As Yi Tianxing spoke, the child that had previously been sent into the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower reappeared before them.
Meng Qi could instantly feel that intimate bloodline connection—the unbreakable bond between mother and child. Her worries were instantly swept away, and her face lit up with the radiant glow of maternal love as she immediately pulled the baby into her arms, kissing him affectionately, tears welling up in her eyes.
"My child, my child…"She clutched the baby tightly, as if terrified of losing him again.
"It's alright now. The child is safe, and from now on, he will grow up in peace. As for a life without hardship or danger—in this age of chaos, that is something no one can promise. My son, the child of Yi Tianxing, will not grow up as a fragile flower in a greenhouse. He will face trials. This was merely one of them—certainly not the last. His future path will be forged through blood and fire."
Yi Tianxing's tone was calm.
Once the child reached a certain age, he would undergo the same tempering as anyone else. Even in the underworld, no one became strong without being tested. His children would not live hidden beneath his protection.
"Husband, give him a name."Meng Qi didn't object.
The underworld was no more peaceful than the realm of the living—she knew very well that true power was the only lasting protection in this world. Mountains could crumble, rivers dry up—nothing was absolute. Only strength endured.
"He was born with the Prison(Hell)-Suppressing Divine Physique, a powerful body constitution. It also signifies the path he will walk. If he can fully awaken and cultivate that physique to its limit, he can forge his own way to the Dao. Since that's the case, let's name him: Zhenyu—Yi Zhenyu. 'Zhen' as in suppress, 'Yu' as in prison. A body like a prison, to suppress all enemies beneath heaven."
Yi Tianxing didn't hesitate.
He didn't overthink names—he preferred using something tied to their destiny. In the mundane world, some fate-altering masters claimed that a name could resonate with destiny and even subtly alter a child's fate. While he didn't place too much stock in such things, he figured: why not?
It was a simple approach—and if it helped increase the child's fate destiny, then all the better.
Though it sounded casual, the result mattered more than the process.
Meng Qi didn't object. Naming a child was the father's prerogative.
"Very well. Yi Zhenyu. May he truly grow up to become a great leader—an unmatched talent," Meng Qi smiled.
She said nothing more about the ordeal in the Ghost Cave. For her, all that mattered was that the child had returned safe and sound.
"He will," Yi Tianxing replied calmly with a faint smile.
Thus, on the 7th day of the 3rd month in the 49th year of the Eternal Calendar, Yi Tianxing's seventh son, Yi Zhenyu, was born in the Yellow Springs Inn within the underworld. He possessed the Prison-Suppressing Divine Physique and had awakened the Prison-Suppressing Aperture. If he reached his potential, he would surely become a top-tier prodigy.
"Husband, the ancestor wishes to see you," Meng Qi said suddenly.
"Ancestor?" Yi Tianxing's expression shifted.
He quickly realized—she was referring to Meng Po, the ancestor of the Meng Clan. A true overlord in the underworld.
Who was Meng Po?
Her name was known to all in the underworld. She stood before the Wheel of Reincarnation, offering Meng Po's Soup to souls—washing away their memories, dissolving their worldly attachments. She could also shield souls from the power of reincarnation, allowing them to reincarnate safely.
Her merit was immeasurable.
Anyone involved in the reincarnation cycle and contributing to it would naturally be shrouded in merit. Like the Underworld King, Meng Po was a true powerhouse—a Dao-Proving Realm cultivator, a being with unmatched divine powers and a status among the absolute elite.
If she wished to meet someone—it was never a trivial matter.
"Very well. Since I've already taken the little princess of the Meng Clan as my wife, of course I should visit the elders." Yi Tianxing chuckled.
After all, now that they even had a child—it was only right to meet the family. At the very least, this was a good sign.
Meng Qi gave him a sidelong glance and said, "The ancestor is waiting for you at Meng Po Manor."
A teleportation array in the Yellow Springs Inn led directly to the manor. Travel wasn't difficult. After a quick decision, Yi Tianxing stepped into the array.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived at a vast estate built beside the Sacred Yellow Springs River.
From a glance, the estate didn't appear luxurious. Instead, it gave off a sense of plainness. But even in its simplicity, one could see the extraordinary.
