Chapter 376: Her Soul Has Been Completely Annihilated

"No...!" Ye Guan roared with bloodshot eyes. Terrifying sword energy burst out of him without stopping, but the golden light remained unyielding as if it were cast in solid gold.

The True God's Sanctuary!

The True God had left it behind for her sisters millions of years ago. The golden light was so strong that even the Eternal Sovereign couldn't damage it, even if he were at his peak.

Ye Guan was horrified to see a mighty conflagration surrounding the Adjudication Sword Master. Ye Guan saw through her intentions, and he slammed his hand furiously on the golden light, shattering his own hands. Blood spurted out of his hands, and his ghastly white bones peeked out of the wounds, but he ignored them and pointed forward.

His blood transformed into swords that struck the golden light. However, even his Mad Demon Bloodline wasn't strong enough to shatter the golden light.

Ye Guan stared frozen in stupefaction at the sight. Moments later, he let loose a piercing cry and started slamming himself into the golden light. Unfortunately, the golden light remained unscathed.

Ye Guan was about to go mad when a figure appeared in the golden light. Ye Guan turned but could only make out the figure's silhouette. The silhouette looked familiar. Ye Guan wanted to say something, but the figure whisked Ye Guan away.

The Adjudication Sword Master smiled upon seeing Ye Guan's disappearance. She turned and glared coldly at the Eternal Sovereign in the distance. Stomping with her right foot, she turned into a ray of sword light.

...

An unknown amount of time had passed before Ye Guan opened his eyes.

Looking around, he found himself in what looked like a house made out of stone.

Ye Guan's eyes widened, and he looked as if he had been struck by lightning as he frantically crawled down the bed and rushed out of the stone house.

Ye Guan was stunned by the scenery outside. He was in Stone Village! He couldn't be mistaken, as he had followed Cirou here to find Ba Wan.

How did I end up here?

"You're finally awake?" A feminine voice echoed, prompting Ye Guan to turn around. A woman dressed in a light yellow robe was standing not too far away. She was a beautiful woman with facial features that were both delicate and magnificent.

The beautiful woman was none other than Cirou, and she was glaring at him.

Ye Guan rushed toward her and stammered, "C-Cijing...!"

Cirou waved her sleeve.

Boom!

Ye Guan was blasted away, and he slammed into the stone house where he had come from. The stone house exploded, sending debris everywhere.

Ye Guan desperately tried to get up, but a terrifying pressure swept over him and suppressed him. Ye Guan felt like there were tens of thousands of mountains boring down on him, rendering him completely immobile.

Cirou walked up to Ye Guan and asked, "Angry? Is your fury going to do anything?"

Ye Guan clenched his fists tightly, and waves of sword intent surged within him.

However, he still couldn't break free from the overwhelming pressure.

Cirou looked down at Ye Guan. Her gaze was cold, devoid of any emotion. "Call for help! Ask your relatives for help! Your father is strong, your aunt is strong, and even your uncle is powerful. Ask them for help!"

"AAAHHHH!" Ye Guan roared, and a boundless sword aura surged crazily from him.

However, he still couldn't break free from Cirou's suppression.

After a while, Ye Guan sprawled out on the ground, exhausted.

"How is Cijing?" he asked.

"Dead!" Cirou replied.

Ye Guan’s eyes turned red as he looked up at her.

Cirou turned away before the tears could roll down her cheeks.

"She didn't even want to live."

Ye Guan clenched his fists so tightly that his nails pierced his palms.

He glared at Cirou and said in a shaky voice, "Y-y-you... you're her sister! Why did you—"

"So what if I'm her sister?!" Cirou shouted, "What could I do when she wanted to die for you?"

Ye Guan could finally see the tears rolling down Cirou's cheeks, and he realized just then that Cirou's revelation wasn't a part of her scheme. Ye Guan felt as though there was a lump in his throat as he struggled to squeeze words out of his mouth.

"C-C-Cijing...she..."

Cirou's gaze was transfixed on Ye Guan, and her gaze became incredibly cold.

"Do you not have any idea just how weak you are?"

Ye Guan didn't look away from Cirou's gaze, and he allowed her cold gaze to bore into him. "You've always refused to follow your father's old path, and you didn't want to become the king of relying on others.

"However, have you still not realized that your plain-skirt aunt has already become a god in your heart?"

Ye Guan's mind went blank.

"If it hadn't been for your grandfather, do you really think that you could have left the True Universe with your life when you had invaded the True Universe back then? Remember your battle against the Heaven Seizing Clan? Do you really think you could have bested Sovereign Heaven Seizing Dao if it hadn't been for your aunt?"

"How about that fight against the old woman in the Divine Ruins? Do you really think you could have escaped with your life if it hadn't been for your aunt's intervention? As for those who have passed on their inheritance to you and established friendly ties with you... do you really think that they did that because of your talent alone?"

"Do you really think that they did that because they value you?" Cirou asked while staring straight into Ye Guan's eyes.

Each and every word was like a knife to Ye Guan's heart. Ye Guan closed his eyes.

"Have you ever thought about just how powerful my enemies have been so far?" Ye Guan asked. He stared at Cirou with a pair of terrifyingly red eyes and continued. "Just what do you want me to do?! It hasn't even been that long since I discovered my true identity and became the King of the Guanxuan Universe, but I've already faced so many enemies at the supreme elite level.

"In addition, the True Universe has even waged war on the Guanxuan Universe. Even if I throw my life away, there's no way I can defeat all of you! So tell me! What am I supposed to do?!"

