Watching her son disappear into the distant horizon, the warm smile on her lips lingered—just for a moment—before a flicker of sorrow passed through her eyes. It wasn't the sadness of a mother watching her son leave… it was deeper, older. A pain rooted in the past.
Today was that day.
The day her life had taken a different turn… and never returned to what it once was.
She turned away slowly, her fingers trembling just slightly as she reached for a nearby basket. With practiced hands, she began to gather flowers—wilted, their once vibrant colors now dulled to a lifeless gray by the abyssal dust. And yet… she picked them with care. These, she knew, were his favorite. Even stripped of their beauty, they still held meaning.
Quietly, she took off, flying low beneath the drifting mist of the outer abyss. The path she chose was winding, as though hiding a secret known only to her.
After some time, she reached the crest of a solitary hill. At the very top stood a withered tree, its bark cracked and twisted, branches barren. Beneath it, the earth was dry and still.
She knelt silently and placed the flowers down with utmost care. Beside her offering… was another. The same kind. Placed there not long ago.
She looked at the matching bouquet and closed her eyes.
"..."
The breeze stirred. The silence remained. But the weight in her heart grew heavier.
Not from loneliness.
But from the memory of someone who, just like her, never truly let go.
Dian Xiang's mother quietly sat beneath the withered tree, her fingers resting gently on the flower petals she had just placed. For a long time, she said nothing—only stared into the distance, as though waiting for something… or someone.
Then, with a voice barely louder than the wind, she whispered,
"Do you hate me, Father?"
Her words faded into the heavy silence of the hilltop. For a time, no answer came. Only the creaking of the wind brushing past the dry bark of the old tree.
Then, an old, familiar voice replied softly from behind her.
"The past is in the past… How could I hate the woman Ye'er loved so deeply?"
"Yixin…" he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Back then, I let grief and sorrow cloud my heart… I was weak. I said things I should never have said. For that, I owe you an apology."
He bowed deeply.
But before he could fully lower himself, Yixin rushed forward, her hands reaching to support him as tears welled in her eyes.
"Father… you just said it yourself. The past is in the past. How could I hold anything against you?"
She hesitated, then dropped to her knees before him.
"Thank you… for raising Xiang'er… for loving him when I couldn't be by his side."
The old man's lips trembled. His eyes reddened, and for a long breath, he couldn't speak. He simply reached out, placing a trembling hand on her shoulder, and nodded.
Soon, the two of them sat beneath the shade of the withered tree.
"Back then, when I returned home and learned what happened to you and Ye'er… I lost control," the old man said, his voice low and weathered by time. "I stormed into the Boundless Royal Capital, filled with rage, grief... but I was far too weak. I couldn't do a thing. Only death was waiting for me."
He let out a bitter sigh, eyes heavy with memories.
"And just when I resigned myself to that fate… I met little Xiang. Hah… fate truly knows how to mock us. He didn't even know who I was, had no reason to care… yet he pleaded for my life. That moment, I decided to follow him, guide him… protect him. Who would've thought the boy would grow into such a radiant star." His voice faltered. "Alas… that was the past. Now, with his profound vein… ruined..."
The sorrow in his tone weighed heavily in the air.
Yixin, eyes lowered, asked quietly, "Don't you… feel any hate for little Xiang?"
There was a pause.
"Of course I did," the old man confessed, his voice trembling with honesty. "At first, I hated him more than anything. There were many nights I thought about tearing him apart with my own hands… to avenge the son I lost. Over and over, I thought about it."
He looked up toward the gray skies, then slowly shook his head.
"But each time I looked into his eyes… those bright, clear eyes… those thoughts would vanish. And after all these years, after watching him grow… how could I hate him now?"
Silence fell again, not cold, but full of something warm—grief softened by time… and forgiveness.
"...."
Flashes of the past surged through Yixin's mind—images she wished she could forget, but never would. That dreadful day... she and Ye'er were about to be wed. Joy filled their hearts. But then, a man passed by. A man whose status eclipsed all others. He was the strongest God in the entire Abyss's Divine Kingdom. And because of a fleeting moment of desire... their lives were shattered.
