Chapter 1329: Resoluteness

The Star God Emperor’s three children all inherited the Star God divine power—a feat never before seen in the Star God Realm's history, not even for two, let alone three.

This was a miracle destined to be eternally inscribed in the Star God Realm's annals, yet it orchestrated the tragic fates of the three siblings: Xisu, Jasmine, and Caizhi.

All for a blood sacrifice ritual that existed only in ancient records—its authenticity unknown, its success even more so.

Xisu’s wild laughter was hoarse and desperate… Yun Che’s face turned ashen, his entire body numb. His heart pounded violently, his breathing heavy, startling He Ling, whose face also blanched.

He finally understood why Jasmine’s expression had drastically changed back on the Profound Sky Continent when she heard from Yu Luo that Caizhi had become the new Heavenly Wolf Star God. She had immediately returned with her to the Star God Realm, resolutely severing all ties with him and uttering phrases like, "We owe each other nothing," and "Never to meet again."

He finally understood why Jasmine had refused to come out to see him that day in the Eternal Heaven God Realm, her every word cruelly piercing his heart, desperately trying to drive him away...

He finally understood why Jasmine had so domineeringly and forcefully betrothed Caizhi to him when he was in the Star God Realm... She was entrusting Caizhi, and placing her hopes in him.

He finally understood why Jasmine, after acquiring the Evil God's blood and escaping the Southern Divine Region, had not returned to the Star God Realm, but had instead fled to the distant lower realms...

After reconstructing her body on the Profound Sky Continent, she hadn't immediately returned to "the world where she was born." Instead, she had said she would continue to accompany him for thirty years… It turned out she never intended to go back; the "thirty years" was merely her proud and teasing remark. Had she not been discovered, she would have stayed with him for an entire lifetime…

Before leaving the Star God Realm, she had so resolutely made him enter the Eternal Heaven Pearl. The true reason was to enable him to avoid the time of her sacrifice, hoping that three millennia of separation would dilute his feelings for her…

Heh… How could that be possible? I chased you to the God Realm, even facing death multiple times, enduring the torment of the Brahma Soul Seeking-Death Mark, and accepting that I might never return… I never had a moment of regret. How could my feelings for you possibly fade…?

Not three thousand years, not thirty thousand, not even three million—it would be utterly impossible…

Just like the Star God blood you left within me, it will never vanish or be erased.

During his brief encounters and meetings with Jasmine in the God Realm, he had clearly sensed her abnormality… At the very least, he knew she was hiding something vitally important and unavoidable from him. He hadn't pressed her, yet he had never imagined it would involve her very life…

Because his Jasmine was the Heaven Smiting Star God! She was incredibly powerful; though not the strongest Star God, she was the fastest, possessing the greatest ability to conceal and escape. Even when poisoned, the Southern Sea Divine Realm, the strongest in the Southern Divine Region, had been unable to detain her…

Moreover, she was the Star God Emperor's daughter, the eldest princess of the Star God Realm—who could possibly endanger her life?

He could never have imagined in his wildest dreams that such a reason would lead to such a horrific outcome…

"Brother Xisu," Yun Che desperately tried to remain calm, but as he spoke, every word trembled, "Is there... any way... to save her?"

"Save her... How can I save her?! How can I?!" Xisu's remnant soul's voice was weak, yet it was like that of a madman. "The Star Soul Barrier has opened! No living being, no existence can enter or leave, except for the twelve Star Gods who possess Star God blood. No one can stop it... No one can save her... No one!!"

"…" Yun Che vigorously shook his head, utterly lost. "No… The Star Soul Barrier opened by the Star God Realm might be for something else… He is Jasmine’s father, after all… No… Perhaps it’s all false…"

Amidst the immense shock and terror, he was utterly disoriented and distraught, desperately trying to comfort himself.

"Father? Does he deserve that title… Does he deserve it… Ugh, ahhh… Ahhh!!!"

With a soft sound, Xisu's remnant soul suddenly tore apart amidst its violent contortions, then quickly dispersed, completely vanishing from existence.

"Brother Xisu!" Yun Che frantically rushed forward, his unconsciously outstretched hand grasping only a wisp of residual soul quickly fading into nothingness.

Xisu had left this wisp of his soul behind, hoping to personally witness Jasmine's escape from the Star God Realm, as this was his greatest concern before his demise. Seeing Jasmine safe before the Star Vein Day would have allowed him to truly rest in peace.

He hadn't imagined that his final consciousness would endure pain and despair even deeper than on the day of his demise, causing the Heavenly Wolf Star God, who had once shaken the God Realm with his power, to let out demonic screams and wild laughter.

"Why… why would it be… like this…" Yun Che’s entire body grew cold. He clutched his head with his right hand, his splayed fingers almost crushing his own skull.

"Ma... Master, what's wrong with you?" He Ling's face was also deathly pale from fright. A horrifying coldness emanated from Yun Che's hands as she held them.

Seeing Yun Che's reaction, Shen Xi understood a great deal. She had previously suspected that Yun Che's Evil God power came from the Heaven Smiting Star God, and that the Heaven Smiting Star God might have been his profound way master. Now, it seemed their relationship was far from ordinary; the Heaven Smiting Star God must have been with him during all the years she had been missing.

"Yun Che," Shen Xi said, "What has happened cannot be changed. Even a powerful Star God encountered such a fate. If you don't want such things to happen again, you must become stronger—strong enough to change everything."

The fusion of Star God powers through some kind of "compatibility" was an unheard-of wonder in the God Realm, utterly defying common knowledge. Even if the rumor spread, few might believe it. Yet, Shen Xi knew it was likely true.

