Chapter 1217: Battle Against Shui Yingyue
"He won! Brother Yun won!" Huo Poyun was the first to roar out, leaping up in excitement.
"This kid, this kid is really..." Huo Rulie's mouth was wide open, his hands constantly scratching his head, unable to contain his excitement.
"Yun Che's prestige... is about to increase several times over now." Yan Juehai sighed, turning his gaze to the Yin Xue Realm group: "How fortunate the Yin Xue Realm is to have such a prodigy."
"Hahahahaha." Mu Huanzhi stroked his long beard, laughing without stopping.
In the spectator stands, from the lower-level star realms to the upper-level star realms, no one could remain seated. Following Lu Lengchuan, another "Divine Son" had been defeated by Yun Che's hands. And Jun Xilei was far different from Lu Lengchuan—before their battle, truly no one had imagined this outcome.
The astonishment on their faces and in their eyes lingered for a long time, unable to dissipate.
"Brother Yun Che, you're amazing! I knew it, you're the very best, the very best person in the world!"
Shui Meiyin cheered loudly, completely disregarding the strange looks from others. If Shui Qianheng hadn't hastily restrained her, she would have already rushed to the Feng Shen Platform.
"Father," recalling Shui Meiyin's various reactions earlier, Shui Yingyue finally said to Shui Qianheng, "After today, Yun Che's level will surely surpass mine and Jun Xilei's, and his future prospects are limitless. Meiyin likes Yun Che, and it doesn't seem like mere childishness. Won't you at least consider..."
"Don't mention this matter again!" Shui Qianheng waved his hand, his face full of displeasure. "This Yun Che kid's abilities are indeed astonishing—if his talent doesn't suffer setbacks, he will surely achieve the Divine Lord realm in the future. But... his background is far too humble—he's merely from the lower realms! My daughter, the princess of the Liuguang Realm King, holds such a noble status—how could she marry someone from the lower realms!"
"Hmph! Even if he were ten times stronger than he is now, even if I were to keep Meiyin by my side forever and never marry her off, I would never betroth her to such a brat!"
Shui Qianheng's voice was stern and harsh, leaving no room for negotiation.
Shui Yingyue did not speak further, letting out a soft sigh in her heart. Yun Che's background was indeed a problem... If only he were from a mid-level star realm, but he happened to come from the lower realms—arguably the lowest and most humble level in the entire Chaos.
"What a pity. What a pity." This exclamation unexpectedly came from the Dragon Emperor. "Brother Zhou Tian, if you had really expelled this child back then, this God Conferment Battle would have lost at least seventy percent of its brilliance."
Although the Dragon Emperor spoke quite bluntly, Zhou Tian Shen Di also slowly nodded and sighed, "I have always prided myself on seeing myriad stars, yet I almost missed a rare pearl that appears once in a thousand ages."
"Lord Dragon Emperor, in your opinion, what exactly is so extraordinary about this Yun Che?" Fantian Shen Di interjected.
The Dragon Emperor smiled faintly, a smile that was quite mysterious and unfathomable. "Brother Fantian, I am extremely looking forward to the battle between Yun Che and Luo Changsheng."
The Dragon Emperor did not answer, and Fantian Shen Di did not press further, also smiling. "Fantian feels the same."
Yun Che knew that his victory over Jun Xilei would cause a tremendous uproar, definitely surpassing the commotion caused by his battle against Lu Lengchuan. So his reaction was very calm. While he felt a great sense of relief deep down, there were no excessively strong waves in his heart.
Yun Che picked up the unconscious Jun Xilei, floated to Jun Wuming's front, gently pushed her over to him. "Senior Sword Lord... forgive my rudeness."
Jun Wuming took Jun Xilei, swept his spiritual sense over her condition, and his expression noticeably relaxed.
He glanced at Yun Che, said nothing, and left with Jun Xilei... But when he reached the edge of the Feng Shen Platform, he suddenly stopped again.
"Yun Che, I, Jun Wuming, owe you a favor."
