Chapter 508: Ye Zhen's Thoughts

Chapter 508: Ye Zhen's Thoughts

"Elder Sister Ren, I'm back!" Ji Xinghuo said softly.

Ye Zhen, dressed in a loose floral dress, was half-reclined in a lounge chair, her posture relaxed and her expression lazy. Her bare feet hung casually, her toes as white as pearls, and her entire being exuded an even more rounded and radiant aura. Her exquisite face seemed to glow softly, captivating Ji Xinghuo and causing his heart to flutter.

"You still remembered to come back?" Ye Zhen countered with a smile in her eyes but a hint of displeasure and reproach in her tone.

"Er..."

Ji Xinghuo scratched his head, thinking to himself that it was she who had told him he had two years until the due date and to go out and gain experience without worries. Now that he had returned early, and the child hadn't been born yet, why was she still unhappy?

Though these thoughts crossed his mind, he wasn't foolish enough to voice them aloud.

Pregnant women underwent hormonal changes, and their emotions could be unpredictable. It was only right to indulge her, and indeed, he hadn't been responsible enough.

"Pfft..."

Seeing Ji Xinghuo's speechless expression, Ye Zhen couldn't help but laugh softly. She gently said, "Alright! I was just teasing you. It's fine for me to complain a little after you've been gone for almost two years, isn't it?"

"Of course! Of course!" Ji Xinghuo's face lit up in a broad smile, understanding that she wasn't truly angry. "You can even hit me if you want."

Ye Zhen rolled her eyes at him. "I could never bring myself to hit the father of my child."

As she spoke, she stretched leisurely, her rounded belly clearly visible. Ji Xinghuo's attention was immediately drawn to it, and he looked concerned.

Her belly seemed larger than what was typical for a ten-month pregnancy.

"Is it time?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"Not yet," Ye Zhen replied, gently caressing her stomach. "My prediction was quite accurate before. There are still three months to go. Sigh, it's going to be a full three years of pregnancy. Although it doesn't affect my daily life and activities, it's still mentally exhausting."

Ji Xinghuo quickly offered comfort. "You've been through a lot, Elder Sister Ren."

"It's fine," Ye Zhen shook her head. "It was my decision to carry your child, without even asking for your consent."

"If Elder Sister Ren had discussed it with me back then, I would have agreed as well," Ji Xinghuo said firmly, holding Ye Zhen's soft and plump hand. "As the child's father, it's my responsibility. Don't say such things again in the future."

Ye Zhen gazed at Ji Xinghuo's face, her eyes shining with joy.

Although she didn't expect anything from Ji Xinghuo, and wouldn't make any other demands in the future, his statement still filled her with happiness.

Their fingers interlaced, and they slowly leaned into each other.

Ji Xinghuo inhaled the familiar scent of her hair, gently embracing the soft and fragrant woman in his arms. He felt incredibly content.

His gaze fell on Ye Zhen's abdomen, where he could see three already formed fetuses—two boys and a girl. They were constantly drawing nourishment from their mother through the umbilical cord, all healthy and just a little while away from being born.

"Qinghong!" A delicate voice rang out from outside the wooden house. "Starfire Brother is back!"

A light flew into the second floor, revealing the petite figure of Ye Xiaoqi.

"Xiaoqi,"

Ji Xinghuo greeted the timid Light Spirit Butterfly.

She happily circled around Ji Xinghuo, then went outside to the garden to play with the miniaturized Qinghong.

At this moment, Ye Zhen raised her head and met Ji Xinghuo's gaze, a smile playing on her lips. No words were needed.

She studied his face carefully.

"Your current appearance is different from that of Earthlings," Ye Zhen remarked in surprise. "I feel like you resemble a True Dragonian even more now."

Ji Xinghuo smiled. "Elder Sister Ren's intuition is correct. I am indeed a True Dragonian."

"Oh?"

Ye Zhen sat up straight and reached out to touch Ji Xinghuo's face and various parts of his body, as if admiring a rare work of art. She marveled, "Not only have you become a True Dragonian, but your strength is also terrifyingly powerful!"

She couldn't help but ask, "Xinghuo, what stage of evolution are you at now?"

"Sky King Stage, Second Level," Ji Xinghuo replied.

