Rustling, rustling…
The branches of the God Sword God Tree trembled incessantly, as if a gentle breeze had just swept through, resonating with You’er, who, despite his throbbing head and shivering body, could not conceal the shock and joy on his face.
You’er knew that the God Sword God Tree was awakening, and a mysterious, sought-after power was opening its arms to him.
A mysterious, intangible force washed over You’er’s body, awakening something called ‘God Soul.’
Beneath the branches of the God Sword God Tree, a radiant light danced, and one by one, luscious fruits began to form.
“God Tree fruits… I understand, this is the God Soul Sword Technique!”
You’er reached out to pluck the fruits, but found he couldn’t touch any of them.
“How… do I do this?”
As the pain in his head subsided, You’er’s soul-state eyes gazed intensely at the large fruits on the God Tree branches, his mind racing to figure out how to harvest them.
“God Soul Sword Tree… God Soul Tree… God Soul Power… Maybe this will work, I’ll give it a try!”
You’er thought of the tree’s name and the God Soul Power that had awakened within his soul. He gently touched the trunk, attempting to fuse his God Soul Power with it.
In that moment, You’er felt a mysterious connection form between himself and the God Soul Tree. His consciousness, accompanied by the God Soul Power, merged with the tree, rising through a vertical expanse of stars. Each cluster of stars represented a unique sword technique!
You’er didn’t immediately reach for any cluster. He sensed that his newly awakened God Soul Power couldn’t contain multiple star clusters, so he had to find the one that would offer him the most help in his current situation.
The awakened God Soul, along with a vast amount of soul energy, gave You’er the right to choose.
Thus, You’er began to float upwards, striving to reach higher clusters of stars.
“Reached my limit… This is it, I hope it won’t disappoint…”
At a certain point, You’er felt the limits of his God Soul Power. Pushing further would risk collapse, so he immediately stopped and reached for the brightest cluster of stars at that height.
“Zing!”
Suddenly, You’er’s world spun, and a torrent of information flooded his consciousness.
Perhaps because of his previous experience, although his head still ached, this time the influx was much lighter.
After fully absorbing the information, You’er in the real world broke into a near-maniacal grin.
His hunch was right! The information contained a God Soul Sword Technique, a genuine cultivation method!
Once You’er acquired the sword technique, his consciousness was expelled from the tree. Regaining awareness, he found a crystal-clear fruit in his hand, the sword technique now residing in his mind. The fruit was now empty, like a hollow box. You’er had other plans for it.
After You’er’s God Soul awakened, the accompanying soul energy filled the surroundings. Unable to absorb this energy, it would dissipate over time. For You’er, every resource had to be utilized. Fortunately, this place responded to his will, and after a few attempts, he successfully gathered the energy into the fruit.
****
At the center of the execution ground, You’er, bound to a cross, couldn’t maintain his usual calm. He had awakened his God Soul Power, and even without eyes, he could ‘see’ the world through his soul eyes.
Driven by curiosity, You’er eagerly wanted to know who the person was who had silently watched over and helped him for countless days in the past.
Through his soul eyes, You’er noticed that his wounds had been treated, though clumsily, revealing the care taken. His face was cleaned with alcohol, preventing infection or necrosis. Moreover, You’er discovered a mysterious power disguising his appearance, making him look like a mummified corpse to outsiders, explaining why his improving condition hadn’t drawn suspicion.
The capital of the Night Empire lay in the northwest, where dark elements were abundant, casting an early shadow. Tonight, as usual, the sky was starless. Residents had long since retreated indoors, leaving the streets eerily quiet.
In the vast capital, the boy nailed to the cross in the central square seemed to be the sole presence.
As midnight approached, the city fell into complete silence, even the guards lying in a corner, fast asleep. Suddenly, a figure cloaked in black emerged from the shadows.
The cloaked figure moved silently, approaching the cross without disturbing the guards. Upon reaching You’er, the figure pulled out a high stool, aligning it with You’er’s height.
The figure carried a wicker basket, from which they took a clean handkerchief and a water bottle. They dampened the handkerchief and gently wiped You’er’s face.
The figure’s hands were slender and long, clearly belonging to a girl.
“Is she the one who helped me?” You’er silently observed the girl’s movements, wondering.
Through his soul eyes, You’er could see the girl’s form, but her face remained hidden by the cloak.
After cleaning You’er’s face, the girl took out fruits from the basket. Instead of feeding them directly to You’er, she placed them in her own mouth and transferred the nutrients through a mouth-to-mouth method, sustaining his basic bodily functions. This method was the best for unconscious individuals, and the girl had used it consistently during You’er’s long period of unconsciousness.
In the stillness of the moonlit night, the girl in the black cloak and the boy on the cross formed a unique scene.
After feeding You’er water, the girl began to pack up, preparing to leave.
“Thank you…” You’er couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke, uttering their first words to each other.
“…!”
Startled by You’er’s sudden words or his hoarse voice, the girl lost her balance and fell from the stool.
“Be careful!”
Alarmed, You’er instinctively used his God Soul Power, forming an invisible thread that caught the girl’s waist.
The thread was thin but incredibly strong, pulling the girl back up. The basket on her wrist, however, fell to the ground, spilling its contents with a loud clang that echoed in the silent night.
You’er held his breath, his heart racing. Fortunately, the guards remained undisturbed, their snores echoing.
“Phew…” You’er exhaled, turning his attention back to the girl, who was staring at him in shock. He realized something was amiss.
The thread had pulled them close, their bodies touching despite the cloak. You’er felt a warmth emanating from the girl.
“Ah… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” You’er finally managed to withdraw the thread, freeing the girl.
“Thank you, it’s because of you that I’m still alive.” You’er broke the silence, speaking to the girl who had been helping him.
The girl shook her head, not speaking. She carefully moved to You’er’s palm, tracing words with her fingers.
“You’re welcome.” This was the message she conveyed.
“You can’t speak?” You’er asked in surprise.
The girl nodded silently.
“Is that so… I want to know, why did you risk so much to help me? Even going so far as…” You’er hesitated, his face flushing with embarrassment if his muscles hadn’t been damaged. He had never experienced love, and his feelings for Marlene were merely a naive crush.
“To repay you, you killed Feira, avenging my brother.” The girl wrote on You’er’s palm.
“Your brother? He was killed by Duke Feira?” You’er asked, astonished.
The girl lowered her head, her face hidden by the cloak. Her silence confirmed You’er’s question.
“If you’re willing, could you show me your face? Even without my eyes, I can still see you in a special way.” You’er asked hesitantly, afraid of offending her.
The girl nodded and slowly lifted the cloak, revealing herself.
Her eyes were a deep blue, like the sea, and her blue hair was as lively as a forest. Her beauty was breathtaking, and she had delicate, pointed elven ears.