Chapter 577: Demonic Fetus Borrowing an Infant, Tian Qiuyun’s Ruthlessness

On the other side.

In a grand hall of Ancient Sword Mountain.

What Wei Tu didn’t know was that at this very moment, Situ You and Tian Qiuyun were kneeling before a handsome man, discussing matters about him.

"Envoy Ji, though Wei Tu’s potential isn’t low, and he defeated Shengya Mountain’s Dao Child years ago, his strength clearly isn’t enough to kill the Liu Yu Daoist. Investigating through him will only lead us astray and alarm him instead…"

Situ You spoke calmly, but inwardly he was restless, worried Wei Tu hadn’t understood the hints he gave him.

The reason he hadn’t killed Tian Qiuyun after forming his Nascent Soul wasn’t because of lingering affection. It was because he never expected that this woman was actually a spy for the Hehuan Sect, maintaining deep cooperation and close ties with them.

This time, after he left seclusion, she even used her status as the Sword Master’s wife to introduce him to the Hehuan Sect’s grand elder—Ji Wuyai.

Ji Wuyai was a mid Nascent Soul expert. As a newly advanced Nascent Soul, he didn’t dare oppose him. He could only feign submission, pretending to side with the Hehuan Sect.

Luckily, because Tian Qiuyun didn’t know about the “reminder” Wei Tu once gave him, he had a chance to maneuver, using her survival as an excuse to subtly give Wei Tu another warning.

That was his way of returning the favor.

But this chance was far too slim. It was difficult for Wei Tu to realize this was a signal telling him not to attend the Nascent Soul Ceremony in person.

‘I can only try my best to persuade Ji Wuyai to abandon the idea of ambushing Wei Tu at Ancient Sword Mountain…’

Situ You sighed inwardly, pausing before continuing to argue his case.

But at that moment, Ji Wuyai’s cold bark cut him off.

"No need to say more!"

"Sword Master Situ, I know you don’t wish to offend Wei Tu and can’t let go of your friendship. But since you’ve chosen to join my Hehuan Sect, you must accept this."

"If Wei Tu dares to attend, he will surely die. You need not hold feelings for a dead man."

Ji Wuyai’s tone was frosty as he spoke.

If it weren’t necessary, he wouldn’t choose to strike at Wei Tu during Situ You’s Nascent Soul Ceremony. After all, by then, many Nascent Soul cultivators of Kang Kingdom would gather there. If it couldn’t be settled quickly, it could become dangerous.

But he had no choice.

Decades ago, he had followed the order of the Vice Sect Master, Lady Yin Lian, to come to Kang Kingdom’s territory and investigate the truth of the Liu Yu Daoist’s death, as well as recover the sect’s treasured artifact—the Joyous Nuo Mask.

In the process, he focused on a particular person tied to the Liu Yu Daoist: Wei Tu, who once clashed with him and stole his Yin-Yang Demon Corpse.

Though he didn’t believe Wei Tu killed the Liu Yu Daoist, he was certain—the Daoist’s death was inseparably linked to him.

However—

Wei Tu was extremely difficult to capture.

Not only did he keep secluded within the Ying Ding Tribe, rarely appearing, but he also had an escape speed rivaling that of a mid Nascent Soul.

After countless considerations, he had no choice but to gamble, using Situ You’s Nascent Soul Ceremony to lure Wei Tu into the net.

As for kidnapping relatives to force him out…

Ji Wuyai had thought of it, but he didn’t believe any Nascent Soul elder would be stupid enough to trust the words of a demonic sect, choosing mutual destruction.

He knew full well what the demonic path’s reputation was worth.

Moreover, Wei Yan, Wei Xiuwen, and the others were always hiding in the core area of Hujie Immortal City. Even if he wanted to strike, he could hardly find the chance.

…

Hearing this harsh rebuke, the hall’s atmosphere dropped to freezing point.

"Envoy Ji, my husband only spoke for your sake. After all, setting an ambush in Ancient Sword Mountain is too dangerous."

"As the saying goes, two fists can’t match four hands. Besides, Wei Tu cultivates both body and law. It won’t be easy for Envoy Ji to take him down quickly. Better to be cautious…"

Tian Qiuyun spoke with a bright smile, pouring Ji Wuyai a cup of tea while smoothing things over.

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, deliberately tightening her form-fitting gown, showing off her full chest and shapely hips.

Seeing this, Ji Wuyai’s throat stirred. His right hand moved under the table, ready to explore her body as he often did with female disciples beneath him.

But then, he suddenly remembered Situ You was still present. With effort, he suppressed his lust and pulled his hand back, pretending nothing had happened.

Though Situ You was weak, he was still a Nascent Soul cultivator and a rare chess piece for the Hehuan Sect within the righteous path.

And Ji Wuyai still needed his help against Wei Tu.

For the sake of the bigger picture, before things were finalized, he had to give Situ You some face and not defile his wife right in front of him.

Just as Ji Wuyai was settling his mind again, Tian Qiuyun’s voice rang in his ears.

"Once Situ leaves, I’ll entertain Envoy Ji properly. Also, about that technique, this concubine still needs to ask you for guidance."