"I asked myself many times too..." the old man's voice brought her back. "How could I ever love the son of the man who killed my son? I asked that again and again..." His voice was hoarse, full of conflicted emotion. "Yet in the end… maybe it was because Little Xiang saved me that day. Maybe it was the bond we built… watching him grow, watching him smile... somehow, all that hate disappeared. And all that remained was a longing… a longing to see him grow into a fine man."
He exhaled slowly, and a faint smile curled on his lips.
"And today, you've seen it with your own eyes. Even when fate turned against him, he didn't complain. He didn't wallow in despair. He accepted it… moved on. Sure, I know his heart still lingers in the Divine Kingdom, but for someone his age to adjust so quickly to life out here..."
He stopped and looked toward the distance, where gray clouds hovered over the quiet land.
"That's because you're a good teacher, Father," Yixin said softly, her eyes warm.
"Maybe..." the old man chuckled. "Hahahaha..." And for the first time in a long while, his laugh was genuine, heartfelt.
The two sat together in silence, watching the stillness of the world around them, their pain a little lighter, their burdens quietly shared.
Far in the distance, in a city veiled by abyssal dust, the young prince stood among murmurs and whispers—listening intently to tales that shook the Abyss to its core. Unknowingly, each step he took from that moment would lead him toward a destiny he never imagined.
--------
"God Emperor! Allow us to accompany you!"
A chorus of pleading voices rang out from the group of Brahma Gods gathered at the edge of the divine void. Before them lay the gaping, lifeless expanse—a massive gray crater so deep it seemed to devour space itself… the Abyss of Nothingness.
Yet before their words could reach the figure about to descend, a golden flash split the air.
"BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!"
With a single, ruthless kick, Qianye Ying'er's golden form erupted forth, her divine might exploding like a tempest. In an instant, the nearest Brahma God was hurled hundreds of miles away, crashing through several spatial rifts before tumbling into the distance like a broken star.
The others, stunned and breathless, froze in place—terror flashing in their eyes.
"It seem you forgot your place!" Her voice like golden steel in the wind. Her golden hair fluttered behind her as she turned back toward the edge of the abyss, eyes unwavering, gaze resolute.
She snorted coldly, her golden eyes narrowing as she turned her gaze back toward the others gathered around the edge of the abyss. Before them stretched the massive gray crater—the Abyss of Nothingness—its presence devouring light and sound, like a silent reminder of what loomed beyond.
With everything that had happened and all that Shui Meiyin's Stainless Divine Soul had revealed, Chi Wuyao had wracked her mind for a solution. Countless thoughts, possibilities, and desperate strategies had been considered. But none of them… none could stand against the sheer terror of the unknown being trying to force its way into their world. In the face of absolute power, plans were meaningless.
As unease spread among the gathered divine powers, it was Qianye Ying'er who brought up a name that had gone unspoken until now—Yun Che. And from that moment, a thought took root—dangerous and near-impossible, yet maybe, their only hope.
If the being that sought to enter the God Realm was of True God level or beyond…
Then perhaps the answer was not to fight, but to seek refuge—
In the Abyss, where higher realms existed—
Where Yun Che had already gone.
A path filled with uncertainty… but one that might still offer a future.
The idea was absurd—so reckless that it sounded more like a desperate fantasy than a strategy. And yet, in the end, it was the only path they could take.
But, after Chi Wuyao explained everything she knew about the Abyss—its chaotic nature, the endless destruction, the oppressive abyssal dust, the world laws foreign to the God Realm—many among them could only shake their heads in silence. Not because they disagreed, but because the truth was too heavy to refute.
Days passed in heated debate, restless planning, and quiet despair. But eventually, a decision was made.
Qianye Ying'er would be the one to jump into the Abyss of Nothingness.
It was the only conclusion they could reach.
