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Chapter 99: Chapter 78: This is Bad! I’ve Become a Fake Dad

With that, he directly circulated his True Qi.

In an instant, a formidable surge of True Qi erupted from his Dantian, suffusing his entire body.

In the blink of an eye, he seemed to grow taller, his posture becoming much more erect. While not as exaggerated as Xiang Yunzhan, his entire being radiated a wild, untamable aura.

His muscles and skin resembled translucent yellow jade, suffused with an aura that was both boundless and regal.

A First-Grade Flesh Soul!

And it was a First-Grade Flesh Soul that could only be forged by cultivating the Body Refining Chapter of the Emperor’s Extreme Body Refining Technique to the Harmony Realm.

Zhao Qing: ”...”

Zhao Huan: ”...”

The two exchanged a look, both noticing the other’s pupils were somewhat dilated and unfocused.

This...

How long had it been since a First-Grade Flesh Soul had appeared in the Zhao Clan?

Having started their own cultivation with the Emperor’s Extreme Body Refining Technique, they knew exactly how difficult it was to master that profound ancient manual to the Harmony Realm.

Besides, even reaching the Harmony Realm was no guarantee of forging a First-Grade Flesh Soul. Luck was still a major factor, even with an Emperor Pill.

They both swallowed hard, their throats suddenly feeling dry.

Zhao Ci asked with a baffled expression, ”Is it that difficult?”

Zhao Qing: ”???”

Zhao Huan: ”???”

’Hah!’

’A bunch of country bumpkins.’

Zhao Ci wasn’t afraid of revealing this. He was certain the secret manual for swapping organs could only replace the Vital Organ Divine Pattern; his Flesh Body Divine Pattern and Spirit Platform Divine Pattern were completely safe. It was useless for Old Deng to covet them.

’In that case, I might as well reveal it now and avoid raising suspicion by trying to hide it.’

’Besides, I don’t have a clue about the pills for Muscle and Bone Refining. This is a perfect chance to ask Old Deng.’

”Ci!”

Zhao Huan’s voice trembled. ”How did you obtain this First-Grade Flesh Soul? Why are you only telling me now?”

He had a sinking feeling. He’d known Zhao Ci had achieved a breakthrough but hadn’t paid much attention to the outcome.

’The result... a First-Grade?’

’And this First-Grade was achieved with Gu Xiangzhu, that fake mother of his, acting as Dharma Protector.’

’Damn it!’

’I look like a fake father now.’

”Oh, well...”

Zhao Ci repeated the story he had fabricated for Gu Xiangzhu that night, adding with a solemn expression, ”Mother didn’t know if that divine object would actually work, either. She told me not to become arrogant, because this First-Grade Flesh Soul was earned through the hardships of my youth. I should be inspired by it, not prideful.”

Zhao Huan drew in a sharp breath. A sense of crisis bloomed in his heart. He felt that he understood his son far less than he had imagined.

’The purity of his True Qi could be explained away by the divine object from Yingzhou Immortal Island.’

’But that solid Xiang’s Spear Technique could only be explained by sheer effort. After all, even Zhao Qing couldn’t help but praise it. He may have only demonstrated the basic forms, but with a foundation that solid, his future martial prowess would be anything but weak.’

’And I... I knew nothing about it.’

’Meanwhile, Gu Xiangzhu...’

’Damn it!’

’That Witch is playing a bigger game now!’

’Ci has always been so naive around his parents. After hearing a line like that, won’t he absolutely adore his so-called mother?’

’How shameless.’

’Trying to take credit for a divine object from Yingzhou Immortal Island?’

’Doesn’t that make me, his actual father, look like a fool?’

His scalp began to tingle.

And then...

[Zhao Huan’s Current Wish: Win back Ci’s admiration. Reward for completion: Insight +100, Empathy Talisman x1.]

Seeing this notification,

Zhao Ci couldn’t help but smirk.

’My gamble to keep the Alcohol Refining Skill really paid off.’

’By keeping the initiative in this little tug-of-war, I can reap benefits from both sides.’

Zhao Qing, however, still hadn’t recovered from his shock. ”Y-Your Majesty! A divine object like that truly exists on Yingzhou Immortal Island? I’ve never heard of such a thing!”

’It implants in the Dantian, devours True Qi, and then returns it all during a breakthrough.’

’That divine object... it’s a supreme treasure for Cultivating the Body!’

Zhao Huan smiled and waved a hand. ”I had never heard of it either, but since it’s an artifact from Yingzhou Immortal Island, a little magic is to be expected. Steward Qing, Ci possessed this divine object before he established his own residence. That doesn’t violate the Imperial Clan Court’s rules, does it?”

”Not at all, not at all!”

Zhao Qing shook his head repeatedly, then bowed with cupped hands. ”Since the issue is resolved, I shall take my leave!”

Zhao Ci added a reminder, ”Steward Qing, you have to help me keep my true strength a secret!”

”Of course! Farewell!”

Zhao Qing gave another quick bow and swiftly departed the Imperial Study.

「Soon.」

Only family remained in the Imperial Study.

Zhao Huan looked at Zhao Ci, his face full of fatherly affection. ”Ci, what your mother said isn’t wrong, but you must never sell yourself short. Now that you’ve forged a First-Grade Flesh Soul, you must have the awareness of a true expert! You can do without arrogance, but you must have pride!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ci put on an expression of someone who had just learned a valuable lesson. ”I will follow your teachings, Father!”

He stared at the notification floating above Zhao Huan’s head.

It was flashing faster and faster.

Clearly, Zhao Huan’s desire to win back his son’s admiration had become extremely urgent.

’In that case...’

’...don’t blame me for putting on a show.’

Zhao Ci’s brow furrowed, and his expression turned anxious.

Zhao Huan’s gaze sharpened. ”Ci, what’s troubling you?”

”Sigh...”

Zhao Ci let out a long sigh. ”Father! I want to have the heart of an expert, I truly do. But there are still so many obstacles in my path. Mother said this First-Grade Flesh Soul was the result of a long and steady accumulation, and I only managed it thanks to the Emperor Pill.”

”When it’s time for Muscle and Bone Refining, I might not be so fortunate.”

”I’ve looked into it, and a person can only ever use one Emperor Pill in their lifetime.”

”And I have no leads on any other pills that can substitute for the Emperor Pill during Muscle and Bone Refining.”

”When that time comes, I’m afraid...”

He trailed off, not finishing his sentence.

He left plenty of room for Zhao Huan to react.

The truth was just as he’d described. Among the eight great clans, only the Zhao Clan and the Xiang Clan truly prioritized the physical body. The others believed that for the same investment of resources, cultivating Five Elements Skill offered far greater returns.

Consequently, their resource investment in physical cultivation wasn’t as high.

The three great pill-making clans all had pills specifically for assisting with Body Refining, Muscle Strengthening, and Bone Forging. Their effects were decent, and talented disciples within those clans could usually acquire them.

But compared to the Emperor Pill—especially a Top-Grade Imperial Extreme Pill—they were practically worthless.

’It’s all this damn system’s fault.’

’It raised my threshold for what feels satisfying!’

He just stared at Zhao Huan, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Zhao Huan grew uncomfortable under that gaze. He struggled internally for a good while before he finally couldn’t take the expectant look any longer and spoke slowly.

”Ci! I shouldn’t be telling you this, but since it concerns your future, I’ll have to make an exception.”

Zhao Ci: ”...”

’I’m a real schemer.’