# Chapter 1645: The Demon Empress's Setup
"The Yanmo Realm's Yan Tu, Yan E, and Yan Huo have come to pay respects! We seek an audience with the exalted Jiehun Demon Empress!"
The heavy, oppressive voice echoed at the border of the Jiehun Holy Domain. Though phrased as respectful words, it carried a deathly aura as if originating from the depths of the Yellow Springs, causing the entire Jiehun Holy Domain to fall silent and tense.
Countless eyes abruptly turned toward the direction of the voice, shock appearing on every face.
Because Yan Tu, Yan E, and Yan Huo were the names of three Yan Mo!
Three Yan Mo from the Yanmo Realm had suddenly arrived… and three of them at once!
Above the Hunluo Heaven, all the demonesses furrowed their brows. Ye Li said in a deep voice: "Three Yan Mo coming at once — the last time such a formation occurred was when our master was crowned emperor. What do they intend?"
"Master," Jie Xin stepped forward, her white robes and jet-black hair gently fluttering, "I'll go."
"No need," Chi Wuyue showed no trace of surprise at the arrival of the three Yan Mo. "Since the Yanmo Realm has given us such 'face,' it's only fitting that I go in person."
"They are not worthy of master appearing personally," Jie Ling said.
Chi Wuyue had already lifted her gaze. Without any release of profound energy, her voice directly pierced through the soundproof barrier jointly set up by Ye Li and Yao Die, rippling across the heavens: "What matter."
Only two faint words, falling upon the ears like mist — ethereal and gentle. But when they entered the soul, it was as if the heavens themselves had overturned. The entire Jiehun Holy Domain, all living beings held their breath.
And it was these two words that caused Yun Che's calm gaze to suddenly change, sharply fixing on Chi Wuyue… a full few breaths passed before he slowly looked away.
Three Yan Mo arriving together — this was no small display. But even with such a show, they had not expected to truly see the Demon Empress.
Suddenly hearing the Demon Empress's voice, the three Yan Mo were clearly caught off guard. After a long silence, their voices finally traveled from afar: "May the Demon God bless the Demon Empress with peace. We come under the orders of the Yama Emperor, specifically to apprehend the Eastern Domain villain Yun Che, who yesterday, under the guise of 'Ling Yun,' wantonly slaughtered the Yan Ghost King!"
"We beseech the Demon Empress to grant permission, allowing us to take Yun Che back to our realm in chains."
Though the three Yan Mo's voices were harsh and cold, they still carried a measure of caution and respect… for the one they were addressing was none other than the Demon Empress Chi Wuyue!
"How does the Yanmo Realm know Yun Che is here?" Chan Yi wondered softly.
"Perhaps… they revealed their trail on the way?" Yu Wu said in a small voice. "After all, the Yanmo Realm has been searching for their tracks with all their strength since yesterday."
"Even so… it seems too fast." Lan Ting said even more softly. After all, Yun Che had only just arrived at the Jiehun Realm not long ago, and the Yanmo Realm came right on his heels, sending three Yan Mo directly — clearly they were absolutely certain Yun Che was here.
Although the three king realms of the Northern Domain were close to each other, it still took several hours of travel. The three Yan Mo's arrival at this time seemed more like… they had set out straight for this place before Yun Che even set foot in the Jiehun Realm.
Chi Wuyue's voice filled the air again: "Those who hold grudges against Yun Che are not limited to your Yanmo Realm. Now that he has fallen into my hands, how he should be dealt with is for me to decide. What business is it of the Yanmo Realm?"
The three Yan Mo coming at once — on one hand, it was because Yun Che's strength was too bizarre; he had slain Yan San Geng with a single sword, so they feared a single Yan Mo might not be able to subdue him.
On the other hand, though this seemed to be extreme fury over the Yan Ghost King's death, in truth… Yun Che's Evil God inheritance and the Heavenly Poison Pearl were irresistible temptations for anyone!
