Heart Racing Homeward, Hongmeng United in Building a Golden Age

The wind and snow of the land of extreme cold still lingered as a faint chill upon their robes as Shen Hao held Zi Xuan's hand and set out for the Central Spiritual Vein. This time, they no longer deliberately slowed their pace. Riding the Dao rhythm, they became two streaks of light that swept over rolling mountain ranges and winding rivers. The wind howled past their ears, carrying the scent of cooking smoke from villages along the way, the fragrance of flowers from Spirit Grass Valley, and the salty dampness of Starfall Sea. Bit by bit, it was the most vivid visage of the Hongmeng Great Land.

Zi Xuan leaned against Shen Hao's shoulder, her fingertips lightly brushing the unmelted snow on his lapel. "Brother Hao, we've been away from the Central Spiritual Vein for so long that I actually miss the morning light over the Spirit Gathering Pool."

Lowering his head, Shen Hao looked at the wind-tousled strands of hair by her temples and gently brushed them aside. His eyes were filled with tenderness. "We'll be there soon. After we return, we can go watch the sunrise from the Star Gazing Platform every day, all right?"

Zi Xuan nodded vigorously, a faint smile curving her lips. She knew that Shen Hao's heart had long since flown back to the Central Spiritual Vein. There stood the Council Hall of the Hongmeng Guardian Alliance, the elders of every race waiting for him, the young cultivators flourishing day by day, and the homeland he had personally protected.

The streaks of light tore through the clouds, and the outline of the Central Spiritual Vein gradually came into view. Towering peaks pierced the heavens, while the Council Hall atop the mountain shone brilliantly beneath the sunlight. The golden radiance of the Spirit Gathering