"So, we don't need to worry about our brains becoming unable to hold all those memories over time and causing us to go berserk. We just need to let the memories exist in an object or at a certain point in time to avoid that."
Ayinai nodded. Existence was just that unreasonable; otherwise, how could it stand opposed to the equally unreasonable Nihility?
Qingzhu and Xiahou Chan listened in a daze. They were military officers, not skilled with words. Although they knew a little about literary matters, they were still far inferior to Qingxin, a civil official.
"Looking at it this way, although Abundance's blessing still has flaws, at least we don't have to worry about the lifespans of our companions on the other Xianzhou."
Qingzhu nodded. Xiahou Chan walked over to the sofa and sat down, crossing his legs with a look of contentment.
"Some leisure amid all the work. It wasn't easy to get a break, so wouldn't it be a shame not to rest?"
He had been run ragged these past few years. He had personally handled everything from forming the new army to training its recruits. Now that he had finally found time to rest, of course he had to make the most of it.
Watching him relax, Ayinai seemed to remember something. "Oh, right, there's one more thing. I slowed down this planet's time of existence a little. In other words, time flows differently here than it does outside. By my reckoning, a thousand years should have passed outside."
"Ah?! Why didn't you tell us sooner?!"
All three shouted in shock. Ayinai plugged her ears with two fingers, looking innocent. "You didn't ask."
The three were struck speechless. It suddenly occurred to them that their Aeon being too human wasn't always a good thing. At least Aeons with divinity were very cautious in what they did.
Ayinai's divinity was lesser than her humanity. As the Aeon of Existence, if she were restricted by the Path of Existence, could she still be called its master? Besides, the existence of humanity was also part of the Path.
Ayinai and Xiahou Chan exchanged a glance. Then Qingzhu cupped her hands toward Ayinai and said, "Lord Arbiter of Life, we hope the Xianzhou Daiyu can set sail again."
Ayinai looked at the two serious people before her. Construction on the Daiyu was now fully complete, and it had a population of one million. That seemed like a lot, but for a Xianzhou the size of a planet, it was still far too few. Moreover, there had been no recent news of anyone aboard the Xianzhou having children.
Ayinai rested her chin on her hand. She needed to think this over. Given the Xianzhou Daiyu's current population, the lack of births was giving her a headache. On that point alone, Ayinai did not want to let them set sail.
Qingzhu and Xiahou Chan stood quietly. As long as Ayinai agreed, they could immediately have the Xianzhou resume sailing through the sea of stars.
Just then, the Alchemy Commission's Cauldron Master rushed in without even announcing himself. Two Manifest Existence soldiers followed behind him.
Qingzhu frowned. "Cauldron Master Yao Gao, this is the Palace of Existence, the heart of the Sky-Faring Commission. Lord Arbiter of Life is here as well. What is the meaning of rushing in like this?"
Yao Gao knelt on the floor, unable to conceal his excitement. "I-I'm sorry, Helmsman, General, Lord Arbiter of Life, but this is a matter of great importance. That is why I rushed here to report it!"
Qingzhu and Xiahou Chan exchanged a glance, both looking thoroughly puzzled. Yao Gao was also a longtime member of the Xianzhou Daiyu. He had been the Alchemy Commission's Cauldron Master since before the Xianzhou's great transformation, and his virtue and prestige had earned him considerable respect among the people.
Yet now something had actually stirred such excitement in this old man, who had weathered countless storms and remained calm in the face of trouble. It seemed this was no small matter.
"Let's hear it. What's so important?"
Xiahou Chan spoke with his arms folded. The Xianzhou Daiyu was jointly governed by the Helmsman and the General, with the General handling external affairs and the Helmsman handling internal affairs. Yao Gao took a deep breath to calm himself and said, "Helmsman, General, Lord Arbiter of Life, the Alchemy Commission received a special patient this morning.
"She had no appetite, and seeing or smelling food made her feel unwell and nauseated. According to her husband, she also retched from time to time. But because she had a constitution that had received the blessing, her husband was worried and brought her to the Alchemy Commission for treatment. I examined her, and I would stake my head on it: that patient is pregnant!"
The words "the patient is pregnant" struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone present frozen in place, except Ayinai.
Qingzhu and Xiahou Chan vanished from where they stood and raced straight for the Alchemy Commission. Seeing this, Ayinai also disappeared, following the two from a distance.
Not long after the three left, earthshaking cheers erupted throughout the Palace of Existence. This was a new life conceived after the Xianzhou Daiyu received the Blessing of Existence! Though the baby was still in the womb, it was proof of new life!
Alchemy Commission
"Honey, am I... really pregnant?"
The woman sat on the hospital bed, one hand resting on her lower abdomen and the other holding her husband's hand, asking as if to confirm it once more.
