The Third Generation Comes

That night in the celestial gardens led to months of preparation. Ao Lui spent much of his pregnancy in his dragon form within the ice cave his father had once occupied, Xiaohei never leaving his side. As the time drew near, Ao Bing stayed close, remembering his own experience, ready to guide his son through what was to come.

A year later, the moment finally arrived. Ao Lui's massive purple form coiled anxiously in the cave, static electricity crackling through the air. Xiaohei pressed close in his humanoid form, one hand resting on his husband's scaled neck.

With a quick motion, as natural as breathing, Ao Lui spat out two eggs onto the cushioned nest before him.

"Two?" Ao Lui said in surprise as he looked at the eggs he'd just expelled. "I thought I was only carrying one!"

"Twins," Xiaohei breathed, his tail straight up in shock. He approached the eggs cautiously, his feline instincts drawing him closer to examine them. The pearlescent white egg crackled with familiar static energy, while the midnight blue one seemed to pulse with celestial light.

Xiaohei circled the nest, his ears twitching at every little sound from the eggs, unable to contain himself.

In a show of ethereal light, the two eggs began to glow. The shells didn't crack so much as dissolve, wisping away like morning mist to reveal the children within.

The first egg's pearlescent shell dissipated in swirls of white light, revealing a little boy. His white hair seemed to float in an invisible breeze, framing delicate features marked by red around his eyes. Two sets of red horns - one pair curving forward near his temples, the other sweeping back from his crown - caught the cave's light. His magenta eyes blinked open as his white cat ears, their insides a deep red, twitched at the new sounds around him. The red lotus mark on his forehead pulsed softly with divine energy, and his sharp red nails glinted as he reached toward his parents.

"He looks like both of us," Xiaohei whispered, reaching out to gentle touch one of his son's red-tipped horns.

The second egg's shell spiraled away in ribbons of starlight, unveiling a little girl. Her white hair settled around her like fresh snow, her red eyes bright with curiosity. The purple lotus mark on her forehead shimmered as she took her first breath. Her white cat ears, their insides a soft blue, perked forward with interest, while her tail - which her brother lacked - curled delicately around her as she blinked up at them. Purple horns crowned her head like a tiara, and her sharp blue nails sparkled like fragments of ice.

The magical residue from the eggs danced through the air for a moment longer before fading away, leaving the two perfect children reaching for their parents. Xiaohei and Ao Lui gathered them close, marveling at how their different bloodlines had combined to create such extraordinary beings.

"What should we call them?" Ao Lui asked softly.

Xiaohei studied their son's red markings and the lotus on his forehead. "Ao Huli," he suggested. "For the red marks around his eyes, like a fox spirit."

"Perfect," Ao Lui smiled, then looked at their daughter, watching as small sparks of electricity danced in her white hair. "And she should be Ao Qing. For the way she gleams like lightning."

Neither baby cried. Instead, they blinked up at their parents with distinct awareness, their personalities immediately apparent. Ao Huli lay quietly in Ao Lui's arms, his magenta eyes studying everything around him with careful consideration. His feline ears twitched at each new sound, taking in his surroundings with a serious expression that seemed almost comical on his infant face.

Ao Qing, on the other hand, was already moving with purpose. Her red eyes sparkled with mischief as she reached out, tiny fingers with sharp blue nails grasping her brother's front horn and giving it a firm tug. Ao Huli let out an indignant cry - his first sound since emerging - while his sister made a noise that could only be described as a giggle.

"Ao Qing," Xiaohei scolded gently, trying and failing to hide his amusement. "Don't tease your brother."

"She's definitely your daughter," Ao Lui laughed, watching as their little girl's tail swished with satisfaction at having provoked a reaction.

Ao Huli shot his sister what could only be described as a betrayed look, his white cat ears laying flat against his head. But when Ao Qing reached for him again, this time more gently, he allowed her to grasp his finger instead.

"And just like that, she's already got him wrapped around her finger," Xiaohei observed, his green eyes soft with love as he watched their twins interact.

The babies' contrasting personalities were already clear - Ao Qing the instigator, Ao Huli the patient observer. Yet there was an obvious bond between them, evident in the way they reached for each other even in these first moments of life.

No one quite expected Ao Luisheng and Xiaohei's love of children to manifest quite so... prolifically. After the twins, they discovered they truly enjoyed parenthood. They had another, Then they had twins, another, a set of triplets, Then another. And another. And they just... kept going.

In total, they had seventeen children. Not by accident, not through any divine mandate, but because they genuinely wanted a large family. Each time they thought they might be done, they'd look at each other and decide, well, maybe just one more. Until "one more" had happened eight more times.

