Li Xiaofei was startled. A scorching stellar flame blazed brilliantly beneath the cracked flesh of Nangong Longjian’s body, in the area of his dantian. It resembled a miniature sun, radiating dazzling light.
"Do you see this?" Nangong Longjian asked calmly, "Do you know what it is?"
Li Xiaofei shook his head.
"Cosmic lifeforms cultivate true qi and forge an internal universe. The dantian transforms into a cosmos, and the power of laws becomes its celestial bodies. Although you possess Planet level combat strength, and have condensed laws within you, your cultivation still follows Earth's outdated methods. You haven't taken the cosmic cultivation path. If you aren’t from Earth... then where are you from?" said Nangong Longjian mockingly.
Li Xiaofei’s mind reeled.
This... Little Aunt never mentioned this. Even Old Chen never spoke of it before his death. Could it be that they assumed such basic knowledge didn’t need to be explained? That as long as I read some cultivation techniques, I would naturally figure it out?
So... Nangong Longjian deduced I am from Earth just because of this? If that were the case, wouldn’t anyone observant enough be able to uncover this secret?
As if reading his thoughts, Nangong Longjian added, "Relax. Most people won’t notice. Even top-tier experts would need to observe you carefully to detect the discrepancy. And let’s be honest, there aren’t many people as bored as I am. Who would waste their time studying a nobody like you?"
Li Xiaofei was speechless.
Would it kill him to just explain things without insulting me?
Li Xiaofei couldn't help but ask, "Why are you telling me this?"
Nangong Longjian replied matter-of-factly, "Because I’m about to die."
Li Xiaofei was rendered speechless once again.
Seeing his doubtful expression, Nangong Longjian cursed under his breath. "Fuck."
Gritting his teeth, he continued, "Damn Eden. When I refused to join them, they poisoned me in secret. Even if I don’t fight, I won’t make it past the end of this month. I originally just wanted to have one last good battle, but I ended up meeting you... Take it, fellow Earthling. This is my final gift to a compatriot."
When he finished speaking, the star-like core within his body, the radiant miniature sun, floated slowly toward Li Xiaofei.
"This star contains all of my cultivation. It can serve as your star seed, allowing you to truly become a cosmic lifeform without any flaws or gaps in your foundation," said Nangong Longjian.
The glow of the little sun flickered, illuminating the fissures running across Nangong Longjian’s face and casting shifting shadows upon his fading features. Yet, there was no fear of death in his expression. No reluctance. Only peace and a quiet warmth.
Li Xiaofei hesitated for a moment, then reached out and grasped the small star. He felt its warmth radiating up his hand. When he was younger, he used to play with a flashlight under the blankets. In the dark, if he covered the beam with his fingers, they would turn deep red. It would reveal the intricate lines of his fingerprints and the flesh and blood beneath.
At this moment, the small star illuminated his hand the same way. A flashlight’s glow could light the path for someone walking in the night. This little star carried the same warmth.
It was a faint flicker in the vast, dark cosmos. Too weak to light up the entire universe, but bright enough to point the way forward. Yes. Trust was the rarest luxury of this era.
Li Xiaofei looked at Nangong Longjian and couldn’t help but ask, "Is there really no cure for your poison?"
"Oh? You want to save me? You’re quite sentimental, aren’t you?" Nangong Longjian chuckled. "Too bad. It’s incurable."
His body was like a collapsing star on the verge of going supernova. It began to fracture, crumble, and disintegrate.
"Good luck," smiled Nangong Longjian.
His body dissolved faster. The once sharp and lean face split apart, yet his expression remained as carefree and brilliant as ever. He seemed like a traveler who had finally reached his journey’s end.
"Oh, right... I forgot to tell you..."
Nangong Longjian’s lips moved but no more words came. In his final moments, Li Xiaofei saw his cracked lips struggling to form words, as if he had something important to say. But Li Xiaofei couldn’t hear a thing.
