Chapter 1779: Raging Demon (Part 2)
Facing Yun Che's words and direct gaze, Nan Qianqiu's entire body's blood instantly froze, and he subconsciously glanced sideways at Nanming Shendi.
Facing his turned gaze, Nanming Shendi did not speak on his behalf but instead slightly furrowed his brows.
Nan Qianqiu's heart tightened, and he quickly calmed his mind and spirit. When he faced Yun Che again, his gaze was already quite calm and composed: "The Demon Lord inquires, and Qianqiu will certainly tell all I know without reservation."
"Very good." Yun Che's eyelids lowered slightly, his voice faintly deepening by half a point: "Nanming Crown Prince, this Demon Lord happened to hear some time ago that before you inherited the Abyss God's divine power back then, you specifically accompanied your father to the Eastern Divine Region."
"...?" Nanming Shendi's gaze lightly swept over Qianye Ying'er.
"This Demon Lord wishes to ask, what was the purpose of your trip to the Eastern Divine Region?" Yun Che's gaze remained calmly fixed on him. Though it was a question, it seemed he would not give the other party the chance to refuse to answer.
The trip to the Eastern Region before receiving the Abyss God's inheritance was not something Nan Qianqiu could forget. His expression did not change, but his thoughts turned rapidly, pondering Yun Che's purpose in asking this.
But his brief silence caused Yun Che's gaze to shift slightly, and his voice became faintly colder: "What? Is it perhaps difficult to speak of?"
Everyone's gazes secretly gathered. The immense shock caused by the death of Ember Dragon God was still fresh in their minds. The question Yun Che suddenly asked was certainly no ordinary one.
Nan Qianqiu lifted his gaze slightly but actually laughed: "Since I, Nan Qianqiu, am the Crown Prince of Nanming, there is nothing I cannot speak of, only those unworthy to hear it. Since the Demon Lord asks, how could Qianqiu hide it?"
He turned his body slightly, facing the crowd, and said calmly and loudly: "After Qianqiu achieved the Divine King realm, I finally gained the recognition of the Abyss God's divine power and became qualified to be the Abyss God. From that time on, my father had the thought of establishing Qianqiu as Crown Prince."
Within the high circles of the Southern Divine Region, these matters were naturally universally known.
"Before bearing the Abyss God's divine power, Qianqiu indeed specifically accompanied my father on a trip to the Eastern Divine Region. There were two purposes."
"First, to visit the four Divine Emperors of the Eastern Divine Region, and to give advance notice of the future successor of our Nanming Divine Realm."
"Second, to seek a large number of sufficiently fresh Wood Spirit Pearls to purify Yuan Qi and Xuan Qi, thereby achieving a more perfect inheritance and fusion of the Abyss God's divine power."
When Nan Qianqiu finished this sentence, Yun Che's sea of consciousness came from He Ling's extremely intense, almost out-of-control soul tremor.
Nan Qianqiu's direct and frank admission was somewhat unexpected to Yun Che. A slight smile appeared on his face: "Who hunted these Wood Spirit Pearls?"
"Naturally, Qianqiu hunted them himself."
As soon as Yun Che's words fell, Nan Qianqiu answered immediately, without any hesitation or delay, and his gaze showed no ripples or dodging: "If this matter required another's hand, then how could Qianqiu be worthy of my father's expectations?"
Nan Qianqiu knew in his heart that since Yun Che suddenly brought this up, he must already know everything. Back then, when he accompanied Nanming Shendi to the Eastern Divine Region, the first King Realm they visited was Fantian Divine Realm. With the ability of Fantian Divine Realm, knowing the details of his movements back then was not surprising at all.
Now that Qianye Ying'er was at Yun Che's side, and Fantian Shendi had effectively fallen into Yun Che's hands... After a brief deliberation, Nan Qianqiu not only hid nothing but responded even more directly and frankly.
Besides, that trip to the Eastern Region was a very minor matter to him.
Nanming Shendi had not spoken all along, but inwardly he was quite satisfied with Nan Qianqiu's performance in front of Yun Che—after all, the oppressive force of Yun Che, who had just tortured Ember Dragon God to death, was no less than that of any current Divine Emperor.
"A good answer." Yun Che's demeanor and words were hard to read in emotion. He continued: "According to what this Demon Lord knows, you gained quite a lot in a small star realm near the Zhoutian Realm, is that right?"
With Qianye Ying'er at his side, Nan Qianqiu was not surprised at all that Yun Che knew to such an extent. He thought for a moment, then said: "The Demon Lord is correct. Though Qianqiu has forgotten the name of that star realm, it was indeed near the Zhoutian Realm."
Yun Che: "..."