The golden palace had transformed into a sprawling nursery of divine chaos, filled with children of every possible combination of their extraordinary bloodlines. Some had Xiaohei's white hair with Ne Zha's red eyes, others Ao Bing's blue horns with Ao Luisheng's purple lightning. Cat ears, dragon horns, pointed ears, tails - their children wore their mixed heritage in fascinating combinations.

"Another egg?" the palace staff would whisper whenever they noticed Ao Luisheng's dragon form returning to the ice cave, Xiaohei faithfully by his side. "Surely not..." But yes, indeed, another egg. And usually not just one - their tendency toward multiple births had become something of a legend in the celestial realm.

Ao Lui's mixed bloodline should have made conception difficult, however cat spirits were known for their large litters. Instead of fighting against the odds, Xiaohei's feline fertility more than compensated, resulting in mostly twins and triplets with each pregnancy.

There wasn't a single moment when Ao Lui wasn't carrying at least one baby in his arms, lightning crackling softly around them like a lullaby. The older children trained in the courtyards, their various inherited powers creating spectacular displays as they practiced - some wielding lightning like their father, others showing off feline agility or dragon strength. Meanwhile, the younger ones formed an adorable parade behind either parent, tiny hands clutching silken robes,

The most shocking part wasn't even the number - it was how obviously deliberate it all was- the way Ao Luisheng and Xiaohei's faces would light up with each new pregnancy.

Xiaohei had always dreamed of a large family, having grown up alone before Wuxian found him. Each time Ao Lui became pregnant, Xiaohei's joy would bubble over, his tail practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect of more little ones to love.

The youngest five were still small enough to trail after their parents, and the oldest were already starting to explore their divine power. One had already manifested the ability to create domains like Xiaohei, though his were filled with lightning rather than peaceful scenes. Another showed signs of Ne Zha's destructive strength, requiring constant supervision to prevent accidental damage to the palace.

Their personalities were as varied as their appearances. Some were righteous like Ao Lui, others pranksters like Xiaohei. A few had inherited Ne Zha's fierce fighting spirit, while few others possessed Ao Bing's diplomatic grace. 

The palace staff had long since grown used to finding children in unexpected places - napping in dragon form on cloud formations, practicing lightning strikes in the gardens, or curled up as kittens in patches of sunlight. The air was constantly charged with a mixture of static electricity and divine energy, and it wasn't uncommon to see small lightning bolts chasing fireballs down the corridors as the children played.

The grandparents had settled into amusing roles of their own. Ne Zha, the fearsome Heavenly Emperor, had become the quintessential indulgent grandfather. He could be found sneaking sweets to the little ones, teaching them increasingly dramatic ways to make entrances, and generally spoiling them rotten. His excuse was always the same: "What's the point of being the Heavenly Emperor if I can't spoil my grandchildren?"

Ao Bing, on the other hand, channeled his father Ao Guang's parenting style. He took charge of teaching the children proper etiquette, dragon traditions, and the importance of maintaining dignity - though his stern lessons were often undermined by Ne Zha swooping in with fireworks and candy. The children quickly learned to go to Grandfather Ne Zha for fun and Grandfather Bing for wisdom, playing the two against each other with the kind of tactical genius that proved they were indeed divine offspring.

Among the seventeen children of the God of Lightning, one stood apart. Not in power or divine right, but in temperament.

Where many of his siblings brought chaos and lightning to the golden palace halls, Ao Huli moved with measured grace, his childhood solemnity maturing into dignified composure as he grew.

And while his younger siblings clung to their parents' robes and his twin sister Ao Qing led others in mischief, Ao Huli dedicated himself to training under his grandfather Ao Bing and studying with Wuxian. His movements became precise, controlled - each action calculated for maximum efficiency whether in combat or ceremony.

In the celestial realm, heavenly spirits were assigned tasks that maintained the delicate balance of the mortal world. These divine assignments ranged from turning leaves in autumn to guiding rain clouds in spring. Each action in the immortal realm had its echo below - a complex dance of cause and effect that kept the worlds in harmony. Some spirits guided seasonal changes, others influenced natural phenomena, and a select few were tasked with maintaining the very forces of nature themselves.

The assignment of these tasks was a crucial moment in any young spirit's life, determining their role in both realms. Some received simple duties like tending to specific types of flowers or caring for certain animals. Others were given more complex responsibilities depending on their personality and spiritual constitution. 

Now, at seventeen, Ao Huli stood ready to receive his own task. For the firstborn son of the God of Lightning, this wasn't merely a coming-of-age ritual - it was the moment that would define his place in the cosmic order.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The morning of their council appearance, Ao Huli had already been awake for hours, methodically preparing himself. He sat perfectly still as servants adjusted his formal robes, every detail of his appearance reflecting the gravity of the occasion.

