Xi Chen did not answer immediately.
His pupils contracted slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed as though he were weighing his words—or suppressing an instinctive tremor.
Starlight fell upon his golden fur, casting a faint, cold gleam over it.
A moment later, he dropped to one knee. His colossal body rapidly shrank, his surging golden vitality retracting into his body until he became the size of an ordinary man. Long golden hair cascaded down, veiling most of his expressionless face.
"Reporting to the Heavenly Emperor, I had no intention of spying on or offending you."
His voice was steady, but his speech was slightly faster than usual. He was nervous.
"Oh?" Wang Xuan raised a brow, somewhat intrigued.
"When I saw the Heavenly Emperor's Chaos divine light, I pursued it all the way here because I had a favor to ask."
Xi Chen raised his head, determination flashing through his golden eyes.
Wang Xuan glanced at him. His gaze was calm to the point of seeming casual, neither oppressive nor scrutinizing. Yet that single glance weighed more heavily than any imperial might, making Xi Chen's fur stand faintly on end.
"Get up and speak." Wang Xuan turned away, the Chaos Great Dao silently extending beneath his feet. "Lead the way."
Xi Chen was briefly stunned.
"The Heavenly Emperor... knows where I wish to go?"
"Since you have a favor to ask." Without looking back, Wang Xuan said casually, "I should naturally play the host. What is the point of wasting time in this starry sky?"
"Many thanks, Heavenly Emperor."
He said no more. Rising to his feet, he transformed into a streak of golden light and shot forward, leading the way.
The Chaos Great Dao stretched across turbulent, overlapping starfields, piercing through countless layers of Void barriers. At last, an