Crossing the Starry Sky

Darkness. Chaos. All around him, aside from a hazy blur of light and unintelligible white noise, he could sense almost nothing.

Luo Zhiyuan had just awakened from the chaos. When he realized what was happening, he had no idea what was going on. What was this?

Had he fallen asleep while reading a novel again? But even if he had, what was this supposed to be? A dream? No, that wasn't right. Hadn't he been reading Swallowed Star? It was an old book, but he loved its vast cosmic backdrop, its wondrous treasures, and the fiery battles between its characters. It was his favorite novel.

This was his twenty-fourth time reading it. He wouldn't claim he could recite it from memory, but he could clearly recall just about any scene without opening the book. It was something he often bragged about to his online friends.

This time, a few novels recommended by his friends had left a bad taste in his mouth, so Luo Zhiyuan had decided to stay up late and reread this one, hoping to soothe his wounded heart. He didn't want to end up dizzy and weak-limbed, giving his boss an excuse to chew him out. So why was this strange thing happening now?

Suddenly, a gentle, slightly hazy voice rang out. "Pingping, Xiaohai, let Mommy tell you something. Your father was a hero of humanity. He carried the hopes of mankind and killed the terrifying Swallowing Beast, allowing us humans to continue living on Earth. Though you'll never get to see your father's heroic figure for yourselves, you must remember that your father was a hero to all the people of Earth. His name was Luo Feng!"

Pingping? Xiaohai? Luo Feng? The terrifying Swallowing Beast? Could that be Xu Xin's voice?

This... Could it be that he was dreaming about a scene from Swallowed Star?

Then, without warning, Luo Zhiyuan was overcome by a wave of grief and pain. The emotions jolted him into realizing that he was no longer surrounded by darkness. Instead, a dense liquid enveloped him. Nearby, he sensed two faint pulses, like two tiny candle flames flickering and dancing. He also felt a mysterious summons coming from them.

Before he could figure out where that grief and pain had come from, Luo Zhiyuan found himself irresistibly drawn toward the two candle flames.

He felt like a jellyfish floating in water, drifting toward them. He casually chose one of the flames and moved closer, then couldn't help pressing himself against it.

In an instant, Luo Zhiyuan understood. The candle flame was a newborn soul, a bewildered little thing that couldn't even express the simplest emotions. It could only sense vague, indistinct ripples. Was it curious, or afraid? Who knew?

Luo Zhiyuan wanted to go and sense the other soul, but found that he couldn't get any closer. It was as if something had bound him, leaving him unable to drift around as he had before. What was going on?

Before he could make sense of the situation, the gentle, slightly hazy voice spoke again. "Pingping, Xiaohai, your father wasn't just a hero. He was also a very sweet man. Hehe~

"Do you know? When you were at school, your father got along well enough with his other classmates, but around me, he was as clumsy as a rock. He'd just sneak glances at me from behind, thinking I didn't know.

"Girls are very sensitive to those kinds of looks. I noticed ages ago, but he still wouldn't take the initiative to find more chances to talk to me. When he wasn't studying, he was cultivating. And I wasn't going to seek him out first, not as a girl. Hmph! So I just kept him at arm's length. Haha~

"Come to think of it, I've never met anyone more hardworking than him. That must be why he became a Martial Artist right after graduating from high school.

"Later, after we graduated, we met again at the bar in the reception hall of the HR Underground Alliance Mall. That was when I learned your father had become a Martial Artist. Becoming one at eighteen made him quite the young prodigy, huh?

"Your father and I only started dating after that meeting. Of course, he was the one who asked me out. At least he wasn't completely rock-headed. Hehe.

"After that, your father's strength improved by leaps and bounds. In just one year, he became an Invincible War God-level Spirit Reader, was appointed Inspector of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's Jiangnan Base City, and became the talk of the town!

"Later, your father entered Ancient Civilization Ruin No. 9. Most people came out within three months at most. If they stayed longer, they were presumed dead. But your father stayed inside for a whole year and three months. They even sent out a death notice during that time. We were all heartbroken. What a bad man!

"After your father was declared dead, his old enemies secretly schemed to frame your grandparents and uncle. Fortunately, your uncle, Luo Hua, handled things well, and they didn't get their way. But your grandfather was still hit by a car and badly injured.

"Once your father came out of the ruin, he dealt with the villains who had framed our family. Then he broke through to become a being beyond the War God level—a Planetary Level Spirit Reader—and became the sixth Inspector of the global Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

"We thought we'd be able to live happily after that. Who knew that just a year later, the terrifying Swallowing Beast would appear? In only a few days, it nearly destroyed most of humanity's Base Cities. Mankind faced annihilation. The two strongest Martial Artists in the world, Hall Master Hong of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and Hall Master Thunder God of the Thunder Martial Arts Hall, went together to fight the Swallowing Beast. They were both gravely wounded and fell into comas without managing to kill it. They only managed to injure it.

"Your father stepped forward without hesitation at that moment. After receiving a sacrificial offering of their lives from five Planetary Level Martial Artists, he perished alongside the Swallowing Beast, protecting the safety of humanity.

"So, Pingping, Xiaohai, you must remember: your father was a hero to all the people of Earth. He gave his life bravely to protect all of us, and to protect you. You must always be proud of him, even if you never got to see him. You must always feel the love he had for you!

"Every day you get to grow up safe and happy is a day your father bought with his blood and his life—with his selfless, boundless love!

"But... but your father wasn't just a hero to mankind. He was also the man I loved. I didn't want him to go off and be some hero!

"We spent so little time together over the past few years. Your father was always going out to kill monsters, and I was building a business with a group of employees. I cherished every moment we got together. I didn't want to let him go.

