Future Plans

After confirming that the body of the Chaos Demon God had been completely reduced to ashes, without leaving behind even a drop of blood, Aina brought Xia Lun back to their original world.

“How did you manage that?” Xia Lun asked curiously.

To banish such an enormous demonic body directly beyond the world’s boundaries was a feat that had surpassed the limits of his understanding of spatial magic. If they had been in their original world, where Aina possessed the authority of the world, it would not have been particularly surprising that she could accomplish something like this.

The authority of the world was known by different names in different worlds: Gaia consciousness, planetary consciousness, and so on.

Those who possessed the authority of a world were like warriors fighting on home ground within their own worlds, capable of displaying power far beyond what they could ordinarily wield.

In reality, however, people who possessed the authority of an entire world were exceedingly rare throughout the universe.

After all, even becoming the strongest being in an entire world did not necessarily mean one would earn the world’s recognition.

The fact that Aina still possessed such abilities outside her own world was truly thought-provoking.

“It’s very simple. You only need to do three things.” Aina swayed her little head and looked at Xia Lun mischievously.

“First, open a spatial rift.” As she spoke, she lightly drew her slender index finger through the air, as if she could truly slice open an invisible curtain.

“Then, put the Chaos Demon God inside.” Aina exaggeratedly wrapped her arms around an imaginary object before pushing it away.

“Finally, take the Chaos Demon God back out. That’s all there is to it.” Aina snapped her fingers again.

She looked at Xia Lun with a beaming smile.

She made it sound so effortless, as though she were merely explaining how to pack up an old piece of clothing and throw it into a garbage heap.

Never mind the vast quantity of magic power and incredible precision required to maintain a stable spatial rift large enough to swallow the body of a demon god. Simply pinpointing and delivering something to precise coordinates across the endless void was already an almost impossible task.

Xia Lun had gained a new understanding of his wife’s strength.

The power she had inherited from the goddess was probably not limited to the authority of the world. Her own strength had also risen to an utterly inconceivable level.

“Don’t overthink it,” Aina said. She seemed always able to see through the turmoil in his heart. Reaching out with a slender fingertip, she gently tapped his forehead. Her touch was slightly cool. “Just be a good boy and listen to me.”

There was a hint of unquestionable indulgence in her voice.

Passing through the spatial rift, the two returned to their original tent.

Although it felt as if they had been outside for a very long time and experienced quite a few things, in reality, only half a night had passed.

Outside, the campfire they had built no longer showed any sparks, but its lingering warmth had yet to fully dissipate.

After cuddling with Aina beneath the blankets for a while longer, the two of them slowly got up.

The sky was just beginning to brighten. A red sun was rising slowly along the horizon.

Xia Lun now knew that it was a celestial body called a star, essentially a gigantic burning ball of fire.

According to the Mechanical Prophet, the sun in their star system burned with the power of magic. It was just as Liyana had casually remarked during one of their earlier journeys: the sun really could be regarded as an incomparably enormous fireball spell.

Xia Lun lifted the tent flap and stepped outside. He took a deep breath of the cool, damp morning air and stretched his limbs.

They had returned early today, and Liyana and the others had not yet gotten up.

Although he had not slept at all the previous night, that meant little to Xia Lun. He still felt full of energy.

How should he put it? Xia Lun was a little overexcited.

The world outside was far more wondrous than this one. Technology, civilization, artificial intelligence… these were all terms Xia Lun had never heard before.

As an adventurer, nothing could be more exciting than learning that an even broader world existed.

This world could not really be considered very large. If Xia Lun sprinted at full speed with nothing but his physical body, he estimated that he could circle the entire world in three days.

Moreover, Xia Lun had already left his footprints in many places.

Now they were simply traveling in peace. They had long since lost the sense of novelty and excitement they once felt a thousand years ago whenever they arrived in a new city.

But now, a door leading to infinite possibilities had slowly opened before him.

Just thinking about the nearly boundless universe waiting to be explored… how could he not feel excited?

“Look at you, Xia Lun. You’re as happy as a child.” Aina followed him outside. Seeing his tall, straight back, she could not help covering her mouth and laughing softly. Her eyes were as gentle as water.

“Is it really that obvious?” Xia Lun instinctively raised a hand and touched his cheek, unaware of any unusual smile on his face.

“There isn’t much expression on your face…” Aina took Xia Lun’s hand and threaded her fingers through his, locking their hands together. “But I know what you’re thinking. I’m your wife, after all.”

“Aina…” Feeling the warmth and softness in his palm, Xia Lun felt a surge of warmth in his heart. “Once our journey through this world comes to an end… how about we go see some other worlds?”

He finally voiced the longing that had been circling in his heart for so long.

“Of course.” Aina lifted her face and gave him a light kiss on the cheek, smiling as brightly as a flower in bloom. “No matter where you want to go, I’ll go with you.”

“Just the two of us?” Xia Lun had already begun sketching out a vision of the future in his mind.

“Let’s bring Liyana and the others along. Otherwise, the journey will probably be too boring.” Aina spoke softly, her gaze drifting toward the quiet tent not far away. “That is, if they’re willing to come.”

“Liyana will definitely come.” Thinking of that lively, unpredictable companion, Xia Lun could not help showing a helpless yet affectionate smile.

Aina squeezed Xia Lun’s palm, making it itch slightly. “Xia Yi is still young. When the time comes, we can leave him at home to look after the place.”

“Will he agree to that?” Xia Lun rubbed his brow, as if he could already see his son pouting with a deeply dissatisfied expression.

He was still rather worried about his son.

“He’ll be old enough to start school in a few years. When that happens, we can send him to Olifundo and have Wolund look after him.” Aina offered what sounded like an excellent suggestion. “We can’t let him keep following us on adventures forever. It’s time he learned some proper knowledge.”

“That makes sense…” Xia Lun nodded.

He simply had no idea what Wolund would think when the time came.

After all, to him, Xia Yi was a little ancestor in the truest sense of the word…

“I’m planning to bring Mida along,” Aina continued. “That child has never gone adventuring with us before.”

“I’m sure she’ll be very happy.” Xia Lun pictured Mida’s expressionless face, so similar to the way Aina had looked in the past.

“Mida’s snowfield can be left in Yisi’s care.” Aina counted off the possibilities on her fingers. “If that doesn’t work, there are always Niya and the others.”

Xia Lun was somewhat surprised.

It seemed that she had already begun arranging everything for what came afterward.