In the ice room, Qi Xi'er's expression was grave as her eyes wandered between the rows of cold body storage units. She had to keep her mother with her; she could not let her remain alone in a place like this. She needed to find a fitting resting place for Qi Xin.
After half a day of deliberation, Qi Xi'er finally selected an empty body storage unit. She took a deep breath and, using her willpower, slowly placed Qi Xin's body inside. The sound of the storage unit automatically and rapidly freezing the remains echoed through the ice room like a heartless pronouncement. Looking at the body as it gradually froze, tears welled up in Qi Xi'er's eyes. She then forcibly suppressed her grief, took out her Spatial Storage Bottle, and quickly placed the storage unit inside, as if sealing away the last trace of warmth in her heart.
In the quiet of the night at the Research Base, Qi Xi'er frowned, her eyes tightly shut, as she continued to use her immense willpower to search for the traces of the Heavenly Shadower. The air around her was heavy and stifling, and the cold metal walls reflected a dim light, as if framing Qi Xi'er's lonely silhouette. "Where are you?" she wondered silently, the question echoing repeatedly in her mind. Every probe of her consciousness was like groping in the dark, filled with uncertainty and confusion, yet a steady flame burned within her.
Qi Xi'er bit her lip, her obsession growing stronger. She had to see the Heavenly Shadower; she had to get an answer from him. The image of her mother, Qi Xin, flashed through her mind—her warm smile now shattered by cold reality. "Why treat Qi Xin like that? She was her mother!" Qi Xi'er's heart was filled with anger and bewilderment; every word felt like a burning flame, scorching her soul. Her fingernails had already dug into her palms; though the shocking marks had not yet faded in her memory, her healing ability was gradually surfacing, causing the wounds on her hands to heal until not even a trace of injury remained. Her hands clenched involuntarily, and her nails sank deep into her palms again, yet she felt no pain, for the heartache within her far surpassed what her body suffered.
Qi Xi'er moved like a gust of wind, weaving through the intricate base. Finally, she discovered Xiao Yuan at the edge of the Research Base. It was a vast open-air area surrounded by high fences. Qi Xi'er appeared silently before Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan was not surprised; he looked at her calmly. His eyes were deep and tranquil, as if he had long anticipated her arrival. Qi Xi'er opened her large, vibrant, yet cold eyes and stared straight at Xiao Yuan. She was the first to break the silence: "Heavenly Shadower, do you know that my mother has passed away?"
Xiao Yuan tilted his head slightly, looking into the distance, and said slowly, "Qi Xi'er, I don't understand. Didn't you just see Qi Xin at school?"
Qi Xi'er continued coldly, "From the very first day that clone returned from the base, I realized she wasn't my mother. I know my mother remained in the base. I simply lacked the capacity, so I played along with you; I didn't want to make things too difficult for my mother. But I never expected you to use her until she died!"
Xiao Yuan looked down at Qi Xi'er's face and sighed softly, "Yes! You are so smart; I had guessed you wouldn't be kept in the dark forever. I only thought perhaps I could delay it a little longer. I didn't expect that clone to go to the school specifically to notify you. Child, you don't need to be too sad. The base has successfully developed a biological clone identical to your mother. She is still sleeping, but if you wish, I can wake her up for you right now!"
Qi Xi'er looked at Xiao Yuan in disbelief, "Heavenly Shadower, even if you wake her up, it would just be a continuation of those cruel Experiments. My own mother will never return; that is not my mother."
Xiao Yuan looked back up at the sky, "Qi Xi'er, this world is far more complex than you imagine. We are all just being used."
Qi Xi'er retracted her cold aura and approached with a sorrowful expression. Seeing her like this, Xiao Yuan felt touched. He thought: she is someone I watched grow up; it is only natural for her to be resentful after losing her mother. If I comfort her properly, perhaps she will return to her former self. Xiao Yuan gradually let down his guard. Qi Xi'er had already walked up to him and slowly took hold of his hand. Thinking that Qi Xi'er was seeking comfort, Xiao Yuan looked at her even more gently.
