THE KING OF STARS

Chapter 68: THE SIN OF HEAVEN

WHEN HEAVEN LIES… WHO IS SINFUL?

The question shattered the chamber's remaining stability.

Not physically.

Conceptually.

Yun felt reality distort around the words themselves, as though existence could not tolerate the idea being spoken aloud.

The silver roots covering the walls convulsed violently.

Several snapped.

The abyss beneath them expanded.

And somewhere far above the ruin—

Thunder answered.

Not natural thunder.

Heavenly response.

The silver-robed woman's expression changed instantly.

For the first time since her appearance, Yun saw unmistakable alarm in her eyes.

"It noticed."

The abyss laughed softly beneath them.

OF COURSE IT DID.

The chamber ceiling cracked apart.

Golden light spilled downward through the fractures high above the ruins.

Pure. Cold. Absolute.

The moment that light touched the chamber floor, every hunter recoiled violently.

Some screamed.

Not with mouths.

With existence.

Their forms destabilized immediately as golden pressure spread through the ruin like descending judgment.

Shen Yu's Restriction Brand erupted in reaction.

Golden chains across his body blazed so brightly the chamber shook around him.

He grimaced sharply.

"...Heavenly Enforcement."

Xie Ren looked upward warily.

"You sound like you know what that means."

Shen Yu stared at the golden light descending from above.

"I was created from it."

Silence.

Even Yun froze.

But before anyone could question him further—

The heavens opened.

A massive golden eye appeared beyond the fractured ceiling of the ruin.

Not metaphorical.

Not symbolic.

An actual eye formed from condensed heavenly law stared downward through layers of earth and formation barriers directly into the chamber.

The pressure nearly drove Yun to his knees instantly.

The hunters collapsed completely.

The black tide retreated several meters.

Even the abyss below went silent for one dangerous moment.

The eye moved.

Slowly.

It looked at the chained branch.

Then the silver-robed woman.

Then—

Yun.

The moment its gaze landed on him, agony exploded through the silver marks beneath his skin.

He screamed.

Every thread within his body became visible simultaneously, burning beneath his flesh like molten silver veins.

The Root reacted violently.

Roots burst from the chamber floor protectively around Yun while the entire ruin shook as though resisting the heavenly gaze.

The eye narrowed.

And a voice descended.

REMOVE THE ANOMALY.

The command struck reality itself.

Mountains above the ruin collapsed instantly.

Entire sections of the underground structure vaporized beneath overwhelming pressure.

Xie Ren spat blood immediately.

Shen Yu was forced to one knee.

Even the silver-robed woman staggered slightly.

Only the abyss below remained unaffected.

Then—

It laughed.

The sound rolled upward through the collapsing ruin like the awakening of an ancient god.

YOU STILL FEAR POSSIBILITY.

The golden eye brightened.

ERADICATION HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED.

A spear of golden light began forming above the chamber.

Yun's instincts screamed death.

Absolute death.

Not injury.

Not destruction.

Erasure.

The silver-robed woman moved instantly.

"Get behind me."

Silver roots exploded outward around her body as she raised one hand toward the heavens.

For the first time, Yun felt her full power release.

The chamber disappeared beneath silver light.

Countless roots unfolded behind her like cosmic branches spreading across dimensions themselves. Ancient runes rotated through the air around her, forming impossible structures that bent space inward.

The First Heir stood before heaven itself.

And resisted.

The golden spear descended.

The collision shook the world.

Silver roots shattered.

Golden law exploded across the chamber in tidal waves powerful enough to disintegrate entire mountains.

Xie Ren grabbed Yun and forced him downward as shockwaves tore through the ruin.

The Custodian vanished entirely beneath the light.

The chained branch cracked again.

Only one chain remained.

The silver-robed woman slid backward across the chamber floor, one arm trembling from the impact.

A thin line of silver blood ran from the corner of her mouth.

The heavenly eye spoke again.

THE ROOT MUST NOT REAWAKEN.

The abyss answered immediately.

TOO LATE.

The final chain shattered.

Everything stopped.

No sound. No movement. No time.

Yun felt his consciousness freeze as the abyss beneath the chamber fully opened for the first time.

Darkness rose slowly upward.

Not chaotic now.

Controlled.

Ancient.

The black tide parted like an ocean separating before a king.

And from within it—

The Devourer emerged.

Only partially.

Yet even a fragment of its true body eclipsed the chamber completely.

Silver roots wrapped around endless black flesh marked by colossal wounds that never healed. Entire galaxies seemed trapped beneath its skin, flickering in and out of existence like dying embers.

Its countless eyes opened simultaneously.

Some burned silver.

Others gold.

Others completely empty.

And every single one turned toward heaven.

The golden eye above the ruin trembled.

Not from power.

From recognition.

The Devourer spoke softly.

YOU WERE BORN AFTER MY FALL.

The heavens answered instantly.

PRIMORDIAL THREAT CONFIRMED.

Golden light spread across the sky above the ruins.

No—

Across the world.

Yun felt countless formations activating far beyond the underground chamber. Ancient heavenly mechanisms sleeping since forgotten ages had begun awakening.

The Devourer noticed.

Still preparing for war.

There was no mockery in its voice now.

Only exhaustion.

The silver-robed woman stared upward in horror.

"They're activating the Thrones…"

Even Shen Yu's expression changed.

"That's impossible."

The woman shook her head slowly.

"Heaven would rather burn creation again than allow the Root to fully awaken."

Yun's mind reeled.

Again.

Burn creation again.

The visions from before returned violently.

Worlds collapsing. Silver trees burning. Entire civilizations erased beneath descending heavenly judgment.

Not punishment.

Fear.

The heavens had feared something.

The Devourer slowly lowered its gaze toward Yun.

And suddenly—

The pressure around him vanished completely.

All sound faded.

The collapsing chamber disappeared from his perception.

For one impossible moment, only Yun and the ancient being existed.

The Devourer studied him silently.

Then it spoke with terrifying gentleness.

YOU ARE AFRAID OF BECOMING A MONSTER.

Yun couldn't answer.

Because it was true.

The silver marks. The Root. The synchronization. The way reality itself reacted to him—

He was changing.

And deep down, he feared where that path ended.

The Devourer's countless eyes reflected ancient sorrow.

SO WAS I.

Then heaven attacked first.

A second golden spear descended from the sky—

Larger than a continent.