Chapter 2817 Embodiment of Transcendent Grace

At Misty Moon Lake...

“Tell those old guys that we will discuss the life and death of these divine sons and maidens when I leave the city,” Lin Xun said and turned straight back.

The cultivators of the various divine clans who had been ordered to deliver the message to him were all relieved. They had all come here with readiness to embrace death, but fortunately, Lin Xun paid no attention to minor characters like them.

Soon enough, Lin Xun’s reply spread throughout the city as well as the ears of those old relics outside the city.

“The brat is smart,” an old relic snorted coldly.

If Lin Xun had chosen to bargain at this moment, then it would have been a good thing for them as they could at least discuss terms with him and even use some good bait to lure him out. However, he clearly had no intention to talk right now.

Another said, “Even the smartest person wouldn't want to be trapped here for the rest of his life. His response reveals two things: One, he intends to leave Fortune Divine City, and two, our juniors are still alive. This means Lin Xun is keeping them as hostages so that he can use them to negotiate with us when it comes time for his departure.”

The eyes of the others flickered as they naturally had realized this as well.

“Between killing Lin Xun and saving your juniors, what would you choose?” someone whispered.

Following the question, silence permeated the starry sky.

“When the time comes, we choose the right moment where we can try to accomplish both,” someone finally said in a hoarse voice.

“What if we can only choose one?” The question sent the area into another silence.

"Why are we choosing? We must seize the Eternity Coffin; that's non-negotiable! Besides, don't tell me a small fly like Lin Xun can kill all those divine sons and maidens right under our noses?"

These coldly said words of someone immediately sparked a heated argument.

“But what if, just on the off chance, that the lives of those juniors would be in danger?”

“How can there not be bloodshed and casualties when something like this happens? We can always raise more divine juniors, whereas letting the Eternity Coffin slip through our fingers...means we will never have another chance at it...”

“No, the divine child of my clan shall not fall in this way. We would rather give up the Eternity Coffin instead.”

Even after a long discussion, they still hadn't reached an agreement. As a result, each of them was nursing a burning fury in their heart, and their hatred for Lin Xun caused them to gnash their teeth.

Over the past six years, they had surrounded this city but had not occupied a single advantage. On the contrary, the divine sons and maidens of their clans had all been captured. How could they even feel a shred of joy at this point?

......

Lin Xun cared not what decision those old relics outside the city would make of his flippant response. He had also never placed all his hopes of leaving Fortune Divine City on the hostages.

Right now, he only had one matter that needed resolving: the origin of Xia Zhi's true form!

West of the city, Silent Night Range...

Lin Xun once again came to seek an audience with Thirteen. Regarding his arrival, the latter wasn't at all surprised. He said, “If the final mystery in that Fortune Starry Firmament is something very private, then you don't have to tell me about it.”

Lin Xun responded, “Not at all. I just can't be sure yet if it is the answer that your master was seeking back then.”

He then recounted what he had seen upon exploring the ultimate mystery of the Fortune Starry Firmament without omitting anything.

After hearing everything, Thirteen emotionally exclaimed, "I understand now, what the lord was looking for back then should be the way to resolve that great tribulation! And that supreme being surnamed Chen held the method!"

Lin Xun said, “I also guess that's the case.”

Thirteen looked at Lin Xun. “Since you have mastered the law power of Fortune Divine City, can you find out from it where that supreme being has gone?”

Lin Xun shook his head.

Thirteen's gaze went to the fiery red jade pendant hanging by his waist. “But you have a jade pendant engraved with the surname 'Chen' on you.”

Lin Xun said, “It was a gift from a senior of mine. It should be related to that supreme being, but I had no idea before that he was surnamed Chen.”

Thirteen was obviously a bit unwilling about this outcome. “Other than this, there is nothing else to gain?”

Lin Xun said, “That’s why I'm here to ask you something, Senior. How much do you actually know about your lord's life and background?”

Thirteen replied after some silence, “I was once a homeless child who begged for food on the street. When I competed over food with other beggars, I almost got killed, and it was Her Lordship who coincidentally passed by and saved me.

“She told me she saved me because even though I was about to be beaten to death, I didn't beg for mercy or complain to the heavens, and in that respect, I was somewhat similar to her.

"It was also since then that I became her follower. She said that she would never take in disciples in her life, that she only casually saved those who caught her eye, and I was the thirteenth to be saved by her. So, I was given the name ‘Thirteen.’

“The lord never talked to me about her past, but I know that she is very powerful, so powerful that she can make gods bow and make worlds submit!”

Speaking of this, his eyes glinted with a touch of fervor, “The World of the Divine is known as the number one epochal world in the Fortune Dominion, ruled by the Three Great Divine Clans. But during those years when the lord traversed that world, no one dared to mess with her!

