Chapter 1466: The Heavy Burden of Saving the World
A group of prideful bigwigs were flattering and fawning before him to the utmost. Although he knew it was because of the fox borrowing the tiger's might, no one would dislike such a feeling.
This kind of reverence, where even Divine Emperors bowed in gratitude, had probably never been experienced by anyone before.
Yun Che then said, "There is no need for everyone to be like this. I haven't finished speaking yet."
The hall finally quieted down, with all gazes focused on Yun Che. His expression was grave and solemn as he said, "Senior Demon Emperor indeed personally said that he would not indiscriminately kill living beings, nor would he bring disaster to the world out of hatred. But this by no means signifies the end of the calamity. You all seem to have forgotten one thing."
Yun Che's expression and words caused a sudden unease in everyone. Mu Xuanyin's icy brows sank. "What do you mean by that? Explain immediately!"
"Yes." Yun Che quickly responded, then spoke slowly, "Everyone should know that back then, it was not only Jie Tian Mo Di who was banished beyond the Chaos, but also the nine hundred demon gods of the Jie Tian Demon Clan who accompanied her!"
These words caused the air to suddenly condense. Xia Qingyue frowned deeply and said, "Do you mean to say... those nine hundred demon gods... are still alive!?"
The gazes concentrated on Yun Che immediately became heavy. Yun Che's voice also unconsciously became several times heavier. "Senior Demon Emperor informed me that although only she has returned this time, the nine hundred demon gods from back then did not all perish in the Outer Chaos as we assumed. Instead, nearly ten percent—that is, nearly a hundred demon gods—have survived until now."
"This..." Everyone felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, their bodies and souls trembling violently.
"The reason they did not return together with Senior Demon Emperor was that they feared being annihilated by the prepared Divine Clan, which would have resulted in total defeat for their revenge. At the same time, they were limited by the space of the Outer Chaos and could not quickly approach the spatial passage opened on the Chaos Wall by the Cosmic Thorn."
"But 'quickly' is only a relative term." Yun Che's voice grew even heavier. "Senior Demon Emperor said that although the power of the Cosmic Thorn cannot recover quickly in the current Chaos space, relying on the demon gods' own strength, they can likewise temporarily open a spatial passage in the Outer Chaos close to the Chaos Wall, and then enter the Chaos World through the crimson passage on the Chaos Wall... and at the very least, it will only take a few months!"
"Wha... at!?"
The joy and excitement from before were instantly doused. Aside from being greatly shocked, everyone felt a chill all over their bodies.
In the current Chaos World, a single demon god was enough to destroy the world. Nearly a hundred demon gods... if they entered the Chaos together, it was impossible to imagine what would happen.
"Such a thing has happened!" Zhou Tian Shen Di's face no longer held any gentle reassurance. His brows slanted upward like swords.
Although Jie Tian Mo Di believed back then that the First Divine Emperor Mo E could not have schemed against her, she was still on guard. She did not go to the appointment alone but brought nine hundred demon gods with her. As a result, those nine hundred accompanying demon gods were also banished together. This was clearly recorded in various texts. That day, when Jie Tian Mo Di appeared alone, they all naturally assumed that those demon gods had perished. After all, there was still a difference in realm between demon gods and a Demon Emperor. The fact that a Demon Emperor could survive in the Outer Chaos until now did not necessarily mean demon gods could as well.
Unexpectedly, behind the Demon Emperor, nearly a hundred demon gods were about to return to the world.
Moreover, the spatial passage like crimson crystal had indeed been "embedded" on the Chaos Wall. In the past month, there was almost no sign of it disappearing, and hardly any change had occurred.
At this moment, Huo Poyun suddenly spoke. "There is no need for everyone to be so panicked. Even if all these demon gods return to the world, they will all obey the commands of Jie Tian Mo Di. Since Jie Tian Mo Di has promised not to bring disaster to the world, she will naturally restrain these demon gods as well."
Huo Poyun's words gave everyone a moment of reassurance. Yun Che glanced at Huo Poyun and said, "I thought the same before. But the reality is much harsher."
"Senior Demon Emperor indeed will not bring disaster to the world. But... she told me in a heavy, unquestionable tone that she will only restrain herself. As for those demon gods who will return to the world in a few months, she will absolutely not control them."
Boom...
The suddenly chaotic aura caused the space to tremble violently, and the great hall nearly shattered.
First, they had been joyful and relieved, then greatly alarmed, then slightly relieved by Huo Poyun's words, and now they were shocked again... This calamity, so close and involving life and death, caused the emotions of these Divine Lords to surge like towering waves.
"Although it is cruel, this is actually the most normal outcome." Yun Che sighed. "The suffering and torment these demon gods have endured, and the hatred and resentment they have accumulated over the years in the Outer Chaos, are far beyond what anyone can imagine. Moreover, they are the clansmen who shared hardship with Senior Demon Emperor, and they were banished because of her... No matter how kind Senior Demon Emperor's nature is, how could she stop them from venting their anger?"
"Even if their hatred is fully vented and they do whatever they want to the current Chaos, Senior Demon Emperor will still not interfere in any way. After all, billions of common beings cannot compare to even a single one of her few clansmen."
"Furthermore..." Yun Che's words were harsher than the last, but he had to make things clear. "These demon gods are not as powerful as Senior Demon Emperor. Their minds have long been twisted over the years in the Outer Chaos. Senior Demon Emperor herself told me that they have all become true demons through prolonged hatred, anger, struggle, torment, pain, and death. What such demons will do when they return to the world... is unimaginable."
The great hall was silent as a ghost domain. Although the cold air of Yin Xue Realm could not invade their bodies, they felt an icy chill penetrating to their very bones.
