Chapter 1650: Two Emperors Clash
Northern Domain Border.
This was the place in the Northern Divine Region closest to the Eastern Divine Region, a land of darkness. The dark aura was exceptionally thin. Because it was so near the Eastern Divine Region, for a full thousand miles there was not a trace of demonic beings, and even demonic beasts were extremely rare.
On the other side, the star region of the Eastern Divine Region closest to the Northern Divine Region was where Yin Xue Realm was located.
Zhou Xuzi stood outside the Northern Domain border, gazing into the darkness that was right before his eyes. By his side was Zhou Qingchen, his face dull and gloomy.
The hope of recovery was right in front of him, yet he did not seem to have much excitement or anxiety.
Of course, in the eyes of Zhou Xuzi and Taiyu Venerable, this was undoubtedly the result of the influence of dark power.
Ten thousand years ago, Zhou Xuzi had been lured by Chi Wuyue and chased into this dark land with Qianye Fantian. Their tremendous commotion had even inadvertently drawn in Mu Xuanyin, the Yinxue Realm King who had just entered the Divine Lord realm.
At that time, he had stepped into the darkness to pursue the Demon Empress, so even if the world came to know of it, he would have a clear conscience.
But today…
"Master, let us set out." Taiyu Venerable said. "I will remain here and ensure no one approaches or notices anything. If anything goes wrong on your end, I will arrive immediately. Rest assured."
Zhou Xuzi and Taiyu — one was the Zhou Tian Shen Di, the other was the head of the Zhou Tian guardians. The two most important figures of Zhou Tian God Realm were secretly preparing to conduct the most forbidden of transactions, unbeknownst to the world.
Taiyu took a deep look at Zhou Qingchen, sighed softly, and transmitted his voice: "Qingchen, your father once abandoned his principles for the sake of his beliefs and destroyed his promise to Yun Che, shattering his own heart with guilt. Now, for your sake, he has set aside even his beliefs."
"If you are saved, you must become the greatest Zhou Tian Shen Di in the future, so as not to be unworthy of your father's sacrifice and hard efforts."
Zhou Qingchen raised his head, closed his eyes, and his body trembled slightly.
In Taiyu's eyes, it was his heart and soul being touched, his emotions stirred beyond control. He did not know that what Zhou Qingchen was thinking in his heart was the polar opposite of what he imagined.
If everything had been wrong from the very beginning…
If the beliefs themselves were twisted…
Who was the true savior… who was truly creating sin… who had truly caused all of this… who was truly unforgivable…
Why make me see the darkness…
Why not let me continue in the light, blind, ignorant, self-deceiving…
Yun Che, your revenge has succeeded.
You didn't kill me, but you made me… so regret that I ever lived, so regret that I was actually the son of Zhou Tian.
The halos and glory I once prided myself on — it turned out they were all wrapped in a million years of distortion and filth.
How ridiculous… how ridiculous!
"Qingchen, let's go." When he faced Zhou Qingchen, Zhou Xuzi's gloomy expression faded, replaced by a gentle smile. "Rest assured, if I didn't have sufficient certainty, I would not have brought you here. After today, everything will pass."
"Mm." Zhou Qingchen nodded, then took a step ahead of Zhou Xuzi, walking toward the dark land ahead.
——————
The Dark Mysterious Ark halted far away.
Yun Che was the first to descend from the ark, but he didn't act recklessly. He stood still in place, staring straight ahead into the darkness, unmoving for a long time.
Given Chi Wuyue's deliberately slowed pace, Zhou Xuzi would have certainly arrived long ago, somewhere ahead just beyond his perception.
"Hua Jin." Chi Wuyue called out.
Hua Jin nodded lightly. Her slender, willow-like waist twisted slightly, and her figure disappeared into the darkness, leaving no trace, no shadow, no sound.
"Jie Xin, Jie Ling. Your only task is one thing. Nothing else concerns you. Understood?"
Chi Wuyue rarely repeated orders, but this time she emphasized the reminder once more.
