Chapter 1768: Abyss God Cannon
After the Nanming Envoy left, Yun Che's gaze flickered with uncertainty.
"The appointment of a Crown Prince normally requires extensive preparation. Even if they intend to invite all realms, it should be announced at least a month in advance." Qianye Ying'er said slowly. "For Nanming to suddenly establish a Crown Prince now, they clearly have significant motives."
"A test." Qianye Wugu said.
"An opportunity to unite the realms of the Southern Divine Region, and perhaps also the Western Divine Region." Qianye Bingzhu added.
With just a few words from the two ancestors of the Brahma Emperor Clan, they had fully laid bare the purpose of the Nanming Divine Emperor.
"Never underestimate Nan Wansheng, and never underestimate the Southern Divine Region," Qianye Ying'er said. "You've thrown all the Eternal Dark Magic Crystals to the Moon God Realm, and the poison of the Heavenly Poison Pearl is likely exhausted as well. Taking down the four core King Realms of the Southern Divine Region will be far more difficult than it was in the Eastern Divine Region."
As the core of a divine region, taking down all the King Realms meant taking down the entire divine region... whether it was the Eastern Divine Region or the Southern Divine Region.
In the Eastern Divine Region's four King Realms, the Star God Realm was already withered, the Moon God Realm was directly blasted to ruins, the strongest Brahma Emperor God Realm was pushed to the brink by Heaven's Wound Severing Thought, and the only one that faced a direct confrontation was the Zhou Tian Realm... and even that was after drawing away half of their core forces and abruptly cutting off all support.
The four King Realms of the Southern Divine Region were all intact. Not only was their overall strength far superior to the four King Realms of the Eastern Domain, but they also maintained a high level of vigilance against the Demon Race of the Northern Domain... Qianye Ying'er's words were not an exaggeration.
"Currently, the most rational approach is to conceal our hostility, express affability, and then spend some time consolidating the power of the Eastern Divine Region. When it comes to a war between divine regions, the Southern Divine Region will not act rashly unless absolutely necessary. This is also the main reason why Nanming suddenly wants to establish a Crown Prince. However..." She glanced lightly at Yun Che. "You certainly won't do that, will you?"
"What is the thing that the Nanming Divine Realm needs to be most wary of?" Yun Che asked coldly.
"Their core forces are the four Abyss Kings and the sixteen Abyss Gods." Qianye Ying'er said. "However, two of the four Abyss Kings have already fallen. Nanming is probably regretting that decision immensely by now."
"The Nanming Divine Realm possesses a large number of Divine Legacy Artifacts, more than any other King Realm. Their hidden methods are countless. As for Nanming's greatest trump card... if I knew it, then it wouldn't be worthy of being called a trump card."
Just like how Nanming never knew that the Brahma Emperor God Realm was hiding two Supreme Ancestors.
At this moment, Qianye Wugu suddenly spoke calmly: "The Abyss God Cannon."
"...!?" Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er both turned their heads.
"What is that?" Qianye Ying'er asked with a frown. It was the first time she had heard this name.
"The strongest Divine Legacy Artifact possessed by the Nanming Divine Realm. In the ancient era, it was also the clan-guarding artifact of the Nanming Divine Clan."
Qianye Bingzhu said: "In ancient times, the Southern Divine Region was one of the most brutal battlefields of the God-Demon War, with countless casualties and relics. Those that could be controlled were taken one by one. However, the power contained in many ancient objects could not be controlled, so they were placed within a very special 'Abyss God Grand Array.' As long as the Abyss God Grand Array was activated, the power within would be quickly drawn out, becoming the energy source for the 'Abyss God Cannon.'"
"How powerful is it?" Qianye Ying'er's golden brows slightly furrowed. Even something she didn't know about was certainly no ordinary matter.
Qianye Wugu slowly said: "According to ancient records, the Abyss God Cannon forged by the Nanming Divine Clan could slay a god with a single shot."
Qianye Ying'er: "..."
Yun Che: "..."
"When the ancestors of Nanming obtained the Nanming inheritance, they also found the Abyss God Cannon deep underground. When it was discovered, it was already half-damaged, but its divine might remained."
"Limited by the plane and energy sources, the Abyss God Cannon naturally cannot reproduce the divine might of the ancient era. But it absolutely, absolutely must not be underestimated."