"Ao Qing!" Xiaohei's exasperated voice echoed down the hall. "You can't sleep through your own divine assignment!"

A muffled groan came from his twin's chambers, followed by the sound of something - likely a pillow - hitting a wall.

"Five more minutes..." Ao Qing's voice drifted through the door.

"You said that an hour ago," Ao Lui called out, trying to wrangle some of the younger children who had decided this was the perfect morning to play lightning tag in the corridors. "The Council of Divine Tasks doesn't give second chances!"

Ao Huli could hear his sister finally shuffling around her room, probably throwing on her robes haphazardly. He closed his eyes briefly, centering himself as chaos erupted around him.

"Has anyone seen my other shoe?" Ao Qing's voice rang out, followed by the sound of furniture being moved.

"If you'd prepared last night-" Ao Lui started.

"Yes, yes," she interrupted, finally emerging from her room with her white hair in slight disarray.

Ao Lui appeared between them, straightening Ao Qing's robes with one hand while balancing their youngest sibling, Ao Qiu, with the other. "Remember the council takes into account every little thing you say and do," he said, "you must not arrive in such a sorry state."

"Found it!" came a small voice from below. One of their younger siblings, Ao Li toddled up, proudly holding the missing footwear in her small hands.

Through it all, Ao Huli remained seated, his composure unruffled by the familiar chaos. Only his red-tipped ears occasionally twitched, betraying his awareness of the commotion around him.

"We're going to be late," he finally said quietly, his measured tone cutting through the disorder.

"We won't be late," Ao Qing insisted, hopping on one foot as she put on her shoe.

"Remember to speak clearly," Ao Lui fussed, adjusting Ao Huli's collar one final time. "And Ao Qing, try not to-"

"Start any lightning storms in the council chamber?" she finished with a grin, dodging her father's attempt to smooth down a rebellious strand of her white hair.

A cluster of their younger siblings had gathered to see them off. One of the smallest, Ao Sheng, barely walking, clutched at Ao Huli's robes with tiny claws. Another, Ao Ping, was perched on Xiaohei's shoulders in kitten form, while one set of twins, Ao Meiling and Ao Yawen, clung to Ao Lui's legs.

"Brother, will you still train with us when you get your task?" one of the middle children, Ao Zedong, a triplet, asked.

"Of course," Ao Huli replied softly, gently detaching the toddler from his robes and kneeling to their eye level. "A divine task doesn't change family obligations."

"Unless he gets something really important," Ao Su, another one of the triplets said excitedly, "Like controlling the sun!"

Ao Qing rolled her eyes. "The sun doesn't need controlling. It does fine on its own."

"Actually-" Ao Huli began, but Xiaohei cut him off with a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Save the astronomy lessons for after the council," their father said, his green eyes twinkling with amusement. His tail swished proudly as he looked at both twins. "Whatever tasks you receive, we know you'll do them well."

Ao Lui finally managed to catch Ao Qing and fix her hair, small static sparks flying from his fingers. "Just remember to-"

"Be respectful, speak clearly, and don't cause any natural disasters," both twins recited in unison, though with vastly different tones - Ao Huli's serious, Ao Qing's playful.

A small lightning bolt crackled between two of their younger siblings, followed by a yelp and some giggles. Ao Lui turned to handle the situation, still calling out last-minute advice over his shoulder.

"Time to go," Ao Huli said quietly, giving his youngest siblings one final pat on the head.

"Race you there!" Ao Qing called out, already darting away.

"We're going to the Council of Divine Tasks, not the-" Ao Huli started, but his sister was already disappearing down the corridor in a flash of white hair and mischievous laughter.

Their parents watched them go - one running, one walking with measured steps - until they disappeared from view.

Outside the Council chambers, a group of young spirits waited for their assignments. Among them, two minor weather deities whispered as they watched Ao Huli and Ao Qing approach.

"That's the God of Lightning's son," one murmured. "I heard he's mastered four different martial arts."

"With that lineage? He'll probably get something like controlling celestial bodies," the other replied. "No one with that much divine blood gets assigned to something like flower-tending."

A small nature spirit who had been quietly tending to a potted plant nearby seemed to shrink into herself at these words.

Ao Qing flopped onto one of the waiting benches, her tail swishing as she stretched. "I hope this doesn't take too long. I promised the little ones I'd teach them how to create lightning balls today."

"Ao Qing," Ao Huli said quietly, remaining standing. "This determines our role in maintaining the mortal realm's balance. It deserves our full attention."

Before his sister could respond, the chamber doors opened. A spirit emerged, beaming with joy. "I've been assigned to help spring flowers bloom!" she announced excitedly.