She had heard similar rumors before… from a very, very distant age.

However, no Star God, in any generation, had ever truly done so, because such a fusion required the sacrifice of a blood relative, violating both human nature and the laws of the Heavenly Dao. She also hadn't expected this ancient record to have survived until today and now be put into action.

It seemed Shen Xi’s comfort had an effect; Yun Che’s body gradually stopped trembling, and the hand that had been desperately clutching his head slowly lowered… Yet, the coldness emanating from his hand, felt by He Ling, became even more biting.

As he straightened his body, even his breathing became unusually steady. A cold glint gathered in his eyes, and a flash of light appeared above him, as the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace, bathed in moonlight, tore through space and emerged.

Yun Che's actions caused Shen Xi’s beautiful eyes to flicker sharply. She reached out like lightning and seized Yun Che. "What are you doing?"

"To the Star God Realm," Yun Che replied, his voice cold and trembling.

"…Do you know what you're saying?" Shen Xi's grip on Yun Che's hand tightened sharply.

"I must go! No matter what, I must go!" Yun Che's voice was completely hoarse, yet every word carried an icy, bone-chilling determination.

Shen Xi's figure flickered, blocking his path. "That's the Star God Realm! What good would it do if you went? Can you save her?!"

"Even if I can't save her, I'll still go!!" Yun Che roared.

"Yun Che!" Shen Xi’s voice, always gentle as clouds, turned stern at that moment. "Calm down! Though the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace is the fastest profound ark in the world, even at its extreme speed, it would take several days to reach the Star God Realm from here! By then… the 'ritual' will already be complete!"

"No, it won't," Yun Che shook his head. "Xisu's remnant soul just said the ritual would take place on Star Vein Day, and he set the time for his remnant soul's revival to be 'before Star Vein Day.' That means it's not Star Vein Day yet! The Star God Realm is currently activating the Star Soul Barrier in preparation, not because the ritual has already begun... There's still time... There must be time!"

He was clearly speaking crazed, irrational words, yet his mind was frighteningly clear.

"Even if there's truly still time, what then? No one can break through the Star Soul Barrier—not even the Dragon Monarch!"

"I can! Xisu said that only the twelve Star Gods possessing Star God blood can enter and exit the Star Soul Barrier. And I have the Star God blood she gave me. Perhaps… No! I can definitely enter! I definitely can!!"

Shen Xi: "…"

"Don't stop me!!" Yun Che's hands clenched tightly, and he struggled to shake off Shen Xi's restraint.

Shen Xi's eyes flickered, and with a slight movement of her wrist, a white glow instantly enveloped Yun Che's body. This white glow was exceptionally pure and faint, yet it felt as if Yun Che was crushed by ten thousand mountains; every part of his body was firmly restrained, unable to move.

"You… let go… let go of me!" Shen Xi’s power was suppressing him; how could he break free? His face twisted violently in his desperate struggle, and his eyes quickly became bloodshot. "Let go of me!"

"Let go… of me!!!"

With a hoarse, furious roar, large drops of blood burst from between his tightly clenched teeth.

"Ma… Master?" He Ling was clearly terrified, utterly at a loss for words.

"Yun Che!" Shen Xi’s voice, gentle yet sharp, commanded, "Listen to me carefully. You are young, and you can be willful, but you cannot be willful with your life! Although I don't know what happened between you and the Heaven Smiting Star God, you can't save her! No one can save her! If you go, you will only die in vain, and there will be no other outcome!"

"Yes… I can't save her… What right do I, a piece of trash like me, have to save her…?" Yun Che couldn't move, but all his muscles twitched, clearly struggling with all his might. "But if you want me to cower here and wait for the day she dies… I'd rather die!!"

"Let… go… of me!!"

"Die?" Shen Xi frowned. "Is that word so easy for you to utter? Do you know how difficult it was for you to survive Qianye's poisonous clutches? Xia Qingyue brought you across divine regions to this place, knelt and pleaded for you—would you betray her like this? And He Ling, she saved your life and became your poison spirit; just a few days ago, you personally promised her you would seek revenge against the Brahma Monarch God Realm with her… You haven't repaid her kindness, haven't fulfilled any part of your promise, yet you would let her completely perish because of your irrational actions!?"

Yun Che: "…"

"You can die," Shen Xi’s voice softened slightly as she observed his reaction. "You can die on the path of seeking revenge for yourself and He Ling, you can die protecting others, or even by someone else's scheme… But to knowingly go to a certain death in vain… Have you thought about the people in the lower realms who are desperately awaiting your return? Have you thought about He Ling? Have you thought about those who risked their lives and dignity to save yours? Have you thought about the Heaven Smiting Star God, who kept the truth from you to prevent your impulsive actions!"

Yun Che: "…"

"Yun Che, I saved your life, and I will not allow you to squander it so senselessly and foolishly," Shen Xi said softly. "If you truly want what's best for her, then live well and become strong—strong enough to reclaim all the indignity and dignity for her. You possess the Evil God's power; what others cannot achieve, you surely can in the future! This is what you, as a man and the inheritor of the Evil God's power, should do!"

Yun Che remained silent for a long time, and his breathing seemed to steady slightly. Shen Xi thought he had finally calmed down and felt a slight relaxation in her heart. However, Yun Che spoke at that moment, his voice low and slow.

"Shen Xi… My life was indeed saved by you… I owe you countless things… But…" His eyes were blood-red, as if stained with blood, and under his fierce struggle, cracks slowly began to spread across his body. "If you stop me today… I will hate you… for an entire lifetime!"