Chapter 1751: The Death of the Brahma Emperor (Part 1)
Above the sky, the projection did not close.
In the Zhou Tian Realm, Yun Che reached out his hand, and a ball of light profound aura struck Xing Juekong's body, causing his frail figure to immediately erupt with a strong life aura.
The moment he raised his head in shock, even his originally cloudy and dull pupils became exceptionally bright.
Yun Che cast a glance at Chi Wuyue.
No words were needed; even without that glance, Chi Wuyue already understood Yun Che's intention. The corners of her lips curled slightly, and then a deep, dense black light flashed sharply in her eyes.
Xing Juekong was now a complete cripple, both in terms of profound power and spirit. The dark soul power from Chi Wuyue directly pierced his soul, and he had not the slightest ability to resist.
A trace of black light flickered faintly in Xing Juekong's eyes, then transformed into a gradually imposing cold glare.
Clutching the Star God Wheel, he slowly rose from the ground. Although his body was utterly devoid of profound aura, he had been an emperor for ten thousand years. When the imperial might he had recondensed in his eyes was sensed, even Shui Qianheng and Lu Zhou felt a slight sense of oppression.
With a solemn expression, he stepped forward. As he entered the projection range, cries of shock erupted throughout the Eastern Divine Region.
"Star... Star God Emperor!?"
In the distant satellite star realms of the Star God Realm, the six Star Gods — Tianxuan, Tianyao, Tianyang, Tianyan, Tianhun, and Tianmei — all reacted as if struck by lightning, standing up abruptly: "God Emperor!"
This was the first time Xing Juekong had appeared before the eyes of the world since his disappearance. But whether it was the Star Gods or the profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region, none could understand why he had appeared by Yun Che's side.
The excitement and shock in the hearts of the Star Gods were beyond words. Especially since they saw the Star God Wheel in Xing Juekong's hand at a glance... That was the lifeline of their Star God Realm's legacy! As long as the Star God Wheel existed, the Star God Realm could one day shine with glory again.
Plop!
Under the utterly astonished gazes of everyone, Xing Juekong heavily knelt beside Yun Che... kneeling on both knees.
He raised high the Star God Wheel, symbolizing the core lifeline of the Star God Realm, his gaze bright, his expression solemn: "This humble king, Xing Juekong, bears the immeasurable grace of the Demon Lord for saving the world, and feels the Demon Lord's mercy in granting forgiveness. I am willing, in the name of the Star God Emperor and bearing the Star God Wheel, to lead the Star God Realm to pledge allegiance to the Demon Lord."
"From this day forward, all of the Star God Realm will forever honor the Demon Lord as supreme. Whoever defies the Demon Lord's will shall be an enemy of the Star God Realm!"
"Should I break this oath, may heaven and earth destroy me!"
His words were resounding and heart-shaking, as if they came from the deepest part of his soul. Even though he was kneeling, his eyes and expression still overflowed with imperial might, showing no sign of falsehood or reluctance.
The Realm Kings and profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region were all dumbfounded. The Star Gods and Star God Elders were even more wide-mouthed and tongue-tied, their hearts trembling for a long time.
Although Xing Juekong had been missing for a long time, and although the Star God Realm had completely fallen silent after the Calamity of the Evil Infant, Xing Juekong was still the Star God Emperor after all. The wheel in his hand, connected to the lifeline of the Star God Realm, made it impossible for anyone to deny his identity.
Moreover, even though the Star God Realm had withered severely, it still possessed six Star Gods and seventeen Star God Elders, far surpassing any star realm below a King Realm.
Especially after the destruction of the Zhou Tian Realm and the Moon God Realm, the Star God Realm had already become one of the last two King Realms of the Eastern Divine Region.
And now, the appeared Xing Juekong, in the name of the Star God Emperor, holding the Star God Wheel, swore allegiance to the Demon Lord Yun Che...
For the profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region, this was undoubtedly another massive blow, cruelly crushing the already scant hope and persistence they had left.
"Sister," Tianyao Star God Qiangwei turned her gaze to Tianxuan Star God Ziwan. The gazes of the other Star Gods also gathered upon her.
With the Star God Emperor missing, and Tiandu, Tiangang, and Tianyuan dead, along with Tianxiu (Mo Li) and Tianlang (Cai Zhi), among the remaining six Star Gods, Tianxuan Ziwan was the strongest, had the highest prestige, and naturally became the temporary leader of the Star Gods.
