Chapter 1492: Evil Infant Mo Li
In this world, the only ones who knew he possessed another fragment of the Heaven-Defying World Scripture were himself and Xiao Lingxi... and the Ice Phoenix God who had read his memories.
But from the Ice Phoenix God's reaction and account, it was clear that even she did not know the Heaven-Defying World Scripture was actually the Ancestral Divine Art.
Moreover, based on the divine art that Xiao Lingxi had decoded, the mysterious black jade should be the first part of the Heaven-Defying World Scripture.
Heaven-Defying World Scripture... the Ancestral Divine Art left behind by the Primordial God—if one could cultivate it to completion, could it truly defy the heavens?
These thoughts swirled chaotically through Yun Che's mind, but soon he pushed them aside.
The Heavenly Poison Pearl was still releasing its purifying aura with all its might, but there was still no sign or aura of Mo Li.
"Shadow Slave, there's one thing I've always been curious about. Back then, how did you come to know about my relationship with Mo Li and that I possessed the Evil God's inheritance?" Yun Che asked as he waited.
Qianye Ying'er replied, "I found out from the Tiansha Xingshen. She personally said it to the Tianlang Xingshen."
Yun Che's brow furrowed deeply. "Mo Li's spiritual perception is universally acknowledged as unmatched in the God Realm. How could you possibly have eavesdropped on her words?"
Qianye Ying'er said calmly, "Her mind was in great turmoil at the time because of your appearance. Also, like you, Master, I am capable of Shadow Concealment, so I approached extremely close. My spiritual perception passed through the soundproof barrier she set up, and she didn't notice."
"Shadow Concealment? You can hide your shadow?" Yun Che was inwardly startled.
In his understanding, the only one in the world who had mastered Shadow Concealment was himself... perhaps his master might also be capable, but she had never revealed it in his presence.
He had never heard of any other movement technique in the world that could achieve Shadow Concealment, and he had even thought it might be a unique divine skill of the Ice Phoenix lineage's "Moon-Breaking Shadow Flick."
And among all the rumors about Qianye Ying'er, none had ever mentioned she could hide her shadow!
Under Yun Che's astonished gaze, without any visible movement from Qianye Ying'er, a faint, barely perceptible glimmer flashed across her golden mask. Her graceful figure turned slightly and then rapidly faded. In the blink of an eye as she completed her rotation, she had vanished without a trace, leaving behind no aura or trace whatsoever.
Yun Che: "..."
Half a breath later, Qianye Ying'er's figure materialized instantly, standing there in her previous posture.
"This is the core movement technique of my Fan Di God Realm, 'Hongguang Fanying.' I am the only one in the ninety thousand years since the Founding Ancestor to have cultivated it to the ultimate realm of Shadow Concealment," Qianye Ying'er said slowly. "Thus, Master, you are not the first person in this era capable of Shadow Concealment—you are the second."
Yun Che was silent for a long time.
He vaguely felt that he might be the first person outside the Fan Di God Realm to know she possessed the ability to hide her shadow.
The only one in the ninety-thousand-year history since the Fan Di Founding Ancestor to master "Shadow Concealment." Qianye Ying'er's talent and comprehension were undoubtedly formidable.
At the same time, she had hidden it deeply, never exposing it. Over the years, how many big shots in the God Realm must have been close to Qianye Ying'er without realizing it?
And who knew how many other secrets and trump cards she still had hidden?
"...Let me ask you again. About nine years ago, when your Fan Di God Emperor suddenly encircled and killed the Wood Spirit Clan and forced the Wood Spirit clan leader and his wife to their deaths—who was it exactly?"
He Ling: "..."
Qianye Ying'er did not answer immediately, as if pondering something. After a moment, she said, "...I do not understand what Master means."
"You don't know?"
"No, I do not." Qianye Ying'er replied without hesitation. "If it truly involved the Wood Spirit royal clan, it might have been the Fan King or the Fan Di Divine Envoys acting privately."
Yun Che was fairly certain that this matter had nothing to do with Qianye Ying'er. Otherwise, if she had been involved, with her strength, He Ling and He Lin would have had no chance of escape.
"Since that's the case," Yun Che said in a deep voice, "the next time you return to the Fan Di God Realm, you must investigate this matter thoroughly! I want to know exactly who that person... those people are!"
"Yes." Qianye Ying'er accepted the order.
"Master, there's no need to rush this now," He Ling said softly. "The Heavenly Poison Force has just been exhausted. It will take some time to recover enough."
"You want to take revenge yourself, don't you?" Yun Che said.
"Mm..." A very soft voice, but it carried a chilling resolve.
"Don't worry," Yun Che comforted her gently. "That day will surely come."
Time flowed slowly. A day passed. Qianye Ying'er had silently killed countless ferocious beasts that came too close, but still, there was no sign of Mo Li.
"Master, will she really come?" He Ling asked.
"She will... She must be nearby. She must be able to sense it." Yun Che stared ahead and said again.
Two days passed...
Three days passed...
Yun Che remained on the peak of this Tai Chu Divine Realm, never leaving for even half a step. The Heavenly Poison Pearl continued to release its emerald-green purifying light.
But after three days, he still had not seen Mo Li appear.
"Master, should we keep waiting?" He Ling asked weakly.
