SWNOVELXO Chapter 88: The Divine Court
Chapter 88: The Divine Court
“I already told you—your deception wouldn’t work on him.”
In the vast expanse of pristine whiteness, a swirling vortex of bloody flesh suddenly appeared. Its’s voice echoed directly within this space.
You Su had already collapsed unconscious on the ground, and the Black Pine Sword lay beside Ji Lingruo’s head. Ji Lingruo’s face no longer flickered; her delicate teeth were clenched tightly, her brows furrowed in frustration as she glared at the Dream-Eating Ghost with an expression of deep resentment.
“If you hadn’t shown up just now, making him realize that his Master’s Wife wasn’t possessed by evil! How could I have possibly failed?!”
“Even if I hadn’t appeared, your deception would still have failed. He didn’t expose you only because he didn’t yet understand your true intentions.”
“You’re lying!”
The entity possessing Ji Lingruo refused to accept its fate. It sifted through all the memories it had accumulated since taking over this body. Every conversation, every embrace shared with You Su was vividly clear. It even believed itself to truly be his Junior Sister.
Clearly… clearly, if You Su had just swung the sword and severed Tai Sui’s head, it could have permanently taken control of this body…
But why?! Why did You Su see through it all? How could he bear to strike down such a familiar face?
“You lost the bet. Accept your fate.”
A tendril extended from the vortex, lightly tracing across Ji Lingruo’s bloated, Tai Sui-infested body. The celestial binding snapped abruptly, and a powerful suction force pulled the grotesque masses of flesh off her body.
In moments, Tai Sui reformed before the Dream-Eating Ghost, while Ji Lingruo, now restored to her original form, lay unconscious next to You Su.
Tai Sui’s six fish-like eyes widened as they darted between You Su and Ji Lingruo’s bodies, brimming with envy so intense it bordered on jealousy.
“What about him?”
“The awakening of the True Sovereign requires a vessel. Since you lost, this youth will naturally become the vessel.”
“Must he really be dragged into this?”
“In this city, no one is more suitable than him.”
“And what happens when he merges with your so-called True Sovereign…?”
“No one has ever truly seen the True Sovereign. I cannot answer your question.”
Tai Sui turned to glare at the Dream-Eating Ghost, its anger barely concealed. “Have you never considered that your so-called True Sovereign might just be a lie?!”
For once, the Dream-Eating Ghost fell into a rare silence. Yet, there was no visible change in its demeanor.
“This is a secret that Zhuo Lin guarded for five thousand years. If my master hadn’t outwitted it, this truth would have remained buried for countless more ages.”
Tai Sui didn’t know who “Zhuo Lin” was, but it understood exactly who the Dream-Eating Ghost referred to as “my master.” Only the Master of Dreams could claim such a title.
Though the Dream-Eating Ghost’s words were brief, they carried an ancient weight that filled Tai Sui with an inexplicable sense of oppressive gravity.
It felt as though the world’s most hidden truths were sealed behind some great door, and the awakening of this True Sovereign was the first key to unlocking it.
“If he survives… take care of him.”
Tai Sui stared blankly at You Su, feeling an overwhelming pity for this boy who had been innocently ensnared in this conspiracy, much like itself.
“I will die as well. Every living being who knows of the True Sovereign’s awakening will perish. This is the command my master has given me.”
Tai Sui was stunned, its surprise evident as it stared at the cold, tentacled creature before it. Though it knew itself to be special, it still couldn’t comprehend why these malevolent entities would willingly sacrifice everything for a True Sovereign they had never seen. They were like a group of cold, unfeeling believers—whether foolish or devout, it was impossible to tell.
“Go to the Divine Court.”
The Dream-Eating Ghost suddenly spoke again, then turned its body toward Tai Sui. After a final, hesitant glance at the unconscious You Su and Ji Lingruo lying on the ground, Tai Sui muttered something under its breath before diving directly into the vortex at the center of the ghost’s torso, vanishing without a trace. In an instant, the Dream-Eating Ghost disappeared as well.
In the vast, pristine space, only You Su and Ji Lingruo remained, their unconscious forms pressed close together.
As soon as Tai Sui emerged from the other side of the vortex, its body reformed and tumbled onto the ground. It rose shakily, taking in its surroundings.
Flickering blue flames clung to the pockmarked stone walls, casting a faint glow over the ancient ruins.
Eroded stone pillars, weathered by countless years, stood tall everywhere. Tai Sui and the Dream-Eating Ghost walked along the ancient path formed by these towering columns.
Bathed in the dim light of the flames, Tai Sui noticed intricate carvings etched into the stone pillars—
They depicted a malevolent entity. Even the simplest lines could not diminish the overwhelming sense of oppression it exuded. It resembled a legendary whale, yet it bore a scaled, towering ridge, with expansive fins that blotted out the sky. Its frenzied tentacles transformed into feather-like appendages.
It seemed both like an ancient deity and a completely grotesque existence.
“This…”
Tai Sui froze, feeling a soul-shaking impact as it realized that even the Dream-Eating Ghost appeared insignificant before this depiction.
“This is Ming Kun.”
The emotionless voice of the Dream-Eating Ghost resonated directly within Tai Sui’s consciousness.
“Is… Is it one of our kind?”
“Yes.”
“Is it still alive?”
“In the memories bestowed upon me by my master, Ming Kun perished three thousand years ago.”
“Could humans have killed it?”
“It was Zhuo Long who devoured Ming Kun, seizing the final authority over water and becoming the god who governs the elements.”
The Dream-Eating Ghost’s icy tone made this ancient myth sound even more terrifying.
So Zhuo Long was the name of the Master of the Five Elements…
Tai Sui could no longer fathom the grandeur of the three great evil gods. It couldn’t imagine any human capable of standing against such legendary beings. One day, this world would belong to the malevolent.
A fleeting sense of satisfaction arose in its heart, mingled with the sharp sting of its own painful memories. Humanity deserved this fate—it was their punishment.
They continued onward, and Tai Sui was astonished to find that every pillar bore carvings of different malevolent entities, each one evoking a profound sense of awe. Most of them, even the Dream-Eating Ghost admitted, were nameless.
“Why are they carved here?” Tai Sui finally asked the question that had been weighing on its mind.
“These are the most primordial malevolent entities in heaven and earth, and the True Sovereign is their origin. Born from the True Sovereign, they naturally left behind their power to guard the Divine Court.”
Guarded solely by the images carved into these pillars…
“And… why don’t they attack us? Is it because they’re all dead?”
“Because of you.”
The Dream-Eating Ghost suddenly halted, gazing toward the end of the path.
Following its gaze, Tai Sui looked ahead and saw that the scenery had changed entirely.
There stood a palace beyond description, the pinnacle of imagination. It seemed to embody all the majesty and solemnity of the world. Just looking at it filled one with the weight of ancient history.
And the legendary temple that housed the corpse of the True Sovereign—its towering gates were already open…