30: Qin Qingxuan's past

Leaving her father's study.

Qin Qingxuan rode her exclusive aircraft, landing silently on the helipad of her palace-like courtyard deep within the Qin Family estate.

The aircraft's hatch slid open noiselessly, and Qin Qingxuan stepped out slowly.

She was still wearing that well-tailored, high-ranking Star Rail Group uniform. Her posture was erect, her face cold and stunningly beautiful, and she naturally exuded the faint pressure and blinding radiance belonging to a Planet-level Expert.

She did not intentionally flaunt it, but her return was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly sending ripples through the vast and intricately connected Qin Family.

The well-informed servants and descendants of various branches of the Qin Family soon learned of the return of the Family's most dazzling pearl through various channels.

On a martial arts field within the Qin Family estate, specifically for young descendants to spar and exchange ideas, several young people who had just finished their practice were wiping off sweat while chatting.

Their energy affinity generally ranged from A-class to SSS-class. Despite their youth, they were already at the War General Rank. Outside, they would be considered prodigies, but in the Qin Family, they were merely ordinary branch or distant relatives.

“Did you hear? Old Ancestor Qingxuan is back!”

A tall girl with lively eyes sheathed her lightsaber and spoke to her companions in a low voice, her tone filled with awe and excitement.

According to seniority, she would have to call Qin Qingxuan 'Great-great-great... Auntie,' so she simply used the collective honorific 'Old Ancestor.'

Qin Pojun only had one descendant with an Innate Martial Body, Qin Qingxuan. His other most talented descendants were only at the War God Level, enjoying a Lifespan of 1,000 years. Throughout his long life of over 60,000 years, his descendants had passed through countless generations. Among his second-generation offspring, Qin Qingxuan was the oldest one still living.

A slightly more steady-looking young man beside her nodded, his eyes showing sincere admiration:

“Yeah, news just came from the main residence area. I heard the Old Ancestor came back directly from Zhiyuan Star on a 'Star Shuttle.' There must be some important interstellar business again.”

“Old Ancestor Qingxuan is truly a role model for our generation!”

Another boy said with a face full of longing; he had grown up listening to the stories of Qin Pojun and Qin Qingxuan:

“Only a bit over one thousand two hundred years old, and she’s already at the Planet-level Peak! She holds great power in the Star Rail Group! I heard that back when she was at 'Star Sea Academy,' she was the undisputed number one, leaving the second place of her year behind by who knows how many light-years!”

“It wasn't just during her academy days.”

A better-informed girl chimed in, her eyes sparkling with the light of gossip.

“I heard that a few hundred years ago, the eldest son of the Speaker's Zhao Family, Zhao Chenxuan—remember him? The one who reached War God Peak at thirty and was hailed as a once-in-ten-thousand-years Genius for the Zhao Family—supposedly fell in love with the Old Ancestor at first sight during an interstellar banquet. He was so struck by her beauty that after returning, he declared to the world he would marry no one but her!”

“Zhao Chenxuan? I know him!”

The steady young man from before spoke up, his tone carrying a hint of a sigh.

“He was indeed a brilliant figure; I heard he has already broken through to the middle stage of the Planetary Level now. His pursuit of the Old Ancestor caused quite a stir back then. He sent Star Sea rarities for thirty whole years, wrote countless poems, and even used Family connections to ask the Lord Leader to act as a matchmaker... What a pity...”

“What's a pity?” the tall girl asked curiously.

“It wasn't just that she didn't take an interest!”

Another boy rushed to say, as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

“I heard the Old Ancestor only gave one reply at the time: ‘If you had used half of your heart on cultivation, you would have touched the threshold of the Planetary Level long ago.’ It made Young Master Zhao turn pale on the spot. After he went back, he announced he was entering secluded meditation. Supposedly, he is still single to this day... One look at Qingxuan ruins a man's life!”

Everyone sighed in amazement, both feeling sorry for Zhao Chenxuan and feeling a mix of admiration and slight fear toward Qin Qingxuan’s 'heart of stone.'

“What does that count for?”

Another descendant joined the discussion, speaking mysteriously. “Do you know Lei Hao, the Young Master of the ‘Thunder Martial Arts Hall’? That battle maniac, an Innate Martial Body. They say he fights like his life doesn't matter, and he has almost no rivals among his peers. He bows to no one! But once, while on a joint mission in a border Star Domain, he encountered the Old Ancestor leading the team.”

“And then? And then?”

Everyone's curiosity was piqued.

“I heard Lei Hao wasn't convinced and wanted to challenge the Old Ancestor. In the end, the Old Ancestor used one finger... just one finger! With a light tap, she broke his most prized ‘Ninefold Thunder Prison’ combat technique. He was sent back thirty thousand meters, smashing through three small asteroids before he finally stopped!”

The descendant spoke with great animation, as if he had been there.

“From then on, Lei Hao was completely devoted to the Old Ancestor. He tells everyone that the Old Ancestor is the only person he admires, and he even put out word that if anyone dares say a bad word about her, he'll have a bone to pick with them! If it weren't for the fact that the martial arts hall and the group have different business directions, he probably would have chased her for several hundred years too!”

A wave of low laughter and gasps of wonder echoed across the martial arts field.

“Speaking of which, the number of top-tier prodigies and sons of great magnates who have pursued the Old Ancestor could probably fill a reinforced platoon.”

