Chapter 49: Su Ruoxi is Pregnant, The Holy Son Emerges from Seclusion

Half a year later, the Great Xia Kingdom ushered in a ceremony of unprecedented scale. The scene was extraordinarily lively, and an atmosphere of celebration permeated the entire realm.

This piece of news spread like wildfire through the nine sacred lands, instantly capturing widespread attention and sparking countless discussions.

Within the Exquisite Sacred Land, several holy sons suddenly gathered to discuss the matter, inadvertently revealing a startling truth.

"Have you heard? The Empress is pregnant with the imperial heir. The purpose of holding this ceremony is ostensibly to select talent for the Jiang family, but in reality, it is declaring to all the sacred lands that Su Ruoxi is likely no longer that aloof holy soness, but has truly become the legitimate wife of the Yellow Emperor of Great Xia."

One of the holy sons spoke with a hint of banter and astonishment, as if narrating an incredible tale.

The idle chatter of the holy sons echoed through the corridors of the Exquisite Sacred Land, carrying far enough to reach another holy son in the distance, stirring a surge of jealousy in his heart.

He had originally thought that the marriage between Su Ruoxi and the Yellow Emperor of Great Xia was merely a child's plaything, a trivial affair, believing that Su Ruoxi would never lose her dignity and genuinely entangle herself with that Yellow Emperor.

However, the news of the Empress's pregnancy completely shattered his perception, leaving him dazed and filled with a bitter ache.

Upon first hearing of Su Ruoxi's marriage to the Yellow Emperor of Great Xia, he had almost lost his mental composure. Had he not been at a critical juncture of breaking through his cultivation barrier, he would have long since confronted her and demanded an explanation for such a decision.

He had always held unique feelings for Su Ruoxi, never imagining that she would so easily cast aside her identity and status to become the wife of the Great Xia Emperor.

Now, with her expecting the imperial heir, that unspoken affection seemed to have nowhere to rest. Jealousy and a sense of loss intertwined, leaving him struggling to calm his turbulent emotions.

"Hmph! We were in the same cultivation realm before, but now I have stepped into the Venerable realm ahead of her. She must regret marrying such a good-for-nothing, to actually... hmph."

Holy Son Yunhe felt a mixture of secret self-satisfaction and lingering resentment, as if lamenting Su Ruoxi's "foolish choice."

He had once thought that while he and Su Ruoxi shared the same realm, there would naturally be competition and rivalry between them. Never did he expect her to choose the Yellow Emperor of Great Xia. Now that he had attained the Venerable realm first, it only made Su Ruoxi's choice appear utterly foolish to him.

The thought of Su Ruoxi carrying a child caused Yunhe's anger to detonate instantly, surging forth like a volcanic eruption. The palpable fury formed an invisible pressure field that frightened the surrounding holy sons into scattering immediately, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

"Run, run! Let's get out of here before we invite trouble."

One holy son whispered a warning to his companion, who was still enthusiastically recounting the glorious deeds of the Great Xia Emperor, attempting to make him realize the gravity of the situation.

However, that holy son seemed completely unconcerned and continued to scoff:

"What are you afraid of? Although Holy Son Yunhe is formidable, his temper is notoriously good. Nothing will go wrong, trust me, if you don't believe me, look..."

He reached out to pull Yunhe, intending to invite him to join the gossip, completely oblivious to Yunhe's boiling rage.

Before he could touch him, the prudent holy son yanked him back, his voice urgent:

"Hey! Have you lost your mind? Don't you know Senior Brother Yunhe used to pursue Su Ruoxi? He was defeated by her when they were in the same realm, so he vowed to reach the Venerable realm before her and settle the outcome with a wager. If he won, she was to become his Dao companion. You... aren't you just pouring oil on the fire?"

These words acted like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the holy son's levity and making him realize he had nearly committed a grave error.

Indeed, no matter how good-tempered someone was, hearing others discuss such a matter—especially one involving their own "scandal"—would make their expression turn quite unsightly.

Yunhe's heart burned with fury, his face as gloomy as water. If anyone else dared to speak foolishly now, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Yet, in the next second, Yunhe wore an enchanting smile. After a deep breath, he slowly walked toward the two of them, his eyes revealing a boundless killing intent that pierced through hearts like two cold beams of light.

"Uh! Sen... Senior Brother Yunhe, you, we... we are leaving right now, immediately."

The wise holy son felt his limbs pressed against the ground by an invisible wave of Qi. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, hovering on the verge of death, his voice trembling with terror and pleading.

As for the companion who had tried to drag him into the gossip, the sheer magnitude of the pressure turned his legs to jelly, freezing him in place. The scene before him terrified him so much that his heels grew damp with cold sweat and paralyzing fear, rendering him utterly helpless.

"What was it Junior Brother was just inviting me to discuss? I am in a marvelous mood right now, why don't you share it..."

Hidden beneath Yunhe's bizarre smile was a biting killing intent and a sarcastic tone that brought tears to the young man's eyes in the next second.

After all, for Yunhe, who towered two major realms above him, killing him was as effortless as turning over a palm.

And the most terrifying part was not a swift, decisive execution, but this invisible psychological torment that caused the holy son to shake violently, his teeth chattering so badly he could barely articulate his words: "Se... Senior Brother Yunhe, I, I, I..."

At that very moment, a warm dampness spread below his waist; his soul practically left his body as control slipped away, leaving a humiliating trace upon the ground. The sudden release of bodily warmth filled him with unspeakable embarrassment and shame.

Yunhe glanced down, his killing intent suddenly vanishing, replaced by amusement. He laughed, "Hahaha... Junior Brother is truly humorous, though aren't you afraid of soiling the Exquisite Sacred Land?"

His expression shifting abruptly, he chapped out a command: "Get lost... coward."

His tone carried a trace of mockery and disdain, as though ridiculing the other's cowardice and incompetence.

Thinking of this, he smiled triumphantly, a crafty arc curving the corner of his mouth while his eyes flashed with contempt. He spoke disdainfully:

"The legendary Great Emperor inheritance, an Emperor Alchemist? Heh! The rumors must be mistaken. I heard you are merely in the Grotto-Heaven realm. So what if you possess an inheritance? So what if you have powerful guardians?"

His words dripped with provocation and sarcasm, questioning the true value of such inheritances and protectors, implying that external advantages could never mask a fundamental gap in personal strength.

As he spoke, he clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles popping with crisp cracks. Blood seeped from between his fingers, though he showed no sign of pain.

Then, letting out a breath, a playful smile returned to his face as he continued:

"This world still relies on one's own strength. External forces are not to be feared. When I finally meet you, I hope you aren't as spineless as that coward."

These words sounded half like a soliloquy and half like a challenge hurled across vast distances to a specific person, brimming with unquestionable self-confidence and dominance.

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng was naturally oblivious to all of this. Far away in the towering Sky-Reach City, he was preparing to join his wife Su Ruoxi for the ceremony and the upcoming martial trials.

He pondered inwardly: "If a few Grotto-Heaven realm experts manage to stand out among this batch, it should yield a decent return of resources. Things have been a bit tight lately."

His tone held a hint of eager calculation, scheming how to extract the maximum benefit from the impending competition.

Beside him, Su Ruoxi walked forward slowly and with great dignity, supported by a maid, her half-round belly prominent yet retaining the elegant poise of an Empress.

Although obscured by her flowing robes, any cultivator could tell at a glance that she was with child.

Her gaze was gentle yet firm, as though quietly guarding the life within her while supporting Jiang Cheng's endeavors and decisions, lending an atmosphere of solemnity and anticipation to the approaching ceremony.