Zhou Yan still has no news about Gu Xi.

Despite his deep love and trust, Zhou Yan is not worried, but when longing erupts, this concern is heart-wrenching.

Perhaps, because there hasn’t been peace for a long time, once there’s temporary calm, emotions burst forth intensely.

Zhou Yan took a deep breath, calming the turmoil inside, gradually stabilizing his heart.

When he looked at the Life Ancient Tree, he indeed felt a very close connection, as if gradually experiencing a unique aura of the Ancient Life Clan.

In such a state, Zhou Yan inexplicably fell into a simple state of enlightenment without thoughts.

But in reality, he did not comprehend any Dao, only possessing a momentary clear mind.

At this moment, Zhou Yan felt the unique energy aura fluctuating around him, and that exceptionally familiar, intimate, and caring feeling also arose in his heart.

At that moment, without turning around, Zhou Yan already knew that the beloved person he missed had arrived.

"Qingyan, Zishuang. Sisi."

Zhou Yan turned around, his eyes glistening uncontrollably with tears, his voice even somewhat choked.

During many hardships, moments of despair, and times when his heart turned ashen and hopeless, he did not cry. Yet at this moment, his nose suddenly felt sour, and tears couldn’t help but fall.

"Husband, Qingyan is back."

"Husband, Zishuang is back too. Your Qing’er, your Mo Yuyao, Xiao Ziyi, and other beloved women are back."

"Father, Sisi has grown up."

The three women, with different identities, spoke words of similar emotion.

Whether it was love or familial affection, it seemed exceptionally deep at this moment.

"Qingyan, Zishuang... it’s good that you are back, it’s good that you are back. From now on, we will never be apart again."

"Sisi, Father, I have neglected you and made you... suffer."

Zhou Yan’s voice choked, suddenly he felt as though he was reuniting with family he hadn’t seen in a long time.

This made his old heart seemingly fill with youthful enthusiasm, full of warm, excited emotions.

"Husband, we will not leave anymore, we will always accompany you."

"Father, Sisi has never blamed you, and Sisi’s guilt and longing for Father have deepened to a degree beyond words."

Zhou Sisi said softly, her eyes showing a very intimate look.

At this moment, Zhou Yan finally realized there was no longer any barrier, no feeling of estrangement between him and Zhou Sisi.

In fact, even though he slightly favored Yanyan, his paternal love for both Yanyan and Sisi was equally deep, only because of Sisi’s inner turmoil, Zhou Yan often felt guilty.

Now that the knot in their hearts had been untied, Zhou Yan suddenly discovered he had let go of the heaviest burden.

It turned out, in his heart, love might not be the most important thing; the most important thing was instead family bonds.

The bonds he couldn’t let go of with Yanyan, Sisi, and Hou Chen.

"Sisi, you’ve truly grown up."

Zhou Yan sighed deeply.

At the same time, his gaze at Feng Zishuang and Mu Qingyan was also filled with tenderness.

Feng Zishuang and Mu Qingyan did not avoid Zhou Yan’s gaze either, their eyes showing ultimate tenderness.

At that moment, in the eyes of Feng Zishuang and Mu Qingyan, there was only Zhou Yan, and in Zhou Yan’s eyes, only these most intimate figures existed.

...

The Elf Domain was restored to true tranquility, like the calm before a storm.

During such days, with the addition of the two Kings, Mu Qingyan and Feng Zishuang, and people like Ji Wu, Hua Qiudao, the Elf Domain became even stronger.

Mu Qingyan, Feng Zishuang, and Jiang Yuning began new arrangements for the Elf Domain, meticulously setting things up in all aspects, so Zhou Yan no longer had to worry about them.

The Cold Ice Palace’s submission to the Elf Domain also began to spread on Ziwei Emperor Star, causing undoubtedly great turmoil this time.

After that, Zhou Yan issued an order to unify Ziwei Emperor Star, while contacting the Speech Spirit Heavenly Girl to ally together.

At this time, whether it was the Word Spirit Clan or the race Suxin belonged to, they all entered the Elf Domain, and the expansion of the Elf Domain reached its peak state.

Under such a general trend, without the interference of powerful evil spirits, the unification proceeded extremely smoothly, and those forces still wanting to stay neutral or resist were directly destroyed by the creatures under Zhou Yan, leaving no trace.

Returning to the Elf Domain on the eighth day, Zhou Yan unified Ziwei Emperor Star, and all the strong figures from various domains on Ziwei Emperor Star came to pay homage, simultaneously opening their foreheads to imprint Zhou Yan’s King’s Mark.

