Chapter 631: Complete Fulfillment (Part 2)

Flames erupted, and Liu Qiyue's life began to transform. She first reached the ordinary Venerable level, then continued to evolve, her capabilities becoming comparable to those with collateral phoenix bloodlines.

“As expected of the Fire Origin Liquid, it’s even better than I anticipated,” Meng Chuan remarked. With his current high cultivation level, he could instantly discern the extent of his wife's evolution.

A full half an hour passed.

Bathed in flames, Liu Qiyue was like a fire deity. The flames she emitted were powerful enough to severely injure an Emperor. She opened her eyes, and with a single thought, the flames receded. Many of her wrinkles had disappeared, but her hair remained snow-white.

With another thought, Meng Chuan transported his wife to normal space.

“Qiyue, why is your hair still white?” Liu Yebai, whose own hair was raven black, asked his daughter in surprise.

Liu Qiyue smiled at Meng Chuan, saying nothing more.

“Mother.” Meng An and Meng You also looked at their mother with joy, sensing the change in her aura.

“Achuan, what did you give me?” Liu Qiyue asked softly.

“A rather special longevity treasure. Its effect was better than I expected,” Meng Chuan nodded. “How do you feel?”

“My phoenix bloodline has greatly improved and become much purer. Even the flames I naturally manifest are far stronger than before,” Liu Qiyue said.

Meng Chuan could tell at a glance that his wife now possessed a lifespan of 4,300 years. Special life forms with potent bloodlines typically live for around 3,000 years at the Venerable level. Meng Chuan himself only had a 5,000-year lifespan back then. Inherited lifespans usually come in whole numbers; any odd figures, such as 2,800 or 3,200 years, are almost always the result of longevity treasures.

Liu Qiyue’s personal lifespan of 4,300 years indicated that her life essence was only a hair's breadth away from that of a "pure-blooded phoenix" or "pure-blooded dragon." Yet, that narrow gap was an insurmountable chasm! Even the Fire Origin Liquid, a treasure comparable in value to an Eight-Tribulation Realm artifact, could not elevate Liu Qiyue's bloodline to that of a true pure-blooded phoenix. Indeed, throughout the entire River of Spacetime, the emergence of pure-blooded phoenixes and dragons was exceedingly rare. Meng Chuan had journeyed through the outer void for many years and had yet to encounter a pure-blooded dragon or phoenix.

That evening, at the Lake Heart Pavilion in the Meng residence of Jiangzhou City, the entire family—Meng Dajiang, Bai Nianyun, Liu Yebai, Meng Chuan, Liu Qiyue, Meng An, and Meng You—gathered in the garden outside. They ate and chatted, with the elders mainly asking questions and the younger generation providing answers.

“Meng An, you have a son too?” Meng Dajiang, holding his wine cup, was overjoyed. “I have a great-grandson? Where is he?”

“We first had to leave the Cangyuan Realm, travel a great distance through the outer void, and reach another location called the Kunyun Secret Realm,” Meng An explained. “My wife and son are both there.”

“What, outside Cangyuan Realm?” Meng Dajiang, Bai Nianyun, and Liu Yebai were all greatly surprised.

“How did you end up getting married and having a child outside the human world?” Bai Nianyun was also somewhat shocked.

“It was fate,” Meng An smiled, not explaining much.

“The Kunyun Secret Realm is exceptionally suited for cultivation,” Meng Chuan said with a smile. “That realm boasts countless cultivators, including over ten thousand Emperors and nearly a thousand Tribulation Realm mighty figures.”

“What?” Everyone was stunned.

“In terms of cultivators, the Kunyun Secret Realm is equivalent to ten galaxies combined,” Meng Chuan continued. “I've already taken control of that realm. When the opportunity arises, I will send many cultivators from the Cangyuan Realm there to train. Father, all of you can also go and visit it in the future.”

Cangyuan Realm, after all, couldn’t compare to a secret realm of that scale. Therefore, arranging for Cangyuan Realm cultivators to go there for training was one of his plans, provided he could successfully pass his own tribulation.

“You’ve taken control of that secret realm?” Meng Dajiang was a bit bewildered. “A secret realm with over ten thousand Emperors and nearly a thousand Tribulation Realm mighty figures, Chuan'er, you control it?”

“There was some luck involved,” Meng Chuan said.

The family chatted about various things. They discussed the Kunyun Secret Realm, the war with the demon world, the three former Emperors of the demon world, the Snow Jade Palace Master of the Three-Bay Galaxy, and Dongning City.

A nearby peach blossom tree was in full bloom, its fragrance spreading. Meng Chuan, smelling the blossoms, looked up to see the brilliant starry night sky. Though such scenery was beautiful, he had witnessed it countless times over the years. But today… he was exceptionally happy, because his family was beside him.

“Father, you and Father-in-law, please take your time drinking,” Meng Chuan said, rising to his feet. He walked over to a nearby study, watching his family through the window. With a wave of his hand, a painting scroll unfurled on the table, complete with brushes and ink. It had been a very long time since Meng Chuan had felt such a strong urge to paint. His last passionate painting was of *The Backbone*, drawn right after their victory in the war. And now, Meng Chuan wished to record this scene as well.

