Perhaps. Haotian God Venerable felt a trace of pity. This was his daughter, after all. He couldn't eradicate the demon seed, but there was someone who could save her. Yet, they were both burdened by sins. How could they possibly receive help?
"You may rise. I cannot remove the demon seed. This demonic energy has already invaded your meridians. You need pure white immortal spiritual energy to help purify the demonic energy within you. This ability is a unique talent of the Nine-tailed Divine Fox tribe. Do you understand now what you have missed?" Haotian God Venerable sighed.
Years ago, he had encountered danger during his cultivation and was poisoned by desire. He was saved by the Blue Demoness. Shortly after, he was threatened by Jiuxiao to aid in the destruction of the Divine Wood Realm and the annihilation of the Nine-tailed Divine Fox tribe. Later, he learned he had a daughter who possessed half demonic blood. To purify this demonic blood, the unique skills of the Nine-tailed tribe were needed. What a karmic retribution!
When he learned that Ye Ling's daughter had hatched an egg, he was immediately suspicious. After investigation, it was indeed Hu Jiu's child. Everyone knew that the Divine Dragon tribe and the Nine-tailed Fox tribe had intermarried, producing an egg that had remained unhatched for ten thousand years. Thinking of Hu Jiu, who had sacrificed herself to mend the sky and seal him, he felt a glimmer of hope. He orchestrated everything, leading to Xuan Ji and Ju Xian's childhood encounter and their subsequent growing up together.
"What? Long Hu Hu can save me?" Xuan Ji exclaimed, collapsing onto the ground. She truly deserved this retribution.
"Let's go. It's time for us, father and daughter, to atone," Haotian God Venerable said with relief. Whether she lived or died, he would accept it. She was his flesh and blood, and seeing her turn into a demon was unbearable.
...
"Your Majesty, Haotian is here with the Heavenly Maiden outside? Should we apprehend them?" asked Immortal Soldier B, guarding the Azure Sky Mirror. The soldiers knew what had happened inside.
At this moment, Ye God Venerable, the Dragon God, Ju Xian, Ji Wuye, Long Hu Hu, and others were gathered in the hall for a meal. Ye God Venerable had long heard of his daughter's culinary skills and was eager to taste them. They were also celebrating the awakening of the Dragon God and his daughter. Upon hearing the report, they all felt disheartened. They had just fought in the morning, and now this.
"Dispatch fifty divine guards. Arrest them. If they resist, kill them without mercy," Ju Xian commanded upon returning to the Divine Realm. The divine generals had already deployed three thousand personal guards to watch over the Azure Sky Mirror.
Ju Xian gave the order without looking up.
Immortal Soldier B looked towards Ye God Venerable.
"You brat, what are you looking at? Didn't you hear what your lady said?" Ye God Venerable snapped, catching Immortal Soldier B's gaze.
"You're not angry?" Ye Ling and Long San clinked their cups.
"After I watched the inscribed stone, I recognized the masked man who helped Jiu'er as Haotian. Although he was one of those who attacked me back then, I didn't kill him out of respect for Jiu'er," Long San said with difficulty.
"Father, what is Haotian doing here?" Ju Xian found it strange. He had been very afraid of death this morning, fleeing when he couldn't win. Wasn't that proof of his fear of death?
"You guess!" Ye Ling glanced at Hu Hu, smiling without answering.
"Actually, Xuan Ji is his daughter!" Ye God Venerable suddenly dropped this bombshell.
"Really? Father, when did you find out?" Ju Xian and Long Hu Hu were both surprised. They knew Xuan Ji's inner turmoil and her constant dissatisfaction with her origin.
"When you two little troublemakers both got into trouble, how could your father stand idly by? Hua Xun was even more anxious and investigated some matters." Ye God Venerable still took the opportunity to boost Hua Xun's image.
"Scumbag!" Ju Xian thought of the heartless man who abandoned his wife and daughter.
"Scumbag father!" Long Hu Hu thought that he had abandoned his daughter after she was born!
