Chapter 1805: Western Domain's Heart Shattered
In the projection, the powerful and mysterious Crimson Destruction Dragon God appeared. He was repeatedly driven back by the Northern Domain Demon Empress, constantly shrieking and roaring, then revealing his true form.
The enormous crimson dragon let out soul-shaking roars while launching frenzied attacks, like a mad dragon that had lost its mind... Then it was pierced through the heart and body by Chi Wuyue, spraying a shocking rain of dragon blood across the sky.
On the other side, the Plain Heart Dragon God also achieved nothing under the attacks of the two demon maidens, and was finally disfigured by a black blade. In the end, she forcefully dragged the Crimson Destruction Dragon God and a long trail of blood as she fled in humiliation.
No matter how ingenious and reasonable the rumors were, they were far less credible and shocking than the projection. This projection spread rapidly from the Eastern Divine Region to the entire Divine Realm, stirring up towering waves in the already turbulent Three Divine Regions.
The revelation of the truth back then dealt a blow to faith; the successive defeats of the Eastern Divine Region and Southern Divine Region impacted their will; and this projection was undoubtedly a fatal strike to the confidence of every star realm and every Xuan practitioner in the Divine Realm.
Especially the Western Divine Region!
What kind of existence were the Nine Dragon Gods in the Divine Realm?
They were the arms of the Dragon God Emperor, the backbone of the Dragon God Realm. Their transcendent status in the Divine Realm allowed them to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Divine Emperors of the various king realms.
When the Ash Dragon God was cruelly slain in the Nanming Divine Realm, the first reaction of the people was shock, and the second was to await the inevitable eruption of fury from the Dragon God Realm—but there was definitely no disappointment or low regard for the Ash Dragon God.
Because according to reports, Yun Che was accompanied at that time by a group of the most powerful demon cultivators from the Northern Domain. No matter how strong Ash was, facing a coordinated siege from the core forces of the Northern Domain, it would certainly be difficult for him to hold on.
But the Crimson Destruction Dragon God... In the projection, he fought one-on-one with the Demon Empress, with no outside interference, yet he was utterly tormented at her hands, ultimately suffering a piercing wound, and was dragged away by the Plain Heart Dragon God.
And the Plain Heart Dragon God was also suppressed to the point of having no power to fight back by two demon maidens whose renown was lower than hers, and was finally disgraced with a scarred face.
The First Dragon God was not only defeated by the Demon Empress's hand, but also lost all his dignity and bearing. What brought the deepest impact was the torrential rain of dragon blood spilling from him.
The Eastern Divine Region trembled, the Southern Divine Region quaked, and even the Northern Domain demon cultivators who were migrating south—upon suddenly seeing the high-altitude projection, their knees, which had only just stopped trembling from kneeling before their Demon Lord, immediately dropped to the ground once more.
As for the Western Divine Region, it fell into a terrifying silence.
As the strongest Divine Region in the Divine Realm, the Western Divine Region, led by the Dragon God Realm, was without a doubt the most calm in the face of the Northern Domain's demonic calamity. Even though the Eastern Divine Region had been swept through and the Southern Divine Region had undergone a sudden overnight transformation, they still firmly believed that the Dragon God Realm was a chasm that the demon race could never cross.
Because the Dragon God Realm was simply too powerful. Even the Nine Dragon Gods alone were almost comparable to the nine Divine Emperors.
And the one at the head, the Crimson Destruction Dragon God, in the hearts of those high-ranking individuals who inherited the memories of their ancestors, was a terrifying existence surpassing all Divine Emperors, second only to the Dragon God Emperor.
But this belief, which was also their strongest conviction in facing the Northern Domain's demon race, was cruelly shattered today in the clearest, most direct, and most unquestionable way.
At the Dragon God Sacred Hall, when the news arrived, the faces of all the Dragon Gods turned extremely heavy.
The Crimson Destruction Dragon God, who was still in a state of mental disturbance with demonic souls entangled and an unsettled mind, immediately saw darkness before his eyes, coughed up three mouthfuls of blood, and nearly fainted.
