Let Us Save This Painful World Together! Walking with You!

Bai Yuan closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again.

This time, he had no doubts, no hesitation.

That voice had indeed belonged to "Xiao Bai."

It was not the lingering remnant of an auditory hallucination, nor an aftereffect of the illusion. It was a real voice coming from the depths of the Core Flame.

He held out his left hand, and the Worldbearing Coreflame appeared in his palm.

Its golden glow was more restrained than before, as though veiled by a thin layer of gauze—warm and gentle, not dazzling.

He looked toward the center of the Core Flame.

That tiny, delicate flame was still burning, flickering between bright and dim like a baby that had just learned to breathe. Every pulse was tentative and careful.

"Was that you calling me?"

Bai Yuan asked softly.

The flame flickered once, as if answering him.

Bai Yuan's heartbeat skipped.

Slowly, he raised his right hand and lightly, tentatively reached out with his fingertips toward the little flame.

There was no burning sensation, no stabbing pain. Only a warmth so intense it made his eyes sting spread from his fingertips to his palm, then surged from his palm into his heart.

The Core Flame had responded to him.

Not passively accepting him, but actively responding with a certain emotion.

It was like someone taking his hand in the darkness—lightly, briefly—yet it made Bai Yuan understand something in an instant.

The little flame brightened a fraction.

Bai Yuan withdrew his finger, lowered his head to look at the Core Flame in his palm, and smiled.

"Xiao Bai,"

he said softly.

"No matter what you want to tell me, I'll listen to all of it."

The Core Flame burned quietly, as though waiting for his next words.

Bai Yuan clenched his fist, drawing in the Core Flame's glow, then rose and walked to the window.

Outside, the lights of Eastsea City glittered in the night.

He took a deep breath. His gaze passed through the lights and darkness, settling on somewhere far beyond.

There was Shrek, the Tang Sect, Tang San's grand plan spanning ten thousand years, and lofty God Kings looking down upon all living beings.

And he was merely a six-year-old child who had only recently awakened his martial souls.

But he was not afraid.

The Core Flame grew faintly hot in his palm, as if answering his resolve.

That delicate little flame beat more strongly than before, as though something were being conceived and growing within it.

That voice from the illusion—

Phainon of Aedes Elysiae sends you his regards.

It still echoed in his mind like a brand seared into the depths of his soul.

Bai Yuan turned around, his back to the window and his face toward the room.

The lamplight outlined his slender silhouette from behind, stretching his shadow long and far.

"Let's change this world together."

His voice was not loud, yet it was like a stone cast into a tranquil lake, stirring rings of invisible ripples through the quiet room.

He said it to the Core Flame, and to that person who had struggled through countless cycles, the one who resonated with him.

The Core Flame suddenly flared.

In that instant, Bai Yuan felt it clearly.

It was not anger, nor sorrow, but a blazing will that transcended time and space, one that seemed determined to burn away every trace of darkness.

It was Xiao Bai's will—the will of the youth who had walked out of Aedes Elysiae, the savior who had borne the Core Flame through countless cycles and never given up.

It gave no answer, but its light was the answer.

Bai Yuan smiled.

Not the polite, perfectly measured sort of smile.

It was a genuine smile that rose from the depths of his heart, carrying the boldness and high spirits unique to youth.

"Alright,"

he said.

"Then it's settled."

He returned to the bed, lay down, and closed his eyes.

The Core Flame burned quietly in his palm. That little flame pulsed gently with his breathing, like a tiny, warm heart.

Tomorrow, he still had training. He still had lessons with Elder Han. He still had to deal with Leng Yaozhu's various assessments.

The days ahead were long, and the road was farther still.

But he was no longer in a hurry.

Because he knew he was not alone.

Outside the window, the night deepened.

One by one, the lights of Eastsea City went out, and the entire city sank into slumber.

And in a room high within the Spirit Pagoda, a six-year-old child held a burning Core Flame and dreamed a long, long dream.

In his dream, golden wheat fields rose and fell in the breeze.

A white-haired boy and a pink-haired girl sat on the ridge between fields, their eyes curved into crescents as they smiled.

Outside the Spirit Pagoda, the night was thick as ink.

Gu Yuena stood beneath a large tree, calmly watching ahead.

Before her, a black-clad figure knelt on one knee with his head lowered, his posture respectful to the core.

"My Lord, I have investigated the matter you asked about."

Gu Yuena said nothing. She merely raised her chin slightly, signaling for him to continue.

"Bai Yuan came from an orphanage. His parents are unknown, and he has no background.

For the past six years, he has lived in an orphanage funded by the Spirit Pagoda. There have been no unusual contacts and no signs of interference from outside forces."

The man paused.

"Under normal circumstances, a child of such origins could not possibly possess such powerful martial souls."

Gu Yuena's brows furrowed slightly.

An orphan from an orphanage, with no background and no outside forces.

Then where had his Twin Martial Souls, that bizarre Core Flame, and that sword sharp enough to break through her Elemental Barrier come from?

Could it really be as he had said—that Leng Yaozhu had given him a whole set of cultivation secrets?

Bai Yuan's infuriatingly smug smile at the Training Ground surfaced in her mind.

Along with his words: "My master gave me a set of secrets that can improve all my abilities in a short time."

Well, damn.

Leng Yaozhu, you really are something!

You actually gave it to him but not to me!

Gu Yuena gritted her teeth, a chill flashing through her purple eyes.

Her talent was clearly no worse than Bai Yuan's. Why had Leng Yaozhu given him those secrets but not her?

Just because he had won one match at the Training Ground?

Just wait!!

She took a deep breath, suppressing the dissatisfaction churning within her, and looked again at the kneeling man.

"How is his talent?"

she asked in an even tone, as though it were a matter of no importance.

The man froze for a moment before answering cautiously.

"From what this subordinate has learned, Bai Yuan possesses extraordinary talent. He has Twin Martial Souls, Innate Full Soul Power, and spiritual power at the Spirit Connection Realm..."

Gu Yuena waved a hand, cutting him off.

The man remained kneeling. Seeing that Gu Yuena did not speak for a long while, his mind began racing.

Why had My Lord suddenly asked that?

Had she not just fought Bai Yuan?

Could it be...

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes lighting up. His voice was filled with barely contained excitement and admiration.

"Congratulations, My Lord!

You have gained such a genius!

My Lord must have used your peerless, invincible talent to conquer him at the Training Ground!

Although Bai Yuan is somewhat talented, how could he compare with My Lord's brilliance?

He must have been won over by My Lord's strength and charm and willingly pledged himself to serve you!"

Gu Yuena: "..."

She looked at her subordinate's face, which practically screamed "My Lord is mighty," and the corner of her mouth twitched.

Conquered him?

When had she ever conquered him?

She had clearly lost, alright?

Why did he have to bring up exactly what she did not want to hear?!

Her mood was terrible!

But she did not explain.

Explaining would mean admitting she had lost, admitting she was inferior to Bai Yuan.

Admitting that the noble Silver Dragon King had been defeated by a human child.

She would rather die than say something like that.

"Mhm."

Gu Yuena gave a faint response, her tone inscrutable.

"You may leave."

The man was so excited he nearly jumped up. He kowtowed twice in quick succession, his voice trembling.

"My Lord is mighty! This subordinate takes his leave!"