The aunt raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A meteorite, huh? That's dramatic. I like it."
She clapped her hands, excitement lighting up her face. "Can I help? Please? I promise I won't mess it up."
The mother rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a fond smile. "Fine, but no over-the-top theatrics. This has to look natural."
The aunt's mischievous grin widened. "Natural? Of course, Sister. You can count on me."
The father sighed, shaking his head with a faint smile. "Let's just make sure it's done properly," he said, already bracing himself for whatever antics might follow.
The three of them moved to the center of the subspace, where the father created a glowing pedestal with a wave of his hand.
The mother carefully placed the egg on it. Her movements were soft and careful, and she treated the egg as if it were the most fragile thing in the world.
The aunt flicked her wrist, and a chunk of meteorite material appeared out of thin air. The rock was dark and jagged, its surface covered in veins of silver light that pulsed faintly as it released small amounts of Spiritual Qi from those veins.
"This looks like good material," the aunt said, inspecting it with keen interest. "Let's make it something special."
The father began working, channeling his Spiritual Qi into the meteorite to shape it. The rough edges smoothed out under his control, and the material gradually transformed into a rounded, protective shell.
The aunt leaned in, watching the process closely. "It's sturdy, I'll give you that," she said, tapping the shell's surface lightly.
"But don't you think it's a little... plain? It needs something extra."
The mother sighed, shaking her head. "It's a meteorite, not a piece of art. It just needs to look convincing enough to pass as natural."
The aunt smirked, clearly enjoying the banter. "Fine, but don't blame me if it's a little boring."
Once the meteorite was complete, the mother carefully lifted the egg and placed it inside the hollow core.
The aunt's grin widened, her mischievous energy undeniable. "Oh, don't worry. I'll be on my best behavior. Probably."
The three of them shared a laugh as they started talking about the situation that had happened while they were away.
And the aunt told them everything regarding the recent events, which helped them understand the situation.
As they settled back into the subspace, the aunt stretched out on the sofa she had conjured earlier, her gaze drifting back to the view of Nexara.
"I can't wait to see his reaction. He's going to love it."
The mother smiled, thinking about her son. "He will. And with the panther by his side, he'll be even stronger."
The father placed a reassuring hand on the mother's shoulder. "We've done everything we can. Now, all we can do is wait."
They sat in a comfortable silence, their thoughts unified by their shared love for Xu Qianghua.
The glowing subspace seemed to hum with quiet contentment as the three of them reflected on the future.
The aunt's gaze shifted to the spot where the portal had been. "Do you think he'll figure it out right away?" she asked, her tone curious.
The mother chuckled. "Of course. He's not a child anymore. He'll know it might be from a powerful cultivator, but him guessing that it might be us is slim."
The aunt's eyes gleamed with her usual mischief. "Well, just in case, maybe I'll send him a little note. Something cryptic to keep him on his toes."
The father sighed, though there was a hint of amusement in his expression. "Let's not confuse him. The last thing he needs is more riddles."
The aunt shrugged, her smile unbothered. "Fine, fine. But don't blame me if he doesn't get the message right away."
The mother shook her head, clearly entertained. "He'll figure it out. And when he does, I will be right before him to face him."