Chapter 1788: Finale
The Snow Princess Sword was put away. Mu Xuanyin's jade fingers lightly brushed, and the personal space of Nan Wansheng, which had already lost its power source, immediately shattered and collapsed, scattering a large area of strange profound light.
As the possessions carried by Nanming Shendi, even the most inconspicuous among them were extraordinary treasures that ordinary people could not hope to obtain in ten thousand lifetimes. When these divine artifacts appeared, the light and aura of the entire planet underwent a drastic change. Then the earth began to tremble violently, as if it could no longer bear the powerful aura released by these Emperor Divine treasures.
Mu Xuanyin's gaze fell upon a golden light hovering in midair. This golden light was not dazzling, but it was extremely clear and pure, and it was clearly a soul light separated from the soul origin. When separated, it would cause trauma to the soul's origin.
An object that Nanming Shendi would protect at such a cost—without a doubt, it could only be the lifeline of the Nanming lineage… the inheritance vessel of Nanming's divine power!
Mu Xuanyin slowly reached out, directly freezing and sealing Nan Wansheng's head and the Nanming divine source vessel within a blue light. Then her figure blurred and silently vanished.
Until even the last trace of cold air disappeared completely, leaving no sign that she had ever been there.
—————
At the cost of burning his life, he sent the severely injured Nan Wansheng away. Nan Guizhong seemed to have no more attachments. His aura completely converged, his old eyes closed, and he did not look down at the royal city that had been reduced to a dark hell below.
Half a lifetime as an emperor, and before his fall, he had left behind the last hope for Nanming. He considered himself blameless toward Nanming and his ancestors. Whatever the future of Nanming would be, it was up to heaven's will.
Watching Nan Wansheng escape, the two Nanming Gods fighting against the Yan Ancestors, as well as the elders, Ming Guards, and profound practitioners fighting desperately below, were all greatly revitalized in spirit. To them, this was undoubtedly a light of hope shining in the darkness, and endless hope at that. Even their nearly shattered faith was reborn.
"Nanming is eternal and indestructible… Even if we die, our power… will be reborn under the king's command!" the severely wounded Nanming God roared with all his strength.
"The day the king returns is the day you demons perish!"
The other Nanming God, both arms severed, shouted with blood in his voice, each word stirring the souls of all Nanming profound practitioners. The resistance that had been weakening suddenly doubled, and everyone fought with their lives.
Yes, hope. To Nanming at this moment, there was nothing more precious than this.
However, this preciousness lasted only a few brief breaths.
Crack…
A sharp, piercing breaking sound rang in the soul seas of Nan Guizhong and the two Nanming Gods, chilling their hot blood in an instant.
The soul crystal shattered. Nan Wansheng… was dead.
Nan Guizhong's closed eyes snapped open, but his gaze was murky, so dark that his pupils were almost invisible.
The two Nanming Gods also froze in midair, trembling in the cold, as if falling into the deepest, darkest ice prison.
Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu landed before Nan Guizhong, looking at him with puzzled expressions as his expression suddenly changed drastically.
Nan Guizhong slowly raised his head, his aged face filled with the ultimate despair.
His trembling fingers pointed to Yun Che above in the sky, and from his mouth came a hoarse murmur: "You… actually…"
"Ha… haha…" Nan Guizhong suddenly laughed, a laugh especially desolate: "My Nanming's strongest power was countered by you, and the last retreat was already in your calculations… Demon Lord of the Northern Domain… you… are… ruthless… enough…"
Yun Che: "…?"
"Oh?" A flicker of surprise passed over Qianye Ying'er's face. Her gaze swept over Nan Guizhong and the two Nanming Gods, and she muttered softly: "Could it be… Nan Wansheng is dead!?"
Someone intercepted the Huanming Xuanji Formation?
She suddenly turned her head and glanced at Cai Zhi, who had been unmoved by Nan Wansheng's escape.
"Since it has come to this, be released." Qianye Bingzhu extended his hand toward Nan Guizhong.
"No need to trouble yourself," Nan Guizhong said calmly. His old eyes looked downward. In his view, the royal city was stained with blood, and the former prosperity and glory were turning into destruction and ashes. Perhaps at this moment, he would rather have truly returned in the past, so that at least in his memories, the Nanming King Realm would always be so towering and proud.
"Flee," his voice was heavy and long, like a rusty ancient bell: "The world no longer has a Nanming. Your wills no longer belong to Nanming… Flee… Flee… At least save your own lives."
As his words fell, he raised his hand, gathered the last of his Nanming divine light into his palm, and heavily struck it against his own crown.
Boom—————
A dull roar echoed in the depths of the souls of all Nanming profound practitioners.
The last trace of turbid light disappeared from Nan Guizhong's pupils. His body slowly collapsed… and with it, the newborn faith of all Nanming profound practitioners.
Nothing is more hopeless than hope followed by despair.
Nan Guizhong's final words undoubtedly told them that the recently escaped Nan Wansheng—the last hope for Nanming's survival—had perished in an instant.
Fighting spirit, faith, and will completely collapsed. When the former Divine Emperor personally proclaimed Nanming's demise, they no longer had any belonging, no longer had any reason to resist.
"Nan… ming… is… destroyed. Why… keep… the… Ming… Gods…"
The two Nanming Gods uttered the same murmur. Their eyes met, but no spark of light collided—only empty darkness.
Boom!!
Two unusually brilliant golden lights exploded in the air. Their last Nanming God power burst upon themselves, turning into divine radiance for their own funerals… Perhaps this was the last dignity they could display under complete despair.
The last Nanming God was only Nan Qianqiu, held in Yan Yi's hand, his head hanging down, limbs drooping, unable even to seek death.