"A few months... exactly how many months?" Zhou Tian Shen Di asked. His expression remained calm, but his tone had completely changed.
Yun Che shook his head. "Senior Demon Emperor did not specify. She originally planned to return and bring the demon gods in after the Cosmic Thorn's power had recovered sufficiently. But upon arrival, she discovered that the Chaos aura had already changed, causing the Cosmic Thorn's power to be extremely difficult to recover. The demon gods outside the Chaos do not know this, so they will likely wait for a period of time before opening a passage themselves... Therefore, the best-case scenario is that it will be a bit longer than 'a few months.'"
"No," Xia Qingyue suddenly spoke calmly. "Those demon gods endured for millions of years to achieve this result. Knowing that the Chaos Wall has been successfully breached... in terms of human nature, I do not believe they will wait peacefully for Jie Tian Mo Di to return and fetch them. Instead, they will likely begin forcefully opening a spatial passage at the first opportunity."
"Therefore, we should consider the shortest time and prepare for the worst."
No one refuted Xia Qingyue's words. Indeed, hundreds of years of torment... the hate-filled demon gods probably would not wait even half a breath.
"Sooner or later, what difference does it make?" An Upper Realm King sat down weakly and sighed heavily.
Nearly a hundred demon gods, and hate-filled ones at that...
"The Cosmic Thorn's power cannot recover quickly, which means it is impossible to open a second spatial passage." Saint Universe Realm King said in a low voice. "Is there any way... to destroy the passage on the Chaos Wall?"
"No!" Zhou Tian Shen Di immediately rejected the idea. "The spatial passage that the Cosmic Thorn spent so many years opening cannot be destroyed or interfered with by the current powers. Not only is such an attempt impossible to succeed, it is also very likely to anger Jie Tian Mo Di."
"Indeed." Xia Qingyue nodded slightly, her expression thoughtful.
"Does Zhou Tian Shen Di have a countermeasure?" Qianye Fantian asked.
Zhou Tian Shen Di shook his head. "You are most clear on the limits of the current powers. Even a single demon god is basically impossible to deal with, let alone a hundred. Which of the 'countermeasures' we can think of and implement can interfere with the realm of demon gods?"
Qianye Fantian sighed heavily.
"The only hope still lies with Divine Son Yun." At this point, Zhou Tian Shen Di's address for Yun Che had completely changed to Divine Son Yun. His voice was heavy, his eyes carrying deep entreaty and expectation. "Divine Son Yun, it truly is only you..."
Apart from Yun Che, they barely even had a chance to say a single word to Jie Tian Mo Di.
"Zhou Tian Shen Di, there is no need to say more. I understand." Yun Che took a long breath. "Although the hope is very slim, I will do my utmost. Even if I cannot succeed, at the very least... I hope to achieve the best possible outcome."
Zhou Tian Shen Di nodded deeply, moved. "That you can say this is a blessing for all living beings. Ah... We originally believed ourselves to possess the supreme powers of this era, but before this calamity, we are so insignificant and powerless. The heavy burden of saving the world falls entirely on you alone. Beyond gratitude, we are deeply ashamed."
Yun Che said, "Zhou Tian Shen Di, there is no need for this. After all, I too am a person of this era. Saving the world is saving myself. Additionally, back then, the Evil God left behind divine power inheritance precisely for the calamity of today. Since I have received the Evil God's power and bear his grace, it is only right that I fulfill his final wish."
"As a Creation God, to leave such grace for the common beings of later generations... the Evil God is truly a great deity." Zhou Tian Shen Di sighed deeply. "Divine Son Yun, had I known all of this earlier, I would have done everything to protect you, and you would not have faced the calamity of nearly falling a few years ago."
Yun Che smiled faintly. "If I had spoken of it earlier, not only would no one have believed me, it would have attracted countless covetous eyes. I believe everyone here understands this very well."
"Indeed." Qianye Fantian stepped forward, his expression stern and his eyes cold as he swept his gaze over the crowd. "The saying 'A man is as good as his treasure' rings true. Greedy people are the most abundant in this world. Not to mention whether the Evil God's divine power can be taken away, from now on, whoever dares to covet Divine Son Yun will be an enemy of my Fan Di Divine Realm, and I will never forgive them!"
Yun Che: "..."
"Lord Fantian Shen Di is right!"
"Not to mention coveting, from now on, whoever dares to harm Divine Son Yun will be an enemy of my Zhe Xing Realm!"
...
The various Realm Kings chimed in agreement, their expressions firm and tinged with anger, as if anyone who dared to provoke Yun Che would become their mortal enemy.
"Divine Son Yun, you were able to make Jie Tian Mo Di set aside her resentment. It is also possible that you can win hope before those demon gods return to the world." Zhou Tian Shen Di took a few steps forward, his words heavy with meaning. "Even if there is only a slight turning point, you will save countless innocent beings and perhaps even ensure long-term peace for this era. When that time comes, you will be the true Lord of Salvation. All living beings in the world will greatly respect you. Whoever dares to offend or harm you will not only face us but the anger of all living beings."
As he spoke, Zhou Tian Shen Di bowed deeply once more. "Regardless of what the future holds, if Divine Son Yun has any needs or requests during this time, please feel free to bring them up. I will surely comply with all of them. If Divine Son Yun can succeed in saving the world, then the entire Zhou Tian Realm is willing to be commanded by you!"
Zhou Tian Shen Di's words were shocking one after another, but his expression was extremely solemn. Moreover, he said this not just to Yun Che alone but to the entire assembly. Every word came from the depths of his heart, resounding with conviction.