# Chapter 1712: Dark Blood
Originally, they thought the annihilation of the three divine realms was due to some immense grudge, or a heinous crime committed by some powerful figure in a fit of madness. But when the "truth" of the "Zhou Tian God Realm of the Eastern Divine Region" spread, it undoubtedly struck the nerves of all Northern Domain profound practitioners like a sharp needle.
And it wasn't just voices that spread, but also projections transmitted through countless Mysterious Shadow Stones... including fragments of shattered star realms, the scenes of the Demonesses' investigation, the anguished and desperate cries of Ye Jiancheng, and... the white cauldron in the projection.
Shock, indignation, hatred and fury... spread like a plague across the entire Northern Divine Region along with the truth.
Dark profound practitioners had always been cast out by the world since time immemorial. Once they stepped out of the Northern Divine Region, if their aura leaked even a little, they would be mercilessly hunted by profound practitioners from other divine regions... all under the banner of righteousness.
They felt suppressed, resentful, helpless... but at least they still had a place to huddle. As long as they forever cowered in this dark cage, they might avoid being hunted by those righteous profound practitioners.
But now, this "righteous" power from another divine region, the realm called "Zhou Tian" — reputedly the king realm in the Eastern Divine Region that most upheld and defended "righteousness" — had actually reached into their final refuge.
Their last retreat and bottom line.
And it had annihilated three star realms in one night!
Panic, fear, confusion... and finally, it all turned into a blazing fury that burned ever brighter.
One day passed...
Two days passed...
Three days passed...
When the entire Northern Region was shaken and the dark blood was boiling with rage to its peak, the same dark projection descended upon every corner of the Northern Divine Region simultaneously.
This was another domain-wide projection, the first since the grand emperor coronation ceremony from years ago.
The projection showed the Jiehun Holy Domain again. In that holy domain, three king realms had gathered, along with various realm kings hastily summoned.
As this immensely grand domain-wide projection began once more, the Northern Divine Region, which had been restless with anger, quickly quieted down. The response from the king realms that they had been craving had finally arrived.
At the center of the projection was the figure of Demon Empress Chi Wuyue. Her entire body was still shrouded in faint black mist, but now she radiated not a trace of her usual allure. Through the projection, one could feel a bone-piercing, chilling coldness.
Chi Wuyue pushed her palm forward, and immediately, a projection from a Mysterious Shadow Stone spread across the domain-wide projection. It was a projection from "Boxi Shan," clearly showing the image of the Void Cauldron.
"As you can all see," Chi Wuyue spoke coldly without any preamble or nonsense, "the cauldron that destroyed the three southern star realms three days ago is this one."
"This cauldron is named the Void Cauldron. It is a Divine Legacy Artifact of the Zhou Tian God Realm of the Eastern Divine Region. Its cauldron divine patterns and its unique divine radiance are absolutely impossible to forge. There are detailed records of it in many star realms of our Northern Divine Region."
At the Demon Empress's words, the Northern Divine Region erupted into a long, clamorous uproar.
Rumors were just rumors after all. But when the Demon Empress personally confirmed them, and the last shred of hope was shattered, countless hearts trembled violently.
Chi Wuyue continued, "When outsiders enter our Northern Region, they will inevitably be corroded by the darkness. However, the Void Cauldron is the strongest spatial artifact of the Eastern Divine Region. With enough Zhou Tian divine power stored within, it can achieve long-distance spatial switching."
"The people of the Zhou Tian God Realm used the spatial power of this cauldron to evade prolonged dark corrosion and penetrate deep into our Southern Region. Moreover, to leave behind no traces of Zhou Tian divine power, they used the cauldron as a power carrier to continuously destroy three star realms, then immediately used the Void Cauldron's spatial divine power to escape."
"This act is not only cruel and vicious, but also extremely cunning." Chi Wuyue's voice deepened. "If not for Long Tao Realm King Ye Jiancheng surviving by a stroke of luck and glimpsing the cauldron's image before losing consciousness, and a profound practitioner wandering between star realms inadvertently recording this projection, we would never have been able to identify the culprit based solely on power traces. We might even have suspected each other and fallen into internal strife."
