Qian Renxue knew this was a pivotal choice—one that would determine her and the Spirit Empire's future trajectory.
To remain confined to the continent's strife, or to embrace a grand future filled with unknowns yet infinite possibilities?
The receiving hall fell into a long silence, with only the elegant tea fragrance quietly flowing through the air.
Not only Qian Renxue—even Gu Yuena, sitting quietly to the side, was deeply shaken by those words.
A wave unlike any before rippled through her amethyst eyes. As the half of the Dragon God once bent on revenge and restoring the glory of soul beasts, she had thought Lu Jingming's goal was to unify the Douluo Continent, then invade the God Realm and become its master—just like the Dragon God once did.
Only now did she realize she had underestimated this man's audacity.
His journey—how could a mere God Realm contain it?
His gaze reached the boundless multiverse the Dragon God had never even imagined.
A single Douluo universe clearly could not bear his stride or his ambition.
Qian Renxue fell into a long silence. The tea's fragrance lingered at her nose, yet it could not calm the storm within.
The picture Lu Jingming painted was too grand, as if the entire starry sky had been unfurled before her eyes all at once, making her once-clear goals feel small.
Yet under such a great shock, what she felt was not fear, but a… difficult-to-name yearning.
She had become a god, gaining near-eternal life and power, yet she lost her dearest grandfather, and her relationship with her mother had dropped to freezing point.
The Angel God's responsibilities and the natural opposition of the Rakshasa God placed her at the summit of the Spirit Empire's power while she felt unprecedented loneliness and confusion.
If immortality meant only endless solitude and unceasing, covert struggle with her closest kin—what meaning did it have?
Lu Jingming's words were like a beam of light, dispelling her confusion.
Lead the Spirit Hall—no, the Spirit Empire—into the multiverse? That was a goal vast enough to demand her all, vast enough to temporarily cover the pain and disputes within.
If Grandpa's spirit watched from above, seeing the Angel's faith spread to countless worlds, he would surely be gratified, right?
More importantly… if parallel worlds existed, did that mean there was a possibility… perhaps in some shard of time, her grandfather was still alive?
Or, when she grew strong enough to surpass the limits of her current godhood, could she… reverse the rules of life and death?
At that thought, strong ripples stirred again across the once-still lake of her heart.
She had found anew her motivation and direction.
She raised her head; the confusion in her eyes was replaced by resolve; the golden divine light shone brighter than ever.
"Brother Lu."
Her voice was clear and firm, carrying a certain decision.
"I accept your proposal. I'm willing to form an alliance with you and together explore what you called… the multiverse."
A sincere, delighted smile blossomed on Lu Jingming's face—infectious, as if it lit the stars.
He was clearly very happy. Almost subconsciously, he reached out and lightly patted Qian Renxue's shoulder. The motion was intimate and familiar, as if treating a close friend of many years.
"Good, Sister Xue. Believe me—this will be the best decision you've ever made."
This seemingly casual contact instantly drew several looks of differing meanings.
Gu Yuena's amethyst eyes narrowed slightly; a hint of scarcely perceptible chill flashed by. She folded her arms, fingertips unconsciously tapping at the crook of her elbow. The air seemed to flicker with faint elemental ripples.
Firefly blinked her big eyes, glanced at Lu Jingming and then at Qian Renxue, and quietly took a small step forward.
Even Castorice, who habitually concealed her presence, silently edged closer to Lu Jingming.
How could Qian Renxue be anything but keen? She immediately sensed the subtle atmosphere.
She was briefly taken aback, then felt something curious rise within.
After becoming a deity, mortal emotions should have faded. Yet at this moment, from these women who were clearly close to Lu Jingming, she sensed a peculiar emotion?
It felt novel—even… vaguely triumphant.
At the same time, an even bolder thought sprouted quietly in her heart.
The Angel lineage's inheritance was paramount. Even as a deity, she had to consider the continuation of the bloodline to ensure the Angel God's glory and power would continue to shine.
