# Chapter 1701: Demon Lord Cloud Emperor
Yun Che stood atop the demonic light, the three sovereign realm lord warships that dominated the world flanking him on both sides, sinking beneath his feet.
He wore a pitch-black brocade robe, imprinted with the dark red demonic patterns belonging to Jie Tian Mo Di as recorded in ancient texts. His sword-like brows extended into his temples, and his pupils, black as ink jade, were indifferent as water upon shallow touch — but once stared into directly, they transformed into an abyss that seemed capable of devouring souls, causing countless powerhouses to hastily bow their heads, not daring to look again for a long time in fear.
"Welcome, Demon Lord!"
The demonic chant shook the heavens. Aboard the Soul Heaven Ship, the core forces of the Jiehun Realm — the Demonesses, Soul Spirits, and Soul Attendants — all bowed their heads in salutation, greeting with reverence.
Yun Che advanced another step. Aboard the Burning Moon flagship, led by the numerous Moon Devourers, the Burning Moon Realm prostrated themselves in kowtow, displaying their reverence and submission to Yun Che, to the Northern Divine Region:
"Welcome, Demon Lord!"
Stepping to the midpoint of the demonic light, aboard the Yama flagship, the many Yama and Yan Ghosts bowed deeply to the ground:
"Welcome, Demon Lord!"
Three flagships escorted the path to emperorhood. Three king realms knelt to welcome the Demon Lord's coronation.
Those beings — Demonesses, Moon Devourers, and Yama — who were like celestial gods to the Northern Domain's cultivators, beings whose mere sighting was considered a supreme honor, had almost all appeared, kneeling in the most respectful gesture, the most devout posture, before a single man.
The sheer shock of this scene left even the proud realm kings dazed, as if in a dream.
His jet-black long hair danced with the wind, brushing against Yun Che's handsome face. The black light rippling in his pupils, and the faint Eternal Tribulation demonic light about his body, added a touch of demonic allure to his features and aura.
And the dark pressure radiating from Jie Tian Mo Di released an unrivaled majesty that the countless beings of the Northern Domain could never hope to resist. Wherever he passed, the black clouds fell silent, every demon's heart trembled, heads bowed, souls quivered — they almost could not help but fall to their knees in worship.
In the distance, Qianye Ying'er watched silently, her gaze following his figure as it slowly moved. Heaven and earth held nothing else for her.
In a faraway space, beyond the rolling dark clouds, a faint, delicate, colorful shadow flickered — silent, motionless, never drawing closer.
---
"Father King, it really is him... it really is him."
Outside the Sacred Domain, in the most remote corner, a woman in purple robes clasped her hands before her chest, staring dazedly at the figure above the sky.
Dongfang Hanwei.
As a small nation in the Dongxu Realm, the Donghan Kingdom had naturally not received an invitation.
But the Dongxu Realm — that was the very first stepping stone Yun Che had chosen upon entering the Northern Divine Region. The Donghan Kingdom was his first place of refuge.
Chi Wuyue, who had long since traced every single move Yun Che had made in the Northern Divine Region, had deliberately invited the Donghan Kingdom — especially Dongfang Hanwei, the Donghan princess who had once had close contact with Yun Che.
The Donghan kingdom's ruler looked up to the sky, his heart surging like ten thousand waves galloping. He murmured, "This must be the blessing of our ancestors, that we receive the radiance of the Demon Lord's divine light."
He could already foresee that, simply because Yun Che had once resided in the Donghan Kingdom and had even acted on its behalf, the future fate of the Donghan Kingdom... even if it could not ascend straight to the nine heavens, no one would ever dare to bully it in the slightest.
Demonesses, Moon Devourers, Yama... these beings that had previously existed only in legends — on whom one could not even gaze from afar — were now prostrate beside the man who had once saved her. Dongfang Hanwei stared blankly, uttering a dreamlike whisper: "Father King, does he... still remember me?"
"..." The Donghan kingdom's ruler patted her shoulder and let out a soft sigh.
For the Donghan Kingdom, encountering Yun Che was undoubtedly the greatest blessing in the nation's history. But for Dongfang Hanwei... perhaps it was a lifelong calamity.
