I alone am the Honoured One!

Within minutes, the two sisters were in the cramped little kitchen at the edge of their dorm room.

The space was barely large enough for one person, but they both squeezed in, elbows bumping as they reached for the kettle and tea leaves.

"I'll handle the tea leaves," Qi Nue said as she took down the delicate ceramic tin from the shelf.

"I'll boil the water," Qi Xue muttered, grabbing the kettle. "You always forget to heat it to the right temperature."

"I do not forget—"

"You let it boil too much. It scorches the leaves. No one likes bitter tea except cranky elders and poison testers."

Qi Nue clicked her tongue. "Fine. You boil. I'll prepare the cups."

They moved quickly, bumping and dodging each other in the small space.

As the water heated, Qi Xue rummaged through the drawers.

"Where's that nice porcelain set? The one with the gold lotus pattern?"

Qi Nue looked up "I thought you chipped the saucer last time?"

"That was an accident," Qi Xue said, holding up the still-perfect saucer. "See? Not even a crack."

With a slight smile, Qi Nue took the matching cups and laid them on the tray.

Once the tea was steeping and the tray was perfectly arranged with two delicate cups, a small dish of honey, and two warm brownie squares placed beside the saucers, Qi Xue took a step back and looked at their work.

"Alright," she said, dusting her hands.

Qi Nue nodded her head "Now, let me go and give him the tea."

Qi Xue patted her shoulder "Good luck, dear."

Qi Nue nodded and took the tray before going to the room to give it to Zhao Tian.

Standing beside the door, Qi Xue looked at her sister with a small smile on her face "Go... get him."

She looked at his back, and a bitter smile appeared on her lips, but she quickly hid it.

...

Inside the quiet training hall, the hum of astral energy slowly settled, like ripples fading across a still pond.

Faint traces of exertion hung in the air and the lingering scent of incense used for focus and clarity.

Zhao Tian sat shirtless on a stone bench, his chest rising and falling steadily after an intense session within the gravity cave.

His torso was coated with a sheen of sweat, highlighting the lines of muscle.

A faint steam rose off his body from the sudden change in temperature now that he was out in the coolness of the room.

Across from him, Yan Zijin sat cross-legged with her usual composure.

Despite her calm demeanor, there was a trace of worry in her eyes as she held a small crystalline beacon in her palm.

The beacon glowed red.

"Sister Lian is in danger?" Zhao Tian asked, brushing a damp strand of hair away from his forehead.

Yan Zijin nodded firmly "Yeah. I gave her this beacon before she left for her star. I told her, If anything ever feels wrong, even for a second, activate it immediately."

Zhao Tian's gaze dropped to the beacon, "I see…"

Xia Shenyi who was beside Zhao Tian spoke with a soft smile "Master, you and junior brother should go check on her. I'll handle the training schedules and look after the wing in your absence."

Zhao Tian blinked in surprise 'Me too?'

Before he could say more, Yan Zijin met his gaze "Mhm. That was my plan all along."

She turned the beacon over in her hand "I also got permission from the Sect Master to take you with me."

Zhao Tian exhaled softly, a wry smile forming in his heart. 'Shuang? When did she…?'

"Alright," he said with a sigh, "Just give me a moment to change."

"No need to rush," Yan Zijin replied, standing up and tucking the beacon into her sleeve. "But don't take too long either. Every second could count."

She turned and headed toward the exit of the training hall.

Zhao Tian leaned back on the bench and Xia Shenyi moved closer to him "You go with her. It will be a change of pace for you..."

Zhao Tian nodded his head and glanced at Xia Shenyi "Hmm. You inform others about my departure."

"Sister Nue and Xue, especially Hanyue... she would worry a lot."

With a chuckle, she leaned forward and kissed him "Yes, junior brother."

...

Disciples moved through the corridors, casting curious glances as they noticed Zhao Tian walking beside Yan Zijin.

At the edge of the wing's aerial platform, there was a single ark hovering in the air, waiting for them.

A pair of disciples saluted as Zhao Tian and Yan Zijin approached.

She returned the gesture with a nod, and the ark's hatch hissed open, revealing a corridor bathed in soft golden light.

"Come," Yan Zijin said simply, walking up the ramp.

With a nod, Zhao Tian followed her inside and the door behind them closed softly.

Entering in, Yan Zijin pointed to the right side "There are two room, I will take the left, and you take the right."

Then, without delay, both made their way to the front of the ark.

As they entered the front dock, the space widened into a semi-circular command deck.

Curved walls lined with metal framed the navigation console.

Soft-blue holographic screens hovered midair.

At the center, there was a primary helm, an elegant control array in the form of a pillar with glowing threads stretching outward like vines from a tree, connecting to the ship's systems.

Yan Zijin approached the control pillar and waved her hand across the projection.

A holographic map materialized in front of her... an intricate, three-dimensional sphere filled with dozens of stars, moons, and interstellar landmarks.

Her fingers danced through the projections, shifting overlays, filtering energy paths, and locking onto a single glowing point far in the southwest quadrant.

"The Azure Star," she murmured.

As she input the coordinates, several smaller arrays sparked, calculating trajectory, measuring turbulence along the way, and synchronizing their flight through three minor astral waypoints.

Zhao Tian stood silently behind her as the ark rumbled softly beneath them.

"Coordinates locked," Yan Zijin said, stepping back from the helm.

"We'll hit astral stream twelve and coast toward the Azure Star's gravity field. Approximate arrival… two days."

The ark hummed louder now, as if awakening fully for the journey.

With a soft chime, the ship surged forward.

...

A few hours passed since they started the journey.

Inside his private chamber, Zhao Tian lay on the bed, shirtless as he stared up at the flickering holographic screen projected from his watch

'So she can't send the information directly to this watch...'

Zhao Tian let out a soft exhale and turned his head, his messy white hair brushing against the pillow.

'I'll have to meet her personally then,' he thought, frowning slightly.

'Also, it's been a long time since I last saw Ling Chao.'

As he was thinking, suddenly the ark rumbled and a loud siren echoed through the entire system, alerting him.

Huh?

Zhao Tian stood up from his bed, and at this time, he noticed the shift in space as the space energy rippled around him like waves.

he instantly recognised this chaotic energy.

'A... rupture?'

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I hope you guys liked this chapter!