novelhk Chapter 123: Shame of the Stars
Chapter 123: Shame of the Stars
Red Flame Star, a planet famous for its fiery flames, was now gathering whispers and expectations from all over the Nine Star Realm. In the center of the square, a podium towering into the sky emitted a soft light, like a heart, attracting everyone's attention.
Gao Xingchen, wearing a simple white robe, stood in the center of the podium. He took a deep breath, and his eyes swept across the dark crowd below the stage, with an indescribable feeling of pride and ambition welling up in his heart.
"Everyone, friends!" Gao Xingchen's voice was loud and powerful. "We come from different planets and have different cultures, but we all have a common wish, and that is peace!"
As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause broke out from the audience. A few months ago, Gao Xingchen published a "peace declaration" on the Star Network, advocating the establishment of a "peace alliance", which received support from many small and medium-sized forces. Today, this "interstellar conference" has attracted the attention of almost all forces in the Nine Star Realm.
Gao Xingchen pressed his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet, and continued: "We are all tired of war, tired of killing, tired of displacement! Peace is not just a slogan, it should be our common belief!"
He passionately spoke of his dream of peace and love, and described the future harmonious coexistence of the Nine Star Realms. The audience was mesmerized, and many of them had tears in their eyes, as if they saw the hopeful future.
At this moment, a discordant voice suddenly sounded, "Peace? How naive!"
There was a commotion in the crowd, and everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice. A beautiful woman in a gorgeous long dress slowly walked up to the podium. She was Fairy Zhou from Tianxiang Valley, famous for her practice of charm and had a very high reputation in the Nine Star Realm.
Fairy Zhou walked up to Gao Xingchen and said with a sarcastic smile: "Gao Xingchen, your idea is indeed beautiful, but it is too idealistic. In the Nine Star Realm, the strong prey on the weak, and the strong are respected. Peace is nothing more than a luxury for the weak."
Her words were sharp and harsh, like a basin of cold water, dousing the fire of hope that had just ignited in everyone's hearts. The discussion in the audience gradually became louder, and many people began to waver, doubting whether Gao Xingchen's "Peace Alliance" could really be realized. As soon as Fairy Zhou finished speaking, a short and fat middle-aged man with a mustache walked out of the crowd. He was Zhao Pharmacist from Yaowang Valley, who was famous in the Nine Star Realm for refining various magical elixirs. Pharmacist Zhao walked to the side of Fairy Zhou and echoed with a fake smile: "Fairy Zhou is right, peace? It's just a foolish dream! Gao Xingchen, you are just a lucky young man who has had some adventures. Do you really think you are a savior? Just relying on you, you want to change the pattern of the Nine Star Realm. It's really overestimating your own abilities!"
Pharmacist Zhao's words were sarcastic and mercilessly exposed Gao Xingchen's "pain points". He was born in a grassroots family, without a prominent background, let alone strong strength. In the eyes of many people, the reason why he can get to where he is today is entirely because of his bad luck and the inheritance of the ancient great power. Now, he actually wants to establish a "peace alliance", which is simply ridiculous!
The audience began to whisper and discuss. Some representatives from small and medium-sized forces originally had high hopes for Gao Xingchen's "peace declaration", but at this moment they could not help but start to waver. After all, Fairy Zhou and Pharmacist Zhao are both important figures in the Nine Star Realm, and their strength and vision are unquestionable. If even they are not optimistic about Gao Xingchen, can the "peace alliance" really be realized?
Gao Xingchen looked at the suspicious and mocking eyes of the audience, and a deep sense of powerlessness surged in his heart. He wanted to explain, to tell them that he was not just daydreaming, he had a detailed plan, a firm belief, and a determination to fight for peace to the end!
However, before he could open his mouth, a burst of laughter broke out from the audience, drowning out his prepared words. Fairy Zhou and Pharmacist Zhao even hugged their shoulders and looked at him with a playful look on their faces, as if they were looking at a clown.
Gao Xingchen felt an unprecedented frustration. He clenched his fists and tried to suppress the anger and disappointment in his heart. Is peace really just an unattainable dream? Is the Nine Star Realm destined to be forever trapped in the abyss of war and killing?
Gao Xingchen took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, and tried to make his voice heard. "Everyone, please listen to me..." His voice was not loud, but it was firm and could not be ignored. However, the only response he got was a harsher laugh, as if everything he said was a joke.