When the replicated image was transmitted, all the Dragon Gods except the Plain Heart Dragon God felt their blood rush madly to their heads, their faces sometimes red as blood, sometimes black as the bottom of a pot.
A Dragon God could die, could be defeated, but how could he be so humiliated, so pathetic, so utterly shameful...
As the people who knew the Crimson Destruction Dragon God best, they simply couldn't believe that the mad dragon in the projection was actually the Crimson Destruction Dragon God!
He had not only lost his own face and prestige but also delivered countless shameful slaps to the faces of all the Dragon Gods.
At this point, which Dragon God didn't understand that this was a chain trap set for their Dragon God clan by Chi Wuyue?
Luring their attention northward was only the first link. When they realized that the one lured away was the Crimson Destruction Dragon God, the second link emerged. Now, the most cruel third link... The unprecedented sense of humiliation was, for the Dragon Gods, no less than having a torrent of manure poured over their heads!
They had fallen for all three links, and fallen solidly. The consequence was a massive thunderbolt thrown into the already turbulent Divine Realm.
"Despicable... demon woman... I will... kill you!" The Crimson Destruction Dragon God's eyes were like crimson abysses, his dragon teeth half-crushed, and every word was steeped in hatred.
Twenty thousand years of pride and prestige, destroyed in a single day.
"Don't take it to heart." The Azure Dragon God forced down the convulsions in his heart and comforted him in the calmest voice: "This move will indeed severely wound the hearts of the Western Domain, but it will not affect our Dragon God Realm. As for today's grievance, in two months, eldest brother, you can recoup it ten thousand times over."
He consoled him like this.
But was this really without any impact on the Dragon God Realm?
At least, the Azure Dragon God, who appeared solemn and calm, speaking in a low voice to comfort the Crimson Destruction Dragon God, even setting aside the heavy sense of humiliation, found his own mind already in turmoil.
The Ash Dragon God had died miserably, only managing to send back a single soul-voice before his death.
The Crimson Destruction Dragon God had been defeated and fled in disgrace. Though it was a scheme by the Demon Empress, a defeat was still a defeat. What determined victory or defeat, even honor or disgrace, had never been just power.
The Eastern Divine Region and Southern Divine Region had been successively covered by darkness. The Dragon God Realm had not yet formally engaged in great battle with the demon race, but a heavy shadow had inevitably been planted in their hearts and souls.
The demon race led by Yun Che was far more terrifying than initially anticipated... and they kept exceeding the highest expectations time and time again.
Now, even without the order transmitted from the Tai Chu Divine Realm by the Dragon God Emperor, the Dragon Gods probably wouldn't dare to act rashly anymore.
Only when the Dragon God Emperor returned, with his imperial authority present, could everything be pacified!
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Western Divine Region, Qilin Realm.
As the first king realm of the Western Divine Region under the Dragon God Realm, the Qilin Realm had an unusually large number of visitors today. They all came with their auras completely concealed, and left quietly without staying long.
"Sigh." Standing atop a high tower, gazing at the vast white distant sky, the Qilin Emperor let out a soft sigh, then turned around: "You're here."
The chill air condensed slightly, mist slowly dispersed, and out walked a tall and graceful woman in blue robes.
"Qilin Emperor, I've come to disturb you again." The Azure Dragon Emperor said.
"I've been waiting for you for a while." The Qilin Emperor's expression was gentle. He wanted to show a warm, light smile as before, but his mouth kept twitching, and he couldn't manage a smile.
"This aura..." The Azure Dragon Emperor stepped forward: "The Ten Directions Divine Emperor has been here?"
"They've all been here." The Qilin Emperor said.
"..." The Azure Dragon Emperor was silent for a moment, but didn't show surprise.
"Between heaven and earth, across all domains and realms, the Dragon God Emperor is supreme, and the Crimson Destruction Dragon God is second. With twin dragons soaring the skies, there is no chaos under heaven that cannot be pacified."
