# Chapter 1583: The Demon Girl Chanyi
"Aren't you afraid that, in her fury, she might disregard consequences and go straight for the kill?" Yun Che said.
"I'm certain she won't!" Qianye Ying'er declared with absolute confidence. "Could you possibly understand women better than I do?"
"That's not necessarily true," Yun Che replied coldly.
"Rest assured, even if she wanted to, her master would never allow it," Qianye Ying'er sneered.
"You know quite a lot about that 'Demon Empress' of the Northern Domain?"
"Not really, but..." Qianye Ying'er's gaze clearly turned peculiar. "Every step she has taken in her life proves without exception that she is an extremely ambitious person. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say she is the most ambitious woman in this world. With such ambition, how could she possibly let go of someone like you, a once-in-ten-thousand-years..."
"No, a once-in-an-eternity opportunity!"
"And what we must do now, given that we have already been targeted, is to avoid falling into a passive position as much as possible."
So much time had already passed. If Nanhuang Chanyi truly was the Demon Empress's "shadow," then the fact that Yun Che had come to the Northern Divine Region and was right under her nose—there was no way she hadn't reported this to the Demon Empress.
But at the same time, Qianye Ying'er was very certain of one thing: that she would not reveal Yun Che's identity. On the contrary, she would conceal it as much as possible, and would never let the other two king realms know.
However, all of this was still limited to speculation. But... Qianye Ying'er shifted her gaze to the south... It seemed an answer would come soon.
At that moment, Yun Che also turned his gaze. To the south, Nanhuang Chanyi's aura was rapidly approaching.
Exactly half a year since the battle at the Central Ruins—not a single day off.
Golden robes and radiant eyes, phoenix patterns exuding majesty. Nanhuang Chanyi's attire was exactly the same as before, her face still hidden behind a beaded curtain. She landed lightly before the two, her gaze sweeping briefly around her surroundings, seeming faintly surprised at the changes in the storm here, but not too concerned. She gave a slight nod: "Young Master Yun, Fairy Ying, it has been... a while."
"Ha!" Qianye Ying'er's sneer was utter contempt for the title "Fairy Ying."
Nanhuang Chanyi's final tone clearly shifted sharply. She stared at Yun Che for quite some time before letting out a deep breath and said, "Young Master Yun, your progress is... truly astonishing."
Half a year ago, Yun Che's cultivation was at the fifth level of the Divine King Realm, which already deviated from the rumors. But today... it was already at the tenth level of the Divine King Realm!?
"Your Highness is at the Divine Spirit Realm, yet you can see through my cultivation changes at a glance—even more remarkable," Yun Che said nonchalantly.
Nanhuang Chanyi smiled faintly and said, "My master wishes to see you two. I wonder if you..."
"Not interested!" Qianye Ying'er spoke before Yun Che could, her tone ice-cold and utterly final—no room for negotiation.
"Rest assured, you two. My master holds no hostility toward you. On the contrary, in many respects, you share common goals. Hence, she has personally promised to offer you the greatest possible assistance... whatever you need, just say the word."
Nanhuang Chanyi spoke calmly. These were not her own words but the exact words of her "master." When she had first heard them, she had been astonished for a very long time.
Now, witnessing Yun Che's unfathomable progress with her own eyes, she began to understand why her "master" had given such a promise outright.
"And the condition is that you join your Jiehun Realm, right?" Qianye Ying'er smiled faintly.
"..." Nanhuang Chanyi's gaze shifted, and she sighed, "As expected of... the Fandi Shennü!"
At this point, Qianye Ying'er's speculation was completely validated.
"Heh, as expected of a 'Demon Girl,' you've even figured out my identity," Qianye Ying'er replied with a cold laugh.
Nanhuang Chanyi spoke slowly: "Golden hair, a grace that makes Chanyi feel ashamed even without revealing her face, a Divine Sovereign aura, yet a soul pressure that shakes the heart, plus the name 'Qianying'... though it's quite incredible, Chanyi still thought of the 'fleeing Divine Maiden' from the Eastern Divine Region not long ago."
"As for Yun Che, how much do you know?" Qianye Ying'er suddenly asked. "Or rather, how much does Chi Wuyue know!?"
