Chapter 1210: Yue Shen Divine Empress
Inside the great hall stood a wide crystal mirror. In the mirror was reflected the figure of a woman like a celestial dream. She sat quietly before the mirror, her face without a trace of makeup, yet seeming to embody all the care and artistry of heaven itself. Her skin perfectly expressed the meaning of icy skin and jade bones, with a snow-white complexion and vermilion lips. Every feature was exquisitely flawless and surpassingly beautiful.
However, this immortal face carried a chill, and a holiness that made one dare not look directly at her, as if she were an immortal treading the nine heavens, untouched by the slightest trace of mortal smoke and fire.
At her side, a girl in a moonlight-white dress was carefully arranging her hair. Gazing at the peerless, almost unreal beauty in the mirror, the girl's eyes gradually grew dazed. She murmured, "Divine Empress... you are truly beautiful... like a heavenly fairy... Even the legendary Divine Maiden Dragon Empress is probably no more than this..."
"No wonder the Divine Emperor is so devoted to Your Highness. Only a fairy like the Divine Empress truly deserves the Divine Emperor."
The woman said nothing, her eyes as clear as a deep pool.
The girl's hand moved, pinning a simple light cloud hairpin into her hair, then gently spreading her hair over her fragrant shoulders.
"Divine Empress," the girl said while arranging her hair, unable to help asking, "Why do you never want to grow your hair long? With Your Highness's heavenly beauty, if you left it long, you would surely be even more beautiful."
The Divine Empress lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, "Hair is cut for love. When the person is gone and love continues no more, why should the black strands be grown again?"
"Ah?" The girl blinked, looking confused.
The makeup was finished. The girl looked at the Divine Empress in the mirror, just as she did every time, her eyes sparkling with admiration, half in amazement, half in infatuation.
"Divine Empress, Jin Yue just heard that the Feng Shen War of the Xuan Shen Convention has determined the final four divine sons." The girl spoke to her of the most discussed matter in the Eastern Divine Region lately, because she knew that the Divine Empress was extremely indifferent, never caring about anyone or anything, whether inside or outside the Moon God Realm.
"...It seems the Xuan Shen Convention is also nearing its end," the Divine Empress said softly, her tone as gentle and calm as still water.
"Mm! The Divine Emperor must be hoping the Xuan Shen Convention ends soon so he can return and marry Your Highness." The girl smiled as she pursed her lips. "The Divine Emperor dotes on Your Highness so much. Not seeing you for months, he must be thinking of you day and night, hehe."
The Divine Empress: "..."
"Oh, right! This time's four divine sons of the Feng Shen War are very different from before. One of them actually comes from a middle-rank star realm. In the Feng Shen War, he defeated many proud talents from upper-rank star realms, and finally defeated Lu Lengchuan to take his place among the four divine sons. This has caused a huge stir. Now the entire Eastern Divine Region is talking about it."
The Divine Empress's voice was like drifting silk: "A middle-rank star realm entering the four divine sons of the Feng Shen War—I believe this is the first time in the history of the Eastern Divine Region. It's only natural that it should cause a stir."
"Mm!" The girl nodded. "And that person's middle-rank star realm is the 'Yin Xue Realm' that Your Highness often mentions."
"Yin Xue... Realm." A soft whisper, and finally a slight wavering appeared in her gaze. "I owe a great debt of gratitude to Yin Xue, yet to this day I have not set foot there nor repaid it. Jin Yue, what is his name? Since he is one of the four divine sons of the Feng Shen War, he should be invited to the wedding ceremony in a month. At that time, I will grant him some opportunities as a small recompense for Yin Xue's kindness."
"Yes, Jin Yue will remember Your Highness's instructions." The girl performed a graceful curtsy. "That disciple from Yin Xue Realm is named Yun Che. It is said his true origin is from the lower... Ah!?"
She felt the Divine Empress's body suddenly tremble violently.
The Divine Empress in the girl's eyes had always been as quiet and elegant as the bright moon in the sky. That sudden intense reaction almost frightened her. She hurriedly said, "Your Highness, you... what's wrong?"
"...?" The Divine Empress's breath became slightly disordered, but in an instant, she was calm again. She shook her head lightly. "It's nothing. I was just reminded of an old acquaintance who passed away many years ago."
