Chapter 185: As long as I stand beside him, there will be no enemy before us

【Within Chen Kong’s Soul Space】

Watching Tian Dao effortlessly reshape the entire Soul Space with a single thought—and hearing him declare, "Now this is my home turf"—the Dimensional Audience aboard Station 13 erupted in chaos.

To emphasize the overwhelming pressure of Tian Dao’s move, 【Dou Zhuan Xing Yi】 (Celestial Reversal), the Stellar Production Team had pushed visual fidelity to cinematic extremes. The starfield behind Tian Dao was rendered in hyper-detailed brilliance, its color grading elevated to the quality of a theatrical release. The resulting frame-by-frame quality was unmistakably film-grade, each moment radiating a staggering sense of grandeur and power.

“Is this what the Stellar budget warriors look like? Every single frame is burning money!”

“Lao Tian is Lao Tian. When he shows up, it’s always a game-changer.”

“Tian Dao: Down in the dumps? Not my style. I only ever play in the wind.”

“100 Ways Lao Tian Showed Off—A Compilation.”

Yet, despite the fact that Tian Dao was merely an outsider, and that Bai Kong and Chen Kong were the true masters of this Soul Space, something utterly absurd had occurred: Tian Dao had not only taken control, but transformed the domain into his own personal realm—completely reversing the natural order.

“Why… why does a mere memory projection possess such overwhelming soul power?!” Bai Kong stared at Tian Dao, standing tall amidst the shimmering starfield. The arrogance and defiance that once defined him had vanished, replaced by a trembling fear that resonated deep within his soul.

Tian Dao’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

“Because I am The Dreamer—a unique Stellar Source that fills the soul with innocent, childlike fantasies.”

He slid his hands into his pockets, his tone casual.

“Strictly speaking, I’m not the real Tian Dao Siming. But who cares? After all, little Kong here believes in me with every fiber of his being.”

“And that naive fantasy—under the influence of The Dreamer—has now become real, through the miracle of belief.”

At those words, Bai Kong finally understood.

He whirled around, eyes blazing with venom, locking onto Chen Kong standing silently behind Tian Dao.

“Weaklings are weaklings. You don’t just rely on others—you take pride in it.”

“Sharing a body with someone like you? That’s the ultimate insult. You’ve defiled the title ‘King’!”

Before Chen Kong could speak, Tian Dao cut in, calm and unbothered.

“Defilement? There’s no such thing. For the vast majority of weak beings in this world, relying on strength is not a flaw—it’s survival.”

Tian Dao smiled at Bai Kong, his gaze filled with cold amusement.

“Little Kong is simply doing what most people do. And besides…”

He glanced at Bai Kong’s stormy expression, then slowly widened his smile—into a classic, villainous grin.

“.I’ve said enough. Why haven’t you left yet?”

“Seems like you’ve made a truly foolish decision.”

“Foolish? A memory projection like you doesn’t get to judge.”

Bai Kong raised his hand, fingers spread, pressing his palm against his chest.

In an instant, his hand plunged into his own body—and drew out a long, obsidian-black sword.

The Dimensional Audience, sharp-eyed as ever, immediately noticed the resemblance.

Except for the color, the blade bore a striking resemblance—70% to 80%—to Chen Xing’s Yao Dao · Xueyan, which glowed in deep crimson.

But this blade, dubbed Black Star, was utterly pure black—no trace of any other hue, not even a hint of shadow.

As Bai Kong gripped the weapon, his eyes locked onto Tian Dao, radiating defiance.

“Even if you’re just a memory, even if you’re not the real Tian Dao Siming—no one has the right to lecture me!”

He tightened his grip.

The blade hummed—a low, ominous vibration, like a challenge.

But before Bai Kong could further posture, a figure appeared before him without warning.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Tian Dao stood mere inches away, smiling calmly.

Bai Kong’s pupils contracted.

Before he could react, Tian Dao raised a finger, placing it just half a palm’s length from Bai Kong’s chest.

“Stellar Energy Spell: Hei Cang.”

The moment the words left his lips, Bai Kong felt an overwhelming surge of danger.

Instinct took over. He snapped the Black Star across his chest in a flash.

Boom!

A violent black explosion erupted.

Bai Kong was sent skidding across the surface of the water, carving a long, deep trail behind him before finally halting.

He looked down.

At the center of the Black Star, a shallow, hairline crack marred the blade.

The mark left by Tian Dao’s Hei Cang.

“There it is—the signature move of Lao Tian!”

“Why does he always look so relaxed? Is this what absolute confidence feels like?”

“I’m just saying… trying to flex like Lao Tian? You’re still a rookie compared to the Stellar B-Wang!”

“Wait… haven’t you noticed? In this Soul Space, only Lao Tian looks exactly as he did six years ago. Chen Kong and Bai Kong are both fully grown.”

“Wait… really?!”

“Wait a second… could it be…?”

The Dimensional Audience weren’t the only ones who noticed.

Bai Kong felt it too.

He stared at the figure before him—only about 1.7 meters tall, still youthful, not yet hardened by time.

His expression shifted—arrogance gave way to tension, then to something far darker… madness.

“Hahaha! Now this is the moment I’ve been waiting for!”

He raised the Black Star toward Tian Dao, eyes blazing with warlike frenzy.

“Tian Dao Siming… I’ll admit it—you’re one of the few in this world who can match me.”

“While others spend their entire lives chasing power, you achieved it effortlessly… even before I was born.”

“If I’m not mistaken, you must’ve discovered the fusion between Stellar Core and Stellar Source back then—six years ago, or even earlier.”

“After all, your current memory projection… is only at the level of your true self from six years ago.”

Tian Dao tilted his head slightly.

“Hmm? Discover it? What’s there to discover?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You’re the one who’s supposed to know your own body. Don’t you think someone else should have to teach you how to use it?”

His tone was utterly matter-of-fact—like stating that people eat because they’re hungry, or drink because they’re thirsty.

There was no struggle, no hesitation—just pure, unshakable certainty.

And from afar, Chen Kong fell utterly silent.

Because even now, Chen Kong didn’t understand what “fusion” even meant.

For a fleeting moment, he felt like he wasn’t even in the same world as these two.

He understood every word they said—yet, when combined, the meaning slipped through his fingers.

But one thing he did grasp.

The reason Tian Dao had appeared here.

No one truly desires defeat.

But not everyone can remain victorious forever.

Tian Dao hadn’t come simply because of his unique Stellar Source—The Dreamer.

He had come because of Chen Kong’s deepest, most irrational dream.

A dream to never lose.

To win—always.

And that dream, so absurd, so naive… was exactly what Tian Dao had turned into reality.

Because Chen Kong knew now—

As long as he stood beside Tian Dao… there would be no enemy before them.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end