Chapter 273:

“Brother.”

“What is it, Moli?”

“Today’s melon… is really sweet.”

“Is that so? If you like it, have some more.”

The crescent-shaped melon flesh was fresh and juicy, its texture soft and delicate. The juice trickled down the girl’s fingers as she took another bite.

A gentle nibble.

A slow chew.

She glanced at Xu Xi beside her, then at the lively ceremony below, and finally, at the familiar scenery around her. Her gaze lingered on Senjian Peak, a place from distant memories.

Gradually, her movements slowed.

Holding the watermelon with both hands, her toes swayed lightly, tracing invisible arcs in the air.

It felt so familiar…

She thought to herself.

Everything before her seemed to have returned to the past—the companionship of siblings in childhood, the journey to the Heavenly Sword Sect in their youth.

The long-gone past resurfaced, carried by the gentle breeze and the swaying green leaves.

It reflected once more in her eyes.

“If back then… I hadn’t been cursed with the so-called Heaven’s Affliction, would I have been able to live a good life with my brother?”

Xu Moli sat quietly, her gaze fixed on Xu Xi, but her thoughts had drifted far away, like a butterfly caught in a storm, fluttering chaotically.

She wondered.

Perhaps she could have.

Her brother possessed a heavenly spiritual root, his cultivation speed unmatched. Even if he couldn’t ascend to immortality, he would have been a dominant figure in the cultivation world.

Such a brother should have been radiant and magnificent.

Not someone who endured endless suffering just to save her.

“Moli, what are you thinking about?”

Xu Xi noticed her absent-mindedness and asked curiously.

“Nothing, brother.”

Xu Moli shook her head gently. “I was just thinking… I’ve troubled you so much in the past.”

“That’s all?” Xu Xi chuckled. “What’s there to worry about?”

His tone was calm.

Warm and natural.

Like a bird gliding effortlessly through the treetops, blending into the sound of the wind, bringing a sense of peace. “To me, Moli is someone very important.”

“Ignoring you would be what’s truly strange.”

His voice and words left her momentarily stunned.

“Brother, you’ve changed. Since when did you learn to say such sweet things?” She smirked, taking another bite of her watermelon.

It was juicy and sweet, a sweetness that seeped into her heart, warming her soul.

“Did I?”

“I’m just telling the truth.”

Xu Xi looked confused, then took a bite of his own watermelon, casually observing the grand sect inauguration below, becoming nothing more than a bystander.

The sunlight was brilliant, the air filled with a lingering sweetness.

Side by side, they sat in the tranquil atmosphere, lazily eating watermelon while waiting for the ceremony to conclude.

It didn’t hold any special meaning for them.

To both Xu Xi and Xu Moli, the Heavenly Sword Sect was a thing of the past.

The reason they stayed until the end was simply to witness Li Wanshou’s moment of fulfillment—to see the old man return joyfully to his sect.

“Brother, I’ll be heading off now.”

As time passed, Xu Moli finished her watermelon, and the ceremony officially ended. She grinned playfully as she bid him farewell, stating she would continue traversing the realms, eager for their next reunion.

“Alright, go ahead.”

Xu Xi shook his head helplessly.

Wherever she went, calamity was bound to follow. Fortunately, she had a sense of restraint and wouldn’t bring harm to innocent beings.

“Well then, I should get back to my own matters as well.”

…

This time, his journey had more than one purpose.

Besides attending the Heavenly Sword Sect’s grand ceremony, Xu Xi had another goal—to access the archives of the Supernatural Bureau in the capital.

“The Life Simulator remains a mystery for now.”

“However, I can at least investigate the origins of Earth’s spiritual energy revival.”

Xu Xi pondered.

He had already inquired with Moli, the Witch, and the Princess.

The three women, all supreme beings, had secretly merged countless worlds into Earth to elevate it to a higher level.

However…

None of them knew where the original spiritual energy revival had come from.

Even when they used their supreme powers to trace time and examine the past, they found nothing amiss.

It was natural.

It was seamless.

As if Earth had always been extraordinary.

“Could it be Ailei?”

“No, that’s unlikely.”

“In the initial catastrophe, though intelligent machines played a role, the dominant force was supernatural.”

“That contradicts Ailei’s influence.”

Deep in thought, Xu Xi flew towards the Bureau.

On the way, he casually asked Li Wanshou for the highest-level access.

To this day, Li Wanshou remained the Director of the Supernatural Bureau, wielding the power of a True Immortal to command the vast supernatural realms.

“Hmph, you unfilial disciple! Take it and go!”

Li Wanshou scowled at Xu Xi, his gaze filled with frustration.

Snorting loudly, he tossed the Bureau’s master key to him.

“Thanks, Master.” Xu Xi grinned, expressing his gratitude while also congratulating his ever-softhearted yet sharp-tongued master on becoming the sect leader.

“At least you have some conscience. Now get lost!”

The old man chuckled and waved him away with a flick of his sleeve.

…

With the master key in hand, Xu Xi wasted no time.

Harnessing the laws of space, he teleported directly into the Bureau’s archives.

The place looked exactly as he remembered.

Silver corridors with a futuristic design.

Countless supernatural beings moving about.

An artisan automaton approached him, bowing respectfully before leading him to the records room.

“Mr. Xu, all the files you requested are in this room. Please feel free to peruse them.”

“If you need anything, just call for me.”

A human-like voice echoed from within the wooden automaton.

Xu Xi nodded, scanning the enormous archive filled with paper-bound confidential files and digitized records stored in servers.

“How long am I allowed to stay here?”

“You have the highest-level access. There are no time restrictions.”

Hearing this, Xu Xi sighed with amusement.

This was the privilege of having connections—or rather, relying on his master’s influence.

With a contented sigh, he stepped deeper into the records room, searching for all documents related to the first year of the spiritual energy revival.

Back then, these files were classified as top-secret.

But now…

With the supernatural world fully developed, few people still paid attention to them.

Only Xu Xi, driven by curiosity, felt compelled to uncover the truth behind the revival.

“So, this is how it happened. The initial supernatural disasters across the country occurred simultaneously.”

“Spiritual energy for cultivation.”

“Magical elements for sorcery.”

“Martial blood energy for warriors.”

“These vastly different supernatural forces all emerged on Earth at the same time, triggering the initial calamities.”

“Was there a mastermind behind this? No… It seems more like an unforeseen upheaval.”

As he continued reading, something unexpected caught his eye.

Not related to the revival of spiritual energy… but the latest intelligence report.

It stated that recently, numerous wandering civilizations had willingly integrated into Earth, claiming to be refugees from other universes.

They were fleeing from the judgment of a supreme tribunal.