# Chapter 1638: Dark Sonata
A black shadow flashed, and Chi Wuyue had already arrived in front of Hua Jin. From within the black mist, a hand as white as porcelain jade extended, lightly pressing against Hua Jin's chest. A dark profound array took shape beneath her palm in an instant.
Immediately, a thin layer of black radiance enveloped Hua Jin's entire body, causing the greenish eerie light in her pupils to slowly recede. But her pupils remained dilated, reflecting unprecedented horror: "Master, this is..."
"It's the Heavenly Poison," Chi Wuyue said. Her hand, carved as if by divine craftsmanship, slowly withdrew at that moment. The moment it sank into the black mist, the contrast between jade-white and pitch-black was glaring enough to dazzle the eyes. "The demon poison level of the Heavenly Poison Pearl is too high to annihilate. It can only be forcibly suppressed, then we wait for its 'life' to die on its own."
"The poison amount is very small. You are capable of controlling it. No need to panic. The day after tomorrow at this hour, it should have dissipated completely."
Back then, when Qianye Fantian was poisoned by the Heavenly Poison Pearl under Yun Che and Xia Qingyue's scheme, the most important reason he completely fell for it was the panic and despair of being unable to remove or annihilate the Heavenly Poison, and the fact that he had no idea that the poison power released by the current Heavenly Poison Pearl could only "survive" for twenty hours.
And Chi Wuyue seemed to know this with complete clarity.
"Now, do you still think he didn't recognize your disguise?" Chi Wuyue said ethereally.
Hua Jin pressed her hand to her chest. After a long while, her breathing finally calmed. She abruptly turned her eyes and said in a deep voice: "Master, he claimed to lure you out for cooperation. Yet when he recognized my identity, he used such a vicious poison in secret. He has absolutely no sincerity for 'cooperation' with our Jiehun Realm."
"No, he is merely using this to give me a warning and a show of power," Chi Wuyue said slowly. "Including his killing of Yan San'geng—it both planted the fuse and simultaneously expressed an attitude and exerted pressure on me."
Hua Jin: "…?"
"His way of doing things has completely changed." Chi Wuyue's voice became drawn out, as if with some sigh—or perhaps sadness. "The him before would definitely not act like this."
"The him... before?" Hua Jin showed astonishment.
"Hua Jin, your words are not entirely wrong." Chi Wuyue spoke slowly. "Whether Yun Che can help us fulfill our long-cherished wish, no one can guarantee. Whether the future will become better or worse, no one can foresee. But given the current state of the Northern Divine Region, he is the only possibility and hope."
The word "only" was not said heavily, but it was like two soul-piercing demonic seals, deeply imprinted into Hua Jin's heart and soul.
After a long silence, Hua Jin did not voice any more doubts or admonitions. She knelt again on one knee before Chi Wuyue: "We sisters will give everything to help you fulfill your wish, master."
Chi Wuyue then gave an order: "Send a sound transmission to Yu Wu, Qing Ying, and Chan Yi outside. Order them to return to the realm immediately."
As she spoke, she raised her head, looking at the eternally dark sky. Her lips slowly curled upward: "This sky that has been dull and pitch black for a million years is finally about to become interesting."
---
The direction Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er were heading was precisely the location of Jiehun Realm.
Because the Northern Divine Region was a gradually shrinking "prison cage," it was far less powerful than the other three Divine Regions. At their maximum speed, without relying on spatial profound arrays, they could reach it within a day.
"Why didn't you tell me about Zhou Xuzi?" Yun Che said abruptly.
Qianye Ying'er cast him a sidelong glance: "You avoided Chi Wuyue just to talk to me about this?"
"Why didn't you tell me!" Yun Che repeated coldly.
"It wasn't necessary," Qianye Ying'er said. "And although you've been very restrained, you're still somewhat impatient. You should know this in your heart."
Yun Che frowned but said nothing.
"Lying low for another year or two would give you more initiative when dealing with Chi Wuyue, but you didn't. At Huangtian Que, without discussing with me, you forcefully killed Yan San'geng to directly anger the Yanmo Realm, thereby pressuring Chi Wuyue to annex Fen Yue and Yan Mo sooner."
"All of this proves that hiding it from you was the correct choice."
Yun Che still said nothing.
