Chapter 64: A New Identity
Chapter 64: A New Identity
In a dazed state, Lin Yuan opened his eyes.
"Where am I?"
This was Lin Yuan's first thought.
"Have I not been born yet?"
This was Lin Yuan's second thought.
Indeed, Lin Yuan was still in his mother's womb. He was surrounded by warm amniotic fluid.
"Why am I getting younger with each shuttle?" Lin Yuan complained, even though he didn't have any teeth yet.
The first time he shuttled, Lin Yuan was a little monk over three years old. The second time, he had just been born. And now, on his third shuttle, he found himself in the womb.
Even though Lin Yuan knew that the shuttles of the Myriad Worlds Gate were completely random, he still felt speechless.
"But this isn't necessarily a bad thing," he thought to himself as he quickly adapted to his current situation and began to ponder his circumstances.
Before shuttling, Lin Yuan had studied the physical body of Luohan He from the 'Thunderstorm Star Domain'.
As the offspring of a prominent figure in the 'Thunderstorm Star Domain', Luohan He's physical body was based on the core genes of an extremely rare and unique life form from the depths of the starry sky, combined with the genes of his parents as a carrier.
This cultivated body far surpassed that of normal humans in terms of potential and other aspects.
Even without any cultivation, Luohan He's body could quickly grow to the strength of the second tier.
In the main world, Lin Yuan had spent half a year not only delving into the subsequent paths of the evolution of the martial way but also understanding the mysteries of this kind of physical body.
With his heaven-defying comprehension talent, he had already deduced a complete set of body transformation techniques.
This technique could slowly transform the physical body, achieving an enhancement of one's life essence.
Naturally, the younger the age, the more efficient the transformation of life essence would be.
Lin Yuan's physical body in the main world had already matured as an adult. Cultivating this technique showed slow progress, and it had taken him half a year to complete just one-tenth of the transformation process.
But now, before his birth, his body was in its initial state. It was the perfect time to cultivate this body transformation technique.
In fact, Lin Yuan had specifically devoted a portion of his energy to understanding this body transformation technique to prevent a recurrence of the extreme circumstances he had faced during his previous shuttle—being born into a situation where he had no means of self-defense.
"I won't rush the physical transformation just yet," he decided. "Let's first see what the status and background of my parents are in this life."
The physical transformation required energy, and since Lin Yuan had not been born yet, he couldn't be a source of energy himself. Therefore, if he started the transformation, he would instinctively absorb energy from his mother's body. This would result in an increased appetite for his mother, who would crave various nourishing and enriching foods.
If he had been born into an ordinary poor family, this situation would have been a disaster. In that case, Lin Yuan would have had no choice but to wait until after his birth to make any plans.
He valued his survival more than the physical transformation, and there was no need to take such risks while still in the womb. After birth, he could cultivate by absorbing the yin and yang qi between heaven and earth, and he would see results within a few hours.
Time passed, and half a month went by in the blink of an eye.
"It seems that this birth is going well," Lin Yuan thought to himself.
During this time, he vaguely sensed that there were dozens of servants attending to his mother alone. Such treatment would not be afforded to an ordinary family.
Moreover, Lin Yuan could feel that his mother was consuming expensive tonic supplements daily. This was evident from the energy transmitted through the umbilical cord.
"With this shuttle, my identity should be that of a prince. My father is the current emperor, my mother is a favored concubine, and my maternal grandfather is also a high-ranking and influential official," Lin Yuan surmised in his mind.
Over the past half-month, Lin Yuan had often heard voices from 'outside' engaging in conversations. These people naturally wouldn't think that Lin Yuan could 'eavesdrop', so they spoke about many secrets.
At first, Lin Yuan didn't understand the language of this world, but as he listened more, he naturally picked it up. This was the power of his heaven-defying comprehension talent.
While others might need to hear a word or phrase hundreds or even thousands of times to remember and understand it, Lin Yuan only needed to hear it once to grasp its meaning. By combining the tone of voice, the context, and the reactions of others, he could basically understand what was being said.
