Chapter 1382: Visitor from the God Realm
"Master, could it really be... the Evil Infant?" the burly man said in a low voice. When he uttered the words "Evil Infant," his voice clearly trembled, with three parts excitement and seven parts fear.
"No," the middle-aged man shook his head. A strange light flickered in his dark, deep eyes. "The Evil Infant is an existence of such a level that even a Divine Emperor can be killed. At most, we might find her 'traces,' but it is absolutely impossible for us to detect the aura of that level."
"Then the demonic aura that Master mentioned..."
The middle-aged man continued, "This demonic aura is very faint, but its level is astonishingly high. Although the profound beasts of these low-level planes have weak intelligence, their spiritual perception is far more sensitive than humans of the same level. The profound beasts on this continent are so frenzied, precisely because they are influenced by this demonic aura."
"Although it is almost impossible for this aura to come from the Evil Infant, the Realm King's decree states: whoever finds traces will receive a heavy reward. This is undoubtedly the best possible lead. Although the possibility of the Evil Infant hiding here is extremely low, there is no doubt that something that can release such a demonic aura must be a demon or demonic beast from the Northern Demon Domain hidden somewhere on this continent, and its strength should be quite formidable... This is also a great merit!"
Whether it was the Evil Infant or a demon, in the understanding of the Eastern Divine Region, both were things that should not exist in the world.
These four people were from a lower-level Star Realm. A reward from a Realm King, and a "heavy reward" personally promised by the Realm King's voice from the heavens... Just thinking about it made their blood surge wildly, and they were so excited they felt like they were in a dream.
After the Evil Infant calamity erupted in the Star God Realm, it caused a massive upheaval throughout the entire God Realm. In particular, of the four Divine Emperors of the Eastern Domain, one died and three were injured at the hands of the single Evil Infant. The Star Gods, Moon Gods, Guardians, and Fan Kings also suffered heavy losses. An unprecedented shadow of fear engulfed the entire Eastern Divine Region, and then quickly spread to the Western Divine Region and the Southern Divine Region.
Faced with the sudden appearance of the "World-Destroying Demon Wheel" revealing its terrifying demonic might, no Realm King in any of the three Divine Regions dared to stand idly by. The Primordial Chaos Supreme Ruler, the Dragon God himself, personally led the effort to eradicate the Evil Infant... Then, all the Realm Kings of the three Divine Regions mobilized and ordered every Star Realm to search far and wide for traces of the Evil Infant.
Such a display was unprecedented in the million-year history of the God Realm.
But a year passed, and they hadn't even caught a glimpse of the Evil Infant's shadow!
Finally, half a year ago, the voice of the heavens rang out above the Eastern Divine Region, proclaiming to the Eastern Divine Region that the Evil Infant's emergence would bring a world-destroying calamity, and no one could stand aloof. It ordered the upper-level Star Realms and middle-level Star Realms to search the Eastern Divine Region with all their might, while the lower-level Star Realms were to search the lower realms, as the Evil Infant might also be hidden in the lower realms.
And the key phrase: Whoever finds traces will surely be given a heavy reward!
A Realm King... at that level, even a random piece of scrap metal they threw away would be considered a supreme treasure in the view of lower-level and middle-level Star Realms. The "heavy reward" from a Realm King was something they had never even dared to imagine before.
Thus, under the heavenly voice, countless Star Realms and countless profound practitioners were completely set ablaze.
An incalculable number of profound practitioners changed their cultivation method to searching for traces of the Evil Infant, while in the lower-level Star Realms, countless mysterious arks flew towards the lower realms, which they had previously disdained to set foot in.
In the world of the profound path, a chain of contempt has always existed. In the God Realm, lower-level Star Realms were at the bottom of the contempt chain, but in the planes below the God Realm, they looked down upon and despised everyone else.
These four people came from a lower-level Star Realm called Gangyang Realm, which primarily cultivated fire-based profound arts. The leading man was named Lin Jun, a newly promoted elder of the Gangyang Realm's Realm King Sect. He had successfully broken through to the Divine Spirit Realm last year and ascended to the position of elder, becoming an transcendent existence who could walk sideways throughout the entire Gangyang Realm. He was at the height of his pride and joy.
The three young men behind him were his personal disciples. The effeminate-looking man was named Lin Qingyu, and the burly man was named Lin Qingshan. Both were over a hundred years old, but their cultivation had already reached the Divine Soul Realm, placing them at the upper echelon of their sect.
