Chapter 467: You are the Father (Patreon)

Meng Tingfeng and his fellow sword monarchs congregated together. They should have focused on healing their injuries after entering the Hundred Pill Realm, where it would be easier to restore their qi, but they didn’t. Instead, they waited in front of Xi Tianyi.

Logically speaking, they should thank Xi Tianyi for saving them, but he ignored them and started talking to Ba Shifang in hushed tones. Even the monarchs of the Immortal Court didn’t go forward because of the strange atmosphere around the two. Instead, they started to tally the casualties.

Although no immortal monarchs died, many true immortals still perished from the clash against the demon empress. The losses couldn’t be said to be catastrophic. It might even be called good, considering that they killed Jiaohu before he could become a major threat.

Each side used their own means to contact the forces behind them. Even though Xi Tianyi was present, almost every monarch in the Immortal Court knew that he didn’t have any responsibilities, so they still reported it. After this, the two sides would likely communicate again.

The Numinous Sword Sect would likely fault the Immortal Court and sue them for benefits. They would likely say that they dispatched their immortals on goodwill to cooperate with the Immortal Court, but the result caused their deaths. Was the Immortal Court sincere in their alliance, or was this all a scheme to drag down the Numinous Sword Sect?

Of course, that would be the explanation the Numinous Sword Sect maintained. The deaths of the true immortals weren’t that important in the grand scheme of things, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be used. What followed would undoubtedly be a series of negotiations.

The series of negotiations wouldn’t matter to the immortal monarchs present. For now, at least.

“No, that's not true. That's impossible!” Xi Tianyi’s shout attracted all the immortal monarchs’ attention, and even a few true immortals.

He turned around from Ba Shifang and stared at Meng Tingfeng. A trace of killing intent filled his eyes, causing Meng Tingfeng and the other sword monarchs to raise their guards. Thankfully, Ba Shifang stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“No matter how much you don’t want to accept it, what I told you is likely the truth,” Ba Shifang said. “Ever since meeting him, I could always feel a familiar sensation from him, and that’s likely why. The only reason you can’t is because of your unique immortal body.”

Meng Tingfeng furrowed his brows. He smelled something more from Ba Shifang’s words. Was there more truth to the matter other than Ba Shifang being a neglected illegitimate son?

“Impossible, there’s no way he’s my father.” Xi Tianyi’s words caused all the immortals within hearing range to freeze.

Most of the true immortals and immortal monarchs present were far older than Xi Tianyi, even older than Xia Meng’s generation. The amount of information they knew about him was even less than those of his generation. Because Tianyi’s rise was too short. He only had a few records from his days in the Mortal Realm. Compared to other geniuses, his fights were really far too few, so no one could accurately piece together his exact strength during this period.

After he entered the Immortal Realm, it was even stranger. He skipped the Pathfinding Immortal Realm and directly entered the Seamless Immortal Realm, causing a sensation. Then the next time he showed his strength was during the Huang Realm Unification War, where his impressive feat was destroying the Eight Pillar Sect’s headquarters by himself.

By that time, he had already gained the power of an immortal emperor. The only reason his mother was not overshadowed by his brilliance was because she reached the Origin Immortal Realm.

In respect of his power, those that knew of his information did not disclose it lightly. As a result, Xi Tianyi became shrouded in myths and legends. Especially these true immortals who had awakened from stasis. They were all true immortals nearing the end of their lifespan thanks to their insufficient willpower, becoming unable to withstand the passage of time.

Although they became indifferent, they did not want to die. So they entered a state similar to suspended animation and waited until the Buzhou Immortal Sect became the Immortal Court. When the Immortal Court then conferred an official position to them, they gained longevity beyond their willpower. However, it was also a shackle.

Mystery shrouded Xi Tianyi, so much so that even these indifferent true immortals were curious. One of the accepted ten great mysteries in the Xiyinet was the identity of Xi Tianyi’s father. Some said Xi Mengfei did not consummate with any man and that Xi Tianyi was born with no father. Others said that his father had long died, causing Xi Mengfei endless heartache and freezing her heart cold.

There were many conjectures and rumors, so much so that it could create a whole series of novels. In fact, many people did use Xi Tianyi’s legend as the basis for writing many popular novels. Some were even more daring and wrote fictional biographies of his life. After all, many people wanted to read about this mysterious yet powerful figure, sometimes inserting themselves into Xi Tianyi’s shoes.

“Shifang, Emperor Nine Heavens is right. You’re my son, not him,” Meng Tingfeng said. Afraid that Ba Shifang wouldn’t believe him, he explained the entire process, including the exact realm he had the encounter with Xi Mengfei, using his immortal sense.

Ba Shifang naturally relayed what Meng Tingfeng told him to Tianyi.

“Impossible,” Xi Tianyi said again. “If such an encounter really did happen, why did Mother not recognize him at the Jade and Numinous Conference?”

“I mean, with Grand Elder Xi’s personality, maybe she already forgot Meng Tingfeng’s appearance?” Ba Shifang’s causal words dealt a critical blow to Meng Tingfeng.

He was very weak compared to her at the time, but he shouldn’t be so forgettable, right? Especially after the intimate encounter the two had.

Xi Tianyi echoed his thoughts. “What kind of person do you think Mother is? No matter how uncaring she is, she shouldn’t forget the person who…well… did that, right?”

