142: Chapter 142 Returning Home in Glory, A Childhood Dream

Jiang Hao listened quietly, feeling somewhat emotional. No one's path of cultivation is smooth sailing; crises are inevitable.

In the world of cultivation, to progress one must strive, and striving inevitably leads to casualties. This is a normal phenomenon, something that cannot be avoided in any world or under any circumstances.

"So that's how it is," Jiang Hao nodded slightly. "The Great Dao is heartless, life and death are fated. That you two have upheld your true hearts and reached this day... Zhou Mingruo, if his spirit knows, should also be comforted."

"However, since you have now joined the Law Enforcement Hall, you are people of the Heavenly Court. Do not dwell on past opportunities. Remember today's words: guarding the order of this world is the best consolation and repayment for everything."

"Yes!" Zhao Meng and Li Rui kowtowed once more. Their heart's knots were completely undone, leaving only clarity and resolve.

"To repay the lord's intent from the Golden Terrace, drawing the jade dragon to die for the lord." This was the sentiment in both their hearts at this moment.

Jiang Hao said no more. With a slight nod to Lin Mo and the others, his figure faded away like a phantom, as if he had never appeared.

But the ripples he left behind continued to resonate within the Law Enforcement Hall for a long time.

Lin Mo walked forward, gave Zhao Meng and Li Rui a deep look, and patted Zhao Meng on the shoulder:

"Good lads, to have such a connection. The Heavenly Emperor's benevolent heart showers grace upon all living beings. You two must strive even harder. Do not disappoint the Heavenly Emperor's expectations, nor betray your fallen brother."

"This humble officer understands!" Zhao Meng and Li Rui straightened their postures.

Now that it was confirmed that the one who had granted them their Opportunity back then was indeed the Heavenly Emperor, they would naturally redouble their efforts to avoid shaming him.

The gazes of the other new recruits around them now held an indescribable envy.

Who would have thought that these two seemingly ordinary colleagues had such a connection to the Heavenly Emperor?

Although it was just an Opportunity casually given by the Heavenly Emperor long ago, to be remembered by him and actively inquired about was in itself an incredible stroke of fortune.

...

Ten days later, a Heavenly Court patrol starship slowly emerged from the teleportation array.

Its hull was silver-white, with the sword-and-shield emblem of the Law Enforcement Hall imprinted on its side.

Inside the cabin, Zhao Meng and Li Rui had changed out of their silver robes into more casual attire, but the trainee tokens still hung at their waists.

The two looked out the viewport at the azure-blue star drawing ever nearer, their expressions complex.

Douming Star, their homeland.

However, they had been away from their homeland for a very long time. When they left, they carried dreams and unease.

They wanted to make something of themselves.

Now, returning, they were Great Sages, bearing the Heavenly Court's Silver Tokens. They had achieved their dreams.

"If Zhou Mingruo were here..." Li Rui spoke softly, then stopped.

Zhao Meng patted his shoulder, his fierce eyes slightly reddened.

As the starship approached Douming Star's atmosphere, both men were taken aback.

They saw that outside Douming Star, the void was filled with densely packed starships and flying pavilions, arranged in neat rows.

At the very front, a magnificent carriage carved from a single piece of star jade hovered, pulled by nine pure-blooded Star Patterned Heavenly Steeds.

Beside the carriage, tens of thousands of Douming Star soldiers, in bright armor, stood in square formations.

Further away, there were various ceremonial guards, banners, and numerous Cultivators in luxurious attire and with imposing auras standing in the air.

The carriage door opened. An elderly man wearing star lord regalia, with an aura as deep as the sea, stepped out with a smile. It was the Star Lord stationed at Douming Star, the Quasi-Emperor Mingyuan.

"We welcome Law Enforcers Zhao and Li on your glorious return home!" The Douming Star Lord's gentle voice spread across the starry sky.

Immediately, ten thousand voices cried out in unison: "We welcome the Law Enforcers' glorious return!"

The soundwave shook the heavens.

Zhao Meng and Li Rui took a deep breath, straightened their attire, flew out of the starship, and returned the salute: "Zhao Meng (Li Rui) greets the Star Lord. Such grand ceremony from the Star Lord leaves us undeserving!"

The Star Lord also belonged to the Heavenly Court; they were considered colleagues.

Quasi-Emperor Mingyuan stepped forward to offer a virtual hand of support, smiling: "No need for such modesty, you two. Entering the Heavenly Court's Law Enforcement Hall is a great honor for our Douming Star. I have prepared a modest ceremony, firstly to celebrate, and secondly to let the disciples of the Douming Star Territory know that Heaven rewards diligence; those who set their hearts on the Heavenly Court will surely have a bright future!"

