Chapter 1454: The Only Hope
Yun Che's sudden step forward, and his words, drew everyone's attention, but what followed were faces full of mockery and pity...
Even a figure like Zhou Tian Shen Di was silenced with a single word and implicated with a death sentence. And now, this weakest one here, a person who had inexplicably followed along and had the least right to speak—he dared to jump out? Was he irredeemably stupid, or did he think he had lived too long?
"May I have a word?" In their eyes, facing a Demon Emperor, how foolish and pathetic was this statement.
"Yun Che, big brother!" Shui Meiyin cried out.
"You..." Shui Qianheng's eyes bulged wide, his heart burning with anxiety, but his entire body was frozen under extreme terror.
But immediately, all expressions were gradually replaced by shock and doubt.
Because at Yun Che's words, Jie Tian Mo Di... actually halted right there. Her outstretched hand froze in midair, the black aura on it no longer condensing and releasing, but instead suddenly becoming erratic and uncertain.
And her abyssal demon eyes locked firmly onto Yun Che's body...
One breath... two breaths... three breaths... and still she did not look away.
"...?" Zhou Tian Shen Di, who had already closed his eyes in despair, waiting for death, opened his eyes and stared bewildered at the suddenly bizarre scene, not knowing what to do.
The scene became extremely strange. Everyone held their breath, not daring to exhale loudly.
Wh-What's going on?
What happened?
Could it be... that this Demon Emperor, after being empty in the Outer Chaos for millions of years, had taken a liking to this pretty boy at first sight!?
Suddenly, like a whirlwind sweeping through, the black aura on Jie Yuan's hands dispersed, and the dark demonic pressure that had suppressed Zhou Tian, Qianye, Xing Shen, and Yue Shen vanished completely. Amidst the storm, Jie Yuan's body crossed space in an instant and appeared right in front of Yun Che. Her blue-black five fingers pierced through the blood-colored profound aura around him and grabbed at Yun Che's neck... Then, after a moment's hesitation, her fingers suddenly dropped and seized his collar.
She stared into Yun Che's eyes, her black pupils trembling slightly under the profound light he released: "You... why do you have 'his' power!?"
With her power, annihilating the profound aura Yun Che released would not even require a gesture—just a thought. But here, so close, with her hand already grabbing him, she seemed unwilling to dispel the profound aura on him, allowing the blood-colored light to touch her body and eyes.
Because that was the power of the Evil God Art's fifth realm, "Yama King"!
Yun Che did not struggle. Even his original anxiety and fear had diminished somewhat, because what he feared was not the Demon Emperor's reaction like this, but rather her remaining completely unmoved. And Jie Tian Mo Di's reaction was far more intense than he had anticipated.
"Because I am the inheritor of 'his' power and will." Under the close scrutiny of Jie Tian Mo Di, he spoke calmly—though inwardly he was actually panicking immensely.
(Because one careless heavy breath from Jie Tian Mo Di could directly kill him.)
When Jie Tian Mo Di had appeared, these great powerhouses of the God Realm were all terrified to the point of heart and gall splitting. Only Yun Che had maintained some optimism. If it were just any Demon Emperor, Yun Che would have been as dark and despairing as everyone else. But he knew that besides being a Demon Emperor, she also had another identity...
The one beloved by the Evil God.
As the being who ended his own existence early to leave hope for future generations, the "greatest god" spoken of by the Ice Phoenix God Spirit, he believed that the Jie Tian Mo Di, who had earned the Evil God's breaking of taboos to convey his emotions and even been given the Cosmic Thorn, could not be a cruel and heartless demon by nature.
And given her life and will at the Demon Emperor level, he also believed that millions of years of survival in the Outer Chaos would fill her soul with hatred, but that was not enough to change her soul's essence!
He believed... he had to believe that he could move her.
The world was colder and quieter than ever. Everyone was dumbfounded. They didn't understand what was happening, nor did they dare make a sound.