Yan Tu spoke solemnly: "We have indeed heard of the two Eastern Domain villains injuring demonesses and offending the Demon Empress. But in terms of offense, it is far less than the death of our realm's Yan Ghost King. The Yama Emperor is greatly enraged and has strictly ordered us to bring Yun Che back for punishment. We earnestly beg the Demon Empress to grant this request. The Yanmo Realm will surely repay you handsomely."
Chi Wuyue smiled lightly: "If the Yama Emperor places such importance on this, let him come personally to demand the person. I will be waiting for him at any time. You few don't seem qualified enough."
The Yan Mo side was silent for a moment. When their voice came again, it carried a hint of chill: "The Yama Emperor has ordered that no matter what, we must…"
"What I had to say has already been fully said." The gentle voice interrupted the Yan Mo's words. But then, the voice filling the air suddenly turned icy: "Or do you wish to hear it a second time?"
It was a chill that pierced the soul and stabbed the bones.
The Chi Wuyue that Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er faced had a voice enchanting and bewitching, almost melting one's marrow. But now, her suddenly frigid tone, those extremely short nine words, seemed to thrust people to the border between an ice prison and death — every nerve, every strand of soul trembling and convulsing without end.
The entire Jiehun Holy Domain was completely silenced. After a long stillness, the Yan Mo's voice finally came through: "We will faithfully relay the Demon Empress's words to the Yama Emperor. We take our leave."
With that, the auras of the three Yan Mo rapidly retreated, not daring to set foot in the Jiehun Holy Domain.
The Yan Mo left, and the Demon Empress's chilling majesty also vanished without a trace. Qing Ying spoke up: "Strange. Why would the Yanmo Realm know Yun Che was here, and come so quickly?"
In the eyes of the demonesses, Yun Che possessing the power of a Demon Emperor was an extremely great secret. For now, only the Demon Empress and themselves should know. Their 'cooperation,' at least in the early stages, should be an absolute secret.
Thus, from the Jiehun Realm's standpoint, they would naturally use all their power to conceal and block any related information.
"Heh," a cold laugh came from Qianye Ying'er, her voice frigid: "That's something you should ask your master!"
Qing Ying glared angrily: "Yun Qianying, what do you mean by that!"
Qianye Ying'er ignored Qing Ying, her cold eyes fixed on Chi Wuyue: "Chi Wuyue, the only ones who knew we were coming here were you and the Seventh Demoness."
"We are completely unfamiliar with the Northern Domain. On the way, we concealed our auras and did not travel quickly. Yet you arrived later than us."
"Even more curious…" Qianye Ying'er's lips curled in mockery, her beautiful eyes freezing: "Eight of the Nine Demonesses have come, even the Demon Empress herself, yet only the Seventh Demoness is missing. Let me guess — where did she go?"
"Silence!" Qianye Ying'er's words naturally drew the demonesses' fury. "If you dare slander our master again, don't blame us for being impolite!"
"Oh my." Chi Wuyue gave a charming sigh, grinning mischievously: "I knew I couldn't hide it from you. Huajin is absent because I sent her to a few places… the first being the Yanmo Realm."
"Now, both the Yanmo Realm and the Fenyue Realm know you're here. Before long, half the Northern Divine Region should probably know as well."
The demonesses were stunned. Ye Li said: "Master, this… what is the meaning of this?"
"Reason," Yun Che said calmly, neither urgent nor angry.
"Reasons, well… there are many." Chi Wuyue was even more unhurried, completely ignoring Qianye Ying'er's piercing gaze. "Let's start with the closest and simplest one."
"I wanted people to know that you are in my hands. It's that simple. And this scope is not limited to the Northern Divine Region. If I continue to fan the flames, after some time, the Eastern Divine Region should also receive word."
"Especially…" Her dark eyes seemed to flicker slightly: "the Zhou Tian God Realm."
"Chi Wuyue!" Qianye Ying'er was furious. Her figure flickered and she was already close to Chi Wuyue, their gazes colliding from half a foot away: "What exactly… are you trying to do!"
At this moment, she suddenly began to doubt the course she had persistently advocated since entering the Northern Domain — guiding and urging Yun Che to cooperate with the Demon Empress Chi Wuyue.