The Dragon God's expression changed. He quickly explained, "Hu Hu, Father never abandoned you!"
"I know, Father. Don't worry, I'm not scolding you!" Long Hu Hu knew her father felt guilty towards her.
Ye Ling also felt a little guilty. Back then, he had only intended to tease the little chrysanthemum fairy and hadn't taken her seriously. It was only when she sacrificed herself to gestate his child that he realized he cared about her. After Little Ju Xian was born, he couldn't put her down, grateful that she had given birth to his flesh and blood.
When the little chrysanthemum fairy died and her soul returned to chaos, he suddenly realized the absence of her gentle voice. As he watched Xian Bao grow day by day, her appearance becoming more and more like her mother's, he suddenly realized that his feelings had arisen unknowingly. By the time he realized his deep affection, things had changed! That's why he later took the name Ju Xian to commemorate the little chrysanthemum fairy. He poured all his love into Little Ju Xian; one could say that Xiao Xian Bao was Ye Ling's life.
"Father, why are you also feeling guilty? Did you treat my mother badly?" Ju Xian squinted her eyes.
"Impudent, talking nonsense! Eat!" Ye Ling gave his daughter a rap on the head!
Suddenly, the voice of an immortal soldier approached. Everyone found it strange. The battle outside had ended, but why were they so fast? They hadn't heard any fighting.
"Ye Ling, is this your hospitality?" Immortal Soldier B escorted Haotian and Xuan Ji in. As soon as Haotian entered, he saw the harmonious scene.
"Haotian, what play are you putting on? You fled in disgrace this morning, and now you're walking into a trap? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" the Dragon God asked.
"I have come to accept your judgment. You can kill me or skin me, but I only ask for one thing: help Xuan Ji remove the demon seed," Haotian pleaded earnestly, with a hint of supplication.
"Hmph! Tens of thousands of lives in the Divine Wood Realm were annihilated because of you. Are you not ashamed?" the Dragon God slammed the table, turning all the food and dishes into dust. Ji Chenmu, holding his chopsticks, looked at the vanished table and tableware, once again marveling at the Dragon God's combat power.
"I am willing to accept divine punishment. Life or death is up to the heavenly dao, without complaint. I only beg you to spare Xuan Ji's life."
Xuan Ji suddenly looked up at Haotian. She couldn't believe he would go this far for her. If it weren't for her, Ye God Venerable and that Dragon God would have been unable to do anything to him, as Haotian God Venerable was also a god officially appointed by the heavenly dao.
"Hmph! You said it yourself!" the Dragon God snorted coldly!
"Wait, I want to hear your daughter agree personally."
Haotian knew Xuan Ji had a grudge against Long Hu Hu, so he sought assurance.
"Hmph! What if this young lady doesn't agree? What does her life or death have to do with me? And do you two, father and daughter, think you can escape from our hands again?" Long Hu Hu said coldly.
"What does the little fairy want? If we truly fight, not only will the Three Realms be in turmoil, but the mortal world will also be unsettled, and the demon race will take advantage of the situation. Xuan Ji has made mistakes, but after she removes the demon seed, you can deal with her however you wish. Just spare her life."
"Hmph! Letting her die would be too easy for her. Relegate her to reincarnation, so she can experience the suffering her sister endured."
"Good!" Haotian readily agreed.
Xuan Ji's body went limp, her face ashen. She was going to become a mortal? She had finally become the Heavenly Maiden of the Nine Heavens...
Haotian God Venerable was bound to the God Slaying Pillar at the highest point of the divine hall of the Azure Sky Mirror.
"Do you truly have no regrets?" Ye Ling asked again before performing the ritual. Divine punishment is no trifling matter, nor is it comparable to the heavenly tribulation during ascension. At best, it destroys the divine personality and lowers one's cultivation; at worst, the soul returns to chaos, and the body and spirit are destroyed!
"Begin!" Haotian's voice was calm. He suddenly felt at peace; his heart was rather serene.
...