Chapter 1648: The Appointed Meeting
Northern Divine Region, Jiehun Realm.
Within the Jiehun Sacred Domain, Yun Che stood silently, his arm extended, the palm of his hand facing a man seated cross-legged with his eyes closed, his features handsome to the point of being almost demonic.
This was the master of the twenty-seven soul spirits of the Jiehun Realm: Sheng Shiyan.
Around him stood dozens of figures. Anyone who saw these people would be struck speechless with shock.
The Demon Empress Chi Wuyue, the Nine Demonesses, the Twenty-Seven Soul Spirits!
Including the Demon Empress herself, all thirty-seven core members of the Jiehun Realm were gathered here, not a single one absent.
Each of the twenty-seven soul spirits governed their own star regions, and the nine demonesses were rarely within the realm. Such a complete gathering was something that had not happened in the Jiehun Realm for a thousand years.
Yun Che withdrew his arm. As the black light faded, the dark alignment of the last soul spirit was also perfectly completed.
Sheng Shiyan opened his eyes and circulated his profound energy. Though he had already witnessed the transformation of soul spirit after soul spirit, feeling the changes throughout his entire body—changes as dreamlike as a fantasy—he still trembled with surging blood.
He did not rise. Instead, he knelt on one knee, bowed solemnly, and said with extreme excitement: "Shiyan thanks Young Master Yun for this heavenly grace... Back then, Shiyan was blind and had no eyes to recognize a true man. I offended you rudely. Young Master Yun may punish me as he sees fit, and Shiyan will have no complaints."
Perfect alignment with the darkness profound force—in the history of the Northern Divine Region, not even the various Divine Emperors of past eras had ever reached such a dark realm of perfection.
This kind of blessing was something that even the term "heavenly grace" could not adequately describe.
And this true miracle was something that Yun Che could accomplish with ease... and mass-produce, at that!
Upon closer reflection, it inspired not so much reverence as... a bone-chilling dread.
By now, whether it was the demonesses or the soul spirits, none of them were any longer surprised at the Demon Empress's attitude toward Yun Che.
If the Burning Moon and Yan Mo were to learn of Yun Che's ability, they would probably kneel and beg for it.
Yun Che turned around and gave no response.
To him, everything in the Jiehun Realm was nothing more than a mutually beneficial tool. He would not invest even a trace of emotion into it. The efforts he put in now were solely for an equivalent—or even multiplied—return in the future.
Thus far, the nine demonesses and the twenty-seven soul spirits had all completed their dark alignment and had been completely reborn.
To put it another way, they were now true dark demon humans.
"Next, the three thousand six hundred soul attendants," Yun Che said flatly, as if stating the most ordinary thing in the world.
His words nearly caused all twenty-seven soul spirits to fall to their knees at once.
As soul spirits of the Jiehun Realm with divine lord-level power, to receive such a blessing was already like a dream. And now he was going to bestow it upon all the soul attendants as well!?
Crazy... was he crazy!?
What kind of monster was this person called Yun Che? Could he be the reincarnation of some ancient demon god or something?
Chi Wuyue said, "The soul attendants have already begun to be recalled. We can start tomorrow."
"Master," Qingying suddenly spoke up, "after all, there are three thousand six hundred soul attendants. If we proceed with all of them, there is a possibility of short-term exposure."
"Wouldn't exposure be even better?" Chi Wuyue said with a smile.
"Eh?" Qingying was momentarily stunned, unable to understand.
"However," Chi Wuyue changed the subject, "before that matter is settled, it would indeed be better to keep it hidden, so as not to create unnecessary variables."
"Before we meet with Zhou Tian, all the soul attendants will be confined within the sacred domain. You can rest assured on that point." These words were said for Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er to hear, but they also served as a warning to the twenty-seven soul spirits who commanded the soul attendants.
"Rest assured, Demon Empress," Sheng Shiyan said solemnly. "Without the Demon Empress's command, if even half a word leaks out, Shiyan will end his own life in atonement."
