Chapter 1448: The Big Shots Gather
The place where the Zhou Tian Grand Assembly was convened was none other than the Feng Shen Platform, the site of the Feng Shen Battle.
When Yun Che followed Mu Xuanyin into the Feng Shen Platform, almost all of the Divine Lord-level experts from the various star realms had already arrived. The vast Feng Shen Platform held several hundred seated figures, appearing sparse from a distance. Yet, it was precisely these several hundred people that made the entire platform’s aura incomparably heavy.
Because these few hundred individuals were the concentrated gathering of the strongest in the Eastern Divine Region! Any one of them was the absolute sovereign of a starry domain, standing at the highest point between heaven and earth, like a living god, worshipped and looked up to by all living beings.
The Eastern Divine Region had over twenty thousand star realms, with countless billions of lives, yet only five hundred Upper Star Realms, and a mere seven hundred Divine Lords. Today, almost all of them were concentrated at the Zhou Tian Feng Shen Platform.
This was a spectacle that ordinary people could not even imagine.
As Yun Che and Mu Xuanyin arrived, the already quiet scene grew even more silent and cold. Over seven hundred gazes almost simultaneously swept over—except for a few, they were not directed at Mu Xuanyin, but firmly fixed on Yun Che.
What kind of figures were these people present?
To be so noticed by these top-tier big shots as a junior of half a Jiazi in age—perhaps in the entire God Realm, only Yun Che could achieve this.
Yun Che’s fall in the Star God Realm years ago had been known throughout the world, causing countless sighs of regret. Half a month ago, rumors of him still being alive began to spread. Now, seeing him in person, they could not help but be astonished.
They were also surprised that he was allowed to participate in this Zhou Tian Grand Assembly, which was supposedly only for Divine Lords.
As they approached the Feng Shen Platform, Yun Che felt a tightness in his chest, and his complexion turned abnormal. Under the concentrated gazes and auras of these terrifying Divine Lords, Yun Che’s body swayed slightly, and he nearly spat blood on the spot.
Mu Xuanyin reached out and gently touched his back. Instantly, the heavy pressure covering Yun Che dissipated without a trace. His complexion improved, and his breathing steadied.
“Brother Yun Che, over here, over here!”
In this place where big shots gathered, where even the broken clouds dared not drift, a girl’s voice rang out crisply. Shui Meiyin stood up, hopping and waving at Yun Che, completely ignoring the strange looks from those around her.
Beside her sat Shui Qianheng and her sister Shui Yingyue.
The Glazed Light Realm, the Upper Star Realm with the most Divine Lords currently, had all three of its Divine Lords in attendance.
Mu Xuanyin brought Yun Che along. With a flash of blue light, they took their seats beside the Glazed Light Realm.
Shui Yingyue turned her eyes, glanced at Yun Che, and gave him a slight nod. Her appearance was just like years ago, almost unchanged, even her outer garment was the same blue dress with water patterns as before.
Yun Che was not at all surprised to see Shui Yingyue. As one of the Four Divine Sons of the Eastern Domain back then, it would have been strange if she were not among the nineteen newly arisen Divine Lords of the Zhou Tian Divine Realm.
Yun Che greeted Shui Qianheng and the Shui sisters, then sat down properly beside Mu Xuanyin. The moment his bottom touched the seat, Shui Meiyin fluttered over like a butterfly and sat beside him, her face full of joyful smiles tinged with shyness.
In these three days at the Zhou Tian Realm, their relationship had indeed grown much closer.
Moreover, with Shui Qianheng and Mu Xuanyin beginning to discuss the wedding date, she had basically started thinking of herself as Yun Che’s person.
This girl, with her charming smiles and picturesque demeanor, sticking to a man like sticky candy without regard for others nearby—if one did not know her, they would never believe she was a big shot among big shots here, a figure whom nine out of ten Upper Realm Kings dared not look directly upon… a Level 7 Divine Lord with a Stainless Divine Soul!
Shui Meiyin’s behavior, like a girl madly in love, caused countless hearts to tremble incessantly.
Shui Qianheng sighed softly, shook his head, and looked helpless. Shui Yingyue, on the other hand, showed surprise, constantly glancing at the subtle interactions between Yun Che and Shui Meiyin.
As Shui Meiyin’s sister and the one who had spent the most time with her, Shui Yingyue least understood why Meiyin was so infatuated with Yun Che. Even after three thousand years, it had not faded but seemed even stronger than before.
It made her suspect that such a thing as “bewitchment” really existed in this world.
