One and a half years had slipped by in the 3rd Heaven like starlight through open fingers. Time in Luminara Reach moved with a gentle, almost dreamlike quality, supported by the realm's richer atmosphere — that consistent ten-percent denser essence that made every breath feel nourishing and every day slightly more vibrant than the last.
Joshua now stood at twenty years old. The book had begun when he was sixteen and the twins were twelve; roughly three and a quarter years had passed since then through the long family life upgrades, the grueling resource delays, the S-rank and Heaven Ascending trials, and now this extended stay in the 3rd Heaven. He had grown taller and more composed, his tempered foundation giving him a quiet, grounded presence that matched his rising status. The twins, Mia and Kai, were now thirteen and a half, energetic and curious as ever, thriving under Lira's guidance and the wonders of their new home.
The family's private mid-rank star mine had operated steadily the entire time. With minimal spending — the household relied mostly on digital transactions and the granted noble privileges — the mining automatons had extracted a substantial haul. Over the one and a half years, they had accumulated 4,320,000 physical star shards. True to the common practice in the 3rd Heaven, Joshua converted 70% (3,024,000 shards) into digital star shards (DSS) for everyday flexibility and security. The remaining 30% (1,296,000 physical shards) he kept untouched in a secure spatial vault, reserved strictly for cultivation purposes or critical future purchases such as high-grade elixirs and rare materials.
This quiet accumulation represented immense hidden wealth. While most nobles flaunted digital balances and rarely touched physical shards except for breakthroughs, Joshua's disciplined approach meant his family sat on a growing reserve that few suspected.
Life in the manor continued its warm, grounded rhythm despite the subtle background noise of noble society. Jared managed daily affairs with flawless efficiency, Elara kept the floating gardens and kitchens running smoothly, and Lira trained the twins in defensive forms and basic sky-maneuvering. The family frequently visited natural reserves — the Eternal Bloom Gardens, Mirror Veil Lakes, and others — phenomena they could never have afforded or reached in the 4th Heaven. Flying constructs still streaked overhead at breathtaking speeds, and the enormity of the drifting isles never lost its wonder.
Yet the minor undercurrents of resentment persisted among a small faction. Some nobles still muttered about the "passer-by" who treated the magnificent 3rd Heaven as nothing more than a comfortable waypoint. Joshua occasionally caught cold glances or overheard veiled comments during reserve visits, but the pressure had eased dramatically. His consistent refusal to engage in politics or attend conclaves had convinced most houses that he posed no threat to their territories. The gauging attempts had largely stopped, replaced by indifferent tolerance or quiet dislike that rarely escalated beyond words.
Joshua's focus remained laser-sharp on preparation. Over the past year and a half, he had methodically gathered the necessary ingredients for his parents' ascendant elixirs. He didn't need them to become fighters or climbers — he simply wanted them to have strong, stable foundations and extended lifespans so the entire family could one day reach the Divine Heavens, where even mortals enjoyed centuries that felt like immortality.
The main ingredients had proven the most challenging, requiring careful negotiation through the Trade Association and discreet sourcing to avoid inflated noble markups. Supplementary components, while expensive, had been easier to acquire thanks to his growing digital balance and noble access. By the midpoint of the one-and-a-half-year mark, Joshua had secured nearly everything required. The final rare stellar herbs and high-purity star shard essences were now arriving in controlled batches.
In the private cultivation chamber adjacent to the active star mine, Joshua sat cross-legged amid the soft hum of mining operations. Physical shards glittered in organized piles — the untouched 30% reserve glowing with pure stellar potential. His S-rank Ascendant Jade projected a holographic inventory via Aether.
Joshua exhaled slowly, circulating essence through his tempered skin, bones, blood, and organs. The richer atmosphere of the 3rd Heaven supported the process beautifully, making each cycle smoother than in the lower realm. He had no intention of rushing his own next ascension. The family's time here had been healing and strengthening — the twins were growing confident, his parents looked healthier and more at peace than ever, and the manor felt truly like home.
That evening, the family gathered on the grand balcony as the twilight sky deepened into a tapestry of stars. Mia and Kai leaned against the railing, pointing out particularly fast flying constructs and debating which natural reserve they should visit next. Their parents sat nearby, sipping essence-infused tea prepared by Elara, watching the drifting isles with quiet contentment.
"You've been working hard on those ingredients," Father said softly, glancing at Joshua. "We don't need to become powerful, son. Just… together."
Joshua smiled. "That's exactly why I'm doing it. So we can stay together all the way to the Divine Heavens."
Mother reached over and squeezed his hand. "We're proud of you, Joshua. For climbing, for bringing us along, and for never losing sight of what matters."
The minor struggles — the occasional resentful whispers labeling him a passer-by, the subtle politics that had mostly faded into the background — felt distant against the warmth of the moment. The 3rd Heaven had given them upgrades beyond anything they once imagined: a granted manor with its own star mine, reliable staff of automatons and halfbloods, access to breathtaking phenomena, and the security of accumulated wealth.
As night fully settled and the luminous bridges between isles glowed like rivers of stars, Joshua looked out at the vast, floating majesty of the realm. One and a half years had passed, over four million star shards had been mined, and the ingredients for his parents' elixirs were nearly complete.
The stairway to heaven still called, but the family was stronger, safer, and more united than ever.