novel against the - Chapter 2108

Chapter 2108: The Abyssal Ghost supreme-ruler Child

As if in a trance, Sha Xing arrived at the Star Moon Mechanism Tower¹. He looked up at the layers of shimmering starlight and moonlight, recalling the time he and Xian Yue had climbed the tower together, laughing at each other with every level they ascended. A pang of sorrow struck his heart.

He remained silent for a long time. Just as he finally collected himself and turned to leave, two Star supreme-ruler disciples stumbled out of the tower, supporting each other. They were drenched in sweat, covered in wounds, yet their faces were full of exhilaration. Clearly, they had achieved a breakthrough.

“Just now, I think I heard the tower guard disciples saying that after this breakthrough, Moon supreme-ruler Child ascended the tower alone and has already reached the fiftieth level.”

“As expected of the Moon supreme-ruler Child.¹ Worthy indeed of the Moon supreme-ruler Child. It’s a pity… a pity that Star supreme-ruler Child hasn’t set foot in the Mechanism Tower for half a year. Junior Brother, do you think… do you think the rumors are true… that he’s… half-crippled?”

“Half-crippled might be an exaggeration, but the abyssal corruption has already entered his profound veins². Unless the corrupted part is cut off, even the Supreme Abyssal Emperor himself wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. But Star supreme-ruler Child refuses to give up. He’s been desperately searching for a way to completely dispel the abyssal corruption… Sigh.”

“Actually, according to the disciples from the Moon supreme-ruler side, Moon supreme-ruler Child’s suffering is no less than Star supreme-ruler Child’s. He could have broken through three months ago, but he kept suppressing it, afraid of upsetting Star supreme-ruler Child. It wasn’t until his profound energy was on the verge of going out of control under the immense pressure that he had no choice but to break through.”

Sha Xing, who had been listening coldly from the side, slowly clenched his fists.

“Star supreme-ruler Child and Moon supreme-ruler Child grew up together and became supreme-ruler Children together. Although not blood brothers, their bond is deeper than any outsider can imagine. Now it seems that after realizing there’s no hope, Star supreme-ruler Child will eventually choose to sever part of his profound veins. And Moon supreme-ruler Child will definitely slow down his own progress for him…”

“If it were just that, it wouldn’t be so bad. But if Star supreme-ruler Child, with his incomplete profound veins, becomes a supreme-ruler Venerate in the future, wouldn’t he be… a flawed supreme-ruler Venerate?”

“Besides, the inheritance of the Star Moon Divine Power must be carried out simultaneously, and the inheritors must be sufficiently compatible. Even if Star supreme-ruler Child maintains the same cultivation level as Moon supreme-ruler Child with his incomplete profound veins, can they still be considered perfectly compatible?”

Their discussion was filled with doubt and worry. Their words undoubtedly represented, to a large extent, the unspoken anxieties of the entire Star Moon Divine Nation.

“Speaking of which,” one of the voices suddenly lowered, and the speaker glanced around cautiously. “I heard from my uncle that in the Northern Region, the Star supreme-ruler lineage has given birth to a boy with an innate eight-part supreme core³… just six days ago.”

“What? Wait, if this is true, why haven’t we heard anything about it?”

“Because Heavenly Star supreme-ruler Venerate has forbidden anyone from speaking about it! The only reason I know is that my uncle happened to be present when the Star supreme-ruler child was born.”

“Heavenly Star supreme-ruler Venerate demanded secrecy, which means… he went to see the newborn child himself?”

“That’s why my uncle said that the Star supreme-ruler lineage might be undergoing a major change and told me to be careful in the near future. I’ve only told you about this, you’d better…”

His voice trailed off abruptly as they both felt a sudden chill behind them.

They turned around simultaneously and were met with Xian Yue’s cold gaze.

“M-Moon… Moon supreme-ruler Child.” Their bodies tensed, their hearts pounding.

In a flash, Xian Yue was standing before them, his eyes as cold as icy blades. “Listen, I don’t care if what you just said is true or not. Remember this: as long as I, Xian Yue, am still the Moon supreme-ruler Child, the Star supreme-ruler Child can only be Sha Xing! As for the rest, even if a Star supreme-ruler child with a perfect supreme core descends from the heavens, I, Xian Yue, will not acknowledge them!”

