Chapter 1561: Four Divine Sovereigns
Nanhuang Chanyi's words caused Yun Che's heart to stir slightly as he said, "It seems you haven't witnessed my strength. So why do you think I'm lacking in power?"
Nanhuang Chanyi's profound aura was at the mid-stage Divine Spirit Realm, and the dark aura emanating from her carried a faint trace of familiarity. At her age, such cultivation was already extremely impressive, but at that level, she simply couldn't perceive his aura.
Nanhuang Chanyi said, "If your strength were sufficient, how could you have been bullied by the Eastern Ruins Crown Prince?"
Her answer was reasonable and logical, yet the strange feeling that had suddenly arisen in Yun Che's heart didn't dissipate.
"Is that so?" Yun Che didn't release his profound energy to prove his strength. Instead, he said indifferently, "Having one more optional backup can't be a bad thing, can it?"
"I heard that among the four realms of the Hollow Ruins, your Nanhuang Divine Kingdom has always been the weakest. In the Central Ruins Battle, you've always been trampled upon. Of the vast Central Ruins Realm, the other three realms claim ninety percent, while what belongs to your Nanhuang Divine Kingdom has never been more than ten percent."
Nanhuang Chanyi: "..."
"Those mocking words from Dong Xueci earlier were truly harsh on the ears," Yun Che said with a half-smile. "But it seems that in this edition of the Central Ruins Battle, you're still destined to be trampled. After all, with the weakest foundation and the weakest resources, how could there ever be a chance for a turnaround?"
"So what?" Nanhuang Chanyi's response was calm.
Yun Che said, "Since the outcome is already the worst possible, why not take a gamble?"
Her gaze under the beaded curtain lingered on his eyes. After a brief silence, she lightly nodded her head: "Alright."
Yun Che's eyes narrowed slightly. "You agreed far too readily."
Nanhuang Chanyi said, "A person who can face the crime of offending the Eastern Ruins Crown Prince without changing expression, and who dares to stop me within three feet—either they are ignorant and fearless, or they must have something to rely on. Your eyes tell me you belong to the latter."
Yun Che: "..."
"But before that, may I ask your name and background?" As she spoke, her gaze never left Yun Che.
The unique and eerie aura around Yun Che easily aroused a woman's curiosity and desire to probe. Nanhuang Chanyi's bright eyes seemed to want to see through him completely... She noticed the strong curiosity that had suddenly arisen within her but chose not to suppress it deliberately.
"Yun Che. As for my background... I can't say."
"Only a name, not even the most basic origin or background, and it doesn't seem like you're prepared to display your strength to prove your qualifications. Yet you want me to invite you as an external reinforcement—don't you find that ridiculous?" Nanhuang Chanyi said, her voice still as soft as a gentle breeze, impossible to gauge whether she was pleased or angered.
"That depends on whether you dare to gamble," Yun Che said.
"..." After a brief silence, Nanhuang Chanyi let out a soft chuckle, though her head was completely hidden by the curtain of colorful beads and jade pendants, so no one was fortunate enough to witness her fleeting smile. "You said something very true—since the worst outcome is already destined, what is there to fear in gambling?"
Her snow-white hand extended flatly, fingers more lustrous than jade, and formed a dark-gold profound jade in front of Yun Che.
Yun Che reached out and took it. On the small profound jade was inscribed the name "Yun Che."
"This is a temporary Nanhuang Token. With it, you may enter my Nanhuang Divine Kingdom's battle formation for the Central Ruins Battle. What surprises you will bring... I look forward to it."
Yun Che turned his hand over and put away the Nanhuang Token. "Aren't you going to first ask about my purpose and the reward I seek?"
"After the Central Ruins Battle, you will tell me," Nanhuang Chanyi said calmly. "Your performance will determine what you receive."
With that, Nanhuang Chanyi turned and drifted away.
Every edition of the Central Ruins Battle, the four great realm overlord sects seek external reinforcements. But not only must the reinforcements be powerful enough to pass extremely strict assessments, they must also have clear origins and backgrounds... After all, the Central Ruins Battle is not only about prestige and honor but also about the resources of the Central Ruins Realm for the next fifty years!
Yun Che had approached Nanhuang Chanyi, seeking to enter the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom's battle formation. The entire process was so smooth and simple it was jaw-dropping.
Regarding Yun Che, Nanhuang Chanyi knew nothing but his name, yet she agreed and personally gave him the Nanhuang Token.
Was this truly just a gamble under the "destined worst outcome"?
"This woman is somewhat unusual," Qianye Ying'er suddenly said in a low voice, staring at the direction Nanhuang Chanyi had departed for quite a while. This seemed like a rather ordinary and casual comment, but in truth, those who could earn such words from her were few and far between.
"Indeed, very interesting," Yun Che said, his gaze flickering. "I hope... she can bring me some surprises too."
