# Chapter 1763: Eternal Life (Part 1)
"This matter cannot possibly be true." Nan Wansheng said: "Wanbian and Tianming are both Ninth-rank Divine Lords. With their strength, for them to be killed in an instant, it would require someone to approach within ten zhang without any alert, and for that person to unleash sufficiently powerful force in an instant before they could even circulate their power..."
With the might of the Sea Gods, who could possibly approach within ten zhang without being detected?
Moreover, once one reaches the Divine Lord Realm, the powerful Divine Lord body possesses an extremely strong 'tactile sense' that ordinary people cannot understand, which will react before the will when encountering danger.
Beyond that, to achieve an instant kill of a Sea God, it undoubtedly requires a pinnacle-level instantaneous burst capability.
"Extremely powerful concealment and burst... the only one who could possibly achieve it, even if only barely, would be Tiansha Xingshen of the Eastern Domain's Star God Realm." Nan Wansheng murmured: "Unfortunately, she has long since ceased to exist in this world."
Even if, by the most extreme stretch of imagination, Tiansha Xingshen were still alive, with her Evil Infant power, would she even need to resort to assassination?
"And one more point." Nan Feihong said: "The Sea God's divine souls are all engraved with the Sea God Seal. When they perish, it would surely be detected by Cang Shitian. But this message claims that no one knows who did it?"
Indeed, this rumor seems frightening at first, but with a little thought, it is full of holes.
The messenger said: "According to information passed from the Ten Directions Canglan Realm's spies, before the deaths of the two Sea Gods, their profound veins and divine souls should have been sealed in the very first instant. After they fell, their sealed divine souls were also completely destroyed. Their soul imprints simply could not be transmitted to Shitian Shen Di."
Nan Wansheng and Nan Feihong both froze simultaneously, remaining silent for a long time.
The sudden fall of the Sea Gods, with the Ten Directions Canglan Realm's first reaction being to block the news, was undoubtedly the most normal move. Just like his Nanming Realm, which was also desperately blocking news of the fall of two Nanming Kings... after all, the loss of core power is a heavy blow to any Realm.
After the second Sea God's sudden death, the Ten Directions Canglan Realm proactively made this matter public.
If it weren't for genuine fear, if the deaths weren't so bizarre, how could they do such a thing?
"Has it been investigated what power caused the sealing?" Nan Wansheng asked.
"No." The messenger said: "The bodies of the two Sea Gods and the surrounding area were all completely erased, leaving no trace behind. However..."
The messenger's aura clearly showed some unease, and his voice involuntarily dropped a few notches: "'The spy closest to Shitian Shen Di' has just received newly obtained information. They unexpectedly discovered that at the places where the two Sea Gods died, within a hundred li radius, there were very faint but extremely high-level dragon breaths left behind."
"...!!" Nan Wansheng and Nan Feihong's gazes both shook violently.
Nan Feihong suddenly reached out and directly lifted the messenger: "Are you certain this information is true?"
The messenger showed no great panic, shaking his head: "This subordinate dare not be certain. But... it was indeed transmitted by that esteemed one."
The 'spy closest to Shitian Shen Di' he referred to was one of the three favored consorts of Cang Shitian, the Realm King of the Ten Directions Canglan Realm.
If this matter was true, then the hidden implications behind it were such that one's back would turn cold before even thinking deeply about them.
To silently and instantly kill two Sea Gods—even with Nan Wansheng's knowledge, he couldn't think of who could accomplish it.
But if it were Long Huang, who would dare say he couldn't?
And coincidentally, Long Huang was in an extremely abnormal state of 'disappearance'.
But what would be the reason?
"Impossible." Nan Feihong threw the messenger aside: "I never recall the Ten Directions Canglan Realm having any enmity with the Dragon God Clan. This might just be a deliberate deception left behind."
But even if it were a deception, one would at least need to obtain a sufficiently high-level dragon breath first...
"Feihong," Nan Wansheng said in a deep voice: "Apart from what just happened, you personally go verify the authenticity of this matter."
"Mm." Nan Feihong nodded and quickly left.
Indeed, the information from the Ten Directions Canglan Realm pointed to something completely without reason.
But when the answer is the only one within one's cognition, and there happens to be traces supporting its establishment, even if it is ever so absurd and unbelievable, it will undoubtedly plant a seed of deep suspicion in the heart. And once doubt arises, many things will take on subtle differences.