"That fast? Before I entered the cycle of reincarnation, the highest I reached was only the first level of the Sky King Stage. You've surpassed me," Ye Zhen covered her mouth lightly, a strange light flashing in her eyes. "Your strength is definitely not just at the sixth stage, second level!"

"Elder Sister Ren has sharp eyes," Ji Xinghuo laughed. "I dare not say that I'm invincible below the seventh stage of the Star Realm, but at the very least, I have no opponents on Earth."

Ye Zhen was astounded. "Stronger than the Sun King?"

"Mhm."

Ji Xinghuo nodded calmly.

Ye Zhen's eyes were filled with disbelief, but she knew that Ji Xinghuo was not one to boast. She immediately believed him and became even more curious. "What exactly happened to you during these past two years in the True Dragon Empire?"

"I teleported from the City of Eternal Day to Cang City..." Ji Xinghuo began to recount his experiences.

However, he only briefly described the general situation, omitting all the crucial details related to the Myriad Phenomenon Star Pupil and his secrets. Ye Zhen was considerate enough not to pry further.

She knew that Ji Xinghuo had his secrets.

Ye Zhen still remembered the words Ji Xinghuo had once said: "My secret is huge."

Even so, Ye Zhen was still astonished by what Ji Xinghuo shared.

He had almost been exposed shortly after arriving in the True Dragon Empire, then pursued and counter-killed by Cang Huo Gui, after which he arrived at Titanium Ring City and met Titanium Cobalt Blue, learning that she was the "North Sea Dragon Girl" Hu Lan from history. He had then gone to Black Ring Star to participate in the World-Extinguishing Dragon Ceremony...

"You won the World-Extinguishing Dragon Ceremony, became a True Dragonian, and obtained an Extinction Dragon?

Ji Xinghuo nodded and smiled.

"Where's your Extinction Dragon?" Ye Zhen scanned Ji Xinghuo's body with her eyes and then looked beyond the secret realm, but she couldn't spot any dragons in the Peach Blossom Valley. Even the plant sentinels she had placed within a hundred-kilometer radius hadn't detected anything.

Ji Xinghuo pulled open his clothes, revealing the dark golden dragon tattoo on his chest.

As Ye Zhen watched, the dragon-shaped tattoo came to life, transforming into a beam of light that flew out and materialized into a majestic dragon in mid-air. Its slender body was covered in dark golden dragon scales, and it possessed a pair of narrow and powerful wings. Its posture was graceful and elegant, and its aura was overwhelmingly dominant, exuding a sense of impending doom that made Ye Zhen's heart tremble.

"Ahhhh..." Xiaoqi screamed and darted inside, burying her head in Ye Zhen's arms, shaking in fear.

"Xiao Gui, don't be afraid. It's a friend of your brother Starfire. It won't hurt us," Ye Zhen reassured Xiao Gui.

But as she looked at the Extinction Dragon hovering in the sky, her eyes were filled with shock. This was one of the Seven Great Divine Dragon Species—the Extinction Dragon.

The most mysterious and rarest of all, the Extinction Dragon!

This dragon, with a length of only about twenty meters, wasn't particularly large, but it was more terrifying than any monster Ye Zhen had ever encountered, filling her with a sense of extreme danger.

Even with her two Eclipse abilities, and having evolved to the Legendary stage, Ye Zhen felt no sense of security in the face of the Extinction Dragon.

Boom!

Suddenly, a massive claw swatted the Extinction Dragon, sending it flying like a rocket that pierced through the secret realm's space and soared into the clouds in the blink of an eye.

Qinghong, displeased with Doomsday showing off in front of her friends and scaring Little Sunflower, grew to a towering height of several dozen meters and swiped at Doomsday with her claw.

Ye Zhen's face froze in astonishment.

It was then that she noticed the transformation in Qinghong as well. Just the sheer size of its massive body exuded a terrifying oppressive aura. With a single swipe of its claw, it had sent the Extinction Dragon flying, displaying power and ferocity that were in no way inferior to the dragon.

Was this still the same 'Iron Arrow Qing' that had once been a spiritual creature?

Ye Zhen had named Qinghong herself.

A beam of light descended from the heavens, and Doomsday returned as swiftly as a flash of light, zooming in from the distant horizon.