The first time he saw Nanhuang Chanyi, he had vaguely felt she was somewhat unusual, though he couldn't pinpoint what made her so.
"But unfortunately, this newly ascended Nanhuang Crown Princess is about to become the woman beneath that Bei Hanchu's crotch. Even if she is the crown princess of a nation, once reduced to a weakling, this is the only outcome. Quite ironic," Qianye Ying'er said with a faint smile... Unsure whether she was mocking Nanhuang Chanyi or herself.
...
Time passed. More and more profound practitioners poured into the northern region of the Central Ruins Realm from all directions. Divine Sovereign-level battles rarely occurred, and the Central Ruins Battle, held every fifty years, was the greatest profound gathering in the five realms of the Hollow Ruins. Especially for those desperately pursuing the Divine King realm, they would never miss any edition of the Central Ruins Battle—it was a true pinnacle Divine King battle. If they could gain even a shred of insight from it, it would benefit them endlessly.
The sky above the Central Ruins battlefield was calm, with no sign of an approaching storm, but below, it was a sea of people. Nearly ten million profound practitioners spread out in tiers radiating outward, with ten million eyes fixed on the central battlefield.
During the Central Ruins Battle, the Central Ruins Realm was fully open to allow any profound practitioner to enter, precisely to create such a grand spectacle.
But this edition of the Central Ruins Battle was subtly different from previous ones. During this time, a piece of news had already spread silently: The supervisor for this Central Ruins Battle would be Zangjian Zunzhe of the Nine Radiance Heavenly Palace.
The Nine Radiance Heavenly Palace existed in an upper-level star realm. Though not a realm overlord sect, it was renowned and prestigious.
Due to the harsh law of survival in the Northern Divine Region, there were many patron-client relationships. The Nine Radiance Heavenly Palace was the superior power jointly patronized by the four realms of the Hollow Ruins. Every edition of the Central Ruins Battle, a venerable from the Nine Radiance Heavenly Palace would be invited as a supervisor and witness.
Over the years, occasionally some geniuses from the four Hollow Ruins realms were selected by the Nine Radiance Heavenly Palace and taken back to be nurtured. Bei Hanchu was one of them. But unlike others, after being taken to the Nine Radiance Heavenly Palace, he was directly accepted as a personal disciple by one of its palace masters, Zangjian Zunzhe. In recent years, there had even been rumors that he had become the chief disciple.
In the four Hollow Ruins realms, this was absolutely unprecedented.
Zangjian Zunzhe had even publicly boasted: Bei Hanchu's talent was peerless, and in the future, he would surely inherit the position of palace master.
Such praise undoubtedly caused great shock in the four Hollow Ruins realms, almost regarded as a miracle and legend. The already strongest Northern Cold City soared even higher in status among the five Hollow Ruins realms, reaching its zenith.
And for this edition of the Central Ruins Battle, the supervisor and witness would no longer be the previous Zangjing Zhenren, but Zangjian Zhenren. The rumor that Bei Hanchu intended to propose marriage again to the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom had also spread like wildfire. Coupled with the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom's hasty deposing of the crown prince and elevation of a crown princess, what would happen in today's Central Ruins Battle was almost a foregone conclusion.
The only question was whether it would happen before or after the battle.
Time drew near. Without keeping people waiting too long, the massive crowd suddenly parted, pushed aside by four irresistible, formless forces. The clamorous space also fell into an incredibly quiet, incredibly oppressive silence.
Because what descended from above was the might of Divine Sovereigns!
Amidst the awe-inspiring pressure that chilled the heart and nearly forced people to their knees in worship, the four great realm overlord sects—Northern Cold City, Eastern Ruins Sect, Western Ruins Sect, and Nanhuang Divine Kingdom—arrived simultaneously, landing in the north, east, west, and south of the battlefield.
As they landed, four differently colored barriers also spread out, laying down four distinct domains.
The moment the barriers took shape, four figures descended slowly from the high sky, meeting the upward, reverent, and fervent gazes of the crowd like gods descending to the mortal world.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
"Greetings, Our King!"
"Greetings, Sovereign!"
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
These four individuals, each carried an aura and pressure that defied heaven and earth. Their fame was known to all in the five Hollow Ruins realms without exception. For they were the pinnacle existences of the four realms, the supreme Four Great Realm Kings!
The Northern Cold Divine Sovereign of Northern Cold City!
The Eastern Ruins Divine Sovereign of the Eastern Ruins Sect!
The Western Ruins Divine Sovereign of the Western Ruins Sect!
The Nanhuang Divine Sovereign of the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom!
Amidst the tremendous roar of voices, they slowly seated themselves in the centers of their respective domains. Such scenes and worldly reverence were things they had long grown accustomed to.
With the seating of the four great realm kings, the Central Ruins battlefield quickly quieted down. The four's gazes briefly met in the air, then indifferently swept over the opposing battle formations.
In the Central Ruins Battle, each realm sends ten combatants, and they must be Divine Kings under a lifespan of fifty jiazi.