With these words, he had elevated their deeds to the level of inspiring the entire star territory.

What followed was a tedious yet grand welcoming ceremony.

Quasi-Emperor Mingyuan personally introduced the two to the various Sect Masters and Family heads who had come to welcome them.

Every face was brimming with enthusiastic, even fawning, smiles.

"Law Enforcer Zhao, this old man is the master of the Lingyun Sword Sect. My ancestors had ties with yours!"

"Fellow Daoist Li, a junior in my clan has long yearned for the Law Enforcement Hall. Could you offer some guidance?"

"You two young talents are truly the pride of our Douming Star!"

Figures who were once lofty and unapproachable on Douming Star now lowered their posture before the two.

This was the prestige that came with joining the Heavenly Court.

After socializing for a long time, Zhao Meng and Li Rui were finally able to extricate themselves and return to their respective families.

This left the two feeling deeply emotional. Entering the Heavenly Court's Law Enforcement Hall, returning home in glory, being received with high ceremony by the Star Lord himself... the goals they had dreamed of since childhood had now all been achieved.

This gave them a feeling of being in a dream.

This feeling was wonderful.

However, the Senior Sister Zhao Meng liked did not end up with him; she married someone else, a newcomer who descended from the heavens. Neither he nor his Senior Brother got the Senior Sister.

But Zhao Meng wasn't heartbroken, because he later understood that it was just the throbbing of a young heart, not true love.

As he grew, he felt that cultivating to become stronger and joining the Heavenly Court were his most important goals, and what he should pursue.

The city where Zhao Meng and Li Rui's families were located was called Jianghai City. It was already in an uproar due to the news of the two being selected for the Law Enforcement Hall.

The entire city was decorated with lanterns and streamers, with congratulatory couplets hung high on the city gates.

The Zhao Family ancestral residence was even more packed with people.

However, when Zhao Meng stepped through the gate and saw the excited yet unfamiliar faces rushing to greet him, an indescribable sense of desolation welled up in his heart.

His parents had passed away one after the other eight hundred years ago.

The current Family head was a descendant, a middle-aged Cultivator at the second level of the Immortal Platform stage, who bore some resemblance to him but was respectful to the point of apprehension.

Inside the ancestral hall, incense smoke curled.

He took out two jugs of spirit wine. One to offer to his parents, the other...

"Li Rui is here," a voice came from the doorway.

Li Rui entered the ancestral hall, also carrying a jug of wine. The two looked at each other wordlessly, then walked side by side to an inconspicuous spot in a corner of the hall.

There was no memorial tablet there, only a blank jade wall.

Zhao Meng slowly poured the wine in front of the jade wall: "Zhou Ming, Li Rui and I... we're back."

Li Rui also poured wine onto the ground, saying softly: "The Bi Chao Brew you loved to drink, brought from the Nantian Star Territory. You always said that when we made it big, we'd drink our fill."

"Li Rui and I, we met that one. We met the Heavenly Emperor. Our guess was right. It was indeed the Heavenly Emperor who gave us that Opportunity. And the Heavenly Emperor still remembers the three of us."

Li Rui said softly: "The Heavenly Emperor said that if you knew, you would be comforted. We will walk this path well, carrying your share with us."

After the memorial rites were complete, facing the throngs of young admirers who crowded around, Zhao Meng spoke solemnly.

"We Cultivators must have dreams. Do not lose the most sincere dreams of your past. Just walk the Righteous Path, do not ask about the future. Perhaps, right where you least expect it, starlight is already guiding your way."

These words, more than encouragement for future generations, were their own understanding of this karmic bond spanning over two thousand years.

Deep within the Thirty-Three Heavens, in the Lingxiao Palace.

Jiang Hao leaned against the railing, idly playing with a warm, smooth chess piece in his hand.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the endless void, seeing the scenes unfolding on Douming Star.

"Old dreams at a tea stall, new sharpness honed. The strings of Karma, plucked, naturally produce an echo." Jiang Hao murmured to himself, dropping the chess piece onto the board with a crisp *ding*.

A few seeds casually scattered had, unknown to all, quietly sprouted. Braving wind and rain, they broke through the earth and reached for the sky, and had begun to repay the nourishment of the land and sunlight that fostered them.

This, perhaps, is the most moving Legacy of order and hope in this cold, vast world.