Chapter 234: The Backward Shadow I Can't Keep Up With, Even When I Give My All

Oh? Finally settled?

Clank… clank…

On the steam train heading toward the Crimson Mist Sea, Tian Dao, eyes half-lidded in pretended slumber, finally stirred as a notification flashed across his system panel.

【"The Stars · Faint Light" Season 2 has concluded】

【Single-season popularity ranking calculation in progress…】

【Character Rank: Tian Dao Siming — #1 in Season 2 Popularity】

【Rewards Received:】

【1. Guaranteed 35% screen time share in next season】

【2. One exclusive character promotion worth 1 million Popularity Points】

【3. One Exclusive Character Background Modification Permission】

Though Tian Dao himself hadn’t appeared in many scenes during Season 2, he had managed to accumulate substantial screen time through the dual identities of the “Mysterious Masked Man” and “Ink.” The popularity points generated by these roles were all consolidated into his own profile once his true identity was revealed at the end.

Combined with the massive popularity foundation he had built in Season 1, it was no surprise that Tian Dao secured the top spot in Season 2’s popularity rankings—without contest.

But for Tian Dao now, the first two rewards had already begun to lose their practical value. What truly excited him was the third: the Exclusive Character Background Modification Permission.

Because if used wisely, this reward could grant him advantages that simply couldn’t be measured in Popularity Points.

Before activating the permission, Tian Dao habitually opened his personal panel.

【Name: Tian Dao Siming (Leader of Faint Light Organization)】

【Age: 18】

【Level: Rank 2】

【Base Stellar Energy Value: 19,999 (Maxed Out)】

【Stellar Source: Vector Control (One Perfect Awakening)】

【Stellar Core: Star-Eclipse Eye (One Awakening)】

【Attributes: Strength S+, Agility S+, Mind S+, Vitality S+, Stellar Energy Value S+, Precision S+】

【Skills: …】

【Current Popularity Points: 13.47 million】

【Loaned Popularity Points: 5 million (Max: 5 million)】

In Season 1, his loan cap was 1 million. By Season 2, it had increased to 5 million. Now, with his popularity points replenished, it was time to push even further.

【Ping! Popularity Credit has received your repayment. Given your excellent popularity credit history and consistent #1 rankings in two consecutive season settlements, your loan cap is being reassessed.】

【Assessment Complete. Your current single-season popularity loan limit: 20 million】

【Loaned Popularity Points: 0 (Max: 20 million)】

Huh? Tian Dao stared at the screen, a slow smile spreading across his face.

“What’s so funny, Tian Dao? Anything good happen?”

Jing Ruli, just having won half a round of Stellar Beast Chess against Dannika, set down her piece and leaned in, curiosity glowing in her eyes.

But when Tian Dao paused, then said, “Nothing,”

Jing Ruli’s expression darkened instantly.

“Liar! Your mouth is practically touching the ceiling!”

She puffed out her cheeks like a purple pufferfish, radiating indignation.

Tian Dao sighed. “Really, Ruli, there’s nothing. You’re overthinking it.”

Seeing him still refuse to share, she huffed, turned sharply in her seat, and folded her arms.

Fine! Don’t tell me! Who cares, anyway? Just wait—when Kalolin arrives, I’ll tell her everything!

Still, she wasn’t satisfied. With a dramatic sigh, she wrapped her arms around her Dream Pillow, then pulled out a marker. Scratch-scratch-scratch—she began writing furiously on the back of the pillow.

On the pillow’s surface, the classic warning remained:

【Do Not Disturb During Combat】

Along the edge, stubbornly preserved since six years ago, were the words she’d scrawled in anger during her Final Evaluation:

【Liars Tian Dao and Dogs Prohibited from Approaching】

Seeing those words, Tian Dao couldn’t help but recall the moment he’d tricked her into teaming up with him and Kalolin during that evaluation.

“Ruli… I wasn’t trying to hurt you back then. Did it really matter that much?”

“Hmph.”

She shot him a deadpan glare, then added one more line to the pillow.

【Tian Dao is a selfish jerk!】

Tian Dao: …

He just stared, utterly speechless.

Jing Ruli, satisfied, hugged her Treasured Pillow tighter and turned her head sharply toward the window, her little chin raised in proud defiance.

Like a child who’d declared, I don’t care if you’re the best in the world—I’m not talking to you!

Tian Dao, seeing this, mimicked her—tilting his head, flopping back into the seat with a theatrical sigh.

“Fine. Whatever. Who needs you?”

Meanwhile, Dannika, caught between the two, quietly observed. First, the “pretending to rest” Tian Dao. Then, the pouting Ruli. She sighed inwardly.

Honestly, Tian Dao and Ruli… both grown-ups now, and still acting like kids. Honestly, it’s exhausting.

Just as she mentally groaned at the chaos of their dynamic, Tian Dao activated the Exclusive Background Modification Permission.

【You have made adjustments to your personal character background. Confirm saving?】

【System Notice: Once confirmed, the Stellar Production Team will develop a special side story based on this new background, accompanied by a million-popularity promotion campaign. After confirmation, no future background modification permissions will be able to alter this version. Please proceed with caution.】

Having gone through this process once before, Tian Dao was already familiar with the flow. As always, the system delivered the tool in a way that made sense to the audience.

Each background change required a plausible narrative explanation—so the exclusive character OVA served as the story’s official justification.

With a click, the confirmation was made.

【Your modified background has taken effect. You have unlocked a new special ability: Tian Dao Cells】

【Exclusive OVA in production…】

【Special Character OVA · "The Innate Strongest 2" — Completed. Airing date TBA.】

【Note: This OVA includes a 1-million-popularity promotion package. A pre-launch promotional campaign will be conducted before release. Final impact depends on audience reception post-debut.】

Hmm?

Right as Tian Dao received the new ability, Tian Dao Cells, a sudden shift occurred on the opposite side of the carriage.

Foxes, who had been quietly meditating with eyes closed, snapped them open—golden pupils flickering with surprise.

Mei Ling lifted her head, her cool gaze locking onto Tian Dao.

And the Tian Dao undergoing his physical transformation slipped into a strange, transcendent state.

“Miss,” Chen Xing murmured, watching the man who now appeared to be merely resting.

“I know. Tian Dao… he’s grown stronger again.”

She stared at him, her expression complex. Though she didn’t know exactly what had changed, she could feel it—the raw, radiant vitality emanating from him, so intense it almost seemed to light up the entire carriage.

She’d come so far. She’d trained relentlessly. She’d given everything.

Yet every time she thought she was finally catching up… he’d silently, effortlessly, step even higher.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

People called her a prodigy. The Liyang Family even said she was born to be a leader, a sovereign.

But Chen Xing knew the truth.

She wasn’t a genius.

Because the real genius—the one she’d tried so hard to reach, yet could never catch—was the shadow she kept chasing.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end