Chapter 1407: Return to the Divine Realm (Part 2)
Cang Yun Continent, Jueyun Abyss.
Before the Netherworld Flower Sea that shimmered with purple light, Yun Che sat on the dark ground. In front of him was You Er, who had been watching his face and listening to his voice.
Today, the gift he brought for You Er was a strangely shaped ice crystal taken from an Immortal Palace. It was formed from mystic ice and had never melted since antiquity. In this cold, dark abyss, it would never melt at all.
Each ice crystal was different in shape, but all were even more crystal-clear than ordinary crystal. Especially under the Netherworld purple light, they shimmered with an incomparably brilliant radiance.
It was clear that You Er liked them very much.
"You Er," he said softly, looking at her, "I've decided to return to that place called the Shen Realm tomorrow. So the next time I come to see you, I don't know how long it will be."
At his words, You Er's colorful eyes stirred, and she urgently reached out her hand.
Yun Che smiled. "But don't worry. I'll come back as soon as I can. Maybe even just a few days. When I return, I'll come see you right away, okay?"
You Er: "..."
She was reluctant to part with him, and she was worried about him.
"You're worried about me, right?" Yun Che's gaze was gentle. "Don't worry. Precisely because I died once in the Shen Realm, I now cherish my life more than anything. And this time, going back to the Shen Realm... for me, it might be an extremely good opportunity."
As he spoke, a peculiar light flickered in his eyes.
Every time he came to see her, he would talk a lot, telling her many things about himself. Including things he couldn't even say in front of Xiao Yaohou and the others.
"Because this time, who knows... I might become a savior," Yun Che said with a chuckle. "If that really happens, then I probably won't have to worry too much about any future crises. Because anyone who dares to offend me would become the enemy of the entire world."
He wasn't joking when he said that.
"Of course, that's just my best hope. What exactly that crack in the Chaos Wall is, what lies behind it, why only my power can resolve it... I actually don't know any of that right now. It's also possible that my current power is still far from being able to resolve it... Hah, everything is unknown. But the situation on our Lan Ji Star is worsening by the day, so I have to make this decision."
He raised his hand. "Ever since I received the Evil God's inheritance back then, my life has changed dramatically. From a useless nobody despised by everyone to what I am now in just over ten years. Since I've gained so much, it's indeed time to fulfill my duty and mission. However..."
Yun Che's expression turned serious, and he said with utmost solemnity: "If I find out that I have to sacrifice my own life to accomplish it, I'll immediately turn tail and run!"
"Now I have a father, a mother, a wife, children... ah, and You Er. Nothing is more important than my life!"
Yun Che spoke with absolute finality.
You Er looked at him, and the worry in her colorful eyes seemed to lessen by a fraction.
"Speaking of the Evil God, I am the inheritor of his power. And the dark seed you gave me back then is one of the core parts of the Evil God's power, probably his greatest secret. I don't know why it was with you, but both of us have a deep connection with him, and that connection also ties you and me together."
He reached out a finger and gently touched the spot near You Er's cheek. "So if I can accomplish that 'mission,' You Er will be one of the great contributors. When that time comes, I'll come and tell you everything. Okay?"
"..." You Er nodded, the ripples of color in her eyes showing she was happy.
"Mm." Yun Che stood up. "I should go back. I still haven't figured out how to tell Caiyi and Wuxin about this. I'll definitely make them worry again. You Er, you stay here obediently and wait for me to come see you again. I promise I'll bring you the best gift."
After saying that, he prepared to leave. But You Er's figure flickered and floated in front of him, her four-colored, strange pupils reflecting a reluctant sadness that seemed about to cry.
Yun Che's heart softened, and he stopped. "Alright, I won't leave just yet. How about I tell you another fairy tale, You Er?"
"Mm... this time, I'll tell the story of the Black Charcoal Dwarf and the Seven Little Princesses!"
...
Leaving Jueyun Abyss, it was almost dawn. Yun Che didn't immediately return to Huan Yao Realm. Standing high above Tian Xuan Continent, he stretched his body and rapidly released his profound energy, stirring up a massive vortex in this fragile world.