After listening to a few more sentences, he would have a good grasp of the language.
Learning a new language was just that simple for him.
Inside the Palace of a Hundred Flowers.
A palace maid hurried in.
"Your Highness, this servant inquired with the imperial physician," she said, her voice filled with excitement, as she cautiously glanced around to ensure no one else was listening. "This time, you are definitely carrying a prince."
"Hmm," Wang Shangfeng responded, not as concerned about the matter. "Whether it's a son or a daughter, it's still my child with His Majesty, and I will be very happy either way."
"Oh, Your Highness, you just don't understand," the palace maid said, a hint of anxiety in her voice. "His Majesty does not yet have a son. If you give birth to a prince, then in the future..."
"There are some things that you are not supposed to say," Wang Shangfeng interrupted, her expression turning cold as she gazed calmly at the maid.
"Yes, yes," the palace maid said, her face turning pale as she knelt on the ground, her body trembling.
"It seems that my mother in this life..." Lin Yuan listened quietly from within the womb, forming a high opinion of his mother in this life. At the very least, she knew how to bide her time and hide her strengths.
"No," he thought. "In the depths of the palace, it's easy to dodge a direct attack, but hard to guard against an ambush. I must hurry up with the physical transformation."
A sense of urgency welled up within Lin Yuan as he realized that being in the imperial palace put him in a precarious situation, especially since the current emperor had no sons.
Within the palace, even the maidservants knew that Wang Shangfeng was likely carrying a prince.
What about the other concubines? Did they know as well, especially the current Empress? If she had any other intentions, then Lin Yuan would be in danger.
Of course, Lin Yuan's transformation of his physical body was entirely dependent on Wang Shangfeng's reaction.
He wouldn't absorb nutrients without limit, and he would use the gentle energy formed by the transformation to nurture his mother's body in return.
As Lin Yuan began the transformation of his physical body, Wang Shangfeng suddenly felt a sense of hunger.
It was as if she hadn't eaten anything for three days and three nights, that kind of hunger.
Fortunately, this was the imperial palace, and Wang Shangfeng herself had a prominent background, so she didn't lack any of the various nourishing tonics.
That was why no problems had arisen.
Eight months later...
Wang Shangfeng rubbed her belly.
"You little rascal, eating so many tonics from me," Wang Shangfeng sighed.
If there was one word to describe these past six months, it would be 'eat'.
Ordinary people would only eat a single strand of the hundred-year-old ginseng root.
But Wang Shangfeng would eat half of it in one go.
As for the various spiritual herbs and elixirs from the deep mountains, Wang Shangfeng had been consuming them non-stop.
If not for the support of her family, secretly providing a large portion of these resources, this matter would have long shocked the entire imperial palace.
After all, it was a good thing to be able to eat well, but it would be strange to eat too much.
Even so, there were rumors within the palace about Wang Shangfeng's extraordinary appetite.
Even the Emperor had heard about it but didn't ask further.
After all, Wang Shangfeng had been a fairly accomplished cultivator even before she entered the palace.
So what if she ate a little more during her pregnancy? However, if the Emperor knew Wang Shangfeng's true appetite, he wouldn't have thought so lightly of it.
"It's almost time."
"My days of suffering are finally coming to an end."
Wang Shangfeng faintly sensed the movements of her child in her belly.
Every now and then, he would kick her.
Counting the days, it seemed that the time for childbirth was near.
In the Great Flame Dynasty, within the imperial palace, in the Hall of Receiving Heaven...
The current Emperor of the Great Flame Dynasty, Liu Shi, was sitting at his desk, handling political affairs.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Consort Wang has given birth! Consort Wang has given birth!"
At that moment, a little eunuch rushed over and announced respectfully.
"Oh?"
"It's another daughter, right?"
Emperor Liu Shi didn't even lift his eyes from the documents as he asked casually.
Ever since Emperor Liu Shi ascended the throne, he had favored quite a number of concubines, but he had not sired an heir.
To be precise, he had not fathered a son.
