Chapter 1263: The Only Hope
Yun Che raised his head and stared fixedly at Mo Li for a long while, only to find that she showed no signs of joking. "That's certainly the ideal state, one I dream of every day. But... this is the God Realm, not the Tian Xuan Continent or the Illusion Demon Realm. How could I possibly..."
"No, you can, and you are the only one who has such a possibility!" Mo Li interrupted him, her starlight eyes flickering with red light as she gazed directly at him, each word striking his heart: "You possess the unique heritage of the Creation God in this world. So you must understand one thing... your existence transcends all living beings in this world!"
Yun Che: "..."
"The year you were sixteen and started rebuilding your profound path with me, did you ever imagine that one day you would be able to contend with the Four Sacred Grounds of the Tian Xuan Continent? And in the end, you not only looked down upon the entire continent, but did so in just eight short years."
"When you arrived in the God Realm, your profound strength was barely at the Divine Way, yet in just three short years, you surpassed all the geniuses of the Eastern Divine Region and those crowned with the name 'Divine Son', winning the Profound God Convention."
"Whether the 'True God Prophecy' of the Heavenly Mystery Realm will come true is another matter. But because you carry the heritage of the Creation God, at the same level, you far surpass anyone else. The Divine Tribulation Realm can overcome the Divine Spirit Realm, and the Divine Spirit Realm can defeat Divine King Realm Luo Changsheng... You should understand this best."
"And if you one day reach the Divine Lord Realm, the limit of what humans can achieve, then under heaven, no one—not the Divine Emperors, not the Dragon God—will be your match. At that time, though you may not be a true god, you will be indistinguishable from the 'true gods' of this world."
Mo Li looked at Yun Che, recounting earth-shattering words. At the same profound strength level, Yun Che indeed far surpassed others, meaning his limits were destined to far exceed theirs. So Mo Li's words were not empty...
But to Yun Che's ears, it was far too distant.
The Divine Lord Realm was a level he currently could not even hope for, could not even look up to.
Even if he one day reached that level, it would certainly take a very long time... Under the current circumstances, he could not wait for that day, and Blue Pole Star could not wait for that day either.
After a long moment of shock, Yun Che suddenly thought of something: "You mean... the Zhou Tian Pearl?"
"That's right, the Zhou Tian Pearl!" Mo Li nodded solemnly: "You became invincible on Blue Pole Star in eight years, and won the Profound God Convention in three. So, if you were given three thousand years... with everything you currently possess, after three thousand years of training in the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, even if you don't dominate the world, you can at least ensure that you are not controlled by others!"
"This is a once-in-ten-thousand-years opportunity, and your only chance right now!"
If an ordinary Divine Way profound practitioner were given three thousand years, they might not even break through their next bottleneck.
But if a peerless genius were given three thousand years, it could directly create a powerhouse capable of shaking the world... This was also the reason why a thousand 'Chosen Ones' were selected.
And if Yun Che were given three thousand years...
As the person who knew Yun Che best in this world, Mo Li could not even predict what heights Yun Che would reach.
Moreover, unlike the current three thousand years, within the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, time was compressed into three years, and it was absolutely safe for three thousand years.
Yun Che's gaze shifted noticeably, but he shook his head: "I have indeed thought about this, but it won't work. Three thousand years may not be a very long time for the strong in the God Realm, but my entire life adds up to only a few decades. Suddenly being isolated from the world for three thousand years... no matter how I think about it, it's a terrifying thing."
"I know your concerns." Mo Li said calmly: "But you should also know that in cultivation, time is meaningless. If you focus entirely on training, you won't feel the passage of time. In the God Realm, many strong practitioners enter seclusion for thousands of years, but to their perception, it might only feel like a few years, even just a few days."
"The Zhou Tian Divine Realm is a place where one can completely focus on cultivation. Those three thousand years will feel far shorter than you imagine. They won't change your personality, nor blur or distort the things you deeply care about. They will only make you immensely powerful without you even realizing it."
Yun Che understood that time was meaningless in cultivation, but he still shook his head and sighed: "Before coming to the God Realm, I promised Caiyi and the others that I would return within five years, no matter the outcome. Now, more than three years have passed. If I enter the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, I won't be able to return within five years as promised. Not only would I break my word to them, but they would think something happened to me in the God Realm..."