"Qianqiu always knew that Wood Spirits were extremely rare in the world, and I thought the trip to the Eastern Region would require considerable effort. But it seemed to be a gift from the Heavenly Dao. In a tiny star realm, I found nearly a thousand Wood Spirits traveling together. Naturally, I took them without hesitation, and in an instant, I obtained far more fresh Wood Spirit Pearls than needed."
"Additionally," Nan Qianqiu continued, "the two leaders among those Wood Spirits not only had quite high cultivation but their auras were distinctly different from the other Wood Spirits. Later, when I asked my father, I learned they might have been Royal Wood Spirits that should have already gone extinct. Unfortunately, Qianqiu's knowledge was shallow back then, and I didn't value them. They self-destructed their Wood Spirit Pearls and perished."
As he spoke, he lightly shook his head, saying: "Considering the preciousness of Royal Wood Spirit Pearls as recorded in texts, even thinking about it now, I cannot help but feel regret."
Yun Che's heartstrings trembled—it was the soul quaking from He Ling.
It was a complete match, so perfectly fitting that not even a shred of doubt could be inserted.
That tragedy of the Wood Spirit clan, the nightmare that made He Ling lose everything... The mastermind was not the Fantian Divine Realm they had initially thought, but in the distant Southern Divine Region, the Nanming Divine Realm, which they had not even touched upon in their speculations before!
Yun Che's thoughts turned, silently soothing He Ling's emotions. A faint smile lingered on his face as he said to Nan Qianqiu: "You answered quite straightforwardly. Could it be that you, the Nanming Crown Prince, have never known that hunting Wood Spirits is a taboo despised by all living beings?"
"If ordinary beings hunt Wood Spirits, it is indeed a sin spurned by the world," Nan Qianqiu said. "But are you and I ordinary beings?"
He looked at Yun Che and said loudly: "The Demon Lord returned from the Northern Divine Region with great power, and at a single command, blood rained down on the Eastern Divine Region. The number of innocent people buried as a result is incalculable. What was achieved was the Demon Lord's earth-shaking reputation. Today, in this world, who does not know your name as the Northern Domain Demon Lord?"
"And I, Nan Qianqiu, with the lives of merely a few hundred Wood Spirits, achieved a more perfect Nanming Crown Prince, and in the future, a more perfect Nanming Shendi. In this, which is greater—'merit' or 'sin'?"
"If it is 'merit,' then the death of those Wood Spirits is honor. If it is 'sin'..." He looked at Yun Che with a half-smile: "Qianqiu's sin compared to the Demon Lord's—how vast is the distance between them?"
Yun Che did not speak.
Nan Qianqiu's words moved everyone present.
From what they had heard and observed, Yun Che seemed to want to use the matter of hunting Wood Spirits to oppress Nan Qianqiu. After all, once the matter of hunting Wood Spirits was made public, it would ultimately be a stain.
But Nan Qianqiu neither hid nor avoided it; instead, he advanced rather than retreated, casually defusing it. And he was facing Yun Che, who had made even the Divine Emperors' hearts tremble with fear!
The looks they gave Nan Qianqiu instantly became very different.
"Heh heh," Nanming Shendi let out a faint laugh: "Qianqiu, do not be rude. You are still very immature now. How can you compare yourself to the Demon Lord?"
Nan Qianqiu quickly bowed: "Father's lesson is well taken. Qianqiu misspoke. I hope the Demon Lord will be magnanimous."
Yun Che also revealed a meaningful faint smile: "Very good. Truly worthy of the successor chosen by Nanming Shendi. Such eloquence and sharpness are indeed extraordinary."
"The Demon Lord flatters me," Nanming Shendi said with a chuckle: "If Qianqiu could have even one-tenth of the Demon Lord's ability and demeanor, I would gladly abdicate immediately."
Dong————
A prolonged rumble came from outside. Northern Prison Abyss King lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, the time has come."
"Good!" Nanming Shendi stood up: "Raise the divine altar for my son Qianqiu!"
His eyes blazed with strange light, his face flushed, as if the shocking scene of Ember Dragon God's death had not affected him at all.
Rumble rumble rumble——
Amidst the rumbling noise, a golden tower, ten miles wide and wrapped in dense divine radiance, surged upward, instantly piercing the clouds, reaching ten thousand zhang.
At the top of the tower, a mass of golden light blotted out the sky and covered the sun, almost covering the entire Nanming Royal City.
Every corner of Nanming Royal City, and even the vast Nanming Divine Realm, could clearly see the tower shadow piercing the sky and the dazzling golden light. Countless Nanming Xuan practitioners knelt and bowed, looking up to witness this grand event concerning the future of the Nanming Divine Realm.
