"That dimension is extremely special, its energy level is incredibly high. Though it lacks beings with the status of gods, it has produced entities with the power of first-class gods. Furthermore, there even exist weapons on the level of super-artifacts."
"Once we're done with this dimension, we'll head there... and you will fuse with me."
Celenova's tone was flat, but an undeniable longing to assimilate worlds was woven through her words, sending cold ripples through the surrounding dead void.
"By then, my power should return to this world's so-called 'God-King' level."
This was her pursuit—direct and efficient. Compared to endless conspiracies and variable illusions, she believed this path allowed her to firmly seize power.
Hearing Celenova's plan, a playful glimmer flickered in Phantylia's eyes. The fan in her hand swayed even more joyfully as she chuckled, a hint of mockery in her laughter.
"Oh? Is that the so-called 'Abyssal Plane'? ...How very intriguing."
Phantylia turned gracefully, her strange gaze curiously studying Celenova's cold and flawless profile, as if admiring a fascinating work of art.
"What puzzles me is this: You're clearly the one most annoyed by these schemes, calculations, and word games. So why, this time, are you so patient and proactive in cooperating with that man's plan—even going so far as to put yourself on the chessboard, at his mercy?"
She deliberately paused, and the smile on her lips deepened.
"Could it be, this is the legendary... soft spot?"
Celenova's face remained expressionless. She ignored Phantylia's mocking, not even a ripple of emotion flickering in her demeanor.
They were Lord Ravager, Emanators of destruction, beings who had once thrown countless civilizations into terror.
But now, on this small Douluo Star, she was forced to submit to another, made a pawn by Lu Jingming.
But circumstances are stronger than people.
Even they had to admit this truth.
That man, Lu Jingming—his circle was simply too extravagant, too dazzling.
There was the former Luofu swordsman Jingliu, who could cut down stars with a single blade; Herta, the genius scientist who seemed to know everything and possessed the wisdom of an era; Ruan Mei, obsessed with the mysteries of life and wielding strange methods; and Acheron, an Emanator of IX who shouldn't exist in the Path of Nihility...
Any one of them could be troublesome.
And when such beings gathered around one person, their combined force was more than enough to crush everything.
Celenova and Phantylia were mighty, counted among the Lord Ravager, but in the end, only a part of them had come here; their powers were greatly restricted.
Two fists cannot beat four hands.
If they wanted to achieve their goals unscathed on this heavily guarded planet, and eventually leave the galaxy safely to further their antimatter army's development, their only choice for now was to temporarily bow their proud heads and cooperate with Lu Jingming's plan.
They would draw fire for him, create chaos, and finally exert enough pressure for him to unify Earth as quickly as possible.
It was an exchange—a compromise.
Temporary submission in exchange for ultimate freedom, and the information and benefits they needed.
"The feeling of being used is a bit unpleasant, but if the final reward is generous enough, I don't mind playing support for a while."
Phantylia seemed to find it dull to keep mocking Celenova. She lazily stretched, her elegant curves outlined beneath her beautiful palace attire, exuding fatal allure.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through the strange space, cast toward the distant God Realm, her eyes shining with greed and excitement.
"I've heard that the God Realm has a 'God of Destruction' with the authority over annihilation, and a 'Goddess of Life' symbolizing life and creation. Absolute opposites."
"If... I could devour both of these God-Kings and claim their opposed, unified divine positions for myself..."
A sinister, frenzied smile twisted Phantylia's face.
"Then, could I become a Supreme God-King with dual godhood, like that Sea God Tang San and our 'partner' Lu Jingming?"
For her, nothing was more thrilling or joyous than grasping such dramatic, contradictory, aesthetic power.
Celenova had no interest in whatever Phantylia intended. Her thinking was always cold and pragmatic; she only moved step by step toward her final goal.
It was the same for Phantylia.
They were colleagues, temporary allies bound on the same battleship, but never truly united. They both knew that once they left this planet and broke free from Lu Jingming's shackles, their alliance would end instantly.
Both were Lord Ravager; if not suppressed directly by the Supreme Aeon of Destruction, neither would ever truly listen to anyone else.
Celenova's goal was to travel the vast sea of stars, find the Abyssal World she had already discovered, devour and assimilate it, making it part of her own power—and incidentally, acquire super-artifacts.
Phantylia's targets were the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life, who hung high above the God Realm. In the end, the authority these two divine positions represented fit her aesthetic perfectly.
…
Space rippled gently like water. Lu Jingming took Snow Empress's hand and stepped forward.
Before their eyes, the scenery instantly shifted from primal wilderness to futuristic fantasy. Still a boundless, vibrant wilderness, but now—a magnificent, awe-inspiring city appeared before Snow Empress and the Ice Empress, like a miracle.
"This is... this place..."
Even Snow Empress, whose heart was as cold as snow, couldn't help but feel an incredible shock in his beautiful, icy blue eyes at the sight.
At their feet stood a skywalk, hundreds of meters above the ground, formed by pure white bands of light. On either side, transparent energy guardrails glowed softly, allowing people to look out over the city without obstruction.
Below, there was no familiar soil or street—layers and circles intersected like a precise circuit board, glittering with all kinds of light. Sleek forms, shimmering metallic luster, and countless wheel-less soul-guided vehicles sped silently along these tracks, orderly and without interference, leaving beautiful trails of light behind them.