As for princesses, there were plenty of them, but without a son, who would inherit the imperial throne?
Would he have to adopt a successor from another branch of the imperial family?
Emperor Liu Shi was naturally unwilling to do so, as he had worked hard to seize the throne, and he intended to pass it on to his own son.
However, unfortunately, no matter how hard Emperor Liu Shi tried, all of his children were princesses, without exception.
Counting the number, in the past twenty years, Emperor Liu Shi had already bestowed titles upon more than sixty princesses.
Having reigned for over twenty years without a single son, rumors were rampant both within and outside the court.
If not for Emperor Liu Shi's ruthless methods, his position as emperor would have been unstable by now.
"Could this be the ancestors' punishment upon me?"
Emperor Liu Shi's gaze turned a little vacant.
Back then, in order to ascend the throne, he had killed all of his several brothers.
And after becoming emperor, to reclaim power, he had further confined those several princely uncles to their deaths.
Just as Emperor Liu Shi's thoughts were wandering, the little eunuch's voice trembled as he said, "Your Majesty, it's a prince! Consort Wang has given birth to a prince!"
"I know, wait a moment..."
Emperor Liu Shi waved his hand, but then suddenly stopped.
"What did you say?"
Emperor Liu Shi's eyes narrowed, and he fixed his gaze on the little eunuch, asking word for word, "What did you just say?"
"Your Majesty, this servant said that Consort Wang has given birth to a prince," the little eunuch replied, his scalp tingling as he hurriedly explained, fearing that he might anger the emperor.
"A prince..."
Ripples formed in Emperor Liu Shi's heart.
He had indeed heard the imperial physicians say that Wang Shangfeng was likely carrying a son.
But Emperor Liu Shi had heard such statements many times before; among the first several dozen daughters, more than half were supposedly sons according to these predictions.
He never expected that this time, it would actually be true.
"Your Majesty..."
After a moment of silence, the little eunuch didn't hear a response, so he gathered his courage to look up, only to find that the emperor, who had been sitting at his desk, had already left.
Outside the Palace of a Hundred Flowers...
The Palace of a Hundred Flowers was Wang Shangfeng's residence.
At this moment, Emperor Liu Shi of the Great Flame Dynasty stood outside the palace.
"I have a son?"
Emperor Liu Shi hesitated and didn't immediately enter.
"Your Majesty, this is the prince," a plump imperial physician said as he walked out, holding a newborn infant in his arms, standing before Emperor Liu Shi.
"Your Majesty, I have just examined him, and the prince's physique and bones are innately strong. This is an exceptionally talented individual, a heaven-blessed genius that our Great Flame Dynasty has never seen since its founding!"
The plump imperial physician was excited, and his hands holding the infant were trembling.
"A heaven-blessed genius?"
"My son is a heaven-blessed genius?"
Emperor Liu Shi was lost in thought for a moment.
The fact that Wang Shangfeng had given birth to a son had already brought him great joy.
But now, to hear that this son was also a heaven-blessed genius? Emperor Liu Shi glanced at the imperial physician and saw that he looked sincere, his eyes also shining with excitement, without any sign of flattery.
Emperor Liu Shi's heart was seventy to eighty percent convinced.
As his thoughts swirled, Emperor Liu Shi stared at the infant, Lin Yuan, and his hands began to tremble slightly.
But in the end, Emperor Liu Shi still took Lin Yuan into his arms and held him gently.
"Congratulations to Your Majesty for giving birth to a prince!"
"Congratulations to Your Majesty for giving birth to a prince!"
"Congratulations to Your Majesty for giving birth to a prince!"
All the eunuchs and maidservants inside and outside the Palace of a Hundred Flowers knelt down and shouted in unison.
"I have a son?"
"I, Liu Shi, finally have a son!"
"And he's a heaven-blessed genius?!!!"
Emperor Liu Shi burst into laughter and carefully lifted Lin Yuan, holding him high above.
It was as if he was holding up the entire world of the Great Flame Dynasty.
(End of Chapter)
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