Chapter 1474: Qianye's Weakness
A weakness in personality?
Could someone as utterly ruthless and heartless as Qianye Ying'er actually have such a weakness?
"The weakness you speak of... could it be that Qianye Fantian holds significant weight in Qianye Ying'er's heart?" Yun Che asked.
The weight of a biological father in a daughter's heart is naturally very heavy, irreplaceable and incomparable by anyone else. But... this was Qianye Ying'er! Yun Che spoke those words with deep incredulity.
"Extremely heavy," Xia Qingyue said.
Yun Che: "..."
"You should have heard by now that Qianye Ying'er was born to Qianye Fantian's primary consort, the Divine Empress of the Fan Di God Realm. But in truth, Qianye Ying'er's birth mother was merely an ordinary concubine at the time. The Divine Empress back then was another person—the birth mother of the Fan Di Crown Prince."
Yun Che: "??" (Fan Di Crown Prince? Why does that title sound unfamiliar?)
"After Qianye Ying'er was born, at a very young age, she displayed astonishingly high talent and an even more astonishing ambition in the Way of Xuan. Her ambition in the Way of Xuan was partly due to her environment, and partly for the sake of her mother."
"At that time, Qianye Fantian had two thousand concubines. Coupled with the brutal survival laws of the Fan Di God Realm, the status of an ordinary concubine was easy to imagine. As a child, Qianye Ying'er depended on her mother for survival. To give her mother a higher status and more say in the Fan Di God Realm, she trained relentlessly. In her struggle for resources and opportunities, she displayed increasingly heavy scheming and ruthlessness, along with her naturally extremely high talent in the Way of Xuan... Naturally, her rate of growth alarmed the Fan Di God Realm, and also alarmed Qianye Fantian."
"At that time, Qianye Ying'er was not like she is now, sacrificing everything for her own benefit. On the contrary, she lived half—or more than half—for her mother."
"After that, Qianye Ying'er increasingly gained Qianye Fantian's attention, and her mother's status naturally rose day by day. Yet Qianye Ying'er's growth did not slacken because of this. On the contrary, with Qianye Fantian's attention, she obtained more opportunities and resources, making her already terrifyingly fast growth even more astonishing... Afterwards, Qianye Fantian even issued a secret decree in the Fan Di God Realm."
"He ordered the people of the Fan Di God Realm not to reveal or discuss matters concerning Qianye Ying'er outside." Xia Qingyue glanced sideways. "Do you know what this secret decree meant?"
"It was both a form of protection for her and... a symbol of special high expectations," Yun Che answered.
"Correct. With this decree issued, the entire Fan Di God Realm sensed something special in the air. The most unsettled was undoubtedly the Fan Di Crown Prince, and also... the Fan Di Divine Empress of that time! And at that time, rumors had already spread in the Fan Di God Realm that the Fantian Shen Di was clearly signaling that he would spare no effort in cultivating Qianye Ying'er, and in the future, he would naturally have her inherit the position of Divine Emperor. If so, the title of Fan Di Crown Prince might soon be abolished, and the Fan Di Divine Empress would likely be abolished simultaneously, replaced by Qianye Ying'er's mother."
"Afterwards... just four days after that secret decree was issued, Qianye Ying'er's mother died."
Yun Che: "..."
"Qianye Ying'er was also ambushed. But her profound strength at that time was already at the late stage of the Divine Sovereign Realm, and she had heavy vigilance and precautions, always wearing a protective profound artifact personally bestowed by Qianye Fantian. So she escaped unharmed... But she was unable to protect her mother. Or perhaps, at that tender age, she had not fully understood the horror of human hearts and the cruelty of the laws of survival."
"To dare strike even within the Fan Di God Realm." Yun Che shook his head. "The people of the Fan Di God Realm really are a bunch of madmen."
"[Although no clear evidence or traces were found], everyone knew in their hearts that the only ones who would take such a huge risk and resort to such a vicious hand were likely the Divine Empress and the Crown Prince."
