"Zhao Ji, you... you're really pregnant."
Yi Tianxing's face showed a rare expression of excitement. As he asked, he instinctively sensed the budding presence of a new life growing inside Cai Yan. This life resonated with his own bloodline, creating a clear and deep connection. The bond of blood between them grew more tangible with each passing moment.
The vitality of this unborn life was strengthening rapidly.
It was his child.
Yi Tianxing was certain of it at once, and a wave of indescribable emotion surged through his mind. It was a feeling hard to put into words.
He had been an orphan from a young age. Because of his innate Yin-Yang Eyes, his birth parents were terrified of him—he would say things like a child was crouching by the window, or a woman in red was hanging from the ceiling. Eventually, they could no longer bear it and abandoned him to an orphanage. That warmth and affection from parents had been absent from his life until he met his adoptive family.
Though his foster parents treated him kindly, their work left little time to truly bond. He grew up alongside Zhao Ziyan, relying on each other, forming a bond stronger than most siblings.
And now, he would have a child of his own—his flesh and blood. In this moment, his emotions were a mix of awe, joy, and solemnity.
It felt like he had finally grown roots. Like he now had a future.
A child is the continuation of a parent's life. Even if one were to fall one day, the child stood as a testament to their existence—continuing to live in this world, witnessing an even brighter future.
For Yi Tianxing, this child's coming gave him a stronger sense of presence in the world—a sense of responsibility. His orphaned past made him all the more determined not to let his own child experience such pain.
"I must keep growing stronger, and elevate the Great Yi Dynasty further. Though this chaotic world may not be pacified in my lifetime, within the territory I govern, I shall reign supreme. The Human Race will not become food, but predators. For my people, my soldiers, and... my child."
This thought flashed through Yi Tianxing's heart—once born, it was instantly etched into his soul.
"It's true. Yan'er already saw a physician and confirmed it herself. As a cultivator, she's also very attuned to the changes in her body. She's definitely pregnant," Cai Yong said with a smile. He had known about it.
Back when Yi Tianxing was in seclusion, Cai Yan had confirmed it with him. After another thorough check, it was certain—she had already been pregnant for three months. It coincided exactly with the time Yi Tianxing had left for his astral journey.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Highness! For the Queen to be with child on the very day the Great Yi Dynasty is formally founded—this is an auspicious omen! A double blessing worthy of national celebration!"
Huang Chengyan's face was full of joy as he bowed respectfully.
In the dynasties of old, a royal heir was a matter of great national importance—it tied directly to the fate of the dynasty. Without a successor, the throne would always feel unstable. Especially for a founding emperor, the absence of an heir could lead to chaos.
Though the Great Yi was a cultivation dynasty—a fortune dynasty (运朝) built on the power of cultivators, who possessed vast lifespans—this news still brought peace of mind.
Having stepped into the Life Map Realm (命图境), Yi Tianxing could see that his Life Wheel (命轮) had grown again in his Sea of Consciousness. Now glowing a deep crimson like flawless blood-jade, it could contain even more Lifelines (命痕).
In the Divine Sea Realm, one could inscribe 300 lifelines.
In the Life Aperture Realm, 600 years.
In the Life Map Realm, a full 1,200 years of lifespan could be inscribed.
That meant, barring unexpected accidents, Yi Tianxing could easily live for over 1,200 years. And if he acquired life-extending spiritual herbs, that number could increase.
A dynasty lasting over a thousand years—this was practically immortality.
As long as Yi Tianxing lived, the fortune dynasty (运朝) of Great Yi could not be shaken. Though heirs were no longer a core necessity, their presence still brought reassurance to the hearts of the people and officials.
The presence of a royal child solidified the fate of the dynasty (国祚), unifying hearts and minds.
"You should have told me earlier, Zhao Ji. If I'd known, I wouldn't have let you go to the battlefield or to the Iron-Blood Great Wall. If something had happened... I would never forgive myself."
Yi Tianxing gently took Cai Yan's soft hand, his gaze tender as he looked toward her abdomen. The realization that he was about to become a father still felt surreal.
"Facing a crisis in Xuanhuang City, how could I sit idly by? Besides, I didn't fight—I avoided disturbing the fetus," Cai Yan said with a smile. She had been very careful not to use her powers in this battle, precisely to avoid upsetting the child within her. If not, she would have wielded the Celestial Phoenix Zither (仙凰琴) to join the fight.
"Her Highness is pregnant—she must now rest," Jia Xu advised with a grin.
"Right. I gathered everyone because there's something important to inform you," Yi Tianxing said as he sat back down with Cai Yan.
"Please speak, Your Majesty."
The ministers bowed respectfully.
"The Star Network (星网) has evolved. It now possesses new capabilities. I intend to open the Star Network to the entire population of Great Yi. Its introduction will bring a sweeping transformation to our entire civilization."
Yi Tianxing didn't hesitate. These were loyal core officials—part of Great Yi's foundation. Their fates were intertwined.
They already knew a bit about the Star Network. The Household Registry Pavilion (天籍殿) used strange methods to register information, and the Household Registration Cards (天籍卡) could display data like a crystal mirror. They had guessed that some extraordinary treasure lay behind it—but no one had dared ask.
Now, hearing it directly from Yi Tianxing's mouth, they were still stunned. If not for their knowledge gleaned from the Scripture Repository, which contained ancient records of modern civilizations, the shock would have been even greater.
Modern civilization had been utterly destroyed by the Great Cataclysm. Laws collapsed, society shattered. The existing order was annihilated.
But the Star Network—this was a continuation of modern civilization's essence.
"So that's how it is! The data from the Household Cards is aggregated in the Star Network. With its data processing power, it can easily manage and update all population records."
"Incredible. Simply incredible. But the idea of a virtual space shouldn't be rushed. Releasing such power all at once could lead not to progress—but chaos. I recommend delaying the virtual space and instead beginning with refining a communicator device (通讯器). It would function like a message talisman, allowing people to accept it more easily. Once that's in place, the other features can be gradually introduced," Jia Xu suggested.
Too much progress too quickly can be dangerous.
Yi Tianxing nodded in agreement. "Yes. We'll delay the virtual space for a year or two. Once everyone's familiar with the communicator, we'll introduce the rest. Master Lu, we'll need your help to craft the communicator."
Master Lu was Great Yi's leading expert in crafting artifacts. He had studied countless texts on runes and artifact refining, and had developed a unique style—never following only the ancients, always innovating.
The moment he heard about the communicator, his eyes lit up.
"What functions should this communicator have?" he asked excitedly.
"First and foremost—real-time voice communication. It must use a personal imprint or ID for connection. Second—it must allow scanning and information retrieval. For example, when in the wilderness, a person should be able to scan a plant or beast and get instant feedback from the Star Network—its name, strength, characteristics, weaknesses, and more.
If possible, video call functionality would make it perfect," Yi Tianxing explained calmly.
"That's… quite ambitious. But if achieved, it would become an indispensable artifact for every citizen of Great Yi," Master Lu muttered, his expression serious as he began calculations in his mind.
A tool like this could save lives in the wilderness, guide discovery, and revolutionize the world.