215: Farewell

Light Snow closed her eyes, mobilizing the last of her energy.

As a Planet-level Peak cultivator, she possessed at least seventeen self-destruction secret techniques—these were the last resort every member of the Radiance Imperial Family had to learn.

Energy rotated within her Dantian, faster and faster... A Planetary Level self-detonation was enough to obliterate this laboratory into ruins, turning her own body into particles.

"Farewell forever, Father... Mother... Great-Great-Grandfather..."

Light Snow's eyelashes trembled, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

Then, just as the energy was about to break through the critical point—

Buzz.

An invisible force field enveloped her.

The rotating energy seemed to hit an unseen wall, instantly suppressed, smoothed out, and dissipated.

Light Snow's eyes snapped open.

In a corner of the laboratory, a figure in a dark red robe slowly materialized.

It was a gaunt old man with eerie, pure black eyes, devoid of whites.

"Little girl," the old man's voice rasped like rusty gears grinding, "trying to self-detonate in front of me, Venerable Jin Yuan... isn't that a bit naive?"

Star Arm Level!

Light Snow's heart sank to rock bottom.

A Star Arm Level expert could easily suppress her Planetary Level energy outburst.

"Shadow Blade was right," Venerable Jin Yuan slowly walked to the experimental table, his withered finger tracing Light Snow's cheek:

"You are indeed very special; your energy control... is exquisite."

His finger was cold, carrying a nauseating aura of death.

"Let me go!" Light Snow gritted her teeth.

"Let go?" Venerable Jin Yuan chuckled, revealing a mouth full of black and yellow teeth. "Once we've finished studying your Bloodline, we'll naturally let you go—let you into the incinerator."

The surrounding researchers respectfully saluted: "Venerable."

"Continue the research," Venerable Jin Yuan said indifferently. "I want to know why every member of this civilization's imperial family possesses Innate Aptitude. It defies logic."

"Yes!"

The needle was inserted again.

This time, Light Snow couldn't even self-detonate.

Venerable Jin Yuan's force field was like an invisible net, tightly suppressing every trace of energy within her body.

She could only watch helplessly as her blood was drawn, skin tissue sampled, and even her hair and nails carefully collected.

Tears of humiliation blurred her vision... Soul Devouring Civilization, Supreme Academy of Sciences.

A secret meeting was being held.

Participating in the meeting, besides Venerable Jin Yuan, were the seventeen top life scientists, geneticists, and energyology grandmasters of the Soul Devouring Civilization.

On the giant holographic projection, Light Snow's test data scrolled.

[Target: Light Snow]

[Age: 18 Standard Years]

[Cultivation: Planet-level Peak]

[Innate Aptitude: Martial Body (Supreme Grade)]

[Blood Analysis: No abnormal energy structure, no special gene sequence, no unknown substances]

[Tissue Sample: No essential difference from ordinary humans]

[Energy Origin: Standard Planetary Level energy structure, high purity, but no abnormalities]

[Soul Fluctuation: Within normal human range]

The projection switched, showing comparison data.

These were samples of geniuses from other civilizations secretly captured by the Soul Devouring Civilization—also Innate Aptitude holders.

[Comparison Sample: Shadow Race Genius]

[Abnormal Characteristics: 'Shadow Crystal Microparticles' in blood, mutation in gene sequence chain 7]

[Comparison Sample: Ironblood Race Genius]

[Abnormal Characteristics: Abnormally high muscle tissue enhancement factors, energy meridiansalienation]

[Comparison Sample: Spirit Race Genius]

[Abnormal Characteristics: Special Soul fluctuation frequency, mutated pineal gland]

"Do you see?"

The old scientist presiding over the meeting, Dr. Shi Hun, Director of the Soul Devouring Civilization's Academy of Sciences, pointed at the projection:

"All known Innate Aptitude holders have obvious abnormal characteristics at the physiological level. Either gene mutations, special energy structures, or organ differentiation."

"But—"

He switched to Light Snow's data:

"This princess of the Radiance Imperial Family has nothing."

The meeting room was silent.

"This is impossible," a geneticist frowned. "Innate Aptitude must have a physiological basis. Energy cannot be generated from nothing, and talent cannot exist out of thin air."

"But the test results are just that," Dr. Shi Hun spread his hands. "We used all known methods: gene sequencing, energy tracing, Soul scanning, and even the 'Law Tracing Instrument'—the results were all the same. She is... a normal human."

