# Chapter 1607: Disaster Strikes the Liuguang Realm
Time flowed, and another year passed.
The Eastern Divine Region, which had been in turmoil for a time, began to gradually quiet down. The search for the demon man Yun Che grew more and more subdued. After still finding no results, all the king realms determined that he had definitely fled into the Northern Divine Region.
But they did not know that Yun Che had indeed initially fled into the Northern Divine Region, but a year ago, he had left the Northern Divine Region and entered the Tai Chu Divine Realm.
It was just that under their excessively powerful concealment abilities, not to mention the Three Divine Regions, even the people in the Northern Divine Region who knew of Yun Che's existence were completely unaware.
Eastern Divine Region, Yue Shen Realm.
"The Xing Shen Realm has begun to reorganize, but there is still no trace of Xing Jue Kong... Most of the Arbiters of Zhou Tian God Realm have been recalled, and Zhou Tian Shen Di has not appeared for a long time. However, yesterday we received an unconfirmed message that Zhou Tian God Realm seems to have begun preparations for Zhou Qingchen's trial ceremony."
"Trial ceremony?" Xia Qingyue's eyes flickered with a different color. "Zhou Tian Shen Di wants Zhou Qingchen to succeed the Divine Emperor early?"
"Zhou Qingchen lacks experience..." Lian Yue said halfway, then suddenly remembered that her master was the youngest and most inexperienced Divine Emperor in the history of the God Realm, and quickly changed her words: "Given Zhou Tian Shen Di's current state and reputation, there is no reason for him to abdicate. Therefore, this news should not be true."
"No, it is very likely true," Xia Qingyue said slowly. "Even someone as strong as Zhou Tian Shen Di might find it difficult to bear the overwhelming sense of guilt."
"Guilt?" Lian Yue was puzzled.
"Regarding the Liuguang Realm, is there any result?" Xia Qingyue did not explain and asked instead.
"Returning to Master," Lian Yue's gaze sharpened, "Everything is as Master anticipated. The twelve hours when Yun Che disappeared without a trace after his first escape back then were indeed hidden by the Liuguang Realm!"
"As expected..." Purple light flickered in Xia Qingyue's eyes. "The Liuguang Realm truly has great audacity!"
"However, Yun Che did not go to the Liuguang Realm on his own back then. After being sent away by Qianye Ying'er's Void Stone, he seemed to have fallen unconscious and was sent into the Liuguang Realm by someone," Lian Yue continued.
"Who?"
"The new Realm King of the Yan Shen Realm... Huo Poyun."
"..." After a brief silence, her crescent-like brows slightly furrowed. "Him?"
Thinking back to the scene of the divine lords sending off Jie Tian Mo Di before the Chaos Wall back then, Huo Poyun was indeed not present.
"This servant has investigated this matter in detail," Lian Yue said. "On the day of sending off Jie Tian Mo Di, Huo Poyun did indeed leave the Yan Shen Realm, but did not arrive at Zhou Tian God Realm. Perhaps he changed his mind midway and turned back. During his return journey, he unexpectedly encountered the unconscious Yun Che and sent him into the Liuguang Realm."
After a brief deliberation, Xia Qingyue said, "Lian Yue, quickly prepare the sound transmission array, connect it to all king realms and all upper star realms, and publicly reveal the matter of the Liuguang Realm harboring and concealing the demon man Yun Che back then!"
"... Understood." Lian Yue was clearly startled but immediately acknowledged without asking the reason.
"However, do not involve Huo Poyun. It would be best to erase all traces."
"Understood."
Xia Qingyue slowly stood up. As she paced, an astonishing pressure caused the surrounding space to tremble. "Yao Yue!"
A figure of a beautiful woman appeared under a silent green glow, slowly kneeling: "Master."
"Come with me to the Liuguang Realm."
"Understood." Yao Yue accepted the order and then asked, "What is Master's intention in going there?"
"To kill Shui Qianheng!" Xia Qingyue's words were somber.
