5. This Dad is the Real Dad!
Lin Xiang’er nestled into Lin Mo’s embrace, sitting cross-legged on his lap.
Lin Mo opened his eyes and found himself staring into the little loli’s eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“Cultivating with Daddy.”
“Then why are you sitting on my lap?”
“Because it’s more comfortable to cultivate like this.”
Lin Mo rubbed his forehead. If this little loli was this clingy, she could easily be abducted.
He reached out to lift the little loli, intending to toss her aside.
Then, he saw the little loli actually begin to absorb demonic energy.
In an instant, Lin Xiang’er’s demonic energy mingled with Lin Mo’s, and a feeling of closeness involuntarily arose in Lin Mo’s heart.
“Forget it, you can cultivate like this.”
Giving up the thought of tossing the little loli aside, Lin Mo also entered a state of cultivation.
During the recent exchange of demonic energy, Lin Mo discovered a problem.
That is, Lin Xiang’er was not a Demonic Cultivator, but a true demon.
However, within Lin Xiang’er’s body, there seemed to be a small part of human aura.
Therefore, he concluded that this little loli, like him, was the child of a human and a demon.
【Host, your conclusion is wrong. She is not the child of a human and a demon…】
“Then tell me, what’s going on with this little loli?”
【Her body… wait, that will cost 200 Regret.】
“Then forget it, you don’t need to tell me. I’m not interested anymore.” Lin Mo was completely uninterested.
The System was truly speechless. It was always like this. It wanted to pique Lin Mo’s interest and make him spend Regret, but in the end, Lin Mo would hold back, and it would be the one wanting Lin Mo to know the truth.
She still couldn’t control her mouth and blurted out the truth.
【Is 200 Regret really that important to you? This System is truly impressed with you, Host.】
【Fine, fine. Since I’ve been tricked by you so many times anyway, this little loli has three-quarters demon blood and one-quarter human blood, making her the descendant of a demon and a half-demon.】
【Therefore, she mainly presents with the physique of a demon.】
Lin Mo suddenly realized. So that’s how it was.
However, the System’s personality was too easy to handle.
Lin Mo thought for a moment and said, “From now on, you can freely answer my questions for 20 Regret. I won’t bargain, and you can only deduct the Regret after I receive the answers.”
【Really?】The System felt that instead of giving it away for free many times later, Lin Mo’s method was quite reasonable. It even felt like it was making a small profit.
“Really.”
【Wuwuwu, Host, you’re actually a good person.】
The next day, as dawn broke, the little loli, who had cultivated all night, stretched on Lin Mo’s lap.
“Daddy, good morning,” Lin Xiang’er greeted Lin Mo proactively.
“Mm, good morning,” Lin Mo replied faintly.
After a night of cultivation and contact, he always subconsciously felt drawn to Lin Xiang’er.
There was a constant illusion that she was his daughter.
After careful consideration, he wasn’t someone with a saintly heart.
He had only taken Lin Xiang’er in yesterday because he felt an irresistible sense of closeness to her, and he had acted on impulse.
It was quite strange, wasn’t it?
Could it be that he and Lin Xiang’er truly had a predestined connection?
As they left the inn, Lin Mo noticed more gazes lingering on him from his surroundings.
He glanced at Lin Xiang’er’s attire and the numerous magical treasures she wore, and Lin Mo knew where the problem lay.
For him, this was actually a good thing.
In just a few days, the Demonic Cultivators in this area had all become timid and began to avoid him.
He even heard that they had also started calling him “Sword Demon.”
Lin Mo was somewhat dissatisfied. In this region, he had only gained about half the Regret he had obtained from the Thousand Feet Clan.
“Let’s go, let’s switch places and continue grinding.” Lin Mo decided to visit the territory of the Hundred Miles Clan.
“Brother Mo, we don’t need to go.” Mo Pao’er stopped him. “Even at the border of the Hundred Miles Clan, not many people would dare to provoke you.”
“Why?” Lin Mo frowned, looking at Mo Pao’er incomprehensibly.
“I’ve inquired. Your reputation has already spread from the Thousand Feet Clan.”
“If we go to the Hundred Miles Clan now, as soon as you make a move a few times, the people there will know who you are, and it will be a wasted trip.”