Having weathered countless storms and seen through life and death, the Brahma Emperor Ancestor actually said "absolutely" twice, showing his deep apprehension: "Its power is immense, and its consumption must also be enormous. Moreover, it is difficult to control. Unless absolutely necessary, Nanming will not deploy the Abyss God Cannon."
Qianye Wugu's words were clearly an admonition for Yun Che not to act rashly.
Qianye Ying'er's brows were deeply furrowed, and she remained silent for a long time.
Yun Che's face showed no fear; instead, he asked a strange question: "Does Nanming know that you are aware of the existence of the Abyss God Cannon?"
Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu both shook their heads: "This secret was accidentally discovered by the ninth generation ancestor during a visit to Nanming. To this day, Nanming does not know that this secret has been learned by the Brahma Emperor Clan."
"Good."
Uttering these three words in a low voice, Yun Che looked towards the south and suddenly let out a sinister laugh... When this smile fell into the eyes of the two Brahma Emperor Ancestors, they felt a ripple of astonishment in their hearts.
----
Soon. The seven-day deadline Yun Che had given to all upper-level King Realms of the Eastern Divine Region passed.
"A total of sixty-four upper-level star realms have not come to plant the Dark Imprint and pledge allegiance." Fen Daoqi reported to Yun Che. "Most of these are because their Realm Kings are already dead or have fled, causing great chaos in the star realms without anyone being able to elect a new Realm King, or no one daring to succeed the position."
"Another twenty star realms would rather die than surrender. However, these star realms have basically already experienced massive internal turmoil, with countless profound practitioners desperately escaping."
As he spoke, Fen Daoqi began to list the names of these twenty star realms one by one.
When the three words "Yan Shen Realm" came out of Fen Daoqi's mouth, Yun Che's brow twitched slightly.
"In addition, there is also a special Tianji Realm. The Tianji Realm now has no living people left; its disciples have all been dismissed, and the three Tianji Elders in charge have all died before the Tianji Divine Temple."
"Demon Lord, just one command from you is enough to annihilate these star realms."
"Those that won't obey, just destroy them all." These few words spelled the bloody burial of countless living beings. But from Yun Che's mouth, they were spoken with incomparable ease and casualness.
"However, there's no need to bother with the Yan Shen Realm." Yun Che's voice lowered slightly. "It just so happens that it's time to return to the Yin Xue Realm."
At this moment, a Burning Moon Divine Envoy came to report: "The six Star Gods of the Star God Realm have arrived and seek an audience with the Demon Lord."
"Star Gods?" Yun Che glanced sideways, then gave a cold smile: "Order them to wait outside. This Demon Lord will see them when he returns."
Yun Che used the word "order."
Back then, when the six Star Gods were on their way to aid the Zhou Tian Realm, they were sent back with a single sword strike by Cai Zhi. That sword strike actually saved the six Star Gods... or rather, saved the withered Star God Realm.
Without Cai Zhi's intervention, even if the Star God Realm had not acted to aid the Zhou Tian Realm, they would likely have been wiped out by Yun Che long ago.
----
The Yin Xue Realm, still the white snow as far as the memory could recall, a pale world stretching endlessly.
Only now, Yun Che, once a disciple of the Yin Xue Sect, had become a figure of darkness.
Yun Che did not come alone. By his side, Chi Wuyue stood with him, gazing into the distance. Compared to Yun Che, she was far more familiar with the Yin Xue Realm and had a much deeper attachment to it. Every snowfield, every kingdom here was exceptionally familiar to her.
Upon arriving at the Bing Huang Realm, a female figure approached from afar and knelt before them: "Chan Yi greets Master and Demon Lord."
She had been guarding this place all along, never leaving.
"What's the situation?" Yun Che asked.
Chan Yi immediately replied: "Reporting to the Demon Lord, initially a large number of outsiders fled to the Yin Xue Realm, causing considerable turmoil at the borders. As the four King Realms fell one after another, those foreign profound practitioners also settled down, no longer daring to cause any disturbance, and no one dares to approach the Bing Huang Realm."
The barrier of the Bing Huang Realm remained open, cutting off all outsiders. Yun Che arrived before the barrier. Instead of forcing his way in, he reached out and lightly tapped it, producing a crisp collision sound.
