I alone am the Honoured One!

Zhao Tian's gaze narrowed further 'Then my power of seeing through souls and absorbing souls is inherited from Eldritchfiend bloodline...?'

'I thought I had those powers because of my physique.'

This makes him even more confused about his origin, as Eleanor said he has three bloodlines, and now she is saying he is Half-Eldtritchfiend.

Rui Yuying looked at him curiously as he stayed silent for a moment.

Raising his gaze, he muttered "Are you sure? Because I am pretty sure I am full human."

She tilted her head faintly "Yeah, kind of sure of it..."

Zhao Tian let out a deep sigh and shook his head "That's unbelievable."

Her gaze narrowed slightly, "Unbelievable for me too, because a child between a human and an Eldritchfiend is not possible... I mean, they can't procreate. So I am also confused just as you are."

Clutching his forehead, he replied "Never mind that, I want to ask about Rui Lian. Is there any way to save her?"

Rui Yuying looked at him and replied "No. I need her soul and cultivation base to strengthen the seal."

"The moment the seal weakens even a little, it'll try to escape, and with its nature... the entire star, and then the surrounding realms, will be consumed."

Zhao Tian's gaze lowered "There is no one to replace her? Only she can be sacrificed?"

Rui Yuying didn't waver "Yes. The moment she came of age, I took her blood and formulated a new layer over the seal."

"So, now it requires her. Replacing her would destabilize the formation, and it would collapse."

He let out a soft breath, and looking at his expression, she asked "Is she your lover?"

Zhao Tian blinked slowly, then shook his head, a small breath escaping his lips "No... she is my senior sister."

"I see. Senior sister, lover, family—it doesn't matter. When they're important to you, the pain is the same."

Her gaze drifted slightly, as if pulled by memories she had long buried "I know how it feels to lose someone close to you... but sometimes, the choice isn't ours. Sometimes, sacrifice is the only way. It's cruel, but it's for the greater cause."

Zhao Tian looked at her and sighed in his heart 'She must have also suffered for years, trapped here alone guarding a Paragon so it won't destroy her star and other stars.'

He glanced at the seals and runes on the altar 'I am the Honoured One and if what she said is true I have chances of defeating the Paragon.'

'But that means I have to tell my secret to this woman...'

'And I don't know how powerful the Paragon or if I can actually kill the Paragon.'

'Rui Lian's life is at stake here. And even if we escaped with Rui Lian, then the whole star is at stake...'

Unbeknownst to him, Rui Yuying had been watching him the entire time 'Hmm... He is really interesting.'

Her eyes, once dulled by time and solitude, now traced the lines of his face, his jaw, the shape of his lips, the sharp clarity in his eyes.

'He looks dangerous… in a way I find far too alluring.'

Her gaze lingered a little too long on his neckline, then up to his jaw, and finally his lips again.

'I bet he has many lovers… with that face. Women are drawn to men like him. Moths to flame.'

But she said nothing. Only a quiet smile played at the edge of her lips.

Zhao Tian noticed her expression shift, and turned to look at her, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"You've been looking at me weirdly for a while now."

"Can you blame me?" she replied with a subtle smile.

"It's not often someone interesting comes to this place. Let alone someone like you."

Zhao Tian gave a dry smile, not quite a laugh "I'm not that interesting."

Rui Yuying just gave him a knowing look and spoke "Also... don't have thoughts of escaping this place with Rui Lian."

"If she is gone, the seal weakens and the entire star will be ruined. Not just this star… but others nearby too. Entire systems could fall in weeks."

Her voice lowered further "And the burden of those deaths will be on your soul."

Zhao Tian doesn't mind about the burden of the deaths, as he already has the burdens of millions of deaths on him.

If it's for a loved one, he doesn't care about millions of deaths.

For him, only his loved one matters... not strangers.

But still, that is in dire situations.

He is not cruel enough to let innocents die when there is a chance to clear things without them dying.

And most important of all, the burden of the deaths falls on Rui Lian too. She would blame herself for the death of millions.

Looking at her, he spoke "I see... then I am taking my leave now."

Rui Yuying didn't try to stop him and gave a faint nod "Hmm, sure."

With that, Zhao Tian turned and left the chamber, his footsteps echoing through the ancient hall.

Yan Zijin was waiting outside and her heart is still restless, wondering what is happening inside.

The moment she saw him, her gaze condensed "Tian?"

Reaching her, he gave a nod "Let's leave."

She didn't ask further and both of them returned to Yan Zijin's room.

Once they arrived back at Yan Zijin's personal quarters, she quickly shut the door behind them.

Without wasting a second, she flicked her fingers, and a soft ripple of energy pulsed outward creating a soundproof barrier.

"Tian, tell me what happened. Did she say something..."

Zhao Tian looked up at and hesitated for a moment "Yeah... it seems like it will be very hard to save Sister Lian."

Huh? Yan Zijin's gaze narrowed upon hearing this "Then, Lian'er?"

He glanced away for a moment before replying "Well, Master.. its quite complicated."

She lowered her head and replied "Tian, let's bring in our Sect Master.. she can kill that paragon and help us."

Shaking his head, he replied "No, the Paragon can't be killed by normal means... that's why it is sealed. And the ritual is in 12 days, not enough to go and bring Sect Master back."

Well, he technically can bring her here instantly through his artifact.

But from what Rui Yuying said, even Ji Shuang could not kill her.

Yan Zijin clenched her fist and asked "There must be some way to kill that Paragon... Nothing is immortal in this world."

Looking at her, Zhao Tian replied "Master, I will be going out for a moment. I need time to think about this."

Huh? What?

Before she could reply, Zhao Tian stepped out of the room and quickly disappeared.

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I hope you guys liked this chapter!