Chapter 1165: Star God's Tear

Jasmine pointed a finger, her voice hoarse with emotion as she lost control. "On his own planet, he is the supreme king. Nothing can threaten him. He has his family, his friends, his woman... he could live his entire life without disaster or worry!"

"But... what is he here? Do you know how dangerous it is for him here?!"

The more Jasmine spoke, the more agitated she became. "Do you know how many secrets he carries? Any one of them, if exposed, would attract the greed of the entire God Realm! At that point, his freedom, his life... his home planet, everything he possesses, will be utterly destroyed!"

"What kind of people are capable of entering the Eternal Heaven God Realm?! For him, it's the most dangerous, most forbidden place in this world! If even one person among them discovers any of his secrets, he'll... Do you understand?!"

"I... I..." Cai Zhi's body tensed.

"Countless people are investigating my whereabouts during the years I disappeared, and no one has forgotten that I once obtained the Heretic God's Indestructible Blood... If I were to meet him, and someone detected even the slightest clue, do you know what the consequences would be?!"

"And my reasons for not being able to meet him extend far beyond this!"

Jasmine's breathing became heavy, her spirit seemingly caught in a raging storm.

"Sister... I... I know I was wrong..." Cai Zhi's eyes welled up with tears. "I just... wanted to do something for you, to give you a surprise... I didn't know it would be so dangerous... I truly know I was wrong..."

"Cai Zhi, after causing such a huge mess, you clearly promised me you would never hide anything from me again, and never make decisions on your own again. Why did you...?"

"If you had told me immediately after seeing him, there were so many ways to send him back to his home planet, never to set foot in the God Realm again. At least, today's situation wouldn't have happened... But now, what am I supposed to do...?"

Jasmine trembled all over. For her, the two most important people in her life were Cai Zhi and Yun Che. Cai Zhi's acceptance of the Heavenly Wolf Star God's legacy already felt like half the sky had fallen, and now Yun Che...

"Sister," Cai Zhi cautiously stepped forward, her eyes glistening with tears, "I know I was wrong. I didn't listen to you again. Please... don't be angry anymore, okay? Maybe... maybe what you're worried about won't happen. And... I believe you must really want to see him again. You're so powerful, you must have many ways... to meet him without being discovered."

"You... don't... understand." Jasmine slowly shook her head. "You don't understand him... You're still a child. There are so many things in this world you don't understand. Many people aren't what they seem, and many situations are a million times more brutal than you imagine!"

Jasmine turned away, not wanting Cai Zhi to see the tears that were becoming increasingly difficult to control in her eyes. "Cai Zhi, go back to your Star God Palace immediately and reflect... You are not to leave a single step without my permission!"

Cai Zhi's lips parted, and she sadly lowered her head, softly saying, "I understand... I... I will reflect properly. Please don't be angry anymore, okay...?"

After taking a few steps, Cai Zhi suddenly turned back, bit her lip, and whispered, "Sister, he... is very much like what you described, the foolish person in this world. I deliberately teased him several times, and yet, he risked his life repeatedly to save me..."

"Only because... I used your name, Sister."

Jasmine: "..."

"He must know the dangers of the God Realm. He came to the God Realm with only one goal: to find you, Sister. To meet you, he truly... doesn't even care about his own life, he..."

"Stop talking!" Jasmine's back trembled slightly. "Go back immediately... and reflect!"

Cai Zhi dared not speak further. With her head bowed low, her delicate white fingers tightly twisted the sash of her dress, and she obediently flew back alone towards the Star God Realm.

As soon as Cai Zhi left, two streaks of tears slowly trailed down Jasmine's cheeks. Soon, teardrops flowed like a bursting dam, cascading down her face.

"Yun Che..."

"Yun... Che..."

"Yun............ Che............"

Her body slowly curled up, her calls laced with sobs... Perhaps no one would believe that the Heaven Smiting Star God of the Star God Realm could have such a vulnerable side, crying mournfully like a fragile maiden...

From a distant location, a gaze remained fixed on Jasmine, never leaving her.

"The Heaven Smiting Star God's spirit is so chaotic that she hasn't discovered me for this long, hmph... It seems this trip was not in vain at all; on the contrary... it's incredibly interesting."

"Yun Che..." Qianye Ying'er looked back, softly uttering the name she previously deemed unworthy of her memory. "This is far more interesting than the Nine Profound Exquisite Body."

In the world of the Eternal Heaven Pagoda, all cultivators who entered were in the zero-th level.

Although it was a "pagoda," the world within its levels was unexpectedly vast. The zero-th level was a barren mountainous region, with rolling low hills, hundreds of miles wide and several miles high.

At the peak of one of the low hills was the passage to the first level, a stone door tightly sealed.

The scenes and starting positions for all cultivators were identical. This included the appearance of each subsequent level, as well as the profound beasts and profound illusions guarding them, all exactly the same.

It could be said to be absolutely fair.

And all these images were fully projected onto the God Sealing Stage, allowing anyone to clearly observe any participant.

Soon, every participating cultivator arrived before the passage to the first level, waiting for the stone door to open, ready to rush into the first level at the very first moment, seizing every precious second... Even Luo Changsheng was no exception.

But there was one sole exception.

Yun Che!

He stood motionless at the spot where he was initially teleported, his gaze seemingly distant, lost in thought.

Yun Che's action, while eliciting scoffing from many, did not surprise them. In this battle where only one's raw strength mattered, whatever he did would lead to the same outcome.

"The third round of preliminary battles for the Eastern Divine Region Profound God Convention," the voice of Eternal Heaven resonated through the Eternal Heaven Pagoda and the God Sealing Stage: "Begin!!"

Rumble...

In a thousand identical yet independent battlefields, the stone doors leading to the first level opened simultaneously.

