The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife-Chapter 851: Who Is Actually Pregnant?

The female cultivator realized her mistake and said, "I... I’m sorry, Daoist Nanli."

Nanli gently shook her head and solemnly said, "I hope you all cultivate diligently and refine your own suitable magical treasures. That is the most reliable way forward."

Everyone took her words to heart.

Nanli then resumed setting up the formation barrier.

Qiao Dabao, being considerate, insisted on accompanying Nanli.

After all, given her pregnancy and the severe nausea she had just experienced, she might need some help.

But—

Even after following Nanli to multiple locations, Qiao Dabao was already feeling exhausted.

Yet Nanli remained full of energy, showing no signs of pregnancy or fatigue despite having missed a night’s rest.

"Nanli, don’t you need to take a break?"

"No need, I slept for three days before this," Nanli replied. "I still have enough energy now. I’ll rest properly after I’m done with this."

Qiao Dabao clicked her tongue, thinking that Nanli truly deserved to be called a divine being. If it had been her, she would have collapsed by now, unwilling to move.

However, following Nanli while she worked turned out to be an invaluable opportunity. Qiao Dabao gained many insights from the experience.

After returning to Seaside City for meditation, her cultivation advanced to another level.

Lin Yifan, watching this, was incredibly jealous, feeling that he had suffered a major loss.

The city protection formation of Seaside City also needed to be reestablished.

As the city lord, Yuan Zhenhai should have been responsible for this. However, he was not even at the Golden Core stage yet and was incapable of setting up the formation.

Once again, the task fell upon Nanli.

He felt quite embarrassed about it.

"Don’t worry about it, it’s just a small favor," Nanli reassured him before heading off to inspect Seaside City’s geographical positioning.

This time, she set up the formation without requiring any spirit stones from Seaside City, as she had brought plenty with her on this trip.

In less than half a day, the city protection formation was completed.

Qiao Dabao was filled with admiration because, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, Nanli’s formation was much stronger than the previous one in Jade Wolf City.

She smiled and congratulated, "Congratulations, Lord Yuan. With this protective formation, Seaside City will remain safe for thousands of years."

Yuan Zhenhai’s eyes darkened as he said, "Relying on others for protection can only grant temporary peace. Although we are cooperating with Nanli, we now find ourselves relying on her for everything. We must strive to improve our cultivation, so that even if we cannot assist Nanli, at the very least, we won’t become a burden to her!"

"Well said!" Lin Yifan immediately responded, visibly excited.

Qiao Dabao rolled her eyes at them, stood under the sun, and turned to gaze at the land of the Lower Realm. She slowly said, "Easier said than done. The Lower Realm has long since lost its Spirit Tree, and spiritual energy is extremely scarce. When the barrier to the Upper Realm was broken, we could at least absorb some of the escaping spiritual energy, but now, in order to survive, we’ve had to rebuild the barrier. A skilled woman cannot cook without rice..."

Lin Yifan’s expression stiffened, and his earlier excitement faded.

Indeed, no matter how hard they worked or how talented they were, without spiritual energy, how could they advance in cultivation?

At this rate, the so-called diligent cultivation was nothing but a joke.

The three of them exchanged glances and let out a collective sigh.

However, Qiao Dabao soon had an idea.

Once Nanli returned from her work, she immediately proposed, "Nanli, now that the Human World has spiritual energy, I was thinking... if we all move there, we would have enough energy to cultivate."

As soon as she spoke, Lin Yifan’s eyes lit up, but Yuan Zhenhai remained stubborn. "No, Seaside City has been here for generations. We cannot just leave."

"But—"

"Lord Qiao, our way of life is entirely different from that of the people in the Human World. Moving isn’t as simple as just picking a place and building new homes," Yuan Zhenhai explained seriously. "For those of us who can cultivate, we might be willing to move in pursuit of higher cultivation, but what about the ordinary people who cannot cultivate? This move does not benefit them. How could they be willing to leave?"

In fact, only a small fraction of people across the three cities had the ability to cultivate.

Relocating would be a massive undertaking.

Qiao Dabao’s expression darkened.

"If we don’t change and just stay here, we are only dooming ourselves!" she said firmly.

"You just said it yourself—if we can’t help Nanli, at least we shouldn’t drag her down. But if we refuse to change, we won’t even be able to protect ourselves! How can we talk about anything else?"

"There are so many talented children among our townspeople, yet because of the Lower Realm’s severe spiritual energy deficiency, their potential is wasted! As city lord, you should be leading them towards a better future!"

Lin Yifan wiped the sweat from his forehead as he watched the argument unfold.

He wasn’t sure whom to support, so he simply said, "Arguing won’t solve anything. Nanli hasn’t even agreed yet!"

Both of them paused, realizing that this was indeed the key point.

They turned to look at Nanli.

Nanli sighed helplessly and spread her hands. "You both have valid points. However, there are many townspeople to consider. Relocating everyone would require a tremendous amount of resources, and Mu Nation doesn’t have enough space to accommodate you all."

Qiao Dabao’s expression dimmed.

She let out a soft sigh. "That’s true."

But Yuan Zhenhai suddenly thought of a compromise. "We could select the most talented children to go to the Human World to train."

Qiao Dabao immediately brightened. "That’s a good idea."

Nanli nodded. "Although the Human World now has spiritual energy, it has been disconnected for a thousand years. There are no established sects or schools. If the younger generation goes there, they will need high-level cultivators to guide them."

The three had no objections to this.

Even though it would mean dispersing their strength and facing many challenges, it was the best solution for now.

But then, Nanli’s eyes flashed with insight, and she asked, "Would you be willing to merge into Mu Nation’s territory?"

"What?" The three were stunned.

Yuan Zhenhai was the first to respond. "Our towns have never been under the rule of the Human World’s emperors."

The towns operated under a city lord system.

In essence, the city lords functioned as kings in their own right.

To be governed under another nation’s laws was something their people would likely resist.

Qiao Dabao, recalling her time recovering in Yan Town, suddenly had a realization. Her eyes widened. "Wait—if we merge into Mu Nation’s territory, will spiritual energy be generated?!"

"What do you mean?" Lin Yifan pressed.

Qiao Dabao quickly explained, "Mu Nation is at war with Qi Nation. When a land becomes part of Mu Nation, spiritual energy emerges within days. I thought it was strange at the time. Now I see—Nanli is thinking of using this method to make our land produce spiritual energy too!"

Yuan Zhenhai and Lin Yifan were both shocked.

Could it really be possible?!

Nanli didn’t hide the truth from them. She nodded. "That’s right. My fifth brother is the destined Human Emperor. Once he takes the throne, the lands he rules will be revitalized. Not only will spiritual energy emerge, but Spirit Trees will grow as well. If your three cities merge into Mu Nation, the same might happen here."