Chapter 1315: Shen Xi and Long Huang
The gentle wind in the Reincarnation Forbidden Land ceased to flow, and not a single bird or insect could be seen in the air. Even the wings of the colorful butterflies among the flowers stopped fluttering.
Yun Che could not detect the approach of any aura, but he clearly felt an overwhelming pressure descending upon him, as if the very sky were collapsing. Unless one experienced it personally, perhaps no one would believe that the pressure of a single person could be so formidable—truly like the heavens falling and the earth overturning.
Yun Che's heart tightened: Could it be...
At that moment, a figure descended from the sky and landed on the ground of the Reincarnation Forbidden Land.
He was tall, clad in a gray robe, with a fair face and no beard. His expression was unusually gentle, but the moment he stood there, an immense heavenly might enveloped the entire world, causing one's soul to tremble, almost instinctively wanting to kneel and bow.
Only one person in the world possessed such overwhelming pressure.
Long Huang!
He was the patriarch of the Dragon God Clan, the Great Realm King of the Long Shen Realm, the emperor of the Xi Shen Domain, the supreme ruler of the God Realm, and the universally recognized number one figure of the Chaos.
Among the seventeen king realms of the God Realm, the other sixteen realm kings were honored with the title "God Emperor," but only he was crowned with the title "Emperor." This "Emperor" did not signify him as the Emperor of Dragons or the Emperor of the Long Shen Realm, but rather the "Emperor among Emperors."
The strength of each God Emperor was at the pinnacle of the Divine Path, making it difficult to definitively say who was stronger. Only Long Huang's position as the "number one figure of the Chaos" was unshakable and unquestioned.
Since Yun Che last saw him at the Xuan Shen Assembly, only a few months had passed, yet he once again personally beheld this number one figure of the Chaos, whom others could not even dream of seeing in a lifetime.
"Ling'er greets Long Huang." Beside Yun Che, He Ling gracefully bowed. Although there was a hint of tension on her beautiful face at Long Huang's arrival, there was no surprise at all.
Yun Che quickly bowed as well: "Junior Yun Che pays respects to Long Huang."
So it turned out that this person who could directly enter this place was none other than Long Huang! The entire Long Shen Realm was his domain, and even this "Reincarnation Forbidden Land" was sealed by him, so he could naturally come here at any time.
A pair of dragon eyes swept over Yun Che, and Long Huang smiled slightly: "Yun Che, it seems you and I are fated to meet again, only a few months apart, in the Xi Shen Domain."
Yun Che replied, "I dare not forget the guidance you gave me that day, Senior Long Huang. It is both a fear and a great fortune to see you again. But... Senior Long Huang seems to have known I would be here?"
Long Huang said calmly, "Two months ago, I heard someone was trying to enter this place holding the Dragon God Seal, so I knew it must be you. However, I happened to be departing for the Dong Shen Domain at that time, otherwise I might have come here in person long ago."
With that, he looked in the direction of Shen Xi, and his peaceful gaze instantly took on a softness that never appeared at any other time.
Re-departing for the Dong Shen Domain?
Yun Che's heart stirred, and he blurted out, "Junior ventures to guess—did Senior Long Huang personally go to inspect the Crimson Red Rift?"
"Oh?" Long Huang turned his head. "You are quite clever."
Shen Xi walked over slowly and spoke, "You should have gained something from this trip. Tell me about it."
"Alright."
Long Huang smiled faintly, took a few steps, and within moments, he and Shen Xi were far beyond the sight of Yun Che and He Ling.
Yun Che rose to his feet, gazing in the direction Long Huang and Shen Xi had gone, his heart full of astonishment: When facing Long Huang, Shen Xi doesn't even need to bow? Long Huang also shows no haughty demeanor before her.
Shen Xi and Long Huang, who stood at the very pinnacle of the entire Chaos, were interacting on equal terms?
Just who is she!?
In the northern part of the Reincarnation Forbidden Land, beside a clear stream, the two most supreme existences of the Long Shen Realm stood together. Every word of their conversation was undoubtedly weighty.
"How is it, exactly?" Shen Xi spoke, concise and direct.
Long Huang's expression was calm, but his chest rose and fell slightly: "Even more terrifying than I initially imagined. That rift is far larger than Zhou Tian and Fan Di described—clearly growing rapidly. And its aura... made me feel fear."
Shen Xi: "...Oh?"
Long Huang's gaze hardened: "I thought I had long forgotten what fear was, but before that rift in the Chaos Wall, my body trembled uncontrollably."
Shen Xi said, "Given the capabilities of the Zhou Tian Pearl in this era, forcefully nurturing a thousand experts is already its limit. This extent is by no means determined by the Zhou Tian Realm alone; it can only originate from the Zhou Tian Pearl's own intent. Even the Zhou Tian Pearl is so wary, it's normal for you to feel fear."
"It seems that if that rift truly erupts one day, the Dong Shen Domain will inevitably suffer a great calamity." Long Huang's gaze grew profound. "I hope this calamity does not spread to the Xi Shen Domain."
"In that case, even you cannot determine what caused that rift?" Shen Xi asked.
Long Huang nodded slightly: "That rift seems to have been born from a power outside the Chaos, which likely means it is something beyond the cognition of all of us."
Shen Xi pondered silently for a long time, then said softly, "It seems I must personally go and inspect it. Perhaps I might discover something."
But Long Huang shook his head: "That rift is at the eastern extreme of the Chaos. Given the maximum time you can leave this place, you would not even be able to reach it, let alone return."
