Chapter 1789: The Demon Emperor's Legacy
The Nanming Imperial City had completely turned into a ruined wasteland, with not a trace of its former grandeur and majesty.
As far as the eye could see, there were countless blood, bones, and corpses. The lingering dark profound light was still devouring everything around it. From afar came the despairing screams and wails of Nanming profound practitioners fleeing in defeat, like the smoke of war enveloping the Nanming ruins, destined to linger for an unknown time before fully dissipating.
Perhaps some had once imagined that the Nanming Divine Realm, which dominated the Southern Divine Region, would one day see its decline, but no one had ever imagined it would collapse to such an extent in a single day.
Yun Che himself had not anticipated it either.
Gazing into the endless dust and smoke, Yun Che's eyes remained icy enough to pierce souls. Neither his expression nor his heart showed much pleasure or satisfaction.
After all, no matter how thorough and brutal the revenge, it could not reclaim what was lost, nor could it erase the self-loathing for his own naive incompetence back then.
A black flash flickered, and Qianye Ying'er returned to Yun Che's side. His gaze, however, remained fixed on Cai Zhi in the distance, who stood proudly in the air, stepping on the Dragon Emperor.
"The Primordial Dragon Clan, which has always been aloof from worldly affairs, today not only broke out of their realm but also willingly turned into blood-stained sinful dragons. Why not speak directly about what you seek?" Qianye Ying'er said. "Given your help today, our Demon Lord will not be stingy with any request."
The Primordial Dragon Emperor raised his head, his imperial voice carrying the majesty of ancient times: "All our actions today are carried out in obedience to our master's command."
These words were not a response to Qianye Ying'er. His dignified dragon eyes locked onto Yun Che: "O Demon Lord who brings calamity to the world, we have aided a tyrant today, and there is no turning back. But we still hope that, no matter what the future holds, you will treat the innocent mortals with kindness."
The four words "aided a tyrant" spoken by the Primordial Dragon Emperor made it clear that whether it was stepping out of the Tai Chu Divine Realm or slaughtering and staining themselves with blood, it was not their true will, but an order from their master that they could not disobey.
All eyes fell on Cai Zhi. Not to mention others, even the three Divine Emperors—Shitian, Xuanyuan, and Ziwei—felt their hearts tremble violently. They could not fathom how the demonized Celestial Wolf Star God had managed to subdue the immensely powerful Primordial Dragon Clan to such an extent!
Cai Zhi raised her hand, and a faint red light flickered at the tip of the Celestial Wolf Demonic Sword. That strange alternate space appeared once more.
Instantly, a storm arose, dragon shadows danced, and the Primordial Dragons flew back into the alternate space one by one. Within a few breaths, including the Primordial Dragon Emperor himself, there was no trace of the Primordial Dragons left in the heavens and earth. Even their aura rapidly dissipated completely.
The immense pressure vanished, and everyone felt as if a million mountains had been lifted from their shoulders, letting out a long sigh of relief. Qianye Ying'er looked at Cai Zhi and said in a low voice, "So, you cracked the Phantom Mystery Cosmic Array early, had someone waiting at another formation eye in advance, and killed Nan Wansheng?"
The Celestial Wolf Demonic Sword was sheathed, and Cai Zhi turned her cold eyes without a word, vanishing into the distance in an instant.
"Cai Zhi!" Yun Che's eyes trembled, and his body moved almost before his will, chasing after her at maximum speed.
Shitian, Xuanyuan, and Ziwei remained standing still... Three Divine Emperors, for the first time, were completely ignored. Their expressions varied, but none attempted to flee.
Without Yun Che's command, the Three Yan Ancestors did not strike, but their auras were firmly locked onto the three Divine Emperors.
Feeling Yun Che's approaching aura, Cai Zhi did not slow down but instead accelerated even more, trying desperately to escape.
"Cai Zhi!"