Both emperors had died. The Nanming Gods who had fought to the end had also chosen self-immolation… The blood-soaked Nanming profound practitioners, even the elders and Ming Guards of high status, had their last shred of faith completely shattered. There was nothing left to support them.
Stunned, wailing, despair… The already greatly disadvantaged Nanming profound practitioners collapsed again and again. They no longer had the will to fight and began to flee with all their might, because now, the only thing they could protect was their own lives.
The blood-stained Primordial Dragon—every flap of its dragon wings buried countless Nanming profound practitioners. The Yanmo and Yan Ghosts, filled with hatred for the southern domain's profound practitioners and the pleasure of slaughter, attacked without the slightest mercy. A mere few dozen of them tore open one deathly hell after another across this land of destruction.
The Nanming royal city in sight had become a true blood hell. In their ears was the boundless despairing wails. Yan Tianxiao looked down from above. As an invader, there was not a trace of pity or guilt in his black pupils, only endless pleasure… Their hatred for the profound practitioners of the three domains had long been etched into their bones, passed down for nearly a million years.
"Indeed, that seemingly clever escape formation was also under the Demon Lord's control," Yan Tianxiao said with a hint of sneer on his lips, but inwardly, his reverence for Yun Che had grown beyond measure. He flashed to Yun Che's side, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head: "Demon Lord, although there are many remnants of Nanming, they no longer have the will to fight and are fleeing in all directions. Should we hunt them down and show no mercy?"
With the flight of the Nanming profound practitioners, the Primordial Dragon Clan's offensive clearly slowed. Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu stood silently before Nan Guizhong's corpse, no longer attacking.
"I said that the Nanming lineage must be wiped out to the last blade of grass!" Yun Che's voice was icy. "However, with the mere few people you brought, it is nothing but foolishness to think you can exterminate them all."
To conceal their tracks, Yan Tianxiao had only brought the Yanmo and Yan Ghosts. Although each possessed extremely terrifying Divine Lord-level power, their numbers were too few to completely eradicate the Nanming lineage. That was indeed a fool's dream.
"The Demon Lord's meaning?" Yan Tianxiao sought instructions.
"Pursue them to Nanming's borders. As for what comes after…" A chilling glint flashed in Yun Che's eyes. "Someone else will handle it."
—————
Eastern Divine Region, Zhou Tian Realm.
Since Yun Che departed for the Southern Divine Region, although Chi Wuyue had never shown any worry, she had been somewhat unsettled these past few days.
When Yun Che was by her side, no matter how outrageous the things he did, she could cover for him. But now, with the Eastern and Southern regions separated, her reach was too short, and she could never be completely at ease.
Her only comforts were Mu Xuanyin hidden in the Southern Divine Region, and Qianye Ying'er, who had secretly followed with the two Brahma Ancestors and Gu Zhu.
A fragrant breeze brushed by. A colorful figure appeared before Chi Wuyue like a phantom light. Hua Jin knelt on the ground and spoke with a slightly hurried voice: "Master, regarding the Southern region…"
"What happened?" Chi Wuyue stood up abruptly. For Hua Jin to show even a hint of panic meant it was no small matter.
Hua Jin steadied her breath and said: "The Demon Lord, at Nanming's Crown Prince Enthronement Ceremony, tortured and killed Ash Dragon God, one of the nine Dragon Gods of the Dragon God Clan."
Just one sentence—absolutely earth-shattering. Especially, Hua Jin emphasized the word "tortured."
"…" Chi Wuyue furrowed her brows slightly but did not speak.
Hua Jin continued: "This news is spreading very quickly. Clearly, Nanming is actively fueling it. It won't be long before everyone knows."
"The Dragon Gods must have mutual resonance. With Ash Dragon God dead, the other eight Dragon Gods will know immediately. Now is definitely not the time to provoke the Dragon God Realm…" Chi Wuyue murmured. "Why did he do this?"
Suddenly, her brows rose slightly, and she whispered: "Could it be… he is using this to intimidate Nanming into fear, forcing them to use the Nanming God Cannon!?"
"Nanming God Cannon? That is?" Hua Jin looked up and asked subconsciously.
"If that is truly the case… then I have ultimately underestimated his madness for revenge." Chi Wuyue closed her eyes gently, let out a faint sigh, and muttered absentmindedly: "I thought that after what happened with Ying'er, he would at least…"
Hua Jin listened with partial understanding and asked: "Master, the Dragon God Realm will surely be enraged. Even without the Dragon Emperor's command, they cannot remain silent any longer. What should be done next? Please give your orders."
After a short silence, Chi Wuyue opened her eyes, her black pupils as deep as the dark sea: "Send orders to Tian Muyi and Tian Guhu. Have them immediately mobilize at least fifty star realms stationed in the western territories of the Eastern Domain. Abandon their posts and, led by their respective Realm Kings, move north immediately and return to the Northern Divine Region. The faster the speed, the greater the momentum!"
Now, she had to do everything possible to divert the attention of the Dragon God Domain and buy as much time and opportunity to respond as possible.
"Yes!" Although shocked inside, Hua Jin did not ask further and was about to leave.
"Wait!" Chi Wuyue suddenly thought of something and raised her arm, freezing it in midair.
"The order remains unchanged, but have Tian Muyi and Tian Guhu delay the action." Chi Wuyue spoke slowly, as if talking to Hua Jin or to herself: "Wait a few more hours. Something unexpected might happen in the Southern Divine Region."
"There is also another possibility…" she murmured softly: "When a Dragon God dies, the Dragon Emperor might also sense it."
If so, the Dragon Emperor, who had been "lured away," would immediately return to the Dragon God Realm!