"Your hatred for your enemies and your hatred for yourself are both like devouring demons. Every breath makes you suffer unbearably. I understand that very well," Qianye Ying'er said, looking straight ahead. "And Zhou Xuzi is the person you hate the most—oh, or maybe that Xia Qingyue? I was afraid that if I told you, the time before you came to seek Chi Wuyue would be shortened even further."
"Just because of that?" Under Qianye Ying'er's words, Yun Che's expression did not change much.
"Yes."
"Why does Zhou Xuzi place so much importance on Zhou Qingchen?" Yun Che asked.
Qianye Ying'er smiled faintly and said: "Zhou Xuzi's eldest son is nearly twenty thousand years old, yet Zhou Qingchen, the Zhou Tian Crown Prince, is similar in age to me. Don't you find that strange?"
"Nothing strange about it," Yun Che said. "Your father also chose you as his successor, didn't he?"
"I have no father." Qianye Ying'er snorted coldly, then said disdainfully: "That waste of a crown prince from Zhou Tian is worthy of being compared to me? The reason I was chosen as successor by that old dog Qianye Fantian is because I surpassed all his descendants and all my peers in talent. But Zhou Qingchen... you've had several encounters with him. In what aspect of cultivation, talent, prestige, or character do you think he is worthy of being the 'Zhou Tian Crown Prince'?"
Qianye Ying'er and Zhou Qingchen were similar in age. Even after being stripped of the inherited Fan Shen Divine Power, Qianye Ying'er was still at mid-stage Divine Lord cultivation.
And Zhou Qingchen was a mid-stage Divine Sovereign.
Both as Divine Emperor successors, the gap in their Xuan Path cultivation was far more than the difference between heaven and earth.
Setting aside Qianye Ying'er as an anomaly, for someone of Zhou Qingchen's age to have mid-stage Divine Sovereign cultivation was already enough to be proud of the world. But he was the Zhou Tian Crown Prince, enjoying the best environment and resources in the world. His cultivation was undoubtedly largely due to this.
The fact that two great guardians of Zhou Tian risked entering Tai Chu Divine Realm to obtain Tai Chu Divine Fruit for him was a clear glimpse of this.
Even adding the resources at the Royal Realm level, and the treatment that clearly exceeded the limits of a crown prince, although his cultivation attracted attention, it truly did not reach the height of a Zhou Tian successor. Even among those who experienced the "Chosen Ones" of three thousand years in Zhou Tian, there were many far more outstanding than him.
In terms of prestige and character, Zhou Qingchen had nothing comparable to Qianye Ying'er.
Therefore, facing Qianye Ying'er, who was of equal status, Zhou Qingchen had always felt inferior and ashamed. Despite his love-struck obsession, he never dared to take a step forward.
Yun Che thought for a moment, then said: "Go on."
"Zhou Xuzi's legal wife was said to be not of noble birth. If I remember correctly, she seemed to be from a mid-level star realm," Qianye Ying'er explained lightly. "That star realm, like Yin Xue Realm, primarily cultivated ice profound force."
Yun Che: "…"
"With such a background, yet being chosen by Zhou Xuzi as his legal wife shows the depth of their affection." Qianye Ying'er let out a somewhat disdainful sniff. "I've heard that the reason Zhou Xuzi valued this woman so much was because she once, for his sake..."
"Get to the point," Yun Che interrupted coldly. Every time he heard the name "Zhou Xuzi," the veins all over his body would spasm uncontrollably. How could he be willing to listen to some past story of his?
"In short... that woman, after marrying Zhou Xuzi for many years, never bore children. After consulting doctors, they learned that due to cultivating ice profound force, her body had long suffered cold damage. And the cold damage had accumulated over many years, making it almost impossible for her to have fertility."
"Heh." Yun Che sneered coldly. He could roughly guess what happened next.
"Zhou Xuzi and that woman tried countless methods, but over the years, Zhou Xuzi had countless descendants, with his eldest son nearly twenty thousand years old, yet she still remained childless. And Zhou Xuzi never appointed a crown prince. This probably made the woman both moved and guilty. Finally, she made up her mind to try the only possibility. Without telling Zhou Xuzi, she self-destroyed her profound veins, dispersed all her cultivation and cold energy, then repaired her body and finally became pregnant."
