# Chapter 1854: Broken Backbone
"Ugh... ahhhhh!"
Long Bai let out a pained shriek, yet he completely gave up struggling. The bloodlight in his pupils became even more frenzied, and his left arm manifested a bloodstained claw shadow as he wildly tore at Yun Che's throat.
But before his left claw could even draw near, Yun Che had already kicked him squarely in the abdomen.
*Boom!*
Long Bai's body instantly bent into a charred shrimp shape, flying backward through the air. After hitting the ground, he bounced and rolled dozens of times like a ragged ball.
The power gained from burning his essence blood had not yet dissipated, but Long Bai lay collapsed on the ground, his pupils dilated, his soul lost in a daze.
*Why...*
*I clearly burned my essence blood, yet I still can't kill him...*
*Wh...y...*
*This is fake... This can't be real...*
*It's a nightmare... Yes! Everything is just a false nightmare!*
*I am the supreme Dragon Emperor, and he is merely a demon brat of barely half a Jiazi! The difference between the high heavens and an ant!*
*Only in a nightmare would something so absurd and laughable happen!*
"Long Bai, and all of you, listen carefully."
Yun Che slowly lifted his foot, raised his gaze, and spoke in a low voice: "In this world, there has never been any so-called Dragon Empress. There is only Shen Xi!"
These words caused the eyes of the Western Domain Divine Lords to tremble in shock and doubt. Long Bai jerked his head up violently, his eyes bursting with terrifying bloodlight.
"Over three hundred thousand years ago, you, Long Bai, had all four limbs crippled and both eyes destroyed, discarded to await death. It was Shen Xi who saved you!"
"Your rebirth, your subsequent rise, your ascension as Emperor, and your becoming the strongest Dragon God in the history of the Dragon God Realm—all of this was bestowed by Shen Xi!"
"Without Shen Xi, not even a single scrap of bone would remain of your rotting corpse!"
"The so-called title of 'Dragon Empress' was merely an empty name Shen Xi agreed to because she didn't want to be disturbed by the world. This was supposed to be an insignificant repayment for the immense kindness she had shown you, yet you... forcibly bound her to your own delusion!"
"Ke... keh keh..." Long Bai's eyes were like those of a vicious ghost, his teeth clenched so tightly they nearly shattered.
"Long Bai, listen." Yun Che's footsteps grew closer. He stood proudly while Long Bai lay collapsed on the ground, as if his gaze alone was enough to pin him to the ground: "Shen Xi was never your damned Dragon Empress. She has only two identities: one is Shen Xi, and the other is this Demon Lord's woman!"
*Bang!*
Dragon fangs shattered, and blood sprayed from his mouth.
Chi Wuyue's earlier words, along with a series of Long Bai's abnormal reactions toward Yun Che, had already given the Western Domain Divine Lords their suspicions.
Even so, hearing Yun Che's words, they were all stunned, their jaws practically hitting the ground.
The title "Dragon Empress" had existed for over two hundred thousand years. The Divine Emperors of the major King Realms had changed several generations, but throughout the myriad realms, who didn't know? Who hadn't heard?
The story of the Dragon Emperor's devoted love had been passed down through generations. Even the most ordinary Lower Realm King often had countless concubines in his harem. Yet the Dragon Emperor, throughout his life as emperor, had always had only the "Dragon Empress" alone.
Dragons were inherently lustful—every living being knew this. But ever since the title "Dragon Empress" appeared, for over two hundred thousand years, he had never even approached, let alone touched, any other woman.
And all of this was actually just... the Dragon Emperor's one-sided delusion!?
And the "Dragon Empress" Shen Xi, known throughout the world, was actually with Yun Che...
According to rumors, Yun Che had only stayed in the Reincarnation Forbidden Land for a single year after the Xuan God Assembly!
This...
This...????
Their minds were buzzing with shock.
