Xun'er knew that Brother Xiao Tian would definitely come for her one day.
She had never doubted it.
But Xiao Tian had already made up her mind as well.
If the Gu Clan refused to let Xun'er leave even after her bloodline had completely awakened and her strength had reached the level she needed, then Xiao Tian would simply suppress the entire Ancient Clan and personally bring her away.
After all, there was no way she would allow the woman she loved to remain separated from her forever.
Gu Yuan: Six filial sons are going to be the death of me.
"Brother Xiao Tian, did you kill the Star-Picking Old Ghost of the Soul Palace?"
Xun'er suddenly remembered something.
Among the intelligence gathered by the Gu Clan, there had been a report about the death of the Star-Picking Old Ghost, one of the Soul Palace's Heavenly Venerables.
No one knew who had killed him.
Moreover, the reason the Soul Palace had not launched a major investigation against the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace was largely because Xun'er had secretly arranged for the Gu Clan's intelligence network to constantly mislead and confuse the Soul Palace.
After Xiao Tian had explained to her that the Soul Palace operated through layers of authority, with its members often acting independently and passing responsibilities downward, Xun'er had found it even easier to manipulate the information reaching them.
"That's right."
Xiao Tian nodded and then told Xun'er about her encounter with the Star-Picking Old Ghost.
Xun'er listened carefully before her expression became serious.
"It seems the Soul Palace has discovered that your Xiao Clan is indeed one of the eight Ancient Clans."
She looked at Xiao Tian with concern.
"Brother Xiao Tian, you absolutely must not let anyone discover that you possess the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade."
"Have those old fellows in your clan ordered you to search for the remaining pieces again?"
Xiao Tian gently held Xun'er's hand.
"No, not at all."
Xun'er shook her head.
A cold glint flashed through her beautiful eyes.
"I'm only worried that if they discover the truth, they might try to make a move against Brother Xiao Tian."
"Don't worry."
Xiao Tian shrugged casually.
"Your Brother Xiao Tian has plenty of tricks up his sleeve."
If she really couldn't win, she could always run.
Besides, Xiao Tian had already warned her father not to leave the Primordial Heaven Realm recklessly.
Speaking of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, Xiao Tian suddenly thought of something amusing.
The treasures hidden inside the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave were not particularly important to him.
However, the Emperor-grade embryonic pills were a different matter entirely.
Those things were extremely valuable to others.
If I can reach the Seven-Star Dou Saint realm by then—or, even better, the Nine-Star Dou Saint realm—then for the sake of stability, I could hand one of those embryonic pills over.
And once I have the right opportunity, perhaps I can use it to give the Hun Tiandi a little... psychological shock.
Just thinking about it made Xiao Tian smile mischievously.
Xun'er immediately noticed.
"Brother Xiao Tian, what are you thinking about?"
She stared at her suspiciously.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
"It's just the two of us here."
Xiao Tian laughed.
"Of course I'm thinking about my darling Xun'er."
She gently rubbed Xun'er's abdomen.
"And I've prepared a little gift for you."
"Do you want to see it?"
Xun'er shrank slightly from the teasing touch, her cheeks flushing.
Yet curiosity quickly overcame her embarrassment.
"Brother Xiao Tian, you've lied to me again."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Every time you say you've prepared a 'little gift,' I end up embarrassed and annoyed."
"Haha. This time is different. I promise."
Xiao Tian normally relied on her shamelessness to tease the women.
But she secretly sighed in her heart.
Everyone has become smarter.
They're not nearly as easy to fool anymore.
It seems I'll have to change my tactics.
"Look up."
Xiao Tian winked mysteriously.
Then she pointed toward the night sky.
Xun'er followed her finger.
Her beautiful eyes suddenly widened.
The stars were moving.
At first, only a few stars shifted slightly.
Then more began to move.
It was as though an invisible hand were guiding the stars across the heavens.
One star brightened.
Then another.
Then a third.
Gradually, countless stars began to gather, forming a dazzling river of starlight across the night sky.
The stars slowly drifted into position.
Then, before Xun'er's astonished eyes, they transformed into two intertwined hearts.
One was large.
The other was smaller.
The smaller heart slowly moved toward the larger one until the two merged together.
Xun'er stared at the magnificent scene above her.
For a long time, she couldn't say a word.
Such a spectacular phenomenon naturally attracted attention throughout the Primordial Emperor Imperial Palace and even across the Primordial Heaven Realm.