"Even more bizarre," another scientist added, "according to Shadow Blade's intelligence, the entire Radiance Imperial Family, from the Emperor to the collateral branches, all possess Innate Aptitude. Radiance himself has an Innate Martial Body, and all his offspring have Innate Martial Body or above..."

"This violates the fundamental Laws of the Universe!" an old man slammed the table. "The probability of an Innate Martial Body Aptitude appearing under natural conditions is one in ten billion! A civilization that can consistently produce Innate Aptitude? Unless..."

He paused, lowering his voice: "Unless they have mastered some kind of... 'god-making' technology."

The meeting room fell silent again.

God-making technology.

A technology capable of mass-producing Innate Aptitude.

If the Soul Devouring Civilization mastered this technology... "Continue the research!" Venerable Jin Yuan spoke coldly. "At all costs. If conventional methods don't work, use unconventional ones."

"Does the Venerable mean..."

"Soul extraction." A cold glint flashed in Venerable Jin Yuan's eyes. "Some secrets are hidden deep within the Soul."

Underground research institute, Seventh Laboratory.

Light Snow was transferred to a larger room.

In the center of this room was a complex Formation, surrounded by various bizarre instruments—some resembling torture devices, others ceremonial artifacts.

She was bound to a metal frame in the center of the Formation, her wrists and ankles locked by special shackles.

Venerable Jin Yuan stood outside the Formation, followed by five researchers.

"Little girl," Venerable Jin Yuan's voice was still cold, "we've tried all scientific methods and can't find the secret of your Bloodline. So now... we're going to try 'unscientific' methods."

Light Snow bit her lip, not speaking.

She knew she couldn't escape, but she wouldn't cooperate either.

"The Soul extraction ritual will be a bit painful," Venerable Jin Yuan said indifferently. "But don't worry, it won't kill you—at least not immediately. We need your Soul to be intact to read its memories and secrets."

The Formation activated.

Dark red light surged from the ground, coiling around Light Snow's body like a living thing.

Cold.

Bone-chilling cold.

The light seemed to penetrate her skin, directly affecting her Soul.

Light Snow trembled all over, but she bit her teeth tightly, refusing to make a sound.

Pain.

Indescribable pain.

It wasn't physical pain, but the sensation of her Soul being torn, stretched, and probed.

"Strong resistance," a researcher recorded data. "Soul resilience far exceeds her peers."

"Continue to intensify," Venerable Jin Yuan ordered.

The Formation's light flared.

Light Snow finally couldn't hold back and let out a piercing scream.

Deep within her Soul, fragments of memory began to be forcibly extracted—

Playing in the imperial garden as a child... first learning to Cultivate... her imperial mother's gentle smile... Great-Great-Grandfather's stern yet kind face... and... Star River.

The young man who once made her heart flutter, now known to be a disguised intelligence agent.

Memory fragments condensed into blurry images in the air.

The researchers watched carefully.

"These are all irrelevant memories," Dr. Shi Hun frowned. "What about the secret of the Bloodline? What about the Origin of the Innate Aptitude?"

"Go deeper!" Venerable Jin Yuan commanded.

The equipment operated at its limit.

Light Snow's consciousness began to blur.

A crazy glint flashed in Venerable Jin Yuan's eyes: "Interesting... too interesting! Descendants are definitely Innate Aptitude!"

He looked at Light Snow: "Little girl, it seems your Bloodline... hides a big secret. Since we can't research it thoroughly, we'll just use the results directly."

Light Snow was imprisoned again.

This time, the cage was even more robust, surrounded by force fields that suppressed energy.

She huddled in a corner, hugging her knees, and smiled bitterly: "Am I going to die? I really regret not listening to Mother..."

She knew the Soul Devouring Civilization wouldn't let her go.

Sure enough, the next day, Venerable Jin Yuan came again.

"Since we can't get results at the Soul level, we'll start at the physiological level. Innate Aptitude must be related to reproduction—perhaps your offspring can give us the answer."

Light Snow trembled all over.

"You... what do you want to do?"

"What do I want to do?" Venerable Jin Yuan smiled. "Of course, it's to make you pregnant, give birth to a child, and study the child's Bloodline."

"You wish!" Light Snow shrieked. "I'd rather die!"

"Die?" Venerable Jin Yuan shook his head. "Here, you don't even have the right to die."

He turned and left.

A few minutes later, the cage door opened again.

