Chapter 394

Chapter 394: No More Celestial Maidens in the World

All celestial maidens were reincarnated souls who endured immense suffering during the previous calamity. Their special abilities served as compensation from the Heavenly Dao. Though blessed by fortune at birth, if they ultimately met tragic ends, could such blessings truly be called blessings?

The more they contemplated, the more a chill crept over them. If this continued, celestial maidens wouldn’t just fail to establish sects – they might become mere tools for planting spiritual roots or scapegoats in gender conflicts. Soon, no celestial maiden might remain to found sects.

This wasn’t the gravest concern. If the two realms fully connected, the Mortal Realm would inevitably become a world where women dominated men. Who could prevent another deranged race like the Long Clan from emerging? Such a race might replicate past oppression against women, but now target men, sparking another calamity.

"Then… should men also gain spiritual roots?" Yuan Qi suggested hesitantly. The current system where only women bore spiritual roots stemmed from the Heavenly Dao’s punishment after the last calamity. As the main deity governing the Heavenly Dao, he could alter this rule.

"That would worsen the chaos," You You countered. The Immortal Realm’s few yet powerful women maintained their status through innate spiritual roots and celestial maidens’ influence. Yet even this couldn’t prevent dens of evil targeting women. Loosening restrictions would breed more such atrocities, particularly in the Mortal Realm.

"Not that men having spiritual roots is inherently bad!" You You quickly added. "The Heavenly Dao needs adjustment, but timing and method matter. We must determine when to act and what balance to strike."

Changing too soon might recreate the male-dominated calamity. Acting too late could trigger female-dominated destruction. Simple calculations revealed the countdown to either apocalyptic scenario.

"What solution exists?" Feng Rong growled, frustration evident. "Men and women differ inherently. Worldly cycles require yin-yang harmony."

Yuan Qi nodded grimly. "Precisely. Beyond the last calamity’s legacy, women inherently shoulder greater burdens in life’s continuation. Hence their spiritual roots – though Spirit Gathering Pools emerged…"

"Spirit Gathering Pools!" You You leaped up, eyes blazing with inspiration. "I’ve got it!"

Feng Rong: "…"

Yuan Qi: "…"

You You’s revelation hinged on fundamental gender disparity – women’s biological duty in species continuation consumed their lives, hindering other pursuits. Even cultivators fell behind men when bearing this responsibility.

Having lived on Blue Star through Sister Jing’s memories, You You recalled a civilization with progressive ideas yet unresolved gender conflicts. Liberation failed there because women couldn’t escape reproductive duties. But here, the Spirit Gathering Pool offered hope.

"Yuan Papa, if the Pool creates strange men, can it produce women?" You You pressed.

Yuan Qi’s eyes widened in realization. "With Nether King’s help adjusting the Heavenly Dao and reincarnation paths… yes. The Pool formed from the Yang volume of the Heavenly Dao Book. Modifying it to nurture female fetuses requires… female blood as catalyst."

"Simple enough!" A blood drop proved easier than ten-month pregnancies. Freeing women from reproductive mandates could enable true gender equality.

After days consulting Nether King, they finalized integration plans for both realms. The world would change – starting now.

———————

Post-Great Competition of the Two Realms, Immortal and Celestial Realms initiated formal exchanges. Every few years, powerful cultivators opened the inter-realm seal for sect or national delegations. Initial caution faded as crossings grew frequent – from biennial events to monthly occurrences. Disciples routinely crossed realms for training.

Within a century, realm-hopping became commonplace. The weakening seal required fewer openers: from six God Transformation Cultivators down to Golden Core cultivators straining their power. Another century saw the seal dissolve entirely, merging the culturally blended realms into a quasi-unified world.

Years later, Mortal Realm rumors spread: the Spirit Gathering Pool now permitted couples to nurture female fetuses through mutual affection and blood offerings. Lovers and cultivators alike flocked to attempt daughter-conception.

A century later, men with spiritual roots emerged, mostly Pool-born from hopeful parents. Another hundred years witnessed You You, Zhen Yan Sect’s leader, transferring authority to disciple Shui Yan before ascending with followers – history’s grandest ascension event, many reaching Divine Realm before Sect Master You vanished.

Another century passed. All new life emerged from the Pool. No woman carried children again. Gender distinctions faded.

Simultaneously, celestial maidens ceased appearing in the world.