# Chapter 1557: The Game of the Dark Ruins
In the Bei Shen Domain, due to the presence of dark yin aura and the cultivation of dark profound force, the emission of life aura is vastly different from the outside world. Consequently, the perception of life aura is far less clear and accurate than outside. However, it is still possible to determine a rough range.
Dong Xueyan was startled, but instead of shock, she said calmly: "That joke is not funny."
Dong Jiukui did not dwell on the matter further. Of course, he could not believe that Yun Che's lifespan was really within three jiazi. In the Bei Shen Domain, deviations in the perception of life aura were perfectly normal occurrences. The same person, depending on the dark profound arts they cultivated, would release quite different life auras.
"Xueyan, it seems you forgot to ask him about his origins face to face," Dong Jiukui said.
"Hmph!" Thinking of Yun Che's stiff and cold face, Dong Xueyan's brows furrowed deeply: "With his arrogant and ignorant attitude, asking would be useless anyway. Besides, Father King doesn't care about his origins at all."
"It's not that the Sect Master doesn't care, but that he hasn't had the time to care," Dong Jiukui shook his head and said slowly: "In previous Zhongxu Battles, our Dongxu has always ranked second, second only to Beixu. But in the last two times, we were successively suppressed by Xixu, falling to third place."
"With two consecutive such results, the reduction of resources is only secondary. The status and reputation of our Dongxu have suffered repeated heavy blows. Given your father's temperament, how could he bear it?"
"If we lose to Xixu again this time..." Dong Jiukui gave a heavy sigh: "Your father cannot accept such an outcome no matter what."
"Now that there is a Yun Che here who can defeat the combined forces of two Tenth-rank Divine Kings, and his own cultivation is within the restrictions, he will be a considerable help for this Zhongxu Battle. By comparison, his background is not important. We can investigate thoroughly after the Zhongxu Battle."
"Hmph, even if he is strong, can he be stronger than my big brother?" Dong Xueyan snorted coldly.
"Heh heh, the Crown Prince has already glimpsed some principles of the Divine Sovereign realm. Ordinary Divine Kings naturally cannot be compared with him," Dong Jiukui said with a smile. "But the Zhongxu Battle is, after all, not a one-man battle. Moreover... although the Crown Prince's progress has been remarkable in recent years, the Xixu side... cannot be underestimated either."
"Additionally, regarding this Zhongxu Battle..." Dong Jiukui paused, seeming hesitant, but continued: "The Sect Master's determination to suppress the Xixu Realm this time actually has another more important reason — that is the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom of the Nanxu Realm."
"?" Dong Xueyan raised an eyebrow: "What does Nanhuang have to do with it?"
Among the five Dark Ruins Realms, the Nanxu Realm was the weakest. In previous Zhongxu Battles, Nanxu had always been last, with no signs of rising.
"I heard that in this Zhongxu Battle, the one leading the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom is not Nanhuang Jun, but... Nanhuang Chanyi."
"Her?" Hearing this name, Dong Xueyan's brows moved sharply, and her eyes turned colder: "What qualifications does she have? Has the Nanxu Realm declined to such an extent?"
Despite her sarcasm, her face and eyes still revealed a deeply hidden jealousy.
Most women are prone to jealousy. Ordinary women envy beautiful women; beautiful women envy even more beautiful women... and the latter is often stronger than the former.
As the well-known Yan Princess of the Dongxu Realm, Dong Xueyan not only held noble status but also possessed a beauty unmatched by most, with her fame spreading far and wide... However, if she stood next to Nanhuang Chanyi, she would instantly dim, and no one's gaze would linger on her.
Nanhuang Chanyi, the ninety-ninth princess of the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom, the realm king power of the Nanxu Realm. Compared to her title as Nanhuang Imperial Princess, the name that resounded across the five Dark Ruins Realms, known even to ordinary women and children, was her title as the number one beauty of the five realms.
Since she turned fifteen, no one had been able to shake that title.