In every middle-level star realm, the presence of a Divine Sovereign was extremely rare. Setting aside the very few Divine Sovereigns who overlooked an entire realm, tenth-level Divine Kings were already the highest existence, and their numbers were quite sparse.
Further restricting the lifespan to under fifty jiazi drastically reduced that number.
Backed by the Central Ruins Realm with its vast resources, the overall strength of the four Hollow Ruins realms far surpassed ordinary middle-level star realms in the Northern Divine Region. Northern Cold City, Eastern Ruins Sect, and Western Ruins Sect could each field ten tenth-level Divine Kings in every Central Ruins Battle, along with reserves used to adjust the battle lineup at any time.
Especially Northern Cold City, whose reserves numbered over ten each edition.
Only the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom was an exception. Even including external reinforcements sought with great effort, they had never managed to assemble a lineup of ten tenth-level Divine Kings...
This time was no different.
On the Northern Cold City side, behind the Northern Cold Divine Sovereign stood twenty profound practitioners with proud gazes. As Northern Cold City's combatants, they were unquestionably the kings. Even before the battle, a lineup of twenty tenth-level Divine kings already heavily suppressed the other three realms.
For them, the Central Ruins Battle was not a competition but a display of might. A quarter of the Central Ruins Realm always belonged to them.
The Eastern Ruins Sect and Western Ruins Sect each had thirteen, all tenth-level Divine Kings. As for the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom side... one glance showed twelve combatants, but only four were tenth-level Divine Kings. The other eight were all ninth-level Divine Kings.
Though they hadn't repeated the joke of the previous edition with two eighth-level Divine Kings, such a lineup, in comparison, was still destined only for trampling and contempt.
But this time, for the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom, the outcome of the Central Ruins Battle seemed not so important.
Outside the Central Ruins battlefield, Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er arrived at this moment.
"The Central Ruins Battle uses the simplest rotation battle system," Qianye Ying'er said. "In the first match, the top-ranked from the previous edition—Northern Cold City—will take the lead, accepting rotation challenges from the other three realms until defeated!"
"The loser will leave the battlefield immediately. The victor will continue to accept rotation challenges from profound practitioners of other realms. Each realm can field a maximum of ten people. The final ranking is determined by the order in which all are defeated."
She added flatly, "The Nanhuang Divine Kingdom you've joined now is the one that finishes being defeated first every single edition!"
"With two-sided rotation, it's barely manageable. But with four-sided rotation, it sounds inherently unfair and easily subject to deliberate targeting," Yun Che said in a low voice.
"Hmph! Since it's a battlefield, where is there fairness?" Qianye Ying'er snorted coldly. "Northern Cold City has always been the first to take the field and is often jointly targeted by the other three realms, yet they have always held the top spot, unshakable."
"Absolute strength is enough to ignore any unfair rule!"
"Here we are." Bringing Qianye Ying'er, Yun Che arrived at the Central Ruins battlefield. Standing before the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom's barrier, he took out the Nanhuang Token given by Nanhuang Chanyi. With a soft chime, the barrier parted, and the two walked in slowly, immediately drawing countless surprised and puzzled looks.
"Who are you!" A sharp shout rang out, and a heavy pressure descended upon Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er. "Why do you hold the Nanhuang Token!"
The speaker was an old man with white hair. Just two sentences from him frightened everyone from the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom into holding their breath... because this person was another Divine Sovereign besides the Nanhuang Divine Sovereign on this journey. He held the supreme status of "Guardian Elder" in the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom.
Nanhuang Mofeng.
Those who could enter like this with the Nanhuang Token were either members of the Nanhuang royal family or participating profound practitioners. But Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er were clearly neither.
"Feng Bo," just as Nanhuang Mofeng finished speaking, a soft voice rang out. "These two are reinforcements I invited to assist in the Central Ruins Battle. The Nanhuang Token was personally granted by me."
The gentle, soft voice seemed to have a magical power, dispelling the palpitations that arose in everyone's hearts from the Divine Sovereign's pressure. The speaker was none other than the Nanhuang Crown Princess, Nanhuang Chanyi. But her words did not soothe Nanhuang Mofeng; instead, his brows knit tightly: "Nonsense! A mere two fifth-level Divine Kings—how are they fit to enter the Central Ruins Battle formation? Utter nonsense!"
In the previous edition of the Central Ruins Battle, forced to field two eighth-level Divine Kings, they had become the laughingstock of that battle. This time, sparing no expense to seek external reinforcements, they had barely managed a lineup with a minimum of ninth-level Divine Kings.
And now these two, with fifth-level Divine King strength, could dominate any realm in the four Hollow Ruins realms. But to enter the Central Ruins Battle formation...
Even if his Nanhuang Divine Kingdom always came in last, they couldn't afford such disgrace!
"You're mistaken," Yun Che said coldly. "Only I am the reinforcement."