Invincible Dad-Chapter 746: Jellyfish_1

Xu Lai did not try to persuade her further. Holding Ruan Tang’s hand, they both plunged into the clouds.

In an instant, the scenery before their eyes changed. It was even closer than what they had seen from high above.

Ruan Tang saw schools of little fish swimming around them, along with several lazy, gigantic sea turtles. The inner world of the clouds resembled an immense ocean, teeming with all kinds of creatures. Unfortunately, they were all condensed from Spiritual Energy and invisible to the naked eyes of ordinary people.

"Find a Spiritual Object you like, and I’ll craft a Magic Artifact for you," Xu Lai said gently.

Ruan Tang fell into a state of indecision. She looked around but couldn’t find any Spiritual Objects that particularly caught her fancy.

At that moment, Ruan Tang noticed a very inconspicuous cloud a great distance away. Unlike the other clouds that enveloped East Sea City and unleashed a torrential downpour, this cloud was raining half-heartedly. Within it, a lazy jellyfish that couldn’t even be bothered to move was lying on the cloud layer, seemingly gazing down at the mortal world.

"Let’s pick that one," Ruan Tang said, pointing. "By the way, what kind of Magic Artifact are you going to craft for me?"

"A defensive Magic Artifact."

In Ruan Tang’s Storage Space, there were many treasures, the most precious of which were a Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill and the Qingfeng Sword, an Emperor Artifact. With these two treasures, Ruan Tang could face any Cultivator below the Emperor Realm and remain undefeated.

Xu Lai intended to craft another defensive Emperor Artifact for her. Even if she were to face deadly danger one day, it would be enough to keep her and their two children safe.

According to the records of the Immortal Domain, there were fewer than fifty Emperor Artifacts with known names and origins. This wasn’t because they were deliberately hidden, but because they were seldom used by those in the Emperor Realm. After all, every Great Emperor had dominated an era. From the day they became a Great Emperor, there were very few worthy of their attention, let alone justifying the use of an Emperor Artifact capable of destroying half the Immortal Domain.

Therefore, for the Emperor Artifacts crafted by those who became unrivaled in the Universe after reaching the Emperor Realm, most of their names and origins had been lost to the river of time, as few people had ever seen them. Some were passed down within the Tao Lineage founded by a Great Emperor or left within their respective clans. For example, if Xu Lai had no blood relatives or life-and-death friends, he would leave the Qingfeng Sword in either the Heavenly Court or the Ancestral Land of the Human Race, where it would become a foundational power not to be drawn upon lightly.

In the eyes of any Cultivator, Emperor Artifacts created by someone in the Emperor Realm were expected to be offensive weapons like blades, spears, staves, and axes, or perhaps items like cauldrons, fans, furnaces, halberds, and rulers. But in fact, the number of defensive Emperor Artifacts was not small at all. According to the records of the Immortal Domain, there were seventeen such items.

Those in the Emperor Realm did not need defense. But after their deaths, their Tao Lineages or clans did. This was especially true for ’Immortal Seedlings’ like Ruan Tang, who absolutely had to be protected.

"A defensive Magic Artifact, huh?" Ruan Tang responded casually. She wasn’t particularly interested in Magic Artifacts, Cultivation, Elixirs, or Formations. Compared to all that, she preferred trimming the leaves of the potted plants at home or giving them a little water.

"Then this jellyfish it is," Xu Lai said as he reached out to grab it.

The lazy jellyfish, curled up in the cloud, seemed to sense something and suddenly jolted. It fled at a speed that should have been impossible for its Boundary.

Xu Lai was stunned. He hadn’t let the jellyfish escape; on the contrary, he caught it easily in his hand.

This Spiritual Object has already gained consciousness before even becoming a demon? And its escape speed is comparable to the Venerable Realm...

Xu Lai suddenly thought of Sikong Jiu of the Heavenly Dao, who wore the red bellyband. Could their paths be the same?

"Speak up. I know you can understand," Xu Lai said.

