“Young Lord Jiang.”
A clear, cool voice sounded from behind. Jiang Huai, who was focused on practicing his swordsmanship, paused his wrist, the sword tip drawing a beautiful flower in the air before he slowly brought his stance to a close.
He turned around, and two graceful figures came into view.
At the forefront was Bai Lei, dressed in fitted attire, her jet-black hair tied high, brows carrying an air of stern dignity.
The authority she wielded from years of overseeing punishment lingered around her.
Beside her, Qi Yuyong was entirely different—a flowing, water-green, wide-sleeved fairy dress, her steps light and graceful, a bright smile on her lips before she even spoke.
Her almond eyes sparkled, lively and gentle like a clear mountain spring.
“Hmm?” Jiang Huai responded, his gaze lingering briefly on the two.
Qi Yuyong stepped forward, her smile radiant as she asked, “How long will we be staying here? Is there any news from the Five Provinces?”
Her gaze casually swept over the longsword in Jiang Huai’s hand, instantly recognizing that he was practicing Wenxuan Swordsmanship—moreover, the exquisitely refined version directly passed down from her senior sister.
Now, relying on the hospitality of others, and given the rules of the Sect such as swordsmanship not being allowed to be taught to outsiders, she found herself unable to utter such things anymore.
Mentioning this, Jiang Huai sighed lightly, sheathed his sword, and walked toward them, spreading his hands. “I don’t know how long we’ll be staying. It mainly depends on White Dew’s arrangements.”
He paused, a shadow of worry appearing between his brows.
“I think the Five Great Dragon Clans should be starting a Union with the Human Race by now.”
There was obviously a serious problem in the Five Provinces. The Outworld Heavenly Demon might have already begun their invasion.
But with the protection of the Great Ascension Cultivator lost, could those Sects at the Divine Transformation stage truly unite? Jiang Huai was not optimistic.
Not to mention that the Five Great Dragon Clans had been separated for so long, each acting on its own. How could the Human Race abandon past grievances and unite their efforts in such a short time?
Even if they did eventually form a Union, it would surely be accompanied by internal strife and scheming.
After all, the threat of the Outworld Heavenly Demon was, to most people now, nothing more than a distant legend.
“I see. Lately, I haven’t seen the White Clan Leader, and there’s no news from Senior Sister’s side either.” Qi Yuyong spoke with regret.
So much time had passed, but no one had descended to the mortal realm by cutting themselves off. Clearly, that was not possible.
She scrutinized Jiang Huai for a moment, then abruptly changed her tone, her smile tinged with wonder.
“But Young Lord Jiang, your cultivation has advanced at an astonishing pace. I suppose before long, you’ll be condensing your Nascent Soul?”
Such a cultivation speed truly left one speechless.
When she had first come looking for Senior Sister Wu Zhaohua, Jiang Zhun had still been a mortal.
Now he had reached the Golden Core and was about to break through to Nascent Soul.
If not for the chaos brought by the Outworld Heavenly Demon’s invasion, at this rate, Divine Transformation would have been within reach soon, enough to rival the years of bitter cultivation she and Bai Lei had endured.
Bai Lei, hearing this, also sized up Jiang Zhun, and couldn’t help nodding slightly.
No wonder he was regarded as the hope for the future; such cultivation speed and his ability to fight above his level truly defied reason.
Jiang Huai was taken aback, then lowered his gaze, his eyes falling on the longsword at his waist.
When it came to improving his cultivation, he had always advanced rapidly, and his understanding of the sword far surpassed most.
Yet, even as he stood at the late Golden Core bottleneck, if he could not find a woman with the pure Yin Yang Constitution to help him, breaking through would be near impossible.
In the past, with Qin Qingyue at his side, he had no worries. Now, where could he find someone like her?
“Does Young Lord Jiang have something weighing on your mind?” Qi Yuyong keenly noticed the subtle shift in his mood.
Jiang Huai shook his head, forcing a wry smile. “It’s nothing.”
Just then, a cold wind suddenly swept through the courtyard, stirring their robes and rustling the fallen leaves on the ground.
Jiang Huai’s senses sharpened, and he turned to look.
