Void Showdown and Starlight Proposal

The cabin fell silent again, save for the roar of the engines and the suppressed laughter of the passengers. Lu Xiao closed the script, looking at Zhuo Hua's profile—still cold but clearly helpless against the little phoenix—and a gentle smile silently curved his lips. He reached out and gently placed his hand on the back of her hand, which was resting on the armrest and slightly tense from the earlier commotion.

A slightly warm touch came from him. Zhuohua was slightly startled and turned her head to look at him.

"Are you hungry?" Lu Xiao's voice was deep and gentle, carrying a comforting power. "We're almost home. Shall I make you some porridge? Seafood? Or is there anything else you'd like to eat?" He looked at her, his gaze focused, as if the farce of the Coke fountain had never happened. All he cared about was whether she was alright and whether she was tired.

The slight annoyance that had arisen from the silly bird's mischief vanished silently, like a thin mist illuminated by sunlight. Zhuohua reached back and gently scratched his warm palm with her fingertips, a gesture tinged with barely perceptible intimacy.

"Mmm. Seafood porridge." She responded, her voice returning to its usual cool tone, but the warmth that had been forcibly suppressed deep in her eyes could no longer be hidden.

Back in the familiar city, life seemed to instantly switch back to its usual routine. Lu Xiao barely had a chance to catch his breath before throwing himself into the intense filming the next morning, as if the thrilling experience on the island was just a brief interlude in his work.

Zhuohua, for once, found herself with a rare moment of peace. She sat cross-legged before the enormous floor-to-ceiling window of her penthouse apartment. Outside, the city lights twinkled, but inside, all was quiet. She slowly closed her eyes, her mind sinking into the depths of her consciousness.

Buzz...

Consciousness seemed to pass through a warm membrane made of pure energy and enter a space completely different from the outside world.

This is her symbiotic space. Once, this was a vast and boundless blessed land, with majestic sacred mountains, gushing spiritual springs, and rare flowers and herbs blooming everywhere, the rich spiritual energy almost condensing into liquid mist. However, after that all-consuming war between gods and demons, the space suffered severe damage and was on the verge of collapse as her divine power dwindled.

The last time I looked inward, this place was a heartbreakingly desolate wasteland. The earth was riddled with enormous, spiderweb-like cracks, like a riverbed dried up for millions of years—a horrifying sight. The sacred mountain had collapsed, leaving only jagged ruins, silently recounting its former glory and destruction. The once-flowing, nourishing springs had completely dried up, leaving only deep, dark veins, like the earth's despairing eye sockets. The spiritual energy in the space was so thin it was almost imperceptible; deathly silence was the only dominant atmosphere.

But at this moment...

In the center of the space, in the area symbolizing the core of divine power, a pale golden divine flame, originally as weak as a candle flickering in the wind, had now noticeably grown stronger! It burned steadily and powerfully, radiating a warm and boundless light that illuminated a small area around it. At the core of the divine flame, an extremely subtle yet incredibly resilient pale golden divine rune faintly appeared—a sign that her divine essence was beginning to revive!

Even more exciting changes are below!

Deep within the once-dried-up spring, now only a gaping pit, a small pool of crystal-clear water, brimming with vitality, had mysteriously re-emerged! The spring, no bigger than a washbasin, was exceptionally active. From the bottom of the spring, a thin, pure, and concentrated stream of pale golden water (the primordial chaotic energy obtained from refining the magic crystal) continuously flowed into it, emitting a subtle yet melodious gurgling sound. With the surging of this new spring water, a faint yet incredibly pure spiritual energy began to spread like newly sprouted vines, gently permeating the surrounding parched earth!

Not far from the spring, on a patch of scorched earth covered with black cracks, the roots of an unknown spiritual plant, which had long since withered and was now just bare, black branches, were quietly permeated with a trace of the escaping spiritual spring's aura and newly generated chaotic energy!

Just as Zhuohua "looked" over—

puff!

A very faint sound, yet full of tenacious vitality.

At the very bottom of that dark, withered branch, which looked as if it would crumble at the slightest touch, close to the scorched soil, a tiny, almost transparent, tender green bud stubbornly broke through the covering of death dust and tremblingly emerged!

That tiny bit of green, so small it was almost negligible, shone brightly in the vast desolation and deathly silence! It was the first sign of life born from the ruins of destruction, the first cry of life to revitalize this desolate space! It was fragile, yet it carried an indomitable and powerful will to live on despite death!

