Chapter 1329: Blood Sacrifice Begins
Tianyuan Star God Tu Mi's hair and beard had all turned white, but his eyes, though clearly aged, still radiated a sharpness that was terrifying to behold.
"Back then, the rumor about the Star God Realm preparing the 'True God Ritual' was spread by this old servant. Anyone who heard that rumor would know it was absurd at first listen, but His Highness Xi Su grew up with this old servant by his side. I knew his nature was cautious and that he never left doubts unresolved. Coupled with the Star God Realm suddenly purchasing large amounts of Mysterious Crystals and Divine Jade, His Highness, as this old servant expected, went to our king to inquire about the matter."
"Our king naturally denied it, but also left a momentary crack in his eyes. Others would not notice that momentary flaw, but with His Highness Xi Su's keen mind, he would certainly detect it."
Tu Mi was a Star God and also an Imperial Tutor. Not only was he the teacher of the Star God Emperor before his ascension, but Xi Su before becoming a Star God, as well as Mo Li in her childhood, were all raised under his guidance. His understanding of Xi Su and Mo Li's temperaments could be said to be extremely deep.
His lifespan was currently the longest among all Star Gods, and his knowledge of the Star God Realm and all its Star Gods far surpassed even the Star God Emperor himself. The vicissitudes and cunning accumulated over tens of thousands of years made him the most respected wise man in the Star God Realm, second only to the Star God Emperor in status, and his loyalty and devotion to the Star God Realm had never wavered.
Although sacrificing two Star Gods, and those two being the biological children of the Star God Emperor, might seem ruthless... even inhuman, if it benefitted the future of the Star God Realm, he would not hesitate. Even if the Star God Emperor was unwilling, he would persuade and push the matter through.
"Later, because of the doubt in his heart, His Highness Xi Su infiltrated the Divine Emperor Hall during one of our king's absences and discovered a jade slip engraved with the 'Blood Sacrifice Art'. This jade slip did not come from the Star God Divine Canon but was made by this old servant and our king using an ancient divine jade with a very heavy aura of antiquity. The Blood Sacrifice Art engraved on it was basically the same as recorded in the Divine Canon, the only difference being that the number of 'sacrifices' was only one, and it heavily emphasized that this Blood Sacrifice Art could only be performed once on a single Star God in their lifetime."
"Tu... Mi... old... villain!!"
Mo Li's hands clenched tightly, blood seeping through her fingers. In her childhood, she had immense respect for Tu Mi, even thinking he was the gentlest and most omniscient elder in the world. Later, when Xi Su told her the "truth" before his death, her impression of Tu Mi was completely overturned... because it was Tu Mi who took advantage of Xi Su's absence to guide her into becoming the Tiansha Star God.
After she returned to the Star God Realm, it was also he who guided Cai Zhi to become the Tianlang Star God.
And now, her hatred for Tu Mi surged a hundredfold, a thousandfold. Only today, at this moment, did she realize that all these years she had been living in a maze woven by Tu Mi and the Star God Emperor... And Xi Su, he died without ever knowing that the "truth" he knew was nothing but a despicable scheme.
If she were not being suppressed tightly within the barrier, she would have already unleashed her killing intent to the heavens and gone straight for his life at any cost.
Tu Mi's face showed no fluctuation, and he continued: "His Highness Xi Su held that jade slip and went to our king to confront him. Our king admitted it and directly told His Highness that he was the sacrifice."
"Although, as the son of the Divine Emperor, sacrificing for the Star God Emperor should have been a glorious act. But what happened afterwards was also as expected: His Highness Xi Su resisted this matter with all his might... A few months later, during one of His Highness Xi Su's departures from the realm, this old servant led Her Highness Mo Li to complete the inheritance ceremony of the Tiansha Divine Power."
"His Highness Xi Su and Her Highness Mo Li were deeply affectionate as siblings. After learning that Mo Li had become a Star God, His Highness Xi Su finally let go of his struggle, willingly sacrificed for the future of the Star God Realm, and merged his divine power with our king."