There, atop the eaves, a white embroidered shoe lightly tapped a tile, soundless and graceful.
His gaze moved upward—to a silvery dragon tail swaying elegantly, slender yet strong legs, her abdomen slightly rounded beneath a white dress, and then up to a pair of icy blue dragon eyes, as clear as a cold pond. The delicate dragon horns atop her head lent her an indescribable charm.
“White Clan Leader.” Jiang Huai greeted softly, his eyes lingering for a moment on her obviously pregnant belly, silently counting the days in his heart.
Was she about to give birth?
White Dew tapped her toes, drifting down like a feather.
Despite being pregnant, her movements remained calm and graceful. She landed steadily before Jiang Huai, not a trace of awkwardness.
“This is for you.” She opened her palm. A warm, lustrous jade bottle lay quietly in her hand.
“What’s this?” Jiang Huai took the jade bottle; it felt cool to the touch.
He pulled out the stopper, and inside was a rippling crimson liquid, faintly exuding an astonishing, vigorous vitality.
“This is the Essence Blood of the previous generation Yin-Yang Body.” White Dew explained softly, a complicated emotion flickering in her eyes.
“Hmm?” Jiang Huai was slightly puzzled.
“The female Yin-Yang Body is different from the male.”
“You can draw on the potential of the Yin-Yang Body through other means, but she… back then, she could only unleash the full potential of her constitution by relying on Essence Blood.” There was a touch of wistfulness in White Dew’s tone.
“Who knows if the birth of a male Yin-Yang Body in this world carries some sort of destiny…”
“If it were a female, the situation would probably be even more difficult.”
At least Jiang Huai could give her Innate Primordial Qi for support, but as for her good friend back then, she had wanted to help, but simply lacked the ability.
“I’ll keep it. Does it have a purpose?” Jiang Huai gripped the jade bottle tightly, his expression grave.
“I don’t know, either. For now, just keep it; perhaps it will be of use to you.” White Dew’s expression was calm, unperturbed.
Following her suggestion, Jiang Huai sent a wisp of his divine sense carefully into the jade bottle.
In an instant, his mind was shaken.
The Essence Blood seemed to come alive—a searing, harmonious power coursed along his divine sense, and a hazy image of an unparalleled woman flashed before his eyes.
He immediately withdrew his mind, tightly corked the jade bottle, and carefully tucked it into his robe.
Pressing down the surging emotions, he said, “There is indeed a reaction. I need to go back and reflect on this at once.”
Could it be that two generations of Yin-Yang Body could interact through Essence Blood? Jiang Huai planned to investigate thoroughly.
With that, he turned to leave.
“Elder Qi, Elder Bai, I’ll take my leave first.” He cupped his hands in farewell.
Both women nodded in return.
White Dew remained standing, silently watching Jiang Huai walk away.
One step, two steps…
Her expression grew somewhat subtle, and suddenly she took two steps forward, her delicate foot flicking a small stone on the ground toward Jiang Huai.
The stone flew unerringly, striking the White Dragon Mark at Jiang Huai’s hip.
Jiang Huai halted, turned back in surprise, and asked, “What’s the matter, White Clan Leader?”
What was that about, suddenly kicking him for no reason?
White Dew didn’t answer at once. She simply placed her hand gently over her swollen abdomen, quietly watching him.
The breeze teased her hair, brushed past her clear blue eyes.
Her figure was not exactly petite, but compared to Su Yingman and Qin Qingyue, she could be considered dainty—less mature charm, more of a young maiden’s lightness.
The slight roundness of her belly added another kind of maternal radiance to her.
As Jiang Huai’s gaze grew more bewildered, White Dew remained silent, her pretty face a little sullen—obviously not in the best of moods.
Only when he was nearly at a loss did she suddenly speak, her voice tinged with a subtle, indescribable emotion:
“It’s a girl.”
It wasn’t what Jiang Huai had asked, but she still said it.
Jiang Huai immediately understood, his gaze returning to her belly, his voice unconsciously softening a little.
“Is it almost time?”
“Yes,” White Dew nodded slightly.
“Remember to come and give her a name.”
“Otherwise, I’ll hit you.”