Chapter 1272: Divine Moon Overhead
Mu Huanzhi nodded, turned around and said, “This trip to the Yue Shen Realm might be the only chance in your lives. Remember to be cautious in your words and actions, do not act out of line. Otherwise, even if the Sect Master were here, she would not be able to save you!”
The Bing Huang disciples responded, their faces filled with barely concealed excitement. To them, a King Realm was like a celestial palace in the heavens, something to look up to but never reach. Now, not only did they have the fortune to enter the Zhou Tian Realm because of the Xuan Shen Assembly, but they were also invited to the Yue Shen Realm—truly a great stroke of luck.
“Will Master be going?” Yun Che asked in a low voice.
Mu Bingyun said, “Your Master is avoiding the Xuan Shen Assembly because she doesn’t want to reveal her current cultivation level. Naturally, she won’t enter the Yue Shen Realm either.”
Yun Che’s face showed disappointment, and he said softly, “I didn’t realize we’d been away from the sect for so long. I miss Master a little… Once I enter the Zhou Tian Pearl, I won’t be able to see her for another three thousand years.”
Mu Bingyun looked at him, her icy eyes filled with a complicated, hard-to-conceal gaze. Then, she suddenly paused: “You said… you’re going to enter the Zhou Tian Pearl?”
“Mm.” Yun Che nodded. “She reminded me. The ‘shock’ I caused during the Feng Shen Battle is far more serious than I imagined. My current situation is no longer a question of whether I should enter the Zhou Tian Pearl, but that I must.”
Mu Bingyun was silent, then nodded slightly: “She’s right. Your Master would definitely agree with this decision. As for your ‘hometown’…”
Yun Che had been brought away from Lan Ji Star by Mu Bingyun, so she naturally knew about the “Five-Year Pact” he had made with Xiao Yaohou and the others. She thought for a moment and said softly, “I’ll find a way to inform them.”
In the distance, pillars of light rose one after another. The sheer scale of this wedding ceremony of the Yue Shen Realm, which could hardly avoid stirring the entire world, also made the spatial teleportation extremely large. However, although it was led by the Zhou Tian God Realm, naturally the energy consumption had to be borne by the Yue Shen Realm.
Although the Yue Shen Realm was a King Realm, such a large-scale teleportation was still a heavy expense.
After a not-too-long wait, Mu Huanzhi led the Yin Xue group into one of the dimensional profound arrays, teleporting them toward another Eastern Domain King Realm.
Moreover, this teleportation was not to the outer perimeter of the Yue Shen Realm, but directly into the Yue Shen Realm itself, even to the front of its core royal city, Divine Moon City.
The atmosphere of each King Realm was different, but the spiritual energy was all extremely rich and pure, far beyond what ordinary star realms could compare. Standing before Divine Moon City, looking at the towering city gate—a full ten thousand zhang high—radiating the glow of a bright moon, countless Eastern Domain profound practitioners stood dumbfounded, their shock beyond measure.
Compared to the Xing Shen Realm and Zhou Tian God Realm that Yun Che had visited, the light in the Yue Shen Realm was noticeably dimmer by several degrees, but it also made the bright moon radiance on all buildings appear more sacred and dazzling. Underfoot, the path was paved with moonlight stones, and every step trod upon a dreamlike field of light.
In the Xing Shen Realm, the world was filled with countless brilliant starlights dancing. The Yue Shen Realm, however, seemed eternally bathed under the purest and brightest beam of moonlight. Those arriving in the Yue Shen Realm for the first time would subconsciously feel as if they had suddenly stepped into a mysterious illusion.
“So this is the Yue Shen Realm…” Yun Che couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. “It’s like arriving in a world of a completely different dimension.”
“The Yue Shen Realm believes in the power of the Divine Moon. The reason it became a King Realm is core to being able to ‘inherit’ the power of the Yue Shen,” Mu Bingyun explained to Yun Che.
Yun Che said, “When I was in the Xing Shen Realm, I heard her mention that the Xing Shen Realm believes in the power of stars, and the most important thing is the ‘inheritable’ power of the Xing Shen. In that respect, the Xing Shen Realm and the Yue Shen Realm are very similar.”
It was the most natural thing for Mo Li to refuse to attend this wedding ceremony. Her biological mother had died because of the Yue Shen Realm. Hence, Mo Li had always harbored a deep hatred for the Yue Shen Realm.
“The Xing Shen Realm and the Yue Shen Realm are not only similar in that respect; many aspects of the two realms are almost identical.”
Yun Che: “Eh?”
