Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 364 An Aura That Stands Out from the Crowd

For the final stop of their culinary journey, Yin Yue took Luo Wen to a very special place—a small teahouse run by her grandmother. It was a cozy little shop, not as glamorous as those big restaurants, but filled with a warm, family-like atmosphere.

"Grandma, I'm back!" Silver Moon shouted excitedly.

A kind old lady came out of the kitchen and immediately beamed with a bright smile when she saw Yinyue. "Yinyue, my little girl, you're finally back! Grandma missed you so much!"

“Grandma, this is my friend Rowan,” Yinyue introduced.

"Oh my, so this is the alien lad!" Grandma looked Rowan up and down enthusiastically. "He's really handsome. Silvermoon has good taste."

"Grandma, please don't talk nonsense." Yinyue blushed.

"Haha, Grandma's just being straightforward, don't mind her," the old lady said to Luo Wen with a smile. "Come, come, sit down, Grandma will make you something delicious."

My grandmother's cooking skills were truly remarkable. Although they were all simple home-style dishes, she made them exceptionally delicious. Especially her homemade pastries, which were crispy, sweet, and unforgettable.

“This is my favorite snack since I was little,” Yinyue said. “My grandma would always make it for me whenever I came back.”

"Seeing the children eat happily makes Grandma content," the old lady said kindly.

In the teahouse, Luo Wen listened to Yin Yue tell many stories from her childhood. These included her nervousness when she first learned swordsmanship, her excitement when she participated in her first competition, and various amusing anecdotes from her childhood. These stories gave Luo Wen a deeper understanding of Yin Yue and allowed him to feel her inner purity and kindness.

“I was actually quite mischievous when I was little,” Silvermoon said with a smile. “Once, I secretly went swimming in Silvermoon Lake, but my father found out and punished me by making me stand facing the wall for a whole day.”

“I can imagine what you looked like as a child,” Rowan laughed. “You must have been very cute.”

"No, not at all," Yinyue said shyly, "I always worried my parents back then."

“That’s the process of growing up,” Grandma said from the side. “Yinyue has always had her own ideas, and although she sometimes gets into trouble, that’s also her strength.”

As dusk fell, the two bid farewell to their grandmother and began their journey home. The setting sun cast a shimmering glow on Silver Moon Lake, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty, almost dreamlike.

"These past few days of culinary adventures have been wonderful," Rowan remarked. "Not only have I tasted all sorts of delicious food, but more importantly, I've felt the warmth and friendliness of the Silverblue Empire."

“I’m happy to share this with you,” Silvermoon said gently. “I’m proud to see how much you love the Silverblue Empire.”

“Silver Moon,” Rowan suddenly stopped and looked at her intently, “thank you for your company these past few days. Every day in the Silverblue Empire has been joyful, not only from the novel experiences, but also from the feeling of being with you.”

Silver Moon blushed, but she didn't avoid Rowan's gaze. "Me too, Rowan. Being with you makes me feel safe and happy."

The two gazed at each other silently, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, creating a scene of exceptional beauty and warmth. Though they hadn't yet uttered those three words, their feelings for each other were already clear.

“Let’s go home,” Silvermoon said softly. “Our parents should be waiting for us.”

“Okay,” Rowan nodded. “What do you want to do tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” Silvermoon thought for a moment, “tomorrow I want to take you to see the most beautiful sunrise in the Silverblue Empire, on the Sunrise Peak of Swordheart Star.”

“That sounds amazing,” Rowan said expectantly. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

The next day, before dawn, Rowan heard a soft knock on the door. He quickly got up and opened it, and saw that Silver Moon had changed into a light hiking outfit and had an excited smile on her face.

"Are you ready?" Silvermoon asked in a low voice. "The sunrise at Sunrise Peak waits for no one."

“Of course.” Rowan had also changed into sportswear. “I can’t wait to see the first rays of sunlight in the Silver Blue Empire.”

The two quietly left Silvermoon's house. At this time, the entire Swordheart Star was still immersed in the tranquility before dawn. The streets were deserted, broken only by the occasional bird call from afar. Silvermoon led Rowan to a teleportation array.