But just then, the starlight grew brighter in the open area surrounded by metal fences. The surroundings were so quiet that even the air seemed to congeal. The hand Qi Xi'er was holding began to grow hotter, the heat like a burning flame, a strong, scorching sensation stimulating Xiao Yuan's nerves. Xiao Yuan was filled with unease; he didn't know what Qi Xi'er was doing to him. He tried to pull away, but it was as if he were restrained by an invisible force, unable to move.
Qi Xi'er closed her eyes, fully immersed in her exploration, her heart a mix of excitement and curiosity. Xiao Yuan's memories presented themselves to Qi Xi'er bit by bit. From the very beginning—it turned out that the real Xiao Yuan had long passed, and what resided in this body now was merely a strategist from the Xiao family. And this memory had been sealed by those Light-Body Lifeform colonizers who came to Ran Star. At this moment, Qi Xi'er was ruthlessly tearing that seal apart. As time passed, the released memories would wash over him like a turbulent tide, fiercely tormenting the Zhong Bo deep within his soul.
Afterward, Qi Xi'er saw the events of today: when her mother gave birth to the infant and abnormalities appeared, Xiao Yuan did not stay. He simply left with the infant, leaving the healers to deal with her mother, and when he faced Yier later, he was so cautious and humble.
Qi Xi'er bit her lip, thinking angrily: Didn't Yier just generously give you a sword? Hmph, then I will ruthlessly take it from you now, so you can have a taste of what it feels like to lose the most important thing! A burst of bright light erupted from Qi Xi'er’s other hand; the brilliance was blinding in the darkness, instantly illuminating the surrounding area. Since Xiao Yuan disliked being disturbed here, all guards had been withdrawn, so everything happening here went unnoticed.
Guided by Xiao Yuan's memories, Qi Xi'er agilely removed the Space Storage Ring from his finger. The wind whistled as it blew, tossing Qi Xi'er's hair. Using her willpower, she took out the sword. The starlight shone on the blade, reflecting a chilling light. Qi Xi'er held the sword, feeling the power emanating from its hilt, and cracked a cold, thin smile. In the distance, the cries of wild beasts came from the woods, adding to the eerie atmosphere. She stowed the ring and the sword into her own storage bottle; to her, the ring was too large to wear.
Nearby bushes rustled in the wind, as if trembling along with the tense atmosphere. Then, like soaking up light energy, she began to drain his energy from Xiao Yuan little by little. In this open space, Qi Xi'er's figure appeared lonely and resolute; only the stars in the sky silently bore witness to it all. Slowly, Xiao Yuan's body began to undergo shocking changes, especially his face. His formerly firm and smooth skin gradually became loose and wrinkled. Fine crow's feet crept quietly onto the corners of his eyes, like deep ravines ruthlessly carved by time, with every line seemingly recounting the vicissitudes of the past. His once bright and spirited eyes became cloudy and dim, the whites of his eyes bloodshot, and his eye sockets sunken. His once thick, long eyelashes became sparse and fragile, drooping slightly, losing their former vitality. His forehead was no longer smooth, with horizontal furrows rising and falling like waves—the marks left by time. His once plump cheeks began to sink, and his cheekbones protruded sharply, making his facial contours appear stiff and craggy. Xiao Yuan's lips lost their rosy hue, becoming pale and dry, and the corners of his mouth drooped slightly, revealing endless exhaustion and helplessness. The skin under his chin sagged, forming layers of fat. His former handsome appearance had completely vanished. His entire face seemed to have been remolded by the ruthless hand of time, showing only aging and decay.
Cold wind shrieked past, kicking up clouds of dust. Qi Xi'er looked at Xiao Yuan resolutely, but did not end his life. She slowly loosened her grip on Xiao Yuan's hand and said with absolute indifference, "Hmph, you were meant to be like this; this is the real you! Death? That would be a release for you, but I won't allow it, so don't even think about it! Just live out the rest of your days lingering in agony. Go and truly feel the desolation and decay of this world. Farewell, Heavenly Shadower!"
Qi Xi'er's voice was exceptionally clear in the gale, every word striking Xiao Yuan like a cold blade. Xiao Yuan collapsed powerlessly to the ground, watching Qi Xi'er's retreating back, his eyes filled with despair and regret. Qi Xi'er turned away, walking against the wind, her figure moving further and further away until it vanished like a firefly, leaving only Xiao Yuan lying alone on this land, enduring the torment of fate.