"...!?" Both Lian Yue and Yao Yue were startled. Yao Yue, unaware of the reason, said, "Master, Shui Qianheng is not an ordinary upper realm king. The Liuguang Realm's power and prestige are the highest among the upper star realms, and it is quite friendly with all king realms. Without sufficient reason... Master, please think carefully."
"Hmph, harboring and concealing a demon man is already a great crime. And Yun Che is no ordinary demon man. His escape into the Northern Divine Region this time has planted an unpredictable and enormous calamity! If not for the Liuguang Realm's concealment back then, this calamity might have already been eliminated. This is a crime worthy of being killed by all living beings!"
"!?" Yao Yue's head shot up.
"If I don't kill him, someone else will kill him after it's exposed. Since that's the case, why should I let others have the honor!"
With a flash of purple light on her body, her light blue attire transformed into the cold and majestic Moon Emperor's robes. "Yao Yue, set out for the Liuguang Realm now. Lian Yue, immediately send a sound transmission to Zhou Tian God Realm... one hour later, send transmissions to the other king realms and all upper star realms."
---
Above the Liuguang Realm, a purple light blazed in the sky, seemingly overshadowing all other brilliance of the Liuguang Realm. However, this purple light was too icy cold. All living beings under the purple light trembled in body and soul, silently shivering.
"Hahahaha!" A particularly hearty laugh broke the cold purple silence. Shui Qianheng's figure rapidly approached from afar, bowing from a distance: "Today, the Liuguang Realm is filled with purple clouds, an auspicious omen. It turns out that Yue Shen Di and Qing Yao Yue Shen have graced us with your presence. This is indeed an immeasurable fortune and blessing."
Shui Qianheng did not come alone. Behind him followed two female figures—his two most proud daughters.
Shui Yingyue and Shui Meiyin.
After three thousand years in the Zhou Tian Realm, both his daughters had become Divine Lords, one at the fifth level and one at the seventh level, becoming the miracle of the Liuguang Realm. And Shui Meiyin was a miracle of the entire Eastern Divine Region, even being crowned with the title of Divine Maiden, almost rivaling Qianye Ying'er.
Amidst Shui Qianheng's hearty laughter, Shui Yingyue and Shui Meiyin stood on either side of their father and also bowed.
But Xia Qingyue's jade-like face remained as cold as the moon: "Shui Qianheng, will you end yourself, or shall this king do it?"
When the purple light had shone in the sky, the bone-piercing cold had already made Shui Qianheng uneasy. As soon as Xia Qingyue spoke these words, his heart tightened abruptly. The faces of Shui Yingyue and Shui Meiyin changed drastically at the same time.
Shui Qianheng showed a puzzled expression and asked, "This... I wonder what crime I have committed to incur such anger from Yue Shen Di?"
Xia Qingyue would not engage in any roundabout talk with him. Her cold gaze fixed on him: "Two years ago, when Yun Che was exposed as a demon man and pursued by the entire realm, who was it that hid him during those twelve hours?"
"!!" Shui Qianheng's hands clenched tightly.
"Shui Qianheng, are you going to try to deny it?" Xia Qingyue's voice grew even colder. Her originally supremely beautiful gaze was now like a merciless purple blade piercing the soul.
"Yue Shen Di," Shui Yingyue spoke, "This matter..."
"Shut up!" Shui Yingyue had just uttered a few words when Shui Qianheng interrupted with a low shout, "This is no place for you to speak!"
Shui Yingyue: "..."
Drawing a deep breath, Shui Qianheng showed a bitter smile: "Unless it is conclusive, how could someone as noble as Yue Shen Di come here in person. Before Yue Shen Realm and Qing Yao Yue Shen, how could I have the right to quibble."
"Father..." Shui Meiyin reached out and grabbed her father's sleeve. Her starry eyes trembled, and her lips turned pale. She knew that this day would come sooner or later, but she didn't expect that the first to come and condemn him would be her...