The surroundings were dead silent. Everyone's heart was filled with shock... even feeling a heavy suffocation.
At this point, how could they not understand?
If Mo Li had not become the Tiansha Star God, then given Xi Su's nature, even if it meant rebelling against the Star God Realm, he would never have willingly become a sacrifice. If he had known that the sacrifice required two Star Gods, then after Mo Li became the Tiansha Star God, he would have unhesitatingly taken Mo Li and fled the Star God Realm together.
But the truth he uncovered was that the ritual required "one" blood-related Star God as a sacrifice, and this ritual could only be performed once on the same person.
If Xi Su had been a selfish and unfeeling person, he could have pushed Mo Li forward as a sacrifice to save himself. Even if the Star God Realm disagreed, he could have left the Star God Realm, forcing Mo Li to become the sacrifice.
At the very least, he could have taken Mo Li and escaped the Star God Realm together.
But, not only the Star God Emperor and Tu Mi, everyone who knew Xi Su understood that he would never do such a thing.
Xi Su placed great importance on familial bonds, especially after their mother's death. Blaming himself for being unable to save her, he cherished Mo Li and Cai Zhi to the extreme. He would never run away himself and leave Mo Li to be the sacrifice.
And if he took Mo Li to escape, then Mo Li would become a renegade Star God of the Star God Realm, spending her entire life being hunted by the Star God Realm, and Cai Zhi would be left unattended, effectively abandoned again.
So he chose not to resist, not to flee, and to protect Mo Li and Cai Zhi to the greatest extent possible... No one found this surprising.
And everything about the Blood Sacrifice Ritual was something Xi Su had gradually discovered, investigated, and learned on his own. Not a single piece of information was told to him by others, so he could never have imagined that this was a setup by the Star God Emperor and Tu Mi... and one aimed precisely at his most kind and pure nature.
Not only Xi Su, but all the Star Gods who knew about the "Blood Sacrifice Ritual" back then had the same understanding as Xi Su. Only the Star God Emperor and Tu Mi had truly known everything all along.
It could be said that to successfully keep both Xi Su and Mo Li as sacrifices, the Star God Emperor and Tu Mi had put in "great effort." They had not only schemed against Xi Su and Mo Li but also deceived everyone in the Star God Realm.
"Later, His Highness Xi Su met with misfortune and fell after returning from the Taichu Divine Realm. Not long after, Her Highness Mo Li quietly left the Star God Realm, and then news came that she had been poisoned with an incurable demonic toxin in the Southern Divine Domain, after which there was no further word..."
"Sigh." Tu Mi let out a long sigh: "I had thought that the long-prepared ritual was destined to never proceed. But heaven took pity, and after only a few years of silence, the Tianlang Divine Power resonated again, achieving an incredible and perfect compatibility with Her Highness Cai Zhi. News that Her Highness Mo Li was still alive also followed. After Her Highness Cai Zhi successfully inherited the Tianlang Divine Power, Her Highness Mo Li also returned with Yu Luo... It seems heaven ultimately favors our king and the Star God Realm. Our king had three children who inherited Star God divine powers, and the ritual that will surely change the fate of the Star God Realm has come to a perfect completion today."
Xi Su willingly became a sacrifice for Mo Li and Cai Zhi.
Mo Li returned to the Star God Realm for Cai Zhi, willingly becoming a sacrifice.
And the Star God Emperor, in his attempt to touch the possibility of the Divine Path, not only unhesitatingly made them sacrifices but even exploited their regard for family bonds... They were supposed to be blood relatives connected by veins, yet such a stark contrast existed.
Among the Star Gods, Elders, and Star Guards, many showed obvious emotional turmoil.
