Chapter 1692: Muttering
Primordial Mystic Ark.
Under the green shade, the breeze was gentle.
He Ling, dressed in a green ivy and rosy cloud garment, quietly nestled against Yun Che. Her fair, porcelain-like calves and small feet were exposed, allowing the flowers and grass to brush against them.
She loved this state—a kind of indescribable tranquility, a sense of peace and warmth she had never known before. She even secretly wished that time could freeze forever in this moment.
Yun Che gazed ahead, silently lost in thought. At some point, one of his hands had slipped beneath her skirt, stroking her jade-like thighs, relishing the soft, smooth, and silky touch.
If it were Qianye Ying'er, she would have already slapped him—hand and all—a dozen miles away. But He Ling showed no resistance. She bit her lip softly, allowing him to take liberties with her body.
Occasionally, she would secretly turn her eyes to look at Yun Che. But those beautiful, misty eyes had undergone a subtle change. They no longer held the gentle submissiveness of facing her "master," but instead gazed with a tender appreciation of her man.
Contrary to Yun Che's expectations, after six days of dual cultivation with He Ling, his perception of the Void Law showed no sign of further progress.
Instead, He Ling's aura had quietly undergone a strange transformation. Especially her emerald eyes—the divine light within them had become deeper and more dreamlike.
Of the three parts of the Heaven-Defying World Scripture, he only possessed two.
Could it be that before obtaining the final part, the chasm before him was simply unbridgeable?
But the last part of the Heaven-Defying World Scripture was on Jie Tian Mo Di. With her departure, it had vanished forever from the Chaos.
This meant... this was likely the limit of the Void Law he could ever reach.
In the years to come, he could wield it more freely and naturally, but he could never advance further.
The reason he had been so eager to dual cultivate with He Ling was because, after the Burning Moon incident, his trust in Chi Wuyue had abruptly turned into countless times more wariness and murderous intent.
It also made him realize more painfully that in this world, the only one he could truly trust and rely on was himself.
Using the Void Law, he had forcibly connected the source power of the Four Star Gods to his own aura, bearing the burden and backlash of activating "Divine Ashes." Though he killed Fen Daojun, it also caused the divine sources of the Four Star Gods to collapse and vanish forever.
If his Void Law could advance further, perhaps he could forcibly absorb the power of divine sources... like the Burning Moon source power of Fen Daojun and Fen Daocang.
If that were possible, his cultivation would surely advance greatly.
But clearly, the barrier of laws caused by the incomplete Heaven-Defying World Scripture was impossible to forcibly break through.
Nevertheless, although he didn't get what he wanted, he had now perfectly subdued the Three Yan Mo Ancestors and the Yanmo Realm, and no longer feared Chi Wuyue.
Moreover, during the days and nights entwined with He Ling, his state of mind had improved far too much.
"Master, what are you thinking about?" He Ling's voice was very soft and gentle. Their lives were connected, so she could clearly sense the shifts in his mood.
"It's about time. I need to go see that woman." Yun Che said slowly.
He Ling lifted her eyes, speaking softly, "Does Master really intend to... kill the Demon Empress?"
As she spoke, her head still leaned against his shoulder, unwilling to move apart. Though she had been with him day and night for years, for some reason, in these few short days, her attachment to him had increased a thousandfold. Even the slightest separation of their touching bodies left her feeling an emptiness in her heart.
"She must die." Yun Che's voice turned icy, then immediately softened. "It's a pity I realized too late. If I had known sooner, the power used to kill Fen Daojun would have been directly bestowed upon her."
He Ling thought for a moment, then said, "Master is at a time when he most needs power. The power of the Soul Plunder Realm is so strong, and all the Demonesses and Soul Spirits are completely loyal to the Demon Empress. If Master forcefully kills her now, even if successful, he will become a mortal enemy of the Soul Plunder Realm. That would be disastrous for both the present and the future."
"If the alliance continues, it would be a very strong force." He Ling's voice grew softer, almost weak. "And... when the Demon Empress is around, she gives a sense of reliability and peace of mind."
