He had always thought that he had suffered enough, but only now did he realize that what his wife had endured was much more than what he had endured over the years.
At least he could sleep within Ultus, waiting for a chance to strike. Most of the time he was unconscious.
He missed her too, but in order to maintain his soul in the Zhu Xian sword and not disperse, temporarily becoming the sword spirit, he had to sleep.
Time passed quickly when he was asleep, and the pain and suffering that gnawed away at his soul was much shorter.
But her?
Not only did she have to endure the pain, but she also had to take care of her daughter.
"Little Yue, it's all my fault. I've wronged you and your daughter.
It's all my fault. "Li Ke's body began to shake violently.
"Brother Ke, don't get so worked up. Your body is getting blurry.
Brother Ke! "The Pharmacist cried out. Li Ke's form was starting to fade in and out of existence.
A bitter smile formed at the corner of his mouth. Li Ke's body began to solidify once more. "My greatest wish was to see you again. But seeing you like this, seeing our daughter like this, I can't accept it. I can't accept leaving like this.
I want to live with you, to keep you company. "
The Pharmacist's face paled. "What … what do you mean?"
Li Ke hung his head in pain, but he knew he couldn't hide it. "When I was swallowed by the alien planets I tried to fight back, but the difference in power was too great.
They didn't kill me in order to get my genes, but they kept me captive and disintegrated my body.
In order to survive I took advantage of the fact that they hadn't stripped me of my soul. I gave up my body and became one with Ultus. "
"At the time I thought Ultus had accepted me as its master, that I was its master.
It should have had no problem carrying my soul.
However, the Zhu Xian four swords are the highest grade divine weapons. Although it once acknowledged me, it is still extremely difficult for me to control it with my strength. When I fused with it, it is still extremely difficult.
Once I became one with it, my soul wasn't strong enough to withstand its aura.
My soul's imprint began to fail.
Although I managed to become a sword-spirit, it was only temporary. I couldn't leave Ultus, and my soul's strength was being drained.
It was a slow process, but one day.
I will die. "
"I tried my best to control my soul.
Although I know that the chance of seeing you again is too small, too small, I am not willing to give up. Even if there is only a small chance, I will persist. Even if I can only see you once, I will be satisfied. "
"In the end, the heavens still care for me.
That day.
When I saw you attack the alien planets I was so excited.
I'm so worried about you.
Fortunately, you were rescued. At that time, all I could do was pass some information to you through the connection between the two divine swords. "
"You've finally come again, and you've become even stronger than before.
The Violet Monarch would never have guessed I had the power to hurt it.
That doppelganger was finally killed by our combined efforts.
However, because I activated the power of the Exterminating Immortal Sword, my soul energy was further depleted.
I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on much longer. "At the end of his sentence, his voice was full of sadness.
"No, I won't.
If the heavens can let us meet again under such circumstances, how could they bear to take you away from me?
It can't be … it can't be! "
The Pharmacist's voice shook violently. She took two steps back, as if trying to get a better look at her husband from a distance.
"Even if there was a chance, I wouldn't leave you.
But I can't hold on much longer.
I used to be so proud, but now I'm only a spirit. Perhaps death isn't such a bad thing for me.
If there is a next life, even if I have to work like a cow or a horse, I will always be by your side. I don't ask to be your husband again, I only hope to be able to silently protect you, until the end of time, for all eternity. "
"Little Yue, I know you've suffered so much over the years, but do you see?
Our daughter has grown up, she's beautiful. She'll be just as beautiful as you.
She's the fruit of our love, and in her body we share the same genes.
You've suffered for so many years because of me.
Promise me, if I'm gone, you'll survive.
For the sake of our daughter.
Alright? "
Li Ke's voice grew softer and softer, almost as if he was trying to seduce her. But how much helplessness and pain was there in that seduction?
"Take me with you."
The Pharmacist closed her eyes in agony. "I don't want to go on like this. If I sleep forever, I'll have no more pain or longing.
Brother Ke, take me with you.
Is that alright?
Take me with you. "
"No!" Li Ke snapped. "Wake up, Little Yue.
I won't take you with me. What right do I have to take you with me?
Your life belongs only to you, not to me.
I don't have the right to be your husband. I can't even protect my wife, what right do I have to be with you?
I haven't been by your side for so many years, and you've endured it all. You've grown into one of the strongest people in the world, why can't you wake up?
My soul may dissipate, but after all, I was once the sword spirit of the Exterminating Immortal Sword, there will be a soul imprint left behind. If one day, you can reach the level of a real immortal, it is not impossible to revive me.
Even if it's to resurrect me, you have to live. You have to get stronger, alright? "
The Pharmacist paused. "There's a chance?" she muttered.
Really?
Brother Ke, is that true? "
Li Ke nodded solemnly. "Of course it's true. If His Majesty Jueti could come back to life, why can't I?
I believe I can too.
I can come back to life.
But it'll take a lot more power to do that.
This is only possible if you become stronger.
My soul imprint will always remain in the Exterminating Immortal sword. "
The Pharmacist looked at him and nodded. "Brother Ke, I'll get stronger. I'll resurrect you."
A small smile spread across Li Ke's face. "That's right. My fate is in your hands. Only if you're strong will we have a future together."
"I'll call my daughter in," the Pharmacist said. "She's never seen her father."
Li Ke paused, then shook his head. "No, no."
The Pharmacist looked at him. "Why?"
Li Ke smiled bitterly. "How can I see my daughter like this? If she asks for a hug I can't give it to her.
I don't deserve to be her father.
If one day you can bring me back to life, then I'll have the right to call her father. I'll make it up to her.
Now that you've asked the Jewelry Master to be her father, and she's happy and approves of it, that's enough. I don't want the child to suffer any harm. As long as I can see her from afar, I'll be satisfied. "
The Pharmacist looked at Li Ke with a conflicted expression. After a long moment she nodded. "Alright."
Li Ke's expression grew serious. "What do you think of Lan Qing?"
The Pharmacist paused, then answered without thinking. "Outstanding. One of the best of the younger generation. He and his brother Lan Jue, the Jewelry Master.
If you were still here, you'd be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. "
Li Ke sighed. "I envy him. He's become a general at such a young age, and has the strength of a Paragon. I really envy him.
Ultus chose him because of his Paragon Domain and dharma. His foundation is solid, and his dharma is solid. He's the best commander for the Banishing Blade. His cultivation is a little weak, but he can make up for it.
I'll give him the Banishing Blade. Do you think there's a problem? "
The Pharmacist answered without hesitation. "It shouldn't be a problem. If it weren't for Admiral Lan Qing, we wouldn't have stood a chance against the aliens.
He's the right man. "
"Good!" Li Ke nodded. "I'm relieved to have your approval.
Ultus is the sharpest of the Banishing Blades. It's intimately connected to Occisus. Other than me, you're the most familiar with it. Once I pass on the Banishing Blade to you, I'm afraid the outer layer of my soul will dissipate. Only the imprint will remain.
You'll need to work with him on how to use Ultus, and how to use its power.
This junior of mine is indeed exceptionally outstanding. "
"Mm."
The Pharmacist nodded, but for some reason she didn't seem to be paying attention to what was going on in her mind.
Li Ke sighed, "Little Yue, the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me in my life is meeting you. However, I never thought that I would bring you such an ending.
If you don't have the chance to become an immortal, if there's a man who can move your heart, then forget me. "