"If it were the past, that would be true." Shen Xi lifted her gaze and said slowly, "Fortunately, I have already found a way to break free from these 'shackles.' Before long, I will be able to leave this place."
"……" Long Huang's eyes rippled violently, then he abruptly turned around: "You... what did you say!?"
"I hope it will still be in time." Shen Xi seemed not to notice Long Huang's intense reaction, looking into the distance. The white light around her was impenetrable even to Long Huang.
"You... have truly found a way to leave this place?" Long Huang's expression was tumultuous, his breathing unsteady. He knew that if she said so, it was no empty talk. "This 'before long' you speak of... how long?"
As he asked this, his turbulent gaze clearly showed tension and anxiety...
He was Long Huang, the Chaos sovereign looked up to by all realms. Even if a star realm collapsed before him, he would not change his expression in the slightest. Yet at this moment, he displayed a reaction that, in the perception of the world, should never appear on him.
"If everything goes smoothly, within ten years." Shen Xi said softly.
"..." Long Huang's body shook violently.
He had thought that "before long" might mean ten thousand years, or several thousand years, or at the very least a thousand years or more... But the time that reached his ears was "ten years."
A time that caught him off guard and was utterly unacceptable.
"Why so fast?" His breathing grew even more disordered. As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized the impropriety, shook his head, and sighed, "You have been trapped here for so many years, finally able to break free—this is naturally a great blessing. But... after you leave here, have you thought about where you will go? Where will we meet in the future?"
Compared to Long Huang's emotional turmoil, Shen Xi remained as still as a deep pool, as if even freeing herself from tens of thousands of years of bondage could not stir much of a ripple in her heart: "If fate allows, we will meet again. If not, perhaps we will never see each other again."
"Where are you going?" Before Shen Xi finished speaking, Long Huang asked, "You have been here all these years. Even when you occasionally leave, you have never been beyond the Long Shen Realm. Where can you go? Have you truly not thought about staying in the Long Shen Domain? There, you will be among your own people, with nothing to bind you. You will have complete freedom. You can do whatever you wish. Whatever you want, I can..."
"You are losing your composure." Shen Xi turned around and said softly.
Four light, wind-like words struck Long Huang like a heavy blow, freezing all expression on his face. Then, he slowly closed his eyes. It took a long, quiet moment before the rise and fall of his chest gradually calmed. Then, he smiled self-deprecatingly: "In these years, how many times have I lost my composure before you?"
"You must remember that you are Long Huang." Shen Xi said, "Currently, the Chaos world reveres you as its supreme. Anyone can lose their composure, but you cannot. Perhaps once I leave this place, your dragon heart will truly have no more flaws."
Long Huang still kept his eyes closed, struggling to maintain calm. But his face, which normally exuded an innate heavenly might, was now twisted with painful spasms.
"After I leave here, you can announce to the world that I have passed away from old age. It is also high time you found a true 'Dragon Queen.'"
Long Huang slowly shook his head and sighed, "Having once sailed the vast sea, it is hard to be satisfied with a mere pond. Do you truly believe that I can still tolerate anyone else in this lifetime?"
Shen Xi let out a soft, deep sigh: "For over three hundred thousand years, you have reached a height that no one else in the world can match. With one finger, you can cover the sky. Why is it only..."
"No!" Long Huang shook his head with grave solemnity: "I have understood clearly from the very beginning. I have never had any extravagant hopes for you—not even the slightest. Even as I step by step became the Dragon Emperor, and then the Emperor of all realms, I never considered myself worthy of your favor. In this world, there is no one... worthy of touching even half a finger of yours."
Shen Xi: "..."
"These years, being able to come and see you from time to time has been the greatest satisfaction of my life. Only I in this world can be this close to you. But now..." Every word he spoke deepened the pain on his face. "Has heaven finally decided to take back this grace from me?"
Shen Xi sighed again: "You need not be like this."
"I... I am not trying to interfere with your freedom. I am only..." Long Huang's hands had clasped together, and his words, under the great turmoil in his dragon heart, became somewhat incoherent: "At least let me repay the great kindness you bestowed upon me back then... at least... I..."
Shen Xi shook her head: "If it weren't for you granting me the title of 'Dragon Queen' back then and sealing this place as a forbidden land, I would not have been able to dwell here peacefully for so many years. Thus, the kindness from back then has already been fully repaid."
"It is not fully repaid, not fully repaid! A life-saving grace is greater than heaven—how could it be fully repaid..." As these words left his mouth, his expression froze, as if even he himself had not expected to lose composure to such an extent.
Shen Xi remained silent for a long time, and Long Huang would never understand what was in her heart.
In fact, he did not even know Shen Xi's true origins. Because he had promised her that as long as she was unwilling, he would never ask her about anything... So many years had passed, and it had always been like this.
How arrogant he was before the world, and how humble he was before Shen Xi... yet utterly willing.
The world fell silent. This time, Long Huang took even longer to barely regain a shred of calm.
"You have been trapped here for so many years, finally gaining a new life—I should be a thousand times happy." The corners of Long Huang's mouth twitched, as if wanting to smile, but unable to do so. "Ten years... ten years... at least there are ten years..."
His final words were very soft, as if murmured to himself. But his gaze held a trace of desolation—a sorrow of losing the most precious thing in his life.
"Since you are already preparing to leave the Long Shen Realm, can you tell me where you will go after leaving here?" he asked, though he did not expect an answer.
Shen Xi replied softly, "I have already found my place of return. You need not worry."