# Chapter 1705: Undercurrents
"Taiyu, how long have I been here?" Zhou Xuzi let out a long, ragged breath and suddenly asked.
"Your Highness, it has been over two months," Taiyu Venerable replied.
"Two months..." Zhou Xuzi murmured in a daze. "I thought it was a hundred years."
Taiyu Venerable looked away, pain evident on his face.
The death of Zhou Qingchen—and such a brutal death at that—had dealt a devastating blow to Zhou Xuzi.
Beyond the grief of losing his son, there was guilt toward his deceased wife and hatred toward himself.
Yun Che, once the savior Divine Son, had turned into such a vicious and venomous being after becoming a demon.
"Give the order," Zhou Xuzi said. "Prepare for the appointment of a new crown prince."
Taiyu Venerable paused, about to say that Zhou Qingchen had only just passed away and it was too soon, but then he realized something.
The best way to quickly forget Zhou Qingchen was to appoint a new crown prince. This would both divert the world's scrutiny and suspicion regarding Zhou Qingchen's death, and also ease the pain in Zhou Xuzi's heart.
"Is it Qingfeng?" Taiyu Venerable asked. Though phrased as a question, he knew this was the best—and essentially the only—choice.
Zhou Xuzi nodded. "These years, I have wronged him."
Zhou Qingchen's talent was high, but not the highest among Zhou Xuzi's direct descendants. His position as crown prince of the Zhou Heaven Realm was due to his status as the only legitimate son, and Zhou Xuzi's favoritism toward him exceeded that for all his other children combined.
A major reason Zhou Qingchen had reached the mid-stage Divine Sovereign realm at a thousand years of age was the overwhelming accumulation of countless top-tier resources from the Zhou Heaven God Realm.
The one with the highest talent among Zhou Xuzi's descendants... the elders of the Zhou Heaven God Realm knew well—it was Zhou Qingfeng, the seventy-seventh son of Zhou Xuzi.
At four thousand years of age, Zhou Qingfeng had already cultivated to the tenth level of the Divine Sovereign realm, only one step away from the Divine Master realm. Though this achievement was far from the level of Fandi Shennü, it was unmatched among all of Zhou Tian Divine Emperor's children.
His temperament was also as his name suggested: gentle, virtuous, respectful, and frugal. He never complained or fought, and when Zhou Qingchen was appointed crown prince, he showed no resentment or unwillingness. Instead, he did everything in his power to help Zhou Qingchen solidify his position and reputation as crown prince.
His conduct and style were far superior to Zhou Qingchen's naivety and indecisiveness. Even Zhou Qingchen himself held great respect for this older brother.
Thus, in the eyes of the Zhou Heaven elders, he was truly the most suitable person to inherit the throne of the Zhou Heaven Divine Emperor.
And so, Zhou Xuzi had felt guilty toward him all these years.
"Taiyu, go personally and bring Qingfeng here. No need to avoid the eyes of others," Zhou Xuzi said.
"I understand." Taiyu Venerable acknowledged the order but did not leave immediately. Instead, he asked, "Your Highness, do you still harbor thoughts of retreat?"
"No," Zhou Xuzi slowly shook his head, his low and slow voice carrying a terrifying gravity. "I must preserve my strength."
"One day, I will personally slay Yun Che!"
Killing intent was a rare sight in Zhou Xuzi.
But these eight words were filled with hatred, their murderous aura chilling.
As the words fell, Zhou Xuzi's expression suddenly changed. He shot to his feet.
"Your Highness?" Such a violent reaction startled Taiyu Venerable.
Clearly, Zhou Xuzi had just received some kind of sound transmission.
Zhou Xuzi's eyes were wide, his previously dim gaze now frozen in shock. He muttered quietly, "Yun Che was crowned Dark Demon Lord in the Northern Divine Region... above the three king realms of Yan Mo, Jie Hun, and Fen Yue."
"What!?" Taiyu Venerable was greatly startled, then immediately shook his head without hesitation. "Impossible. That must be a false rumor."
"Projected across ten thousand arrays, witnessed by the entire Northern Region. Yun Che is the reincarnation of the Calamity Demon Emperor in the living world, with ten thousand realms swearing allegiance... and Chi Wuyue as his Demon Empress."
Zhou Xuzi finished reciting slowly, his soul lost for a moment, then murmured, "No... this can't be... this can't be... this can't be..."
