Chapter 1809: Meiyin and Yingyue
With Yun Che's consent, He Ling's emotions immediately calmed down a great deal.
A soothing emerald glimmer flickered softly, and He Ling's slender figure materialized before Yun Che. She held her hands cupped together, and in her palm, a ball of especially dense and mysterious white light revolved slowly.
"The Zhou Tian Pearl?" Yun Che's gaze shifted. "Has it undergone some change?"
Unlike the Heavenly Poison Pearl, although Yun Che was the master of the Zhou Tian Pearl, his ownership was a special kind of indirect mastery.
The true master and controller of the Zhou Tian Pearl was He Ling. However, because He Ling was subordinate to Yun Che and shared a symbiotic existence with him, Yun Che could also be considered the Zhou Tian Pearl's master, able to use and command it simply, but he could not sense the Zhou Tian Pearl's changes in real time.
He Ling spoke slowly, "During this time, I've been working hard to gather and fuse the residual power that the Zhou Tian Pearl has been recovering. Although many years have passed since it last opened the Zhou Tian Divine Realm, due to the severe overexertion from that time, and possibly because its recovery is naturally this slow in the current chaotic environment, gathering all its power now yields only a very small cluster."
"However, it's still enough to briefly open the Zhou Tian Divine Realm once."
Yun Che showed surprise, and then a warmth of emotion rose in his heart.
The wood spirit maiden connected to him by life and soul was always silently accompanying him, silently giving for him.
Gathering the residual power of the Zhou Tian Divine Realm—though it sounded simple—actually required an immeasurable amount of energy and soul strength. After all, it had only been a few months since they forcefully seized the Zhou Tian Pearl, and He Ling was not yet able to control it perfectly. Guiding power at the level of the Zhou Tian Pearl was incredibly difficult.
"How long can it be opened?" Unable to bear refusing her for the moment, Yun Che asked.
"Three years," He Ling replied. "However, because this power is too weak, the time law interference achievable in the newly opened Zhou Tian Divine Realm cannot compare to the last time—only about a hundredfold."
"That means... three years in the Zhou Tian Divine Realm would correspond to about eleven days in the real world."
"Only a maximum of two people can enter the Zhou Tian Divine Realm. For each additional person, the duration that can be sustained will sharply decrease."
Back during the Eastern Divine Region's Profound God Convention, after exhausting all available power, the Zhou Tian Divine Realm that was opened was extremely powerful—it could accommodate a thousand people and lasted for a full three thousand years, while the corresponding real time was only three years.
Not only was the opening period extremely long, but that Zhou Tian Divine Realm achieved a thousandfold time interference.
Now, He Ling could only manage to open it for three years with all her effort, and only a hundredfold time amplification... after leaving the collapsed Zhou Tian Divine Realm, about eleven days would have passed in reality.
"Three years is very, very short. For other profound practitioners, it might not bring any change at all, but Master is different. That amount of time is enough for Master to achieve significant progress, and maybe even break through to the Divine Lord Realm. If so, Master would likely undergo another miraculous transformation. Then, the Dragon God Realm's deterrence in front of Master would shrink a lot... a whole lot."
"Besides, eleven days won't affect the command you just gave at all."
He Ling spoke earnestly. She lifted the pale white light in her hands, looked at Yun Che, and hope shone in her eyes.
The wood spirit maiden standing so close, her emerald eyes trembling slightly, rippling like glassy waves. She was afraid he would refuse... this was concern and devotion so pure it could not be purer.
But in the end, he still shook his head gently.
"He Ling, you know I can't wait... not even a single day." Yun Che's voice was as gentle as possible, but also firm beyond measure.
The starlight in the maiden's eyes dimmed rapidly. She murmured softly, "But it's only eleven days..."
"To my perception, it's three years."
He stepped forward and gently placed his hands around He Ling's willow-like waist. "If I had enough rationality and patience, I could keep lying low in the Northern Divine Region forever. With the Evil God inheritance and Demon Emperor inheritance I possess, one day I'm confident I could crush the Dragon God Emperor alone, even the entire Dragon God Realm alone."
"But I can't wait. Don't even mention a thousand or ten thousand years—I can't even wait ten years. From my escape from the Eastern Divine Region to my departure from the Northern Divine Region... it was altogether four years."
"Hate is the most terrifying thing in this world. Even though I was once lost in hatred, I still cannot bear being devoured by another even crueler hatred."