While Chi Wuyue's words announced the truth to the Northern Region, they also resolved all their doubts. In their shock and fury, they also felt a chill run through their bones.
No wonder they could penetrate deep into the Northern Region, and no wonder there were no traces!
"Demon Empress, why would the Eastern Domain's Zhou Tian do something like this!"
The speaker was Tian Muyi, the chief of all realm kings. His voice gradually grew sorrowful: "The three divine regions have always regarded us dark profound practitioners as heretics. Under their oppression, we have never dared to step half a step out of the Northern Divine Region! We have already been this humble... Are they still planning to exterminate us completely?"
"Planning?" Huo Tianxing, the Realm King of the Calamity Wasteland Realm, bristled with rage, his whole body trembling. "Destroying three of our star realms in one night — this is no mere planning! They have already begun to strike! The next time, it might fall on our heads!"
"How outrageous! How far do they want to push us in the Northern Region before they stop!"
"This Void Cauldron is so terrifying that it's impossible to guard against. This might just be the beginning... The Zhou Tian God Realm has bullied us to this extent! To this extent!!"
Beneath the holy domain, the realm kings were already furious beyond endurance, and countless profound practitioners in the Northern Divine Region were seething with indignation.
Chi Wuyue raised her hand and suddenly let out a long sigh. "The Zhou Tian God Realm's actions were not without cause."
With that, she pointed her hand out again, and another projection appeared before the eyes of the Northern Region's populace:
The projection clearly showed the figure of the Zhou Tian Divine Emperor, and beside him was his son, Zhou Qingchen!
Besides the father and son, there was a particularly eye-catching pure purple radiance... the Primeval Divine Marrow in the Zhou Tian Divine Emperor's hand.
"Yun Che can erase the dark power from my son. This was personally promised by the Demon Empress."
In the projection, the Zhou Tian Divine Emperor spoke in a deep voice. "I hope the Demon Empress is not mocking me."
Amidst the crowd's bewilderment, the scene suddenly shifted, showing the Zhou Tian Divine Emperor and Taiyu Venerable departing. The voice of the Zhou Tian Divine Emperor, filled with grief and hatred, spread to every corner of the Northern Divine Region:
"With all the power of Zhou Tian... the Eastern Divine Region... the three divine regions... I swear to trample the Northern Divine Region flat and grind your bones to dust!"
The projection faded. Chi Wuyue turned to face the stunned realm kings of the Northern Region. "The man in the projection is the Zhou Tian Divine Emperor of the Eastern Divine Region, and his son, Zhou Qingchen, the Zhou Tian Crown Prince."
"A year and a half ago, the Zhou Tian Divine Emperor used the Primeval Divine Marrow as bait and the removal of his son's dark power as an excuse to meet with me at the border. In truth, he sought to assassinate the Demon Lord. After the Demon Lord and I saw through his plot, we counter-killed his son..."
Chi Wuyue paused briefly, then said, "This is the cause."
After Chi Wuyue finished speaking, the Zhou Tian Divine Emperor's resolute and venomous oath still echoed in the ears of the Northern Region's profound practitioners, lingering for a long time.
He swore to use all the power of Zhou Tian, the Eastern Divine Region, and the three divine regions... to trample the Northern Divine Region flat!?
At this moment, Yun Che descended from the sky. He looked at the crowd and spoke calmly: "Everyone knows that I, the Demon Lord, hail from the Eastern Divine Region. I returned to the Northern Region now, both by the will of the Demon Emperor and because I was driven out by the Eastern Divine Region. Yet, even though I dwell in this dark land, they still regard me as a great threat."
Yun Che slowly raised his head, a black light blazing in his eyes, his demonic might striking at hearts. "When I was crowned, I made a demonic oath: as the Demon Lord, I will never allow this dark land beneath my feet to suffer any bullying!"