In the end, Nangong Longjian’s body completely collapsed and shattered, leaving behind only a fine layer of ash-like dust in the air. Li Xiaofei stood still, his emotions tangled in a complex knot. This man, once an opponent destined for a life-or-death battle, had instead brought him unexpected revelations.
He lowered his head and gazed at the small star in his palm. A sudden instinct took hold of him, and he activated his cultivation technique. Drawn by an unseen force, the small star slowly merged into his body and settled within his dantian.
It was the core essence and law nucleus of a Neutron Star level cosmic lifeform. It was a star seed that carried boundless possibilities.
Li Xiaofei started gathering the remnants of Nangong Longjian. He took the fine, gray dust and carefully placed them into a small vial. For now, he stored it in the Secret Time Pavilion.
"They just... vanished?"
"It looks like some kind of spatial divine ability."
"I never expected Nangong Longjian to possess such an ability. He’s never used it before..."
At the top floor of Jiuyang Tower, countless spectators murmured in hushed voices. Meanwhile, those watching the broadcast of this life-and-death battle were equally dumbfounded.
The ticking of the second hand echoed through the tense silence. When ten full minutes passed, suddenly—
The bluish-purple radiance on the arena flickered. A lone figure materialized before everyone’s eyes. He was bare-chested and slightly chubby. His pale, fleshy torso quivered ever so slightly. The armor on his lower body lent him a faint air of authority and his plump face was set in an expression of arrogance and defiance.
Standing under the bright spotlight, he slowly raised his hand and pointed toward the sky.
"I won." His voice was calm, almost indifferent.
For two or three seconds, the entire world seemed to freeze in silence. Then, chaos erupted.
Nangong Longjian lost...?
Does that mean he has perished somewhere in a banished space?
In the midst of the uproar, Wei Xiaotian’s face lit up with a rare smile. That unfairly handsome face instantly sent countless noblewomen, socialites, and young widows into a dreamy daze.
Meanwhile, Nan Wushuang staggered slightly. His pale face turned even whiter, until it resembled a ten day old corpse. But this time, he did not roar in fury. He did not lose control. Instead, before anyone could even shift their attention to him, he quietly retreated into the background. His fading silhouette disappeared from sight.
"He won! He won!" shouted Huang Dinggou. He trembled in excitement, his voice a low growl before he leaped up in a frenzy.
Beside him, Wang Shaowei was slightly more composed. But even he clenched his fists and let out a suppressed, victorious roar.
At that moment, a lone figure broke through the crowd and rushed madly toward the arena. It was a woman dressed in an exquisitely luxurious gown, as beautiful as a blooming rose in the cosmic soil. Yet she seemed anything but elegant as she raced into the arena.
She threw off her mother’s grasp. She shoved past her father’s obstruction. Her wine-red hair, cascading like silk, whipped wildly in the air as she ran. She was a blazing flame, burning fiercely and unrestrained.
The arena’s protective barrier deactivated and Li Xiaofei spread his arms, catching the delicate figure that had thrown herself into his embrace. He held her tightly. Si Kongxue stood on her toes without hesitation and her full, vibrant red lips pressed against Li Xiaofei’s.
This kiss pierced the soul. This kiss shattered the heavens and split the earth. What did it matter if the world collapsed? What did it matter if hearts broke apart?
At this moment, they wanted to embrace unrestrained. They wanted to kiss wildly and recklessly. They wanted to declare it to the world, completely, unapologetically. They wanted to tell everyone that their story was no mere rumor. Not anymore.
On the sidelines, Si Xingyun’s face turned green. The curses spilling from his mouth were completely drowned out by the gasps and exclamations of the crowd. He wanted to rush onto the arena and tear apart the couple locked in an embrace.
But before he could take a step, a delicate hand grasped his arm. He turned and was stunned to see who was holding him back.
Kong Xue looked at him with a serene, knowing smile. Her voice was clear and deliberate as she whispered to her husband, "Don’t interrupt them."
Her gaze remained steady and her tone light, but there was an undeniable authority to her as she said, "From now on, remember that you are Li Qingchen’s future father-in-law. Don’t make him unhappy."