Chapter 2108: Abyss Ghost Divine Son
In a daze, Sha Xing had already arrived at the Star Moon Thousand Mechanisms Tower.
He looked up, watching the layers of interwoven, glimmering star radiance and moonlight, recalling the scenes from back then when he and Xian Yue had climbed the tower together, laughing at each other with every floor they ascended. His heart was filled with melancholy.
He remained silent for a very, very long time. Just as he finally came to his senses and was about to leave, two Star God disciples staggered out of the tower, supporting each other. They were drenched in sweat, covered in wounds, yet their faces were full of exhilaration—clearly having made a breakthrough.
"Just now, I think I heard the tower-guarding disciples talking. They said that after his recent breakthrough, the Moon God Son climbed the tower alone and, relying on his own strength, has already broken through the fiftieth floor."
"As expected of the Moon God Son. But it's a pity... it seems that for the past half-year, the Star God Son has not set foot in the Thousand Mechanisms Tower again. Junior brother, do you think the Star God Son is really... as the rumors say... half crippled?"
"Not quite crippled, but the Abyss Erosion has already entered his Mysterious Veins. Unless he cuts out the part of his Mysterious Veins that has been eroded, even if the Supreme Abyss Emperor himself descended in person, there would be no solution. However, the Star God Son refuses to accept his fate and has been desperately searching for a way to completely disperse the Abyss Erosion... Sigh."
"Actually, according to the senior and junior brothers on the Moon God side, the Moon God Son's pain is no less than the Star God Son's. The Moon God Son could have broken through three months ago, but he has been forcibly suppressing it, afraid of provoking the Star God Son. He only broke through when his profound energy was on the verge of spiraling out of control under the intense pressure."
Sha Xing, who had been listening coldly from the sidelines, slowly clenched his hand.
"The Star God Son and the Moon God Son grew up together and became Divine Sons together. Though not blood brothers, the depth of their bond is beyond the imagination of outsiders. Now it seems that the Star God Son, having lost all hope, will ultimately have to choose to sever part of his Mysterious Veins. And the Moon God Son will certainly slow down his own progress deliberately for his sake..."
"If it were only that, it would be fine. But if the Star God Son, with incomplete Mysterious Veins, were to become a Divine Venerable in the future, wouldn't that be... an incomplete Divine Venerable?"
"Moreover, the inheritance of the Star Moon Divine Power must proceed simultaneously, and the recipients must achieve sufficient compatibility. With incomplete Mysterious Veins, even if the Star God Son maintains the same cultivation level as the Moon God Son, can he really... still be considered perfectly compatible?"
Their discussion carried doubt and worry, and their words largely represented the unspoken sentiments of the entire Star Moon Divine Kingdom that no one dared to openly voice.
"Come to think of it," the voice suddenly lowered, and the speaker warily glanced around, "I heard from my uncle that in the northern region, the Star God lineage gave birth to a male infant with an innate eight-part Divine Rank... just six days ago."
"What? Wait, if this is true, why has there been no stir?"
"Because the Heavenly Star Divine Venerable decreed that this matter must not be disclosed! The reason I know is that when that Star God child was born, my uncle happened to be present."
"The Heavenly Star Divine Venerable demanded secrecy, meaning... he went to see that newborn in person?"
"So my uncle said that the Star God lineage might be facing upheaval, and told me to be careful in the near future. I've only told you this, so you'd better..."
His voice suddenly dropped because they felt a sudden chill approaching from behind.
Both turned around at the same time and were horrified to meet Xian Yue's gaze, filled with coldness.
"M-Moon God Son." Their bodies tensed, their hearts and souls quivering.
With a flicker of moonlight, Xian Yue had already stood before them, his eyes as cold as a winter moon, stabbing like heart-piercing blades: "Listen. I don't care if what you just said is true or false. Remember one thing: as long as I, Xian Yue, am the Moon God Son, the Star God Son can only be Sha Xing! As for the rest, even if a Star God child with a perfect Divine Rank descends from the heavens, I, Xian Yue, will not acknowledge him!"
"Do not let me hear any more reckless words about the Star God Son. Otherwise... you do not want to know what I look like when I am angry!"
"M-Moon God Son, please calm down. We only spoke carelessly... we would never dare to show any disrespect..."