The profound aura in the "Yama King" state was the color of fresh blood, glaringly bright in the dim, oppressive, cold space.
The world froze again for a moment, only the hand Jie Yuan had gripping Yun Che's collar slowly tightening. Their faces and gazes were less than half a foot apart. Yun Che could clearly see her scarred, blue-black face trembling slightly... as if she were enduring immense pain.
"'He'... is dead too?" Jie Yuan spoke, those few words uttered with incredible difficulty.
Jie Yuan's reaction stirred excitement in Yun Che's heart. He knew exactly what this meant...
Yun Che nodded gently: "A million years ago, both the god race and the demon race were completely annihilated... the Element Creation God was the last god to fall."
When Jie Yuan and the Jie Tian Demon Clan were banished, the Evil God did not yet exist; only the Element Creation God existed.
Everyone besides Jie Yuan heard Yun Che's words clearly.
As the highest beings of this age, who already knew the truth of the Scarlet Red, their hearts all jolted violently at this moment. Their dilated pupils stared directly at the blood-red profound light on Yun Che's body... and in their minds, they also recalled his astonishing feats at the Profound God Convention—controlling three elemental powers, defeating a god with the Divine Tribulation Realm, and defeating a god king with a god...
"C-Could it be..." Zhou Tian Shen Di murmured.
Jie Yuan's hand tightened sharply, and Yun Che's collar instantly turned into black dust.
Her dark pupils trembled chaotically. Yun Che could clearly feel a deep sorrow and grief spreading from Jie Yuan's body. She grabbed her own forehead, her teeth clenched tightly: "Ah... aah... ah..."
It was like a suddenly despairing beast, letting out a distorted, anguished wail... a sorrow from a Demon Emperor that could shatter a Demon Emperor's will...
"Dead... dead... dead... dead..."
Creak... creak... the sound of teeth about to shatter.
Everyone was stunned. Even Yun Che was shocked. Jie Yuan's reaction was far, far stronger than even the best outcome he had imagined...
After being isolated for millions of years, after nursing hatred for millions of years, the returning Jie Tian Mo Di's feelings for the Evil God were...
Wasn't it said that the higher the status, the greater the power, the longer the lifespan, the more all emotions were diluted—like Xing Jie Kong? Why was Jie Tian Mo Di's reaction almost more intense than a mortal losing their beloved?
"Ni Xuan... why did you die... why didn't you wait for me to return..." Her fingers twisted as if sinking into her skull, and her body trembled like duckweed...
Everyone's sight and soul were severely blurred. They couldn't believe that this was the same Jie Tian Mo Di who had just been so awe-inspiring, annihilating three Fan Gods with a flick of her finger, making them tremble in despair.
Ni Xuan... Yun Che silently recited in his heart: So that is the Evil God's original name?
The Evil God had not only abandoned the divine name of Element Creation God but seemed to have abandoned his original name as well. None of the ancient texts recorded the Evil God's true name.
"I... in the Outer Chaos... unwilling to die... not only for revenge... but even more to keep the promise with you... why... why did you break your promise... why... why..."
From between her fingers, Yun Che even saw a fleeting glimmer of tears.
But the next instant, she suddenly raised her head, her gaze fixed on Yun Che. The heavy sorrow instantly transformed into a dark pressure like an endless abyss: "He is dead... you... are not him! You are merely a mortal who received his grace and gained his power! How dare you, a mere mortal, speak before me!"
"How dare you, a mere mortal, inherit his power!"
Her words still carried a slight tremor... The Element Creation God, her husband, was dead. The impact of this event on her was something no one, no living being, could understand or empathize with.
Yet even as she spoke, the terrifying demonic aura on her body involuntarily receded, receded further... as if afraid of harming this fragile mortal before her.
