Chapter 1175: Soul Touch

"You're unworthy..."

These words were uttered repeatedly by Jasmine, each time with increasing contempt and impatience.

Back on the Azure Cloud Continent, Jasmine had disdained everything; all life there was mere dust in her eyes... except for him. But now...

He had envisioned countless scenarios for their reunion, many involving Jasmine angrily scolding him, even lashing out and hitting him in a fit of rage... Yet, he had never imagined that upon her arrival, she wouldn't even deign to see him, offering only disdain, a cold sneer, and impatience.

"Jasmine..." Yun Che didn't know how long it took him to finally speak, his voice strained. "You are a Star God, and I... indeed... am unworthy."

Jasmine remained silent.

"Given my humble origins, cultivation, and status, I shouldn't even have the right to speak to a Star God. My life, my very existence, and my ability to stand here—all of it came from you... Even if I repaid you with my life, it wouldn't be enough. What right do I have to ask anything of you...?"

"Repay me with your life? Heh, that won't be necessary." Jasmine scoffed. "Back then, although your body tainted my soul, it at least had some use. Now, your worthless life means nothing to me; even a slight closeness contaminates my Star God body! You should save it for your motley crew of women! Get... out... now! Don't force me to blast you away; that wouldn't be pretty!"

Jasmine's words pierced his heart. Yun Che tried to find a hint of pity or hesitation in them... but there was absolutely none.

"...Jasmine, I truly... shouldn't have presumptuously assumed your thoughts, thinking you'd want to see me as much as I longed for you. But at least... for these past three years in the God Realm, I've struggled relentlessly every single day just to find you. In the end, I even risked entering the Conferred God Battle just so you would hear my name. Even if you truly disdain me utterly now, please... let me see you, let me tell you everything I want to say, right to your face, and..."

"Are you deaf?!" Jasmine showed no emotion at his words; instead, she suddenly roared, "Shut your mouth! I don't want to hear your ridiculous nonsense. What you need to do now is get out before you cause me more trouble. What right do you have to make demands of me?!"

Yun Che's eyes twitched, and his hands unconsciously clenched. A strange tingling sensation spread through his body, quickly followed by the disappearance of all physical sensation... He took a deep breath and softly said, "I truly... have no right. But I... went through so much to find you; at least, I'm unwilling to give up... At least... at least tell me what I need to do to be worthy of seeing you!"

"Oh?" Jasmine's tone became playful. "Your stubbornness, refusing to give up until you hit rock bottom, hasn't changed at all. Heh... alright then, since you did save my life back then, and you've struggled so hard in the God Realm just to get here... I'll give you a chance."

Yun Che abruptly looked up.

"However, this is the only chance I'm giving you. If you can do it, I'll see you, and I might even consider telling you everything you want to know." Jasmine said indifferently. "But if you fail, then get back to your planet immediately! And never set foot in the God Realm again!"

Yun Che nodded heavily with almost no hesitation. "Good! Whatever it is... I will do it!"

"Very well." Jasmine's voice softened but became noticeably more leisurely and casual. "While in the eyes of us Star Gods, everything below the King Realm is insignificant, there are a few individuals who are indeed somewhat worthy of an audience with a Star God. For example... oh? Aren't you participating in this Profound God Convention? The top spot in the Profound God Convention — not to mention a Star God, even a God Emperor is qualified to meet such a person."

Yun Che remained silent.

"Heh heh, what a wonderful opportunity; it's right at your feet. As long as you can achieve the top position in this Profound God Convention, I'll come out to see you immediately, and I'll tell you everything you want to know. How's that? Heh heh heh..."

Yun Che's face slowly turned pale... The "opportunity" Jasmine had given him was utterly impossible to achieve. It wasn't an "opportunity" at all, but rather a mockery and a taunt.

Jasmine was laughing, her laughter filled with extreme derision.

He was indeed participating in the Profound God Convention and had even entered the Conferred God Battle. But everyone knew by what "means" he had gotten in. Moreover, he had already lost his first round; in the next round, no matter what opponent he faced, defeat was certain... If he couldn't even win the next round, how could he possibly claim the top spot?

"Why are you silent now? I've given you your chance; otherwise, sending you away directly would be a bit too pathetic. I wish you success. But if you can't even achieve this bare minimum qualification... heh, then remember what you said and go back immediately!"

Jasmine's tone grew increasingly impatient, as if she were desperately trying to swat away a fly she couldn't bear to look at.

The suppression in his heart grew heavier and heavier. He couldn't accept, couldn't believe, that three years of effort would lead to such a result. Yun Che stood stunned for a long time, finally nodding slowly. "Alright... I'll leave... I'll leave today..."

