Ming Dynasty and New Rome and Infinite Magic Machine

Chapter 1632 The Son of Heaven
"Yes, I'm trying to figure out what to do about Yang Jing. Shang Luo, if possible, I'd also like to ask for your help."

"So, is it serious?"

"I just went to a meeting to discuss this matter," Zhu Xianxi said in a low voice. "I was going to tell you tonight—Yang Jing's situation is not optimistic, which is consistent with our previous predictions."

"what's the situation?"

“Hmm,” Zhu Xianxi said, rubbing his forehead. “Although we haven’t been able to see any newborns in the hospital yet, we have actually found from the statistics that there haven’t been any newborns in the region since last month.”

"Huh? Why?"

"We don't know. But we speculate that the overall spiritual energy level of the environment may have increased, making it impossible for newborns who 'cannot reach this level' to be born."

"In other words, those who don't reach the level of a celestial being cannot be born. But my grandson might be born a celestial being." Emperor Taihe took a sip of tea. "I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

The good thing is that this crown prince, who is still in the womb, will not need to cultivate after he is born; he can directly obtain an immortal body that grants him eternal life.

The bad news is that it's still uncertain whether he can be born.

“Why am I actually starting to feel fortunate now?” Zhu Xianxi pressed his forehead. “Actually, I was very worried before that the population growth rate of the Celestials would continue to surge like that of mortals, which would cause our ecosystem to collapse. Goodness, it seems that the Heavenly Dao has automatically adjusted and balanced us. With such a low birth rate, coupled with the occasional Five Signs of Decay of the Celestials, the overall population doesn’t seem to change much. Even over a long period of time, we don’t need to worry about the population explosion problem. Even…”

Even considering the possibility of the Celestials dying in battle, population became a problem. This was because the child Zhu Xianxi and his wife were currently carrying was indeed the only newborn fetus they knew of in the entire country within the past month.

"Take care of your own affairs first before thinking about others," Emperor Taihe said in a deep voice.

"Isn't it our own business that the Dao Ancestor will take care of it? Father, you came all this way just for this, right?"

Emperor Taihe was silent for a moment. "You really are getting more and more shrewd. Alright then."

He handed a wooden box that had been placed on the table to Zhu Xianxi: "This is the [Primordial Unity Pill] prepared by the Dao Ancestor. Take it and give it to Yang Jing."

"Will this ensure a safe delivery for the child?"

"No." Emperor Taihe shook his head. "If it could give birth to a celestial being, wouldn't that be a Foundation Establishment Pill? There is no such thing. This [Primordial Chaos Preservation Pill] can delay the problem—if it cannot ensure the safety of both mother and child, then it can maintain the fetal breathing state and continue to lie dormant. In this regard, it will probably extend the gestation period to three years."

"Three years?! That's like Nezha's story?!"

"You're happy that you can produce a Nezha every three years? Normally, it takes three years to cultivate immortality? How many years did you cultivate to become a celestial being?"

"That's true."

It is said that the process of pregnancy is a high-speed replay of humanity's evolutionary history. Of course, it's not a complete replay; for example, things like fish gills don't actually repeat themselves. It's just that human genes are activated in sequence, thus exhibiting the appearance of a replay of evolution. And if humans are to evolve from mortals to celestial beings, this extra portion should also be replenished during pregnancy. The ascension to celestial status is inherently uncontrollable, and this 'replenishment' process is also somewhat uncontrollable. Extending this process to three years is indeed a conservative yet effective solution.

"I think it's because, under these circumstances, the fetus that is able to be born already has its own destiny."

Shang Luo remembered providing Zheng Shijie with something similar before—a special Foundation Establishment Pill. Although called a Foundation Establishment Pill, it didn't actually allow Zheng Shijie to directly establish his foundation. Instead, its effect was to give Zheng Shijie the opportunity to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. After that opportunity, he would need to complete the rest of his cultivation himself.

This is somewhat similar to Han Xingzhi's situation.

To become a celestial being, one needs 99% effort and 1% chance. Both are crucial. The offspring of celestial beings are a prime example – without that 1% chance, they simply won't be born. The embryonic development process, on the other hand, requires the family to dedicate 99% of their effort.

Zhu Xianxi pressed his forehead: "Now I know our family is guaranteed, but what about the other families? I have one, but what about the others who will have newborns?"

"This is for you to handle," Emperor Taihe replied. "You are the current emperor. Heaven has entrusted the entire land to you; you are the emperor, the sovereign and father of all people. Your own affairs are for your sovereign and father to take care of. The affairs of all people under heaven are for you to take care of. So, what do you intend to do?"

"First and foremost, we must protect everyone."

"Protect them? How?" Emperor Taihe looked at him. "You're going to bring everyone to the capital? What's the difference between that and locking up pregnant women?"

"Then let's protect one of them!"

"You're going to lock their whole family up, aren't you?!"

"I'm sorry, Father, I was too anxious. I just became a father myself. Maybe it's because of hormones or something, but I'm just too anxious, Father! What should I do now?"

"First, first, first," Emperor Taihe slammed his fist on the table, "guarantee the right to know. Forget about secrecy. As soon as a fetus begins to develop, tell the entire family everything. Then let them make their own choice: come directly to the capital for centralized care, come to the capital with the whole family, or take medication to prevent miscarriage and stay home. It's all up to the parents. Because the parents are the child's primary guardians, and no one can replace them. I call you 'the sovereign father of all people,' do you really think of yourself as everyone's father? Others can call you that, but you can't respond like that. Understand?"

"I understand. I get it."

"Alright, that's enough for now. I've done what I needed to do, time to head back to the mountain."

"Father, let me see you off!"

"No need, no need," he waved his hand. "You still have things to do. Shangluo, you can see me off."

Supporting Emperor Taihe's hand, Shangluo escorted him downstairs. The area downstairs was already filled with Imperial Guards, who all stood at attention and saluted upon seeing Emperor Taihe.

"To die for Heaven!"

"You've worked hard. Take them all back; there's no need to welcome me here. Shangluo will take them."

Walking through the crowd, Shangluo led him to his beloved pounding cart—it seemed he had arrived in the same cart.

"Hey Shangluo, now it's just the two of us, right?"

"Huh? Is there something I need to do?"

“Our business isn’t over yet—there’s still the matter with Victoria. She’s at your house now, isn’t she?”

"Oh, here I am."

"Come on, let's go to your house."

(End of this chapter)