Chapter Sixty-Six: The Will of Returning to the Void, My Path Is Not Walked Alone

I was immersed in this torrent of information woven by starlight, my mind shaken as never before.

So this is the truth.

So this is how it is.

The so-called “Divine Stones from Beyond the Heavens” were not meteorites at all. They were, in fact, “energy coordinates” collected by the Elder of Guixu—or rather, by the ancient Immortal Sect of Penglai—from worlds with different energy systems, in order to construct this grand Starrail Array spanning the heavens.

Each spirit stone represented a world once explored and stably connected by the Penglai Immortal Sect.

They were keys, and they were beacons.

And Earth was merely one among countless transfer stations within this Starrail Array—a station fallen into spiritual exhaustion, nearly abandoned.

The Elder of Guixu did not flee. In the era of law’s end, when spiritual energy was severed and could no longer sustain the grand array, he set out himself, following the starroads laid by his predecessors, searching for new hope.

All he left behind—his legacy, the entrusted “Elixir of Longevity,” everything he did—was for the sake that, after his departure, a destined person like myself might one day rekindle the array’s energy, ensuring Penglai’s inheritance would not be utterly lost.

“Father, it’s so beautiful…” Yiyi’s dreamlike voice pulled me back from my awe.

I turned to see her gazing in wonder at the swirling river of stars above, her small face radiant with amazement and longing. The streams of light reflected in her eyes; it seemed a brilliant universe was hidden there as well.

I smiled.

I walked to her side, gently lifting her so she could see more clearly.

“Yiyi, do you like it?”

“I do!” she nodded vigorously.

“Then, Father will give this starlit sky to you as a gift. Would you like that?” I said softly.

Looking down at the partly activated Starrail Array at my feet, at the dazzling starroads to other worlds, my path had never been clearer.

---

The glow of the Starrail Array gradually faded, returning to silence. The energy of those two spirit stones was not inexhaustible; after activating a portion of the array and revealing a glimpse of the myriad worlds, they entered a dormant state, needing time to recover.

But the entire Guixu Hall was no longer the same.

The azure crystals of the dome shone far brighter, as if real stars breathed within them. The air carried a subtle, elusive vitality. After a thousand years of dormancy, this immortal island was slowly awakening.

I did not rush to begin my “world journey.” The trip to Kunlun yielded great rewards, but it taught me the importance of careful planning. Before heading to my first target, the Tang Clan in Shu, I needed time to settle my thoughts, to plan, and to savor this moment of peace.

This was our home.

“Father, I’m going to check on Little White,” Yiyi’s voice sounded by my side.

I turned and saw her standing there, eyes clear and tranquil. Though she still appeared as a girl of fourteen or fifteen, the innocence of youth had faded from her gaze, replaced with a calm and clarity far beyond her years.

Decades spent together in the mortal world, she had accompanied me through its splendors and witnessed its changes. Her soul was no longer a blank page, yet she remained pure and kind.

“Go on,” I smiled and nodded, “It probably misses you too.”

“Mm.” Yiyi responded, turning and running toward the rear of the hall. Her steps were light, carrying the joy of returning home, yet her steady core never wavered.

I followed at a gentle pace.

Beyond the magnificent Guixu Hall lay a broader world. There were fields of medicinal herbs cultivated by the Elder, streams of spiritual spring water, and a lush bamboo grove.

Yiyi’s destination was precisely that bamboo grove.

Before we got close, a snow-white shadow darted out from the depths of the grove with a cheerful cry, bounding straight toward Yiyi.

It was a pure white fox, not a single stray hair on its coat. Small in stature, its eyes shone with intelligence, and three fluffy tails trailed behind it.

This was Little White.

A native of Penglai Immortal Island, Little White shared a bond with Yiyi, her only companion on this lonely isle.

“Little White, did you miss me?” Yiyi crouched, expertly catching the fox in her arms and gently stroking its soft fur.

---

Little White squinted contentedly, rubbing its head against her embrace, its three tails wagging happily like fluffy dandelions.

I stood aside, watching this warm scene, my heart softened.

“Father,” Yiyi looked up at me, holding Little White in her arms. My reflection appeared in her clear eyes. “Will our next journey take a long time?”

“It might,” I answered honestly. “The Tang Clan, the Kingdom of Kou, the Church… every clue given by the Xuantian Sect points to a formidable power. Obtaining the spirit stones will not be easy.”

“Will we face danger?” she asked again.

“We will,” I did not conceal, “But Father will handle everything.”

Yiyi was silent for a moment, then looked down at Little White and spoke gently, “Father, I want to teach Little White the next part of the ‘Living Creatures Art’ as well.”

I was briefly startled.

She continued, “The Elder’s legacy says a spirit beast’s growth is closely tied to its master’s realm. My cultivation is too low now and is limiting Little White’s progress. If I teach it the technique so it can practice on its own, perhaps when it grows stronger in the future… it can help you too.”

I gazed at her earnest profile, emotions surging within me.

My daughter was no longer the little girl who hid behind me, needing my protection at all costs.

She was thinking about fighting alongside me, about contributing to our shared future.

“All right.” I walked to her side, crouched down to meet her eyes. “Yiyi, remember, you are Father’s most precious treasure. The most important thing you can do is protect yourself. Only when you are safe does everything I do have meaning.”

“I understand, Father.” Yiyi nodded firmly, her gaze unwavering. “Just as I believed in you through the storm, now, please believe in me.”

Little White seemed to understand our conversation. It looked up at me, then at Yiyi, and let out a crisp cry, as if making its own promise.

I reached out, ruffled Yiyi’s hair, and gently stroked Little White’s fluffy head.