Strained words emerged from his mouth, as if he were struggling to maintain control.
At this moment, the heavens and earth fell into a dead silence...
"Father?"
Jun Xiaoyao looked at that face, which had become gentle. It was still heroic, but devoid of the dark coldness of the Lord of the Calamity Source. Instead, there was a sense of tenderness.
"Tianya!"
Empress Yue Zhilan, the Fifth Ancestor of the Yun Clan, and many other clansmen could not help but cry out, their expressions filled with surprise and joy.
Yun Tianya actually still had consciousness remaining!
However, judging by the sound of his voice, it seemed he was only barely maintaining control for a brief moment.
Perhaps the reason Yun Tianya's will struggled to awaken at this moment was because he saw his own child stained with blood, and followed his instinct to stop the Lord of the Calamity Source from attacking.
"I didn't expect, Xiao'er, that you could reach this step. Father is proud of you."
"Father's only regret is that I did not witness your growth, and had no time to accompany Zhilan and Yun Xi."
Hearing Yun Tianya's words, Empress Yue Zhilan and Yun Xi could not help but shed tears.
A great man gives his life to his country, making it hard to also give it to his family.
Jun Wuhui was like this, and so was Yun Tianya!
As a Pass Guardian, he had a responsibility that belonged to him alone.
"Lord Tianya!"
The generals and soldiers of Zhenmo Pass also had tears in their eyes.
Everyone knew that the Pass Guardian shook the Universe, his fame was immense, and his status was supreme.
But who could understand what they bore?
Guarding a region, protecting the peace of their homeland. They were the true heroes.
"Father, how can the Lord of the Calamity Source be driven out of your body?" Jun Xiaoyao asked.
Yun Tianya's expression revealed a trace of melancholy.
How he longed to reunite with his family.
However...
Yun Tianya shook his head.
This was not a simple existence like falling into darkness.
Rather, the Lord of the Calamity Source had completely implanted the Origin of darkness.
He had become a vessel for the dark power of the Lord of the Calamity Source.
Basically, there was no way to separate them.
Seeing Yun Tianya shake his head and the expression he revealed, Jun Xiaoyao's heart sank; he understood everything.
Yun Tianya looked at Jun Xiaoyao with gratification in his eyes.
"Xia'er, Father knows your Origin is extraordinary, but no matter what, you are my, Yun Tianya's, son."
"Now, you need to complete what you are meant to do."
"Remember, with great power comes great responsibility."
"Since you have such ability, you should quell the chaos in the Universe and open up peace for all eternity."
"My Yun Clan ancestors sacrificed so much to quell the Black Calamity."
"Now, if my, Yun Tianya's, life can exchange for the end of the Black Calamity, why not?"
As Yun Tianya said this, his tone gradually became strained and difficult.
"Tianya!" Empress Yue Zhilan was heartbroken and weeping.
Yun Xi was also in tears, her face streaming like pear blossoms in the rain.
Who could have imagined that the ones who would ultimately decide the fate of the Universe would be this pair of father and son!
"Shut up!"
Yun Tianya's expression changed again; it was the consciousness of the Lord of the Calamity Source, seizing control once more.
He looked at Jun Xiaoyao with an evil, cold expression: "Are you really willing to kill your own father with your own hands?"
"For these unrelated beings of the Universe, are you willing to kill your closest person with your own hands?"
"No, Xiao'er, end the Black Calamity, end all of this..."
Yun Tianya's will emerged again, struggling.
Seeing this, Jun Xiaoyao fell silent.
Then, he said: "Back then, when I was afflicted by the Curse of the Fallen Immortal, I went into seclusion at the place where you meditated."
"The Dharma you left behind protected me and helped me resist the Curse of the Fallen Immortal, and now, you ask me to kill you with my own hands."
Jun Xiaoyao laughed, but it carried a sense of sorrow.
All the Cultivators and living beings of the Universe were watching Jun Xiaoyao.
Empress Yue Zhilan held Yun Xi in her arms, both mother and daughter weeping.
But they said nothing, not wanting to disturb Jun Xiaoyao.
They could only bear the final result.
At this moment, the heavens and earth seemed to be dead silent, stripped of all sound.
Countless gazes fell upon Jun Xiaoyao, holding their breath.
Was he to kill his own father, Yun Tianya, to end the Black Calamity and protect the beings of the Universe, and even the beings of more worlds?
Or was he to preserve his father Yun Tianya's life, giving him a chance to live, while the price would naturally be the fall of all living beings and the destruction of the world?
He would be reviled by the world.
Logically speaking, in such a situation, there was no need to think too much.
Eliminating a relative for the sake of justice was the only path.
To sacrifice one person to save the beings of the Universe—what a grand and righteous decision.
It could be said that if it were any so-called protagonist of destiny or heroic character, they would make this only choice.
Sacrifice the small family to protect the large one.
Undoubtedly, this was the correct decision.
However...
Jun Xiaoyao had said that he never thought of being a so-called hero.
All his cultivation and hard work were merely to one day step onto the Peak of the world, so that no one could press down on his head.
And so that no one could threaten or hurt the people around him again.
Yes, Jun Xiaoyao was not that grand and righteous, not that selfless.
He also never considered himself a hero; he was just a vulgar Mortal.
But now, to ask him to kill his closest person—wasn't that putting the cart before the horse for him?
Everyone was waiting for Jun Xiaoyao's decision.
It might not be nice to say, but indeed, many people hoped that Jun Xiaoyao would eliminate his relative for the sake of justice.
This was the only way to solve everything.
In many storybooks, this was also the only ending for a hero.
Either one dies, or one's most important person dies.
And Jun Xiaoyao had already experienced it once—the fall of Jiang Shengyi.
Now, could such a thing happen again?
In this suffocating silence, Jun Xiaoyao finally made his decision.
His expression was devoid of sorrow or joy, and he spoke in a resonant voice.
"Who decreed that heroes must bleed?"
Jun Xiaoyao raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly on the Lord of the Calamity Source, or rather, gazing at his father, Yun Tianya!
"Who said that heroes must sacrifice themselves?"
"This is not my, Jun Xiaoyao's, choice!"
"I refuse such an ending!"
The stern words resounded throughout the heavens and the firmament.
Immediately, Jun Xiaoyao dissipated his Divine Dharma Body.
Alone, he stood solitary amidst the shattered Universe.
His white robes were stained with blood, his black hair fluttering.
There was an indescribable sense of loneliness.
The entire world was dead silent at this moment.
Empress Yue Zhilan was weeping, but at the same time, she actually smiled.
Jun Xiaoyao had made his choice; he had preserved their small family.
Yun Xi was also in tears, not quite sure what she was feeling, but there was a hint of relief.
At least she didn't have to see Jun Xiaoyao kill their father with his own hands.
However, Yun Xi also felt a pang of heartache.
She knew that by making this choice, Jun Xiaoyao was destined to bear too much!
Countless Universe Cultivators were silent at this moment.
The expressions of countless living beings froze, carrying a sense of helplessness.
What could they do? Blame Jun Xiaoyao?
No, at this moment, no one could curse him out loud.
Because if it were them, this would also be a difficult choice.
And just at this time, the Lord of the Calamity Source once again seized the initiative.
The Lord of the Calamity Source knew he had won.
But he still asked one question: "Do you not regret it?"
Hearing this, Jun Xiaoyao's eyes were calm.
His expression was already very peaceful, without any ripples, as if his thoughts were clear and he had seen through many things.
"Once, someone said a sentence to me."
"A gentleman sets his destiny, no regrets in a lifetime."
"So, I, Jun Xiaoyao, will never regret it!"