Yuelan City was louder than before.
Not with conflict.
Not with urgency.
With life.
The war had ended days ago, but instead of silence or exhaustion, the city had surged forward with an energy that felt… unrestrained.
People were no longer preparing for battle.
They were living.
And nowhere made that clearer—
than the Yuelan Central Sports Complex.
The structure had expanded again.
New arenas.
New sections.
New competitions.
What had once been a training experiment had become something else entirely.
A system.
The outer plazas were already crowded.
Merchants shouted odds and promotions, screens displaying match schedules and rankings, while groups of cultivators argued passionately over results from earlier games.
"Three consecutive wins—!"
"The Nine Tails Club is unbeatable right now!"
"They're going for the Imperial Championship this season!"
That name had spread across the entire continent.
The Nine Tails Football Club.
The official team of the Lin Clan.
And unlike before—
they were no longer just strong.
They were dominant.
Regional champions.
Imperial finalists.
Undefeated in their current streak.
Not because of raw strength.
Because of system.
Inside the main complex, the atmosphere exploded into sound.
Multiple arenas were active at once.
To the left, a gravity-modified track field.
Cultivators sprinted across shifting lanes as the formation increased and decreased weight dynamically, forcing constant adaptation.
To the right, a basketball court.
Players leapt into the air, passing rapidly, coordination tight, movements precise.
Further ahead, a handball match was underway.
Fast-paced.
Aggressive.
The ball moved in sharp arcs as players dashed across the field, weaving through defenders.
Above, an elevated platform hosted a tennis match.
Two players exchanged rapid strikes, each hit reinforced with controlled bursts of soul power, the ball moving faster with every rally.
And beyond it all—
The football stadium.
Still the center.
Still the loudest.
Lin Huang stood at the highest viewing platform.
Watching.
Below, the Nine Tails team moved across the field with absolute cohesion.
Passes came without hesitation.
Positioning adjusted instantly.
Each player moved not individually—
but as part of a system.
A midfielder received the ball—
didn't hesitate—
passed immediately to the right wing.
The winger cut inward.
The striker moved.
The defense shifted—
too late.
Goal.
The stadium erupted.
Honghong flicked her tail lazily.
Honghong: "…they're better than before."
Lin Huang: "…they adapted."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…faster than expected."
Behind him, the group had already gathered.
Not watching quietly.
Reacting.
Wu Feng leaned forward, eyes locked on the field.
Wu Feng: "…that coordination…"
A smirk.
Wu Feng: "…I like that."
Ma Xiaotao crossed her arms.
Ma Xiaotao: "…too controlled."
Wu Feng glanced sideways.
Wu Feng: "…you'd ruin the formation in ten seconds."
Ma Xiaotao: "…five."
Tang Ya laughed softly.
Tang Ya: "…it's good."
A pause.
Tang Ya: "…people are enjoying themselves."
Jiang Nannan tilted her head slightly, watching the movement.
Jiang Nannan: "…free movement… but still structured."
A faint smile.
Jiang Nannan: "…I want to try."
Meng Hongchen crossed her arms.
Meng Hongchen: "…basketball looked more interesting."
Xu Tianzhen stretched slightly.
Xu Tianzhen: "…tennis."
A pause.
Xu Tianzhen: "…more precise."
Ning Tian observed everything carefully.
Ning Tian: "…each sport develops different attributes."
A brief pause.
Ning Tian: "…this can be optimized."
Ju Zi nodded slightly.
Ju Zi: "…team sports improve coordination."
A pause.
Ju Zi: "…this has military application."
Zi Ji smirked faintly.
Zi Ji: "…you turned play into power."
Bi Ji's gaze softened.
Bi Ji: "…and they don't even realize it."
Bing Di crossed her arms.
Bing Di: "…they're weaker here."
A pause.
Bing Di: "…but more alive."
Xue Di spoke calmly.
Xue Di: "…that balance is rare."
Ye Guyi stood slightly apart.
Her light stable.
Ye Guyi: "…the energy flow is clean."
A pause.
Ye Guyi: "…no corruption."
Ling Luochen nodded faintly.
Ling Luochen: "…even the environment is stabilizing."
Han Ruoruo leaned casually against the railing.
Han Ruoruo: "…this city is dangerous."
A slight smile.
Han Ruoruo: "…not in the usual way."
Gu Yuena stood beside Lin Huang.
Silent.
Watching everything.
Then—
Gu Yuena: "…they've accepted it."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
Below—
the match continued.
The Nine Tails team scored again.
4 — 0
Total control.
Wu Feng exhaled.
Wu Feng: "…we should play."
Ma Xiaotao smirked.
Ma Xiaotao: "…we'd win."
Meng Hongchen immediately responded.
Meng Hongchen: "…no, we would."
Jiang Nannan laughed lightly.
Jiang Nannan: "…we haven't even played yet."
Xu Tianzhen shrugged.
Xu Tianzhen: "…we'll figure it out."
Tang Ya smiled.
Tang Ya: "…I liked handball."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…basketball."
Xu Tianzhen:
Xu Tianzhen: "…tennis."
Jiang Nannan:
Jiang Nannan: "…anything with movement."
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…football."
Ma Xiaotao:
Ma Xiaotao: "…something that lets me hit people."
A pause.
Everyone looked at her.