"In these four years, my soul has been melted and burned in purgatory every single moment... Every time I close my eyes, I fear I might suddenly fall asleep, because without taking revenge, without killing all those who deserve to die, I wouldn't even have the face to see my parents, Wuxin, Caiyi, Xue'er... even in my dreams."
"Hating myself has made me want to lose my mind and go mad countless times... and each time, I have to use all my strength to suppress it."
In this regard, his greatest fortune was having Qianye Ying'er, a divine maiden on whom he could vent at any time.
"When I resolved to step out of the Northern Divine Region and drench the heavens in blood, that moment was already almost the limit of what I could bear."
"I know, I know all of this." Hastily putting away the white light in her hands, He Ling leaned forward and hugged Yun Che tightly. She too had once been devoured by hatred, consumed by reason—she knew all too well how painful that torment was...
Having now taken her great revenge, she blamed herself for pressuring him under the guise of concern.
Yun Che said, "Don't worry. I can't claim to have much rationality, but even if I am devoured by hatred, I must first accumulate enough confidence. After all, to me, the only thing more unbearable than not taking revenge is dying in vain."
"In the end, the turning point that made me decide to formally unleash my vengeful claws—not even the Demon Empress or Qianye knows—only you, He Ling, know."
He Ling nodded lightly against Yun Che's chest.
Yun Che raised his head, black light flashing in his eyes. "Among the six realms of the Western Region, four are aligned with the Dragon God. The 'power' I finally managed to perfectly synchronize with is the grand gift prepared for them—that is my true trump card."
"In front of the Demon Empress, I cannot speak too confidently. Now, I not only have absolute certainty of killing Long Bai and destroying the Dragon God Realm... I have at least seventy percent confidence!"
"Even if I lose—even if some unforeseen circumstance causes me to lose thoroughly—at worst, I will retreat back to the Northern Divine Region and lie low again. At that time, no matter how agonizing it is, with your company, I will surely endure until the next revenge."
"So..." Yun Che lowered his head, his warm breath gently brushing the maiden's ear. "Don't worry about me, and don't push yourself so hard for me. Just quietly accompany me, watch me—that's enough."
Leaning against Yun Che's chest, He Ling closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
"Mm, I'll listen to Master."
---
In the Southern Divine Region and the Eastern Divine Region, various undercurrents surged silently, eventually converging toward the Ten Directions Canglan Realm.
Ever since the defeat of the Crimson Destruction Dragon God, the Western Divine Region had fallen silent, with no further news spreading. Outside speculation was that they were waiting for the Dragon God Emperor's return.
Having just suffered a major loss, before the Dragon God Emperor returned to his realm, the Dragon God Realm should forcefully restrain itself from making any major moves against the demon race.
Days passed one by one, and the atmosphere in the Ten Directions Canglan Realm became increasingly dark and oppressive. Waves of dark energy, gradually growing harder to suppress with excitement, constantly agitated the space of this Southern Domain king realm.
There were only seven days left until the day Yun Che had set for the assault on the Dragon God Realm. At this moment, Chi Wuyue was calculating the battle situation, Qianye Ying'er was still in the Eastern Divine Region, and the entire demon race was preparing for war with full focus, adjusting their states to peak condition, charging every profound artifact and demon artifact to maximum power.
On this day, with the landing of a small mysterious ark, the Ten Directions Canglan Realm welcomed two more distinguished guests.
"Brother Yun Che!!"
As soon as the ark's door opened, before any figure appeared, a voice as ethereal as jade beads falling onto a plate came through—exceptionally joyful, exceptionally loud, completely disregarding where this place was or who else was around, wanting only to release her joy and longing to the fullest.
Her black skirt fluttered in the air. Shui Meiyin flew out of the ark like a black spirit butterfly. In her perception, only Yun Che's aura and figure existed. She threw herself at him with all her might, then tightly hugged his waist, rubbing her face back and forth against his chest, her cheeks like dew-kissed early lotus, pure and flawless.
"Why are you here?" Yun Che cupped Shui Meiyin's face with both hands, feeling the full, jade-like tenderness of her cheeks, and his heart softened.
He didn't even need to guess—it must have been Qianye Ying'er who sent the message.
"Of course I had to come," Shui Meiyin looked up at Yun Che, her dark star-like eyes unwilling to look away for even an instant. "And it's not just me."