She slowly stood up, her gaze fixed on the Star God Wheel in Xing Juekong's hands... Only, she did not see within it the divine lights of the Star Gods that should have been shining: Tiandu, Tianyuan, Tiangang, and Tianxiu.
The divine power of Tianxiu Star God had been knocked out of the Chaos along with the Evil Infant Mo Li. Perhaps even the Star God source power had been annihilated. Even if it hadn't been annihilated, separated by the Chaos Wall, it was destined not to return to the Star God Wheel.
But why were the ones belonging to Tianyuan, Tiandu, and Tiangang also missing?
Could it be... that they had already found new inheritors so quickly?
But for now, she had no time to ponder these things. Gazing into the distance, countless chaotic images floated in her mind.
What finally settled was the scene from years ago when Yun Che had died for Mo Li in the Star God Realm... Her eyes gradually lost focus, and she murmured softly: "It is time... to make a choice."
In the Zhou Tian Realm, Shui Qianheng and Lu Zhou watched Xing Juekong's actions, their hearts trembling with fear.
When their gazes fell upon Chi Wuyue, the hair on their bodies stood on end involuntarily, and a chill shot straight from their feet to the top of their heads.
After declaring his allegiance, Xing Juekong walked backward out of the projection area. The moment he left, as the black light in Chi Wuyue's eyes dissipated, his body instantly fell straight backward, unmoving.
Yun Che reached out, and the Star God Wheel flew back, disappearing into his hand. The used-up Xing Juekong was once again frozen by him and thrown back into the Primordial Mystic Ark.
The shock of the Star God Emperor swearing allegiance to the Dark Demon Lord before the eyes of the world still lingered in their hearts and souls, when in the projection, the figure of Lu Zhou, the Realm King of the Futiand Realm, appeared next.
Behind him followed Futiand Realm's Young Lord, Lu Lengchuan, whose reputation was now almost equal to his.
"Demon Lord, as for the root cause of this calamity, it was our Eastern Divine Region that was at fault first. But the living beings are innocent; they too are victims manipulated by circumstances."
Lu Zhou's gaze was blazing, his words sincere. Although spoken to Yun Che, it was more like he was addressing the profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region: "Such bitter hatred and mutual slaughter between the Northern Divine Region and the Eastern Divine Region will only bring endless calamity and death to both sides. I implore the Demon Lord to grant the Eastern Divine Region an opportunity to re-understand the darkness... even if it is merely a chance to atone and make amends."
Words like "atone" and "make amends" were undoubtedly extremely jarring to the Eastern Divine Region. But since they were at a disadvantage, they should adopt the humble posture of the defeated. Lu Zhou was not negotiating; he was pleading for a chance of survival for the Eastern Divine Region.
"Lu Zhou, Realm King of the Futiand Realm, is willing to lead the Futiand Realm to henceforth pay homage to the Demon Lord and obey the Demon Lord's command! Lu believes with all his heart that the living beings of the Eastern Divine Region, who now fully understand the truth of the past, will surely be willing to gradually resolve their enmity with the Northern Divine Region and coexist peacefully with the Dark Profound practitioners."
Living up to his status as one of the three great Realm Kings of the Eastern Divine Region, Lu Zhou's words were not only heart-shaking but also carried a powerful appeal.
Shui Yingyue also stepped forward at this moment. Lu Zhou had said enough. She bowed deeply, offering only a simple sentence: "The Liuguang Realm is willing to henceforth pledge allegiance to the Demon Lord, with no disloyalty whatsoever."
Following the Star God Emperor, two of the three-star realms that best represented the myriad realms of the Eastern Divine Region also publicly declared their allegiance to the Dark Demon Lord.
Even those Eastern Domain profound practitioners who had originally been fiercely resistant found themselves bewildered, suddenly unable to find a reason to continue their resistance.
"Opportunity, this Demon Lord has already given to the Eastern Divine Region." Yun Che turned his back to the countless living beings of the Eastern Divine Region, his head lowered, his voice deep: "Seven days from now, I greatly look forward to seeing how many star realms will disappear into the darkness!"
The projection closed, and the Eastern Divine Region immediately fell into a terrifying dead silence.
With the Star God Emperor, the Liuguang Realm, and the Futiand Realm leading the way. Faced with the "opportunity" thrown out by Yun Che, there was no doubt that a large number of high-ranking star realms would choose to submit.