To Doomsday, the void membrane of the secret realm seemed non-existent.

"Roar!"

Doomsday let out a roar toward Qinghong, expressing its displeasure, but it had no intention of counterattacking. Instead, it even restrained its aura and controlled its power as it flew into the secret realm, careful not to frighten anyone or damage the surrounding flora.

Qinghong and Jiuyou were like fire and water, always at odds with each other, but Doomsday got along well with Qinghong, at least on the surface, as they never resorted to physical altercations.

Seeing that Doomsday wasn't angry, Qinghong also shrunk back to its original size.

Doomsday landed on a spacious lawn and surveyed the modest secret realm, taking an interest in the various plants that surrounded it.

Only then did Ye Zhen breathe a sigh of relief. She watched as the Extinction Dragon moved delicately through the garden, its actions cautious as it sniffed around. She couldn't help but smile and said, "I never thought that one day, my garden would play host to a visitor like an Extinction Dragon."

Xiao Kui also poked her head out, curiously observing Doomsday.

Ji Xinghuo introduced, "Its name is Doomsday, and just like Qinghong, it can be your good friend too."

"Really?" The Light Spirit Butterfly was still apprehensive, glancing at Qinghong, who vigorously nodded her head.

"Really," Ji Xinghuo assured her.

Doomsday turned its head and offered a benevolent smile toward the wooden house's second floor, despite being a dragon, its expression was remarkably human-like and vivid, effectively conveying its friendly intentions.

Encouraged by Ji Xinghuo, Ye Xiaoqi mustered her courage and flew toward Doomsday. After confirming that Doomsday meant no harm, she boldly circled around its dragon horns, giggling with delight.

Witnessing this heartwarming scene, Ye Zhen couldn't help but feel touched. She then urged Ji Xinghuo to continue his story.

Upon hearing that Ji Xinghuo had joined the Titanium Cobalt family and had been bestowed the name 'Yin Meng Jin' by the Dragon King, Ye Zhen immediately realized something.

"So, Titanium Cobalt Qingwei is your betrothed?" Ye Zhen asked with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Ji Xinghuo acknowledged without hesitation, "Yes."

Ye Zhen inquired further, "She must be very beautiful, right?"

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

"Hmph!" Ye Zhen could no longer contain her displeasure and questioned, "You already have me and Zhao Manying, and now there's a third woman. Just how many do you need to be satisfied?"

"This was the Titanium Cobalt Dragon King's decree, and I had no choice in the matter," Ji Xinghuo explained, bringing up Titanium Cobalt Qingwei's existence to gauge Ye Zhen's reaction. He defended himself by saying, "Qingwei is also helpless in this situation. If I were to refuse, I would have no standing in the True Dragon Empire."

Ye Zhen turned away, remaining silent.

She knew that Ji Xinghuo was telling the truth, and accepting the Titanium Cobalt Dragon King's arrangement was the most advantageous choice.

However, no woman could accept her man having another woman.

She could tolerate Zhao Manying since they had no intersections and could pretend the other didn't exist.

But Titanium Cobalt Qingwei's background was too formidable—a direct descendant of the Titanium Cobalt Dragon King, deeply favored by him, and possessing a status, position, and backing far superior to her own. Moreover, she would bear Ji Xinghuo a true dragon-human hybrid in the future.

Ji Xinghuo gently pressed her shoulder and turned her around, speaking solemnly. "I promise that I will give our children the best resources and do everything in my power to nurture them into powerful superhumans. They will never lose to anyone."

His words struck a chord with Ye Zhen.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and she looked directly into Ji Xinghuo's eyes. "Are you sure you can do that?"

"You know I always keep my word," Ji Xinghuo said solemnly.

Ye Zhen sighed softly. "We are not married, and even if we were, the law wouldn't bind you. It's understandable if you don't take responsibility for our child, and as I said before, my personal desires come first. But there's one thing you must promise me."

"What is it, Elder Sister Ren?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

Ye Zhen said in a low voice, "Your offspring with the Titanium Cobalt family must not threaten the safety of our children. You must protect them."

Ji Xinghuo's expression changed, and he nodded seriously. "I understand. Don't worry, Elder Sister Ren."

"Continue with your story," Ye Zhen said, changing the subject and lightening the mood.

