Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 272 : The Previous Life (4)

Chapter 272: Chapter 272 : The Previous Life (4)

[Crown Prince, you are taking the existence of your soul pretty lightly.]

The other Goddess remained unmoved, her expression betraying not even a hint of amusement or intrigue. Her eyes, pools of ancient wisdom, regarded the spectacle before her with a detached indifference that bordered on disdain.

"That is not true," Xie Jianyu’s soul protested, its voice trembling with conviction. "I do cherish my existence, but the lives of others hold far greater weight in my heart."

Xie Jianyu’s answer failed to improve his image in the other Goddess’ eyes.

[My Crown Prince, in the vast expanse of time, I have witnessed countless souls traverse the ethereal passage between realms. Yet, among the multitude, only a precious few have resonated with the brilliance that emanates from your very being.

Your soul is a rare gem, a radiant beacon amidst the cosmos. To deprive the world of your existence would be a grievous act, akin to extinguishing a star in the heavens. Your presence is a gift to all who have the fortune to bask in its radiant glow.]

If the soul could blush, he might have already blushed from the compliment.

"I do not deserve such a high opinion. Thank you for the kind words, Goddess."

[Now that is rather offensive. I do not spout groundless nonsense if that is what you are saying.]

"No, of course not."

The other Goddess slowly exhaled.

[I am going to see to it that you and Supreme General Zhang Fengxi end together in this next lifetime. However, if things go awry, I promise to return your memories to you so that you can take the necessary actions to rectify the situation.]

The soul looked like he was about to cry, but there were no tears to shed.

"Thank you," he said. "Thank you."

[However, there is price to pay. Your Majesty, you will leave the world of the living soon after you give birth to the Star of Unblemished Virtue.]

The soul’s eyes shook from grief.

"Will I not have the chance to hold him...?" he asked in a broken, trembling voice.

[You will, but not for long. When you lie on the bed to sleep at night, you shall drift into a sleep you never again wake up from. You shall lose all benefits of your cultivation and return to the samsara cycle, and be reborn in the Human Realm.]

As the inexorable tide of fate drew near, Xie Jianyu was confronted with a harrowing realization that pierced his soul with icy talons.

The very act of giving life would be his last, robbing him of the cherished privilege of nurturing the child he had brought into the world.

The cruel twist of destiny denied him the joy of witnessing his offspring blossom and flourish under his loving care.

Words failed to capture the depths of his anguish as he grappled with the immensity of his impending demise.

His heart ached with a sorrow that transcended the limitations of language, a suffocating weight that threatened to crush his spirit.

The prospect of leaving his child behind, alone and vulnerable in a world that could be harsh and unforgiving, filled him with unbearable dread.

As he contemplated the brevity of his existence, a torrent of emotions surged within him - regret for the unfulfilled dreams and aspirations that would forever remain out of reach, longing for the precious moments he would never share with his child, and a profound sense of injustice at the unfairness of his fate.

The Goddess quietly spoke next to him.

[I have fulfilled my promise to you. Crown Prince, what are you going to do?]

Xie Jianyu wrestled with the suffocating tendrils of dread that constricted his chest, each breath a struggle against the encroaching darkness.

With a voice raspy from unshed tears, he rasped out the words that hung heavy in the air like a death knell.

"I shall bring forth this child into the world," he vowed, his gaze unwavering despite the storm raging within him. "And then, I shall honor our pact, repaying the gift of these past memories with my very life."

His words hung heavy in the air, each syllable laced with the weight of impending doom. The knowledge of his impending demise cast a long shadow over his heart, yet he refused to succumb to despair. For the sake of the child he carried within him, he would summon every ounce of strength he possessed to fulfill his duty.

The Goddess of Fate and Destiny raised her brilliant blue eyes and gazed upon the broken man next to her.

[The fate of three realms rests in your hands, Crown Prince.]

The scene dissolved into a nightmarish vision of a gigantic, colossal furnace, its maw agape and spewing forth a searing inferno of emerald flames. Within its fiery depths, a soul writhed in agony, its essence being mercilessly torn asunder.

As the flames consumed the soul, its form began to disintegrate, its very being reduced to nothingness. Yet, even as the soul was obliterated, Xie Jianyu could still feel its anguish coursing through him like a searing electric shock.

He stood there, rooted to the spot, his breath hitching in his throat as he struggled to comprehend the sheer magnitude of the devastation he was witnessing. The pain was so intense, so visceral, that it felt as though it were he who was being ripped apart.

The searing pain that had consumed Xie Jianyu’s being gradually morphed into a deep, abiding sorrow. As the waves of anguish subsided, a sense of acceptance washed over him. He closed his eyes and surrendered to the inevitable, feeling himself sinking into a bottomless abyss.

When he awoke, the harsh glare of morning sunlight assaulted his senses. He blinked blearily, trying to adjust to the brightness. As he lay there, gathering his thoughts, he heard a gentle knock on the door.

"Master, are you awake?" Mingyu’s voice inquired from the other side.

----

Author’s note :

This author procrastinates a lot while writing this arc. Sigh, it is an important arc to write because it answers a few major questions such as how Zhang Fengxi even managed to get back in time and why Xie Jianyu’s Birth Reading was so grim.

Before the readers gather the pitchforks to exorcise the author, the author needs to remind the readers again that she will definitely wrap the story into a happy ending so please have mercy QAQ!!!!