Xingluo Town.
The Chang Family.
In the patriarch’s courtyard.
In that spacious and luxurious room, the doors and windows were still covered with black cloth, not a trace of light to be seen.
Housekeeper Lu entered the room and bowed toward the bed, which was also obscured by a black curtain:
"Patriarch, there is still no news of the Fourth and Fifth Family Heads."
A sharp, hoarse voice emanated from the bed: "Did you send soone to look for them?"
Housekeeper Lu replied, "A ssenger has been dispatched. It was discovered that a month ago, the Fourth and Fifth Family Heads entered Qin Gengyun’s house in Yunling Town and have not co out since."
"What?!"
A surge of visible black Spiritual Energy erupted from behind the black curtain, transforming into a giant black beast with four horns, its blood-red mouth wide open, terrifying beyond asure.
Housekeeper Lu was drenched in cold sweat, struggling to maintain his bowing posture, not daring to move an inch.
Monts later, the giant beast ford from black Spiritual Energy vanished, and the room finally returned to calm. The hoarse voice spoke again:
"What about the Heaven-Reaching Staff?"
Housekeeper Lu shuddered and hurriedly answered, "The Fourth Family Head took it with him into the Qin Family, and we subsequently lost contact with the Divine Artifact Shrine."
Divine Artifacts possess spirits and are often arrogant; unless they encounter a recognized master, they are beyond control.
Those with insufficient Cultivation who luckily acquire a Divine Artifact often use a Divine Artifact Shrine to establish a connection for appeasent, allowing temporary control of the artifact. Once their Cultivation improves, they can gradually subdue it.
The Chang Family stumbled upon the Heaven-Reaching Staff two hundred years ago and expended resources to construct a Divine Artifact Shrine, with many of the Chang Family’s mbers entering it to attempt a connection.
Ultimately, it was Changyunzi who succeeded in forging a link with the Heaven-Reaching Staff and the Divine Artifact Shrine, barely becoming the new master of the Heaven-Reaching Staff.
With the Divine Artifact Shrine, even if Changyunzi encountered danger outside, the shrine could summon back the Heaven-Reaching Staff, preventing its loss.
But unexpectedly, this ti, both man and staff were trapped in Yunling Town.
"How could this happen?!"
The voice behind the black curtain was furious; to the Chang Family, Changyunzi’s life was far less important than the Heaven-Reaching Staff.
Housekeeper Lu quickly added: "Patriarch, should we send the Second Family Head?"
There was a mont of silence from the bed before the hoarse voice responded slowly: "I am on the verge of completing my divine skill and need the Second to protect . We shall postpone this matter for now. When my skill is complete, I will personally confront Qin Gengyun."
Housekeeper Lu said joyfully, "With the Patriarch’s divine skill about to be perfected, prosperity is in sight for the Chang Family!"
"Heh heh."
The laughter from the bed was rasping, then continued:
"You should head to the dungeon. This ti, I require two individuals: one pregnant, and one with the Primordial Yin of a child."
"Yes, I will fetch the candidates imdiately!"
At this mont, in the Chang Family dungeon.
"Ah! It hurts so much, I... I can’t take it anymore!"
"Sister Yue Ying, push, push!"
"No, Sister Yue Ying can’t hold on!"
A pregnant female cultivator lay on the ground, in the throes of childbirth, screaming in pain.
Captured by the Chang Family, these female cultivators had their Cultivation sealed with poison. This pregnant woman nad Yue Ying had a weak constitution, making the pains of labor unbearable.
At this mont, her body was limp, her eyes slightly glazed, lacking much strength.
The other female cultivators gathered around her, calling her na in worry and urgency.
They had been imprisoned for over a month, spending day and night together, finding warmth amidst fear and developing deep bonds, becoming like sisters.
Seeing Yue Ying on the verge of collapse, tears welled up in many of their eyes.
"Sister Yue Ying, think of your husband, think of the child still in your womb, don’t give up!"
At this mont, a tall and slender figure stepped forward, grasping the pregnant woman’s hand. Although she was sowhat gaunt, with dark red whip marks staining her plain white robe, her pale face was resolute, and her voice was filled with strength.
Soon, a trickle of barely perceptible Spiritual Power flowed into the pregnant woman’s body, and she finally opened her eyes, screaming aloud as she continued to push.
For a while, the dungeon resounded with piercing screams of agony and clear, powerful words of encouragent.
Outside the cell, several fierce guards exchanged glances but ultimately refrained from shouting as they usually would.
A little while later, with the loud cry of a newborn baby, joyful voices filled the cell:
"Sister Yue Ying, you did it!"
"The child is so beautiful!"
"Xiaolan, this ti it’s all thanks to you!"
Mo Xiaolan picked up the baby girl and brought her to the sweat-covered mother’s face, smiling like an orchid:
"Sister Yue Ying, it’s a girl."
The female cultivator took her daughter, a content and happy smile appearing on her face.
"My child..."
Mo Xiaolan helped her sit up, smiling as she said, "Sister Yue Ying, why don’t you give the child a na?"
"Yes, this child born in captivity must have great fortune in the future. Quickly, Sister Yue Ying, give her a na!"
The other female cultivators chid in excitedly, knowing all too well that they were in a dungeon belonging to those who consud lives, and likely wouldn’t escape unscathed.
Yet sohow, the birth of this baby girl filled their hearts with a glimr of hope.
As long as they lived a day longer, there might be a sliver of a chance to escape.
Yue Ying brushed the wet bangs from her forehead, gazing down at her daughter with love:
"My husband’s last na is Luo, and since the child was born in captivity, and with the help of Sister Xiaolan, let’s call her Luo Yulan."
"The word Yulan instead of ’prison’—it’s a good na!"
"Little Yulan, I’m your godmother."
"I want to be little Yulan’s godmother too!"
The female cultivators laughed, competing to hold the little baby in their arms.
At this mont, footsteps sounded from outside.
All fell silent imdiately.
Having spent days in the dungeon, they knew very well that when soone ca in, it ant one of them would be chosen to be the furnace for the Chang Family Patriarch’s training.
Those chosen before had never returned, their fates all too clear.
The female cultivators stayed silent, quietly retreating to the corners and lowering their heads to avoid Housekeeper Lu’s attention.
Yue Ying cradled her newborn daughter, crouching down and not daring to lift her head.
The footsteps stopped in front of the cell. Housekeeper Lu scanned inside, suddenly pointing to the baby in Yue Ying’s arms, and asked the guards:
"Where did this baby co from?"
A guard hurriedly reported: "Housekeeper Lu, she was just born; it’s a baby girl."
Housekeeper Lu laughed heartily: "The Patriarch just instructed that we need one with the essence of pregnancy and one with the Primordial Yin of a child. Isn’t this perfect?"
Upon hearing this, Yue Ying trembled; Housekeeper Lu had already ordered: "Take this mother and her baby out and present them to the Patriarch."
"No, don’t, no!"
Yue Ying clutched her child, retreating to a corner. Two guards ca over, one holding her up, the other snatching the baby away, heading out of the cell.
"My child, my child! I’ll go with you, please spare my child!"
Yue Ying cried out, her voice hoarse and broken from pleading.
All the female cultivators watched, tears streaming down their faces, terrified by the scene.
Just then, a tall, slender figure blocked the cell door. Her face was pale, but her voice was clear and strong:
"You need a Primordial Yin of a child. I have never been betrothed, and I’m nineteen this year, eting your Patriarch’s requirents for a furnace. Spare the child, and I will go with you."
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