"Okay." Ji Xinghuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and proceeded to tell her about his experiences in the Azure Wave Dragon Domain.

However, he learned from his previous mistake and downplayed Cang Ya's presence.

Regarding Zogeth Sox, he only mentioned that he encountered him by accident, formed a grudge with the Hollow Kun Heavenly Rhinoceros, crafted the Lightning Slash War Blade, and eventually killed the Hollow Kun Heavenly Rhinoceros trio before leaving.

"Elder Sister Ren, I want to show you something amazing."

Ji Xinghuo took out a strange multi-faceted crystal and handed it to Ye Zhen. Her eyes lit up, and she shone a beam of light from her fingertip into the crystal, causing it to float in the air and refract dazzling light.

"What is this?" Ye Zhen asked as she examined the crystal.

"It's a light-prism lens," Ji Xinghuo explained with a smile. "I got it from a battle with Lei Mingke. She was an electric light user, just like you, with the ability to summon crystalline light servants."

"No wonder it's so compatible with my ability." Ye Zhen couldn't help but admire the prism. "This light-prism lens is at least a Tier 2 treasure."

Ji Xinghuo nodded. "Yes, it's Tier 2. Elder Sister Ren, please accept it."

"You've been in the True Dragon Empire for almost two years now, and you're well aware of the value of a Tier 2 treasure. Are you just going to give it to me like this?" Ye Zhen asked with a playful smile.

"As long as it makes you happy, Elder Sister Ren, I'd be willing to give you even a Tier 5 treasure," Ji Xinghuo said matter-of-factly. "Besides, the light-prism lens is useless to me. It would be a waste for me to keep it, but in your hands, it can truly shine."

"Looks like you've learned how to woo women after being around them so much," Ye Zhen teased.

However, Ji Xinghuo maintained a serious expression. "When I obtained the light-prism lens, the first person I thought of was you, Elder Sister Ren. I had no other intentions."

This was the honest truth.

Ye Zhen could tell, and she didn't pretend otherwise. She also knew that a Tier 2 treasure wasn't particularly valuable to Ji Xinghuo at his current level, so she gladly accepted the light-prism lens and sincerely thanked him.

"I'm glad you like it, Elder Sister Ren," Ji Xinghuo smiled.

Ye Zhen snuggled into his embrace and listened to the rest of his story. When she learned that he had given Titanium Cobalt Blue five hundred thousand dragon crystals to purchase resources to support their country, she realized that he was now financially well-off.

"With your current strength, you're indeed capable of unifying the world." Ye Zhen's face turned solemn as she cautioned, "But it's best to remain cautious. I've always felt that the Sun King is not as simple as he seems."

"I understand," Ji Xinghuo nodded. "Anyway, I'll just focus on fighting and being a muscle for hire. The strategic planning and political changes are up to the leader. I don't want to get involved in those matters."

The two exchanged views on Earth's affairs.

Ye Zhen would be busy taking care of the children in the next few years and wouldn't be able to get too involved, but she would lend a hand when the country needed her.

Ji Xinghuo agreed with her approach.

His gaze penetrated Ye Zhen's abdomen, where he could see the three fetuses. His heart stirred as he thought back to when Elder Sister Ren was pregnant with them. Back then, he was only a super-human, and his ability system and genetic bloodline were far inferior to what they were now.

The True Dragon bloodline was incredibly powerful and could produce offspring with exceptional talent.

He possessed the Ancestral Dragon Vein.

Additionally, he carried the bloodlines of the Extinction Dragon, the Titanium Cobalt Dragon, and the Hollow Kun Dragon—three divine dragon species.

Furthermore, numerous electromagnetic abilities had been integrated into his genes, and whichever trait was inherited by the children, their talent and potential would far surpass that of others, giving them a head start from the very beginning.

Ye Zhen noticed the change in Ji Xinghuo's expression and asked, "What are you thinking about, Xinghuo?"

"I was just thinking that it would have been better if you were pregnant now," Ji Xinghuo said. "Our children's potential would have been enhanced by at least two levels."

He revealed the existence of the three divine dragon species bloodlines.

Ye Zhen's eyes sparkled.

Then, she said to Ji Xinghuo, "Actually, it's not too late. I have a way to ensure that our children inherit your current genetic bloodline."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end