“It’s been over two thousand years,” Meng Chuan murmured to himself.

Meng Chuan looked up for a moment, then smiled and began to paint.

The night sky was brilliant with stars, and the Milky Way stretched vast. Beneath the night sky, a family was having dinner. A hundred-year-old peach tree was in full bloom, its petals scattered on the ground. Beside it sat the family, gathered around a table. Mother Bai Nianyun, Liu Qiyue, and Meng You chatted softly, smiles adorning all three of their faces. Father Meng Dajiang and Father-in-law Liu Yebai were raising their cups and conversing boisterously. Meng Chuan sat nearby, smiling and silent, while Meng An was busy pouring wine.

Meng Chuan painted very meticulously, stroke by stroke. This painting was finished in just half an hour.

“Cultivation, it is said, is about following one's heart, clearing all obstacles, and becoming unstoppable,” Meng Chuan murmured softly. “But the heart also needs a home; only then can it achieve completeness.”

Meng Chuan looked up at his family outside, beneath the night sky. These family members were the true home of his heart. No matter how lonely he might wander, with them, he was truly invincible.

“Without them, no matter how powerful I become, I would still be lonely and incomplete.”

“With them, I am complete.”

Meng Chuan knew very clearly what he valued most. If he alone achieved immortality and became invincible, yet was isolated in the world, without family or kin, what meaning would it have? What he truly desired was for his clan to flourish and for everything before him to endure. While ‘existence implies death,’ what truly defined a ‘mighty figure’? It was the ability to accomplish what mortals could not: to protect what one cherished… for an exceptionally long time.

“To enjoy more days like these, I will certainly succeed in my tribulation,” Meng Chuan silently vowed, looking at his family.

He could feel it. During the time since his wife woke up, and even while painting, his mental will was slowly transforming. Having his family by his side made his mind even stronger. Within Meng Chuan’s sea of consciousness, his Primeval Spirit, now a ‘Primeval Spirit Star,’ rotated slowly, becoming increasingly complete and powerful. Meng Chuan’s path in Primeval Spirit cultivation, while not identical to Senior Fei Yu’s, shared at least an 80% similarity, likewise prioritizing mental completeness. Such a Primeval Spirit might be somewhat deficient in offensive capabilities but excelled in defense and stability.

Two days later, Meng You temporarily left the Meng residence and returned to meet her husband, Yang Cheng.

“Wife,” Yang Cheng exclaimed, seeing his wife alight outside the study. He put down his scroll and immediately walked out, staring wide-eyed at her. “Wife, you… you’ve become a Venerable?”

His wife had been cultivating for over three hundred years; logically, it should have been impossible for her to become a Venerable.

“Father had me take a longevity treasure, which elevated my life to the Venerable level,” Meng You said somewhat absentmindedly.

“It was Father-in-law?” Yang Cheng was delighted. “That’s wonderful, truly wonderful.”

Yang Cheng was a genius of Yuanchu Mountain. He was the most brilliant talent among the generation following Meng Chuan, Xue Feng, Yan Chichong, and their peers. He had become a Marquis Godfiend early on and married Meng You, later advancing to a Regressor Godfiend. With Yuanchu Mountain's cultivation resources significantly increasing and Meng Chuan's personal guidance, Yang Cheng even broke through to the Venerable level at the age of 153, while Meng You was a step behind.

“Such a great joyous occasion, my dear, why do you seem so troubled?” Yang Cheng asked, puzzled.

“I’ve been thinking about Yuan’er,” Meng You whispered. “Although Yuan’er was nurtured by both of us and cultivated diligently, he only reached the Marquis Godfiend level. He has now cultivated for over 280 years, and his lifespan is not far off. I’m wondering if I should ask Father, plead with Father to…”

Upon seeing her father, Meng Chuan, successively produce longevity treasures, Meng You thought of her own son. He was her child; as a mother, she naturally cared.

“No, you mustn't,” Yang Cheng said sternly, repeating himself. “Longevity treasures are incredibly precious. In human history, repeated life extensions only happened during Ancestor Cangyuan's era. Father-in-law’s willingness to extend your life is already an immense blessing; you absolutely cannot press him for more.”

“I know, I haven’t said anything, but my heart aches,” Meng You said.

“Longevity treasures are extraordinarily precious; even Tribulation Realm mighty figures must strive to acquire them,” Yang Cheng stated gravely. “A single longevity treasure is enough to cultivate many Godfiends. Our son has led a carefree life and hasn’t made significant contributions to the Cangyuan Realm. What right does he have to such a treasure? If we truly want to help him, we must rely on ourselves. If Yuan’er reaches his lifespan limit, I have long comprehended the ‘Thousand Years in an Instant Formation’ and can set it up to let him slumber before his time runs out. If we both cultivate to become Emperors in the future, according to sect rules, we would be allocated some of the Ancestor's treasures, and then we could extend our son's life. That is the proper way.”

Meng You nodded slightly. “Okay.”

“Father-in-law saved our Cangyuan Realm from peril and has sacrificed untold amounts for our clan. Now, he is dedicating himself to cultivating the younger generation,” Yang Cheng looked at his wife. “As his daughter, you absolutely must not put him in a difficult position.”

“I understand, I’ll listen to you,” Meng You replied.