Ma Xiaotao: "…what?"
Even Lin Huang laughed slightly.
Then—
he spoke.
Lin Huang: "…good."
A brief pause.
Lin Huang: "…as long as none of you chose swimming."
Silence.
Then—
Meng Hongchen narrowed her eyes.
Meng Hongchen: "…why."
Wu Feng looked suspicious.
Wu Feng: "…yeah… why."
Ma Xiaotao smirked.
Ma Xiaotao: "…now I'm curious."
Lin Huang didn't hesitate.
Completely calm.
Lin Huang: "…too many variables."
A pause.
Then—
casually—
Lin Huang: "…and I'd rather not deal with that."
Silence.
Then—
Xu Tianzhen laughed.
Xu Tianzhen: "…that sounds like a personal problem."
Jiang Nannan smiled.
Jiang Nannan: "…definitely."
Tang Ya covered her mouth slightly, trying not to laugh.
Meng Hongchen crossed her arms.
Meng Hongchen: "…now I want to try it."
Wu Feng smirked.
Wu Feng: "…same."
Ma Xiaotao:
Ma Xiaotao: "…we're doing that next."
Lin Huang didn't react.
But Honghong was already laughing.
Honghong: "…you did that to yourself."
The atmosphere—
light.
Relaxed.
Alive.
Lin Huang looked over the arena once more.
The system.
The people.
The world.
Everything—
was moving forward.
Then—
his gaze shifted.
Subtly.
Away from the present.
Lin Huang: "…there's something I need to finish."
The air changed.
Instantly.
Ma Xiaotao looked at him.
Ma Xiaotao: "…what kind of thing?"
Lin Huang answered calmly.
Lin Huang: "…something I left behind."
A pause.
Then—
Lin Huang: "…in the past."
Silence fell.
And this time—
no one laughed.
Because they all understood—
this wasn't a joke.
And whatever he had left unfinished—
was about to come back.
To all of them.
The noise of the stadium didn't disappear.
But it became distant.
Muted.
Because the moment Lin Huang spoke—
something shifted.
Not in the world.
In them.
The group didn't move immediately.
But the atmosphere had changed completely.
What had been light—
relaxed—
alive—
Was now focused.
They stepped away from the main platform.
Not far.
But enough.
A quieter section of the complex.
The sounds of matches, cheers, and movement still existed—but no longer reached them directly.
Lin Huang stopped.
He didn't turn immediately.
Because he already knew—
they were all watching him.
Then—
he spoke.
Lin Huang: "…it won't take long."
Ma Xiaotao crossed her arms instantly.
Ma Xiaotao: "…start from the beginning."
Wu Feng stepped forward slightly.
Wu Feng: "…yeah."
Wu Feng: "…because that sounded very suspicious."
Meng Hongchen didn't even try to hide her irritation.
Meng Hongchen: "…'past' isn't something you just casually mention."
Jiang Nannan tilted her head slightly.
Jiang Nannan: "…you said it like you've done this before."
Lin Huang: "…I have."
Silence.
Not shock.
Processing.
Xu Tianzhen exhaled slowly.
Xu Tianzhen: "…of course you have."
Tang Ya frowned slightly.
Tang Ya: "…you're serious."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
Ning Tian stepped forward.
Her tone calm.
Precise.
Ning Tian: "…explain the method."
Lin Huang turned slightly.
Lin Huang: "…I left a reference point."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…in the past."
Ju Zi's eyes narrowed immediately.
Ju Zi: "…anchored location."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
Ju Zi: "…stable?"
Lin Huang: "…enough."
Gu Yuena remained silent.
Because she already understood more than the others.
Ye Guyi spoke softly.
Ye Guyi: "…this isn't instability."
A pause.
Ye Guyi: "…you're choosing to go."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
That—
changed everything.
Because this wasn't an accident.
Not a distortion.
Not loss of control.
This—
was intention.
Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes.
Ma Xiaotao: "…why."
Lin Huang didn't hesitate.
Lin Huang: "…a promise."
Tang Ya's expression softened slightly.
Tang Ya: "…to someone."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
Jiang Nannan crossed her arms lightly.
Jiang Nannan: "…and you're only mentioning this now."
Lin Huang: "…it wasn't relevant before."
Wu Feng snorted.
Wu Feng: "…that's convenient."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Lin Huang added calmly:
Lin Huang: "…and there are unfinished debts."
The air froze.
Meng Hongchen narrowed her eyes.
Meng Hongchen: "…what kind of debts."
Lin Huang didn't avoid it.
Lin Huang: "…romantic ones."
Silence.
Not light silence.
Heavy silence.
Ma Xiaotao blinked once.
Ma Xiaotao: "…you want to say that again."
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…slowly."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…carefully."
Jiang Nannan:
Jiang Nannan: "…and correctly."
Lin Huang remained completely calm.
Lin Huang: "…I said—"
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…romantic debts."
Xu Tianzhen laughed once.
Then stopped.
Xu Tianzhen: "…you're serious."
Tang Ya sighed softly.
Tang Ya: "…that explains a lot."
Ning Tian didn't react emotionally.
But her eyes sharpened slightly.
Ning Tian: "…how many."
Lin Huang paused.
Just slightly.
Then answered:
Lin Huang: "…not many."
Silence.
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…that's not reassuring."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…not at all."