"Get lost!"
The two shivered in fear, not daring to say another word, and fled in panic.
Xian Yue stood there, the chill in his eyes slowly dissipating after a long while, finally turning into a long sigh.
As he turned, he vaguely sensed something and suddenly looked up, meeting Sha Xing's gaze.
His expression flickered briefly, then returned to calm. He flew up and landed before Sha Xing, smiling: "A couple of blind fools. I took the liberty of letting them go because I believe you wouldn't even bother to take their words to heart."
"Congratulations on your breakthrough." Sha Xing smiled back.
Xian Yue's expression remained unchanged, his smile still present: "This time, I got ahead of you. But I believe that once you remove the Abyss Erosion, your breakthrough will be only a matter of days."
Sha Xing looked into his eyes: "Do you also think I should let go of my obsession and remove the Abyss Erosion?"
Xian Yue countered with a question: "If, half a year ago, the one who went to inspect the Abyss Beast corpses had been me instead of you, then I would be in this situation. If I needed to remove the Abyss Erosion and end up with a permanent deficiency in my Mysterious Veins, would you abandon me?"
Sha Xing's expression shifted slightly. Without hesitation, he said: "No."
"Would you be willing to slow down your own pace, sacrifice your own progress, and be burdened by a heavy weight like me?"
"Yes."
"Would you resent it because of that?"
"...No."
"So then," Xian Yue's smile spread particularly freely, "what are you worrying, hesitating, and faltering about? Our compatibility is not merely about superficial cultivation, aura, and demeanor. It is about sharing blessings and disasters, honor and disgrace."
He grabbed Sha Xing's wrist, his words coming from the depths of his soul: "This calamity is merely the first significant test we have faced together. How could our compatibility, which surpasses a thousand years, be shattered by such a small trial?"
"Furthermore, I have already thought it through. If your damaged Mysterious Veins prevent us from achieving the former level of harmony and synchronization, from becoming the Star Moon Twins as before, then I will choose to damage my own Mysterious Veins until I am once again compatible with you! I believe that if you were in my place, you would make the same choice."
Watching Xian Yue, who was clearly determined to regress and sacrifice himself, yet kept shifting his perspective for fear of hurting his dignity... Sha Xing felt a warmth in his heart, but nine-tenths of it was an indescribable discomfort.
"Hahaha!" Sha Xing laughed heartily. "Xian Yue, we've known each other for all these years, and you still underestimate me. Mere Abyss Erosion, even if I cut it away, would at most damage a tenth of my Mysterious Veins. Do you think that's enough to break me?"
He grabbed Xian Yue's wrist in return, squeezed it tightly, then let go and turned around: "It's just that people always harbor illusions. They always think that what others cannot do, they might be able to. So... give me three more months. If after three months I still haven't found a way to purify the Abyss Erosion, then I'll simply cut it off."
"After that, at worst I'll be dragged along behind you. After all, if it's you, I won't feel the slightest bit guilty."
"Alright!" Xian Yue nodded with a smile. "It's a deal!"
Xian Yue left. Only after his figure had completely disappeared from sight did the proud and fearless expression on Sha Xing's face instantly crack.
He spun around abruptly, his teeth chattering as he clenched them tightly.
"I... can afford to be crippled. But... how can I become your burden!"
He looked into the distance, his gaze suddenly becoming more resolute than ever before.
That was the location of the Mist Sea.
Without telling anyone, he avoided the auras of others as much as possible and stepped out of the Divine Region alone, beyond the borders of the kingdom...
"I need some time alone. Don't follow me anymore!"
Outside the border, he said coldly.
The figure that had been protecting him all along did not leave.
He sneered coldly: "What? Seeing me fallen to this state, even you won't listen to me anymore?"
A sigh came from the shadowy figure, who could only retreat reluctantly.
But hours passed... days passed, and he never saw Sha Xing return.
When he went searching, the vast, boundless world no longer held any trace of Sha Xing's aura.
...
The gray Mist Sea was filled with the stench of death everywhere.
This was Sha Xing's first time entering the Mist Sea alone, and it was the first time in his life he had gone against the path.
All for that single thread... of hope, the only hope.
