In the Star Aperture Secret Realm, when Master Tao Da called out, it meant that he had gained another aunt.
However, he wasn't calling out randomly. The female infant before him descended along with an abnormality, possessing fine yellow hair, holy yet strangely sinister. Her eyebrows and facial features were identical to those of Tao Qian's long-lost Lingmu Aunt.
Though he had never actually seen her, he had once seen an image transformed by Duobao.
The resemblance in facial features was one thing, but the distinctive yellow hair and eyebrows also matched those of Lingmu Immortal, corresponding to the bloodline of the West Desolate Strange People this aunt carried.
Years ago, Tao Qian ventured into the Absolute Immortal Sea and obtained the Lingmu Holy Embryo Bag from a territory known as "Alien Island".
During the process of acquiring the treasure, he slew a mutated artifact spirit, whose face precisely imitated Lingmu Immortal.
Duobao Daoist once said: Lingmu Immortal was originally a gifted female fairy within the Mountain Gate, only second to Ma Yi, Yunhua, and Wulinn among others, especially for cultivating an extraordinary Taoist Body. Although she ultimately failed in the contest, after her death, her body miraculously birthed the Holy Embryo Bag.
After much entanglement and coincidental opportunities, the holy embryo bag underwent several transformations.
At this moment, it further compensated for its "innate defect", elevating its power and potential to a higher level.
Tao Qian thus conjectured that Lingmu Immortal's resurrection as an artifact spirit was reasonable.
However, he quickly realized that his conjecture was both correct and incorrect.
He saw the yellow-haired infant sitting on the Golden Lotus, transforming with each breath post-birth, and not only her artifact spirit Dharma Body, but also the accompanying magical treasures, including that pair of Golden Cymbals that Tao Qian originally obtained from Shipi Arhat.
Suddenly, the female infant disappeared.
In her place was a six or seven-year-old girl wearing an unusual kasaya, still with yellow hair and eyebrows, donning a Golden Hoop and holding Golden Cymbals, only now with an even stronger Buddha Nature and some stranger evil aura.
She bowed to Tao Qian and then laughingly responded to his previous words:
"Master, do not call out this way, it disrupts the hierarchy for no reason."
"Though I possess a trace of Lingmu Immortal's residual spirit, I cannot truly be considered Lingmu Immortal, nor can I be considered Master's aunt."
"However, if one delves into it, my Dharma Body is transformed by Lingmu Immortal, and my divine soul and life are derived partly from Master and this Master Xiao's mana essence... to be accounted as what to Master, I myself do not know, please first grant me a name."
"Without a good name, I cannot embark on cultivation."
As she spoke, the girl seemed eager to show off, or perhaps to demonstrate herself to Tao Qian as her master.
She struck the Golden Cymbal, and the Star Aperture immediately echoed with a thunderous sound.
With the Source Qi boiling, first rose a vibrant Spirit Treasure Immortal Qi, followed by a Infant Spirit Source Qi, then a ten-thousand-foot Buddha Light, converging and bursting forth, unexpectedly manifesting a bizarre Bodhisattva Dharma Image taller than mountains.
This Dharma Image appeared truly eerie, wearing a kasaya like Guanyin, behind which a swirling Buddha Ring and Spirit Treasure Immortal Light could be seen.
The most striking was beneath its knees, there were countless infant spirits, either laughing or wailing.
...
Seeing this Dharma Image, all records in Tao Qian's mind became complete, enlightening him about the transformation process and the hidden roots of this treasure and artifact spirit.
The current commotion, she instinctively managed it.
She flew to Yunrong's side, along with Spirit Marrow Lady, assisting the pain-stricken and ferociously aggressive Yunrong into the Star Aperture.
During the process, a valuable and rare Infant Mother Source Qi within her was pouring into Yunrong's body like a tide.
This Qi is originally the Divine Treasure for protecting the fetus.
For ordinary women who receive a trace of it, no matter how poor the childbirth conditions, they can still give birth safely.
Although Yunrong's condition is somewhat special, having received such a large amount, she indeed feels much more at peace.
Many of those "evil omens" were also dispersed considerably.
However, many remnants remain, and even with Master Xiao's mana, it won't hold for long.
Tao Qian hurriedly stepped forward, touching his wife's body for an instant and understanding the reason. His expression changed slightly as he said:
"Indeed, the heavenly mechanism is difficult to predict. My dear sister just watched the performance of the Dharma and treasure refining with Auntie, feeling a bit stirred, and thus is about to give birth early?"
"The original due date was three days later."
"Now, it has been directly moved forward to twelve hours later."
Even though Tao Qian is now a top Great Master within the Longevity Realm, untouchable by past enemies who instead worry about his vindictive nature,
the imminent birth of his wife naturally causes him to show signs of worry.