He repeated it several times, unable to believe it, even more unwilling to accept it.
Obtaining information from the Northern Divine Region was incredibly difficult, especially from its core territories.
Yet this time, it had come unusually quickly.
Because this Demon Lord coronation ceremony had been witnessed by the entire Northern Divine Region. Its scale was unprecedented!
Even at the outer borders of the Northern Region, the world-shaking sounds could faintly be heard.
But... how could such a thing be possible!?
Three years ago, Yun Che was only a Divine King.
Three months ago, Yun Che's cultivation at the seventh level of Divine Sovereign had already shocked Zhou Xuzi, yet he was still far from being his opponent.
How could he suddenly become... a Demon Lord surpassing king realms, commanding the submission of ten thousand realms in the Northern Region!?
What was the concept of the three king realms of the Northern Region?
How dark, violent, and fierce were the demon people of the Northern Divine Region!
How could they possibly embrace Yun Che—a man from the Eastern Divine Region—as their Demon Lord?
This was too absurd, too outrageous to be described by any known words.
Taiyu Venerable pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, "It is indeed possible that the Calamity Demon Emperor bestowed upon Yun Che her bloodline or demonic arts out of special care. But for him to make the king realms of the Northern Region submit to him in such a short time... then the king realms of the Northern Divine Region would be the biggest joke in the world."
"And for it to be done with such fanfare, there must be some trickery involved," Taiyu Venerable continued. "In my view, if all this is true, the only possibility is that the three king realms of the Northern Region used Yun Che's 'Demon Emperor' mark to set up a puppet."
"The Northern Region has been chaotic since ancient times, and the name 'Demon Emperor' holds a significance beyond belief in the Northern Divine Region. Setting up such a puppet establishes an object of fear and reverence for the demon people of the Northern Region... Control the faith, and you can control the ten thousand demons."
Taiyu Venerable's thoughts and reasoning were exactly the same as the initial reactions of those in high positions in the Northern Divine Region upon first hearing the words "Demon Lord."
Zhou Xuzi slowly sat down, seemingly not having heard Taiyu Venerable's words clearly. In his mind, those twelve words echoed like a curse, refusing to fade...
If good, then all heavens shall be at peace.
If evil, then demons shall massacre the world.
---
The Moon God Realm, Moon Emperor Palace.
Jin Yue walked quickly, bowed before the gauze curtain, and said softly, "Master, a strange piece of news has come from the Northern Divine Region. Yun Che has been crowned Demon Lord in the Northern Divine Region, with a status above the three king realms. And it seems... under projections spread throughout the entire Northern Divine Region, the three king realms publicly swore allegiance to Yun Che."
"..." Behind the gauze curtain, Yue Shen Di responded indifferently, "I already know about this. A puppet set up under the name of the Demon Emperor. Deliberately making such a big commotion, clearly hoping the whole world would know—how laughable."
Yue Shen Di's reaction was essentially the same as the prevailing outside opinion. Jin Yue bowed again and continued, "There is also another matter. A rumor has recently circulated that Zhou Tian Divine Emperor secretly stepped into the Northern Divine Region a few months ago. The timing coincides quite closely with the announced date of Zhou Qingchen's death. Thus, some speculate that Zhou Qingchen actually died in the Northern Divine Region."
"And... that he may have already become a demon before his death."
"..." Yue Shen Di was silent for a moment, then murmured softly, "So soon..."
"Eh?" Jin Yue looked puzzled.
Yue Shen Di said, "Baseless rumors. Pay them no mind. You may leave."
"Yes." Jin Yue bowed lightly but did not rise. She lifted her head, her eyes shimmering as she suddenly said softly, "Master... Jin Yue... Jin Yue may look upon you?"
Yue Shen Di: "...?"
Now that she had spoken, Jin Yue gathered her courage and poured out her heart. "When Master first entered the Moon God Realm with the former master, it was Jin Yue who did Master's hair and makeup. That was always my happiest and most honored duty."
"But ever since Master ascended to the throne, you have no longer allowed Jin Yue to touch your person. Lately... every time I come to pay my respects, there is a gauze curtain between us. It has been so long since Jin Yue has even seen Master's sacred countenance."
Yue Shen Di: "..."
"Have I... done something wrong that angered Master? Please tell me, and I will surely correct it."