"But your father was right. He said, 'If the roots die, can the leaves survive?' The Chinese people are the roots, and Earth is the roots. All of us are leaves. If we can't save the roots, then we leaves will die too.

"Before your father left, he made this ring for me out of steel wire. He said he didn't have time to buy a ring. Heh. He said he owed me a wedding, and asked if I'd marry him.

"I could only nod through my tears. I was crying too hard to speak, but inside, I kept shouting, 'I will!' I think he heard me, don't you?

"But I really didn't want him to go off and be a hero! I wanted him to stay with us and live our lives together. But I couldn't stop your father, because I knew it was his conviction, his responsibility.

"Pingping, Xiaohai, do you know what your names mean? Pingping means I hope you both grow up safe and sound. And Xiaohai is to remind you that your father will forever rest beneath the sea."

As Luo Zhiyuan listened to the gentle, slightly hazy voice speak in fits and starts, he felt waves of grief, pain, sweetness, and confusion. He was completely lost. He didn't understand what was happening.

Was this a dream? Could a dream be so clear, conveying such complex thoughts and so many emotions? But if it wasn't a dream, then what was going on?

Luo Zhiyuan was utterly confused. Ever since he had become conscious, he had been surrounded by countless mysteries. He had no idea what was happening. He might as well treat it as a dream, then. But he needed to wake up soon. He didn't know what time it was, and he couldn't afford to sleep through his alarm. If he was late to work, his boss would definitely chew him out for ten minutes. That memory was burned into him. He couldn't let it happen again.

Luo Zhiyuan tried with all his might to wake up, but found he couldn't. He had no idea how to wake himself from a dream. He'd never had an experience like this before. He'd always dreamed naturally and woken up naturally. At most, a nightmare would startle him awake. But actively waking himself up? He honestly had no clue.

After who knew how long, Luo Zhiyuan suddenly sensed an unintelligible ripple from the soul pressed against him. Only then did it hit him: there were other souls here.

Wait, souls? Why did he know this was a soul? And if that was a soul, then what was he right now? Was he a soul too? Had his soul left his body?

But how could a soul outside its body hear Xu Xin talking to Luo Feng's two children? What a mess! Luo Zhiyuan was terribly frustrated. He needed to sort things out and figure out what was going on.

First, he needed to think about the last thing he remembered.

Well, Luo Zhiyuan remembered reading Swallowed Star, staying up late to do it. Then... Oh, right. He'd suddenly felt a violent pang in his chest and a splitting headache. He'd struggled to breathe, his whole body had convulsed, and he vaguely remembered his roommate screaming. Then... Well, then he'd awakened in darkness.

Could something have happened to his body?

The more Luo Zhiyuan thought about it, the more wrong it seemed, and the more panicked he became. He was so flustered that he began to quiver unconsciously.

Then Luo Zhiyuan sensed a strong wave of terror from the soul beside him. While he was still trying to figure out what was happening, the world suddenly spun around him. He felt as though he'd been tossed into a washing machine drum, tumbling and spinning without knowing why.

"Xu Xin! Xu Xin, what's wrong? Don't scare us! What's happening?"

"I... I... I don't... know. My... stomach suddenly... hurts so much... Ah!"

"Quick! Call emergency services! Tell them Xu Xin suddenly has a stomachache. Oh God! Xu Xin, you're bleeding! Quick, Xiaohua, contact the hospital and the doctor!"

Luo Zhiyuan kept hearing panicked voices, and then felt waves of pressure squeezing him. Waves of terror kept coming from the soul beside him.

It wasn't only the soul he was pressed against. The other soul not far away also sent out wave after wave of unintelligible ripples. All of it left Luo Zhiyuan utterly bewildered. He had no idea what was happening. He could only try to calm down. Calm down. Panicking wouldn't solve anything.

As Luo Zhiyuan slowly calmed down, he heard another voice. "There's nothing too serious. But Mrs. Luo, you mustn't grieve too much. Your body is still rather weak, and you're showing mild signs of a threatened miscarriage. If you continue to be so overwhelmed by grief, it could affect the healthy development of the fetus. You must keep your emotions in check. Also, I recommend bed rest for the next three days to stabilize the pregnancy. Otherwise, there could be greater danger next time."

"Thank you, doctor. I'll be sure to take extra care."

"Mr. and Mrs. Luo, you both need to be careful as well. Pregnant women are quite sensitive at this stage. This is still the early stages of pregnancy, and the fetus hasn't fully developed, so it can be easily harmed. There are also many things you need to watch out for at home, such as..."

Like a bolt of lightning, Luo Zhiyuan suddenly understood what had happened. Something incredible must have happened to him. Had he died from staying up late to read? Then transmigrated—his soul entering the world of Swallowed Star, and the body of one of Luo Feng's sons inside Xu Xin?

Were these two new souls Luo Feng's twin sons, Luo Ping and Luo Hai? Then which one had he possessed?

Well, neither of them was even fully developed yet. Who could tell them apart? Honestly. Who knew how long it would take before he was born?

Uh... All right, it was a little awkward. He was nearly thirty years old, and he hadn't even been born yet. That was just ridiculous.

Never mind. Since he'd already come to this world, he might as well wait for his birth in peace. This world was incredibly exciting. He was already a little impatient.

He wanted to hurry up and see what this world was like: its countless races, its wondrous treasures, its boundless universe, even the Universe Ocean and the so-called Origin Continent. Just wait—I'd explore them all!

As Luo Zhiyuan's mood settled, waves of unintelligible ripples came from the soul beside him.