"This calamity was also caused by me. Therefore... I will personally go to the Eastern Region's Zhou Tian and make them pay a hundredfold! I will let them know that the Northern Divine Region under my rule is no land to be trifled with!"
Everyone was startled by Yun Che's words. The Yama Emperor, Yan Tianxiao, quickly said, "This matter is not the Demon Lord's fault! The Demon Lord's status is noble, and you bear the future of the Northern Region on your shoulders. You must not put yourself in danger!"
"This annihilation is not merely the destruction of three star realms. It is a provocation, contempt, and humiliation from the Eastern Divine Region! Not only is their method extremely vicious and despicable, it is also... a complete trampling of our bottom line!"
"Demon Lord!" Yan Tianxiao suddenly knelt and declared in a loud voice, "Yan Tianxiao, Realm King of the Yanmo Realm, has been blessed by the Demon Lord. The dark power I now bear no longer requires me to rely solely on the dark land. Please allow me, Tianxiao, to lead all the Yama out of the Northern Region to avenge today's hatred and wash away the shame of the past!"
As soon as Yan Tianxiao's voice fell, another person immediately knelt as well: "Fen Yue's Fen Daoqi requests to lead all Moon Devourers to battle in the Eastern Divine Region! I am willing to use my flesh and blood, along with the dark power bestowed by the Demon Lord, to repay today's hatred and cleanse the shame of the past!"
Stepping out of the Northern Region, striking straight at the Eastern Region, seeking revenge and washing away humiliation... these dreamlike words struck the hearts of every Northern Region profound practitioner violently.
Yes, dreamlike — because they had always been forced to cower in the dark cage built by the three divine regions. A million years, a full million years, it had been like this.
Generation after generation passed, one era following another, and they had never been able to step out.
The cage grew smaller and smaller, the Northern Region grew more and more humble, and the so-called "stepping out" became more and more like a dream.
But now, such words were shouted out by two king realms, spreading to every corner of the Northern Divine Region.
"That's right," Demon Empress Chi Wuyue spoke in a low voice. "In the past, our dark power was trapped here. But now, thanks to the Demon Lord's blessing, we have gained the qualification to step out of here! The Eastern Divine Region has bullied us to this point. As the leaders of the Northern Region, how can we endure any longer!"
"No! This is no longer just a matter for the king realms!" Tian Muyi, the Realm King of the Imperial Heaven Realm, lifted his head. His voice was excited, every word trembling. "Our fathers, our grandfathers, our ancestors for generations... were all trapped their entire lives in the Northern Divine Region, unable to take half a step out! In this dark land, we can freely call ourselves lofty, but... in the eyes of the world, in the eyes of the three divine regions that trapped us here, what difference is there between us and a herd of penned livestock!"
"A million years — a full million years!" Tian Muyi's voice grew even more agitated. "What is even more tragic is that countless dark brethren have long become numb and resigned to this 'captivity.' Not only have they ceased to resist, even the last shred of dignity and hot blood in their bones have been ground away, turning them into complete and utter livestock!"
Tian Muyi's words struck the soul, each word piercing and heart-wrenching.
"But... the Imperial Heaven Realm has endured enough!" The dark power rose on his hand, the transformed dark force releasing an even purer demonic might. "And we no longer need to endure!"
"The destruction of the three star realms is another trampling by the Eastern Divine Region. But at the same time... it is also a warning and a guide from heaven!"
He raised his hand to the sky, black aura spreading. "The Imperial Heaven Realm requests to step out of the Northern Region, to use the darkness in our hands to avenge today's hatred, and to... reclaim the dignity that the Northern Divine Region has lost for a million years!"
Countless profound practitioners' souls were shaken, especially those of the Imperial Heaven Realm. Hearing their Realm King's shocking declaration, their first reaction was not fear, but a surge of hot blood stirred by their burning fury.