“Don’t let me hear any more reckless speculation about Star supreme-ruler Child. Otherwise… you won’t like what happens when I’m angry!”

“…Moon supreme-ruler Child, please calm down. We were just… speaking carelessly. We would never dare to disrespect…”

“Get out!”

The two disciples trembled, not daring to utter another word, and hurriedly left.

Xian Yue stood where he was, the coldness in his eyes lingering for a long time before slowly dissipating into a sigh.

As he turned around, he seemed to sense something and abruptly looked back, meeting Sha Xing’s gaze.

His eyes flickered momentarily before regaining their composure. He flew up to Sha Xing and said with a smile, “Those two fools, I took the liberty of letting them go. Because I believe you wouldn’t even bother taking their words to heart.”

“Congratulations on your breakthrough,” Sha Xing replied with a smile.

Xian Yue’s expression remained unchanged, his smile still in place. “This time, I was a step ahead. But I believe that once you remove the abyssal corruption, your breakthrough will also be just around the corner.”

Sha Xing looked into his eyes. “You also think I should let go of my obsession and sever the corruption?”

Xian Yue countered with a question, “If half a year ago, it wasn’t you but me who went to examine the abyssal beast’s corpse, then I would be the one in this situation. If I had to sever my profound veins to get rid of the abyssal corruption, would you abandon me?”

Sha Xing’s heart stirred. Without hesitation, he said, “No.”

“Then would you be willing to slow down, even if it meant delaying your own progress, just to drag a burden like me along?”

“Yes.”

“And would you resent me for it?”

“…No.”

“So…” Xian Yue’s smile widened, filled with genuine joy. “Why are you still worried, hesitant, and afraid? Our compatibility is not merely superficial cultivation, aura, or form. It lies in sharing weal and woe, honor and disgrace.”

He grabbed Sha Xing’s wrist, his words coming from the depths of his soul. “This tribulation is just the first major test we face together. Our bond, transcending millennia, will not be broken by such a small trial.”

“Besides, I’ve already made up my mind. If your damaged profound veins prevent us from achieving the same level of compatibility and synchronization as before, from becoming the Star Moon Twins we once were, then I will choose to damage my own profound veins until we are compatible again! I believe that if it were you, you would make the same choice.”

Looking at Xian Yue, who was determined to regress and sacrifice himself, yet still constantly trying to shift the perspective to avoid hurting his pride… Sha Xing felt a warmth in his heart, but it was overshadowed by an indescribable pain.

“Hahaha!” Sha Xing burst into laughter. “Xian Yue, after all these years, you still underestimate me. This mere abyssal corruption, even if I sever it, it would only be a tenth of my profound veins at most. Such a small price is not enough to break my spirit!”

He squeezed Xian Yue’s wrist in return, then let go and turned around. “It’s just that… people always cling to hope, always thinking that what others can’t 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 abyssal corruption, then I’ll just sever it.”

“After that, it won’t be a big deal even if I have to be dragged along by you. Since it’s you, I wouldn’t feel the slightest bit ashamed.”

“Good!” Xian Yue nodded with a smile. “It’s a promise!”

Xian Yue departed. Once his figure disappeared from sight, Sha Xing’s fearless expression crumbled.

He spun around, his teeth chattering as he clenched his jaw.

“I… I can endure being crippled. But… how can I… become your burden!”

He looked into the distance, his gaze resolute as never before.

There, lay the Sea of Fog.

Without informing anyone, he avoided any signs of life and walked out of the supreme domain, out of the nation’s borders… alone.

“I need some time alone. Don’t follow me!” he said coldly outside the border.

The figure that had been silently guarding him did not leave.

He gave a cold laugh. “What? Seeing me so pathetic, even you won’t listen to me anymore?”

The hidden figure sighed and could only retreat reluctantly.

However, hours passed… days passed… yet Sha Xing did not return.

When he searched, he could no longer find any trace of Sha Xing in the vast world.

The gray Sea of Fog was filled with the aura of death.

This was the first time Sha Xing had entered the Sea of Fog alone, and it was the first time in his life that he had deviated from the righteous path.

All for that sliver of… the only hope.