Lin Mo showed a hint of disappointment after hearing Mo Pao’er’s words.
It seemed that the method of obtaining Regret in the Demon Realm through fishing expeditions had reached its limit.
“Young Mistress, you’re here. This old servant has been looking for you for a long time.”
A sharp female voice sounded, somewhat excited. Following the sound, they saw an old woman running towards Lin Xiang’er.
“Granny Rong…” Seeing the woman approach, Lin Xiang’er moved closer to Lin Mo.
“Young Mistress, come back with me. Master is waiting for you at home.” As she spoke, the old woman, Granny Rong, reached for Lin Xiang’er’s sleeve, intending to drag her away forcefully.
What Lin Mo noticed was that Lin Xiang’er’s expression was not one of joy at seeing an acquaintance, but one of fear.
He aimed the Liuli Sword at Granny Rong’s wrist and said coldly, “Let go.”
Granny Rong glanced at Lin Mo. “You’ve been protecting my Young Mistress these past few days, haven’t you? Thank you.”
“I am a servant who attends to the Young Mistress. She was mischievous and ran out alone. I’m taking her back now.”
With that, Granny Rong continued to pull at Lin Xiang’er, intending to drag her away.
“Daddy…” Lin Xiang’er’s small hand tightly gripped Lin Mo’s collar.
Lin Mo did not hesitate and swung his sword.
Qi Qi reacted extremely quickly, withdrawing her wrist and glaring at Lin Mo. “What do you mean?”
“I mean nothing. Xiang’er doesn’t want to go with you. Can’t you see?” Lin Mo’s eyes turned cold again.
“Do you know that the Young Mistress is a close relative of the Chi Yan Demon Lord? Are you, an outsider, going to meddle in the affairs of our Chi Yan Clan?” Granny Rong’s eyes gradually took on a fierce glint.
In Lin Mo’s eyes, although Granny Rong called Lin Xiang’er Young Mistress, her actions were not those of someone treating their own young mistress.
What family servant would drag their young mistress around?
“Who told you I’m an outsider?” Lin Mo sneered. “Didn’t you hear what Xiang’er called me?”
Lin Xiang’er also reacted quickly and, pulling Lin Mo, shouted in a milky voice again, “Daddy.”
Granny Rong’s eyes widened. “Impossible! How could you possibly be the Young Mistress’s father?”
Lin Xiang’er had been controlled since birth and had never met her father.
Furthermore, within the Chi Yan Clan, besides the Demon Lord herself, no one knew who Lin Xiang’er’s father was.
Thinking of this, Granny Rong was certain. “You cannot be the Young Mistress’s father.”
Now it was Lin Mo’s turn to be confused. He had originally meant to say that he was Lin Xiang’er’s godfather.
But judging by Granny Rong’s expression and words, she clearly didn’t know who Lin Xiang’er’s father was.
This was utterly preposterous.
In that case, he couldn’t let Lin Xiang’er return with Granny Rong.
Lin Mo shielded Lin Xiang’er behind him and provocatively said to Granny Rong, “My daughter has already called me Dad. How else can you question me?”
“Either scram, or die.”
“How dare you oppose our Chi Yan Clan? I think you’re tired of living.” Granny Rong was clearly enraged by Lin Mo’s words.
Her already wrinkled face scrunched up further, looking ferocious.
Balls of demonic energy enveloped her, making her appear less human, with only her pair of scarlet eyes visible within the black mist.
“True Demon…” Mo Pao’er exclaimed from the side.
Honestly, Lin Mo didn’t understand what was so special about a True Demon.
The System, to earn Regret, explained at this moment.
【Host, in this world, there are different races: human, demon, immortal, beast, and ghost.】
【The biggest difference between a True Demon and a Demonic Cultivator is not just their race, but also their strength. You can understand that under the same realm, a True Demon is almost invincible against a Demonic Cultivator. However, True Demons have one disadvantage compared to humans: although they are born with extremely powerful strength, their realm advancement is more difficult than that of humans.】
【As for half-demons, they possess half pure human blood and half pure demon blood. Generally, they present with a human physique at birth, but a very small minority are born with a demonic physique. However, even with a human physique, they are easily affected by negative emotions, leading to demonic transformation and the manifestation of a demonic form.】
【As for you, Host, you present with a human physique, but unlike others, you have achieved the cultivation of both demonic and spiritual arts, something no one else in this world has done.】
Listening to the System’s explanation, Lin Mo had another question: “So, am I also like this, and will I truly fall into demonhood?”
