Chapter 196: The Birthday Gift After Six Years [Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter]

Some people—just by standing there—became the very definition of strength.

Though it was only a brief memory, Dimensional Audience could already feel the unique confidence and absolute arrogance radiating from Tian Dao.

“Hey hey hey! Using a Dominator-class Stellar Beast as a warm-up? Haki Tian, you really are full of yourself!”

“We’re all in the same show—why’s it only you who’s overpowered?”

“Feels like Lao Tian’s just showing off for the camera. Not sure… let’s keep watching.”

“Honey, step on me! Not the Stellar Beast, you idiot!”

“???”

“Front row, please check your IP—no, it’s not me being biased, but some places are just… really suggestive!”

Sometimes, such a massive fanbase could be more of a headache than a blessing.

After all, the bigger the forest, the stranger the creatures that crawl through it.

Just as the stream of comments threatened to drown out the screen, the scene finally cut back to the main storyline.

[Steam Branch, Permanent Magnet Prison]

The moment the camera returned, viewers nearly choked on laughter.

There, the so-called “Destruction Fist,” a man whose body was ninety percent cybernetic components, lay trembling like a soaked stray dog at Tian Dao’s feet.

He’d gone in looking for an easy target—only to crash headfirst into a superalloy wall.

Before Charliek could even utter a plea for mercy, Tian Dao—already in full control of the “Permanent Magnet Sphere”—turned his gaze down.

Though Tian Dao said nothing, Charliek instantly read the warning in those calm, pale blue eyes beneath his mask.

At that moment, Charliek regretted every reckless decision he’d ever made.

He’d thought breaking free from the cage was the beginning of freedom.

But instead, he’d stumbled straight into the gates of Hell.

As Charliek frantically tried to figure out how to survive, Tian Dao finally spoke.

“Charliek… even trash has value. And you happen to be recyclable.”

Tian Dao was smiling—but the words froze Charliek’s blood.

The moment the words left his lips, Charliek’s body lifted into the air, unresisting.

Tian Dao raised the Quantum Cube and applied it to Charliek’s form.

In an instant, two streams of data tore from his body—red and green.

The red was the chaotic data of Quantum Psychosis.

The green was pure, stable quantum data.

With a flick of his finger, Tian Dao precisely injected both streams into the “Permanent Magnet Sphere.”

The sphere, which had been destabilized after losing its two Quantum Keys, finally pulsed with a steady, tranquil glow once more.

Afterward, Charliek collapsed like a broken puppet—eyes glazed, drool dripping from his slack jaw, utterly mindless.

Tian Dao waved a hand. Charliek crashed back into the cell with a thud.

Then, without a backward glance, Tian Dao walked away—like he’d just tossed out a trash bag.

Though this method only stabilized the sphere temporarily, that brief window was more than enough.

It was enough for him to complete his grand design—Above the Heavens.

[Night, a villa in Steam Capital]

“Tian Dao… at this point, you should be close to getting everything you need, right?”

Tian Dao leaned back on the sofa, adjusting his Sunglasses with a smirk.

“About that… just need the final push—those fools to open the gate to the Steam Furnace.”

“So you let them solidify Vivian’s position?”

Tian Dao shrugged.

“Otherwise, where else would I find a tool with quantum forging capability?”

Chen Xing didn’t press further. She didn’t know exactly what Tian Dao was planning—but she didn’t need to.

All she needed was to know she could help him.

Just like Kalolin had—unconditionally trusting Tian Dao, obeying every command without question.

Though Chen Xing didn’t know how to make Tian Dao truly see her heart, her intuition whispered: If I do everything Kalolin once did… I’ll get closer to my goal.

With that thought, she pulled a delicate gift box from her chest.

Seeing it, Tian Dao raised an eyebrow.

“Huh? Star… why are you suddenly giving me something?”

“It’s not sudden,” Chen Xing said, shaking her head seriously.

“It’s just… six years late.”

Silence fell.

Tian Dao froze. His smile faltered.

“Open it,” she said, pressing the box into his hands without giving him a chance to pretend.

And as she pulled her hand back—whether by accident or design—her fingernail brushed lightly against the inside of Tian Dao’s thigh.

Her expression remained utterly serious, making it impossible to tell if it was intentional.

