Dao and Companion

Qin Ming gave a slight bow, understanding in his heart.

When he chose to fully reveal his preliminary law fusion in the seventh Trial Tower without holding back, he had already anticipated it might draw the attention of the highest echelons, even altering the original trajectory.

He just hadn't expected Chaos City Lord himself to step in, and so directly.

"The Virtual Universe Company will grant you the highest level of training resources and protection," Chaos City Lord continued.

"But before that, you need to go to the Initial Universe and enter Chaos City for focused cultivation. That is the most suitable place for your current growth."

"Yes."

Qin Ming didn't ask further, responding calmly.

"Ganwu is on his way to receive you. He will escort your true body safely to the Initial Universe." Chaos City Lord gave a slight nod.

"As for your family in the Primal Universe, the Virtual Universe Company will provide the highest level of covert protection, ensuring their safety without worry. You can rest easy."

"Thank you, City Lord." Qin Ming bowed again, the last thread of concern in his heart settling.

"Go now. I look forward to seeing how far you can go in Chaos City."

A hint of amusement laced Chaos City Lord's voice as his figure gradually blurred. The surrounding chaotic currents spun gently, softly ushering Qin Ming's consciousness out of that unique space.

A flash of light.

Qin Ming's consciousness returned, and he found himself back in the Virtual Universe Company's Ganwu Universe Kingdom residence room.

The screen on his wrist guard was flashing with an encrypted notification from the highest levels of the Virtual Universe Company, its content largely matching Chaos City Lord's words, along with specific arrangements for heading to the Initial Universe.

He walked to the window, gazing out at the virtual starscape, his eyes calm and unruffled.

The clamor and glory of the Genius Tournament felt to him like something from a second ago.

Ever since witnessing Qin Ming's soul-shaking trial run and the abrupt interruption of the live broadcast, Ruoxi's heart had been unable to find peace.

She didn't know what she wanted to do or what she should do, but driven by an almost instinctive impulse, she kept waiting outside the door of Qin Ming's virtual residence room.

As if staying here would bring her closer to that figure who had created a miracle, as if she could confirm something the moment it happened.

Time flowed silently in the virtual universe. The subsequent announcements from the Virtual Universe Company were vague, only stating that the trial had ended and the final rankings would be released later.

This only deepened her unease and turmoil. Just as her mind was wavering, thoughts swirling—

"Creak."

The door, which had been shut for so long, was gently pulled open from the inside.

Qin Ming stepped out, his expression as usual, as if he had merely completed an ordinary seclusion.

Ruoxi froze instantly, her beautiful heterochromatic eyes going wide. She instinctively glanced into the empty room, then whipped her head back, staring hard at Qin Ming.

"You... when did you get back?" The words tumbled out almost involuntarily, her voice filled with bewildered disbelief.

"I... I've been waiting here the whole time, I never saw you come back!"

Qin Ming glanced at her, only saying flatly, "Just now."

He didn't explain that he had been summoned directly by Chaos City Lord and then sent back—this involved the highest secrets and required no explanation to others.

Those two simple words made Ruoxi's heart stutter.

Looking at Qin Ming's eyes, deep as the starry sky, she suddenly realized clearly that the gap between them wasn't just in that despairing disparity of strength and ranking.

There seemed to be a veil of mystery shrouding him, something she couldn't understand, let alone touch.

From start to finish, she had never truly known Qin Ming.

Her anxious waiting and hoping here, perhaps from the very beginning, had been... a bit overreaching.

A surge of emotion—loss, bitterness, and faint self-mockery—welled up, making her nose sting.

But she pressed her lips tightly, forcing all those feelings down. She only lowered her head and said in as calm a voice as she could manage, "Congratulations... you're really amazing."

Qin Ming gave a slight nod. "Thank you. You keep it up too."

A polite reply laced with a hint of distance.

The atmosphere froze into ice in that moment.

Ruoxi couldn't stay any longer, feeling the air around her grow thin and awkward. She hurriedly tossed out, "I... I'm going now."

Then, like a startled rabbit, she turned and fled without looking back, her figure quickly disappearing around the corner of the corridor.

Qin Ming stood there, silently watching the direction of her hasty retreat, saying nothing for a long time.

If this were his past life on Earth, being pursued and waited for by a girl of such peerless beauty, noble birth, and obvious special feelings for him—that would have been a dream he wouldn't dare to imagine.

A racing heart, flustered hands, even smug complacency—that would probably be the normal reaction.

But in this world, facing Ruoxi's barely concealed affection and her current awkward escape, his heart remained as calm as an ancient, bottomless well, not even a ripple stirring.

So calm... it was almost frightening.

A faint trace of self-mockery flickered at the corner of Qin Ming's mouth.

Is Swallowed Star a world suited for romance?

It is a vast world where the cold laws of the universe operate, where racial wars are brutal and cruel, where a single thought from a powerhouse can decide the life and death of a star system, and where seclusion often lasts for millions of years.

Emotions—especially fragile bonds that require vast amounts of time and effort to maintain—are more of a luxury here, and can even become a fatal weakness.

Luo Feng has Xu Xin, but that is because he rose from obscurity; emotions were one of the key forces that drove him forward in his early days, and Xu Xin herself is resilient enough.

But for most dazzlingly talented beings, partners are often fellow travelers met by chance over the long years, like-minded individuals who can stand shoulder to shoulder against the storms of the universe.

His path has only just begun.

Chaos City, the Outer Battlefield, the Universe Ocean, the Origin Continent... ahead lie endless dangers and opportunities, the constant leap in life levels, and the ultimate mysteries of the laws.

The vast majority of his mind, will, and even his life will be devoted to that eternal climb.

Romantic attachments, against such a grand and cruel backdrop, seem far too trivial and far too heavy.

It's not that he doesn't understand... it's just that he cannot bear them, nor does he have the heart to.

"Let it be."

He withdrew his gaze, severing all irrelevant thoughts like brushing a speck of dust from his sleeve.

With a single thought, his figure dissipated from the Virtual Universe.

In reality, above the sky of Lanfeng Planet, space began to twist violently. A majestic, vast, terrifying aura that made the entire star system tremble had already descended.

Ganwu Kingdom Lord had arrived.

(I know some dislike Ruoxi. A brief explanation: she may help the protagonist achieve a spiritual transformation in the future. This setting may not be used, but after all, a character like this can't just appear out of nowhere—it's a backup plot thread.)