Chapter 487 - Joyful Surprise!

When Yun Xiao arrived above the Sword Ruins, he was struck by the sight of the world of the Sword Cultivators, now devoid of anyone wielding their swords in flight.

All the Sword Cultivators were on their knees, hands clasped in prayer between the mountain peaks, their eyes bloodshot and faces solemn, offering their thanks to the heavens above!

The satisfied smiles on their faces, however, sent chills down the spine of any onlooker.

“Sword Warden!” Yun Xiao entered the ruins, and there in the Golden Springs, Mu Tianjian, robed in gold, also knelt, his body trembling, his eyes bleeding.

“Stop practicing,” he said, reaching for Mu Tianjian’s hand.

But Mu Tianjian violently shook him off and glared at him, raging, “Heaven has bestowed its grace upon us. How dare we squander it? Yun Xiao, you foolhardy child, won’t you practice too?”

Yun Xiao hadn’t expected the Sword Warden to recognize him. But it was pointless!

The Sword Warden was no longer young. Before, he had a chance to break through to the Five Calamities Realm. Now, with the Heavenly Decay descending, his path to eternal life was doomed.

“Can the Prison Warden Sigil cure the All Life Devouring Gu?”

With the Heavenly Decay affecting him too, Yun Xiao could only pin his hopes on this last gambit. He hurriedly produced the Prison Warden Sigil and pressed it against Mu Tianjian’s forehead!

The volume of the All Life Devouring Gu in the Nine Hells was actually quite low, and with the sigil applied, Mu Tianjian’s eyes quickly began to sizzle, and soon, the blood in his eyes faded.

This indicated that the Prison Warden Sigil, with over 9,000,000 Runes, was indeed much stronger than before.

“Yun Xiao, what’s happened?” Mu Tianjian asked, bewildered.

After his confusion, a pang of pain creased his brow. “What’s wrong with my body? It feels like it’s decaying?”

“The Primordial Ruins are in trouble. A True Immortal from the Celestial Court descended, brainwashing you all into practicing an evil technique and consuming your lifespans for her own. Stop practicing this method; endure the pain for a few days,” Yun Xiao said gravely.

“A True Immortal from the Celestial Court? Evil technique? Our lifespans?” Mu Tianjian listened, dumbstruck. The whole situation sounded incredulous! Yet, he believed in Yun Xiao.

“By all, you mean the whole Nine Hells? How many people might that be?” Mu Tianjian’s voice trembled.

“If this continues, it will eventually affect the myriad worlds, and everyone will be sustaining these True Immortals with their lives,” Yun Xiao said fiercely.

"Is this an Immortal or a fiend?" Mu Tianjian's worldview had completely shattered.

"I'll go save the others first."

Without a second word, Yun Xiao made his way to the Mu-Mu Hu. Inside, both Mu Dalong and her daughter Mu Xiaolong were kneeling in the courtyard, their expressions as if in prayer.

Yun Xiao drew out the All Life Devouring Gu from their bodies and left some of the power of the Prison Warden Sigil within them, which would fend off the Gu for some time.

"Fae!" Mu Xiaolong felt as if she had just woken from a sleep, opening her eyes to see Yun Xiao, like she was in a dream.

"What's happened to us?" Mu Dalong's beautiful eyes trembled slightly, her voice tinged with confusion.

"Let your father explain."

After speaking, Yun Xiao soared into the sky with his Sovereign Sword, and in an instant, he was above the Sword Ruins.

"The Prison Warden Sigil can't handle this alone. You can only save them one by one. The All Life Devouring Gu spreads millions in a moment," Blue Star said seriously.

"I know!" Yun Xiao's eyes were red with blood.

Standing high above, viewing the disaster below, his breath grew heavy.

"Wait..."

Suddenly, he looked to the east, where the vast Heavenly Decay was corrupting the Immortal energy and surging in a certain direction.

"Senior Sister Zhao!" Yun Xiao's expression changed dramatically, and he transformed into a streak of azure light, arriving at the entrance of a vortex.

"The Heavenly Decay and the All Life Devouring Gu have both invaded," Blue Star exclaimed.

Yun Xiao's face was tense and agitated as he plunged into the vortex, emerging in a place where his dreams had once set sail.

The Demon Continent was gone; below was the Divine Continent!

