"This... this is..."
The sudden change left Qin Zi momentarily at a loss, feeling both panicked and excited.
Because he felt an immense and boundless force surging from Xuanhuang Heaven, flooding into him.
This feeling was profound.
It was as if, in an instant, countless opportunities and insights came crashing down upon him, making him grow stronger at a rapid pace!
The world's energy replenished his body, the laws of the Great Dao strengthened his soul, and even the power of time emerged, helping him absorb these sudden insights while eliminating any hidden dangers from his swift rise in strength.
His cultivation increased rapidly.
God King Third Layer, Fourth Layer, Fifth Layer... In a short amount of time, he astonishingly reached the Ninth Layer of the God King Realm, an incredible feat!
At this moment, the feedback from Xuanhuang Heaven ceased. After all, even Xuanhuang Heaven couldn't forcibly create a Giant.
The karmic repercussions were too immense.
"Buzz!!!"
At that moment, a vibrant green light surged from within Qin Zi's body, as vast life energy swept out like a tidal wave.
"This is the power given to me by the World Tree?"
Qin Zi was shocked. Then he felt the power explode inside him, burning like a flame, releasing boundless energy.
This energy pushed his previously stagnant cultivation further, as if turning the gears of history.
"Rumble!"
Within Qin Zi's body, the sound of wheels grinding against the earth echoed, emanating a profound and overwhelming aura that shook the heavens and the earth.
"He... he's walking the path of becoming a Giant! How is this possible? For a God King to walk the path to becoming a Giant requires countless years of accumulation and the tempering of millions of years. This is the law of heaven, the iron rule!"
The Giant standing nearby was utterly horrified.
This scene was likely the greatest miracle he had ever witnessed in his life, filling him with jealousy.
The achievement that he had attained after countless trials, and had always been proud of, was now effortlessly attained by another. It was the greatest insult and the most brutal blow to his spirit. His very faith was nearly shattered.
"Walking the path of a Giant is one thing, but becoming a true Giant requires endless time and refinement."
Qin Chuan said lightly.
To him, Giants were no longer significant, but in this great universe, they were still revered as the pinnacle.
To reach the realm of a Giant, one must undergo countless trials and slowly merge with the great cosmos to gain its vast and boundless power. Qin Zi had merely placed his cart on the tracks; reaching the end of the road would still take a long time, at least tens of thousands of years.
Of course, the speed of a Heaven's Chosen would likely be much faster than others, and perhaps he might even find shortcuts along the way.
"But... this growth is too fast. It could leave behind hidden dangers." The Giant finally said weakly.
Qin Chuan ignored him and calmly said, "Within three months, invite all the great powers of the Upper Realm, including the Giants of the other eight great Heavens, to attend the coronation ceremony of the Heaven's Lord at Xuanhuang Heaven."
After saying this, he took two steps forward and disappeared into thin air.
However, his voice echoed throughout the world, resonating with the Great Dao, spreading across the heavens and worlds.
"A coronation ceremony attended by the entire Upper Realm?"
Qin Zi took a deep breath, feeling both excited and overwhelmed. After all, what young person doesn't enjoy being the center of attention? He was no exception.
Over the next three months.
The supreme powers of the Upper Realm descended upon Xuanhuang Heaven, and all of them were represented by Giants. In no time, purple energy flowed in from the east, heavenly flowers rained down, and Xuanhuang Heaven was nourished, becoming brimming with life, prosperity, and a flourishing Dao.
This coronation ceremony was essentially a grand assembly. With the greatest figures of the Upper Realm gathered here, the entire world's fate converged at Xuanhuang Heaven, bringing immeasurable benefits.
It was like hosting an Olympic event—an event that brings an unfathomable boost to the hosting nation's economy, of course, except for certain islands...
The ceremony was grand, and all the attending powers showed the utmost respect, without any disturbances or provocations.
With Qin Chuan's current cultivation level, who would dare court death?
Even the other eight great Heavens had to be cautious; a single misstep could lead them down the same path of destruction that Xuanhuang Heaven had once faced!
During the ceremony, Qin Zi received many gifts. The enthusiasm of these supreme powers greatly enriched his fortunes, allowing him to accumulate wealth comparable to that of a Giant.
"Heaven's Lord, this is from my sister. She wanted me to give this to you and to offer her congratulations."
