Chapter 1600: Straight into the Thousand Wilds
A humiliated cold light flashed from the deepest depths of Qianye Ying'er's golden pupils, but it lasted only an instant.
She was used to it.
Yes, she was actually starting to get used to it.
"Yun… Che!" Qianye Ying'er bit her jade-like teeth. "Even if I'm a tool, you'd better not go too far, or else…"
"Or else what?" Not only did Yun Che not soften at all, but he hooked his leg, arranging Qianye Ying'er into an extremely shameful and utterly degrading posture.
"…Yun Che, let me tell you, your biggest mistake was not planting the slave mark on me that day!" Qianye Ying'er couldn't struggle, and her voice dripped with killing intent. "Once I personally kill that old bastard Qianye Fantian, the first one I'll kill is you!"
"No, I don't regret it at all." Yun Che leaned down, his expression wanton. "I just love watching you, filled with hatred, humiliated, wanting to kill me, yet having to submit and let me toy with you! In my eyes, there is no fate more fitting for you than this!"
"And also…" Yun Che's fingers roamed wantonly over her flawless body, like heavenly snow or divine jade. "You can't kill me… never!"
In the distance, Hong'er held a large black sword in one hand and a wide purple sword in the other, eating from both sides with a crunching sound. Both swords were covered in crooked, crisscrossing teeth marks.
"They're arguing again… munch munch!" Hong'er's cheeks were puffed high as she ate, muttering vaguely. Such scenes were nothing new to her.
"Hong'er, You'er, we should go back." He Ling quietly moved to block their view.
"Huh? But I haven't finished eating yet." Hong'er consciously sped up her gnawing. "And I want to take You'er to see the place where Master found Hong'er back then."
"Mm, want to see." You'er nodded softly. These three words were already spoken quite fluently, her colorful eyes flashing with expectant light.
"Then let's go over there now, okay?"
"Mm!"
The two girls held hands and flew south, and He Ling finally let out a secret sigh of relief.
She quietly looked back at Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er… unable to predict what kind of relationship they would have in the near and distant future.
—
The Thousand Wilds Divine Cult was located in the south of the Thousand Wilds Realm, the sect that stood above all others as the realm king of the Thousand Wilds Realm. Though it had only been powerful for ten thousand years, backed by the Burning Moon King Realm, its development was extremely rapid, and its position in the Thousand Wilds Realm was long unshakable.
"Even if it's only ten thousand years, it's still the realm king sect of an upper-star realm, with a king realm backing it. How do you plan to destroy it?"
Qianye Ying'er was dressed in white robes embroidered with dark butterfly patterns, the sparkling beads on her hem swaying and refracting gorgeous light.
She greatly disliked such pure, untainted colors, but most of the clothes she liked had been torn to shreds by Yun Che.
"Next time you try to show off, think it through first!" Qianye Ying'er said grumpily.
"I've seen parts of Yun Shang's memories," Yun Che said. "Back then, the Thousand Wilds Divine Cult forcibly replaced the Tiangang Cloud Clan. Although it's a realm king sect of an upper-star realm, its foundation and overall strength are far below average. Even now, it's weaker than the Tiangang Cloud Clan at its peak."
"The Thousand Wilds Cult Leader was originally a low-ranked divine envoy of the Burning Moon King Realm. Though he's a divine lord, he's been stuck at the first level of the Divine Lord Realm for over ten thousand years. That's probably his limit." Yun Che's gaze sharpened. "To us now, there's nothing to fear."
"A single Thousand Wilds Cult Leader is indeed nothing to fear. But… that's a realm king sect!" Qianye Ying'er shot him a glance. "Besides, beyond that, you know nothing about the Thousand Wilds Divine Cult."
"A mere Thousand Wilds Divine Cult doesn't deserve me wasting too much time investigating it." Yun Che's eyes were cold and arrogant. "Knowing myself is enough."
"Ha." Qianye Ying'er let out a cold snort.
"And besides, I never said we would directly clash with the Thousand Wilds Divine Cult." At that moment, Yun Che stopped walking and squinted ahead.
In his vision, two figures sped past.
Although they were extremely far away, their voices reached Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er with crystal clarity.
"Seventh Brother, I still don't understand. For an event as major as the Thousand Wilds Crown Prince's centennial birthday, our clan only got two slots. Seventh Brother, your talent is unmatched, and it's only right for you to take this opportunity. But why did Father want me to come with you? It seems more reasonable for Father to come in person."
The two were a man and a woman, both appearing quite young. From their conversation, they seemed to be siblings.
"Now that we're here, I might as well tell you." The man said with a faint smile. "The Thousand Wilds Crown Prince has unparalleled talent in the profound way, but he is extremely lustful, with countless concubines. Over the years, during his birthday banquets, he often selects concubines from the guests. Many great nobles and sects also frequently offer beauties as gifts… Now do you understand?"
"…" The woman's figure abruptly halted in midair, a look of panic on her face. "Father wants… to give me…"
"What are you afraid of?" The man said. "That's the Thousand Wilds Crown Prince! Very likely the future Great Realm King of Thousand Wilds! If he truly takes a liking to you, even if only as a concubine, you'll soar to the heavens overnight, understand?"
"Besides," looking at the woman's appearance, he frowned slightly, "The Thousand Wilds Crown Prince has seen countless women. Although you have some reputation for beauty in the Eastern Domain, it's uncertain whether you'll even catch his eye. Once we enter the banquet, you'd better think carefully about how to attract his attention."
