Dongbo Xueying held his wife tightly, overwhelmed with emotion. Though filled with confusion, Jing Qiu could sense his excitement and refrained from asking further questions, simply embracing him in return.
They remained in each other’s arms for quite some time before finally parting.
Jing Qiu stood up and glanced around, “Xue Shi Castle? Why did you bring me here? And more importantly, Xueying, you still haven’t told me how I recovered. My soul was already—”
“You knew your injuries were grave,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head, “yet you kept it hidden!”
“You were more important, and so was the survival of the Xia Clan,” Jing Qiu smiled gently.
“You really are…” Dongbo Xueying understood his wife’s thoughts and continued, “Truthfully, your injuries were nearly beyond salvation. I brought you here to Xue Shi Castle, to see our home one last time, before planning to send you to Hongshi Mountain, where time flows extremely slowly, hoping to delay your condition as much as possible. Perhaps, with enough time, there might be a sliver of hope.”
“But how did I recover then?” Jing Qiu asked urgently, “And I feel better than ever! My soul feels stronger than it ever has.”
“Thankfully, an elder intervened,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “His power is beyond comprehension. I can hardly grasp his realm. He must be at least a Fourth Heaven Divine God, perhaps even a great being.”
Jing Qiu was astonished.
She was merely a humble female transcendent mage—how could someone of such immense stature deign to save her?
“Anyway, we shouldn’t linger here,” Dongbo Xueying smiled. “Right now, Palace Master Chen and others are likely worried about us. Even the victory feast hasn’t been held yet. Let’s go, we must head to Xinfuo Palace immediately and hold the feast as planned.”
“Mm,” Jing Qiu nodded softly. As long as she was alive, she had no wish to die.
…
In the Xinfuo World, the Xia Capital.
“This event has deeply wounded Xueying,” Palace Master Chen and Sikong Yang stood outside a mansion. “No matter what, we cannot allow Xueying to sink into despair. We must help him recover as soon as possible. The best way is to bring in his family—his parents, his younger brother. Let them be by his side so he can heal.”
“Indeed,” Sikong Yang nodded grimly. “Fate is unpredictable. Who could have foreseen such a tragedy after our great victory?”
At once, five figures hurried out from the mansion—Dongbo Lie, Mo Yangyu, Dongbo Qingshi with his wife, and Zong Ling.
“Palace Master Chen, Master Sikong, you could have just come in directly. No need to send word,” Dongbo Lie said warmly.
Palace Master Chen and the others felt a pang of guilt.
The Xia Clan had suffered minimal losses in the war. Though Chi Qiu Bai had died, it was due to his own descent into madness, for which no one could be blamed. Dongbo Xueying had turned the tide of battle, yet in the end, his wife… This made Palace Master Chen and the others unable to brazenly enter the estate. Instead, they waited politely outside, showing great respect.
“There is a matter we must trouble you and your family with, Dongbo Lie,” Palace Master Chen said.
“Please, speak freely,” Dongbo Lie replied. “We will do our utmost to assist.”
“It’s about—” Palace Master Chen began to explain.
“Brother!” Dongbo Qingshi called joyfully.
Palace Master Chen and Sikong Yang turned in shock, seeing two figures in the sky nearby. They flew side by side like celestial lovers—Dongbo Xueying and Jing Qiu.
Palace Master Chen blinked in disbelief, rubbing his eyes.
“Don’t rub. You’re not seeing things,” Sikong Yang muttered, equally stunned. “Jing Qiu has recovered.”
“Master Chen,” Dongbo Xueying and Jing Qiu descended from the distance. Xueying smiled, “Jing Qiu just recovered. I didn’t want to worry you, so I came straight to the Xia Capital. Rest assured, Jing Qiu is fine now. Let’s hold the feast as soon as possible. It’s been delayed long enough.”
“Good, good, good,” Palace Master Chen nodded repeatedly but couldn’t help asking, “But how did she recover?”
“Good fortune,” Dongbo Xueying smiled faintly, revealing little.
It involved a great being; better to keep it quiet.
“Well, as long as she’s fine,” Sikong Yang laughed heartily. “The feast has already been prepared. We can begin at once. Let’s hold it at noon!”
The reason for the delay had been this:
Dongbo Xueying, the hero who turned the tide of war, had suffered such a devastating blow. Who could bring themselves to invite him to a celebration? Originally, they had planned to wait ten days or so before holding the feast.
“Xueying, what happened?” Mo Yangyu quietly asked.
“During the war, Jing Qiu was gravely injured, but she’s healed now,” Dongbo Xueying smiled. “Mother, prepare for the feast. We’ll hold it at noon. We’ve won the war, and from now on, the Xia Clan will know no more calamity.”
Though she had lost half her soul essence, with three divine hearts resonating together, and having advanced further on the foundation of the “Illusory Divine Heart,” Dongbo Xueying was confident. Refining the Heart of the World would not be difficult.
