# Chapter 1200: Warning Sign
Yun Che fully recovered his injuries and profound force within the Time Wheel Pearl, then directly closed the Time Wheel Barrier without cultivating inside. Simply cultivating there for a few months would almost certainly be insufficient to reach a level where he could match Jun Xilei.
Before his battle with Jun Xilei, he had to maximize the utility of the seven Time Wheel Pearls in his possession. Otherwise, it would only be a waste.
After a quiet night, he adjusted his state to its optimum. When he opened his eyes, the day was already bright.
Today's battle would arrive so quickly. His opponent... Shui Meiyin.
Sensing the change in his aura, Mu Bingyun came to his side: "Time is near. Let us go."
Yun Che stood up, thought for a moment, and said, "Ice Cloud Palace Master, Brother Poyun's condition yesterday still seemed somewhat off. I should go see him. If I can drag him along to watch the battle, that would be best."
"...All right." Mu Bingyun nodded. Over this period, she had come to see that Yun Che truly regarded Huo Poyun as a friend and had always been concerned about his dejection over Jun Xilei.
Yun Che arrived at the Yan Shen Realm's residence but did not sense Huo Poyun's aura.
"Oh... Brother Poyun went to the Feng Shen Platform area early with the Sect Master," said a Golden Crow disciple who had stayed behind. As he spoke, a reverent, admiring glimmer shone in his eyes.
It was far, far stronger than what he had shown when facing Huo Poyun.
"I see."
As Yun Che left, that Golden Crow disciple couldn't help but excitedly call out, "Young Master Yun... today's God-Sealing Battle—please do your best!"
Yun Che rose into the air, flying alone toward the Feng Shen Platform. Huo Poyun had finally accompanied Huo Rulie to the spectator stands today, seemingly stepping out of the shadows. Yet Yun Che felt no relief in his heart; instead, it grew heavier.
That Golden Crow disciple's intensely fervent gaze just now had suddenly made him think of something.
"Ah." Yun Che sighed softly and muttered to himself, "Young people..."
Apparently, he had forgotten that, in terms of current physical age, he was actually younger than Huo Poyun.
As he neared the Feng Shen Platform area, three people flew over from another direction. Yun Che glanced sideways and was momentarily startled.
Among these three, the one at the forefront was actually Shui Yingyue! But the most eye-catching figure—the one that instinctively drew one's first glance—was a petite, delicate young girl in a black dress standing in the middle.
His opponent today: Shui Meiyin!
The third was a young man in blue robes, fair-skinned and handsome, yet not lacking in heroic spirit.
"Eh?" When Shui Meiyin saw Yun Che, her beautiful eyes shifted. She suddenly pulled her sister and flew straight toward him.
"Big Brother Yun Che!" Shui Meiyin's brows curved like crescents as she waved her little hand at him. "What a coincidence—we meet again."
"Uh... ah, yes, what a coincidence." This heavenly favored daughter, who had captured the world's attention, suddenly took the initiative to speak to him, catching Yun Che somewhat off guard.
Shui Meiyin tilted her face slightly, her starry eyes sparkling. "Big Brother Yun Che, the way you fought Brother Lengchuan yesterday was really, really amazing! I admire you so much!"
"..." Yun Che was taken aback. He noticed that Shui Yingyue and the young man who had followed Shui Meiyin both seemed to freeze up at these words, as if their expressions had changed.
Seeing Yun Che obviously didn't believe her, Shui Meiyin pouted her tender lips. "I'm serious! And this is the first time I've genuinely admired someone, because Big Brother Yun Che is really, really amazing... Ah, right!"
Shui Meiyin turned slightly. "This is my big sister. You've met her before."
Shui Yingyue nodded slightly at Yun Che. There was no doubt that the look she gave him now was completely different from their first meeting.
"And this is my ninety-ninth brother." Shui Meiyin pointed at the young man. "Ninety-ninth brother also participated in this Xuan Shen Convention, but he was eliminated in the third round of preliminaries—far, far worse than Big Brother! He can't even compare to a tiny bit of your pinky finger!"
