Chapter 1325: Celestial Wolf Xi Su
This ring normally had a blue light circling it, but the light was faint and barely noticeable. Now, however, the blue light was exceptionally dense. When Yun Che lifted his left hand, the blue light had almost enveloped his entire palm.
"What is this…" Yun Che said, full of surprise.
Judging by Yun Che's reaction, it was clear he himself had no idea what was hidden within. Shen Xi waved her jade hand, and a streak of white light touched his ring: "Within this ring resides a very weak soul, struggling to emerge right now."
Shen Xi's words made Yun Che jolt. Then, he suddenly remembered what Mo Li had said to Cai Zhi when she gave him the ring:
"This ring was left behind by my brother before his death. He said he left his final soul within it, which would protect me for my entire life... Twelve years ago, before I left for the Southern Divine Region, I gave this ring to Cai Zhi, and now, I give it to you."
"Could it be…"
Shen Xi's Light Profound Force was exceptionally powerful. Under the white light she pointed out, the soul's struggle subsided. Then, the blue light rapidly flashed and spread, slowly manifesting a blurry, azure-colored image in front of Yun Che.
The silhouette of a person!
This azure silhouette had a build similar to Yun Che's. Although it was only a blurry image with no distinguishable features, it radiated an imposing, heroic aura… Just this remnant soul was already like this. Without a doubt, this soul, in life, was a figure who dominated the world.
"Master… ah!" Not far away, He Ling was holding a handful of freshly picked jade-colored petals. Suddenly seeing the strange image manifesting, she cried out and stopped in her tracks.
"This day… has finally come…"
As the azure remnant soul gradually became clearer, a faint, drawn-out voice also sounded, filled with deep emotion and subtle sorrow.
"Are you… Celestial Wolf Star God… Xi Su?" Yun Che asked, his eyes wide.
The ring contained "my brother's final soul." Yun Che had originally thought it was just a small remnant of soul energy, the last comfort for Mo Li and Cai Zhi… perhaps Mo Li and Cai Zhi had always thought so too. He never imagined that not only was it not a remnant, but it could even manifest and even speak.
To leave behind such a soul fragment, it must have been at the great cost of one's lifespan and soul source. Why would he do this?
Yun Che's words made the azure remnant soul react, and intensely at that. The soul shadow distorted, and its voice turned harsh: "Who are you? How did this ring come into your possession?"
Sensing the urgency in the remnant soul's voice, Yun Che quickly said, "This ring was given to me by Mo Li. She said it contained her brother's final soul. So, are you her brother… the fallen Celestial Wolf Star God, Xi Su?"
Yun Che's words calmed the remnant soul somewhat. Then, a subtle sensation of soul contact came over him. The remnant soul was earnestly scrutinizing him, probing the truth of his words.
After a long while, the remnant soul spoke again: "The one called Xi Su is dead. I am merely a humble remnant soul he left behind out of unwillingness. For Mo Li to willingly give this ring to you… it seems she has finally found the person I had hoped she would. It's just that… you are far too weak."
"I'm ashamed," Yun Che said with a bitter smile. Compared to Mo Li, he was indeed far too weak: "Brother Xi Su, you left behind this remnant soul and appeared today. Do you have something you want to say to Mo Li? I will definitely relay it to her without missing a single word."
Xi Su, the former Celestial Wolf Star God, was Mo Li's brother and her closest family. His death brought endless sorrow and resentment to Mo Li. Yun Che never imagined that he would one day be able to speak with his remnant soul.
And he was well aware that the consequence of this Xi Su remnant soul manifesting today was its complete dissipation into nothingness… After this, it would exist no more.
Xi Su's soul shadow lifted his head, seeming to gaze into the distant sky: "This sliver of soul was forcibly left behind before my death, sealed within the ring on your hand. And this seal would be broken before the arrival of 'Star Ripple Day'… I want to know if Mo Li managed to escape successfully. Can you tell me?"
Even in death, he could not let go of his concern for Mo Li.