"It is said that on that day, Qianye Ying'er was devastated to the point of collapse... You have witnessed Qianye Ying'er's ruthlessness and terror. You must find it hard to imagine her collapsing for someone. But the Qianye Ying'er of that time was not the Qianye Ying'er of today. Or perhaps, it was that incident that shaped the Qianye Ying'er of today."
"And on that same day, Qianye Fantian's fury spread throughout the entire Fan Di God Realm. He did something that shocked everyone... He personally executed the Divine Empress and the Crown Prince!"
"What!?" Yun Che was greatly shocked.
That very day... personally... executing his own Divine Empress, his own son... and he was the Crown Prince!
"And he declared that their names would be forever erased from the ancestral records of the Fan Di clan, and that no one was ever to mention them again. He also posthumously honored Qianye Ying'er's mother as the new Divine Empress."
"So... such a thing happened." Yun Che murmured softly.
"Now, do you understand?" Xia Qingyue said.
Yun Che nodded slightly: "Her mother was originally the most important relative in her life, and half her efforts were for her mother. When her mother was harmed, her father avenged her in the most ruthless and brutal way, giving her mother the greatest honor and comfort. Then, that affection and dependence for her mother would undoubtedly be partially, or perhaps entirely, transferred to Qianye Fantian... and she would also have a deep gratitude added."
"So..." Xia Qingyue slightly averted her gaze, as if she didn't want Yun Che to see the cold light that kept flickering in the depths of her eyes: "Qianye Fantian is the only familial affection and warmth in her humanity. When she is indifferent to everything else, then this sole affection and warmth becomes the thing she can least afford to lose."
"At the same time, it also becomes her only weakness!"
Yun Che: "..."
"And this weakness is the number one Divine Emperor of the Eastern Domain. Even if everyone in the world knew about it, they probably wouldn't consider it a weakness. But... a weakness is still a weakness after all."
A weakness like Qianye Fantian? Probably no one in the world except Xia Qingyue would think so. They would instead treat that statement as a joke.
But she really did...
A secret of the Fan Di God Realm... Qianye Ying'er's personality weakness... Qianye Fantian's temperament traits... the Evil Infant Devil Qi he was afflicted with... the inference that Yun Che could wield Dark Profound Force... Yun Che's Heavenly Poison Poison Force...
How did she put all of this together!?
"Qingyue," Yun Che suddenly said, "Can you answer me one question?"
Xia Qingyue: "?"
"Am I... considered your weakness?" Yun Che looked into her eyes.
"Before, yes." Without any hesitation or even a flicker in her gaze for a moment, she spoke calmly: "Back then, I could betray my adoptive father and the Yue Shen Realm for you. I could offer everything I possessed to beg Senior Shen Xi for help."
"... And now?"
Xia Qingyue turned her head back, her exquisite and serene gaze meeting his directly: "Now, I have no weaknesses."
Yun Che: "..."
"And you have countless ones!"
Yun Che stood there, silent for a long time.
Xia Qingyue turned around and walked away slowly: "Stay here and calm your mind. Think about what you need to do when the time comes. Although this move uses your strength to take revenge on Qianye Ying'er, if it succeeds, it will also bring you great benefits. After all, as the Yue Shen Di, how could I just use your time and strength for nothing?"
"Oh, and," she suddenly paused slightly and asked a strange question: "How many people have you killed in total?"
"... Several million, I suppose," Yun Che replied.
"Then, in the last three years?" Xia Qingyue asked again.
Yun Che thought for a moment and answered: "Four."
"Indeed," Xia Qingyue closed her eyes slightly: "The scent of blood on you is so faint that it surprises me. Why?"
"No special reason. I just haven't wanted to stain my hands with too much blood these past few years." Yun Che gave a faint smile: "You must find that laughable to say. But once you have your own children, you'll understand."
"On the contrary, over the past few years, the number of people I've saved under the Crimson Calamity far exceeds all those I've killed. Because of this, my mindset has become more and more peaceful, especially when I'm by my daughter's side."
Xia Qingyue took a light step, and a beautiful purple silhouette quietly drifted away without saying another word.
...
After leaving the bedchamber, Xia Qingyue sighed softly and called out: "Lian Yue."