---
Zhou Tian Realm.
Although Yun Che had seized the Zhou Tian Ancestral Ground and the Zhou Tian Pearl, he showed no intention of rebuilding this place, leaving it in utter ruin.
After all, this was far from the end point, merely a temporary location.
Within a few days, hundreds of Upper Realm Kings of the Eastern Domain came one after another to pledge allegiance and surrender to Yun Che, then were implanted with the never-erasable Dark Mark.
There were also Upper Realm Kings who chose to flee far away, but these were extremely few. After all, to be an Upper Realm King, one commanded vast ancestral enterprises. Fleeing far would inevitably mean abandoning those enterprises and leaving behind eternal infamy... better to bow to darkness, at least in the eyes of the world, this humiliation was for the peace and safety of the entire realm.
And as the 'seven-day deadline' granted by Yun Che drew closer and closer, those Upper Star Realms that had not yet surrendered... without even needing the Northern Domain to issue warnings, they began to gradually fall into turmoil. The momentum was such that if the Realm Kings did not show themselves soon, they would be forced to choose a new king.
On the fifth day, a long-awaited Realm King finally arrived.
Shengyu Realm King, Luo Shangchen.
Below the King Realms, the Shengyu Realm was the undisputed number one Star Realm. Realm King Luo Shangchen was extremely powerful, his successor Luo Changsheng shone with brilliance, having the potential to even touch the God Emperor level in the future, and with Luo Guxie sitting in command.
However, during the war with the Northern Domain, the Shengyu Realm should have been one of the core counterattack forces, yet it remained completely inactive throughout, not even responding to pleas for help from various sides. This arrival undoubtedly drew infinite sighs from the Eastern Domain profound practitioners.
Luo Shangchen arrived together with the Shengyu Grand Elder. Seeing Luo Shangchen, Yun Che's eyes slowly narrowed, radiating a cold light distinctly different from before.
Facing Yun Che, Luo Shangchen walked forward slowly, and like all the previous Realm Kings, knelt before him: "Shengyu Luo Shangchen pays homage to the Demon Lord. From now on, the Shengyu Sect is willing to revere the Demon Lord as its sovereign. This oath is witnessed by all spirits, and we shall never dare to defy it."
With this posture and these words, the three great Star Realms of the Eastern Domain—Shengyu, Liuguang, and Futian—had all knelt, symbolizing the Eastern Domain's complete submission to darkness.
Yun Che stared at Luo Shangchen for a moment, then suddenly kicked out.
Bang!
This kick was incredibly heavy, like a mountain collapsing. Luo Shangchen did not dare to use profound force to resist, and was kicked straight for ten li, his back heavily smashing against a barrier before he bounced and crashed to the ground.
He lay sprawled on the ground, blood gushing from his seven orifices, but without anger, and without immediately standing up. Instead, he reassumed his kneeling posture... He knew this was the 'treatment' he deserved.
Back then at the edge of Chaos, he was the first Eastern Domain Realm King to step forward and comply with the God Emperor's will.
After all, because of the past grudges between Yun Che and Luo Changsheng and Luo Guxie, he was, among all the Realm Kings, the one who most wanted Yun Che dead.
Yun Che extended his hand, pointing to the ground beneath his feet: "Crawl back."
"Sect Master..." The Shengyu Grand Elder reached out, but dared not step forward to help him up, nor dared to make any further sound.
In the distance, Luo Shangchen's gaze also told him that he must not act rashly.
Without words, and without too much hesitation, he propped himself forward with his arms, moved his knees, and thus, bit by bit, without any profound force support, crawled toward Yun Che's feet.
He knew that only with sufficient humiliation, with his dignity completely shattered, could he protect the Shengyu Realm.
In the Eastern Domain, he was a Realm King above ten thousand kings, but what befell him now was a trampling beyond what any Realm King, or even any mortal spirit, could bear.
But compared to the blows of the past days, what was this?
Before Yun Che, in the sight of countless profound practitioners of the Eastern Domain, he crawled step by step toward Yun Che. The distance that could once be crossed in an instant was now unbearably long. After half a quarter of an hour, he had only managed one li.
At that moment, a Burning Moon Divine Envoy's sound transmission reached Yun Che's ears. He slightly lowered his brow, then smiled coldly: "Let him in."