The Qilin Emperor let out a long sigh: "I never doubted this—until yesterday."
The Azure Dragon Emperor said: "So even you were so shaken. However, according to news from the Dragon God Realm, the Crimson Destruction Dragon God was tricked by the Demon Empress, and his state in the projection was indeed extremely abnormal."
The Qilin Emperor, however, shook his head: "A defeat is a defeat. Not only was he defeated, but he also lost all face, extremely humiliated. Moreover, in memory, the higher-ranking dragon race never made excuses for their failures. That such news came out of the Dragon God Realm instead shows that even the Dragon Gods' hearts are no longer stable."
"Yes." As a member of the higher-ranking dragon race, the Azure Dragon Emperor agreed.
"Qilin Emperor, the reason I have come this time is to ask about something." Pausing for a moment, the Azure Dragon Emperor said more directly: "To put it another way, I hope to gain your approval."
"Heh heh," Before she could ask, the Qilin Emperor had already let out a faint laugh, and directly said: "Azure Dragon Emperor, do not feel ashamed of the thoughts in your heart right now. On the contrary, that is the awareness you most need."
The Azure Dragon Emperor's lips moved slightly: "..."
"If you were an ordinary Xuan practitioner, any decision you made could be based solely on passion. But you are the Azure Dragon Emperor, the ruler of a king realm, bearing the burden of a vast king realm that has been passed down for hundreds of thousands of years. You have no right to act impulsively, not even the right to be selfish. All your decisions should prioritize the survival and continuation of the Azure Dragon Realm."
"I am the same."
This answer caused the Azure Dragon Emperor's brow to relax slightly. She asked lightly: "You mean..."
"When the Dragon God Emperor returns to the realm, we cannot disobey his commands. Even if not for the Dragon God Realm, as a king realm of the Western Divine Region, we should fight for the Western Divine Region." The Qilin Emperor shifted his tone slightly, then continued: "But, the possibility of 'the Dragon God Realm being defeated' is something we must now consider and prepare for."
The one-day collapse of the powerful Nanming Divine Realm;
The submission without resistance of the three king realms of the Southern Region;
The ambitious Qianye Fantian, who nonetheless staked everything, leaving the Fan Di God Realm to Qianye Ying'er, who sided with Yun Che, and the two returning Fan Ancestors also chose to stand with the demon race;
The Primordial Dragon Clan, who never interacted with the Divine Realm, went so far as to break through realms to help the demon race;
What did these shocking choices see in Yun Che?
Add to that the brutal death of the Ash Dragon God and the humiliating defeat of the Crimson Destruction Dragon God...
Putting it all together, even the people who best understood and most believed in the Dragon God Realm would begin to waver quite drastically.
"Release some force, leave some room for retreat, judge for yourself." The Qilin Emperor closed his eyes: "But, no matter what you choose, there is no right or wrong."
The Azure Dragon Emperor slowly nodded: "This trip was not in vain. With your words, half the weight in my heart has been lifted."
"Everywhere is fraught with tension. I won't stay long. Farewell." The Azure Dragon Emperor turned around, her aura fading, and was about to leave.
"Especially you." The Qilin Emperor suddenly spoke again: "In recent years, the divine light in your eyes has always been especially heavy. Is that heaviness because of Yun Che?"
Her body stiffened, and the Azure Dragon Emperor said lightly: "My Azure Dragon clan takes water as our essence and ice as our heart. We must avenge grievances and repay kindness. Only Yun Che... is the hurdle in my heart that I cannot cross these years."
The Qilin Emperor laughed, this time especially warmly: "After so many years as emperor, this side of you is exactly the same as when you were young—never changed. Good... very good."
Gently nodding, the Azure Dragon Emperor left silently.
The violent shaking of confidence in the Dragon God Realm manifested most directly in the other five king realms of the Western Divine Region being forced to confront the possibility of "the Dragon God Realm being defeated."
This was precisely the outcome Chi Wuyue most desired.