"Oh," one of the weather deities said, their tone dripping with false sympathy. "That's... nice."

Ao Huli's red-tipped ears twitched at the exchange, his magenta eyes narrowing slightly as he observed the subtle hierarchy playing out before him. His perfect posture betrayed no other reaction, though his sharp nails pressed briefly into his palms.

"Ao Huli," a voice called from within the chamber. "The Council will see you now."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Council Chamber doors opened silently at his approach, releasing a curl of ethereal mist. Ao Huli entered with measured steps, his footfalls echoing in the vast circular hall. Above, the domed ceiling seemed to contain an entire galaxy, stars shifting and swirling in eternal dance.

Nine ancient spirits sat in a perfect semicircle, each on a throne that reflected their domain.

Their appearances were distinct - some appeared as elderly scholars, others as ageless beauties. Yet all bore the same penetrating gaze, eyes that had witnessed the turning of countless centuries.

Ao Huli came to stop in the center of an intricate pattern carved into the floor - a complex mandala that seemed to pulse with its own inner light. He knelt gracefully, his dual sets of horns catching the starlight from above as he bowed his head in respect.

"Rise, child of lightning and spirit," the central figure spoke, their voice carrying the echo of mountains. "Let us see who you are."

As Ao Huli rose, the mandala beneath his feet began to glow brighter, responding to his presence. The council members leaned forward slightly, their ancient eyes taking in every detail of his being.

"The grandson of Ne Zha," one mused, flames dancing in their eyes. "Yet he carries none of his grandfather's impulsiveness."

"Look how still he stands," observed another, "Not a single wasted movement. More like the Dragon Empress in that regard."

Ao Huli remained motionless as they discussed him, though his red-tipped ears caught every whispered observation. 

"His power signature is... interesting," the first noted, leaning forward on their radiant throne. "Lightning like his father, but contained, controlled. It simmers rather than sparks."

The seconds' dark eyes narrowed. "Yet there's something else. Watch his eyes when-" They gestured, and a small spirit appeared briefly before vanishing. Ao Huli's magenta eyes had tracked the spirit's appearance and disappearance with keen observation, missing nothing.

"Ah," the third smiled. "Did you see? He observes everything, yet reveals nothing. Most young spirits would have shown surprise, curiosity at least."

"The cat spirit's blood gives him heightened perception," the fourth added, "but he possesses his own natural gravity. Rare in one so young."

"Perhaps too serious?" the fifth suggested, rose petals drifting from their crown. "There are duties that require joy as well as solemnity."

"No," the sixth contradicted softly. "Watch." They created a small ice butterfly that flew past Ao Huli's face. For just a moment, his expression softened imperceptibly, a flash of gentle appreciation crossing his features before returning to careful neutrality.

"There it is," the seventh nodded. "Compassion, carefully guarded but deeply felt. Exactly what's needed for..."

They fell into meaningful silence, exchanging knowing looks. The Fire Lord leaned back, flames crackling thoughtfully. "Are we in agreement then?"

Eight heads nodded. The ninth smiled mysteriously. "It's already written," they said simply.

The central figure rose, their voice carrying the weight of mountains as they prepared to announce Ao Huli's assignment.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

"Ao Huli," the lead council member spoke, their voice resonating in the vast chamber. "We have observed your bearing, your temperament, and the very essence of your spirit."

"You possess a rare quality," another member continued. "A steadiness of spirit combined with an understanding of the weight of consequence. Your ability to remain unmoved in chaos while maintaining deep compassion is... unusual in one so young."

"Therefore," the first speaker declared, "you are to be assigned to the Department of Reincarnation, under the direct guidance of both Meng Po, the Goddess of Rebirth, and Yan Wang, the God of Judgment."

"You will assist in the evaluation and processing of souls," the council member explained. "Working with Yan Wang to judge their karma, and with Meng Po to ensure proper rebirth. Your role will be to help maintain the balance between justice and mercy, punishment and redemption."

The magnitude of this assignment settled over the room like a heavy cloak. This wasn't just tending to natural phenomena - this was dealing with the very cycle of life, death, and rebirth itself.

"Do you accept this task?" the council asked formally.

Ao Huli's magenta eyes remained steady as he responded, his voice clear and unwavering. "I accept the responsibility with which you have honored me."

As he spoke these ritual words, he could already feel the weight of his new role settling onto his shoulders. This was no simple task of turning leaves or guiding rain - he would be helping to guide the very souls of mortals through their eternal cycle.

The council members nodded in approval, noting how even now, faced with such a momentous assignment, the young spirit maintained his characteristic composure. Perhaps, they thought, this was exactly why he was so suited for this role - someone who could face both the highest joys and deepest sorrows of mortal souls without losing his own center.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​