1. Edge of the Sahara
Far in the darkness, Kireimabu's ship silently approaches Earth. Inside the cockpit, its mechanical eyes glow with complex light, while half of a handsome young face turns toward the void, muttering to itself.
"23rd century... Volunteer No. 371..." its voice was broken and metallic, "I just want to live... I just want to see tomorrow's sun..."
It raised its mechanical arm, gazing at the cold metal with a flicker of pain in its eyes.
But now, I'm almost forgetting who I am.
It cut off communications. The ship continued its course toward the blue planet.
6829, Africa, on the edge of the Sahara.
She looked young, but no one could guess her true age—for she was a Star Marked.
Her name is Qian Lan. Slender and graceful, she has elf-like long ears. Her blue hair shimmers softly in the sunset, but what truly stands out is the iconic red pearl-shaped cinnabar mark on her forehead. She wears a white mini skirt that falls just above her knees, layered with a traditional blue half-coat. The fabric flutters gently in the breeze, harmonizing beautifully with her flowing blue hair.
To save the trapped civilians, she is forced to unleash deadly force. This marks her first time taking a life, yet these targets are no longer human—they are mutated creatures infected by a virus. The true culprits are extraterrestrial invaders, and at the heart of this catastrophe lies the shadowy influence of Kyranbus, a tech-corrupted monster. Deriving pleasure from destroying Earth's civilization, it deploys lethal viruses through interstellar rifts, turning this desert into a living hell.
Spring dusk. The setting sun dyes the desert red as blood. She stands atop ruins, beneath her feet lie 372 mutated corpses—even in death, their muscle tissue writhes like vines, frantically attempting to reassemble into new horrors.
"How disgusting." A slender woman beside her wrinkled her nose, yet her eyes sparkled with a hint of curious excitement. She also had elf-like long ears and blue hair identical to Qian Lan's, except for the striking red mark on her forehead that she lacked.
"Mi Hua, stop looking," Qian Lan said softly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.
Dada Zhu stuck out her tongue but couldn't resist taking one more look. It was just her nature: the scarier something was, the more she wanted to see it—though she'd secretly regret it afterward. Unbeknownst to her, a greedy gaze had already locked onto her from the shadows—the demonic villain Yanshi Tong, a lecherous evil-doer who had wreaked havoc for five thousand years. Sensing the pure Star Mark power radiating from her, his eyes flashed an indecent red as sinister thoughts took hold. He intended to lure her into his grasp and violate her at will.
"Master, where do those annoying viruses come from?" asked Dada Zhu Mi Hua, her tone full of confusion.
Qianlan said nothing, her gaze fixed on the distant desert. There stood a black pyramid-shaped structure emitting an eerie red glow, like a beast lurking beneath the sands. The cinnabar mark on her brow grew warm—a sensation of danger mingled with an unfamiliar magical pressure. She sensed a powerful female Starmark user nearby; her aura was arrogant and cold, as if everything were under her control. That was Yi Sang, a woman born a thousand years after Qing Mingzi, who had spent that millennium claiming Xuanlin as her own.
The black pyramid is the source of the Thousand-Toxic Golden Root and the core of viral spread.
It's also a place she must go.
She raised her hand to touch the cinnabar dot on her brow. The red mark grew increasingly hot with each pulse, signaling that something momentous was about to unfold. But Qian Lan hadn't expected this time to bring only a perilous mission; it would also lead her to the most significant encounter of her life and three archenemies destined to haunt her forever.
"Stay here." Qianlan turned to Dada Zhu Mihua. "Wait for Xiangpigou and the others to arrive, then bring reinforcements to hold this line. Be cautious—I sense evil presence and unfamiliar magical energy nearby. Do not let your guard down."
"Master!" Dada Pig Honey Flower cried out urgently. "You can't go alone! It's too dangerous in there!"
"Be good."
Qian Lan's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable force.
She turned and walked deeper into the desert, her blue hair catching the sunset as she left behind a resolute, lonely silhouette.
Dada Zhu Mi Hua watched her master's retreating figure and suddenly realized: though the master appeared powerful, they were lonelier than anyone else. Meanwhile, the Shadow Lion Child lurking in the shadows, seeing Qian Lan leave alone, quietly slipped past the defenses to follow them into the depths of the desert. He was waiting for the perfect moment to capture both Dada Zhu Mi Hua and Qian Lan in one stroke.
II. First Meeting
Not out of fear of the unknown ahead, but because she saw someone.
A man stands quietly at the entrance of the pyramid.
Like her, he has elf-like pointed ears. His blue hair glimmers in the sunset. From the side, he has a square face with a golden scar across his cheekbone that shines in the evening light. His posture is straight and steady as an ancient pine, with a black Qinglong sword hanging on his back.