"Is breaking a promise once more important than the lives of you and them, or even the survival of Blue Pole Star!?" Mo Li's voice was stern. She understood that all of this stemmed from Yun Che's desperate pursuit of her. Her heart and soul had been trembling incessantly, yet her gaze and voice grew colder: "The Nine Heavenly Tribulations, the True God Prophecy, and the things about you that even the Dragon God and the Divine Emperors cannot understand... Do you really not know what these will bring you?"
"In the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, on the battlefield of the God-Sealing War, everyone will only show their bright and proud sides. But once you leave that battlefield, without sufficient self-protection, how will you withstand the hidden claws that will inevitably reach for you next?"
"Without sufficient power, how can you return within five years? Are you planning to drag the entire Blue Pole Star to its doom!"
Yun Che: "..."
Mo Li's eyes narrowed, her gaze like two sharp, piercing blades, stabbing into Yun Che's heart: "Right now, the entire God Realm is spreading your fame. The Dragon God announced he wants to adopt you as his son, and the Divine Emperors are scrambling to extend olive branches to you. You were brought to the Star God Realm this time as a 'distinguished guest'. But the danger hidden behind this endless glory... is a thousand, ten thousand times greater than what you feel or imagine!"
"So great that even I cannot protect you. The only hope is the Zhou Tian Divine Realm... You must go!"
"..." Yun Che listened quietly. Though his gaze was somewhat uncertain, his expression did not change much. He was extremely sensitive to 'danger'. Every word Mo Li said, he had thought of before, but it also made him realize that he had still greatly underestimated the terror of this danger.
After a long silence, he nodded gently: "Alright, I'll listen to you."
Mo Li's brows relaxed slightly, but deep in her eyes remained deep worry. She softened her voice: "You have two years left before your promised return. Those two years are two thousand years in the Zhou Tian Divine Realm. If, after 'two thousand years', you feel you are strong enough to face the current crisis, you can use the Void Stone to forcefully leave the Zhou Tian Divine Realm and return to Blue Pole Star. That way, you won't have broken your promise."
"If not... after two years, I will use a special sound transmission method to inform them, so they won't worry needlessly. So, rest assured."
Mo Li's voice was calm, but as she spoke, her hands tightened slightly.
Two years later...
By then, she...
Yun Che did not notice Mo Li's abnormality, nor did he suspect anything. His heart eased slightly, and he nodded again: "Good! Since I've decided to enter the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, three thousand years there... I will not waste a single moment."
"Very good." Seeing that Yun Che had fully accepted, Mo Li felt a slight sting in her heart but also breathed a long sigh of relief: "Entering the Zhou Tian Pearl is one month from now. Fifteen days from now, you will return to the Zhou Tian Realm."
"Ah? Why fifteen days?" Yun Che asked in confusion. Having finally found Mo Li after tremendous effort, his heart was extremely agitated. Once he entered the Zhou Tian Pearl, there would be a 'three thousand year' separation. He only wanted to stay with Mo Li as long as possible, the longer the better.
"Because before you enter the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, the Zhou Tian Realm is the safest place for you." Mo Li said: "The Zhou Tian Realm is a righteous king realm, and the fact that the Zhou Tian Pearl willingly serves the Zhou Tian Realm is the firmest proof. Among the Divine Emperors who have extended olive branches to you, only Zhou Tian Shen Di will not stoop to despicable tricks. The others are all untrustworthy."
"Fifteen days is the maximum time you can stay here. On the fifteenth day, it will be the grand wedding of Yue Shen Di. Countless star realms and all the 'Chosen Ones' will go to the Yue Shen Realm. You cannot be an exception, or you will surely touch some people's nerves."
"In the Yue Shen Realm, many heroes will gather. No one will dare to cause trouble there. Afterwards, staying in the Zhou Tian Realm will be safe enough. Once you enter the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, for 'three thousand years', you will be in an absolutely safe environment, because no matter how much those people covet you, they cannot forcefully break into the Zhou Tian Divine Realm."
