Chapter 709: Great Demon 72

After leaving the ancient battlefield, Jin Yan couldn’t hold it in any longer. He sidled up to Tan You, his small hand hooking around her index finger. "Mom, I was a good boy just now and listened to the grand-uncles."

Tan You replied naturally, "Mhm, you did well."

One called her "Mom" with such ease, and the other responded just as smoothly, completely oblivious to the shock they were causing everyone else.

The Cold Dragon’s eyes went wide. "Wait a minute, I remember you don’t have a cultivation partner. How did you just pop out a kid after a trip to the ancient battlefield? Who’s his father?"

Bai Ze also stared at Tan You. He didn’t believe for a second that someone as stone-hearted as Tan You would actually have a child. Besides, the age didn’t add up. The boy looked five or six, but Tan You had only been gone for the grand competition for about a year.

Tan You retorted, "So you can’t have a baby without a man? Don’t be so narrow-minded. Try to think bigger."

Peacock and the other Great Demons immediately understood. This was definitely not Tan You’s biological child. But they wondered why he called her "Mom."

They were among trusted friends, so Tan You didn’t hide the truth. "There’s a spirit-void in the ancient battlefield. Ayuan is a spirit embryo that was nurtured there. I suspect the Evil Qi kept invading the area because it sensed the spirit embryo forming."

"If the Evil Qi had possessed the spirit embryo, it might have evolved beyond creating mere desolate beasts and could have even formed a new race."

Jin Yuan’s suspicion was confirmed. "So, you set up the God Trapping Array in the spirit-void, which is how this little guy came to be born."

"But in a spirit-void... isn’t it impossible to use Spiritual Power?"

Jin Yu had already grasped the key point. "Did you modify the God Trapping Array? To cover the entire spirit-void, the Array must have been incredibly complex. We should discuss it when we get back."

"You got it, Second Uncle," Tan You said, giving him a thumbs-up. "To be honest, I didn’t even know there was a spirit embryo there at the time. It was a complete fluke. Once the God Trapping Array covered the entire spirit-void, it purged all the Evil Qi inside."

"Then this little guy suddenly appeared, and you all know the rest."

Bai Ze glanced at Jin Yan, who was barely three heads tall. "So, does that mean Ayuan basically collected all those Sha Crystals for you?"

Tan You nodded. "Yep. I’m usually the one carrying the team, but this time I got to ride Ayuan’s coattails to an easy victory. No wonder Little Uncle loves riding on others’ coattails so much. This feeling of profiting without lifting a finger is seriously amazing."

Jin Yan grinned from ear to ear. "Mom, I’ll take good care of you from now on! I’ll never make you worry, and I’ll make sure you can always be this comfortable!"

Delighted, Tan You picked up the little boy and bounced him in her arms. "You really are Mom’s best boy!"

Her "best boy" Jin Yan tried to pull a stern, mature face, but he couldn’t hold back a smile, making for a comical expression. Amused, Tan You ruffled the little guy’s hair. "Alright, let’s go. Time to head back."

Jin Jue tore open a spatial rift, and a moment later, the group of Great Demons arrived in Jin Yao’s territory. Tan You set Jin Yan down. "This is your Little Grand-uncle’s domain. Go on and play."

Jin Yan clung to Tan You. "I want to stay with Mom."

Tan You casually patted his head. "Fine, but your grand-uncles and I have things to discuss, so you have to be quiet."

Jin Yan pouted. "Mom, I may only be this small right now, but I’m actually very old. I understand."

Tan You thought, ’What could you possibly understand? A little three-head-tall brat trying to act all profound in front of me? Then again, he *is* a spirit embryo born from a spirit-void. An existence like him might have started gestating at the dawn of time.’

’When I put it that way... Ah, forget it. It’s not like the Immortal Realm is short on things that shatter your worldview.’

"Fine, just sit here quietly." Having reasoned it out, Tan You no longer dwelled on it. "The Golden Ring Snake clan was allocated two-tenths of the karmic luck. Why don’t I feel anything?"

Jin Yao chuckled. "You might be in Jin Huan’s body, but you’re not a Golden Ring Snake, so of course you can’t feel it. We, on the other hand, can all sense that the Heavenly Dao’s shackles on our clan have loosened significantly."

Tan You only half-understood. "Well, as long as there are real benefits, that’s good. I plan on heading back after I’m done setting up the Demon Market here."

Jin Yao blinked. "So soon? Are you really okay leaving Jin Huan on her own?"

Tan You replied, "Aren’t her ancestors here to watch over her? With you guys around, even a piece of rotten wood can be carved into something useful... Oh, speak of the devil, she’s awake."

With that, Tan You cleanly relinquished control of the body. For a moment, the onlookers’ vision swam. The expression of the person sitting in the chair changed instantly, and she looked around at the Great Demons in the hall with a bewildered expression.

Beside her, a soul-form clad in white appeared. Jin Yan jumped down from his chair and, without any hesitation, took Tan You’s hand. The amazing thing was, he could actually touch her.

"Mom, I told you so! My mom is the cutest and the prettiest! Way better looking than Jin Huan," the little guy said, leaning against Tan You with a smug expression. "Mom, you’re so beautiful."

Tan You lowered her gaze to him. "How can you touch me?"

"Silly Mom," Jin Yan said as he led Tan You to a chair and then leaned against her. "I’m a spirit embryo born of heaven and earth, and your God Trapping Array is what allowed me to be born. There’s an extraordinary connection between us."

"Of course I can touch you. It’s only natural."

Even in her soul-form, Tan You sat with a ramrod-straight posture. The body’s original owner, Jin Huan, was another story. After quickly getting her bearings, she slumped into the chair as if she had no bones, a seductive glint in her eyes.

It made sense. After all, she had only been a Seventh Rank demon when she died, so it was no surprise she had an innately bewitching air. The sight made Tan You’s eyes hurt. "Reel it in. You’re an Immortal Monarch, not some little snake demoness."

Jin Huan replied languidly, "I’m still getting used to it. I never imagined I’d wake from a long dream to find I’ve reached the Ninth Heaven."

Tan You gave a dry laugh. "Take your time processing it. Just looking at you slouching like that is an eyesore."

Jin Huan protested, "I... I’m not lazy! I’m actually very diligent!"

Tan You just shot her a look, and Jin Huan immediately deflated. She transformed into a small white snake and sidled up to Tan You. "What should I call you? Client... Master...? I’m definitely not calling you Mom. I’m way older than you."

Jin Yan puffed up, looking fierce. "She’s *my* mom!"

Jin Huan flicked her long, slender tail. "Alright, alright, I won’t fight you over your mom." She then turned to the elders. "Jin Huan greets the Ancestors. I promise to cultivate diligently from now on and will not tarnish my master’s name."

Jin Yuan gave a slight nod. "Good. We will wait and see. Jin Yao has already prepared a territory for you near his own. Your master and I still have matters to discuss. Your most urgent task now is to focus on your cultivation."

Jin Huan knew, of course, that they must have a lot to say to Tan You. She was about to leave when Tan You called out to her. "You’ve never had a proper given name. You’ve always just been called by the name of your species."

"Now that you have returned to your rightful place, it is time for a clan elder to bestow a proper name upon you."