Ye Guan chuckled coldly before continuing. "My father and relatives don't want me to rely on others, but what can I do against the True Universe, the Heaven Seizing Clan, and the Eternal Civilization?! I've been putting my life on the line, but it has never been enough! It's not enough, so what more do you want from me?!"

Cirou unconsciously clenched her fists at Ye Guan's outburst.

"I know..." Ye Guan let out a self-deprecating laugh and said, "I know that my grandfather is the reason Senior An and my other relatives are still here to help me. My aunt had saved me multiple times, and it was all because of my father.

"And even your schemes against me, Miss Cirou, were all because of the four powerful swordsmen behind me. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be worthy of even your attention, not to mention worthy of your schemes, am I right?"

Cirou remained silent while staring at Ye Guan.

Ye Guan closed his eyes and said, "And Ba Wan... she plotted against me because I'm the Sword Master’s son with an invincible aunt behind me. I know... I've long known everything, and it is exactly why I couldn't wait to become even stronger. I've always been worried about failing to meet everyone's expectations, but reality is cruel...

"Many things are easier said than done; all of you are hoping that I can surpass those ancient old fossils who have lived for millions of years in just a short period of time, but I can't do it..."

Cirou's mouth fluttered open to speak, but she couldn't say anything in the end.

Ye Guan got up slowly. He looked at Cirou in front of him and asked, "Can I see her?"

Cirou shook her head and replied, "Her soul has been completely annihilated."

Ye Guan stiffened as tears rolled down his cheeks. He stood silent without moving for a long time before he turned around and started walking away.

"Wait!" Cirou cried out.

Ye Guan stopped in his tracks. He turned to look at Cirou.

Cirou opened her palm, and a sword floated slowly from her hand to Ye Guan.

The sword was almost a meter long, and it was two fingers wide. It was made of an unknown material, and its blade was as smooth as a mirror; it shimmered with a cold and chilling light.

"She knew that you needed a sword, so she crafted this sword for you. She wanted to give this sword to you personally, but..." Cirou trailed off and went silent.

Ye Guan seemed lost as he stared at the sword floating in front of him. Soon, he opened his palm, and the sword flew into his hand. His heart felt like it was being ripped apart as he gripped the sword tightly in pain.

"If you want to become a Great Sovereign, follow me," Cirou said before decisively walking away.

Ye Guan stared at her departing figure for a long time before putting away the sword and chasing after Cirou.

Cirou brought Ye Guan to the depths of Stone Village. The two soon found themselves standing in front of a teleportation array inside a clearing. Cirou entered the teleportation array and looked at Ye Guan. Ye Guan quietly followed her.

The teleportation array rumbled, whisking the two away.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The two found themselves in a vast wasteland with seemingly no borders. The air around them was gloomy, and an oppressive feeling permeated the air.

Cirou looked at Ye Guan and asked. "Do you know where we are?"

Ye Guan shook his head.

"We're at the Divine Battlefield," Cirou explained, "My big sister fought the Great Daoist Brush Master here. The Great Daoist Brush Master was at his peak at the time, and he had been invincible for millions of years. He wielded the Great Dao Brush, and the Great Dao Origin was at the tip of his fingertips."

Cirou stared at Ye Guan before continuing. "The Great Daoist Brush Master was defeated and was expelled. However, there are some traces of the Great Dao Origin here. If you can gather them and turn your physique into the Great Dao Physique. You'll be able to absorb the traces of divine energy that my big sister had left behind here."

"How can I obtain those traces of Great Dao Origin?" Ye Guan asked.

"Are you not going to ask why I brought you here?" Cirou asked with a chuckle.

Ye Guan looked toward the distant sky and whispered, "You brought me here because I'm too weak to fulfill your plan. You want to help me become even stronger until I'm qualified to take on the Universe Tribulation. Am I right?"

Cirou smiled and replied, "You're right."

Ye Guan nodded. "I understand. You saved me because I'm still useful."

Cirou looked away and said, "Go that way and keep going straight ahead."

Ye Guan quietly started walking away.

Moments later, a young woman appeared next to Cirou.

She was none other than Cishu.

Cishu stared at Ye Guan's departing back and muttered, "He hates you because of what you said to him."

Cirou shrugged and said, "He chose the Invincible Sword Dao, and it's an incredibly difficult path to walk on. Right now, his biggest hurdle is his identity. If I'm gentle on him, he's eventually going to burn out and fall apart.

"Who wouldn't burn out and fall apart if their efforts weren't being rewarded?"

"I have to admit. He's a hard worker, but his efforts so far aren't enough." Cirou sighed softly and explained, "We have to push him into a corner until he's on the cusp of breaking. He has to turn that adversity into good fortune so that he can stand on his own. If those behind him can't bear to see it, then there's no other choice..."

Cishu held Cirou's hand and shook her head. "He resents you..."

Cirou smiled lightly while staring at Ye Guan's figure, which had become a tiny dot in the distance. "I really envy Cijing. She has been doing whatever she wanted without thinking too much about the ramifications of her actions."

Cishu sighed and muttered, "Cijing..."

Cirou suddenly smiled and asked, "Are you ready?"

"The Great Dao Origin that Big Sister has left behind for you to make a breakthrough is already inside that Great Dao Puppet. He'll obtain that Great Dao Origin so long as he defeats that Great Dao Puppet," replied Cishu. She seemed puzzled as she asked, "If you're going to give it to him anyway, why not just give it to him outright?"

"There's a huge difference between working hard for something and receiving something on a silver platter," Cirou replied. She seemed to have recalled something as she turned around and looked up. "It's about time they reach the Milky Way..."