Chapter 1666: Divine Ashes (Part 1)
Fen Daocang flashed out and grabbed that person: "Are you sure it's Yun Che? He and the Demon Empress returned?"
The Fenyue Guard commander shook his head: "Not sure. He called himself Yun Che, and he was alone, without the Demon Empress."
Fen Daocang suddenly released his grip and snorted coldly: "Then it seems someone is impersonating him. And he even wants to see our king. Is he tired of living?!"
If the Demon Empress wanted to see the Burning Moon Divine Emperor, would she use the main gate? Would she have someone announce her?
"No," the Burning Moon Divine Emperor opened his eyes and withdrew his extended divine sense. "It's him. And indeed, he is alone."
"This..." Fen Daocang was stunned, and the others were also surprised and puzzled.
"If it really is Yun Che, it's too suspicious," Fen Zhuo said. Although he very much wanted to see with his own eyes this person who had inherited the Demon Emperor's power.
The two strategies they had just discussed: the first was to kill Yun Che. But with the protection of the Demon Empress and the Jiehun Realm, it was too difficult, and once failed, there would be no room for redemption.
And now, he actually returned alone?
Wasn't this a perfect opportunity they never even dreamed of, to kill him and eliminate the great threat forever?
And... how could the Demon Empress allow him to come here alone!
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor's eyes shifted, and finally he looked at Fen Daoqi.
Fen Daoqi pondered for a moment and said: "As the saying goes, rare goods are worth hoarding. But if they belong exclusively to one master, even the rarest goods will lose the freedom to increase their value."
"But if two or more compete... then one can raise the price arbitrarily, even ask for an exorbitant price. This Yun Che seems to be a bold, smart, and extremely ambitious person."
Fen Daoqi laughed: "If that's the case, isn't it very good?"
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor thought briefly, then slowly nodded: "Fen Zhou, welcome him into the hall. Remember, do not lose propriety."
"No!" The Fenyue Guard commander was about to respond, but Fen Daoqi suddenly spoke: "For this matter, our king should come personally."
Fen Daocang stepped forward and was about to refute. But then he saw the Burning Moon Divine Emperor slowly nod: "Master is right. Indeed, I should come personally."
"Immediately prepare another banquet... summon Hehuang to the hall at once!"
...
The gates of the Fenyue Royal City opened wide, revealing the Burning Moon Divine Emperor's figure. Seeing Yun Che, he laughed loudly and strode out without any Divine Emperor's dignity:
"Hahaha! So it really is Brother Yun!" With a spring-like smile, his extremely affectionate "Brother Yun" shocked the Fenyue Guards who were about to bow, leaving them stupefied on the spot.
"Burning Moon Divine Emperor." Yun Che did not bow, his gaze calm, with a faint smile. But within that smile, there was no trace of emotion.
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor did not mind Yun Che's rudeness at all. He swept his gaze and asked with confusion: "Oh? Why aren't the Demon Empress and the Demon Girl here? Could it be that the Demon Empress has important matters for Brother Yun to convey?"
"It has nothing to do with the Demon Empress," Yun Che said. "I have personal matters to discuss."
"I see." The Burning Moon Divine Emperor smiled: "Earlier, with the Demon Empress present, I was unable to have a good talk with Brother Yun, and I was quite regretful. This is truly for the best. Please, come in!"
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Yun Che narrowed his eyes slightly.
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor personally led the way, and Yun Che alone entered the Fenyue Royal City again.
On the royal city walls, a group of Fenyue Guards watched with dumbfounded expressions as the Burning Moon Divine Emperor personally welcomed him out, and then watched him return to the hall... Only when they had walked far did they realize they had not knelt to pay homage the whole time.
...
Main hall of the royal city.
Yun Che took his seat, which was exactly the honored seat Chi Wuyue had previously occupied.
The Moon Devourers, the Burning Moon Divine Envoys, the imperial princes and princesses... the same main hall, the same formation, but a completely different atmosphere and style.
In the center of the great hall, dozens of beautiful young maidens were dancing gracefully. Their gauze sleeves, thin as cicada wings, wrapped around slender, snow-white jade arms, and flowing, watery skirts lightly covered their myriad graceful figures. As their skirts fluttered, glimpses of smooth, flawless, delicate jade feet appeared.