Yun Che's heart tightened. He activated "Yan Emperor" instantly, his speed surging.
Although Cai Zhi's progress over the years had been astonishing, her speed was ultimately no match for Yun Che at his limit. A flash of black light passed, and her small hand was firmly grasped by Yun Che. Then, with a twist of his body, he pulled her delicate, soft form tightly against his chest.
"...Let go!" Her body was firmly locked in Yun Che's arms, warm and domineering, but Cai Zhi's black eyes remained cold and indifferent. She struggled violently but could not break free.
"No!" Yun Che closed his eyes lightly, his chin touching her black hair that now reached her hips. His arms held her with care and determination. This time, he would never let the girl in his arms go again.
Cai Zhi frowned slightly, a black gleam flashing in her eyes as the Celestial Wolf Force erupted violently.
*Boom—*
The Celestial Wolf Force was domineering to begin with, and Cai Zhi's current level was unfathomable. Under this force capable of shattering the heavens, the surrounding space shattered completely. Yun Che's chest caved in deeply, and his arms emitted harsh sounds of bones misaligning... Yet he still held tightly to her slender waist, unwilling to loosen even a fraction.
"You!" For the first time, a flicker of panic appeared in her starry eyes, and the power and aura she had just summoned dissipated in confusion.
Pain wracked his entire body, and his arms felt as if they were breaking. Yet a smile appeared on Yun Che's lips, and his voice carried a tenderness he had long lost: "Cai Zhi, no matter what, I won't let you run away again this time."
"Let go," she repeated the same words, but her struggles became less forceful. Biting her teeth lightly, her eyes regained their cold resolve: "Yun Che, you came back from the Abyss to stand here—do you know better than anyone what you endured? If you don't want to fall back into the Abyss, then..."
"Because you are a lone star of calamity?" Yun Che smiled.
"...!" Her breath caught. Cai Zhi murmured, "Mother, aunt, sister... and you. Everyone close to me, everyone kind to me, comes to no good end. Since you know... let go!"
"Why should I let go?" Yun Che said with a smile. "Now I am the most evil lone star of calamity in this world. If you are truly a lone star of calamity, then you are destined to be my very own lone star."
Cai Zhi: "..."
"Never forget, you are my wife, my last family in this world. We bowed to heaven and earth, bowed to our ancestors, with Mo Li as our witness, and exchanged tokens... Our bond as husband and wife—you can't escape it in this lifetime."
"And do you truly want to escape?" Yun Che's arms tightened again, and his lips gently pressed against her neck, making the girl's body tremble slightly. "If you truly wanted to cut ties, why would you have come to the Southern Divine Region so early, for my sake?"
"Don't... flatter yourself." The warm breath on her snow-white neck sent a wave of numbness through her, making her feel limp and powerless. She gradually no longer wanted to struggle, but this reluctance made her even more flustered. Her jade teeth clenched again, and she said forcefully, "Yun Che, I will do everything I can to help you take revenge—and to take revenge for myself. But back in the Tai Chu Divine Realm, I told you I would not stay by your side. You don't need to keep trying..."
"Oh my!" A coquettish voice rang out at an inopportune moment. Qianye Ying'er appeared gracefully, half-closing her eyes and saying, "If it's because of me, then from now on, whenever you show up, I'll just stay far away."
Cai Zhi's gaze turned icy. She jerked her body, but still couldn't escape Yun Che's embrace.
"Qianye—" Cai Zhi's voice was extremely cold: "I've held back and not made a move against you only because you're somewhat useful to him. You'd better... not try to provoke me again!"
"With your terrifying Celestial Wolf power that can command the Primordial Dragon Clan, taking my life would naturally be child's play." Qianye Ying'er, however, walked closer step by step, her golden eyes meeting Cai Zhi's without backing down: "But for such a terrifying figure to actually believe in the 'lone star of calamity' nonsense! In the end, you're still just a little girl who hasn't fully grown up, often lost in her own fantasies."