The person who walked in was someone Light Snow never would have expected—

Shadow Blade.

Or rather, the man disguised as "Star River."

He was wearing the uniform of a Soul Devouring Civilization military officer, and the gentle smile still hung on his face.

But at this moment, in Light Snow's eyes, that smile was utterly disgusting.

"Xiao Xue," Shadow Blade walked up to the cage, "we meet again."

Light Snow stared fixedly at him, her eyes filled with hatred.

"Why did you lie to me?" Her voice was hoarse. "Why did you pretend to be Xing He? Why... did you trick me into coming here?"

Shadow Blade was silent for a moment.

Then, he said softly, "Because of the mission."

"A mission?" Light Snow laughed, a mournful, sharp sound. "Just for a mission, you can deceive the feelings of an eighteen-year-old girl? You can trick her into this Hell?"

"This is my duty." Shadow Blade's voice was calm. "I am an intelligence agent for the Soul Devouring Civilization. Infiltration, disguise, and completing missions are my sacred calling."

"What about feelings?" Tears welled up in Light Snow's eyes. "All those things you said to me... that tenderness, those promises... were they all fake?"

Shadow Blade paused.

A complex look flashed in his eyes.

"...Not entirely."

Light Snow was stunned.

"The first time I saw you was by Star Lake." Shadow Blade said slowly. "You were wearing a pale blue dress, sitting on a bench, staring blankly at the lake surface. The sunlight that day was beautiful, shining on your hair, coating it like a layer of silver light."

"I thought then... this girl is truly pure. So pure that she shouldn't exist in this cruel Universe."

"The subsequent meetings, the dates, the conversations..." Shadow Blade took a deep breath. "Sometimes, even I couldn't distinguish which parts were pretense and which were genuine."

Light Snow bit her lip, remaining silent.

"However," Shadow Blade's gaze turned cold again, "I am a soldier of the Soul Devouring Civilization. My loyalty belongs to my Civilization."

"So you're going to personally send me to Hell?" Light Snow asked tremblingly.

Shadow Blade did not reply.

He opened the cage and stepped inside.

"What are you going to do?" Light Snow backed away warily, but there was a wall behind her, leaving her nowhere to retreat.

"Venerable Jin Yuan's order." Shadow Blade's voice was flat. "To impregnate you and study the Bloodline of the offspring."

Light Snow felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

She finally understood what Venerable Jin Yuan meant by "physiological research."

"No..." She shook her head, tears streaming down uncontrollably. "No... Xing He... please... don't..."

This was the first time she had called him "Xing He" since being imprisoned and learning Shadow Blade's true identity.

Even though she knew it was a fake name.

Shadow Blade's movement paused slightly.

But soon, he continued forward.

"This is an order." He said. "Furthermore, this is for the future of the Soul Devouring Civilization. If we can decipher the secret of your Bloodline—"

"You won't be able to decipher it!" Light Snow screamed. "You know nothing about Ancestor Chen's power! If you dare touch the chen clan bloodline, your entire race will be annihilated! Ancestor Chen is a Star River Level powerhouse!"

"Ancestor Chen?" Shadow Blade frowned. "Never heard of him. A place that hasn't even unified a spiral arm has a Star River Level existence? Not even a Star Arm Level Peak! Xiao Xue, you've been tortured so much you're having hallucinations."

He said no more, reaching out and pressing down on Light Snow's shoulder.

Energy field suppression.

Light Snow could not move.

"I'm sorry," Shadow Blade whispered.

Then, he tore open Light Snow's dress... The next three days were the darkest three days of Light Snow's life.

She was confined in a small cell, forced to be injected with nutrient fluid every day to sustain her life.

Shadow Blade came every day.

He stopped talking, merely executing his mission with indifference.

Light Snow went from initial crying and struggling to later numbness and stupor... She felt that she had already died... died on that afternoon by Star Lake, died within her fantasy of romantic love... On the fourth day.

Venerable Jin Yuan personally came to inspect.

"She is pregnant." He nodded with satisfaction. "The embryo state is normal, expected delivery in ten months."

Light Snow was curled up in the corner, her eyes hollow.

"Take good care of the fetus." Venerable Jin Yuan instructed the guards. "This is a valuable experimental subject; there must be no mishaps."

The guards respectfully affirmed.

After Venerable Jin Yuan left, Shadow Blade arrived.