Tian Qiuyun’s smile shimmered as she spoke.

"That technique?"

Hearing those words, Ji Wuyai raised an eyebrow and gave the female cultivator before him a careful look. When his gaze landed on her slightly swollen belly, he couldn’t help but mutter inwardly, ‘A venomous snake of a woman.’

No wonder—what Tian Qiuyun wanted to learn from him was one of the most sinister demonic arts he knew.

The technique was called the True Canon of Demonic Fetus Borrowing an Infant, one of the higher-tier techniques within the Hehuan Sect.

Compared to other high-level secret teachings of the sect, this one wasn’t considered outstanding, often practiced by ordinary disciples.

But its effectiveness was among the top in the sect’s arsenal.

This art allowed one to borrow the Nascent Soul of their dual cultivation partner, refining it into their own Nascent Soul to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

The catch was that ordinary female cultivators rarely had the chance to form dao partnerships with Nascent Soul elders. Even if they married, they usually ended up as little more than cauldrons for extraction.

So although the art was powerful, very few disciples in the Hehuan Sect actually practiced it.

Its true wickedness lay here: to borrow an infant, the woman had to first conceive secretly, carrying the child of a Nascent Soul elder.

Then, by using the unborn child as a ‘demonic fetus,’ she would steal the father’s Nascent Soul, merging the two together to forcefully break through to Nascent Soul.

At this moment, Ji Wuyai could easily guess that Tian Qiuyun had set her eyes on Situ You’s Nascent Soul. She likely planned to strike while his Nascent Soul was still unstable and steal it.

But Ji Wuyai had no intention of interfering.

He knew perfectly well who was easier to control between Situ You and Tian Qiuyun.

Besides, if Tian Qiuyun succeeded in breaking through, he could also dual cultivate with her to increase his own strength.

"Once Wei Tu is captured, I’ll help you borrow the Nascent Soul from Situ You…"

Ji Wuyai gave Tian Qiuyun a deep look as he spoke, his words carrying both warning and promise.

…

Three days passed in a blink.

Because of his suspicions, Wei Tu did not bring any of his kin to Situ You’s Nascent Soul Ceremony. Instead, he chose to go alone, representing the Ying Ding Tribe.

By attending in person, he had already given his friend Situ You enough face. After all, most of the sect leaders invited had only sent Golden Core cultivators, with their Nascent Soul elders merely sending a congratulatory gift.

Bringing kin meant forging true closeness.

That kind of gesture could wait until he confirmed the ceremony was without danger. They could always hold a private family banquet later, which was what truly signified closeness.

Compared to the other Nascent Soul elders of Kang Kingdom, Wei Tu’s reputation was unmatched.

After all, he had nearly mid Nascent Soul-level strength and had once defeated Shengya Mountain’s Dao Child.

So when his escape light dimmed and he landed at the gates of Ancient Sword Mountain, the Nascent Soul cultivators gathered within the main hall instantly sent their divine sense to greet him.

Some even humbled themselves by coming out alongside Situ You and Tian Qiuyun to personally welcome him.

Politeness must be met with politeness.

Wei Tu was not arrogant. He returned their greetings with courtesy, though his attention never strayed from Situ You and Tian Qiuyun.

The fact that Tian Qiuyun was still alive was something he couldn’t understand even before coming here.

Now, standing before the couple, he naturally had to see what game they were playing.

And with just one look, he noticed the problem.

"Pregnant?" Wei Tu’s brows lifted slightly as his gaze lingered on Tian Qiuyun’s belly, his confusion suddenly easing.

He had long wondered why Situ You would forgive a woman who had betrayed him after reaching Nascent Soul.

Now he understood.

It was because Tian Qiuyun was suddenly with child.

High-level cultivator bloodlines, much like spirit beasts, did not always follow the ten-month cycle. Pregnancies lasting years were common.

Hating the mother didn’t always mean hating the child.

Wei Tu reflected that if it were him facing such a choice, he might also hesitate.

Of course, he wouldn’t spare Tian Qiuyun herself. Most likely, he’d kill the mother and keep the child.

But just as that doubt cleared, his eyes narrowed again.

‘Something’s not right.’

He clearly remembered that when he returned from the overseas cultivation world a few years back, he had secretly observed Ancient Sword Mountain. At that time, Tian Qiuyun showed no signs of pregnancy.

Which meant this child was conceived only after Situ You came out of seclusion.

But… how was that possible?

That contradicted his earlier assumptions.

If she hadn’t been pregnant, what reason could Situ You have had to spare her?

His brows furrowed. He discreetly summoned the Ghost-Eyed Demon Spider and used its “spider eyes” together with his Sun-Gazing Golden Eyes to peer once more at Tian Qiuyun.

The next moment, he saw within her belly a baby with a face nothing like a normal infant’s.

The fetus was pitch black all over, and on its forehead was an obscure blood-red rune, glowing faintly.

"Demonic in nature?"

Wei Tu’s expression darkened.

He never expected the child in Tian Qiuyun’s womb to look like that.