The corners of two beautiful eyes unconsciously shifted toward where Yun Che stood, then they nodded solemnly and flew off in different directions, likewise vanishing into the darkness.
The Dark Mysterious Ark was not put away but remained stationed in place.
Just as Qianye Ying'er was about to descend from the ark, Chi Wuyue's figure suddenly blocked her path.
"Yun Qianyin, stay here."
"…Reason." Qianye Ying'er didn't flare up, but asked coldly.
Chi Wuyue said, "This matter is not convenient for you to participate in. Because with you here, a flaw is very likely to show. Allowing you to come this far is already the limit."
"Me? A flaw?" Qianye Ying'er looked as if she had heard a huge joke, her gaze instantly turning icy. "Chi Wuyue, I'll warn you one last time: stop trying to provoke me. If I lose control, even if you kneel before me, it will be too late!"
Chi Wuyue was not the least bit angry. Facing Qianye Ying'er's suddenly cold gaze, she instead walked forward slowly, her full chest almost brushing against the other woman's. "The former Fandi Shennü, of course, would not cause concern. Because once she set her sights on a goal, she would pour all her schemes and means into it, undisturbed by any external factors, especially emotions."
"But… is the Yun Qianyin of today still the same Fandi Shennü from before?"
"…" The fragrant breath from Chi Wuyue's lips gently brushed against the corners of her lips and cheeks, but this time Qianye Ying'er did not retreat, her beautiful eyes condensed with cold. "What kind of joke are you telling!"
"Of course you don't understand. If you did, you wouldn't have become what you are now." Chi Wuyue's smile was faint. "After all, in other domains, you are the Fandi Shennü. In 'a certain domain,' you are nothing more than a fledgling inferior to even an ordinary woman."
Qianye Ying'er: "You…"
"I hope you will think carefully about two things." Chi Wuyue continued. "First, you have said again and again that revenge is your reason for falling into darkness, that it is everything to you."
"Perhaps that was indeed true at the beginning. But think back carefully — in this period of time, has 'revenge' still been the thing that occupies the most space in your heart and mind?"
"…" Qianye Ying'er's pupils suddenly froze.
"Second, whenever it involves a certain type of matter, your words always outpace your careful scheming and deliberation, causing you to lose your calm and your sense of proportion. That is also why I, this empress, do not permit you to follow. Because Yun Che attaches too much importance and desire to this matter. If it is not executed perfectly, or if it is ruined… it would be such a pity."
Qianye Ying'er stood rooted to the spot, speechless. Behind her veil, her golden eyes shattered like stars, trembling in chaos.
Chi Wuyue turned around and said, "Of course, if you insist on following, this empress cannot stop you either."
Her steps light, she walked off slowly.
Qianye Ying'er did not follow. Even after Chi Wuyue and Yun Che's figures disappeared into the darkness, she did not take another step forward.
In the empty dark world, only her solitary figure remained.
Since entering the Northern Domain, this was the first time her sight and perception had lost Yun Che's presence.
Her soul suddenly felt hollow.
——————
Zhou Xuzi waited for a full three hours.
But he was neither impatient nor did he attempt to go deeper. The Northern Divine Region had been squeezed into a humble cage by the three divine regions. Now that he finally had an opportunity to be sought after, as the Demon Empress of the Northern Domain, how could she miss the chance to vent her anger?
Finally, Zhou Xuzi's long-dormant eyes slowly lifted. He extended his hand, and a torrent of Divine Emperor power surged forth, enveloping Zhou Qingchen, erecting a protective barrier that could withstand ten thousand mountains.
He withdrew his arm, but a strand of aura still connected Zhou Xuzi and Zhou Qingchen.
He… no one else could imagine a reason why Chi Wuyue would suddenly strike to kill Zhou Qingchen. After all, to Chi Wuyue, that bargaining chip was trillions of times more important than killing his son to show off her fury.
Unless she had gone mad.
But he would not fail to be on guard.
Amidst the swirling black mist, Chi Wuyue's figure approached from afar. As she arrived, the already dark land became even more oppressive.
