CHAPTER 188: CHAPTER 161 LITTLE XUANWU

After the incident with Ao Hai, Chen Jiuge realized that he truly felt no reverence towards the Green Dragon Clan. The Dragons of the Green Dragon Clan were simply beyond description—those were Immortal Daluo Golden Immortals, and upon witnessing such beings casually producing a whole bunch of oddly-shaped offspring, Chen Jiuge was utterly at a loss for words.

Fortunately, I have managed to deal with everything perfectly, thought Chen Jiuge. I better not go out for a while; I have a feeling that an even bigger surprise is waiting for me. He had a somewhat ominous premonition.

Sure enough, the next day his premonition was realized when a member of the Green Dragon Clan with two small, delicate horns on her head arrived.

Upon learning that the young Dragon Girl had come to protect him by the Clan Leader’s order, Chen Jiuge was stunned. As a homebody Cultivator who just stays at home, do I really need a Heavenly Immortal to protect me?

Chen Jiuge, unsure of what to do, stammered, "I think I’m quite safe, so maybe that’s not necessary?"

"My name is Ao Qing, and from now on, I will be living here," Ao Qing said with a wave of her hand, summoning a Palace made of azure jade, her expression cool and detached.

Watching Ao Qing move into the Palace without paying him any mind, Chen Jiuge was speechless. Although her Cultivation is high, can’t she at least listen properly?

There was no stopping Ao Qing’s move, and Chen Jiuge had neither the means nor the time to deal with it.

That very afternoon, perhaps because that old Dragon Ao Hai had said something, the Clan Leaders of the other three of the Four Holy Beasts also arrived.

Clan Leader of the White Tiger Clan: Jin Xiaotian.

Clan Leader of the Vermilion Bird Clan: Zhu Fengtian.

Clan Leader of the Xuanwu Clan: Xuan Shengtian.

One couldn’t help but wonder if these powerful Cultivators had any grievances with the Heavenly Dao, as each of their names incorporated a word related to ’heaven,’ making Ao Hai seem a bit out of step.

Ao Hai had something to say regarding the matter of names: "I also wanted to change my name to Ao Haitian at the time, but my grandfather had already chosen it, and there was nothing I could do."

"Kid, Ao Hai said you could handle the Bloodline problems of our clans’ Direct Lineage members. Is that true?" With the White Tiger Clan known for their quick temper, Jin Xiaotian was naturally the first to ask.

Under the watchful eyes of the three giants, Chen Jiuge didn’t dare to confirm. I definitely can’t handle the Bloodline issues of a Heavenly Immortal; that would be a matter of life and death.

"Most likely," he replied.

"What do you mean, ’most likely’? That old Dragon better not be fooling us!" Zhu Fengtian, who despite being a woman also seemed to have a volatile temper, stood up, ready to cause trouble for Ao Hai.

"What’s the rush, young one? Just try it. It won’t matter whether it works or not. But of course, if it does, the reward is guaranteed to satisfy you," Xuan Shengtian, true to his Xuanwu nature, remained calm and composed.

Watching a dazed little Xuanwu suddenly appear in the courtyard, Chen Jiuge couldn’t help but be amused. The little Xuanwu must have been taking a bath; her body is still covered with foam, one claw holding a brush, and the other scratching at her shell, humming a little tune while she scrubs.

The little Xuanwu, realizing something was amiss, looked at the four onlookers and immediately retreated into her shell, complaining, "Great-Grandpa, what are you doing? I was taking a bath!"

And the little Xuanwu turned out to be female!

The other two then gave Xuan Shengtian a strange look. Well done, old tortoise, what an unusual preference!

"What are you thinking? The only child left in our clan who hasn’t become an Immortal is this one. Who else would I call if not her?" Xuan Shengtian said, flustered and exasperated.

Due to their Life Spans far exceeding those of other races, the Xuanwu Clan’s fertility rate was tragically low, resulting in this single precious offspring over tens of thousands of years.

"Young one, it’s up to you now," Xuan Shengtian said with a serious look in his eyes.

Chen Jiuge examined the Mahayana-level young Xuanwu, using his Golden Finger to understand its condition, and frowned.

It isn’t that I can’t solve the issue, but rather I’m contemplating how to handle it. Unlike the younglings Ao Hai brought, this little Xuanwu’s Bloodline is very pure. Apart from the Xuanwu Bloodline, it only possesses a few other minor turtle bloodlines, making it one of the purest Bloodlines I’ve encountered, aside from the Medicine Snake.

