CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 399 HEAVENLY TREASURE BODY! A FATHER’S PRIDE IN HIS CHILD’S ACHIEVEMENTS!_1

"It’s all your fault. If our parents find out, they’ll flay you alive," Li Ruhua said, the thought of the trouble she’d face with her family giving her a headache.

Unwed pregnancy was a huge taboo.

Ma Zhongyuan had a smile on his face. Having a child means I can firmly tie Li Ruhua to me. The Li family’s power is even greater than I imagined, making them a good choice among the cultivators of the Inner Sect. If I can firmly bind myself to Li Ruhua, I can ride on her coattails as she rises in status, eventually becoming a disciple of the Lingbao Sect. Otherwise, with only the status of a Protector, unclear and unofficial, who knows when I’d be ’promoted’? No one can guarantee that Li Ruhua won’t grow tired of the old and seek the new; I have to firmly control her. This child represents my future. My close brother has become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Lingbao Sect, and I am not willing to be left behind.

Li Ruhua was either unaware of Ma Zhongyuan’s cunning plan, or she knew it all along and chose not to expose it.

The two of them cuddled together. The Insect External Incarnation watched with a feeling of disgust before turning its head and walking away.

"Ah, I feel like the baby’s coming!"

Li Ruhua’s brows furrowed. Seeing the situation was urgent, she quickly said, "Let’s go back to the sect immediately."

Not wanting anything to happen to their unborn child, they crushed the Tokens in their hands and disappeared.

「In the Eastern District of the Lingbao Sect」

Four Law Enforcement Elders were meditating with closed eyes.

It had been over ten months since the trial in the Giant Forest Secret Realm began, and only thirty-five disciples from the Lingbao Sect had been eliminated, which was not a large number. The reasons for elimination were bizarre, with most having encountered danger.

Ma Zhongyuan, supporting Li Ruhua and looking anxious, asked, "Which of you Elders can deliver a baby?"

The four Law Enforcement Elders were stunned. Deliver a baby?! This is the Lingbao Sect! We are Law Enforcement Elders, not midwives! You went to the Giant Forest Secret Realm for a trial, not to compete in having children?!!! This reason for leaving the trial was beyond their understanding. Encountering such a situation for the first time, they found themselves unable to calm down for a long while.

They promptly sent out Sound Transmission Talismans, calling for help from senior martial sisters within the sect.

In a short while, a female cultivator dressed in a purple robe arrived, and she was greatly shocked. You participated in the trial, and somehow you ended up creating a life...

"A mere Protector indeed has a lot of nerve!" she said, looking at Ma Zhongyuan unfavorably. She had always felt that this fellow had improper motives. But now was not the time to worry about that; the baby’s safety was most important.

Daoist Zi Yun waved her hand, and a black gauze covered the area, blocking everyone’s view.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the sound of a baby’s cry was heard. Daoist Zi Yun softly announced, "Mother and child are both safe!"

The black gauze lifted. Li Ruhua held an infant, whose eyes were not yet open, in her arms. As a Body Cultivator, she was extremely careful, fearing she might use too much strength and hurt the baby.

"I finally have a child! And it’s a boy."

"He really does look like me."

Ma Zhongyuan carefully took the infant from Li Ruhua’s hands, his face brimming with joy.

"Right, let’s test the baby’s Spiritual Root Aptitude."

The Spiritual Root of a cultivator’s progeny is extremely important. It relates to their future destiny, determining their entire life. A baby born to two Nascent Soul Cultivators has a high probability of possessing a Spiritual Root; the only question is whether the Spiritual Root is exceptional. It’s not guaranteed that a child born to two cultivators with Supreme Grade Spiritual Roots will also have aptitude of the same grade. It wouldn’t be strange to have a Lower Grade Spiritual Root. Otherwise, creatures like the Infant Carp and Infant Breath Beasts wouldn’t have been so coveted by High-Order Cultivators that they became nearly extinct.

Daoist Zi Yun and the four Law Enforcement Elders were likewise curious. This was the first baby to be delivered during a trial in history, and there likely wouldn’t be a second. Consequently, they were very curious about the infant’s Spiritual Root Aptitude.

Ma Zhongyuan and Li Ruhua were on tenterhooks, praying to the Dao Ancestor, hoping that the Spiritual Root Aptitude wouldn’t be too poor.

