Two years had passed. Thanks to that Spirit Sword, Yun Qing had grown from fourteen back to sixteen.
His regression had barely been halted, and he had begun moving forward again.
Yun Si looked at the boy, who seemed to have a cat's tail swishing behind him, and said mildly, "Don't celebrate too soon."
Yun Qing: "..." He hadn't even said anything yet.
Yet Yun Si seemed to have seen right through him. "That sword is ultimately an external aid. It can only protect you for a time, temporarily easing the laws of heaven and earth's rejection of you."
Yun Qing looked up and listened attentively. Yun Si propped her forehead on one hand, idly toying with her teacup.
"If you want this world to let you stay, you'll still have to rely on your own cultivation. As your cultivation deepens and you continue absorbing Heavenly Origin's Immortal Power, your body, meridians, and even your divine soul will gradually be reshaped by this world."
"Only when the aura of origin you brought from your old world has been fully converted will heaven and earth's rejection begin to fade."
She lightly pointed a fingertip toward Yun Qing.
"The higher your cultivation, the more karmic ties you form, and the deeper your Dao Traces, the harder it will be for heaven and earth to classify you as an outsider and expel you."
Yun Qing lowered his head and looked at his palm, understanding in his heart: By then, I'll never be able to return to Blue Star.
By the time he had the strength to return to Blue Star, he would be an outsider to his homeland, too.
After a moment, Yun Qing slowly curled his fingers into a fist.
"All right."
Yun Si raised an eyebrow.
The boy lifted his head,