"Originally, you were at most a toad daydreaming every day, too pitiful for me to sympathize with. I never expected you to be a mad dog biting the hand that saved you!"
*Bang!*
The last dragon fang was also crushed between Long Bai's teeth as he let out a hysterical roar.
"Ugh... ahhhhh!!"
To Long Bai, at this moment and at any moment, Yun Che's words were undoubtedly the cruelest poison in the world—a thousand times, ten thousand times more cruel than annihilating the entire Dragon God Realm before his eyes.
Space expanded and burst. The light dimmed. In extreme fury, Long Bai once again manifested his ten-thousand-zhang dragon body.
However, his originally pale dragon body was now charred black, crisscrossed with countless dark blood channels and patterns, and his aura had become utterly chaotic and frenzied. Like a mad dragon that had completely lost its mind and soul, he screeched and pounced at Yun Che.
*Rip!*
*Rip!!*
*Boom!!!*
Dragon claws danced wildly, tearing at everything. Dragon roars pierced the heart, shattering all forms—both tangible and intangible—into the finest fragments.
The smell of dragon blood in the air grew increasingly thick, nauseatingly foul.
But no matter how the mad dragon's power sundered the sky and broke the dome, it couldn't even touch the corner of Yun Che's robe. The overflowing chaotic dragon might couldn't harm him in the slightest.
*Roar—boom!!*
The dragon's roar shook the heavens. Its claws shattered the ground. Under the explosive power, Long Bai's heavily wounded body and frenzied soul caused him to stumble and crash down.
Yun Che's figure appeared behind Long Bai. His long hair danced, and behind him, the shadow of the Ice Phoenix materialized. Amidst a resounding phoenix cry, the Ice Phoenix's power descended violently, forming ring after ring of Ice Divine Sealing Arrays that encircled the dragon's tail. In an instant, the massive tail was completely frozen within a frigid blue light.
The ice-blue radiance transformed into a deep blue divine light. The Ice Phoenix shadow behind Yun Che morphed into a savage Celestial Wolf shadow. Using his hand as a sword, he unleashed the Celestial Wolf's sword might in a frenzied descent.
*Heavenly Wolf Strike!*
*Primeval Fang!*
*Heavenly Star Mourning!*
*Instant Prison Calamity!*
*Cang Wolf Claw!*
Under the fivefold might of the Celestial Wolf's sword, the frozen Dragon Emperor's tail cracked with thousands of fissures... then suddenly shattered, scattering into chaotic ice shards and cold dust.
Not a single drop of dragon blood was seen.
A despairing dragon roar split heaven and earth. Yun Che's figure had already descended through the ice dust onto Long Bai's back. Demonic light and crimson flame intertwined brilliantly on his body, and in his hands blazed the pitch-black Eternal Calamity Demonic Flame.
*Sizzle!!!*
The Eternal Calamity Demonic Flame effortlessly melted through the dragon's body, straight down to the dragon's spine. Amidst Long Bai's agonized roars and the horrifying sounds of burning, the massive dragon spine rapidly sank deeper and deeper under the demon flame's devouring...
In just a few breaths, the Dragon Emperor's spine had been burned into a hole several zhang deep.
Standing within the hole, Yun Che grabbed the dragon spine, his eyes frigid, as he channeled all his power without reserve into his arms...
"HEH!!"
He let out a violent roar, and with ultimate power, he brought about a terrifying explosion in the heavens and earth... and the sound of snapping.
*CRACK!!!*
Beneath Yun Che's hands, the ten-thousand-zhang dragon spine was... torn apart alive.
The agonized dragon roar was so heart-wrenching that the light of the sky dimmed and the stars shrank back.
Once a living being's spine is severed, it is destined to be half-crippled. The Dragon Emperor was no exception.
With its tail and spine broken, the Dragon Emperor's aura frantically dissipated. His body twisted and writhed in agony, so pitiful that it evoked sympathy.
