Immortal Father

"Yes, I will make arrangements shortly."

The Eastern King bowed and received his orders, and began to report on the daily affairs of the Heavenly Court.

Li Ping’an also settled his mind, appointed a dozen minor deities, and set work goals for the six departments for the next six months.

After being busy like this for two to three hours, the ministers retired back to Tong Ming Palace.

Li Ping’an was preparing to go home to enjoy the flowers with his pregnant family members, feed the fish, cultivate his mind, and ease his body, when an unexpected guest arrived at Lingxiao Hall.

Indeed, it was an uninvited guest.

The Peacock Fairy wore a long emerald dress, with a cape shimmering in a five-colored glow draped over her shoulders, radiating a sacred aura, looking ready to travel far.

Li Ping’an smiled and asked, "Where is the Fairy going?"

"Nowhere."

The Peacock Fairy said sternly, coldly:

"Today I have come here to ask Your Majesty two things."

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"The Fairy may speak freely."

She said, "Is Your Majesty’s Phoenix Clan Battle Body no longer capable of manifestation?"

Li Ping’an pondered slightly and softly said, "The battle body and the original body are indistinguishable now, the bloodline left by the Primordial Phoenix still exists, but it’s mixed together, hard to separate."

"Good, let’s take it that Your Majesty is now the Phoenix Clan Battle Body."

The Peacock Fairy said:

"Then, would Your Majesty be willing to lend the Dao Body to my Phoenix Clan?"

"Recently, it has been widely circulated in the Heavenly Court that Your Majesty has impregnated the Queen Mother. Since an innate Great Power can bear children, I believe it should not be a problem for my Phoenix Clan either."

"Your Majesty should have the secret medicine refined by the Supreme Elder Lord."

"Today, just give me a direct answer on the matter of the continuation of the Phoenix Clan bloodline, does Your Majesty agree or not?"

Li Ping’an said seriously, "I fear I cannot comply with this."

"Why?" The Peacock Fairy asked puzzled, "Is it because I lack beauty, or my femininity is insufficient?"

Li Ping’an rose and stepped down from the high platform, speaking as he walked:

"Fairy, do not misunderstand, you are stunningly beautiful, unparalleled in charm, and your femininity is first-rate. If I were tempted by your beauty, I would have long since pretended reluctance while welcoming your advances."

"Most of the Human Race value emotions greatly. Between you and me, there is a camaraderie from fighting side by side. If Fairy were in danger, I would rush to assist at the first moment."

"But as for romantic feelings... this indeed feels... a bit forced."

"Fairy, think about it, aside from the Primordial Phoenix’s legacy, how do you view me?"

The Fairy was honest: "A very powerful being, possibly an unbeatable food source."

That’s too much!

Li Ping’an shrugged, "I see Fairy as a strong presence in the world, a perfect and flawless powerful being, but nothing more."

The Peacock Fairy thought deeply: "I think I understand, between you and me, something is missing."

"Exactly."

Li Ping’an offered:

"Previously, I encountered another woman, she was the manager of a brothel, and at that time, I was also on the verge of being moved."

"But after missing several opportunities, the feelings between us faded."

"Perhaps this is a case of having fate without destiny, or having destiny without fate."

The Peacock Fairy said, "Then as long as there is that mysterious feeling between you and me, you would be willing to help our Phoenix Clan continue its bloodline?"

"Continuing the bloodline doesn’t necessarily have to be done by us."

Li Ping’an laughed:

"There is a direction in the Art of Non-Spirit concerning bloodline inheritance..."

Saying genetic hybridization seems impolite.

"In any case, Fairy should not bring up this matter again."

"Fair enough," the Peacock Fairy said, "Given this, I may not need to worry and will go search for a refuge in the Chaos Sea."

"A refuge in the Chaos Sea?"

"Quite so," her voice became softer, "According to my mother’s instructions, I should now go find the old territories left by the Phoenix Clan in the Chaos Sea, it will take around a hundred years to return."

Li Ping’an inwardly smiled bitterly.

Alright, another member of the escapee faction.

After all, the Phoenix Clan were heroes of the creation of the world, Li Ping’an couldn’t now bind them to the world, after some thought, he could only bow and offer a blessing.

This sort of thing, respecting individual choices is all one can do.

The Peacock Fairy performed a Dao salute, turned to leave, but before leaving, she turned to look at Li Ping’an, with a look he couldn’t understand.

What’s the matter?

Li Ping’an glanced down at his outfit, as was his habit, he wore a black robe today, just like he usually did.

"Your Majesty," the Peacock Fairy suddenly said, "shall we play a game?"

"A game?" Li Ping’an asked confused, "What kind of game?"

"When I return in a hundred years, I will not approach Your Majesty with the same identity. If Your Majesty’s heart moves for the woman at that time, then agree to help our Phoenix Clan with the matter of propagation."

The Peacock Fairy said softly:

"I’m not forcing Your Majesty. If Your Majesty still feels nothing at the time, we can consider each other as siblings. I will also assist this world in attempting to pass through the end of times calamity.

