Chapter 793: My Jasmine (Part 2)

The Dragon God’s phantom had become incredibly weak, threatening to vanish completely at any moment. Just then, two fiery glints flashed in Yun Che’s eyes, a phoenix cry resonated, and a phoenix’s shadow materialized behind him.

Following the Dragon Soul, he unleashed the power of the Phoenix Soul without reservation. With the aid of the weakened Dragon Soul and the newly ignited Phoenix Soul, the Netherworld Udumbara Flower’s soul-severing power momentarily eased. Yun Che let out a low roar and lunged forward, covering nearly ten feet in a single desperate surge.

Only seventy feet remained to the Netherworld Udumbara Flower!

“You...how dare you think I won’t!” Jasmine’s voice and emotions were already slipping out of control. She took a deep breath, forcing her voice to remain somewhat steady as she said, “Fine...fine...must you truly suffer the torment of soul separation until death, only to drag me down with you? If you don’t turn back now, you’ll utterly destroy me! I’ve endured years of devil poison, barely surviving until today; if I’m killed by your foolishness...I will never forgive you, not in this life or any other!”

Flames blazed, and the Phoenix Soul’s cries grew increasingly faint. Yun Che was still sixty feet from the Netherworld Udumbara Flower... So close to it, even Jasmine couldn't fathom the horrific soul-severing power and spiritual agony Yun Che was enduring. His screams had devolved into a hoarse whisper, and his movements were as frail as those of an old man on the verge of death, yet his arms and body continued to inch forward, little by little.

Perhaps, even if the Moon Slaughter Devil Sovereign were still alive, he would scarcely believe the scene unfolding before him.

“Jasmine...” Yun Che whispered in a voice he could barely hear, “Believe me...I can...I can do this...”

“You...you are younger than me...yet from...such a young age...you’ve only been able to...rely on one person...to survive...I know...what immense...pain...and sorrow...that entails...”

“Though you are...proud...stubborn...ill-tempered...and prone to scolding...you never let me...pity you...but...I know...you must yearn intensely for...freedom...”

“If...we miss this chance...who knows...when another will come...I...absolutely...cannot...”

“Ahhh!!!”

Another piercing shriek resonated through the air as the third divine phantom appeared behind Yun Che: the Golden Crow Soul. He ignited it too, releasing all its soul power without reservation.

This momentary burst of soul power momentarily cleared Yun Che’s mind, allowing him to lunge forward with renewed vigor.

When he landed, only the final fifty feet remained to the Netherworld Udumbara Flower.

These short fifty feet, however, represented the most distant and terrifying stretch in the entire Profound Sky Continent.

At this point, no one who hadn’t personally experienced it could possibly imagine what Yun Che was enduring.

The Dragon God Soul, Phoenix Soul, and Golden Crow Soul—three divine phantoms—intertwined, their weakened forms flickering like mist. Yet, Yun Che desperately wrung out every last shred of soul power from them. Without the protection of these three divine souls, Yun Che’s very essence would have long since been torn into countless fragments.

Fifty feet—a distance Jasmine herself could scarcely believe. But she knew even better how desperate it would be to cross these final fifty feet. This last stretch was impassable even for Yun Che in his prime... let alone now, with the divine soul power he relied upon utterly depleted.

Nevertheless, Yun Che continued to drag his body forward with his arms, approaching with agonizing slowness... Jasmine watched him from nearby, utterly unable to comprehend what strength he was drawing upon to move at all.

“What will it take...for you to finally give up?!” Jasmine’s voice was trembling uncontrollably. She averted her gaze, closing her eyes... Her fortitude was such that she simply couldn't bear to look at Yun Che in his current state. “This is my last...my very last time saying this! Turn back...now!! This is an order! I am your master...a master’s command cannot be defied! Are you truly going to defy even *my* orders, your master’s?!”

Yun Che’s arms twitched, and his body lurched forward another half-step. Every part, every inch of him felt as though dying worms writhed beneath his skin... Behind him, the Dragon God’s shadow and Phoenix’s shadow had completely vanished, leaving only the Golden Crow’s shadow, weakly flickering and struggling.

“A master’s command cannot be defied...” Yun Che’s eyes remained open, and his blood-stained lips barely formed the words: “But in my heart...you are not merely...my master...”

“You are still...my...Jasmine!!!”

“…………” Jasmine’s body swayed, her mind reeling in bewilderment, as if something had detonated within the deepest reaches of her soul.

“Arghhhhhh!”