"Very good." Chi Wuyue gave the order: "Starting tomorrow, one hundred people per day. Within one month, the transformation of all soul attendants will be completed."
"Sending the people is a trivial matter, but the underlying meaning should be clear enough by now... What is at stake here is far more than just the fate of our Jiehun Realm!"
Though Chi Wuyue's voice was not heavy, the hearts of the soul spirits shook violently.
After they left, their minds still surged like overwhelming waves.
After the twenty-seven soul spirits took their leave under orders, Ye Li stepped forward and said, "Master, my sisters and I, as well as all the soul spirits, have completed our dark alignment. Only you remain."
As soon as Ye Li finished speaking, a cold voice rang out: "She does not need it."
"...?" Ye Li was taken aback, and all the demonesses were stunned.
Qianye Ying'er suddenly turned her head sideways, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.
Chi Wuyue smiled faintly, but ignored what she said. Instead, she remarked, "Yun Che, the mere three years you have set are hardly enough for these lovely children by my side to make significant progress."
"However, I believe that you surely have a method to make them grow quickly within three years, am I right?"
With a twist of her lips, she cast a soft, enchanting glance at Yun Che.
"Of course I do," answered Qianye Ying'er instead. She narrowed her eyes and said, "Would you like to hear it?"
The gazes of the demonesses turned toward her with a hint of anticipation. Things that had once been deemed impossible, in Yun Che's hands, made them believe they could indeed be realized.
After all, three years ago, Qianye Ying'er was still a half-crippled divine sovereign. Now, she could face the fourth demoness, Yaodie, without losing.
Chi Wuyue, however, seemed to have glimpsed in a single glance what that "method" was. She smiled seductively and said in a sultry voice, "Never mind. That method, which belongs to you alone, how could my children be so bold as to share it?"
"No, I would welcome it," Qianye Ying'er replied with a light smile. "Better yet, have all nine of them come together, so I can truly witness the real grace of the Nine Demonesses of the Jiehun Realm. That would be wonderful indeed."
"???" The nine demonesses exchanged glances, all of them lost in a fog, unable to grasp her meaning.
Chi Wuyue narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, somewhat surprised by Qianye Ying'er's reaction. Then, as if she had realized something, her lips curved into a seductive arc: "I see... Interesting, truly interesting. A fallen divine maiden, how could she bear to see others with complete and beautiful wings?"
"Master, what are you talking about?" Yu Wu cautiously transmitted her voice.
"I don't know," Chanyi shook her head. "Perhaps... Yun Qianying once had her profound strength crippled, so she harbors some kind of shadow in her heart, and Master saw through it?"
"Ah?" Yu Wu was even more confused.
"..." Qianye Ying'er's heart tightened sharply. She bit her jade teeth and said nothing, but the gaze she directed at Chi Wuyue carried a hint of dangerous coldness.
"Let the nine of them come with me," Yun Che suddenly said.
The silent confrontation between Chi Wuyue and Qianye Ying'er was forcibly cut short. Chi Wuyue turned her head, her lips slightly parted, wearing a deliberately exaggerated expression of surprise and bewilderment: "You don't mean to say... you actually want to help them raise their cultivation?"
"All nine of them together... aren't you afraid you won't be able to handle it all at once?"
Yun Che shot her a sideways glance and said, "I do have a method to make them grow quickly, but not now, and not here."
"Oh?" A flicker of surprise passed through Chi Wuyue's heart as she fell into thought.
"Aren't you very interested in the 'Jiemo Huotian'?" Yun Che's voice lowered, each word heavy and deep. "For the first time, let them be the carriers of this darkness!"
This was a decision, not a question.
The Jiemo Huotian Array—a dark magic array recorded in the Eternal Night Mid-Level. Even now, Yun Che lacked the confidence to freely control it. That was why he had never attempted to use it on Qianye Ying'er, for fear of damaging her.
This was his first time resolving to execute it, and it would be applied to the bodies of all nine demonesses at once.
The Evil God Art worked on oneself, allowing one to break through limits endlessly in an instant, unleashing power beyond imagination.
