Yi Tianxing harbored a subtle sense of anticipation when it came to children.
He had always taken a "go with the flow" attitude about such matters. In the past, it had never posed any issue, but now that Xuanhuang City's influence had grown larger and its foundation more stable, the matter of offspring was something that could no longer be ignored. Especially with the founding of a kingdom on the horizon, having heirs would be vital for maintaining public confidence. Children, after all, are the root of a nation.
With his parents and sister no longer by his side, Yi Tianxing also desired a child—something that would give him a tangible sense of continuing his bloodline. At the same time, it would be a symbol of his love with Cai Yan.
The seed within Yi Tianxing naturally contained potent vitality. Now it was only a matter of whether it could germinate and grow within Cai Yan.
"If a little one were to appear, that wouldn't be so bad."
A faint smile appeared on Yi Tianxing's lips.
This time, he had certainly sown plenty of seeds. Given that Cai Yan had calculated that she was in her fertile period, the chances of pregnancy were quite high.
Seated in meditation inside a quiet chamber, he focused his mind.
With a single thought, the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower materialized in front of him.
The tower, now nineteen levels tall, radiated brilliant colored light, shimmering with divine energy.
From within the tower, a talisman emerged, ethereal like an immortal artifact.
This Starry Sky Wandering Talisman shimmered with the glow of stars, as if the entire vast cosmos was captured within it. Since being upgraded to a mystic-grade exotic treasure, it had become even more wondrous—the stars within now more vivid and dynamic, drawing in the observer's full attention.
"Starry Sky Wandering Talisman… I hope this journey brings different rewards. Last time, the Hongmeng Tower couldn't bring back living beings. This time, I must recruit as many talents as possible. With Xuanhuang City advancing to a Royal City and the founding of a Destiny Dynasty, we need all the talent we can get."
This journey's objective was simple: acquire talents.
"Shadow, I leave the affairs of Xuanhuang City to you for now."
Yi Tianxing spoke to the shadow beneath him.
"No worries. With me here, you can rest easy. While you're away on your wandering journey, I'll use this time to enter seclusion and deduce a new cultivation technique. I've been feeling waves of inspiration lately—it's right on the brink of coming together. Once it's complete, my cultivation will advance rapidly. By the time you return, I might have even surpassed you."
The shadow spoke confidently.
Though its cultivation wasn't high, it could directly draw on Yi Tianxing's strength to fight with nearly identical power. Guarding Xuanhuang City posed no challenge.
"Good. When I return, it will be time for Xuanhuang City to ascend to a Royal City."
Taking a deep breath, Yi Tianxing wasted no more time. With a single thought, he poured his true essence into the Starry Sky Wandering Talisman.
In a flash, the talisman hovered above his head, enveloping him in brilliant starlight. At that moment, he felt a strand of his spiritual will being pulled into the talisman.
Then—the scene changed.
"This starry sky… still so awe-inspiring, even the second time."
All of his consciousness now transferred into his wandering form.
He seemed to be floating amidst the boundless cosmos.
Then, countless stars gathered around his spiritual form, initiating a strange transformation.
A physical body began forming—head, limbs, bones, flesh—all coalescing in an instant, replicating his real appearance with perfect precision. It wasn't just visual—the cloned body possessed the same power as the original, including physical strength.
This miraculous process happened entirely due to the talisman. Yi Tianxing didn't interfere and instead experienced it as a way to better understand his own body.
Shuaa!
With the body fully formed, a Star Gate formed in front of him, composed of radiant starlight.
An irresistible force pulled him in, drawing his entire body through it in the blink of an eye.
"My second astral journey. I wonder what kind of place I'll arrive at this time. It'd be nice if I could see little Nannan again. I wonder how she's doing… if she's in danger."
As he stepped into the gate, the thought of Nannan surfaced in his mind. But he knew deep down that the odds of meeting her again were vanishingly small. The Eternal Continent was far too vast—Xuanhuang City itself only occupied a fraction of it.
Shuaa!
Light twisted and swirled.
Suddenly—he emerged from the gate.
"In mid-air again."
He immediately noticed the lack of solid footing. But the sensation of falling lasted only an instant—being a cultivator at the Life Aperture Realm, he could naturally fly by drawing power from heaven and earth.
Suspended mid-air, he surveyed his surroundings—and his face revealed a hint of surprise.
"A desert?"
All around him stretched an endless sea of golden sand. Under the blazing sun, the desert glittered so brightly it could blind an ordinary person. But for cultivators, such glare was harmless.
He could see the sand dunes rolling like waves across the land, but there was no sign of life. It looked like a barren dead zone, unfit for survival.
"Still, deserts aren't always desolate. Plenty of fierce beasts and even races have adapted to these environments."
Not wanting to linger in the sky and become a target, Yi Tianxing descended to the ground.
"Flying predators… definitely not a lifeless place."
He had just spotted a flock of massive, crimson raptors in the distance—scarlet vultures, likely apex predators of the skies.
Standing on the desert sand, he felt intense heat radiating beneath his feet. It was hot enough to cook an egg—or burn a person's feet if unprotected.
Even more concerning, the heat stirred up a surge of inner agitation. Extended exposure could make someone irritable or even violent.
Boom!!
Just as Yi Tianxing landed, a surge of danger struck his mind.
Without warning, the sand beneath him collapsed, and a massive flesh-colored worm burst out, jaws wide open, attempting to swallow him whole. Its suction force was enough to drag prey through the air.
This was a Tier-2 King-ranked beast—comparable to a Life Aperture cultivator. Its enormous maw looked capable of swallowing even a mountain.
"You're courting death!"
Startled but unfazed, Yi Tianxing floated into the air, drawing his War Sword with a flash of light.
CRACK!!
A blinding sword light cut through the air—no sword intent, just pure physical strength.
With over 300,000 jin of force behind it, the blade cleaved the worm cleanly in two.
Though the creature was sliced in half, its body kept twitching—showing its terrifying vitality.
"That meat looks rich… might make a good meal."
Yi Tianxing's eyes flashed with golden light. Such a beast, full of protein, could become a top-grade delicacy in the hands of a skilled chef.
With a wave of his hand, he stored the corpse inside the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower as food stock.
Rustle!
At that moment, strange sounds came from beyond the dunes—hurried footsteps, clearly human.
"People!"
A surge of joy rose in Yi Tianxing's heart.
Meeting people in a desert was nothing short of fortune. Perhaps he could learn the location of a settlement from them.