Yun Che said, "Junior understands. I am indeed just a mortal, but I have received the great grace of the Element Creation God throughout my life, and I can never repay it. I never dared to hope for even a glance of equal regard from Senior Demon Emperor. I only ask that, considering the power I bear, Senior allow me to say a few words to you."
Yun Che's words were addressed to Jie Yuan, but they struck like thunderclaps in the hearts of everyone present.
Element Creation God... Evil God...
During the Sealing God Battle, Yun Che had shocked the world. The special powers he constantly displayed and unleashed had led countless people to speculate and countless others to covet.
Today, they learned that what Yun Che carried was the Evil God's divine power inheritance!
An inheritance from a Creation God that had never appeared before!
The six Star Gods of Star God Realm were also shocked... Back then in Star God Realm, the Heavenly Origin Star God Tu Mi had called out that Yun Che likely possessed the Evil God's divine power inheritance. But at that time, it was all speculation. Faced with such speculation, no one could truly believe it. And now—Jie Tian Mo Di's relationship with the Evil God, Jie Tian Mo Di's reaction, Yun Che's own confession... no one could have any doubt.
No wonder... no wonder Yun Che could master fire, ice, and water divine powers to such perfection. No wonder he could cross a major realm in the divine path and defeat his opponents... He had inherited the power of a Creation God, power a level higher than even a True God's inheritance!
If this matter had been revealed before today, while it would have caused a stir, it would also have inevitably attracted countless covetous and greedy eyes... just like Qianye Ying'er.
But now, alongside their shock, they also felt excitement... and subsequent hope.
They suddenly understood why Yun Che had stepped forward, and they clearly saw Jie Tian Mo Di's reaction, so abnormal and hard to believe, when facing the power on Yun Che's body.
The way they looked at Yun Che completely changed, as if they had suddenly seen a bright ray of light in a dark world. Zhou Tian Shen Di raised his hand, his lips moving, but he dared not make a sound. The gaze he fixed on Yun Che was full of hope... and supplication.
Or perhaps, beseeching.
Finally, Jie Yuan gave Yun Che an answer: "Tell me, how did 'he' die?"
Jie Yuan's words undoubtedly granted Yun Che an opportunity to speak to her!
Everyone's eyes brightened several times.
It was impossible to describe the shock and complexity in their hearts... They were the rulers of this age, the only ones qualified to deal with this calamity.
But what they had faced was utter powerlessness and despair. And this sudden hope was tied to a junior who had "sneaked" into the Zhou Tian Convention, whose level was far below theirs, and whose lifespan was only half a jiazi.
Yun Che let out a slight breath and said, "Back then, after Senior was ambushed, the relationship between the god race and demon race grew increasingly hostile. Later, the Heaven-Slaying God Emperor Mo E exhausted his lifespan due to overuse of the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword and fell. The Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword became masterless... With this as the trigger, the two races engaged in fierce battle. Countless demons and gods fell one after another in the prolonged war..."
Yun Che's narration was somewhat tactful, using the word "ambush," and when mentioning the ancient two races, he always placed the demon race first.
"...In the end, the demon race, on the verge of defeat, unsealed the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel. But the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel was not controlled by anyone. It hijacked the Eternal Night Demon Clan's Demon Lord as its own vessel, combined with the power of the Heavenly Poison Pearl, and released the ultimate demon poison 'Myriad Tribulations of Oblivion,' burying all demons and gods, including... the Element Creation God."
Yun Che was still very young after all, and had read few ancient texts. But he tried to describe the apocalyptic calamity known to everyone in the God Realm as detailed as possible.
Jie Yuan listened silently, not saying a word. But when Yun Che finished his last sentence, her black pupils moved suddenly, showing a reaction that Yun Che had not anticipated.
"No, that's wrong!" Jie Yuan shook her head, her eyes deep as an abyss: "He was the master of the Heavenly Poison! How could his Heavenly Poison Pearl be hijacked by the Xie Ying!"
"...Huh?" Yun Che was stunned.