Mo Li… Did she… escape successfully?
Yun Che was completely baffled: "Mo Li… escape? Escape from where? Why would she need to escape? What do you mean by that?"
Shen Xi: "..."
"Seems you don't know. Indeed, you are so weak, how could she possibly tell you. Then tell me, where is Mo Li now?"
"She… should be in the Star God Realm," Yun Che answered.
"Star God Realm…" Xi Su's remnant soul voice became much dimmer: "Then, do you know of any unusual activities in the Star God Realm recently?"
Yun Che's brows twitched sharply. Unusual activities in the Star God Realm… he had just heard about them from Shen Xi… and it was an earth-shattering disturbance.
"I just learned that the Star God Realm seems to have activated a 'Star Soul Absolute Barrier,'" Yun Che answered, his voice turning rough with a rapidly encroaching sense of unease.
"Haah…" Xi Su's soul shadow let out a desolate sigh: "Why didn't she flee? With the Heaven-Slaying Divine Power she possesses, she clearly could have escaped. Even if it meant betraying her ancestors and her realm, living a life without peace, it would still be better than becoming a sacrifice, with her body and soul obliterated."
These faint words hit Yun Che's nerves like knives. He could no longer remain calm. He lunged forward, roaring in a trembling voice: "What are you talking about? What betrayal of ancestors and realm!? What sacrifice!? What soul obliteration… What exactly are you saying!? What exactly are you saying!?"
Although the current Xi Su was just a wisp of remnant soul, about to dissipate at any moment, he could clearly see the tremor in Yun Che's eyes, hear the quiver in his voice, and feel the panic rising from his very soul… This man before him, though weak, was the one Mo Li had willingly given the ring to, someone who truly cared for Mo Li.
Amidst his sorrow, he felt a measure of comfort. Though Mo Li's life would end in misery, at least, after he was gone, there was still someone who cared for her as genuinely as he did.
"Since you are so eager to know, I will tell you. Though it would be better for you to remain ignorant."
"..." Yun Che took a deep breath.
"That was about twenty years ago. While I was away, I heard rumors outside that the Star God Realm was collecting large quantities of various high-grade Profound Jade. It seemed they had found some kind of opportunity to become a god and were preparing to conduct a so-called 'God Creation Ceremony.'"
The "True God Plan" of the Star God Realm was indeed a widespread rumor over twenty years ago, even spreading to lower star realms. Yun Che had heard of it. However, those who told him about it—Ji Ruyan and Mu Bingyun—both said it was nothing more than an absurdity.
"I initially thought it was just nonsense spread by idle people. Even if the Star God Realm had something major happening, it wouldn't be known to outsiders. But, there is no smoke without fire. Moreover, at that time, the Star God Realm was indeed purchasing large quantities of high-grade Profound Jade, even sending people to core merchant guilds in upper, middle, and even lower star realms. After I returned to the realm, I asked my father about this matter."
"My father's answer was no different from what I expected; he dismissed it as nonsense. However, I noticed his gaze flickered for an instant when he answered, as if he was hiding something. Matters he would go to such lengths to conceal from me were definitely not ordinary."
Yun Che held his breath, listening, not daring to interrupt. Shen Xi and He Ling also listened quietly.
"One day, when my father was away, I sneaked into his Divine Emperor Hall and discovered an ancient-looking jade slip. On that jade slip was inscribed a 'Blood Sacrifice' method."
"What blood sacrifice method?" Yun Che blurted out.
Shen Xi's crescent-like brows moved slightly, but unlike Yun Che, a faint trace of doubt condensed in her expression.
"To sacrifice an entire Star God—including their flesh, blood, power, and soul—to fuse their divine power with another Star God! If successful, the fusion of Star God Powers would undergo a special qualitative change, potentially breaking through the limits and crossing a barrier that could not be crossed otherwise… to touch the legendary path of a True God."