These maidens were all peerless beauties selected from thousands, with countless charming postures. Their soul-stealing, sparkling eyes, affectionate lips, slightly shy gentle smiles, plus the inadvertent glimpses of delicate skin during the dance... caused even the Moon Devourers, who had extremely firm wills, to start flickering their gazes and gradually unsettled breaths.
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor spread his arms and laughed heartily: "The world says I am arrogant, extravagant, and debauched, sullying the dignity of a Divine Emperor. But, wielding power and indulging in wine and women—isn't this the most unrestrained and worthwhile life for a man!"
Yun Che's expression was blank, the dancing figures of the maidens reflected in his eyes like butterflies, as if he was enjoying it: "It seems that the Burning Moon Divine Emperor's life... has been worth it."
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor smiled: "Indeed it has been worth it. But there are still too many things I want to do, too many unfinished matters. And who would think their life is too long?"
He waved his arm and said: "Hehuang, why haven't you poured tea for Divine Son Yun?"
"Yes."
A soft response, and a fragrant wind arrived. A young maiden with her head slightly lowered, holding a jade pot, walked over with light steps.
The maiden was sixteen or seventeen years old, with a light green shawl and a pale red skirt. Her face was a peerless beauty that only those in paintings could possess. Beneath a pair of slender moon-like brows, her eyes were bright and clear, her nose delicate and straight, and her rosy, tender lips were gently pressed together.
She knelt lightly before Yun Che's mat, her delicate hands like jade, quietly pouring tea. Yun Che glanced sideways; where his gaze landed, her slightly exposed shoulders shimmered with translucent jade light, as if bathed in soft moonlight.
After pouring the tea, she did not leave. She knelt quietly at Yun Che's side, but her head hung lower, and her hands on her knees unconsciously gripped her sash. Although she was the incomparably noble Burning Moon Princess, she exuded a delicate fragility that made one feel pity and tenderness.
Yun Che's brows slightly furrowed, his focused gaze seeming to pierce through the maiden's clothes... but in the deepest depths of his eyes, there was a dark mockery...
And a demon that was twisting madly, about to completely run amok at any moment.
And there were also strands of killing intent flickering in the pupils of the Moon Devourers.
This was delivered by Yun Che himself, an opportunity as if bestowed by heaven! Perhaps in this lifetime, there could be no better chance.
But the Burning Moon Divine Emperor turned a blind eye to the cold glints continuously sent by the Moon Devourers. He observed expressions and was very satisfied with Yun Che's demeanor. He asked with a chuckle: "Brother Yun, this is my daughter Hehuang, the pearl in my palm that I cherish most. She has never left the Fenyue Realm to this day, and she never likes to be close to outsiders."
"Today, hearing that Young Master Yun is the successor of the Demon Emperor, Hehuang felt admiration and yearned to see Young Master Yun's demeanor. I have countless children and grandchildren, but I cannot bear even a little unhappiness for Hehuang. So I took the liberty to arrange for Hehuang to be close to Young Master Yun. I hope Young Master Yun will not take offense."
This "hint" could not be any clearer.
Fen Hehuang's jade fingers clenched tightly, and she bit her lips harder.
As the treasure of the Fenyue Realm, Fen Hehuang had too many admirers. Even... including more than one Moon Devourer.
When the Burning Moon Divine Emperor finished these words with a smile, every nail of Fen Zhuo had deeply pierced into his flesh.
Kill Yun Che... The Burning Moon Divine Emperor had thought about it, but this thought only flickered for a few moments before he completely abandoned it.
Killing Yun Che, who had declared he would become emperor in the Jiehun Realm, could indeed remove a major threat, but there was still great risk. After all, due to Yun Che's existence, the core strength of his Fenyue Realm and the core strength of the Jiehun Realm were already in a state of imbalance. If the Demon Empress became angry, the consequences would be unpredictable.
And this was only a very small part of the reason.
The dark transformation that he had witnessed with his own eyes, showing astonishing divine power even on the weakest Demon Girl... As the Demon Emperor of the Northern Domain, how could he resist such temptation!
Moreover, Yun Che's return alone was clearly, as Fen Daoqi said, to "deliver" himself. In this world, only he bore the power of the Dark Eternal Calamity. To maximize benefits, of course, one should create competitors!