"Hahahaha!" Nanming Shendi laughed loudly, taking the lead as he strode out, speaking loudly: "The divine altar has risen. Distinguished guests, please accompany me to ascend the divine altar and witness the grand event of my Nanming together!"
"Heh, quite the display." Qianye Ying'er withdrew her gaze and said coldly: "I have always heard that your Nanming only raises this Nanming Divine Tower when each successive Divine Emperor ascends to the throne to proclaim themselves Emperor. Today, it is merely the enfeoffment of a Crown Prince. Is Nanming Shendi not afraid that your Crown Prince cannot bear it?"
"Heh heh, in previous generations, the enfeoffment of a Crown Prince indeed never had such a display," Nanming Shendi said with a smile: "But this king's son cannot fail to bear such an honor, hahahaha!"
These words not only displayed extreme arrogance but also showed that he was far more satisfied with and valued Nan Qianqiu as his successor than he appeared on the surface.
"Nanming Divine Tower?" Yun Che looked up and swept his gaze over it. A ten-thousand-story tower, with the top as an altar, surrounded by divine light. Its momentum was so vast and magnificent it was beyond description.
"Esteemed guests, please!"
Nanming Shendi raised his hand and was the first to float into the air, heading straight for the divine altar at the tower's top. Nan Qianqiu and the various Abyss Kings and Abyss Gods followed closely behind.
Shitian Shendi, Xuanyuan Di, and Ziwei Di exchanged glances and then also rose into the air.
What Qianye Ying'er had said was correct. The complete raising of the Nanming Divine Tower was only done when each successive Divine Emperor of Nanming ascended the throne, to worship the heavens and announce it to the world. There had never been a precedent for raising the tower and offering sacrifices to the heavens merely for a Crown Prince's enfeoffment.
They were puzzled but said nothing.
"Let's go!" Yun Che said calmly, floating upward unhurriedly.
Qianye Wugu's old eyes swept over the tower's body. After a brief silence, he sent a sound transmission to Yun Che: "Demon Lord, the aura of this tower is slightly different from what this old man knows. There may be something amiss. It would be wise to be cautious."
"..." Yun Che showed no reaction at all, acting as if he hadn't heard.
Qianye Wugu then said no more.
————
While the Nanming Divine Realm was holding the grand ceremony for the Crown Prince's enfeoffment, the Western Divine Region's Dragon God Realm was experiencing perhaps its strongest upheaval in history.
In different regions of the Dragon God Realm, the eight Dragon Gods simultaneously experienced a violent tremor in their dragon souls, and their dragon eyes erupted with terrifying divine light like the explosion of stars.
In Nanming Royal City, countless people had witnessed the brutal death of Ember Dragon God with their own eyes. This event, destined to shock the world, was also spreading at an extremely fast pace to every corner of the vast Divine Realm.
————
Stepping onto the altar at the tower's top, the entire body was bathed in golden light. These golden lights all originated from the purest Abyss God divine power, each strand containing unimaginable nobility and majesty.
At this moment, countless people in the Nanming Divine Realm were looking up to witness the birth of Nanming's future Divine Emperor, but only a handful were qualified to set foot on this altar at the tower's top.
Within Nanming, only Nanming Shendi, the Abyss Kings, and the Abyss Gods were permitted; even the many Divine Lord elders, imperial princes, and princesses were not qualified.
"Qianqiu," Nanming Shendi said: "Today's matter is not just a ceremony. From today onward, what your life bears is not only your father's expectations."
"Your son understands." Nan Qianqiu nodded, as calm as the wind, with neither joy nor sorrow, making it impossible for people not to sigh inwardly.
"Before the ceremony, go and pay respects to the ancestors. Feihong and Zhengtian, guard the two sides." "Yes." The Eastern Prison Abyss King and Northern Prison Abyss King accepted the order.
Nan Qianqiu knelt at the center of the altar, silently paying respects to the ancestors. The Eastern Prison Abyss King and Northern Prison Abyss King stood quietly behind him, but their eyes flashed with barely perceptible strange light.
Yun Che was standing at the edge of the altar, his dark eyes looking downward, seemingly unconcerned about the upcoming ceremony.
"The Dragon God Realm must be very interesting right now." Qianye Ying'er stood beside Yun Che, speaking slowly: "I am very curious to know what you plan to do next. Could it be... that you are really going to fight the Dragon God Realm head-on like this?"
"This is just the beginning." Yun Che spoke coldly, but did not answer directly.
"If I were to lean towards your personal feelings, your actions do not surprise me at all. But if I lean towards reason, I would rather you listen more to Chi Wuyo's advice." She paused briefly, squinting and smiling: "But since things have come to this, it no longer matters. The Northern Divine Region is just a tool. Having spent so long with Chi Wuyo, I have unconsciously begun to forget this point somewhat."