"Very good, at least you still have some Realm King's demeanor." Xia Qingyue said slowly, "Harboring a demon man is a great crime, but given your status as the Liuguang Realm King, perhaps no one would pursue it. But harboring the demon man Yun Che ultimately led to burying a huge calamity for the entire Eastern Divine Region. Even if you are the Liuguang Realm King, ten thousand deaths cannot atone for your crime!"
As her voice fell, a purple light suddenly appeared in Xia Qingyue's hand... It was the strongest weapon of the Yue Shen Realm and the symbol of the Divine Emperor—the Purple Que Divine Sword!
A purple sword aura burst forth from the Purple Que Divine Sword, shooting straight at Shui Qianheng... Without even giving him a chance to explain or leave a last word, Xia Qingyue was determined to kill him without mercy.
Shui Qianheng did not move at all.
"Ah!!"
Shui Yingyue and Shui Meiyin were greatly alarmed and simultaneously made their move... But at almost the same instant, Shui Qianheng also moved, but not to block the Purple Que sword aura. Instead, his hands struck out at his two daughters.
Boom!!
The space exploded. Shui Yingyue and Shui Meiyin were sent flying far away. In their violently contracting pupils, the Purple Que sword aura struck Shui Qianheng directly in the heart... piercing through his body.
"Father!"
"Dad!!"
"Ugh!" Shui Qianheng's body stiffened, the color draining from his face. In his ears were his daughters' heart-wrenching cries. He looked down at the purple sword aura piercing through his body but still made no struggle. As an eighth-level Divine Lord, standing at the pinnacle of all upper realm kings, if he resisted, even Xia Qingyue would have a hard time killing him.
Xia Qingyue held the Purple Que Divine Sword that had pierced through Shui Qianheng, her gaze slightly lowered: "Shui Qianheng, you made a wise choice. If you had dodged this sword, it would not have been just you who died! While you and I fight, countless people in the Liuguang Realm would be buried with you!"
"Fa...ther!" Watching Shui Qianheng being pierced through by a single sword, the light in Shui Yingyue's eyes shattered. She cried out, "Yue Shen Di... I will kill you!!"
The Yao Xi Sword emerged, blue light blazed, and a curtain of water spread across the sky, rushing straight at Xia Qingyue.
"Yingyue... stop!"
Shui Qianheng turned his head with difficulty. His arm swung out, forcibly intercepting all of Shui Yingyue's power and sending her flying far away again.
Forcibly making a move after being pierced through the heart by the Purple Que sword undoubtedly greatly aggravated his injury. Blood gushed from Shui Qianheng's mouth, but he roared hoarsely, "Do you want me... to die in vain!!"
The Yao Xi Sword fell from her hand. Shui Yingyue knelt there, her gaze sorrowful and bewildered.
"..." Shui Meiyin did not move.
"Yue... Shen... Di..." Every word Shui Qianheng spoke was accompanied by spurting blood bubbles: "Hiding Yun Che was my intention alone. No one else knew of it! And even if they did, they could not go against my will. If Yue Shen Di wants to punish me, I have nothing to say. I only ask that you... do not implicate the innocent."
Xia Qingyue said coldly, "I said I would kill only you, so I will kill only you! Of course, if anyone dares to forcibly block me..." Her gaze swept over Shui Yingyue and Shui Meiyin: "They will be considered accomplices!"
"Before coming here, your act of harboring the demon man Yun Che back then has already been announced to all realms by this king. Even if I don't kill you, someone else will. At least under my hand, you can die a quicker death." A faint purple light flickered in Xia Qingyue's eyes, and the divine radiance released by the sword aura also underwent a subtle change: "Now... die in peace!"
"Stop! Stop!"
This loud shout came not from Shui Yingyue or Shui Meiyin, but from a very distant void... A presence also rushed toward this side at extreme speed. Before the true form had even approached, a pale huge hand suddenly descended, firmly grabbing the purple sword aura that had pierced Shui Qianheng, forcefully blocking the Purple Que Divine Power that was about to erupt.
Xia Qingyue frowned, slowly turning her gaze to the void: "Zhou Tian Shen Di, you want to protect him?"
