Douluo Continent: The Eternal Order of the Azure Sky.

"Grandpa Kong." Xu Tianzhen walked over, and Kong Deming stood up and carefully handed over the swaddled baby. Xu Tianzhen took the child, and the pink little face in the swaddling clothes was looking at her with a pair of bright purple eyes. There was still a trace of drool at the corner of the mouth. When it saw its mother, it grinned and showed its pink gums.

Her small hands clenched into fists, gripping Xu Tianzhen's outstretched fingers tightly with astonishing strength, causing Xu Tianzhen to smile softly in response.

Kong Deming took a step back and sighed, feigning helplessness:

“Little Tingxi, you don’t call me Great-Grandfather or Mom, so I won’t give you this.”

He shook the dazzling warm jade in his hand. If the outside world saw this level nine peak stealth soul tool, representing the empire's top technology, being used as a toy by an infant, countless people would be furious.

"Goo-ga." The child blew a bubble.

Zhang Lexuan stood aside, watching this scene with envy.

Her current identity is the chief steward of the palace, nominally in charge of managing all matters large and small within the palace, but in reality, she is more like Xu Tianzhen's capable assistant and confidante.

Some time ago, with the help of the Sun and Moon Soul Nourishing Pill, she broke through from level 87 to level 90 in one fell swoop. Then, in the Jingyang Mountains, she hunted down a 100,000-year-old ferocious beast-level Silver Moon Wolf King that had been awakened by a soul tool experiment. At the age of 30, she officially advanced to the ninth ring powerhouse and became the youngest titled Douluo since Tang San and others ascended to immortality 10,000 years ago.

“Sister Lexuan.” Xu Tianzhen noticed her gaze and waved with a smile. “Look at Tingxi, she just smiled again.”

Zhang Lexuan walked over, bent down and teased the baby, tapping her cheek with her fingertip. The baby giggled and grabbed at the female titled Douluo's finger. Zhang Lexuan pretended to be hurt, which made the two mothers burst into laughter.

Xu Tianzhen suddenly stopped smiling and looked at the distant sky through the semi-transparent gauze curtain. The skyline of Mingdu was bathed in the glow of the setting sun, presenting a magnificent orange-red color, like a painting drawn with flames.

She pouted:

"Grandpa Kong, Tingxi's one-month celebration has passed, why hasn't Tianxu come back yet? Don't you think he's a terrible father?"

……

"What are you nagging me about now?"

A gentle voice sounded from behind.

Xu Tianzhen suddenly turned around.

Kong Tianxu stood at the door of the inner room, a faint smile on his face, his purple eyes gleaming with a warm light.

He looked more composed than a year ago; the subtle sharpness between his brows had softened considerably, replaced by a restrained yet profound depth.

He is back.

Xu Tianzhen's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she found that her throat felt like it was blocked by something. She could only hold the child and stare blankly at him, something welling up in her eyes.

The next moment, she saw that Kong Tianxu's gaze had been drawn to the little life in her arms.

When Kong Tianxu saw the baby in her arms clearly, an expression she had never seen before appeared on his face.

It was a softness that was almost shocking, like ice and snow melting, spring water rising, and steel being tempered into a gentle touch in an instant.

"This is...?" Kong Tianxu felt his voice tighten.

Xu Tianzhen, holding the child, walked up to him, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and trying her best to make her voice sound calm:

“Tianxu, this is our child. Her name is Kong Tingxi, Xi as in morning light.”

It was that night...

"Tingxi." Kong Tianxu murmured the name again, lowering his head to look at the tiny, soft life in the swaddling clothes.

The little one, with her delicate features, was wrapped in a bright yellow swaddle, revealing only her chubby little face. Her skin was the pink color unique to newborns, and her cheeks were plump and round. She opened her eyes wide and looked back at him without any shyness.

To Kong Tianxu's surprise—the little guy opened his mouth and let out a soft, childish cry:

"Bah...baah."

Chapter 371 Declaration of War Against the Three Kingdoms and the Return of Ice and Fire

Kong Tianxu was stunned. He looked at the small face that resembled his own but was even gentler, and at those clear eyes that seemed to reflect the whole world. Suddenly, a strange emotion welled up in his heart.

Surging yet gentle, it spread from the deepest part of his heart, as if something had melted away in that instant, silently yet irresistibly, making his breathing rapid.

Seeing his expression, Xu Tianzhen finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

“She can’t speak yet,” she said. “She’s just making two syllables; she’s not really calling you.”

But as she spoke, Kong Tianxu had already reached out and carefully held his daughter's little hand.

A sense of authenticity and groundedness I've never felt before.

This is my daughter.

It is the continuation of my bloodline, the inheritance of my life, and the most profound mark I have left on this world.

Kong Tianxu took a deep breath, suppressing the sudden surge of emotion. A faint smile returned to his face, but his purple eyes held an indescribable tenderness.

"Tingxi," he murmured the name.

“I chose it.” Xu Tianzhen’s tone carried a hint of pride. “Grandpa Kong said it was a good name, meaning that she would illuminate the empire like the morning sun in the future.”

"Ah."

Kong Tianxu shifted his gaze from his daughter's face to Xu Tianzhen's. He looked at his girl; her lips were somewhat chapped.

"Thanks a lot."

Xu Tianzhen shook her head and handed her daughter to him: "Hold her."

Kong Tianxu reached out and awkwardly took his daughter. Kong Tingxi squirmed in his arms, finding a comfortable position, and then quieted down, burying her face in his chest and breathing evenly.