In the sky, an orange-yellow Yang Star gradually rose, shrouding this area of the Research Base in a hazy, strange light. A group of guards came to this area to patrol, marching in steady steps. "Who is that?" a guard shouted in terror, startled to find a black-robed man lying on the ground. "Be careful, go take a look," the captain said cautiously, and the group approached with extreme care. "Looking closely, it seems to be wearing the same kind of black robe as the Heavenly Shadower," one of the guards said, his voice trembling. "The Heavenly Shadower? How could this happen?" another guard wondered in confusion. The captain frowned, thinking: This is no small matter, I must handle it immediately. "Quick! Call the healers, use the emergency stretcher to take the Heavenly Shadower back for treatment."
A few guards hurried into action, some running to call for healers while others kept tense watch on the spot. The healer rushed over and was shocked to see Xiao Yuan on the ground, but he quickly calmed down and directed the crowd to lift Xiao Yuan onto the emergency stretcher. "He is our Heavenly Shadower, he must pull through," a guard muttered. Under the nervous gazes of the crowd, they hurried Xiao Yuan toward the treatment room.
Qi Xi'er had drained a large portion of Xiao Yuan's energy, causing him to revert to his aged state. Unless the Light-Body Lifeforms transmitted energy back to him, he would remain in this state of senescence. During the quiet, deep night on Ran Star, Yier lay peacefully in her Mechanical Battle Armor, sleeping soundly. The surrounding environment was so still that it felt as if time had stopped, with only the faintly blinking indicator lights of the armor casting a weak glow in the darkness. After arriving on Ran Star, Yier felt there was no danger, so she gradually let her guard down. Consequently, she did not hesitate to shield some energy signals, wanting to enjoy a worry-free sleep on Ran Star. Yet, she never imagined that last night, Qi Xi'er, born on Ran Star, would turn against Xiao Yuan. She remained completely oblivious to all that had transpired, still unaware of the upheaval she would soon face. Xiao Yuan remained in a deep coma, and none of the Shadowers could contact Yier. The entire Research Base feared that the Zijin Regime might take advantage of the opportunity, plunging the empire into chaos, so they had to cautiously keep the fact of Xiao Yuan's illness a top-secret.
Qi Xi'er appeared quietly in the place where, when she was one year old, Miao had once taken her. This was the Space-time Channel carefully constructed by the Light-Body Life forms on Ran Star. The surroundings were still barren, but it was permeated with mysterious and strange light, as if countless unknown energies were surging. Back then, on her first birthday, Miao had intended to bring Qi Xi'er here to play and let her try entering on her own, but she hadn’t expected Qi Xi'er, relying on her own ability, to successfully pass the rigorous test and enter the Space-time Channel. That was why her clothes had been covered in filthy stains at the time.
Qi Xi'er recalled the scene: her mother had been standing in the courtyard, waiting for her to return in great anxiety. It was an extremely beautiful and warm atmosphere, as if time had frozen, preserving that warmth and affection for eternity. Qi Xi'er lifted her head slightly, rubbed her reddened eyes hard, and then quickly wiped away the tears that were about to fall with her sleeve. She took a deep breath, composed her emotions, and walked firmly toward the verification point.
After a series of complex verification procedures, she finally successfully entered the interior of the mysterious Space-time Channel. The walls inside the channel were covered with dense, complex circuits and tiny energy nodes, which flickered in an orderly fashion, performing deep-level calculations. In the depths of the channel, a low and mysterious humming sound could be heard, as if it were a call from a distant star. Qi Xi'er was somewhat familiar with this place. She expertly opened the holographic map of Ran Star, her eyes focused on finding the location of the Holy Shrine. Following that, she carefully browsed the map of the entire Ran Star, recording all the content perfectly with her superior memory. Qi Xi'er planned to live in this Space-time Channel for a period of time, simply because Miao had once told her as a young child that light-body lifeforms would only appear here at a few critical nodes in time—sometimes to transport items in, and other times to take things from Ran Star away.