As Hagoromo explained everything, Xiaotian completely broke down.
According to Hagoromo's account, Kaguya decided to build an army because Xiaotian had fallen unconscious. This army consisted of white humanoid monsters, and their predecessors were none other than human beings.
Simply put, the white monsters were transformed humans, and this monster army obeyed only Kaguya's commands.
Xiaotian turned around, staring fixedly at Fukasaku—no, at the toad—and demanded, "Are you lying to us?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
Gamamaru was completely unfazed because it was telling the truth.
Hagoromo chimed in, "Father, it's all true. Both my brother and I saw it. Those people wrapped in tree branches are all dead, and in the end, they turned into white monsters."
"I'll go see for myself."
Xiaotian knew where the God Tree was. He opened Yomotsu Hirasaka, arrived near the God Tree, and flew straight down beneath it.
When Xiaotian entered the interior of the God Tree, he saw a pile of objects wrapped in tree branches. He unwrapped one and found a white monster inside, exactly as Hagoromo had described.
"Kaguya..."
Xiaotian never expected Kaguya to do such a thing. If they were people from an enemy state, he might not have cared as much, but these were the subjects of his very own Tang State, and deep down, this was something he could never bring himself to do.
By the time Xiaotian returned, Kaguya had already come back.
Seeing Xiaotian, Kaguya said, "You're finally back. Where have you been?"
"Just taking a stroll. As an emperor, of course I have to inspect my country."
Xiaotian forced a smile on the outside, but inside, he had no idea how to bring it up.
Having been a married couple for many years, Kaguya understood Xiaotian as well as she understood herself. She asked, "What's wrong? You look so hesitant. Is there something you want to ask me?"
Xiaotian looked at Kaguya, as if having made up his mind, and said, "Kaguya, we are already very strong now, aren't we?"
"Yes, what about it?"
Kaguya was puzzled. Xiaotian sighed softly and said, "Forget it, I'll just be direct. Kaguya, what is going on with those people under the God Tree? Why did you do that? Those are the subjects of our Tang State."
Kaguya was shocked. She hadn't expected Xiaotian to discover this after all.
Xiaotian stepped up to Kaguya and said, "I know, it's because I was too weak and made you feel insecure that you created those white monsters. But I've grown stronger now. As long as we keep cultivating, we can continuously—"
"No, it's not enough..."
Kaguya brushed off Xiaotian's hand, turned around, and said, "I want to create an army that will never betray us, an army that can fight those people. So please, don't ask anymore, okay?"
Xiaotian retorted, "But they are living beings! These are the subjects of the Tang Kingdom! Wife, please don't do this anymore, okay?"
Kaguya suddenly spun around and struck Xiaotian in the chest with a palm strike, sending him flying backward.
The moment Xiaotian hit the ground, a cluster of ice pillars immediately erupted around him, forming an ice prison.
"What are you doing?"
Xiaotian hammered against the ice prison, desperate to escape, but his current strength couldn't shake it at all. He tried to use space-shifting techniques, but the surrounding space was completely sealed off.
Tears streaming down her face, Kaguya said, "Compared to them, I love you more, Xiaotian. You'll understand in the future."
Yomotsu Hirasaka opened, and Kaguya walked through. Xiaotian shouted, "Kaguya, don't go—"
Xiaotian knew Kaguya was going to deal with Hagoromo and Hamura. Anxious, he slammed his palm against the ice prison and yelled, "What on earth is this thing? It's so impossibly sturdy! System, is there any way you can help me break it?"
The system replied, "Yes. It requires the host to wait for half a year."
"Half a year? Are you kidding me?"
Xiaotian was furious. Half a year was far too long, and his sons would be in danger.
The system remained silent, leaving Xiaotian with no choice but to sit down and wait, praying that no accidents would befall his children.
In the blink of an eye, half a year passed. Outside, the Earth was shattered and in ruins, the human population drastically reduced. And Xiaotian? He could only remain trapped in the ice prison.
On this day, Xiaotian opened his eyes and asked, "It's been half a year. Is it ready yet?"
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Sword of Divine Fire. However, the Sword of Divine Fire can only be used once. Please redeem it with caution."
As soon as the system finished speaking, Xiaotian jumped to his feet and shouted, "Redeem it!"
A white longsword appeared. The moment Xiaotian gripped it, a sheet of white flames erupted from the blade. For some reason, despite the intense heat, he felt no fear at all.
In his past life, Xiaotian had never been afraid of fire; even when scorched with a lighter, his skin would never burn.
But Xiaotian had no time to ponder this now. Wielding the longsword, he slashed forward with all his might. The ice prison that had trapped him shattered instantly, and the longsword snapped in two, rendering it useless.
"One thousand Stamina Value points for a single use? Whatever, let's go."
Xiaotian tore open space and stepped right through it. Emerging outside, he was greeted by the bleak landscape around him.
The ground was pitted and scarred, devoid of any vitality. Ahead of him stood a monster.
Xiaotian could sense that Kaguya and the children were just up ahead.
"H-How could this be?"
Xiaotian couldn't believe his eyes. The magnificent Tang Kingdom had been completely destroyed, and his palace had long since vanished without a trace.
"No, I don't have time to think about this now."
