Chapter 18: Secrets of the Huang Family
“The Huang family contributed significantly to the construction of the Eastern Continent’s intercontinental teleportation gates. Families and Sacred Lands involved in the project can use the gates for free. Others, including rogue cultivators and those who didn’t participate, have to pay a fee, which is used to expand the network.” Huang Feiyan and Mingyan exited the carriage. Several veiled Huang family elders sat nearby, chatting and laughing. They were called elders, but they lacked any sense of authority, resembling playful young women more than anything.
Mingyan thought the Huang family must be quite unique. Normal families weren’t like this, were they?
Huang Feiyan greeted them, addressing them all as “Aunt.”
So many aunts… Mingyan’s head spun.
The carriage soon reached the vicinity of the intercontinental teleportation gate. From afar, Mingyan saw its massive structure.
Towering over the surrounding mountains, the gate stood majestically, its circular form reaching into the clouds, half-obscured by mist. A blue energy barrier shimmered in its center.
Complex, arcane runes flickered across the barrier.
As the carriage drew closer, Mingyan saw a bustling town at the base of the gate, filled with people coming and going.
The carriage didn’t descend towards the town but ascended, rising above the clouds to the upper level of the gate.
This area was less crowded than the town below. Two cultivators stood guard but didn’t stop the carriage.
It passed them and flew towards the gate, passing through the blue energy barrier without a sound. They entered a strange, blue space.
“This is the passage between teleportation gates. You mustn’t fly around randomly in here, or you might be teleported to some strange place.” Huang Feiyan explained, “When you return, I’ll give you a token that allows you to use the gates for free. Ordinary cultivators can’t afford the fees. They usually join teleportation groups to share the cost, but this often requires a long wait. With the token, you won’t have to wait.”
“Thank you, Feiyan.”
“There’s no need to thank me. If it weren’t for you, I might be dead.” Huang Feiyan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling. “This small gesture can’t express my gratitude…”
“Please don’t feel indebted to me. It makes me uncomfortable,” Mingyan said, looking at her.
“It’s not about being indebted. You’ve helped me so much. I have to do something for you, my friend. Otherwise, I would be the one feeling uncomfortable.” Huang Feiyan smiled brightly, her hands clasped behind her back.
Mingyan chuckled, finding himself at a loss for words. He looked at the strange, swirling passage. “What immense power must have been required to build this…”
“These gates are indeed magnificent. Even the combined efforts of our Sacred Lands and families wouldn’t be enough. Several Great Emperors assisted in their construction. Otherwise, even with our combined strength, we couldn’t have built such intricate gates… Those Great Emperors are the most respected and powerful beings in this world.”
Great Emperors…
Seeing Mingyan’s interest in the term, Huang Feiyan smiled. “If you reach my mother’s level someday, you might have the chance to meet the current reigning Great Empress.”
Mingyan was surprised. “There’s a Great Emperor alive right now?”
Huang Feiyan nodded. “The Qingzi Calendar we use to track time is named after the current reigning Great Empress Qingzi. She achieved enlightenment and became Great Emperor fifteen hundred and one years ago. A Great Emperor’s lifespan is ten thousand years, but there’s a mythical herb called the Immortality Herb that allows them to live a second life. So, theoretically, Great Empress Qingzi will rule for another seventeen or eighteen thousand years. You’ll have a chance to meet her.”
A Great Emperor could live for twenty thousand years…? Mingyan sighed. Ordinary people lived for seventy or eighty years, a hundred at most. Even a Great Brook Realm cultivator like him only had a lifespan of about one hundred and fifty years, less than one percent of a Great Emperor’s…
As they spoke, the carriage emerged from the passage, and they could see the sky again.
“We’ll reach the Huang family in a little over an hour. You can go back and rest for now.” Huang Feiyan smiled. “There will be many things to trouble you with when we arrive.”
Mingyan shook his head. “It’s fine.”
“I’ll accompany you back.” Huang Feiyan led him back into the carriage and to his room.
“Are you curious why I call all the Huang family elders ‘Aunt’?” She didn’t leave immediately, smiling at him.
“I am a bit curious…”
“Our family is a bit… special… You might not know this, but the Huang family are descendants of the ancient Phoenix God Clan. Legend has it that the Phoenix created a daughter using the laws of the universe. When she perished, her blood formed the Huang family’s Phoenix Blood Pool. After drinking from the pool, her daughter conceived the first daughter of the Huang family. That’s the origin of our family. Our women never marry and remain single until they desire a child. Then, they drink from the Phoenix Blood Pool and conceive.”
“So, our family consists entirely of women, and theoretically, we’re all direct descendants of the Phoenix. However, due to individual differences, our strengths vary. But in general, all Huang family daughters are close. Because of our unique nature, we only have two generations: the mother’s generation and our own. We call those of our mother’s generation ‘Aunt,’ and those of our own generation ‘Sister.’ So, I call all the elders ‘Aunt’ because they’re of my mother’s generation.”
An entire family of women…? No wonder men weren’t allowed in the inner courtyard… Mingyan was astonished… So, cultivators could reproduce asexually. His imagination was truly limited.
“That’s why we don’t allow outsiders into the inner courtyard. Since we’re all women, even female visitors can be problematic, let alone men.” Huang Feiyan sighed. “I hope you don’t find us rude.”
Mingyan could constantly sense her respect for him. He shook his head. “I don’t mind. I already suspected you had your reasons…”
“Thank you for understanding.” Huang Feiyan smiled. “Then rest for now…”
“Okay.” Mingyan nodded.
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