This was also what her grandfather had wished for—the Angel God's bloodline must be passed on.
Across the entire Douluo Continent, within the scope of what she knew, who could match her—the Angel God Qian Renxue—and be qualified to sire the finest descendants, if not this mysterious, powerful, wildly ambitious, and stunningly handsome Lu Jingming?
What's more, she clearly sensed that within Lu Jingming was a divine nature deeper and more exalted than her Angel God seat.
This meant his potential was limitless, and his future achievements might far surpass a first-rank god.
Uniting with him would not be only for inheritance, but a union of strength—of immeasurable benefit to consolidating the alliance and to the future of the Angel lineage.
Besides, she already felt appreciation—and some fondness—for Lu Jingming.
With many factors intertwined, the look Qian Renxue gave Lu Jingming unconsciously took on a shade that surpassed that of allies—a gaze of appraisal and consideration.
It was the gaze of a goddess—tinged with possessiveness and planning.
However, she did not show this thought immediately.
A deity possesses eternity. There was no need to rush.
The priority now was to solidify the alliance, respond to the changes of this world, and prepare for that majestic expedition across the multiverse.
As for the rest… she had time and patience. Qian Renxue's lips curved into a nation-toppling smile—beautiful, with hidden meaning.
"Then, Brother Lu."
She gracefully lifted her teacup, using tea in place of wine.
"To our alliance, and to… a broader future."
"To the future."
Lu Jingming raised his cup gladly. He noticed the thoughts of Gu Yuena and the others, but failed to perceive the bold idea that had already sprouted in his new ally's heart.
…
Night was like ink, stars sparse and glittering, and the bright moon draped Skywater City in a hazy silver veil.
Qian Renxue did not linger. As one of the Spirit Empire's real powerholders, she had to remain vigilant against her mother Bibi Dong, whose actions were growing ever more radical, bordering on madness.
The Rakshasa God's power was steeped in evil and resentment. Qian Renxue had to ensure the Spirit Empire's chariot would not, under Bibi Dong's reins, lose control and plunge into the abyss.
Carrying the newly forged alliance and a belly full of thoughts, she turned into a streak of light and vanished into the night.
On the rooftop terrace of Jade Chamber, a gentle night breeze brought the faint fragrance of distant vegetation.
Gu Yuena stood alone by the railing. Her silver hair flowed with a cold luster in the moonlight. Her amethyst eyes gazed at the boundless night. Her flawless profile held a trace of subtle complexity.
Soft footsteps sounded behind her. Lu Jingming walked over slowly and looked out at the brilliant sea of stars with her.
"Not accompanying your Firefly and Castorice—what are you doing looking for me?"
Gu Yuena didn't turn her head. Her voice was cool, tinged with a faint, indistinct bitterness even she hadn't fully recognized.
Lu Jingming chuckled, gentle: "They have their own affairs. But you—alone here. The moon is beautiful, but lonely."
Gu Yuena finally turned her head. Moonlight delineated her perfect, flawless features—a beauty beyond mortal bounds, suffused with divinity and nobility, utterly different from her earlier, unremarkable appearance as Gu Yue.
A hint of inquiry glinted in her amethyst eyes as she softly asked, "You… don't seem surprised at all by how I look now?"
Lu Jingming turned to face her, looking straight at her with a calm, penetrating gaze. "Surprised? Why would I be? Gu Yue is you; Gu Yuena is also you."
"No matter how your appearance changes, your soul does not—and the moments of our meeting and knowing each other do not. In my eyes, you are the same person—someone I'm willing to treat with all my heart."
There was no hesitation in his words—sincere as the moonlight at that moment—instantly soothing the tiny unease and distance within Gu Yuena's heart.
Warmth welled in her heart, but she then thought of a deeper issue—one she could not escape as the queen of soul beasts.
"Then… what about the future of soul beasts? You've seen it. In this human-dominated world, soul beasts' living space keeps shrinking. Hatred and slaughter cycle endlessly. Even if I recover my full strength, reversing this pattern is easier said than done…"
There was a faint weariness and heaviness in her voice.