"Courting—DEATH!" Cai Zhi's killing intent erupted.
But Qianye Ying'er turned around and said lazily, "Little Celestial Wolf, if you don't even dare to temporarily coexist with your enemy, then what right do you have to seek revenge against me? Moreover..."
Her tone shifted slightly: "When Yun Che came to Nanming this time, he didn't allow Chi Wuyue to accompany him, nor did he inform me. I sneaked along. The reason—you should have seen it clearly enough."
Cai Zhi's killing intent froze.
"Chi Wuyue plans before acting. He doesn't," Qianye Ying'er continued, whether speaking to Cai Zhi or Yun Che. "Whether the Evil God's power could withstand the might of the Abyss God Cannon—he certainly didn't have absolute confidence. And the consequences of failure—even with those three old Yan Ancestors there—would have been a slim chance of survival."
"Even if he succeeded in severely damaging Nanming with the Abyss God Cannon, given Nanming's foundation and the presence of the three Southern Divine Region Divine Emperors, plus the long-hidden Nan Guizhong, today's outcome would still be uncertain."
"His every step in this Nanming expedition was a gamble." Qianye Ying'er kept her back turned, as if not wanting Yun Che to see her expression: "Back in the Northern Divine Region, he was filled with hatred, and beneath that hatred was a death wish... Almost everything he did told me that after taking revenge, he would choose to end his own life."
"Later, that death wish was finally erased. But now, as you can see, when truly facing those he hates to the bone, he can still gamble with his life without hesitation."
"Enough," Yun Che said. "Perfect plans never exist in this world. Against an existence like the Nanming Divine Realm, catching them off guard is far superior to plotting meticulously. I had my own confidence and measure."
"No one asked you to speak." Qianye Ying'er turned back, glaring fiercely at Yun Che, then looked at Cai Zhi and said, "Little Celestial Wolf, you see—Chi Wuyue and I can't control him at all. But if you were by his side, he might behave a little more. After all..."
Qianye Ying'er turned away again: "You two are husband and wife—having bowed to heaven and earth, bowed to ancestors, with Mo Li as witness, and exchanged tokens!"
With a faint, almost imperceptible snort, Qianye Ying'er lightly leaped away and quickly disappeared.
"Cai Zhi, don't take her words too seriously," Yun Che said. "I value my life now. But against an opponent like Nanming, there's no such thing as a risk-free strategy. I did gamble, and I did have a great deal of confidence."
"...!" A long silence followed. Cai Zhi gently placed her hand on Yun Che's chest and finally slowly moved away from his embrace.
"Fine, I'll stay," she said in a low voice, as if some words from Yun Che or Qianye Ying'er had touched her. "I can also temporarily tolerate Qianye's presence."
She suddenly lifted her head, her eyes as deep as the endless night looking at him: "Revenge is everything to you, and everything to me. For our shared goal, I can accept everything else."
Yun Che gently shook his head: "Revenge is something I must do, but it is not everything to me. Everything to me includes you."
"Hmph!" Such a heart-stirring remark was met with a cold snort from Cai Zhi: "I am no longer the Cai Zhi of the past. I am a Celestial Wolf filled with hatred and fallen into demonhood. Those words—you should have said them to my sister back then!"
"..." Yun Che was startled. His voice softened and he said gently, "It is precisely because I know how painful and hateful loss is that I will never allow myself to lose you again."
As he spoke, he tightened his grip on Cai Zhi's small hand once more, holding it very, very firmly, as if afraid she would turn and leave.
A flicker of starlight trembled in Cai Zhi's eyes for an instant.
*Is he afraid of losing me because of my sister's entrustment... or does he truly see me as his wife...*
"Let's go."
Yun Che pulled her up into the air, flying back the way they came. Over at Nanming Imperial City, there were still too many matters to resolve.