Further out, skyscrapers soared hundreds or even thousands of meters above the ground. Their forms had long since broken free of the square bounds of traditional buildings—some twisted skyward like spirals, some bloomed like giant metallic flowers, and some, like upside-down mountain peaks, floated quietly in the air in defiance of physical law.
Enormous holographic projections flashed and changed constantly between buildings—sometimes a dancing virtual singer, sometimes mechanical dragons soaring through the sky, or even giant carp made of light and shadow swimming lazily between towers, scattering glimmers of light.
There wasn't a speck of dust in the air; it was fresh, as if filtered with utmost precision. The aura within was no longer just pure heaven-and-earth energy, but a complex mix of soul power and another unknown energy.
"Welcome home, City Lord."
A gentle, pleasant female voice interrupted the awe of Snow Empress and the Ice Empress, softly sounding in Lu Jingming's earpiece.
"Somehow, I no longer recognize Haiyuan City."
A heartfelt, gentle smile appeared on Lu Jingming's face. He gently patted the back of Snow Empress's hand, reassuring her not to be alarmed.
"This... the changes are tremendous."
Snow Empress clicked her tongue. This wasn't her first visit to Haiyuan City—it had already been one of the world's top cities, with soul guidance technology far surpassing that of any other. But now, it was completely unfamiliar to her, as if it were ten thousand years ahead of the rest of the world.
"Hmph, it's just a weird tin city."
A petite figure peeked out from behind Snow Empress—it was the Ice Empress.
She was as arrogant as ever, turquoise eyes scanning around with a look of disdain, but her slightly parted lips and wide, astonished eyes betrayed her true amazement.
She had never imagined humans could build a city like this.
"Come, I'll show you around."
Lu Jingming smiled, not bothering to expose the Ice Empress's duplicity.
He led Snow Empress, with the Ice Empress unconsciously following closely behind, and the three of them entered an automated aerial walkway.
The path glided silently, guiding them into the city of the future.
"That's a magnetic levitation railway—one of the city's public transport systems. Fast and smooth."
Lu Jingming pointed to a train below, speeding like a silver bullet along the tracks.
"And that's a city ecosystem maintenance system built by Dendro Archon herself. It can simulate the ideal environment for plant growth, so you'll see plenty of greenery in the city."
He pointed to a distant, transparent dome structure that looked like a giant greenhouse.
Snow Empress and the Ice Empress listened in silence, their shock deepening with every word of Lu Jingming's introduction.
They saw uniformed soldiers patrolling the skies in small aircraft, their armor gleaming in the sunlight. They saw ordinary people in all sorts of costumes, shopping confidently in sky malls, dining in floating restaurants.
Soul masters and regular people coexisted harmoniously here, with no sense of deep-seated class oppression.
This city was like a new utopia, independent of the Douluo Continent.
"Oh, it's dark already."
Just then, a familiar, gentle voice came from ahead. Lu Jingming looked up to see Robin holding Lu Mingyin in an aerial garden nearby with the gentle glow of a mother's love, watching them with a smile.
Lu Jingming quickly stepped forward and took the little one from Robin's arms, his movements skilled and gentle.
He looked down at the little girl in his arms. She slept soundly, her face radiating pure innocence and pampering.
Snow Empress and the Ice Empress approached with interest.
Lu Mingyin's sleeping face was peaceful and adorable, her little nose twitching slightly, her long lashes covering her eyelids like butterfly wings.
Her hair color was quite unique—a gradient of silvery white and lilac like a nebula, clearly inheriting traits from both Lu Jingming and Robin.
As if sensing her father's presence, Lu Mingyin smacked her lips in her sleep, unconsciously waving her tiny hand, a sweet smile blossoming that could melt all ice and snow.
In Snow Empress's icy blue eyes, the extreme chill belonging to ice and snow was completely melted away in this moment.
She carefully stretched out a finger, wanting to touch the little pink face, but hesitated slightly, worried her cold air would cause frostbite.
Her unspeakable feelings for Lu Jingming naturally extended to his and Robin's child.
"Don't worry, Snow Empress. She's not afraid of the evening chill."
Robin smiled encouragingly, seeing her concern.
With permission, Snow Empress finally mustered her courage, gently cupping Lu Mingyin's cheek with her fingertip.
The soft, warm touch made her heart tremble, and a new emotion—motherly—quietly sprouted within her, something she'd never felt before.
Beside her, the Ice Empress's emerald eyes widened, full of curiosity at the little bundle.
She said nothing, but her slow breaths and careful posture betrayed her affection for the tiny life.
Secretly, she condensed a small, clear snowflake, wanting to give it to the child as a gift.
"Robin, arrange accommodations for Snow Empress and the Ice Empress. I still have some things to take care of."
Lu Jingming handed Lu Mingyin back to Robin and spoke quietly.
"Alright, leave it to me."
Robin smiled and nodded, greeting Snow Empress and the Ice Empress warmly.
"Snow Empress, Ice Empress, please follow me. I'll show you to your rooms—they're right next to Xiao Ming's."
As Robin led Snow Empress and the Ice Empress away, the smile on Lu Jingming's face gradually deepened. He turned and walked toward the other side of the city—to the bio-research institute, full of technology and mysteries.
…
Ruan Mei's laboratory was always impeccably clean, orderly, and brimming with creativity.
The air carried a faint fragrance from rare plants and cultivated specimens.
Precision instruments—some with names Lu Jingming didn't even know—hummed quietly, as vast data and intricate genetic sequence maps flowed across curtains of pale blue light.