"But... even if it's out of pity for me, let me see you one more time before I go... even if it's just a glimpse... Then I'll leave immediately and never bother you again."

Yun Che had never imagined that he would one day utter words so humble, so like dust...

But she was Jasmine...And she just had to be Jasmine...

A brief silence was followed by Jasmine's unrestrained laughter.

"Hahahahaha... I'm such a fool for wasting so much breath on an idiot like you!" Jasmine laughed in a fit of rage. "Still dreaming even now, huh? Fine, then keep on dreaming your pipe dreams!"

Amidst her utterly contemptuous and merciless sneers, Jasmine's voice rapidly faded away, clearly unwilling to utter another word to him.

"Jasmine!" Yun Che's gaze sharpened, and he cried out, quickly reaching into the Sky Poison Pearl. A massive purple flower appeared in his hand.

The purple flower bloomed in solitary splendor, each petal like a flowing stream of purple jade, emitting a dazzling purplish, ethereal glow. Although faintly veiled by the light of the Sky Poison Pearl, it remained uncommonly captivating.

This was the Underworld Brahma Flower he had obtained from the mysterious rainbow-eyed girl beneath the God-Extinguishing Cliff. Back in the Demon Imperial Hall, he had exhausted his will to collect a four-petaled Underworld Brahma Flower for Jasmine. But this one was a complete plant.

For years, he had yearned to place it in Jasmine's hands.

"Oh? An Underworld Brahma Flower?"

Jasmine's soul voice returned from afar, yet it held no trace of excitement. Just as Yun Che was about to speak, the Underworld Brahma Flower in his hand was suddenly swept up by an immense force, spiraling into the air.

"Hmph! Back in that lowly, barren place, I had no choice but to use something like this to reshape my body. But now that I'm in the Star God Realm, why would I ever need such a thing... Ridiculous!"

Screech!!

The space suddenly shattered, and the enchanting purple flower was instantly engulfed by a spatial storm, vanishing into nothingness in an instant.

Jasmine's voice was heard no more... completely gone.

Yun Che stood there, stunned, his eyes glazed over as if his soul had been completely drained. He remained motionless...

Outside the Eternal Heaven Realm, amidst the stars, a delicate crimson figure materialized from the void.

She clutched a large, deep purple, ethereal flower, much larger than her own body, and slowly curled up, trembling like a wounded kitten.

"What... am I doing..."

"What in the world... am I... doing..."

Drip...Drip...

Crimson blood slowly dripped from the corner of her lips, landing on the purple petals and reflecting an eerie light.

No one was with her, no one could see her tears, no one could listen to her words, and no one could help her... In this lonely, frigid world, there was only this single, ethereal purple flower. If she could, she would rather have her soul seized by its violet light and fall into an eternal dream...

A moment...Another moment...An hour...Two hours...A long time passed...

She finally lifted her head, her eyes still clouded with painful tears, yet now emitting a terrifying, unparalleled crimson glow...

"Y-yu... Luo...!!!"

Bang!!

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Huo Poyun rushed in, his face beaming with excitement. "Brother Yun! I have great news for you! The battle roster for tomorrow is out, and do you know what? You actually... don't have an opponent!"

"Actually... it's about Wei Hen. He's been disqualified, his name removed, and your next match was supposed to be against him. So you get a bye, which means you directly advance to the round after next! That's amazing! Also, my first opponent in the Conferred God group tomorrow is Luo Chang'an, and I'm completely confident I can beat him, which will also be a good way to vent for you... Uh?"

Yun Che sat quietly on the blue stone by the pond, unmoving, completely unresponsive to Huo Poyun's words.

"Brother Yun, are you... alright?"

Yun Che slowly lifted his head, his eyes almost devoid of color, startling Huo Poyun so much that he almost recoiled.

"I'm fine. I haven't congratulated you yet on your first-round victory." Yun Che forced a smile.

"Brother Yun, you... I..." Yun Che's appearance left Huo Poyun flustered and at a loss for words.

"Sorry to let you see me in such a pathetic state," Yun Che said with a faint smile. "Don't worry, just let me be alone for a while... I'll be fine tomorrow."

"Ah... okay." Huo Poyun, not knowing how to comfort him, quickly nodded. He wanted to say something but couldn't think of anything, so he left, looking back with concern. "Then... I'll come call you tomorrow."

As soon as Huo Poyun left, a figure with ethereal grace, like a cloud, came to his side.

"Yun Che... what happened?" Mu Bingyun asked softly. It was the first time she had seen Yun Che so despondent and spiritless.

