Chapter 1661: Disturbed Heart
The dark formation was only a foot in size, flickering in and out of visibility. The demon patterns within it were so simple as to be bizarre.
So simple that to ordinary eyes, it seemed utterly insufficient to sustain a dark profound formation.
"What... what kind of formation is this?" Exclamations of shock arose throughout the great hall.
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor frowned deeply. His gaze initially fixed on Yun Che, but suddenly, his expression shifted. His eyes snapped sideways, locking onto the demon girls Yu Wu and Chan Yi.
Fen Daocang's pupils also dilated sharply at that moment.
Because the moment the formation fully materialized, the auras of the two demon girls underwent an inconceivable transformation!
Neither Yu Wu nor Chan Yi retained their individual auras. Instead, the power they radiated was a fusion of both their auras!
At the same time, Fen Daocang clearly sensed an intangible, pulling force—as if from the void itself—violently tearing at his dark aura.
The sinister wind grew increasingly ferocious, its dark aura thickening. Gradually, it transformed into a raging dark storm, converging around the two demon girls with ever-intensifying dark energy.
In that instant, Fen Daocang felt a vague and terrifying premonition... it seemed as if all the dark power in this space was being attracted to the two demon girls by an invisible force!
The invisible pull on his dark aura grew stronger, until his entire aura field began to tremble violently.
Then, with a flash of demonic light from Chan Yi and Yu Wu, their sword and dagger thrust out simultaneously.
Crack!
The dark aura field of the strongest Moon Devourer was torn apart like solid cloth.
Two points of cold light rapidly expanded in his pupils. Though startled, Fen Daocang remained composed. His white hair flew up as he thrust out a palm, forming a massive Burning Moon demon formation.
But then his pupils suddenly contracted.
As he released his power, he was horrified to find that his dark profound energy seemed to be trapped in an invisible quagmire, its movement abnormally sluggish. As the two demon girls' power closed in, the Burning Moon demon formation—which he could normally conjure effortlessly—had not yet fully taken shape.
Boom!
The incomplete Burning Moon demon formation collapsed under the ferocious demonic power of the two girls. The surrounding Burning Moon Divine Envoys and imperial princes and princesses were sent tumbling by the shockwaves. The scattered dark energy was swept up by the storm, converging entirely around the demon girls.
What... is happening!? A tempest of shock surged in Fen Daocang's heart.
He vaguely sensed that it was all due to that strange formation that had suddenly appeared from the opponent.
But how could such a profound formation possibly exist in this world!
Yu Wu and Chan Yi's figures flashed, attacking Fen Daocang from left and right. Their speed was terrifying—something that should not belong to eighth-rank Divine Lords.
Yu Wu charged ahead, her jade dagger shooting out three feet of cold light.
Though it was only Yu Wu, the oppressive momentum she exuded was clearly the combined might of both Yu Wu and Chan Yi. Fen Daocang let out a low roar, swinging his sleeve to create a massive dark vortex. But as it surged forth, its power abruptly diminished, as if being drained away by an invisible void.
?!?! Fen Daocang felt, for the first time in his life, like he was seeing a ghost.
But Fen Daocang was, after all, the strongest Moon Devourer, with profound power vast beyond compare. Even with the sudden loss of power, his attack remained terrifying. The dark vortex tore through, instantly annihilating Yu Wu's thrusting light and forcing her back.
But the next instant, Chan Yi struck. On her golden longsword reflected the shadow of a dark phoenix. As the sword shadow swept forth, it carried a soul-shaking phoenix cry.
Boom!
Under Fen Daocang's massive hand, the phoenix shadow was extinguished, and Chan Yi was also knocked back. But before Fen Daocang could recover and counterattack, Yu Wu was already attacking again—once more with unnatural speed and the fused momentum of both demon girls!
Even with their merged power, Yu Wu and Chan Yi were far inferior to Fen Daocang. But their figures crossed at blinding speed, their attacks dense as a storm, combined with their bizarre aura fusion. Though Fen Daocang faced only one demon girl at a time, he was actually being assaulted by the power of both in rapid succession.
And the most terrifying part was that every time Fen Daocang struck, he clearly felt his unleashed dark power being silently siphoned away, its might greatly diminished. Meanwhile, Yu Wu and Chan Yi's dark aura did not weaken despite their high-speed, high-frequency eruptions. Instead, it grew faster and stronger!
Even though every attack was a full-power strike, their auras showed no sign of depletion, as if they were inexhaustible.
One side waned, the other waxed. Fen Daocang's initial overwhelming advantage rapidly eroded. His expression shifted from shock to dismay, and inwardly, he could no longer remain calm.
Bang!
Finally, under Yu Wu's power, Fen Daocang's body—which had stood proudly immobile—was forced back a step. The next instant, a sword beam carrying a dark phoenix shadow stabbed straight down.
Throughout this battle, even against the fused power of the two demon girls, even with his power being mysteriously drained, Fen Daocang still held an absolute advantage in profound strength.
But the speed at which the two demon girls condensed, released, and recovered their dark profound energy was far too fast. And it never diminished—it defied all reason by continuously escalating. Despite his overwhelming advantage, Fen Daocang felt a deep, suffocating pressure.
Forced back half a step by Yu Wu, Fen Daocang had no chance to catch his breath before Chan Yi's power followed. His face twisted with ferocity as he grabbed for Chan Yi's sword.
Boom!
Dark power erupted violently between them. Chan Yi's body leaned back... and Fen Daocang's right sleeve exploded, revealing an aged, withered arm.
"Stop!"
A low shout shook everyone's souls.
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor appeared like a phantom between Fen Daocang and the demon girls. With no obvious action, he simply stood there, and the once wildly chaotic dark aura field rapidly subsided.
