Chapter 76: Under the Blood Star (Second update, seeking first subscriptions!)

"Cough, cough..."

Collapsed on the ground, Li Lingling lifted her head with difficulty, trying to struggle to her feet.

But every time, she fell back down, crashing heavily onto the ground.

What is wrong with me?

What happened?

What has happened to my body?

The turning point of fate arrived so suddenly, pushing her into the abyss before she had even the slightest bit of preparation.

Once stepped into, there is no turning back.

A moment ago, Li Lingling was still the Princess of Beigan, and everything in the world was beautiful; there was nothing that could truly make her sad.

Enjoying the best of everything in the Earthly Realm, having a loving mother and a father who doted on her, as well as a younger brother who was not very sensible.

She dreamed of a beautiful future, wanting to travel far and wide to see the scenery outside Wentian City, and wanting to swear brotherhood with her favorite Senior Sister to become true sisters.

She still had many, many things she wanted to do, just waiting for a suitable time.

But now, everything seems impossible.

Am... am I going to die?

"Ha, cough, cough!"

Gasping laboriously, Li Lingling felt the breath of death climbing up her spine, the bone-chilling cold devouring her body bit by bit.

No, don't!

The instinct for survival made her struggle to lift her head, looking at the figure that had been silent since just a moment ago.

Could this figure be her father, the Emperor?

Her consciousness had already begun to blur, and Li Lingling could not distinguish, but she still let out a cry for help:

"Save, save me..."

Li Long remained silent, leaning down to touch his daughter's shoulder.

But he did not grasp Li Lingling's hand reaching out for help; instead, he forcibly extracted a yellow phantom from her body.

Li Lingling:!!?

"... What?"

There was no pain, but it felt as if something had been pulled out from within her body; Li Lingling felt a void that terrified her.

It was even colder.

The bone-chilling cold seeped into her marrow, bringing with it unbearable, excruciating pain.

No, it was not just cold, there was also scorching heat...

As if her body were soaked in a boiling Xue Chi, every inch of her skin felt a roasting heat.

Cough, cough!

Under the immense pain, Li Lingling could no longer think normally.

She could not even think about the reason why that person would kick her while she was down.

Emitting unintelligible groans from her mouth, her consciousness began to cut off completely.

And before she fell into a coma, there was only one thought remaining in her mind.

Who will save me?

Anyone would do.

Please come and save me...

Crack!

The sound of the jade ball shattering startled the concubine leaning on Li Long's shoulder, and she looked at the Emperor's expression with unease.

The Beiganhuangdi was no weakling unable to truss a chicken; as a cultivator of the Heaven Realm, it was absolutely impossible for this jade ball to slip from his hand for no reason.

Either he was truly momentarily distracted, or... it was done on purpose.

The concubine felt it was the latter; the Emperor had seen through her little schemes and was using this to warn her.

!!!

Kneeling in terror beneath the couch, the concubine asked with teary eyes:

"Your Majesty, have I angered you? Please, Your Majesty, forgive me! I..."

Boom!

A terrifying roar caused her words to get stuck in her throat, and the trembling of the earth made her almost let out a wail.

Although it lasted less than a single breath, the entire Wentian City felt a violent tremor.

An earthquake!

In this short moment, a large number of buildings in Wentian City collapsed, and countless people fell into panic.

They ran out of their homes, fearing they would be buried inside.

Some shouted in panic:

"Run!"

"The earth dragon has turned over! There must be a problem with the Dragon Vein!"

"Something is going to happen, a great disaster is coming!"

But before the panic could spread, someone retorted on the spot:

"Nonsense! This happened once over a dozen years ago, where is there any great disaster?"

"If you keep wagging your tongues, be careful not to get thrown into the dungeon!"

"Besides, what could possibly happen? No matter the reason, His Majesty will surely be able to resolve it!"

The concubine did not hear the commotion outside the Imperial Palace; otherwise, she would have scoffed aloud as she usually did.

Because those ignorant commoners had not guessed the truth of the matter.

But now, she could not laugh at all.

Because the truth was sitting right before her eyes.

The source of this earthquake and chaos was this very Emperor, in whom the subjects had placed such high hopes.

The aura leaking from his body had created this terrifying earth-dragon turning over!

She dared not raise her head.

Because she suddenly realized that the casual and kind demeanor the Emperor displayed in the Inner Palace was merely a disguise he wore before his concubines.

This was his true face.

He was not merely the man the concubines of the Inner Palace fought over; he was the Emperor of Beigan.

He was the master of the Beigan Dynasty, who had reigned over the world for hundreds of years.

How could she have forgotten such a simple truth before?

The terrifying majesty made her body sink lower and lower, almost pressing against the ground.

Time in the room slowed down, and she did not know how much time had passed before she heard a faint voice:

"You may withdraw."

*Hoo... *

"Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace!"

Not daring to look into the Emperor's eyes, the concubine, having received permission, did not even dare to lift her head; she rose with her head bowed and hurried away.

This concubine did not know.

Even if she had looked up, she would not have seen Li Long's eyes.

Because he had not been looking at her at all, but was silently watching the two jade balls on the ground, one good and one bad.

"Fate is not yet fixed; as expected, there is still a glimmer of hope..."

He narrowed his eyes, as if sensing something.

But even he could not see through the Heaven's will, and in the end, he could only choose to give up.

Sitting alone on the couch, Li Long gradually closed his eyes.

"Ling'er..."

A dream.

A terrifying dream.

Endless suffering made her wail in despair time and time again.

Li Lingling wanted to escape, but she never succeeded once.

She had woken up in a daze several times, but after opening her eyes, she was never in reality.

Every time she woke up, she was standing under the pitch-black night sky, looking up alone at the starless and moonless Heaven.

No, it was not that there were no stars above the Heaven.

Directly above her head, there was a blood-colored star like an eye, casting light like blood upon her.

When that blood-colored light shone on her, she would fall back into the painful dreamscape.

When she regained consciousness for the third time, Li Lingling understood.

"It is the source of everything."

But even understanding this, she could not resist; she could only be dragged into endless suffering again and again.

Li Lingling's spirit was destroyed time after time, and gradually, even her self-awareness began to dissipate.

But suddenly, as if everything before had just been a phantom dream, all the suffering vanished.

"... What?"

When she regained consciousness again, the night sky remained, but a change had occurred above the Heaven.

A huge, bright moon was pressing down above that blood-colored star!

The moonlight dispelled the blood-colored light, returning clarity and peace to the world.

"What happened?"

Looking around blankly, Li Lingling did not find anyone.

No, that person was not by her side, but was...

Following her intuition, she suddenly looked up toward the center of the bright moon.

On the moon!

In a trance, Li Lingling seemed to see a blurry figure in the full moon.

That person was not as tall and burly as her Imperial Father, nor did they feel as gentle and kind as her mother, but the sense of security they gave her at this moment was something those who were not here could not provide.

Without any explanation, she understood who had saved her.

Immediately after, Li Lingling heard a voice.

A voice coming from the Heaven, distant and indifferent.

That person was saying:

【"What sacrifice do you intend to offer?"】