This was only the first day of their cooperation. The beginning had been incredibly smooth, yet Chi Wuyue's thoughts and actions were completely beyond her expectations, let alone her and Yun Che's control.
Facing Qianye Ying'er's close scrutiny, Chi Wuyue smiled charmingly, even leaning forward a fraction, as if admiring the overly perfect half of Qianye Ying'er's face: "Speaking of which, this idea was inspired by none other than you."
"…" Qianye Ying'er did not retreat, her words dripping with ice: "You'd better… explain yourself clearly!"
Chi Wuyue said: "Since we are cooperating, I will of course inform you clearly. After all, you are the true protagonists; I am merely a small driving force."
"Nonsense!" Qianye Ying'er said coldly. "Regarding this matter alone, you acted entirely on your own without consulting us in the slightest. Informing the Yanmo Realm of our whereabouts carries the suspicion of scheming against us. And yet you have the face to speak of 'cooperation'? Do you expect us to obediently cooperate with you?"
Chi Wuyue replied with a smile: "Let me finish speaking first. Whether or not to cooperate — isn't that still up to you to decide?"
"Speak," Yun Che uttered a single word.
"Then listen carefully, especially you." She faced Qianye Ying'er, her lips lightly pursing.
Qianye Ying'er's brow twitched.
"Yun Qianying, the 'great gift' you spoke of earlier, to repay the 'Primeval Divine Marrow,' was a wonderful 'opportunity.' By using the trade that Zhou Xuzi proposed to me, we would thoroughly enrage him, drive him to madness, and cause him to lose his mind and actively launch a fierce offensive against the Northern Domain, thereby creating momentum."
"It sounds absolutely wonderful, and it moved me greatly. But after some thought, I found that this 'great gift' seemed to have two rather large loopholes."
"What loopholes?" Qianye Ying'er demanded.
"First," Chi Wuyue spoke leisurely, "the timing you envisioned was to first merge the three king realms, gather sufficient strength, then provoke the Zhou Tian God Realm into attacking, thereby using the momentum to counterattack, standing on a high ground of reason and momentum, and causing the Western and Southern Divine Regions to watch from the sidelines in the beginning."
"But… if my Jiehun Realm wishes to devour Fenyue and Yanmo, I must rely on Yun Che's power. And any conflict with even one king realm, no matter how small the scale, will certainly shake the entire Northern Divine Region, and naturally be easily heard by the Eastern Domain's king realms. Then the Zhou Tian God Realm will know that I and Yun Che are cooperating, not that I have captured him. How then would he bring his son to fall into the trap?"
"Heh," Qianye Ying'er snorted disdainfully: "As the Jiehun Demon Empress, you don't even have the ability to suppress such information?"
"Suppress?" Chi Wuyue returned the sneer: "A conflict between king realms — there is probably nothing bigger in this world. How could it be suppressed?"
"Moreover, given your former status as the Fandi Shennü, tell me — with such a large scale event, no matter how tightly it is suppressed, would the Eastern Divine Region's intelligence capabilities truly be so weak as to not detect it at all?"
"…" Qianye Ying'er was silent.
"Second," Chi Wuyue continued, "setting aside ten thousand steps, even if everything goes as you wish — after preparing everything, you successfully enrage the Zhou Tian God Realm — how are you so certain… that he will definitely, in his extreme fury, lead the Zhou Tian God Realm's forces to fiercely attack the Northern Domain?"
Qianye Ying'er said darkly: "By his guilt toward his deceased wife, by his valuing of Zhou Qingchen's life above all else, by his fear and panic after witnessing Yun Che's growth… is that not enough!"
"Whether it's enough or not, how would I know?" Chi Wuyue said. "But I at least know one thing. A person sometimes cannot even control his own thoughts. To speculate on another's thoughts and use that as a gamble… often only ends in mockery!"
She glanced sideways: "The two of you are precisely such a mockery."
"You!" Qianye Ying'er's golden hair rose, black light flashing in her eyes… but for a long time, she did not truly erupt.
They were once the ones who most respected Zhou Xuzi and most revered Qianye Fantian, and yet they had fallen to this state.
Calling them "such a mockery" — was there any mistake?