Hearing that conversation, the last sliver of hope in Xuan Zi's heart vanished, replaced entirely by a deep, bottomless despair.
Summoning the last of his strength, he resisted in a weak, hoarse voice.
"Xiaotao… Ruoruo… you don't have to worry about me anymore… I know my own condition…"
He drew several painful breaths, eyes fixed on the two youths, his gaze filled with the last glimmer of hope.
"You… you must return to the academy… to Shrek… Shrek's future… depends on you…"
He had no idea that the Shrek Academy and Shrek City he cherished so dearly had already been razed to ruins by the arrival of the Lord Ravager, Phantylia, and now existed in name only.
His dying wish was destined never to be fulfilled.
Ma Xiaotao and Han Ruoruo's eyes were red. They gripped Xuan Zi's cold hands tightly, holding back their tears as they nodded.
Xuan Zi looked at them and tried to force a comforting smile, but in the end, his lips only slackened weakly, and the light in his eyes completely faded.
His final breath finally slipped away.
The killing intent within him lost its last restraint, erupting for an instant—then, together with the final traces of life, it dissipated into the void.
The Rank-98 Super Douluo, one of Shrek Academy's greatest pillars, quietly faded away in this foreign world.
The atmosphere grew heavy and solemn.
They cast one last glance at the Relic World, then both of them turned to look deeply, with complicated expressions, at Lu Jingming. With determined steps, they pivoted on their heels and entered the passage.
Their figures disappeared amidst the flowing starlight.
Xu Sanshi and Ning Tian followed closely behind.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, who were protecting Ning Fengzhi, led the many Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School disciples who wished to leave. After giving Lu Jingming a slight nod, they too stepped into the passage.
The gateway—which seemed to have never existed in this world to begin with—slowly closed.
Thus, the chaos of this world was temporarily stilled.
Lu Jingming did not leave immediately.
Instead, the light of the planar will flowed around Qian Renxue, and by the moment, her aura of majesty grew stronger and stronger.
"As soon as the continent stabilizes, we'll depart immediately. But you must remain alert to the threats from parallel worlds."
Lu Jingming quietly reminded Qian Renxue.
With her—the Angel Goddess—and Bibi Dong—the Rakshasa Goddess who had nominally become the Honorary Empress—jointly holding command, the Spirit Empire now had confidence that it could deal with most crises.
"Don't worry."
Qian Renxue's golden eyes were steady as she replied, her tone calm and composed, as if she had everything well in hand.
Lu Jingming said nothing further. He turned and walked toward Firefly, Castorice, Jingliu, Cerydra, Hysilens, and the others who had been waiting for him.
A new space-time portal opened before him, revealing the path back to their original world.
"Let's go."
He smiled lightly at his team.
Qian Renxue stood alone on the rooftop of what had once been the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace and was now the core of power of the Spirit Empire. Her golden eyes gazed into the void where the portal had vanished, her expression complex and unfathomable.
Just then, a gloomy yet no longer vicious aura quietly appeared behind her.
Bibi Dong, dressed in a deep purple gown, slowly walked out of the shadows to stand at her side. She, too, looked toward the direction where Lu Jingming had disappeared.
After a moment of silence, Bibi Dong finally spoke. Her voice, usually filled with obsession and compulsion, had now calmed; there was even a faint, unfamiliar trace of concern within it.
"They're gone."
"You really intend to go through with this? That man doesn't lack women. As proud as you are… can you really bear sharing your husband with other men's daughters, sharing him with other women?"
These words carried not the hostility of the Rakshasa God toward the Angel God, but rather the concern of a mother thinking about her daughter's lifelong happiness—a nearly unprecedented thing for Bibi Dong.
After a long silence, Qian Renxue finally spoke. Her voice was clear, cool, and resolute.
"Feelings?"
She shook her head slightly, her golden hair rippling in the breeze.
"As for his private life… at least for now, I don't care."
In terms of talent, strength, and bloodline, Lu Jingming was the most outstanding man she had ever met.
Feelings could be cultivated over time, but if she missed this ticket to the future, it would be lost forever.
A complicated look surfaced in Qian Renxue's eyes, mixing an indescribable sadness with relief.
She said nothing more.
Bibi Dong had devoured Qian Xunji and had witnessed Qian Daoliu's sacrifice and Yu Xiaogang's cowardice. Now, all of a sudden, she seemed to have lost her goal.