"...She was here, but..." Here, Mu Bingyun was the only one he could confide in, but as soon as he opened his mouth, an unbearable sense of pain spread through his entire body, rendering him speechless.

Mu Bingyun's crescent brows furrowed. Looking at Yun Che's state, she had a vague guess. She softly asked, "Did she... tell you to go back?"

"..." Yun Che nodded, then shook his head, his voice hoarse. "She... can tell me to leave... but why... why wouldn't she even... see me..."

"It shouldn't... be like this..."

Given Yun Che's current state, how could Mu Bingyun not imagine the demeanor of the Heaven Punishing Star God before him? Perhaps it was more than just heartlessness...

"So, what do you plan to do now?" After a brief silence, Mu Bingyun asked a question that seemed out of place at that moment.

"I don't know... She was right, actually... She's a Star God... What right do I have..." Yun Che took a deep breath, but the pressure in his chest intensified. "I... have no reason to stay here anymore... It's just... I can't accept it... Why... wouldn't she even let me see her for a moment... Was everything we shared... all fake... just my wishful thinking..."

Driven by endless longing and an obsession deeply etched in his heart, he had followed Mu Bingyun to the God Realm. For these three years, he had sacrificed so much, given so much, even risked his life, just to see Jasmine again... He had always thought the greatest obstacle would be the process of finding her, never imagining... that he had clearly found Jasmine, yet this was the outcome.

Mu Bingyun listened quietly, a long sigh echoing deep within her.

"Yun Che, I want to ask you a question." Mu Bingyun looked up; the sky was beginning to darken. "If she were to appear and meet you, after seeing her, would you truly feel your wish fulfilled and return content?"

"I..."

"Don't rush to answer," Mu Bingyun said. "I brought you back to the Snow Song Realm, and in the God Realm, besides her, I was the first to meet you. I've observed your character ever since you were in the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace."

"Many profound practitioners from the lower realms strive to come to the God Realm, typically for one of two reasons: either to pursue a higher profound way or to experience a broader world. Most are content to be kings in their lower realms. But you, just to see one person, abandoned everything and followed me without hesitation to a God Realm you knew nothing about."

"From that moment, I knew her importance in your heart must be paramount. Every action of yours since then has proven this."

"Upon first arriving at the sect, you openly confronted Mu Yizhou, the chief disciple of the Ice Phoenix Palace, all for a fellow disciple you barely knew; in the Heavenly Pool Battle, you openly defied your master due to 'injustice'; during the sect's grand ceremony, you defeated Huo Poyun, yet feared he might develop a mental block because of you, so you took the initiative to comfort him; and in the Burial God Abode, even when the three Flame God sects acted unjustly, you still voluntarily shared half of the ancient flood dragon's corpse with them."

"All of this proves one thing: you are a person with strong personal dignity, who values loyalty and righteousness, and holds principles in extremely high regard."

"But since arriving at the Eternal Heaven Realm," Mu Bingyun's tone shifted, and she sighed, "when you were just a step away from her, you became anxious and your judgment clouded."

"In the two preliminary rounds, you rigidly adhered to the rules set by the Eternal Heaven Pearl, and indeed, you didn't violate them... but cheating was a fact. And this was something you would never have done before. You not only disobeyed your master's command but also completely disregarded the dignity and principles of the profound way."

"You know better than anyone how many secrets you carry that must not be discovered. Entering the Conferred God Battle undoubtedly exposed you to the entire Eastern Divine Region... For you, there was no more dangerous situation in the entire God Realm, yet you did it without hesitation."

"A person who made you willing to pursue her all the way to the God Realm, who caused you to lose your composure, to disregard your dignity, principles, and danger without hesitation... I can't understand what she did for you to make you this way, but such a person... after you meet her, or as you said, after a complete farewell, would you truly be satisfied and leave without regret?!"

"..." Yun Che's colorless eyes suddenly began to tremble slightly.

"You don't need to answer me this question; just answer yourself," Mu Bingyun said. "If you find the true answer, perhaps you will understand why she so resolutely refused to see you."

"..." Yun Che's eyes stared blankly, his breathing grew rapid, and his heartbeat, once frantic, became chaotic.

"And... I have something to say that might make you feel a little better." Mu Bingyun's long hair fell, inadvertently brushing Yun Che's pale cheek. "For someone who makes you willing to go to such lengths for her, everything about her must have long been etched into the deepest part of your soul."

"To engrave her shadow so deeply into your soul, it could only come from a profound, soul-stirring contribution and connection... Therefore, I don't believe anything she ever did for you was false."