Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'

The experimental process is rather lengthy, but fortunately, they are near the Dark Star Domain, where the rules of spacetime are distorted, and time flows very slowly here.

Originally, Li Aozi planned to take Merid back home, but now it seems that he can only arrange for Merid to return on her own first.

After all, with an N4 who is a [Biochemist] here, it's inevitable that they would be very interested in Merid.

No matter what, it's better for Merid to peacefully nurture the fetus as a 'pregnant woman'.

"It's such a pity, I still wanted to stay with you for a while longer."

Merid kissed Li Aozi's cheek and said regretfully:

"Remember to take precautions next time."

"This is my first time too, you know."

Li Aozi shrugged and handed Merid a check:

"I have quite a few assets under my name, you shouldn't feel bored."

"Relax, little ghost, it's just two hundred years, even a moment of distraction for me exceeds two hundred years."

Merid said this with a smile as she accepted the check:

"It'll give me a chance to see just how much your planet has developed."

"Well, that's true..."

Li Aozi indeed had this idea in mind.

As a Longevity Breed, Merid is a walking history; her insights and experiences, including much knowledge, can significantly aid Baizhu Star.

"If anything comes up, you can go to Dialan. You two will probably have to interact a lot in the rear—anyway, get along well."

Merid suddenly turned to Li Aozi and asked:

"Darling, what do you think about marriage?"

"Do you care about that so-called title?" Li Aozi asked back.

"Marriage can't confine a being like me," Merid chuckled, "But in your eyes, what kind of relationship do we have?"

Li Aozi didn't answer directly.

He raised Merid's left hand, intertwining their fingers before loosening the grip, holding both hands tightly together.

"Honestly, with our blitzkrieg-like progression, it's hard to call it love," Li Aozi said. "To me, you're my mentor, friend, comrade, and now you should be my family."

"Love can be eroded and shattered by time, vows of growing old together can be forgotten and distorted... Hmm, it seems only familial bonds link us Longevity Breeds in the most enduring way."

Merid was very satisfied with this answer:

"My dear moon, if you had mentioned love or something else as the answer, I might not fancy you so much."

"Such is fate." Li Aozi said.

"You needn't worry either, Li Aozi; my life has been excessively long. To put it bluntly—if you truly want to accompany me in pure love to the end, your fate is bound to be tragic, that's an objective rule."

Merid patted Li Aozi on the shoulder, touching her forehead to his:

"These children, or rather civilizations, will be the proof of the bond between us. I can see that you're waging wars all over, trying to create a space for the unborn children to survive. With these 14.8 million children, such a large number, there will inevitably be internal conflicts, disputes, and divisions in the future."

"There are many Different Dimensional Worlds." Li Aozi touched Merid's forehead and said softly: "Continuing to develop, placing a few children in each world. It won't be long before they're all allocated."

"It's really a pity; as parents, we can't personally nurture them." Merid lamented: "Thinking of this, for these destined-to-be-lonely children, I even feel... sadness? Or is it reflection?"

"You'll have to slowly learn the emotions of the Brief Lifespan Species."

Li Aozi comforted with a sentence:

"Don't worry about their future. Life that inherits our bloodline will one day grow strong and return to reunite with us—hmm, if nothing else, you'll be able to see that day."

"...Li Aozi."

Merid closed her eyes and said:

"I start to wonder if you did this on purpose."

"This really wasn't anything I could predict..."

"No, I'm not talking about that. Li Aozi, do you know how big the universe is?"

Li Aozi thought for a moment, drawing upon his one-year master's degree knowledge reserve to answer:

"The current Layer Abyss formed before the War Beyond the Abyss, it's probably about 60 billion years old; other Starry Abysses are older. The total number of various civilizations, species, and lifeforms is at least over 790 quintillion (1 quintillion = 10 quadrillion). As for size—the Layer Abyss is the smallest, roughly 98 billion light-years, while the Border Abyss is three times that."

"To me, such a vast cosmic expanse, with so many lifeforms, and such ancient history—it's actually meaningless."