A maiden dressed in sea-blue moon robes appeared before her and bowed gracefully.
"Go personally to the Zhou Tian God Realm and invite the Zhou Tian Shen Di to be our guest at the Yue Shen Realm in three days' time. Remember to inform him that Yun Che is here. That way, he will surely not refuse."
"Yes." Lian Yue responded softly, and her figure vanished into the moonlight.
"I hope it succeeds." Xia Qingyue murmured: "Even if it fails, with the backing of the Jie Tian Mo Di, he won't suffer any dire consequences. It's just..."
She raised her head. Above the vault of heaven, the bright moon hung high. It existed in the vast night sky, yet no one knew where it came from, nor where it would ultimately return.
...
Southern Divine Region, a dangerous place that no one dared to approach.
This place was called the Evil God's Relic Site. According to records, this was where the Evil God had secluded himself after abandoning his identity as the Creation God in ancient times. It was also where Mo Li had obtained the Evil God's Undying Blood back then.
However, now it was barren and devoid of any special aura, except for a group of fearsome Xuan Beasts that roamed the area, inspiring terror in all who heard of them.
In the distant sky above, Jie Yuan floated there quietly.
She had been here for an entire day and night, and for a full day and night, she had not moved a single inch, silently gazing down.
She wanted to find something, but all that remained here was waste and emptiness. Not even a trace of his existence, not a single hint of his aura or presence, had been preserved.
Ever since she learned that this was the Evil God's Relic Site and heard that the Tiansha Xingshen had found some kind of Evil God inheritance here, every inch of this land had been overturned countless times. How could anything still be left?
Finally, she withdrew her gaze and her spiritual sense. Instead of returning to accompany You Er, she chose a random direction and flew straight ahead.
She wanted to try searching the nearby star regions for any traces he might have left behind.
She passed through wastelands, forests, and rivers... and saw a human city. However, this human city was suffering a sudden catastrophe.
"How could the Xuan Beasts of the Silent and Deep Forest... aahhh!"
"Could this be... like the Eastern Divine Region... a Xuan Beast riot!?"
"Run... run!!"
Faced with the sudden Xuan Beast rampage, the unprepared humans fell into great panic. Their resistance was obviously feeble against the terrifying tidal wave of Xuan Beasts... Fear, screams, and despair spread through the entire city like a plague.
"Xin'er, run! Run!!"
A couple, while leading their barely ten-year-old daughter in flight, desperately fended off the pursuing Xuan Beasts, gradually nearing exhaustion.
Boom!
With a thunderous sound, the couple blocked the force of the Xuan Beasts, but failed to fully stop the shockwave. Their daughter was swept up like a hurricane, thrown into the distant sky, and fell toward the claws of a huge Xuan Beast in the distance.
The girl's scream and the couple's desperate roar echoed in the air.
At that moment, a flash of black light appeared. A pitch-black figure materialized between the girl and the Xuan Beast. The beast behind her instantly turned into black dust. The girl was now in her grasp, the force completely dispelled. Aside from fright, she was unharmed.
Jie Yuan waved her arm, tossing the girl back to her parents, and prepared to leave.
Catching their unscathed daughter, the couple's faces showed not gratitude, but endless terror. They stared at Jie Yuan, shrinking back as they retreated: "De... Demon! It's a Demon!!"
Jie Yuan: "..."
"Father, she saved me! She is my savior!" The girl was still shaken, but she spoke those words with particular clarity.
"No! She's a Demon!" The woman shielded her daughter, stepping backward step by step, terror flickering in her eyes... and perhaps hatred: "She is what Mother has told you many times—the most terrifying, the filthiest, the most evil Demon in the world!!"
"Quick! Quick, inform the city lord! Not only are there Xuan Beasts here, but a Demon has appeared!!"
"These rampaging Xuan Beasts are likely—no, they must be related to these Demons! Hurry! Inform the city lord... and the Great Realm King! We must not let the Demon leave alive!"
"..." Jie Yuan closed her eyes and vanished from the spot, leaving only the noise of a disaster that would not cease anytime soon.