Ma Xiaotao:
Ma Xiaotao: "…you're going to come back with problems."
Lin Huang: "…I already warned you."
Gu Yuena finally spoke.
Gu Yuena: "…he did."
All eyes shifted to her.
Gu Yuena: "…you just didn't take it seriously."
Silence.
Because she was right.
Jiang Nannan sighed.
Jiang Nannan: "…we should've."
Tang Ya shook her head slightly.
Tang Ya: "…it's too late now."
Ju Zi crossed her arms.
Ju Zi: "…timeline."
Lin Huang: "…short."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…I already established the return point."
Ning Tian nodded once.
Ning Tian: "…then the risk is controlled."
Ye Guyi looked at him quietly.
Ye Guyi: "…you'll come back."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
That—
was enough.
The tension didn't disappear.
But it stabilized.
Ma Xiaotao exhaled.
Ma Xiaotao: "…fine."
A pause.
Ma Xiaotao: "…go."
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…just don't take too long."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…and don't bring trouble back."
Xu Tianzhen:
Xu Tianzhen: "…actually, you're definitely bringing trouble back."
Jiang Nannan:
Jiang Nannan: "…just be honest about it."
Tang Ya:
Tang Ya: "…we'll deal with it."
Bi Ji spoke softly.
Bi Ji: "…be careful."
Zi Ji smirked.
Zi Ji: "…this should be interesting."
Bing Di crossed her arms.
Bing Di: "…don't die."
Xue Di remained calm.
Xue Di: "…observe carefully."
Ling Luochen nodded slightly.
Ling Luochen: "…the environment will be different."
Han Ruoruo smirked faintly.
Han Ruoruo: "…don't get lost in the past."
Ning Tian gave a final nod.
Ning Tian: "…we'll maintain stability here."
Ju Zi added:
Ju Zi: "…and prepare for consequences."
Gu Yuena stepped closer.
Gu Yuena: "…you know what this means."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
he turned.
No formation activated.
No grand display.
Just—
a shift.
The space behind him folded slightly.
Subtle.
Controlled.
He stepped forward.
And disappeared.
No distortion.
No collapse.
Just—
absence.
The wind returned.
The noise of the stadium resumed.
But something—
was missing.
Ma Xiaotao exhaled slowly.
Ma Xiaotao: "…this is going to be a problem."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…definitely."
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…I don't like this."
Xu Tianzhen:
Xu Tianzhen: "…I kind of do."
Gu Yuena remained still.
Watching the space where he had been.
Because she understood something the others only felt.
This wasn't just a trip to the past.
It was a connection.
And whatever waited there—
was about to return.
With him.
The noise of the stadium didn't disappear.
But it became distant.
Muted.
Because the moment Lin Huang spoke—
something shifted.
Not in the world.
In them.
The group didn't move immediately.
But the atmosphere had changed completely.
What had been light—
relaxed—
alive—
Was now focused.
They stepped away from the main platform.
Not far.
But enough.
A quieter section of the complex.
The sounds of matches, cheers, and movement still existed—but no longer reached them directly.
Lin Huang stopped.
He didn't turn immediately.
Because he already knew—
they were all watching him.
Then—
he spoke.
Lin Huang: "…it won't take long."
Ma Xiaotao crossed her arms instantly.
Ma Xiaotao: "…start from the beginning."
Wu Feng stepped forward slightly.
Wu Feng: "…yeah."
Wu Feng: "…because that sounded very suspicious."
Meng Hongchen didn't even try to hide her irritation.
Meng Hongchen: "…'past' isn't something you just casually mention."
Jiang Nannan tilted her head slightly.
Jiang Nannan: "…you said it like you've done this before."
Lin Huang: "…I have."
Silence.
Not shock.
Processing.
Xu Tianzhen exhaled slowly.
Xu Tianzhen: "…of course you have."
Tang Ya frowned slightly.
Tang Ya: "…you're serious."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
Ning Tian stepped forward.
Her tone calm.
Precise.
Ning Tian: "…explain the method."
Lin Huang turned slightly.
Lin Huang: "…I left a reference point."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…in the past."
Ju Zi's eyes narrowed immediately.
Ju Zi: "…anchored location."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
Ju Zi: "…stable?"
Lin Huang: "…enough."
Gu Yuena remained silent.
Because she already understood more than the others.
Ye Guyi spoke softly.
Ye Guyi: "…this isn't instability."
A pause.
Ye Guyi: "…you're choosing to go."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
That—
changed everything.
Because this wasn't an accident.
Not a distortion.
Not loss of control.
This—
was intention.
Ma Xiaotao narrowed her eyes.
Ma Xiaotao: "…why."
Lin Huang didn't hesitate.
Lin Huang: "…a promise."
Tang Ya's expression softened slightly.
Tang Ya: "…to someone."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
Jiang Nannan crossed her arms lightly.
Jiang Nannan: "…and you're only mentioning this now."
Lin Huang: "…it wasn't relevant before."
Wu Feng snorted.
Wu Feng: "…that's convenient."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
Lin Huang added calmly:
Lin Huang: "…and there are unfinished debts."
The air froze.
Meng Hongchen narrowed her eyes.
Meng Hongchen: "…what kind of debts."
Lin Huang didn't avoid it.
Lin Huang: "…romantic ones."
Silence.