"I understand." Yun Che nodded. Fifteen days... Having come to the Star God Realm, he could only spend fifteen days with Mo Li. But this was the result he had caused and the crisis he had drawn. He had to bear it.
"For these fifteen days here..." Mo Li's gaze slowly turned cold: "I will never let that old thief get near you."
"Old thief? Who?" Yun Che asked, puzzled.
"Hmph, the one you know as the Star God Emperor." Mo Li said coldly.
Yun Che's eyes bulged, his mouth slightly open, unable to speak for a long time.
The Star God Emperor, Mo Li's biological father... And she called him an 'old thief'!
Yun Che had long known that Mo Li deeply resented her father, but he hadn't expected it to reach such an extent... This was the first time in his life he had heard someone refer to their own father as an 'old thief'.
It was clear that Mo Li's hatred for the Star God Emperor had reached a level beyond ordinary understanding.
"During your time here, don't think you can relax." Mo Li's gaze was cold and stern: "Within these fifteen days, you must... ah!"
Before Mo Li could finish, Yun Che suddenly stepped forward, his warm arms gently pulling her into an embrace, slowly tightening.
"You... I haven't finished speaking!" Mo Li instinctively tried to push him away, but... the scent, the touch, the soul-deep presence of Yun Che enveloped her. Her Heavenly Slaughter Star God power seemed to vanish, and her arms against his chest grew soft and weak, unable to push him away.
"I will listen to everything Mo Li says." Yun Che closed his eyes, gently gathering Mo Li's small body into his arms, his movements tender, careful, and with a hint of possessiveness: "But right now, nothing is more important to me than holding you tight..."
"Mo Li... I finally found you, yet we only have... fifteen days..."
Hearing his dream-like voice, Mo Li's body gradually softened. She closed her eyes, her body merging tightly with Yun Che's.
There were no sobs, but her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
………………
Cai Zhi wandered outside for several hours before returning joyfully to Mo Li's Star God Hall. As soon as she entered, she saw Mo Li's figure.
"Sister!" She called out happily, flashing to Mo Li's side, and said with a smile: "I just heard so much good news outside. Brother-in-law is simply amazing! He actually triggered the Nine Heavenly Tribulations and was called the Son of Heaven's Way. Even the Dragon God wants to adopt him as his son!"
"Brother-in-law?" Mo Li frowned: "Don't call him that!"
"Hehe, it's fine now." Cai Zhi was not flustered at all, instead smiling like a hundred flowers in bloom: "I heard that Zhou Tian Shen Di and Fantian Shen Di are both fighting to take brother-in-law as their personal disciple. Fantian Shen Di even proposed to marry Qianye Ying'er to him. Although Qianye Ying'er is a disgusting bad woman, her status is so high. If even she wants to marry brother-in-law, then there will be no more 'obstacles' between sister and brother-in-law, hehe!"
She had always believed that the obstacle between Mo Li and Yun Che was their vastly different statuses. That was why Mo Li stubbornly refused to see Yun Che—to protect him.
But now, that 'obstacle' no longer existed. Her heart was full of joy, and she called him 'brother-in-law' with great ease.
"Nonsense." Mo Li said irritably: "I am his master!"
"But sister said you dissolved the master-disciple relationship long ago." Cai Zhi retorted.
"That's not what you're imagining." Mo Li said seriously: "My relationship with him... is more like the familial bond I have with you. So stop this nonsense."
"Hmph, that's not true." Cai Zhi pouted and immediately rebutted: "The way you miss him is completely different from the way you miss our brother."
Mo Li: "??"
"After our brother passed away, whenever you thought of him, your aura became so heavy that I dared not approach. But these past few years, you've been dazed and listless, sometimes not even noticing when I come to your side." Cai Zhi shook her head repeatedly: "Completely different!"
"..." Mo Li stood there, her eyes blank. After a long while, she suddenly turned her gaze and said coldly: "Fine, call him whatever you like. I came to find you for an important matter."
"Ah? What matter?"
"I want you... to teach Yun Che the Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture!"
A while after disappearing, I've finally returned alive... I'll try to update more frequently this month.