"I suddenly understand Tang San to some extent."

He suddenly said.

"Huh?" Xu Tianzhen tilted her head, puzzled.

Kong Tianxu took a deep breath, and a drop of golden-red blood condensed at his fingertips.

That drop of blood was only the size of a grain of rice, yet it contained extremely rich energy fluctuations, emitting a faint golden halo in the air, like a compressed miniature sun.

Blood of the Holy Dragon.

Golden droplets hovered in the air, radiating a blazing and majestic light. They rotated slowly like living things, emanating deep dragon roars, as if some ancient being was awakening.

Kong Tianxu extended his finger and flicked it lightly.

The golden droplet disappeared into Kong Tingxi's brow.

In an instant, a faint golden light emanated from Kong Tingxi's body. A satisfied smile appeared on her small face, as if she were having a sweet dream. Her skin became even more translucent, and the faint sound of a dragon's roar echoed in her veins, making her radiate an indescribable glow.

With such pure and powerful dragon blood nourishing him, this child's bright future is self-evident.

"What is this...?" Xu Tianzhen was somewhat surprised.

"My daughter, of course." Kong Tianxu chuckled, reached out, and put his arm around Xu Tianzhen.

Xu Tianzhen snuggled against him, but didn't linger for long. She raised her head, blinked her bright eyes, and gestured towards Zhang Lexuan beside her.

Kong Tianxu followed her gaze and saw Zhang Lexuan standing in the corner, her hands clasped in front of her, a faint smile on her lips, but the envy hidden in her eyes was clearly visible.

He extended a hand to her.

Zhang Lexuan froze, her gaze shifting between his outstretched hand and Xu Tianzhen's encouraging look. Then she took a step forward, two steps, three steps. The silhouettes of the three people merged into one in the candlelight of the inner room.

Kong Deming watched this scene, stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes full of satisfaction.

He thought the most troublesome situation would be resolved with just a glance from Xu Tianzhen.

……

After a long and tender moment, Kong Tianxu finally managed to find a moment to bow respectfully to Kong Deming.

He had been completely absorbed by his daughter when he entered the room, and only now did he have the opportunity to carefully observe Kong Deming's condition.

"Grandpa, you've broken through?"

Kong Deming stroked his beard, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes before he burst into laughter:

“You little rascal, nothing escapes your eyes. Indeed, last time that Electrox used spatial power to fight us, although it was only for a short while, the way he folded, stretched, and reconstructed space really benefited me greatly. The bottleneck that had been stuck for half my life has actually loosened up just like that.”

He paused, then suddenly his smile vanished, and his gaze sharpened.

"Let's not talk about me. But you—you're already level 89?"

"The trip went smoothly." Kong Tianxu nodded slightly, offering no further explanation.

"Good!" Kong Deming clapped his hands heavily. "Everything is ready, we just need the right opportunity. Your side is progressing smoothly, and Tianzhen's preparations are almost complete."

Xu Tianzhen had recovered from her earlier sentimental reverie. When she heard Kong Deming mention serious matters, her expression turned serious, and she naturally straightened her back.

In that instant, the coquettish demeanor of a young woman nestled in her lover's arms vanished completely from her face, replaced by the majesty and composure befitting a ruler of a nation.

"The reorganization and expansion of the army have been completed. Now, the Sun Moon Empire can mobilize more than 100,000 troops, including more than 10,000 Soul Master Legion members, equipped with the latest standard Soul Guidance Guns and portable Soul Guidance Cannons. All members of the Guardian Hand are equipped with Soul Guidance Devices of Level 6 or above, enabling them to fight in any terrain and weather conditions. As for the border deployments, they were all in place three months ago. The front-line camp in the Mingdou Mountains is ready and waiting for my order to launch a full-scale attack."

She slightly raised her chin, her bright eyes burning even more intensely than the lamplight:

"The Empire is fully prepared for war. We await your command."

Kong Tianxu made no attempt to hide the admiration in his eyes.

"The war is about to begin. The main force will be the Soul Master Legion's frontal advance, with the Holy Spirit Cult assisting in eliminating the enemy's high-end combat power. At the same time, the missionary network hidden in the major cities that originally belonged to the Three Kingdoms will be activated to support the main force's attack. As for me, I will go into seclusion to break through to level ninety."

Zhang Lexuan couldn't get a word in edgewise, Xu Tianzhen was fine with it, but Kong Deming frowned and suddenly spoke up:

"Xu'er, are you sure you want to use that method to break through to level 90?"

He looked at Kong Tianxu with a deep and serious gaze.

"With your current physical strength, even using the Yin-Yang complementary dual soul core that humanity has never achieved would be more than enough. Why choose that ethereal path of soul power soul core transformation that humanity has never even dared to dream of? You should know that even Yin-Yang complementarity is already a human legend, and combined with your talent, it would be enough to make you invincible in the world."

The room fell silent.

Everyone looked at Kong Tianxu, waiting for his answer.

Kong Tianxu remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Some people do extraordinary things in order to reach heights that others cannot reach, in order to win a 'victory'."

"But for me, climbing high is just climbing high."

He raised his head, his purple eyes gleaming with a light that was impossible to look directly at. Under the warm light, the depths of his pupils seemed to hold two unfathomable starry skies, distant and vast.

"If it's possible, then I certainly can."

He spoke naturally and confidently, so fluently as to be almost instinctive, like the sun rising every day and rivers eventually flowing into the sea—natural and unquestionable.

That confidence and domineering aura caused everyone present to fall into a brief silence.