The entire dying space seemed to be infused with an invisible vitality by the newly born spiritual spring and this tiny patch of green. Although most of the area remained desolate and lifeless, the core area was no longer a place of absolute despair. A subtle, slow-paced rhythm of "life" began to quietly stir on this scarred land.

Divine power has recovered by nearly 20%! The spatial core has begun to revive!

Zhuohua's consciousness hovered above this small world where life was just beginning to emerge, looking down at the stubborn tender green shoots and the gurgling spring. On her exquisitely beautiful face, which always seemed indifferent and aloof in the real world, a genuine smile slowly, very slowly bloomed.

That smile was like an udumbara flower suddenly blooming on a snowfield frozen for millennia, carrying the enlightenment and joy of seeing through life and death and the cycle of reincarnation. Deep in her eyes was the brilliant radiance of a divine fire rekindled after countless tribulations.

“Xuan Yin Sect…” she murmured to herself, her fingertips tapping unconsciously on her knees as if she were counting her prey that was about to be caught. “I’ll take all your ‘magic crystals’.”

The voice was soft, yet carried a resolute tone, like a divine decree announcing the impending doom of some evil heretic.

The harrowing night on the island production crew and the inhuman power displayed by Zhuohua ultimately couldn't be completely confined within the small crew. Some blurry video clips and the incoherent yet highly consistent descriptions from those involved were quietly delivered to the desks of certain powerful figures through special channels.

Several days later, an extremely secretive meeting took place in a quiet, unassuming teahouse in the city where Zhuo Hua and Lu Xiao lived. The visitor was a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit with a composed demeanor who introduced himself as "Old Zhou." He was followed by two sharp-eyed and reserved attendants, clearly key figures in a special department.

Old Zhou was polite and cautious, without much small talk, and directly expressed his purpose—to understand the truth about the island incident, as well as the nature of the power Zhuohua wielded and its attitude towards the country.

Zhuohua was not surprised by this. She had never intended to completely conceal her tracks. Traveling in this world and establishing some kind of tacit understanding with the authorities would be more beneficial than harmful. She was concise, omitting her origins in the divine realm, and only pointing out the existence of evil forces like the "Xuanyin Sect" that used "Yin Sha Seeds" (she simplified the term "magic crystals") to create trouble, and that her own power was the nemesis of this kind of Yin Sha energy.

“Yin Sha Seed… Demonic Qi Crystal…” Old Zhou murmured repeatedly, his expression solemn. The instrument he brought produced a faint energy fluctuation when Zhuo Hua mentioned these words, confirming the truthfulness of her words. More importantly, Zhuo Hua clearly stated that purifying these evil entities that harm society and maintaining stability were among her goals, and that she had no intention of using her power to disrupt the existing order.

“Ms. Zhuohua, thank you for your frankness.” Old Zhou finally stood up and said solemnly, “We welcome and respect a special individual like you who is kind-hearted and exceptionally capable. In the future, within the country, as long as it does not violate fundamental laws and national security, we will provide you with all reasonable conveniences. At the same time, if our various departments collect similar ‘yinsha seeds’ or related clues when handling special and abnormal events in various places, we will hand them over to you for handling as soon as possible.”

This is a weighty promise, signifying official recognition and support, and opening up a stable channel for Zhuohua to obtain "resources".

From then on, Zhuohua's life entered a new phase. She no longer needed to actively search around; through the secret channels established by Lao Zhou, batches of "Yin Sha Seeds" sealed in specially made containers were continuously delivered to her.

These magic crystals come from various sources: some from destroyed cult dens, some from unearthed strange artifacts, and some even from the bodies of mentally unstable "superpowered individuals."

Zhuohua accepted all comers without hesitation. In the quiet room of the apartment, she sat cross-legged, with dozens or even hundreds of shimmering magic crystals floating in front of her.

Vast and pure divine power surged forth like golden flames, enveloping and refining her. Pure chaotic energy was extracted and integrated into her divine essence, nourishing the depleted source of divine power; the impurities of the magic crystal itself were completely purified, turning into nothingness.

Her divine power recovered and grew stronger at a visible speed. Deep within her sea of ​​consciousness, the changes in the accompanying space were even more dramatic.

The divine fire in the center has transformed into a dazzling miniature sun, burning fiercely and radiating boundless light! Divine power has recovered to over 50%!

The spiritual spring was no longer the size of a washbasin; it had expanded into a shimmering pond, with clear water gushing forth and nourishing the parched earth along newly formed ditches. A rich spiritual energy transformed into a thin mist, swirling within the space.