*Once you have seen the vast ocean, it is hard to be satisfied with a pond.*
---
In another corner, another girl was also staring in rapture at the man who carried heavenly might, walking toward the pinnacle of the Northern Domain under the gaze of the world. But unlike Dongfang Hanwei's confusion and bewilderment, a smile hung at the corners of her lips, and starlike tears glistened in her eyes.
At eighteen years old, Yun Shang was already graceful and poised. She still wore a snow-white dress like drifting clouds, but had shed her former childishness. Her ink-jade hair was simply coiled into a flying immortal bun, elegant yet carrying an ethereal aura that forbade any irreverence. Her beautiful, tear-filled eyes sparkled with brilliance, and her pearl-like lips bore a light, smiling expression.
"Shang'er, do you want to go see him?" Yun Ting asked, his heart torn between immense excitement and profound complexity.
Everything from back then felt like a dream.
Yun Shang gently shook her head, sending a few teardrops lightly falling. Her beautiful eyes remained fixed on the sky, unwilling to shift even slightly. She whispered softly, "Not yet... but one day, he will hear my name on his own."
That was her most beautiful wish, and also her greatest motivation and desire.
"Don't forget our promise... when I grow up... and find you... I hope your smile... won't be so sad anymore."
She murmured softly, her vision growing ever more blurred.
---
Amidst the kneeling welcome of the three king realms and the gaze of the countless beings of the Northern Domain, Yun Che's footsteps halted atop the Altar of Heaven — nine hundred and ninety-nine steps high, surpassing all Divine Emperors in Northern Domain history.
Atop the Altar of Heaven, Yun Che slowly turned around, and all beings of the world lay beneath his gaze.
Divine Emperor? No, he was the Lord above Emperors, the first true supreme Demon Lord in the history of the Northern Divine Region.
But there were no ripples in his eyes, no excitement in his heart. He was as calm as a bottomless, unfathomable dark abyss.
*I never wished to be an emperor, but heaven forced my hand.*
*Now that I am the Lord of Darkness, how could I not shroud those filthy lands in this darkness!*
*From today onward, the countless beings of the Northern Domain are all demon blades in my hand.*
*Blood, death, hatred, violence, slaughter, fear, despair...*
*I will personally take back — a hundredfold, a thousandfold — the peace I once bestowed upon you.*
*The divine realm I saved, the divine realm that took everything from me, deserves nothing but a lightless hell!*
---
Yan Tianxiao's figure floated into the air, stopping half a body's length below Yun Che. His voice was sonorous, his imperial might dominating the world: "Yun Che of the Yun Clan, thirty years of age, bearing the bloodline inheritance and supreme demonic arts of Jie Tian Mo Di, his demonic veins and demonic might unparalleled in the world, his status supreme with no equal under heaven — he is the unparalleled gift bestowed upon our Northern Domain by Jie Tian Mo Di."
"We, the three king realms of Yama, Jiehun, and Burning Moon, bow to his might, submit to his virtue, and are moved by his ambition. We wish to uphold him as the supreme Demon Lord, to lead our three realms and command the Northern Domain!"
Yan Tianxiao raised his hand, and behind him, the Altar of Heaven rose. Before Yun Che, an inscription of heaven appeared.
"I invite the Demon Lord to ascend the Altar of Heaven. This achievement, unparalleled through the ages, shall have the empyrean and the earth as witnesses."
The Altar of Heaven rose, but Yun Che did not step onto it. Instead, he gave an extremely cold laugh: "No need to sacrifice to heaven. It is unworthy."
These few words, spoken with utter indifference, carried an arrogance that did not even tolerate heaven within his sight.
As his voice fell, Yun Che waved his arm, and the Heaven Inscription that had just appeared before him instantly dissipated without a trace.
*Rumble rumble rumble...*
The black clouds above the sky rolled slowly. In every realm, every plane, when an emperor was crowned, one always sacrificed to heaven, inviting heaven to witness and seeking the blessing of the heavenly dao.
No one — not even the most arrogant, most unruly supreme Divine Emperor — would dare to offend the heavenly dao.
Yan Tianxiao was momentarily stunned. The Jiehun Sacred Domain fell into dead silence.
To others, this was a arrogance that looked down on everything.
But Qianye Ying'er and Chi Wuyue knew — for Yun Che... heaven truly was unworthy.
---
*(Short. My mind is wandering. I'll make up for it tomorrow.)*
*(Even though the last chapter was over four thousand words, no one praised me either. ╯︵╰)*