Chapter 499: Using Emptiness to Fill Substance!

Yao's sacrifice!

The moment the rainbow light unfurled, Sun Wukong felt something was off.

That light was too bright.

It was blindingly bright.

He stared at Yao's back, seeing her body's edges fading.

It wasn't an illusion.

Yao's arm, starting from the fingertips, was turning semi-transparent.

Like a sugar wrapper melted by fire, its edges curling and slowly dissolving.

"Yao!"

Sun Wukong threw down his iron staff and rushed forward, trying to grab her.

Just as he took a step, an invisible wall blocked his way.

He slammed headfirst into it, his forehead throbbing with pain.

That was the barrier of the dream realm.

Set up by Yao.

"You—"

Sun Wukong raised his hand to smash the wall.

His fist struck it, making no sound, leaving no crack.

Only ripples spread out in concentric circles.

"Don't come closer."

Yao's voice came from behind the wall.

It was soft but clear.

"This is my Dao."

"I'll walk it myself."

Sun Wukong stopped.

He stood outside the wall, watching Yao's body grow fainter.

His chest felt like someone had dug a hole in it.

Empty and hollow.

He wished he could split himself in half and stuff the good half into Yao.

So she wouldn't push herself so hard.

But he couldn't.

He could only stand there, watching helplessly.

"Fuck your grandfather's Dao!"

Sun Wukong cursed, his voice hoarse.

"I don't want your Dao! I want you alive!"

Yao didn't reply.

She closed her eyes, forming seals with both hands before her chest.

Her fingers moved so fast their trajectories blurred.

But Sun Wukong could tell——

She was trembling.

Every finger was trembling.

Not from cold.

She could no longer hold on.

The rainbow light continued to spread outward.

Nine star systems, one after another, were being covered.

With each system covered, Yao's body became a bit more transparent.

By the time the fifth star system was covered, her whole body had turned semi-transparent.

You could see the starlight behind her through her body.

Sun Wukong's eyes reddened.

He clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms.

Blood dripped down between his fingers.

Dripping into the void, it condensed into bead after bead of crimson-gold.

He didn't dare blink.

Afraid that if he blinked, Yao would vanish completely.

The sixth star system.

Yao bit through her lip.

Blood flowed from the corner of her mouth, tracing a stark red line across her semi‑transparent face.

She didn't mind.

Her hands continued forming seals.

Her fingers were trembling, but she didn't stop.

She felt exhausted.

Too tired.

Not bodily fatigue.

It's soul fatigue.

She can feel her Primordial Source being drawn away.

Bit by bit, it's as if someone is scraping her Línghún with a knife.

Each scrape weakens her a little.

But she cannot stop.

The Seventh Star System's collapse has not stopped.

Inside are three planets inhabited by Mortals.

She must endure.

Yao—

Sun Wukong's voice came from outside the wall.

With a choking tone.

Don't push yourself.

Let's try another way.

I'll go patch those cracks; you rest.

Will that work?

Yao opened her eyes.

She glanced at Sun Wukong.

Those eyes no longer had their former luster.

Very dim.

Like a lamp about to go out.

But she still smiled.

Very faint, just a slight curve at the corner of her mouth.

You can't patch it.

Her voice was light and airy, as if it could be blown away by the wind at any moment.

Your Dao is destruction.

My Dao is creation.

This task can only be done by me.

You—

Stand there properly.

Don't go anywhere.

Having said that, she closed her eyes again.

Seventh Star System.

At the moment the Rainbow Light covered it, Yao's body trembled.

Her whole body became transparent.

Only an outline remained.

Sun Wukong watched her, tears streaming down his face.

He had never hated himself so much.

He hated that he only knew how to fight.

He hated that he only knew how to smash things.

He hated that besides wielding a staff, he could do nothing.

He now wished he could give his life to Yao.

So she wouldn't have to push herself so hard.

But he couldn't.

He could only stand there, watching her fade bit by bit.

Eighth Star System.

Yao's hands stopped.

She lowered her head to look at her hands.