"Fortunately, it's just begun to spread. Nothing has happened on the Divine Continent yet..."

However, given the rate at which the disaster was spreading, it wouldn't take long for the entire land of the Divine Continent to suffer.

Yun Xiao's eyes blazed like a celestial sword plunging from the sky! In the months he'd been cultivating, he had known anger and hatred, but such fury and loathing were rare even for him.

The Three Immortals were nothing in his eyes; not True Immortals! When their superiors arrived, they magnified the disasters caused by the Three Immortals tenfold!

What did they consider human life?

What kind of Immortal was this!

The raging force in his chest, quiet for just a while, was now fully aroused, erupting vehemently!

He was like a man aflame, his heart carrying a woman in a black gown who embodied his mortal dreams...

"Sister, senior sister..." Yun Xiao's throat burned.

The green forests below swiftly came into view. That was Azure Spirit, where his journey began! The sword pavilion, Little Cloud Residence, the courtyard, the fish pond, the osmanthus trees, and the stone table, the Daughter's Red Wine...

"Senior Sister Zhao!" Yun Xiao descended like a storm from heaven, suddenly landing in the courtyard.

Contrary to his fury, the whole Little Cloud Residence was tranquil, content, peaceful, and warm, as if it were another world.

"What are you rushing about for?"

Suddenly, a soft and beautiful voice called out.

Yun Xiao looked up, dazed, to see a woman in a black gown sitting in an osmanthus tree, holding a jade lantern, gazing down at Yun Xiao with a fond smile.

"Senior Sister Zhao..."

Upon seeing her, all the fire within Yun Xiao slowly dissipated, like a flame merging into vast, profound waters. His inner world began to feel more spacious.

"Last night, some snakes and bugs damaged my lantern, so I went down to the market to buy a few new ones. I spent half the day painting rabbits on them. Do they look good?"

Zhao Xuanran held up the lantern, showing Yun Xiao her peaceful, slow-paced life with a cheerful smile.

Yun Xiao stared at her, the agitation in his heart subsiding, a smile spreading across his face, "No need to paint them. The lanterns look better plain and round."

"Naughty." Zhao Xuanran bit her lip and glared at him. "I get so annoyed with you. You disappear for days, and the first thing you do when you get back is make cheeky jokes."

As she spoke, she lightly floated down from the osmanthus tree, extended her hand, and gently brushed the dirt and sand from Yun Xiao's clothes, softly asking, "Tell me, how many bad guys did you stand up to out there this time?"

Yun Xiao pointed to the sky, shaking his head, "This time it's serious trouble. The threat is massive, it's brought disaster upon the whole world."

"This..." Zhao Xuanran paused, taken aback. After a moment, she gently cradled Yun Xiao's face, her eyes sparkling as she said, "Don't worry, the world is full of injustices that lead to resentment and unhappiness, but you were born to break all that."

"Are you really not afraid?" Yun Xiao asked.

"With you as my junior, I fear nothing," she replied softly, with a laugh.

Her posture was relaxed. Her ease also allowed Yun Xiao to relax.

In the gentle breeze, she held Yun Xiao close, their embrace full of tender warmth.

It was a sense of complete and encompassing happiness.

Yun Xiao also wrapped his arms around her waist, and they stood thus, serene and quiet, for a long time.

"Listen, you should hide away in the Nine Heavens Star Meridians Pagoda for a few days," Yun Xiao said.

"How many days?" Zhao Xuanran asked.

"Until I return to take you out," Yun Xiao replied.

"Alright, if it eases your mind," she said, her beautiful eyes fluttering.

"Then I..." Yun Xiao let go, slowly stepping back from her embrace.

"Go ahead."

Zhao Xuanran took two steps back and gently lowered her head.

"Mm..." Yun Xiao nodded, summoned his Sovereign Sword, and stepped onto it.

"Junior Brother Yun!" Just as Yun Xiao was about to soar away swiftly on his sword, Zhao Xuanran suddenly called out, her pretty face tinged with melancholy.

"What is it?" Yun Xiao asked.

She hesitated for a moment, then relaxed her clenched fingers, smiling. "When you solve the problem, could I borrow half a day of your time? Take me to see the places you've been, just flying over them. I won't get close, just look from afar."

"Are you conducting an inspection?" Yun Xiao said with a smile.

