CHAPTER 310: CHAPTER 310: BLUE BIRD

Indeed, the system is quite reliable; it knows that there’s a benefit to be gained. Even if I don’t dare to come under threats or inducements, it will get it for me.

Suddenly acquiring a broken divine artifact, although it requires a little repair to enhance its level, Jiang Yuan is still very pleased. This isn’t something just anyone can pick up!

Just after collecting the broken Chaotic Heaven Bell, a prompt message popped up in the upper right corner of his vision.

[Time-limited task completed, assist the trapped cultivator to regain freedom, Reward: Intermediate apparel blueprint unlocked]

[Trigger side quest: Bluebird]

[Cultivator Bluebird, who has achieved Great Perfection in the Tribulation Crossing Realm, is forced to reincarnate. Please assist his reincarnated form to ascend to the peak again]

[Task 1: Help Bluebird smoothly detach from the reincarnation Carefree Lotus. Reward: Chaotic Heaven Bell repair and upgrade blueprint]

"So what we heard was the sound of that bell being struck?" Hu Zhile was dumbfounded watching the scene before him, turned his head to look at Elder Bai and the Venerable Family, and softly asked, "Does the plant trapped in the bell have intelligence? Could it be a Flower Demon?"

In front of them was a densely tangled vine plant, clearly having been inside the giant bell for quite a while, as even the branches had gradually twisted into the shape of a bell.

The yellow-green leaves, long deprived of sunlight, appeared quite frail, while the branches intertwined like a woven birdcage. One could faintly see a deep blue budding flower in the small space in the center.

[Reincarnation Carefree Lotus: The heavenly treasure used by Bluebird for reincarnation, whose branches and leaves can all be used for alchemy]

Even Bai Yunqi, who was knowledgeable and well-traveled, was slightly dumbfounded. "This is odd. That bell seems to want to seal this plant up. Could there be some great horror inside?"

He looked inquiringly at the Venerable Family, while his alert red thorns were slightly raised, ready to strike if the oddly shaped plant made any sudden movements!

"Relax, there’s no great horror." Jiang Yuan finished reading the details and didn’t find any danger. He was surprised by the system’s task issuing for him to help the powerhouse return to the peak—not knowing what qualifies him to assist her in such a feat.

Does it require a lot of money?!

Taking a deep breath, he thought at least he should complete the first task, then moved closer to knock on the branch that had grown into the shape of a bell, asking, "Can you come out now?"

"Crack! Crack!"

The Carefree Lotus vine, previously bound by the Chaotic Heaven Bell without enough space to grow, trembled and made soft rustling sounds. Before long, it opened a bowl-sized hole at the place where he knocked.

The deep blue flower bud, stable at the very center, wobbled and squeezed through the hole, extending outward while trembling and gradually growing larger. Once the vine held the flower bud securely hanging on the outer branches, it began to unfold layer by layer.

"Wow! Such a big blue lotus flower!" Hu Zhile, detecting no sense of danger, was curious and nervous, staring unblinkingly at the increasingly larger flower unfolding in layers.

The entire blooming process lasted for half a minute.

Originally a bowl-sized flower bud had opened to a diameter of nearly two meters, with the deep blue flower having its remaining few untouched core layers swollen into a petal tent that could accommodate a child.

It was only then that the blooming stopped, yet the blue lotus seemed still not mature, unwilling to reveal its full appearance.

The breathing of the three involuntarily slowed, as they watched the last few large petals trembling slightly.

Jiang Yuan was ready to admire the classic scene of a baby lying in the flower core after it bloomed, but unexpectedly, a chubby little white hand reached out, opened a petal, and revealed a finely crafted little face of a child around three or four years old, calling out crisply to him: "Dad!"

Bai Yunqi and Hu Zhile: !!!

Their contracted pets, shocked yet gossipy, simultaneously looked at Jiang Yuan.

Perhaps some offspring left by a clone? Bai Yunqi’s face showed a hint of sympathy based on his previous speculations about the Venerable Family, thinking that following them this far, he hadn’t seen Jiang Yuan entangled with any women, seemingly a novice, it couldn’t be possible for him to have such an old daughter.

But the little girl called him Dad, goodness, the Venerable Family truly is unlucky, actually duped by a clone!

However, even if the clone had sired a daughter while lingering among flowers, why on earth put a broken bell in some unknown spooky place? Perhaps afraid the true body would find it hidden?

The whole snake was eager to turn into a big question mark, curiously probing the gossip about the Venerable Family clone.

Hu Zhile couldn’t help but gasp, the Venerable Family actually had a daughter already!

Poor little sister, wishful thinking all in vain.

But the little girl was genuinely cute, with big crystal-clear eyes and a fair little face, floral-like lips, and shiny black double-buns, yet it wasn’t clear which part looked like the Venerable Family.

Presumably, the girl’s appearance more resembles her mother, which suggests the Venerable Family’s wife is a peerless beauty...

"Take a closer look; who’s your dad?" Jiang Yuan’s face instantly turned green.

He hadn’t even started dating, hadn’t held a girl’s hand, a pure man being directly labeled as an unexpected father?

Besides, you, a dignified reincarnated master just a step away from ascension, declaring someone your dad so boldly, aren’t you ashamed? I’m so young, and you’re so senior—how can I even take advantage of this?

"Aren’t you?" Bluebird blinked her large dark eyes, inspecting him while bewildered, "But... my dad said he would come to take me home. If you’re not my dad, how come you’re here?"

Then she turned her head and noticed a man and a woman beside her, slightly raising her chin, asking Bai Yunqi, "Then are you my dad?"

"No! What’s wrong with you, kid? Randomly calling people dad?" Even Bai Yunqi, who was eagerly waiting to see how the Venerable Family would handle the mess left by the clone, was dazed.

After coming to his senses, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes, he facepalmed his gossiping expression instantly gone, thinking that he had overthought before, merely encountering a child who irrationally called everyone dad.

"No one came to fetch me..." Actually, Bluebird was confused too; she felt there were crucial matters, but the more she thought, the emptier her mind became.

Who precisely am I, why am I here, who "the father" she’s been waiting for was, why he hasn’t come... A string of questions floated in her mind, leaving her quite troubled.

But one thing Bluebird remembered very clearly—the plan went awry.

By rights, she should have awakened long ago, rather than waiting until her spiritual energy was entirely consumed and getting trapped under some unknown hefty object, unable to break free, almost suffocating!

Although she temporarily escaped the peril of suffocation now, she hasn’t yet developed legs.

"Sigh!" She checked her storage bag, finding it as void as her memory, completely empty, no Immortal Jade or even a Spirit Stone. Yet the spiritual energy is dispersed here, unabsorbable or refining, so she could only...

Bluebird, sensing her legs merging as one with Hua Rui, pitifully asked, "Do you have Immortal Jade? I can trade the Carefree Lotus for it."

"Ha!" Bai Yunqi’s eyes filled with playful malice, "Little girl, you seem to not understand your situation. My Venerable Family rescued you, and you’ve expressed nothing yet, besides, this Carefree Lotus is within arm’s reach, if truly desired we could directly take it without needing consent from a small girl like you?"

Bluebird looked at him and calmly replied, "Any proper cultivator values sowing good causes and reaping good effects. Unclaimed things can be considered opportunities to contest with strength, but forcibly taking claimed things? Aren’t you afraid of karmic retribution during tribulations and being struck by lightning?"

After speaking, she felt she was still weak enough to disguise a bit, thus added, "That’s what my father taught me. None of you have evil aura, evidently you’re proper cultivators who don’t easily accrue bad causes and effects, so you won’t resort to robbery. We can negotiate the exchange!"