【No. Cultivating both demonic and spiritual arts signifies that you have perfectly fused your demonic and human bodies. Therefore, Host, you can switch between human and demonic forms at any time.】
【If you completely suppress your spiritual energy and only use demonic energy, then you are a demon.】
Lin Mo understood. He could be human when he wanted to be human, and demon when he wanted to be a demon, and switch freely.
Seeing the True Demon, Mo Pao’er looked anxious. “It’s over, it’s over. Brother Mo is doomed.”
In his eyes, Lin Mo was indeed very powerful.
But that was only in comparison to these fringe areas where Demonic Cultivators were not affiliated with True Demons.
Compared to a True Demon, there was still a huge gap.
Not only Mo Pao’er, but the surrounding Demonic Cultivators also fled far away.
They all wanted to see how many moves the renowned ‘Sword Demon’ could withstand against a True Demon.
Lin Mo sneered. “In my life, I’ve slain demons, eradicated ghosts, and killed many cultivators, but I’ve never cut down a demon. Today, I’ll use you to practice.”
Granny Rong let out a disdainful laugh. “You’re just a Demonic Cultivator, yet so arrogant.”
Granny Rong also knew that Lin Mo was the recently famed ‘Sword Demon.’
Even if his talent was good, he was no match for her.
A Demonic Cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage challenging a True Demon at the Nascent Soul stage?
It was simply wishful thinking.
Let alone the Nascent Soul stage, she had killed quite a few cultivators at the Soul Transformation stage.
This was the fundamental difference between demons and humans.
“Then you can try and see if I have the capital for such arrogance,” Lin Mo’s tone was neither light nor heavy.
“I’d also like to taste the heart of such an arrogant Demonic Cultivator as you.”
Instantly, a pair of dark hands shot towards Lin Mo.
Lin Mo merely rotated the Liuli Sword slightly, and the large hand was immediately severed.
“You have some skill.” Granny Rong uttered a surprised exclamation and then released waves of black energy to attack Lin Mo. In just a moment, Lin Mo was encased in a black cocoon.
“Daddy…” Lin Xiang’er was so anxious she was about to cry.
Seeing the situation turn dire, Mo Pao’er prepared to escape.
“Nothing more than this.” Granny Rong let out a contemptuous smile of a victor.
The next moment, sword lights emanated from within the black cocoon, breaking through Granny Rong’s attack.
They were layers upon layers of black sword energy.
Granny Rong summoned her demonic energy to defend, but it was repeatedly severed by the sword energy.
Seeing this, Granny Rong felt a great sense of foreboding.
She had a premonition that if she were hit by this sword energy, she would either die or be severely injured.
“Kid, you just wait.” After issuing a stern warning, Granny Rong transformed into a streak of black light and vanished without a trace.
Lin Mo knew the principle of not pursuing a cornered enemy.
However, a True Demon was nothing more than this.
At the same realm, the only one who could make the competition worthwhile was Zhu Shiyao.
If it were Zhu Shiyao, she could easily slay a True Demon under the same realm conditions.
“Daddy is so amazing!” Lin Xiang’er applauded, hopping with excitement.
The surrounding Demonic Cultivators who had come to watch were also incredulous.
In all these years, this was the first time they had ever seen a human at the same realm repel a True Demon.
This made them even more hesitant to provoke Lin Mo.
“Where do you want to go?”
A cold voice came from behind Mo Pao’er, startling him into a shiver.
“I haven’t decided where to go. I just want to help Brother Mo scout ahead and see if there are any other enemies in the distance…”
Lin Mo rolled his eyes. How could he not see that Mo Pao’er thought he was doomed and was preparing to slip away?
However, he didn’t care about that.
“Pack up. Let’s take a stroll into the Chi Yan Clan’s territory.”
Lin Mo’s idea was simple. Since he couldn’t gain Regret at the borders anymore, he would go into their territory to obtain it.
Before that, to be on the safe side, Lin Mo still spent 30,000 Regret to purchase a premonition of life and death ability through Yellow Millet Dream.
…
Meanwhile, at the Chi Yan Demon Lord’s mansion.
