"Feng Liqi is back."
When Xi received this news, even she was sowhat surprised. "She's back?"
Not just Xi—everyone else was equally astonished.
"Didn't she run away? It's only been a few days, and she's already returned, tail between her legs?"
"Judging by when she left that farewell note, it's barely been ten days."
The Heliobi who had co to inform Xi displayed clear contempt for Feng Liqi. "This one keeps breaking her own record, getting faster every ti."
Previously, Feng Liqi had fled several tis, but always ca crawling back. Each ti she returned sooner than before.
"I rember at the start, she could manage to stay away a year or two. But this ti, only about ten days? That has to be a new record."
"Definitely. Last ti, she held out two or three months."
"Only ten days… Did sothing outside frighten her back this quickly?"
The Heliobi murmured among themselves, voices filled with undisguised disdain for Feng Liqi.
Sitting high above them, Xi rely watched the discussion quietly, never once stopping it.
Only when their gossip subsided did she raise a hand, silencing the noise entirely.
"Enough about Feng Liqi. Our priority is the Heaven-nding Creation."
Since the general who'd contracted with Xi had begun to decay centuries ago, the Azure Fla Realm—built upon a shattered Xianzhou—had been steadily shrinking.
Now, having obtained a divine body from beyond the sky, Xi planned to initiate the Heaven-nding Creation to stabilize and expand the Azure Fla Realm once again.
Therefore, all their efforts must be focused on this crucial endeavor.
"Xi is right—the Heaven-nding Creation should be our greatest concern."
"Exactly! Even if Feng Liqi rges with us, she'll vanish instantly. There's no need to worry about her."
"And besides, even if sothing unexpected does occur..."
The Heliobus who spoke turned his gaze aningfully toward Xi, whose expression had turned thoughtful.
Even if they rged and no one remained to guard them—it wouldn't matter.
Even if other races chose this mont to rebel—it wouldn't matter.
"As long as she exists, we're invincible here!"
With Xi around, the Heliobi would never again fall back into servitude.
Under Xi's leadership, the Heliobi would never lose!
All the Heliobi wholeheartedly trusted Xi's power.
She was the child of the Sui Emperor—and at the sa age, Xi's strength far surpassed her predecessor. To describe her as the student surpassing the master was entirely accurate.
Not to ntion, she'd also inherited all the power of the Cangcheng Xianzhou's "General Futian."
She was, without a doubt, invincible in this realm!
Thus, becoming part of Xi was considered an honor among ordinary Heliobi.
Yet, despite being revered and trusted by all, Xi seed not to hear their praises at all.
Her gaze remained unfocused, lost in thought.
"Feng Liqi…"
...
After gradually collecting information on the Heaven-nding Creation, Sora felt rather amazed.
The Azure Fla Realm, built from a damaged Xianzhou, was inherently unstable. Over the centuries, its territory had continuously shrunk.
In Sora's eyes, this was simply because the broken Xianzhou couldn't hold together much longer.
Thus, every few decades, Xi would gather everyone for the Heaven-nding Creation, attempting to stabilize the Xianzhou once more.
"…Still, this ti they're really boasting big," Sora sighed softly. "Claiming they'll solve all the Azure Fla Realm's issues in one go."
"If they fail, wouldn't they be laughed at?"
"From what I know about Xi, she never makes claims she can't fulfill. Maybe she really did find a solution?" Feng Xi, who had transford into a small cluster of white flas, hovered cautiously beside Sora, glancing nervously around.
Ahri was puzzled by this: "Feng Xi-jiejie, why do you look so scared?"
After obtaining permission from her parents, Ahri had accompanied Sora to the Central Prefecture, where the Heaven-nding Creation was to take place.
Ever since arriving here, Feng Xi's behavior had grown noticeably more anxious.
She no longer maintained human form, instead remaining as a ball of fla close by Sora's side every day.
"Because I'm scared soone will devour ," Feng Xi admitted softly, her flas trembling slightly.
Among Heliobi, strength determined rank. Stronger individuals devoured weaker ones, absorbing them entirely.
Feng Xi didn't wish to be devoured and lose herself, so she remained extrely vigilant.
This unspoken rule was universally understood by the Heliobi—until Feng Xi encountered one exception: Sora.
When she first saw Sora, wasn't her terror precisely because she feared he might devour her?
Yet, astonishingly, Sora had no intention of absorbing her at all, completely beyond Feng Xi's imagination.