Tian Dao stiffened—but couldn’t tell if she’d meant it. So he swallowed the awkwardness and let it slide.

To break the tension—and out of curiosity—Tian Dao finally opened the box.

Inside lay a pair of black Sunglasses… about one-third smaller than the normal size.

Tian Dao blinked. “Wait… I’m already wearing Sunglasses. Why are you giving me this?”

But the audience—Dimensional Audience—knew instantly.

And the chat exploded.

“AHHHH! It’s the birthday gift from six years ago!”

“Exactly! Exactly! Star, you finally get it—happiness has to be claimed, not waited for!”

“Naughty naughty! Someone’s stealing the house! Where’s my cat?! Come out, stop messing with your Lingjing!”

“You guys are playing dirty! Using time differences?!”

“Front row! Snacks and drinks! Popcorn, soda, water—grab yours!”

The Tian-Xing Faction erupted in joy—finally seeing their chance to rise.

The Tian-Kalolin Faction, meanwhile, panicked. They felt like their beloved cat was being targeted by the writers.

When you finally finish your Lingjing research, your husband will already be stolen by your ‘best friend’!

Perhaps realizing her greatest advantage was the time gap, Season 2’s Chen Xing completely abandoned the shy, tsundere persona of Season 1.

She was bold—almost aggressively so. Her actions screamed “freebie”.

No pause. No space to think.

“Tian Dao,” she continued, voice soft, tinged with something like sorrow—perfectly calibrated to trigger his kindness.

“This was supposed to be your birthday gift… six years ago. But you know what happened after.”

A pause.

“I’m glad I didn’t miss it. I finally got the chance to give it to you.”

Tian Dao understood. He couldn’t refuse.

This wasn’t just a gift. It was her heart.

So, with a quiet resolve, he took the miniature Sunglasses from the box and placed them on his face.

To lighten the mood—and maybe just to mess with the tension—he grinned.

“How do I look, Star? Pretty cool, right?”

If it had been the composed, rational Kalolin, she’d have rolled her eyes and scoffed.

Even if she agreed, she’d never admit it.

But Chen Xing wasn’t Kalolin.

Especially not now—the evolved, proactive Star.

Tian Dao braced himself for the usual sharp retort.

But she didn’t say anything.

Instead, she looked at him—her eyes soft, warm, full of quiet affection.

“Yeah… I think you look really nice like this.”

“Damn it.”

For the first time, Tian Dao realized what it meant to dig your own grave.

Before he could recover, she leaned in—suddenly closing the distance.

Kneeling on the sofa between his legs, she braced her hands on the backrest behind him, trapping him in a near-wall-press stance.

Their faces were so close that strands of her hair brushed his cheek.

“Don’t move,” she whispered, her breath warm against his skin.

“I want to look at my gift… properly.”

Tian Dao froze. His mind went blank.

“Holy crap, Star!”

“Star’s gone full berserker!”

“Cat’s in danger!!!”

But luck—like laughter—favors the bold.

At this life-or-death moment, salvation arrived.

“U-um… Mr. Tian Dao… am I… interrupting?”

Tian Dao turned.

There stood Dannika, in pajamas, cradling three bottles of Blue Melody Mountain City soda, her face twisted in a mix of hesitation and confusion.

Tian Dao’s eyes lit up with relief.

Chen Xing’s expression turned icy.

But before she could speak, Tian Dao shot up like a rocket, rushing to Dannika’s side.

He snatched one of the bottles.

“No, you’re perfect—just in time. I was dying of thirst.”

To prove it, he took a long, loud gulp—glug glug glug—and drained the entire bottle in seconds.

Chen Xing, realizing she’d lost her moment, clenched her jaw and silently took a bottle from Dannika’s arms.

But as she did, her eyes flicked to the green-haired girl—sharp, cold, and unmistakably hostile.

Of course. The green-haired one always ruins everything.

Her gut told her: this wasn’t a coincidence.

Dannika, meanwhile, stared at her with wide, innocent eyes—pure, unbothered.

You adults are so complicated. I’m just a kid. I don’t understand.

And the truth?

The writers confirmed it—through her inner monologue.

Trying to steal Dannika like that, Mr. Tian Dao?

You bad woman. With Dannika here, I won’t let your plan succeed!

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end