Why not Chi Wuyao, the one who always carried plans in the palm of her hand? Because she was the Empress of the God Realm. With the realm on the brink of unrest, she had a duty to stabilize it. Whispers of a lurking calamity were already spreading, fear poisoning the air like a silent plague. If she disappeared now, the fragile balance would collapse.
Why not Mu Xuanyin, the strongest living being in the current God Realm? Precisely because of her strength. If chaos erupted, only she could quell it. Her existence alone was a deterrent to those who might rise in defiance or ambition.
Why not Caizhi, whose unique powers could purify the darkness? Because her role was even more irreplaceable. If that dreadful aura returned—and they all feared it would—only she could cleanse its corruption and keep their world from falling into madness.
And as for Shui Meiyin or Shui Yingyue, —none could be spared. And none would be allowed, either. Shui Qianheng would rather tear the heavens apart than let his daughter step into a place that even the gods feared.
Every person in the room had their reasons—responsibilities they could not abandon, burdens only they could carry.
In the end, only one remained.
Qianye Ying'er.
She, who had once ruled the Brahma Monarch God Realm.
She, who had abandoned everything to walk the dark path beside Yun Che.
She, who had nothing left to lose… except the man she once vowed to follow to the ends of the world.
So she would go.
Not just because no one else could.
But because she must.
Sure, as the God Emperor of the Brahma Monarch God Realm, Qianye Ying'er did hold a title of immense authority—but in truth, her role as Realm King had long since been handed off to another. Ever since she chose to walk beside Yun Che, her duties had been little more than symbolic. Her heart and soul no longer belonged to the Brahma realm… they belonged elsewhere.
Now, that choice had brought her here.
Before her, the Abyss yawned open like a wound in the sky—a place of oblivion where even gods feared to tread.
"Are you sure you've made up your mind?" Chi Wuyao's voice was calm, but beneath it trembled a current of concern.
"There are other alternatives, aren't there?" Qianye Ying'er replied coldly, her golden eyes narrowing as they locked onto the abyssal void ahead. Her golden aura slowly rose, as if preparing to part the heavens themselves.
Chi Wuyao opened her mouth again, repeating the words she had already said a dozen times before.
"Remember what I told you... your pride, put it all—"
"Got it." Qianye Ying'er cut her off sharply, her voice low and firm. There was no room left for hesitation. Not anymore.
"Ah... God Emperor, please reconsider... please!"The bloodied Brahma God have returned, forced himself forward with trembling limbs. His plea was desperate, but it died in his throat the instant Qianye Ying'er cast a cold, golden glare in his direction. That single look was enough to silence him forever.
Without a word, Qianye Ying'er stepped forward, her figure regal and resolute as she approached the edge—the very spot where Yun Che had once vanished into the depths of the Abyss. Before her, the swirling gray mist churned endlessly like a living thing, threatening to devour all that neared.
She stood at the edge, unmoving.
A thousand memories flashed through her mind, a thousand regrets, but none powerful enough to pull her back. Her eyes narrowed, not with fear, but with certainty.
She had spent countless years absorbing the deepest secrets of the God Realm under Qianye Fantian's tutelage—records, forbidden tomes, and whispers long buried. She had uncovered nearly every secret the world above had to offer.But now, before her stood a world where none of that would matter.The Abyss.A place not recorded in any divine scripture, not even in the memories of the oldest gods.
The knowledge Chi Wuyao had given her was limited—fragmented at best—but it was all she had, the only torch to guide her into a world wrapped in endless darkness.
From behind, Chi Wuyao's voice rose, quiet yet filled with emotion."Be safe."
One by one, the others offered their farewells. They had already accepted this. They had to.
Qianye Ying'er didn't look back.
She stood at the very edge of the world, her golden hair fluttering in the frigid wind, the cold biting against her skin like needles. Yet, she showed no reaction. Her golden eyes, always proud and unwavering, remained fixed on the swirling gray mist below—the Abyss of Nothingness. A place that had swallowed Yun Che without a trace... and now, it would swallow her too.
