The Aloof Immortal Venerable is Pregnant with My Fox Cub - Chapter 98

Chapter 98

The spring rain did not cease; the chill was heavier than in previous years, and outside the Grand Profound Sect, danger lurked everywhere.

Tan Qingxuan prepared to personally go out and meet the enemy. Song Zhen hastily stopped her, “Senior Sister, you are about to give birth. For the sake of the child, don’t go. I will face the enemy. The Sect Protection Array won’t be broken so easily.”

Tan Qingxuan’s eyes were icy, and her voice deepened, “Many elders above the Grotto-Heaven Stage ($Dongxu Qi$) have come from the other three sects, as well as Mahayana Stage ($Dacheng Qi$) cultivators. If the sect’s grand array cannot hold, I fear our Grand Profound Sect will suffer heavy losses among our beginner disciples.”

Song Zhen was extremely anxious. Naturally, she trusted her Senior Sister’s strength, but she had diagnosed her pulse today and knew her Senior Sister was likely to give birth today. She couldn’t let her Senior Sister fall into danger.

Song Zhen tightly grasped Tan Qingxuan’s sleeve, pondering how to stop her, when Zuo Chunli rushed over from the palace entrance with a large group of medical cultivators, “Song Zhen, you stay here and take care of Venerable Qingxuan. I will go out and help deal with the enemy.”

Song Zhen saw Zuo Chunli dressed in a tight, practical outfit, ready to personally enter the battle, and frowned, “How can a medical cultivator like you fight them? I will go. I am a sword cultivator.”

Zuo Chunli chuckled lightly, “You, a half-baked sword cultivator, count as a sword cultivator? I can at least scatter a handful of poison and take them down.”

Song Zhen retorted, “No matter how bad I am, I’m still better than you, who can only heal.”

She prepared to leave, no longer wanting to argue with Zuo Chunli, when her arm was suddenly squeezed hard.

Tan Qingxuan’s lower abdomen felt a strong downward pressure, and a sharp pain erupted, causing her fingertips to tremble uncontrollably.

Song Zhen saw Tan Qingxuan’s face turn pale and quickly helped her to the sleeping chambers, “Senior Sister, is the child about to be born?”

Zuo Chunli also stopped bickering with Song Zhen. Knowing this was a sign of impending labor, she instructed Yun Muyu and Lin Mingyue, who were already attending nearby, “Your Venerable is about to give birth. Quickly prepare some hot water.”

She had brought enough tools for childbirth this time, preparing for any emergency, so only hot water was needed.

Song Zhen helped Tan Qingxuan onto the bed in the Rising Phoenix Palace’s sleeping chamber. Zuo Chunli had already started laying out the tools for delivery, handing Song Zhen a clean white robe for childbirth, “Hurry and change. Stay here to assist Venerable with the birth.”

Tan Qingxuan was covered in sweat from the pain and had lost all color. Her fingers tightly gripped the bedsheets. Song Zhen knew this battle was extremely perilous. Since her Senior Sister, the Sect Leader, could not fight personally, the rumors from the other three sects would only intensify, confirming their belief that her Senior Sister was pregnant and thus unwilling to fight.

She had to take command at the front for her Senior Sister. Even if her swordsmanship was lacking, she had managed sect affairs for half a year and had to step forward to meet the enemy.

If Zuo Chunli, a medical cultivator from another sect, were to go, she might not be of much use. Her Senior Sister and the Grand Profound Sect were more important than her own life. She was willing to go through fire and water for her Senior Sister, even facing ten thousand deaths without regret.

Song Zhen gently wiped Tan Qingxuan’s forehead with her handkerchief, resolved to die if necessary, her eyes firm, “Senior Sister, I will go out and meet the enemy. Don’t worry, you and the child will be safe.”

Tan Qingxuan bit her pale lips. The severe pain in her abdomen made it impossible for her to speak, but she knew her Junior Sister’s decision to go out was entirely for her sake.

All she could do now was give birth to the child as quickly as possible to resolve the Grand Profound Sect’s crisis and search for Cang Ran.

Tan Qingxuan’s palms were slick with cold sweat. She grasped Song Zhen’s hand, her voice trembling, “Junior Sister, take care.”

Song Zhen gazed at Tan Qingxuan’s face one last time, turned around, and said to Zuo Chunli, “Take good care of my Senior Sister during the delivery. Name any fee you want. The child and Senior Sister must be safe.”

Zuo Chunli saw her resolve and changed into her delivery clothes, “Your Senior Sister is a Mahayana Stage cultivator, and the child has been healthy under our care. Nothing will happen. It’s you who needs to be careful.”

Song Zhen nodded slightly, took her sword, and instructed her three disciples and Yun Muyu, “All of you must attend to Venerable and follow Sect Master Zuo’s instructions.”