"Peace? How ridiculous! The Nine Star Realm is a place where the weak are the prey of the strong. Since ancient times, the strong have always been respected. Why do you think you can change all this?" A sharp voice came from the crowd, with undisguised sarcasm. Soon after, more voices joined the ranks of ridicule, drowning Gao Xingchen like a surging wave.
He felt unprecedented powerlessness and frustration. Was peace really just an unattainable dream? He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his flesh, trying to use the pain to stay awake.
Offstage, Nan Li's eyes never left Gao Xingchen. She saw the loneliness and unwillingness in his eyes, and also felt the unwavering faith deep in his heart. Her heart also tightened, as if being tightly grasped by someone, and it became difficult to breathe. But she believed in Gao Xingchen, believed that this young man who had created miracles countless times would not be easily defeated by the current predicament.
Gao Xingchen tried hard to make his voice heard, to tell everyone that peace was not just empty talk, that he had a detailed plan, a firm belief, and a determination to fight to the end for the well-being of all the creatures in the Nine Star Realm! However, in the midst of chaos and ridicule, his voice seemed so insignificant that it was soon drowned out.
Finally, he gave up the pointless struggle and let disappointment and powerlessness surround him. He slowly lowered his head, and the shadow covered his face, making it impossible to see his expression at the moment.
The crowd gradually dispersed, and the square returned to its former bustle, as if the ridicule and questioning just now were just an illusion. Gao Xingchen sat alone on the steps, looking at the bright starry sky above his head, but he could not feel a trace of warmth. Those stars were so close to him, yet so far away, just like his ideal of peace, seemingly within reach, yet out of reach.
He recalled his experiences after coming to the Nine Stars Realm. From an ignorant boy to a strong man who can stand on his own, he has experienced countless hardships and challenges, and also gained friendship and love. He always believed that as long as he was strong enough, he could change the world and make the Nine Stars Realm no longer full of war and killing.
However, today's speech gave him a wake-up call. Fairy Zhou's sarcastic voice, Pharmacist Zhao's contemptuous eyes, and the cold and mocking expressions of the audience were like sharp blades, piercing his heart fiercely, making him begin to doubt whether his persistence was really meaningless.
"Peace, is it really just a joke?" Gao Xingchen murmured to himself, his voice full of confusion and pain. He lowered his head, clenched his hands into fists, his nails deeply embedded in the flesh, but he could not feel any pain.
"Xingchen..." A soft voice sounded in my ears, with a hint of worry and heartache.
Gao Xingchen raised his head and saw Nan Li standing in front of him. The moonlight fell on her jade-like skin, as if covering her with a layer of holy light.
"Are you okay?" Nan Li asked softly, eyes full of concern.
Gao Xingchen forced a smile: "I'm fine, just a little tired."
Nan Li sat down beside him, without saying anything, just quietly accompanying him. She knew that what Gao Xingchen needed at the moment was not comfort, but listening and company.
The two of them sat there in silence, letting the night breeze blow their hair, their thoughts drifting far away.
"Lier, tell me, am I too naive?" After a long time, Gao Xingchen finally broke the silence, his tone full of confusion and self-doubt.
"No, you are not wrong!" Nan Li answered firmly, with a look of trust and encouragement in her eyes. "I believe that peace is what everyone desires, but they are blinded by the interests and hatred in front of them and cannot see the real hope."
Gao Xingchen turned to look at Nan Li, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, but soon dimmed: "But, what can I do to make them understand? You saw the result today. My speech failed to impress them at all. Instead, it made them laugh at me even more."
Nan Li held Gao Xingchen's hand and said firmly: "Xingchen, don't give up, I believe in you! One day, you will prove with your actions that peace is not an unattainable dream!"
Gao Xingchen looked at Nan Li's determined eyes, and a spark of hope ignited in his heart. He took a deep breath, stood up, and looked into the distance with a determined look: "You are right, I can't give up, for the welfare of all the creatures in the Nine Star Realm, I must persevere!"
As the night deepened, Gao Xingchen and Nan Li left side by side. Their backs looked particularly determined and lonely under the moonlight. However, what Gao Xingchen didn't know was that although this speech didn't get the result he wanted, it secretly planted a seed, a seed of hope that would take root and sprout in the future and eventually bloom into gorgeous flowers.
After returning to the room, Gao Xingchen lay on the bed, but he couldn't fall asleep. The laughter of Fairy Zhou and Pharmacist Zhao kept echoing in his mind, making him feel irritated and uneasy.
"Am I really wrong?" Gao Xingchen couldn't help but begin to doubt himself.