Everything he had experienced in the past four years after he left the mountain had a huge impact on his state of mind.
He had seen too many deaths.
The deaths of mortals and Godfiends.
Scenes of many mortals slaughtered, and many Godfiends dying in battle...
Meng Chuan was a little lost after seeing too many of such scenes. He felt that he might one day die just like them. Could this war be won? Although his often-repeated slogan mentioned victory, his heart was filled with confusion. He couldn’t see through the fog ahead.
Thus, he decided to paint what was on his mind. He sought answers from his inner self. He asked himself what he strove for! The more he painted, the more answers he received; thus, leading to a greater understanding of what he was fighting for.
There were thousands of different humans! There were also thousands of different Godfiends. Those that became Godfiends were elites, but this didn’t mean that they weren’t despicable. Meng Chuan was impressed by the valiant heroes and looked down on the despicable.
There are many heroes amongst the Godfiends in this world. These heroes’ blood will forge a bloody path through the fog. There are many fellow travelers on this bloody path! The heroes who died in battle, the surviving Godfiends, and the future generations of Godfiends are all fellow travelers. I’m not alone on this path.
Everyone shall charge forward together. We will definitely achieve victory.
Meng Chuan became even more determined. He dared to look straight at pools of blood. He dared to face the corpses of his fellow Godfiends. He no longer feared or panicked when faced with such scenes. He just cut through the fog and advanced. When the fog dispersed, it would be the day he arrived at the opposite shore—victory.
After seeking answers from his inner self for a year as he completed the painting, his heart sublimed. During this year, his Essence Soul would constantly emit a spiritual glow. It slowly transformed; this transformation lasted for nearly a year. This transformation was very astonishing.
The influence the painting—Road—had on Meng Chuan’s heart was greater than any other painting. Meng Chuan could sense that his Essence Soul was much stronger.
Hum! Within his sea of consciousness, Meng Chuan could sense how his Essence Soul constantly transformed over the past year. It had become more corporeal and larger. His Essence Soul was 8 feet tall[1]! It was identical to a normal person’s height, making it extremely realistic.
My Essence Soul has strengthened by several times, but it’s still a second-level Essence Soul. Meng Chuan knew this based on the Archean Mountain’s documentation on the Essence Soul. Only when his Essence Soul exceeded 9 feet in height would it reach the Nightroaming stage.
He wasn’t far from breaking through.
One of the thresholds for becoming a Regis Godfiend was a third-level Essence Soul. Upon attaining a Nightroaming-stage Essence Soul, one’s Essence Soul gained various mystical qualities; it could exist in the outside world independently. One could use their Essence Soul alone to deliver many attacks. For example, King Calm Sea had once spared no expense to leave a sword mark on Yan Jin. The sword mark was an Essence Soul mystical technique.
Generally speaking, Godfiends would first reach the Realm of Dao before seeking answers from one’s inner self. It was very difficult to achieve that with killing techniques. Marquis Godfiends usually spent decades and even centuries to attain a third-level Essence Soul.
However, painting was an expression of one’s heart and emotions. It was much easier to seek answers from one’s inner self with painting than with killing techniques. This was one of the reasons why Supremacy Qin Wu thought highly of Meng Chuan. It was also the reason why Supremacy Luo Tang allowed Meng Chuan to enter the Archean Eon Grotto-Heaven. Meng Chuan was indeed a peerless genius at painting.
...
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, Meng Chuan and his wife had lived a secluded life in Gu Mountain Prefecture City for three years. They passed their days with great regularity and peacefulness.
Meng Chuan patrolled Gu Mountain Prefecture twice a day. He even detoured to neighboring prefectures. He usually spent his days and time with his wife. He would cross prefectures every month to provide assistance.
Perhaps he was lucky, or Archean Mountain might’ve been carefully choosing the missions assigned to him, but Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue didn’t encounter any major dangers in those three years. They had never encountered a fourth Firmament demon monarch.
There were very few fourth Firmament demon monarchs in the human world, so it was normal for them not to encounter one.
As she stood beside a butcher stall, Liu Qiyue happily said, “Give me a kilogram of pork ribs.”
“Alright.” The fat butcher skillfully sliced through the pork ribs, weighed it, and smiled. “Here’s a kilogram of pork ribs. The additional 25 grams are a bonus.”
Liu Qiyue placed the pork ribs—wrapped in leaves—into the basket she held before heading elsewhere to buy more food.
“Qiyue, why did you suddenly think of buying groceries yourself today? You even wanted me to join you,” asked Meng Chuan with a smile.
Liu Qiyue glared at Meng Chuan. “Why are you complaining when I’m asking you to accompany me?”
Meng Chuan immediately smiled obsequiously.
The couple bought all kinds of food in a good mood. The price of grain and meat were currently being maintained at a high price, causing many commoners to risk leaving the city and plant grain and vegetables for money. Although the chances of encountering demon monarchs outside were low, it was just a matter of time before they were attacked if they stayed out in the wilderness and were involved in large-scale farming.
They would die if they encountered a demon monarch. It was indeed highly risky to farm outside the city.
Meng Chuan and his wife continued to buy things as per usual, so they were considered quite well-to-do.
“It’s about time. Let’s go home,” said Liu Qiyue as she carried a large basket—filled with meat and vegetables.
Back at the compound.
Liu Qiyue pulled Meng Chuan to the kitchen at the back.
“Madam, leave the cooking to me,” said the female servant.
“You don’t have to worry about our meals today. Take your leave,” instructed Liu Qiyue.
“Yes.” The woman had no choice but to leave.
“Help me,” Liu Qiyue said to Meng Chuan, “wash and cut the carrots.”
“Alright.” Meng Chuan was familiar with working with her. As a peerless saber user, how hard was it for him to cut carrots?
They finished cooking lunch.
The couple sat down in front of a spread—seven dishes and one soup.
“Such a sumptuous feast?” Meng Chuan was shocked. “Qiyue, what day is it today? Why did you prepare so many dishes? You even bought groceries and cooked personally.”
Liu Qiyue looked at the sumptuous spread before her and chuckled softly. “It’s a joyous occasion today.”
“Joyous occasion? Where does the joy come from?” Meng Chuan looked at Liu Qiyue, his heart beating faster. He was not stupid. “Qiyue, a-are you...” Meng Chuan found it unbelievable. “Are you pregnant?”
Liu Qiyue nodded and smiled at Meng Chuan. She flushed as she shyly said, “I’m pregnant.”
“This, this, this? You’re pregnant? H-how... Why did you cook personally?” Meng Chuan couldn’t help but say, “You shouldn’t have cooked. If I had known earlier, I would have done it.”
“Ah Chuan, I’m a Godfiend! I have great control over my body. Making a meal is nothing. It’s impossible to hurt the baby in my womb,” Liu Qiyue said.
Meng Chuan suddenly said, “You’re right. I didn’t sense any other vital aura besides your own in your womb.”
“It’s just the beginning,” said Liu Qiyue. “In half a month, the baby will take form. As a Great Solar Godfiend, how can I make a mistake in controlling my body?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Meng Chuan nodded repeatedly. He was too excited. After settling down at Gu Mountain Prefecture City, he and his wife wanted a child, but they never managed to conceive. It was harder for Godfiends to have children than mortals.
Nothing came out of it after three years, and they had been prepared to be childless for ten years.
However, the surprise was finally here!
I, Meng Chuan, am going to be a father!
[1] Take note that this is not in modern day measurements. 8 feet is about 1.88 meters or 6’2 feet in modern day measurements