The Golden Crow’s shadow vanished completely as well. The instant all three divine phantoms faded, a brilliant burst of fire erupted from Yun Che’s body, accompanied by a crimson profound light beneath it.

Three drops of Phoenix Origin Blood and nine drops of Golden Crow Origin Blood were instantly and completely ignited within him!

This marked the second time he had ignited divine Origin Blood, the first being during his decisive battle with Xia Qingyue years ago. The difference was that the first time he ignited the Origin Blood to release its power externally, whereas this time, it was ignited *within* his body!!

The Evil God’s Fourth Stage, which had nearly cost him half his life after being activated for mere moments before, was also decisively opened by him.

“BOOM... HEAVEN!!”

Yun Che, like a dying insect, lunged forward amidst a blinding inferno, covering nearly fifty feet in a single desperate surge. His final, fading will vaguely perceived the location of the purple light, and his left hand, flickering with green energy, desperately reached out, making contact with that demonic, eye-like purple gleam.

Yun Che collapsed heavily to the ground, utterly still. All the wounds on his body that had just begun to heal—both internal and external—ripped open anew, even more severe than before. So critical was his state that he instantly lost consciousness, remaining motionless.

The world within the Moon Slaughter Devil Nest finally plunged back into silence and darkness... absolute darkness, without a single glimmer of light.

Jasmine stood there, stunned, motionless and silent for a long time... Only on her pale face did two streaks of moisture slowly trickle down, silently at first, but then accelerating, unable to stop.

“Wuwu... This isn’t real... Brother... I don’t want you to die... Wuwu... I don’t want it... I don’t want this at all!!”

“Jasmine... don’t cry... Even if Brother is gone, you must... be strong... You also need to... protect Caizhi... After all, she is... *cough, cough, cough*...”

“I... I know, I will protect Caizhi, just as Brother protected me. I will be strong... And I will... I will kill that person... I will kill everyone in that Star Realm to avenge Brother...”

“No... Don’t... Don’t seek revenge against her...”

“Why... She was clearly the one who harmed Brother... Why would Brother still protect her?!”

“Jasmine... you are still young. When you grow up and truly fall in love, you will understand... Although Brother died because of her... I have no regrets... It’s just that I have too many lingering concerns...”

“Jasmine... promise Brother one last thing... In the future... when you grow up... if someday you meet a man who is powerful, treats you as well as Brother did, and would even risk everything for you—even his life—then let him... take you... away from here... forever... as far as possible... so no one can ever find you...”

“No... Don’t... There could never be anyone in this world who treats me as well as Brother did... I only want Brother... Wuwu... Wah wah wah...”

“Jasmine... you will definitely meet someone like that... Because my sister... is the kindest... and most wonderful girl... in this entire world...”

“...” Jasmine reached out her small hand, touching the two warm tear streaks on her pale face. Perhaps, because it had been so long since she had cried following her brother’s death, too much sorrow had accumulated; no matter how hard she tried to suppress them, the cascading tears simply would not cease.

Brother, do you know? I truly have met someone just as you described.

But how could I possibly...

“Huh? Sister Jasmine, you seem to be crying!”

Lost in thought, Jasmine hadn't even noticed Hong'er had woken up. Hong'er stood beside Jasmine, craning her neck, her face full of curiosity as she gazed at Jasmine’s tear-stained cheeks. After confirming it repeatedly, she suddenly leaped up excitedly: “Wow! I always thought I was the only one who cried, but it turns out Sister Jasmine cries too... That’s wonderful!!”

Hong'er always erupted with various inexplicable bursts of excitement. This time, Jasmine didn't humor her or play along with her excitement as usual. Instead, she reached out and gently took Hong'er’s soft, fair hand.

“Hong’er, if someday I’m no longer here, and I don’t return for a very long time... you must be very, very good and always listen to your master, alright?”

“Of course!” Hong’er nodded without hesitation, grinning. “I’m always very obedient to Master, anyway... Huh?” Hong’er finally grasped the meaning and asked curiously, “Sister Jasmine, you won’t be here? Are you going somewhere else to play?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps I’m just suddenly thinking too much.” Jasmine gave a faint smile. “In any case, no matter what, you must always be a good girl and listen to your master. Because apart from me, your master is the kindest person to Hong’er in this entire world, isn’t he?”

“Mhm!” Hong’er nodded obediently, then tilted her head and whispered, “How strange, Sister Jasmine seems a bit odd today... Oh well! Sister Jasmine, I’m hungry again after my nap, I want to eat lots of delicious things!”

Soundless, lightless, in the endless darkness, Yun Che’s body remained utterly motionless, his fate unknown.