Chapter 14
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Chapter 14: The Increase of Population
“Blessings descend upon women, yet men aren’t forgotten,” Lin Feng explained. “That’s why the Mortal Realm has the Spirit Gathering Pool method to extend life through spiritual condensation.”
“What method?” You You asked.
“Birth through the Spirit Gathering Pool,” Lin Feng answered. “Nearly every city has one, formed by heaven and earth’s spiritual energy. If you drip your blood into the pool, a spirit fetus forms, continuing the bloodline of the donor.”
“Wait… you’re saying children grow in the water?” You You gaped, her imagination failing to grasp this.
“Correct.” Lin Feng nodded calmly.
“Just one drop of blood?!” She blinked. Was having a child here as simple as a folktale?
“It’s more involved,” Lin Feng clarified. “One must guard the pool for forty-nine days, then wait nine months for the fetus to fully form.”
“That’s… unbelievable.” Like picking babies from ponds? At least traditional tales required drinking magic water first!
“It’s true,” Liu Qing cut in, gesturing at herself and the others. “We were born this way.”
“…” You You stared silently, struggling to process this.
Liu Qing scratched her head awkwardly. “We’ve no parents. Nurtured by earth’s energy, we’re called strange people.”
Technically, they had fathers – but a single drop of blood couldn’t match ten months of pregnancy. Without emotional bonds, families fractured easily. Many on Tianze Continent impulsively created offspring in pools only to abandon them later.
“All Spirit Pool births are male,” Lin Feng added. “Over half Tianze’s population are strange people.”
Their unnatural origin barred strange people from power circles. Lacking family networks, they became synonymous with the lower class. Even in towns, their status drew scorn. Few ever met the scarce women.
You You recognized this pattern – another form of discrimination. Elevating women required suppressing others. Her modern world hadn’t erased such biases; this medieval realm stood no chance.
Without women, strange families couldn’t forge alliances through marriage. Humans thrive on kinship; lone individuals can’t rival clan networks. Thus prominent families grew dominant while strange people sank lower – an unstoppable cycle. Noble ladies anchored this system, their presence signaling a family’s rise.
Though confused, You You voiced her doubt: “If women are so rare, why aren’t they exploited? Scarcity breeds greed. In my world, traffickers…”
Teammates recoiled in horror. “Impossible!” one exclaimed. “No one would dare!”
“Why not?”
“Heaven’s wrath!” they chorused.
“Heaven’s… wrath?”
“Such crimes anger gods and mortals alike!”
“Unthinkable! Even villains wouldn’t harm women!”
“Immortal sects would obliterate offenders!”
You You frowned. “Immortal sects?”
“Women naturally possess spiritual roots,” Lin Feng explained. “They can practice immortal cultivation, even ascend. Harming them invites every sect’s vengeance.”
“Men lack spiritual roots?”
Chuckles answered her. “Heaven favors noble ladies,” a teammate smiled. “Unless blessed beyond reason, men can’t cultivate.”
You You finally understood. Women held absolute power here through cultivation strength. No wonder their status went unchallenged!
Her relief faltered as something nagged her mind. Before she could ponder, Lin Feng called out: “The official road’s ahead!”
Looking up, she saw forest thinning into meadows. A dirt path snaked through the grass.
The group relaxed – fewer monsters prowled roads. But Lin Feng warned: “Stay alert! Beast waves leave dangers.”
Yin Fan shrugged. “We traveled this road days ago. It’s safe.” He led them onward.
The battered road bore claw marks and pits. A teammate suddenly pointed: “People ahead!”
A vintage carriage stood parked, servant waving urgently. “Hunters! Over here!”
