Previously on Starting From A Son In Law To Build An Long Lasting Family...
Lu Changsheng consumed the rare Three-Colored Flower to awaken his dormant power, but found it only awakened less than one percent. Yun Wanshang speculated that his immense physique and mana were the cause, making the flower’s effect insufficient. She suggested they explore forbidden zones for more spiritual artifacts to help him recover his power.
Recalling the first fairy, Lu Miaoge, whom he encountered upon entering the Cultivation World, or the present Yun Wanshang, Lu Changsheng mused. Since they were currently in this place, it seemed appropriate to make the best of their situation. Aware that a departure from the Land of Eternal Night wasn't imminent, Lu Changsheng found his mind drifting to certain possibilities. He considered the notion of using this time to deepen his connection with Caiyun True Immortal. In the past, the complex relationships involving Yun Wanshang, Xiao Xiyue, and Chu Qingyi had often been a source of vexation for him, particularly the dynamics between Chu Qingyi and Yun Wanshang. He reasoned that if he could successfully win over Caiyun True Immortal, Xiao Xiyue, with her temperament, might not be overly resistant, especially if he could manage her feelings skillfully. However, Chu Qingyi's character seemed unlikely to accept a situation where her master and her lover were romantically involved with the same man. The same could be said for Yun Wanshang, who might also struggle with the idea of her disciple and herself sharing a husband. Yet, abandoning Yun Wanshang was entirely out of the question for him. Despite Lu Ancestor’s typically gentle and accommodating demeanor, a deep-seated possessiveness and male chauvinism lay beneath the surface. His recent intense focus on escaping the Land of Eternal Night had left him with little inclination for romantic entanglements. "What if..." A sudden idea sparked in Lu Changsheng’s mind. What if he could return with a child, a symbol of his union with Yun Wanshang? After all, since he and Chu Qingyi already had a child, how could Yun Wanshang possibly object to their union upon their return? Furthermore, she had previously pledged to preside over his wedding with Xiao Xiyue but had departed before fulfilling her promise. With Chu Qingyi now involved, his current contemplation didn't seem excessive, did it? And with a child making them a family, even if she initially resisted upon their return, what strong objections could she possibly raise? Given Chu Qingyi’s naturally compliant disposition, witnessing both her lover and her master bearing children would likely lead her to accept the situation with quiet resignation, wouldn't it? "Sigh, Lu Changsheng, oh Lu Changsheng, how utterly shameless you are to leverage the affections of women and children as a means to an end!" This very thought caused Lu Changsheng to inwardly condemn himself. "Display the image of the Spiritual Pet for me." Noticing Lu Changsheng’s sudden, distant gaze, Yun Wanshang composed herself and made the request. For the past month, a polite yet unresolved tension had characterized their interactions, their relationship remaining in a state of ambiguity. Now that this troublesome fellow realized he couldn't leave the Land of Eternal Night anytime soon, perhaps he harbored certain intentions? After all, he had boldly declared in her presence back then, "I will ascend Qingyun Peak and capture Caiyun within my embrace." Unless he had fundamentally changed, she found it difficult to believe that the Lu Changsheng before her harbored no such ambitions. Recalling his ambitious proclamation, Yun Wanshang had to concede at this moment that his words were not mere empty boasts. Considering his remarkable progress over the last century, she was convinced that upon his departure from the Land of Eternal Night, it would not take many years for Lu Changsheng to reach the Nascent Soul Realm. "Very well." Suppressing the internal turmoil, Lu Changsheng channeled the meager mana he had recently regained to perform the Water Mirror Technique, clearly projecting the image of the Golden-Winged Heavenly Peng. "You should prioritize your rest. If you find the time, you might explore the Heavenly Light Power; it could prove beneficial to you." Yun Wanshang rose, her resplendent palace attire flowing gracefully as she made her elegant exit. "Sigh." Watching Yun Wanshang depart, Lu Changsheng felt a sense of unease at the prospect of years, perhaps even over a decade, passing before his mana fully recovered and he could leave this territory. By the time of his return, the child of Chu Qingyi and Yina might have already grown, perhaps not even recognizing him as their father. Although he had numerous offspring at home, making it challenging to attend to each one personally, he understood the critical importance of a father's presence during a child's formative years. "System." After a prolonged silence, Lu Changsheng quietly summoned the system in his heart and accessed the family interface, intending to view the appearances of his two known children. However, at that precise moment, he froze, discovering to his astonishment that he had another unborn child. What in the world? He had traversed the Starry Sea for all these years; when could he possibly have fathered another child? Earlier, when Chu Qingyi had unexpectedly given birth, he had already been bewildered – how could there be yet another one now? Could it be Shen Baishuang? Shen Yiren? Or perhaps... the Six Paths Demon Consort!? Lu Changsheng's heart suddenly constricted as he vividly recalled the three women with whom he had recently been intimate. Under the influence of Fairy Tears back then, he and the three women had completely let go, making it highly probable that all three might have conceived... However, in the case of wives and concubines without formal marriage, Lu Changsheng would only ascertain the mother's identity once the child was born.
