Chapter Forty-Seven: A Pie Falling from the Sky (Requesting Monthly Votes)

What’s going on?

After a long while, Xiaoying and Xiao Changchuan finished their conversation and smiled as they walked over. Xiao Changchuan gestured toward Boss Li, signaling him to come over and talk.

Li Chengzhu stood up with a bitter smile, and Gu Linglong whispered behind him in concern, “Be careful.”

Li Chengzhu nodded slightly and followed Xiao Changchuan out of the mansion.

Looking at the endless stream of people, Xiao Changchuan sighed softly without turning around. “That girl Xiaoying has been spoiled since she was little.”

Li Chengzhu scratched his head, momentarily at a loss for words. He stood beside him and nodded, “She’s actually quite obedient. On the bed, she does whatever you ask—truly obedient.”

“Good that she listens,” Xiao Changchuan nodded slightly and patted Li Chengzhu’s shoulder. “I can take care of her for a hundred years, but not for her entire life. From now on, you’ll have to shoulder the responsibility.”

“That’s only right,” Li Chengzhu calmed himself and replied faintly.

“That’s good. Xiaoying told me everything between you two, but I never expected her to use a secret technique to get pregnant herself. This child is just too stubborn—once she sets her mind on something, she will stop at nothing to fight for it.”

“A secret technique?” Boss Li’s expression was as shocked as if he had just seen his father-in-law performing a striptease. “Does the Joy Sect really have a secret technique to make oneself pregnant?”

“Didn’t Xiaoying tell you?” Xiao Changchuan looked surprised, but Li Chengzhu seemed a bit amused by it all.

“I never heard her mention it,” Li Chengzhu was frustrated. Looking at Xiao Changchuan’s smile, he felt like he had fallen into a trap—and even knowing it, he had no choice but to jump in.

“Oh, it’s nothing serious,” Xiao Changchuan raised his eyebrows proudly. “The Joy Sect does have a secret technique that allows one to become pregnant. Every disciple learns it; it’s nothing shameful.”

Damn it, I knew it. Even if she hadn’t absorbed all those essences that time, that shot was incredibly precise.

Xiao Changchuan patted his son-in-law’s shoulder again. “Though this secret technique can lead to pregnancy at once, it does come at a cost.”

“What kind of cost?” Li Chengzhu panicked immediately.

“Nothing too serious,” Xiao Changchuan continued in a calm tone. If it weren’t for his identity as father-in-law, Boss Li might have choked him by now.

“It’s just that the child might suffer from malnutrition or perhaps lack some innate elemental attributes,” Xiao Changchuan said with a smile.

Damn it. Li Chengzhu cursed aloud in frustration. But seeing Xiao Changchuan’s calm demeanor, he was sure there was a solution.

He relaxed his clenched fists and raised an eyebrow. “Father-in-law, you surely have a way to fix this.”

“Oh?” Xiao Changchuan noticed how quickly his son-in-law had calmed down. His plan to scare him had failed, but he gained more respect for him. “How do you know I have a solution?”

“Guess!” Boss Li snapped irritably.

Xiao Changchuan smiled faintly. “Hehe, there is a solution, but I’m afraid you won’t be able to gather all the materials.”

“With you around, Father-in-law, what is there to fear?” Li Chengzhu laughed heartily. If the old man wasn’t worried, why should he be?

Xiao Changchuan coughed lightly, “Although the child in Xiaoying’s belly only has a thirty percent chance of being problematic, we still have to be cautious.”

“What must be done?” Li Chengzhu’s concern grew; after all, it was his wife and child.

“It’s simple. We just need fifty pieces of high-quality Heavenly Energy Spirit Stones,” Xiao Changchuan said, looking at his son-in-law.

“Fifty pieces?” Boss Li’s eyes nearly popped out. High-quality ones, no less?

“Yes. Whether it’s Heavenly Energy Stones or Heavenly Energy Spirit Stones, their energy is attribute-neutral or even multi-attribute. After five months of pregnancy, we’ll use the Joy Sect’s secret method to arrange a formation so Xiaoying and the child inside her can absorb the energy. This will naturally solve the child’s congenital deficiencies,” Xiao Changchuan explained proudly.

Another secret technique! Li Chengzhu wanted to rip open his father-in-law’s big mouth.

A secret technique means a spell or method that cannot be revealed to others.

“Fifty pieces—isn’t that a bit too much?” Li Chengzhu asked timidly. Even though Qiufeng won first place in the competition, he only earned twenty pieces of high-quality Heavenly Energy Spirit Stones.

“It’s not too many. Our Joy Sect has at least thirty pieces,” Xiao Changchuan grinned smugly.

“Father-in-law, can I borrow some first?” Li Chengzhu’s face flushed.