Inside another palace, Medusa looked up at the celestial display.
She couldn't help muttering under her breath.
That bastard.
He didn't prepare something like this for me.
He only knows how to bully people.
Yun Yun and the other women weren't particularly jealous.
Instead, they simply watched the spectacular display with envy.
They knew perfectly well who had created it.
The stars continued to twinkle.
It was as though they were telling a story.
A confession that needed no words.
Suddenly, the enormous heart began to disperse.
Countless stars scattered once more, illuminating the entire night sky.
Then, the stars gathered again.
This time, they formed a pair of celestial lovebirds.
The two birds spread their wings and soared through the heavens.
Wherever they flew, brilliant starlight scattered behind them like a magnificent trail.
Xun'er watched them in fascination.
Then she realized something.
The two birds seemed to be painting something across the heavens.
Her heart suddenly began to beat faster.
The lovebirds continued soaring.
The scattered starlight gradually gathered in one place.
Slowly, two human figures began to take shape.
Xun'er stared intently.
One figure was tall and straight, possessing a handsome and imposing appearance.
He stood beneath the stars like a sovereign who commanded the heavens.
Beside him was a graceful woman.
She leaned gently against him, her demeanor elegant and serene, like a fairy descended from the moon.
Xun'er's heart trembled.
"This is..."
The two figures gradually became clearer.
And then she finally recognized them.
It was Xiao Tian.
And herself.
Under the countless stars, the two figures stood together like a divine couple.
Brilliant starlight surrounded them.
The celestial lovebirds continued circling overhead.
Xun'er's eyes gradually became misty.
"The stars will bear witness to our love."
Xiao Tian gently embraced her.
"We will always remain together, flying side by side."
Her voice was soft.
Yet beneath that softness was an unwavering determination.
Xun'er stared at the scene in the sky.
She had never imagined that someone could create something so beautiful for her.
What she didn't notice was that Xiao Tian subtly moved her fingers.
Several faint spatial ripples appeared high above them.
They were so subtle that even an ordinary Dou Saint would have difficulty detecting them.
The spatial fluctuations quickly disappeared.
Xun'er, however, had already lost control of her emotions.
Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
She tightly hugged Xiao Tian.
"These are the most beautiful stars I've ever seen."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"And the deepest love I've ever felt."
Xiao Tian reached out and gently wiped away her tears.
Her fingertips brushed across Xun'er's slightly cool cheeks.
"Not only tonight."
Xiao Tian's voice was gentle.
"In the future, I will love you just as deeply."
"Even if the world falls into chaos again, even if heaven and earth change, my feelings for you will never change."
Xun'er stared at her.
Her eyes were filled with emotion.
Elsewhere in the palace, the other women also smiled quietly.
The celestial lovebirds seemed to understand Xiao Tian's vow.
They spread their wings and soared higher into the night sky, leaving behind trails of brilliant starlight.
Xun'er rested her head against Xiao Tian's chest.
She listened to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.
That familiar and powerful heartbeat gave her an indescribable sense of peace.
And security.
She slowly raised her head and looked at Xiao Tian's face.
Then she reached out and gently touched her cheek.
"I still feel like this isn't real."
Her voice was soft.
"I'm afraid that all of this is just an illusion."
Xiao Tian chuckled softly.
She gently straightened Xun'er and held her tightly in her arms.
"What kind of illusion could possibly trap someone like you?"
"You possess a Heavenly Flame and the bloodline of an Ancient God. How could something like that deceive you?"
Xun'er smiled.
"Of course there is one."
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
"The love trap Brother Xiao Tian created."
She poked Xiao Tian lightly.
"And Xun'er still fell into it without realizing what was happening."
She smiled sweetly.
"You really got off too easily."
Xiao Tian laughed.
"You've been spending too much time with the others."
She gently pinched Xun'er's cheek.
"You've even learned their arrogance."
"What?"
Xun'er narrowed her beautiful eyes.
She looked at Xiao Tian with an expression that clearly said:
Do you have a problem with that?
The corners of Xiao Tian's lips lifted.
Looking at the woman in her arms, she suddenly felt this might be the greatest gift of all.
Not the stars.
Not the celestial lovebirds.
Not even the magnificent display covering the entire night sky.
It was the simple certainty that, no matter how far apart they were, Xun'er would always wait for her.
And Xiao Tian would always return for her.