Extra: Flower Demon (1)

The four-realm connection established by Ye Bufan was not for free passage, but rather had fixed channels and sequences.

For example, it was impossible to go directly from Earth to the Immortal Realm and the Chaotic Saint Realm; one had to pass through the channel to enter Kunlun Continent, then to the Immortal Realm, and finally to the Chaotic Saint Realm, and the return journey was the same.

Moreover, each channel entrance was guarded by powerful individuals from that realm; for instance, Zhang He and Li Daoran were stationed at the Kunlun Continent entrance, taking turns on duty.

To travel from Kunlun Continent to Earth, one had to pay a substantial toll, obtain their approval, and significantly Seal their cultivation to prevent the collapse of the realm.

Today happened to be Zhang He's shift. He was currently in high spirits; his strength had reached the Early Stage of Undergoing Tribulation, and his wife, Ximen Jiayin, was eight months pregnant.

To describe it in Earth's terms, he had achieved success in both his career and family, reaching the Peak of this realm, with a beautiful wife and soon, his own child.

Zhang He sat on a leisurely chair at the channel entrance, feeling extremely proud, and he knew in his heart whom he should thank. If his master had not appeared, he would still be a eunuch, completely incapable of continuing the Zhang family line.

It was no exaggeration to say that everything he had now was thanks to Ye Bufan.

As he thought this, two figures suddenly emerged from the channel and appeared before him.

Zhang He instantly leaped up as if shocked, falling to his knees with a thud: "This old servant greets Master!"

Although Ye Bufan had already dissolved his master-servant contract, his inner feelings remained unchanged, even becoming more respectful than before.

"Get up. It seems you're doing well."

Ye Bufan smiled slightly, raising his hand to help Zhang He up.

Behind him followed Feng Zhiwu, once the Grand Elder of Xuantian Sect, now with a visibly swollen abdomen, clearly pregnant.

Zhang He bowed again, then stood up, "May I ask what Master commands?"

He knew Ye Bufan was busy and would not easily come here.

Their last meeting was twenty years ago, when he was given this excellent assignment and taught a unique Sealing technique.

"Nothing much. Xiaowu is pregnant and about to give birth. I brought her back to relax."

What Ye Bufan said was true. Today, his entire authority belonged to Feng Zhiwu, but as she was nearing labor, Dual Cultivation was not suitable.

Feng Zhiwu, after all, grew up in Kunlun Continent, and being idle, she wanted to return and relax.

He also had matters to attend to, so the two appeared here.

Zhang He lowered his head, his mouth twitching.

This Grand Elder of Xuantian Sect, one of the three great Sects, once the female killing god who dominated Kunlun Continent, whom everyone avoided, perhaps only his master dared to call her Xiaowu.

"Congratulations, Master, on the impending birth of your child!"

Zhang He said happily, "Thanks to Master, this old servant is also going to be a father!"

"Is that so? That's truly wonderful."

Ye Bufan patted his shoulder, genuinely happy for his servant.

Zhang He said, "This old servant's news is nothing. Master must already have both sons and daughters, I presume? Which child is this?"

It was just a casual remark, but after he finished speaking, there was no response, which made his heart tighten. Had he said something wrong and displeased his master?

He looked up, about to apologize, but saw that Ye Bufan did not look angry; he was just constantly wiggling his fingers, as if calculating something.

"This…"

Zhang He was instantly bewildered, not understanding what was happening.

And then Ye Bufan spoke: "This should be my seventy-third child."

"Uh!"

Zhang He was instantly stunned, almost choking on his own saliva.

Seventy-three, that was too many! No wonder it took so long to calculate. Master was truly Master, simply beyond comparison.

Actually, this was not Ye Bufan's fault; there were simply too many children, and the number often changed, with new ones being born from time to time, and occasionally even twins.

It indeed required careful calculation to provide the latest and most accurate number.

"You guard here. We're leaving."

Ye Bufan said no more to him, pulling Feng Zhiwu as the two disappeared on the spot.

Niuhorn City, a small, unremarkable city in the vast Tianwu State, has, with the passage of time and under the layout of Jubao Pavilion, taken on the atmosphere of a modern city from Earth in many places.

For instance, entertainment items like televisions and laptop computers have entered some wealthy families.

Of course, the traditional industries belonging to this continent were not abandoned; industries such as Medicinal Pill and Artifact Refining were also very prosperous.

There was an Artifact Refining workshop in the city, not very large, but quite famous because it produced a rare Genius Artifact Refining Great Master.

Zhao Tiejian, few people knew his given name. As a child, he was called Little Tiejian, and later, when he gained fame, he was known as Zhao Tiejian.

He was young, but had extremely high attainments in Artifact Refining, unmatched by anyone in the surrounding area. His strength was also very formidable; at only twenty-something years old, he had already reached the Peak of the Void Refining Realm.

As the sun set, the entire city began to move away from the hustle and bustle, slowly settling into quiet tranquility.

The Artifact Refining workshop closed its doors. Zhao Tiejian sat in his room, his resolute face etched with sadness, two lines of hot tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.

Next to him, a tablet computer was continuously playing a song, its melody filled with endless desolation, sorrow, and regret.

"I am the wandering tear on the annual rings,

You can still smell the scent of rouge in the wind,

If I were to carve my promise on the riverbank,

The river water is cold, the moon is bright, the city is vast,

I have waited for you under the tree of time for a long time,

Mortal dust entangles me, slanders me, laughs at my white hair…"

"Flower Demon" – ever since he first heard it, Zhao Tiejian became madly obsessed with this song. He listened to it every day, and every time he listened, he would shed tears.

As the song ended, the door suddenly opened, and a middle-aged woman excitedly rushed in from outside.

"Son, someone has come again to propose marriage! This time, they are all young ladies from good families.

Young Miss Zhang from the City Lord's manor, Young Miss Ma from the wealthy Ma family, and even a Core Disciple from an Eight-Star Sect! The photos are all here, each one is beautiful. Which one do you want to choose?"

The woman was Zhao Tiejian's mother, Niu Cuihua, who had always worried endlessly about her son's marriage.

Although their family came from poverty, as a top-tier Artifact Refining Great Master, Zhao Tiejian was naturally sought after by various powerful forces, and countless matchmakers came to propose marriage. However, Zhao Tiejian rejected them all without exception.

But today, the City Lord's manor and an Eight-Star Sect had both sent people to propose marriage, which made her exceptionally excited, feeling that this time her son would surely agree.

To her surprise, Zhao Tiejian didn't even look at the photos in her hand, directly waving them away in refusal.

"Tell them all to leave. I don't agree."

"Don't… don't agree!"

Niu Cuihua was full of surprise, "Son, have you thought this through? These are the City Lord's manor and an Eight-Star Sect, and the wealthy Ma family is also incredibly rich.

What a great opportunity! You must choose one…"

Her words were cut off by Zhao Tiejian without hesitation.

"I already said, I don't agree!"

Liu Cuihua looked anxious: "Son, if you don't agree to any of these, what kind of person do you want to find?"

Zhao Tiejian's gaze was lost: "I don't know either!"

Just then, a clear voice came from the doorway: "I know!"

(Flower Demon is a song with a story, very beautiful, and it just fits this plot, so I borrowed it. Those interested can search for it online.)