Being able to travel with Shui Yingyue and Shui Meiyin, the young man's status was naturally extraordinary. Standing before Yun Che, he had initially maintained the proud bearing befitting the son of the Glazed Light Realm King. But Shui Meiyin's few words instantly deflated his entire aura. With an embarrassed expression, he said to Yun Che, "Ahem, I am Shui Yinghen, the ninety-ninth son of the King Father. Yesterday's battle by Young Brother Yun was truly eye-opening."
"...So you are the ninety-ninth prince of Glazed Light. An honor." Yun Che returned the greeting, feeling deeply moved inside: if this had been before the Xuan Shen Convention, how could a proud son of the Glazed Light Realm, standing at the peak of the upper star realms, have deigned to look twice at someone from a middle star realm? But now, not only did this prince of the Glazed Light Realm speak first, he even referred to himself as "I."
He had a faint impression of Shui Yinghen—vaguely remembering him among the thousand Heaven-Chosen Sons, but he had been eliminated in the third round's Zhou Tian Tower battle and hadn't entered the God-Sealing Battle.
From Shui Meiyin's merciless teasing just now, it seemed that for this ninety-ninth prince of Glazed Light, that was a very shameful and disappointing matter.
"Big Brother Yun Che, I'm your opponent today, so you need to be careful." Shui Meiyin's brows curved, her smiling face sweet and charming, with none of the demeanor one should have when facing an opponent.
"You too," Yun Che said.
"However," the girl's starry eyes shifted slightly, her smile radiant, "you don't look worried at all about losing to me."
"No," Yun Che shook his head. "I never underestimate any opponent, and I certainly wouldn't dare underestimate you."
Shui Meiyin blinked, her expression turning serious. The tip of her nose and her lips tilted upward slightly as she said with great certainty, "But... that's what you're thinking in your heart."
"..." Shui Meiyin's pupils were as pure as crystal, yet as deep as the dark night—as if they could see directly into a person's soul.
Yun Che indeed would not underestimate Shui Meiyin, but due to his extreme confidence in his own spiritual power, he had never subconsciously considered the possibility of losing to her. After defeating Lu Lengchuan yesterday, his thoughts that night had been entirely occupied with how to defeat Jun Xilei; he had hardly considered his battle with Shui Meiyin.
Now, facing Shui Meiyin's dark eyes and confident words, he felt a sudden alarm deep within his heart for the first time—and it was extremely intense.
"Hehe." Shui Meiyin suddenly let out a light laugh, exceptionally sweet. "Although I'm young and so adorable, I might be even harder to deal with than Brother Lengchuan! So, Big Brother, you absolutely must be careful."
"All right." Shui Yingyue took Shui Meiyin's hand, casting a brief glance at Yun Che. "Time is very close. Let's go."
"Mm!" Shui Meiyin linked arms with her sister. The two flew away slowly, one in black and one in blue, their garments fluttering like a pair of dancing butterflies—a delight to behold.
But Shui Yinghen paused, suddenly turning back. With a serious expression, he whispered to Yun Che, "Hey! I'm warning you—don't think that just because you defeated Lu Lengchuan, you can beat my little sister. My little sister... is a little demoness several thousand times more terrifying than what you've seen or imagined. You fought so brilliantly yesterday, winning half to death—don't lose it all today!"
"..." Yun Che was slightly surprised and nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Ninety-ninth Prince."
"Good, as long as you know!" Shui Yinghen didn't leave. Instead, he moved closer, lowering his voice even more. "You see, I gave you a friendly reminder—shouldn't you... ahem... repay the favor? That 'Illusory Divine Art' you used yesterday against Lu Lengchuan... how exactly did you pull it off?"
Yun Che: "..."
"It can't really be the 'Illusory Divine Art,' can it? The King Father said that's an ultimate technique only usable at the Divine Lord Realm. Why can you use it at the Divine Tribulation Realm... Is there some trick? Is it hard to learn?"
"Ninety-ninth Brother! Hurry... up... and... come... over!"
Shui Meiyin's voice came from afar. Shui Yinghen, as if hearing a royal decree, quickly turned and, after hesitating for half a breath, hurriedly followed, not forgetting to send Yun Che a sound transmission: "Later... talk later!"
When Yun Che arrived at the Feng Shen Platform, he immediately spotted Huo Poyun. Huo Poyun saw him at the same time and stood up to greet him.
"Brother Poyun, you finally came. It seems you must have worked through many things." Yun Che smiled.