“As my cultivation advanced later on, I only felt deeper and deeper how unfathomable her strength was. It was almost as if she didn't belong to this Fortune Dominion. She acted like a passerby, always searching for something and never asking about the affairs of this realm.

“I still remember the lord once asked me if I would be willing to go with her if she were to leave the Fortune Dominion one day. Of course I was, and I asked her where she would go after she departed. She said...” Thirteen came to a stop.

“Said what?” Lin Xun couldn't hold back.

Thirteen took a deep breath and continued, “The lord said that she stepped out of the darkness to find a ray of light where she could belong, thus becoming someone who had a home to return to.”

Lin Xun's mind trembled as it reminded him what Xia Zhi had once earnestly told him. She said her world had been filled with darkness, and it was only after she met him that there was light!

“A home to return to...” Thirteen's eyes reddened and his voice became hoarse, “I realized right then that the lord was just like me, someone without a home. No matter how great the power we command, we can't help but feel alone at every moment, as if walking by ourselves in darkness...”

Lin Xun could not calm the tumbling waves of emotions in his heart. Having no home to return to... Her true form was such a powerful expert, yet what she was seeking was merely ‘a home to return to’?

After a long time, Lin Xun inhaled deeply like he had finally made up his mind, then he looked at Thirteen and said, “Senior, I think I can give you an answer now.”

Thirteen was rattled. “You... You have found a way to revive her, haven't you?”

Lin Xun nodded. Saying no more, he took out the Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron. Accompanied by a shower of light, Xia Zhi's tall and slender figure appeared in front of Thirteen.

“My Lord?!” The ever stone-cold look on Thirteen’s face was completely dropped. As if he had lost complete control of his own body, his knees dropped to the ground, “My Lord, so you have woken up long ago...”

There were sobs in his voice, faint but definitely there.

“Lin Xun?” Xia Zhi looked askance.

Lin Xun said softly, “This senior is connected to your origin. Do you...really not recognize him?”

Xia Zhi's clear eyes landed on Thirteen as she said, “Not at all.”

Kneeling on the ground, Thirteen's voice was hoarse, “My Lord, now that you have awakened from your slumber, it doesn't matter if you remember this subordinate or not!”

“Elder, she is not your lord.” Lin Xun calmed his heart and said, “To be exact, Xia Zhi is her life soul. Only she can bring your lord back to life.”

Xia Zhi was stunned. “Life soul?”

Lin Xun gently held Xia Zhi's fair, delicate hand. “Xia Zhi, didn't I often ask you about your origin and past experiences? Even though you have had no clues yourself, I have poked around and found some information.”

Xia Zhi calmly acknowledged and said, “Lin Xun, none of that matters. I'm good as long as you're with me.”

Lin Xun's heart inexplicably ached. He opened his mouth with difficulty to say, “Don't worry, I'll always be by your side. It's just that...you should know your own past, learn what kind of person you really are and where you came from.”

Xia Zhi met Lin Xun’s eyes. “I'll listen to you.”

One sentence. Four words. However, they put a weight on Lin Xun’s heart, and he felt like he was unable to breathe.

This was unconditional trust, and Xia Zhi had asserted it many times in the past, but this time, it tormented him inside. He was scared, really really scared that when she awakened her past memories, she would entirely become another person. This would also mean that he would most likely lose

his

Xia Zhi!

“Little Friend.” Thirteen suddenly spoke up, his voice low and hoarse, “Can you...listen to what I have to say first?”

“Senior, please speak,” said Lin Xun.

“Do you still remember what the lord wrote before she entered the Eternity Coffin? ‘If fate allows, I will sever this body’s past, and never again endure the pain of darkness and loneliness.’” Speaking of this, Thirteen's chest rose and fell as though he was losing control of his emotions, “And I know that the lord’s greatest wish is to leave the darkness to find a ray of light. In that case...”

At this part, he abruptly lifted his head and gazed at Lin Xun, about to say something when the latter hurriedly cut him off, “We cannot!”

Thirteen was astounded. Lin Xun sank into a long silence before he finally said, “If I don't let Xia Zhi know about this, my heart will feel uneasy for the rest of my life.”

He then turned to Xia Zhi and told her everything. After listening to the whole thing, Xia Zhi appeared unperturbed. Her voice remained as clear and cool as heavenly music, “If this Eternal Night Divine Emperor is really the former me, Lin Xun, would you not want me anymore?”

Lin Xun said without thinking, “Of course that won't happen.”

“It’s the same for me,” Xia Zhi was even faster to answer her own question, as if such a decision was a part of her very nature.

Lin Xun whispered, “Xia Zhi, when the shackles of fate in you are removed, you should be able to recover your past memories from your true form, and when that happens...”

“When it comes to a matter of great importance such as fate, why wait?”

A clear and dashing voice suddenly rang out. Immediately following, a dignified and majestic figure walked into the palace hall. Dressed like an otherworldly immortal, he was the embodiment of transcendent grace.