It was October 2026 when Liu Hui experienced a day he'd never forget. His daughter with Hu Xian'er had finally been born, and as he held the newborn in his arms at her hospital bed, the blood connection to this tiny life overwhelmed him with joy. Tears spilled down his cheeks - for the first time since Liang Jingyue's son was born without his knowledge all those years ago, Liu Hui could truly comprehend the miracle of creation.

The baby girl cradled in his arms ignited a profound paternal love he'd never felt before. Unlike when Xiao Bao had been raised entirely by Liang Jingyue, this time the full spectrum of parenthood - both its joys and burdens - would become his reality. The birth awakened something primal in Anqi and Shuyan as well, two women whose bodies now ached with envy. Their maternal instincts surged like dormant fires rekindled.

Relieved to see Liu Hui's obvious delight when he discovered the baby was a girl, Hu Xian'er relaxed her shoulders after months of anxiety. As someone who'd lived twice and longed for motherhood across lifetimes, this fulfillment left her with few regrets now. Thirteen-year-old Xiao Bao, already protective of his new sister, lingered in the nursery watching the tiny face sleep.

"Xiao Bao," Liu Hui chuckled, "do you like your little sister?"

The boy nodded solemnly. "Dad, I want to see her grow up and call me 'older brother'. Then we'll play outside together!"

"Don't let anyone hurt her when you're older," Liu Hui said.

Xiao Bao's face grew serious as he vowed, "I'll always protect your sister! No one will ever harm her!" The adults exchanged amused glances at his maturity.

"Mrs. Hu, what's the baby's name?" Xiao Bao asked suddenly.

Hu Xian'er looked to Liu Hui with a smile. "Shuiniu, have you decided on a name yet?"

"Ling Su Mei," Liu Hui declared, watching tears well in his wife's eyes. The name honored her - the beloved Su Mei from his past life.

Xiao Bao beamed. "That's a beautiful name! Simple and elegant like an ancient lady."

"Then you must protect your Su Mei sister forever," Hu Xian'er teased gently.

"I swear I will!" Xiao Bao pounded his chest.

The family's happiness turned to confusion when Liu Hui began noticing strange changes in himself - not just the unnerving lightness in his steps, but skin growing paler by the day. When he visited Starlight Hospital for tests, all readings were normal yet the sensations persisted. Worse still, staff members started treating him with reverent deference, claiming they felt divine power emanating from him.

This baffled Liu Hui, who couldn't sense anything supernatural himself. His subordinates insisted he radiated a sacred aura that pressed directly on their souls. The notion of being worshiped as a deity left him unsettled. Fortunately, his family and close friends maintained normal relationships with him despite these bizarre occurrences, providing some comfort.

Meanwhile in 2027, "Starlight City" solidified its dominance over Earth nations. With a population now exceeding ten million - including fifty thousand newborns yet no recorded deaths thanks to medical breakthroughs - Mars settlements thrived under the third wave of immigration. Sixty-five thousand colonists had transformed the Red Planet into an almost perfect second Earth, with cities and ecosystems flourishing beyond expectations.

Looking outward, Liu Hui envisioned humanity's future across the solar system. Advanced bases on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune lay hidden beneath cloaking arrays, ready to defend against potential threats while mining operations expanded resource exploitation. Yet his greatest challenges still lay in Earth politics - as Alexander's aggressive expansionism finally provoked a coalition of elven nations.

The Grand Elf King, descendant of the Nature Goddess herself, had declared war on both Alexander and the Light Church. With over one hundred million elite troops at their disposal including divine envoys from the goddess, these adversaries posed an existential threat to human settlements. As Liu Hui contemplated this cosmic chessboard, he knew his greatest tests were yet to come.