Yun Che swept his gaze across the scene. He knew the identities of everyone present, and he was well aware of how terrifying it was that he could be here.
Among these people, he saw many familiar faces.
Huo Poyun!
After Yun Che arrived, he had kept his head down. When Yun Che’s gaze swept over him, he showed no reaction, as if completely unaware of his arrival or gaze.
Jun Xilei… no doubt! When Yun Che’s eyes met hers, he instantly felt as if a sword had pierced his very soul, making him grimace in pain…
This vengeful little wench, a three-thousand-year-old old hag! With your rotten temper, you’ll never marry in this life!
Lu Lengchuan… Seeing him, Yun Che was not surprised at all.
Their eyes met, and they nodded and smiled at each other.
“Brother Yun, seeing you well is truly a great fortune,” Lu Lengchuan transmitted his voice.
“Congratulations to Brother Lu on attaining the Great Path,” Yun Che also transmitted.
“Unfortunately, you did not enter the Zhou Tian Divine Realm. Every time I think of it, I deeply regret it,” Lu Lengchuan said with regret.
“Haha, everyone has their own fate. No need to dwell on it.”
Beside the Futi Realm was the Saint Universe Realm, and Yun Che immediately spotted Luo Changsheng.
Compared to before, Luo Changsheng’s appearance had changed noticeably, becoming very mature. He no longer had the frail elegance of the past, nor did he exude a domineering aura. His eyes and presence were exceptionally restrained, like a tiger accustomed to quietly resting, never willing to show its claws and fangs.
He was remarkably calm about Yun Che’s arrival. When Yun Che’s gaze swept over, he smiled slightly and even nodded in greeting, as if he had completely forgotten the humiliation of the past, or as if he knew nothing of what had happened half a month ago.
Luo Changsheng was accompanied only by the Saint Universe Realm King Luo Shangchen, but there was no sign of Luo Guxie.
At this time, her arm should not have been reformed yet. Why would she come out to embarrass herself? Yun Che thought.
“Brother Yun Che,” Shui Meiyin whispered in his ear, “you still haven’t told me why you came to this assembly.”
“To watch the excitement, of course. After all, such a grand occasion probably only happens once in a lifetime,” Yun Che said half-truthfully.
“Liar!” Shui Meiyin stuck out her tongue, then leaned closer, her soft lips almost touching Yun Che’s ear. “Brother Yun Che, the day you defeated her, the two older sisters kneeling beneath you—what happened?”
“~!@#$%...” Yun Che’s body trembled.
Mu Xuanyin glanced sideways.
“Let’s discuss that later, later!” Yun Che’s old face flushed slightly.
“Pfft…” Shui Meiyin covered her lips with her hand, gazing at Yun Che’s twitching face with fascination, and said very softly, “Actually, Brother Yun Che is much worse than he looks, making such beautiful sisters do that. In the future… you’ll definitely bully me like that too, hmph, so bad.”
As she spoke, it seemed the image reappeared in her mind, her face instantly covered in pink haze, making her indescribably charming.
“...” Yun Che obediently kept his mouth shut. This was the Feng Shen Platform of the Zhou Tian Realm, surrounded by big shots, and this little girl was… simply a deliberate heart-rousing enchantress!
Yun Che nervously glanced around… if her father or sister heard that, it would be terrible!
“Oh, right,” she whispered again, her nose tip touching Yun Che’s ear, soft and ticklish, “have you ever bullied your master like that?”
“Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough…” Yun Che’s whole body shuddered, and he immediately choked on his own saliva, unable to catch his breath for a long time.
Mu Xuanyin: “…………”
“D-d-d-d-don’t talk nonsense! Sh-sh-sh-she’s my master… y-y-y-you…”
Yun Che felt as if someone had grabbed his head and pressed his face into the ground, his words stumbling horribly.
After all, he was guilty…
“Oh…” Shui Meiyin drew out the sound, finally letting Yun Che off.
But Yun Che, after wiping his cold sweat, immediately counterattacked. He leaned close to her ear, imitating her, and whispered in a voice he thought no one else could hear, “I’ll tell you then. What those two ‘older sisters’ did is called… after you marry me, you’ll have to do it every day, got it?”
“...” Shui Meiyin’s face turned bright red. Her sister Shui Yingyue turned and casually asked, “Han Xiao? What’s that? Are you discussing some kind of technique?”
Shui Meiyin: “...”
Mu Xuanyin: “...”
Shui Qianheng: “...”
Yun Che looked up woodenly, his internal organs feeling suspended and trembling violently. “N-n-no… you… y-you misheard.”