Cai Zhi was completely stunned. She was the only one among all the Star Gods who had no knowledge of the "Blood Sacrifice Art" from beginning to end. The Star God Emperor would not let her know, and Mo Li would not tell her either. Today, she learned the truth, and it was a truth so cruel to the extreme... She finally understood all of Mo Li's strange behavior over the years, finally knew why Mo Li, after returning alive, said that inheriting the Tianlang Divine Power was the biggest mistake of her life...
Finally, she understood why Mo Li hated the Star God Emperor so much.
But, at the same time as learning all this, she was trapped together with Mo Li in the cage designed for them, with no power to escape or resist.
"Sister... Sister..." Her pupils lost color, and she muttered in pain: "It's me... it's my fault... If I hadn't inherited the Tianlang Divine Power... it's me... it's my fault, sister..."
Mo Li shook her head. She held Cai Zhi's icy hand tightly, glaring at the Star God Emperor, every word filled with boundless hatred: "You old Star God villain! Though you are inhuman, at least... I once believed you would treat Cai Zhi well... You... you... will die a miserable death!!"
She did not say words begging or threatening him to release Cai Zhi. After scheming for so long, how could the Star God Emperor possibly stop?
Being resented like this by his own daughter should have been a father's sorrow, but the Star God Emperor's face was as calm as still water, with not even the slightest disturbance in his heart. He sighed and said, "Hate me if you will. As the Realm King of the Star God Realm, for the sake of the Star God Realm, there is nothing I cannot sacrifice. Even if I am hated by my children and scorned by the world, I will have no regrets for eternity!"
He raised his head and swept his gaze across the scene: "All the necessary elements are gathered. The ritual can now begin. Once the ritual starts, all our powers will be completely linked to this formation, unable to be withdrawn or forcefully interrupted. Are you all prepared?"
"My king..." the Tianxuan Star God Zi Wan spoke out unconsciously... She and the Tianyao Star God Qiang Wei were twin siblings, deeply bonded. Learning the whole truth today undoubtedly stirred strong waves and reluctance in her heart.
The Star God Emperor turned his head: "What is it?"
"..." The Tianxuan Star God Zi Wan regretted speaking the moment the words left her mouth. She closed her eyes and finally shook her head: "Nothing. Please begin, my king."
"Wait." This time, it was the Tianyuan Star God Tu Mi who spoke: "My king, once the ritual starts, we can no longer divide our attention or strength. To prevent unforeseen accidents, it is better to leave one elder behind, just in case."
"No need," said the Star God Emperor. "Outside, the Star Soul Absolute Barrier separates us; inside, three thousand Star Guards stand watch. There will certainly be no accidents. And losing one portion of strength will also reduce the chance of success by one portion."
The Tianyuan Star God insisted, however: "Outsiders cannot enter, but we must also guard against internal unrest among the three thousand Star Guards. In this world, there is never true certainty. No matter how sure the situation, it is best to keep a backup plan, just in case."
Similar words, when the Star God Emperor was very young, the Tianyuan Star God had taught him many times.
This time, the Star God Emperor did not veto it. After a brief deliberation, he nodded slightly: "You are right."
"Mingzi, you withdraw from the formation and remain on guard. Eliminate all possible accidents."
"Yes."
With a calm and deep response, a tall, gaunt figure withdrew his power from the blood sacrifice profound formation and stood up.
Xing Mingzi, the thirty-seventh elder of the Star God Realm, had achieved the Divine Lord Realm three hundred years ago and became the newest and most junior elder of the Star God Realm.
Xing Mingzi left the formation. With a shift in the Star God Emperor's gaze, the enormous profound formation below suddenly released dazzling star light. The nine Star Gods and thirty-six Star God Elders—a full forty-five streams of Divine Lord power and divine aura—all connected and merged at this moment, forming two torrents. One covered the Star God Emperor's body, while the other enveloped the barrier containing Mo Li and Cai Zhi.
The Blood Sacrifice Ritual was officially activated at this moment, sealing the fates of Mo Li and Cai Zhi, leaving no possibility of change.
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