Mu Bingyun narrated, “According to records, during the age of the gods, the Xing Shen and Yue Shen were both appointed by the chief of the creation gods, the Heaven-Slaying God Emperor Mo E. There were twelve Xing Shen, and likewise twelve Yue Shen, all under his command. Their status in the age of the gods was extremely high, and the divine power they left behind was naturally very strong. Moreover, it could be passed down through compatible ‘vessels’ from generation to generation.”
Yun Che was hearing all this for the first time.
“The Xing Shen Emperor is one of the Xing Shen, and the Yue Shen Emperor is likewise one of the Yue Shen. Each Xing Shen has its Star Guard, and each Yue Shen likewise has its Moon Guard. The method and means of inheritance for each generation of Xing Shen and Yue Shen are exactly the same.”
In other words, aside from the core power being different—one being the “Power of the Xing Shen” and the other the “Power of the Yue Shen”—the two King Realms were otherwise virtually identical.
“Two King Realms so similar, you’d think they’d be as close as brothers, but instead they became mortal enemies.” Yun Che shook his head, wearing a look of sighing melancholy.
“Power and structure may be similar, but human hearts can never be the same. The struggles at the level of King Realms are beyond our ability to judge.” Mu Bingyun said calmly. “Let’s go in.”
As soon as Mu Bingyun finished speaking, the surroundings suddenly brightened. A layer of radiant light seemed to fall from somewhere, covering the entire world in a layer of pure white sparkling light.
Yun Che instinctively looked up, and at that moment, a large wave of exclamations came from all around, lasting for a long time.
In the distant sky, a pure white moon had appeared, hanging directly above Divine Moon City. Its light was pale, rich and soft, illuminating the entire Divine Moon City into a dreamlike city of illusion.
“A Divine Moon overhead! It’s a Divine Moon Overhead!”
Yun Che heard the same shouts countless times around him. Next to him, Mu Bingyun was also looking at the moon in the sky, whispering softly: “Divine Moon Overhead…”
“What is a Divine Moon Overhead?” Yun Che asked.
The Divine Moon in the sky was slowly rising, but its radiance did not diminish; instead, it grew richer. Standing under this Divine Moon, the entire world became mysterious and illusory.
Yun Che did not know that the moonlight of this Divine Moon not only shrouded Divine Moon City, but also covered tens of thousands of miles of star domain, all bathed in the Divine Moon’s radiance.
Nearby star realms began to feel the change in light. They looked up and could immediately see the Divine Moon hanging overhead… Gradually, in the end, almost every star realm and every corner of the Eastern Divine Region could see a Divine Moon suspended high in the direction of the Yue Shen Realm, releasing a moonlight even purer and more dreamlike than the real moon.
It seemed to be announcing to the Eastern Divine Region, and even the entire God Realm, that a major event was about to take place in the Yue Shen Realm.
“In history, a ‘Divine Moon Overhead’ has only appeared twice before.” Mu Bingyun withdrew her gaze and whispered to Yun Che. “The first time was at the founding of the Yue Shen Realm.”
“The second time was when the Yue Shen Realm declared itself a King Realm of the Eastern Domain.”
“This is the third time.”
Yun Che turned his eyes, a look of surprise on his face.
“The moonlight of this Divine Moon can cover the entire Eastern Divine Region. It can only be achieved by the combined power of the twelve Yue Shen. According to records, it only appears when a major event that determines the fate of the Yue Shen Realm occurs, to announce it to the world. The first two times of Divine Moon Overhead were exactly like that.”
“And today, on the wedding day of the Yue Shen Emperor, a ‘Divine Moon Overhead’ has actually appeared.” Mu Bingyun’s gaze turned solemn. “This wedding ceremony was already extremely high-profile from the beginning, attracting countless private discussions. Now it seems it is even more extraordinary than everyone had previously imagined.”
“And the core of all this is undoubtedly that mysterious new Divine Empress who has never appeared before.”
“It seems the Yue Shen Emperor wants every living being in the world to know about this new Divine Empress he has married.” Yun Che clicked his tongue.
“Not only that,” Mu Bingyun said. “If a ‘Divine Moon Overhead’ truly only appears when a fateful turning point occurs in the Yue Shen Realm, then this new Yue Shen Divine Empress…”
Mu Bingyun did not continue, but fell silent. Because even she could not imagine what kind of woman could cause the fate of the Yue Shen Realm, a King Realm of the Eastern Domain, to undergo a change that required a “Divine Moon” to announce to the world.
Even if the Yue Shen Emperor married the Dragon Queen or a Divine Maiden, even if they were both Divine Empresses, it would absolutely not warrant such a display.
