rumors that they plan to unite and take over the Yuzhou Cultivation Realm, then pool all their resources to establish a new order ruled entirely by female cultivators."

"I didn't quite believe it at first, but now it seems they might actually have a chance of succeeding?"

Chen Chuyu shook her head. "I find it unlikely. Even with the Cui Family and the Mu Family fallen, there are still seven major families left, not to mention the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty, which we secretly support."

"If they want to swallow all these factions, they'll need to display an almost absolute advantage in strength. Otherwise, they can forget about achieving their goal."

There was something she left unsaid: each of those families was backed by a major power. If the Ling Family wanted to make a move against them, they would have to deal with those backers first. But was that even possible?

Setting aside the others, Shenluo Celestial Palace alone would not easily abandon a pawn like the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty—unless they were truly outmatched.

Therefore, if the Ling Family—or rather, the three female cultivator factions behind them—wished to unify Yuzhou in the future, they would inevitably have to confront the numerous powers from the surrounding major continents.

Under normal circumstances, their chances of victory would be slim. But one must always account for the unexpected.

Shenluo Celestial Palace also suffered considerable losses during the demonic calamity a few years ago. Even one of the sect's two pillars of stability—the two Integration Realm Great Powers—was injured and is still recuperating in seclusion.

The situation was similar for the powers in the surrounding continents. The disaster orchestrated by the Primordial Demon Palace had hit them all hard.

The factions that suffered the greatest losses have become much more low-key, and it's estimated they won't recover their Primordial Qi for several hundred years.

Ye Yunni pondered for a moment. "Actually, I am no longer too concerned about that. The great calamity is upon us, and it is difficult enough for us to protect ourselves. How could we have the mind to worry about Yuzhou's affairs?"

"The crucial point is, where on earth did the legendary Child of Destiny, Ling Changqing, go?"

"Your subordinates have been searching for so long. Have they truly found nothing at all?"

The Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty is just a pawn. If things go south, it can be discarded. But the value of the Child of Destiny is irreplaceable.

Chen Chuyu's lovely face flushed slightly. She thought for a moment before speaking softly,

"Although he hasn't appeared, my intuition can't be wrong. He's most likely still hiding in some corner of Yuzhou."

For many years, Chen Chuyu had led a group of disciples around Yuzhou, conducting all sorts of overt and covert investigations.

They had found hundreds, even thousands, of suspected targets, but upon closer inspection, all of them turned out to be fakes.

As a result, the sect's upper echelons have grown anxious, and the voices of dissatisfaction and doubt directed at Chen Chuyu have grown louder.

Ye Yunni was silent for a while before she said softly, "According to information gathered by the sect's intelligence network, the Child of Destiny once appeared on the Qingming Continent."

"Traces of him were found in the territories of the Chiying Demon Sect, the Li Huo Divine Palace, and the Yu Family. Unfortunately, his appearances were fleeting, and he vanished without a trace afterward."

"Of course, that's not the main point. According to eyewitnesses, the Child of Destiny's cultivation has likely already reached the Divinity Transformation Realm!"

"Ah? Is that really true?"

Chen Chuyu's expression changed slightly, her dark brows furrowing.

Although the other powers had also failed to secure the Child of Destiny, so much time had passed. His cultivation was constantly increasing, and the difficulty of controlling him was undoubtedly skyrocketing.

The difficulty of controlling a Child of Destiny at the Foundation Establishment or Golden Core Realm is on a completely different level from controlling one at the Divinity Transformation Realm.

"Face reality!"

Ye Yunni turned her head and sighed softly. "From now on, it will be impossible for us, Shenluo Celestial Palace, to find the Child of Destiny. Even if we did, we wouldn't be able to keep him."

A Divinity Transformation Cultivator can no longer be possessed, let alone have their Root Bone and fate stolen. Such methods simply do not exist in this realm; not even multiple Integration Realm Great Powers working together could achieve it.

What special abilities a fully matured Child of Destiny possesses, no one currently knows.

In other words, the secret campaigns of the major powers to scheme against the Child of Destiny have, in fact, already failed.

Chen Chuyu's face fell. "Does this mean we have to give up? Even if we can no longer use force against him, we can still try to befriend him, right?"

Ye Yunni nodded lightly. "Rumor has it the Child of Destiny is very young, a man full of passions and desires. Perhaps factions of female cultivators like us still have a chance in the future? As long as..."

She didn't continue, but of course, Chen Chuyu understood her master's meaning. As long as Shenluo Celestial Palace could get a few of its female cultivators to stay by his side, the sect's interests would naturally be secured.

"Master, and Eldest Martial Sister, is there something strange about those three female cultivator factions in Yuzhou?"

At this moment, Qi Yu, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?"

Chen Chuyu's brows arched slightly. With her quick and clever mind, she understood after a moment of thought.

"Are you saying they might... know the whereabouts of the Child of Destiny?"

"What else could it be?"

Qi Yu's expression was calm. "For no reason at all, why would those three female cultivator factions join forces to wage war on other powers and try to unify Yuzhou?"

"For the past ten thousand years, they've all coexisted peacefully. Why would they suddenly want to merge into one? Unless they have a common goal."

Instantly, Chen Chuyu's gaze grew more solemn. "A common goal? It seems that besides the Child of Destiny, no other goal... would be worth them doing this, right?"

In the Saintess's heart, a long-unsolved mystery was finally beginning to reveal a few clues.

Or perhaps, the obscuring interference of Destiny and the confusion of Celestial Secrets seemed to weaken for an instant.

A glint flashed in Ye Yunni's eyes. She silently channeled a Celestial Secret Technique, only speaking after a long while.