In the shadow of the pyramid, a slender figure stood quietly. Yi Sheng watched Xuan Lin's back, her eyes flashing with complex emotions—arrogance, jealousy, and the anxiety of a thousand-year obsession denied. She had been waiting here all along, determined to see which woman dared to approach the one she claimed as hers.
"Who are you?" Qianlan asked, her cinnabar mark on the forehead throbbing more urgently. She could clearly sense that the arrogant magical aura was emanating from the shadows of the pyramid, and its target was clearly this man before her.
The man slowly turned around.
In that instant of eye contact, Qianlan finally understood what "a glance for a lifetime" truly means. Her lashes fluttered softly, and his reflection shimmered in her bright, pale blue eyes.
He had a face so handsome it bordered on unreal—sharp brows, bright eyes, thin lips pressed in a subtle line. His expression carried three parts coldness, three parts aloofness, and four parts of something Qian Lan couldn't quite read at first. Later, she realized it was tenderness hidden too deep to show easily.
"Xuan Lin," he said, his voice low and pleasant. "A disciple of Qingmingzi."
Qian Lan's heart skipped a beat.
Qingmingzi. That was her master's name.
"Are you... my senior?"
Xuan Lin nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment on her face before settling on the red mark between her eyebrows. He paused there an extra second. His brows furrowed slightly as he sensed the familiar presence from the shadows—Yi Sang, that relentless woman, had followed them again.
It was in this very moment that Qianlan remembered her senior brother's eyes—the scarred line glinting faintly across his face.
"My master sent me to help you," Xuanlin said. "You can't handle what's inside alone. Stay away from the shadows; Yi Shang is coming."
Qian Lan's heart sank. It was indeed that infamous female Star Signer, known for her arrogance and ruthlessness. She opened her mouth to speak, but sudden, guttural roars erupted from deep within the pyramid. The sound was raspy and grating—utterly unlike any Earth creature—and was punctuated by the mechanical whirring of gears. Clearly, Ji Canyingbu was also inside the pyramid, using technology to enhance those viral creatures.
Xuan Lin's hand rested on his sword hilt. He glanced at Qian Lan, his gaze flickering to the shadow with a clear look of disgust.
Are you afraid?
Qianlan shook her head, tightening her grip on the Star Mark artifact hidden in her sleeve. "Don't worry—it's just a petty troublemaker."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Xuan Lin's lips before vanishing. That enigmatic expression, on his otherwise stern and square face, seemed slightly unnatural—but it strangely bolstered Qian Lan's confidence in their partnership.
"Let's go."
He stepped first into the darkness. Before leaving, a golden sword qi slashed toward the shadows, forcing Yi Shang to dodge and emit a cold snort.
Qian Lan followed closely behind. With this senior brother by her side, the loneliness she had felt upon entering the dark tunnel gradually faded away.
III. Source of the Virus
Step inside the pyramid, and the scene is completely different from the outside. The interior is surprisingly spacious and faintly illuminated, but the eerie purple glow makes you uneasy.
The interior space warps and shifts, pulsating with life. The walls seem to breathe; the floor trembles faintly. Inverted crystals of unknown origin hang from the ceiling, casting an eerie violet glow that deepens the unsettling atmosphere. The air carries a pungent, metallic tang mixed with a hint of sweetness—like blood clinging to rusted metal, blended with the scent of rotting flowers. That sharp metallic odor comes from the technological artifacts left behind by Ji Canyingbu's creations.
"Be careful," Xuan Lin warned. "This isn't Earth architecture; it's a relic of the Eclipse Mooners, now modified by the residual projection of Ji Canbu. Their tech-based corruption is formidable. And I'm sure Yi Sheng will be stirring up trouble from the shadows."
"What's that?" Qianlan pointed at the opposite wall.
"The remains of Moon-Eater scouts, modified by Kijirai into puppets." Xuan Lin stopped, his voice grave. "Three thousand years ago, they came to Earth. These are the fallen from that battle—unthinkable that Kijirai would exploit them."
Three thousand years ago.
Qian Lan recalled her master's words: humans are not the only intelligent life in the universe, nor even the strongest. Beings like the Eclipse Mooners, Jican Yingbushu, Yi Sheng, and Yanshi Tong will all be formidable obstacles on humanity's path to survival.
"Let's go." Xuan Lin continued forward. "The real trouble lies ahead. Yi Sheng and the Base Shadow Booth are surely waiting for us in the core area."
They pierced through successive warped dimensions, constantly assailed by tech-modified virus creatures. Xuan Lin's black sword cleaved through monster after monster, golden runes flowing along its blade; while Qian Lan activated the Star Mark power to purify the spreading viruses. Working in seamless coordination, they forged their way straight to the pyramid's core.