This is what smart people do!
Yun Che glanced at Fen Hehuang, drained the tea she had poured in one gulp, gave a very indifferent smile, but said nothing.
The Burning Moon Divine Emperor leaned forward, the imperial majesty on his face suddenly gone, and there was even a hint of ambiguity completely inconsistent with his status: "Brother Yun, what do you think... of my daughter Hehuang?"
Earlier, although it was obvious, it could still be classified as a "hint". But now, he directly, in front of everyone and in front of Fen Hehuang, using his own mouth as a Divine Emperor, laid out his purpose without any concealment.
Fen Hehuang's whole body clearly tensed up.
Yun Che's eyes half-closed, he said faintly: "Your little daughter's appearance and bearing should be considered superior among women, but..."
He had only spoken half a sentence, and the people of Fenyue were already filled with anger in their hearts!
"Superior" — this should be a compliment.
But, that was Fen Hehuang! The number one treasure of the Fenyue Realm! Using the word "superior" to describe her was either blindness or an insult!
"But if compared to my women..." Yun Che's brows lowered slightly, the curve of his mouth cold and disdainful: "Beneath contempt."
Four short words, falling into the ears, were undoubtedly four icy thorns.
The smile on the Burning Moon Divine Emperor's face suddenly froze.
Fen Hehuang, who had been bowing her head and biting her lips, suddenly lifted her head, her moving beautiful eyes filled with surprise and bewilderment... then quickly turned to humiliation and anger.
"Yun Che! How dare you!" Fen Zhuo suddenly stood up, his face red, his whole body trembling... As he stood up with too much force, a string of bloody droplets flew out.
"My king!" Fen Daocang also slammed the table and stood up: "This brat clearly..."
But the Burning Moon Divine Emperor suddenly raised his hand, stopping the furious words that were about to burst out from everyone. He smiled slightly, but the smile had a few more degrees of chill than before.
"Hehehehe, Brother Yun has the Demon Empress and Divine Maiden attending him, so perhaps no woman in this world can catch Brother Yun's eye. But..." His voice slowed, his gaze deep: "What kind of woman is the Demon Empress? How the Jingtian Divine Emperor died back then—I believe Brother Yun must have heard something about it."
"Her terror, I understand far, far more than Brother Yun does."
Glancing at Yun Che's expression, the Burning Moon Divine Emperor continued: "Before leaving the Chaos, the Calamity Demon Emperor specially left the Dark Eternal Calamity for Brother Yun. I imagine that what the Demon Emperor left behind is by no means just power; it also carries the hope and will to save the Bei Shen Domain and the Demon Clan."
"Therefore, Brother Yun, who bears the Demon Emperor's power and will, should be revered and respected by all living beings in the Northern Domain. If, by any carelessness, you fall into the palm of that terrifying woman, the Demon Empress... that would be too regrettable. If the Demon Emperor knew, he would surely sigh in regret."
"I imagine that someone as wise as Brother Yun, coming here alone this time, also understands deeply that being in league with the Demon Empress is not the best or long-term strategy."
"Hehehe," Yun Che let out a faint laugh: "You've held back for so long, finally starting to probe for my purpose. Quite a strain on you."
"Then please enlighten me, Brother Yun." The Burning Moon Divine Emperor said: "Although I am the Emperor of Fenyue, Brother Yun, as the successor of the Demon Emperor, if you have any requests, I will not frown."
"Requests?" Yun Che directly took the jade pot from Fen Hehuang's hand, poured himself a cup, and said leisurely: "No, on the contrary, I came here to give the Burning Moon Divine Emperor a great gift."
"A great gift?" The Burning Moon Divine Emperor's eyes flickered, seeming interested.
"Have you heard of the Dragon Emperor?" Yun Che suddenly said.
"Of course." The Burning Moon Divine Emperor said: "The Emperor of the Dragon Clan of the Xi Shen Domain, the number one person in the current world, the only 'Emperor' in Chaos. How could I not know."
"This great gift, I originally planned to bestow upon the Dragon Emperor at the 'final moment'."
Yun Che's eyes drooped, his fingers slowly tapping on the jade cup, his voice incredibly soft and low: "But now... I can't wait to bestow it upon you."