Chapter 1362: Star Shine

“Brother Benefactor,” Feng Xian’er said softly, her eyes gradually growing distant as she gazed at the night sky. “Do you know? After you and Sister Xue Ruo left that year, my brother and I worked hard every single day, from Elementary Profound to Entrance Profound… True Profound… Spirit Profound… Earth Profound… Sky Profound… King Profound… Every breakthrough filled me with such joy, and internally I would loudly call out your name… because I was finally one step closer to you.”

Yun Che remained silent.

“Later, my brother and I were finally able to leave that place. We traveled across the Profound Sky Continent and visited many places in the Illusory Demon Realm. In every place, there were legends about you. You saved the Blue Wind Nation, the Illusory Demon Realm, and the Profound Sky Continent. To us, and to the entire continent, you were like a living god.”

“We visited so many places where you once stayed: Floating Cloud City, New Moon Profound Palace, Death God’s Wilderness, Blue Wind Profound Palace, Demon Imperial City… Every time we heard rumors about you, I was so happy. My brother and I truly wanted to see you again, but then we heard you had left, going to a higher plane of existence.”

“Later, we met Sister Phoenix Goddess. She told us that five years ago, it was you who saved my brother and me again, and it was also you who secretly left us the complete Phoenix Nirvana Scripture and miraculous spiritual pills. Only then did we realize that even after becoming a legend to the entire world, you never forgot us…”

“That day, I cried so much. Even my brother, while comforting me, shed many tears himself.”

A beautiful, soft smile touched her lips, but her cheeks were stained with tears.

Yun Che had never imagined that his casual gift from back then would have such a profound impact on the siblings.

“You… are not just my benefactor,” Feng Xian’er whispered as if in a dream, “From the age of eight, you became the goal I wished to pursue my entire life, and the sky in my heart.”

She turned her face, gazing at him with longing. “The sky… it might be grey and rainy, but it will never truly collapse, right?”

The tears in her eyes, like scattered starlight, silently illuminated his soul.

Even though he was now a cripple, he was still someone’s sky.

Her tear-filled eyes reflected the dim world. Yun Che’s lips moved slightly, then his gaze slowly shifted. “Xian’er, I’m a little hungry… Can you… feed me?”

He truly had no strength to lift his arms.

Feng Xian’er’s eyes shimmered with tears. She nodded, nodding vigorously.

She picked up the soup bowl. The small wooden spoon in her hand was one she had made herself. Despite her King Profound Realm cultivation, her fingers inexplicably lost strength. It took almost all her strength and concentration to gently feed it into Yun Che’s mouth.

The warmth flowed into his body, gently caressing his soul. Yun Che tilted his head slightly. In the dim, endless night sky, he saw many beautiful stars he had previously overlooked.

To have a girl feed him… This scene, this feeling, it had been a long, long time.

In this life, only Xiao Lingxi. In his previous life, only Su Ling’er.

***

Western Divine Region, Dragon God Realm, Samsara Forbidden Land.

Dense white mist enveloped Shen Xi, obscuring her face and figure. Only a faint, ethereal silhouette was visible.

Beside her stood a tall figure. His expression was grave, and no aura emanated from him, yet an invisible draconic might seemed to descend from the heavens, rendering the entire space of the Samsara Forbidden Land utterly silent.

“Has the Evil Infant truly emerged?” Shen Xi said slowly.

“Yes,” the Dragon Monarch nodded. “The four Divine Emperors of the Eastern Region all went to the Star God Realm and fought a fierce battle with the Evil Infant. Qianye Fantian, Zhou Xuzi, and Xing Juekong all suffered severe injuries, while Yue Wuya died from his grave wounds. Currently, Xing Juekong’s whereabouts are unknown, likely having suffered too great a spiritual injury, forcing him into temporary seclusion. Qianye Fantian and Zhou Xuzi are quite heavily wounded, and the demonic energy they were afflicted with is extremely potent; it might take years, even decades, to completely dispel.”

“Star Gods, Moon Gods, Guardians, and Brahma Kings also perished in large numbers in that battle.”

“The Evil Infant, even newly awakened, is already so terrifying. If we cannot find her soon, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

The Dragon Monarch’s expression was graver than ever before. For a full two hundred thousand years, he had been the supreme being of the entire God Realm, and even this chaotic space. Yet now, a power has emerged that surpasses him, threatening every living being, every race.

“So, the Dragon God Realm is also preparing to send people to the Eastern Divine Region to search for traces of the Evil Infant?” Shen Xi asked.

“We have no choice,” the Dragon Monarch nodded, his gaze profound. “The Evil Infant’s Annihilation Wheel… this is no longer just an Eastern Divine Region matter. This time, not only the Dragon God Realm but also the six King Realms of the Western Region will dispatch their core forces to the Eastern Divine Region. Taking advantage of her depleted power, they must eliminate her in the shortest possible time.”

“The Southern Divine Region also shows similar movements.”

“In the past, such a move would surely have been obstructed by the Eastern Region, but this time, they not only did not obstruct, but actively urged it,” the Dragon Monarch sighed faintly. “For the venerable Brahma Heaven and Eternal Heaven to be scared out of their wits… one can imagine how terrifying the Evil Infant they encountered truly was.”