The Dark Eternal Calamity, on the other hand, was more about controlling others—including all forms of dark carriers.
As forces of the same level, in a world without true gods, they possessed truly heaven-defying power in their respective domains.
From Qianye Ying'er's earlier reaction, it was clear she did not know of the Jiemo Huotian's existence. Naturally, Yun Che had never used it on her. With Chi Wuyue's shrewdness, how could she not see that Yun Che was using the nine demonesses—the nine most important people by her side—as test subjects?
However, she did not refuse. Instead, a strange black light blazed in her pupils. In this world, aside from Yun Che, she was likely the only one who truly understood what the Jiemo Huotian was.
The miraculous power to perfectly align the demonesses with darkness was merely the basic capability of the Dark Eternal Calamity.
The Jiemo Huotian, however, was a mid-level power. One could only imagine its might.
"Very well." Chi Wuyue said with a smile, "Since you have this interest, how could I bear to refuse?"
She turned to face the nine demonesses and said, "From today onward, Yun Che's words are my words. You must all obey them."
As soon as these words were spoken, including Yun Che himself, everyone was stunned on the spot.
Though it was only a brief sentence, it undoubtedly handed over the control of the entire Jiehun Realm to Yun Che.
Understanding a person was extremely difficult. Trusting a person was even harder. Yun Che, who had been ruined by the Zhou Tian Divine Emperor, and Qianye Ying'er, who had been abandoned by the Fantian Divine Emperor, both knew this well.
And the unfathomable Chi Wuyue would surely be extremely cautious with anyone.
Such a bold decision, bordering on irrationality, should never have come from her lips.
"Oh? Do you have any questions?" Chi Wuyue asked with a smile.
"No, we will follow Master's orders." Jiexin and Jieling spoke first.
"But... what exactly is the Jiemo Huotian?" Ye Li asked, her expression serious.
"You will find out soon enough." Chi Wuyue smiled mysteriously. "The day you can freely align with it... will probably be around the time you set foot in the Burning Moon and Yan Mo."
Chi Wuyue's words instantly dispelled all stray thoughts from the demonesses' hearts, leaving only resolve.
————
Time flowed on, and a hundred days passed in the blink of an eye.
No one knew the details of Chi Wuyue's dealings with Zhou Xuzi. However, the agreed-upon time for the transaction had ultimately fallen on the "hundred days later" that Chi Wuyue had chosen from the start.
The precision was chilling.
Just after the third watch, Yun Che, who had been resting briefly, opened his eyes. Uncontrolled black light flickered in his gaze, taking several breaths to slowly fade.
Today was the day of the transaction Chi Wuyue had arranged with Zhou Xuzi.
If Yun Wuxin was still alive, today would be her eighteenth birthday.
"Let's go." The person beside him, Qianye Ying'er, spoke.
Yun Che rose and walked forward slowly, each step treading on faint black mist.
The doors of the hall opened. Chi Wuyue was already standing outside, who knew for how long. Seeing the two emerge, she twisted her demonic body and said, "Let's go. For the spectacle to come, I have been waiting a long time. I wonder how much Zhou Xuzi has improved compared to ten thousand years ago."
A dark profound ark, a hundred zhang in length and width, descended. On it were the Great Demoness Jiexin, Jieling, and the Seventh Demoness Huajin, already waiting. It seemed they would be traveling along as well.
The ark set off, flying south. The journey from here to the border of the Northern Divine Region was extremely long, but the ark's flight was neither fast nor slow. After all, the one who should truly be anxious was Zhou Xuzi's side.
Yun Che stood at the tail of the ark, gazing coldly at the vast, boundless dark world. He remained silent the entire time, his hands clenched tightly, never relaxing for even a moment.
Zhou Tian Divine Emperor, Zhou Xuzi...
The one who destroyed everything he had, the one who created his painful nightmare... After three years, he was finally going to face him again!
It was clearly too early, clearly not the best time, but he could not stop it, could not control himself!