"Can't I?" she asked.

"Senior sister..." Yun Xiao suddenly became solemn, looking earnestly at her. "As long as you wish, I'll carry you on my sword for a lifetime."

Zhao Xuanran was startled.

She gazed at Yun Xiao for a long time, lost in thought and silent.

"I must go now," Yun Xiao said.

She nodded, still silent.

With a hum, Yun Xiao shot into the sky and vanished in the blink of an eye.

"Junior Brother Yun, I..." Her eyes reddened slightly as she slowly sat on the stone chair, then leaned over the stone table, lost in thought.

"What's really the matter?" a voice suddenly rang by her ear.

Zhao Xuanran sprang to her feet, only to see the young man in white standing before her, looking at her tenderly.

"Why did you return?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"You had something to tell me, but it wasn't about flying in the sky," Yun Xiao said.

"I..." She lowered her head.

"Go on," Yun Xiao stepped forward and took her hand.

Zhao Xuanran's eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at him for a long time.

Yun Xiao's gaze was resolute.

Finally, she took a deep breath, somewhat awkwardly, "How long have we known each other?"

Yun Xiao thought for a moment, "About two or three months? I don't remember clearly, but I remember the first time we met..."

Before Yun Xiao could finish, she suddenly said, "Since I met you, I haven't had my period."

"..." Yun Xiao fell silent.

"I went to see the doctor this morning." Zhao Xuanran raised her head, suddenly clutching his hand tightly.

"What did they say..." Yun Xiao asked, stunned.

She bit her lip for a moment, then finally said two words, "Joyful pulse."

Yun Xiao felt as if he had been struck by a hammer, his mind buzzing, he blurted out, "How's that possible, I'm not even human..."

"Idiot, what are you talking about?" Zhao Xuanran's eyes reddened, glaring at him. Suddenly she began to cry, "It's all your fault, my good days are gone, and now I'll have to bear your child, so annoying."

"..." Yun Xiao remained silent. His mind buzzed, never having dreamt that this would happen so soon.

"Bluey, what's going on?" Yun Xiao asked.

"I don't know."

"Am I not the Creator Immortal?"

"I didn't say Creator Immortals couldn't have children with humans, did I?"

Yun Xiao was stunned, his mind a blank.

It took him a while to gather his thoughts.

"You don't like children?" Zhao Xuanran glared at him.

"I do, I do!" Yun Xiao quickly tightened his grip on her delicate hand. "I'm just a bit dazed..."

"I know! You're just a big kid yourself, so don't worry, I'll take care of the child myself. You don't have to do anything," Zhao Xuanran paused, her voice softening. "Don't fret. I'm just letting you know you're going to be a father, that's all."

That sounded too easy, didn't it?

Yun Xiao scratched his head and asked, "How long does it take to have a baby?"

"About nine months," Zhao Xuanran replied.

"Oh! Then there's no problem. In that much time, I could turn the heavens upside down," Yun Xiao said.

"..." Now, it was Zhao Xuanran's turn to be speechless.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and she pinched Yun Xiao's face, annoyed. "You're so young, and you don't learn. You always make trouble and then just walk away."

"What should I do then?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Just go and save the world. I'm going to hang lanterns," Zhao Xuanran said.

Having spoken her mind, she felt liberated, and though she seemed angry, Yun Xiao could feel the joy in her heart.

She did like children. Seeing her busy herself, Yun Xiao, having sorted out his thoughts, suddenly felt his confusing life had direction.

A home, her, and hope...

"Senior Sister Zhao!" Yun Xiao rose on his Sovereign Sword, smiling at the woman in the black gown. "Take my advice, plain lanterns are best—large and full, they symbolize the great Dao."

"Hush. Go be a world-saving Sword Immortal," Zhao Xuanran said, turning away with a leisurely smile.

"I was wondering, after the baby is born, can I have one of the lanterns?" Yun Xiao called back as he flew away on his sword.

"Go away, you're annoying!" Zhao Xuanran shouted back.

Red Moon, overhearing, chimed in excitedly, "I want one too!"

Yun Xiao was exasperated and snapped, "Go to hell, you won't get a single sip even at the grand finale!"

Blue Star collapsed, protesting, "It's your problem, not mine! Why are you squeezing me? Let go!"