His voice was very faint, but... these words were not a sound transmission. Everyone heard them clearly—it was a promise Jun Wuming gave Yun Che in front of the entire Eastern Divine Realm.
Because he knew clearly in his heart: if Yun Che hadn't stopped Jun Xilei's third sword, she would surely have been crippled; and if he hadn't publicly apologized to Jun Xilei, she would have been trapped deep in her own abyss, unable to escape...
The words still echoed in their ears as Jun Wuming had already gone far away. Yun Che's emotions were complex and hard to articulate. He felt unworthy of Jun Wuming's promise... after all, it was he who had forced Jun Xilei to the point of risking life for life.
The promise of a Sword Lord—how heavy it was.
"Changsheng, it seems you have an opponent." Luo Guxie gently pressed her hand on Luo Changsheng's shoulder.
"Mm." Luo Changsheng slowly nodded, his gaze fixed on the figure at the center of the Feng Shen Platform. "Yun Che... this God Conferment Battle is far more interesting than I had imagined. However, I naturally cannot lose."
"Before today, Jun Xilei must have thought the same." Saint Universe Realm King Luo Shangchen said in a flat tone.
"Rest assured, Father. Master has taught me many times that no matter who the opponent is, one must never be arrogant or underestimate them. Changsheng would never dare to forget." Luo Changsheng's eyes flashed. "I will prepare well for the final battle."
On the Feng Shen Platform, Mu Bingyun had already flown to Yun Che's side, a cold and gentle aura enveloping his entire body. "Yun Che, are you alright?"
Yun Che smiled slightly. "Of course I'm fine. This kind of injury is nothing to me. It's just that my consumption is a bit heavy. But rest assured, Palace Master Bingyun, I still have one last Time Wheel Pearl; I can fully recover before the next battle."
"...Go heal first." Mu Bingyun had long known that Yun Che's body was extraordinary, but even his external injuries looked extremely horrifying. She dared not delay, forcibly taking Yun Che with her, flying far away.
As Yun Che left, the next battle information appeared on the light screen of the Feng Shen Platform:
Final Battle of the Losers' Bracket:
Shui Yingyue of Liuguang Realm (Divine Spirit Realm Level 10) vs. Yun Che of Yin Xue Realm (Divine Tribulation Realm Level 9).
This edition of the God Conferment Battle had given birth to a new Divine Son, causing a huge stir in the Eastern Divine Realm. In the mid-level and lower-level star realms, he was regarded as a pride never seen in a thousand ages, nearly elevated to a mythical status.
And after the battle with Jun Xilei, his already brilliant halo became even more dazzling overnight.
A young profound practitioner from the lower realms, apprenticed to a mid-level star realm, had consecutively defeated two Divine Sons on the Feng Shen Platform. In the history of the Eastern Divine Realm, this was simply a heaven-sent miracle for the mid and lower-level star realms.
Countless profound practitioners from the mid and lower-level star realms also rekindled the flame of new faith because of Yun Che... So we too can defeat profound practitioners from the upper-level star realms; we too can shatter the myth of the Divine Sons!
Without a doubt, the name "Yin Xue Realm" had reached an unprecedented height, and because Yun Che's "main profound art" was the Golden Crow Flame, the name "Yan Shen Realm" had also become thunderously renowned throughout the entire Eastern Divine Realm.
As night fell, Yun Che sat cross-legged in the courtyard, surrounded by an Ice God Barrier personally set up by Mu Bingyun.
He closed his eyes, focused his breath, and healed his injuries and profound energy. The Time Wheel Pearl was too precious; he was reluctant to use it. Although his injuries were severe and his consumption massive, for him, three days were enough to fully recover.
Yun Che's fame in the Eastern Divine Realm was now as bright as the moon in the sky. If he appeared elsewhere, it would certainly cause a stir. But here in the Zhou Tian Realm, during the God Conferment Battle period, no one would disturb him.
As Yun Che focused on recovery, he did not know that above the starry sky, a pair of eyes were watching him from afar—and had been watching for a long time.