At the same time, all the Moon Devourers and Demonesses in Zhou Tian turned their gazes.
Because the person arriving was actually emitting the aura of a Seventh-rank Divine Lord. Luo Shangchen, who was in the middle of crawling, suddenly halted, his gaze trembling violently.
This aura... no one was more familiar with it than him.
Luo Changsheng!
No... it was Luo Guxie and that lowly commoner Ning Danqing's bastard child!
The very one who caused the death of his and his deceased wife's son!
Soon, Luo Changsheng's figure came from afar, appearing before the crowd and within the projections. He was still dressed in white like snow, elegant and graceful... even in front of Yun Che, beside the Northern Domain's strong.
"Shengyu Luo Changsheng pays homage to the Northern Domain Demon Lord." He offered a simple bow, neither humble nor arrogant.
As he spoke, his gaze seemed to briefly glance at the activated projection array.
Whether intentionally or not, his first address to Yun Che was not 'Demon Lord', but 'Northern Domain Demon Lord'.
"Isn't this Young Master Changsheng." Yun Che did not look at him directly, his demonic majesty overwhelming. How could the current him be compared to Luo Changsheng: "Have you come here to put on a show with your father?"
The word 'show' was an immense humiliation. Yet Luo Changsheng's expression remained calm, he said: "No. My father's actions represent the will of the Shengyu Realm. As for me, Luo Changsheng, I am willing, by my own will, to submit to the Demon Lord's command. As for sincerity, I will surely satisfy the Demon Lord."
Luo Shangchen looked sideways, his mind churning violently.
But in this situation, he could not flare up, let alone publicly expose that enormous scandal.
"Good, very good." Yun Che smiled faintly: "To know the times so well, indeed worthy of the world-renowned Young Master Changsheng! But before that, at least let your father finish presenting his sincerity."
"Of course." Luo Changsheng bowed again, then stepped to the side, raising his eyes to look at Luo Shangchen, his gaze utterly devoid of any fluctuation.
After a brief pause, Luo Shangchen resumed his crawl. The ten li that was so excruciatingly long, every time his knees touched the ground, it was a humiliation that could never be erased for eternity.
He could not hear any sound around him clearly, his vision kept blurring, and even with his blurred sight, he absolutely did not glance in Luo Changsheng's direction for even an instant.
Finally, as if an entire lifetime had passed, he crawled back to Yun Che's feet using his own hands and knees. Behind him lay all the glory and dignity of his life... now completely shattered.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Yun Che slowly clapped, smiling with praise: "As expected of the Shengyu Realm King. This crawling posture is truly beyond that of ordinary livestock, a delight to behold, forcing this Demon Lord to applaud in admiration."
As the clapping ended, he kicked out again, striking Luo Shangchen's head directly.
Still without using profound force to defend, Luo Shangchen flew sideways again, a long trail of blood mixed with broken teeth arcing through the air.
Bang!
Luo Shangchen crashed far away, another several li distant. As he trembled and rose, the faint, ethereal voice of the devil reached his ears: "Since the Shengyu Realm King is so skilled at this, why not crawl once more, so the world can enjoy the spectacle further?"
The Shengyu Grand Elder trembled from his toes to his hair. Luo Shangchen's hands unconsciously clenched. Even though he had prepared himself to bear any humiliation, his heart and soul still convulsed.
"Wait!"
A voice that was out of place suddenly sounded. Luo Changsheng stepped forward... but before he could speak, a black shadow shot toward him like an arrow.
Even with Luo Changsheng's cultivation, he was completely unable to evade.
Slap!
A crisp, ear-splitting heavy impact, Luo Changsheng was sent flying far away. Yan Three retracted his arm back into his black robe, lowering his brows and speaking coldly: "When the master speaks, where does a brat like you get the right to interrupt!"
This was a slap from a Yan Ancestor. If it were anyone else, they would have been shattered, body and soul. Luo Changsheng turned his body, his face already blood red, but without shock or anger, he bowed to Yun Che and said: "It was rash of Changsheng... but I beseech the Demon Lord to show mercy and grant Changsheng a favor."
"Oh?" Yun Che slightly tilted his eyes.
"I beg the Demon Lord... to grant Changsheng the favor of... crawling this journey in my father's stead."
He bowed low, his tone flat yet carrying a plea.