"Old acquaintance?" The girl was startled. "Your Highness knows an old acquaintance... who is also named Yun Che? To be remembered by Your Highness, even though he has passed, he must have been very fortunate."
The Divine Empress slowly rose. Her phoenix eyes were clear and bright as she gazed into the distance. "He was my former husband. He passed away eight years ago."
Eight years...
"Ah?" The girl froze, then her face turned pale. She fell to her knees with a thud, her whole body trembling. "Your... Your Highness... Jin Yue... heard... nothing at all... Your Highness, spare me..."
"You need not be afraid." The Divine Empress sighed softly. "The Divine Emperor has long known that I had a former husband."
She herself did not understand why she had spoken that "forbidden" sentence so directly.
The sound gradually faded. The girl looked up and saw the Divine Empress's figure already far outside the hall. She said in a panic, "Your Highness, where are you going? Are you going to see... the lady?"
"Don't follow."
As the words fell, her figure disappeared from the girl's eyes.
The girl knelt on the ground, lost in thought for a long time. She had accompanied the Divine Empress for many years, but just now, she felt that the Divine Empress had suddenly become completely different from usual...
After she said the name "Yun Che."
---
Zhou Tian God Realm.
The Feng Shen War continued. After the new four divine sons were decided, the Feng Shen War officially entered its final stage. The battles from now on would all be between divine sons and would undoubtedly be exceptionally fierce.
Today was the final battle of the Feng Shen Group: Luo Changsheng versus Shui Yingyue. Since the beginning of the Feng Shen War, these two were the only young profound practitioners who had not suffered a single defeat.
The result of this battle was as everyone had expected. In the end, Luo Changsheng defeated Shui Yingyue and won the championship of the Feng Shen Group. Shui Yingyue fell into the loser's group and would fight the winner between Jun Xilei and Yun Che in the loser's group final.
And in everyone's opinion, Shui Yingyue's next opponent could only be Jun Xilei.
Outside the Feng Shen Platform, high in the distant sky, as the battle between Luo Changsheng and Shui Yingyue ended, Qianye Ying'er withdrew her gaze. "Yun Che did not come today. It seems that for his battle with Jun Xilei, he is not prepared to accept his fate."
"Does Miss think he might have a chance to defeat Jun Xilei?" the withered old man said slowly. He knew very well that Qianye Ying'er had stayed in the Zhou Tian Realm all this time to observe Yun Che. Today's battle between the two divine sons, she had watched with cold indifference, showing no interest.
"What does Gu Bo think?" the divine maiden asked in return.
"Absolutely impossible." Gu Bo said calmly, "Unless he can undergo a qualitative change in these short three days."
"Let us wait and see." Qianye Ying'er murmured softly, her golden hair dancing lightly in the wind. Even though her face was veiled, all the splendor of the world still dimmed quietly before her.
"Miss," the old man spoke, "what is so unusual about Yun Che?"
A slight curve appeared on her lips, which were vermilion without any rouge and radiant with a glossy sheen. "Gu Bo, this is the first time in many years that you have been unable to restrain your curiosity and asked."
"Heh heh," the old man laughed hoarsely. "A Profound Tribulation realm defeating a late-stage Divine Spirit realm, and wielding two phantom gods—this old man has lived in vain for one hundred and twenty thousand years and still cannot understand it."
"This cannot be explained by 'talent' alone." Qianye Ying'er smiled. "However, Gu Bo need not feel ashamed because of this. In terms of knowledge and insight, there are very few in the entire God Realm who can compare with Gu Bo. It's just that this man Yun Che—the secrets on him truly exceed the cognition of the God Realm."
Because it was a heritage at the level of a Creation God, which had never appeared in the God Realm!
Gu Bo raised his aged eyes.
"But such an important secret is naturally better known to fewer people. Gu Bo, you taught me this yourself."
Her tone was plain, yet it was more enchanting and intoxicating than any celestial music, as if carrying a magic power.
"Heh heh," Gu Bo nodded with a smile. "It seems Miss already has a plan."
"Not yet." Qianye Ying'er shook her head. No one knew what radiance shone in the eyes that could topple the entire Eastern Divine Region beneath her veil. "I just want to see with my own eyes how high his limits can reach."