The steady young man remarked with emotion.

“I remember there was also General Li Mubai, the youngest interstellar fleet commander from the military's Li Family. He had distinguished military service at a young age and was exceptionally handsome, hailed as an idol of the military. He wasn't that high-profile; he just silently watched over the Old Ancestor for many years. I heard that during a vicious border conflict, he even blocked a sneak attack from an Empire expert for her and was severely injured...”

“I think I've heard of that one too!”

The tall girl's eyes lit up.

“What happened next? Was the Old Ancestor moved?”

“Moved?”

The descendant sharing the news shook his head.

“The Old Ancestor only visited him once in the medical department, leaving the words: ‘Guarding the Federation is a soldier's duty; there is no need to take risks for me personally.’ Then she left a bottle of the group's latest top-tier healing holy medicine and walked away. After General Li recovered, he applied for a transfer to the most remote Star Domain for garrison duty and has never returned.”

The awe in everyone's hearts for Old Ancestor Qin Qingxuan deepened another layer.

This Old Ancestor truly seemed to be as the rumors said—her heart held only the great cause of the Federation and the path of cultivation. In her eyes, romantic feelings were probably not as important as a single battle report from a border Star Domain.

“But then again,”

A girl who hadn't said much whispered,

“The Old Ancestor is over one thousand two hundred years old. Has she really... never been moved by anyone? Doesn't she feel... lonely?”

This question made everyone pause for a moment.

The steady young man sighed:

“At the Old Ancestor's level, her thoughts and feelings are already different from ours. Planet-level Experts have a ten-thousand-year Lifespan; their loneliness is perhaps something we cannot understand. Maybe in her eyes, exploring the mysteries of the Universe and guarding the continuity of the Federation is far more meaningful than the love between a man and a woman.”

On the other side, in Qin Qingxuan's palace-like courtyard.

Even though she was away for most of the year, this place still maintained twenty-four-hour continuous operation.

Thousands of intelligent robots and strictly screened servants who had served the Qin Family for generations kept everything in perfect order, without a speck of dust.

From something as small as a leaf falling in the courtyard to something as large as the maintenance of the entire courtyard's energy matrix, everything was carried out silently and efficiently.

Several female officials in charge of internal affairs were talking in low voices in a side hall. Their energy affinity was not low either, at least B-class. They would be elites outside, but here they were just servants responsible for managing specific affairs.

“The Young Miss is back. Her aura seems even more profound and unpredictable.”

An older female official said in a respectful tone.

“Yes, every time I see the Young Miss, I feel like I'm facing a vast, unfathomable starry sky.”

Another younger female official agreed, her eyes full of admiration.

“I heard the Young Miss performed another great feat at Zhiyuan Star this time and received a personal commendation from the Chairman!”

“The Young Miss’s talent and hard work are beyond our comprehension.”

The older female official's tone was serious.

“We only need to do our duty and ensure that when the Young Miss returns, everything is to her satisfaction and comfort.”

“Speaking of which,”

The younger female official couldn't help but lower her voice, carrying a hint of curiosity.

“How long will the Young Miss stay this time? Will she... be like before, leaving to handle Federation business again in just a few days?”

“The Young Miss’s thoughts are not for us to guess.”

The older female official glared at her, but she couldn't help but sigh herself.

“The Young Miss... her heart always holds the Federation and the Group. Although this courtyard is nice, to her, it is perhaps just an occasional resting stop.”

They had served Qin Qingxuan for many years and knew well how much of a workaholic and cultivation maniac their mistress was.

A love life?

That was a concept that simply didn't exist.

Just then, the courtyard butler—a man with a steady aura and the strength of an Elementary War God—received an instruction from Qin Qingxuan through the internal network.

His expression turned slightly solemn, and he immediately responded respectfully. Then he turned to the female officials and ordered:

“The Young Miss has ordered to immediately invite Mr. Chen Jun over. Note, you must be perfectly polite, keep it entirely confidential, and show not the slightest neglect.”

“Mr. Chen Jun?”

The female officials were all stunned. This name was very foreign to them. He clearly wasn't a core figure of the Qin Family, nor was he any of the well-known pursuers or friends of the Old Ancestor they knew.

But since the butler gave such a solemn order, they naturally didn't dare ask more and immediately bowed in response:

“Yes!”

The butler watched the female officials leave to prepare the vehicle, a trace of undetectable doubt flashing in his eyes.

This is the first time the Young Miss has brought a man back, right?

And she specifically emphasized 'perfectly polite' and 'entirely confidential'?

But he quickly suppressed his doubts. The Young Miss had her reasons for everything she did; it was not for him to speculate.

Qin Qingxuan stood alone on the Star Gazing Platform on the top floor of her bedchamber.

The view here was excellent, allowing her to overlook a small portion of the Qin Family’s grand estate and gaze up at Kunlun Star’s unique, magnificent sky with its faint purple hue.

A breeze brushed past her exquisite face, blowing a few strands of hair.

Zhao Chenxuan?

Lei Hao?

Li Mubai?

In her long life and busy schedule, these names had long since become as insignificant as dust...

She lightly touched her cheek, which was still smooth and showed no trace of time. Her eyes were complex for a moment, but they soon returned to absolute clarity and determination.

She turned and walked toward the inner hall of her bedchamber.