The gray sky seemed to press down entirely, suffocating to the point that one could not even feel the heartbeat.
Zhou Xuzi's eyes were reflected into a dark hue. The woman in his sight was bathed in a thin, faint black mist that neither sight nor spiritual sense could penetrate.
Her figure was hazy, her features completely concealed, but in the very first instant, he was absolutely certain: she was the Demon Empress of the Northern Domain!
This dark aura — he would never forget it even in death.
But immediately, his gaze shifted to behind Chi Wuyue, and his pupils constricted slightly.
Yun Che!!
Zhou Qingchen's head also finally lifted.
From within the black mist, Yun Che's figure slowly walked out.
He was clad in tattered black clothes, his hair disheveled, his body covered in stiffened blood, completely shrouded in a layer of black mist. This was by no means his own power, but clearly the dark force of the Demon Empress.
Within the black mist, his steps were slow and heavy, but his body was as straight as hardened steel. His eyes, though obviously somewhat unfocused, still overflowed with the murderous aura of a demon.
The moment he saw Zhou Xuzi, Yun Che's entire body stiffened, and his eyes shot out a hatred as deep as blood: "Zhou… Tian… old… dog!!"
Every word was filled with bone-deep hatred; every word was ground between teeth mixed with blood. He staggered forward, then charged out like a madman, like an evil ghost whose soul had been pierced by ten thousand blades.
Chi Wuyue's finger gently pressed downward, and the black mist descended. Yun Che immediately slammed heavily to the ground, his limbs violently convulsing, unable to stand again. All that could be heard was the sound of painful gasps escaping from his throat.
His anger, his hatred, his wounds, his blood, his gaze — none of it was fake.
His profound force and soul force had indeed been completely suppressed and sealed by Chi Wuyue… but he could break free at any time.
Chi Wuyue did not even glance at Yun Che. She spoke leisurely: "Zhou Tian Shen Di, ten thousand years no see. You have aged to such an extent. Had I known this would happen, I wouldn't have wasted so much effort back then. In a few more years, simply waiting would have been enough to outlast you."
"Ha ha, the day this old man's life ends, there will surely be someone far better to replace me. I fear the Demon Empress will find it hard to achieve her wish."
Zhou Xuzi spoke with a smile, his hair and beard lightly fluttering, an immortal demeanor about him.
"So this is your youngest son?" Chi Wuyue's gaze fell on Zhou Qingchen, but she did not immediately look away. Her voice suddenly softened, becoming charming and sweet. "What a handsome child. Since he has such an affinity with our demon race, why not let me take him in and keep him by my side as a 'Zhou Tian Youth.' Our two realms will then be on good terms — isn't that perfect?"
Zhou Qingchen's entire body went limp, his eyes instantly losing their luster. A stream of clear drool directly dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Boom!
As if ten thousand giant bells had exploded in his mind, Zhou Qingchen's body swayed, his gaze refocused, but he was drenched in cold sweat all over… Zhou Xuzi pressed his palm against his heart, pushing him behind, and his voice sank abruptly: "Demon Empress, each of us wants something from the other. If both sides come up empty, this old man guarantees you will never have a second chance!"
"Oh my." Chi Wuyue gave a soft exclamation, retracting her soul power completely. She said with a smile, "I was only joking a little because the child is so handsome. As a Divine Emperor, why must you be so petty? However…"
She took a step forward: "I did not expect you to come alone… Oh, no wonder. The heir to the throne of Zhou Tian has become a demon, and you, the esteemed Zhou Tian Shen Di, have come running to this dark land to beg me. No matter which of these is leaked half a bit, it will shock the countless sages of the three divine realms and make them laugh their teeth out. How could you possibly bring a grand entourage, hahahahaha…"
Knowing that he was bound to be mocked by the Demon Empress, Zhou Xuzi showed no reaction. He said, "You, Demon Empress, think quite highly of this old man. Apart from yourself, you have also brought two demon girls with you."
"The two most powerful demon girls according to rumor." His old eyes flickered. "It seems that the Demon Empress is far from as composed as she appears regarding what this old man holds."