The woman was named Lin Qingrou, a disciple Lin Jun had taken in five years ago. She was barely half a jiazi old but was already at the fifth level of the Divine Origin Realm. She was probably the most satisfying... female disciple he had ever taken in.
Their Star Realm was located at the far east of the Eastern Divine Region. Lin Jun led his three disciples from the God Realm eastward, directly into the lower realms. However, their main purpose was training, and they had never dared to have many hopes of finding traces of the Evil Infant... There were simply some faint, lingering fantasies in their hearts that they couldn't shake off.
Lan Ji Star, a seemingly small planet with over ninety percent water and an extremely weak aura, they originally had no interest in even setting foot on it. But as they approached, Lin Jun suddenly faintly sensed the presence of a demonic aura.
So they descended here.
"Master, should we send a sound transmission to the sect right away?" Lin Qingshan could barely contain his excitement.
"This place is far from Gangyang Realm. How can we send a sound transmission?" Lin Jun looked ahead, his tone somewhat cold and hard.
"Then..." Lin Qingshan thought for a moment and then said, "What if this disciple takes another mysterious ark and rushes back to the sect at top speed? Such a major matter must be reported to the sect as soon as possible to be safe."
Lin Jun narrowed his eyes.
"Hehe," Lin Qingyu stepped forward, smiling faintly. "Junior Brother Qingshan, don't be so hasty. This demonic aura was discovered by Master. It's naturally up to Master to decide how to handle it."
"Giggle..." Lin Qingrou let out a charming laugh, her seductive eyes flickering subtly. "Senior Brother Qingyu is absolutely right. This matter is, of course, entirely up to Master."
"Uh," Lin Qingshan was stunned for a moment before he caught on. He quickly said, "Yes, yes, this disciple was reckless. Everything will be as Master commands."
Lin Jun turned around, gave them a rather approving look, and said with a faint smile, "This was discovered by us master and disciples. If we inform the Sect Master, tell me, who will ultimately get the credit?"
The three disciples fell silent at the same time.
"After we confirm this place, we will personally inform the Zhou Tian Arbiter about it. The Zhou Tian God Realm has always kept its word. With such astonishing demonic traces, even if it's not the Evil Infant, there must be a demon. There's no reason not to give a heavy reward. A Realm King's bestowal is enough to make us master and disciples soar to great heights."
"But, if the Sect Master finds out about this..." Lin Qingshan said cautiously.
"Hehehe," Lin Jun smiled faintly and turned back, his gaze fixed on the source of the demonic aura. "The Zhou Tian Arbiters are figures of what standing? How could they leak a single word to outsiders? And even if the Sect Master does find out, so what? Compared to getting a reward from a Realm King... leaving the Gangyang Realm wouldn't be a loss."
"Master is indeed wise and brilliant," Lin Qingyu said in a drawn-out tone.
"The demonic aura originates from that place." He raised his arm and pointed. The direction his finger indicated was precisely the border of the Fusu Kingdom on the Cang Yun Continent... the location of Jueyun Cliff!
Although they were still separated by an extremely vast distance, with their eyesight, they could already clearly see a pitch-black, abnormally colored abyss.
"Master, shall we go visit the Zhou Tian Arbiter now?" Lin Qingrou asked.
"No," Lin Jun said. "First, go over there and investigate."
"What... what?" Lin Jun's words made all three disciples' faces change. Even Lin Qingyu, with his effeminate temperament and perpetually smiling face, showed a momentary flicker of panic.
"What, are you afraid?" Lin Jun glanced at them lightly.
"Master," Lin Qingrou's watery eyes sparkled, her face full of feigned weakness. "What if it's the Evil Infant... and even if it's not, what if that demon discovers us? It would be very dangerous."
Although Lin Jun said it was almost impossible for it to be the Evil Infant, what if? The Evil Infant was a terrifying existence capable of killing even the Yue Shen Di. Killing them would be no different from stepping on a few ants.
"If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger's cubs?" Lin Jun looked into the distance, speaking arrogantly. "Have you forgotten? Your master is now at the Divine Spirit Realm. Would I fear some mere demon?"
"...Master is right. Master's cultivation now rivals the heavens, only one realm away from a Great Realm King. Naturally, there's no need to fear," Lin Qingyu said, but the smile at the corner of his mouth was clearly forced.
