"Do you always break your words?"
Yun Xi's voice rang out, clear and cold, cutting through the suffocating silence.
Before her, Yun Che stood trembling, his face pale, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. The weight of her words struck harder than any physical blow ever could.
It had been a week since he had told her the devastating truth — that her mother was gone. Vanished. Disappeared without a trace.
Since that moment, Yun Xi had said nothing. Not a single word. She had retreated into a silence so profound that it gnawed at Yun Che's heart. Each day that passed had been an agonizing wait, hoping — begging — for her to speak. To cry. To scream.
And now, at last, she had.
But the words she chose were like a knife twisting inside him.
"You said you'd make sure Mother was alright."
Her eyes, once filled with innocence, now burned with anger and disappointment.
"You said you wouldn't lose her again.
Yet here we are.
Is your word truly lighter than a feather?"
Every syllable cut deeper, sinking into his soul.
Yun Che's body shook. His knees threatened to give out beneath him. It wasn't just the pain of her accusations — it was what they represented. They weren't just her words.
They were the echoes of another daughter's voice.
Wuxin.
The memory of her shattered expression when he had failed her.
The hollow silence when he couldn't protect those he loved.
The weight of promises made — and broken.
He had always broken his words.
"I…" His voice faltered, his lips trembling. But no words came.
What could he say?
That he had tried? That he had done everything he could?
Excuses. That's all they were.
Yun Xi's eyes didn't waver.
There was no hatred in them, no malice. Only sorrow. And that sorrow burned even deeper.
He wanted to move. To hold her. To comfort her.
But his feet remained rooted, as though the guilt itself weighed him down.
"I'm sorry."
The words escaped his lips, barely a whisper.
But they were empty. Meaningless.
Because no matter how many times he said them, no matter how deeply he regretted, the people he loved still suffered.
And Yun Xi's tears, though unshed, spoke louder than any scream ever could.
But Yun Che didn't run away.
The weight of Yun Xi's words crushed him, suffocating his heart, but as her father, he wouldn't turn away just because it hurt. No matter how unbearable the pain was, he wouldn't abandon her. Not now.
He forced himself to stand firm, his trembling hands curling into fists at his sides. He could feel the storm inside him—guilt, regret, sorrow—all threatening to drown him. But still, he endured.
He would face this.
Taking a shaky breath, he fought to steady the chaos within him. His chest ached as though shards of ice pierced through his heart, but after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.
"Yes," his voice was low, but it didn't waver. "I've never truly been able to keep my word."
The admission struck like a hammer. Yun Xi's eyes widened. She had expected him to refute her, to argue in anger, to reject her accusations. But instead, he accepted them — without hesitation.
"But," he continued, his voice trembling slightly, "even though I've broken my promises time and time again… I have never once abandoned them. Even if it takes years, no matter how much time passes, I always find a way to keep them in the end."
His words hung in the air, heavy with regret.
"And how do you intend to keep them now?"
Her voice cracked, barely holding back the emotions that surged within her. "Mother is gone!"
The word "gone" struck both of them like a cruel dagger.
Her roar wasn't one of hatred. It wasn't born from spite or resentment. No—
It was pain.
A pain so raw, so unbearable, that it twisted her very soul.
To Yun Xi, her mother had been her entire world.
Every step she took, every effort she made—it had all been for her.
She had endured unimaginable pain under the twisted lies of the Dragon Lord. Every bitter moment of isolation, every tear she had shed, had only strengthened her resolve to protect the one person who had always remained—her mother.
Then one day, this man — this father — came into her life.He promised her that the Dragon Lord's words were false.
He swore he would never lose her mother again.
But when the moment came—
When her mother was slipping away—
He failed.
He even stopped her. Held her back. Prevented her from going with him.
And in the end, all that remained was emptiness.
Her mother's body. Her scent. Her warmth. Her everything.
Gone.
And it was his fault.
"You said you wouldn't lose her again!"
Her voice cracked, her tears finally falling. "You said you'd protect her! You said—!"
She couldn't finish. The sobs choked her words, but the pain in her trembling voice said everything.
Yun Che stood there, unable to move. Each tear that fell from Yun Xi's eyes was like a blade cutting into his heart.