"Because the current Nanhuang Chanyi is no longer an ordinary imperial princess," Dong Jiukui said. "Just half a month ago, Nanhuang Jun suddenly deposed the Crown Prince and immediately appointed her as the Crown Princess."
"What!?" Dong Xueyan showed surprise, then incomprehension.
"Upon hearing this rumor, no one would believe it. But... Xueyan, do you know who the supervisor and witness of this Zhongxu Battle is?" Dong Jiukui suddenly asked.
"Is it... no longer Zangjing Venerable?"
"This time, it is Zangjian Venerable," Dong Jiukui said.
"..." Dong Xueyan was stunned, then suddenly understood something: "Could it be..."
"Correct." Dong Jiukui nodded, a hint of envy passing through his sigh: "He will bring another person... Beihan Chu."
Bei Han — this was the realm king sect of the Beixu Realm, and also the surname of the number one sect among the five Dark Ruins Realms!
Dong Xueyan gritted her teeth slightly, her hands clenching involuntarily — three parts jealousy, three parts unwillingness, and the rest all unease. She suddenly understood why her father king placed such importance on this Zhongxu Battle.
"Obviously, the one supposedly 'supervising' this Zhongxu Battle is not Zangjian Venerable, but Beihan Chu. He went to the trouble of persuading both Zangjing and Zangjian Venerables to come here, and of course it couldn't be just to watch the Zhongxu Battle. The only possibility is that it is for Nanhuang Chanyi! After all, his infatuation with her back then was no secret among the five Dark Ruins Realms."
"Nanhuang Jun must have received some hint, which is why he so suddenly and urgently deposed the Crown Prince, established Nanhuang Chanyi as the Crown Princess, and had her lead this Zhongxu Battle."
"Therefore, the most likely scenario is that Beihan Chu will use this Zhongxu Battle to publicly propose to the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom. With Beihan Chu's current status, the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom naturally has absolutely no way to refuse. Thus, the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom will not only become allied by marriage with Beihan City, but will also gain the protection of the Jiuyao Heavenly Palace through Beihan Chu! Even if their overall strength is insufficient, their reputation and status will surpass ours and the Xixu Realm!"
"If we are defeated by the Xixu Realm again, our Dongxu will thus become the last among the five Dark Ruins Realms. Such an outcome would be a humiliation more unbearable than death for the Sect Master."
"Nanhuang Chanyi..." Dong Xueyan gritted her teeth and said darkly: "She's just... blessed with a good skin... Beihan Chu... was rejected by her back then, now valued by the Jiuyao Heavenly Palace, already a dragon of the nine heavens, yet still can't forget her... Hmph! He's nothing but a superficial lecher!"
Dong Han Kingdom.
"Why did you agree to them?"
Yun Che asked, but it was not an interrogation. Qianye Ying'er was a person with deep schemes and strong purpose in her actions. If she agreed, there must be a reason.
"Do you know what the Zhongxu Battle is?" Qianye Ying'er countered.
"No."
"Hmph, I thought so." Qianye Ying'er removed her mask, revealing that face so beautiful that even celestial beings would be extremely jealous — even Yun Che's vision momentarily blurred several times.
"This star region is called the Dark Ruins Five Realms. Besides the four realms of Dongxu, Nanxu, Xixu, and Beixu, there is also a rather special Zhongxu Realm."
"The territory of the Zhongxu Realm is the largest among the five, but it is a desolate realm and a land of disaster. Because ever since it came into existence, it has always been shrouded in seemingly unending storms."
Yun Che did not ask anything, letting her continue.
"When profound practitioners step into it, they might at any time be struck by suddenly rising storms. Therefore, unless one is strong enough, entering the Zhongxu Realm by force would be a matter of nine deaths and one life."
"But at the same time, even if one is strong enough, exploring it is no easy feat. Because this Zhongxu Realm has always been controlled by the four great realm king sects."
"During this period, a large number of the people I fought also cultivated storm force," Yun Che suddenly said. "So it is related to this Zhongxu Realm?"