Yun Che knew very well that cultivating ice profound force easily harms the womb. With his ability, he could easily heal it, but for others, even at the Royal Realm level, it was almost an unsolvable difficulty.
"Although that woman lost her profound force, with the resources of the Zhou Tian Realm, it was still enough to forcibly extend her lifespan by a thousand years. But unfortunately, her cold damage was too severe. After giving birth to Zhou Qingchen with difficulty, she died directly."
"That was probably the most powerless time in Zhou Xuzi's life. Therefore, Zhou Qingchen is definitely not as simple as just his only legitimate son to him."
"That's all?" Yun Che seemed to be sneering.
"Not enough?" Qianye Ying'er countered.
"…Enough." Yun Che's gaze gradually condensed. "Enough... very good."
Qianye Ying'er's eyes shifted sideways. She saw Yun Che's hand clench tightly, and between his fingers, a trace of blood seemed to slowly seep out.
"However, are you sure that after being enraged, that Zhou Tian old dog will launch a fierce attack on the Northern Divine Region?" Yun Che suddenly asked.
"Probably," Qianye Ying'er said. "No matter how many years an old monster has lived, they all have their own weaknesses. The reason I know so much about Zhou Qingchen's affairs is that when I was very young, Qianye Fantian made me see and find the weaknesses of everyone."
"Including Zhou Xuzi, including Yue Wuyai, including Long Huang... including all who could be used or might become threats."
Qianye Ying'er was recounting the survival rules that had been instilled in her since childhood by Qianye Fantian. But unfortunately, she had never clearly seen what Qianye Fantian's weakness was.
"Zhou Qingchen is Zhou Xuzi's greatest weakness. After he is thoroughly enraged... you can try to make him immerse himself in your hatred and state. At that time, anything he does is not surprising."
Yun Che: "…"
"Also, he will not only bear hatred. After witnessing your terrifying growth and resentment firsthand, he will develop an extremely heavy sense of crisis. The combination of the two will make him do everything, regardless of consequences, to eradicate you in the shortest time possible, without any luck or hesitation."
"What is your confidence in achieving this?" Yun Che asked.
"Fifty percent," Qianye Ying'er said. But in front of Chi Wuyue, of course, she had to remain expressionless and show "one hundred percent" with absolute certainty.
"If he doesn't take the bait, then think of other ways." Qianye Ying'er smiled faintly. "Methods, as long as one is willing to think, there can be many, many. This is the most likely method I can think of at present. I don't want you to be too anxious before all preparations are complete and waste this best opportunity."
"At least, first let this Northern Divine Region... only have one Royal Realm left!"
"And," Qianye Ying'er's lips moved slightly, that faint curve was extremely sinister, "the longer the hope is drawn out, the more painful and maddening the final despair will be, isn't that so?"
Yun Che was silent for a long time. He did not speak, seeming to agree with Qianye Ying'er's words.
"There is one thing I am curious about," Qianye Ying'er suddenly spoke. "What's the deal with that little girl?"
She didn't believe that the current Yun Che would still have any remaining kindness.
"That is a demon girl," Yun Che said.
"…" Qianye Ying'er's eyebrows twitched, then she gave a light snort: "I see."
"The seventh demoness, Hua Jin, has a power of false form and shadow concealment that even gods and ghosts cannot distinguish. She truly lives up to her reputation." She directly thought of that name. "Within ten steps, she even fooled me. In this regard, even Tiansha Xingshen couldn't do it."
"Beyond the demoness, that Chi Wuyue cannot be underestimated." Qianye Ying'er slightly frowned, her gaze turning cold. "This is the first time I feel that a person's eyes can pierce through my soul."
"Also, this cooperation is a bit too smooth." She glanced at Yun Che. "Do you think it's because of Jie Tian Mo Di?"
"I will not fully trust anyone," Yun Che said coldly.
"Including me?"
"Yes." A one-word response, without hesitation.
"…Very well." Qianye Ying'er slowly nodded, as if in approval. Then, looking ahead, she said a very light, inexplicable sentence: "Even I am starting not to believe myself... Heh, how ridiculous."
"…?" Yun Che turned his eyes and glanced at her sideways.
Passing through stretches of pitch-black regions, the region belonging to Jiehun Realm finally appeared in sight.
Also a world of darkness, its existence was like a demon god standing in the clouds, casting supreme demonic might over the surrounding world.