“There’s another matter you should already know,” the Dragon Monarch continued, changing the subject. “Yun Che also died as a result of the Evil Infant’s calamity. I just don’t understand why he suddenly went to the Star God Realm. And according to Zhou Xuzi, he even passed through the Star Soul Absolute Barrier of the Star God Realm.”

Shen Xi’s ethereal voice was faint. “Since he is already dead, delving deeper into it now is meaningless.”

“It’s just… a pity,” the Dragon Monarch shook his head with a soft sigh. “A peerless genius who attracted the Nine-Stage Heavenly Tribulation. It’s likely that the God Realm wouldn’t produce another such talent even in a million years, yet to fall so quickly… it makes your exceptional decision to take him in all for naught.”

A fleeting haze flashed in Shen Xi’s eyes. She slowly said, “It is said that the vessel for the Evil Infant’s awakening was the Heaven Smiting Star God?”

“Indeed.”

“Are you certain… that was merely a vessel?”

The Dragon Monarch’s expression flickered with surprise, his gaze shifting. “Why do you ask?”

The Evil Infant’s Annihilation Wheel’s method of manifestation was vastly different from what Shen Xi understood. But she did not explain, merely whispered, “My meaning is, could she not be the vessel of the Evil Infant’s Annihilation Wheel, but rather its true master?”

“Absolutely impossible,” the Dragon Monarch shook his head without hesitation. “After the Evil Infant awakened, the first ones she killed were people from the Star God Realm. If the Heaven Smiting Star God wasn’t hijacked in body and soul, how could she have massacred Star Gods, wounded her own father, and nearly destroyed the entire Star God Realm?”

Shen Xi’s eyes flickered. Yun Che’s figure slowly emerged in her mind… and the resolute look on his face when he left that day.

“Moreover, the Evil Infant’s Annihilation Wheel and the Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword are the strongest artifacts in Chaos. One is supremely evil, the other supremely holy. The Evil Infant’s Annihilation Wheel never acknowledged a master, even during the God Era. Even the Heaven Punishing Devil Emperor, chief of the Creation Gods, could only control the Ancestral Sword to a very limited extent and was not worthy of becoming its master. In today’s world, how could the Evil Infant’s Annihilation Wheel acknowledge a human as its master?”

Shen Xi nodded slightly, seemingly acknowledging his words.

“By the way, where is Hè Ling? I haven’t seen her,” the Dragon Monarch glanced around.

“She found her own path. Naturally, I couldn’t keep her any longer,” Shen Xi said, then turned away. Her gentle voice was like willow catkins drifting in the wind. “You may go. My mind has been somewhat troubled lately, so I need to seclude myself for a period. You also have the matter of the Evil Infant to deal with, so there’s no need to visit me for now.”

The Dragon Monarch raised his hand slightly, but ultimately nodded. “Alright. Qianye Fantian and Zhou Xuzi are currently entangled with demonic energy. If they find it hard to endure, they might seek your help. If you are unwilling, I will intervene on your behalf to deflect them.”

Shen Xi nodded imperceptibly.

“If you like having a wood spirit by your side, shall I find you another wood spirit like Hè Ling?”

“No need, you may go.”

The Dragon Monarch finally left.

As the dragon’s might receded, the Samsara Forbidden Land returned to the sound of babbling brooks, dancing butterflies, and singing birds. Shen Xi stood alone, without Hè Ling by her side, and without Yun Che present.

“One willingly died for the other; the other awakened the Evil Infant because of the other,” Shen Xi murmured softly. “Human emotions… are so subtle.”

She extended her perfect, dream-like wrist. In her palm lay a small vermilion crystal. Her eyes were slightly dim as she softly said, “Wàn Hú, our reunion was so brief. But you, who were so carefree, must have no regrets, right?”

She gently clasped the vermilion crystal. Suddenly, her hand opened again, and her beautiful eyes were also stunned.

Deep… sleep…?

He… didn’t die?

***

Profound Sky Continent, Blue Wind Nation, heart of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, Phoenix Remnant Clan.

Yun Che’s arrival was undoubtedly a monumental event for this small remnant clan.

Feng Xian’er’s words and tears seemed to open a tiny crack in Yun Che’s bleak spirit. Compared to his complete dejection on the first day, from the second day on, he consciously began to recuperate his now frail body. He no longer refused rest or food, and occasionally even smiled.

Although, he still spent most of his time in a daze, lost and confused… and with an ineffable desolation and loneliness.

After five days, he was finally able to walk for short periods with the support of Feng Zu’er and Feng Xian’er.

Ten days later, he could release their supporting hands and manage a few steps on his own.

Everyone here treated him exceptionally well. Each person regarded him as a benefactor whose kindness could never be fully repaid, and there wasn’t a hint of disdain for his crippled state.

This was the positive outcome of the good deeds he had sown here years ago.

When he possessed the Dragon God’s divine body and the Divine Art of the Wild God, even if on the verge of death, he could recover instantly. Now, of course, he was nowhere near that former state.

However, despite the slowness, he was making progress every day.

Days passed, and almost a month went by without him realizing it.

He could now walk long distances independently, and his body was no longer as sore and weak. He could call every person here by name, and there seemed to be a little more warmth in his smiles.

However, he never once mentioned leaving. In fact, he never asked anyone about the outside world.