This is a massive circular hall with a dome so high it seems to stretch endlessly into the stars. Suspended in the center is a colossal sphere of flesh, over ten meters in diameter, its surface covered in blood vessels and nerves, stained dark red, resembling a deformed heart that beats rhythmically. With each beat, it erupts a plume of black mist laced with countless tiny particles—the fatal virus enhanced by Base Shadow Booth.
"This is the source of the Ten-Thousand-Toxins Golden Root Grass," Qian Lan said, her gaze fixed on the ball of flesh and blood.
Xuan Lin nodded and slowly drew his sword. It was pitch black, devoid of any luster, as if it could absorb all light. Yet when Xuan Lin gripped it, golden patterns emerged along the blade—resembling veins or ancient runes—radiating immense power.
"I'll hold off on it and the Base Shadow Bu. Yi, I leave the entanglement to you." Xuan Lin said, "Go destroy the core of the Hundred Toxin Golden Root Grass. Don't hesitate."
Qian Lan paused, taken aback: "You're alone?"
"Hurry," Xuan Lin interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Before the words had fully left his mouth, he charged forward, a golden sword qi striking straight at Ji Canyingbu's phantom. Beside the mass of flesh and blood, a figure composed of metal and black mist materialized—Ji Canyingbu itself. It emitted a piercing mechanical screech as countless metallic tentacles lashed out toward Xuan Lin.
Just as the tentacles were about to strike Xuan Lin, one of them suddenly hesitated, veering off by a fraction of an inch. The shift was so brief that even Xuan Lin didn't notice. A flicker of pain flashed through Ki's mechanical eyes. The half-face of the young man twisted, as if struggling and resisting. What did it see? Was it Xuan Lin's determination, or Qian Lan's courage in fighting for protection? It didn't know. But soon, its coldness returned, and its attacks grew even more frenzied.
"Kill... kill..." It emitted a harsh, mechanical screech—ordering the enemy, or perhaps itself.
At the same time, Yi Sheng emerged from the void. She was strikingly beautiful with a tall, elegant figure, dressed in a purple gown and marked by a crimson dot on her forehead. Her gaze was haughty and cold as she held a violet spell, pointing it directly at Qian Lan. "You insignificant disciple, how dare you interfere with someone I've chosen? Get out!"
4. What Moves the Heart
Qianlan channeled the power of the Star Mark, unleashing a golden radiance that collided with Yi's purple spells, triggering a violent explosion. She knew her strength paled in comparison to Yi's, but to destroy the core of the Ten Thousand Toxins Golden Root Grass, she had to hold him at all costs. "Yi, you're nothing more than a petty schemer driven by power. Master Xuanlin is not yours to control!"
Yi Sheng sneered, his magical assault intensifying. "I never fail to get what I want. Xuan Lin belongs only to me—no one can take him from me. Today, you will die!"
Meanwhile, Xuan Lin was locked in a fierce battle with the shadow of Ji Canyingbu. Golden patterns on his black longsword flashed continuously as he severed one metallic tentacle after another. Yet Ji's tech powers were eerily formidable—severed limbs regenerated almost instantly while unleashing relentless laser barrages, forcing Xuan Lin to keep retreating.
Qian Lan held back Yi Shu while keeping an eye on the core of the Ten-Thousand-Poison Golden Root. She knew she couldn't delay any longer. Summoning all her Star Mark power, a brilliant red light erupted from the cinnabar mark on her forehead. A golden wave surged from her palm, forcing Yi Shu to retreat momentarily. Seizing the opening, she spun around and rushed toward the core of the Ten-Thousand-Poison Golden Root.
She didn't know how long she ran. Behind her, the continuous sounds of the flesh ball's shrieks, Xuan Lin's sword whistling, Yi Sheng's cold snort, and Ji Canyingbu's mechanical roar filled the air. She didn't dare turn back—afraid that if she did, she'd rush back to help Xuan Lin, or worse, miss the only chance to destroy the core.
The core of the Hundred Poisons Golden Root is a massive heart tightly entwined with its rhizome. Each beat ejects a stream of black blood; upon hitting the ground, it transforms into new viruses. These viruses are then amplified by Kijie's shadow-construct technology, becoming even more lethal.
Qian Lan took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and summoned the deepest power within her.
The cinnabar mark on the forehead began to glow, its radiance growing ever brighter.
She felt the ocean—the distant sea, the deep sea, waters she had never visited yet knew intimately. She summoned them in the name of Star-Scarred and in the name of Guardian.
Let's go.
Come here.
Boom—
The pyramid's dome shattered in an instant.
