Xu Xiaoyan spoke with complete confidence, chin raised.
Xiling glanced at her but did not expose her.
Indeed, Xu Xiaoyan now had both control and offensive power. Although Xie Xie's Martial Soul had evolved into the Space-Time Dragon, he might not gain any advantage in a head-on fight.
Long Yuxue stood motionless by the window.
Leaning against the windowsill with her arms folded across her chest, she watched Xiling surrounded by the two girls.
Warm yellow light illuminated half her face, while the other half was hidden in the shadows beyond the window. Her lips curved faintly, but her eyes held an unusually complicated expression.
Xiling looked over and smiled slightly. "Long time no see, Sister Yuxue."
"Mm... long time no see. I never expected that in just five short years, you would become the Federal Speaker." Long Yuxue smiled faintly.
Xiling was speechless for a moment. "When I left back then, I never imagined this day would come either."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted away from Long Yuxue and settled on Gu Yue, who had remained silent. He slowly walked over, stopped in front of her, opened his arms, and smiled.
"Not even a hug?"
Gu Yue was slightly startled, her purple eyes blinking. This seemed to be the first time Xiling had been so proactive toward her.
There was no reason to refuse. Her slender body leaned forward slightly as she willingly stepped into his open embrace.
The group chatted idly in the room. About half an hour later, Xiling stood and said to the women, "I should be going too."
"News of what happened today should have reached all the major factions. As the Federal Speaker, I need to go back and take charge."
"These next few days will probably be busy."
As he spoke, he