IOAFD - 1166. Side Story: Beast God City Celebrations (I)

The disciples of the Beast God Sanctum returned from the intercontinental immortal sect competition to great honor and fanfare. The entirety of Beast God City heard about their exploits against the Western Wumu Subcontinent and the bullies of the Immortal Association. Unlike the previous immortal sect competition, which ended in a monster invasion, this time, they were able to showcase their strength and status as a Spirit King Realm sect and the ruler of the eastern region.

The eagle lord, Immortal Crimson Eagle Qu Shen, declared a week of celebration across the city to commemorate the returning disciples. Qu Jing, Qu Rong, Yang Cang, as well as others like He Xingping, all of them became well known if they weren’t already. Each person’s future was limitless.

“Chief Elder He!”

“Chief Elder He!”

“Congratulations to the chief elder!”

He Xingping returned to his modest manor and was greeted by a gaggle of neighbors, relatives, and acquaintances from the lion faction. There were many familiar faces, elders, executive elders, and talented disciples. It was an annoying bunch so he waved casually to them. He gave a short speech to send them away.

He entered the manor to greet his wife and daughter.

“Husband, welcome back,” Qiu Jingyi greeted with He Zhuoyan in her arms, “Zhuoyan, look. Daddy is home!”

“Daddy!”

“Wife, you’ve worked hard…”

The toddler waddled into his arms and He Xingping hugged his daughter, kissing her face until she tried to escape, and laughed. The happy family retreated to the main hall where a banquet had already been prepared. Knowing him, Qiu Jingyi didn’t invite anyone and it was just the three of them.

While he was enjoying the meal, his wife seemed to have something on her mind. Finally, after the dishes were cleared away and the wetnurse took He Zhuoyan away, Qiu Jingyi finally had the courage to speak up.

“Husband, I heard from some people… it’s not that I want to pry, but everyone has been talking about it…”

He knew what she wanted to say. The rumors had already spread. “Xiao Yi, it’s true. The eagle lord has decided to let me cultivate the immortal path. He says I have the talent so I cannot refuse. He has also come to an agreement with the imprisoned lion lord to help me quickly become the next lion lord.”

“…” Her mouth widened in shock, “Wow…”

What he said was mostly false but the important part was true. Chen Wentian had already decided to cultivate He Xingping to the Spirit Lord Realm. Originally, he was going to rely on Jasmine’s Legacy of Moonlight, a process that would take five to ten years depending on the situation. But after killing sword master Luo Ming, the plan changed.

Luo Ming was a cultivator at the peak of the Spirit King Realm who was about to break through to the next realm. His soul was enough to raise one of Chen Wentian’s Spirit Lord souls to the Spirit King Realm with some to spare. He had decided that his next Spirit King soul would be the golden serpent. Now, he had also decided what to do with the leftover energy. He would give it all to He Xingping so that this living soul could reach the immortal realms.

Having a living soul at the Spirit Lord Realm would be a great benefit. Although He Xingping wouldn’t be as useful as Chen Mo in spying and sneak attacks, as the lion lord of the Beast God Sanctum, he could do so many more things out in the open.

The only problem was that process would happen too quickly. Using Luo Ming’s soul in conjunction with the Legacy of Moonlight, He Xingping might be able to reach the immortal realm in a year or less. Chen Wentian needed a way to explain this sudden change. The only way was to leak the fact that the imprisoned former lion lord was willing to pass down his cultivation. A dying Spirit King who had no other choice, it was the only reasonable explanation.

“Xiao Yi… Xiao Yi, are you alright?” He shook her.

Qiu Jingyi remained stunned after so long. She had never imagined that her humble husband could one day step into the sky and become an immortal. It was beyond her wildest dreams. But this fantasy also brought about a lot of helpless worries, worries that had kept her awake for many days.

After she snapped out of her daze, she quickly fell to her knees before him, “My lord husband…”

She tried to kowtow but he quickly stopped her.

“What are you doing?” He asked unhappily.

Husband and wife stared at each other with great difficulty and many unsaid words.

For Qiu Jingyi, this man was the future lion lord, not Immortal Tempest Badger Qiu Chuyi. Her husband was the future leader of the lion faction. The He Clan, the Qiu Clan, the Ji Clan, many people would have to rely on him from now on.

After much heartache, she slowly spoke what was on her mind.

Simply put, she wanted him to marry more women and have more children. If he were to be the future lion lord and an immortal, he couldn’t have just one daughter. He had to expand his family. It was expected. It was his duty. For his sake, she had to force him. If he wasn’t willing, she was willing to take her own life and ease his burden.

“Xiao Yi… don’t think that way. You don’t have to do that…”

“I have to!” She remained kneeling, with no intention of getting up, “I am a useless person!”

Chen Wentian understood. Qiu Jingyi was always under a lot of pressure. After he leaked his situation, this pressure only increased. The madams of other noble families, all the nosy elders and mouthy ancestors, even her own Qiu Clan, many people were unsatisfied with her, throwing snide comments at her or gossiping behind her back. While he could casually ignore it all, she was just a weak woman. She had to bear it all alone.

He understood her intentions but He Xingping’s soul still resisted. His love for his wife was unfathomably deep. Although Chen Wentian’s love for many women affected him, He Xingping remained steadfast for so many years. But it couldn’t go on like this, especially if he became an immortal.

After a few minutes, Chen Wentian came to an understanding with his own soul that satisfied his desires. He wasn’t a kind person but he would try to be kind to the people who were important to him. With a gentle wave of spiritual energy, he lifted Qiu Jingyi and cradled her on his lap. He hugged her tenderly and kissed her teary face.

“Xiao Yi, I agree.”

“You agree?” She looked relieved but also disappointed at the same time.

“I agree. I know that when I become the lion lord, I will have many more responsibilities. I will have to marry for the sake of the clan, to unite the various factions that remain leaderless after the fall of the previous lion lord. But I will promise you several things.”

“First, you will always be the first wife and the matriarch of the He Clan. Nobody can marry into our clan without your permission. As long as you are unwilling, even the eagle lord cannot force me. Second, Zhuoyan is my sole successor. No matter how many talented children I have with other women in the future, it will only be her.”

By now, tears were pouring down her face but he wasn’t done yet.

“Lastly, I will not marry another woman until I reach the immortal realms. So, Xiao Yi, don’t worry your little head. The path to immortal cultivation isn’t so easy. Maybe I don’t have the talent for it after all. We don’t know!”

With this, she was finally appeased. She smiled, “Husband can do it.”

“Nothing is for certain.”

“I am certain!” She insisted, “My husband is the best!”

“Haha, since you said that…”