"..." Yun Che lowered his head and didn't answer. The fruitless waiting over these days gradually made him realize something in the silence.
Finally, he stood up, facing forward, his hands slowly clenching, and then he suddenly shouted with all his might: "Mo Li! I know you're here! I know you've already come! Come out! Come out now!!"
"...?" Qianye Ying'er turned her head. She didn't sense any aura of anyone approaching.
"Master?" He Ling also let out a soft exclamation.
"I'm still alive, and you're still alive," Yun Che said, raising his head slightly and shouting with force. "Not only did I survive, but I no longer have to tread as carefully as I did back then. Even Qianye, whom we feared most back then, is now branded with a slave mark by me. So why are you deliberately avoiding me?"
"..."
"No one in this world can find you except me. Because I know you can definitely feel my arrival, and I also know you must be right beside me now. No matter what you've become, you are still my Mo Li... That will never change!"
"If you're intentionally playing hide-and-seek with me, this is long enough. If you're angry that I'm alive but took so long to come find you, then please come out. Punish me however you wish..."
In this desolate world, Yun Che's voice traveled far and wide... but no echo came back.
"..." Yun Che closed his eyes, breathing heavily. Then he suddenly said, "Shadow Slave, retreat fifty li. No matter what happens here later, you must not approach... And remember, seal your hearing!"
"Yes." Qianye Ying'er accepted the order and left.
Opening his eyes, Yun Che's gaze had dimmed slightly. He no longer shouted but whispered to himself, "Mo Li, back then before I died, the words you said to me—I will never forget them for all eternity."
"Now I am alive and well, but you want to stay so far away."
"Is it only when I die that you are willing to see me..."
As he murmured, he raised his arm, and then suddenly, with a burst of profound energy, he struck his own heart fiercely.
Boom!
It was like a mountain crashing down, the surrounding space trembling slightly. The force of this strike was utterly ruthless. Yun Che's chest caved in deeply, a jet of blood spraying out wildly, and his pupils momentarily lost focus.
"Ah! Master!" He Ling screamed in fright, her face turning deathly pale. "What... what are you doing?"
Yun Che's body bent over, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He moved his hand away from his heart, and the chaotic profound energy gathered once more in his palm—this time even more violent and decisive than before. He said softly, "Mo Li, if it is only at the brink of death that you are willing to see me... then I am willing... to die again!!"
As the words fell, his palm once again struck fiercely toward his heart.
"Master, don't!"
He Ling's terrified cry echoed through Yun Che's mind... but the sound of the terrifying force's explosion did not follow.
A pale little hand reached out from the void, catching Yun Che's fingers, dissipating all the profound energy, freezing his movement and his gaze.
She wore a blood-red dress—her favorite color. But her long hair was no longer crimson; it was black, deeper than the night.
Her eyes had once been the most beautiful stars in Yun Che's life, but they had lost their dangerous, mysterious blood-red hue, replaced by an endless black abyss...
She had lost her bright blood-red hair and eyes, but her face, her presence—to Yun Che, they were already familiar down to every bone and every drop of blood.
Their gazes met. Time seemed to stop in that instant. Unable to think, unable to speak, she seemed to want to be cold, but her pitch-black eyes trembled uncontrollably...
Finally, her little hand that held Yun Che's fingers began to retreat slightly, but in the next instant, Yun Che grabbed it back fiercely, pulling her into his chest and holding her tightly.
"Mo Li..." Yun Che held her with all his strength, almost wishing he could crush her into his body. The wild pounding of his heart, the surging of his blood, the shaking of his soul... in the end, it all returned to that sense of peace and fulfillment that only Mo Li could give him. "Finally... I found you."
"..." Mo Li's fragile shoulders trembled slightly. This being who could cast a heavy shadow over the entire God Realm now lost all strength to struggle. The icy words she wanted to utter turned into a low, soft sob the moment they left her lips. "You... big... idiot..."
Yun Che smiled. Even the salty, bloody taste in his mouth intoxicated him. "It's been so many years since I last heard you call me an idiot. It felt like my life was incomplete."
Mo Li: "..."
"Especially those years when I thought I had lost you forever. Later, I learned you were still alive... and now I've finally found you again. This sense of regaining what was lost—there is no greater blessing in the world." He spoke softly into her ear.
"..." Mo Li closed her eyes. For a long time... then suddenly, she reached out, trying to break free and push him away. But her other hand was firmly gripped by Yun Che. She tried to pull back twice but couldn't break free.
She turned around, facing the barren gray-white world, and said coldly, "Since you've gotten what you wanted and seen me, you should go back now."
Yun Che was not surprised or stunned. He firmly held the small hand in his palm and said, "Do you still remember the words you said to me three years ago?"
"..." Mo Li bit her lip slightly.
"You said, if there is a next life, no matter whether I am a man or a demon, a blade of grass or a beast, you will definitely find me... Now, I am right before your eyes. Why do you want to run away?"
"..." Mo Li's lips moved slightly. After a long while, she finally spoke in a cold, emotionless voice: "Because I am no longer Mo Li. The one standing before you now is Xie Ying!"
"No," Yun Che looked at her and said softly, "Actually, I know the reason. Mo Li, you have changed. You changed a long time ago. I just never truly realized it."