“My Lord, the Young Mistress has been found,” Granny Rong said respectfully to the woman on the main seat.
“Why didn’t you bring him back?” the Chi Yan Demon Lord asked.
“He was protected by his father…” Granny Rong’s voice faltered.
The Chi Yan Demon Lord frowned. “How did Lin Xiang’er get to know her father?”
“I don’t know. Anyway, the Young Mistress called that man Dad, and that man didn’t deny it.”
“Why didn’t you forcibly bring him back?” the Chi Yan Demon Lord’s voice turned cold.
“Couldn’t defeat him…” Granny Rong’s voice became even more hollow.
“What is his Cultivation Level?” the Chi Yan Demon Lord’s voice showed a hint of surprise.
She knew that her cousin had secretly gone to the Human Realm a while ago.
However, during that period, she had searched but could not sense her cousin’s aura in the Upper Realm or Middle Realm.
This meant that her cousin could only go to the Lower Realm or the edge of the Middle Realm adjacent to the Lower Realm.
In those places, the cultivators she might encounter would be at most at the Golden Core stage.
Could it be that she had gotten involved with a powerful being hidden in the Lower Realm?
“Nascent Soul stage…” Granny Rong said, lowering her head in shame.
“You couldn’t defeat a human at the Nascent Soul stage?” The Chi Yan Demon Lord’s demonic energy churned, and her expression became terrifying.
Granny Rong quickly explained, “My Lord, this old servant is loyal to you and has no ill intentions.”
“Although that human cultivator is only at the Nascent Soul stage, his swordplay is masterful, and especially his demonic energy felt very strange to me…”
The Chi Yan Demon Lord gestured for her to continue.
“That demonic energy is incredibly pure, unlike what a human Demonic Cultivator could cultivate. Instead, it is almost identical to that of a True Demon…”
“Most importantly, the aura of his demonic energy made me feel like I was facing the Old Ancestor…”
By the end, Granny Rong felt that her words were absurd.
As expected, she was slapped away by the Chi Yan Demon Lord.
“Don’t make excuses for your failure.”
“A human’s demonic energy could never resemble the Old Ancestor’s.”
“Transmit that person’s appearance to everyone in the clan and have them bring Lin Xiang’er back.”
Granny Rong got up and replied, “Understood, my Lord.”
After Granny Rong left, the Chi Yan Demon Lord fell into deep thought again.
She had never heard of the Old Ancestor having a human woman.
And the Old Ancestor only had one daughter. If his daughter had a child with a human, could it be possible…
But she clearly remembered that the Old Ancestor’s daughter was already dead, and her existence couldn’t be detected anywhere in the various realms. She was undeniably dead.
Thinking this, the Chi Yan Demon Lord dismissed it as overthinking things.
…
Meanwhile, at the deepest part of the Abyss of the Sea in the Demon Realm.
A man was observing everything happening in the Demon Realm.
From the moment Lin Mo stepped into the Demon Realm, all his attention had been focused on Lin Mo.
He had witnessed every move Lin Mo made.
“As expected, he is my descendant.”
“Ningxin, Ningxin, you’ve given birth to an outstanding grandson for me.”
“Simultaneous cultivation of immortal and demonic arts has appeared in my grandson.”
The speaker laughed up at the sky.
His true identity was the sealed Demon Realm Old Ancestor, Chu Tiange.
The seal was currently weakening, and soon he would be able to break free from the Abyss of the Sea.
“Let my grandson sit on the position of the Demon Realm Young Master; that would be quite fitting.”
….
A few days later, Lin Mo arrived at the territory of the Chi Yan Clan.
It was clearly more prosperous here than at the border.
“Do you recognize this area?” Lin Mo asked Lin Xiang’er, who was curiously looking around at the scenery.
“Daddy, other than the days I came to find you, Xiang’er has never traveled far. I’ve only wandered around near home.” Lin Xiang’er replied.
“Is that so…”
Lin Mo recalled Granny Rong’s words that Lin Xiang’er was a close relative of the Chi Yan Demon Lord.
This meant Lin Xiang’er’s mother was also a close relative of the Chi Yan Demon Lord.
Now, Lin Mo’s biggest doubt was why the Chi Yan Clan wanted to harm Lin Xiang’er.