From within the mysterious ark, a graceful, fairy-like female figure slowly walked out. She wore a water-blue long dress, ribbons fluttering lightly, the hem of her skirt flowing like moving water and moonlight, gently spilling to the ground.
Her temperament was still as elegant and otherworldly as ever. Her jade-like neck was graceful and proud. Her long black hair, like Shui Meiyin's, reached her waist. She looked over, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she glanced around, a hint of coolness restrained within, radiating peerless beauty.
"Glazed Light Realm King?" Looking at the glowing blue fairy figure drifting down, Yun Che was slightly surprised.
Shui Meiyin's arrival hadn't surprised him much. But Shui Yingyue... under the shadow of the "assault on the Dragon God Realm," her presence here was unexpected.
Shui Yingyue gave a slight bow and said, "Greetings, Demon Lord. The Eastern Divine Region is still mired in fear, yet the Southern Divine Region has already been trampled under the Demon Lord's feet in the blink of an eye. Truly, you are an extraordinary person beyond anyone's guess, unprecedented throughout the ages."
"Glazed Light Realm King," Yun Che's eyes hardened, and his tone carried a warning. "Since you have received the news, you should know who my opponent in the coming battle will be. If you appear here now, are you not afraid that if I lose, the Glazed Light Realm will have no retreat left?"
Shui Yingyue, however, smiled faintly—and for the first time in Yun Che's memory, she left behind an imprint of her all-too-rare and precious smile. "Meiyin has long been betrothed to you and has identified herself as a member of your demon race. As for me, I travel alone. Apart from the Yao Xi sword that has accompanied me all my life, I have brought no one and nothing from the Glazed Light Realm."
"Therefore, at this moment, I am not the Glazed Light Realm King. I am merely an elder sister who cannot rest easy about her little sister's safety. If the Demon Lord does not disdain it, you may call me Yingyue."
"..." Yun Che nodded and said nothing more.
"Also, this is my father's wish," Shui Yingyue smiled again, then cast a deep glance at Shui Meiyin, who was still clinging tightly to Yun Che, refusing to get up.
With a fierce battle against the Dragon God Realm ahead and an unknown future destiny, no one knew where the Glazed Light Realm would ultimately end up... But as long as she was by Yun Che's side, she was always as cheerful and lively as a joy-and-sorrow-free spirit.
In the past, she would secretly sigh at her little sister's foolishness. Now, however, she felt an increasingly nameless envy.
When love and hate are both deep, with no regrets and no hesitation—perhaps that is the most worthwhile way to live.
"I will remember the Glazed Light Realm's loyalty," Yun Che looked at Shui Yingyue and also smiled faintly. "And your loyalty as well."
"...?" Ripples in her eyes froze. Shui Yingyue was stunned for a moment.
Over this period, Shui Meiyin had said many strange things to her. Coupled with Yun Che's sudden faint smile, she was momentarily dazed, unable to distinguish whether Yun Che meant "loyalty" or "affection." So she looked away, leaving Yun Che with her jade-white, beautifully delicate profile, and said softly, "The Demon Lord is too kind. In the battle against the Dragon God Realm, regardless of the outcome, please at least protect your own life."
"Of course." Yun Che held Shui Meiyin's small hand and smiled. "Though fate is cruel, this world still holds many beautiful things worthy of cherishing—for instance, the delightful and pleasing smiles of Meiyin and Yingyue. So no matter the outcome, I won't be willing to die."
"..." Perhaps because she had been overly sensitive lately, Shui Yingyue felt that Yun Che's words carried a subtle hint of flirtation.
Her heart's lake rippled slightly. Shui Yingyue unconsciously tightened her fingers, then nodded. "That's good. With those words, Meiyin can rest more at ease... I will go pay my respects to the Demon Empress. Excuse me."
Her profound energy rippled like emerald waves, yet the ripples in the superficial space seemed to be slightly more disordered than usual.
"Hee!" Shui Meiyin suddenly let out a charming laugh in his arms.
"What are you laughing at?" Yun Che rubbed her cheek with his palm again, reluctant to let go.
"Hmph, you were just flirting with my sister right in front of me, and you ask why I'm laughing?" She wrinkled her delicate nose. Her coquettish tone held no real anger; instead, it carried a hint of happiness and a subtle trace of smugness.