Chapter 872: Determination (Part 2)
Ten days — that was just the Golden Crow Soul Spirit’s estimated time.
But the current terror of the Demon Source Pearl had far exceeded the Golden Crow Soul Spirit’s expectations.
Yun Che’s body was no longer that of an ordinary mortal, but an utter freak. It was able to perfectly combine the Evil God’s Mysterious Vein, Phoenix Blood, Dragon God’s Blood, Golden Crow’s Blood, Desolate God’s Power, and Celestial Wolf Power without ever conflicting with each other. Not even the Golden Crow Soul Spirit, let alone the divine beast Golden Crow itself, could begin to comprehend the existence of such a “freak.”
This was also the greatest reason why the Golden Crow Soul Spirit, after reading his memories, had unhesitatingly bestowed everything upon him.
And in this “freakish” body, the growth rate of the Demon Source Pearl had also far exceeded common sense. When the Golden Crow Soul Spirit used all its strength to suppress and seal the Demon Source Pearl for the second time, its soul had been deeply shocked throughout.
Finally, after a full sixteen days, the Demon Source Pearl within Yun Che’s body was once again arduously sealed.
In the Sea of Death, Yun Che opened his eyes. Sensing that there was no longer any demonic energy rampaging within him, he took a slight breath, leaped up, left the Sea of Death, and landed on the crimson ground at its edge.
He was about to speak and thank the Golden Crow Soul Spirit when he suddenly froze.
The Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley, which was always filled with the roaring of fiery seas, was unusually quiet. Looking around, all the volcanoes in sight were dormant, not a single one erupting. Patches of magma rolled slowly. The sea of fire that had once been enough to scorch the sky could now hardly even be called a “sea of fire.” The flames had dimmed, burning sluggishly and weakly.
He turned to look at the Sea of Death. The rolling ocean of fire had completely darkened, like a dying ferocious beast.
Yun Che raised his head. High in the distant sky, the Golden Crow Soul Spirit’s golden eyes were fixed on him. But its divine path pressure was far weaker than before.
“Golden Crow Soul Spirit,” Yun Che said with a heavy heart, “thank you for saving me again.”
“I told you, there is no need for such meaningless nonsense,” the Golden Crow Soul Spirit said coldly. “I do what I want, and no one can stop me. If I don’t want to do something, no one can force me.”
“Since you are already well, leave quickly. My time is limited. If I do not rest soon, this world may collapse at any moment. But remember, you must resolve the gloom in your heart as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Demon Source Pearl within you may break free of its seal at any time.”
“…” Yun Che did not leave immediately. Instead, he calmly asked, “Golden Crow Soul Spirit, can you answer one question for me frankly?”
The Golden Crow Soul Spirit: “?”
“How… much longer can I live?” Yun Che’s tone and expression were exceptionally calm.
“…” The air suddenly solidified. The golden eyes in the sky were silent for a long time before slowly replying, “Knowing the time of your own death can be a more terrifying thing than death itself. Are you sure you want to know?”
“I must know,” Yun Che said, still calm.
“One month,” the Golden Crow Soul Spirit replied directly.
“…” Yun Che slowly lowered his eyelids and let out a long sigh. “One month… about what I expected. When the Demon Source Pearl’s power goes berserk again, that will be the day I die.”
He smiled bitterly. “I never thought that I, Yun Che, would end up dying because of a lifeless object… Hah, I suppose I’m a little unwilling.”
“This is the last time I can help you. The Demon Source Pearl in your body has been growing all along. When it breaks free from its bindings next time, even if I were at full strength—let alone now when my power is nearly exhausted—it would be almost impossible to seal it again. The seal I have set with all my remaining strength can only barely last about a month.”
“Since that is the case, you should leave this place as soon as possible and think carefully about what you want to do in this final month!”
Yun Che was silent for a long time, then suddenly said, “Golden Crow Soul Spirit, you knew that with the Demon Source Pearl inside me, I was doomed to die and beyond saving. Why did you still expend the last of your power to save me at great cost to yourself?”
“Because I was willing to. That’s all,” the Golden Crow Soul Spirit said indifferently.
Yun Che: “…”
“Back then, I read your memories and was astonished by your physique and experiences. I determined that you had not only freakishly powerful talent but also an extremely strong fortune upon you. You were the most perfect inheritor. So I gave you everything, hoping that the Golden Crow fire left in this world would shine brilliantly through you.”
“I never expected that after you seemingly used up all your blessings in the first half of your life, within less than two short years, you would encounter such a calamity. Even I cannot save you. There is nothing in this plane that can save you.”