Going by her attitude at the time, Granny Rong clearly wasn’t planning to take Lin Xiang’er back to dote on her.
Lin Mo continued to ask, “Does Xiang’er know if anything dangerous happened to your mother?”
Lin Xiang’er shook her little head. “I don’t know…”
“What about the location?”
“Was it at home, or outside?”
“At home. Mother seemed very anxious at the time and, when teleporting Xiang’er and Sister Qi Qi away, told Xiang’er not to come back…”
Lin Xiang’er spoke up to here, her face once again filled with sadness.
Fearing she would cry again, Lin Mo quickly changed the subject. “Did Sister Qi Qi tell you anything?”
“She told Xiang’er that Mother had encountered danger, so she had to take Xiang’er away.”
Lin Mo looked helpless. After asking for so long, he still hadn’t gotten any useful information.
However, he could confirm that he couldn’t take Xiang’er back to the Chi Yan Demon Lord.
If there were no danger at home, Xiang’er’s mother wouldn’t have teleported Xiang’er away and told her not to return.
“Mo Pao’er, do you know the Cultivation Level of the Chi Yan Demon Lord?”
“Brother Mo, don’t scare me. The Chi Yan Demon Lord is a True Demon at the Integration stage, two major realms higher than you.” Mo Pao’er looked terrified, truly afraid that Lin Mo would do something foolish and provoke the Chi Yan Demon Lord.
Hearing this, Lin Mo temporarily gave up the plan to help Lin Xiang’er rescue her mother.
The battle involving a powerful cultivator at the Integration stage was not something he could participate in yet.
It seemed he still needed to strengthen himself. The Nascent Soul stage was still not enough in this cultivation world.
Currently, his focus should still be on harvesting more Regret.
To quickly break through to the Soul Transformation stage.
He still had to rely on the System.
【Wuwuwu, Host, you’ve finally grown up and realized the importance of this System.】
Lin Mo said sincerely, “Where did you get that idea? You have always been extremely important to me. I can’t do without you.”
Suddenly, an ineffable emotion spread through the System’s core.
If the System could have an expression, it would be like this: ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄
Could this be what humans called “heart flutter”?
“So, can you give me a 10% discount when I choose to spend Regret to break through realms?”
System: “……” It had actually believed this Host’s sweet-talking just now.
As expected, all sudden displays of affection had ulterior motives.
The System’s voice turned cold: 【The Regret required for breakthrough and lucky draws is fixed and cannot be discounted.】
Lin Mo pouted. “Tch…”
The System roared internally, “This scummy Host is toying with its pure System’s feelings!!!”
After wandering around for a while, Lin Mo noticed something interesting.
That was, the Demonic Cultivators here seemed to harbor great hostility towards him.
Mo Pao’er explained, “Brother Mo, the Demonic Cultivators here are almost all from the Chi Yan Clan…”
“You just defeated a True Demon from the Chi Yan Clan a few days ago. News must have spread here, so they’re holding a grudge against you.”
Lin Mo asked, “Then how did they recognize me?”
“Didn’t I say? Your face is too handsome, Brother Mo. Plus, the spiritual sword you always carry has very distinctive features. It’s not surprising they could recognize you.”
Lin Mo pretended not to hear clearly. “What did you say about my face?”
Mo Pao’er, realizing what he had said, shouted, “It’s handsome! I’ve never seen anyone as handsome as you, Brother Mo, in my entire life.”
The Demonic Cultivators observing Lin Mo from the surroundings couldn’t help but curse inwardly, “This legendary ‘Sword Demon’ is truly shameless.”
“Xiang’er!” Just then, a woman called out to Lin Xiang’er.
Xiang’er turned her head and happily shouted, “Sister Qi Qi.”
The woman walked up to Xiang’er, a look of anxiety on her face. “Xiang’er, where have you been these past few days? Do you know how dangerous it is here?”
Xiang’er pointed at Lin Mo and said, “I found Daddy. Daddy said he would help me save mother.”
“Xiang’er, you can’t just recognize anyone as your father!”
The woman frowned and looked in Lin Mo’s direction.
At this moment, Lin Mo was also looking at her.
Their eyes met, and both were stunned.
Qi Qi: He really found his father!
Lin Mo: Could she really be my daughter?
……