Especially as he perceives the "little creature" in Yunrong's womb flipping around like a storm. Nearing childbirth, those filthy evil poisons seem to erupt together. The fetus is utterly uncontrollable, almost like a proper worldly demon fetus.
And the worst part is, Tao Qian can do very little to intervene.
Although his mana is extraordinarily strong, it cannot erase Yunrong's suffering.
Of course, forceful interference is possible.
However, doing so would bring other consequences, and Yunrong would not allow him to cast spells forcibly.
While Tao Qian, rarely flustered, suddenly noticed a commotion from the crystal marrow passage.
There was Zhong Doudou at the forefront, leading the way while shouting to Tao Qian, "Master, Master, the immortals of Jade Ring Mountain have arrived, saying they are here to deliver Madam."
Upon hearing this, Tao Qian looked back and indeed saw Yunyan, Lady Mei, and other female cultivators from Jade Ring Mountain approaching together.
And naturally, at the forefront was Grandma Taizhen.
Having joined the family, Grandma no longer concealed her true character.
Leading a group of female cultivators into the Star Aperture, she began arranging the unique formation of Jade Ring Mountain, while also looking at Tao Qian, Spirit Marrow Lady, and Master Xiao, nagging:
"You two play around with fancy tricks but must pay more attention to the child."
"Originally timed for three days later, if not for Grandma, constantly asking Lord Haotian to watch over, how could anyone know it would suddenly advance so many hours?"
"Thankfully, Grandma has been prepared all along with the Doumu Treasure, used for drawing Innate Yin Qi from the Source Sea, or we would have been too rushed to set this up."
"Hmph!"
"You, Daoist Peach Blossom, behaved for three years, and Grandma thought you had truly settled down and cut off worldly attachments..."
Halfway through her words, Grandma Taizhen realized she had unintentionally wronged Master Xiao, who was still comforting Yunrong on the side.
Immediately turning to look at her, Grandma laughed heartily, "Master Xiao, don't mind, Grandma is not speaking about you, but this troublesome young couple."
Master Xiao responded gently, smiling, saying she didn't care.
Meanwhile, her eyes fell upon the formation being arranged by the female cultivators of Jade Ring Mountain, with strange treasures, unseen within the Longevity Realm, taken out, and embedded in the surrounding Star Wall with Tao Qian's cooperation.
As Tao Qian acted, the originally abundant Source Qi in the Star Aperture began to reverse, ebbing back to the Great Abyss Origin Sea.
In an instant, the Star Aperture became empty.
But in the next moment, as Grandma Taizhen conducted that formation, with primeval blue light surging, a mysterious pulling force arising, at the entrance of the Star Aperture blocking billions of other Source Qi, suddenly a trickle of the most extraordinary, most rare Source Qi poured in.
One thread after another, like paste or mist, milky white in color, with starlight flashing within.
Gathering, flowing, like a cool mist spring pouring forth, trying to envelop the suffering Yunrong,
"Innate Yin Qi!"
Even Master Xiao felt her heart stirring at this moment.
This Qi is a most rare transcendent spirit object, of great use to her as well.
As more and more Innate Yin Qi gathered, Master Xiao realized that the "first difficulty" Tao Qian mentioned earlier had been resolved.
It wasn't Tao Qian who settled it, but Yunrong's maternal family coming to manage.
Which makes sense, whether inside or outside the realm, if there is a force that can readily summon vast Innate Yin Qi, the first would definitely not be the Spirit Treasure Sect, but the transcendent Doumu Lineage.
"The first difficulty is solved!"
"Then what about the second difficulty? Evil spirit monsters, the offspring of an Evil God, even the Evil God itself... If they invade together, how can one cope? Must the Spirit Treasure Sect dispatch everything, causing a battle here?"
As Master Xiao thought of this, she couldn't help frowning, not knowing what solution there might be.
At this moment, she suddenly heard Grandma Taizhen speaking to Tao Qian:
"To draw innate yin qi and fill this Star Aperture will take six hours."
"To let Yunrong give birth to this little demon star, to cut the primordial fetus umbilical cord, to prevent those filthy curses from infecting Yunrong, will also take six hours."
"During this period, the 'Evil Spirits,' 'evil god and malignant spirits' within the source sea will invade, overt and covert, indefensible."
"In total, you need to guard the Star Aperture entrance for twenty-four hours, slaying them or keeping them at bay."
"If you win this battle, Tao Da's name will be renowned even in the outer realm."
"But you know your wife is in childbirth, you must not be reckless, ask for help when needed, and if the crucial moment comes when you cannot hold, quickly call your Sect Master or Heavenly Venerate for assistance."