They were almost invisible.

Only a thin layer of light and shadow remained.

She took a deep breath.

She pushed the Primordial Source of the Illusory Dream Great Dao to the extreme.

The point of light inside her representing the core of the Dream Realm began to burn wildly.

It burned so that her five viscera and six bowels ached.

But she endured.

She formed hand seals again.

This time, her fingers moved faster than before.

The Rainbow Light surged like a flame that had been ignited.

The Eighth Star System was completely covered.

Those collapsing stars were held up by the Rainbow Light.

The shattered planetary shells were filled by the Dream Realm.

The severed causality chains within the star systems were re-woven.

Everything was recovering.

It was not repair.

It was replacement.

Yao substituted the real damage with the illusory Dream Realm.

She was creating a new world.

A world identical to the real world, but one that would not collapse.

The Ninth Star System.

The last one.

Yao's body had almost completely disappeared.

Only a blurred outline remained.

Even the outline was trembling.

She gritted her teeth and poured the last trace of strength into the Rainbow Light.

The Rainbow Light swept over and enveloped the three planets not yet affected.

The mortals on the planets were still sleeping.

They did not know they had just passed by the Gate of Ghosts.

They also did not know that someone was burning themselves out to save them.

The Rainbow Light had fully stabilized.

All nine star systems were covered.

The shattered spatial nodes were filled by the Dream Realm.

The collapsed physical constants were redefined.

Everything had stabilized.

Yao let go.

She looked down at her body.

It had become completely transparent.

Even the outline was almost invisible.

She knew she could not hold on much longer.

The Primordial Source had burned out.

The Línghún was also about to dissipate.

She turned and looked at Sun Wukong outside the wall.

The monkey was still standing there.

His face was covered in tears.

Yao smiled.

"Wukong."

She spoke.

Her voice was as light as a breath.

"I'm tired."

"Can you—"

She did not finish her sentence.

Her body suddenly shuddered.

Her whole body began to fall downward.

Sun Wukong's eyes widened.

He raised his hand to smash the Dream Realm barrier.

One punch, two punches, three punches.

His fists split open, flesh torn, blood and flesh blurred.

But the wall did not break.

Yao's body continued to fall downward.

Faster and faster.

Fainter and fainter.

Just before she was about to completely dissipate—

The wall shattered.

Sun Wukong rushed over and caught her.

Yao leaned in his arms, her body light and nearly weightless.

She lifted her head and looked at Sun Wukong.

There was still a glint of light in her eyes.

A very faint light.

"I'm fine—"

She wanted to speak.

But as soon as he had spoken three words, blood welled from the corner of his mouth again.

Sun Wukong lowered his head to look at her, tears dripping onto her face.

"Don't speak."

His voice had gone hoarse.

"Rest well."

"I'll take you back to find Master."

"Master can save you."

Yao shook her head.

She wanted to raise her hand to wipe the tears from Sun Wukong's face.

But her hand fell when it was halfway up.

She had no strength left.

"Wukong—"

She called out softly.

Her voice was soft, like a sigh.

"Don't cry."

"I'm just—"

"So tired—"

Her words faded.

She closed her eyes.

Her body began to turn into points of light.

Bit by bit, it dissipated from her fingertips.

Sun Wukong held her, flying back desperately.

Flying toward Fangcun Mountain.

He flew very fast.

So fast that a crimson-gold tail flame trailed behind him.

But Yao's body continued to dissipate.

The points of light grew more numerous.

Her arm was gone.

Her shoulder was gone.

Half of her body was gone.

Sun Wukong, eyes red, clung to her remaining half-body, gritting his teeth as he surged forward.

Just as he was about to reach Fangcun Mountain—

A muffled sound came from behind.

It was not an explosion.

It was a deeper, muffled sound, like something crawling out of the Abyss.

Sun Wukong snapped his head back.

He saw it.

At the edge of the Universe, the black tree he had planted.

The trunk split open.

A golden light shot out from the crack.

Within the light was a figure.

It was crawling out.