“Misheard?” Shui Yingyue was about to ask again when she noticed Shui Meiyin’s abnormal complexion, so red it seemed to burn. She frowned and asked with concern, “Mei’er, what’s wrong? Why does your face look so bad?”
“Cough, don’t mind her. Focus on the important matter at hand,” Shui Qianheng said seriously.
“...” Shui Yingyue turned her gaze back and suddenly realized that everyone’s expressions seemed off. Feeling both confused and suspicious, she thought… perhaps she shouldn’t ask?
“Bastard! Even bullying my sister,” Shui Meiyin said quietly, still covering her burning face.
“I only bullied you, you know,” Yun Che said with a look of grievance.
Shui Meiyin’s lips moved silently, the tip of her pink tongue lightly touching her lip. Then she leaned close to Yun Che’s ear again and said softly, “For Brother Yun Che’s sake, I’ll study hard. I’ll definitely do better than those older sisters. But you have to teach me well, okay?”
After speaking, she buried her face, not daring to look at Yun Che for a long time.
“...” Yun Che felt every cell in his body surging, his blood vessels bulging almost to bursting. He closed his eyes, bit his tongue, and frantically chanted the Heart Freezing Technique in his mind… After a long while, his expression finally returned to normal.
This girl is definitely a reincarnated enchantress!
On the other side, Shui Qianheng grabbed his face, squeezing it between his fingers, a nameless sorrow rising in his heart: Who exactly did I raise this daughter for?
After all the effort I put into nurturing and protecting this precious cabbage, she goes and offers herself to be eaten…
“They’re here!” Shui Yingyue suddenly murmured.
At the same time, the atmosphere on the Feng Shen Platform condensed sharply.
The drifting clouds that had been still in the sky for a while slowly parted. The space rippled like water, and then the figure of an old man slowly emerged. He wore a gray robe, with a kind face, majestic yet not imposing—it was precisely Zhou Tian Shen Di.
As he appeared, fifteen figures in the same attire materialized behind him.
The arrival of Zhou Tian Shen Di made all the big shots of the Eastern Domain stand to welcome him. But when they saw the fifteen people behind him, everyone was greatly shocked, their minds trembling.
These fifteen figures… were none other than the Zhou Tian Guardians!
During the Calamity of the Evil Infant that year, Zhou Tian had lost two Guardians. The original seventeen Guardians now numbered fifteen, and today, all fifteen had appeared, led by the Taiyu Zunzhe.
This was definitely a formation far beyond anyone’s expectations.
“Heh heh, the old man arrives late, making everyone wait long,” Zhou Tian Shen Di said, looking around, then raised his hand. “Honored guests, please take your seats to discuss important matters.”
The moment his words fell, the already immensely heavy atmosphere of the Feng Shen Platform suddenly erupted with one terrifying aura after another.
At the exclusive seating area of the Star God Realm, six beams of different colored profound light descended from the sky—it was none other than the Six Star Gods!
During the Calamity of the Evil Infant, the Star God Realm had suffered catastrophic losses. Its core region was completely destroyed, the Star God Emperor had vanished without a trace, and of the original Twelve Star Gods, some had died and some had left, leaving only six. They could only temporarily reside in subordinate star realms. Compared to their former glory, the Star God Realm was now a pitifully withered sight.
But even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Regardless of everything else, with the remaining six Star Gods and sixteen Star God Elders, they still possessed a force that no Upper Star Realm could match, and they could still influence the entire structure of the Eastern Divine Region.
The moment the Six Star Gods took their seats, their gazes seemed to have agreed in advance—they all fixed on Yun Che.
Yun Che’s brows darkened, his gaze turning cold. Instead of avoiding them, he stared back directly and fiercely.
In the end, it was the Six Star Gods who quickly looked away, each of their faces showing different complex changes.
Yun Che’s death back then—others had only heard rumors. When they heard he was still alive, they were surprised… but only surprised.
But these Six Star Gods had personally witnessed Yun Che’s miserable death!
Even his remains had been completely destroyed, leaving not a trace.
So when they heard the news of Yun Che’s survival and saw him with their own eyes, the shock and terror in their hearts were beyond imagination.
Along with their shock came a fear and unease that only they could understand.
Yun Che had died back then because of the Star God Realm, not because of the Evil Infant. Moreover, they knew very well the nature of that “ceremony” back then… and also knew why the “Evil Infant” had descended.
And if these truths were to become known and believed by the world, the consequences for the Star God Realm were all too imaginable.