And she worried more that the antagonism between humans and soul beasts would ultimately affect her relationship and future with Lu Jingming.
Lu Jingming's eyes grew serious. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them.
"Gu Yuena, I've long considered your worries. If we're limited to this small corner of the Douluo Continent, the rancor between humans and soul beasts is indeed hard to undo. But my goal was never just this continent."
He pointed toward the vast starry sky, confidence stronger than ever.
"I will find worlds more suited to soul beasts—vast, resource-rich, far from human strife."
"At the same time, I'll do my best to foster peaceful coexistence between the two races on a new starting line. It may sound difficult, but when our Haiyuan City's influence spans the stars, when we have the power and authority to mediate conflicts among multiple worlds and civilizations, making humans and soul beasts coexist won't be an impossible task."
He paused, his gaze blazing into Gu Yuena's astonished amethyst eyes. "So the things you fear, the future you worry about—won't happen. As long as I'm here, a future I do not permit will not arrive."
These words boomed like thunder in Gu Yuena's heart.
He not only understood her predicament—he had long shouldered her responsibilities and planned a path for her beyond imagination.
No longer the struggle of being trapped in one place, but a broad future among the stars and seas.
This consideration for her in everything—this willingness to embrace all her identities and burdens—sent a surging warmth through Gu Yuena's heart that melted the ice of countless years.
"You… you figured all that out?"
Gu Yuena tilted her head slightly, staring blankly at Lu Jingming.
Moonlight outlined his chiseled profile—the confident smile on it seemed enough to dispel all gloom.
His words had not only declared a domineering determination to solve every problem, but struck like an arrow at the hidden fear deep in her heart—even one she herself could barely put into words.
She was afraid—afraid that, one day, the seemingly irreconcilable conflict between soul beasts and humans would become an unstoppable torrent that would tear her and him apart and push them to opposite sides.
The more her power recovered, the clearer that nightmare twined around her heart.
Lu Jingming's gaze was deep and gentle, as though he could see into the depths of her soul.
He lifted a hand, gently brushing aside a wisp of silver hair the night wind had teased across her cheek, his motion as careful as handling a priceless treasure.
"Gu Yuena."
His voice was low and soothing, carrying a power that calmed the heart.
"You're not good at hiding your emotions—how could I not notice? I also know what you're worried about."
He leaned forward slightly until their eyes met at an intimate distance. His tone turned unwavering and indisputable.
"But I'll say it again—listen carefully, and remember it—the thing you fear will never happen. Whether you are Gu Yue or Gu Yuena, whether you bear the soul beasts' queenly burden or anything else, you and I will never be enemies."
"Your path, I'll walk with you. Your responsibility, I'll shoulder with you. Any force that tries to separate us—I will crush it."
This was not merely a promise—it was a proclamation, a confidence etched into his very bones.
Gu Yuena felt a surge of indescribable warmth strike her heart, spreading swiftly through her limbs and bones, washing away the defenses she had long used to protect herself.
She instinctively covered her chest, feeling the drumbeat of her heart. Two flushes bloomed uncontrollably upon her fair cheeks—more intoxicating than the most beautiful sunset.
In those amethyst eyes, the ice had completely melted. Only rippling light remained—moved and enamored.
Where feeling leads, the heart follows—no longer to be contained.
Under the witness of the starry vault and the bright moon, Gu Yuena made a move true to her heart, forgetting all restraint and worry.
She rose lightly on tiptoe. Her long, curled silver lashes trembled shut like butterfly wings. With a hint of resolve and utmost devotion, she pressed her cool, soft lips to Lu Jingming's warm ones.
It was a kiss that crossed the chasm of species, surpassed disputes of stance, and sprang purely from the attraction of souls.
In that moment, Gu Yuena forgot the queenly burden of soul beasts, and forgot the opposing positions of human and soul beast.