Lin Mingyue saw her Master’s solemn expression and also wanted to help, “Master, let me come with you.”

Song Zhen looked at her eldest disciple, who was at the Golden Core Stage ($Jindan Qi$), and patted Lin Mingyue’s head, “You are still so young. Stay with your Junior Sisters. You are the future of the sect.”

Lin Mingyue felt a sudden bad premonition from her Master’s words, but before she could stop her, Song Zhen walked out of the Rising Phoenix Palace. In the dark wind and rain, only Song Zhen’s thin, solitary figure and fluttering robes could be seen.

When Cang Ran arrived at the Grand Profound Sect with the Demon Kings, dark clouds rolled across the sky, and the rain poured down. The blood of countless cultivators stained the ground red, which was then washed away by the cold rain, leaving a scene of horrific crimson tragedy everywhere.

The Grand Profound Sect’s Sect Protection Array had shattered, and scorched stones were scattered all around. Song Zhen was leading the Grand Profound Sect elders in battle against the three major sects. Various magical artifacts were deployed in turn, and the sky was filled with flashing lights and continuous explosions.

Flames burst out. The intense fires did not cease even in the downpour, as if determined to pierce a hole in this corner of the world.

Cang Ran searched for Tan Qingxuan’s figure among the crowds for a long time but couldn’t find her. Her heart was filled with worry. Suddenly, she saw someone fall from the sky and immediately transformed into her fox form to catch the person.

Song Zhen was struck and fell down. Her robe was tattered, her jade crown was askew, her long hair was messy, and she was covered in blood.

Song Zhen was a little dizzy. She was momentarily stunned when she saw the suddenly appearing, glittering nine-tailed fox. It wasn’t until the little chubby bird beside the nine-tailed fox suddenly transformed into Huazhao and hugged her that she realized the nine-tailed fox was Cang Ran.

Huazhao held Song Zhen’s face, quickly taking out the best healing medicine from her robes and feeding it to Song Zhen, “Zhen Zhen, are you alright?”

Cang Ran anxiously asked, “Where is Qingqing? Why aren’t you by Qingqing’s side? How are she and the child?”

Song Zhen had no strength to push Huazhao’s hand away and was forcefully given the medicine, coughing violently. She quickly said, “Senior Sister is in labor. The child is about to be born.”

Cang Ran heard that Tan Qingxuan was giving birth. She glanced toward the Rising Phoenix Palace, wishing she could be by Tan Qingxuan’s side immediately, but the external threat had to be resolved first.

She said to Song Zhen, “Go back now and tell Qingqing I’ve returned. Just stay by her side. Leave the rest to me. I will protect the Grand Profound Sect. Huazhao, take Song Zhen back first.”

Huazhao, holding Song Zhen, quickly nodded, “Okay, Ran Ran, be careful. I’ll be back as soon as I drop her off.”

Song Zhen saw that Cang Ran’s high cultivation and demon status would be more effective in turning the tide of the battle than she would be if she stayed. She instructed, “You must be safe. Senior Sister is waiting for you.”

After arranging for Song Zhen, Cang Ran led the Demon Kings into the fray. The nine-tailed fox, bearing the Demon Emperor’s authority, hovered in the air like a blazing sun. Large numbers of demon cultivators followed the Demon Emperor, also transforming into their original forms and fighting alongside Cang Ran.

The Grand Profound Sect disciples saw this formation and knew help had arrived. Venerable’s foresight is truly unique. Even the demon she favored is so responsible. They were all willing to cooperate and fight alongside the Demon Kings.

A massive protective aura condensed around the nine-tailed fox. Many low-to-mid-level cultivators besieging the Grand Profound Sect were torn in half by the sharp claws that could rip apart the heavens before they could even react.

Another group of cultivators, who barely managed to avoid the claw attacks, saw the nine-tailed fox transform into a beautiful, enchanting human form, holding a long sword and wearing the Demon Emperor Seal at her waist. Her long sword drew down majestic thunder light from the sky, and many demon cultivators guarded her sides.

A white-haired, skinny Mahayana Stage cultivator stepped out from among the crowd of cultivators, his white robe fluttering, and he questioned Cang Ran, “I wondered who it was! So you are the nine-tailed fox demon who bewitched Venerable Qingxuan. Humans and demons are fundamentally different. You are—”

Just as the Grand Profound Sect disciples were about to speak up for Cang Ran, the old cultivator was struck by Cang Ran’s sword. The spiritual treasure weapon in his hand immediately trembled violently against the divine sword.

Rapid light converged on the sword’s edge. Cang Ran slashed toward his head, “Old fool! Where do you get all this nonsense? Today is the day you die!”

The old cultivator was caught off guard by Cang Ran’s attack. His chest full of benevolence and moral righteousness was crushed under Cang Ran’s unstoppable ferocity.