"What do you think?"

Li Ping’an laughed freely, "Interesting, I agree."

"In that case, see you in a hundred years."

The Peacock Fairy nodded slightly, her figure transformed into a Five-Colored Divine Light, and in an instant, disappeared outside the Lingxiao Hall.

Li Ping’an raised his hand to touch his own cheek.

Is he really that handsome?

Why are all the female Great Powers rushing to cozy up?

Or is there really some strange saying about being a female Great Power killer?

Li Ping’an glanced at the Spirit Pill contained within the Cangyue Bead, pondered for a moment, and then utilized the power of the Heavenly Dao, using the Heaven Emperor’s Seal to seal this kind of elixir.

’This thing is much more powerful than the Fountain of Youth, perhaps it will be useful in the future.’

With that, Li Ping’an stretched lazily and turned to fly toward his ’little harem.’

Both his wives were pregnant, so he naturally needed to be more diligent.

It’s the duty of the male.

...

Li Ping’an went to the underworld five days after the Peacock Fairy left.

He had found a spare moment to send Hao Xiaonian’s soul for reincarnation and cultivation.

The underworld allows for backdoor passes.

If a Qi Cultivator has relatives or friends who have unfortunately fallen, not from natural death, but still have available longevity, the underworld can help to enable the fallen to reincarnate and cultivate anew.

——Those who die naturally cannot be reincarnated anew and must follow the normal cycle of reincarnation.

The Heavenly Court mostly doesn’t interfere with this matter.

This practice wasn’t initiated by the underworld either; in ancient times, the predecessors Fuxi Shi and Xuanyuan Shi were reincarnated through the blood sea, which was the precursor to the six paths of reincarnation. This practice existed before the underworld came into being, so there’s no reason it would be closed to Qi Cultivators after the underworld was established.

Li Ping’an came today also as a backdoor visitor.

According to the unspoken rules of the underworld, members of the Human Race as Qi Cultivators receive varying degrees of privilege in the underworld based on their cultivation level.

For instance, regular Yuan Immortals usually get chased off by ghost soldiers just by showing up in the underworld.

What kind of status would dare interfere with the normal operations of the six paths of reincarnation?

Should a True Immortal Realm Qi Cultivator arrive in the underworld with enough treasures, they might be led by ghost soldiers to the Marshal Niu Benben and Horse Face.

The Heavenly Immortal Realm Qi Cultivators don’t need to bring treasures; a simple favor owed to the underworld would probably grant them some leniency.

Golden Immortal Realm Qi Cultivators don’t need to come in person; if they hold office in the Heavenly Court, they can simply send a token to the judge of the underworld, and a convenient door will be opened.

When the Heavenly Emperor arrives, Houtu would personally receive them.

Within the secret realm of the Samsara Disk.

Li Ping’an handed the Treasure Bead containing Hao Xiaonian’s soul over to Houtu.

Houtu examined the state of the soul and softly said, "Your Majesty, her lifespan from the previous life has ended."

"Hmm? Not considered a premature death?"

"Not considered," Houtu replied softly, "if Your Majesty wishes for her to reincarnate with memory, such a small matter is certainly possible; it is hardly a burden on the Samsara Disk, after all, she is merely a mortal."

Li Ping’an asked, "Xiaonian, would you like to reincarnate with your memory?"

"Is it possible not to?"

From within the Treasure Bead, Hao Xiaonian’s mumbling voice emerged:

"Most of the memories from this life aren’t good, and I wouldn’t want to trouble you further. Being able to reincarnate is already quite good."

Houtu smiled and gently stroked the Treasure Bead, saying softly, "Since it is so, I will mark it, making it easier for Your Majesty to find and accept as a disciple later."

Li Ping’an smiled without speaking, watching as Houtu sent the Treasure Bead out of the secret realm and into the cycle of reincarnation.

He was somehow aware and already knew which family Hao Xiaonian would be born into.

"Your Majesty," Houtu softly inquired, "for the fetus the Queen Mother carries, should its True Spirit be interfered with?"

"No need," Li Ping’an said, "that True Spirit already exists and has probably never reincarnated in the world."

Houtu nodded slightly, though her eyes revealed a hint of concern.

"Has the Daoist friend encountered any difficult matters?"

"Not exactly difficult," Houtu said, "the Daoist Celestial Consecration Tribulation is approaching, and I don’t know if it will affect the masses, or if it will lead to widespread suffering."

Li Ping’an sighed, "I can only say I will try to avoid it as much as possible, but I can’t guarantee anything... Eh?"

He suddenly made a small sound of surprise, flipping his left hand, and the Heavenly Patrol Mirror fell into his hand, revealing a scene within it of its own accord.

Houtu tilted her head to look; what appeared on the Heavenly Patrol Mirror was outside the gates of Fengdu City.

Two old women were following behind an arrogant Heavenly General, flying boldly towards Fengdu City.

This Heavenly General, Li Ping’an was quite familiar with.

It was none other than Niu Benben, the head of the Kuangshan regiment.