"I know."

Nina Kaye shook her head. "This was always my mission. Before, I was all alone and no one liked me. I was so happy just to have met you. If returning to the Dao can protect this world, I’m willing. But I can’t let you die."

As she spoke, she looked at the cloud, tears streaming down her face. "Heavenly Dao, I’ll never curse you again. As long as you let her live, I’ll do anything you say."

"I’m sorry."

"Sorry? Sorry?! Aren’t you the Heavenly Dao? You can’t even do this one little thing? What good are you?!"

Seeing her grow more and more agitated, Celeste Grant grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Alright, sis, calm down. It’s going to be okay."

’I must be pretty calm, to be comforting someone at a time like this,’ Celeste Grant thought. "Sister... SOB... I’m so sorry... It’s my fault. I never should have bound myself to you! I should have bound myself to that little bitch Jocelyn Grant and let her be the sacrifice! Damn it all!" ’How could I have forgotten at the time that I was the Heart of Origin?’

Celeste Grant gently patted her shoulder, her gaze shifting to the cloud that was the manifestation of the Heavenly Dao. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

She said in a low voice, "Can you give me some time to think about it?"

The Heavenly Dao responded.

"Fine."

The voice echoed.

The world returned to normal.

It was as if everything that had just happened was an illusion. Only Celeste Grant and Nina Kaye knew it was real.

They were now out of that separate dimension.

After the great war, the Cultivation World was littered with corpses. There were bodies of the Outer Realms Race, and the bodies of Cultivators.

Beside her, Javier Sinclair was expending his power to stabilize the Cultivation World. A ceaseless stream of energy flowed from his body, soaring into the sky.

Others didn’t know what had transpired in that instant, but Javier Sinclair had sensed it. However, he was currently focused on stabilizing the Cultivation World and couldn’t spare any attention, so he didn’t know about the conversation between the Heavenly Dao, Celeste Grant, and Nina Kaye.

The moment he saw Celeste Grant appear, he asked, "What just happened? Celeste, is something wrong?"

Meeting his worried gaze, Celeste Grant opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. She wanted to give him a reassuring smile, but her eyes suddenly reddened.

At that moment, Elder Lawson and the others watched The Exalted One take action to stabilize the Cultivation World. One by one, they reached out and contributed their own power.

"The Exalted One, let me help you."

"The Exalted One, I’ll aid you."

"And us."

It wasn’t just the Demon Cultivators; people from the Immortal Sects also stepped in to help. Soon, Cultivators from both the Immortal and Demonic Paths were contributing their Cultivation, easing the drain on Javier Sinclair. Sure enough, once they acted, Javier Sinclair could feel that the sensation of his Cultivation being poured into an endless ocean was finally less pronounced.

But what he cared about most right now was what Celeste Grant had done in that instant.

"Celeste, what’s wrong?"

Celeste Grant wiped the corner of her eye with her finger.

She looked quietly at Javier Sinclair, then her gaze swept over the familiar faces in the distance. Nerida, Elder Warren, Elder Sawyer, Elder Lawson, and the others... Among them, she even saw Mr. and Mrs. Grant. They had also joined the fight to resist the Outer Realms Race.

Countless images flashed through her mind. They trusted her, respected her. Together, they had developed cell phones, created short videos, expanded all sorts of businesses to make them bigger and stronger, and earned so, so many Spirit Stones.

And then there was Javier Sinclair. She had sought him out from the very beginning, already pregnant with his child. Back then, she feared him as The Archfiend, but after spending time with him, she learned that he was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. He was a truly good man.

He respected her, and he loved her.

’I’m not a good person,’ Celeste Grant thought. ’I should be selfish and self-serving. I’m not the kind of fool who would sacrifice herself for anyone. But now that the moment of choice is here, I suddenly feel there’s nothing to fear in death.’

’I can’t just stand by and watch the Cultivation World collapse, watch all the people I know perish in this world. Actually, if I look on the bright side, sacrificing one of me to let everyone else live... I’m actually getting the better end of the deal.’

’If I don’t make a choice, everyone dies together. And even if I’m not doing it for others, even if it’s for my own selfish reasons... I can’t bear to lose my child, my parents, my brother, and the man I love.’

’My son is still so young. He should get to see more of this world.’

Thinking of this, her gaze turned to Javier Sinclair’s face.

"Archfiend."

she called out to him. Then, smiling, she took two steps forward and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tight.

Javier Sinclair was a bit stunned by her sudden action.

"What’s wrong?"

Tears fell from Celeste Grant’s eyes as she spoke. "Archfiend, I’m about to do something that I have no choice but to do. Will you blame me?"

Hearing this, Javier Sinclair’s hand trembled. He looked down at Celeste Grant, who was hugging him, his hands still ceaselessly channeling power outwards.

His voice rose. "What exactly are you going to do?"

"Celeste Grant, say something."

In that moment, a bad premonition bloomed in Javier Sinclair’s heart. It was a very strong feeling.

Celeste Grant hugged his waist, her tone very soft. "Javier Sinclair, I love you. And I love our son. I love you both so much."

’I want to see our son one last time, but there’s no time. I don’t even know which battlefield he’s on right now.’

Hearing her words, Javier Sinclair frantically wrapped an arm around her waist. As he withdrew his power for that instant, many people in the Cultivation World coughed up blood. Seeing this, Javier Sinclair formed a seal with one hand and once again poured a ceaseless stream of power into the heavens to stabilize the Cultivation World.

"Javier Sinclair, you have to live well."

"And be good to our son."

Finally, she leaned in, placed a kiss on his face, and whispered, "Don’t you forget me."

She looked at him with great seriousness, her eyes full of tenderness.

’Celeste Grant didn’t regret coming to this world and meeting Javier Sinclair. She didn’t regret giving birth to Annie, either. Her only regret was that she couldn’t stay with them any longer.’

The voice of the Heavenly Dao echoed between heaven and earth.

"Child, there is no more time."

’Hurry, hurry, hurry... rushing me to my death.’

’Fine!’

’That’s exactly what it is.’

’And I have no choice at all.’

Celeste Grant nodded slightly.

"I understand."

As she spoke, she looked at Nina Kaye. "Nina Kaye, are you willing to save the world with me? I’m being selfish by inviting you to join me. I’m sorry."

Tears fell from Nina Kaye’s eyes.

"No, Sister, I’m willing. I’m the one who should be sorry."

Hearing this, how could Javier Sinclair not understand?

He looked at Nina Kaye and finally understood the reason.

Nina Kaye was the Heart of Origin, and Celeste Grant was bound to her.

Javier Sinclair shook his head slightly.

"No, you can’t."

He knew Celeste Grant’s plan, and he saw the resolve in her eyes. ’Isn’t this just her personality?’ He knew her so well, and because of that, Javier Sinclair was terrified in this moment.

At this very moment, Javier Sinclair felt as if all the blood in his body had frozen. It was so cold.

"No... Celeste Grant, you dare! You said you’d stay with me forever! You can’t go back on your word!"

Celeste Grant looked at him and said with a smile, "Archfiend, I’m sorry."

Tears streamed from her eyes.

As she spoke, she took a step back.

Then she closed her eyes.

Her hands began to swirl, forming seals.

"I, Celeste Grant, am willing to sacrifice myself, to merge with heaven and earth, to perfect the Great Dao... AARGH..."

She sacrificed herself, destroying her own Primordial Spirit.

The power within her body was draining away.

’So, not just anyone can be a hero.’

’It hurts so much.’

’I never knew sacrificing yourself would be this painful.’

’If there’s a next time, I’ll never do something this stupid again.’

"Don’t..."