He avoided the Profound Practitioners, avoided the Abyss Beasts, and finally reached the place that had become his nightmare half a year ago.
The scenes from that day came flooding back like a nightmare. He gritted his teeth and pressed deeper... As the concentration of Abyss Dust increased, the auras of Profound Practitioners he could sense grew fewer and fewer, until there was no one else in his perception.
He stopped, his chest heaving, and finally let out a trembling roar: "Star God Son Sha Xing, requests an audience with the Mist Emperor!"
He knew that every day, countless people afflicted by Abyss Erosion came to the Mist Sea to beg for the Mist Emperor's grace, but the hope was infinitely slim. He had also heard that the Mist Emperor was omnipresent in the Mist Sea, that every grain of Abyss Dust was his ears and eyes.
So he shouted his title as Divine Son. If the Mist Emperor was truly everywhere in the Mist Sea, at least this would be a sufficiently special identity to attract the Mist Emperor's attention.
However, his shout did not summon the Mist Emperor's arrival. Instead, it alarmed a large number of Abyss Beasts.
A continuous chorus of roars came from the depths of the mist. Sha Xing's brow darkened as a heavy sword appeared in his hand, and the Star God Force instantly surged through his body.
But when the Abyss Beasts pounced with their terrifying auras, the cold calm in his eyes turned into terror.
Divine Annihilation Realm... Level 5 Abyss Beasts!
And three of them!
He swung his heavy sword, and the Celestial Wolf let out an angry howl. But this also stirred the Abyss Erosion sealed within his Mysterious Veins. A sharp pain stabbed his nerves, and the obstruction of his profound energy twisted his sword momentum, causing him to be injured in an instant while already at an absolute disadvantage.
Crack!
Before the Primordial Fang could even be swung, the heavy sword was knocked away. The gleaming beast claws tore through his Star God Force and also tore open his chest.
Abyss Force burst cruelly upon his body. Sha Xing stepped on the Star God Remnant Shadow, barely dodging. But before he could steady himself, the other two Abyss Beasts pounced together, their intersecting claws carving eight terrifying, profound streaks.
Blood burst from between his teeth. With a sudden roar, the Celestial Wolf shadow on his body let out a fierce roar. The fifth Celestial Wolf Sword, Wolf Claw, met the attack head-on with a decisive force.
Boom—
The erupting Celestial Wolf Force was torn apart by the overwhelmingly powerful Abyss Force. The two Divine Annihilation Abyss Beasts were pushed back slightly, but Sha Xing's arms and chest instantly gained several deep, bone-deep gashes... And he could no longer withstand the force of the third Abyss Beast, which struck his heart with a claw.
The heavy sword left his hand, and his body flew out, splattering blood.
Even without the Abyss Erosion, at his peak, he would not have been a match for any one of them, let alone three.
Before his body even hit the ground, he was swept back into the Abyss Storm. Primordial instincts of destruction and pure power of annihilation fell upon him without hesitation or mercy, making this Star Divine Son like a withered leaf torn from its branch, cruelly battered by the chaotic storm of destruction. In an instant, he was covered in wounds, blood splattering everywhere.
Bang!
He crashed heavily to the ground. As he instinctively tried to get up, he realized his legs were already shattered. The upper body he struggled to prop up was pinned down by the sudden pounce of an Abyss Beast's claw, smashing his head heavily into the earth, his five organs cracking inch by inch under the immense force.
Sha Xing's pupils stared wide, refusing to accept his fate. But his injuries were too severe. The starlight in his eyes rapidly lost its color, gradually merging into the gray of the Mist Sea.
How... can I die here...
He struggled desperately, but his consciousness slowly turned pale, then into a blank void...
At the moment his consciousness fully faded, the three rampaging Abyss Beasts suddenly stopped attacking, then slowly stepped back, falling into complete silence in unison.
From the darkness, a figure wrapped in thick Abyss Dust unhurriedly walked out and stood before Sha Xing.
He raised his hand. The Abyss Dust in the surrounding space, as if swept by a storm, rapidly converged toward his palm until it condensed into a long, narrow black line.
"Welcome to the Mist Sea, honorable... Abyss Ghost Divine Son!"
As he murmured, the long black mark was ruthlessly planted into Sha Xing's brow.