Daoist Zi Yun took out a Spirit Testing Jade Bead, carefully placing the silver-white bead in the baby’s palm.

In the next moment, a column of spiritual light, about ten feet high, rose up, revealing a vague, illusory silhouette of a pagoda suffused with precious light.

"Supreme Grade Spiritual Root! Heavenly Treasure Body?!" Daoist Zi Yun exclaimed, looking at the phenomena appearing on the silver-white bead and making an immediate judgment.

For a moment, everyone was stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.

There were quite a few cultivators with Supreme Grade Spiritual Roots in the Lingbao Sect, a result of absorbing a vast number of cultivators from the Mysterious Realm. In reality, it is tough to find even one person with Supreme Grade Spiritual Root Aptitude among a million ordinary people. The Heavenly Treasure Body was even rarer, known as a spiritual body that appears once in a hundred thousand years, endowed with unimaginable power. The founder of the Lingbao Sect possessed a Heavenly Treasure Body. This granted the Heavenly Treasure Body an even more extraordinary status in the Lingbao Sect. A Supreme Grade Spiritual Root coupled with the Heavenly Treasure Body—this was a replica of the founding ancestor.

The words "Heavenly Treasure Body" seemed to carry a strange magic. In an instant, a series of powerful auras rushed over.

The four Law Enforcement Elders and Daoist Zi Yun quickly awakened from their dreamlike state, promptly transmitting messages to the Elders they knew.

"Heaven blesses our Lingbao Sect! We finally have a Kylin child!"

"This child is predestined with me, Hei Yunzi. I wish to take him as my private disciple." An Elder dressed in a golden Taoist Robe of the Lingbao Sect appeared out of nowhere, looking earnestly and warmly at Li Ruhua and Ma Zhongyuan.

Li Ruhua and Ma Zhongyuan had yet to recover from the shock of the Supreme Grade Spiritual Root and Heavenly Treasure Body. Seeing an Elder arrive who was at least at the Void Refining Level, they were about to hurriedly agree. Having a mentor meant receiving true transmissions, sparing them many years of detours.

"You shameless old thief!"

"Has there ever been someone as shameless as you! I am your ancestor, Tian Xiao Zunzhe, with a Body Integration Realm cultivation. The child should follow me." Another Lingbao Sect Cultivator, clad in a golden Taoist Robe, made his appearance, introducing himself and revealing his Body Integration Realm cultivation. With a Body Integration Realm cultivation, he was one of the top powerhouses in the Mysterious Realm. To become his disciple would be an enormous opportunity.

Li Ruhua and Ma Zhongyuan now understood the significance of a Supreme Grade Spiritual Root and a Heavenly Treasure Body. They were in no hurry to give a response.

Because...

Suddenly, several more Lingbao Sect Cultivators wearing golden Taoist Robes arrived together. Their faces were as dark as the bottom of a pot. Had someone not sent a timely message, by the time they received the news, the child would have already been snatched away by a bunch of shameless thugs.

"Stop arguing! This person possesses the Heavenly Treasure Body; he must belong to the Main Vein."

"Why should he belong to the Main Vein? The Sect Master is being utterly shameless!"

Sect Master Tian Lingzi and several Elders argued fiercely, completely disregarding their dignified image as seniors.

"Stop disgracing yourselves in front of the younger generation."

"Wait for the child to grow up. Let him choose which vein to join."

"You all can leave now!"

The voice came from the sky. Although the Elders were dissatisfied, they could only agree to the command of the Supreme Elder.

"The child is just born. Let this Mixed Primordial Kingkong Circle be my congratulatory gift to him."

"The Dao Source Robe resists dust, fire, lightning, and wind, and will aid in Enlightenment. Let it be a gift to him."

"The Nine Fire Flame Fan can conjure nine different types of flame, each with significant power..."

Each of the arriving Elders quickly presented Spiritual Treasures as congratulatory gifts. In a short period, more than a dozen had been offered.

Ma Zhongyuan watched as one Spiritual Treasure after another was handed to him, unable to collect his thoughts for a long time. Since when did the once-coveted Spiritual Treasures become so worthless? I must be dreaming! If this is indeed a dream, I would rather not wake up.

