Heavenly Star Mountain Range, Star Realm.
Under the canopy of night, atop the ancient tree at the heart of Star Realm, Chen Xiaoming stood alone at the edge of its highest branch, gazing down at the boundless world beneath him.
This grand expanse of Star Realm—every stone and stream—had been painstakingly shaped by his own hands over the course of more than a decade. Compared to his time in the Douluo Plane, his devotion here had been far deeper.
Tap.
A soft sound echoed on the branches above. Xiao Xun'er appeared, her three thousand strands of ink-black hair cascading like a waterfall to her slender waist. The once-youthful innocence on her delicate face had given way to a breathtaking beauty.
Her eyes, clear as autumn water, shimmered under the starlight like a sky full of brilliant stars—deeply enchanting.
"Teacher."
Her voice rang out like a mountain spring, clear and melodious. Standing beside him with reverence, Xiao Xun'er bowed slightly.
Confusion lingered in her eyes. She didn't understand why she'd been summoned here so suddenly.
Chen Xiaoming continued to gaze silently at the distant stars, the depths of his eyes reflecting scenes from his life in this world.
It had already been three months since he returned from the Ancient God's Mansion. At that time, he had publicly announced the date of Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan's wedding, inviting the entire Dou Qi Continent—its great clans and supreme powerhouses alike.
And now, the wedding was tomorrow.
"Do you still remember the day I took you in as my disciple?"
Chen Xiaoming spoke lightly, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Recalling the reason he had accepted Xiao Xun'er all those years ago, he found it both amusing and nostalgic.
Though his words were calm, they struck a chord within Xiao Xun'er. Her perceptive nature caught the deeper meaning hidden beneath his tone. The corners of her eyes moistened, and the memory of that moment—when she first became his disciple—rose vividly in her mind.
Looking back, it all felt like a fleeting blink, yet more than ten years had passed.
"You were such a silly little girl back then," he said with a soft chuckle, eyes still locked on the stars. "So naïve."
Then, with a bitter smile, he shook his head.
"And honestly, your teacher wasn't much wiser."
A man who had always lived freely and unrestrained, he must have been momentarily deranged to take on a disciple.
The more bonds you form, the more you're bound by them. The freedom to act as you wish slowly slips away.
Still, when he looked back on everything that had happened these past ten years, he didn't regret much.
"What was I thinking, taking in a silly little disciple like you?"
With a light laugh, he reached out and knocked gently on her forehead. Xiao Xun'er furrowed her brows and pouted slightly, her eyes filled with memories. She playfully grumbled in response:
"Teacher, that hurts!"
"Hahaha, you little brat."
His laughter rang out loudly. Xiao Xun'er was already a Nine-Star Dou Saint—a tap like that couldn't possibly hurt. But seeing her react that way brought Chen Xiaoming back to the early days.
Reflective and soft-spoken, he thought of his own journey:
Douluo was a world where he had no attachments.
Shrouding the Heavens was a path he was compelled to walk.
But it was here, in Battle Through the Heavens, that he found something he couldn't let go of.
"My disciple, tomorrow is the day you and Xiao Yan wed."
A blush bloomed across Xiao Xun'er's face. She didn't know why the topic changed so suddenly but lowered her head and listened respectfully.
"Xiao Yan, he… sigh, never mind. No point talking about him now."
He'd intended to say something, but in the face of farewell, it felt inappropriate. Letting out a soft sigh, he said nothing more.
Turning slightly, he looked at Xiao Xun'er—who had grown up right before his eyes—and hesitated. In the end, he swallowed his words.
Her nature would never allow her to follow him. There was no need to force it.
With that thought, his heart reached a decision.
"After I witness your wedding tomorrow, I will be leaving."
Though Xiao Xun'er had sensed this day might come, her body still trembled slightly. An unexplainable wave of emotion surged through her chest, and tears welled in her eyes.
As his disciple, she knew him better than anyone.
With Chen Xiaoming's strength, there hadn't been a soul on the Dou Qi Continent who could stand against him for years. And yet, he had never left—he stayed behind, waiting.
Waiting until she became a Nine-Star Dou Saint.
Waiting until she and Xiao Yan were wed.
"Teacher…"
Her voice cracked with emotion as she softly called out to him. Over the years, she had spent more time with Chen Xiaoming than even with her own father.
The warmth he gave her—the care and affection—was like that of a true parent.
Now, knowing that he would be leaving tomorrow, she couldn't stop the aching sorrow in her heart.
"Silly girl, it's your wedding tomorrow. Why the tears?"
He gently wiped the tears from her eyes, his fingers brushing her forehead as he always had—tenderly, like the first time.
"Go on now. Let me be alone for a while."
Speaking softly, he gestured for her to leave. Though she wanted to stay, he lightly pushed her away, sending her drifting from the ancient tree's canopy.
She glanced back several times, reluctant to leave. But at last, under Chen Xiaoming's quiet wave, her body flew beyond the edge and disappeared into the night.
As she departed, the vast Ancient Tree of the Stars fell silent once more.
Chen Xiaoming gazed up at the heavens for a long time. At last, a glint of starlight passed through his eyes. His resolve solidified.
"Zi Jin—could I entrust her to you?"
His voice, calm and steady, drifted down to the base of the tree.
There, a massive figure stirred. The Violet-Gold Lion King opened its eyes, each one dozens of times larger than a lantern. It met Chen Xiaoming's gaze, hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly.
A deep, solemn voice echoed out:
"…I can."
"Good."
Chen Xiaoming nodded. With a flick of his hand, a ripple of light flashed from his Spatial Ring, and a ring appeared in his palm. With a snap of his fingers, it flew toward the lion.
Roar.
A low, resonant growl rumbled through the air—not one of anger, but of solemn intensity.
The Violet-Gold Lion King did not take the ring at once.
He—Zi Jin, the Violet-Gold Lion King—had received great kindness. That debt must be repaid.
"Take it, Zi Jin. What's inside will help you all when you journey beyond this realm."
Chen Xiaoming's tone was quiet but firm. The ring contained the many Emperor-grade Pills he had refined in recent years—crafted only after advancing to the rank of Emperor Alchemist, using experience points.
Even though this world lacked Origin Qi, the effects of those pills far surpassed that of Ninth-Rank Gold Pills.
Roar…
The Violet-Gold Lion King studied the ring for a while before finally opening his mouth and swallowed it whole, storing it safely within.
Atop the ancient tree, Chen Xiaoming gave a slight nod. With the current strength of the Violet-Gold Lion King, as long as there was sufficient source energy, a breakthrough to the Dou God realm was inevitable. When the time came to venture to the Upper Realm, it would become a formidable support at Xiao Xun'er's side.
With everything arranged and his tasks completed, Chen Xiaoming now found himself alone. He stretched out lazily on the broad branch of the ancient tree, eyes serene as he gazed up at the boundless stars scattered across the sky of the Star Realm.
"It's time to leave."
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