"I know," he whispered. "I know, Yun Xi. I failed."
He lowered his gaze, the unbearable shame crashing down on him. "I was powerless."
But Yun Xi wasn't finished.
"You had power! You had everything!"
Her fists clenched tightly, her trembling body consumed by grief. "You're Yun Che! You fought gods! You defied fate itself! And still—"
Her voice faltered, but she forced the words out.
"Still, you couldn't save her."
Yun Che's knees buckled. The weight of her words crushed him, forcing him down.
He didn't argue.
He didn't defend himself.
Because she was right.
"I know," he said once more, his voice hollow. "I know, Yun Xi."
The silence that followed was deafening.
But even through the unbearable pain, Yun Che clenched his fists.
"But I'm not done."
Yun Xi's tearful eyes locked onto his trembling form.
"I made a promise, and I will keep it."
His voice, though weak, was steady. "I will find her. No matter what it takes. Even if I have to tear through the heavens, even if I have to face the depths of hell—I will bring your mother back."
Tears streamed down Yun Xi's face. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to hold onto those words. But the pain was too fresh, the betrayal too raw.
He had no right to ask for forgiveness. No right to ask for her trust.
But there was one thing he still had.
His resolve.
And this time—
He would not fail.
Looking into Yun Xi's eyes, Yun Che's heart ached.
Her pain was unbearable — like a storm that showed no sign of calming. Every tremble in her voice, every tear that threatened to fall, cut him deeper. But even through his own suffering, Yun Che knew that if he wanted to keep his word, he couldn't stop.
He had to keep going.
"That day, when your mother disappeared…" Yun Che's voice was low, strained, but steady.
"I saw her again. Not in this world, but in an independent space. I don't know where it is, but she called it the Well of Samsara."
Yun Xi's breath caught.
"The Well of Samsara?"
Her eyes, still reddened from tears, widened in shock. The painful weight pressing on her chest didn't lessen, but now, confusion and disbelief mixed with it.
Yun Che nodded, his hands trembling slightly as he continued.
"I don't understand what that place is, but your mother's soul is resting there. I felt it. I saw it. As long as I can reach that place again… I can bring her back."
!!!!!!
A jolt ran through Yun Xi.
"The Well of Samsara."
The name struck her like a thunderclap, stirring something deep within her memories. Even amidst her sorrow, her eyes flickered with recognition. She had heard those words before.
From her mother.
"..."
Yun Che, noticing the sudden change in her expression, leaned forward slightly.
"Yun Xi," he asked, his voice filled with desperate hope. "Do you know where it is?"
But after a lingering pause, Yun Xi slowly shook her head.
"No… I don't."
Her words were barely above a whisper. But there was something else — a shadow of painful recollection that darkened her gaze.
"Mother told me once," she continued, her voice trembling. "She said the Well of Samsara is a place where the essence of all beings goes after death. Not just the body, but the soul itself."
Her hands gripped the fabric of her dress tightly, knuckles white.
"Back then… she saved me from that place. She pulled me out of the Well of Samsara."
Her voice cracked as the words left her lips. The memory was etched into her soul, one she had tried so hard to bury — the moment she felt herself slipping away, only to be yanked back into existence.
"But the price…"
She didn't finish. She couldn't.
Yun Che's eyes darkened. His hands trembled.
"She gave up something… So that I could live..."
A bitter sob escaped her, the weight of that truth crashing down once more.
"I will bring her back. No matter what it takes. I swear it."
Before Yun Xi could speak further, Yun Che raised his hand, cutting her off. Without a word, his profound energy stirred, and a shimmering projection materialized before them. It was formed entirely from his memories — each image vivid and lifelike, as if they were standing within the moments of his past.
In an instant, the figure of a younger Yun Che appeared. His eyes, though bright with determination, held the burden of countless promises.
The memory played, and Yun Xi saw him standing beneath a dim, starless sky. His voice echoed softly through the projection.
"I'll return. I promise. After sending off Senior Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, I'll come back to Blue Pole Star."
The sincerity in his younger self's voice was undeniable. It was a promise — one that seemed so simple at the time, yet now weighed like a mountain upon his soul.