From doing her hair and makeup daily, to being forbidden from touching her body, to now having a gauze curtain between them every time they met... Jin Yue's heart grew more fearful and empty by the day. As she spoke, a hint of tears could be heard in her voice.
Behind the gauze curtain, the silhouette of Yue Shen Di slowly turned. Her voice was flat and indifferent: "Issue the order: the king will be in seclusion for several months. No matter how great the matter, none shall disturb me!"
"...Yes." Jin Yue accepted the order and retreated in dejection.
---
The Northern Divine Region, after the Coronation Ceremony.
In the distant sky outside the Jiehun Realm, behind the rolling dark clouds.
"Are you really not going to see him?"
Before Chi Wuyue stood a young girl, petite and exquisite, her face as delicate as carved jade. As she spoke, her enchanting eyes held a trace of complexity.
Cai Zhi shook her head. "No."
Chi Wuyue smiled. "If you didn't want to see him, why did you come here? And why have you lingered for so many days?"
Cai Zhi turned around. Her delicate back exuded a coldness that made one's heart tremble and dare not approach. "Not killing that woman is already my bottom line. But I will never stand together with her!"
Chi Wuyue's beautiful eyes flickered. "Then I'll go help you send her away."
Cai Zhi released her profound energy and flew off.
Chi Wuyue blurred and appeared before her. "Alright, alright, I won't force you. Then... can you answer one question?"
Cai Zhi: "?"
"Your change... it was because of the Calamity Demon Emperor, wasn't it?" Chi Wuyue spoke softly, her gaze fixed on Cai Zhi's starry eyes, which were like the endless dark night.
Cai Zhi did not answer. Her figure flickered and was already far away, soon disappearing from Chi Wuyue's sight.
"Just as I thought." Chi Wuyue looked in the direction Cai Zhi had gone and murmured to herself.
"No one in this world understands human nature better than the Calamity Demon Emperor. Before she left, she must have considered the worst possible scenario, so she secretly left Yun Che many backup plans—many that I don't even know about."
"After all, her daughter is in Yun Che's hands."
Chi Wuyue was one of the very few in this world who knew of the existence of the Calamity Demon Emperor and the Evil God's daughter. After all, Yun Che had never really hidden anything from "Mu Xuanyin" back then.
---
Whether for revenge or to break the Northern Divine Region out of its cage and change its fate against the heavens, the most important element was the small minority of core strength.
That is, the power of Divine Masters and Divine Sovereigns—especially Divine Masters.
After the coronation and the enthronement ceremony, what Yun Che had to do next was quite simple.
The Northern Divine Region had two hundred upper star realms and eight hundred middle star realms.
In terms of both the number of upper star realms and the number of upper-level profound practitioners (Divine Masters, Divine Sovereigns, Divine Kings), it was far lower than any of the other divine regions—less than half of the Eastern Divine Region.
He had the various upper star realms organize and gather all Divine Masters, Divine Sovereigns, and Divine Kings, who then came in order to the Yan Mo Realm to receive the Eternal Calamity Divine Blessing, at a rate of three realms per day.
When it came to the middle star realms, with the sharp decrease in the number of powerhouses, the pace would undoubtedly accelerate significantly.
Once the middle stage of the Eternal Calamity was mastered, this blessing of the Eternal Calamity could be applied on a large scale. What he could do with a casual wave of his hand was a tremendous boon that no profound practitioner at any level would have dared to dream of in ten thousand lifetimes.
In return, besides their excitement and transformation, there was undoubtedly submission, awe, and loyalty.
All of this was invisibly turning into a dark sword that Yun Che could wield at any time.
In the remaining time, Yun Che focused his efforts on the core of the Northern Divine Region's power... the Yan Mo, the Moon Devourers, the Demonesses, as well as the Yan Ghosts, Fen Yue Divine Envoys, and Soul Spirits.
He gathered them wave after wave into the Eternal Dark Bone Sea, and no outsider could know what was happening inside.
But if one observed closely, one would notice that every time they left the Eternal Dark Bone Sea, the dark light on their bodies would be faintly deeper by one shade.
At the late stage of the Divine Master realm, even the slightest bit of progress was extremely difficult. The progress manifested by the changes in their bodies was far beyond what the word "exaggerated" could describe.
Dark Eternal Calamity... the Demon Emperor's ultimate profound art. Its existence was indeed too outrageous and terrifying for the demons of the present world, and for the current chaos.