Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 271 : The Previous Life (3)

Chapter 271: Chapter 271 : The Previous Life (3)

The other Goddess’s words hit Xie Jianyu like a thunderclap. His heart pounded in his chest, and his palms were sweaty. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

He whipped his head around to look at the Goddess next to him. "Is that true?" he asked, his voice trembling.

The Goddess looked back at him with a calm expression. [I do not have a reason to lie,] she said.

"How come?"

Xie Jianyu turned to look at the soul of his other self, who just asked the question.

"Why?"

[This is fate,] the other Goddess calmly stated. [The First Demon King had been biding his time for hundreds of years. This time, he is going to succeed. The balance of evil and good will tip heavily on the evil side thanks to his victory in this upcoming war.]

"We have to do something!" The soul insisted. "Goddess, there has to be something we can do to prevent it from happening!"

The Goddess of Fate and Destiny gave the soul an expressionless stare. Her eyes were deep and fathomless, like ancient pools of wisdom. Her face was serene and unreadable, giving no hint of her thoughts or feelings.

[There was once a possibility, but now it is already too late.] She then claimed.

"How come?"

The other Goddess turned away from Xie Jianyu’s soul and sauntered to the edge of the circular stone platform. Her long, flowing robes billowed in the wind, and her silver hair sparkled in the gathering storm clouds.

The sky rumbled with a deep, ominous sound. The air was charged with electricity, and the wind whipped at the Goddess’s robes. She looked down at the world below, her eyes narrowed in concentration.

Beneath the platform, a storm was brewing. The clouds churned and darkened, and lightning flashed in the distance.

"Goddess, there must be a way."

The other Goddess turned her head slightly in the soul’s direction. Her movement was slow and graceful, like a willow bending in the breeze.

[What if I tell you that there is indeed a way, but it will require you to sacrifice yourself?]

Without a moment of hesitation, Xie Jianyu’s soul replied, "I am willing."

The Goddess of Fate and Destiny glanced at Xie Jianyu, the omega standing next to her. His expression was calm and composed, showing no surprise at the answer he just heard.

The Goddess sighed inwardly. No matter how many times Xie Jianyu revived, his core essence remained the same: kind, compassionate, and unwavering in his resolve.

"Goddess, what do I have to do?"

The other Goddess shot Xie Jianyu’s soul a pained look. She sucked in a deep breath before she gave her answer, as if the words were caught in her throat.

[You have to enter the Furnace of Time on your own accord. Your soul will disintegrate, but the spiritual power and good karma that you accumulated over the years will not go to waste. I shall use them to turn back time and give the world one more chance to defeat evil.]

Xie Jianyu’s lips fell open slightly, his expression one of awe and disbelief. To disappear completely, to cease existing altogether... that was the ultimate sacrifice. And yet, the soul before him was willing to make it.

"I am willing to do that. What must be done in order to defeat the Demonic Realm in years to come?"

A soft smile laced the other Goddess’ lips. She pointed at a single star that shone in the sky with in resplendent golden color.

[Do you see that star? That is the Star Of Unblemished Virtue.]

She then told Xie Jianyu’s soul in a solemn voice, [The Star of Unblemished Virtue was destined to be a child born from your union with Supreme General Zhang Fengxi. This child will be crucial to win the battle between the two realms in years to come.]

"..."

Both Xie Jianyu and the soul of his other self went speechless upon hearing the unexpected answer.

"But Zhang Fengxi, he is in love with Liu Wenyuan," the soul replied helplessly. "I cannot change that, no matter how many times I go into the furnace and burn myself."

The other Goddess shot him a sad smile.

[If you think that way, then there is no other way to change the fate. The world will be steeped in darkness, and all hope is lost.]

"..."

A conflicted expression spread on the soul’s face. The other Goddess could not help but feel sorry for the Crown Prince. When he was alive, he was forced to carry the burden of the entire Heavenly Realm on his shoulders. When he was dead, he was forced to carry the burden of the entire world on his shoulders, at the cost of everything he had.

[I shall allow you to retain your memories upon revival, so that you know what to do to achieve the goal,] the other Goddess offered. [That is, unfortunately, all I can do without unraveling the course of fate.]

Xie Jianyu’s soul raised his head and spoke.

"I am willing to turn back in time, but please let Zhang Fengxi retain the memories of the past life in my place."

The other Goddess narrowed her eyes at Xie Jianyu.

[What good is there to let him retain his memories?]

"Whether or not the child will be born depends heavily on him. If he can develop the slightest liking for me, then there will be some hope."

[And what about you?] The other Goddess questioned the soul. [What if you are not willing to enter into the union?]

"I like him, so I suppose that..."

[Like, does not necessarily mean that you two will marry. Remember, the child will only be born when you two are successfully united in marriage.]

The soul cast upon her a gaze laden with sorrow, its ethereal form flickering with despair.

"Then, Goddess, can I not also retain my memories?"

[No. That is too much.]

"What if I am willing to sacrifice myself a second time?" The soul asked.

[...]

Xie Jianyu’s eyes widened in shock, his pupils dilating like dark pools in a stormy sea. His mouth fell open slightly, his lips parting in a silent gasp.