Chapter 1330: Fly to the Star God Realm

Shen Xi turned her eyes, momentarily stunned. With all her life's experience, she simply couldn't understand why Yun Che was so unyieldingly resolute.

He clearly knew he couldn't save her, and that going would be a futile sacrifice. Even for someone profoundly important to him, this level of irrationality was unthinkable.

"I won't let go of you," Shen Xi sighed softly. "Your mind has fallen into a frenzy. Calm yourself first."

"I am calm. I've never been calmer in my life!" Yun Che's voice grew hoarser, blood seeping from between his clenched teeth. "I understand everything you've said, every single word! But you don't understand what she means to me... You will never understand!"

Shen Xi was silent.

"Let go... me... Please... let go of me... Let go of me!!!!"

*Rip!* A horrifying tearing sound erupted. Simultaneously, two shocking bloodstains burst open on Yun Che's arms.

His body was completely suppressed, yet he unleashed a struggle so astonishingly resolute. Shen Xi's beautiful eyes trembled violently. The Yun Che before her was like a desperate beast locked in a dark cage, roaring and struggling with his own blood and life.

Without Jasmine, Yun Che was merely the outcast, scorned and powerless to protect even his own family. Was his feeling for Jasmine gratitude? No... absolutely not. His feelings for Jasmine were peculiar, unlike those he held for any other woman who had entered his life; he couldn't even name the emotion. Yet, it was this inexplicable spiritual bond that propelled him to the God Realm, allowing him, who had never entered the Divine Way, to achieve the top spot in the Conferred God Battle of the Eastern Divine Region in just three years—all for the sole purpose of seeing her again.

Now, hearing that she was about to be sacrificed, to disappear from this world forever, at that moment, he felt his entire world collapse.

He had to get to her side, no matter what... even if it meant death, even if he lost everything. He knew perfectly well that this impulse of his would seem hopelessly foolish to anyone else. But in his two lives, he had never been as resolute as he was now.

"Mistress," He Ling stepped forward, then gently knelt before Shen Xi. "Please... let him go."

Shen Xi's moon-like brows furrowed slightly. "Ling'er, why are you being so foolish as well?"

"Because Ling'er understands his feelings." He Ling's eyes were misty, and her voice was sorrowful. "If that were Lin'er, I would go too... even if I knew I couldn't save him, even if I knew it was a futile sacrifice... I would still go."

Shen Xi looked at He Ling, then at Yun Che. A feeling of "helplessness"—an emotion she hadn't experienced in countless years—entangled her heart.

What exactly was he doing this for?

Wanhua... if it were you...

"Let... go... of... me... Let go of me!!"

"Mistress..."

Yun Che's hoarse roars intertwined with He Ling's plea in her ears. She turned away, her back to them, and slowly closed her eyes.

"Do you know how to reach the Star God Realm?" she asked softly, her voice like a faint breeze, light and ethereal as willow floss.

Yun Che's struggle froze slightly. He had been to the Star God Realm before, but that journey was via a teleportation formation from the Eternal Heaven God Realm. He didn't know the Star God Realm's exact location.

Shen Xi extended her hand and gently pointed. A white light flew out and entered Yun Che's glabella. Instantly, the location of the Star God Realm was clearly imprinted upon Yun Che's soul.

"I saved your life, but... your destiny is ultimately your own. If this is what you desire, it is your freedom. I can advise you, but I truly have no right to stop you. Since you've made this choice, then go."

With a soft sound, the white light entwining Yun Che dissipated.

As the suppression vanished, Yun Che stumbled hard, nearly collapsing. After regaining his footing, he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he stood there blankly, staring at Shen Xi's back... for a very long time.

He slowly stepped forward, and gently embraced her from behind.

Shen Xi was silent.

"Shen Xi..." Yun Che breathed calmly, whispering in her ear, "Although I still don't know why you've been so good to me, my life was saved by you, my light profound energy was given by you, and you even tried to reshape my mindset and guide my previously unpromising aspirations... I know and feel all of this."

"When I broke through to the Divine King Realm, I even thought my heart had undergone a great transformation."

"But... when I heard her name, I realized that I was still just an unpromising mortal!"

Shen Xi remained silent and did not push him away.

"Although to you, this will undoubtedly sound childish and ridiculous. But... she is someone for whom I would sacrifice everything, without hesitation."

"Your kindness and your expectations, I am destined to fail them in this life. If there is a next life... I will strive to find you and truly heed your words..."

Abruptly releasing Shen Xi, Yun Che soared into the sky and entered the Moon Slaughter Divine Palace. A dense moonlight burst forth in the air. The Moon Slaughter Divine Palace transformed into a rapidly flashing streak of light and vanished into the distant horizon.

"Mistress..." He Ling called softly. Before she could even bid farewell, she transformed into a verdant green light, disappearing behind Shen Xi and returning to the Sky Poison Pearl.

