Mo Lianxing stuck out her tongue, realizing it was time for her, the designated third wheel, to make her exit. Staying any longer would just make her an unwanted spotlight. With a whoosh, she vanished into Jiang Che’s Soul Nurturing Ring.
“Shen Yu, when you found out you were pregnant… didn’t you feel even the slightest ripple in your heart?”
Jiang Che sighed inwardly. Kid… your dad’s out of ideas here. How about you lend a hand?
Otherwise, after you’re born, having a mom or not won’t make much difference.
Shen Yu fell silent, her mind replaying Jiang Che’s words.
When she first learned she was pregnant…
She had been lost and nervous, but above all, afraid. She felt utterly insecure, which was why she’d called Jiang Che immediately.
As for why she called him… perhaps because he was the only person she could confide in. After all, she didn’t have a single friend by her side.
Most crucially, when the doctor confirmed she was three weeks pregnant, she’d felt… a flicker of happiness?
Even though she struggled with emotional detachment, that one fleeting moment… she had been happy. She’d wanted to share the news with Jiang Che.
“I… I don’t know why. Maybe this is what love feels like? Motherly love?”
Shen Yu gently touched her stomach, still unable to believe it—she was really pregnant?
Jiang Che couldn’t help but laugh.
Perfect. Another big step forward in winning over Shen Yu!
“That’s more like it! Love isn’t something you can just chalk up to hormones. If romantic love is complicated, motherly love is even more so.”
Shen Yu adjusted her glasses, pondered for a moment, then nodded seriously.
Well, mission accomplished—Shen Yu’s officially bamboozled.
“Sweetheart, your system’s even got a new name now. Time to start researching how to scientifically cultivate immortality!”
Shen Yu frowned. “But my mathematical theorems… I already have a concrete approach to proving Goldbach’s Conjecture. Just give me another year—”
Jiang Che instantly regretted ever mentioning those math problems to her.
But hey, you dig your own grave, you lie in it.
“No need. This USB drive has detailed proofs for all those conjectures. Just skim through it when you have time—consider it a curiosity satisfied.”
Shen Yu: “……”
She was speechless. Understanding something someone else solved… wouldn’t give her any sense of accomplishment.
It was like gamers who used cheats—sure, it’s fun for a while, but the victory isn’t really yours.
But Jiang Che was dead set on keeping her safely at the Jiang residence to focus on pregnancy and childbirth. There was nothing she could do.
“Oh, and check your system. What kind of goodies can you buy with 1.1 billion cultivation points?”
Jiang Che rubbed his hands together. He knew full well that Shen Yu’s system, given its tier, probably didn’t offer anything too impressive—but hey, free stuff is free stuff!
Humanity’s greatest joy? Getting something for nothing.
Shen Yu nodded and began browsing her system.
“Whoa… sweetheart, your system’s got some serious loot…”
Jiang Che’s eyes narrowed. The updated system was a bizarre hybrid of science and cultivation, attempting to explain the latter through the former.
But at the end of the day, it was still about using science to support cultivation.
For example, there was a “scientific alchemy microwave,” even an “arcane energy cannon,” and—most absurd of all—a spaceship powered by spirit stones capable of interstellar travel.
Science + fantasy = true sci-fi!
“This is gold!”
Jiang Che was fairly familiar with the state of affairs in the Nine Heavens.
The headquarters of the Chosen Ones’ Association was located there. The Nine Heavens was vast, teeming with talent, and this fusion of science and mysticism was thriving.
No, there weren’t tales of Immortal Kings battling two-dimensional foil, but rumors abounded of supreme experts tanking planetary cannons.
“See? Isn’t this enough to keep you busy, Shen Yu?”
“This is an entirely new scientific paradigm!”
Shen Yu bit her lip. “But I don’t like this stuff. I love math.”
“Do whatever you want, sweetheart. Just don’t forget about me and the baby.” Jiang Che didn’t push her. He already knew—the baby would be the key to winning her over.
“Mm…” Shen Yu lowered her head, nestling against Jiang Che’s side, looking utterly docile.
But only Jiang Che knew—this girl’s heart still wasn’t fully his.
The road ahead is long…
——
After Shen Yu fell asleep…
Jiang Che activated the Soul Communion Art, separating his soul from his body!
Normally, only those at the Shattering Heaven stage could nurture a divine soul, and Divine Connection experts could achieve soul projection.
But Jiang Che, having just entered Shattering Heaven, could already accomplish it using a secret technique.
“Heh… so this is a divine soul? Not bad!”
His soul was remarkably stable, hovering in the air almost indistinguishably from his physical form.
“Hehehe… time to visit my little heartless one!”
Jiang Che’s soul dove straight into the Soul Nurturing Ring.
Inside the ring was another world entirely.
A mountain peak shrouded in immortal mist.
At its summit stood an opulent palace, and in a celestial pool below, a few cranes frolicked in the water.
“Tsk… giving this paradise to that ungrateful girl… what a waste!”
Jiang Che’s heart ached—this ring had cost him a million points.
But soon, he’d recoup his losses… with interest.
——
The vast pool was veiled in mist, its surface dotted with lotus leaves and duckweed.
A pristine figure lounged leisurely in the water, her jet-black hair floating like seaweed around her.
“Oh, immortal spring, so much water! Oh, immortal crane, such lovely legs!”
“Two legs! Two legs! Whose legs could be so fair?”
Mo Lianxing stretched out her jade-white legs, lazily stirring the water, utterly reveling in her bath.
Even as a soul, after being cooped up in the ring for millennia, she felt perpetually grimy—she could’ve stayed in the pool forever.
Just as she was admiring herself, a voice echoed in her ears.
“Hmm… they are quite lovely.”
Mo Lianxing: “!!!”
“GHOST!!!”
She shrieked and submerged herself, only peeking out after a long moment.
“You—how did you get in here? Wait… you’re a soul too? And you didn’t even announce yourself!”
Mo Lianxing was mortified. Had he just seen everything?!
This is a disaster!
Even as a soul, she had dignity, damn it!
Jiang Che chuckled, sitting by the spirit spring’s edge. “Darling, I am your husband. We’re cultivation partners—why so distant?”
Mo Lianxing: “……”