Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

Long Chen said, “Mom, I need to discuss things with you...”

Luo Ningshuang sat down on a stone block beneath the tree and pulled him beside her.

She said, “There’s nothing to discuss. We haven’t seen each other in so long—tell me, when are you bringing your wives over for me to meet?”

Long Chen was speechless.

“That’s not urgent. But Heavenly Maple Valley—”

“There’s nothing to discuss about Heavenly Maple Valley either,” Luo Ningshuang said calmly. “When you weren’t here, your father arranged everything. Now that you are here, you can handle it yourself. I don’t involve myself in such troublesome affairs. I prefer spending my days teaching these children. Watching them grow day by day brings me peace.”

She gently rubbed Long Chen’s hair, her smile soft.

“During the years we were separated, I only prayed that we could reunite one day. Now that we have, I realize I owe the violet blood race too much. It’s time for me to repay that debt. You can consider it compensation.”

“So you’re... using your own essence blood to awaken their latent potential?” Long Chen’s eyes reddened.

When he had first arrived, he had sensed something but had said nothing.

These disciples carried traces of his mother’s bloodline aura. Luo Ningshuang deliberately pushed them to exhaustion, and as they recovered, she secretly nourished them with her own blood soul energy.

She was sacrificing herself to nurture them.

A surge of grief welled up in Long Chen’s heart. Yet, he knew his mother’s nature. Once she had made a decision, no one could change it.

Hearing her say it aloud still struck Long Chen deeply. In his mother’s heart, she believed that her past willfulness had cost the entire violet blood race. She did not regret it. But since she had a debt, she chose to repay it with her life.

If blood was required, she would give blood. If life was required, she would not hesitate.

With Luo Ningshuang’s unique bloodline, she should have long since advanced to Sovereign Lord. That she had not was entirely because of these disciples.

“Child, don’t feel bad,” Luo Ningshuang said, knowing that there was no keeping this from Long Chen.

She held his hand and spoke gently. “I never liked days filled with slaughter and killing. With you and your father here, there’s no need for me to step onto the battlefield. Rather than letting my bloodline go to waste, I would rather use it to raise the children of the violet blood race.”

After a brief pause, she continued, “I’ve discovered that my bloodline is especially suited to supporting them. I can help them awaken their latent abilities more quickly. Perhaps this is my mission. Everyone must find their place in life. Once you do, your heart finds peace. You should be happy for me.”

Long Chen could only nod.

His mother had given up the climb toward the peak of the martial path and instead chosen to raise disciples. Stepping away from a world of endless slaughter was not necessarily a bad thing.

Moreover, with him present, if his mother were ever forced onto the battlefield, he would feel nothing but shame.

Looking into her eyes, Long Chen saw no regret, only genuine contentment. She felt blessed by her present life.

Luo Ningshuang loved Long Chen. She missed him deeply and wished he could remain by her side forever.

But she understood that such love would become shackles. Instead, she chose to stay here, nurturing disciples and placing her complete trust in her son. That, too, was a form of love—giving him freedom.

In this world, all love was selfish. Only a mother’s love was boundless. Other loves sought to possess; a mother’s love knew how to let go.

Luo Ningshuang had never been able to hold Long Chen’s hand as a child. She had never watched him grow. Yet, she still chose to let him be free. That, too, was a quiet torment she endured.

She knew that Long Chen already had too many burdens on his shoulders. She wouldn’t add another.

Now, she poured the love she could not give him into these violet blood disciples. That alone brought her a sense of fulfillment. She was happy with this life.

“These brats have recovered enough. I have to go look after them, or they’ll slack off,” Luo Ningshuang said as she rose.

Long Chen followed her gaze. The disciples had barely struggled back to their feet. His mother really didn’t plan to give them any breathing room.

However, such high-intensity drilling was necessary for those who had faced repeated trials of life and death.

With the support of Luo Ningshuang’s bloodline and teachings, these disciples would definitely soar. Luo Ningshuang’s bloodline energy was like seeds taking root in their bodies, silently reshaping their future.

“This is the race leader tablet,” Luo Ningshuang said, tossing Long Chen a tablet. “You can use it to issue orders throughout Heavenly Maple Valley. Though, with your status, you likely won’t need it. Just treat it as a symbol.”

When Long Chen caught it, Luo Ningshuang was already walking back into the training ground, her previous warmth disappearing.

“Get up! You’re already recovered, but instead of training by yourselves, you need others to push you? How are you going to become experts with this kind of attitude!? Use your qi to guide your blood, and your blood to push your qi. This is the best moment to merge your bloodline power with your essence rune! Do you not even understand this?”

The pale disciples were forced back into training the instant they regained strength. However, not even one complained. They gritted their teeth and pressed on.

Long Chen couldn’t help but nod. These disciples had impressive wills. They were worthy of his mother’s time and effort.

If anyone dared to slack off now, Long Chen would personally deal with them for wasting her sacrifice.

At this time, Xue Ying came over and sighed.

“Senior really is strict...”

“She has to be,” Long Chen replied. “Every bit of suffering they endure now slightly increases their chances of surviving on the battlefield.”

This was a path they had no choice but to walk. There were no shortcuts.

Seeing his mother busy training these disciples, Long Chen had to leave. If he stayed, those disciples would be too distracted.

He brought Xue Ying over to the newly constructed grand palace, where four elders were already waiting for him.

“Greetings, Junior Race Leader!” The four elders immediately bowed when Long Chen walked in.

Long Chen got straight to the point. “Seniors, there’s no need for such courtesy. We’re all one family, so let’s skip formalities. I want to know what preparations my father left behind.”