"Those three female cultivator factions are indeed very suspicious. Compared to a century ago, their fortunes have grown far too dramatically!"

"Their fortunes have grown? Is it because of him?"

Chen Chuyu asked subconsciously, her expression tense.

"Besides him, it's hard to find a more reasonable explanation, isn't it?"

Qi Yu said through gritted teeth. If the fortunes of just one female cultivator faction had grown, it could be explained away as them having obtained some great opportunity. But for all three to grow together... that was something else entirely.

Besides, these three factions had now formed an alliance and were planning to flatten the other powers in Yuzhou. Without some inseparable common interest, which faction's Leader would be willing to go all out like this?

Ye Yunni was also a Great Power proficient in divination through Celestial Secret Techniques. Although she couldn't directly divine the Child of Destiny's whereabouts, her accuracy in divining other matters was quite high, especially when the target's cultivation was lower than her own.

Both Lu Hua Palace and the Liu Ying Clan were overseen by Refining Void Powerhouses, but none of them were Void Refinement Realm experts proficient in Celestial Secret Techniques. Therefore, Ye Yunni had indeed managed to obtain some useful information this time.

"In that case, you are to set out for Yuzhou at once and meet with the leaders of those three female cultivator factions,"

Ye Yunni said in a deep voice, "If they are willing to cooperate, everything is negotiable! If they insist on refusing, then we will declare war directly and spread the news that the three of them are hiding the Child of Destiny throughout the realm!"

"Yes, Master!"

Chen Chuyu's spirits lifted. 'If I can really see him this time, my hopes of achieving immortality will finally have a foundation.'

"Master, I want to go too!"

Qi Yu said hurriedly. With the opportunity to defy fate right before her, this peerless Sword Cultivator could no longer maintain her cold and arrogant demeanor.

"Alright, you two go together. Take all your junior martial sisters with you."

Ye Yunni nodded. "As long as you meet the Child of Destiny and he is willing to accept you, Shenluo Celestial Palace will be his most loyal ally from now on!"

...

「Yuzhou, the main peak of the Xinghan Mountain Range.」

In a courtyard of hazy light and mesmerizing, iridescent colors, Spiritual Mist swirled and rose, making it feel like a grand scene in an Immortal Palace.

Every brick and tile, every corridor pillar, palace wall, pavilion, and tower here was built from large blocks of High Grade Spirit Jade. These cultivation grottoes, which had once belonged exclusively to the Supreme Elders for their Cultivation in Seclusion, had now changed owners.

In the courtyard, on a lounge chair inlaid with gold and jade that shimmered with rosy light, Ling Changqing, who had been lost in thought for some time, slowly opened his eyes. He was met by a pair of smiling, beautiful eyes, their gaze as shimmering and deep as a tranquil pool.

"What are you doing?"

Ling Changqing blinked. The Eldest Princess, Ling Shuanghua, her beautiful face framed by an elaborate coiffure like a pile of clouds and dressed in an Embroidered Phoenix Palace Robe with a hundred-flower cloud pattern, was straddling him, her warm, curvaceous body pinning him down.

"I was wondering why I couldn't find you, Daddy. So you were hiding here all alone!"

A sweet, pleasant voice, like a babbling spring, rang out, and a face of dreamlike beauty appeared before him. It was the second princess, Ling Shuangqin.

"I just wanted some quiet time alone. That shouldn't be a problem, should it?"

Ling Changqing said helplessly. Being pestered daily by so many passionate Dao Companions, who tried to seduce him in all sorts of ways, was honestly a bit much to handle.

"Isn't this all your own doing, Daddy? It's too late for regrets now!"

Another ethereal and distant, yet slightly teasing and bewitching voice sounded out.

It was an incredibly beautiful, tall girl with a cold and reserved temperament. Her snowy, delicate skin looked as if it would break at a touch, her legs were long and slender, and her ample peaks seemed ready to burst from her clothes.

This was the Third Princess, Ling Shuanglan, born to Qin Yun. She currently looked to be no more than eleven or twelve, but her figure was already as developed as a mature woman's.

As for the doll-like girl behind her, dressed in fiery red robes, radiant and vivacious, with a beautiful face like a jade carving—her sinuous, snake-like figure was in no way inferior to that of her eldest sister, Ling Shuanghua. She was the fourth princess, Ling Shuangyu, born to the Long Nu, Luo Qingxuan.

They had always been doing their Cultivation in Seclusion within the Era Star Palace Grotto Heaven Blessed Land. They would only come out to move around and practice their Cultivation together when it was certain to be safe.

Ling Changqing now had four daughters, and as time went on, it was likely that many more would be born.

"The others don't know, do they?"

Ling Changqing asked lazily, leaning back into Ling Shuangyu's embrace and shamelessly enjoying her shoulder massage.

"They don't know for now, but it won't be long before some of our sisters come looking for you!"

Ling Shuangqin said, holding back a laugh. Her big, beautiful eyes narrowed as she squeezed in and began to massage his legs.

In the current harem, Ling Changqing was the natural center of attention, watched by countless eyes. No matter where he went, he was bound to have "chance encounters" with certain female cultivators.

Now that his daughters were grown, they couldn't help but enjoy clinging to him and playing around when they weren't cultivating. Yet he couldn't refuse them, making a moment of peace an extravagant hope.

Ling Changqing squeezed her palm. "Didn't you remember to close the door before you snuck over?"

"We did close it, but it's useless!"

Ling Shuanglan shot him a flirtatious glare. The Array Restriction at the courtyard entrance was set up by Sister Ziyunxi; of course they would have the means to open the Restriction.

Just as Ling Changqing was about to speak, a sudden warning from Gong Ling made his expression turn grave in an instant.