"I'm not entirely sure of the specifics. After all, this involves the secrets of the Nine-Tailed Clan. But Xiao'er, you killed Bai Zhirou's son. You must never let this be exposed."
Xuan Yuanyue's tone carried a strange heaviness.
"That Bai Zhirou was once hailed as the top genius of the demon race, her talent overwhelming all others. Even now, with her cultivation destroyed, no one believes she is imprisoned by the Fox Queen within her clan. Perhaps she stayed willingly."
"That powerful?"
Ling Xiao was stunned. This indeed matched the background of a Chosen One he was familiar with.
A mother with a prominent background from an upper realm, suffering various scorn and contempt from her clan in the early stages, being called "ants" most often.
Later, lying low, staging a comeback, triumphantly returning to her clan to bring her back.
A pity.
Ye Fan had the destiny of a Chosen One, but not the luck.
Otherwise, with the Holy State so vast, if all these Chosen Ones grew up, who would be the strongest?
Even now, weren't many readers curious about how much chance Mu Chen had against Lin Dong?
In my opinion, whoever appeared later had the higher chance.
But now Ling Xiao was even more curious. What exactly did Bai Zhirou do back then?
And where did she obtain a heaven-defying treasure like the Eight Desolations Glazed Soul-Suppressing Pagoda?
It seemed he would have to have Bai Zhixi investigate this properly.
After all, Ling Xiao killing Ye Fan would be exposed sooner or later.
If Bai Zhirou spent just a little effort, she would know Ye Fan's death was absolutely connected to him.
By figuring out her identity and methods first, Ling Xiao could make plans in advance.
As for Bai Zhixi...
In the past, she would definitely have told her clan about the events in the Northern Wasteland.
But now, her mind was under Ling Xiao's control; she would absolutely not do anything to disadvantage him.
"It seems this piece was placed correctly."
Ling Xiao's calmness satisfied Xuan Yuanyue. She immediately pulled a bottle of pills from her robes and handed it to him.
"This is a bottle of Grade Five Spirit Impact Pills I just refined. Xiao'er, no matter what you face in the future, your mother is your strong backing."
"Mother, there actually is something I need your help with."
Ling Xiao smiled somewhat awkwardly, but before he could speak, Xuan Yuanyue's expression suddenly turned serious.
"That girl from the lower realm, you cannot keep her by your side, and you must not have the slightest thought about her."
"Huh?"
Ling Xiao was bewildered. His intention was to ask Xuan Yuanyue to think of a way to help Jiu You reconstruct a physical body.
But where had his mother's thoughts gone?
"Mother, I—"
"Hmph! In a few days, it will be your engagement day with the Divine Maiden of the Ethereal Dao Palace. What would it look like for you to have a woman by your side now? Haven't enough rumors about your dissolute reputation spread these years? Do you know what they call you now? Sea King! You need to learn some restraint!"
"Mother, it's not that... I just wanted to—"
"That Divine Maiden of the Ethereal Dao Palace is rumored to be a peerless beauty unseen in three thousand years. Her cultivation is powerful; she practices the Path of Emotionlessness and is pure as ice. If you can become her Dao partner, within a few years, won't the Holy State be yours? Be good, listen to your mother, and treat her well."
Ling Xiao felt like crying but had no tears.
If the Divine Maiden of the Ethereal Dao Palace practiced the Path of Emotionlessness, how could she truly develop feelings for him?
His parents were probably just coveting her... genes, wanting to improve the Ling family's bloodline, right?
"Mother, I just wanted to ask if you know any method to reconstruct a physical body!"
Ling Xiao finally blurted out what he wanted to say in one breath.
Xuan Yuanyue was visibly stunned.
"Reconstruct a physical body? Who needs to reconstruct a physical body?"
"I saved a member of the Nine Nether Clan in the Northern Wasteland. She was harmed by the Holy Church in her previous life and now only has a remnant soul left. Mother, do you have any way to help her reconstruct a physical body?"
Ling Xiao sighed. With a mother like this, who in the entire Holy State would dare provoke him?
Probably, half of Ling Xiao's reputation as a peerless genius of the Ten Thousand Dao Demon Sect was real, and the other half was accumulated thanks to his parents' fame.
After all, no one wanted to make an enemy of him and incur the wrath of Xuan Yuanyue, this son-protecting maniac.
However, on the path of immortality, relying solely on parental protection wouldn't take one far.
Especially for a villain like Ling Xiao; once he became arrogant because of it, he would probably be close to death.
"The Nine Nether Clan? Offended the Holy Church?"
Xuan Yuanyue frowned for a long moment before her eyes suddenly widened.
"Xiao'er, you you you... you can't even take care of yourself properly, why are you getting involved in Holy Church matters? No, you must send that Nine Nether Clan expert away immediately. If the Holy Church finds out, do you still want to live?!"
If there was anyone in the entire Holy State that Xuan Yuanyue was wary of, it was probably only the Holy Church.
Even with Xuan Yuanyue's cultivation and connections, facing that behemoth looming over all human forces, she couldn't help but feel some despair.
"Mother... I will have to face the Holy Church eventually. Isn't it better to accumulate more foundation now while they are unprepared? Must we only think about winning people's hearts when the entire world becomes our enemy?"
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. His eyes showed not the slightest panic but held a trace of depth.
Xuan Yuanyue was stunned once again.
She truly hadn't expected Ling Xiao's temperament to become so steady in just a few days.
"My Xiao'er has grown up..."
Xuan Yuanyue lowered her head with a slight smile, looking at Ling Xiao with欣慰 (gratification) in her eyes.
"Fine. Since you want to accumulate your own foundation, your mother will definitely support you. Give me three days. I'll refine the pills and send them to you. Are you returning to the Ling family or going to the Ten Thousand Dao Demon Sect?"
"Mother, I need to return to the sect first, then go back to the Ling family. You can just send the pills to the Ling family then."
Ling Xiao hesitated for a moment but finally couldn't help reminding Xuan Yuanyue, "Mother, regarding Ling Tian, I think you shouldn't make things difficult for him anymore from now on. You and father haven't seen each other for a long time either. I will find a way to resolve this deadlock."
"Hmph, that scoundrel Ling Tianlin! I don't want to see him. Back then, for that wild woman, he opposed me at every turn. Later, because of her son, he found fault with me in everything. Now it's fine. Not seeing anyone is rather peaceful."
Xuan Yuanyue crossed her arms, her face somewhat gloomy.
But Ling Xiao knew everything his mother did was for him.
If he hadn't been born with crippled meridians and no Dantian Sea, she wouldn't have risked universal condemnation to gouge out Ling Tian's Dantian Sea, provoking his father's great fury.
"Ah, Mother, you've worked hard."
Ling Xiao bowed respectfully to Xuan Yuanyue.
She trembled, turned to look at Ling Xiao, her beautiful eyes already glistening with tears.
"Hehe, Xiao'er, you've really grown up. Your mother is very happy today."
"Mother, although Qingchan is from the lower realm, she is utterly loyal to me, and her innate talent is truly fearsome. Do you know of a place where she can be settled?"
Ling Xiao smiled and suddenly asked.
Now that Ye Qingchan was wholeheartedly his, Ling Xiao wasn't worried about her loyalty.
After all, the template for these Chosen Maidens was always one of deep affection and devotion.
Those female leads who were taken away by major forces at the beginning all waited for the duration of an entire book before finally reuniting with the protagonist, right?
But Ling Xiao had just returned to the Holy State and had many enemies. Ye Qingchan's cultivation was only at the Soul-Awakening Realm; keeping her by his side was really somewhat unsafe.