"This Blood Sacrifice method cannot be achieved by just any Star Gods. It requires an extremely strict 'compatibility,' and to achieve this level of compatibility, the Star God to be sacrificed must be a direct blood relative within two generations of the recipient!"
"That means biological parents, siblings from the same father and mother, and… biological children!"
BOOM——
It was as if a thousand thunderclaps exploded simultaneously in his mind. Yun Che's entire body shook violently, his pupils dilated, and his face turned as pale as paper in an instant… Although Xi Su had not finished his story, Yun Che already understood something, understood it thoroughly.
Mo Li… she was the biological daughter of the Star God Emperor…
The suddenly activated Star Soul Absolute Barrier was for the 'Blood Sacrifice' Xi Su spoke of, and the sacrifice… was Mo Li!
"Ah… Master!" He Ling hurried forward, supporting Yun Che as his entire body trembled and he nearly fell to the ground.
"I took that jade slip and confronted my father about it. My father did not argue. He directly told me that he would perform the Blood Sacrifice ritual inscribed on the jade slip. The large-scale acquisition of Divine Jade was to prepare for the ritual. The ceremony date was to be on 'Star Ripple Day,' which occurs once every century and when the Star God Power is at its peak. And I, his only child to inherit the Star God's divine power, was to be the ritual's sacrifice… He told me it was all for the future of the Star God Realm. As his son, as a Star God, it was my duty to make this sacrifice, that it would even be my greatest honor in life."
Yun Che clenched his fists tightly, drenched in cold sweat… Shen Xi glanced sideways at him, surprised by such a strong reaction.
He and the Heaven-Slaying Star God…
"Heh heh, hahahaha…" Xi Su's remnant soul laughed out loud: "How absurd, how ridiculous. I could dedicate everything to the Star God Realm, including my life. But how could I submit in such an absurd, laughable way that defies the natural order of heaven and humanity… and all for a mere 'possibility'!"
"I resisted vehemently. I told him there was absolutely no way I would comply. I even thought about leaving the Star God Realm far behind before Star Ripple Day, even if it meant betraying my ancestors and my realm, living a life on the run… But, two months later, I returned from a trip and discovered that… Mo Li had inherited the divine power of the Heaven-Slaying Star God…"
Gaining the recognition and compatibility of Star God Power was the supreme glory of the Star God Realm. Before all this happened, he would have been overjoyed… But that day became one of the most painful and despairing of his life.
Even now, as he spoke, his voice was filled with agony.
"I gave up resisting and never thought of escaping again. I quietly waited for the day I would become the sacrifice. Only… I failed to protect my own life…"
If it were only him, he could have fled. But, since Mo Li had also become a Star God, if he escaped, Mo Li would become the substitute sacrifice.
And if he took Mo Li and fled together, that would force Mo Li to betray the Star God Realm alongside him… And betraying one's ancestors and realm was the gravest sin, scorned by all the world. Even as the biological children of the Star God Emperor, they would live forever in the shadow of the Star God Realm, under pursuit, never knowing peace.
If he obediently became the sacrifice, Mo Li would live in peace forever, forever the untouchable Heaven-Slaying Star God and Star God Princess… This was his choice, made without any hesitation.
But, before he could be sacrificed, he died at the hands of Qianye Ying'er… or rather, he died for her.
"Before I died, I told Mo Li everything… I told her to run… run as far as she could… the farther the better… But why… she clearly could have escaped. The power she inherited was the Heaven-Slaying Power…"
"She did escape…" Yun Che's body was still trembling. He softly spoke: "But she went back later… because… she made… the exact same choice as you…"
Xi Su's remnant soul: "??"
"Do you know… who the current Celestial Wolf Star God is?" Yun Che clenched his fists tightly, every knuckle stark white: "Cai… Zhi."
Xi Su's remnant soul was thrown into violent turmoil, distorting and trembling intensely.
"Heh… heh heh… hahahahaha!" He laughed wildly, with unparalleled madness and profound sorrow: "This damned heaven… this damned heaven! Haha… hahahahaha…"
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