He raised his head and looked at Kibito Kai. "Lead the way," he said calmly.
The weight in Kibito Kai's heart finally lifted.
He breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing with it.
He lowered his head with a smile, a gentle warmth in it, like a breeze rippling across a lake. "Come with me."
As he spoke, he raised his right index finger and lightly touched the space between his brows.
The moment his fingertip touched his skin, he closed his eyes, and a faint golden light flickered between his brows.
Space seemed to pause for a moment. An invisible ripple spread out from him, and even the dust in the air seemed frozen in place.
Holding his breath, he focused his mind and sent his soul through the void, carefully searching for Jiang Che's unique aura—that profound yet blazing presence, like ancient stars mingled with the rising sun, impossible to miss.
Before long, Kibito Kai slowly opened his eyes, tranquility reflected in his pupils.
But when he looked at Jiang Che, he froze. Jiang Che stood three paces away with his arms crossed, a faintly amused smile on his lips and a playful glint in his eyes, as if he were enjoying an entertaining one-man show.
"What is it?" Kibito Kai asked, his brow furrowing. His expression was confused, with a hint of unease.
His fingertips still held the warmth of his brow, but the confidence he'd felt moments ago had clearly been shaken by Jiang Che's smile.
"Nothing." Jiang Che gave a slight shake of his head, his hair stirring in the breeze.
His smile deepened a little. "I just think your teleportation seems rather troublesome."
"Troublesome?" Kibito Kai blinked, his brow furrowing even more.
He instinctively glanced down at the hand resting on his shoulder, then looked back at Jiang Che, utterly perplexed. "This is already the fastest method. You can cross the stars in a single thought. There are only a few ways to travel faster than this in the entire universe."
Jiang Che didn't answer or explain.
He simply said, "Let's go."
Kibito Kai was taken aback, but he said nothing more.
He took a deep breath and placed his right hand on Jiang Che's shoulder, his fingertips pressing down slightly. The shoulder beneath his hand was solid and warm.
His voice dropped low, as if he were afraid of disturbing something. "We're off."
Before the words had even left his mouth, the space around them twisted violently.
The air crumpled as if an invisible giant hand had kneaded it, and the light warped. The surrounding scenery flowed away like melting paint.
Their figures turned into streaks of light, like meteors crossing the sky, leaving only whirling afterimages behind.
The next moment, everything fell still. Even the wind seemed a beat late.
The Supreme Kai World.
Jiang Che slowly opened his eyes.
Before him stretched a magnificent starry sky. The stars shone far brighter than those in the mortal world, silver-white, pale blue, and purplish red weaving together in a river of light that flowed across the night, like a painting that would never stop changing.
Beneath his feet was neither soil nor rock, but a kind of translucent glass, smooth and warm, glowing faintly blue, as if the entire world were a giant gemstone suspended in the void.
An ancient, mysterious aura filled the air, like sandalwood mingled with glacial meltwater. Every breath brought a solemn feeling to his chest that he couldn't quite put into words.
He surveyed his surroundings, then finally settled his gaze on a magnificent temple.
The temple was built from strange silver-gray stone, its surface covered in countless runes and reliefs that shimmered faintly in the starlight, almost as if they were alive.
Its roof soared into the clouds, its spires thrusting toward the heavens. A fist-sized gem at the tip of one spire gave off a soft, steady glow, like the temple's eye, silently watching everyone who entered its domain.
"So this is the Supreme Kai World?" Jiang Che's voice echoed through the air, brimming with curiosity.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the glassy ground beneath his feet, the distant stars, and the temple. His eyes were full of curiosity and admiration.
"Indeed." Kibito Kai stood beside him, his hands hanging naturally at his sides and his back straight. His face bore unmistakable pride.
He pointed toward a spot in the distant sea of stars, his voice reverent. "This is one of the oldest divine realms in the universe. It has existed since ancient times. Galaxies have been born and died, and ages have come and gone, yet this place has always stood firm, witnessing the rise and fall of countless eras."
"Impressive." Jiang Che nodded, his gaze sharp.
The breeze whipped the hem of his robe, lifting the stray hairs over his forehead and revealing eyes that shimmered with a shadowy light.
On the stone steps at the entrance to the temple stood a short old man of extraordinary bearing.
He leaned on a black wooden staff, its head carved into a great bird with outstretched wings, its delicate details making it look ready to take flight.
His face was covered in wrinkles, each one carved by the years, bearing the marks of hardship.
A strange hat sat on his head. Its wide brim resembled an upside-down lotus leaf, and its crown rose high above it. A few strands of silver hair hung from beneath the brim. Along with the long beard on his chest, it gave him an austere, otherworldly air.
His eyes were half-lidded, his eyelids drooping, but a sharp gaze still pierced through the narrow opening and landed squarely on Jiang Che.
"You're the brat who turned into a God of Super Saiyans?" Old Supreme Kai spoke in a voice that seemed to have traveled across countless ages. It was hoarse and deep, yet carried an unquestionable authority, as if every word were a law of heaven and earth.
He tapped his staff against the ground. A clear "thunk" rang out, its echo lingering in the open space before the temple.
Jiang Che crossed his arms, a faintly mocking smile on his lips. His tall figure cast a long shadow in the temple's dim light.
His gaze was calm as a deep pool, without the slightest trace of retreat.
"That's me. So what?" His voice was neither loud nor soft. Each word was like a stone dropped into a lake, sending out rings of ripples.
The sharp glint hidden in Old Supreme Kai's cloudy eyes suddenly flared, like lightning in the night sky.
He didn't hurry to speak, but slowly approached, each step landing heavily on the stone slabs.
He stopped in front of Jiang Che, only three feet away, and tilted his head up slightly. His gaze swept over Jiang Che from head to toe like a blade—from his hair to his sleeves, then down to his boots, still dusted with grit—as if he meant to see through his body and uncover the truth sealed in his bloodline.
After a brief silence, Old Supreme Kai spoke, his voice hoarse but clear. "Brat, transform for me."
Jiang Che raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on his lips.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned his head to look at the cobwebs on the temple ceiling, as if pondering something.
The wind blew in from outside, whipping his robes.
"You called me here just to see me transform?" he asked, his tone tinged with teasing.
Before you continue