Chapter 34: Mother, have you found me a father?

Chapter 34: Did Mother Just Find Me a Father?

Chen Ping'an’s breathing quickened slightly as he looked at the scrap of broken bronze in his hand. He gently caressed its surface with his fingers, his eyes deepening.

This piece was incomplete; there must be other fragments out there. He wondered what astonishing treasure it might become once all the pieces were fused together. Chen Ping'an was filled with anticipation.

Suddenly, Xiao Bai extended a slender, pale finger and lightly tapped the ball of light. The crystalline body of the Ruyi Jade Spider stirred, releasing a faint wisp of radiance. As thin as a strand of hair, this light entered Xiao Bai’s fingertip, causing her to shiver. Her face flushed red, and her eyes seemed to bulge.

The sight made Chen Ping'an’s skin crawl.

"Xiao Bai, what are you doing?"

"Brother Xu, for all these years, I have been continuously absorbing the toxins within the Ruyi Jade Spider to strengthen myself..." After a while, Xiao Bai caught her breath, and her complexion returned to normal.

"No wonder you’ve been hiding in the Abyssal Poison Pit. So you were using the spider's toxins to cultivate," Chen Ping'an nodded.

"Brother Xu, the Ruyi Jade Spider sealed itself before it died, but so much time has passed that its toxins began to leak out, which is how I found it back then..." Looking at the battle-scarred body of the spider, Xiao Bai sighed. "Absorbing the toxins it released serves two purposes: it makes me stronger, and it prevents the poison from spreading and wreaking havoc across the wilderness."

Chen Ping'an felt a surge of respect.

Since the spider was poisonous, Chen Ping'an did not get too close to the light. After observing for a moment, he raised the piece of broken bronze and said, "I'll be taking this fragment then."

"Of course, Brother Xu." Xiao Bai agreed happily.

Brother Xu was an immortal protected by the Longevity Coffin. His luck was so great that he could pick up a piece of broken bronze without being affected in the slightest; this proved he was the true master of the object. She dared not touch the bronze herself. She had tried to approach it once before, but a terrifying aura had surged forth, forcing her to abandon the attempt.

After lingering in the star-filled space for a while, Chen Ping'an and Xiao Bai returned to the room outside the tunnel.

"I am currently reincarnated and cultivating, so my real strength isn't high yet. When I eventually break through to the Transcendence Realm, I will take you to the Canglan Continent..." Chen Ping'an said solemnly before they parted.

"Understood," Xiao Bai replied obediently.

The two walked out of the room and returned to the ancient hall. The woman in the colorful dress and the Poison Dragon Young Master were glaring at each other, the air thick with hostility, as if they were about to break into a fierce fight.

"You little dragon, give up that thought," Chen Ping'an said coolly.

Poison Dragon Young Master: "..."

*Slap!*

Xiao Bai waved her hand, and with a single strike, she sent the Poison Dragon Young Master sprawling to the floor.

"Ouch, Mother, why did you hit me?" the Poison Dragon Young Master wailed.

"You useless thing! I hit you because I wanted to!" Xiao Bai retorted sharply.

*Slap! Slap!*

Her jade hand flicked through the air, sending the Poison Dragon Young Master rolling across the ground as he let out pained cries. The woman in the colorful dress covered her mouth and giggled. It was satisfying to see someone finally putting this troublemaker in his place.

Seeing Xiao Bai hitting him too hard, Chen Ping'an’s eyelid twitched, and he quickly advised, "Go easy, don't break your eldest son!"

"Brother Xu, he is my adopted son." Xiao Bai suddenly realized something, and her face turned shyly red.

Chen Ping'an had an epiphany. An adopted son—no wonder she was so ruthless. But what was the meaning of that comment? Was she trying to tell him she was still a maiden? As a seasoned veteran of life, how could Chen Ping'an miss the hidden emotions behind her bashful expression? However, he had other goals in mind, so he promptly ignored it.

"Alright, that’s enough," Chen Ping'an intervened. Xiao Bai stopped.

Chen Ping'an bade farewell to Xiao Bai and flew toward the sky above the Abyssal Poison Pit, with the woman in the colorful dress quickly following.

The Poison Dragon Young Master climbed up, his face swollen like a pig’s head. He clutched his cheek and grumbled, "Mother, you went way too hard just now!"

Xiao Bai gazed toward the sky above the abyss and said in a relaxed tone, "Brother Xu will be staying in the wilderness for some time. If you encounter him again, you must obey his commands."

"Understood, Mother." The Poison Dragon Young Master nodded quickly. A hint of gravity appeared in his eyes. His mother had previously called him a benefactor, and now she called him "Brother Xu." From the way she addressed him, their relationship was clearly extraordinary.

*Did Mother just find me a father?* the Poison Dragon Young Master thought, secretly amused. Even the Temple of Longevity, which his mother feared, treated this "Brother Xu" with such respect. One could only imagine that the power this "stepfather" possessed was beyond imagination.

...

After flying out of the Abyssal Poison Pit, Chen Ping'an landed on a nearby hilltop. He turned around and stared with a smile at the woman in the colorful dress.

"Little Butterfly, it’s been many years. How have you been?"

"Ah!" The woman in the colorful dress was caught off guard and let out a startled cry, her small face flushing instantly.

"I didn't expect you to recognize me, Brother Chong," she said shyly.

"You’re a high-level demonic beast in human form at the Void Spirit Realm now. What should I call you?" Chen Ping'an asked with a smile.

"Brother Chong, just call me Xiao Die."

"That’s a good name." Chen Ping'an nodded.

No sooner had he finished speaking than he felt a tightness in his chest as a soft figure suddenly embraced him.

"Brother Chong, it’s been over a hundred years. I’ve finally seen you again." Xiao Die held him tightly, her emotions surging as crystalline tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.

Many years ago, she had hatched from an insect egg deep underground, nurtured by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. She was very weak back then, only at the Qi-Blood Realm. She had practiced in that small valley, never daring to venture out. One day, a handsome man walked into the valley. She was instantly drawn to him and danced her way before him. And so, he had caught her and later given her to Blue Phoenix. That was the beginning and the end of it.

...

*Cough, cough*, she was quite well-endowed. Chen Ping'an felt uncomfortable being squeezed and quickly pulled away.

"Xiao Die, you’ve suffered while wandering out there all these years..." Chen Ping'an said softly.

Xiao Die’s eyes were red as she sobbed, "I’m sorry, Brother Chong. Back then, I hadn't awakened the memories in my bloodline, so I thought you had thrown yourself into the river and died. That’s why I didn't go looking for you."

"Ding! You have gained the forgiveness of your ex-girlfriend, Xiao Die. Host has received 63 points of Innocence Value and a mission gift pack. Would you like to open it?"

The system’s voice rang out. Chen Ping'an didn't pay much mind to the system's prompt. Back in Moonfall City, he had felt Xiao Die’s affection—a sentiment planted when she was still very young. According to the system's logic, he and Xiao Die had already had "intimate contact" when they first met. He had touched every inch of this little butterfly. Therefore, she counted as an ex-girlfriend.

On this path of cultivation, Chen Ping'an was eager to have as many ex-girlfriends as possible, for that was how he obtained more rewards. Filled with anticipation, he gave a silent command:

"System, open the gift pack!"