Yun Che: "..."
"From the vantage point of the divine altar, the entire Nanming lies beneath the palm. Demon Lord, how does this feeling seem to you?"
Nanming Shendi's voice came faintly, and then with a flash of golden shadow, Nanming Shendi was standing shoulder to shoulder with Yun Che, looking down at the Nanming below.
Yun Che did not turn his head, but said coldly: "Does Nanming Shendi have something to say?"
Nanming Shendi gave a faint smile and suddenly said: "In the Demon Lord's eyes, how many categories do all living beings in this world fall into?"
"Those who deserve to die, and those who do not deserve to die." Yun Che answered. His tone was plain to the point of being eerie.
Qianye Ying'er: "..."
"A reply like this is indeed fitting for your reputation as the Northern Domain Demon Lord." Nanming Shendi said with a smile: "Then does the Demon Lord know how many categories the people in my eyes fall into?"
"Heh," Yun Che let out a low laugh: "There are very few people in this world who can truly enter the eyes of Nanming Shendi. Do those few need to be divided into three classes and nine grades?"
"Four categories." Nanming Shendi spoke as if to himself: "People all say that although I am a Divine Emperor, I am arrogant, lustful, indulgent, wild and unrestrained, despising the world, without any imperial decorum. Little do they know that my demeanor changes depending on the person."
"First category: the weak who can be easily crushed. For such people, nominally their standing is close, but they absolutely dare not offend me. Even if I bully and oppress them, as long as it does not touch the final bottom line, they will silently endure it. In front of them, I can naturally be arrogant and unbridled, without any need for restraint or taboo."
As he said this, he swept his gaze over the three Southern Domain Divine Emperors in the distance, not even bothering to hide that they were the targets of his gaze.
"Second category: the cunning heroes. Such people have power and means no weaker than my own, and their schemes are unfathomable. In front of them, I am cautious, but I never need to restrain myself, because the other party is extremely deep, prioritizing benefits, and will not easily fall out. But at the same time, if they find sufficient opportunity, they will have no hesitation in putting me in a desperate position."
"Qianye Fantian?" Yun Che said coldly.
"Correct. In this generation, he is the only one who truly deserves these two words in my eyes." Nanming Shendi said: "Unfortunately, he fell easily into the Demon Lord's hands."
"Even in front of these two categories of people, I have never restrained my wildness. But the other two categories force me to swallow my voice and back down."
"First, the indomitable sovereign who must not be offended. In front of the Dragon Emperor, I have never dared to be presumptuous." Nanming Shendi spoke quite directly.
"Second, the madman." Nanming Shendi's lips curled slightly: "Madmen know no fear and disregard consequences. As soon as they are touched, they go completely berserk, fighting desperately at all costs, even if they burn themselves out, they will splash the other party with their own blood."
"So, no one wants to provoke madmen. And if one encounters a powerful madman, even I, this king, will choose to appease and retreat."
A gust of cold wind blew, making the surrounding space suddenly become several degrees colder and quieter.
"The madman Nanming Shendi speaks of, could it be this Demon Lord?" Yun Che asked softly.
"No, you do not belong to any of these four categories." Nanming Shendi shook his head. He slowly turned around, his eyes with a dark golden glint fixed on Yun Che: "I did indeed think your Northern Domain Demon Lord was a madman before, so when we confronted each other, I willingly took three steps back."
Yun Che also slowly turned his gaze, meeting Nanming Shendi's eyes, and asked with interest: "If not a madman, then what is it?"
Nanming Shendi squinted his eyes, a faint and seemingly very gentle smile at the corner of his lips, but his words were spoken slowly: "A mad dog."
The conversation between Yun Che and Nanming Shendi was not loud, but everyone on the altar were figures of what caliber. They heard every single word clearly.
The moment the words "mad dog" were uttered, the space above the entire altar seemed to freeze instantly. Everyone, from their gaze to their breath, and even the flow of their blood, stopped in an instant.
The three Divine Emperors, who had been looking in different directions, abruptly turned around, staring at the spot where Nanming Shendi and Yun Che stood. Deep shock was written on their faces.
Yun Che was not at all angry. Barely any emotional fluctuation even appeared on his face shrouded in faint black aura. A trace more of a smile even seemed to appear at the corner of his lips: "I wonder, what is the difference between a madman and a mad dog?"
"Simple." Nanming Shendi replied with a smile: "No matter how crazy a madman is, they still retain at least a trace of humanity and reason. There are many ways to calm and appease them."
"But a mad dog about to bite..." Nanming Shendi shook his head: "Who can stop it?"
"And so?"
"And so," Nanming Shendi's eyes narrowed into two long slits: "A madman can be appeased, but a mad dog must be... completely eradicated by any means necessary!"