Not light silence.
Heavy silence.
Ma Xiaotao blinked once.
Ma Xiaotao: "…you want to say that again."
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…slowly."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…carefully."
Jiang Nannan:
Jiang Nannan: "…and correctly."
Lin Huang remained completely calm.
Lin Huang: "…I said—"
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…romantic debts."
Xu Tianzhen laughed once.
Then stopped.
Xu Tianzhen: "…you're serious."
Tang Ya sighed softly.
Tang Ya: "…that explains a lot."
Ning Tian didn't react emotionally.
But her eyes sharpened slightly.
Ning Tian: "…how many."
Lin Huang paused.
Just slightly.
Then answered:
Lin Huang: "…not many."
Silence.
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…that's not reassuring."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…not at all."
Ma Xiaotao:
Ma Xiaotao: "…you're going to come back with problems."
Lin Huang: "…I already warned you."
Gu Yuena finally spoke.
Gu Yuena: "…he did."
All eyes shifted to her.
Gu Yuena: "…you just didn't take it seriously."
Silence.
Because she was right.
Jiang Nannan sighed.
Jiang Nannan: "…we should've."
Tang Ya shook her head slightly.
Tang Ya: "…it's too late now."
Ju Zi crossed her arms.
Ju Zi: "…timeline."
Lin Huang: "…short."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…I already established the return point."
Ning Tian nodded once.
Ning Tian: "…then the risk is controlled."
Ye Guyi looked at him quietly.
Ye Guyi: "…you'll come back."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
That—
was enough.
The tension didn't disappear.
But it stabilized.
Ma Xiaotao exhaled.
Ma Xiaotao: "…fine."
A pause.
Ma Xiaotao: "…go."
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…just don't take too long."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…and don't bring trouble back."
Xu Tianzhen:
Xu Tianzhen: "…actually, you're definitely bringing trouble back."
Jiang Nannan:
Jiang Nannan: "…just be honest about it."
Tang Ya:
Tang Ya: "…we'll deal with it."
Bi Ji spoke softly.
Bi Ji: "…be careful."
Zi Ji smirked.
Zi Ji: "…this should be interesting."
Bing Di crossed her arms.
Bing Di: "…don't die."
Xue Di remained calm.
Xue Di: "…observe carefully."
Ling Luochen nodded slightly.
Ling Luochen: "…the environment will be different."
Han Ruoruo smirked faintly.
Han Ruoruo: "…don't get lost in the past."
Ning Tian gave a final nod.
Ning Tian: "…we'll maintain stability here."
Ju Zi added:
Ju Zi: "…and prepare for consequences."
Gu Yuena stepped closer.
Gu Yuena: "…you know what this means."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
he turned.
No formation activated.
No grand display.
Just—
a shift.
The space behind him folded slightly.
Subtle.
Controlled.
He stepped forward.
And disappeared.
No distortion.
No collapse.
Just—
absence.
The wind returned.
The noise of the stadium resumed.
But something—
was missing.
Ma Xiaotao exhaled slowly.
Ma Xiaotao: "…this is going to be a problem."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…definitely."
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…I don't like this."
Xu Tianzhen:
Xu Tianzhen: "…I kind of do."
Gu Yuena remained still.
Watching the space where he had been.
Because she understood something the others only felt.
This wasn't just a trip to the past.
It was a connection.
And whatever waited there—
was about to return.
With him.
They did not return to the city.
Not immediately.
The atmosphere of the sports complex still echoed faintly behind them, distant now, replaced by something quieter—
more focused.
The location Lin Huang chose was not within the capital.
But near it.
A region where space itself had already been prepared.
The ground beneath their feet carried faint traces of layered formations—not active, not visible at first glance—
but present.
Anchored.
Stable.
Not as a barrier.
As a reference.
Lin Huang stepped forward.
The moment he did—
the space responded.
Not violently.
Recognizing.
The air shifted slightly.
Subtle distortions formed—not chaotic, not unstable—
aligned.
Ning Tian's gaze sharpened immediately.
Ning Tian: "…multi-layer anchoring."
A brief pause.
Ning Tian: "…you've been preparing this for a long time."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
Ju Zi stepped slightly closer, observing the structure.
Ju Zi: "…not just spatial."
A pause.
Ju Zi: "…temporal reference."
Lin Huang: "…correct."
That alone—
was enough to make the others understand.
This wasn't something improvised.
This wasn't an experiment.
This—
was a path that had already been built.
Wu Feng crossed her arms.
Wu Feng: "…so we just walk through time now?"
Lin Huang: "…something like that."
Ma Xiaotao smirked.
Ma Xiaotao: "…you make it sound easy."
Lin Huang: "…it is."
Xu Tianzhen let out a short laugh.
Xu Tianzhen: "…of course it is."
But not everyone relaxed.
Ye Guyi's gaze narrowed slightly.
Ye Guyi: "…this shouldn't be possible."
Before Lin Huang could respond—
another presence shifted.
Gu Yuena stepped forward.
The moment she moved—
everything changed.
The surrounding space deepened.
Not heavier.
More complete.
A faint silver glow spread outward—not bright, not overwhelming—
but absolute.
The Dragon World responded.
Not fully manifesting.
But overlapping.
Reality adjusted.
Gu Yuena's gaze moved across the formation.
Analyzing.