In the Northern Divine Region, who would dare to speak the name "Demon Empress" directly?
Qianye dared. Moreover, given her former status and the heights she had stood upon, she indeed had that qualification.
"A lot," Nanhuang Chanyi replied simply and calmly.
"Including the 'Demon Emperor'?" Qianye Ying'er's gaze turned abruptly cold, as if it could pierce through the unusually radiant beaded curtain and stab deep into Nanhuang Chanyi's pupils.
"Including that," Nanhuang Chanyi replied.
"..." Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er fell silent simultaneously. Then, Qianye Ying'er gave a faint smile: "To have extended her reach to such an extent—it seems Chi Wuyue's ambition is far greater than the rumors suggest, far greater than I imagined. Could it be that she not only wants to break free from the 'cage' of the Northern Divine Region but also intends to turn darkness back upon the other three divine regions?"
Behind the beaded curtain, a dark glint flashed in Nanhuang Chanyi's eyes: "For those of you forced into darkness, isn't that the ultimate goal?"
Those few short words from Nanhuang Chanyi revealed to Qianye Ying'er the terrifyingly vast ambition of the Demon Empress Chi Wuyue.
The Northern Divine Region had always wanted to escape its cage, but it had never succeeded, and had rarely even attempted it. Within the ever-shrinking Northern Divine Region, they held absolute home-field advantage, and were perfectly safe. But once they left, they would be no match for any one divine region... let alone three.
The three divine regions were wary of each other and even engaged in secret strife, but none of them had ever truly regarded the Northern Divine Region as a threat.
And now, she could clearly smell the dark edge that the Demon Empress Chi Wuyue was secretly extending—while the three divine regions were completely unaware, utterly defenseless... even if they knew, they would probably just laugh it off.
If the Demon Empress truly understood Yun Che to that extent, then with such ambition, she would indeed use every possible means to cultivate Yun Che—the one who possessed the power of the Creation God and the "True God prophecy"—into her most sharpened tool!
Qianye Ying'er's thoughts shifted secretly, and she said, "Well said! That is indeed the goal of Yun Che and myself. We two have just arrived in the Northern Divine Region, with no support or backing, as humble as dust. The Demon Empress not only disregards our former identities but extends a helping hand and makes such heavy promises—truly a blessing beyond measure. How could we possibly refuse?"
"...?" Yun Che said nothing, listening to her continue.
"However," Qianye Ying'er changed her tone, "since the Demon Empress speaks of 'cooperation,' it should be on equal footing. The strength of us two now—in a realm like the Jiehun Realm—we don't even qualify to be cannon fodder. Going there would only invite ridicule."
"Is Fairy Ying refusing?" Nanhuang Chanyi asked. "And what does Young Master Yun think?"
"Of course it's not a refusal," Qianye Ying'er continued. "A big tree gives the best shade—I'm not too foolish to understand such a simple truth. But with insufficient strength, even if the Demon Empress's sincerity is as great as the heavens, at the level of a king realm, we would only be living under someone else's roof... I think Her Highness the Demon Girl understands this much."
Nanhuang Chanyi: "..."
"We are honored and overjoyed by the Demon Empress's favor and invitation, and have no intention of refusing. So, on behalf of my master Yun Che, I accept." Qianye Ying'er's voice was calm and sincere. "However, we will not go to see the Demon Empress now, but rather... three hundred years from now."
Before Nanhuang Chanyi could speak, Qianye Ying'er quickly added: "The Demon Empress personally promised that as long as we are willing to 'cooperate,' any request would be granted... Such a simple request, I believe neither you nor your master has any reason to refuse, right?"
"Besides, a mere three hundred years is but a fleeting moment compared to the eternal darkness of the Northern Divine Region."
Qianye Ying'er casually invoked the Demon Empress's promise, effectively sealing off Nanhuang Chanyi's retreat. She remained silent for a moment, then said, "And after three hundred years?"
"Whether Yun Che and I have attained the qualifications to set foot in the Jiehun Realm or not, we will come to pay our respects to the Demon Empress," Qianye Ying'er promised calmly.
Three hundred years—it was a very clever smokescreen.
