Li Yuan and Yan Yu both turned away again without another word. Each understood this was anything but small. Yan Yu was basically a Yin domain, Li Yuan something closer to a Yang domain. Yin and Yang rejected each other more absolutely than water and flame; bridging that gulf would not be easy.3

Even so, the outcome, while startling, made a sad kind of sense. When lovers had to part, it was only natural to put on a strong face. One solace was that this wasn’t an eternal parting. They could still meet, just not touch.0

Li Yuan accepted reality, steadied his emotions, and continued on, feeling out his brand‑new power. The transformation had settled completely. One glance at his status screen showed nothing but a jet‑black question mark.0

???2

A closer look revealed a faint 3,600~51, 341. His overall combat power had jumped from 2,600~41.341—a...0