This was the first time he had unleashed his Divine King power to its limit on Lan Ji Star.
A layer of unusually dense pale white light floated on his body. From afar, he looked like a pale moon hanging in the sky. As he spread his arms, this strongest Light Profound Force that Yun Che could release poured down from the sky, enveloping the entire Cang Yun Continent.
Then, he went to Tian Xuan Continent and Huan Yao Realm, likewise fully releasing his Light Profound Force.
He had no idea when he would be able to return after this trip to the Shen Realm. So before leaving, he had to do his utmost to stabilize Lan Ji Star.
Previously, whenever he purified, he had used at most less than twenty percent of his power.
But this time, he released it fully, disregarding any potential risks. And at full power, he believed that the Light Profound Force he left behind would be enough to prevent any large-scale beast or human chaos on Lan Ji Star for at least a month, even under its current state.
Then, finally, it was time to leave.
When he announced his decision, all he got was a long silence from everyone.
Although Yun Che's decision was sudden, for Xiao Yaohou, Feng Xue'er, and the others, they had actually sensed it coming.
"Che'er, is everything you said true?" Yun Qinghong asked. Though he never doubted Yun Che's words.
Yun Che nodded with utmost seriousness. "I know this sounds unbelievable, but I swear that every word is true."
"The various anomalies happening now are by no means limited to Lan Ji Star. The scope they affect is far beyond what you can imagine. To be honest, if I hadn't been here, Lan Ji Star would have long become a purgatory. But even I am beginning to feel powerless."
Yun Che smiled, putting on a relaxed expression. "A god once told me that the power within me can resolve the root cause of all this. Given the current situation, whether I want to or not, I have to go. But don't be too pessimistic. The Shen Realm has millions of years of heritage and countless powerful beings. They might have already found a countermeasure, and my power won't even be needed."
Despite saying this, he knew in his heart that this possibility was extremely slim—or rather, nonexistent. Otherwise, that Ice Phoenix maiden wouldn't have been so sure back then that he was the "only hope."
Moreover, she had said "hope"... Those two words undoubtedly signified only a possibility, not a certainty, and they came with unpredictable risks.
"Daddy!!" Yun Wuxin suddenly rushed over and hugged him tightly. "No... I don't want you to go... I don't want you to go. You said it was a very dangerous place. You even said with your own mouth that you would never go there again... You can't go back on your word."
Yun Che had indeed said that, but back then he thought he was a permanent cripple.
"..." Yun Che crouched down and gently wiped a teardrop from the corner of her eye. "Xinxin, do you want your daddy to become a hero who saves the world?"
Under Yun Che's gaze, Yun Wuxin shook her head—shook it with extreme firmness. "I don't want any world-saving hero. I only want my daddy."
His heart deeply stirred. Yun Che held her face and laughed. "Xinxin, you have too little faith in your daddy. Haven't your mother, your master, and your aunties told you what your daddy's greatest skill is?"
"Is it... coaxing girls?" Yun Wuxin said weakly, tears still hanging on her face.
"~!@#$%^... It's running away! Running away!" A few black lines appeared on Yun Che's forehead. "Your daddy is fast, knows disguise, can turn invisible, and has the Dun Yue Immortal Palace. Even in the Shen Realm, if I want to run, no one can catch me! Last time I got into trouble there, it was because I deliberately walked into a trap for an important reason... I promise nothing like that will ever happen again."
"This time, I'll not only come back quickly but also guarantee that not a single hair will be missing." He gently pinched Yun Wuxin's cheek and said with utmost seriousness, "Because I don't want my Xinxin to lose her daddy so young. And if her mother gets mad and remarries, I'd be the one losing out."
"Hmph, nonsense." Chu Yuechan turned her face away.
"Since you've decided to go, stop dragging your feet," Xiao Yaohou said coldly.
Before Yun Che's first trip to the Shen Realm, Xiao Yaohou had vehemently opposed it. This time, with the lesson of the past, Yun Che had expected her to firmly stop him. To his surprise, she didn't say a single word of opposition.
Because last time, it was his own whim. This time, it was about duty and the safety of the vast world.