The Swallowing Sun Emperor also arrived, a bright smile on his face, as he handed Qin Zi an orange-yellow brocade box.
"The Human King?"
Qin Zi was slightly startled. He knew that the Swallowing Sun Emperor's sister was the legendary Human King, though he had never met her.
The Human King was shrouded in mystery, a figure as elusive as a dragon.
After a moment's hesitation, Qin Zi accepted the box with both hands, saying solemnly, "Please convey my thanks to Senior Human King."
"Will do."
The Swallowing Sun Emperor smiled and turned to leave.
Qin Zi watched him disappear from view, then silently opened the box with great care.
There was no brilliant light, nor any powerful aura emanating from the box. It was just plain and ordinary.
Inside, a layer of pale yellow silk was laid out, soft as a baby's cradle. At the center of the silk lay a small white jade figurine.
The moment he saw this figurine, Qin Zi's body trembled. A feeling he couldn't describe arose from his heart, as though he shared a deep connection with this jade figurine. The emotion that followed made his heart ache.
"What's happening? Is this because I've stepped onto the path of becoming a Giant and gained divine intuition? But... why do I feel like this?"
Qin Zi's vision gradually blurred, tears falling uncontrollably from his eyes, leaving him confused and at a loss.
It's said that once one reaches the Giant realm, they gain an incredible divine intuition. Anything connected to them, even the mention of their name from a distant place, could be sensed.
"Buzz!"
Suddenly, the jade figurine in the box radiated a brilliant light, quickly disintegrating into countless white specks of light. These specks were warm and soft, like the purest things in the world, akin to the love and blessings parents give to their children.
The white specks, like a flowing river of stars, entered Qin Zi's body, enveloping him in warmth.
An unprecedented feeling filled his entire being. For the first time, he felt complete—utterly and completely whole...
"Swallowing Sun, stop right there!!"
Suddenly, Qin Zi shouted, transforming into a streak of light as he chased after the direction in which the Swallowing Sun Emperor had departed.
His cultivation surged forward like the flood of history, gaining speed as he accelerated, even surpassing the flow of time itself!
Yet, he still couldn't catch up with the Swallowing Sun Emperor.
After pursuing for a long time, he finally stopped.
He looked around in confusion, then gazed down at the empty brocade box in his hands, standing there silently.
At that moment.
High above him, two figures stood together atop a cloud. They were clearly present, yet it seemed as though they didn't exist.
It was none other than the Swallowing Sun Emperor and a woman in a simple dress.
The woman had an ethereal air about her, her robe fluttering gently as if she were detached from the mortal world, though a trace of indescribable majesty lingered between her brows. Upon closer inspection, her features bore a striking resemblance to the once-famous Yu Wanqing!
"Sigh, does it really have to be like this?" The Swallowing Sun Emperor looked down at Qin Zi, sighing deeply.
"Let it pass. Reincarnation is endless. If one constantly clings to the past, where is the end?"
The woman's eyes held a complex emotion.
"Heh, I suppose you're right."
The Swallowing Sun Emperor smiled bitterly and shook his head. If one never let go of the past life, what of the life before that? Tracing back would be an endless journey.
"Time is the eternal traveler of all things, and the passing years are but fleeting guests... The love and blessings I couldn't give him in the previous life, I have now bestowed upon him in this one. There are no more regrets."
The woman said softly.
With that, her expression grew calm as she turned around. Her figure gradually became blurry before completely fading away.
"Sigh!"
The Swallowing Sun Emperor let out a bitter laugh, glanced one last time at the dazed Qin Zi below, and then his figure also dissipated.
After the two had left, another white-robed figure slowly emerged—it was Qin Chuan.
He sighed softly, his expression equally complex, and murmured under his breath, "Can there really be no regrets?"
He had wanted to help Qin Zi keep her, but ultimately... he was no longer the Qin Chuan of the past, and the person she had once loved was not him!
There were some things that must be upheld.
There were some lines that must not be crossed.
Forcing what was meant to pass to remain could only destroy the purity and beauty that once existed.
After a brief moment of silence, he appeared in front of Qin Zi in a flash, gently placing his hand on his son's head.
Qin Zi trembled, his tear-filled eyes looking up as he hoarsely asked, "Father, has my mother... been dead for a long time?"