"And then decide how much effort he is worth me spending on him!"
---
Time passed day by day. The last few battles of the Feng Shen War firmly held the expectations of all profound practitioners in the Eastern Divine Region, yet there was not much tension left. Although the remaining battles between divine sons were of the highest level, they seemed to have no suspense.
The first place undoubtedly belonged to Luo Changsheng, with no other possibility. The second place would be decided between Jun Xilei and Shui Yingyue. No one would be surprised regardless of who won or lost. As for Yun Che, he was destined to lose to Jun Xilei. However, he was also bound to be the biggest winner of this Xuan Shen Convention. The attention and praise he attracted, the amazement and commotion he caused, surpassed the sum of the other three divine sons. He had even been called the pride of all middle-rank star realms by countless profound practitioners from those realms.
Three days later.
The day of the battle between Jun Xilei and Yun Che finally arrived.
During these three days, Yun Che seemed to have disappeared, with no movement at all, and no one saw him in the Zhou Tian God Realm.
---
Yan Shen Realm, Burial God Fire Prison.
Huo Rulie stood at the edge of the fire prison, waiting for a full three days without moving a step. During these days, his heart had only found peace for a moment. As time slowly passed and Yun Che still did not come out of the fire prison, his heart grew increasingly restless and disturbed.
Sinking into the fire prison, reaching a depth even he could not sense... and then not coming out for three full days...
What kind of concept was that?
Even if it were him, Huo Rulie, or even the strongest of the Yan Shen Realm, Yan Wancang, it would be absolutely impossible.
Anyone in this situation would think that Yun Che must have perished in the fire prison... There was no other possibility.
But Huo Rulie still waited on the spot. He believed what Yun Che had said was true, and he waited with intense anticipation for that true miracle.
And today was the day of Yun Che's battle with Jun Xilei, with less than three hours remaining. His mind was no longer calm. He tightly clenched his hands, and his breathing became unusually heavy.
"Could it be that this little brat really..."
In the midst of his worried murmurs, the fire prison ahead suddenly burst open. A figure flew down from within and landed lightly in front of Huo Rulie.
Huo Rulie's mouth fell wide open. He stared for a good while before letting out a loud laugh. "Yun boy, you're finally out! These three days were not wasted in waiting!"
Even as he laughed with relief on his face, a violent shock surged in his heart.
Three days... He had stayed in the Burial God Fire Prison for a full three days!
Compared to the excitement of this Golden Crow Sect master, Yun Che's face was calmly smiling. "Sect Master Huo, I apologize for the long wait."
"Hahaha, as long as you're fine. I knew that since you said it, since you dared to do it, then you must be fine. Oh?" Huo Rulie's eyes suddenly changed. "Profound Tribulation Realm, ninth level... you broke through!?"
Before the fire prison, Yun Che's profound strength had just entered Profound Tribulation Realm eighth level. But now, the profound aura swirling around him was that of Profound Tribulation Realm ninth level.
Although he had broken through, no one would think he could thus fight Jun Xilei. But looking at Yun Che, who was right in front of him, Huo Rulie suddenly felt an extremely subtle sensation... It was only an improvement of a minor realm, but his entire aura seemed completely different.
As for what was different, he could not say.
"Mm." Yun Che nodded. "Junior used the Time Wheel Pearl to cultivate in the fire prison for seven months and finally achieved some small success. Even if I lose against Jun Xilei today, I will have no regrets."
"Seven... seven... seven months!?" Huo Rulie's whole body shook violently, his eyes bulging. He almost bit his own tongue.
Staying in the fire prison for three days had already stirred up a great storm in his heart.
Seven months...
"Let us return to the Zhou Tian God Realm. I trouble Sect Master Huo." Yun Che's gaze was clear, and at the depths of his pupils, it was as if flames were burning. As he left the fire prison, he had already adjusted his state to the best. Compared to his anxiety just a few days ago, he now had an incredibly strong desire to fight Jun Xilei.
"...Alright." Huo Rulie's eyes quivered. He mumbled for a long time before barely calming his mind. He slowly nodded, then took Yun Che with one hand and disappeared at the edge of the fire prison.