Chapter 25

 

At this moment, it wasn’t just him; even Haowei, who always had a stern expression, couldn’t help but be astonished when he saw Junli’s face.

 

Afterward, Haowei looked at Si Lan and squinted his eyes.

 

Is this a coincidence? Or is there some connection?

 

Junli stepped forward, gazing at the blood bead and murmured softly, “Idiot.”

 

“No wonder Bian Rang’s soul was shattered, it turns out it was to free up cultivation to protect this fetal crystal.”

 

As the child of the Heavenly Dao, regardless of gender, if one is willing to conceive, the fetal crystal will gestate within the core.

 

After Bian Rang’s core was pierced by a sword, he didn’t choose to heal the injury but instead wasted his cultivation to save the fetal crystal, which resulted in his soul scattering!

 

Originally, after the Heavenly Dao’s omen appeared, the spiritual power of the three of them had been gradually weakening and couldn’t withstand such turmoil.

 

Fanyu couldn’t help but say, “Is it worth losing your life for the child of a snake demon?”

 

Junli parted his lips but remained silent.

 

This gesture was almost identical to Si Lan’s little habit.

 

Si Lan, seeing this expression on the other’s face, felt a bit complicated. The excitement of seeing his idol had now been completely replaced by shock.

 

“What should we do with this fetal crystal?” Junli asked.

 

“I’ll keep it in the core for Bian Rang first. If I have any issues, I’ll hand this fetal crystal over to you.” Even though Fanyu felt that Bian Rang was a fool in his heart, he was still willing to personally nurture the fetal crystal in the core as their cultivation gradually weakened.

 

Junli nodded.

 

Then, the two of them vanished in an instant.

 

However, at this moment, Si Lan was still trying to recover from the successive shocks he had experienced. He felt that he had some grasp of the current situation and subconsciously asked Haowei beside him, “Chongying, did you also see that bead? Do you think it looks like Xie Li’s original form?”

 

After asking this question, Si Lan felt like he had asked in vain. This little white dragon wouldn’t know anything about Xie Li’s original form.

 

However, Haowei calmly responded, “It’s not just similar, it’s the same.”

 

“How do you know?”

 

“The aura.”

 

Si Lan pursed his lips, “So… does this mean that the fetal crystal underwent a transformation in the core, with the bloodstains inside forming a young embryo, and then it took shape when it came to me?”

 

Haowei succinctly replied, “Yes.”

 

Si Lan remained silent.

 

Initially, the bead had been entrusted to Fanyu for nurturing, but after Fanyu’s soul shattered, it was probably handed over to Junli. Then, after Junli’s death during the Heavenly Tribulation, the bead might have followed him in the cycle of reincarnation.

 

Finally, the bead appeared next to Si Lan, and Si Lan and Junli looked identical…

 

Although it was hard to believe, the answer seemed evident: Si Lan might be Junli’s reincarnation!

 

So, all these years, the person he admired was actually himself?!

 

Si Lan, upon seeing the helpless yet somewhat pleased expression on the other’s face, couldn’t help but sigh.

 

It seemed this Demon Lord had quite the self-love, admiring himself.

 

“This bead is a fetal crystal, not a reincarnation bead. I don’t know whether to tell Jiuying about this; whether he can handle it…” Si Lan mused with a furrowed brow.

 

Considering Jiuying’s current situation, if he were to learn that Bian Rang had passed away and had no chance of reincarnation, it would likely lead to his immediate demise.

 

Haowei, sensing Si Lan’s dilemma, calmly stated, “If you don’t tell him the truth, he won’t survive either.”

 

Jiuying had almost wiped out the Snake Demon Clan, committing a great atrocity. He would undoubtedly face judgment, and that would result in his soul shattering.

 

“Ah…” Si Lan sighed again, “I can’t tell him directly, but maybe I can give him a pleasant surprise.”

 

If Jiuying learned that Bian Rang had left behind a child before his death, it could provide some comfort to his troubled heart.

 

Si Lan had searched tirelessly for Xie Li’s biological parents for so long without any leads, and now, he had stumbled upon the answer quite unexpectedly.

 

Fate was a strange thing.

 

Thinking about this, Si Lan looked up at the sky. After Jiuying had killed Jiutou’s Snake Clan, the Heavenly Dao had withdrawn its condemnation.

 

The wasteland had returned to calm, and the night sky was inexplicably eerie.

 

He felt as though he were an onlooker, observing the story of Bian Rang and Jiuying. Was the Heavenly Dao also watching his story?

 

With this thought, he suddenly felt a bit uneasy and quickly cast a spell to dispel the blood magic in his palm.

 

The world in front of him slowly dissolved, replaced by the real scene. Two worlds intertwined, a hundred thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

 

In the cave, the figures of Si Lan and Haowei appeared within the star and moon formation.

