I stood outside my estate, looking at Aihan Min — the Empress of Darkness from the Void Realm. She was completely shrouded in shadow. Her pitch-black hair fell like a curtain around her face, her eyes were voids without light, and her skin was pale as moonstone. Even her attire was black, as though darkness itself had woven it for her. Her lips, stained the same deep shade, curved in a calm, unreadable expression.
Then I looked to the woman beside her.
My firstborn.
The eldest of all the countless children I had sired across eternity.
She stood quietly, bearing herself with the same composure as her mother. Though she resembled Aihan Min more closely, traces of my own presence lingered within her — in her gaze, in the way she carried herself, in the stillness that surrounded her.
Aihan Min spoke first.
"It's been a long time, Ren," she said calmly. "I thought I would come and find you myself. I waited long enough for you to return."
She gestured slightly to the woman beside her.
"Our daughter came with me. She wished to finally meet her father."
Her gaze returned to me, steady and unyielding.
"Are you going to keep hiding behind that helm?" she asked. "She deserves to see what her father looks like."
I did not answer.
Instead, I lifted my hand and removed my helm.
My thick, long white hair fell freely down my back as I removed the helm. My crimson-black eyes burned softly as I looked at them both.
My daughter stared at me in silence, her gaze filled with curiosity rather than fear. She studied my face carefully, as though engraving it into memory.
Then she spoke.
"My name is Heiyue."
Her voice was calm, steady—carrying neither hesitation nor doubt.
"I am your daughter."
There was no accusation in her tone. No anger. Only quiet certainty.
Aihan Min watched from beside her, her expression unreadable, as if waiting to see how I would respond.
I turned to Nara."Prepare separate rooms for them," I said calmly. "Both of you, follow me."
They did as instructed, walking behind me as we moved through the estate. Neither of them spoke. I could feel their gazes on my back the entire time.
When we reached the prepared chambers, I stopped and turned to face them.
"It is… good to finally see you both," I said quietly.
Then I turned to the servants and maids who had gathered nearby.
"See that they are well taken care of," I ordered. "She is the mother of my eldest child. Treat her with the respect she deserves."
They bowed immediately, voices overlapping as they addressed me by my full title.
"Yes, Eternal Emperor."
I gave a final glance to Aihan Min and to my daughter before turning away, leaving them in capable hands.
I sat upon my throne, a glass of wine in hand — a vintage from the year of my birth, 2002. The taste was familiar, grounding, even after all this time.
Nara approached once more, bowing respectfully.
"Eternal Emperor Ren," he said. "They have adjusted quickly to the estate. Your eldest daughter is currently in the library, reading about your accomplishments throughout history."
He hesitated before continuing.
"What should I address her mother as?"
I took another slow sip before answering.
"Address her by her title," I said calmly. "Empress of Darkness. That is what she is known as in her home world, the Void Realm. If you must, you may also use Eternal Imperial Majesty — as you do with my other wives."
Nara bowed his head. "Understood."
He paused, then added, "There is one more matter. You are expected in the Eternal Council chamber. The other royal families are already assembled."
I exhaled quietly and rose from my throne.
"Very well."
In the next instant, space folded around me.
When reality settled, I was seated once more — this time upon the throne of the Eternal Council. The great chamber stretched endlessly in all directions, and one by one, the gazes of the assembled royal families turned toward me.
They were all present.
Waiting.
Aho Miles spoke first.
She was a werewolf by nature, her presence commanding even among the assembled council. She wore her armor proudly, though her helm remained off. Thick silver hair flowed freely down her back, catching the light of the chamber. Her eyes—bright and sharp like the full moon—were fixed on me, waiting.
"Ren," she said, her voice firm. "You took your time."
Her gaze never wavered, unwavering and expectant, as though daring me to give an excuse.
I met her stare in silence, my expression unreadable.
"I have no excuse," I said calmly. "I apologize for being late. My six wives have just given birth, and something else occurred as well—something I will explain at a later time. For now, that will have to suffice."
The chamber fell silent.
Aho Miles studied me for a moment, then a small smile curved her lips.
"Well then," she said, "when do you intend for us to travel to Mìngjiè Xiānlù—the cultivation world?"
All eyes turned toward me, waiting for my answer.
I leaned back slightly in my seat before replying.
"Who knows," I said evenly. "Soon, hopefully. But if not, it does not matter for now. We still have our duties to uphold—as the Ten Royal Families, as rulers of the Eternal Empire… and of Earth itself."
The room remained silent, the weight of my words settling over them.
"We were born in the same era," he continued, his voice steady."We had parents. Families. Lives that were once ordinary."
His eyes darkened slightly as memory surfaced.
"Our families were close—friends bound together long before power ever touched us. We grew up side by side, as children, unaware of what we would one day become. It was only later… when you changed us… that everything else followed."
He looked back at me, expression resolute.
"You gave us strength beyond mortality. Bodies that do not age. Lives untouched by death. But before all of that—we were simply human. And we chose to follow you."
"Thank you, Azekiel," I said quietly. "Your words mean much to me."
Azekiel inclined his head. He was an archangel, his helm still in place, pale-gold wings folded neatly behind him.
Then Raiden spoke.
"Ren," he said, his voice carrying its usual calm strength. "My oldest friend… I encountered a peculiar young woman earlier. She reminded me of you. If you don't mind me asking—who is she?"
I answered without hesitation.
"She is my eldest child. One I sired an eternity ago."
Silence followed.
The members of the Eternal Council exchanged brief glances, but none of them pressed the matter. No one questioned me. No one needed to.
Raiden gave a slow nod, accepting the answer as it was. He said nothing more.
Raiden is the deity of the sky, with thunder and lightning as his preferred elements.
Ena spoke next. She was Raiden's ex-wife; she was the one who caught him in the affair with her own brother. None of us ever mentioned it after it happened. Ena was the deity of nature—a kind soul who didn't particularly enjoy fighting, yet when she did, she was extraordinary, even though she hated it.
"Tell me, Ren, I have a question about who will take the succession. Out of your children, who should it be?" She paused, then added, "That girl… what's her name, if I may ask?"
"Her name is Heiyue. She will become Empress of her mother's empire. She will not be next in line for the Eternal Empire. Jenova, however, will inherit the Eternal Empire when Bai no longer wishes to rule."
"Anyhow, I plan for all my children to become emperors and empresses as we conquer other realms. Aihan Min will give me the Void Realm to add to the power of our Eternal Empire, but my eldest daughter will completely rule the Void Realm as its Empress."
She nodded. "I understand."
Lucis was the last to speak. He was a wraith. He said, "'Now that we got that out of the way… the Chibana family's eldest daughter, the newest of our generals who controls the Rebellion Legion, Yuki Chibana, has been chosen by her family to marry you.'"
"Really? I see. Then I also plan on marrying Aihan Min—it's what I should have done ages ago. When does the Chibana family intend for the marriage to take place?"
Lucis spoke: "They said they plan for it to happen as soon as possible, so they haven't set an exact date yet. Basically, whenever. But I believe the eldest daughter is coming here today to get to know you."
"I see," I replied. "Then I'll wait until they decide on an actual date."
We spoke more about important matters, and once it was over, we all left. I returned to my throne and teleported there. As I sat, I closed my eyes, lost in thought, waiting for Yuki Chibana to arrive, since she was visiting.
After a while, she appeared. She wore a slit dress that revealed her long legs, and a white animal pelt draped around her shoulders. Her hair was pitch black, except for a single snow-white streak running across the right side.
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