Rebirth

To say that this conference was shocking... well, that was a supreme understatement. Xuanyuan Wentian murked seven level ten monarchs in less than half a minute, three out of the Five Great Sacred Grounds were disbanded and merged into the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region, Xiao Jiantian dropped the bombshell about his past reincarnations, the Divine Phoenix Empire lost their most precious jewel for ten years and, lastly, Qianye Ying'er's appearance which left the stage silent for a very long time.

Now, once again, Xuanyuan Jiantian... or rather, Xiao Jiantian was no longer present on Blue Pole Star.

"That was... unexpected." Xuanyuan Wentian sighed as he looked at Xiao Jiantian's table. "Those of you who were close to my uncle, if there's anything that you ever need, please do contact me. As for the Floating Cloud City, it is under the protection of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region."

'... I was completely helpless in front of that powerful being.' Xuanyuan Wentian clenched both of his hands into fists that could devastate the largest of mountains.

~

Brahma Monarch God Realm, 2017 AXJ.

Qianye Ying'er nestled Xiao Jiantian's head on her lap and tended to the red mark on the left side of his cheek. After it was dealt with, she took a deep breath and wondered what to say when he had awoken. While Xiao Jiantian was still fast asleep, she carefully cut through his shirt, slightly revealing his well-defined chest.

She paused for a moment, gathering courage, before having a good feel of it. It was strange seeing the invincible Sword God lay so peacefully and at the whims of another; though she would never intend to harm him. The opposite was true, in fact, as she only desired what was best for him.

"Master looks even finer than before..."

He was the golden prize of all Primal Chaos before his death; handsome to the point that it was deadly, practically invincible where not even the combined strength of Primal Chaos could kill him, by far the most capable ruler and, lastly, a man who showed shockingly great restraint. When something seemed unattainable, its lustre would naturally be greater. These were the reasons that many women sought his favour, though he rejected every last one... but Qianye Ying'er had a different reason for falling for him.

Unlike all others, she had spent a great majority of her life by his side. When she was at her lowest, he was the one to find a way to cheer her up with insightful and touching words. From guiding her in the way of the Profound, cooking up some sweet desserts, telling gripping tales, enlightening her with the beauty of nature to overall spoiling her like his little angel. As time passed and she matured, Qianye Ying'er looked at Xuanyuan Jiantian less as a guardian/mentor and more of a man (although she never admitted it).

His strength and appearance, those were both unparalleled... but she loved the man behind that cold mask above all else.

Now, after a long four hundred years of feeling isolated, she finally got hold of him again and couldn't be any happier.

"Master... don't leave Ying'er ever again, alright?" She softly spoke while caressing his black hair. "I'll do everything in my power to make you strong again. Even if you are not strong, Ying'er would still protect you... but that would hurt Master's dignity. After that, we'll have a grand wedding and I will be the one to carry your first child."

"If you want more, then that would be fine too."

Suddenly Xiao Jiantian's azure eyes slowly opened and Qianye Ying'er jumped a little. 'Did he hear any of that?'

"This is..." Xiao Jiantian muttered as he gained full sight of his surroundings. "your bedroom."

As he focused on the sight on top of him, he had a fine view of Qianye Ying'er's upper body. Soon, he realised that the comfortable 'pillow' he had been resting his head on was Qianye Ying'er's lap. His body refused to leave that position... and he felt inclined to follow that command.

"Master is finally awake." Qianye Ying'er smiled cheerfully for the first time in what seemed centuries (which it was). "Ying'er is sorry for knocking you unconscious so suddenly, Master, I didn't want to bore you with the long travel."

"How considerate of you, Ying'er." Xiao Jiantian replied courteously. "Ah... now that I am in the Realm of the Gods, it would be good to catch up with everyone. Though, if anyone were to discover that the mighty Sword God was reduced to no more than a peak Throne... they would laugh me back to Blue Pole Star."

Xiao Jiantian chuckled.

"There is a simple solution to that, Master. All the resources in the Brahma Monarch God Realm are yours to consume." Qianye Ying'er stated in an affectionate, soft, tone. "If that is not enough, then Ying'er will spare no effort to gather and grant you every last cultivation resource in Primal Chaos."

'So this is how it feels to have a sugar mommy... heh, there's a first time for everything.'

Xiao Jiantian smiled, finally deciding to sit up. "I'll take you up on your offer, Ying'er."

"On one condition, Master."

"And what could my Ying'er want from me?"

"Be my Emperor... Jiantian."

~

In regards to Xiao Jiantian's sudden... or rather forced departure by Qianye Ying'er, Xia Qingyue was impacted the most out of everyone. She had sealed herself in his room for what seemed days, refusing to speak to anyone else. She had done so simply to not allow others to see her fragile state as she let it all go.

'I lost my mother to the Realm of the Gods and... now my Sun and Stars... my husband... forever... lost. What did I do to deserve this... why is fate so cruel?'

She cried, wetting the pillow she had embraced further with her tears as she dug her head deep into it. Their marriage was arranged and one without any love attached to it at first... but as they spent every passing day together, their bond had grown to be deep and inseparable. It felt as if they were meant for each other.

She remembered how he'd always make the most out of life, smiling without a care in the world. All of his attempts at making friends... those were rather amusing, always ending in the person brushing him off or ass-kissing (much to his displeasure). She recalled all of their intimate moments, starting from their now seemingly magical wedding night to their makeshift honeymoon at the Grand Asura Nation all the way to his final words to her.

