“Who said that you could only chase Yggdrasil for Ariel?” Kanari asked, her face coming closer towards her man’s lips.

“What do you mean?” Obviously, Shin was confused. He turned back at Kanari and shot a look of inquiry.

“Shin… You’re the most talented cultivator of our times, no… You’re possibly the most talented cultivator since Spirit Immortal Dream! Ascending into the Immortal Realm is difficult, more so than any other deed in humanity’s existence! There’s a reason why in a million years of human existence, only twenty-one Spirit Immortals emerged. However, Shin… You have a real shot at doing so! Shouldn’t you be aiming for a perfection that only a few could ever hope to reach?”

“...” The young man’s brows softened up, and his shoulders dropped. Taking that final step into the unknown… Many dreamed of achieving that! Although it wasn’t confirmed that Shin could take that step, at least he had a significantly higher chance than anyone else in the world. Even the Allfather, a man who had lived at least twenty times longer than Shin, had a lower chance of entering the elusive Spirit Immortal realm.

“Also...” And Kanari wasn’t done. She blushed and gazed down on the concrete balcony that held their weights, not daring to look Shin in the eye. “I know myself… I’m talented, no doubt about it, but there’s no way that I could ascend. I’m a Spirit Lord now, and I can already start to feel my cultivation slowing down tremendously. If not for your Celestial Dragon aura, I wouldn’t have made it this far...”

“Kanari, you don’t have to beat yourself down… I-I...”

“Let me finish, Shin...” Placing her index finger on Shin's lips, Kanari silenced her man as she attempted to raise another point. “I’m not as talented as you, and there’s no hope of me becoming the next Spirit Immortal after you. So… My fate is to return to dust… To become a footnote in history... I don’t want that...”

“Kanari, don’t say that… I’m sure that you can easily become a Spirit Immortal!” Shin tried to cheer his fiancee up but to no avail.

“There’s a reason why only twenty-one Spirit Immortals exist, Shin.” The ethereal beauty continually shook her head. Kanari was well-aware of her limits. She was talented, yes. However, to become a Spirit Immortal, one needed more than just sheer talent. They needed resilience and a one-sided dedication, aspects that couldn’t be cultivated or learnt. Ultimately, Kanari had been privileged since birth. She wasn’t like Shin, who had been meandering through tragedy after tragedy, becoming stronger with each challenge that he faces. In the end, Kanari could only helplessly age and watch as Shin transcend his mortality.

And that was too much for Kanari to bear.

“I know this may be selfish of me, but I want to be with you… Even after this life. I may not be your number one then, but I still want to be with you. Chasing Yggdrasil… You started off with the pure desire to only see Ariel. However… If I may be so bold… Could you revive me as well?”

“T-that! Touchwood!” Shin spat. Why would Kanari talk about reviving her when she was clearly alive and well before his eyes? “Don’t joke about that, Kanari. I will never let you pass on like Ariel did...”

A radiant smile bloomed on the beauty’s face as her heart warmed. Knowing that Shin cared for her that much really pleased her entire being. Alas, no matter how protective Shin was… “No, Shin. No matter what happens, as long as we don’t become Spirit Immortals, we are all fated to pass on. You may be able to protect me from all the danger in the world, but you can’t save me from time itself. The same goes for the rest of the people we all love. Lady Seph, Emma, Elyse, Isadore… When our soul fire burns out, we will all pass on.”

“Kanari...”

“When that happens… You’ll be the only one left to experience eternity… I don’t think that you would want that.” Kanari gently grabbed onto Shin’s outreached hand and gave it a tight squeeze. She knew her man more than any other. Kanari knew how sentimental Shin was. She knew how much Shin treasured his personal relationships. Perhaps it was due to his lack of parents, Shin treated everyone dear to him as his close family. Be it Junius or Shizen. Lady Seph or herself. Shin treated everyone with a devotion that would be hardly matched by any other.

It was the source of his strength, but it could also be the source of his weakness. Eventually, Shin would stand at the apex of the world. That was his destiny. No, he would transcend this world to become the next Spirit Immortal. Kanari was sure of that. However, that could only occur if Shin had people he loved standing by his side. At the moment, there were many. The orphans, Isadore, Elrin, Lady Seph, Meijing Bingying, Longyu Tian… There were people that could spur him onwards.

However… What would happen if Shin lost them all? War with the Black Masks was inevitable and even if none of them died during the endless turmoil… Eventually, time itself would do the deed. What would Shin do then? With no one by his side, would Shin still have the will to transcend?

Kanari doubted it.

“Shin… You were chasing Yggdrasil to meet Ariel once more. And that’s fine. However, if you are willing… Could you revive me as well?” Kanari weakly asked. Until now, Kanari wasn’t certain if her position in Shin’s heart outweighed Ariel’s. She was afraid… She was afraid that Shin would only revive Ariel at the Eternal Burning Tree.

“Silly lass,” a playful voice echoed out from Shin’s throat, chiding the woman in his arms. “Of course I would.” The man enjoyed the intoxicating pheromones that oozed off Kanari’s tender flesh. Shin ran his fingers through Kanari’s hair, gently calming both himself and her. “Though, I would rather you not die in the first place and ascend together with me. After all… I can’t confirm that Yggdrasil is a myth or reality.”