The utterly ruined dragon body began to shrink rapidly, reforming into human form amidst the chaotic air currents.
Long Bai knelt crookedly on the ground. With his spine severed, he could no longer straighten his body or stand. He was like a lump of mud that could only twitch desperately.
The Canglan Divine Domain was so silent one could hear a pin drop. It was as if Yun Che had torn apart not Long Bai's dragon spine, but the originally indestructible faith of the entire Dragon God lineage.
Yun Che descended from the air, standing before Long Bai, his gaze as cold and icy as before: "Now do you know what kind of trash you really are?"
"Compared to this Demon Lord, in Shen Xi's eyes, you probably aren't even as good as a stinking bug. And you still managed to daydream for hundreds of thousands of years. Ridiculous, pathetic, pitiable."
"...Keh... keh..." The crushed teeth pierced deeply into Long Bai's tightly clenched mouth, blood streaming from the corners like a torrent.
But how could this physical pain be even a ten-thousandth of the soul-piercing agony?
"Oh, and one more thing I might as well tell you." Yun Che leaned slightly forward, his voice piercing Long Bai's eardrums with crystal clarity: "Speaking of which, back then, it was actually Shen Xi who seduced this Demon Lord first. After all, in this world, the only one worthy of her is this Demon Lord."
"That day in the Reincarnation Forbidden Land was an all-too-beautiful memory. Her body is the most luxurious jade in the world, her voice the most heavenly music... But what does any of this have to do with you? A creature as ungrateful, filthy, and base as you doesn't even deserve to touch the corner of her robe!"
"Ah... ahhh... ahhhhh!!"
Long Bai's bloodshot dragon pupils dilated to the point of nearly bursting. His mouth let out strange cries like a wild beast or a demon ghost. His severed upper body lunged forward in a desperate sway, as if trying to tear off Yun Che's flesh with his dragon mouth full of shattered teeth.
He was broken. Completely broken.
Even the last shred of dignity, the last trace of reason... even the final excuse he used to forcibly comfort himself had been utterly annihilated.
*Bang!*
Yun Che kicked out, the sole of his foot hitting Long Bai's face through the pre-empted blast wave, as if he disdained even to stain his foot with the filthy dragon blood.
The mad Dragon Emperor flew out like a blood-soaked lump of charcoal. This kick was incredibly heavy, sending him flying a full hundred li away.
At this point, the Dragon Gods might still harbor deep wariness, but the Withered Dragon Venerable had no choice but to act.
A gray shadow flickered, and a vast, gentle dragon aura slowed Long Bai's momentum. Then the withered figures of Long Yi and Long Wu simultaneously appeared behind Long Bai, their dry hands pressing against his back.
Two torrents of immense dragon aura surged together, forcibly stabilizing Long Bai's severed spine, allowing him to regain mobility in a short time.
However, the terrifying burns on Long Bai's internal organs and the severe damage to his essence blood made them frown deeply.
Long Yi raised his eyes, looking directly at Yun Che, and muttered softly: "If this one is good, there will be much peace. But if this one becomes a demon..."
"He absolutely cannot be allowed to live!" Long Wu continued.
The withered shadows of Long Er, Long San, and Long Si also silently appeared. Their gazes and auras were all firmly locked onto Yun Che.
At this moment, slaying this monster that was terrifyingly beyond comprehension was their greatest mission since awakening from divine slumber.
"They've finally come." Chi Wuyue's hand was already entwined with demonic silk.
Though her heartstrings were taut, she did not immediately give orders, waiting instead for Yun Che's reaction.
With the influx of the Withered Dragon Venerable's dragon aura and the calming of his soul, Long Bai's ruined dragon body and dragon soul were somewhat soothed. His shattered mind regained a measure of reason and clarity.
But what could not be dispelled at all were Yun Che's words from earlier—more cruel and vicious than countless layers of hell pressing down on him.
He suddenly raised his arm, letting out a heart-rending roar: "Kill him... Kill him... KILL HIM!!!"
