"I am just Yiyi's father, Ruan Tang's husband, a mere commoner."

Xu Lai sighed lightly. That little brat, Qian Xiao. His mouth is way too loose.

"Then what is your Boundary?" Luo Chu's gaze became even more solemn.

Even pinnacle Ninth Grade Martial Artists of the Human Race have entered Sea City alone only to be tragically eaten. The fact that Xu Lai could safely guide two small children in and out spoke volumes about his strength. It definitely couldn't be low!

"I suppose I am invincible in this mortal world."

Xu Lai's voice was as placid as water, yet it was like a clap of thunder to Luo Chu's ears.

She doubted the truth of his words. Invincible in this mortal world... Even a cultivator at the Divine Gate Realm wouldn't dare make such a boastful claim! But no matter how she thought about it, she couldn't believe Xu Lai was at the Divine Gate Realm. After all, a Divine Gate Realm powerhouse under thirty years old would be enough to shock not just Hua Country, but the entire world! Even the Otherworlders from beyond the borders would be jaw-droppingly shocked to hear of it.

So Luo Chu guessed, "You are... a pinnacle Ninth Grade?"

But she quickly furrowed her brow and shook her head. A pinnacle Ninth Grade cultivator under thirty was just as astounding. She and her husband were undisputed prodigies, and only after stumbling upon some opportunities in recent years had they managed to break through to the early stage of the Ninth Grade.

"In any case, you're definitely not an ordinary Martial Ancestor of the seventh or eighth grade. If so... why haven't you left your name on the Sky Ranking?" Luo Chu's gaze was intense.

Xu Lai replied helplessly, "I did."

Not only had he left his name, but he had also left behind a 'Sword' to protect Hua Country for ten thousand years. A Sword that could slay even an Immortal Venerable!

Luo Chu nodded and didn't press the matter. She knew that among the common folk of Hua Country, there were some Martial Artists with mysterious origins and secrets that could not be spoken of.

Silence fell over the study. Just as Luo Chu, seeing there was nothing more to say, gripped the doorknob to leave, Xu Lai spoke.

He asked a single question: "Are you here today to see Qian Xiao for the last time?"

Luo Chu froze. "You... how did you know?"

"Your aura," Xu Lai sighed. "You carry the aura of someone resigned to death. That, and the unnatural expression you had when you mentioned your husband... it wasn't hard to deduce."

Luo Chu fell silent. She and her husband were stationed year-round at a small, extremely dangerous outpost outside Chang'an City that served as a forward sentry post. Three days ago, the outpost was attacked. To ensure she could escape alive and carry the news back to Chang'an City, Qian Xiao's father had lured the enemy away. He had been missing ever since, his fate unknown.

Luo Chu had already applied to the city's Watchmen for a search party. It was destined to be a suicide mission, so she wanted to see Qian Xiao a few more times and get her affairs in order. That way, if she also died, her son wouldn't be left alone, and she could depart without any lingering attachments.

"Here." Xu Lai handed her a black Jade Pendant. "If you find yourself in a life-or-death crisis, crush it."

"What is this?" Luo Chu hesitated.

"My Identity Jade Token." Xu Lai glanced at her. "It's very valuable. Don't lose it."

"..."

Luo Chu was speechless, her brow twitching. She had met many Ninth Grade Martial Artists, but not one of them was like Xu Lai, carving their own... identity nameplate. She examined it; it was neither a precious Sound Transmission Jade Slip nor one of the legendary Transmission Jade Slips. It simply had the character 'Xu' carved on it. The calligraphy looked familiar, but she couldn't immediately recall where she had seen it before.

She casually stuffed the black Jade Pendant into her pocket without a second thought and left the study.

If the Cultivators of the Immortal Domain saw this, they would likely want to drown Luo Chu in their spit. This Jade Token was simply too precious! So precious that only a few dozen existed in the entire Universe.