"Can’t it be dealt with?" Xuan Shengtian asked, somewhat disappointed.

"Elder, it can be dealt with," Chen Jiuge said, though not entirely sure. "But should I directly remove the other bloodlines, or should I let the Xuanwu Bloodline devour them?"

The Bloodlines of the Four Holy Beasts were, in some respects, actually considered higher level than those of Divine Beasts, much like the Ten Fierce Beasts, which weren’t acknowledged as Divine Beasts yet possessed combat power stronger than Divine Beasts of the same tier.

"Explain the difference between the two," Xuan Shengtian inquired.

The other two Clan Leaders, hearing that the issue could be resolved, also listened intently.

After Chen Jiuge provided several examples, even demonstrating on-site with several Spiritual Beasts he had taken from Eden Garden, the three Clan Leaders gained a vague understanding.

Xuan Shengtian, looking at the Mutant Spiritual Beast before him, said curiously, "I remember that none of our Four Holy Beasts have ever experienced a Spiritual Beast mutation, right? At most, there are issues with Bloodline purity."

"That’s the principle, Old Turtle. Want to let your granddaughter give it a try?" Jin Xiaotian teased.

"Go jump in a lake, you blasted tiger! Are you looking for a fight?" Xuan Shengtian retorted, clearly irate.

"Just remove the other bloodlines," Xuan Shengtian said. He was protective of his sole progeny and unwilling to take risks.

"But I want to try it, Great-Grandpa!" The little Xuanwu stuck her head out, her face full of curiosity.

In the end, Xuan Shengtian succumbed to the little Xuanwu’s pleading. After all, if there’s a problem, I can just raise her myself, he thought.

Under Xuan Shengtian’s concerned gaze and the expectant eyes of the other two Clan Leaders, the little Xuanwu successfully underwent her transformation.

"Ooh, it’s blue! And it looks nicer than before," the little Xuanwu said, looking at her shell and body which had turned blue, a wide grin on her face.

Xuan Shengtian nervously checked the young Xuanwu’s condition, only to find that her Bloodline was still that of the Xuanwu, but her ability to control and affinity for Water Attribute Spiritual Energy had increased significantly. Overall, the little Xuanwu’s potential had soared remarkably.

"Hahaha! Junior, your name is Chen Jiuge, right? I’ll remember you!" he said.

"Since that old lecherous Dragon gave you a Protective Technique, I’ll give you one as well. I’ll have someone else send over the rest later."

With an excited expression, Xuan Shengtian disappeared with the little Xuanwu in a WHOOSH, leaving only his echoing voice behind.

Watching Xuan Shengtian exit hastily, Jin Xiaotian grumbled, "We haven’t even had a chance to look yet. That old tortoise is really stingy."

"Do we even need to look? That little Xuanwu’s potential has probably been elevated to a terrifying level," Zhu Fengtian stated confidently.

Then, both Clan Leaders stared intently at Chen Jiuge. "Junior, we want that too."

Chen Jiuge meekly responded, "No problem, Elders."

The Vermilion Bird Clan’s reproduction situation was a bit better, although recently, the Vermilion Bird Bloodlines that had emerged were quite mixed.

About a dozen Vermilion Bird younglings were present, the majority having mottled Bloodlines. After their Bloodlines devoured similar Fire Attribute Bloodlines, their potential and affinity for Fire Spirit Energy increased substantially, though not to the same exaggerated extent as the Xuanwu.

After realizing that all the younglings’ talents had been enhanced, Zhu Fengtian returned to Vermilion Bird Peak and came back lovingly embracing a small, red Vermilion Bird.

"Have you lost your mind? That’s your only offspring, born after great difficulty!" Jin Xiaotian remarked, his eyes filled with disbelief as he gazed at the small Vermilion Bird.

Due to heavy injuries sustained in the Infinite Star Sea in her early years, Zhu Fengtian’s fertility had almost vanished. It was only with the help of the Myriad Beasts Sect’s many Treasures and her own Origin that this small Vermilion Bird had been born. This was Zhu Fengtian’s only descendant, and it was unlikely she could bear any more offspring.

"I want my child to become better," Zhu Fengtian said with determination in her eyes. "Just like the old tortoise said, even if the outcome is poor, I can take care of him for a lifetime."