Astral Pet Store Chapter 1579: Epilogue: Welcome Back (2)

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Previously on Astral Pet Store...
Su Ping emerged from countless reincarnations induced by the prayer of the people, his gaze now calm and indifferent toward the Ultimate Heavenly Dao. The Ultimate Heavenly Dao warmly welcomed him, believing the experience had clarified his understanding of life's loneliness, and invited him to co-create an eternal world free of chaos. Su Ping refused, valuing the wonder of loneliness over eternal boredom, and offered to absorb the Ultimate Heavenly Dao to reveal the world's light. Enraged, the Ultimate Heavenly Dao accused him of shallow comprehension, as the Chaos Core confirmed Su Ping's resolute choice amid rising fury.
The magnificent body of the Ultimate Heavenly Dao shook violently with fury. His voice turned utterly terrifying. "Shut up! Shut up! I'm going to consume you and make you taste the deepest sorrow within my body!"      <p>   </p><p>The Chaos Core abruptly interrupted, "You can't do it." </p><p>It stepped forward to stand beside Su Ping. With a icy glare at the Ultimate Heavenly Dao, it stated, "As I said, if he makes a second choice, I will return to her side." </p><p>A chilling tone filled the Heavenly Dao's words, "Do you believe returning would alter anything? Even without you, I can restart chaos. All it takes is shattering you!" </p><p>"You can't do it." </p><p>Su Ping now spoke those very words. </p><p>He stretched out an arm toward his foe, whose form had twisted into a horrifying abomination. "Haven't you figured it out yet? I've felt all the prayers from the people, endured everything you've suffered. In essence, I am now the Ultimate Heavenly Dao carrying the people's prayers. I possess all that you do! </p><p>"What you lack stands with me now." </p><p>Su Ping continued gently, "I can feel the people's grief just as deeply as you. Come; let me reveal the light they never pleaded for. Only in that light will their prayers cease. It's the most splendid vista in existence." </p><p>"This is impossible!" </p><p>Refusing to accept this reality, the Ultimate Heavenly Dao launched a fierce assault. His willpower roared forth like a tidal wave, enveloping Su Ping in dark, menacing shades. </p><p>Su Ping stayed utterly calm as his form swelled enormously. This was pure willpower in action. He grew into a colossal giant and seized the Ultimate Heavenly Dao with one hand. </p><p>He displayed power equal to everything the Ultimate Heavenly Dao had wielded so far. </p><p>Meanwhile, the Chaos Qualifications and the Mother of Chaos's body resided within Su Ping. The Chaos Core allied with him too; all chaos's essence converged upon him. </p><p>Gripped firmly by Su Ping, the Ultimate Heavenly Dao saw his strength steadily stripped away until he shrank into a small child, bearing an uncanny likeness to the Chaos Core. </p><p>Terror filled his eyes as he gazed up at Su Ping, unable to fathom how the latter commanded such dread power. </p><p>"Come with me. I'll show you this world's prosperity," Su Ping said tenderly. </p><p>A grand willpower descended with immense pressure. Yet despite its majesty, it carried no malice. Su Ping offered a heartfelt invitation. </p><p>Through that influx, the Ultimate Heavenly Dao instantly grasped all of Su Ping's essence, including his thoughts amid the people's prayers. </p><p>Hate, rage, sorrow, agony… Su Ping had endured it all just as he had. </p><p>Yet amid that torrent of dark emotions, shining faces and forms flickered like radiant gold. </p><p>The Ultimate Heavenly Dao stood stunned. </p><p>He realized Su Ping hadn't deceived him; he had genuinely witnessed and lived those existences. But Su Ping had chosen differently. </p><p>Are those things truly so captivating? </p><p>In a daze, the child-form Ultimate Heavenly Dao rested in Su Ping's palm. </p><p>In that instant, he knew defeat was total. Both his might and resolve had crumbled utterly.    </p><p>   </p><p>Even if he wished to resist, it was beyond him. </p><p>After endless ages— </p><p>The Ultimate Heavenly Dao lifted his small hand. The enormous hand that had held him vanished. Warm, embracing arms took hold of him instead. </p><p>Just then, a contract formed. </p><p>The next instant, a cataclysmic power erupted within Su Ping's body and surged outward. </p><p>He felt no shock. Gazing at the Ultimate Heavenly Dao with kind eyes, he declared, "We'll set off together after bidding them farewell." </p><p>The Ultimate Heavenly Dao nodded, his face showing unease. </p><p>Su Ping smiled and departed from the Chaos Core. </p><p>Outside— </p><p>The colossal, disintegrating body halted abruptly. </p><p>The fractures ceased spreading, and fissures mended at blinding speed, restoring wholeness in a flash. </p><p>This restoration occurred at phenomenal velocity. The Mother of Chaos, statue-still until now, opened her eyes wide as if rousing from slumber. Excitement mixed with anxiety as she sensed the revitalizing aura within Su Ping's body. </p><p>"This aura…" </p><p>"Is he back?!" </p><p>Yin Que and the other Sorcerer Ancestors roused and swiftly turned toward Su Ping's form. </p><p>"He must have been remade by the Heavenly Dao…" Hei Xiang's face clouded with concern. </p><p>"System…" </p><p>Su Ping regarded the system, now a mere speck in his vast view. Smiling, he said, "It's been a long time." </p><p>"It has truly been a… long time." The Mother of Chaos stared at Su Ping, entranced. Her heavy burdens lifted at his gentle smile, bringing tears to her eyes. </p><p>She knew his ordeals. How could he still greet her so warmly? </p><p>The Ultimate Heavenly Dao had opted to annihilate chaos, after all. </p><p>Yet Su Ping simply said 'it had been a long time'. </p><p>"No need for concern. I've tamed the Heavenly Dao," Su Ping assured with a smile. </p><p>To prove it, he set the Heavenly Dao upon his shoulder. </p><p>True enough, the Ultimate Heavenly Dao perched there like a child. Seeing the Mother of Chaos's shocked look, he averted his gaze and huffed. Then, recalling something, he addressed her, "Perhaps I was mistaken. We'll journey together so I can verify it all. One day, I might return to obliterate this chaos!"    </p><p>   </p>