Chapter 754: A Child's Duty

Chapter 754: A Child's Duty

In the midst of a river of starlight, a woman dressed in a black gown, her garment swirling with celestial luminescence, darted toward the nebulous frontier before her.

Above this river, the waters shimmered with dreams and illusions. It was here Zhao Xuanran awoke, slowly rising from the cosmic flow.

"My child..." she murmured, her heart fluttering as she peered down at her clasped hands.

Upon unfurling her fingers, a tiny black furball, now much reduced in size, lay in her palm, resembling an egg adorned with six golden, spiral eyes that hung listlessly, hinting at exhaustion.

"Mom, I'm alright," the six-eyed creature reassured, gathering its eyes on the side facing Zhao Xuanran, though its voice bore a tinge of melancholy.

"Are you truly okay?" Zhao Xuanran lifted the furball to her eyes, brimming with concern.

"Yes... but the disguise is fading."

As it spoke, the creature's body began to change, its physical form dissolving into pure black essence, akin to a soul, minuscule and embryonic...

A fetal soul!

"My child," Zhao Xuanran whispered, cradling the tiny soul in her hands, her eyes filled with worry and deep affection.

"Don't worry, it's fine!" Despite its small size, the fetal soul's spirit was robust, as it declared through its miniature mouth, "This attempt might have failed, but once we reach the Heavenly Deity Stellar River, I can temporarily gain strength again. Then, we'll secure the Six Paths Heaven Heart!"

"Alright, alright..." Zhao Xuanran nodded earnestly, her gaze fixed tenderly on the tiny figure in her palm, her heart nearly melting.

Her eyes slightly reddened, she lamented, "How did it come to this?"

"It's not surprising, given the fundamental difference between you and him. That thing, and you were never meant to conceive a child. Yet, by some twist of fate, here I am—how could there not be complications?" the fetal soul said with an air of weary wisdom.

"How could you call him a thing? He's still your father," Zhao Xuanran countered, her headache intensifying.

"Mom, I don't want to argue," the fetal soul retorted, rolling its eyes.

"Fine..." Zhao Xuanran continued her swift passage through the river of starlight, her expression troubled as she addressed the fetal soul in her palm, "My child, is your body really struggling to hold on?"

"Nonsense! Do you know you had an ectopic pregnancy? I managed to struggle back on my own, but it's still not sustainable. My development has nearly ceased; without change, I'm done for. What a troublesome gestation!" the fetal soul complained with a grimace.

Amidst the swirling starlight, Zhao Xuanran recited softly to herself, her voice barely a whisper against the cosmic winds. "To secure your birth, we must take the Dao Source as your body, and the Primordial Coffin as your soul. Only then can you be preserved. Now that the Primordial Coffin has become your soul, we just lack the Dao Source..."

"Is that the reason?" Zhao Xuanran pressed.

"Yes, and that’s why I used the Primordial Coffin to frighten him—to scare him to death!" the fetal soul boasted proudly.

So, it seemed this child was determined to fend for themselves, unwilling to seek help...

"That’s not right." Zhao Xuanran gazed down at the fetal soul. "When we left, you deliberately left the celestial formation for him. Deep down, you still hoped he would come to your aid, didn’t you?"

"Not at all." The fetal soul shook its head.

"And you knew he had a body double in the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Even if you couldn’t get the Six Paths Heaven Heart, he would, and then he'd come looking for you," Zhao Xuanran continued.

"I’ll get there before him," the fetal soul argued stubbornly.

"That's not certain. His abilities far surpass yours. Once his true self reaches the Six Paths of Reincarnation, you’ll be out of the picture," Zhao Xuanran stated confidently.

"Hehe, who said he could reach the Six Paths Reincarnation?" the fetal soul scoffed.

"What? You altered the direction of the celestial formation?" Zhao Xuanran was taken aback.

The fetal soul smiled mischievously, its silence a clear affirmation.

"Where are you sending him?" Zhao Xuanran asked nervously.

"To a sect filled with heavenly Immortal beauties!" the fetal soul replied with a cold laugh.

Zhao Xuanran froze, biting her lip. "Silly child, isn’t this just—?"

"Don’t worry, mom. I’ve made sure; that sect is full of devilish women. He likes to spread his affections around, doesn’t he? This time, they’ll strip him down a layer or two."

Zhao Xuanran was stunned. "You’re not even born yet, and already dealing with such matters, that’s tough on you."

The fetal soul puffed up its chest, declaring, "Punishing that scoundrel of a father is the child's duty!"

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