The sound was not loud, but it instantly spread throughout the entire Bing Huang God Sect.
During this extremely special period, the Yin Xue Realm was naturally in a constant state of high tension. Immediately, a large number of guarding disciples rushed over. And when they saw the black figure in the sky, their pupils all dilated, and they froze in place.
"Yun... Yun Senior..."
A Bing Huang disciple subconsciously cried out in shock, but his voice was immediately silenced by a Bing Huang Elder beside him.
He was the Demon Lord of the Northern Domain, capable of destroying realms and annihilating life with a single word. To address him as "Senior Brother" as before was undoubtedly an offense worthy of death.
He wanted to step forward to pay respects, but after mustering his courage several times, he couldn't move half a step forward.
Ridiculous... The Divine Emperor, revered as a supreme god, had died miserably at his hands and feet. Those upper-level Realm Kings who sought survival were like humiliated livestock before him. As a mere Bing Huang Elder, how could he possibly have the right to speak with him.
"Quick... quick, notify the Sect Master." Amid the terrifying silence, he said in a trembling voice, forgetting to transmit a sound message himself.
The atmosphere within the Bing Huang Realm changed abruptly. Before long, all the core figures of the Bing Huang God Sect arrived. They looked up at Yun Che in the sky, their gazes extraordinarily complex: shock, fear, extreme unease mixed with a hint of anticipation.
The Northern Domain's invasion of the Eastern Divine Region began from the northern border. During the chaos in all realms, only the Yin Xue Realm remained peaceful.
Later, Mu Bingyun was taken away by a Brahma King of the Brahma Emperor God Realm, but she returned safely just a few hours later. Mu Bingyun didn't explicitly say, but it seemed that she had been rescued by someone from the Northern Domain as well.
So, they preferred to believe that Yun Che's visit was not to bring disaster to the Yin Xue Realm. However, the dark halo surrounding him was too terrifying for anyone not to fear.
By his side was a woman whose figure was entwined with darkness. Through the projections from the Zhou Tian Realm in recent days, they all knew that she was Yun Che's Empress in the Northern Domain.
The number one and number two figures commanding the Northern Domain had both descended upon their Yin Xue Realm today.
All the Bing Huang Elders had arrived, but none dared to approach rashly. Yun Che remained motionless, staring off to the north as if in a daze.
Finally, Mu Bingyun arrived. The familiar aura of ice and snow caused Yun Che to turn his gaze towards her.
Just four years, yet it felt like a lifetime.
With a light brush of her jade hand, the Bing Huang barrier silently closed. Under the shrinking pupils of the Bing Huang Elders, Mu Bingyun's figure rose and directly stood before Yun Che and Chi Wuyue.
She glanced at Chi Wuyue, then fixed her gaze on Yun Che's eyes. After a brief silence, she smiled faintly and said: "To be able to return without worry is naturally better than anything."
Over the years, she had often longed for such a moment. But subconsciously, she never truly dared to hope. Yet, he had really returned, openly and legitimately... and it took only four years.
And the other most important person in her life had also returned intact.
For her, all the shadows in her life had dissipated, everything surpassing a dream.
That familiar faint smile made Yun Che's vision blur. In a daze, it was as if he had returned to their first meeting... as if nothing had changed.
"Palace Master Ice Cloud," still using the same address from back then, Yun Che said softly: "It's been many years since I left. I want to visit the Holy Hall."
"I'll take you there." Mu Bingyun said.
"You two go ahead." Chi Wuyue smiled and glanced at Mu Bingyun, not following them.
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, Yun Che and Mu Bingyun headed towards the Bing Huang Holy Hall. There was no overwhelming demonic might, no other waves.
Chi Wuyue stood in the distance. Her divine sense swept across the vast snowfield, and she murmured to herself: "It seems they haven't recruited new disciples in a long time."
"Huanzhi," she suddenly said, "summon someone to send a sound transmission to the Yan Shen Realm King, informing him of Yun Che's arrival in the Yin Xue Realm."
Mu Huanzhi was stunned for a full two breaths, seemingly unable to believe that the Demon Empress of the Northern Domain actually knew his name. When Chi Wuyue's gaze turned to him, he finally confirmed that the Demon Empress was truly giving him an order, and he hurriedly responded and left.