God Of Immortals

Chapter 3: A Ying Of Time [III]

"Gently, Xiu Ying. You know you are seven months pregnant. You have been practicing your swords arts and meditation for hours everyday since you became pregnant. Don't you think you should take it easy a bit?"

Zhang Liu Qiang looked slightly concerned at his daughter as he walked up to the training area. His gaze lingered slightly on the sea of flaming ribbons.

"Pa, I'm being very careful. It's just a little practice. Besides, remember what the alchemist said? That I need to exercise regularly? The more I practice, the healthier the baby will be."

"Yes, you are right. I'm just worried about the fire arts. Can you focus on swords art for now? I know you can wield fire like the gods, but you know..."

"Mm? I thought it was more than that. Let me see if I can make one like the celestials."

Zhang Xiu Ying smiled softly while raising an eyebrow expectantly of her father's reaction. And seeing the look on her father's face, Zhang Xiu Ying burst into laughter.

"Just joking, Pa. I promise, more on my swords arts for now. How about that?"

"That will be just fine, little flame. Now, let me join you for a little more practice."

They started moving their swords and bodies in a perfect rhythm.

"Understanding the dao of nature, understanding the dao of swords. To attain perfection as a swords artist, the heart of a sword and the force of a blade must become one. A dao heart of swords. It's really difficult. But for you, Xiu Ying, it's only a matter of time."

"You are flattering me, Pa."

Zhang Xiu Ying smiled appreciatively at her father. Her parents had been exceedingly supportive of her right from her birth. Ah, what a wonderful parents she had. In that life or another, she couldn't have wished it any other way. She was perfectly happy with her life and the direction it was going. Happily, she continued practicing for a period of time before her father waved her down.

"Little flame, let's stop the practice for the afternoon. You need to have a nourishing meal and a proper rest. Your mother is preparing the yellow coloured mountain goat inside. As a rare and magical animal, it will surely nourish your body and the baby further. Should we take a look?"

"Pa, with all this magical animals, by the time I give birth, I would've turned to a magical beast myself."

"That would be a sight to behold, little flames. A magical phoenix flying through the sky with wings of inferno. Big flames. A magical sight indeed."

Zhang Xiu Ying's mind wandered off to the image of herself she kept having in her dreams after the words of her father brought it to mind. She had the feelings of the image being the nascent manifestation she would have when she reached the nascent soul stage. The image was in a phoenix feathered armour, and had two large flaming wings on her back.

Could she turn into a real flaming bird? She laughed, dismissing it from her mind as her father joined her in laughter too.

They left the practice ground and headed towards the direction of the cave. Once inside, Zhang Xiu Ying couldn't help herself as the aroma she was smelling took over her mind. Her mother was a genius immortal when it was about magical food. By the time she set her sight on the food, she was already floating in a dreamlike world.

Setting themselves around a wooden table at the centre of the living chamber, with pots of steaming goat meat on it, they beamed in delight as they went for their share.

After taking a bite, Zhang Xiu Ying savoured the meat with her eyes closed.

"Oh Ma! This is truly amazing. I never knew animal meat can be this good. Thank you Ma for this wonder. And you too, Pa, for finding this meat."

"Well, it's a rarity, I have to admit, Xiu Ying. The quality of the energy in the meat will strengthen the bones in your body and nourish your blood. The baby will certainly benefit from it too. That's why you need to eat a lot of it. And if you can finish it all, that will be better, even."

"Huh, Pa? Do you want the baby to have goat horns and goat hooves?"

They all exploded in laughter and resumed their magical feast. Zhang Xiu Ying continued to devour the magical food while glancing at her parents. The content smiles on their faces gave her all the joy she wanted.

"I love you so much, Pa, Ma."

"We love you too, little flames."

"And never forget that."

Zhang Xiu Ying nodded in response with her mind busy in thoughts. How could she ever forget that? Their existence had been mostly about her. They had given a lot for her welfare right from her childhood. And are still doing so, now that she was pregnant. How can their love for her ever escape her memory? It would never happen.

An hour after the magical feast, Zhang Wang Jing left for the market to sell some of the goat milk from the farm leaving Zhang Li Qiang and his daughter in the living chamber.

Few minutes after his wife left for the market, Zhang Li Qiang went into his room and changed into his farming attire. He glanced at his daughter while passing through the living area.

"Little flames, I will be in the farm if you need me."

"Okay, Pa."

Zhang Li Qiang left their cave and headed towards the farming area of the land. On his way, he glanced back at his daughter apprehensively. After all, she was their only daughter. They had defied all odds to have her. And only the three of them left now after the death of his daughter's husband.

He vividly recalled the events leading to his death. They were having a village gathering when a portal suddenly appeared and an army of powerful fiends came through from the nether plane to attack them. They had managed to vanquish the demons, but many of the villagers had died from the flash attack.

Most of the villagers were only foundation stage[Zhuji]. Fortunately, two of the village elders were of the silver core stage, and they were around at that time.

Such a sad memory. His family had left the village after that.

Long Wei. Her daughter's deceased husband A good natured man of the early copper core stage. When he was still alive, he was a good husband and always had the interest of Zhang Xiu Ying in his mind. But their bloodline would continue since Zhang Xiu Y ing was pregnant before the loss of her husband.

Hard to believe, yet it was true. The pregnancy didn't come easy if he was to be honest, but he was grateful for it happening before the sudden death of Long Wei.

And since he was no longer around, raising a child alone in a deadly world of cultivation without a father, could prove difficult. Although their daughter was a demigod, they wouldn't leave it to chance. They would do their best to ease the burden as much as possible. After all, she was the only one they had left.