"Uh... I guess so, otherwise why would they be holding them."
Old Fang also found it hard to believe.
Such a major event as having a child, and they didn't even inform the family.
"Sons of the Thunderwind Realm, disembark with me to pay respects to the Thunder Emperor."
Wan Hongxin laughed heartily and ordered all the soldiers from the Thunderwind Realm to disembark.
He and Old Fang moved even faster, rushing towards Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu as soon as they stepped off the ship.
"Lei'er."
"Xiaoyu."
Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu heard the calls, looked over curiously, and exclaimed in surprise,
"Dad, why are you here?"
"We received orders from the Five Elements Hall, stating that the front lines were critical and calling for troops from all the myriad worlds of the universe to defend the Prime Plane.
Of course, we couldn't refuse. We carefully selected everyone capable of fighting from the Thunderwind Realm and brought them all here."
Wan Lei looked and indeed, behind them were the Tribulation Transcending elders from the Yin-Yang Sect, the Fang family, and the Kui Lian Sect, along with many familiar faces.
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone."
Wan Lei had naturally heard about it; for half a year now, the war in the Ghost Realm had been intense, with heavy casualties among the soldiers of the Immortal, God, and Ghost realms, forcing them to recruit from all the myriad worlds of the Prime Plane to join the fight.
After all, the demon race was attacking with the full might of their entire Underworld, and it was naturally difficult for the Prime Plane, relying solely on the Origin Plane, to resist.
"Lei'er, this child is..."
Wan Hongxin looked at Wan Lei with eagerness and nervousness.
Wan Lei smiled slightly and looked at Wan Lin, saying,
"Lin'er, say Grandpa."
"Grandpa."
Lin'er called out crisply, his eyes curiously examining Wan Hongxin, hoping to find something delicious from him.
"Ah!"
Wan Hongxin immediately smiled, tears of joy welling up in his eyes, and he immediately reached out to embrace Wan Lin.
"Lin'er, I am your maternal grandfather, call me Grandpa."
Old Fang looked at the child in Wan Hongxin's arms, eager to snatch him and hold him.
"Grandpa."
Lin'er, aside from being a bit mischievous, was very obedient and mature for his age.
"Ah, what does Lin'er want? Grandpa will buy it for you."
"Candy, milk."
Lin'er's eyes lit up.
"Don't let him eat candy, or his newly grown teeth will decay again."
Fang Xiaoyu below reminded him.
"Xiaoyu, you have a child now, why didn't you tell the family?"
Old Fang hurriedly asked,
"You know, it would have been great if you had told us. We came to fight, so your mother didn't come. If she had known you had a child, she would have insisted on coming to help you take care of it."
"The situation was too urgent. The entire information department of the Origin Plane had to serve the war effort. We couldn't send personal messages privately, and we also didn't expect you to come to the Immortal Realm.
Be careful when you go to the battlefield this time. I heard it's a meat grinder over there.
With your cultivation level, you'll likely be turned to dust before you even realize it."
Fang Xiaoyu spoke to her father without holding back at all.
"What are you two doing?"
"Becoming Saints. Reaching the peak means becoming a Saint."
"Saints? You're going to become Saints?"
Old Fang naturally knew what Saints were; the Thunder Emperor Ancestor was a Saint.
"Yes, in another six months, Wan Lei will be finished. I estimate it will take a bit longer for me. Once we become Saints, we will immediately head to the battlefield and fight alongside you."
"Alas, that's fine then. Who will take care of Lin'er then?"
"Qi Man Yao is taking care of him."
Old Fang was relieved upon hearing this and continued,
"It's good that it's one of our own. However, she's just a young girl; I'm afraid she might not be able to take care of him properly. It would be better to leave one of our own behind."
"I'll stay behind."
A middle-aged beautiful woman walked over.
"Greetings, Master."
Fang Xiaoyu bowed.
This woman was the Sect Master of the Kui Lian Sect, Fang Xiaoyu's master.
"My cultivation is low, and I'd likely be cannon fodder on the battlefield. It's better for me to stay here and look after the child. I am Xiaoyu's master, and also Yao Yao's master, so we are all family. Please don't say I'm afraid of death."
"Yes, yes, thank you for your trouble."
Old Fang nodded, then looked at Wan Hongxin,
"In-law, you've held him for so long, it's time for me to hold my grandson, isn't it?"
"Go, go, go! You've held your granddaughter for how many years? I haven't even held my grandson yet. I'm not giving him to you."
"You old rascal, are you giving him to me or not!"
"Not giving!"
"Let's fight to the death!"
Wan Lin, with his big, cute eyes, watched the two bicker over him and couldn't stop laughing.
Finally, after taking turns holding him for a long time, they handed the child over to the Sect Master of the Kui Lian Sect, instructing her to take good care of the baby.
It wasn't until dusk that they joined the main force and headed towards the Ghost Realm.
"Alas, after they leave, I don't know if we'll ever see each other again."
Fang Xiaoyu watched their departing figures, her eyes filled with worry.
"As long as nothing happens to the Immortal Venerate, after the war is won, everyone who died can be resurrected.
And whether the Immortal Venerate will have any problems depends entirely on the two of us. Alright, let's become Saints quickly. The sooner we become Saints, the sooner we can alleviate some of the pressure on their side."
"Mmm."
In the days that followed, they no longer indulged in holding their child but devoted themselves entirely to their ascent.
Lin'er was still young, at the age where he should be playing and acting spoiled in his parents' arms, but his impression of his parents seemed to be forever those two proud figures standing in the sky.
His companions were only the Sect Master of the Kui Lian Sect and Qi Man Yao.
Six months later, Wan Lei became a Saint.
The moment he entered the white clouds condensed by the will of the Immortal Realm, a vast and mighty will erupted, sweeping across the entire Five Elements Hall.
Within the Five Elements Hall, many disciples who had returned heavily injured to recuperate, upon sensing this powerful pressure, let out cheers that echoed through the heavens.
Qi Man Yao flew up with the child and handed him to Wan Lei.
"Lin'er, your father is about to go to the battlefield. You stay at home and play with your Aunt Man Yao. You're grown up now, you're a little man, you have to protect your aunt, understand?"
Wan Lei held the child, who was just over two years old, and looked at him tenderly.
"Lin'er... protect... Aunt!"
Wan Lin waved his small fists. He was only two years old but already possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation.
"Alright, you go quickly. You want him to protect me? How old is he?"
Qi Man Yao smiled gently.
"Alas, he's the one we owe the most to. We should have been accompanying him as he grew up, but for the past two years, we had to become Saints here. I've wronged him."
Wan Lei reluctantly handed the child back to Qi Man Yao.
"It can't be helped, it's all for the Prime Plane. When he grows up, you can tell him about your brave deeds on the battlefield."
"Thank you for your trouble, Man Yao."
"Xiaoyu, I'll go first then."
Wan Lei gently embraced Fang Xiaoyu.
"Go ahead. I'm also close to the peak. Within a month, I'll succeed."
"Mmm."