She had once wanted revenge on the Qian Clan, but her enemy was already dead, and the only heir of that bloodline was her own daughter. How could she still want revenge?
"If you've thought it through… then do as you wish."
Bibi Dong left those last words, then turned away. Her figure once again vanished into the shadows of the palace, her retreating back looking faintly lonely.
Qian Renxue stared in the direction her mother had disappeared, lips pressed tightly together, and in the end, could only let out a sigh so soft it was almost inaudible.
Before his sacrifice, Qian Daoliu had told her everything he had experienced—including that her father, Qian Xunji, had been killed by Bibi Dong.
For a woman to lose the right to be with the one she loves, and then to be forced to bear her enemy's child—anyone would be driven mad by that.
Bibi Dong's current state had its reasons; it couldn't all be blamed on her alone.
The shamelessness of Qian Xunji and the incompetence and cowardice of Yu Xiaogang had both pushed her step by step toward the edge.
If you've never personally borne another's suffering, don't be so quick to urge them to "be good" and "forgive."
Qian Renxue turned and faced the rising sun. Golden, sacred light poured over her.
…
…
Simulated sunlight streamed softly from the artificial sky, and the air was filled with a faint floral fragrance mixed with the fresh scent of grass and trees.
Her gaze was drawn and fixed on the figure sitting on a snow-white swing.
Robin wore a loose, comfortable lavender dress. It was still elegant and neat, but the once-slender waistline had softened into a gentle, rounded curve.
Her head was slightly tilted. One hand rested gently on her noticeably raised belly, while the other held a sheet of music. She hummed a soft melody— a lullaby she had composed herself for the child yet to be born.
Sunlight fell upon her long, curly, rose-tinted hair, giving it a warm sheen and enveloping her in a gentle, sacred maternal glow.
Lu Jingming walked up behind her soundlessly, quietly watching her with tender eyes laced with the faintest hint of guilt.
Sensing something, Robin's humming gradually faded.
She turned her head. Surprise filled her emerald eyes at first, then a trace of playful complaint and coquettish displeasure appeared on her face.
Lu Jingming immediately showed a fawning smile. He walked over to the swing, crouched down, and gently held the hand resting on her belly, feeling the vibrant life force within.
"It's my fault, it's all my fault. Once things over there were settled, I rushed back as fast as I could."
His voice was deep and gentle, brimming with sincerity.
"You've had a hard time during this period."
Seeing how weary he looked from his journey, yet how worry and concern for her still clearly outweighed his own fatigue, Robin's little hint of anger quickly melted away.
She gently wrapped her fingers around his, lightly scratching his palm as she sighed.
"I know you have important things piled up one after another… The baby and I are both doing just fine. Elysia and March have been looking after me very carefully, it's just…"
She pursed her lips slightly, adopting a faintly girlish, coquettish tone.
"Don't be silly."
Lu Jingming instantly cut her off. With extreme seriousness, he extended his hand and caressed her belly as if he were touching the most precious treasure in the world.
"You are my most important person, and our child is my most important treasure. How could that ever be less important than anything else?"
Robin's expression softened completely. She looked at him, eyes shimmering slightly.
"Well then… I want to eat a cake you bake yourself. With double frosting. And tonight, you have to sing us a lullaby from your hometown—for me and the baby."
"All right, I promise you."
Lu Jingming agreed without the slightest hesitation. Not to mention cake and songs—even if Robin wanted the stars in the sky, he would try to find a way to pluck them down for her.
He stood and carefully helped her up from the swing, gently cradling her in his arms. Lowering his head, he placed a light kiss on her hair.
"From now on, I'll try my best to stay by your side more often."
The two of them walked slowly through the garden, holding each other close, speaking softly about the child, their hopes for the future, and all sorts of trivial little things of daily life.
Just then, a melodramatic wail came from not far away.
"Ahhh, I can't take it anymore! My eyes, my eyes!"
"Oh my, what a heart-melting scene~ But, dear Xiao Ming, haven't you forgotten that there are two cute little girls over here who are being force-fed your dog food?"
March 7th, holding her camera, pretended to be blinded by the bright light and hid behind Elysia.
Elysia smiled at the perfect couple, tapping her chin lightly with her finger, and said in her characteristic sweet yet teasing tone:
"Oh my, such a sweet scene, it's melting my heart♪~ But, my dear Xiao Ming, have you forgotten that there are two lovely girls here who are being fed dog food by you two?"