Yun Che's voice broke the stillness of the moment.
"She's your elder sister."
He turned toward Yun Xi, his trembling voice low.
"My first child — Wuxin."
Yun Xi's eyes widened.
"Back then, I swore to her that I would return to our home world, to Blue Pole Star. I promised I wouldn't be gone for long. But…"
His fists clenched at his sides.
"I didn't. I couldn't."
The next scene flashed.
Yun Xi watched as the projection shifted — the promise now broken, the memories that followed unraveling like a dark storm.
She saw it.
The day Blue Pole Star was destroyed.
The brilliant azure planet reduced to nothing but scattered dust in the endless void.
Yun Che's face twisted in agony as he fled with his loved ones, powerless to save his home.
She saw the years of torment that followed.
His descent into the Northern Divine Region, where hatred and vengeance consumed him. His eyes burned with fury as he tore through the God Realm, leaving behind a trail of despair. The weight of the lives he had taken, the countless cries that haunted his every step — all of it flashed before her.
Yun Xi trembled. She could feel the overwhelming pain that radiated from these memories. Every moment, every tear, every loss — it all seeped into her heart like poison.
And then, after five years, he returned.
Blue Pole Star.
It had not been destroyed. The world he thought lost forever… had survived.
Yun Che's body shook as he relived the memory.
"I was five years late."
His voice was barely above a whisper now.
"Five years too late to keep my promise. But...I still kept my promises.
The projection faded, leaving only the weight of his words lingering in the air.
Yun Xi's heart ached. She had felt her own grief, her own anger. But this… this was something far deeper. She could see it in her father's trembling frame — the kind of pain that left scars no one could see.
He had lived through the destruction of his home, only to bear the guilt of surviving it. He had been consumed by hatred, only to find redemption too late. Every step of his journey had been a punishment he placed upon himself.
Yun Che's voice broke through the silence once more.
"I know what it means to break a promise."
He met Yun Xi's gaze, his eyes reflecting the endless regret that had followed him for years.
"And I know what it means to live with the weight of that failure. But I also know…"
He stepped closer, his voice trembling but firm.
"That I can't make the same mistake again."
Tears welled in Yun Xi's eyes, but she said nothing.
"Your mother is out there. I don't know where, but I won't stop until I find her. This time, I will keep my promise."
Yun Che's hands shook, but not from fear. His resolve — the same resolve that had driven him through life and death — burned within him once again.
"I will bring her back, Yun Xi. No matter what it takes."
The father and daughter stood in silence, the echoes of the past lingering in the air. But for the first time in a long while, despite the pain, there was something else —
A spark of belief.
"I know I don't deserve to be called a father."
Yun Che's voice trembled, thick with pain. He stood before Yun Xi, his body still unsteady, but his gaze never faltered.
"I wasn't there for you. From the moment you were born until now—almost a hundred years of your life—I was absent. I should have been by your side. I should have protected you. But I didn't."
His hands clenched tightly, the weight of his regrets threatening to break him.
"I'm sorry."
The words fell from his lips like a broken confession. Apologies he had held back for far too long. Apologies that, no matter how sincere, could never undo the years of neglect.
Yun Xi stood motionless, her expression unreadable. Tears clung to the edges of her eyes, but her emotions were a storm—rage, sorrow, confusion. And yet, she said nothing.
"I know I can't make you trust me," Yun Che continued, his voice cracking. "I have no right to ask that of you. But please... just one more time.
"Give me one more chance."
His trembling hands reached forward, not to touch her, but to plead.
"Next time, I won't come back empty-handed."
The desperation in his eyes was unbearable. His soul laid bare.
"Next time... I will have your mother here."
A choked breath escaped him as the words left his lips.
"I promise."
He barely held himself together. The words weren't just a declaration to Yun Xi—they were a vow to himself.
A vow he could not break.
Yun Xi's heart twisted. She wanted to scream. She wanted to believe. But the pain was too much.
And yet…
Even with her mind screaming at her not to, the smallest part of her wanted to reach out. Wanted to cling to the hope he offered.
But she didn't move.
The silence weighed heavily between them, suffocating.
And from a distance, unseen by them both, Xia Qingyue watched.
