Chapter 2110: The Abyssal Demon Child

Lost in thought, Sha Xing found himself at the Star-Moon Thousand Mechanisms Pagoda. He gazed up at the layers of shimmering starlight and moonbeams, remembering the time years ago when he and Xian Yue had ascended the pagoda together. Each floor they conquered, they would look at each other and burst into laughter. A wave of sorrow washed over his heart.

He stood in silence for a very long time. Just as he finally snapped out of his thoughts and prepared to leave, two Star God disciples emerged from the pagoda, leaning on each other for support. They were drenched in sweat and covered in wounds, yet their faces beamed with excitement, clearly indicating a breakthrough.

"Just now, I overheard the pagoda guards talking," one said. "They mentioned that the Moon God Son, after his recent breakthrough, ascended the pagoda alone and, by his own power, has already reached the fiftieth floor."

"Truly worthy of the Moon God Son! It's a shame, though... it seems the Star God Son hasn't set foot in the Thousand Mechanisms Pagoda for the past six months. Junior Brother, do you think he's really... half-crippled, as the rumors suggest?"

"Not exactly half-crippled, but the Abyssal Erosion has penetrated his profound veins. Unless the affected portion is surgically removed, even the Abyssal Emperor himself would be powerless. Yet, the Star God Son has always refused to accept this fate, persistently searching for a way to completely cleanse the erosion... Alas."

"In fact, according to the disciples on the Moon God's side, the Moon God Son suffers just as much as the Star God Son. The Moon God Son could have achieved a breakthrough three months ago, but he deliberately suppressed his power, afraid of upsetting the Star God Son. He was only forced to break through when his profound energy was on the verge of spiraling out of control under such immense pressure."

Sha Xing, who had been listening with cold detachment, slowly clenched his hands into fists.

"The Star God Son and Moon God Son grew up together and became divine sons at the same time. Though not blood brothers, their bond runs far deeper than outsiders could ever imagine. Now, it seems that after losing all hope, the Star God Son will eventually have to choose to sever part of his profound veins, and the Moon God Son will undoubtedly deliberately slow his own progress for him..."

"If that were the only issue, it might be manageable. But if a Star God Son with damaged profound veins were to become a Divine Venerable in the future, wouldn't he be... a flawed Divine Venerable?"

"Moreover, the inheritance of Star-Moon divine power must be a simultaneous process, and the inheritors must achieve sufficient compatibility. Can a Star God Son with damaged profound veins, even if he maintains the same cultivation level as the Moon God Son, truly... still be considered a perfect match?"

Their conversation was laced with doubt and worry. Their words undoubtedly echoed the unspoken concerns throughout the Star-Moon Divine Kingdom, which no one dared to voice publicly.

"Speaking of which," the first disciple's voice suddenly lowered, and he cautiously glanced around. "My uncle told me that in the Star God lineage in the Northern Realm, a male infant with an innate eight-part divine essence was born... just six days ago."

"What? Wait, if that's true, why has there been no mention of it?"

"Because the Heavenly Star Divine Venerable has declared that this matter must be kept absolutely secret! The only reason I know is that my uncle happened to be present when the Star God child was born."

"So the Heavenly Star Divine Venerable requested secrecy, meaning... he personally went to see the newborn?"

"That's why my uncle said the Star God lineage might be on the verge of a significant change and advised me to pay close attention. I've only told you about this, so you'd better..." His voice suddenly trailed off, as they both felt a sudden chill approaching from behind.

They both spun around simultaneously, horrified to meet Xian Yue's icy gaze.

"Moon... Moon God Son." Their bodies tensed, and their hearts lurched.

With a fleeting moon shadow, Xian Yue instantly appeared before them. His eyes, like cold moons, were as chilling as blades piercing their hearts. "Listen," he said, "I don't care if what you just said is true or false. Remember this: as long as I, Xian Yue, am the Moon God Son, the Star God Son can only be Sha Xing! No one else – even if a Star God child with a perfect divine essence were to descend from the heavens, I, Xian Yue, would never acknowledge them! Do not let me hear any more disrespectful remarks about the Star God Son. Otherwise... you will not want to know what I am capable of when I am angry!"

"Moon... Moon God Son, please calm your anger. We merely misspoke... uttered nonsense. We absolutely meant no disrespect..."

"Begone!"