All she wanted was to see him again...

Despite all her wishes, he didn't appear out of thin air.

Xia Yuanba stopped at the door, pausing for a moment and choosing his words carefully. "Big sis... I know it's difficult but... if... you want to see him, staying in your room won't make Brother-in-law magically... appear-"

"I... uhh... got you some delicious food, if that will help... I'll put it on the ground, you can get it whenever you want..."

Xia Yuanba left afterwards, rather swiftly at that.

'Stronger... I have to be even stronger to reach him...'

After some time, she finally stopped and regained some of her poise. The realisation of the truth led to something deep down awakening further; the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass. Her body suddenly experienced a qualitative change... a feeling of raging determination burning inside. All of the primordial yang energy she had gained from Xiao Jiantian only added to this, empowering her further.

'I am the first wife of Xiao Jiantian... and that golden-haired bitch can never take that away from me.' Xia Qingyue managed a smile, wiping away her tears. 'She can be as selfish as she wants to be, but my dearest husband's unshakeable will is his own.'

'It's only a matter of who will reach who first...'

"Wow... that's quite the change." Xuanyuan Jiantian's replication finally made himself visible, appearing before Xia Qingyue. "It feels quite inspiring seeing you hold yourself together like that, you know. Definitely a keeper."

"You are...?"

"The protector of Xuanyuan Jiantian's sanctuary... I'm just a friendly spirit who wakes up once in a while. Regarding that, the original wanted you to have this. Well, my duty is done, time to pick up the maid." Xuanyuan Jiantian's replication dropped a spatial ring and dipped.

Xia Qingyue did not ponder on the replication's sudden disappearance too long, grabbing the spatial ring and taking out its contents. There was an extremely high-quality painting and a Glazed Sound Stone. She observed the painting first, realising that it was one of her and Xiao Jiantian touching lips in front of a beach's azure waters and the setting sun.

It had been so well-drawn, with every centimetre carrying the heart and soul of Xiao Jiantian.

A note was attached to the painting's golden frame, saying;

"The last time I had drawn a painting, it was just me staring aimlessly into the wonders of a paradise... trying to seek my reason for living. I lost that painting after I died again... wonder who owns it now. Well, that doesn't matter now. After all this time, I can finally say that I found someone to share paradise with."

'How long did that take you to produce...?' Xia Qingyue wondered, carefully putting it to the side. Not long after, the Glazed Sound Stone was flicked open by her finger.

"So, those seven days have passed and my departure to the Realm of the Gods has also passed. Ying'er... she always got a little jealous whenever I was around other women. If she berated you in any way, don't blame her... hold me accountable for everything instead."

'How could I...'

Then, the next stage of the recording proceeded.

"Qingyue, you know I am a man of my word. From the day that I step foot into the Realm of the Gods, I promise to take cultivation seriously and restore my previous status of being the mightiest, most handsome King of all... but more importantly than that, I will reunite your... our family."

And the final stage followed;

"I will find your mother and bring her back to Blue Pole Star... even if I have to flip Primal Chaos on its head, this I promise with my innermost soul!"

'... You've always had a way with words...'

Xia Qingyue felt moved, her sorrow fading away.

It would not be long until Xia Qingyue would set foot into the outside world once again with a new outlook on things. She had relied on Xiao Jiantian all this time for almost anything... since he was no longer there, she naturally had to become more independent.

'I'll show you to an even more brilliant home when you return, my Sun and Stars...'

Xia Qingyue decided that she would take his place as the Heavenly Lord of the Xiao Clan and be the one who will carry his wish of making their home into a Sacred Ground.

~

"Be my Emperor... Jiantian."

Hearing Qianye Ying'er address him by his first name was unusual... but it was a welcome surprise. Xiao Jiantian stood up from her bed and took a deep breath of the illustrious Brahma Monarch God Realm's aura. The difference between the two was very much comparable to heaven and earth. In fact, if he had to return to Blue Pole Star now, it was likely that he would experience a feeling of nausea.

"Ying'er... you should know my answer to that." Xiao Jiantian turned around to face her. "When I was fighting the seemingly invincible three Yama Ancestors... slowly, but surely it seemed like I'd finally dug my grave. I lost my will... and so, my edge became dull. During that time, do you know why I regained my resolve to fight... and the will to trample upon them? The will to return back alive... what was it that gave me the strength to subdue them?"

As Ying'er stood up herself, Xiao Jiantian approached and embraced her tightly.

"It was you, Ying'er... and no one else."

Qianye Ying'er's eyes widened slightly as she felt deeply touched, embracing Xiao Jiantian in turn herself.

"Because of you, I realised that to achieve true happiness... to finally break out of my shell, I had to allow myself to love again." Xiao Jiantian closed his eyes, taking in the fragrance of Qianye Ying'er. "That being said, do I still need to answer?"

"Yes... I want to hear it directly, Jiantian."

"Nothing in this world would bring me more joy than being your husband, Ying'er."

Qianye Ying'er smiled, in fact, a few tears of joy fell down her cheek.

"Then I will gladly be your wife..."

'If we are together... nothing else in this world matters...'

It was quite a while until they separated themselves from each other's embrace, though both of them finally felt as if they had been reborn anew. The mental obstacle that had stopped them for so long had finally vanished.

They were no longer Master and Disciple... not anymore. They were now husband and wife-to-be.