A strange stillness wrapped around her. Behind her, countless eyes watched in silence. Some filled with worry. Others with sorrow. And some, with respect. The air was heavy—everyone could feel it. This wasn't just a journey. This was a farewell.
Qianye Ying'er opened her lips, her voice soft, but resolute.
"If I am lucky..." she murmured, perhaps intending to follow with a self-deprecating remark, or a flicker of hope.
But in that instant—
"HMPH!"
A swift and powerful force slammed into her back—so sudden that her body shot forward, completely caught off guard. Her balance lost, she tumbled forward, straight into the abyss.
"YOU LITTLE WOLF... HOW DARE—!!"
Her outraged scream echoed for only a breath of time before the gray mists surged upward and swallowed her whole. Her voice was cut short. Her golden light vanished. Her presence disappeared as if it had never existed.
Her aura, her form, her everything... was gone from the God Realm.
Gone.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Everyone turned, still stunned, toward the one who delivered the kick.
Caizhi floated with her arms crossed, her violet eyes sharp and unrepentant.
"We don't have time for her to stand there looking majestic and brooding like she's still the Brahma Goddess," she said with a scoff.
With that, she turned, her rainbow robe billowing as she shot off into the sky—leaving behind a group of speechless, dumbfounded experts still trying to process what just happened.
------
After many days spent listening, inquiring, and piecing together fragments of news, Dian Xiang finally left the city in silence. He had heard enough.
The road back to his mother's home stretched long before him, veiled in the ever-present gray of the Abyssal dust. Though familiar, the journey now felt different—heavier. Along the way, he encountered a few unsavory individuals, people who had clearly mistaken him for a cripple or an easy mark. But they learned quickly… and painfully. Though his cultivation had fallen, the fire in him had not. Once they realized who they were dealing with, their arrogance turned into desperate apologies. He spared them—he wasn't the kind of man who took pleasure in unnecessary cruelty. Still, the delay caused his return to stretch longer than intended.
Luckily, as a former prince of the Boundless Divine Kingdom, he still retained a few privileges—among them, a high-grade communication talisman. Through it, he had remained in touch with his master. The old man reassured him again and again:"Your mother is safe, I'm watching over her. Don't worry, just take your time."
Those words comforted him… but only a little.
As Dian Xiang continued along the weathered paths, his gaze lifted to the sky, then dropped to the land around him. The Abyssal dust here was thinner than in the many zones, yet it still danced in the air—forever swirling, forever whispering. It clung to the skin, crept through cracks in stone, and dulled the color of everything it touched. It wasn't deadly like the Endless Fog Sea… but the corrosion was still real.
And day by day, it slowly wore things down—just like time itself.
Suddenly, Dian Xiang came to a sharp halt.
A strange sensation tugged at his soul. His divine sense swept out instinctively—searching, scanning—until it caught something faint, like a flickering candle caught in a storm. A profound aura… barely holding on. A cultivator at the Peak of Divine Master Realm, but riddled with weakness, like their life was hanging by a thread.
"Injured...?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes.
He focused his divine sense deeper—and what he saw made his breath catch in his throat.
A figure limping through the swirling gray haze, her steps uneven, her body smeared in dried blood. Her garments were torn and soaked in crimson, and her once golden hair was darkened and matted against her skin. Wounds—deep, brutal, unrelenting—covered her, yet she kept moving forward.
At first, he was stunned by her beauty. Even bloodied and broken, she was breathtaking—like a celestial flower blooming in a world of decay. Her presence alone reminded him of Hua Caili, the Goddess of the Abyss herself.
But that wasn't what truly stopped his heart.
It was her eyes.
Even as her body cried out for rest, even as her wounds screamed in pain, her eyes burned—bright, fierce, alive. There was no despair in them. No surrender. Only that unwavering will… that refusal to fall… that fire that refused to die.
But unfortunately, due to her injuries, she could only continue for a short while before collapsing and losing consciousness.