She stood atop the clouds, her entire being completely merged with the night, formless and silent. Even if an upper-level Realm King walked within ten zhang of her side, he might not necessarily detect her presence.
And the only person in the entire Eastern Divine Realm capable of concealing her existence and aura to such a degree was perhaps just one.
The Star God of Heavenly Slaughter!
The night wind blew, bringing a hint of chill. She stared blankly at Yun Che for a while longer, then finally turned around and silently departed.
She had proposed that only if Yun Che obtained the top position in the God Conferment Battle would he be qualified to see her; otherwise, he should roll back to the Lan Ji Star. She wanted him to be utterly despairing, to back down in the face of difficulty, and never come to the God Realm again, letting the God Realm completely forget his existence... Unexpectedly, the result was the exact opposite.
Not only did he not leave in disappointment and give up his hopes, but he returned to the God Conferment Battle in a completely different form, his strength soaring time and again at rates that defied reason, shaking the entire Eastern Divine Realm... and thoroughly exposing himself under everyone's gaze.
She knew why he did this...
But this was not what she wanted; on the contrary, it was the outcome she feared the most.
Yet, at this point, she could no longer change or stop it.
The only thing she could do was not see him... no matter what, she must not see him.
Otherwise, if he found out about "that matter"...
With his temperament...
She closed her crimson eyes, listening to the chaotic sounds of her own heart, and disappeared into the distant horizon.
Three days later, at the Feng Shen Platform.
Today was the final battle of the Losers' Bracket: Yun Che vs. Shui Yingyue.
The victor would face the only one who had not lost a single match and had ascended to the top of the God Conferment Group—Luo Changsheng—to contend for the top position of this God Conferment Battle!
The spectator stands were filled early. Whenever a battle involved Yun Che, attention would peak. However, the Sword Lord and his disciple did not attend, which was within everyone's expectations. Jun Xilei's vital energy had been greatly damaged, and her essence blood severely depleted. Even with Jun Wuming's ability, recovering her would be far from easy.
On the Feng Shen Platform, Yun Che and Shui Yingyue stood facing each other, their gazes meeting. Yun Che's fighting spirit was high, while Shui Yingyue was as calm as still water, perfectly tranquil.
Had there been no battle between Yun Che and Jun Xilei three days ago, anyone would have been certain that Shui Yingyue would win this match. But now, their thoughts had completely reversed—almost everyone believed Yun Che would be the victor.
Jun Xilei and Shui Yingyue were of similar strength. Even when Jun Xilei risked her life to unleash the Nameless Sword, she couldn't defeat Yun Che. Even if Shui Yingyue's strength truly surpassed Jun Xilei's, it couldn't be by much. To defeat Yun Che, unless... she could pull out a trump card as stunning as Yun Che's.
"Begin the battle!"
At Quhui Zunzhe's command, both erupted with profound energy simultaneously. Shui Yingyue held Yao Xi. Whether her hand or her sword, both were like the most flawless beautiful jade in the world. As she moved, blue light gently swept across the Feng Shen Platform, and the laws of the entire space silently shifted.
Yun Che, who was charging at Shui Yingyue with his sword, suddenly halted. He felt the space become viscous, as if he were floating in water. Around him, blue patterns rippled in the air, like gentle waves on still water.
But in the next instant, they transformed into raging tempests of the vast ocean, with countless azure water patterns surging from all directions, completely engulfing Yun Che.
A azure-blue water formation took shape centered on Yun Che's previous position. Every single drop of water in the profound formation could extinguish an erupting volcano.
"No... no!" Huo Poyun cried out in alarm.
Huo Rulie also frowned deeply. Although water-type profound arts were not highly offensive, they were ever-changing and possessed extremely strong control. Once trapped inside a water formation, even if one knew the method to break it, escaping would be extremely difficult. Moreover, Yun Che didn't recognize the water formation at all—otherwise, he wouldn't have been so easily sealed within it.
He instinctively turned his head, only to find Mu Bingyun, who was usually the most anxious about Yun Che's safety, with a serene expression on her snow-white face, not a trace of worry present.