Understanding.
Then—
she spoke.
Gu Yuena: "…this alone isn't enough."
A brief silence.
Lin Huang didn't argue.
Lin Huang: "…I know."
She stepped closer.
The space between layers shifted.
Aligning.
Gu Yuena: "…you created the path."
A pause.
Gu Yuena: "…I'll stabilize it."
That—
changed everything.
The faint distortions around them sharpened.
Not into chaos.
Into structure.
Silver light intertwined with invisible threads of space and time, reinforcing the pathway Lin Huang had constructed.
The ground beneath them no longer felt like ground.
It felt—
detached.
Ning Tian's eyes widened slightly.
Ning Tian: "…it's stabilizing."
Ju Zi exhaled.
Ju Zi: "…no loss of structure."
Ye Guyi's light flickered.
Ye Guyi: "…even the flow is intact…"
Tang Ya looked around, her expression more serious now.
Tang Ya: "…this is different."
Jiang Nannan stepped lightly.
Jiang Nannan: "…it doesn't feel dangerous."
Bing Di frowned.
Bing Di: "…it should."
Xue Di spoke calmly.
Xue Di: "…it would be."
A pause.
Xue Di: "…without her."
Zi Ji smirked faintly.
Zi Ji: "…as expected."
Bi Ji watched quietly.
Bi Ji: "…this is stable."
Wu Feng exhaled.
Wu Feng: "…so we're really doing this."
Ma Xiaotao cracked her neck slightly.
Ma Xiaotao: "…good."
Meng Hongchen crossed her arms.
Meng Hongchen: "…I still don't like it."
Xu Tianzhen shrugged.
Xu Tianzhen: "…you don't like anything unusual."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…this is beyond unusual."
Lin Huang didn't respond to that.
Because her reaction—
was justified.
Gu Yuena's presence expanded slightly.
Not outward.
Deeper.
Gu Yuena: "…stay close."
The instruction was simple.
Absolute.
Lin Huang stepped forward again.
The space ahead of him—
opened.
Not like a portal.
Not like a tear.
Like a path that had always existed—
and was finally being used.
The air thinned.
Not physically.
Perceptually.
The connection formed.
Lin Huang: "…this leads directly to the anchor."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…Tianshui."
That name lingered.
Because none of them—
had been there like this before.
Gu Yuena nodded slightly.
Gu Yuena: "…then we move."
No countdown.
No hesitation.
Lin Huang stepped forward.
And this time—
they followed.
The moment they crossed—
the world changed.
Not violently.
But completely.
The space around them shifted into something else.
Layers overlapping.
Time—
no longer linear.
But stable.
Because she held it.
Gu Yuena remained at the center.
Her presence anchoring everything, preventing collapse, maintaining continuity between two points that should not have been connected.
For a brief moment—
everything felt distant.
Muted.
Unreal.
Then—
it aligned.
And the path—
completed.
They had crossed.
Not through space.
Through time.
And for the first time—
they stood—
where the past still existed.
The transition did not end with movement.
It ended with weight.
Not pressure.
Not force.
Density.
The moment their feet touched the ground—
something felt different.
Not wrong.
Unrefined.
The air was thicker.
Not physically—
but in essence.
Soul power didn't flow as smoothly.
It lingered.
Clung.
Moved without the same level of structure they had grown used to.
Jiang Nannan was the first to react.
Jiang Nannan: "…it feels heavier."
She shifted her footing slightly.
Jiang Nannan: "…but not in a bad way."
Ye Guyi closed her eyes briefly.
Her light flickered—
not destabilizing—
adjusting.
Ye Guyi: "…the energy isn't filtered."
A pause.
Ye Guyi: "…it's raw."
Meng Hongchen frowned.
Meng Hongchen: "…it's inefficient."
Ning Tian shook her head slightly.
Ning Tian: "…not inefficient."
A brief pause.
Ning Tian: "…unoptimized."
Ju Zi observed quietly.
Ju Zi: "…no systemic regulation."
Tang Ya stepped forward slowly.
Her hand brushing lightly against the surrounding air.
Tang Ya: "…it's closer to nature."
Bi Ji's expression softened.
Bi Ji: "…it's how it used to be."
Zi Ji exhaled slowly.
Zi Ji: "…before interference."
Wu Feng rolled her shoulders slightly.
Wu Feng: "…it feels more… direct."
Ma Xiaotao smirked faintly.
Ma Xiaotao: "…I like it."
Bing Di crossed her arms.
Bing Di: "…it's chaotic."
Xue Di responded calmly.
Xue Di: "…it's honest."
Xu Tianzhen looked around with interest.
Xu Tianzhen: "…so this is the past."
Lin Huang stepped forward slightly.
His gaze moved across the surroundings.
Calm.
Focused.
Lin Huang: "…yes."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
No uncertainty.
Because he recognized it.
The terrain around them was untouched by large-scale development.
No advanced formation grids.
No integrated energy networks.
Only natural land—
And structures that felt… simpler.
In the distance—
the outline of buildings could be seen.
Not crude.
But lacking the refinement of the present.
Jiang Nannan narrowed her eyes slightly.
Jiang Nannan: "…that's…"
Tang Ya finished the thought.
Tang Ya: "…Tianshui."
The name settled naturally.
Because even without confirmation—
they could feel it.