Over the past hundred thousand years, Xu Lai had gifted most of these jade tokens to his subordinates, such as the First Divine General, Taotie; the Second Divine General, Baize; the Seventh Divine General, Chang Nian Gu; and other Divine Generals who had made outstanding contributions to the Heavenly Court. But they were all reluctant to use them, planning to keep them as family heirlooms for their descendants.

This jade token didn't have any other functions; it had only one ability.

Sound Transmission!

At first listen, it might seem like a simple Sound Transmission Jade Slip, nothing special. But if the jade token was crushed, then no matter where in the Universe—be it a supreme forbidden land or the Sea of Death that blocks Divine Sense—Xu Lai would sense it. And he would arrive in person.

In the Universe, a Holy Master from a supreme Tao Lineage once offered one hundred million star systems just to trade for a single Emperor's Insignia Token to protect his favorite daughter, but to this day, he has failed.

In the era of Emperor Qingfeng, this black jade pendant engraved with the character 'Xu' was an undisputed treasure, a true talisman against death!

...

Xu Lai didn't mind Luo Chu's attitude. He had acted not just because Luo Chu was his wife Ruan Tang's best friend, but more because he feared that if something were to happen to her, Qian Xiao's new guardian would end up being either Xu Yaoyao or Ruan Tang. Ruan Tang was kind-hearted, and Yiyi also quite enjoyed playing with Qian Xiao. Xu Lai figured that his wife and daughter would most likely invite Qian Xiao to live in Haitang Court. Then, Qian Xiao would surely be clinging to his precious daughter every single day.

How dangerous! What if familiarity breeds affection? He had to nip this possibility in the bud. To do that, giving away a mere token was nothing—he'd sacrifice half the Heavenly Court if he had to.

...

Despite it being the Chongyang Festival, Luo Chu and Ruan Tang took Qian Xiao and Yiyi from Haitang Court to an amusement park. They were even planning to meet Xu Yaoyao for lunch.

Xu Lai took the chance to slack off, lying in a rattan chair and basking in the sun.

「At noon.」

Ruan Lan finally woke up. She was bleary-eyed, her pajamas a mess, sporting two large dark circles and completely devoid of the vitality a young girl should have.

"Brother-in-law, where's my sister and Yiyi?" Ruan Lan asked languidly.

"They went out."

"Then what are we having for lunch?"

"We're not eating."

"Oh, not eating rice means we're having porridge? Sounds good."

"Not having porridge either."

"Then what are we having?"

"We're drinking the northwest wind."

"..."

Ruan Lan was speechless. Coming to her senses, she complained, aggrieved, "Seriously, Brother-in-law? How can you be so cruel to your sister-in-law? You're not even going to cook just because my sister and Yiyi are out!"

Her utterly pitiful expression was enough to melt anyone's heart.

Without lifting his head, Xu Lai said, his eyes still closed, "There's instant noodles in the kitchen. Go make some for yourself."

"Oh, greatest, most wonderful brother-in-law in the whole wide world, are you there? Your dear sister-in-law wants to eat Cloud Tofu Brain, roasted lamb ribs, and braised pig's trotters." Ruan Lan whined pitifully.

Ever since she moved in to freeload, Ruan Lan hadn't touched instant noodles again. After all, how could they compare to the delicious dishes Xu Lai made?

Xu Lai said, "Your brother-in-law isn't here."

Ruan Lan was furious, but she had no choice but to stomp off to the kitchen to make noodles.

Soon enough, she carried two bowls of instant noodles to the dining table and called out, "Time to eat, Brother-in-law!"

"I'm not eating noodles."

"You're not hungry?" Ruan Lan asked, confused, as she picked up a mouthful of noodles with her chopsticks.

"I'm hungry. But I'm having roasted lamb ribs, braised pig's trotters, and tofu brain."

Xu Lai snapped his fingers, and the three dishes appeared on the dining table.

"..."

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