Chaos Heaven, before the bamboo lodge.
On the stone table, a pot of clear tea brewed from Chaos Spirit Root leaves gave off wisps of steam. Its fragrance was crisp and refreshing, soothing the heart and mind. Ling Yun and Gu Yuena sat facing each other. They were not watching the conjured images, but simply gazing quietly at the boundless, slowly rolling Chaos Cloud Sea before them. The sea of clouds was not empty. It naturally reflected glimpses of scenes from All Heavens and Myriad Realms—the prosperity of the Hope Star Sea, the peace of Douluo Continent, new inventions in the Order Star Domain, a grand celebration underway in some remote plane, even the joys and sorrows unfolding in unknown corners... It was as though the pulse of the entire star sea beat faintly within those clouds.
A thousand years had left no trace on Ling Yun or Gu Yuena. Instead, they had only made their temperaments more restrained and profound, drawing them ever closer to Chaos Heaven and the vast star sea. Ling Yun's gaze was distant, as though it could pierce endless void and behold the flowing river of time.
"Time passes so quickly," Gu Yuena said softly, pouring Ling Yun a cup of tea with her delicate hand. Her violet eyes reflected the rising and falling clouds, the starlight flickering. "In the blink of an eye, a thousand years have passed." A millennium of companionship had long made their understanding of one another part of their souls. No excessive words were needed.
Ling Yun lifted his teacup. The misty heat blurred his vision for an instant. He took a sip, his gaze remaining distant. "Yes, a thousand years. The Calamity of Annihilation now feels like an incredibly distant past, so distant it is like a myth from