Soon enough,
The Xia Capital erupted into a grand celebration. Not only was Xinfuo Palace filled with transcendent beings, but the entire city—countless commoners, titleholders, and even ordinary mortals—joined in the revelry. It was more joyous than any festival in Xia Clan history.
“From this day forth,” Palace Master Chen presided over the feast, “the Xia Clan shall undergo a transformation. The Witch God, the Great Demon God, and the Earth Temple have all been expelled. The Xia World shall be solely our home. No outsider shall dare meddle in our affairs. Dongbo Xueying is the greatest transcendent our clan has ever known. Soon, he shall refine the Heart of the World, and the Xia World shall become impregnable! The Xia Clan shall know no more calamity!”
“No more calamity!”
“No more calamity!”
Many transcendent beings raised their cups in excitement.
Generation after generation, the Xia Clan had yearned for this moment. Time and again, demonic hordes would descend, or vengeful arcane beasts would strike back, or dimension-hopping champions from rival temples would slaughter without restraint. At times, invaders from distant planes would come, or wars of faith would erupt. Each and every time, the Xia Clan paid the price in rivers of blood.
Now, all that was gone. Once the Heart of the World was refined, no one could threaten the Xia Clan again.
At the feast, joy reigned.
Master He approached Dongbo Xueying with a cup in hand and whispered, “Xueying, you will forever command the Xia World. We all feel that an empire should be established, with you as its eternal emperor.”
“No need,” Dongbo Xueying replied. “I have no interest in such things. Let the Xia Clan’s council manage affairs from now on.”
“Hmm,” Master He nodded.
Whether or not an empire was established made little difference. With Dongbo Xueying’s status as a Sovereign of the Material World, or his current unmatched power, he already held the authority to guide the entire Xia Clan.
…
The feast lasted nearly a full day and night. By dawn the next day, Dongbo Xueying and his wife quietly departed. The transcendent beings were too elated, almost frenzied.
Whoosh.
Holding his wife’s hand, Dongbo Xueying traversed ten thousand miles in an instant, soon arriving at Xue Shi Mountain.
“Too noisy,” Dongbo Xueying chuckled as they landed atop the peak.
“Let’s not return to the castle yet. Let’s walk around the area,” Jing Qiu suggested.
“Alright, as you wish,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.
Jing Qiu smiled gently, “What shall we do now?”
“What else? First, have a bunch of kids,” Dongbo Xueying teased. “Then, when we reach sufficient cultivation, we can practice the Art of Clones and explore the vast Divine Realms. After all, this is just one of countless worlds in the Material Realm.”
“A bunch of kids?” Jing Qiu smirked. “I have no objection. But can you?”
“What do you mean, can I?” Dongbo Xueying widened his eyes. “I have the Myriad Calamity Primordial Body…”
“Exactly because you have the Myriad Calamity Primordial Body, your bloodline is so powerful. Having a bunch might not be easy,” Jing Qiu covered her mouth, giggling.
“Then we’ll take our time. We have all the time in the world,” Dongbo Xueying chuckled.
The couple chatted casually, strolling leisurely across the peaks of Xue Shi Mountain, admiring the scenery.
Dongbo Xueying’s heart was filled with joy.
Even now—
Even after the feast, he still felt as though it were a dream. Before, his heart had been broken beyond repair, but suddenly, everything turned around. Now, as Dongbo Xueying gazed at the distant clouds, they seemed whiter and softer than ever. The morning sun’s rays felt gentler, more comforting. Even a single blade of wild grass on the ground seemed to brim with vitality.
Everything seemed so beautiful!
“Hmm?” Dongbo Xueying looked at a blade of wild grass on the ground, dew glistening on it.
“It draws nourishment from the earth, water for sustenance, wind carrying the breath of life, and the sun above bestowing energy,” Dongbo Xueying could clearly perceive it all—the wind’s breath being absorbed and exhaled by the grass, the countless rays of sunlight being drawn in…
Dongbo Xueying gazed into the distance.
In a distant village, smoke curled from a chimney. With a single glance, Dongbo Xueying pierced through all obstacles and saw an old woman cooking porridge.
The wind swirled around, the firewood burned, radiating light and heat, cooking the porridge… and as the wood turned to ash, it would return to the earth.
“This world…” Dongbo Xueying looked up to the high sky, where a bird dove down and landed on a lotus leaf floating on a distant lake, drinking occasionally.
The bird absorbed countless rays of sunlight, inhaled the wind, drew nutrients from the countless plants and seeds growing on the earth, and drank from the water…
“Earth, Fire, Water, Wind…”
Dongbo Xueying murmured softly. “Earth, Fire, Water, Wind—I’ve always been searching… What I needed was the breath of life. With life’s breath, Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind will endlessly cycle, forming all things in heaven and earth.”
“Earth, Fire, Water, Wind—these are the four fundamental sources of the world. When they harmonize and revolve together, with the breath of life, Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind can truly cycle endlessly… This is the world!”
Dongbo Xueying gazed upon the vast world, where countless laws were in motion. Before him, everything seemed like a magnificent painting.
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