 

Quze had been guarding the formation all along and, upon seeing Si Lan’s arrival, immediately approached and asked, “Your Excellency, how are you feeling? Do you have any discomfort?”

 

Si Lan shook his head and lowered his gaze, noticing Haowei standing beside him.

 

Haowei’s small face was tense, giving the impression of an old sage.

 

Si Lan couldn’t help but smile and looked up at Jiuying.

 

Jiuying, who had recently appeared, seemed to have aged thousands of years in an instant. His head was covered in cracks, his eyes had changed from red to black, and his aura was nearly nonexistent. It seemed that after activating the Return to Origin spell, he had suffered significant cultivation loss.

 

Jiuying’s voice was hoarse, and he could hardly contain his excitement, “Did you find the blood bead?”

 

“I found it.”

 

“Where is it?”

 

“It… it’s not a reincarnation bead. It’s your and Bian Rang’s child.”

 

With each word Si Lan spoke, Jiuying’s expression became stiffer, and he stared at Si Lan in disbelief.

 

That blood bead was his and Bian Rang’s child?

 

Are they joking?

 

Si Lan could tell that Jiuying was struggling to accept this revelation and continued, “As the child of the Heavenly Dao, regardless of gender, when you killed Bian Rang, he was already carrying your child.”

 

Jiuying couldn’t find the words to express himself, and his head trembled slightly, likely due to the overwhelming shock.

 

A child? Bian Rang was carrying his child?

 

But Bian Rang had always been joking, saying that he wanted Jiuying to bear his child. How could it turn out that Bian Rang was carrying his child?

 

Si Lan saw Jiuying unable to speak and continued, “I brought the child to you. He carries the blood connection between you and Bian Rang.”

 

With that, Si Lan used magic to bring Xie Li, who had been surrounded by disciples of the Xuanling Sect and the Snake Demon Clan at the foot of the mountain, into the cave. Xie Li had his mouth full of sweet candy, given by the Xuanling Sect disciples and the little Snake Demons. He was happily eating when he suddenly found himself in a dark cave, and his little face turned pale.

 

Fortunately, he quickly saw Si Lan’s figure and ran happily to Si Lan’s side.

 

“Umm… Your Excellency…” Perhaps remembering something, Xie Li hastily swallowed the candy in his mouth.

 

The Excellency didn’t like him eating candy.

 

Jiuying had been watching Xie Li since he appeared, his gaze fixed on Xie Li. His lips trembled with excitement. This child was his and Bian Rang’s child?

 

But he had no idea that Bian Rang was carrying his child!

 

Si Lan pushed Xie Li toward Jiuying, and Xie Li suddenly saw the enormous snake head of Jiuying, causing his little body to shiver. He quickly hid behind Si Lan.

 

“Your Excellency, there’s a monster…”

 

Si Lan couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless. Xie Li himself was a little monster, so it was strange that he would be afraid of his own kind.

 

Moreover, this “kind” was his father.

 

Jiuying slowly extended his snake tongue, getting closer to Xie Li. Xie Li stared wide-eyed in fear at the snake tongue that was circling around him. His small hands involuntarily clenched the hem of Si Lan’s clothes.

 

As Jiuying got closer, he realized that the child bore some resemblance to Bian Rang. His snake tongue touched Xie Li’s head and explored, sensing the blood connection between Xie Li and Bian Rang.

 

Sil

 

an saw Jiuying’s reaction, “I brought the child to you. He carries the blood connection between you and Bian Rang.”

 

With that, Si Lan used magic to bring Xie Li, who had been surrounded by disciples of the Xuanling Sect and the Snake Demon Clan at the foot of the mountain, into the cave. Xie Li had his mouth full of sweet candy, given by the Xuanling Sect disciples and the little Snake Demons. He was happily eating when he suddenly found himself in a dark cave, and his little face turned pale.

 

Fortunately, he quickly saw Si Lan’s figure and ran happily to Si Lan’s side.

 

“Umm… Your Excellency…” Perhaps remembering something, Xie Li hastily swallowed the candy in his mouth.

 

The Excellency didn’t like him eating candy.

 

Jiuying had been watching Xie Li since he appeared, his gaze fixed on Xie Li. His lips trembled with excitement. This child was his and Bian Rang’s child?

 

But he had no idea that Bian Rang was carrying his child!

 

Si Lan pushed Xie Li toward Jiuying, and Xie Li suddenly saw the enormous snake head of Jiuying, causing his little body to shiver. He quickly hid behind Si Lan.

 

“Your Excellency, there’s a monster…”

 

Si Lan couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless. Xie Li himself was a little monster, so it was strange that he would be afraid of his own kind.

 

Moreover, this “kind” was his father.

 

Jiuying slowly extended his snake tongue, getting closer to Xie Li. Xie Li stared wide-eyed in fear at the snake tongue that was circling around him. His small hands involuntarily clenched the hem of Si Lan’s clothes.

