Before the great battle, Qian Lan and Dada Zhu Mihua received their final mission: eliminate a colossal beast lurking in a distant valley. It was a "Mountain Hou," a descendant of the mythical creatures from the Classic of Mountains and Seas—towering like a hill, with skin as thick as stone, impervious to ordinary blades. At the valley entrance, they exchanged a glance and drew their sister swords in unison. "It's been a while since we used them together," Qian Lan said. "Yeah," Dada Zhu Mihua smiled. "Seven hundred years, right?" They stepped into the valley side by side. The Mountain Hou was asleep, its snore shaking the ground. But the moment they approached, it woke. "ROAR!" The beast roared, sending tremors through the mountains. In an instant, both women launched forward—one from the left, one from the right. Their twin blades flashed like silver streaks, aiming straight for the beast's eyes! The Mountain Hou swiped its claws down. Qian Lan dodged sideways and slashed at the claw—leaving only a faint white mark. Taking advantage of the opening, Dada Zhu Mihua leaped onto the beast's back, driving her dual blades deep into its flesh. *Hiss...* The blades sank halfway, but not enough. In pain, the beast thrashed wildly. Dada Zhu Mihua was thrown off, but Qian Lan caught her mid-air. "It's no use trying to cut through its hide," Dada Zhu Mihua said. Qian Lan nodded. "Use that move?" "That move?" "The sister swords can work alone or together. Separate, they're powerful. United, they're unstoppable. We are the unity." Dada Zhu Mihua's eyes lit up. Both women gripped their blades tightly. As the steel clashed—*CLANG!*—a surge of energy erupted between them. Qian Lan's oceanic power merged with Dada Zhu Mihua's thousand-sword intent, resonating through the twin blades! Silver light exploded outward, coalescing into a massive blade beam. "Slash!" The beam sliced cleanly from head to tail. The beast collapsed with a thunderous crash. Breathing heavily, the two stood tall with their swords drawn. Then, they looked at each other and smiled simultaneously. "Seven hundred years," Qian Lan said, "and our coordination is still perfect." "Of course," Dada Zhu Mihua winked. "We're sisters." Under the setting sun, they walked out of the valley together.
The next day, all gathered in the council chamber of Mingxue Lu.
In the vast council chamber, Starbranders with blue hair gathered in full assembly. Qianlan's hair cascaded like a waterfall; Xuanlin's flowed like pine branches; Dada Zhumi's was tied into a playful ponytail; Haxiang Pigdog's short cut was crisp and neat; Xingyuanche's strands shimmered with starlight; Ma Rao's blue locks still partially veiled her cheeks. Their elf-like ears twitched gently in the candlelight—a resonance of their Starbrand bloodline.
On the training ground, blades flashed and clashed. Qianlan's sister swords flowed like relentless waves, one strike after another without end. Xuanlin's Azure Dragon blade stood firm as ancient pine and solid rock—each cut powerful and heavy. They had sparred for an hour. "Clang!" Another clash sent them both stepping back three paces. Sweat beaded on Qianlan's forehead; Xuanlin's breathing grew slightly ragged. "Seven hundred years," Qianlan said softly, "this is the first time we've sparled like this." Xuanlin looked at her, a hint of tenderness in his eyes. "Yes." They struck again. This time, Qianlan's attacks were faster, sharper, and more precise. The emotions bottled up over seven centuries seemed poured into every blade stroke. Xuanlin's Azure Dragon remained steady, each parry perfectly timed to deflect her strikes. "Clang! Clang! Clang!" Amidst the flashing steel, they were transported back seven hundred years—to the morning they first met at the pyramid when he gently lifted her hair; to the night he stood guard outside their tent, silently watching over her; to the moment he carried her down from the Dream Tiger Mountain... All these memories surfaced within the dance of their blades. Suddenly, Qianlan's blade slowed for just an instant. But Xuanlin caught it. His dragon blade swept upward in a smooth motion, disarming Qianlan—her sister sword flew from her grip and stuck firmly in the ground. The match was decided. Yet Xuanlin didn't sheath his weapon. He stepped forward and gently took Qianlan's hand. "Seven hundred years," he whispered, "I've always wanted to tell you—" Qianlan looked up at him. "Your blade is beautiful," he said. "But you're even more beautiful." Qianlan's cheeks flushed. She lowered her gaze, then raised it again, smiling at him. "You're smooth-talking," she teased—but she didn't pull away. Under the setting sun, they stood together on the training field, hands clasped. Their swords remained planted in the earth, gleaming in the golden light.
Qianlan and Xuanlin sat side by side, holding hands. After over seven hundred years of entanglement, their bond had evolved into a deep, unspoken understanding. The cinnabar mark on Qianlan's brow remained as vivid as ever; the golden scar on Xuanlin's cheek still gleamed in the light. Though fine lines now framed their eyes, their gazes shone bright as stars. Beside Xuanlin lay a wooden token engraved with "Earth Veil Guardian," the highest command insignia for Earth Alliance's ground defense forces.
