Tianci had returned.
After being away from home for decades, he had returned to Star Source Holy Mountain. The family enjoyed a pleasant dinner together, during which Lola murmured happily more than once that she had always dreamed of his return.
After dinner, Reilo went to his room alone.
"Father."
Tianci seemed to have expected Reilo to come.
"Mm."
Looking at Tianci's increasingly mature, weathered face, Reilo couldn't help remembering when he was little: the mischievous child had clung to Bailan all day, begging him to play, and had run all over the Grand Natural Sciences Academy with Whitey.
"Why didn't you bring Roulan back?"
Roulan was Tianci's wife, a native of Middle Earth. Reilo had met her once, decades ago, during the first Constellation Festival.
"She... died."
Tianci's voice was low, and he could barely hide his grief. He continued, "She was killed by followers of the Star Temple. I happened to be away teaching at the time. By the time I returned and heard the news, she was already dead, along with the child she was carrying."
Reilo's expression turned stern. After a brief moment of disorientation, he composed himself and asked gravely, "How did the Star God fall?"
"I don't know."
Tianci shook his head, then added, "But... that man has returned."
"That man?"
A figure gradually surfaced in Reilo's mind: an Ancient Aurora man who had left Starveil Land many years ago, someone who grew stronger through constant battle, becoming more formidable with every fight—Shura Path!
"I understand."
Reilo's voice was low. He said solemnly, "The next Ten Elders Council meeting will be held after the Constellation Festival. After that, I plan to visit Middle Earth. There are some things that need to be settled."
Three years later.
The Ten Elders Council meeting of the