The man nodded and ruffled his wife's hair. "Of course. Don't you know how respected Cauldron Master Yao Gao is? If he says you're pregnant, then you definitely are. This is the first little life conceived since our Xianzhou received the Blessing of Existence."
After speaking, the man bent down and pressed his ear against the woman's lower abdomen, seemingly hoping to hear the baby moving inside.
The woman gave him a playful smack on the head. "What are you doing? It hasn't been that long. There isn't even a baby yet."
The man grinned sheepishly. "I'm just happy."
Just then, the door was pushed open. So much force had been used that it became embedded in the wall, and it didn't look like it could be pulled out.
The couple stared blankly at the doorway. The ones who had pushed the door open were Qingzhu and Xiahou Chan, their hair somewhat disheveled from rushing over.
Upon seeing Qingzhu and Xiahou Chan at the door, the man immediately stood and saluted them. "Helmsman! General! Manifest Existence Army soldier Muyun reporting for duty!"
Hearing this, Xiahou Chan looked at him. "Muyun, I remember you. You came first in the recruits' competition five years ago. You're a good lad. Why are you still just a soldier?"
Muyun gave an embarrassed laugh and scratched his head. "I don't think first place in a recruits' competition is what I need. I want a military rank I've fought for on the battlefield!"
Hearing this, Qingzhu looked at him approvingly. "A good way of thinking. It seems General Youding's training has been quite effective."
Muyun laughed awkwardly and scratched his head, then stepped aside. "Helmsman, General, you're here to see Xian'er, right?"
Muyun knew perfectly well why two of the Xianzhou's high-ranking officials had appeared here. He was just a lowly soldier, not important enough for that.
Yu Xian'er sat up straight on the hospital bed and leaned against the wall. Qingzhu instinctively moved to help her, then met Yu Xian'er's eyes and gave an awkward smile. She was being a little oversensitive.
"Apprentice forgemaster of the Artisanship Commission pays her respects to the Helmsman and the General."
"Mm. How are you feeling? Is there anything wrong?"
Qingzhu asked considerately. This was the Xianzhou's great treasure; she absolutely could not be negligent.
"I'm doing quite well, Lady Helmsman. I just keep wanting to move around after sitting for too long, but Muyun won't let me."
She shot Muyun a reproachful glance, though there was no reproach to be seen in it, only waves of sweetness.
Qingzhu could naturally tell. She smiled and said, "Muyun isn't wrong either. After all, this is the first little life since the Xianzhou was rebuilt. We can't afford to be careless."
Yu Xian'er nodded. Of course she knew how important the child in her womb was to the Xianzhou. It was powerful proof that the people of the Daiyu had not lost the ability to reproduce.
Xiahou Chan naturally understood the importance of this as well. He looked at Muyun and said, "From now on, your assignment is not to go more than fifty meters away from your wife. If Yu Xian'er suffers the slightest injury, I'll hold you responsible!"
"Understood!"
Muyun gave a Manifest Existence Army salute on the spot. Yu Xian'er looked at him with a grin. "See that? I have people backing me up, so you can't bully me anymore."
Muyun smiled indulgently and shook his head. "What nonsense are you talking about? When have I ever bullied you?"
"How haven't you? Last time, you made me cry and still wouldn't stop. You made me hurt so much... mmph."
Muyun covered Yu Xian'er's mouth. This silly girl, why does she tell everyone everything? Is that something she can talk about in public?!
Qingzhu and Xiahou Chan naturally knew what Yu Xian'er was talking about, but this was the time for them to play deaf and dumb. It was just flirting between a young married couple. They couldn't very well stop them from flirting, could they?
"Mm, what was said is true. She is indeed pregnant. I can sense the existence of life."
Ayinai appeared in the doorway, her eyes fixed on Yu Xian'er's lower abdomen as she spoke.
Seeing Ayinai, Yu Xian'er hurriedly tried to get out of bed and pay her respects. How could she pay her respects to Lord Arbiter of Life while sitting on the bed? That would be a grave disrespect to her!
She had just tried to get out of bed when she felt the power of the Path envelop her and ease her back against the wall.
"There's no need for ceremony. You're a person under the Xianzhou's special protection now, so rest easy. As for this baby, give this to her when she grows up."
Ayinai took out a seed. Yu Xian'er reached out and caught it as it floated over, looking somewhat puzzled.
Ayinai said calmly, "This is the first seed produced by the first Higgs Purifying Tree I planted. It contains part of my initial understanding of Existence. Once she gains the seed's recognition..."
Ayinai stopped speaking, but everyone present understood: once the baby in the womb grew up and gained the seed's recognition, Ayinai would grant her the position of Emanator.