Ji Xingshu was that kind of woman—like a giant python slowly constricting the mother and daughter’s happiness (fate). Once she got a chance, she would exploit it to the fullest and never let go.
Taking advantage of her identity as mother, Ji Xingshu could now legitimately cuddle with her long-lost son. She leaned her whole body against Yun Liu, making the other Star Lords’ mouths twitch, unable to tell who was actually acting spoiled.
Was this still that dignified lady?
Why was she favoring sons over daughters? Why didn’t we see her doting on Shiyu like this?
No wonder she had hidden her away in Wulang Sea.
If it weren’t for that old scoundrel Longyi, who knows how long the entire Star Isle would have been kept in the dark.
“I came here for the same reason—to seek the Divine Tree Fortune for Shiyu, and accepted the invitation of Hazy Sakura Shrine. I just didn’t expect to run into Mister by chance. I suppose this is fate.”
“Y-yeah, ahaha, you’re too close.”
“That’s not right. The proper title now is Mother, just like Shiyu. If you want to call me Wife early, I wouldn’t object.”
Before Yun Liu could argue, Ji Xingshu saw through the young man’s intentions, her eyes gentle.
A stranger with no blood ties like Mister could go this far for his beloved daughter, risking danger alone to seek fortune. Even her own real mother had to admit she couldn’t match that.
From any angle, he was the best candidate for the child’s father. She accepted it.
As a mother, she had no way to repay him. There was nothing more to say—she could only offer herself to him.
Speaking of which, it hadn’t been long since they last met, and the little baby had already formed a dan and become a Fourth-Rank Heavenly Dao Alchemist.
Ji Xingshu curled her lips. Thinking that soon her husband could be raised, she wished she could immediately take the father and daughter back to Star Palace to enjoy family happiness and give Shiyu a complete home.
Until the elusive Hazy Sakura talisman cultivator emerged from the shadows and presented the Seven Treasure Cups, attracting “Mother’s” attention, Yun Liu was finally saved.
A surge of spiritual energy lifted the cups and placed them before the Seven Stars.
Everyone’s expressions turned serious.
So this was the Fortune Fruit?
No one wanted to be the sacrificial lamb; they were all waiting for another Star Lord to lose patience first. They faintly sensed an extraordinary fluctuation within.
A faint smell of blood came through, seeming like spiritual energy yet also demonic energy. Scanning with their eyes, the shape inside did look like a fruit, but their divine sense couldn’t penetrate the skin to accurately determine what the fruit actually was.
A trap was impossible—Yushen Longyi didn’t have the guts, and no one in this world could scheme against the Seven Stars of the High Heavens simultaneously.
Then they looked at the short old man at the head seat, who looked smug.
Would he be so kind?
The seven of them looked at each other like that.
After a moment, almost simultaneously, the lids of the seven treasure cups popped open, revealing the mystery of the Fortune Fruits.
Kaiyang Star was the first to lean in.
His eyes widened instantly, and his expression shifted slightly.
The smell of blood hit him, mixed with the fragrance of spiritual medicine. Inside the treasure cup was a bloody heart!
The Seven Stars of the High Heavens exchanged glances. The tribute Yushen Longyi had given them was all the same—seven Fortune Fruits were all human hearts.
Only Yun Liu remained unmoved. When he heard about the Fortune Fruit, he already knew what that old villain was offering. It was disgusting.
The scarlet fruits were not coated with poison, and they did indeed contain a special power. Yushen Longyi hadn’t lied, but the scene was somewhat horrifying.
Tianquan Star pondered for a moment, then with two fingers cut the heart in front of him in half.
Inside the bloody fruit were full of root-like veins, embedded with a parasitic seed. That was the source of the abnormal power. Although it had long died, it must have been much richer when it was alive and beating.
“I see. So the so-called Fortune Fruit is cultivated by planting the Divine Tree Seed into a living body?”
“Lord Tianquan has keen eyes. I’ve tried many living beings and demonic creatures, but only a cultivator’s body works best as a pot.”
Yushen Longyi chuckled darkly. He wasn’t afraid to tell the Seven Stars the truth, because outsiders could never replicate it; they could only rely on Hazy Sakura Shrine for a steady supply.
These were all defective products left by other shrine maidens.
Every time a Daughter of the Spirit Attendant was born, it meant hundreds of innocent lives were buried. Only the girl who survived could become a Dragon Bride.
Kaiyang Star swallowed and fell silent. Although he was fierce, he was no savage who ate raw meat, let alone emulate the ways of a gluttonous demonic cultivator.
“Poor mountains and bad waters breed unruly people.”
They had truly underestimated this old bastard. So he’d been up to this kind of business all these years.
“I wonder, does this meeting gift please everyone?”
Yaoguang Star and Tianji Star frowned and said nothing, but Yuheng Star picked up the heart and examined it carefully, unconcerned.
“Thank you for your trust, Patriarch. I, Lord of Tianxuan Star, gladly accept.”
Seeing the others unmoved, another elder on the left showed longing in his eyes and moved first. With spiritual energy in his palm, he crushed the heart into blood plasma.
The scarlet fruit turned into a stream of blood energy, which he inhaled through his nose.
“Hoo——”
Lord of Tianxuan Star’s spirits lifted. His Sea of Consciousness did detect a subtle trace of presence, but it was a pity it had no substantial use. Better than nothing.
Tianquan Star and Tianshu Star pondered for a moment, then followed suit. After experiencing it, they understood Yushen Longyi’s intention.
The other party wanted to use this method to form an alliance with the Seven Stars of the High Heavens. The price was providing the secrets of Hazy Sakura Shrine. It was indeed very attractive.
If they could get more Fortune Fruits, they might unravel the mysteries of fortune and receive the same blessing as Ji Xingshu.
Ji Xingshu casually waved her hand, silently accepted it, and nodded in thanks.
She didn’t want to eat such dirty things—barbaric and evil, full of the ugliness of human nature.
Even if she gave it to Shiyu, she wouldn’t want it. This trip was a waste.
“Heretical arts. Disappointing.”
Yaoguang Star pinched her little nose and muttered lowly. She casually handed it to the female guard behind her, feeling it was dirty even to put it into a Fangcun Object.
Yushen Longyi was smug, expecting no one could refuse this fortune. He whispered temptingly:
“If you Immortal Elders like it, I will offer one such gift every year. Of course, next time it will definitely be alive.”
Lord of Tianxuan Star was most interested in this. Without a shred of womanly softness, his words were meaningful.
“Just now you said you needed this young friend’s help. I see many alchemists lingering on the outer islands. Could it be that something has gone wrong inside the shrine that serves the Sakura Dragon? Is there anything my High Heaven Celestial Aristocratic Family can do? Patriarch, feel free to speak.”
“The Divine Dragon Lord is fine. It’s just that the Divine Tree of Yingzhou has been isolated for too long. It’s time for it to return to the Nine Provinces. What do you all think?”
Lord of Tianxuan Star glanced at the cunning old man of Tianquan and didn’t press further.
Yushen Longyi continued to play coy. No one knew how much of his words were true and how much false. If they saw through that the guardian god of Heavenly Cherry Pavilion was weakened, they would inevitably raise the price.
Anyone with clear eyes could see the Seven Stars were divided into three factions.
Old man Tianquan was on good terms with Tianshu and Tianji Star Palaces, acting in concert.
Lord of Tianxuan Star and Yuheng Star each remained neutral, not easily taking sides.
The remaining Yaoguang Star and Kaiyang Star barely counted as allies with Ji Xingshu.
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