“I mean, it’s not entirely impossible,” Ba Shifang said. “Don’t forget about how she was raised. Maybe no one gave her the talk? And she didn’t realize what had happened after you were conceived? Or maybe she only learned how it worked after?”

Xi Tianyi opened his mouth, as if he wanted to refute Ba Shifang’s words. However, he shut it. With his mother’s personality and history, it was very likely!

“Hold on,” Meng Tingfeng said out loud. He could already see the sinking realization in Xi Tianyi’s eyes. “I don’t have any blood connection with you. The one that shares my blood is Shifang. Why are both of you so sure that you are my son and not Shifang? Isn’t Shifang an illegitimate child while you are the legitimate child?”

At his words, the other immortals perked their ears. Was one of the Primordial Realm’s top ten mysteries finally going to unravel before them?

“It’s impossible for Shifang to be your son,” Xi Tianyi said. “Strictly speaking, he’s not Mother’s son either. He has no father or mother, not even siblings.”

Meng Tingfeng and the other immortals paused. What did Xi Tianyi mean by this? It was not that he was unwilling to believe Ba Shifang, but the evidence all pointed elsewhere. Xi Mengfei’s beauty was forever carved in his memories. Aside from those pairs of eyes, Xi Tianyi looked nothing like her. And Xi Tianyi didn’t look like himself, either. So Xi Tianyi had to be fathered by someone else.

Thankfully, Meng Tingfeng didn’t have to wait long for answers as Xi Tianyi opened his mouth once more.

“Shifang was my clone, born of my split soul and blood before I formed my Nine Heavens Immortal Body.”

It was as if an explosion had gone off in their heads. Ba Shifang’s identity was originally hidden for convenience. Even though a few people knew of his status, no one deliberately spread it, so these immortals from the previous generation only knew Ba Shifang as a talented junior who was close to the Xi mother-son pair.

However, when they recalled Ba Shifang’s talent and power, it was not unacceptable. In fact, Ba Shifang seemed ordinary compared to Xi Tianyi. He wasn’t even an immortal emperor yet after thousands of years. For most cultivators, cultivating to the Extremity Immortal Realm was practically a miracle, but in their eyes, Xi Tianyi had accomplished this in less than a thousand years. So, Ba Shifang’s talent seemed dim in comparison.

Meng Tingfeng just stared, as if his worldview had undergone a fundamental transformation. The person who he thought of as a son was actually his actual son’s clone. And he had always regarded his actual son as an enemy. Not only that, he had mis-blamed Xi Mengfei and thought her as a biased mother. He felt like a clown.

He stared at Xi Tianyi, not knowing what to say. Give him gifts like he did to Ba Shifang? But what in his hand could catch Xi Tianyi’s eyes? Not only was he an immortal emperor strong enough to be called a junior sovereign, he also had an actual immortal sovereign for a mother. What treasures did he not have?

Give him the Seven Star Sword? That was impossible.

Finally, Meng Tingfeng forced out, “…Tianyi—”

Xi Tianyi’s expression darkened to a terrifying degree. Without another word, he pointed a finger at him. Before Meng Tingfeng knew it, the surrounding space solidified, and he felt like an insect encased in amber. That sensation didn’t last long as he felt his internal organs shift as he was shot over a hundred thousand meters away.

He had to suppress his injuries, otherwise, he would have puked out a mouthful of blood.

“First of all, I still haven’t verified if this matter is true. Second, all my life, I only have my mother, no father. Third, even if you are my sperm donor, don’t think I will acknowledge you.” Tianyi’s voice echoed in the Vast Void.

When Meng Tingfeng regained his bearings, Xi Tianyi had already disappeared. Disappearing with him was Ba Shifang, the other immortal monarchs, and the true immortals.

He shared a look with his fellow sword monarchs. Finally, he sighed. “Let’s go back.”

Meng Tingfeng didn’t even want to settle down and heal himself before leaving. None of them disagreed. The news they learned was quite explosive, to say the least.

***

Upon returning to the Immortal Court, Tianyi made a beeline for Mengfei. “Mother, do you recognize him?”

Mengfei looked at the image Tianyi conjured. She squinted her eyes and stared at the man pictured. “I don’t know him, but he feels familiar.”

The corner of Tianyi’s lips twitched. He stared into Mengfei’s eyes, trying to see if she concealed anything. “You should recognize him. He’s the sword monarch that fought my clone during the Jade and Numinous Conference.”

“Oh, no wonder he looks familiar.”

Tianyi nodded. “Mother, how about we kill this guy first when we fight the Numinous Sword Sect?”

Now, it was Mengfei’s turn to stare at Tianyi. She may be taciturn and lack common sense that even mortals knew, but she could still tell something was off with Tianyi. “Why are you so intent on singling him out? It’s not just because of Shifang, is it? Who is he?”

Tianyi looked away. For a moment, the thought of hiding Meng Tingfeng’s identity seemed mighty appealing. As long as no one said anything, Mengfei would not recognize him. If she did not recognize him, there wouldn't be any outsider interfering in their relationship.

However, Tianyi couldn’t do that. He knew his mother grew up indoctrinated by the tradition similar to ancient China. If she learned that he killed his own father, she might grow to resent him, and he never wanted that. Still, he didn’t want Mengfei to recognize Meng Tingfeng, either.

Finally, he sighed and explained what had happened.

When Mengfei digested everything, she said, “You aren’t allowed to kill him.”

“Why?!”