The next three years passed in a brilliant flash within the luminous embrace of the 3rd Heaven. Time in Luminara Reach seemed to move differently — accelerated by the dense, invigorating essence that made every day feel purposeful and alive. The family had settled into a rhythm of steady growth, their lives upgraded far beyond anything they had once imagined in the lower realms.
Joshua, now twenty-five, maintained his dual nature with effortless precision. In public — when dealing with manor staff, Trade Association officials, or the occasional probing noble — he was the picture of refined nobility: posture straight, voice calm and measured, every word and action regal and reserved, with only the faintest hint of youthful warmth in his eyes. But the moment he was alone or with family, the mask fell away completely. He became playful, mischievous, and sharply cunning, the same energetic spirit that had passed down to the twins.
His parents advanced steadily to A-rank. Their foundations, already strengthened by the earlier B-rank elixir, were further tempered through consistent cultivation in the manor's private chambers and occasional visits to natural reserves. His mother, now a recognized noble, carried herself with graceful confidence, while his father's solid presence grew even more reliable.
The twins, Mia and Kai, hit the peak of A-rank with remarkable speed. Their [Yin-Yang Path] continued to flourish, creating a perfect balance. Kai's [Yang] energy made him vibrant, active, warm, and boldly masculine — his playful nature amplified into infectious enthusiasm and decisive action. Mia's [Yin] brought cool, reserved femininity, darkness, and passivity — her mischief tempered into elegant, serene playfulness that made her seem wiser than her eighteen years. Together, they were far more powerful than either could be alone, their interdependence turning every training session into a harmonious dance.
Joshua himself reached the peak of S-rank. His tempered foundation — skin, bones, blood, and internal organs — had become nearly flawless. [Fire] moved with masterful control: nurturing and embracing when protecting his family, scorching and incinerating when facing threats. [Lightning] remained pure dominating force — assertive and consuming. [The Glitch] had evolved into a subtle, devastating weapon he could deploy with a mere thought. In private moments, he would test combinations with boyish excitement, laughing as he carved training arenas into the manor grounds or melted high-grade ore for fun.
During these three years, the family acquired another Starfall Site at auction. This time, Joshua used the 80,000,000 digital star shards he had taken from the five S-rank attackers years earlier. He spent the sum wisely on a squad of high-rank automatons — elite mining and combat units far superior to the mid-grade ones he had used before. These new automatons accelerated extraction dramatically.
The original Starfall Site was exhausted after exactly three years of steady mining. Upon returning from a final inspection trip, Joshua gathered the family in the private vault. His public mask was on as he addressed the automated inventory system, but once alone, he dropped it with a mischievous grin.
"Aether," he said casually while the family watched, "give me the current total balance and reserves."
Aether responded sharply and without emotion:
The family stared in stunned silence for a moment.
Kai whistled, his [Yang] energy making the sound bright and energetic. "Three billion? Big brother, you're basically a walking treasury!"
Mia smiled coolly, her [Yin] presence giving her words an elegant weight, though her eyes sparkled with playful mischief. "And you spent it so quietly. Typical Joshua — always ten steps ahead."
Joshua laughed brightly, the playful side fully visible. "What can I say? I'm just strategically planning our domination of the stairway." He winked. "Plus, those high-rank automatons paid for themselves ten times over."
With their newfound wealth, the family made several significant purchases. They acquired a Star Bracelet large enough to hold a small house — an extremely rare spatial storage device that cost a significant portion of their digital balance. Next, they bought a mobile manor — a luxurious, floating estate that could travel between isles or even accompany them on future ascensions. Finally, they hired a peak high-class butler with full sentience AI named Tian'Yu. Unlike Jared's emotionless efficiency, Tian'Yu possessed a refined, almost human personality — courteous, witty, and deeply loyal.
Tian'Yu bowed elegantly upon activation, his voice smooth and cultured. "It is an honor to serve the family of Earl Joshua. I look forward to ensuring your household runs with perfection."
The family's preparations for ascension to the 2nd Heaven began in earnest. Joshua spent long hours in private, switching between regal focus when planning publicly and cunning, energetic scheming when alone. He calculated routes, refined elixirs, and tested [Fire], [Lightning], and [The Glitch] until they responded like extensions of his will.
The twins trained relentlessly, their [Yin-Yang Path] growing stronger with every session. Kai's warm, active [Yang] complemented Mia's cool, reserved [Yin] perfectly, creating a dynamic balance that made them far more talented than most solo A-rankers.
As the preparations intensified, Joshua gathered the family on the balcony one evening. In front of Tian'Yu and the staff, he spoke with refined composure. "We are nearly ready. The move to the 2nd Heaven will test us, but we will face it together."
The moment they were alone, he dropped the mask completely. Leaning back with unrestrained energy, he grinned at everyone. "Three billion shards, a mobile manor, a sentient butler, and the strongest family bond in the Reach. Those noble factions still think I'm just passing through. They have no idea we're about to skip straight past the 2nd Heaven and aim even higher."
Kai laughed, his [Yang] energy making him bounce with excitement. "We're really doing this!"
Mia smiled serenely, her [Yin] presence adding elegant calm, yet her tone remained playfully teasing. "And we'll do it better than anyone expects."
Joshua's eyes gleamed with sharp, youthful cunning. "Exactly. The stairway keeps calling… and this time, the whole family answers together."