Thus, the resistance forces of the Eastern Divine Region would only grow weaker and weaker. Perhaps by then, resistance would become a foolish act in the eyes of others.
However, the Eastern Divine Region was not entirely without hope.
At the very least, they still had the Brahma Emperor God Realm, which had not yet moved and might yet surprise the world, and the first-ranked star realm, the Shengyu Realm, which still had enough prestige to rally and organize the various realms.
...
The projection closed. Yun Che slowly narrowed his eyes and murmured softly: "Next, there is one last 'straw'."
At this moment, three streaks of black light flashed across the sky. Yan Yi, Yan Er, and Yan San fell from the sky, all of them kneeling neatly before Yun Che.
"Mm? That fast?" Yun Che glanced sideways. "You didn't come back empty-handed, did you?"
The Three Yan Ancestors all shuddered. Yan Yi bowed his head and said: "Reporting to Master, we have searched nearly half of the Eastern Divine Region, yet... we did not find a single trace of a Moon God."
"Not a single one?" Yun Che frowned deeply, then said in a deep voice: "I refuse to believe that all the Moon Gods have turned to ashes under the Eternal Dark Demon Crystal."
"Old... old slave... will now... will now go search again." Yan Er stammered, not daring to argue or even offer an explanation.
"No need." Yun Che sneered coldly: "If they were smart enough, they would have tucked their tails between their legs and fled as far as possible the first chance they got. If that's truly the case, then let them live on like that old dog from the Zhou Tian Realm for a while longer!"
He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling in the direction of the Brahma Emperor God Realm: "It's about time to go watch a spectacular show."
...
The Brahma Emperor, in whom the profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region had placed their last hopes, was still in a state of closed realm.
At the same time, he was also in unprecedented despair.
"Cough... cough, cough, cough... pfft!"
Amidst violent coughing, Qianye Fantian spat out a mouthful of scarlet blood. In the dim and silent hall, the bloodstains on the floor reflected a strange green light.
He raised his hand and saw that his palm was even paler than it had been an hour before.
He lifted his gaze, and in his line of sight, the faces of the Brahma Kings were one more pained than the next, one more... despairing than the next.
In the past dozen or so hours, they had exhausted every possible method: the finest Evil-Repelling Divine Jades, poison-expelling arrays, even merging and fusing their powers together...
It was useless. Completely useless! All the methods could only slightly suppress the poison's power, but none could dispel or annihilate even a single trace of "Tian Shang Duan Nian."
The despair they had experienced years ago had returned, and this time, it was not just Qianye Fantian alone, but the entire Brahma Emperor Royal City!
That was the poison power of the Heavenly Poison Pearl; how could worldly beings dispel it!
In the face of "Tian Shang Duan Nian," concepts like the power of a Divine Emperor, schemes and calculations, and the accumulated wealth of a King Realm were all useless jokes.
"Master, is there truly... no feasible method left?" the First Brahma King spoke in pain.
He couldn't remember how many times he had asked this question. Each time he asked, his eyes became a shade dimmer.
"Ha!" Qianye Fantian laughed lowly: "If there were a way to resolve it, would this king... have abandoned Ying'er back then?"
Back then, to make even a trace of the Heavenly Poison's power explode directly within his body, Xia Qingyue and Yun Che had gone through quite meticulous calculations, accompanied by considerable risk.
But now, he and all the Brahma Kings had been poisoned without even realizing it... The difference between the two was like heaven and earth.
Therefore, Qianye Fantian knew with absolute clarity that if the Heavenly Poison had been that terrifying back then, now... there was no possibility of dispelling it except by using the Heavenly Poison Pearl itself.
Controlling the circulation of his profound aura in the most careful and gentle manner, suppressing the corrosive spread of the poison, he slowly raised his head, his deep, unfathomable eyes fixed on the space above.
Even at this point, he was unwilling to beg Yun Che.
He was desperately searching for other possibilities... or a way out for the Brahma Emperor God Realm.
While everyone in the Brahma Emperor Royal City was struggling painfully under "Tian Shang Duan Nian," no one had the leisure to notice that one of the Brahma Kings, while suppressing the Heavenly Poison, was quietly concealing his aura, slipping out of the Brahma Emperor Royal City, and then leaving the domain of the Brahma Emperor God Realm.
The place he was heading to was precisely the location of Nanming Shendi.