This place—
was not unfamiliar.
It was foundational.
Gu Yuena stepped forward.
Her presence remained stable—
unchanged—
But her eyes—
shifted slightly.
Gu Yuena: "…this era…"
A pause.
Gu Yuena: "…is closer to origin."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
A brief silence followed.
Because they all understood what that meant.
This was not a weaker world.
It was a less refined one.
A world where laws had not yet been shaped by repeated interference.
A world—
closer to its natural state.
Honghong stretched slightly atop Lin Huang's head.
Her tails flicking lazily.
Honghong: "…I like it here."
Lin Huang: "…of course you do."
Wu Feng smirked.
Wu Feng: "…she would."
Meng Hongchen crossed her arms.
Meng Hongchen: "…I don't."
Xu Tianzhen laughed lightly.
Xu Tianzhen: "…you don't like anything uncontrolled."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…this isn't uncontrolled."
A pause.
Meng Hongchen: "…it's inefficient."
Ning Tian glanced at her.
Ning Tian: "…you said that already."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…it's still true."
Tang Ya smiled faintly.
Tang Ya: "…give it time."
Jiang Nannan shifted slightly again.
Jiang Nannan: "…it feels more real."
Bi Ji nodded softly.
Bi Ji: "…it is."
A brief silence settled over the group.
Because for the first time—
they weren't standing in the world they knew.
They were standing—
before it had become that world.
Lin Huang looked ahead.
Toward the distant structures.
Lin Huang: "…we're close."
Ma Xiaotao stepped beside him.
Ma Xiaotao: "…to what."
Lin Huang didn't answer immediately.
Then—
Lin Huang: "…to where I left things unfinished."
That—
shifted the atmosphere again.
Wu Feng narrowed her eyes.
Wu Feng: "…so this is where it starts."
Lin Huang: "…no."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…this is where it continues."
The wind moved across the land.
Unrestricted.
Natural.
And in the distance—
something stirred.
Not reacting.
Recognizing.
Because something that did not belong—
had just arrived.
And the past—
had already begun to respond.
The world did not reject them.
But it noticed.
That difference—
was subtle.
Important.
They didn't move immediately.
Not because they couldn't.
Because something else—
had already begun to shift.
Gu Yuena stopped.
Not abruptly.
But decisively.
Her gaze moved—
not across the terrain.
Beyond it.
For a brief moment—
no one else understood why.
Then—
the air changed.
Not violently.
Not aggressively.
Familiar.
Zi Ji's expression shifted first.
Zi Ji: "…this presence…"
Bi Ji's eyes softened slightly.
Bi Ji: "…it's…"
A pause.
Bi Ji: "…us."
That—
caught everyone's attention.
Wu Feng frowned.
Wu Feng: "…what do you mean—"
Lin Huang spoke before she could finish.
Calm.
Certain.
Lin Huang: "…past resonance."
A brief silence.
Then—
it clicked.
Jiang Nannan blinked.
Jiang Nannan: "…wait…"
A pause.
Jiang Nannan: "…you mean—"
Xu Tianzhen exhaled slowly.
Xu Tianzhen: "…there are two of them right now."
Silence.
Everyone turned—
toward Gu Yuena.
She hadn't moved.
But her presence—
had changed.
Not unstable.
Not violent.
Tense.
Her silver eyes remained fixed in the distance.
Because she could feel it clearly.
Another existence.
Identical.
Closer to origin.
A version of herself—
that belonged to this time.
The air grew heavier.
Not enough to crush.
But enough—
to warn.
And then—
Lin Huang spoke.
Lin Huang: "…so."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…now that there are two of you…"
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Because they already knew—
this was a bad idea.
Lin Huang turned his head slightly toward her.
Calm.
Too calm.
Lin Huang: "…does your pride allow me to choose the other one instead?"
Silence.
Absolute.
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…he didn't just say that."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…he did."
Ma Xiaotao:
Ma Xiaotao: "…he wants to die."
Xu Tianzhen:
Xu Tianzhen: "…this is incredible."
Jiang Nannan:
Jiang Nannan: "…I'm not stopping this."
The air dropped.
Not metaphorically.
Actually.
The space around Gu Yuena compressed slightly.
Not breaking—
Condensing.
Her gaze shifted.
Slowly.
Toward him.
Gu Yuena: "…say that again."
Her voice wasn't loud.
Didn't need to be.
The warning—
was absolute.
Lin Huang paused.
For exactly one second.
Then—
he moved.
Forward.
Not away.
Not defensive.
Closer.
The tension didn't disappear.
But it changed.
Lin Huang stopped in front of her.
Close enough—
that the pressure didn't affect him at all.
Then—
his voice shifted.
Softer.
Lin Huang: "…I was joking."
The space didn't relax immediately.
But it stopped tightening.
He reached out.
Not forcefully.
Not hesitantly.
Naturally.
His hand rested lightly against her shoulder.
Lin Huang: "…I don't need another."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…one is already enough trouble."
Silence.
The pressure spiked—
just slightly.
Gu Yuena: "…trouble?"
Wu Feng whispered:
Wu Feng: "…he messed up."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…he definitely messed up."
Lin Huang didn't hesitate.
Lin Huang: "…strong."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…proud."
Another.
Then—
he looked directly at her.
Lin Huang: "…mine."
Silence.
