This matter concerned the fate of the entire Nation of Women—The future of billions of women.
One misstep, and the country could fall into ruin.
But at the same time, having only women as a population was already a critical flaw.
If left unresolved, it would become an inescapable weakness—sooner or later, they'd be forced to confront it.
The real concerns were:
How far was the Nation of Women from Great Yi?
Could the domain gate between the two lands truly be stabilized?
Most importantly—Was this man really from the Great Yi Holy Court?
Or was it all a lie?
All of this had to be carefully considered.
"I'll need time to think about it," the Queen said calmly."I also need to consult with my court ministers.If we truly intend to form an alliance—or migrate the whole nation—Then we'll need a proper plan and concrete measures."
It was only natural.
No one could make such a world-shaking decision on a whim.
Yi Tianxing seized the moment and struck again with another trump card.
"The greatest issue plaguing your kingdom is the Zimu River.If you join Great Yi and become its citizens,There's a good chance that the national fortune of the Holy Court could suppress the effects of the Zimu River.Women of the Nation might even regain the ability to bear male children.That would break the generational curse of bearing only daughters—And restore the true right to motherhood."
This was the most pressing hidden danger of the Nation of Women—Even after two or three generations, they could only give birth to daughters.
For many families, that was simply unacceptable.
"A child of both genders forms the word good (好),"An age-old belief among the Han bloodline.
It might be an old-fashioned tradition, but it was one that had endured through millennia—The continuity of the family line was paramount.
In ancient times, not bearing a son was often grounds for divorce—And the wife had no way to defend herself.
Even in Great Yi, this kind of thinking still existed to some degree.
Human hearts were the hardest thing to control—Especially when it came to the lineage of one's family.
The women of the Nation would inevitably suffer under such scrutiny.
But if Great Yi could solve this issue—Then the greatest shackle upon the Nation of Women would be broken.
The appeal to the people would be irresistible.
Once the news spread, the women of the kingdom would surely go mad with excitement.
"What? Joining Great Yi can really do that? Suppress the effects of the Zimu River?"
The Queen's voice trembled.
This was her greatest fear.
If she could truly join Great Yi and eradicate that danger…
It would remove the doomsday shadow that hung over her nation.
"Absolutely," Yi Tianxing nodded."The power of national destiny is subtle and far-reaching.In Great Yi, we have the Innocence Heavenly Melody Tree (无邪天音宝树)—A divine artifact that can purify curses and remove latent dangers.With national luck and the sacred tree suppressing the effect,The probability of only birthing daughters may remain high—But it would no longer be absolute."
He spoke with confidence.
After all, a nation full of daughters wasn't beneficial even to Great Yi.Gender balance was essential to long-term development.
As long as they could birth boys at all—Then having more girls would no longer be a problem.
In fact, it would become an advantage.
"Very well… I still need time to consider."
The Queen gave Yi Tianxing a deep look.
In the end, she did not give a definitive answer.
She turned, leaving with her Qingniao Sword Guards in tow.
So many shocking things had happened in a single day—She needed time to think everything through.
A hasty decision now would be irresponsible.
Yi Tianxing didn't press.
After all, there was plenty of time.The Nation of Women wasn't going to depart right away.
Everything could be handled in due course.
He turned to the monkey still standing beside him.
"Monkey—now that your master is gone, what do you plan to do next?"
This monkey wasn't truly Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
He had merely tried to follow the Journey to the West path to earn merit.
But now that Tang Buhui had been sacrificed,The core of the Journey was lost.
"Without the core… there's no point continuing. The Journey ends here."
But the monkey turned sharply to him, eyes gleaming.
"Yi… I know who you really are."
Just as he spoke, Yi Tianxing raised a hand—A barrier instantly enveloped them.
He had realized—the monkey had guessed his identity.
Though he had altered his appearance, Anyone familiar enough could eventually figure it out.
Especially a clever old monkey like this one.He'd even called him by his true name earlier.
It wasn't hard to connect the dots.
"To think the great Holy King of Great Yi, the first among saints,Would come here in disguise, wandering the world like a commoner."
The monkey's tone was half awestruck, half incredulous.
"Aren't you afraid of dying out here?If you fall, Great Yi might collapse with you!"
After all, a fate dynasty lord was not supposed to leave his court easily.
But Yi Tianxing did just that.
What the monkey didn't know, however, was—
Yi Tianxing had only come with a Celestial Wanderer Clone (仙游分身).
Even if something happened, it wouldn't affect him or the court.
He had prepared for everything.
"If I dared to come, then I've prepared for what comes with it.If I die… well, that too is a form of experience."
Yi Tianxing smiled calmly.
Life and death—he feared neither.
The monkey chuckled.
"Heh, truly worthy of being the Saint King of Yi—such courage."
But then his eyes lit up with mischief.
"Say, Saint King… you interested in playing a big game?"
"Oh? And what kind of game is that?"
Yi Tianxing raised a brow. He had a guess but didn't show it.
"Old Tang got screwed.That damned Chaos Demon Queen offered him as a sacrifice.He's dead—no coming back from that."
"He was a Heaven's Chosen (天眷者)… and died a pitiful death."
The monkey sighed.
"But the Journey to the West doesn't have to end.It can still go on."
Yi Tianxing looked intrigued.
"What, you plan to find another Ten-Lifetime Saint (十世善人)?"
He asked flatly.
"Heh, you know only half of it," the monkey laughed."Yes, the Ten-Lifetime Saint was important…But the true core of the Journey is Heaven's Mandate (天命)."
Yi Tianxing's eyes narrowed.
"You mean a Heaven's Chosen one."
"Exactly!"
The monkey nodded.
"In the Eternal World, Heaven's Chosen are those favored by destiny.They're the only ones who can attract and fuse the shattered Ancestral Vein True Spirits (祖脉真灵).These True Spirits are drawn to their Heaven's Mandate aura, like moths to flame."
"Old Tang became the Journey's core because he was one such Heaven's Chosen.And you, Saint King…You are also Heaven's Chosen—and even more than that—the lord of a Fate Dynasty."
"Compared to Old Tang, you're leagues stronger."
"If you take his place,The Journey can continue forward."
"Everyone gets merit.You get trials and tempering.It's win-win."
Yi Tianxing smiled, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"Interesting.But surely the Journey to the West involves more than just this.You don't get merit that easily.There must be more to it."
The monkey didn't hide anything.
"Indeed. The Journey consists of 81 tribulations (九九八十一劫).Each tribulation can be walked independently."
"Complete one, and you earn one share of merit and gather part of the ancestral spirit."
"Fail… and it all amounts to nothing.No matter how far you go, you get no reward."
"Each trial gives 1/81 of the total merit.Complete them all—earn it all.One trial, one True Spirit."
"The core of each trial is made from its own calamity energy—Defeating it reveals the true spirit within,Which will then draw in the scattered fragments of the ancestral bloodline."