"But remember what you just said to Xinxin. If there's danger, run with all your might. Don't show off! Don't risk your life! Don't meddle in other people's business! Don't stir up trouble! Don't flirt with women! Accomplish your goal and come back immediately. Don't lose a single hair!"
"Yes... yes... yes." Yun Che quickly nodded. "I promise, I promise."
"Brother Yun, do you really have to leave right now? But where are you going to return to? And how will you get there?" Feng Xue'er asked worriedly.
Yun Che reached out and took out an ice crystal snow pearl.
"This is the dimensional stone that the Ice Cloud Palace Master gave me back then. It was what she used to come visit here secretly in the past, from the Bing Yun Fairy Palace. She gave me the last one." Yun Che explained, "Using it, I can directly travel through space and return to Yin Xue Realm."
With his current cultivation, flying back to the Shen Realm through the cosmos was also easy, but it would take far too long. The Dun Yue Immortal Palace was fast, but its aura was enormous and too distinctive, making it easy to expose himself. As for the dimensional stone in his hand, based on his previous "experience," it would only take a little over a quarter of an hour to arrive.
"Then go." Xiao Yaohou turned around, no longer looking at him.
"Husband, you must be careful," Cang Yue said softly.
"Xiaoche, make sure to come back early," Xiao Lingxi called out gently... Unlike the others, her face didn't show much worry.
Su Linger, standing beside her, glanced at her with some surprise.
"Whether I succeed or not, I'll come back as soon as possible... I promise!"
Releasing Yun Wuxin, his voice softened. "Xinxin, wait for Daddy to come back, and we'll go fishing together again. And when I return, I'll definitely bring you the best gift in the world! Look forward to it!"
The longer the parting, the more reluctance and sorrow would grow. Having said that, he directly activated the dimensional stone in his hand with a burst of profound energy.
A spatial profound light blazed up, carrying Yun Che away from where he stood.
"Daddy!" Yun Wuxin cried out in alarm. She rushed to the spot where Yun Che had just stood and stared blankly for a long time.
Chu Yuechan stepped forward and patted her on the back. "Xinxin, don't worry. Your father may never be reassuring, but he always keeps his promises to you. He will this time too."
On the other side, Su Linger came to her senses, filled with infinite reluctance and worry. She glanced at Xiao Lingxi and found that her eyes were clear, without much sorrow.
And last time, she had been the most reluctant and worried... After Yun Che left with Mu Bingyun, she had fainted on the spot and had nightmares afterward.
"Lingxi jiejie," she ventured, "You don't seem too worried?"
"Mm." Xiao Lingxi nodded. "I don't know why either. Last time I was so scared and worried. But this time... I have a feeling that Xiaoche will come back very soon, safe and sound."
Su Linger: "..."
—
Space tunnel, sometimes dim and dark, sometimes brightly colored.
Yun Che stood still, rapidly traversing this strange world.
His mind naturally drifted to the scene of his first trip to the Shen Realm.
The way he was going to the Shen Realm this time was exactly the same as the first time. Using the same kind of dimensional stone, heading to the same Yin Xue Realm.
The difference was that this time, there was no Mu Bingyun to protect him, no Mu Xiaolan. He was alone.
The rarest and most precious things in the world were undoubtedly space tools. However, dimensional stones that could travel through ultra-long distances weren't something to be used casually. Unlike dimensional arrays with fixed channels, traveling through space with a dimensional stone carried great risk, because during the journey, one might encounter space storms in spatial rifts.
If unlucky, one might even encounter a Shi Kun Beast.
The longer the distance, the longer the travel time, and the greater the risk.
To truly ignore this risk, one needed the power of the Divine Sovereign level.
This was also the common knowledge Mu Bingyun had taught him back then in this very space tunnel.
When Mu Bingyun secretly gave him this dimensional stone, she had specifically warned him not to use it unless absolutely necessary. But now, he was confident in his power. Even if he really encountered a space storm, he wouldn't be afraid at all.
He closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and silently thought about what he needed to do after returning to Yin Xue Realm... A quarter of an hour passed quickly. He opened his eyes.
At almost the same moment, the world before him suddenly switched. Everything became white, and a blast of cold wind hit him head-on.
Yin Xue Realm!