She stood in the shadows, her ethereal presence veiled by the gentle flicker of profound energy. Her violet eyes gleamed with unshed tears, though her face remained composed. She had already seen these memories once before — when Yun Che had shown them to her.
But witnessing them again still brought pain to her chest, still, she can only watch from afar. This is something that only the father and daughter can talk to each other.
"Bring Mother back…"
After what felt like an eternity of silence, Yun Xi finally spoke. Her voice was low, trembling with the weight of everything she had held inside.
"No matter what you have to do, please… bring her back."
Her eyes, though still clouded with pain, shone with a desperate resolve. The tears she had tried to restrain now traced delicate paths down her face. Yet, despite the sorrow etched within her gaze, there was something else — a sliver of hope.
"You have to keep your promise.
No matter how long it takes, no matter what stands in your way —
You have to keep it!"
Each word struck Yun Che like a crashing wave.
His hands trembled. His breathing grew unsteady. The sheer magnitude of her plea consumed him, and for a moment, he could barely stand.
But then, something shifted.
The trembling in his hands wasn't from weakness. It was something else.
It was resolve.
"Thank you."
The words slipped from his lips before he could think, laden with all the gratitude he couldn't express. Yun Che's body moved on instinct, and before he realized it, he had already pulled his daughter into his arms.
The warmth of the embrace stunned Yun Xi. She stiffened, caught completely off guard. It was the first time she had felt her father's embrace. His arms wrapped around her tightly, as though he feared that letting go would shatter the fragile bond between them.
"I promise," Yun Che whispered, his voice trembling.
He held her close, the pain that had tormented him for so long mingling with a newfound determination. He could feel her tears against his chest, but he didn't let go. Not this time.
"I will bring her back."
The vow was no longer just a desperate plea to the heavens. It was unshakable. Absolute.
Yun Xi didn't respond right away. Her trembling hands hovered for a moment before slowly gripping the back of his robes. Her face remained hidden against his chest, but the tears that fell spoke louder than any words ever could.
For the first time in so long, they stood together — father and daughter.
The wounds between them were far from healed. The pain of loss, the years of separation, the broken promises — all of it still remained.
But this moment…
This moment was a step forward.
And Yun Che swore, with every ounce of his being, that he would never break his promise again.
After a long and heartfelt conversation with his daughter and Xia Qingyue, Yun Che finally laid out his plan. His resolve was unwavering, his heart set on one goal — to find the Well of Samsara and bring Shen Xi back.
"I need to know more," Yun Che said, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions within him. "The Well of Samsara… it's not something I can reach without understanding its existence. The Divine Kingdoms may have the answers, and the Ancient True Gods are the only ones who might know where it truly lies."
Both Yun Xi and Xia Qingyue listened in silence. They could see the determination in his eyes, but the worry that lingered beneath it didn't escape them.
"And once I know where it is," Yun Che continued, his voice low but resolute, "no matter what stands in my way, I'll go there. I will bring her back."
A heavy silence followed. Yun Che hesitated before finally voicing the question that had been weighing on him.
"Come with me," he said, his gaze shifting between them. "Both of you."
Yun Xi's hands trembled slightly, her expression conflicted. Xia Qingyue, though composed, lowered her gaze.
"You don't have to stay here," Yun Che pleaded. "I can protect you. Whatever dangers come, I'll face them. As long as we're together—"
"No," Xia Qingyue interrupted softly, her violet eyes meeting his. "Yun Che, you can't be burdened by us."
"But—"
"We'll hold you back," she said firmly, though her voice trembled with the weight of her own words. "Your path is clear now. The burden you carry is already heavy enough. If we go with you, you'll hesitate. You'll worry about us. And that hesitation could cost you everything."
Yun Xi nodded, though tears welled in her eyes. "We'll be safe here. The Primordial Profound Ark's world is vast and secure. With the formations you've placed and the strength of this realm, nothing can reach us."
Yun Che clenched his fists. He hated the thought of leaving them behind. But deep down, he knew they were right. Every moment of distraction, every second of doubt — it could be the difference between success and failure.
"I will return," Yun Che said, his voice trembling. "And the next time I do… I'll bring your mother with me."