The two fell silent, frozen with fear, not daring to utter another word as they scrambled away in a panic.

Xian Yue stood still, the icy chill in his eyes slowly fading after a long moment, finally dissolving into a deep sigh. As he turned, he faintly sensed something, then abruptly spun his head, his gaze immediately locking with Sha Xing's.

His eyes flickered for a moment before regaining their composure. He then flew up to stand before Sha Xing, smiling faintly. "Those two thoughtless fools," he said, "I took it upon myself to let them go. I trust you wouldn't even deign to give their words a second thought."

"Congratulations on your breakthrough," Sha Xing replied with a smile.

Xian Yue's expression remained unchanged, his smile unwavering. "This time," he said, "I managed to get ahead. But I'm confident that once you've removed the Abyssal Erosion, your breakthrough will follow swiftly."

Sha Xing met his gaze. "You also believe I should abandon my stubbornness and sever the Abyssal Erosion?"

Xian Yue, however, countered with a question. "If, six months ago, I had been the one to inspect the Abyssal Beast's corpse instead of you, then I would be in your current predicament. If I chose to remove the Abyssal Erosion, resulting in permanently damaged profound veins, would you abandon me?"

Sha Xing's expression softened slightly. Without hesitation, he replied, "Never."

"Then would you be willing to slow your own progress, even sacrifice your advancement, to carry me along, a burden?"

"Yes."

"And would you resent me for it?"

"...No."

"Then why..." Xian Yue's smile broadened, radiating comfort. "Why are you still worrying, hesitating, and wavering? Our bond transcends mere superficial cultivation, aura, or demeanor. It is about sharing both fortune and misfortune, honor and disgrace." He clasped Sha Xing's wrist, every word resonating from his soul. "This calamity is merely the first significant trial we face together. How could our connection, which spans over a millennium, be broken by such a minor challenge? Moreover, I have already decided. If the damage to your profound veins prevents us from achieving our former compatibility and synchronization, from being the Star-Moon Twins we once were, then I will choose to intentionally damage my own profound veins until I am once again perfectly matched with you! I am certain that if our roles were reversed, you would make the same choice."

Sha Xing watched Xian Yue, who, despite his clear resolve to sacrifice and set back his own progress, continuously shifted his stance, afraid of wounding Sha Xing's dignity. Sha Xing felt a fraction of warmth in his heart, but overwhelmingly, an inexpressible ache.

"Hahahaha!" Sha Xing burst into laughter. "Xian Yue, after all these years, you still underestimate me. A mere Abyssal Erosion, even if severed, would cause at most ten percent damage to my profound veins. Is such a minor extent truly enough to break my spirit?" He grasped Xian Yue's wrist in return, squeezed firmly, then released it, turning away. "It's just that people always harbor fantasies," he said, "always thinking that what others can't do, they might. So... grant me three more months. If, after three months, I still haven't found a way to purify the Abyssal Erosion, then I'll simply sever it. And after that, at worst, I'll simply be dragged along behind you. Since it's you, I won't feel even a shred of guilt."

"Good!" Xian Yue nodded, smiling. "It's a deal!"

Xian Yue departed. Only after his figure had completely vanished from sight did Sha Xing's previously proud and fearless expression suddenly crack. He sharply spun around, his teeth chattering as he clenched them tightly.

*How... how can I... die here...*

He stared into the distance, his gaze suddenly hardening with unprecedented resolve. In that direction lay the Fog Sea.

Without telling anyone, he avoided all other presences as much as possible, stepping alone out of the divine realm, out of the national borders...

"I need solitude to clear my mind. Do not follow me!" he spoke coldly.

Yet, the figure who had always watched over him did not depart.

He let out a cold laugh. "What? Seeing me in such a state of despair, even you no longer heed my words?"

The figure in the shadows sighed, then reluctantly withdrew.

Yet, hours passed... then days, and Sha Xing did not return. When he finally began to search, in the vast, boundless world, he could no longer find any trace of Sha Xing.

The gray, hazy Fog Sea was permeated with the aura of death. This was Sha Xing's first time entering the Fog Sea alone, and the first time in his life he had ever defied convention. All for that single, faint glimmer... his only hope.

He skillfully avoided both profound practitioners and Abyssal Beasts. Finally, he arrived at the place that had plunged him into a nightmare six months prior. The scenes of that day assailed him like a nightmare. He gritted his teeth and pressed deeper... As the concentration of Abyssal Dust steadily increased, the presence of profound practitioners he could detect dwindled, until he could sense no one else.

