To be honest, having four daughters in a row—even Yi Tianxing felt the universe was playing a prank on him. This... this was just too much. Was this fate's idea of a joke? One cotton-padded jacket after another—he had four already. He could practically rotate them every winter day. Add one more, and he'd have a cotton-padded jacket for each weekday, with weekends off. Was that the plan?
"Storm and thunder... it seems this child's physique is extraordinary as well. This era is a chaotic one—but also a golden age."
The early days of the Eternal World were the most chaotic, the most dangerous—but also the most vibrant. It was a true golden age, where various unique physiques and heaven-defying geniuses emerged endlessly. This was the will of destiny, the momentum of the times.
After all, in the world's infancy, the laws of heaven and earth were at their clearest and most active. Naturally, this allowed for the birth of prodigiously gifted individuals. Many ancient powerhouses even chose to reincarnate during this era to begin anew.
That's why, in the primordial era, peak deities and legendary figures were most common.
The further into the future, the less likely it became to be born with top-tier talent. As the laws of heaven receded and the world calmed, the odds of being born with divine or sacred bodies dwindled to near nothing.
So truly, Yi Xianhuang and her sisters were born into the right era—each carrying natural gifts that far exceeded the average cultivator of later generations.
Waaah, waaaah!
As celestial phenomena stirred the skies, a clear, ringing newborn cry echoed through the Flying Star Palace—full of breath and vitality.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Lady Xingfei has given birth to a princess!"
Just then, the doors to the palace opened, and a midwife stepped out, joy written all over her face. Lianxing had safely delivered a baby girl.
"Great, another little cotton-padded jacket. The fifth one now. Winter won't be cold anymore."
Yi Tianxing chuckled, looking up toward the sky. Was it too many cotton-padded jackets now? The melancholy in his heart deepened.
"You are my little, little cotton-padded jacket, like the most beautiful cloud on the horizon. Spring has arrived, flowers bloom across the hills, sow hope and you will reap joy…"
Right at that moment, from atop one of the palace roofs, Green Emperor rose to his feet, a green felt hat somehow perched on his head, singing passionately toward Yi Tianxing.
On a day this monumental, he felt compelled to offer a song.
"You are my little, little cotton-padded jacket, no matter how much I love you, it's never enough. Your red little face warms my heart, igniting the fire of my life—fire, fire, fire, fire, fire!!"
The Green Emperor's song echoed throughout the palace grounds.
Yi Tianxing's mouth twitched involuntarily. He suddenly imagined countless little cotton-padded jackets joyfully charging toward him. Shaking his head, he gave the Green Emperor a warning look—especially that felt hat. It was... surprisingly fitting.
He stepped into the Flying Star Palace.
There, floating in mid-air, was a baby girl. Around her, swirling gusts of wind danced gently, yet none of them harmed her in the slightest. In fact, the winds acted like affectionate kin, drifting naturally into her body. In her eyes, one could even see miniature cyclones spinning, with invisible Dao Rhythms of Wind gathering steadily.
"Heavenly Wind Body. Innate Eye Technique... this is the Eye of the Storm."
Upon entering, Yi Tianxing immediately saw the child's astonishing traits and couldn't help but be shocked. She had awakened a natural life aperture—in her eyes, no less. That was an innate ocular art. Just like his own Yin-Yang Eyes, her potential was immeasurable. Of course, it would still require personal cultivation and self-driven transformation. No one could help her with that.
"Husband, this concubine has failed you… I could not bear you a prince," Lianxing said softly, guilt in her voice.
Still, her eyes—when gazing upon the newborn—radiated intense maternal warmth and joy. Her love was sincere and pure.
"What nonsense are you speaking? I've said before: son or daughter, it doesn't matter. Daughters are even more intimate—my little cotton-padded jackets. I've never minded having more. Besides, our daughter's physique is anything but ordinary—Heavenly Wind Body and Innate Eye Technique. Together, that's limitless potential. One day, she will be a peerless celestial maiden."
Yi Tianxing smiled as he spoke.
He had never looked down upon his bloodline. His children were destined to become the backbone of the Great Yi Dynasty. None were more trustworthy than them.
"Then, husband... name her?" Lianxing said gently, with a glimmer of hope in her tone.
"She was born amidst a storm, her physique in tune with the wind. The wind represents freedom. I hope she can live joyfully and freely. Let's call her Fengling—Yi Fengling, my fifth princess. Princess Fengling."