But Huo Poyun shook his head and gave a bitter laugh. "I'd be embarrassed to tell you, Brother Yun. Yesterday, I thought I too had escaped the demonic barrier, but..."
"Ah." Huo Poyun sighed softly, his eyes misty. "I know it's a heart demon, yet I can't break free. I know it's an improper longing, yet I can't let go... Only after coming to this Zhou Tian Realm did I realize that I am actually such a useless person."
"Hahaha." Yun Che laughed instead. "Brother Poyun, remember what I said: don't regard heart demons as a bad thing. On the contrary, they are merely a hurdle that one must experience in life. Once you step over it, you can see an entirely new world."
"Mm!" Huo Poyun nodded heavily. "I won't let myself continue to be so disgraceful. Brother Yun, if you win today's battle, you'll enter the top four and become one of the 'Four God-Sealing Sons'! I remember the Voice of Zhou Tian said that the top four will receive special rewards from the four great king realms. So... you must do your best—you must win."
"Of course!"
Today was the sixth battle of the Losers' Bracket, featuring two matches. As Quhui Zunzhe announced, today's God-Sealing Battle began swiftly.
First match: Jun Xilei versus Meng Duanxi. The outcome was utterly predictable and without surprise. Jun Xilei only needed six swords to win easily.
"Meng Duanxi is defeated and stops here in the God-Sealing Battle. Jun Xilei wins and advances to the seventh round of the Losers' Bracket in three days!"
"Second match of the sixth round of the Losers' Bracket: Shui Meiyin of the Glazed Light Realm versus Yun Che of the Yin Xue Realm!"
Before Quhui Zunzhe's voice had even faded, including the various Divine Emperors, Star Gods, Moon Gods, and Guardians, the entire audience's gazes converged on Yun Che... This scene alone was enough to demonstrate the immense impact of Yun Che's battle yesterday.
"Be extremely careful," Mu Bingyun warned in four words.
"Brother Yun, I suggest suppressing her with profound force at the fastest speed—don't give her any chance to use a spiritual attack," Huo Poyun said quietly.
Yun Che nodded slightly, leaped into the air, and landed on the Feng Shen Platform, facing Shui Meiyin from afar. As a vermilion light flashed, even without a hint of profound energy, the Heaven-Defying Demon-Slaying Sword was already in his hand.
Compared to his solemn gaze and coiled readiness, Shui Meiyin stood with her hands behind her back, her delicate fingers lightly playing with the bow that tied her slender waist, a faint smile on her small face. She gave off no tension or intimidation whatsoever.
The spectator stands were exceptionally quiet. Everyone held their breath involuntarily.
Because no one dared to predict the outcome of this match.
Yun Che's strength was beyond doubt. Yesterday's battle had dazzled the entire Dong Shen Domain.
But Shui Meiyin was a very special existence.
Her profound force was only at Level 1 of the Divine Spirit Realm—an astonishing level for her age, but at the bottom among those in this God-Sealing Battle. Yet, as she advanced through the God-Sealing Battle to this point, except for her voluntary surrender against Shui Yingyue, she had not lost a single match!
And every victory she had won was exceptionally easy.
Moreover, each victory she achieved never involved profound force in combat—she relied entirely on an extremely high level of movement technique and an incredibly powerful, abnormal spiritual power.
On the other hand, these two were precisely the two with the lowest profound force among the thirty-two God-Sealing participants—or even among the thousand Heaven-Chosen Sons.
One was at Level 1 of the Divine Spirit Realm, the other at Level 8 of the Divine Tribulation Realm.
And these two had trampled over countless late-stage Divine Spirit Realm cultivators, now standing on the battlefield for a spot in the top four—an unprecedented marvel in the history of the God-Sealing Battle.
Under Yun Che's watchful gaze, Shui Meiyin tilted her head, her charming eyes curving into two thin crescents. A very soft, very light soul voice transmitted into Yun Che's heart sea:
"Big Brother Yun Che, be careful."
"Begin!!"
Quhui Zunzhe's voice boomed like thunder. In the very instant the sound fell, Yun Che shot out like an arrow from a bowstring, his profound force exploding from his entire being...
He thought exactly the same as Huo Poyun: suppress her immediately with overwhelming power, giving her no opening to use her spiritual power!