Merid spread her hands:

"Most of the time, the lives of Longevity Breeds are also meaningless, aimlessly wandering, not knowing where to go, and not knowing what the meaning of everything is."

"Training can't increase strength, no means can cause death, only that the longer time accumulates, the more things are forgotten."

"Once, I didn't know why I existed, I went to witness civilizations, to see the birth and destruction of suns, constantly pondering my relationship with this world."

She opened her eyes, her purple irises reflecting only the figure of Li Aozi.

"But now, because of your help, among these 790 trillion lives, there will be 14.8 million children, proving my significance."

"At least, you have to see that day for me."

Li Aozi smiled:

"You and your descendants, the last person they will see, will be only you. You need to spend a considerable amount of time seeking them out and aiding their growth."

"I have plenty of time." Merid smiled: "But for now, this is the only endeavor that is worthy of my focus."

"Think positively, you have plenty of time to learn how to be a mother."

"I will find my way, don't worry about me."

She looked at Li Aozi and said:

"But you—Li Aozi, you haven't truly experienced love and marriage. If you truly desire these, then by all means, go and seek them. If you get tired of playing outside, if you're hurt, just come home anytime. Here, I have endless histories of civilizations and tales of the galaxy."

"We'll talk about it later."

Li Aozi said indifferently:

"In the grand narrative of civilizations and the sea of stars, the love between men and women appears pitifully small."

"But you must remember one thing."

Merid said:

"It is precisely the countless domestic dramas and love stories that have come together to form the grand narrative that responds to the expectations of the people."

She released her embrace of Li Aozi, turned and left, saying to Li Aozi:

"Since the day civilization arose, this universe should not have remained so cold."

Li Aozi watched as Merid's silhouette disappeared beyond the bridge, and then watched her spaceship jump away to his estate mansion on Baizhu Star.

In fact, she was right about one point.

"I've never even gone back home to sleep."

Li Aozi shook his head.

Home?

As Li Aozi, his native family had become shattered.

As Leoz, his homeland was destroyed by the Secret Society.

Even thinking pragmatically: caring for the descendants was ultimately beneficial to Merid.

Whether as a companion or spouse, Merid knew very well that the final outcome would be her watching as Li Aozi crumbled day by day.

She gained her own lineage and also a ray of hope for life, able to accompany her through endless times, giving her new motivation for the future, something almost akin to life.

Li Aozi gazed at the galaxy.

He fought for the Crystal Tower; the Crystal Tower was not his home.

He summoned the wind and rain on Baizhu Star, wielding supreme power; Baizhu Star was not his home.

He hailed from Azure Star, garnering countless followers, answering to the mountains and seas; Azure Star wasn't his home either.

With Merid, it was the first place he could truly call 'home.'

Merid was not kind, nor was she a tender, virtuous wife and mother.

In fact, looking solely at her current exterior, she was almost on par with Yawen, if one wanted to speak to the female gaze, Yawen was younger.

Home.

Until today, Li Aozi realized, this word was so unfamiliar.

For him, there had never been the concept of home.

Just one thing.

He gazed into the vast stars and deep cosmic universe, memories, experiences, and unfair fate from Leoz flooded his heart like a tide.

Home.

Leoz never had a home, but the responsibility and obligation etched in the bones, even transformed into a pity and care for infants, had never faded.

[Starry Abyss is my home.]

Li Aozi clenched his fist:

[Yes, I just want to take back my home! This entire Starry Abyss is guarded by countless cannon fodder deities and heroic figures with their lives.]

The glass of the ship's rail reflected Leoz's form, he slowly raised his hand towards Li Aozi's figure.

[It is we, those without homelands… who have fought with all our might to protect the cosmic will of the Starry Abyss.]

Li Aozi raised his hand, lightly touching the glass, as if touching the galaxy.

[Here in Starry Abyss, we should be the dominators!]

Clap.

The fingertips crossed the mirror and touched together, Li Aozi's mind instantly became clear and calm.

"My home will sooner or later be taken back from the Starry Abyssal Spirits."

He lifted his head, the image of Leoz on the ship's rail glass already dissipated.

Or perhaps, there had only ever been Li Aozi in the mirror.