Yi Tianxing paused in thought before settling on the name.
"Fengling… Princess Fengling. It's a beautiful name. Thank you, husband, for bestowing it."
Lianxing softly repeated the name, a bright smile blooming on her face.
Yi Fengling.
Princess Fengling.
"You rest well. In a few days, I'll arrange for Fengling and the others to undergo a baptism—boosting their potential even further."
Yi Tianxing said, holding little Fengling and kissing her gently. His expression was warm and tender.
"Mhm!" Lianxing nodded with a smile.
After that, Yi Tianxing began dashing between three palaces, visiting each of the newborn princesses. The joy in his heart was clear as day—he couldn't stop smiling. The entire palace was brimming with celebratory cheer.
"Issue a decree: The royal family welcomes three new princesses. Let the whole world celebrate! Every citizen of the Great Yi shall receive one jin of spirit rice and ten Eternal Coins."
This joy was not for him alone—it was to be shared with all citizens of the Great Yi Dynasty.
The decree spread swiftly across the entire Great Yi territory.
"Long live His Majesty! This is incredible—three princesses in a single day! Auspicious signs abound!"
"Princess Wuchang, Princess Yuehua, and now Princess Fengling. They're the pearls of our empire!"
"I must go to the wishing tree and pray for them—may all five princesses of Great Yi grow up safe and sound, with breathtaking beauty and peerless talent."
Throughout the empire, citizens offered heartfelt blessings to the five princesses. Their gratitude to Yi Tianxing was beyond words.
Only someone like Yi Tianxing would celebrate by gifting his people.
Spirit rice.
Eternal coins.
Freely and generously offered to the people.
With a ruler like this, how could the people not love him? How could they not revere and support the Great Yi Dynasty with all their hearts?
"The people are the foundation of the nation. Great Yi truly is a new kind of empire. One built for the rise and self-reliance of the human race. All are dragons—this is as it should be. How could I not give my life in service?"
Xun Yu stood in his estate, gazing skyward with heartfelt emotion.
In the past, when imperial decrees claimed "the whole world celebrates," they were just words. No ruler would actually give wealth or food to the populace. The cost was simply too great.
Even a single act of distribution on that scale could collapse a national treasury.
But in Great Yi, the impossible became possible.
Its resources were vast—especially the massive cultivation of spirit rice within the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower. The rice just distributed? That was a mere drop in the ocean.
And in return, Yi Tianxing gained the unwavering loyalty of the entire population. The people grew stronger, and the nation did too.
"A nation like this… is one worth serving to the death."
Even Zhao Yun, dressed in white, murmured to himself as he gazed into the distance.
Unknowingly, nearly half a month had passed.
In those days, Yi Tianxing simply accompanied Cai Yan and the other women, spending time with his newborn daughters and enjoying the warmth of family.
Time drew close to the end of the month.
The end of the month also meant the final days of the current year. The ninth year of the Eternal Calendar was coming to a close. Soon, it would be the tenth year.
It was now the twenty-seventh of December. Just a few days remained until the New Year.
Within Great Yi, every celestial city was infused with a festive air.
Citizens began preparing for the celebrations.
Many put down their work. Even bounty hunters returned from the wilds—after risking life and limb, all they wanted was to savor these few precious days of peace.
Generals returned from war.
City Lords stepped through teleportation arrays, returning from the far corners of the realm.
Officials and ministers converged on Xuanhuang City.
DONG. DONG. DONG.
Clear bell chimes rang out across Xuanhuang City, their echoes spreading through the entire Great Yi territory. Whether in Yizhou, Serpent Island, or even Skyhawk Island, everyone could hear it.
At this moment, Xuanhuang City itself was no longer on land—but floating above the sea, surrounded by vast ocean waters.
With the Great Yi territory expanding beyond Yizhou, Xuanhuang City's range of movement had naturally spread into the sea. It could now appear above any land.
As the morning bell rang—
Ministers entered the Hall of Heaven's Will.
Zhuge Liang, Jia Xu, Xun Yu, Zhou Yu, Yang Ye, Huang Chengyan, He Shen… every great minister of Great Yi gathered in the court. Upon seeing one another, smiles appeared naturally, and cheerful conversations filled the room.
It had been a bountiful year for Great Yi.