As soon as Xia Qingyue's voice fell, a white figure rushed over like flowing light. It was Zhou Tian Shen Di.
He came alone. Behind him, there was no presence at all.
Zhou Tian Shen Di extended his hand, grabbing the purple sword aura. The previously pale handprint also disappeared. Only then did he speak, "Let him go."
His voice was quite weak, and every word carried a sigh.
Xia Qingyue's brows furrowed deeply: "Zhou Tian Shen Di, could it be that you still don't know the crime he committed back then?"
"Ah," Zhou Tian Shen Di let out a long sigh and said, "Hiding Yun Che is indeed a great crime. But... this old man has been acquainted with the Liuguang Realm King for tens of thousands of years. I know his character all too well. What he hid that day was merely the 'son-in-law' he had already recognized... and absolutely not with the intention of sheltering a demon man."
"Given his temperament, that he would do such a thing does not surprise me in the least."
"Zhou Tian Shen Di," Xia Qingyue frowned, "Yun Che has now successfully fled into the Northern Divine Region. When he grows up in the future and is used by the Northern Divine Region, the consequences are unpredictable. If not for Shui Qianheng's concealment back then, this calamity might not exist at all... Such a great crime that affects the entire Eastern Divine Region and the entire God Realm, I can think of no reason to forgive."
Zhou Tian Shen Di shook his head: "Given Yun Che's concealment abilities, even without the Liuguang Realm King's hiding, we would have been hard-pressed to find him during those twelve hours. That day, outside the Lan Ji Star, you, me, and Fantian were all present. Long Huang and Nanming Shendi came in person, and the Eastern Domain realm kings surrounded us, yet we still failed to keep Yun Che. Now, why be so harsh on a Liuguang Realm King who was merely confused for a moment?"
"Confused for a moment?" Xia Qingyue seemed to find it laughable. "Zhou Tian God Realm went all out to hunt down Yun Che, even resorting to methods they once scorned. That resolve is known to all. And yet now, you are so lenient toward someone who once hid the demon man Yun Che?"
"The demon man Yun Che must be killed," Zhou Tian Shen Di said, "But since everything is already settled, the Eastern Divine Region has already lost too much. This old man truly does not wish to see anyone else die because of this matter."
"Yue Shen Di, I know you detest matters related to the demon man Yun Che the most. Today, consider it a debt I owe you. Please give me this face and spare his life."
After speaking, Zhou Tian Shen Di let out another long sigh... The prophecy of that "Demon God Exterminating the World," which he had brought closer to fulfillment, he dared not let anyone know even half a word. Over the past two years, he had spent every moment crossing over in guilt.
He did not want to see anyone else die because of this... because, in the final analysis, it was his own sin.
Xia Qingyue was silent. The purple light on the Purple Que Divine Sword finally weakened slightly: "Very well. Since it is the command of Zhou Tian Shen Di, if this king insists, I would be showing a lack of respect."
"However, if we simply let this go, even if the whole world knows it was Zhou Tian Shen Di's intention, it might still leave discontent in their hearts." Xia Qingyue's tone suddenly turned: "This King can spare Shui Qianheng, but the Liuguang Realm must do two things."
"First," before Zhou Tian Shen Di could react, Xia Qingyue directly stated, "Shui Qianheng committed a great crime and is no longer qualified to be the Liuguang Realm King. This king wants to abolish his profound strength to below Divine Lord level. Within ten days, he must step down from the throne of Realm King."
"Agreed." Zhou Tian Shen Di nodded. He did not ask for Shui Qianheng's opinion, because before two Divine Emperors, he had no say. And compared to losing his life, this outcome was already far too good.
Xia Qingyue's gaze then suddenly turned to Shui Meiyin: "Merely abolishing Shui Qianheng's power would likely not teach the Liuguang Realm a lasting lesson! Because the core of the Liuguang Realm now is not Shui Qianheng, but this Meiyin Divine Maiden!"
"The second condition is... Shui Meiyin will accompany me back to the Yue Shen Realm, imprisoned for a thousand years. During those thousand years, she shall not leave even half a step!"