“Oh? Why do you want to borrow them?” Xiao Changchuan squinted.

“Well, Xiaoying is your daughter, and the child in her belly is your grandson. You can’t just stand by and do nothing, right?” Li Chengzhu suddenly felt the man before him was hardly human.

“We can’t put it that way,” Xiao Changchuan showed no remorse. “A daughter who marries out is like water spilled away. She’s no longer part of the Xiao family.” He patted Li Chengzhu hard on the shoulder.

“Is there really no way to make an exception?” Li Chengzhu’s tone grew cold, ready to lose his temper.

“There is!” Xiao Changchuan nodded firmly. “But it depends on whether you’re willing to do it.”

“What way?” Boss Li asked warily, sensing a trap closing in.

Xiao Changchuan stroked his chin, smiling at his son-in-law. “Become the sect leader of the Joy Sect, and then all the sect’s resources are at your disposal.”

Damn it! Li Chengzhu suddenly felt dizzy. Becoming the Joy Sect’s sect leader? That’s a huge prize. Why was it being forced on him?

Xiao Changchuan threw an arm around Li Chengzhu’s shoulder. “Originally, I planned to marry Xiaoying into the Qitian Pavilion, letting the pavilion master’s son inherit the sect leadership. But since Xiaoying has chosen this path, as a father, I can’t stop her, can I? If you refuse, I’ll take Xiaoying away and remove the child from her womb. That’s the easiest task the Joy Sect can handle.”

Li Chengzhu looked at the face so close before him, weighing the pros and cons. No matter how he thought about it, it seemed he was getting the better end of the deal—not only marrying the daughter but also gaining the sect leader’s position. Yet, why did a trace of unease linger in his heart?

“Only as sect leader will you have the right to learn the Joy Sect’s secret techniques and help Xiaoying through this crisis,” Xiao Changchuan continued, dangling the bait.

Boss Li fell silent.

“The Joy Sect is all women except for the sect leader. Tsk tsk, each one as beautiful as a fairy. And the Joy Sect has a secret technique that makes men virile and unstoppable.”

“Ahem.” Boss Li coughed, touched his nose, and said firmly, “Deal!”

“Haha, I knew you’d agree,” Xiao Changchuan laughed, finally landing his catch.

“But, Father-in-law,” Li Chengzhu blinked, “shouldn’t you tell me something I don’t know?”

“Hm? What don’t you know?” Xiao Changchuan dodged the question.

“There’s no way they’d force the Joy Sect leadership on me, right? From what I know, the Joy Sect has been declining for a century, but it’s still a major sect. The sect leader’s position must be fought over fiercely.” Li Chengzhu stared directly at Xiao Changchuan.

“Want to know why?” Xiao Changchuan smiled faintly and released his grip.

“Of course.” Seeing his father-in-law’s lack of pretense, Li Chengzhu relaxed.

“Hehe,” Xiao Changchuan nodded. “You’ll find out on the day you inherit the sect leadership.”

Li Chengzhu suppressed the urge to punch that face.

“But I can tell you one thing,” Xiao Changchuan said, knowing when to stop.

“What?”

“You have great potential!” Xiao Changchuan acknowledged Li Chengzhu’s cultivation progress. “In just over four years, you’ve risen from having no foundation to the late Fragmented Spirit stage, without any sign of instability. It’s a miracle. Your potential is immense, and that’s one reason I chose you. Your rapid cultivation might bring a sharp transformation to the Joy Sect.”

Li Chengzhu nodded silently. The Joy Sect’s cultivation method fit him well, much like the ‘Spirit Gathering Codex’ which focused on absorbing as much surrounding spiritual energy as possible.

“Also, Xiaoying already has your child, so I had no choice but to make this decision,” Xiao Changchuan said helplessly. “After all, vague hopes are less promising than tangible results. Marrying Xiaoying into the Qitian Pavilion could restore the Joy Sect to its peak within a century, but placing hope on you would take at least several times as long.”

So choosing him was a helpless move. Li Chengzhu understood the world’s law of self-interest well and wasn’t surprised. Besides, his father-in-law was considering the sect’s welfare.

“By the way, Xiaoying’s child won’t undergo the secret technique until after five months. Is that cutting it close?” Li Chengzhu asked.

“Yes.” Xiao Changchuan nodded. “Five months is when the fetus’s body begins to take shape and is the best time for absorbing spiritual energy. Too early means slow absorption; too late means insufficient energy intake. Five months is optimal.”

“Got it.” The weight on Li Chengzhu’s shoulders grew heavier. If Qiufeng hadn’t won first place, he’d have to find nearly twenty pieces of high-quality Heavenly Energy Spirit Stones himself. Money—Boss Li was even contemplating robbing Marshal Ye while masked.

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