"Well said!" Huo Tianxing, the Realm King of the Calamity Wasteland Realm, shouted out immediately. Dark power also rose from his body, and his voice was even more vehement than Tian Muyi's. "In the past, we had no choice but to endure. But now, bearing the supreme darkness bestowed by the Demon Lord, why should we still endure!"
"What our ancestors could not accomplish, we will complete!"
"I, the Calamity Wasteland Realm, request to step out of the Northern Divine Region! Even if we are shattered to pieces and our blood spills across the Eastern Divine Region, we will have lived this life without regret!"
"Demon Lord above!" Tian Guhu stepped forward. His posture was straight, his eyes as cold as an abyss. Before him stood a hundred of the youngest Divine Sovereigns in the Northern Divine Region. He declared proudly, "We, the Northern Region Heavenly Lords, have enjoyed all the glory the world bestows upon us, yet we have achieved nothing."
"For the final dignity and honor of the Northern Divine Region, we, the Northern Region Heavenly Lords, request to step out of the Northern Region! Moreover, we are willing to be the vanguard, and even death shall not make us regret it!"
Tian Guhu's words once again shook the hearts and souls of all Northern Region profound practitioners... especially the younger ones.
The Northern Region Heavenly Lords — everyone on this list was undoubtedly the most top genius of the younger generation in the Northern Divine Region, and almost every one of them had the most noble birth. They were looked up to, envied, and resented by the world.
And now, these young profound practitioners with noble birth, who in ordinary eyes should have been living in comfort and pride, not only requested to step out of the Northern Region, but also were willing to be the vanguard, truly... putting life and death aside for the dignity of the Northern Divine Region.
In front of Tian Guhu, as his voice faded, the youngest Divine Sovereigns of the Northern Divine Region cast away the last traces of fear and trepidation in their hearts. Under the gaze of the world, they showed unprecedented resolve and determination.
For the first time, they felt so proud to be Northern Region Heavenly Lords.
Even death, at this moment, no longer seemed so terrifying.
Tian Guhu turned around, his gaze piercing through the projection as if shining into everyone's pupils and hearts. "Our Northern Divine Region has been bullied for far too long. A single night of destroying three star realms, with a threat to trample the Northern Divine Region flat — this can no longer be explained by 'humiliation and trampling'! If we endure this again, the people of our Northern Region... will be laughed at even more by the world, and will never again have the chance to straighten our backs!"
"Sons of the Northern Divine Region, will you truly continue to endure, continue to kneel, and allow the Eastern Divine Region to trample and bully us so cruelly and wantonly?!"
The blood and will of young profound practitioners are the easiest to ignite, and also the easiest to spread.
After a brief silence, the Northern Region erupted with continuous waves of shouts that would not fade for a long time.
"That's right! The Eastern Divine Region has bullied us to this point — how can we endure any longer!"
"Penned livestock... hahahaha! How ironic! Even if we obediently stay 'penned,' they still have to step on our faces! If we can still endure that, even pigs, dogs, and livestock would look down on us!"
"The realm kings are right. Now we have the Demon Lord blessed by the Demon Emperor. With the Demon Lord's dark blessing, even if we leave the Northern Divine Region, our power will no longer diminish! We have the capital to resist. We no longer need to suffer their bullying in disgrace."
"The Demon Lord and the king realms lead the way. Even the lofty Heavenly Lords are not afraid of death, so what are we afraid of! Anyone who is not a coward or a waste, stand up! Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!"
"We must make the Eastern Divine Region, which has trampled us, pay the price! How can we continue to let ourselves be slaughtered like this!"
"If we don't resist now, the next star realm to be destroyed might be ours!"
"I have decided to follow the Heavenly Lords as the first to step out of the Northern Region! To those who share the same will, even blood feuds can be forgotten. But to the cowards without spirit, I will despise you for the rest of my life!"
......
The fury over the annihilation of the three divine realms, fueled by the will of the king realms and star realms to break out of the cage and no longer submit, ignited the hatred accumulated over countless years in the Northern Divine Region, and boiled the blood that had lain dormant in the darkness for countless years.