 

As Jiuying got closer, he realized that the child bore some resemblance to Bian Rang. His snake tongue touched Xie Li’s head and explored, sensing the blood connection between Xie Li and Bian Rang.

 

“He is truly the child of him and Bian Rang!

 

He remembered the moment when Bian Rang handed him the blood bead, but he intentionally pretended to crush it in front of Bian Rang. At that time, Bian Rang was so furious that he vomited blood, his soul scattered.

 

At that moment, Bian Rang must have thought he had killed their child…

 

Even though he acted so maliciously, at the very last moment, Bian Rang saw his tears and consoled him.

 

“Jiuying, I’m fine. Even if my soul scatters, I will reincarnate.”

 

“When the snow in the north river is gone, I will return.”

 

Jiuying closed his eyes, and black tears fell one by one.

 

He didn’t understand why Bian Rang didn’t tell him the truth at that time.

 

Did he think that telling him wouldn’t matter to him?

 

Yes, at that time, all he thought about was killing Bian Rang.

 

Probably Bian Rang himself understood… but he still allowed his actions and ultimately died by his hand.

 

After his head cleared, he realized many things. Rather than saying he killed Bian Rang, it was more accurate to say that Bian Rang willingly died by his hand to fulfill his dream.

 

He didn’t know what he had done wrong.

 

He was exiled by kind people and loved by evil demons.

 

 

Seeing the snake head on the ground, Xie Li felt a profound sadness. He turned to look at Si Lan, who nodded at him. Encouraged, Xie Li approached Jiuying.

 

Jiuying slowly opened his eyes and, as if afraid of frightening Xie Li, lowered his head and lay on the ground in a submissive posture.

 

Xie Li handed a piece of candy to Jiuying, the sweetest one he had hidden and rarely ate himself.

 

Jiuying hesitated for a moment but then extended his serpent tongue and took the candy into his mouth.

 

The taste of plum candy was very sweet.

 

Jiuying extended his head, wanting to nuzzle Xie Li, but Xie Li was startled and ran back, hiding behind Si Lan, only showing a pair of big eyes as he watched Jiuying.

 

Jiuying felt strangely content. This was enough.

 

He didn’t need to gain anything more, and he didn’t deserve it.

 

He could see that this child lived a simple and peaceful life. In his round, innocent eyes, there were no worldly worries. Si Lan took good care of him, so there was no need to disrupt his innocence.

 

He communicated through mental transmission to Si Lan, “Thank you for taking care of him. Please don’t tell him about the things between me and Bian Rang. Let him be a carefree child.”

 

“Alright.”

 

“Why is he following you?”

 

Si Lan casually made up a reason, “I obtained a jade pendant from a snake demon, and that jade pendant turned into Xie Li, staying by my side.”

 

Jiuying seemed to believe this explanation and didn’t ask further.

 

Si Lan then asked, “Jiuying, do you know who unsealed your imprisonment?”

 

“I don’t know. When I woke up, there was nothing around me. It took me a hundred years of cultivation to free my head.”

 

Si Lan furrowed his brows, contemplating whether the unsealing of the Extreme Sound Eight Trigram Array was accidental or deliberate.

 

If it was deliberate, what was the purpose of releasing Jiuying? Was it to kill the Charm Snake Clan?

 

However, the person capable of unsealing the Extreme Sound Eight Trigram Array could easily wipe out the Charm Snake Clan without involving Jiuying.

 

“Perhaps, after ten thousand years, the Eight Trigrams Array loosened, and my head was accidentally released,” Jiuying explained when he saw Si Lan’s puzzled expression.

 

Now that he had no cultivation left, he only had one breath left. He hadn’t fulfilled his promise to Si Lan, so he conjured a small stone and presented it to Si Lan.

 

Si Lan took it and discovered that the small stone contained mystical inscriptions.

 

“When I entered the illusion, I carved these inscriptions. Anyway, I’m about to die, so I’m giving them to you…” He looked at Si Lan with a pleading expression. “But I still have one last request. Can you help me with it?”

 

“What’s your request?”

 

“Check if the snow in the north river has ended.”

 

Si Lan didn’t say anything and disappeared from the cave in an instant, reappearing a thousand miles away in the north river.

 

White snow covered the mountains, glistening like silver, stretching endlessly, without a sign of sun or moon.

 

The phrase “When the snow in the north river is gone, I will return” was just a comforting statement Bian Rang had made to Jiuying.

 

Ten thousand years later, the north river was still blanketed in endless white snow.

 

Si Lan returned to the cave and saw Jiuying waiting for him, but his body was motionless, with only his eyeballs moving with difficulty.

 

Si Lan approached him. “Jiuying, the snow in the north river has not yet ended.”

 

Jiuying seemed to smile, closed his eyelids, and his head shattered into specks of starlight, disappearing into the air.

 

It was good that Bian Rang could be reborn.

 

It was enough for him.


T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

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