This time—
different.
The pressure dissolved.
Not completely.
But enough.
Gu Yuena didn't look away.
Didn't respond immediately.
Then—
quietly—
Gu Yuena: "…don't test that again."
Lin Huang: "…I won't."
A beat.
Honghong laughed softly.
Honghong: "…lie."
Xu Tianzhen exhaled.
Xu Tianzhen: "…that was dangerous."
Ma Xiaotao smirked.
Ma Xiaotao: "…I wanted to see how far he'd go."
Meng Hongchen crossed her arms.
Meng Hongchen: "…I didn't."
Jiang Nannan shook her head slightly.
Jiang Nannan: "…you really don't value your life."
Lin Huang stepped back slightly.
As if nothing had happened.
Because for him—
it hadn't.
But the atmosphere—
had changed.
Not tense.
Not hostile.
Grounded.
And for the first time since arriving—
they were fully present.
In the past.
Lin Huang turned his gaze forward.
Toward Tianshui.
Lin Huang: "…we're here."
A pause.
Then—
quietly—
Lin Huang: "…let's finish this."
And somewhere ahead—
unaware of what had just arrived—
the past waited.
For him.
Morning light stretched gently across Tianshui Academy.
Mist still lingered above the surface of the lake, thin strands drifting slowly as the first warmth of the sun dissolved the cold of the night.
The academy was already awake.
Not slowly.
Not quietly.
Alive.
Students moved across the courtyards and training fields with purpose.
Not chaotic.
Organized.
Focused.
Near the main lake—
the primary training grounds were already active.
Streams of water moved through the air.
Controlled.
Refined.
More stable than before.
Much more.
Inside one of the newly built training halls—
a group of students struggled.
A heavy thud echoed.
"…I can't move!"
"This gravity is insane!"
The Gravity Training Room.
Nearby—
another group trained in the Agility Hall.
Platforms shifting.
Angles changing.
Footwork sharpening.
And in the central courtyard—
beneath the sacred tree—
the real change could be felt.
Energy flowed.
Not forced.
Guided.
Several students sat in meditation.
Their breathing steady.
Their circulation smooth.
This was no longer the Tianshui Academy of before.
It had evolved.
And at the center of that evolution—
there was a name.
Lin Huang.
On the training field—
the main team had gathered.
Shui Bing'er stood at the front.
Calm.
Composed.
But her eyes—
sharper than before.
Around her—
the team.
Shui Yue'er.
Xue Wu.
Yu Hairou.
Qiu Ruoshui.
Gu Qingbo.
Shen Liuyu.
All of them—
stronger.
More refined.
Shui Yue'er crossed her arms.
Shui Yue'er: "…he's late."
Yu Hairou sighed.
Yu Hairou: "…you've said that every day."
Shui Yue'er frowned.
Shui Yue'er: "…because he is late."
Xue Wu spoke calmly.
Xue Wu: "…he said before the Elite Tournament."
Qiu Ruoshui nodded.
Qiu Ruoshui: "…and the tournament is close."
Gu Qingbo tilted her head slightly.
Gu Qingbo: "…so technically…"
Shen Liuyu finished flatly:
Shen Liuyu: "…he still has time."
Shui Yue'er pouted slightly.
Shui Yue'er: "…I don't like technicalities."
A faint smile appeared on Shui Bing'er's face.
Shui Bing'er: "…he will come."
A pause.
Shui Bing'er: "…he always keeps his word."
That—
was the difference.
They weren't hoping.
They were certain.
Nearby—
the idol group sat watching.
Tian Ling'er stretched lazily.
Tian Ling'er: "…you're all too serious."
Ming Mei laughed softly.
Ming Mei: "…it's because it's him."
Mo Xue smiled faintly.
Mo Xue: "…he changes everything."
Yi Na tilted her head.
Yi Na: "…I want to see if he changed again."
Ke Han crossed her legs calmly.
Ke Han: "…he definitely did."
The atmosphere was light—
but beneath it—
expectation.
Then—
something changed.
Subtle.
Instant.
Shui Bing'er's expression froze.
Her eyes shifted—
toward the entrance.
The air—
flowed differently.
Smoother.
Denser.
Alive.
Shui Bing'er whispered—
barely audible:
Shui Bing'er: "…he's here."
Every single member of the team froze.
Shui Yue'er's eyes widened.
Shui Yue'er: "…what?"
Then—
they felt it too.
That presence.
Calm.
Comfortable.
Overwhelming—
without pressure.
Yu Hairou's breath caught.
Yu Hairou: "…that's him…"
Xue Wu stood immediately.
Xue Wu: "…he came back."
The idol group reacted at the same time.
Tian Ling'er jumped up.
Tian Ling'er: "…finally!"
Ming Mei laughed.
Ming Mei: "…I told you!"
And then—
they all moved.
No hesitation.
No discussion.
They ran.
Across the training field.
Through the courtyard.
Toward the entrance.
Students nearby froze again.
Watching.
Confused.
Because the strongest group in the academy—
was running.
Toward something.
And then—
they saw him.
Lin Huang.
Standing there—
as if he had never left.
And behind him—
a group.
Unknown.
Dangerous.
But none of that mattered.
Because Shui Yue'er didn't slow down.
Not even for a second.
"LIN HUANG—!"
She reached him—
and leapt.