"How dare you! Let me go, or I’ll make you regret it," came the transparent jellyfish’s voice. It sounded like a two or three-year-old child, milky and high-pitched, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female.

In any case, it was incredibly cute. So cute that Ruan Tang’s eyes instantly began to sparkle. Xu Lai had only ever seen this look, the gaze of pure maternal love, when his wife looked at their daughter.

It would be good for Artifact Refining, Xu Lai mused to himself.

The jellyfish instantly panicked. It struggled desperately in Xu Lai’s palm, trying to escape, but its efforts were destined to be futile.

"I was enlightened by the Heavenly Dao! If you refine me today, you will surely suffer divine retribution!" knowing it couldn’t escape, the jellyfish actually started making threats.

But its high-pitched voice lacked any hint of menace. Instead, it made Ruan Tang burst out laughing. "It’s too cute."

"And a little silly," Xu Lai added.

"?"

A large question mark floated above the jellyfish’s head. It shouted, "Heavenly Dao daddy, save me!"

There was no response.

The jellyfish was stunned. It was enlightened by the Heavenly Dao. Its Heavenly Dao daddy had always taken such good care of it, so why was it being ignored today? The jellyfish continued to shout.

However, with each cry, a certain Heavenly Dao hiding in the void felt an overwhelming urge to strangle the stupid jellyfish.

I’m your daddy? Xu Lai is my daddy! I have to rely on him for protection, so why would you, a good-for-nothing, go and provoke him?

It’s hopeless, completely hopeless... Sikong Jiu’s small face was deathly pale. He quickly shut off his five senses and his Divine Sense, merging with the Earth and not daring to reveal himself in the slightest.

Are you kidding me? What if The Supreme Emperor suddenly decides he doesn’t want to use the jellyfish as an Artifact Spirit and wants me instead? I can’t afford to provoke him. So, I’ll hide!

This was what the Heavenly Dao thought, and it was exactly what he did. He shut his ears to the outside world, content to hide in his shell like a turtle.

This was Sikong Jiu’s Tao.

Lay low. Survive. That was enough.

Becoming a Great Emperor, an Immortal, achieving eternal life... those are all empty pursuits. Being alive is the only thing that truly matters. Eating a sugar-coated hawthorn stick every day, maybe descending to the mortal world to listen to some old tunes with the grandpas on the street... now that’s the good life.

***

The Heavenly Dao did not respond.

The little jellyfish panicked, but it wasn’t stupid. It vaguely understood that this man and woman were likely figures that even the Heavenly Dao couldn’t afford to offend.

It asked tentatively, "May I ask for... your venerable name, Senior?"

"Xu Lai."

THUMP!

The jellyfish’s heart pounded wildly in its chest. It exclaimed, "Could it be that you are The Supreme Emperor Xu Lai? My Heavenly Dao daddy said that you are..."

BANG!

Before the jellyfish could finish, an immense pressure descended from the sky, completely immobilizing it. It then drifted slowly toward Xu Lai.

The pressure was accompanied by a cautiously apologetic chuckle. "The Supreme Emperor, do you need any other materials for your Artifact Refining? I happen to have quite a few treasures in my collection."

Xu Lai gave a half-smile. "I’m actually more curious to know what kind of person I, Xu Qingfeng, am in your eyes."

"If handsome were one word, I could praise you for a lifetime!"

"Heh."

Xu Lai pursed his lips. Not a single word of truth ever comes out of the Heavenly Dao’s mouth.

He stored the jellyfish in his Storage Space, said nothing more to the Heavenly Dao, and continued to roam the sea of clouds with his wife.

The scenery was beautiful. The person beside him was beautiful, too. It was clear that Ruan Tang was in a good mood, the corners of her lips perpetually turned up.

But in a Sea City not too far from East Sea City, a certain Crown Prince, long abandoned by the Moon King, had fallen into endless despair.

「In a secret chamber of the Demon King’s palace.」

Crown Prince Ji Gui was huddled in a corner, his eyes lifeless, like a broken doll. He unconsciously murmured the same words over and over, "Save me... save me..."