The initial tender green buds have now unfolded into a vibrant meadow, dotted with several spirit plant seedlings radiating a shimmering, precious light. Even more surprising, from the edge of the space, amidst the ruins of the once-collapsed sacred mountains, came several faint but energetic hisses and roars!

The first to fully awaken was Frostfeather. It was no longer in its miniature form, but had regained part of its divine form. Its ice-crystal-like feathers were incredibly beautiful. It soared happily in the space, occasionally landing on the shoulder of Scorching Flower's consciousness and nuzzling her affectionately.

Immediately afterwards, the phantom of the sacred beast "Bai Ze," pure white with a single horn on its forehead and surrounded by auspicious energy, emerged from a ruined jade mountain and nodded in greeting towards Zhuo Hua. A palm-sized treasure-hunting rat named "Jin Bao," with golden fur and glassy eyes, also emerged from a pile of spirit stone fragments, chirping and circling around Zhuo Hua.

More and more mythical beasts and spiritual plants are beginning to revive. Although it is still far from its heyday, this desolate space has already been revitalized and has become a blessed land in its early stages.

The rapid recovery of Zhuohua's power and the subtle, albeit perfunctory, support from the authorities naturally benefited the person she cared about most—Lu Xiao.

Lu Xiao possesses solid acting skills and an outstanding appearance; he simply lacked a breakout opportunity. Now, top-tier scripts, well-produced teams, and high-quality advertising endorsements seem to have come flooding in as if by prior arrangement. Some of the previously deliberate suppression and unspoken rules against him have quietly vanished. His path to stardom has become brighter and more promising than ever before.

Lu Xiao knew perfectly well why all this was happening, but he didn't reveal it. Instead, he buried his feelings deep in his heart and devoted himself even more to his work, responding with solid works and achievements.

His starring roles in a realistic film and a well-made historical drama have become huge hits, propelling him to the peak of popularity and acting prowess.

However, even under this seemingly promising situation, shadows were quietly creeping in.

Zhuohua's large-scale and efficient purification of the magic crystals was tantamount to cutting off the "supply" of a certain entity, severely hindering its recovery process. Finally, the demon lurking behind the scenes was forced to reveal itself.

Abandoning its previous method of cautiously infiltrating and developing followers, it chose an ambitious and wicked elder of the Xuan Yin Sect as its host, forcibly seizing most of its consciousness! On a pitch-black night, deep in the northwestern desert, demonic energy soared into the sky, condensing into a huge, twisted demonic shadow, its terrifying pressure instantly enveloping an area of ​​hundreds of miles!

"Zhuohua! You ruined my plans, prepare to die!" A roar filled with resentment and destructive intent reverberated through the void.

Zhuohua sensed the Demon Lord's aura the instant it erupted. Her eyes sharpened, and she quickly instructed Lu Xiao, who had instantly become alert beside her, "Stay inside the defensive array, and don't come out no matter what happens!"

Before she finished speaking, she had already transformed into a golden rainbow, tearing through the night sky and heading straight for the northwestern desert!

Above the desert, demonic energy and divine light collided violently! An energy storm swept across, yellow sand filled the sky, as if the end of the world had arrived. The elder possessed by the Demon Lord was far more powerful than the previous demon. With every move, he stirred up the earth's yin energy, conjuring countless ferocious demon heads that frantically pounced on Zhuohua.

Shuangling let out a clear cry and manifested its complete form, its wings spreading out to blot out the sky and the endless icy aura freezing the demonic energy; Bai Ze's phantom exhaled auspicious light, dispelling evil spirits; Jinbao transformed into a golden light, shuttling across the battlefield, constantly interfering with the Demon Lord's spellcasting.

Zhuohua wielded a longsword formed from divine power, its blade flashing with light, each strike imbued with the dual laws of purification and destruction. She battled the Demon Lord from the ground to the heavens, their movements causing ripples in space and hinting at instability.

Zhuohua quickly realized that if he exerted all his strength in this realm, even if he could kill this demon, the dissipated energy would be enough to cause irreversible damage to this fragile mortal world, resulting in widespread suffering and death.

"Demon, do you dare to fight me in the void!" Zhuo Huaqing shouted, his hands forming a seal. The divine power that had recovered most of its strength surged within him, forcibly tearing open a huge spacetime passage in front of him, shimmering with chaotic colors!

At the other end of the passage lies a cold, desolate, and boundless void, devoid of matter and life—the perfect place for a decisive battle!