Heliobi were generally social beings. Without anyone to speak with, Feng Xi quickly beca bored and decided to join Sora in watching the Heaven-nding Creation.
"But I'm still curious," Feng Xi persisted, "What exactly are you looking for?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Saying this, Sora led Feng Xi and Ahri into the venue.
The venue was vast, filled with ancient traces of history.
Upon entering, Sora was montarily stunned by the sheer number of beings gathered here.
Since his arrival, even counting everyone in Ahri's village, he'd never seen more than a hundred people.
But here, at a glance, there must have been tens of thousands.
Not just Foxians, but also pointy-eared Vidyadhara, solemn-faced Xianzhou humans, and, of course, the flaming forms clustered near the central platform—those were Heliobi.
All these races had gathered here today for the Heaven-nding Creation.
"Hopefully," Sora muttered softly, "I'll be able to get my body back just by talking…"
Seeing the current situation, Sora felt troubled. If words alone can solve this, then let's avoid conflict.
That was the only thought occupying his mind at the mont.
The commotion grew louder as the crowd swelled. Feng Xi quietly introduced the leaders of each race to him:
The Foxian leader was an elderly man with thin white brows. The Vidyadhara's leader was a woman with a stern expression. As for the Xianzhou…
Sora glanced left and right but couldn't discern who among the silent crowd might be their leader.
"Curious?" Feng Xi leaned closer and whispered, "I happen to know exactly who it is."
Sora gave her a surprised look. "And how do you know that?"
"I spent a few months in the Xianzhou's Jiulan Realm years ago. Naturally, I know."
As Feng Xi spoke, she discreetly pointed out the current leader of the Xianzhou people.
It was a serious-looking youth, with black hair cascading down his shoulders, lending him a sowhat delicate appearance.
This guy is their new leader? Sora stared at his face, almost in disbelief.
He appeared even younger than Sora himself. To think he'd already beco their leader was quite shocking.
Though Sora knew the youthful appearance of Xianzhou natives didn't necessarily match their actual age, the elders seated behind the boy appeared considerably older. Choosing him despite that could only an the boy had extraordinary qualities.
But these things had nothing to do with Sora. He needed only to reclaim his body.
As ti slowly passed, the atmosphere suddenly began to shift.
Near the central platform, the flas of the gathered Heliobi surged intensely. At the sa ti, strange phenona began manifesting throughout the sky and surroundings.
"Wow!"
Ahri looked up into the heavens, where countless streams of brilliant light converged into a dazzling point—like a second sun appearing in broad daylight.
Then, that radiant sphere descended dramatically onto the central stage!
Boom!
Blazing platinum flas burst forth, and a figure appeared before the gathered crowd.
The Foxian elder's wandering fingers grew tense; the Vidyadhara woman's gaze remained steady as ever; the Xianzhou delegation collectively gripped the armrests of their seats.
From the roaring flas, a figure slowly erged:
This was the current leader of the Heliobi—Xi.
Bathed in platinum fire, she now stood proudly before everyone atop the damaged Xianzhou.
"Welco, everyone, to this event—" Xi's expression was calr than anyone else's, but when her gaze passed Sora, she paused for a brief mont.
Sora felt she was looking straight at him, yet simultaneously seed to be looking through him to soone else.
Turning around, he saw nothing but Foxians behind him.
Does this woman know ? Or perhaps she's found my body?
While Sora puzzled over this, Xi continued to scan the crowd and slowly announced the event's na: "Heaven-nding Creation."
"You might wonder why we're performing the Heaven-nding Creation. The reason is simple—the Azure Fla Realm will soon vanish entirely."
Her words were casual, yet instantly threw the crowd into panic.
Foxians were the most disturbed—among the Xianzhou's long-lived races, their lifespans were the shortest. The Vidyadhara reacted moderately, while the Xianzhou humans remained notably silent, as if already aware of this outco.
The uproar lasted briefly, silenced when Xi caused platinum flas to explode overhead, subduing the noise.
"The Azure Fla Realm has stood for several centuries, yet its foundational energies are almost completely exhausted."
Xi gently touched her own body, addressing the crowd calmly: "That is why we must perform the Heaven-nding Creation to permanently solve our predicant."
"Yes, the Heaven-nding Creation exists to preserve our Azure Fla Realm for generations to co."
"And this ti, we can perfectly eliminate all future troubles!"
"So, rejoice! For I—the perfect one—shall beco the new ruler of the Azure Fla Realm."