For example—the buildings, though they appeared made of simple wood, were actually constructed from Netherwood of the Yellow Springs, a wood so rare that a single inch was worth more than gold. The entire estate was built from this wood—if word got out, the value would be incalculable.
"What a manor. Truly remarkable," Yi Tianxing remarked, nodding in admiration.
"This is the Meng Clan's ancestral ground. Our family line is not large, and the descendants are all women. They typically do not marry out. To continue the lineage, they take a ladle of water from the Mother-Child River, drink it, and will naturally conceive a child. However, the ancestor once said that this method violates the natural order and should not be used more than twice."
Meng Qi explained further: "All Meng family descendants, once grown, are required to travel across the underworld and establish inns like the Yellow Springs Inn—to give the souls of the dead safe resting places. As a result, very few people remain here year-round."
"At the moment, only my Third Aunt and the ancestor are present. The ancestor wishes to speak to you alone—I'll go see my aunt first and return shortly."
She had clearly received the message in advance.
"Alright. Afterward, I'll take you back to the Emperor's Palace in the living realm. You should meet Zhao Ji and the others. After all, you're all sisters now. Recently, Moxue and the others have also become pregnant. You could share some experience."
Previously, due to the God-Demon battlefield, the women had refrained from conceiving, as pregnancy made battlefield participation impossible. But now that the war had ended, many of the emperor's consorts—including Ao You—had become pregnant.
In Great Yi, nothing brought peace of mind to the palace women like the presence of children. It was an emotional anchor, a sense of truly taking root. And all of them loved children.
Seeing Yi Xianhuang and the others shine during the war had only made them envious.
Now that they were back in Great Yi, they had all requested children from Yi Tianxing. Cai Yan, the Empress, had no objections. In fact, she believed that the imperial bloodline was far too thin and should be expanded. There were enough consorts—it was time to focus on producing more imperial heirs.
Thus, Cai Yan had been supportive and attentive, often visiting the expectant mothers herself.
Yi Tianxing was quite satisfied—Cai Yan had truly fulfilled the role of Mother of the Nation, maintaining harmony in the inner palace and freeing him from all such trivial concerns.
Currently, six women were pregnant: Cao Jie, Gongsun Wan'er, Ao You, Ao Qing, Hong Luan, and Moxue.
It wouldn't be long before new life bloomed throughout the imperial palace.
But that was for another day.
Yi Tianxing, led by Meng Qi's instructions, soon arrived at a small courtyard.
There, a large black cauldron was set atop a pile of bones—the bones were pitch-black, and bone-fire burned underneath. Inside the cauldron, a clear soup was boiling, bubbling steadily.
Next to the cauldron stood a gray-haired old woman in rough linen robes. She stirred the soup slowly, rhythmically. Her figure stood quietly, almost easy to miss. Her features were veiled in mist—obscured and unreadable.
"A Dao-Proving powerhouse should not be gazed upon directly. One must not call their true name. One must not try to see their true form."
This phrase echoed through Yi Tianxing's mind.
Such beings were so powerful that even uttering their name could draw their attention across space.
Clearly, the woman before him was Meng Po in person.
"Yi Tianxing of Great Yi pays his respects to Ancestor Meng."Yi Tianxing spoke respectfully.
One must always show due reverence to a Dao-Proving powerhouse.
To respect them… was to respect oneself.
"Too courteous, Emperor Yi. You're Little Qi's husband—you're no outsider to the Meng Clan. And with your status, you're not beneath this old woman. Just call me Meng Po," the old woman chuckled kindly.
She continued stirring the soup, her pace unchanging, full of strange rhythm.
"This time, I asked you here for two reasons. First, to meet you in person. Second, to tell you something. What you do with it… is up to you."
Meng Po's voice was calm.
Yi Tianxing's curiosity was piqued. "May I ask what this matter is?"
If it drew the attention of Meng Po—it was certainly no small affair.
"The realm of the living is about to change drastically. Great Yi is not the only Emperor Dynasty. Other slumbering Fortune Dynasties are about to awaken. They will return. The great clans will reemerge and ascend to the peak of the world. Great Yi… is not the strongest among them."
Meng Po paused. Then she added:
"If possible… ascend to Sacred Court as soon as you can. Only then will you be qualified to face the upheavals that are coming."
Her tone was utterly flat, as if stating something trivial.
Yet every word struck like a heavy bell in Yi Tianxing's heart.