Chapter 829

"Yes, they never respond, leaving us to slaughter each other in the world; that is the reason we have fought to this day." Hu Lei raised his head to gaze at the empty sky in the illusion, "If the bloodless, tear‑less, lofty gods do not hear mortal prayers, then we will fight for our own desires!"

"Do you understand, Salan… the similarities between you and me are far greater than you think."

——

Demon Slayer

"Wherever the Hunting Star God's arrow falls, that place becomes death; Feixiao's longstanding obsession has been to annihilate all fiends before the star god acts, so that the star god will not loose its arrow, and his companions will not be killed by collateral damage."

The Rock Pillar clasped his hands together, two streams of tears sliding down his cheeks: "…What a kind and powerful general, for the sake of eliminating fiends and protecting companions, she has constantly squeezed her own inner strength, but this time, if she refuses Hu Lei and descends into utter madness without distinguishing friend from foe, she might also be struck by an arrow from the Hunting Star God."

"The Moon Guard general who had previously saved her seems to have been killed by the Hunting Star God's attack." Yi He Xiao Ba Nei lightly shook his head, "Even if the general is as strong as a general, having received the star god's blessing, the gap to the true star god is still too great. If Lan really shot an arrow at Feixiao… then probably half of the Luofu Immortal Vessel would be reduced to ashes, and the lives of the three generals would be lost as well."

"Hiss…" Mimi Li of Ganlu Temple drew a sharp breath, "…This is practically the 'Death' Star God, treating his own believers like this!"

"Could it be that the gods never needed followers, but rather followers needed the gods?" Wuchuan crossed his arms, coldly saying, "When the immortal vessel first gained immortality, it was soon invaded by the Abundance Folk; without the Hunting Star God's help, whether the vessel still exists today is a question."

"Moreover, if I recall correctly, the Hunting Star God is among the few star gods that actively respond to people's pleas; although its attack causes countless deaths among the immortal vessel's people, ultimately it is still to slay the fiends—either sacrificing a small portion of the vessel's populace to trigger the Emperor Bow's strike, or letting the vessel face possible annihilation under the Abundance Folk's siege… This choice is hard to make, but I doubt anyone would refuse the first option."

——

"You are a beast born for war and destined to die in war!" Hu Lei said.

"... Maybe." Feixiao let out a soft sigh, "So, what is the desire you fight for, Hu Lei?"

"So that the stars in the heavens become pastures for the Bu Li people to graze. And you, Salan?"

"Feixiao turned around: 'So that one day, no one will witness a falling meteor… so that one more person can live, and return with me to Yaoqing.'"

"I would rather resist what you were meant to become, falling from a free wolf to a domesticated fox, just for… one more person?" Hu Lei's words were steeped in deep anger, "Then as you wish! I will feed on your fear and doubt, seize you, devour you—I will replace you… become 'Feixiao'!"

"Feixiao merely looked at him coldly: 'We are so alike, born for war and destined to die as monsters…' You are absolutely right, Hu Lei."

"So, pray to the heavens—even though they never answer. May the Hunting's spear pierce the monster's heart!"

Almost as her words fell, a speck of ice‑blue appeared without warning in this gray‑misty sky.

At first it was merely a point of light the size of a star, but soon it streaked across the sky like a meteor, leaving a vivid azure trail. Feixiao seemed to sense something; she lifted her gaze and reached her hand toward the sky, as if wanting to touch that celestial light, but the god's arrow merely grazed her, flying straight to strike the ground behind her.

"Did you see me… 'meteor'?"

That arrow exploded behind her, rolling up clouds of dust, and when the smoke cleared… a double‑bladed great axe wrapped in pale electric light stood silently planted in the earth.

——

The Valkyrie of the End

"Is that… the weapon bestowed upon her by the Hunting Star God?!" Lv Bu Fengxian widened his eyes, "Or did the star god personally send it?"

Earlier, Wart had mentioned that the Hunting Star God is the star god most friendly to humanity and is willing to actively share its power with humans; now it seems his words were no exaggeration.

Seeing Feixiao receive a weapon from the star god, the human heroes present felt admiration, but more so envy. A weapon personally granted by a star god—what a divine armament it must be!

"Hmm, this is the star god's response." Zuosong Xiaoxiaolang said in a low voice, "Strange, as an envoy of the Hunting who has continually fought the fiends, could it be that her faith only earned the star god's acknowledgment at this moment?"

Xiaoliao guessed that Feixiao's fox‑like wraith was likely inherited from the previous Moon Guard general, unlike envoys directly linked to the star god such as the Black Tower; the envoy and general positions on the immortal vessel are deeply bound, so it seems that as long as the vessel's marshal approves, even an ordinary person could be promoted to envoy.

... Although those who can gain the marshal's approval are certainly not ordinary people.

It seems the gods are not deaf to people's prayers; it's just that Hu Lei and company's actions have never been acknowledged by the star god, so there has never been a response.

Recalling how Star had been glanced at by the star god three times before, embarking on three utterly different destinies—in a sense, this could also be considered a heavenly‑endowed talent, right?

——

I swear like clouds shielding the sky, protecting the immortal vessel. I will uphold this oath… until my last day.

This great axe seems to be the embodiment of the Hunt; as her fingers closed and she gripped it tightly, she distinctly felt that gaze from the lofty heights… His gaze.

——Composing the reins, I soar high; raising the long arrow, I shoot the fiendish obstacle!

The iron law of the Hunt seems to condense a spark of spiritual insight in the god's eye, then extends its regard, like a chess player glimpsing a piece on the board that conforms to proper play.

The glance was only an instant, but Feixiao had already lifted the great blade from the ground and pointed it straight at Hu Lei!

In a gust of wild wind, Hu Lei also manifested her likeness, and behind her even appeared her own wraith, Fei Huang. The two exchanged a smile, knowing that a battle was now unavoidable.

From the day of my birth, the heavens have wept blood and all things have wailed. I once ruled over the strong and hunted the weak. Now I will take your heart‑beast as my weapon and your name as my prey… Feixiao!

Feixiao aimed the great axe at Hu Lei, who floated mid‑air: 'I will tear open your disguise and make you recognize your own cowardice and inadequacy, Hu Lei!'

'Hahaha, the wolf lurks in the depths of every Bu Li and fox person's heart… once you grow weak and powerless, it will feast upon you!'