Inside the room, Ning Xingxu remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long breath and nodding toward the beautiful woman.
"Alright, you may leave first."
"Yes, Sect Master." The beautiful woman respectfully bowed and voluntarily exited the room. With her sharp mind, she naturally understood that it was inappropriate for an outsider like her to remain here for what was to come.
Having fully confirmed the fact that she was pregnant, Ning Tian revealed a gentle smile, her pretty face glowing with maternal radiance. She sat leaning against the head of the bed, one hand lightly caressing her abdomen, while her eyes filled with affection as she gazed at Xu Zihuang by the bedside.
"Tianhuang."
This was the continuation of their bloodline, a bond that could never be severed.
Compared to Ning Tian's pure joy, Xu Zihuang's mood was unusually tinged with nervousness. It was not only due to his discomfort with the change in status, but also an indescribable sense of responsibility.
He took a deep breath, walked to the edge of Ning Tian's bed, sat down, and took her other hand.
"I don't know if the future me can become a competent father, but I will do my best to shoulder this responsibility."
"Mm, I believe in you." Ning Tian's smile was filled with sweetness.
Ning Xingxu watched the scene before him in a daze, as though a thousand words surged in his heart.
At the right moment, Gu Lao spoke to Ning Xingxu with a gratified smile: "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Let's first give Tianhuang and Tian'er some time alone together."
After a moment of hesitation, Ning Xingxu still nodded. In truth, he was pleased with these developments, but as a father, his feelings were inevitably complicated.
Ning Xingxu and Gu Lao quietly left the room, while Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian immersed themselves in their own world, smiling as they imagined their future together.
With Ning Tian pregnant, she naturally could no longer return to Shrek Academy to study. Thus, Xu Zihuang continued to stay at the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, keeping her company.
In the blink of an eye, another month passed.
During this time, Ning Xingxu had another in-depth private conversation with Xu Zihuang. There was no dramatic conflict of the sort seen in plays; everything remained harmonious.
The bloodline continuation between Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian not only intertwined their fates even more deeply but also bound Xu Zihuang to the entire Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
As time went by, Ning Tian's once flat abdomen had begun to show a slight swell.
In the depths of winter, the outside temperature grew colder and colder, yet within this courtyard where snow-white apricot blossoms drifted, it felt like spring all year round.
Ning Tian sat quietly on the stone chair in the center of the courtyard, nestling in Xu Zihuang's embrace and dozing lightly. The stone chair was cushioned with a soft, fluffy crimson blanket made from the fur of a ten-thousand-year Flame Lion King, providing excellent warmth.
Ning Tian's long eyelashes trembled slightly as she spoke softly and considerately, "Tianhuang, you really don't need to stay here with me all the time. Didn't we agree last night? You're supposed to go back to the academy today to check on Sister Guyi's situation. Sister Guyi has been in secluded cultivation for nearly four months now, and there's still no news."
"Don't worry, she'll be fine. I'll head back to the academy in a little while." Xu Zihuang gently combed through her hair with tender movements. Although he was also concerned about Ye Guyi, given Ye Guyi's foundation, it was unlikely that anything would go wrong during her breakthrough to Rank 80. Moreover, if something truly happened, Shrek Academy would surely send word. If his guess was correct, Ye Guyi had most likely gained some profound insight, which was why it had taken so long.
It was precisely because of this that Xu Zihuang had felt at ease staying at the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for another month or so.
Ning Tian looked up, meeting Xu Zihuang's eyes, and coquettishly urged him again, "Go on already. I'm inside the sect. Could anything possibly happen to me?"
Though that was what she said, she actually greatly enjoyed Xu Zihuang's care and protection.
"Alright, alright, alright…" Xu Zihuang stood up helplessly.
"I'll head back to the academy now and, while I'm at it, tell her about your pregnancy too."
Her little thoughts exposed, Ning Tian noticed the teasing glint in Xu Zihuang's eyes. Her pretty face immediately flushed, and she let out a soft, feigned huff of righteous indignation.
"Sister Guyi is your own sister. Isn't it only natural to tell her these things?"
"Alright, I'm leaving now." The smile on Xu Zihuang's face faded as he spoke seriously, "Barring any surprises, I'll be back tonight. If anything urgent comes up, I'll have someone send word immediately."
"Mm," Ning Tian said nothing more, simply lifting her fair and delicate chin charmingly. Her cherry lips looked especially alluring. Since becoming pregnant, though she was not yet twenty, she had gained an additional captivating charm.
Xu Zihuang understood her meaning and leaned closer to her face. Their breaths mingled in that moment.
As they parted, the touching charm in Ning Tian's lustrous water-blue eyes became even more pronounced. She watched Xu Zihuang's figure disappear into the void.
Afterward, she sat up a little straighter, crossed her hands over her abdomen, and opened and closed her eyes. The smile on her lovely face remained as tranquil and elegant as ever, filled with hope and anticipation for the future.
Meeting Xu Zihuang at Shrek Academy, getting to know him, and reaching this point together was the greatest fortune of her life.
But just as Xu Zihuang was flying through the air, heading from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect toward Shrek Academy, his expression suddenly changed. As if sensing something, he looked toward the southwest.
A vague oppressive feeling arose within him out of nowhere. This sensation did not come from any person or creature, but from the very space itself. The closer he was to the southwest, the stronger the feeling became.
At the same time, in the northwest frontier of the Star Luo Empire.
A blazing white sphere of light continued to shine near the Mingdou Mountain Range. The light formed a semicircle, slowly expanding outward. The radiance was blinding, giving the impression of the sun descending upon the mortal world. Most people could not bear it and would instinctively avert their eyes after a single glance.
For example, the soldiers of the Star Luo Empire's Western Army Group. The Western Army Group was stationed atop the Mingdou Mountain Range and was likewise within the range of the expanding light.
Despair filled the eyes of those soldiers. Before they could react, their bodies and souls were annihilated within the light.
In the next instant, the earth trembled slightly. Immediately afterward, countless steep peaks across the Mingdou Mountain Range shattered and melted away in the light. A rumbling as muffled thunder rolled forth endlessly.
Even several border cities hundreds of kilometers away in the northwest region of the Star Luo Empire began to shake violently.
The rumbling echoed faintly but continuously from the northwest frontier of the Star Luo Empire. Though it lacked the initial world-shaking terror, it was incomparably dense.
After more than half a year of silence, the Sun Moon Empire could no longer hold back and finally took action. War had broken out.
Even from thousands of kilometers away, Xu Zihuang could sense faint ripples in the space. His gaze sharpened as he fully circulated his soul power and hurried toward Shrek Academy at top speed.
Now that the Sun Moon Empire had launched the war, Shrek Academy would undoubtedly receive the most accurate information at the earliest possible moment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
[email protected]/facficmax10--------(@→a)