He avoided cultivators, avoided abyssal beasts, and finally, he arrived at the place that had haunted his nightmares for half a year.

The scene from that day replayed in his mind like a nightmare. He gritted his teeth and continued deeper… As the concentration of abyssal miasma increased, the presence of cultivators he could sense dwindled until there was no one left.

He stopped, his chest heaving, and finally let out a trembling roar, “Star Moon supreme-ruler Child, Sha Xing, requests an audience with the Fog Emperor!”

He knew that countless people suffering from abyssal corruption pleaded for the Fog Emperor’s grace in the Sea of Fog every day, but their hopes were as ephemeral as mist. He had also heard that the Fog Emperor was omnipresent in the Sea of Fog, every particle of abyssal miasma his eyes and ears.

Therefore, he called out his title as supreme-ruler Child. If the Fog Emperor was truly omnipresent in the Sea of Fog, at least this was a special enough identity to attract his attention.

However, his cries did not summon the Emperor’s descent but instead alerted a large number of abyssal beasts.

A chorus of roars echoed from the depths of the abyssal fog. Sha Xing’s brows furrowed, and his heavy sword materialized in his hand, Star supreme-ruler power surging through his body.

But as the abyssal beasts lunged at him with terrifying auras, the coldness in his eyes turned into horror.

Divine Extinction Realm… Fifth-level abyssal beasts!

And there were three of them!

He swung his heavy sword, unleashing the Heavenly Wolf’s Fury, but it also agitated the abyssal corruption sealed within his profound veins. A sharp pain shot through his nerves, the blockage in his profound energy distorting his swordsmanship and leaving him vulnerable in the face of absolute disadvantage.

Clang!

Before he could unleash the Savage Fang strike, his heavy sword was knocked away. Razor-sharp claws, shimmering with a ghostly light, tore through his Star supreme-ruler power and ripped into his chest.

Abyssal power erupted within him. Sha Xing used Star supreme-ruler Phantom Steps, desperately dodging, but before he could regain his footing, the other two abyssal beasts attacked simultaneously, their claws leaving eight deep, ghastly marks on his body.

Blood dripped from his teeth as he let out a roar. The Heavenly Wolf phantom behind him also let out a furious howl as the fifth strike of the Heavenly Wolf Sword, Azure Wolf Claw, met the onslaught head-on with desperate force.

Boom!

The erupting Heavenly Wolf power was torn apart by the overwhelming abyssal might. The two Divine Extinction Realm abyssal beasts were forced back slightly, but Sha Xing’s arms and chest were now covered in deep, bone-deep wounds… He could no longer withstand the third abyssal beast’s attack and was sent flying by a single claw to the chest.

His heavy sword slipped from his grasp as he was flung through the air, blood spraying from his wounds.

Even at his peak, without the abyssal corruption hindering him, he wouldn’t have been a match for any of these beasts, let alone all three at once.

Before he could hit the ground, he was swept up in another abyssal tempest. The primal instinct for destruction, the pure power of annihilation, crashed against him without hesitation or mercy. The Star supreme-ruler Child, like a withered leaf torn from its branch, was battered by the chaotic storm of destruction. In the blink of an eye, he was covered in wounds, blood splattering everywhere.

Thud!

He crashed heavily to the ground. As he instinctively tried to get up, he realized his legs were broken. He struggled to prop himself up on his arms, only for a descending claw to slam into his back, driving his head into the ground. His organs ruptured under the immense force.

Sha Xing’s eyes were wide with defiance, refusing to accept defeat. But his injuries were too severe. The starlight in his eyes rapidly faded, turning into the same dull gray as the Sea of Fog.

He tried with all his might to fight back, but his consciousness was slipping away, fading to white, then to nothingness…

As his consciousness finally succumbed to the darkness, the three ferocious abyssal beasts abruptly ceased their attack and slowly retreated, falling silent.

From the shadows, a figure wreathed in thick abyssal miasma slowly emerged and stood before Sha Xing.

He raised a hand, and the surrounding abyssal miasma surged towards his palm like a raging storm, condensing into a long, thin black line.

“Welcome to the Sea of Fog, esteemed… Abyssal Ghost supreme-ruler Child!”

With a soft murmur, he mercilessly plunged the black line into the center of Sha Xing’s forehead.