The daughters were simply too gifted, making things incredibly difficult for their mothers right from birth.
Yan Yan had been born with her Companion Extreme Flame, the Three Flowers Gathering Spirit Fire, which had made Cai Lian’s delivery agonizing. Now Yan Lingji was putting Zi Xunyi through the same ordeal as her sea of consciousness transformed into a purple mansion and formed the Free Immortal.
Her sea of consciousness was a violet sea, nurturing her intrinsic holy fetus within. Even without cultivation, it would naturally grow to reach the Divine Soul True Realm. With that intrinsic holy fetus guarding it, no soul cultivator below the True Realm could easily invade her mind.
Yet this immense spiritual power placed a heavy burden on Zi Xunyi, intensifying the pains of her labor.
“Zi Ji!”
Yan Zhen hurried past the Beautiful Female Master, Cai Lian, and the others by the bedside, arriving before Zi Xunyi.
Her face was pale at that moment, her delicate brows tightly furrowed in evident agony. Hearing Yan Zhen’s call, she slowly opened her eyes.
“Yan Zhen, you’re back. I’m fine—it’s not my first time, after all.”
Chen Xi chimed in to reassure him.
“Zhen’er, no need to worry. Your master is here.”
Only then did Yan Zhen calm down a bit. He nodded.
“Keep going, Zi Ji. I’ll wait outside for you and our daughter.”
Zi Xunyi narrowed her eyes and gave a slight nod.
“I can feel it—Ling’er is already eager to come into the world…”
Yan Zhen stepped out of the room and sat on a long bench in the parlor to wait.
Truth be told, though he knew Zi Ji and Ling’er would be fine, he still felt a knot of anxiety in his chest, just as he had when Yan’er was born.
Yan Yan, Long Ying, and Qing Ling gathered around him.
Yan Yan clung to one of her father’s arms, unusually subdued and not making a fuss as she patiently awaited her sister’s arrival. Long Ying kept rubbing her own belly now and then, perhaps daydreaming about when she might have one of her own to play with. As for Qing Ling, worry was written all over her face, for Zi Xunyi’s muffled cries of pain echoed intermittently from the room.
Before long, the Jialan Fairy arrived as well. Spotting the Evil Consort sitting there like some revered deity, she stepped forward at once.
“What are you doing here, Evil Consort? A child is being born—your Death Mystic Force is hardly auspicious.”
The Evil Consort replied coolly.
“What does this have to do with my Death Mystic Force? Besides, I can reverse death to life and refine Life Mysterious Power!”
The Jialan Fairy pondered for a moment.
“You do have a point. In that case, come with me into the delivery room to help.”
?
The Evil Consort was reluctant, but after the Jialan Fairy tugged at her, she half-heartedly followed along.
Zi Xunyi’s labor dragged on far longer than usual—fully nine hours passed before the commotion finally died down.
The door opened, and Chen Xi’s voice rang out.
“You can come in now, Zhen’er.”
Yan Zhen rose immediately and reentered the room. He approached the bed and saw Zi Xunyi propped up against the headboard, cradling the bundled infant in her arms. Her pale face retained its beauty, now radiant with a Mystic maternal glow.
The baby girl was pristine and lovely, with large, bright eyes whose pupils shone a pure violet, just like her mother’s. Even her fetal down matched, and a delicate purple crystal was embedded at her brow—a seal and a safeguard in one.
The infant didn’t wail as newborns typically did. Instead, she blinked her big eyes and called out to Yan Zhen.
“Fa… Father Emperor~”
She even waved her tiny hands, as if asking for a hug.
Yan Zhen couldn’t help but smile at the sight. He took his little daughter from Zi Xunyi’s arms and held her close.
“Ling’er, be good. You just came into the world—don’t strain yourself to speak. Spiritual communication will do. If anything feels off, just let us know.”
Yan Lingji gave a soft hum, her voice transmitting through spiritual fluctuations.
“Ling’er can manage on her own. Father Emperor, please tend to Mother first. She exhausted herself greatly to bring me into the world.”
Everyone couldn’t help thinking how sensible the girl was. Zi Xunyi beamed with pride. Yan Zhen handed his little daughter to the Beautiful Female Master, then sent the others off to rest while he stayed to care for Zi Xunyi.
He helped her change out of her clothes, prepared a medicinal bath, massaged her, and finally carried her back to his own room, where he stayed until she drifted off to sleep in his arms.
Zi Xunyi nearly melted under her husband’s loving attentions. After stealing a deep kiss, she nestled against him and fell into a deep slumber.
Yan Zhen soon followed her into dreams.
Once more, he dreamed of that field of lavender centered around a towering tree.
In the tree’s shade hung a swing, where the Zi Xunyi of his previous life sat side by side with the current one. Under his gaze, the two slowly merged.
“…”
Yan Zhen walked over and stood behind Zi Xunyi, gently pushing her on the swing.
The next day, husband and wife awoke one after the other. After a good morning kiss, they washed up, changed into casual clothes, and headed to the Glazed Grotto-Heaven.
No sooner had they landed than two little lolis—one red, one purple—zipped past them, seemingly locked in a game of tag.
The only ones who played so boisterously were usually Yan Yan and Long Ying. But Long Ying had pink hair and was right there beside Cai Lian, munching on a cookie. That left the purple one… Yan Lingji.
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched slightly. Why had his daughter, born just yesterday, grown into a little girl overnight?
The couple lightly leaped onto the aerial platform. Yan Zhen asked in bewilderment.
“Master, what’s going on? How did Ling’er grow so much in one night?”
Cai Lian answered instead.
“Yan’er’s handiwork.”
What???
Yan Zhen and Zi Xunyi exchanged blank looks. Before Cai Lian could explain, Yan Yan’s lively voice rang out.
“Father Emperor~~~”
Whoosh!
The two lolis in their little dresses halted before Yan Zhen. Yan Yan held her sister’s tiny hand, beaming with excitement.
“Father Emperor, Aunt Zi, quick—look! I turned Ling’er into a big girl!”
This…
“Yan’er, you didn’t use the power of the Human Flower Flame, did you?”
“That’s right!” Yan Yan puffed up with pride. “Babies are such a hassle. To keep from troubling Father Emperor and Aunt Zi, I stepped up as Ling’er’s big sister when it was needed!”
Yan Zhen was speechless. He turned his gaze to his younger daughter, scrutinizing her small frame.
Yan Lingji hurriedly explained.
“It… it was Ling’er who asked Big Sis Yan’er to do it.”
Yan Zhen patted her little head, asking with concern.
“Does anything hurt, Ling’er?”
Yan Lingji shook her head. Yan Yan pouted a bit.
“I was super careful—I wouldn’t hurt Ling’er!”
Zi Xunyi knelt down as well, ruffling both girls’ hair.
“Your hearts were in the right place, but you can’t act on your own like that. No doing it again without asking, understand?”
Yan Lingji shrank into a timid ball.
“I’m sorry, Mother. Ling’er was wrong.”
Yan Yan started to protest, but then caught her own mother’s terrifying glare. Her face stiffened.
“I… I know I was wrong too! Father Emperor, Aunt Zi, don’t be mad.”
“We’re not angry—as long as you know better now.” Yan Zhen smiled. “Just remember: talk to us first about any ideas from here on out, got it, you two?”
The sisters chimed in unison.
““Got it, Father Emperor!””
“Good girls.”
Yan Zhen crouched down, arms outstretched, and scooped up one daughter in each.
“Come on—Father Emperor will take you out to play.”
“Yay!”
“Thank you, Father Emperor~”