He could only barely dodge. Even as a Mahayana Stage cultivator, facing such a formidable and unparalleled Void Refining Stage demon cultivator, he felt utterly helpless. Not to mention the divine sword she wielded; ordinary magical artifacts were immediately split in two by a slash from the divine sword. Only spiritual treasures could contend with it, and ordinary cultivators couldn’t even approach their battlefield.

Cang Ran’s swordsmanship was fast and fierce. Although not as refined as Tan Qingxuan’s, she utilized her demon cultivator’s powerful body to maximize every sword intent. After nearly a hundred exchanges, the old cultivator’s stamina failed, and Cang Ran finally found a flaw.

The massive inscription patterns of the Demon Emperor Seal, wrapped in immense demonic power, pressed down on the old cultivator with dazzling golden light. The old cultivator’s talisman was too late to deploy, and he was stabbed through the chest by a sword. The old cultivator’s eyes widened with fury, and as Cang Ran pulled out the long sword, she immediately stabbed him through again.

The remaining cultivators saw the fox demon slaughtering people like grass and tried to rescue the highly respected old cultivator but were entangled by the other demon cultivators. Large amounts of blood spurted from the old cultivator’s body.

Blood poured from the old cultivator’s mouth. He used a spiritual artifact, and a massive black crack appeared in the air. Just as he was about to slip into the crack to escape, he was struck fiercely by Cang Ran’s sword. The crack was shattered into pieces, and even the soul he intended to escape with was crushed into dust.

Under the combined efforts of the Grand Profound Sect and the demon cultivators from the four major demon mountain ranges, the defeat of the three major sects was evident. They were beaten back relentlessly.

In the midst of the fighting, Cang Ran suddenly heard a familiar, agonizing scream. She looked down and saw Shen Yunyan fighting Chu Changfan for the stolen divine sword. Shen Yunyan gained the upper hand, stabbing the divine sword into Chu Changfan’s body.

An intense, unwilling resentment screamed from Chu Changfan’s body, echoing in Cang Ran’s ears, almost overlapping with Ye Ze’s voice from before, “I don’t want to die! Heavenly Dao, save me one more time!”

The Heavenly Dao’s voice was also weaker than before, now powerless to intervene, “You are a waste after all.”

As that voice faded, the constraint imposed by the original book seemed to be broken on Cang Ran’s body. Everyone felt the Heaven Ascending Ladder connecting to the Upper Realm reconnect, and massive thunder tribulations, like rolling celestial pillars, brewed in the sky.

Those wicked old monsters who had prolonged their existence by using nefarious means to steal heaven and earth’s resources, yet almost none could withstand the tribulation with their own cultivation, were overwhelmed by the pressure of the heavenly thunder. No matter where they fled, they were all locked onto by the terrifying thunder tribulation.

Even their tens of thousands of years of cultivation were completely scattered under the bombardment of the thunder tribulation, all dissolving into dust. Vast amounts of spiritual energy echoed between heaven and earth.

The torrential rain suddenly stopped. The sky was clear, the rolling dark clouds were dispersed, and large swathes of rosy light instantly shone down. The white light of the heavens brightened sharply.

A seven-colored rainbow appeared in the sky, and phoenixes soared over the valley, circling the Grand Profound Sect for a long time before departing.

At this point, the three major sects no longer had the strength to fight and all fled in defeat. Cang Ran also sheathed her sword. She knew that if the Heaven Ascending Ladder descended, Tan Qingxuan would be the first to ascend. She quickly flew toward the Rising Phoenix Palace on her sword.

Cang Ran flew extremely fast, her heart burning with anxiety. She rushed into the Rising Phoenix Palace and immediately smelled a faint scent of blood upon entering the door.

As she was about to step into the sleeping chamber, Yun Muyu happily said to her, “Congratulations, Stepmother. The mother and daughter are safe, and Master has given birth to an extremely beautiful child.”

The little hedgehog was also jumping around nearby, “Great King, the little fox cub is so cute! I just heard Sect Master Zuo say that she has the cultivation of the Transformation Stage ($Huaxing Qi$) the moment she was born.”

The taut string in Cang Ran’s heart loosened slightly, but her heart still pounded like a drum. She asked Yun Muyu, “Where is your Master? Is she still in the sleeping chamber?”

Yun Muyu paused briefly, assuming Cang Ran was only worried about her Master, “Master and the child are both inside.”

Cang Ran quickly walked over and lifted the curtain surrounding the large bed in the sleeping chamber. She had been forced to wait outside.

Cang Ran immediately saw Tan Qingxuan lying on the bed, her face pale and covered in sweat, holding the little baby in her arms.

Zuo Chunli was tidying up the delivery tools nearby. Song Zhen was doing the final cleanup. She suddenly noticed someone barging in and was about to scold them but saw it was Cang Ran and quickly asked, “How are things outside?”