Lin Jun looked at them and said, "Relax. The reason I say this is, of course, because I know there is no danger. If I sense any danger as we approach, I will immediately lead you away."
"Qingyu, Qingshan, you two come with me." Lin Jun's profound energy stirred around him. "Qingrou, about a million miles to the west, there seems to be the presence of another continent. Go investigate it. If you find anything, send a sound transmission to report immediately."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingrou felt like she had been granted a pardon. She let out a long sigh of relief and immediately bowed her slender waist, saying in a saccharine voice, "Yes, Qingrou will strictly follow Master's orders."
Lin Jun led his two disciples, Lin Qingshan and Lin Qingyu, approaching Jueyun Cliff at a very slow speed. Lin Qingrou, on the other hand, soared into the air and flew straight towards the west that Lin Jun had pointed to.
There lay the Tian Xuan Continent.
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Tian Xuan Continent, Bing Yun Fairy Palace.
Yun Che sat in the snow, quietly bathed in the falling snowflakes. With Feng Xian'er guarding him at all times, he didn't need to worry about the cold here. So, he often came to the Bing Yun Fairy Palace. After all, it held a very special meaning for him.
And every so often, he would sit like this in the center of the Ice Extreme Snow Domain, quietly watching the boundless white snow. Each time, he would remain motionless for one or two hours, without saying a word. No one knew what he was thinking about, and he never mentioned it to anyone.
During this period, Feng Xian'er had been strictly adhering to the "request" of the Phoenix Soul Spirit, accompanying him day and night without ever leaving for a single day.
Finally, Yun Che, who was sitting in the snow, moved. He looked up at the pale sky... Those years in the God Realm felt more and more distant, more and more like a dream.
But, the geniuses from the various Star Realms and the Divine Sons during the God Ascension Ceremony — he had not forgotten a single one of their names.
Counting the time, it had been over two and a half years since they entered the Zhou Tian Divine Realm. In just a few short months, they would re-emerge into the world.
Once, he had been on the same level as them, on the same stage. Now, he was a cripple, while they... were ahead even of his peak self back then by three thousand years.
Huo Poyun... your talent, your pure pursuit of the profound path — after three thousand years in Zhou Tian, you will surely achieve the Divine Lord Realm, becoming the eternal glory of the Flame God Realm.
Luo Changsheng... regardless of temperament, his talent is indeed terrifyingly high. He was also the youngest Divine King in the history of the Eastern Divine Region. Carrying unwillingness and resentment after leaving the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, his cultivation will definitely still surpass everyone else's... It's just a pity that what he will receive is news of my fall. Even if he wants revenge, he has no hope.
Jun Xilei... the disciple of the Sword Lord, proud to the bone. The first thing she will do upon leaving the Zhou Tian Divine Realm is definitely to settle accounts with me, too, right? What a pity... I wonder if, after learning that I have "died," she will be frustrated or relieved, or if, after three thousand years of tempering her heart, she will no longer care at all.
Shui Meiyin... the childish words of a fifteen-year-old girl. After experiencing three thousand years in Zhou Tian, she herself will surely find them laughable. Or perhaps, she has already forgotten that "joke."
...
"Daddy!"
A young girl's call came from the air, full of excitement and joy. Hearing the voice, Yun Che quickly stood up, reaching out his arms to catch Yun Wuxin, who pounced down from the sky, directly into his embrace.
"Xin'er, why are you so happy today?" Looking at his daughter's flushed cheeks, he asked with a smile.
"Hehehe..." Yun Wuxin's brows curved, and then she happily announced, "I broke through!"
"Broke through?" Yun Che's face lit up with surprise. "Really!?"
"Of course it's true!" Yun Wuxin stretched out her arms in her father's embrace, feeling the world that had become different. "I am now an Overlord Emperor. My master praised me for a long time just now."
"Hiss..." Yun Che's heart surged with excitement. He took a deep breath in agitation, planted a firm kiss on Yun Wuxin's cheek, and let out a roar even more exaggerated than his daughter's: "Great! As expected of my Yun Che's daughter, hahahaha!"
A twelve-year-old Overlord Emperor! In the history of the Tian Xuan Continent... no, of Lan Ji Star, she was the youngest Overlord Emperor ever.
Thinking back to when he was twelve years old... forget it, no need to mention it.