"Phew… finally gone."
Standing atop the platform, a young Dou Emperor exhaled in relief as he watched Chen Xiaoming and Xiao Xun'er vanish into the horizon. While they were here, he felt like he could barely breathe.
He wasn't alone. The same suffocating pressure weighed on Feng Qing'er and the others. Before a powerhouse like Chen Xiaoming, they were no more than ants—easily crushed without a second thought.
Xiao Yan stood at the edge of the platform, gazing into the distance, his eyes gleaming with unwavering resolve.
He would never forget Chen Xiaoming's warning in that spatial domain. And he would never forget the five-year pact between them.
Five years from now—go to the Star Realm and marry Xiao Xun'er!
It sounded tempting. Too tempting.
But Xiao Yan didn't believe it would be that easy. Nothing so good ever was.
Lowering his head, he clenched his fists, his expression growing sharper by the second.
Power. He needed power—true power.
They were both transmigrators, yet before Chen Xiaoming, he felt as insignificant as dust. Xiao Yan refused to believe it had to be that way. If Chen Xiaoming could rise to such heights, why couldn't he?
Of course, if Chen Xiaoming had known what Xiao Yan was thinking, he might have shared another truth.
That era is long gone. Back when you crossed over, you had protagonist's luck and an old master guiding you.
But when he transmigrated, he came with a full-fledged system—one that let him roam the myriad realms freely.
What you struggle to reach over a lifetime... might just be where his journey begins.
Meanwhile, outside the Tianmu Mountains, in the vast void…
"You're sure? You really want to stay… with him?"
Flying alone ahead, Chen Xiaoming's voice was calm as it floated back toward Xiao Xun'er.
Her eyes were filled with determination, but also hesitation. She looked at him, pained and conflicted, before finally answering.
"…Yes. I've made up my mind, Teacher."
"Sigh…"
At the sound of his sigh, Xiao Xun'er's body trembled. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she stared at him, wordless, the emotions choking in her throat.
She wanted to say something, but in the end… said nothing.
"You silly disciple."
With a flash of light, a radiant silver glow enveloped her. In the blink of an eye, she was beside Chen Xiaoming. He reached out, gently ruffling her hair, a warm smile on his face.
He had long anticipated this decision.
He understood her well—after so many years together, how could he not? Once she set her heart on something, she rarely changed it. And the person she loved… would never change either.
That was one of the qualities he admired most about her.
Though, ironically, it was also the reason she refused to leave with him—to journey beyond this world.
"When are you planning to leave, Teacher?"
Her voice trembled, choked with emotion. Only now did she truly understand why he had come to find her today… and why he had warned Xiao Yan.
The thought of him leaving—of never seeing him again—pained her deeply. She felt she had failed him.
So all these years of training… it had been for this? So she wouldn't be bullied once he was gone?
"When will I leave? No rush. There are still things left unfinished."
He glanced silently at his experience bar. These past few years, he'd finally taken cultivation seriously—and the results showed. His progress had been tenfold compared to before.
Even so, he was still some distance away from the ten-trillion milestone.
The Dou Qi Continent was ultimately a low-tier world. He couldn't predict whether his next destination would be a Minor Thousand Realm or a Great Thousand Realm.
If it was the former, no problem. But if it was the latter, going in without restoring his bloodline origin would be risky.
Lying low was fine… but lying low required safety margins too!
"Mhm!"
Hearing that he wasn't leaving just yet, Xiao Xun'er wiped her tears and smiled sweetly, nodding in reply.
Her heart was already made up. She wouldn't leave the Star Realm anytime soon. She would cultivate diligently—and spend every moment she could with her teacher.
Chen Xiaoming chuckled and once again brushed her forehead. The space beneath them shimmered as they descended toward the Star Realm.
What needed saying had been said. What needed doing had been done.
The rest… was up to her.
...
At the same time, within the Tianmu Mountains…
Xiao Yan arrived at the Blood Pool in an instant, stepping onto the path of breakthrough.
In a mysterious space elsewhere…
A massive Blood Array was in full operation, blood mist surging and roiling with crimson energy streams that danced like serpents. The aura was terrifying—enough to repel any sane being.
Buzz…
Space tore open, and a spatial rift appeared.
A shadow wreathed in black flames emerged, stepping into the blood formation without hesitation. In mere moments, he had vanished into the depths.
The array spanned thousands of miles.
At its center, a figure sat at the edge of a cliff, eyes closed in deep meditation. Subtle energy ripples flowed from his body, harmonizing with the grand formation.
Tap.
The black-flamed figure stepped beside him. The meditating man opened his eyes, a flicker of surprise flashing within.
"You broke through?"
"Mhm. That pill was good."
The black-flamed figure's voice was calm, though a trace of greed danced in his eyes—only to be swiftly suppressed.
"Still… it's nothing compared to an Emperor-tier Pill."
The mention of Emperor Pills made the seated figure's eyes gleam momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure and glanced down the cliff.
There, a surging blood sea boiled.
It churned with malevolent energy, and ghostly spirits wailed above its surface, trapped in eternal torment.
"Since you've broken through, it's time."
His voice was cold, and the blood sea instantly fell silent.
As his gaze swept forward, his pupils reflected a distant space—a moment later, it all turned to blood.
"Where shall we begin?"
The black-flamed figure stared into the distance as well. But in his eyes, a different scene appeared—a peaceful place bathed in starlight.
"…The Star Realm, huh?"
He spoke with greedy longing.
He had broken through to the early stage of Nine-Star Dou Saint, but those pills in the Star Realm still held great value for him.
"Hmph."
The seated figure snorted coldly, a hint of displeasure in his tone.
The greed in the black-flamed figure's eyes faded, and he said no more. But deep in his gaze, that hunger remained undiminished.
"Don't be impatient. Sooner or later, we'll take the Star Realm."
The seated figure advised, unwilling to push his companion too hard.
"First… let's start with the Stone Realm."
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. A murderous aura swept forth.
The Blood Formation surged with power—its skies dyed in crimson, as if the heavens themselves had been inverted into a blood ocean.
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