He stopped, his chest heaving, and finally let out a trembling shout: "Star-Moon Divine Son Sha Xing, requests an audience with the Fog Emperor!" He knew that countless individuals afflicted by Abyssal Erosion desperately sought the Fog Emperor's grace within the Fog Sea every day, though their hope was infinitely slim. He had also heard that the Fog Emperor was omnipresent in the Fog Sea, with every particle of Abyssal Dust serving as his ears and eyes. Therefore, he called out his title as a Divine Son. If the Fog Emperor truly was omnipresent in the Fog Sea, this identity, at least, was unique enough to capture the Emperor's attention.

However, his shout did not summon the Fog Emperor's presence. Instead, it startled a large number of Abyssal Beasts. A continuous series of roars emanated from the deep Abyssal Mist. Sha Xing's brow furrowed, his heavy sword appeared in his hand, and the power of the Star God instantly surged through his entire body. But as the Abyssal Beasts lunged forward, radiating terrifying auras, the cold determination in his eyes instantly dissolved into terror.

Divine Annihilation Realm... level five Abyssal Beasts! And there were three of them!

He swung his heavy sword, and the Heavenly Wolf roared in anger. However, this also agitated the Abyssal Erosion trapped within his profound veins. A sharp pain pierced his nerves, and the obstruction of his profound energy twisted his sword's momentum, causing him to be wounded instantly, already at an overwhelming disadvantage. Before he could unleash Savage Fang, his heavy sword was knocked aside. The beast's gleaming claws tore through his Star God power, then ripped open his chest.

Abyssal power violently erupted across his body. Sha Xing used Star God's Shattered Shadow to teleport with difficulty, but before he could fully regain his footing, the other two Abyssal Beasts lunged at him in unison, their crisscrossing claws carving out eight terrifying, deep gouges. Blood spurted from between his clenched teeth as Sha Xing let out a furious roar. The Heavenly Wolf's shadow on his body also unleashed a savage howl, and he unleashed the Heavenly Wolf's Fifth Sword, Azure Wolf's Claw, directly confronting them with desperate resolve.

*Boom—*

The surging Heavenly Wolf power was brutally torn apart by the overwhelmingly potent Abyssal energy. Two of the Divine Annihilation Abyssal Beasts were pushed back slightly, but Sha Xing's arms and chest instantly bore several deep, bone-exposing gashes. He could no longer withstand the force of the third Abyssal Beast, which struck him squarely in the heart with a single claw. His heavy sword flew from his grasp, and his body was sent flying, spraying blood.

Even without the Abyssal Erosion, and at his peak strength, he would not have been a match for even one of these beasts, let alone three. Before his body even hit the ground, he was again swept into the Abyssal storm. Primal destructive instinct and pure destructive force mercilessly pounded him without hesitation or mercy. The Star Divine Son was ravaged like a withered leaf torn from its branch, brutally battered by the chaotic storm of destruction. In an instant, his entire body was covered in wounds, and blood splattered everywhere.

He crashed heavily to the ground. As he instinctively tried to rise, he discovered both his legs were shattered. His painfully propped-up upper body was then violently pinned by the sudden pounce of an Abyssal Beast's claw, forcing his head to slam against the ground, his internal organs rupturing inch by inch under the immense force.

Sha Xing's eyes were wide open, refusing to accept his fate. However, his injuries were too severe; the starlight in his pupils rapidly faded, gradually assimilating into the gray gloom of the Fog Sea.

*I... I can endure being crippled. But... how could I possibly... become a burden to you!*

He struggled desperately, but his consciousness slowly faded into paleness, then into nothingness...

The moment his consciousness finally succumbed, the three raging Abyssal Beasts abruptly ceased their assault, then slowly retreated, simultaneously falling into complete silence. In the oppressive gloom, a figure wreathed in thick Abyssal Dust slowly emerged, coming to stand before Sha Xing. He raised a hand, and the Abyssal Dust in the surrounding space swirled as if caught in a storm, rapidly converging towards his palm until it condensed into a long, narrow black line.

"Welcome to the Fog Sea, esteemed... Abyssal Ghost Divine Son!"

With a soft incantation, the long black mark was mercilessly pressed into Sha Xing's brow.