"Aren't you going to ask me about the Primordial Dragon Clan?" Cai Zhi said.
Yun Che smiled faintly: "I recognize that power—it's the Cosmic Thorn. The Calamity Heaven Demon Emperor did indeed find you back then, and she must have spent a considerable amount of time with you."
The red light at the tip of the Celestial Wolf Demonic Sword had flared open a bizarre alternate space, releasing the Primordial Dragon Clan that had dwelt in the Tai Chu Divine Realm since ancient times. That piercing red light and the strange space defying common worldly logic were unmistakably the power of the Cosmic Thorn.
And Cai Zhi's extremely high degree of demonization and power advancement over these short few years—the most reasonable, or rather the only explanation—was the intervention of the Calamity Heaven Demon Emperor.
"Correct." Cai Zhi looked ahead, her small hand seemingly having forgotten to pull free from Yun Che's grasp: "After the Calamity Heaven Demon Emperor returned to the world, she found me very early in the Tai Chu Divine Realm. Because at that time, my power had mutated due to your death and my sister's demonization. As a Demon Emperor, it was far too easy for her to sense my mutated power."
"But at that time, she only glanced at me from afar and paid no heed. It wasn't until... one day she suddenly appeared before me and told me she had decided to leave the mortal world and return beyond the Chaos."
"..." Yun Che said nothing, letting her continue. That time should have been when he was on Lan Ji Star.
"She said she believed your words, and was even more willing to believe and follow the Evil God's choice and wishes. But... she could not believe in human nature."
"So, before leaving, she wanted to leave behind some hidden moves for you, in case you fell into possible utter ruin. And I was one of them."
Cai Zhi's eyes grew darker. The Calamity Heaven Demon Emperor's concerns had been fully realized... and on the very first moment she left the Chaos.
"She branded the entire Primordial Dragon Clan with a demon seal and implanted a special demon source in my body. If the day she feared ever came, I would release the demon source, allowing my Celestial Wolf Force to accelerate its demonization and fusion, while also gaining the ability to command the Primordial Dragon Clan at will."
"After that, she engraved a small fraction of the Cosmic Thorn's spatial power onto my sword, allowing me to easily carry the Primordial Dragon Clan by my side."
Cai Zhi summoned the demonized Celestial Wolf Holy Sword, and a faint red light appeared on the wolf's head at the tip.
Since the power of the Cosmic Thorn in the Calamity Heaven Demon Emperor's hands was already minimal, the power engraved on the Celestial Wolf Holy Sword was naturally extremely faint, but it should be enough to last for a very long time.
"Indeed... it was her again." Yun Che murmured softly, feeling an endless melancholy in his heart.
He clearly remembered how seriously the Calamity Heaven Demon Emperor had told him that before leaving the Chaos, she would not take action to eliminate any enemies or threats for him. Whatever happened in the future, he had to face it with his own strength, so as not to betray the Evil God's recognition and the dignity of the Evil God's power.
She indeed did not openly eliminate the possible crises for him, but in the shadows, she had left him many, many things...
Perhaps even more.
Like an elder who appeared strict on the surface but was secretly burdened with too many cares.
"Are all women so duplicitous?" Yun Che muttered to himself, and as he spoke, the figure of Xia Qingyue inexplicably flashed through his mind.
But only for an instant, before he ruthlessly erased it.
Because that figure, that name—they no longer had the right to even appear in his memories.
"Duplicitous?" Cai Zhi glanced at him, seeming puzzled. She put away the Celestial Wolf Holy Sword and said, "She was a Demon Emperor, yet far less terrifying and heartless than imagined or shown on the surface. On the contrary... it seems that her bond with the Evil God was indeed deep. Otherwise, she wouldn't have treated you so well just because you carried his power."
"Yeah." Yun Che nodded. However, he understood well in his heart that compared to himself, the Calamity Heaven Demon Emperor cared more and wanted to protect Hong'er and You'er.