Chapter 687: Han Yi's Wishful Thinking

Han Yi's Dao of Cold shattered Yang Luo's massive body into a shower of tiny ice crystals.

"Her body is filled with deadly toxins. Absorbing it would be unwise," Han Yi explained, standing atop her crystalline divine platform as she eradicated the lingering remnants of Yang Luo's divine power.

Han Yi realized, after seeing Pang Jian use You Kui's soul-related divine techniques, that he had a secret ability to absorb the power of the Outer Gods he killed.

Knowing Yang Luo's divine power was laced with corrosive energy, she feared Pang Jian would recklessly absorb it and suffer a backlash. Thus, she chose to destroy Yang Luo's remains as thoroughly as possible.

Her icy eyes filled with joy at Pang Jian's lack of objection.

"I never imagined that you'd actually be able to kill Yang Luo," she praised.

Back on the nameless star, Pang Jian had relied heavily on the Thunder Pool and the Abyssal Demon to kill You Kui of the Ghost Race. This gave the impression that his victory was more a matter of favorable circumstances.

At least, that was how Ying Yue saw it.

This time, Pang Jian did not summon that terrifying Thunder Pool or use any divine artifacts. He only relied on the myriad profound Heavenly Daos he had comprehended and the soul-related divine techniques obtained from You Kui to obliterate Yang Luo's divine soul.

This battle was enough to prove Pang Jian's true strength, placing him at least at the level of a mid-ranking God. His advancement thrilled Han Yi far more than even her own.

"Earlier..." Pang Jian faltered as he tried to explain himself.

Han Yi shook her head with a soft smile. "There's no need to explain. I'm not a fool. The lightning spheres you used against me and the ones you unleashed on Yang Luo weren't even on the same level."

A faint smile appeared on Pang Jian's face as he asked, "You shattered her Divine Persona yourself. Won't that cause trouble for you? Ying Yue was worried you would do something reckless, even risking herself to warn me while I was in the Thunder Abyss."

Han Yi's bright eyes lingered silently on Pang Jian's face for a long time.

After a while, the Frost Crystal God lowered her head, a hint of shyness in her demeanor as she said, "So you do know how to smile. You look really good when you do. This is the first time you've smiled at me."

Pang Jian's rare smile had stunned her into silence. It was an expression he had never shown her before.

Her words, in turn, brought a sudden stillness to Pang Jian.

Many years ago, another woman told him the same thing—that he looked good when he smiled and that it would be better if he smiled more often.

That woman was now the most feared figure in the Abyss, someone even Zi Mo and He Motian dared not provoke.

She had likely long forgotten her words, her memories washed away after her reawakening.

"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?"

Han Yi maneuvered her crystalline divine platform, retrieving Yang Luo's spatial ring and using her divine power to further disintegrate her remains.

"Yang Luo isn't like You Kui," Han Yi assured. "Though she served that Sovereign, her allegiance was brief, and she never even had the chance to meet the Sovereign's physical body."

Pang Jian did not respond, nor did his expression reveal what was on his mind. Seeing this, Han Yi did not press and simply kept talking.

"Yang Luo's divine soul had no deep connection to that Sovereign. Her death won't cause any problems. I even found that Scene Imprint Stone. Don't worry, I'll be fine."

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

A gentle warmth flickered in Han Yi's eyes.

"Pang Jian, thank you for everything you've done for me."

The sincerity in her words was unmistakably genuine.

"I know there's no future for us," she continued. "I'm an Outer God, while you're a True God of the human race. The chances of us ever truly being together are slim.

"Still, for some reason, I can't help but feel differently about you. I just wanted you to know that somewhere beyond the bizarre mist, out in the starry skies, I will always be thinking of you.

"Pang Jian, please live well. And if possible, respond to me every once in a while."

Han Yi reached out to hand over Yang Luo's spatial ring.

"I don't need that." Pang Jian shook his head, then, after a brief pause, added, "My physical body in the Abyss is connected to me through an artifact. I can teleport back to the Abyss as I please.

"You don't need to worry about my safety, so stop doing foolish things. Also, don't mingle with those Gods in an attempt to save me ever again. I don't need that."

With that, Pang Jian flew back toward the Thunder Abyss in a flash of multicolored radiance.

Han Yi radiated a soft glow as she watched Pang Jian disappear. Once he was out of sight, she whispered to herself, "I know you worry about me."

A sweet smile tugged at her lips as she contentedly erased all traces of the battle. Then, following her connection to the moon, she flew swiftly out of the bizarre mist.

As she emerged from the bizarre mist, she took out her crystal token and transmitted a message, "Ying Yue, he smiled at me."

"You met with him again?" The Moon God's panicked voice echoed back. "Where are you two? I told him not to leave the Thunder Abyss!

"Damn it! If you keep meeting him like this, something disastrous is bound to happen sooner or later!

"Han Yi, we've already secured the Star Devourer. The losses we suffered before can be compensated. We even have a chance to help you break free from that high-ranking God's control. What other reason could you possibly have to keep meeting him?"

Ying Yue's voice was filled with frustration.

"I just wanted to see him, to be close to him. That's a good enough reason for me." A trace of amusement danced in Han Yi's eyes. After some thought, she added, "Yang Luo is dead. Ying Yue, you were wrong. He truly does have the strength to kill a mid-ranking God on his own. I saw it with my own eyes!"

Ying Yue was stunned.

"He killed her himself? Without your help? Did you leave any traces? Were there any other Gods nearby?" the Moon God questioned, her concern evident.

"He killed Yang Luo. I only delivered the final blow to shatter her Divine Persona," Han Yi replied, her voice filled with pride. "Think about it. He's already capable of slaying a mid-ranking God like Yang Luo. Wouldn't it be possible for him to attain the strength of a high-ranking God in a few more years?"

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Ying Yue asked, shocked and confused.

"If his strength were to reach the rank of a Sovereign, wouldn't the troubles of the human race in the Abyss be resolved?" Han Yi asked earnestly. "If he becomes so powerful that even the other Gods can no longer easily deal with him, they would have no choice but to accept him and the human race."

Ying Yue did not hesitate to douse Han Yi's hopes.

"You really know how to dream." The Moon God scoffed. "As far as I know, back when the human race struck the Hall of Gods, there was one among them whose strength was nearly on par with a Sovereign.

"That True God was also the first to die.

"The other Gods are already extremely wary of the human race. They will never allow another True God to achieve power, so stop holding on to unrealistic dreams."