Yggdrasil was a popular folklore passed down from generation to generation. Many believed in it, but an equal number of people denounced it. A well that housed all living souls? It sounded too good to be true. Shin wanted to believe it and had always worked towards the Immortal Realm believing in Yggdrasil. However, as he grew older, Shin’s heart started to become a little more doubtful. He saw the world in a more logical light, and Yggdrasil became more and more like a myth to him.

The pains of growing up.

“Hehe, I’ll take my chances!” Kanari smiled.

Evidently, Shin could see through Kanari’s act. Sighing, the man held onto his forehead: “Hah… You’re becoming more and more like Elrin! That imp really gives me nothing but headaches...”

“You don’t like me this way?”

“How could I?” Shin shook his head with a dazzling smile. “My wife-to-be is perfect in every single way. How could I ever hope to dislike her? Even if she became the most atrocious woman in the world, I could never hope to leave her!”

“Hmph! I see your sweet-talking skills have improved tremendously as well! I just hope that there won’t be a third wife before you reach the Immortal Realm! If that happens, I’ll make sure to team up with Ariel above to beat your ass to the ground!”

The image of Ariel and Kanari teaming up forced Shin to gulp down a mouthful of his own saliva. What really tripped him up was… how plausible it sounded. Kanari had a flair with words and Ariel was a dominant force with her fists. Together… They would be quite a frightening force...

“How would I dare?” Shin sweated as his lips started to twitch.

The two continued to banter on like an aged couple who had spent decades together. They talked about anything and everything that they could get their heads around. Be it the Black Masks, the three Superpowers or their adopted child Errol. In the end, just like Shin did with Ariel a few years back, the couple shared… their dreams under the starless night sky.

❖❖❖

The Lantis Republic. Celestial Island. Shin’s Private Manor. Two Weeks Later.

The world was filled with darkness. The Black Masks had waged a terrifying war, killing thousands with their vile actions. The Allfather, who had seemed unbeatable, had been ordering the massacre of thousands with the snap of his fingers. Towns fell, and economies plummeted. Cities had to recruit untrained soldiers into their ranks, many of them were young blood that hadn’t tasted the disgusting scent of war. Death came with every Beast Horde that roamed passed the lands, and the common folk were getting desperate.

Unlike the elites of the world, they didn’t have Spirit Emperors or Spirit Venerates protecting them. Once a Beast Horde came charging down, they could only pray for limited casualties. It was, without a doubt, the darkest era since the warring periods. Mothers feared for their children’s lives and children could never sleep peacefully through the night. They never knew if the next time they closed, their eyes would be the last.

In the chaos, amidst the death and destruction… Every single soul in the world prayed. They prayed for better days ahead. They prayed for the peaceful times to come back… They prayed… For a hero.

And a hero… was born.

Shin Iofiel’s deathly blow to the Black Masks had rejuvenated faith back into every commoners’ hearts. He’d attacked the west of the Kori Federation, even though he didn’t have to, foiling one of the Allfather’s most nefarious plans. If not for Shin Iofiel’s involvement, the Black Masks would have sent a scourge of billions down into the Terre Continent, killing everything in sight. The Allfather’s trusted subordinate, the Blade of Death, had been executed by Shin, bringing closure to all of the Brahmin’s victims.

The Alliance was strong, but they hadn’t been producing the results that the common folk had hoped for. However, Shin managed to do what they couldn’t do… All with one move. It was no surprise that many adored the fresh Prince, who was pristine of any toxic bureaucratic bullshit. So, when Shin had announced to the world that he was creating Guardian Sword, an organisation specialised in neutralising the Black Masks’ threat… Everyone jumped on board.

And it was no exaggeration.

“Is this what it’s like to be suffering from success?” Shin rubbed the temples of his forehead as he sat on his throne. Before him, there were towers upon towers of gifts and offerings from a myriad of organisations. The hall that could easily fit thirty people was already packed to the brim with boxed gifts or chests filled with gold.

Merchants, companies, sects, clans, governments, nobles… An outrageous amount of gifts were from those entities trying to butter up the young Prince. Heck, there was even an offering from the world’s top brothel for some reason. Guardian Sword needed funds, so Shin wasn’t all that hesitant about accepting said gifts. However, it did pose a problem logistically. Shin’s manor wasn’t built to store vast amounts of treasures, and his throne hall was only packed as all the other empty spaces were filled as well. As he stood dumbstruck, Zishen and Elrin were thinking of methods to store Shin’s newly found wealth.

“Just thinking about writing thank-you letters gives me a headache...”

Shin had to personally write thanks for everyone that sent a gift into his manner. That was just common courtesy. The problem was… There were at least five thousand organisations that sent gifts. It would take him ages to write personally customised letters for each one.

“Hehe, you should really get used to your new exalted status, My Prince.” Kanari chuckled from the side as she finished logging her portion.

“My Princess, compared to yourself… I still have a long way to go.” Shin shook his head. Kanari had been living in High Society for her entire life, while Shin had only recently been thrust into it. There was no comparison in terms of their experience with such affairs.

“Well, you can put off the thank-you letters for another day. Isadore and the Himmel Procession will be reaching Celestial Island at noon. You should go and receive them.”

“I know that!” Shin replied with a smile. For Guardian Sword to work, Shin needed a vast information network unique to his organisation. And who better to run it than Isadore? Not to mention, the ‘Himmel Procession’ that was tagging along, were Shin’s fellow orphans. There was no way that Shin would not receive them.

Taking one leap down his throne, Shin beamed as he headed straight for the exit, away from all the responsibilities of a Prince.

“I’ll be back!”

“Have a safe trip!”