If he did not intervene, and Fen Daocang actually lost—the strongest Moon Devourer of the Burning Moon Realm defeated by the two weakest demon girls of the Jiehun Realm—that would be far worse than merely "unsightly."
"After all, this is the royal city. If we fight any longer, my royal hall might be reduced to dust. Let's stop here."
Fen Daocang knew full well why the Burning Moon Divine Emperor had stepped in to halt the battle. He glanced at his arm, its sleeve completely shredded, and clenched his fists, trembling.
Yun Che's flowing black hair slowly settled. The storm in the hall gradually ceased. The formations on Yu Wu and Chan Yi faded away.
He sat down, closing his eyes indifferently. He did not even glance at the Burning Moon Divine Emperor.
"Oh?" Chi Wuyue gave a faint smile. "Afraid that the royal hall might be destroyed, or afraid of losing face?"
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor: "..."
"Fen Daocang," Chi Wuyue was not one to be easily provoked. "Now do you understand what 'qualifications' mean?"
"..." Fen Daocang's lips moved, but he could not speak. His gaze was fixed straight on Yun Che—whose aura was only at the seventh level of the Divine Sovereign Realm, yet sent a chill of inexplicable dread through his heart.
What was that just now? What in the world was it!?
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor did not respond to Chi Wuyue's taunts. Instead, he turned and stared directly at Yun Che, saying, "This person... could it be that..."
"Why pretend ignorance, Burning Moon Divine Emperor?" Chi Wuyue interrupted him softly. "He is Yun Che from the Eastern Divine Region. Though he has only appeared in the Northern Divine Region a few times, he is already well-known. If the Burning Moon Divine Emperor wishes, he can continue to ignore him and pretend not to recognize him."
"..." A flicker of embarrassment passed over his face. The Burning Moon Divine Emperor laughed, "How could I not know of Yun Che's name? With the cultivation of a seventh-level Divine Sovereign, he slew Yan San Geng, the Ghost King of Yanmo, with a single sword. Such a world-shaking feat—if not for the testimony of many upper Realm Kings and my own son, I would never have believed it."
"It is also said that he carries the ancient Evil God's inheritance and has gained the recognition of the Mysterious Heavenly Supreme Treasure, the Heavenly Poison Pearl."
"Such an extraordinary person, I have long wished to befriend."
"Unfortunately, it's too late." Chi Wuyue slowly rose. As she stood, a faint oppressive majesty silently pressed down on all souls present. "Soon, Yun Che will be the new emperor of my Jiehun Realm. I, the Demon Empress, will thereby become the true Demon Empress of Jiehun. What use is your friendship now?"
At these words, everyone present was stunned. The Burning Moon Divine Emperor sharply turned his head, his brows deeply furrowed.
Qianye Ying'er's brows slanted, but she said nothing.
"Jiehun... new emperor?" The Burning Moon Divine Emperor glanced at the overly silent Yun Che, then back at Chi Wuyue, searching her expression and aura for any trace of jest. "Is the Demon Empress serious?"
Chi Wuyue clasped her hands behind her back and said coldly, "These past days, you, Burning Moon Divine Emperor, have seemed quite interested in the affairs of my Jiehun Realm. In just a hundred days, thirteen probes, including Moon Devourers."
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor: "..."
"I have remained indifferent all this time, yet you, Burning Moon, have only intensified. Could it be that after so many years of my silence, and not coming to settle that rather large 'old debt' with you, you, Burning Moon, have begun to think I am easy to bully!?"
"Heh," the Burning Moon Divine Emperor chuckled lightly, "Many in this world do not fear the Yama King, but those who think the Demon Empress is easy to bully have probably not yet been born. Even if there were any, they have long turned to bones."
"It is true that I did send people to Jiehun Realm some time ago." He admitted openly, his expression calm and unruffled. "But it was certainly not with any ill intent or disrespect. I merely heard that the Demon Empress had ordered the recall of all demon girls and soul spirits, and finally all 3,600 soul attendants, and wondered if something major was happening in Jiehun Realm, so I sent people to learn a little."
"With the Demon Empress's broad-mindedness, surely she would not get angry over such a trivial matter?"
"Trivial?" Chi Wuyue gave a half-smile. "Then did the Burning Moon Divine Emperor find the answer?"
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor shook his head with a smile. "No."
"Then I will tell you clearly."
His eyebrows shot up in surprise at her answer.
"Just now, the dark profound formation my demon girls activated—do you recognize it?" she asked unhurriedly.
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor, Fen Daocang... and all the Moon Devourers were staring with strange glints in their eyes. That bizarre demon formation that had allowed two minor demon girls to suppress Fen Daocang—what was it? They were dying to know.
"That demon formation is extraordinary. I have never seen nor heard of it." The Burning Moon Divine Emperor gave Yun Che a brief, indifferent glance. "Please enlighten me, Demon Empress."
"Jie... Mo... Huo... Tian." Chi Wuyue's jade lips parted softly. "Has the Burning Moon Divine Emperor heard of it?"
Those four words struck like four world-destroying calamity thunders upon the Burning Moon Divine Emperor's sea of consciousness. Despite having maintained his composure throughout Chi Wuyue's relentless pressure, his expression finally changed dramatically. He staggered violently. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly thought of something, his gaze sweeping rapidly over Yu Wu and Chan Yi before finally fixing dead on Yun Che.
"Could it be... could he be..."
"Indeed. It seems the Burning Moon Divine Emperor, for all his lack of progress, is not entirely stupid." Chi Wuyue offered veiled praise with clear mockery, her tone ethereal. "Everything is as you imagine."
"Now, do you understand?"