Lu Changsheng found himself uncertain of the mother's identity for the unborn child.
"It must be Yiren, right?" he mused silently.
Considering that the Second Palace Master, Shen Baishuang, possessed a fiery and unyielding disposition, and was already wedded, it seemed probable that she would have opted for an immediate termination upon sensing fetal movement, given her nature.
However, taking into account that this Second Palace Master had been married for a century and remained a virgin, Lu Changsheng entertained the possibility that she might desire a child.
"Could it be that True Monarch Yuanwei is incapable, thus she remained untouched, and now she intends to 'borrow' my seed?"
Although for a Nascent Soul True Lord, transmigration and reincarnation were generally straightforward, effectively ruling out any inherent inability.
Yet, within the vast landscape of Cultivation techniques, the existence of a peculiar Secret Technique that could precipitate such a condition was not entirely out of the question, was it?
For instance, the cultivator Ayoudo, due to practicing a flawed Secret Technique, perpetually appeared as a youthful maiden and was consequently unable to conceive.
Beyond mere 'inability,' Lu Changsheng struggled to fathom how a man, presented with a wife as alluring and desirable as Shen Baishuang, could resist temptation and refrain from action.
Engaging in such contemplation, Lu Changsheng also entertained the notion that the Six Paths Demon Consort might be with child as well.
Firstly, the Six Paths Demon Consort was the one with whom he had invested the most effort;
Secondly, it appeared she had entered the Land of Eternal Night concurrently with him;
Upon entering this domain, a cultivator's Divine Skills and Mana would become dormant. Consequently, even if pregnancy were detected, terminating the fetus would not be as simple as in normal circumstances.
"Sigh..."
Should the child prove to be Shen Yiren’s, Lu Changsheng felt he had a clear path forward—he would seek her hand in marriage at the Goddess Palace in the future.
Conversely, if the child belonged to Shen Baishuang, or if the Six Paths Demon Consort was indeed pregnant, Lu Changsheng felt utterly at a loss regarding how to proceed.
This was particularly true concerning the Six Paths Demon Consort.
Not only was she a married woman, but she was also the wife of the foremost Demon Cultivator in the Starry Sky Sea, a formidable figure known for refining malevolent Magical Treasures like the White Bone Demon Palace.
...
The quandaries surrounding the Land of Eternal Night and the potential offspring had thoroughly muddled Lu Changsheng’s thoughts.
He drew a deep breath, forcefully dispelling the distracting thoughts that plagued him, and resolved to let fate dictate the outcome.
"System, initiate lottery draw."
Recalling a previous instance where he had won a prize during a lottery when his family reached ten thousand descendants, Lu Changsheng silently voiced his intention.
"Grant me something beneficial..."
Lu Changsheng offered an internal prayer, hoping the system would bestow an item that could aid in the recovery of his mana, perhaps an Elixir or a relevant Spiritual Treasure.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving: Infant Transformation Elixir!]
[The reward has been dispatched to the System Space, accessible to the host at any time.]
An image of a pill materialized from the grand roulette, accompanied by the resonant chime of a system notification.