Xiaotian immediately soared into the air—yes, he was flying. Having reached Qi Condensation Layer 6, flight was well within his capabilities.
Reaching the monster, Xiaotian delivered a flying kick that sent the creature hurtling away.
"What?"
Kaguya was stunned. The monster had actually been knocked flying—just how immense was that strength? When she saw that it was Xiaotian who had done it, realization dawned on her, and she said, "You came after all?"
"Father!"
Hagoromo and Hamura cheered with joy. With Xiaotian here, they no longer had to fear their mother.
Xiaotian landed before his children and said, "Lend me your powers."
"But..."
Hagoromo worried that Xiaotian would side with their mother, leaving him and his brother powerless to stop Kaguya.
Xiaotian smiled and said, "Remember to sweep our graves every year."
He grabbed both of their hands, and the powers of Yin and Yang flowed directly into his palms.
Kaguya bit her lip hard and shouted, "Why? Why must you stop me? Can't you just obediently wait for me?"
Xiaotian released the children's hands and said, "Kaguya, it was my fault. I shouldn't have been so weak and made you worry. But I don't want you to do this, because this is our home, and in the future, it will be our children's home too. Kaguya, please stop doing this, okay?"
The Tang Kingdom was the fruit of Xiaotian's painstaking efforts; naturally, he didn't want Kaguya to utterly destroy it.
"Even you don't understand me?"
Tears streamed down Kaguya's face, and the monster immediately gathered a sphere of energy.
As the energy targeted Xiaotian, the monster fired. But Xiaotian merely raised a hand and effortlessly blocked the massive blast.
The next moment, the energy rapidly shrank until it vanished completely.
"I do understand, because you are my wife, so I understand everything."
Xiaotian flew toward Kaguya. Too afraid to attack, she could only retreat, crying out, "No, don't come near me—"
Xiaotian reached out, pulled Kaguya into an embrace, and kissed her.
As their lips parted, Xiaotian activated Chibaku Tensei and said, "Don't worry, I won't leave you."
Tears falling, Kaguya knew she was about to be sealed away. Yet even now, she didn't want Xiaotian to die.
"I hate you!"
Gathering the last ounce of her strength, Kaguya struck Xiaotian with a palm blow, sending him flying backward!
Seeing that Xiaotian was safe, Kaguya closed her eyes and was sealed within the rock sphere.
Xiaotian tried to rush in, but his acupuncture points had been struck by Kaguya, leaving him completely unable to gather his energy.
"Kaguya..."
Xiaotian cried out, attempting to fly upward, but Hagoromo held him back. "Father, don't go."
"Why? Why did you have to do this..."
Xiaotian dropped to his knees, shouting in helplessness. When a single tear fell from the sky, he hurriedly caught it in his hand, knowing it was Kaguya's tear.
With Kaguya sealed, the monster grew terrified, its entire body trembling uncontrollably.
Hamura approached Xiaotian and said, "Father..."
Xiaotian took out a glass bottle, carefully stored Kaguya's tear inside, and said, "Say no more. I understand everything. Let's deal with the matter at hand first."
Looking at the ten-tailed monster, Xiaotian asked, "What do you plan to do with it?"
Hagoromo replied, "The God Tree is far too powerful. I want to split it apart."
Xiaotian thought for a moment and said, "Very well, I'll help."
He reached out and squeezed the empty air. With that motion, the monster was split by Xiaotian into nine clusters of energy, which settled into his hands.
Deprived of its power, all that remained of the monster was an empty shell.
"I will take the empty shell with me. As for these energies, distribute them among yourselves. And then..."
Xiaotian slammed both hands onto the ground. Starting from where he stood, the earth immediately surged back to life; the craters were automatically filled, and lush forests sprouted from the barren ground.
Hagoromo and Hamura stared in shock, neither of them expecting Xiaotian's power to be so immense.
In truth, this was energy Xiaotian had accumulated over time. With just this energy, the Earth could be revitalized, and in doing so, he was paying off a debt.
Had Xiaotian not been so weak, Kaguya never would have resorted to such actions, so he shared the blame.
Having finished all this, Xiaotian looked up at the Chibaku Tensei forming the moon, thinking to himself, *Kaguya, wait for me. I'll come keep you company in a moment.*
Xiaotian turned around, looked at Hagoromo and Hamura, and said, "I am going to keep your mother company. Everything else from here on is in your hands. Be careful. And if you cannot restore the Tang State... well, never mind, it doesn't matter if it's not restored."
Transforming into a beam of light and carrying the monster's empty shell, Xiaotian flew up to the Chibaku Tensei.
Hagoromo and Hamura understood that even if they tried to stop him, Xiaotian would still go to join Kaguya.
After the Chibaku Tensei formed the moon, Xiaotian settled down to live there, keeping the monster's empty shell with him.
On the moon, Xiaotian dug a grave pit, lay down inside it, and said, "Once my energy disperses, I'll be able to see you, Kaguya."
Without Kaguya, Xiaotian had no desire to go on living. He drew a dagger and plunged it straight into his chest, thinking, *I'm coming, Kaguya.*
In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived. Xiaotian opened his eyes, stared blankly at the starry sky above him, and blurted out, "Wait a minute, didn't I just commit suicide? Why am I still alive? What on earth is going on here? System, do you know what's happening? Could it be because of immortality?"