Immediately, the assembled cultivators, poised and ready, shot like arrows released from a bow, charging straight into the first level of the Eternal Heaven Pagoda!

Only Yun Che remained oblivious and indifferent... However, no one bothered to watch him anymore. Instead, they focused intently on the cultivators from their own star realms, and more so, on the true powerhouses destined to be conferred godhood.

Entering the first level of the Eternal Heaven Pagoda was like stepping into another world. It was no longer a barren wasteland, but a vibrant green forest, filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers, with towering trees reaching to the sky. But before the cultivators could fully appreciate the scenery, a profound illusion, radiating an astonishing aura, burst forth from the emerald trees.

This profound illusion wielded twin blades, its body cloaked in a verdant green that almost blended with its surroundings. Its attacks were incredibly ruthless, striking directly at vital points, clearly intending to kill in a single blow.

Even more astonishing was that its profound energy aura reached the first level of the Divine Spirit Realm!

This truly startled everyone. This was only the first level, and already a profound illusion at the first level of the Divine Spirit Realm appeared... how terrifying the later levels would be was simply unimaginable!

Some had previously sneered, guessing that Yun Che, that piece of trash who had sneaked in through underhanded means, would at most pass the first few "freebie" levels... It seemed now he wouldn't even clear the first level!

All cultivators who entered the Eternal Heaven Pagoda were top-tier experts, and their spirits were taut upon entry. Therefore, despite their surprise, they remained calm, cleverly evaded, and instantly counterattacked.

The prowess displayed by these young cultivators in that instant impressed many powerhouses of the Eastern Divine Region, who nodded in approval.

The first level had only one profound illusion at the first level of the Divine Spirit Realm, which was easily dealt with. Following its aura, the cultivators all rushed at their fastest speed towards the entrance to the second level.

The second level was a desert, guarded by an earth-elemental profound beast at the first level of the Divine Spirit Realm. Due to the unique environment, the difficulty was slightly higher, but for them, it was still effortless. Then came the third level... fourth level... fifth level...

The tenth level... fifteenth level... twentieth level...

On the God Sealing Stage, discussions and mutual praise created a harmonious atmosphere. For the first few levels, and even several dozen levels, it was difficult to see a significant gap in progress.

But as time passed, after the fiftieth level, the gaps finally began to widen bit by bit. The cultivators' ascent speed also grew slower and slower... and the atmosphere on the God Sealing Stage gradually became more tense.

Finally, the first person to reach the one hundredth level emerged... leading the second-to-last by a full seventeen levels!

And that person was still... Luo Changsheng!

One hundred levels, seemingly very high. But everyone knew this was still just the beginning.

And Yun Che, also the last place in the Eternal Heaven Pagoda battle, remained in his original spot, motionless from beginning to end. Ever since appearing in the Eternal Heaven Pagoda, he seemed as if he had completely lost consciousness.

His body was still, his face calm, but inside, his heart was constantly stirring, silently reflecting on many things.

He now had a vastly different understanding of the God Realm. Especially regarding the Eternal Heaven God Realm, his impression had drastically changed.

Previously, his perception of the Eternal Heaven God Realm was based on others' words, giving him the impression of the most righteous, authoritative, and respected king realm in the Eastern Divine Region. The adjudicators led by the Eternal Heaven God Realm specialized in judging all evil in the world, being absolutely fair and strict.

Therefore, when confronted by the Eternal Heaven God Realm, he stepped forward without worry. His confidence, though primarily due to the Dragon Monarch's presence, also stemmed from a favorable impression and trust in the Eternal Heaven God Realm.

He soon realized he was indeed too naive.

The same words, the same reasoning – when he uttered them, it was an offense to the Eternal Heaven Pearl, not only ignored but also adding to his transgressions.

Yet, when spoken by the Brahma Heaven God Emperor, it left the Eternal Heaven God Realm speechless.

Just as Mu Xuanyin had taught him the first lesson years ago: There is no absolute justice in this world, only absolute power!

Only with absolute power can there be absolute justice! Otherwise, all you can get is the justice others perceive and others dictate!

Reverend Quhui was regarded as the most strict and impartial person in the Eastern Divine Region. To dedicate his life to adjudication, he even gave up his name, becoming 'Quhui'.

Yet, such a person openly insulted Mu Xuanyin... Perhaps he was indeed incredibly fair and strict, but what Yun Che saw more clearly was his arrogance as the head adjudicator, looking down on other star realms, other realm kings, and other profound practitioners.

Even a realm king who had achieved godhood could be rightfully insulted with a single word.

This was the true reality, the true God Realm.

And... Jasmine.

With no lingering hope, Yun Che had to accept that Jasmine... truly had not come to the Eternal Heaven God Realm.

Everything had become an illusion.

How could he accept this outcome?

What he truly couldn't accept was not that years of his effort had been in vain, but that... it had been three full years, already nearing the promised return date to Caiyi and the others, yet he still hadn't found Jasmine.

"It's not over yet." Yun Che tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and murmured inwardly, "Jasmine didn't come to the Eternal Heaven God Realm, so she can't see me... But... what if... I could make the entire Eastern Divine Region know my name..."

"Right now... isn't this a perfect opportunity...?"

"A Divine Tribulation Realm Level 1 entering the God Conferred Battle of the Profound God Convention... Heh, my name will surely cause a sensation, won't it...?"

"Master will be very angry when she finds out. But there's very little time left, and I truly have no other choice... If I can't see Jasmine, it will be the regret of my life..."

Opening his eyes, Yun Che's expression slowly turned resolute, and a strange, ominous glint flashed deep within his pupils.

The humiliation I brought upon Master before... I'll reclaim it tenfold!

That old man Quhui, who insulted my Master! Open your eyes wide and watch closely... who is truly blind!!