He stood outside the cage, looking at Light Snow, who was curled up in a ball, and remained silent for a long time.

"Xiao Xue," he suddenly spoke, "If... I mean, if... after the mission is over, I apply to Your Majesty to let you be my..."

"Get lost."

Light Snow's voice was icy, devoid of any warmth.

Shadow Blade's words stopped abruptly.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, turning and leaving.

Another month passed.

Light Snow could feel a small life developing inside her.

That was proof of her disgrace!

It was evidence of the Soul Devouring Civilization's crimes!

And also... her own child... Conflicting emotions tormented her.

Hatred! Hatred! Hatred!

She hated the Soul Devouring Civilization, she hated Shadow Blade, and she hated this cruel Universe.

But she also hated herself—why was she so naive back then? Why did she believe that "Xing He"? Why did she leave the Imperial Capital Star?

If she had listened to her Empress Mother and brought guards... If she had been more vigilant... Alas, there were no ifs.

That day, Venerable Jin Yuan came again.

This time, he brought new instruments.

"The results of the fetal examination are out." He looked at the data on the light screen. "As expected, it's an Innate Martial Body!"

Light Snow raised her head, her eyes devoid of any light.

Venerable Jin Yuan looked thoughtfully at Light Snow: "We need more experiments. After this child is born, we will arrange for other males with Innate Aptitude to be with you..."

"Enough!" Light Snow shrieked. "You demons! May you all die horrible deaths!"

Venerable Jin Yuan smiled: "Demons? Perhaps. But in Dark Abyss Seat, power is justice."

After he left, Light Snow collapsed onto the ground.

More experiments... more humiliation... No.

She couldn't continue like this.

She had to end it all.

Late at night, when everything was quiet... the guards were dozing outside the cell.

Light Snow quietly sat up.

For this past month, she had secretly been doing one thing—using her fingernails to carve marks on the wall.

Her fingernails were worn down and bleeding, but she didn't stop.

She was carving a Formation.

An extremely ancient Formation, secretly passed down by the Radiance Royal Family.

The Bloodline Severance Array.

This was the Royal Family's most forbidden secret technique, only to be used when facing the desperate situation of capture.

Once the Formation was activated, it would burn up the practitioner's entire life and Soul, completely erasing them.

The price was... complete destruction of body and spirit, never to be reincarnated.

Light Snow had never imagined she would need to use this Formation.

But she had no choice.

She could not let the secret of her Bloodline fall into enemy hands!

She could not allow the secret of Ancestor Chen's Bloodline to be deciphered because of her own weakness!

And even more so... she could not let the child in her belly become the enemy's experimental subject!

She had no idea that no one would ever be able to decipher the secret of her Bloodline!

The carvings on the wall were complete.

The complex and ancient patterns flickered slightly in the dim light... Light Snow bit her finger, using her blood to write the final rune in the center of the Formation.

Then, she sat cross-legged and closed her eyes.

"Father... Empress Mother... I'm sorry, Xiao Xue can no longer be filial to you."

"Great-Great-Grandfather... I'm sorry, I have disgraced the Radiance Royal Family."

"Ancestor Chen... I'm sorry, I grew up listening to your stories but never met you."

"And..."

Her hand gently stroked her slightly bulging abdomen.

Tears rolled down.

"Child... I'm sorry, Mom cannot let you come into this cruel world."

Taking a deep breath.

Light Snow began chanting the incantation.

Low, ancient syllables echoed in the cell.

The Formation on the wall began to glow.

Blood-red light.

Growing brighter and brighter.

The guards were startled awake, and seeing the scene inside the cell, they shouted in terror: "Oh no! She's committing suicide!"

The alarm sounded.

Venerable Jin Yuan, Shadow Blade, Dr. Shi Hun... everyone rushed towards the location.

But it was already too late.

The Formation was fully activated.

The blood-red light shot up into the sky, penetrating layers of defenses, forming a dazzling pillar of light in the night sky of Dark Devour Star.

Light Snow's body began to dissipate.

Starting from her feet, she turned into specks of light particles.

But on her face, for the first time in a month... a genuine smile appeared.

A smile of liberation.

"Farewell forever..."

Her final words scattered in the wind... The pillar of light exploded!

A terrifying energy shockwave swept through the entire research institute!

When Venerable Jin Yuan rushed to the cell, he only saw an empty room and the fading Formation carvings on the wall.

Light Snow... had vanished.

Not even a speck of ash remained...