The Demon Lord roared, but was also enraged by Zhuo Hua's provocation. He was even more unwilling to give up this great opportunity to devour her divine power. He was enveloped in monstrous demonic energy and plunged into the space-time tunnel!

Zhuohua followed closely behind, and the moment her figure disappeared into the passage, she waved her hand, and the space-time passage quickly closed behind her, completely isolating the devastating battlefield from the world behind her.

Two years later, the annual Golden Awards ceremony was a star-studded affair, attracting worldwide attention.

Lu Xiao won both the "Best Actor" (Best Film) and "Best Actor" (Best TV Actor) awards, the two most prestigious individual awards, for his roles in the blockbuster film "Quenching Fire" and the phenomenal TV series "The Rise of the Court"!

Even more shockingly, the organizing committee also awarded him the title of "Outstanding Contribution Artist of the Year" in recognition of his outstanding influence in promoting the development of film and television art and spreading positive social energy.

Three emperors bestowed upon him—an unprecedented honor! Lu Xiao stood in the center of the stage, the spotlight illuminating his tall figure as if a god had descended to earth. Holding the trophy, his gaze swept over the excited fans and gratified colleagues below the stage, finally settling on the seat that had been empty for months—the seat that belonged to Zhuohua.

Just as he was about to give his acceptance speech, a slight commotion arose at the entrance of the venue.

A slender and exquisitely beautiful figure, dressed in a simple white dress, appeared quietly there, as if she had traveled through endless time and space. She was travel-worn, yet still aloof and ethereal. It was Zhuohua.

Her gaze pierced through the crowd and landed precisely on Lu Xiao in the center of the stage, a faint yet genuine smile curving her lips.

Lu Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and all his prepared remarks vanished instantly. He looked at her, his eyes deep and unfathomable, churning with the ecstasy of something lost and found, the unforgettable longing, and a resolute determination.

He raised the trophy in his hand, facing Zhuohua and also the cameras in the audience. His voice, steady and clear, resonated throughout the venue via the microphone:

"I used to think that acting was my life's pursuit. It wasn't until I met someone that I realized that all the starlight was there to light the way to her side."

The entire audience gasped! This was a live broadcast! What was Lu Xiao about to do...?

He continued, his gaze never leaving Zhuohua: "To me, she is more important than any award or honor. It was she who made me a better version of myself and taught me what it truly means to want to protect someone for a lifetime."

He paused, and amidst the deathly silence of the entire audience and the explosive barrage of comments in the live stream, he took out a simple yet elegant little brocade box from the inside pocket of his suit. Inside was not a worldly diamond ring, but a transparent crystal with a faint, flowing halo, seemingly containing the essence of the cosmos—the essence condensed from the newborn spring within the Blazing Splendor Space, containing the purest vitality and protective power.

Lu Xiao looked at Zhuo Hua, his gaze gentle yet firm, tinged with a barely perceptible tension, and said clearly, word by word:

"Zhuohua, this world may be vast, but my world is so small that it can only hold you. Will you... allow me to protect you for the rest of your life?"

He didn't say "marry me" directly, but every word was more sincere and more touching than a marriage proposal!

The entire venue fell silent, then erupted in thunderous gasps and applause! All the cameras were focused on the woman in white at the entrance.

Zhuohua stood outside the clamor and brilliance, looking at the man on the stage who had offered her his wholehearted heart without reservation. She had traversed millennia, experienced life and death, ascended to godhood, and fallen into the mortal realm; she had long since become indifferent to worldly affairs. But at this moment, Lu Xiao's simple yet fervent words were like a warm current, piercing through her frozen heart.

Under the gaze of millions of viewers, she slowly walked step by step toward the stage, toward the man who had created all the dazzling starlight for her that night.

She didn't speak, but walked up to him, reached out, and gently grasped the crystal containing stars and life, and also grasped his slightly trembling hand.

Then, she looked up, met his nervous and expectant gaze, and smiled.

That smile melted away the ice and snow, brought spring warmth and blooming flowers, amazed the world, and gave a silent yet most affirmative answer.

In the years that followed, Lu Xiao remained active in the film industry, achieving legendary status, but all his glory and brilliance were only meant to illuminate the way home. As for Zhuo Hua, she continued to occasionally resolve those mystical events that "stumbled upon her," silently protecting the peace of this land. More often, she would roam with the awakened divine beasts in the gradually recovering space, or accompany Lu Xiao to witness the ordinary yet heartwarming moments of life.

They spent their lives together, becoming each other's unique and eternal legend.

(End of article)