Arms wrapped around him.
And kissed him.
Silence.
And this time—
it wasn't just shock.
It was impact.
Because now—
everyone understood.
He hadn't just returned.
He had come back—
to them.
The academy did not return to normal.
It couldn't.
Not after that.
Even after the initial shock settled—
the atmosphere remained… unstable.
Not from power.
Not from danger.
From tension.
The training grounds had cleared slightly.
Students still lingered at a distance—
watching.
Whispering.
Trying to understand what they had just witnessed.
"…who is he…"
"…why are they reacting like that…"
"…that pressure…"
But at the center of it all—
nothing had calmed down.
Shui Yue'er still hadn't let go.
Her arms remained firmly wrapped around Lin Huang, as if letting go would make him disappear again.
Shui Yue'er: "You took too long."
Her voice carried no anger.
Only relief.
Lin Huang: "…I came back before the tournament."
That—
caught everyone's attention.
Shui Bing'er stepped forward slightly.
Shui Bing'er: "…how long?"
Lin Huang answered calmly.
Lin Huang: "…about twenty-five days."
Silence.
Then—
Xue Wu nodded.
Xue Wu: "…that's enough."
Yu Hairou crossed her arms.
Yu Hairou: "…barely."
Qiu Ruoshui tilted her head.
Qiu Ruoshui: "…we'll take it."
Gu Qingbo smirked slightly.
Gu Qingbo: "…he kept his word."
Shen Liuyu:
Shen Liuyu: "…late, but acceptable."
The idol group reacted differently.
Tian Ling'er:
Tian Ling'er: "…twenty-five days is plenty."
Ming Mei laughed.
Ming Mei: "…more than enough."
Mo Xue:
Mo Xue: "…we'll make use of it."
Yi Na smiled slightly.
Yi Na: "…we always do."
Ke Han observed quietly.
Ke Han: "…you didn't forget."
Lin Huang: "…I don't forget promises."
That line—
landed.
Because every single one of them—
believed it.
Behind him—
the group from the future finally moved.
Ma Xiaotao stepped forward.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Ma Xiaotao: "…ok."
A pause.
Ma Xiaotao: "…agora explica."
Meng Hongchen followed.
Meng Hongchen: "…em detalhes."
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…com nomes."
Jiang Nannan:
Jiang Nannan: "…todos."
Xu Tianzhen:
Xu Tianzhen: "…e ordem cronológica."
Tang Ya sighed softly.
Tang Ya: "…isso vai ser longo."
Ning Tian stepped forward calmly.
Ning Tian: "…we need context."
Ju Zi crossed her arms.
Ju Zi: "…complete context."
The atmosphere—
tightened again.
Because now—
it wasn't just confusion.
It was confrontation.
Shui Yue'er finally turned slightly—
looking at them properly.
Her gaze moved across each of the women standing behind Lin Huang.
Analyzing.
Then—
she smiled.
Shui Yue'er: "…so these are the ones."
Silence.
Wu Feng:
Wu Feng: "…the ones?"
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…I don't like her."
Ma Xiaotao smirked slightly.
Ma Xiaotao: "…same."
Shui Bing'er stepped forward.
Calm.
Measured.
Her eyes met Ning Tian's.
Then Gu Yuena's.
And for a brief moment—
something passed between them.
Recognition.
Not of identity.
But of position.
Shui Bing'er: "…you brought them with you."
Lin Huang: "…yes."
A pause.
Shui Bing'er: "…good."
That—
was unexpected.
Jiang Nannan blinked.
Jiang Nannan: "…that's not the reaction I expected."
Xu Tianzhen laughed.
Xu Tianzhen: "…this just got more interesting."
But Shui Yue'er wasn't done.
She tightened her hold slightly.
Shui Yue'er: "…doesn't matter."
A pause.
Shui Yue'er: "…he came back to us first."
Silence.
That line—
hit.
Hard.
Wu Feng stepped forward.
Wu Feng: "…wrong."
Meng Hongchen:
Meng Hongchen: "…very wrong."
Ma Xiaotao:
Ma Xiaotao: "…extremely wrong."
Gu Yuena finally moved.
Just one step.
The air shifted.
Not violently.
But enough.
Her silver eyes rested calmly on Shui Yue'er.
Gu Yuena: "…he came back."
A pause.
Gu Yuena: "…period."
Silence.
That ended it.
For now.
Lin Huang finally stepped forward slightly.
Just enough—
to reposition everything.
Lin Huang: "…we don't have much time."
That grounded the moment.
All attention returned to him.
Lin Huang: "…the Elite Tournament is close."
A pause.
Lin Huang: "…and you're not ready."
Shui Yue'er blinked.
Shui Yue'er: "…we improved a lot."
Lin Huang: "…not enough."
Shui Bing'er didn't argue.
She nodded.
Shui Bing'er: "…then teach us."
Lin Huang: "…I will."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
he added calmly:
Lin Huang: "…all of you."
This time—
both sides understood.
The past.
The future.
Together.
And for the first time—
the tension shifted.
Not into conflict.
Into something else.
A strange—
unstable—
but undeniable—
alliance.
Because whether they liked it or not—
they were now part of the same moment.
The same time.
And the same story.
Above them—
the wind moved gently across Tianshui Academy.
Unaware—
that history itself—
had just changed.