After a long time, Shen Xi finally turned around. She extended her jade finger, gently drawing a line in front of her, creating a high-level sound transmission profound formation.

"Do me a favor... Yun Che is currently rushing to the Star God Realm. No matter what, please protect his..."

Shen Xi's words broke off. After several breaths of silence, she slowly lowered her palm, and the sound transmission profound formation disintegrated in the air.

"Never mind..." Shen Xi looked up, with endless melancholy in her beautiful eyes. The heaven-bestowed gift she had once believed in was now perishing so quickly.

"Is this also fate?"

The Moon Slaughter Divine Palace maintained its extreme speed, flying directly towards the distant Eastern Divine Region. As one of the world's top profound arks, its speed was beyond even Qianye's reach, yet Yun Che still found it too slow.

"Yun Che, we are master and disciple after all... If you still respect me as your master, then promise me one last thing... I want you to immediately swear an oath never to step into the God Realm for the rest of your life!"

"Even if you could enter the God Realm, you wouldn't be able to find me... And even if, by some miracle, you actually found me... I would absolutely not see you!"

"From today onwards, I am no longer your master. Our bond of grace and affection is severed; we owe each other nothing!"

"What I, the Heaven Smiting Star God, choose to do, when did it become something I need to explain to a mere mortal from the lower realm? For me, a dignified Star God, to come to you personally today is already granting you immense face! Not only are you not grateful, but you dare to push your luck?!"

"Back then on the Blue Pole Star, I had to rely on you... But now, what are you to me? What right do you have to demand to see me? And what right do you have to make me explain anything to you?!"

"Get... out... now!!"

"You... you... idiot... big idiot... *sob... wail...*"

"Yun Che, Cai Zhi, I want the two of you to be husband and wife here today!"

"In Cai Zhi's heart, there has always been an abyss. You are now Cai Zhi's husband, and you have a responsibility... to ensure she never falls into that abyss!"

"Yun Che, three years from now, you must not only protect me, but also Cai Zhi... protect her for her entire life."

"Yun Che, remember every word I've said to you. Don't forget a single one."

Countless words, countless scenes replayed chaotically in his mind: her heartlessness, her determination, her tears, her gentle words, her entrustment... Everything pointed to that most ruthless reality.

He sat on the ground, his whole body growing steadily colder, his teeth so tightly clenched they barely loosened for a moment.

"If you don't see her within five years, then in this life, you will never see her again."

This was what the Golden Crow soul spirit told him back then, and it was his direct reason for rushing to the God Realm... Clearly, the Golden Crow soul spirit already knew what would happen today, either Jasmine had told it, or it was from its ancient memories.

The Golden Crow soul spirit's words, Jasmine's strange remarks, her abnormally intense hatred for her father, and her actions that seemed like an entrustment regarding Cai Zhi...

I should have noticed! I should have seen it! Why was I always too naive to even consider this possibility...?

Jasmine... you claimed to have killed countless people, always branding yourself as bloodthirsty and ruthless. But I know better than anyone that you, as the Star God bearing the Heaven Smiting power, never killed indiscriminately or unjustly. You even disliked getting your hands bloody, and strictly forbade Cai Zhi from taking lives casually. When was the blood on your hands ever shed for yourself...?

You, who were never treated kindly by the world, always treated the world around you with such kindness... For your brother, for your mother, for me... and then for Cai Zhi...

Why didn't you take Cai Zhi and flee? Cai Zhi relies on you so much, she would surely prefer to rebel against the Star God Realm with you rather than lose you, even if it meant living in shadows and being hunted for the rest of her life... You are clearly so intelligent, so why are you so foolish when it comes to this?

You scolded me countless times for my impulsiveness and disobedience, yet aren't you just the same...?

Yun Che's hands slowly clenched, in the palm of his right hand lay the Illusory Stone Cai Zhi had given him.

If he could make it in time, if he had a chance to get close to Jasmine, he might be able to escape with her... But he knew even more clearly how slim that hope was. For this ceremony, the Star God Realm had even activated the Star Soul Barrier, making any accident utterly impossible.

He Ling walked over silently, and gently leaned against Yun Che's side.

Yun Che turned his eyes. "He Ling, I..."

Before he could finish, He Ling gently shook her head. "No need to say anything, and certainly no apologies. I told you the day I became your poison spirit that I would never regret it, no matter what the future held."

Yun Che was silent.

"Lin'er died. I failed to protect him, I couldn't save him, and I didn't even get to see him one last time. I understand that kind of pain." He Ling said softly, "Don't be left with the same regrets as me. No matter the outcome, I will be with you."

"He Ling..." Yun Che murmured softly, unable to speak for a long time. He Ling's presence and words were undoubtedly the greatest comfort and companionship for him at that moment. He only knew that the debt he owed her could never be repaid in this life or the next.