"Mother's all right, An'er. Let's go!"
Tan Taiqing shook her head, turned back to wipe the tears from her eyes, and her gaze grew resolute.
"All right!"
The boy nodded softly.
He opened his mouth, then stopped himself.
A profound look flickered in his eyes before his expression returned to normal.
He might not have had Tan Taiqing's or Liu Hua's experience, but he was no longer a child.
He could guess something of how his mother felt and what had happened to his father.
But he knew Liu Hua well. Once his father made a decision, no one could interfere with it or sway him.
At the same time,
as a son, he remembered his father's instruction to take good care of his mother.
Though grief filled his heart, none of it showed on his face.
"Mother, don't worry. Father has entered the Dao. If he wishes, I'm sure he can preserve a ray of life."
After a brief hesitation, the boy spoke softly to Tan Taiqing.
"That's right. Your father will come back!"
Tan Taiqing nodded gently and waved her hand. A handful of Spirit Crystals fell from her sleeve, releasing a dense surge of spiritual energy.
The Teleportation Array, steeped in an ancient aura, lit up little by little with dazzling radiance.
The array slowly activated.
The two standing within it remained silent.
Both knew what fate awaited the person they cared about most.
But neither spoke of it.
An instant later,
violent spatial fluctuations and dazzling light swallowed them both.
Above Tianyuan Star,
the East Sea Sword Saint dispersed his soul and will in the space of an instant.
Across the vast starry sky,
countless streaks of Sword Light came to his aid.
Dense as stars, the streaks of Sword Light roared toward him like