The final year of preparation in the 3rd Heaven was one of focused intensity and quiet joy. The family's mobile manor — a magnificent floating estate purchased with their vast reserves — had been fully outfitted and tested. It hovered gracefully near their original granted manor, ready to accompany them on the long journey ahead. The Star Bracelet now rested on Joshua's wrist, its spatial capacity large enough to hold an entire small house, making travel far more convenient.
Tian'Yu, the peak high-class butler with full sentience AI, had integrated seamlessly into the household. His refined, witty personality brought a new layer of elegance. He managed daily affairs with perfect courtesy while occasionally offering dry, insightful commentary that even made Joshua laugh in private.
"Lord Joshua," Jared said one morning as he served breakfast, "your latest cultivation session left scorch marks on the training pavilion again. Shall I have the automatons reinforce the walls once more?"
Joshua, in the presence of the family, dropped his regal mask and grinned mischievously. "Only if you promise not to tell the twins how many times I accidentally melted the floor practicing [Fire] combinations."
Kai and Mia burst into laughter, their [Yin-Yang Path] making their reactions perfectly complementary — Kai's warm, active energy loud and bright, Mia's cool, reserved [Yin] adding elegant amusement.
The family's strength had grown significantly over the three years. Joshua remained at the peak of S-rank, his control over [Fire], [Lightning], and [The Glitch] reaching near-mastery. His parents had solidified their A-rank foundations. The twins had reached the peak of A-rank, their [Yin-Yang Path] creating a harmonious balance that made them exceptionally talented — Kai embodying light, masculinity, warmth, and activity; Mia embodying darkness, femininity, cold, and passivity. Together, they were far stronger than any solo climber at their level.
Joshua spent much of his time alone in the Starfall Site or the mobile manor's private chambers, pushing his limits with playful determination. When alone, he would laugh brightly while testing new combinations — nurturing [Fire] healing his own training injuries before shifting into incinerating fury, or assertive [Lightning] consuming obstacles with dominating force. [The Glitch] had become an invisible extension of his will, ready to distort any enemy essence in an instant.
In public, however, he remained the picture of reserved nobility. When a representative from House Varyn visited to "politely inquire" about the family's preparations, Joshua responded with calm, regal detachment. "We appreciate your concern, but our path is our own. We have no interest in local power struggles."
The representative left unsatisfied, muttering about the "passer-by" once again.
As the day of ascension approached, Joshua gathered the family in the mobile manor's grand hall. In front of Tian'Yu and the staff, he spoke with refined composure. "Tomorrow we begin the journey to the 2nd Heaven. It will be long and difficult, but we will face it as one."
The moment they were alone, the mask dropped. Joshua lounged back with unrestrained energy, a cunning grin spreading across his face. "Three billion shards, a mobile manor, a sentient butler, and the strongest [Yin-Yang] twins in the realm. The noble factions still think we're just passing through. They have no idea we're about to skip the 2nd Heaven entirely and aim straight for the 1st."
Kai laughed, his [Yang] energy making him bounce with excitement. "We're really skipping levels? That's going to make some people angry!"
Mia smiled serenely, her [Yin] presence adding cool elegance, yet her eyes sparkled with playful mischief. "Let them be angry. We'll be too far ahead for it to matter."
Joshua's eyes gleamed with sharp, youthful cunning. "Exactly. The stairway keeps calling… and this time, the whole family answers together — louder than ever."
The preparations were complete.
The ascension to the 1st Heaven awaite