Sky Star

Chapter Sixteen: The Mystery of Origins

As Ling Xue spent more time with the man in white, she felt he was shrouded in an eternal veil of mystery, like an ancient book sealed by countless enchantments. Layers upon layers of enigmas surrounded him—every subtle movement, every fleeting glance, seemed to conceal secrets beyond comprehension.

That day, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, scattering fragmented shadows on the ground. The man in white stood alone by the stream, his presence blending seamlessly with nature, yet simultaneously cloaked in an aura of solitude. He gazed at the gently flowing water, which reflected his deep thoughts like a clear mirror—transparent, yet an unfathomable abyss.

Ling Xue moved lightly, as if she were a butterfly flitting through a tranquil garden, her footsteps silent. With a mix of caution and genuine curiosity, she spoke softly, “Sir, you have helped us immensely these past days, and I am deeply grateful. However, I cannot help but wonder—where do you come from? How do you know so much about the dark forces? And why are you willing to go to such lengths to aid us?”

The man in white seemed to sense her questions but did not turn around. His posture remained as steadfast as a pine tree, as though he had long anticipated this inquiry. After a long silence, as if his words had traversed the depths of time, he finally spoke. His voice carried a hint of sorrow, like an old lute string plucked gently, resonating with the weight of years gone by.

“I am but a wandering cultivator from beyond the Celestial Divine Realm, known as Yun Yi. Many years ago, I drifted through the world like a rootless lotus, roaming far and wide. By a twist of fate, I arrived in this land and fell in love with a gentle and beautiful woman. Back then, I had only one wish—to spend my days with her, witnessing the world’s wonders together. But fate was cruel…”

His voice faltered, as if abruptly severed by a sudden gust of wind. A faint tremor coursed through him, and his eyes, once filled with starlit brilliance, darkened with sorrow. Deep within them surged a pain long buried, a grief so profound that it threatened to overwhelm him. Memories of suffering, like a tidal wave, threatened to consume him whole.

Ling Xue stood quietly beside him, as though she could feel his anguish, a sorrow so intense it seeped into her bones. A soft wave of sympathy rose in her heart, like watching a delicate flower wither helplessly in the biting wind—tragic yet heartbreakingly beautiful.

Yun Yi paused momentarily, steadying his emotions before continuing, “She was mercilessly taken by the dark forces and subjected to unspeakable torment. I threw everything away, risked everything, even stormed into the depths of the enemy’s lair alone… Yet, in the end, I was powerless. I could only watch as she perished before my very eyes.”

His fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning pale, as if trying to channel all his grief and rage into his grasp. His posture resembled a withered branch trembling in the winter wind. “From that day forth, I swore a vow—a vow of vengeance. I will eradicate the dark forces to the very root, making them pay for their heinous crimes!”

His words burned with hatred, an unquenchable fire that seemed to set the very air ablaze.

Ling Xue finally understood. Like a mist parted by a ray of light, the truth revealed itself—no wonder his eyes held such deep-seated loathing whenever he looked at the dark forces.

Softly, she spoke, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze, “Brother Yun Yi, the past cannot be changed, but I hope you can find solace. We now share a common enemy, and together, we will fight side by side. The dark forces will pay for their sins in blood.”

Yun Yi seemed to pull himself from the depths of his sorrow, nodding slightly. When he looked at Ling Xue, his gaze carried a trace of warmth—like a glimmer of light breaking through a pitch-black night.

“Thank you, Ling Xue. With you all by my side, I believe that day of vengeance and peace is no longer far away.”

Meanwhile, at the other end of the camp, Xiao Chen was leading the team in practicing the new techniques Yun Yi had imparted. Like a dedicated scholar in pursuit of knowledge, he immersed himself in the intricacies of this novel cultivation method.

As he delved deeper, Xiao Chen began to sense something unusual. The techniques, though masterfully designed, seemed to intertwine with an ancient and enigmatic system. Some unique stances, some secret pathways of energy flow—they all faintly resonated with fragments of insight he had glimpsed within the Chaos Mystic Realm. Like a puzzle enthusiast stumbling upon a crucial missing piece, a strange sense of familiarity began to emerge.

A thought took root in his mind: What other secrets does Yun Yi still conceal?

Was his sudden appearance truly a mere coincidence, or was there an invisible hand manipulating events from behind the scenes?

Driven by this gnawing suspicion, Xiao Chen delved into a mountain of ancient texts, flipping through page after page, searching for any trace of Yun Yi’s past and the origins of his techniques.

Then, one day, as if guided by destiny, he stumbled upon a long-forgotten tome. As he carefully turned its yellowed pages, his gaze landed on a faded illustration.

The man in the portrait bore a striking resemblance to Yun Yi.

The resemblance was uncanny—his features, his presence—it was as if they were long-lost twins.

Beside the portrait, inscribed in cryptic, ancient script, was a prophecy:

“When darkness shrouds the heavens, the stars and the ice shall unite. Under the guidance of the mysterious one, they shall embark upon the path of salvation, dispelling the shadows and rekindling the light of the Divine Realm.”

Xiao Chen’s eyes locked onto the passage, his mind reeling as if struck by a bolt of lightning.

Could Yun Yi be the prophesied mysterious one?

If so, what greater truths lay buried beneath this battle against the dark forces? What other hidden secrets awaited discovery in the dust-covered annals of history?