Under such circumstances, none of the women would risk damaging their children's foundational essence just to hasten the birth process. That could affect the child's future cultivation potential—something none of them were willing to gamble with. If the future was jeopardized, then rushing the birth would be meaningless.
So, during this time, the Holy King's Palace remained peaceful. None of these women were short-sighted; each had their own thoughts and plans. Meanwhile, they diligently consumed all kinds of heavenly treasures that nourished life essence and supported fetal development. Spirit fruits were eaten daily to replenish the unborn children's origin essence and accelerate their growth.
Once all the pregnant consorts gave birth, the number of children around Yi Tianxing would likely multiply several times over.
It's worth noting that from the last batch of over a hundred maidens accepted into the palace, more than half were already pregnant. Even those who weren't before had now conceived. Unless something unexpected happened, Yi Tianxing would soon have over a hundred children, marking a massive expansion of the Yi bloodline. And this was only the beginning.
"As long as they're not idle and wasteful, there will always be a place for them in Great Yi."
Yi Tianxing calmed his drifting thoughts. In the end, they were all his children—he would treat them equally. Great Yi had no shortage of platforms where they could shine.
"Holy King, the investigation of the surrounding realms has produced results."
At that moment, Tong Huang stepped forward and spoke.
The Hall of Calamities hadn't been idle in this time. Elite scouts had been sent out in waves to infiltrate the surrounding realms and gather intelligence. Every day, vast amounts of information were compiled and processed within the Hall of Calamities, with useless data discarded.
Only now had they gained a relatively clear picture of the surrounding realm situation.
And only now did they dare report it.
"Mm. Let's hear it. What's the situation in the nearby realms?"
Yi Tianxing nodded, showing a hint of curiosity.
The other ministers in the hall also perked up. Expansion was an inevitable part of Great Yi's destiny—this was beyond question. Thus, the thirst for information about neighboring realms had always been a relentless pursuit.
All eyes turned to Tong Huang.
Though most only glanced at her briefly. After all, Tong Huang was not only an imperial official but also a Holy Consort of the Holy King's Palace. It was best not to gaze too directly, to avoid any chance of offense.
"There are twelve realms surrounding our current territory."
Tong Huang took a deep breath and continued,
"According to our intel, the twelve realms are: the Undead Realm, Battle Qi Realm, Gourmet Realm, Totem Realm, Volcanic Realm, Witch Realm, Blood Spirit Realm, Knight Realm, Godspawn Realm, Heavenly Fiend Realm, Kunxu Realm, and Grotesque Realm. A total of twelve realms."
Some of these names were native to the realms; others had been renamed by Great Yi's agents. Gathering this information came at a steep price—many scouts from the Hall of Calamities perished in the process. Their sacrifice had finally yielded this priceless intelligence.
"Twelve realms, huh… Tell me more about each one."
Yi Tianxing nodded. He was unconcerned about the casualties; such matters were handled by relevant officials, with comprehensive systems for compensation and support in place. Those who sacrificed for Great Yi would not be forgotten—whether in honor or future protection for their families.
"According to the intel, the Undead Realm is a true land of the undead. Unlike the previous Death Sea Realm, where undead were scattered and slumbering without central leadership, this realm has already been unified under one power—a Lich Emperor named Ner'zhul."
Tong Huang's tone grew serious.
"Under his rule, countless undead are gathered and the realm is united. Vast undead armies roam the lands. Reports say that Ner'zhul hunts massive sea beasts daily and uses their corpses to summon more undead. His 'Undead Cataclysm' is practically unstoppable."
One undead is not frightening. A sea of undead forming a true Undead Cataclysm is terrifying beyond reason. No one yet knew just how many undead Ner'zhul commanded, but the very thought sent chills down one's spine.
"Undead Cataclysm... Lich Emperor Ner'zhul…"
The ministers murmured thoughtfully. Though few had seen a lich, most knew of them. These beings were exceptionally hard to deal with. Their life core was the phylactery, and as long as it remained intact, even a slain lich could resurrect. Their greatest strength was hiding their phylactery.
Some liches had lived for eons because no one could find their phylactery.
A lich capable of unifying a realm would surely be unimaginably powerful—and their phylactery likely impossibly well-hidden. Hunting it down would be nearly impossible.
"In the Battle Qi Realm, the dominant population is human—both yellow-skinned and white-skinned, coexisting in mixed regions. Their cultivation is focused on battle qi, and their civilization has reached a very advanced level. Their techniques are complete, and battle qi is incredibly destructive. However, it offers limited longevity enhancement—practitioners have far shorter lifespans than those at the same level in other paths, though their combat power is not weak."
Tong Huang continued her report.
Battle qi didn't involve refining meridians but brute-forced energy through the body to forge strength. Battle qi swirled within the dantian and, when used, erupted directly through the flesh. The burst power was great—but so was the internal toll, gradually wearing down one's life essence. This explained the reduced longevity compared to other cultivators.
But in the end, all paths led to the peak. The differences were only in the route taken.
"The Battle Qi Realm contains multiple Destiny Dynasties, though not yet unified. Two main powers are the Abyssal Emperor Court and the Great Flame Dynasty, along with various sects. Many other races also exist, along with ferocious beasts and birds."
"This realm is primarily human-controlled, which greatly increases its value for conquest. Battle qi is a powerful cultivation method—if brought under Great Yi's control, it would enrich our foundation immensely."
Liu Bowen nodded and spoke.
"The Gourmet Realm, as the name suggests, has a unique culinary civilization. It contains an abundance of rare ingredients and countless varieties of cuisine. There exists a special race called the Gourmet God Clan, whose bodies are born with a unique talent known as 'God's Creation: Gourmet Cells'."
"Through eating delicious food, the Gourmet God Clan can grow stronger. The more they eat, the stronger they become. They even gain unique talents this way. Only the royal members of the clan can awaken these cells, but they have a rule: anyone who gains Gourmet Cells is recognized as one of their own, regardless of original race."
Tong Huang's expression turned strange as she spoke.
According to reports, members of the Gourmet God Clan included ogres, kobolds, dragons, and more. In that realm, dual identities were common and unremarkable. It was a paradise of food. Countless top chefs and gourmet masters gathered there.
The most notable faction was the Gourmet Hunters—a terrifying group that would slay gods or dragons simply to try cooking them. To them, the only question that mattered was:
"Is it tasty?"
"Interesting."
Yi Tianxing's eyes lit up. A realm like this was extremely appealing to him. If the Gourmet Realm could be brought under Great Yi's rule, it would be a wonderful thing.
Mountains—I love.
Beauties—I love.
Food—I love too.
I desire all three together.
"Good. A realm like this could only be a blessing."
Yi Tianxing nodded. He wanted the people of Great Yi to find both spiritual and physical fulfillment.
The ministers also smiled. After all these years, how could they not know their Holy King's preferences? His greatest passion was food. He never cut corners when it came to cuisine. Great Yi, influenced by him, had long developed a national fondness for gourmet culture.
Of course, how to conquer such a realm would require careful planning.
"According to the intel, the Totem Realm is dominated by barbarian tribes. They cultivate and worship totems, often performing totem sacrifices and visualizations. There are two main branches: Totem Priests, focused on divine arts, and Totem Warriors, who are battle-focused. These warriors possess incredibly strong physiques and blood energy—they emphasize body refinement."