"No," Yun Che shook his head. "If it were anyone else, I would choose to pretend not to see through it, play along, and use their power to flatten the Three Divine Realms before settling the final score."
"But Chi Wuyue... she is too clever, too terrifying." Yun Che's chest heaved heavily. "In such a short time with her, I've already been used and schemed against to this extent. If I continue to 'cooperate' with her, every step will be an abyss."
In the vast Northern Divine Realm, the only one who could inspire such fear in Yun Che was Chi Wuyue.
He Ling clearly felt the killing intent radiating from Yun Che. Her soft lips moved slightly, hesitating for a long time before finally speaking, "Could... could it all be just coincidence? Perhaps the Demon Empress never intended to harm Master?"
"Everything could be coincidence, except the Soul Heaven Ship—that absolutely cannot be." Yun Che said.
"But..." He Ling hesitated. "I always feel... that she wouldn't harm Master. On the contrary... on the contrary..."
He Ling didn't finish. She knew it was just a feeling with no source, no basis.
"That is her most terrifying aspect—making people unconsciously trust her." Yun Che narrowed his eyes. "Truly worthy of a Demon Emperor's soul."
He stood up, turned to look into the distance, sensed the changes in Qianye Ying'er's aura, and his gaze slowly grew cold. "Let me see if she really dares to come, or if it's just a feint."
————
Back in the Yanmo Imperial Domain, Yun Che immediately sensed Chi Wuyue's aura.
She had arrived, and she was inside the Imperial Hall.
Moreover, there was no other aura from the Soul Plunder Realm—no Demonesses, Soul Spirits, or Soul Attendants following her. She was entirely alone!
Yun Che halted in midair, his brows deeply furrowed. Once again, Chi Wuyue's actions had completely defied his expectations.
He had ordered Yan Tianxiao to seal the news as a ruse to mislead Chi Wuyue, but he never believed she wouldn't discover how he had forced the vast Yanmo Realm to submit.
Moreover, she understood the Dark Eternal Calamity far better than Yan Tianxiao.
He could mobilize the power of the Eternal Dark Bone Sea, forcing the entire Yanmo Realm to yield... Chi Wuyue had no reason not to know. If she dared to enter the Yanmo Imperial Domain, Yun Che could also use that power to corner her into a death trap.
So why did she still dare to come?
He refused to believe that someone as deep and calculating as Chi Wuyue wouldn't sense his intention to kill her.
After pondering for a long time, Yun Che descended and landed before the Imperial Hall.
"We welcome our master and the two ancestors." Yan Tianxiao quickly stepped forward. Behind him were the Five Yanmos, including Yan Wu. Clearly, with the Demon Empress personally present, they dared not show the slightest negligence.
"Hm?" Yun Che swept his gaze over them. "None of you are attending to the guest?"
Yan Tianxiao said, "The Demon Empress said she wished to see only you, Master. Considering it might involve your personal affairs, we did not presume to act on our own."
"Are you sure she's the only one?" Yun Che asked.
"Yes," Yan Wu replied. "I personally went out to investigate. The Demon Empress is indeed alone, and there is no aura of any Demoness for ten thousand miles outside the domain."
"Heh, interesting." Yun Che stepped forward, passing the Yan Emperor and the Yanmos, and strode directly into the Imperial Hall.
The light dimmed, and Yun Che immediately saw Chi Wuyue's figure, still shrouded in a faint, thin black mist, exuding that intangible, soul-seizing demonic might that made one want to kneel and submit.
"The Demon Empress graces us with her presence. I apologize for not welcoming you properly. Do not take offense."
Yun Che stepped forward boldly, his voice clear and resonant. Behind him, Yan Yi and Yan San released their auras, instantly dispelling Chi Wuyue's intangible pressure.
Chi Wuyue turned. Beneath the black mist, her enchanting eyes stared straight into Yun Che's... After many days apart, his eyes were still cold and deep, but now they held a sharpness too piercing to bear.