For a profound practitioner, three hundred years is very short. At the level of Divine Sovereign or Divine Lord, three hundred years in the path of cultivation is as brief as a wisp of smoke—often, a period of secluded cultivation would pass by several times three hundred years.
For a Divine Sovereign, a breakthrough of a minor realm in three hundred years would already be a tremendous achievement.
But in this time, Qianye Ying'er had been close to Yun Che day and night. She had witnessed with her own eyes one astonishing secret after another, and clearly knew what kind of changes three hundred years would bring to Yun Che.
No, it wouldn't even take three hundred years. Within a few decades, or even shorter, he might reach a level where the Demon Empress Chi Wuyue would no longer be able to control him even if she wanted to.
So short that Chi Wuyue... no one could possibly imagine or guard against it.
This was the delaying tactic she could think of on the spot, the best way to stabilize the situation. If she refused forcefully, given Chi Wuyue's spine-chilling ambition and "sincerity," who knew what tricks she might pull on them.
"And what is Young Master Yun's intention?" Nanhuang Chanyi asked.
"Three hundred years from now, we will naturally come to the Jiehun Realm," Yun Che said indifferently. "But before that, we have our own matters to attend to and don't want any interference. If the Demon Empress truly wants 'cooperation,' she should at least show this basic sincerity!"
"Good." Nanhuang Chanyi nodded slowly. Three hundred years was indeed very short—so short that it was almost negligible at the level of a king realm. "Chanyi will relay your words exactly to my master. Please do not forget what you have said today three hundred years from now."
"Oh?" Qianye Ying'er's expression shifted slightly. "Does this mean you can make decisions on behalf of your master?"
"As my master's 'shadow,' Chanyi's life is bound to her will. Since my master personally promised to grant any request if we agree to cooperate, on that basis, Chanyi can make the decision on her behalf."
"The Demon Girl... is indeed intriguing." Qianye Ying'er extended her hand, a golden light flickering in her palm. "In that case, as a token of sincerity and a pledge of our 'cooperation,' please present this to the Demon Empress."
"Oh?" Nanhuang Chanyi tilted her gaze slightly.
And at that exact moment, Yun Che, who had been exceptionally quiet with little expression or words, suddenly burst forth with black light in his eyes. A massive azure dragon shadow emerged above him, its dragon pupils glowing with a pitch-black hue like the night. As Nanhuang Chanyi turned her head in shock, it released a roar that shook heaven and earth.
The supreme Dragon God Soul, transformed by the change in Yun Che's conviction, was assimilated into a dark dragon soul. The world-shaking dragon's roar seemed to come from ancient times, or perhaps from the abyss itself.
Caught utterly off guard, struck by the Dragon God's Roar, Nanhuang Chanyi's eyes instantly went blank. At the same moment, the golden light in Qianye Ying'er's hand took shape, and the remaining Buddhist Soul Force within it was released without reservation, pouring into Nanhuang Chanyi's momentarily shattered mind under the dragon's roar.
Nanhuang Chanyi's world then dissolved into a hazy gold—a realm of pure warmth and dream, so pristine that one couldn't bear to touch it. Behind the beaded curtain, her beautiful eyes slowly closed, and her body went limp, falling softly.
Qianye Ying'er quickly reached out, a layer of gentle profound energy supporting Nanhuang Chanyi's body, letting her land lightly on the ground.
The power of the Buddhist Soul was not limited to the Buddhist Soul Death-Pleading Seal. Right before her eyes, the Demon Girl of the Demon Empress, the unfathomably powerful Nanhuang Chanyi, had fallen asleep under the force of the Buddhist Soul.
But Qianye Ying'er had also told Yun Che that this was merely sleep, not soul-binding. At this moment, any attack, the approach of an overly strong aura... or even a loud noise could potentially wake her directly.
"Excellent." Qianye Ying'er tossed the Small Buddhist Soul Bell, now depleted of soul force and useless, carelessly to the ground. If not for the fear of waking Nanhuang Chanyi, she would have reduced it to powder.
Gazing at the sleeping Nanhuang Chanyi, who exuded an intangible elegance and nobility, a twisted sense of satisfaction gleamed in Qianye Ying'er's golden eyes as she murmured lowly, "Strip her clothes!"