"Ma Zhongyuan, you have done well. You have made a significant contribution to the Lingbao Sect. Starting today, you are an Inner Sect Disciple of the Lingbao Sect," Sect Master Tian Lingzi spoke. Ma Zhongyuan had attained the long-desired status of an Inner Sect Disciple of the Lingbao Sect.

Everyone agreed without objection, their faces beaming with joy. This was indeed a significant contribution to the Lingbao Sect, a rare and extraordinary feat.

"The child has not yet been named! I would be so bold as to suggest a name: how about Ma Tianbao?" Tian Lingzi said with a smile, naming the newborn child.

Everyone understood Tian Lingzi’s intention in naming the child in advance. Once the child grew up and learned the Sect Master had given him his name, he would naturally feel closer to the Main Vein of the Lingbao Sect. Thus, the child was very likely to choose the Main Vein of the Lingbao Sect in the future.

"I think Ma Ningyuan is a good name—calm and far-reaching."

"Ma Baojun..."

The most suitable name, however, had already been claimed by Tian Lingzi.

Ma Zhongyuan, facing eager gazes from all around, suddenly felt overwhelmed. He could not afford to offend anyone present.

"Thank you, Sect Master, for the name," Ma Zhongyuan hesitated for a moment but, in the end, looked towards Tian Lingzi.

At this point, they stopped arguing, as the issue of a name was not a severe matter. When it came to the child entering the sect, that was when each would demonstrate their tactics.

With the matter settled, the Elders left swiftly, leaving behind Ma Zhongyuan and his wife, the four Law Enforcement Elders, and Daoist Zi Yun.

Ma Zhongyuan grasped Daoist Zi Yun’s arm. "Thank you, Uncle-Master, for lending a hand."

Previously, Daoist Zi Yun hadn’t shown any friendliness towards Ma Zhongyuan, but now, as though she were a different person, she smiled and replied, "It was but a trifle. It’s an honor for me to help deliver the Kylin child of the Lingbao Sect."

Kylin child? Ma Zhongyuan had found it strange before why the Lingbao Sect valued the Heavenly Treasure Body so highly. From beginning to end, he had no idea what abilities the Heavenly Treasure Body possessed.

"You have the right to know about this matter as well; there’s no harm in telling you," Daoist Zi Yun continued. "The Heavenly Treasure Body is rare, merely one type of Heavenly and Earthly Dao Body, not enough reason for many seniors to take such drastic action. It’s only because of the Mysterious Heavenly Spiritual Treasure, the treasure that protects the Lingbao Sect, an object comparable to Immortal Treasures. This treasure was left behind by the founding ancestor, the venerable Lingbao. Unfortunately, only those with the Heavenly Treasure Body can wield it. In the future, if your son rises successfully, he is bound to become the wielder of the Mysterious Heavenly Spiritual Treasure."

Mysterious Heavenly Spiritual Treasure?! Ma Zhongyuan and Li Ruhua felt dizzy, unable to come back to their senses for a long time. The pie from heaven is too big, isn’t it?!

"By the way, a reminder—Ma Tianbao cannot leave the sect. Seniors will secretly be protecting him. Once word gets out that a Heavenly Treasure Body has been born, many other sects and powers will make a move, desiring to eliminate it."

Ma Zhongyuan and Li Ruhua nodded, resolving in their hearts to never let their child leave the sect, no matter what.

Returning to their residence, they still felt as if they were in a dream.

"Haha! My luck has finally turned!" Ma Zhongyuan exclaimed, holding the sixteen Spiritual Treasures, unable to stop grinning. Spiritual Treasures and the status as an Inner Sect Disciple of the Lingbao Sect—I have everything now! My son has a very good chance of becoming the Sect Master of the Lingbao Sect in the future! This is an exciting prospect. With my son’s status bringing honor to his father, the future is promising. When Jia Ren comes back, he will be in for a shock. I’ll have to tell him all about this.

Ma Zhongyuan, his face full of triumph, thought of Jia Ren and involuntarily remembered that pot of fish soup. He reckoned that it wasn’t long after he finished the soup that Li Ruhua had conceived. After entering the Giant Forest Secret Realm, they had been careful and cautious in gathering Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Who would have had the mind to think about having a child?

When Jia Ren returns, I must ask him about it clearly.