"Then we'll wait... for you," Yun Xi whispered. "No matter how long it takes."
Knowing his path was set, Yun Che spent the next few days making preparations. His first priority was ensuring that Xia Qingyue would be ready to advance her cultivation in his absence.
They entered dual cultivation, their energies intertwining and harmonizing. With every moment spent together, Yun Che carefully guided the boundless energy within her Nine Worlds. Through his profound energy, he ensured that each world was enriched with the purest essence of divine power.
"This will strengthen your foundation," Yun Che said softly, his voice filled with warmth as he held Xia Qingyue's delicate hands. "The energy will nourish your worlds. Over time, as you absorb it, your cultivation will rise naturally. You won't be limited… you'll continue to grow."
Xia Qingyue gazed at him, her heart aching. She could feel the care in every movement, every thread of profound energy he infused into her worlds.
"Yun Che," she whispered. "Be careful. No matter what."
He nodded, though the weight of her words lingered.
When the preparations were complete, Yun Che stood before the massive Primordial Profound Ark, his expression solemn.
To ensure its protection, he carefully separated a piece of his soul and fused it into the ark, creating a powerful spiritual barrier. The fragment of his soul would act as a guardian — sensing any disturbances, repelling corruption, and guarding against the abyssal dust that lingered within the Endless Fog Sea.
With a wave of his hand, Yun Che etched ancient formations into the air, layer upon layer of divine protection that pulsed with profound energy. These formations would shield the ark from detection, warding off even the most powerful of foes.
But that wasn't enough.
To further guarantee the ark's safety, Yun Che chose the depths of the Endless Fog Sea as its resting place. The terrifying region, filled with countless dangers, was the perfect shield. Within its depths, countless Late Stage Divine Limited Realm Beasts roamed — ancient creatures that none would dare provoke.
He had no doubt that they would guard the ark without even knowing it.
"I will return," he whispered to himself, as if vowing to the heavens.
With a final burst of profound energy, Yun Che activated the formations, and the ark slowly vanished into the mists of the Endless Fog Sea. Hidden. Protected. Safe.
Then, without another glance back, Yun Che turned.
No matter how far the path ahead stretched, no matter how dark the trials that awaited — Yun Che's resolve would not waver.
Because this time, there was no room for failure.
He would find the Well of Samsara.
He would bring Shen Xi back.
And nothing in existence would stop him.
"If you can bring Mother back… I will call you Father!"
Just as Yun Che was about to disappear into the thick abyssal dust, Yun Xi's voice rang out from behind him, piercing through the silence. Her words trembled with emotion, but they carried an undeniable weight.
Yun Che's steps halted. His back remained turned, but his fists clenched tightly at his sides. The pain that had gripped him all this time shifted — now laced with a sliver of hope.
"I'll look forward to that day," he said, his voice low, yet filled with unwavering resolve.
With one final surge of profound energy, Yun Che stepped forward. His figure disappeared, swallowed by the vast, suffocating abyssal dust, leaving behind the two figures who had entrusted him with everything.
The part of Yun Che's soul that guarded the ark served as their tether. If he fell — if his soul shattered — that fragment would vanish. The protective formations would crumble. The abyssal dust would consume everything.
The ark would become their tomb.
But they knew this. They had accepted it without hesitation.
They would live and die with him.
Yun Che knew it too. It was a truth that seared through him like fire. There was no margin for failure. No second chances. Every step he took, every moment he fought, would be not only for Shen Xi — but for Xia Qingyue and Yun Xi as well.
He would climb, no matter the pain.
He would push forward, no matter the cost.
He would return, no matter the impossible odds.
Because if he didn't — the ones he loved would fall with him.
With every step, he thought of Shen Xi's gentle smile. Xia Qingyue's unwavering gaze. Yun Xi's trembling voice.
They were his strength.
His reason to keep moving forward.
Yet, had Yun Che strayed just a little further — had he deviated from his path, even slightly — he might have found it.
The place he was searching for.
The Well of Samsara.
But instead, what awaited him was something far more painful.
And in the wake of what Yun Che would soon face —
The fate of the entire Abyss would change forever.