The woman's expression shifted.
"Cuo'er," the man said earnestly, "Don't think for a moment that you're being wronged. Think carefully about who the Thousand Wilds Crown Prince is. Today might be the most important day for your future, and even for our clan's future."
The woman nodded. "I… I understand."
The moment her voice fell, a soft sound rang out beside them. Both their eyes went dark, and they lost consciousness.
Yun Che's figure appeared. He extended his hand, releasing Mystic Arcane directly into the man's soul… then, in an instant, it flew out and invaded the woman's heart and soul.
Bang!
The space ring on the man's hand was crushed directly by Yun Che. Amid the twisting, shattering space, Yun Che pinched out a black-light-wreathed invitation card between his fingers.
"I am Bai Qi, and you are Bai Cuo'er."
When he turned around, Yun Che's face had become identical to the unconscious man, and even his voice was almost indistinguishable.
Qianye Ying'er let out a light snort as her answer.
Yun Che grabbed with his hand and directly stripped the man's outer robe, putting it on himself. Then his gaze glanced at the unconscious woman. Before he could speak, he swallowed his words… With Qianye's temperament, she would never accept clothes just worn by another woman.
"Suppress your profound energy to the Divine Spirit Realm." Yun Che paused, then suddenly said, "Take off your mask."
Qianye Ying'er's beautiful eyes slanted, and a dangerous, mocking smile appeared at the corner of her glittering pink lips. "Are… you… sure?"
"Take it off!" Yun Che repeated.
Qianye Ying'er lightly brushed her hand over her face, removing the black mask that concealed her appearance.
The moment her true face was fully revealed, all the bright light in the world suddenly dimmed.
She needed no expression, no posture or adornment. The instant her face was revealed, it declared to the world what true peerless beauty was.
"Let's go."
Yun Che leaped into the air, while Qianye Ying'er was slightly slower. She casually pointed a finger behind her, and the unfortunate siblings were directly devoured by black energy into nothingness, leaving not even a trace.
Thousand Wilds Divine Mountain, the main sect location of the Thousand Wilds Divine Cult, stretched for three thousand li. Though its scale was far smaller than the Ice Phoenix Realm where the Bing Huang God Sect was located, as the realm king sect of the Thousand Wilds Realm, no one dared to question its authority.
During this period, a major incident had occurred within the Thousand Wilds Divine Cult… The Chief Protector, Shenxu Daoren, in order to obtain the Tiangang Cloud Clan's Holy Cloud Ancient Pill and Cloud Heaven Cauldron as gifts for the Crown Prince's centennial birthday, had used the Jiuyao Celestial Palace and the Huangtian Dragon Clan as pawns to pressure the Tiangang Cloud Clan into surrendering them. But he had died tragically at the hands of a mysterious person named "Yun Che."
When this news spread, the entire sect was shaken. The Thousand Wilds Cult Leader was furious. As the realm king sect, backed by the Burning Moon God Realm, no one had ever dared to provoke the Thousand Wilds Divine Cult… and Shenxu Venerable was the Chief Protector!
Now, with the Crown Prince's centennial birthday approaching, myriad sects from the Thousand Wilds Realm came to offer congratulations. The Thousand Wilds Divine Cult did not act immediately. After the birthday banquet, the Tiangang Cloud Clan's deadline would arrive, and they would undoubtedly pursue the matter to the end.
Before the main gate of the Thousand Wilds Divine Cult, the vast space was deathly silent.
The Crown Prince's centennial birthday was today, and every arrival was a major figure from some region. But as they arrived, they all restrained their auras, descended, and kept their footsteps and breathing as light as possible, afraid of even the slightest offense or impropriety.
But at this moment, an anomaly occurred.
Bang!
Yun Che descended from the sky, landing with considerable force, causing the ground to tremble slightly.
The disciple welcoming guests frowned, a look of anger flashing across his face. He stepped forward and said, "Who comes? Today is the Crown Prince's birthday. Present your invitation immediately, or get out."
"Eastern Domain, Bai Clan." Yun Che produced the invitation.
The welcoming disciple frowned as he took it. Just as he was about to speak, Qianye Ying'er's figure slowly descended, landing behind Yun Che.
The welcoming disciple's mouth froze open, his entire body stiffened.
Everything before him seemed to vanish. In his sight, in the world, in his soul, there remained only a face like a dream… no, even more illusory than a dream.
Beyond cognition, beyond fantasy.
"Ah… ah…" One breath… two breaths… three breaths… He remained frozen, staring straight at Qianye Ying'er, as if all his soul had been taken, only unconscious tremors escaping his throat.
With a flick of his finger, Yun Che took the invitation directly from the welcoming disciple's hand. "Let's go."
Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er passed through the main gate, stepping into the core of the Thousand Wilds Divine Cult. As for the welcoming disciples before the gate… after a long time, they finally came to their senses, but every one of them had vacant, lost eyes, as if they had all experienced a beautiful dream they would gladly sink into forever.
[The rhythm changed temporarily (cutting the entire plot of taking down the Huangtian Dragon Clan's lair, which was meant to highlight Yun Che's hatred for the dragon clan). This led to significant deletion and revision of the chapter, delaying today's two chapters. Will try to avoid in the future (manually covering face).]