“Sunrise Peak is still quite a distance from here,” Silvermoon explained. “We’ll teleport to the foot of the mountain first, and then hike up. This will save time and allow us to experience the joy of climbing.”

A flash of light from the teleportation array, and the two appeared at the foot of a majestic mountain. Even in the pre-dawn darkness, the mountain still appeared imposing and magnificent, its summit shrouded in clouds, giving it an air of mystery.

"This is Sunrise Peak," Silver Moon said, gazing up at the mountain. "One of the highest peaks on Sword Heart Star, and also the best place to watch the sunrise. It's said that in ancient times, many sword masters would come here to train, because it's closest to the sky, making it easiest to comprehend the sword intent of heaven and earth."

Rowan looked up, sensing the majestic aura emanating from the mountain peak. "This mountain truly has a special feel to it, as if it contains some mysterious power."

“That’s right,” Silver Moon nodded. “Sunrise Peak is considered the convergence point of the spiritual veins of Sword Heart Star, and the energy on the mountain is exceptionally pure. Let’s begin our ascent. The path isn’t too difficult, but we’ll need to speed up to reach the summit before sunrise.”

The mountain path is meticulously maintained, with smooth and sturdy stone steps, and morning glory flowers, unique to the Silver Blue Empire, planted on both sides, emitting a faint glow even in the dim light, guiding climbers. As the altitude increases, the surrounding scenery constantly changes.

“Look,” Silvermoon pointed to a peculiar plant by the roadside, “this is Silverleaf Grass, which only grows at high altitudes. Its leaves reflect a silvery light under the sunlight, making it very beautiful. Silverleaf Grass also purifies the air, so the air is especially fresh on Sunrise Peak.” Rowan carefully observed the plants and found that they were indeed different from those in lower altitude areas; their leaves were thicker and their color deeper. “The biodiversity of the Silverblue Empire is truly amazing; each plant has its own unique characteristics.”

“This is only a small part,” Silvermoon laughed. “Once we reach the summit, you’ll see even more amazing sights.”

As they climbed, they chatted. Rowan noticed that Silver Moon had excellent stamina, handling even such strenuous mountain climbing with ease. Her steps were light and steady, and her breathing was even, clearly indicating that she exercised regularly.

"Do you come here often?" Rowan asked.

“Yes, I come here about once a month,” Silver Moon replied. “Especially when I encounter bottlenecks in my cultivation, coming here to watch the sunrise always gives me great inspiration. My father said that the sunrise at Sunrise Peak has the power to purify the mind and can help martial artists break through mental barriers.”

As the two continued their ascent, the sky gradually began to lighten. A faint red hue appeared on the eastern horizon, signaling the imminent sunrise. The temperature on the mountain also began to drop, and the morning breeze carried a hint of coolness.

"Just a little longer, we'll be there," Silvermoon encouraged. "Our timing is perfect; we should be able to catch the sunrise."

About half an hour later, the two finally reached the summit of Sunrise Peak. There was a flat viewing platform there, with several huge rocks placed on it as seats. By this time, the eastern sky had already been dyed orange-red, and the sun was about to rise above the horizon.

“We’ve arrived just in time,” Silvermoon exclaimed excitedly. “Look, the sun is about to rise.”

Luo Wen stood on the edge of the observation deck, looking down at the sea of ​​clouds below and the distant mountains. At this moment, the entire Sword Heart Star was still immersed in the morning mist, with only the highest peaks peeking out from the sea of ​​clouds, forming a stunningly beautiful picture.

“This view is truly magnificent,” Rowan exclaimed sincerely. “Standing here, I feel like I’m standing at the top of the world.”

“Every time I see a scene like this, I think of an ancient poem,” Silver Moon recited softly, “‘Sword points to the clouds, stretching ten thousand miles; heart follows the sunrise, breaking through the morning light.’ These are lines left by an ancient sword saint of the Silver Blue Empire, who is said to have attained enlightenment on the highest level of swordsmanship in this very place.”

Just then, a sliver of the sun appeared on the eastern horizon. Golden rays instantly pierced through the clouds and showered the earth. As the sun slowly rose, the entire world was bathed in gold, the sea of ​​clouds churned, and the mountains revealed their clear outlines under the sunlight.

"It's so beautiful," Rowan exclaimed, deeply awestruck by the sight before him. "This is the most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen."