At these words, several among the Xianzhou tried to rise in protest but were swiftly restrained by their young leader.
"Upper God Xi, you an to say you'll nd the Azure Fla Realm and rule it indefinitely?"
Xi glanced him up and down, then replied coolly, "Naturally. My rule will certainly surpass yours."
"At least, I've provided all species a place to survive—haven't I?"
"But, if I recall correctly," the young leader spoke carefully, "those Borisin once imprisoned in the Isolation Prison have also been freed by you, haven't they…?"
Xi laughed lightly. "That was precisely my agreent with Futian. He signed a contract with —to protect all surviving lives. I have fulfilled exactly that."
"As for who survives, that depends solely on who was left alive aboard the Xianzhou."
The Foxian elder's fingers slowly tightened around his staff.
"Very well. Since that's the case, I have nothing more to say." The Xianzhou's young leader returned quietly to his seat.
Xi swept her eyes around the venue and declared loudly, "Does anyone else object?"
Her intention was clear—to firmly suppress any lingering resistance. As long as she existed, no one would ever overturn the heavens again!
"Then, let us begin our Heaven-nding Creation!"
Xi waved her hand, and countless golden flas spread across the sky. Simultaneously, a striking fireball gradually descended from above, drawing every eye.
"This is our Heaven-nding material—the only one we require!"
The mont this fla appeared, Sora sensed a profound connection from the depths of his soul.
Without a doubt, whatever lay within that fla was indeed his own body!
Hey hey hey, seriously? They're really doing this?!
He glanced around, preparing to sneak away.
The flaming sphere gently touched down before the crowd. When it dispersed, a figure appeared, back turned to everyone.
An exceptionally muscular body drew countless stares, only a small pair of shorts concealing the most essential parts.
Without a shred of doubt—this was Sora's body!
In the instant it appeared, a link established itself clearly within Sora's mind. Everything around him seed to freeze in ti.
Black mist surged forth from the body, rapidly engulfing Sora completely.
Simultaneously, whispers echoed softly by his ear:
[THE BONDS OF REALITY FADE AWAY... FORMLESS VESSELS SINK INTO THE ABYSS OF CHAOS... CONSCIOUSNESS DIMS WITHIN BOUNDLESS DARKNESS ON THE FAR SHORE...]
[CAN YOU DO IT? CAN YOU SAVE THEM? WILL THEY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU?]
[PROVE IT. RESCUE THEM...]
[CAN THIS BECO THE FULCRUM THAT SHIFTS THE FUTURE...?]
This voice belonged unmistakably to TERMINUS, delivering cryptic riddles directly into Sora's ears.
After speaking, the darkness that engulfed Sora vanished instantly, as if it had never existed at all.
Ti, previously halted, slowly resud its normal flow.
"This is…the material for the Heaven-nding?"
"Why does it look exactly like a Xianzhou person's body?"
Whispers arose around him, snapping Sora back to reality.
Only now did he realize sothing wasn't quite right with his location.
His viewpoint had drastically changed—he'd sohow teleported directly from the spectator seats to the stage itself.
Indeed, he now found himself standing on the platform, and his true form, the Kougouken Saikou sword, was hanging snugly at the waist of the displayed body.
Hey! Sword, are you trying to force a transformation here? Sora ntally complained.
"Now, let us beco one!" With an enthusiastic shout, Xi transford into a streaking cot of flas, charging straight into Sora's forehead!
Yet, just as she entered, an unexpected voice whispered into her ear:
"Hey, buddy. This is my body—mind stepping out?"
Not only did Xi hear it clearly, but these words also erged clearly from the mouth of the tightly shut-eyed body, echoing throughout the venue!
Instantly, everyone heard this voice.
Recognizing that familiar tone, Feng Xi whipped her gaze around, only to discover Sora had vanished without her noticing.
Ahri quickly scanned the surroundings, spotting the sword now snugly strapped at the waist of the body.
"Feng Xi-jie! Look over there!"
Ahri's shout imdiately drew all Foxian eyes to the sword. Their curiosity spread quickly, pulling the attention of the Vidyadhara, and eventually even the Xianzhou.
In re monts, every gaze in the arena had focused squarely on Sora.
"Is that…a sword possessed by a Heliobus?"
Hearing this, the gathered races quickly understood: perhaps internal strife had erupted among the Heliobi.
Well then—ti to enjoy the show.
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