Kurumi Tokisaki's Planar Journey

"Big Sister San, come play with me!"

Kurumi sat on a high grassy knoll, lost in thought. After a while, she finally focused on the little girl tugging at her sleeve.

The girl had bright, clear eyes that sparkled like stars. Her smooth, white face resembled a freshly peeled egg, inviting a gentle touch.

Kurumi couldn't resist and pinch the girl's slightly chubby cheeks.

"Big... Big Sister San, p-please... let go!"

The girl, whose cheeks were pinched, stammered, her speech slurred. This sight reminded Kurumi of when she used to pinch Red Queen's cheeks.

'I wonder how the little one is doing. Is she lonely outside the barrier?'

The girl waved her tiny hands, trying to pull Kurumi's hand away, but it only resulted in her hurting herself.

Her big eyes welled up with tears, making her look like she was about to cry at any moment.

Kurumi quickly released her hands. The girl stepped back, gently rubbing her cheeks to ease the pain.

Her long, black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her eyelashes long, her eyes large, and her pouting lips a delicate shade of pink, expressing her dissatisfaction.

"Xun'er, come here," Kurumi called gently.

The girl in the green dress hesitated, then weakly said, "You... you won't pinch me again, right?"

Kurumi blinked, "Of course not. How could I lie to Xun'er?" She pulled out a piece of malt candy from her pocket. "Do you want this?"

"Yes!"

"Then come sit here nicely."

Kurumi patted the grass beside her, and Xun'er eagerly ran over.

Watching Xun'er enjoy the candy, Kurumi sighed. It was surprising to find herself in the world of "Battle Through the Heavens," and the style was much like the manga.

Holding her chin with a small hand, Kurumi thought about her new father in this world, feeling a headache coming on. She hadn't expected her essence to conflict with the host body after rebirth. The result was that the host used up all its strength to birth her and Xun'er and died.

Gu Yuan doted on them, but Kurumi couldn't help but feel guilty seeing the sadness in his eyes. She had absorbed most of the nutrients from the host, almost suffocating Xun'er. If Gu Yuan hadn't been there, Xun'er might not have survived.

I was thinking of this filled Kurumi with melancholy. The Main God had marked the "Battle Through the Heavens" world, and she could only hope they weren't the same. Otherwise, there would be big trouble.

Calling the Main God yielded no response. Due to her limited essence, Kurumi had yet to practice the divine techniques from the space within her spirit. The laws of time and space in this world differed significantly. Manipulating time here was nearly impossible, while space could easily be torn if one had enough energy.

In "Battle Through the Heavens," the space-time continuum had no reference value. Perhaps because of her essence and the ancient bloodline, her body's talent was extraordinarily high. She could easily reach the "Dou Saint" realm even with regular training.

As the clan leader's daughter with exceptional talent, she received endless resources for cultivation. But Xun'er's foundation was damaged due to Kurumi's overwhelming essence. With a new essence, Kurumi could repair Xun'er's foundation.

She sighed and stroked Xun'er's soft black hair. In a few days, there would be a bloodline test for the clan's children, which would determine their future.

In a large clan like the Gu Clan, power struggles were everyday. Even as the clan leader, Gu Yuan couldn't seize benefits from the stubborn elders. Talent warranted resources for cultivation, but with it, one would work for arranged marriages to strengthen alliances.

"Big Sister San, I want more candy," Xun'er said, her big, bright eyes full of innocent desire.

Kurumi turned her head. "No. Too much candy causes cavities."

Xun'er pouted. "But you're a child too, Big Sister San."

"Cavities will make you ugly, and then Daddy won't like you, and I'll hate you," Kurumi said seriously, scaring Xun'er. Her little shoulders shook, and her big eyes filled with tears again.

"I don't want you to hate me! I don't want to be ugly!" Xun'er cried, her face a picture of sorrow.

Kurumi sighed, thinking this little girl was far from the future goddess of the continent. She seemed more like a little crybaby.

"Alright, alright, I won't hate you," Kurumi reassured her.

Xun'er felt comforted by the gentle touch on her head, her mood stabilizing. Her eyes were still red from crying, and she stared at Kurumi, her lips trembling.

"Pinky promise!"

"Huh?" Kurumi blinked in confusion.

Xun'er held out her little hand, and Kurumi, surprised, linked her pinky with Xun'er's.

"Pinky promise, a hundred years without change. If you break it, a thousand needles will stab you," Xun'er recited.

Kurumi felt a wave of nostalgia. She hadn't expected this world to have such customs. She thought of the many absurd scenes in the manga and couldn't help but smile.

Xun'er, feeling better, pulled Kurumi towards a small stream.

Looking at their reflections in the water, Kurumi saw two young girls. They looked somewhat alike, with Kurumi having twin tails and no mask. Only a close inspection revealed the clock face in her left eye.

A figure suddenly appeared behind them, kneeling. "Misses, the clan leader wants you to go to the meeting hall."