Yinyue stood beside him, and the two quietly admired the magnificent view. Sunlight shone on her face, making her look even more beautiful and charming. A gentle breeze ruffled her hair, carrying the unique fragrance of the mountaintop.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” Rowan said softly. “This is an experience I’ve never had on Earth.”

“I’m so happy to be able to share this wonderful moment with you,” Silvermoon replied, her eyes sparkling with tenderness.

Just as the two were immersed in the beauty of the sunrise, a loud cry suddenly rang out from the sky. The sound was long and deep, carrying an ancient and mysterious charm, echoing in the valley for a long time.

Rowan looked up and saw a colossal figure appear in the distant sky. It was a massive flying creature with a wingspan of at least fifty meters, its entire body gleaming a deep blue, sparkling in the sunlight. Its head was noble and majestic, its long neck gracefully outstretched, and the feathers on its wings were distinctly layered, each shimmering with a metallic sheen.

"What is that?" Rowan asked in surprise, instinctively adopting a defensive posture.

To his surprise, Silver Moon showed no fear whatsoever; instead, a delighted smile appeared on her face. "How lucky! We actually encountered the Star-Winged Roc!"

"Star-Winged Roc?" Rowan looked at Silver Moon in confusion. "What is this?"

“That’s the legendary guardian beast of our Silverblue Empire,” Silvermoon explained excitedly. “It is said that the Star-Winged Roc is one of the oldest creatures in the world, possessing unparalleled power and wisdom. They usually dwell on the highest mountain peaks and rarely appear before humans. To see a Star-Winged Roc is considered extremely lucky, a sign of a bright future.”

Rowan observed the enormous creature in the sky again, finding that it indeed showed no hostility. The Star-Winged Roc glided gracefully through the air, occasionally flapping its wings with a gentle yet powerful motion. Its deep eyes seemed to be watching the two people on the mountaintop, its gaze filled with ancient wisdom and goodwill.

“It’s truly beautiful,” Rowan exclaimed sincerely. “Its majestic aura and elegant flight are just like those of a mythical beast.”

"The Starwing Roc is not merely a symbol of beauty, but also the guardian of our Silver Blue Empire," Silver Moon continued. "Throughout our history, whenever the empire faced a major crisis, the Starwing Roc would appear to help us overcome the difficulties. Although they possess world-destroying power, they never harm innocent lives, only protecting the good and justice."

Just then, the Star-Winged Roc seemed to notice the two people on the mountaintop. It slowly changed its flight direction and flew towards Sunrise Peak. As the distance closed, Rowan could see the detailed features of this divine beast more clearly.

The feathers of the Star-Winged Roc are a deep blue, but they reflect purple, silver, and even gold light from different angles, shimmering like stars in the night sky. Its head is noble and majestic, and its eyes, like two dazzling blue sapphires, reveal unfathomable wisdom. Most impressive is the star-shaped mark on its chest, which emits a faint glow, seemingly containing some mysterious power.

"It looks like it's coming," Rowan said nervously. "Do we need to prepare anything?"

“Don’t worry,” Silvermoon said calmly. “The Starwing Roc is just curious. Legend has it that they are particularly interested in guests from afar, especially those with good intentions. You have a unique aura about you; it may want to get to know you.”

The Star-Winged Roc flew to a distance of about a hundred meters from the viewing platform and then began to descend slowly. Its descent was extremely graceful, its wings flapping gently without stirring up a gust of wind. Only when it landed completely on a giant rock near the viewing platform did Luo Wen truly grasp the immense size of this divine beast. Even crouching, the Star-Winged Roc was over ten meters tall, its presence lending a solemn and awe-inspiring presence to the entire mountaintop.

However, the aura emanating from this divine beast was very gentle, without any aggression. It quietly watched Rowan and Silver Moon, its eyes revealing curiosity and friendliness.

“It’s really gentle,” Rowan said in surprise. “I thought such a powerful creature would be much more ferocious.”

“That’s what makes the Starwing Roc so special,” Silver Moon explained. “Truly powerful beings often possess the most peaceful state of mind. Their power comes from inner tranquility and respect for life, not from violence and conquest.”

(End of this chapter)