Dada Zhumi Hua and Ha Xiangpigou sat on the other side. After a century, Dada Zhumi Hua remained lively, though her gaze carried a newfound calmness. The sword at her waist had been replaced with an alloy blade forged by Awakened craftsmen, engraved with Yun Qiao's name. Ha Xiangpigou was no longer the boy who once trailed behind; he had grown sturdier. His stone axe, modified by Awakened artisans, could now channel spiritual energy to manipulate gravity fields, vastly amplifying its power.
Xing Yuanche and Ma Rao entered last, holding the glowing tablet, followed by a humanoid avatar made of data streams—the Core of Awakened Ones. After a century of evolution, its projection has grown increasingly lifelike, even capable of expressing complex emotions.
"The Stargate is opening," Xing Yuanche said bluntly, his voice low and clear. "The stone tablet indicates that the Stargate on the Moon's far side will fully open in 72 hours. According to awakened monitors, this time the Eclipse Beasts have deployed their main fleet—a force at least a hundred times larger than last time."
Silence filled the council chamber. A hundredfold scale means this war will be humanity's ultimate test.
"Seventy-two hours..." Xuan Lin frowned. "The timeline is too tight."
"But we are no longer who we were a century ago." The voice of the Awakened Core resonated, gentle yet firm. "All 100,000 combat units have entered Level 1 readiness. The 'Star Shield' defense system at the Lunar Base is active, and the 'Prairie Fire' mecha legions from the Mars Colony stand ready to deploy. Our emotional resonance modules with humanity are fully synchronized, enabling tactical coordination precision down to the millisecond."
Qian Lan gazed at the Awakened Core: "How should we deploy the ground defenses? The Eclipse Mooner is likely to replicate last time's landing tactics."
"My partner Xuanlin and I are on ground duty." Dada Zhu Mi Hua stood up first, her usual bright smile in place. "Awakeners have already upgraded the ley line nodes across all seven continents. Xuanlin's wood power can instantly generate a forest barrier spanning thousands of miles, while my Thousand Swords formation covers any aerial assault. Haxiang Piggy Dog's Gravity Stone Axe can destroy landing pods. With our combined efforts, we'll hold the ground."
Haxiang Pi Dog nodded immediately: "Wherever Master goes, I go."
Xuan Lin added, "I've contacted all major settlements. Civilians are moving to underground shelters. Within 72 hours, only combat personnel will remain on the surface."
Xing Yuanche nodded, scanning the room. "Ma Ruan and I will handle the Moon front. Our mission is to hold off the Eclipse Moon fleet, buy time for the ground defenses, and find a way to shut down the star gate once and for all."
In the council chamber, every eye blazed with determination.
At that moment, a voice came from outside the door.
Me too.
Everyone turned to see Qingmingzi standing at the doorway. His white hair fluttered gently in the wind, and his youthful face bore an expression of unprecedented solemnity.
"Master!" Qian Lan approached. "How did you get here?"
Qingmingzi entered the council chamber, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before settling on the stone tablet in Xing Yuanche's hands.
"Because the person I've been waiting for is coming back," he said. "And this time, I won't let her fight alone again."
Outside the Snowy Peak, three figures watched from atop an abandoned tower.
"Qingmingzi is about to make a move," Yi Sheng said coldly, her purple skirt fluttering in the wind. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes—jealousy mixed with anger at having her authority challenged. "This is a perfect opportunity. Once he leaves, Mingsuel will be defenseless."
The Nian Shi Tong licked his lips, a lewd red glow flashing in his eyes. "That little beauty, Dada Zhu Mi Hua. We've waited a century for her. She's heading to the chaotic ground battlefield—a perfect opportunity to strike. Once she's isolated, I'll get my hands on her and savor every moment."
The mechanical eye of the Remnant Booth flickered with a crimson glow. One half of its face was that of a handsome young man, while the other was covered in cold metal—an unsettling, tragic visage. Its voice rasped with mechanical distortion: "I want the origin of Star Marks. The secrets of Chan Dan and Qing Mingzi... they all belong to me. The experiments of the 23rd century failed, but I will not fail forever. Once they have weakened each other, I'll raid the data center, seize Chan Dan's crystal sphere, and acquire the complete Enlightener technology. Perhaps... then I can truly 'live'."
The three exchanged glances, each with their own hidden agenda.
"Then we each get what we need," Yi Sheng said, her gaze fixed intently on the council hall, as if she could see through the walls to Xuan Lin within. "Xuan Lin belongs only to me. No one will take him from me. After a thousand years, I will not allow anyone to steal him away."
"Don't worry," the Nightmare Lion Boy chuckled wickedly. "I only want my little beauty."
Base Shadow Buss emitted a grating mechanical laugh: "I've been waiting for this day for a hundred years."
The three rivals merged into one, vanishing deep into the ruins.