Water rained down from the sky like a celestial river poured in judgment—a divine punishment. This was the power of Qianlan: summoning the ocean's waters, spanning half the globe to reach deep into this desert.
The seawater, carrying the star-trace consciousness of Qianlan, surged into the black heart, scouring the roots of the Ten-Poison Golden Root Grass.
The heart convulsed violently, crying out like an infant. But it was useless. The sea is the source of life and purification. It nurtures life and extinguishes heresy. The roots of the Hundred-Poison Golden Root withered slowly in the seawater, and the black heart gradually ceased to beat, dissolving into a pool of dead water.
With its core destroyed, the Residual Base Buss emitted a furious mechanical screech, turned into a black mist, and vanished into the pyramid's crevice. It refused to accept defeat and would return for revenge.
Yi Sheng, realizing his situation was hopeless, glared fiercely at Qian Lan and then at Xuan Lin. A flash of resentment and malice crossed his eyes: "Just you wait! I'll make you pay for this!" With that, he dissolved into a beam of purple light and vanished.
Qian Lan slumped to the ground, gasping for breath, completely drained.
She did it.
Then, she suddenly remembered Xuan Lin.
She struggled to her feet, turned, and sprinted back the way she came.
Xuan Lin collapsed in a pool of blood.
No, that wasn't his blood—it was the foul blood from the mass of flesh and the mechanical tentacles of Ji Canying's shadow. Broken tentacles and withered roots of the Myriad-Poison Golden Root surrounded him. The black sword stood upright in the ground, its golden light dimmed. His eyes were closed, his chest rising slightly—thankfully, he was still alive.
Qian Lan rushed over, knelt beside him, and tremblingly reached out to check for his breath.
Warm breath brushed against her fingertips.
She hadn't even had time to breathe a sigh of relief when Xuan Lin's eyes suddenly snapped open.
Our eyes met.
Qian Lan's hand remained frozen in front of his nose, her cheeks flushing bright red.
Xuan Lin looked at her, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly—this time a real smile. Though faint, it carried the tenderness and relief of someone who had survived a ordeal.
"You... you're okay?" Qian Lan stammered, her voice trembling faintly.
"It's fine." Xuan Lin's voice was faint but steady. "Master always said I have a tough fate and won't die easily. That minor threat can't harm me."
Qianlan didn't know what to say and tried to pull her hand away, but Xuanlin suddenly reached out and grasped her wrist.
His hand was cold, yet remarkably steady.
"Thank you," he said. "Thank you for giving everything to destroy the core, and thank you for holding back Yi Sheng."
Qian Lan's heart skipped a beat.
She knew he was just being polite, just thanking her—maybe it meant nothing at all.
But she still remembered this moment.
Above the ruins of the pyramid, the last rays of sunset cast long shadows on the two figures. Xuan Lin held her hand and said, "Thank you." Whether the light in his eyes was a reflection of the setting sun or something else, Qian Lan couldn't tell.
All she knew was that she was done for.
From this moment on, someone took residence in her heart.
A person she once thought could never be hers—due to Yi Sheng's obsession and the heavy responsibility borne by Star Markers.
Later, when Dada Zhu Mi Hua and her group arrived, this was the scene they saw:
Qianlan knelt beside Xuanlin, holding her hand. Neither spoke; they simply gazed at each other in silence, as if the world around them didn't exist. Behind Dadazhu Mihua stood Ha Xiang Pigou—a Star Marked like his master, though not nearly as radiant. His blue hair and pointed elf ears still stood out under the sunlight. In his hand, he clutched a stone stained with dark blood. He had just repelled the Night Lion Child that had been secretly tailing them. The demon, seeing his plan foiled, fled with glowing red eyes, seething inwardly. But beneath his retreat lay deeper malice—he was now more determined than ever to capture Dadazhu Mihua.
Dada Zhu the Pig blinked, looking from one thing to another, then whispered to her friend, Happy Bark the Dog: "Should I... not have come?"
Ha Xiangpi scratched his head and replied earnestly, "I don't know either. But I think if you speak up now, Master might scold you. Also, a sinister entity followed us earlier, but I drove it off. That one didn't look like a friend—Master should be extra vigilant going forward."
Dada Zhu Mi Hua: "...Then I'll shut up."
She finally kept quiet but couldn't help thinking: Master and this handsome senior really are a perfect match.
Little did she know that many years later, she would fall for this handsome man—and that he would become an insurmountable rift between her and her master. She also didn't realize that her three arch-enemies—Yanshi Tong, Yi Shang, and Ji Can Ying Bu—would create endless trials in the years ahead, entangling each of them.
This is fate.
What you see is just the tip of the iceberg. The love and hate buried deep in time, along with the storms and challenges yet to come, are all waiting to be revealed.