The surrounding atmosphere was heavy. The Eastern Domain profound practitioners who had teleported here all stopped in place, staring at the Divine Moon overhead, their hearts stirring with the same doubt and shock as Mu Bingyun, momentarily forgetting to step into the Divine Moon City that was right before them.
“Even I have become curious about this Yue Shen Divine Empress.” As someone who had only arrived in the God Realm three years ago, with almost no knowledge or interest in the Yue Shen Realm, Yun Che was probably the most composed one in the face of the “Divine Moon Overhead.” He casually guessed, “Palace Master Bingyun, is there any King Realm Lord of a certain Divine Region who is female? Could it be that the Yue Shen Emperor is marrying some King Realm Lord?”
“Marriage between two Realm Emperors—that should be considered a major event capable of changing the fate of a King Realm.”
“…We will know soon enough,” Mu Bingyun said. “Let’s go in. Grand Elder, please take care of the disciples. This is the Yue Shen Realm, not an ordinary place.”
Mu Xuanyin’s task for Mu Bingyun had always been to look after Yun Che alone.
Divine Moon City was not very large, but it was the core city of a King Realm, a holy land within the holy lands of the God Realm. Walking within it, even a realm king who had experienced countless vicissitudes would unconsciously slow down and hold their breath, let alone those young profound practitioners who had never dreamed of entering the Yue Shen Realm.
The Yin Xue disciples followed closely behind their elders and palace masters, constantly looking around, excited yet trembling with fear. In the Yin Xue Realm, they were the elite disciples of the Divine Phoenix Sect, admired and envied by all profound practitioners. But they knew well that entering Divine Moon City in the Yue Shen Realm, even breathing a mouthful of its air, was like a gift from heaven for them.
Bathed in the Divine Moon’s radiance, the Yin Xue group arrived at the wedding venue. The two people at the very front receiving the guests wore similar silver light armor, their calm eyes piercing with a frightening sharpness. When their gaze swept over, an intimidating pressure, though not deliberately released, made all the Yin Xue disciples stiffen from head to toe, their blood seemingly stopping.
“These two are the Moon Guards of the Yue Shen Realm,” Mu Bingyun said in a low voice.
Moon Guards belonged under the command of each Yue Shen or Yue Shen Envoy. Although they were merely guards, they held extremely high status. In the Yue Shen Realm, they were second only to the Yue Shen and Yue Shen Envoys, equivalent to the Star Guards of the Xing Shen Realm.
To become a Moon Guard, one’s strength was at least at the Divine King Realm, equivalent to a lower realm’s realm king. Those high-ranking Moon Guards who served closely beside the Yue Shen were all at the Divine Sovereign Realm! Any one of them could rival the realm king of a mid-level star realm.
Such was the terror of a King Realm.
Given the status of the Yue Shen Emperor, it was naturally impossible for him to personally receive guests. Sending two major Moon Guards to receive guests was already enough to make most profound practitioners tremble with fear… or even feel flattered.
Mu Bingyun stepped forward, bowed slightly, and handed over the invitation and the congratulatory gift to the two Moon Guards.
The Moon Guards accepted the gift, scanned the invitation with their divine sense, and their expressions remained unchanged: “Welcome, distinguished guests from Yin Xue. Please enter and sit as you wish.”
When a King Realm or upper-level star realm arrived, the Moon Guards would announce them loudly, and a special attendant would lead them inside. Guests from King Realms would be welcomed into the main hall, where the Yue Shen Emperor himself would greet them. Guests from upper-level star realms could enter the outer hall, welcomed by two Yue Shen Envoys.
As for guests from mid-level and lower-level star realms, they would neither be announced nor allowed into the main hall or outer hall. They would sit freely outside the outer hall.
This very obvious discrimination never caused anyone to feel dissatisfied or complain, because the strong deserve the treatment of the strong, and the weak must endure the treatment of the weak. This was the most basic law of survival in the God Realm, in any realm.
Mu Bingyun nodded slightly and led the Yin Xue group inside. At that moment, one of the Moon Guards’ brows suddenly twitched: Yin Xue Realm?
“Wait!” The Moon Guard turned around, a note of urgency in his voice, his gaze fixed directly on Yun Che: “Is this young master Yun Che?”
Yun Che turned back and nodded: “That is me. May I ask for your guidance?”
Confirming his identity, the two Moon Guards, who had been indifferent before, quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply: “The Divine Emperor personally ordered that Young Master Yun is a distinguished guest and should enter the main hall.”