What personal vengeance or Dragon Emperor's dignity... What dignity did he have left?
He wanted Yun Che dead... dead immediately! Dead in the most brutal way!
The frantic roar violently plucked at the soul strings of the Dragon Gods, Dragon Lords, and all the Western Domain Divine Lords.
*BOOM!!!*
The violently erupting dragon aura triggered thunder that shook the earth. Including the heavily wounded Azure Dragon God and White Rainbow Dragon God, their long-suppressed dragon aura exploded in a fit of extreme anger, humiliation, fear, and frenzy—like a vengeful outburst.
Along with the five Withered Dragon Venerables' dragon aura, all of it pressed down heavily upon Yun Che.
In an instant, Yan Yi, Yan Er, and Yan San's eyes blazed with violent ferocity. Mu Xuanyin's icy pupils manifested the shadow of the Ice Phoenix. Qianye Bingzhu's hand formed a Brahma seal... Even the heavily wounded Northern Domain Divine Lords stood up through sheer will, gritting their teeth and squeezing out the last remnants of power from their blood and bones.
They only needed a single command from the Demon Lord or Demon Empress. Even if what lay ahead was a bottomless abyss of certain death, they would charge without hesitation.
Because just now, they had witnessed the most dazzling light in the world... and they would die without regret.
Yun Che had fought Long Bai alone and won decisively.
But even if he could forcibly suppress a full forty percent of his opponent's power, Yun Che alone could never match the five Withered Dragon Venerables... let alone the furious Seven Dragon Gods and the overwhelmingly vast formation of Western Domain Divine Lords behind them.
"Northern Domain Demon Lord," Long Yi spoke slowly: "Though we know not the origin of the Dragon God bloodline you bear, it is at least deeply connected to our Dragon God lineage."
"If you were good, it would be the fortune of all worlds. Unfortunately, since you are a demon, you are destined for certain death with no chance of survival."
Long Yi did not notice that when he said these words, the Western Domain Divine Lords behind him all had extremely complex expressions on their faces. Some even bowed their heads deeply, not raising them for a long time.
"Good?" Yun Che lowered his eyes with a cold sneer: "With trash like you, you dare to utter that word before me?"
"Kill... Kill him now! Kill him!!"
Long Bai screamed even more miserably, like a mad ghost that had been pierced by chains at the bottom of hell for countless ages.
He could no longer allow Yun Che to exist for another breath, another moment. Now, the only thing in this world that could bring him even a shred of pleasure was Yun Che's completely shredded flesh and blood.
"Since coexistence is fated to be impossible, there is no need for further words." Long San raised his hand: "And no need to hold back. Make your move."
With these words, the shadows of the five Withered Dragon Venerables simultaneously shot forward, the dragon aura of the Seven Dragon Gods following closely behind.
Five Withered Dragons and Seven Dragon Gods—they were truly acting together, attacking a single person.
This was absolutely a spectacular sight so exaggerated it startled the ages and shocked the present. Even if the Dragon God ancestors were alive, they would never dare to believe such a scene.
It was easy to imagine just how deep and terrifying a shadow Yun Che's battle with Long Bai had left etched upon their souls.
Heaven and earth shook violently. The mere storm they stirred up was enough to suffocate all the Divine Lords.
Chi Wuyue's brows tightened. She was just about to give an order when her demonic eyes suddenly moved.
She could not see Yun Che's expression, but from his soul fluctuations, her powerful demonic soul perceived something... not just ferocity—but a profound contempt.
Like looking down upon ants!
Amidst the storm stirred by the twelve supreme dragon auras, Yun Che stood proudly, completely unmoved. He slowly raised his hand, and a dense purple radiance flew from his arm, piercing through the heavens. From between his lips came soul-seizing whispers: "A pack of base dragons dares to act wildly before this Demon Lord!"
"KNEEL... FOR... ME!!"