“But you are still the one I chose. Even if I chose wrong, I can only see it through to the end.”
That was the Golden Crow Soul Spirit’s explanation. Every word carried deep stubbornness and pride.
“…I have one more question. This question is equally important to me,” Yun Che continued. His eyes narrowed, and his gaze darkened. “If I forcibly open the Evil God’s Fifth Realm [Yama King], is it possible to kill Xuanyuan Wentian!”
The Golden Crow Soul Spirit was taken aback, then suddenly burst into loud laughter. “Hahahaha! Well asked! That’s more like you!”
Yun Che also laughed. “It seems you can give me a sufficiently clear answer. After all, you inherit some memories of the Golden Crow, and the Golden Crow had a close enough relationship with the Evil God in life. You should know something about the Evil God’s power.”
“No, I don’t know much more about the Evil God’s power than you do,” the Golden Crow Soul Spirit said in a low voice. “But judging by the power you unleashed when you forcibly opened [Heaven-Shattering] to face Shiyue Mojun, if you open [Yama King], it might indeed be possible to forcibly blast Xuanyuan Wentian to death!”
Yun Che: “!!”
“But it is only a possibility. And the consequence of you forcibly opening Heaven-Shattering is not a possibility of death… it is certain death! Even if only for an instant or two!”
“When you fought desperately against Shiyue Mojun back then, even though you eventually slew it by forcibly opening Heaven-Shattering, I’m sure you haven’t forgotten the catastrophic aftermath! If your master hadn’t forcibly closed your Evil God Realm Gate at that time, you would have exploded and died then and there. Now, your power is far greater than when you fought Shiyue Mojun, and your physique has changed dramatically. But at best, you can barely withstand a single breath of Heaven-Shattering’s power. As for forcibly opening Yama King, the moment you release that power, you will be ground to dust, without the slightest chance of survival.”
“Good!” Yun Che nodded slowly, his hands clenched tightly. But what showed on his face was not disappointment, fear, or unwillingness, but a faint, almost sinister smile. “Since you say it’s possible, then it must be possible!”
“So, you intend to bet your life?”
“Heh. Since I’m going to die anyway, why not take the bet!” Yun Che said in a low, sly laugh.
“Hahaha,” the Golden Crow Soul Spirit laughed again. “As a man about to die, instead of lamenting your fate, you think only of how to die a violent death! I have indeed chosen the right person, and I have not saved the wrong person. Your fierce determination, like blazing flames, is already worthy of the Golden Crow’s blood and the Golden Crow’s soul within you!”
“I will not stop you. Since you have already decided, you should return to the Tian Xuan Continent as soon as possible. You should know that the demon blood force within Xuanyuan Wentian awakens every day, increasing his power with each passing day. Every day you delay, the odds of your life-risking gamble decrease. If you can really kill Xuanyuan Wentian this way, the entire Huan Yao Realm will be saved because of you, and you will die a worthy death!”
“I understand.” Yun Che murmured. “But I still need some time… maybe two or three days.”
“Hmph, to make your final farewells?” The Golden Crow Soul Spirit said dismissively.
“…Besides that, there is one more thing.” Yun Che turned his head, his gaze toward the distance gradually blurring. Two indistinct figures surfaced in his mind, slowly becoming clear, then slowly… merging into one figure…
“I want to go to the Cang Yun Continent, to see Ling’er… I want to know whether what I saw and experienced six years ago was a dream or not.” Yun Che’s voice grew soft, like a murmur.
“Since you are already doomed to die, what meaning does seeing her again have?” the Golden Crow Soul Spirit said coldly. Having read Yun Che’s memories, it knew who “Ling’er” was and what the “dream” referred to. But as the soul of a divine beast, it had nothing but scorn for human romantic entanglements.
“Just a distant glance would be enough.” Yun Che smiled. “If it wasn’t a dream, if it was really my Ling’er, then even if I die, I can die satisfied.”
“When do you plan to go? The Cang Yun Continent is nearly ten million miles away from the Huan Yao Realm.”
“Right now!” Yun Che said without hesitation.
He did not intend to go bid farewell to Xiao Yaohou and his parents first, as that would only add to their worry. Besides, he had no idea how to explain it.
If the Ling’er in Cang Yun was a dream, then he would be completely resigned. If it was the real Ling’er… he would fulfill his wish, then return to spend his final days with them.
After that, he would use his own life… to drag Xuanyuan Wentian down to hell together!!
——————————
:. :