Zhou Yan’s King’s Mark now encompasses nearly ten elemental rules, and his combat power has reached an extraordinary level, although still not as strong as Mu Qingyan, he is not far behind.

Nonetheless, Zhou Yan is still no match for Mu Qingyan, and even more so, no match for Feng Zishuang.

In this regard, both Mu Qingyan and Feng Zishuang possess exceptionally powerful abilities.

After the unification of the Emperor Star, all surviving life forms were transferred to the Elf Domain Sea within the Elf Domain, where Zhou Yan has opened stable, powerful spaces, preventing external enemies from attacking.

The Emperor Star has also entered a state of comprehensive preparation for battle.

During this period, Zhou Yan frequently engages in discussions and diligent cultivation with Mu Qingyan and Feng Zishuang, yet still has not achieved a breakthrough.

Zhou Yan is not anxious; he cherishes every moment spent with family and feels a rare sense of happiness.

Though Zhou Yan is not anxious, Mu Qingyan and Feng Zishuang are a bit anxious, constantly seeking ways for Zhou Yan to make that final step.

Because once Zhou Yan takes that final step, his realm will cross into the King Realm, at which point the immortality principle of kingship will reach true Mahayana, leading to astonishing progress for Zhou Yan, with many issues ultimately resolved.

Zhou Yan sees the anxiety and unease in Feng Zishuang and Mu Qingyan; the matters that disturb these two kings are naturally not simple.

However, Zhou Yan no longer worries; having unified the Emperor Star, various races from the rest of the starry sky have pledged allegiance, joining forces with Fu Wanling, Suxin, and others to form a powerful Elf Domain, which is no longer easily manipulated.

This is a true unification. At this point, whether Zhou Yan enters the King Realm sooner or later, he feels it won’t make much difference.

Despite knowing his understanding of some aspects is still superficial, and some truths remain unknown to him.

Even so, Zhou Yan maintains this positive mindset, because anxiety won’t lead to a breakthrough regardless.

If the King Realm were so easily achieved, wouldn’t there be more kings in the world than there are?

Thus, these days continue unabated.

On the twelfth day, Mu Qingyan and Feng Zishuang already show signs of unease. Zhou Yan notices this, feeling a slight heaviness but says nothing, continuing his enlightenment under the Life Ancient Tree.

By the eighteenth day, Feng Zishuang can no longer sit still.

This time, Zhou Yan hasn’t come to find her; she has come to find him.

When she arrives beside Zhou Yan, she suppresses her anxiety, with a gaze of tenderness yet mixed with worry, she says: "Husband, you still haven’t reached the King Realm, but we can no longer wait. I must tell you something very important."

Feng Zishuang hesitated before solemnly speaking.

At that moment, Fu Wanling suddenly appeared not far from Zhou Yan, and before Zhou Yan speaks, she interjects: "Feng Zishuang, you don’t need to say, time may already be insufficient, as the endless soul poison from the Yanling Domain has begun to spread across the heavens and earth, approaching here."

Speech Spirit Heavenly Girl Fu Wanling, not yet a king, still lacking slightly, yet her words halted much of what Feng Zishuang wished to say.

"Has it come?"

Feng Zishuang stood stunned for a moment, then incredulously asked.

"It has come."

Fu Wanling sighed, her tone rather desolate.

Feng Zishuang’s graceful form trembled twice, nearly fainting, Zhou Yan moved to hold her in his embrace.

Evidently, this is a significant impact for Feng Zishuang, perhaps implying very bad consequences.

At this moment, as Zhou Yan tried to say something, he gradually felt the presence of many familiar, dear figures around him.

Yanyan, Mu Qingyan, Hua Qiudao, Ji Wu.

These people partly know some truths, but have never expressed them, nor have they actively approached Zhou Yan during these eighteen days.

Yet now, they have come together here.

Moreover, they heard Fu Wanling’s words clearly, without showing much surprise.

Seeing this scene, Feng Zishuang’s beautiful eyes grew increasingly gloomy.

Taking a deep breath, she sighed heavily once more, asking: "How is the situation?"

"Currently, the vast domain has collapsed, the endless evil spirit soul poison has permeated the entire Galaxy Space, the singularity is infected, rapidly covering over, and the Eternal Life Domain has begun to wither entirely."

"In addition, Hou Chen failed in the battle with the Evil Spirit Dominator."

The speaker was Mu Qingyan.

After she finished speaking, she sighed silently once more.

"So now the only path is to retreat into the Ancient Life Clan, abandoning the Elf Domain?"

Feng Zishuang questioned.