"Correct." Qianye Ying'er continued: "The wind elements in the Zhongxu Realm are exceptionally active. Although it is fraught with danger, it also produces a large number of heavenly treasures and rare artifacts. Hence, it has become an important resource site for the other four realms. Among these treasures, the most abundant are naturally storm forces, which greatly aid the cultivation of storm profound force. Therefore, most profound practitioners in the five Dark Ruins Realms also cultivate storm profound force."
"And the Zhongxu Battle, held once every fifty years, determines the allocation of resources in the Zhongxu Realm for the next fifty years!"
"Hmph, I see."
"They have divided the Zhongxu Realm into ten zones," Qianye Ying'er said. "The one ranked first in the Zhongxu Battle gets four zones. The second gets three zones, the third gets two zones, and the last gets only one zone."
Qianye Ying'er had arrived at the Dongxu Realm for a shorter time than Yun Che. But her style of conduct allowed her to obtain a large amount of information about this unfamiliar star region in the first place.
"So, you accepted on my behalf in order to... use this to enter the Zhongxu Realm?"
"Yes!" Qianye Ying'er said: "If you can help the Dongxu Sect obtain first or second place, then they would have no reason to refuse your request to cultivate in the Zhongxu Realm."
"Given the abilities you just demonstrated and described, the Zhongxu Realm, with its exceptionally active elements and abundant heavenly treasures, would be the most suitable place for you at this stage," Qianye Ying'er said slowly. "As for the 'plundering' you want to carry out... with our current strength, even in a mid-ranked star realm, it is not suitable!"
"Why?" Yun Che said coldly.
"Because this is the Bei Shen Domain!" Qianye Ying'er said heavily: "The living environment and survival laws of the Bei Shen Domain are extremely cruel. To protect themselves, there often exist a large number of tribute relationships. Small sects pay tribute to large sects, lower-ranked star realms pay tribute to mid-ranked star realms, and mid-ranked star realms pay tribute to upper-ranked star realms!"
"With our current strength, it is already extremely difficult to defeat the realm king of this Dongxu Realm. Even if we could, if we alarm the upper-ranked star realm associated with it... do you think that would be good?"
"Heh," Yun Che suddenly let out a low laugh: "Yun Qianying, back then you knelt before me and begged me to plant the slave mark on you, so willing and resolute. But now, you are starting to become timid and hesitant?"
Qianye Ying'er also sneered: "At that time, I was just a broken-boned dog. You were my only chance, and all I could offer was my dignity and everything. But now it's different."
She suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Yun Che's collar with one hand: "I have seen hope — as long as I live, I will definitely grasp it! And so will you!"
"So now, I will not allow you to take any unnecessary risks!"
Deep in her golden pupils, dark black light flickered: "My experience is tens of times yours! The human nature I have seen, the people I have schemed against and the scheming I have suffered, are a thousand times yours!"
"You were unwilling to plant a slave mark on me, wanting me to remain clear-headed, not a puppet that only follows orders. So, if you want to succeed in revenge, you had better listen to me on such matters!"
Yun Che's pupils narrowed slightly. His arm suddenly reached out, directly grabbing Qianye Ying'er's right breast, pressing her fiercely back.
His fingers tightened, and the corner of Yun Che's mouth lifted into a dangerous and sinister smile: "Yun Qianying, don't ever forget one thing — between you and me, I am the master. In my eyes, you are just a useful tool!"
"I will naturally listen to what you say when I should. But if our opinions differ, unless you can convince me, you must follow my orders, understand?"
Bang!
Her hand slapped his hand away. Qianye Ying'er said coldly: "Rest assured, since I chose this path, I will not go back on it... So, what are you planning this time?"
Yun Che looked up, a faint smile on his face: "I already had my own plans for the plundering. But the Zhongxu Battle sounds even better!"
"One month... that is just about right!"
"Just about right?" Qianye Ying'er was puzzled.
"You'll know when the time comes." Yun Che sat down, his expression becoming serious: "Within half a month, I must achieve the preliminary fusion of the demon blood... Let's begin!"