Her wife hadn’t ascended. Cang Ran’s heart finally settled. She quickly told Song Zhen, “The three major sects outside have all been beaten back.”

She quickly walked to Tan Qingxuan’s side and held her in her arms, “Qingqing, I’m back. Are you alright?”

Tan Qingxuan saw her safe return, and a gentle warmth flashed in her eyes. She smiled and said, “I’m fine. I’m glad you’re back. Come and look at our child.”

Her long-awaited little fox cub was very, very small, wrapped in a little red blanket. Her skin was a bit red, she had thick hair, and her fox ears were like Tan Qingxuan’s but much smaller. Upon closer inspection, her features resembled Tan Qingxuan’s, but her lips and nose were like Cang Ran’s, and she had nine small tails.

Children in the cultivation world were generally more beautiful than those just born in the mortal world. As expected of her baby. Cang Ran’s heart was melting as she looked at her, watching again and again, completely unable to tear her eyes away.

Song Zhen urged them away, “Your little fox cub’s birth caused Senior Sister’s cultivation to regress by three hundred years. Take the child out to look at her. I need to clean Senior Sister, and you need to change your clothes. You smell of blood and might affect the child.”

Cang Ran frowned, “Her cultivation wasn’t lost during pregnancy. Why would the child’s birth cause Qingqing’s cultivation to drop drastically?”

Song Zhen sighed, “That’s because the child didn’t take away the cultivation while still in the mother’s body. Once she left the mother’s body, she took all that cultivation with her.”

Cang Ran hadn’t expected this. Perhaps this was why Tan Qingxuan hadn’t immediately ascended. She should even thank her baby, or she would have been left behind in the lower realm as a “Wife-Watching Stone.”

Cang Ran was deeply moved and gently kissed Tan Qingxuan, “Qingqing, I’ll go out and change my clothes first. I’ll be right back.”

Tan Qingxuan stroked her cheek and nodded slightly, “Go.”

Cang Ran went to the side hall, changed into a fresh dress, and cast a Cleansing Spell ($Qingjie Shu$). Only then did she return and carefully take the little fox cub into her arms.

Song Zhen watched closely for a few moments. Seeing that Cang Ran held the baby very securely, she didn’t say anything more and continued with her tasks.

Tan Qingxuan looked at Cang Ran holding the child, her expression gentle and protective, her eyes filled with doting smiles.

The little fox cub smelled strongly of milk, a soft little bundle that didn’t cry or fuss in her arms, instead waving its soft little fists around.

Such a tiny baby, so adorable, I just want to take a bite.

Cang Ran lowered her head and kissed the little fox cub’s tightly clenched little pink fist, saying softly, “Baby, you smell so nice. Mother loves you so much.”

The little fox cub made soft baby noises. Cang Ran kissed her again and again, then turned and saw the exhaustion in Tan Qingxuan’s eyes. She kissed Tan Qingxuan and said, “Qingqing, rest for a while. I’ll take the child out first, lest she cries and disturbs you. I’ll come back after I’ve gotten her to sleep.”

With Cang Ran holding the child, Tan Qingxuan was more at ease than anyone else. She leaned back against the pillow, closed her eyes slightly, and softly hummed in agreement.

Seeing that Tan Qingxuan seemed ready to rest, and with Song Zhen there to care for her, Cang Ran carried the child out of the sleeping chamber. Lin Mingyue and the others immediately gathered around.

They all looked at the little fox cub, chattering, “What a cute cub! She smells of milk and looks so much like Venerable Qingxuan.”

The little hedgehog stood on the high table and jumped up to object, “The little fox cub looks just like the Great King! She should be the Little Great King!”

Huazhao mediated, “Oh, why argue? She’s beautiful no matter who she looks like. We are all going to be Aunts now. Ran Ran, have you thought of a name for the child?”

When the little fox cub was in Tan Qingxuan’s belly, Cang Ran called her baby and cub every day and thought of countless names, but now that she was born, she still hadn’t decided what to call her.

Cang Ran knew her naming skills weren’t great. This was her only child, so she needed to deliberate, “I’ll discuss it with Qingqing and see what name we should give the child.”

Huazhao said cheerfully, “Good. When you and Venerable hold the full-month celebration, be sure to invite me. I’m Aunt Chao now, so I’ll bring a gift for the child.”

The little hedgehog immediately said, “Me too! Aunt Hedgehog also loves the Great King’s cub very much.”

Yun Muyu and the other disciples also chimed in, “We also want to give the child our blessings.”

The little fox cub sniffed in her mother’s arms, then suddenly started crying, her soft little fox ears trembling as she wept.

Everyone scrambled to use various magical artifacts to soothe her. The atmosphere was so harmonious that one could almost forget they had just survived a major battle.

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