Because he no longer needed to pretend.
Those few words just now were also an unguarded declaration of his identity as the Yanmo Lord.
She softly parted her lips, her voice a bone-melting demonic sound: "Calling me 'Demon Empress' is less familiar than addressing me by my name."
Her tone shifted, becoming plaintive and reproachful, like tears and whispers. "It's only been a little over twenty days since we last met. Why have you become so distant?"
"Heh!" Yun Che let out a cold laugh, his brows sinking sharply. "Chi Wuyue, put away your seductive act. Don't tell me you're still naïve enough to think I'm unaware of what you've done?"
This "Chi Wuyue," the same three words, was far icier and more bone-chilling than ever before.
"... Chi Wuyue let out a faint sigh. "Qianying's matter was indeed my fault. I will make amends."
If she hadn't sent Qianye Ying'er to fight Fen Daojun, the later events wouldn't have happened. This had become a deeply oppressive knot in her heart.
Yun Che's eyes narrowed sharply. A cold smile with a hint of killing intent flickered. "Before, I was completely in the dark. Now you admit it so readily. Truly worthy of the famous Northern Domain Demon Empress—you know how to read the situation."
"My mistake was... not sending Qianying to fight Fen Daojun." Chi Wuyue said slowly. "I didn't know beforehand that she had a fetal breath."
The coldness at the corner of Yun Che's mouth turned into deep mockery. "So, you summoned the Soul Heaven Ship so promptly to protect me? Ha... Haha, Chi Wuyue, tell me, should I believe such a huge joke?"
"... Chi Wuyue said nothing.
"I have to admit, in terms of scheming and ruthlessness, you are indeed terrifying. It's not an exaggeration to say you're unparalleled. After all, rising from a mortal woman to a Demon Empress who makes even Divine Emperors tremble at the mention of her name—you are the only one in the world."
"But unfortunately, you were too impatient." Yun Che's voice was low. "Perhaps in your eyes, compared to conquering the vast Burning Moon, a little sacrifice was entirely worth it. Even if I later learned everything, I would gladly accept the submission of the Burning Moon."
"But understanding a person is very difficult. Just as I have never been able to see through you. Although I am a vengeful ghost who will stop at nothing for revenge, I still have... a bottom line that must never be crossed!"
Chi Wuyue remained silent. Beneath the black mist, she kept her eyes fixed on Yun Che, unwavering.
"Before I stepped into this place, I was very curious about one thing." Yun Che's gaze never left Chi Wuyue, watching for the slightest movement. "And that is, how exactly do you plan to leave here alive?"
Chi Wuyue: "..."
"If that joke just now is all you have, it's too disappointing, and too damaging to your reputation as the 'Demon Empress.'"
The curve of Yun Che's mouth grew more sinister, his eyes darker. He slowly raised his hand, palm facing Chi Wuyue. "You, Demon Empress, know the reason why the Yanmo Realm had no choice but to submit to me. If I mobilize the power of the Eternal Dark Bone Sea, even ten of you won't be able to leave alive."
"But since you dared to come, and alone at that, you must have some reliance. That makes me very curious."
Yun Che's eyes had narrowed into two slits. The two Yan Ancestors behind him had already locked onto Chi Wuyue with their auras. "Come on, let me see how you plan to break this situation. Don't disappoint me."
Beneath the black mist, Chi Wuyue's beautiful eyes shifted. She turned slightly and spoke faintly, "Fate is a wondrous thing. It can never be predicted, and one can never know... how a momentary decision can create such immense and marvelous consequences."
"Oh?" Yun Che sneered coldly, mocking. "Is this the prelude to your soul-confusing and spirit-stealing?"
"Yun Che..." she called softly, like a dreamy muttering. "Do you still remember... ten years ago... in the Yin Xue Realm... the thirty-sixth palace of Bing Huang... the one who brought you Fuyun Cold Dew..."
"...the Big Senior Sister?"