Chapter 1973: Six Great Divine Kingdoms (Part 1)
Chi Wuyue's narration began from the power level of the Abyss.
"It is widely known that the Divine Lord Realm is the pinnacle of profound force realms in the mortal world. What the world recognizes as the 'Divine Path' is essentially nothing more than the highest level of the mortal domain. To break through the limits of mortality and cultivate true power of the divine domain has long since become impossible in this world."
She looked at Yun Che: "You might think that in the Abyss World, as long as one has sufficient talent, resources, and opportunity, they can break through the shackles and step into the divine domain. But the truth is different from what we previously imagined."
Yun Che raised an eyebrow and listened silently as she continued.
Chi Wuyue elaborated: "In the Abyss, the Divine Lord Realm is not the final realm for profound practitioners, but a chasm difficult to cross. As the pinnacle of the mortal realm, breaking through it means a complete transformation—body, power, soul, and all five senses will transcend the 'mortal' domain."
"But this transformation, though surpassing mortality, is far from becoming a god. Instead, it is a state between mortal and divine: the [Demigod]."
"This demigod realm is called the [Divine Annihilation Realm] in the Abyss World, meaning that beneath the gods, all things can be annihilated."
"Divine Annihilation Realm..." Yun Che murmured softly. He had heard these three words before from Mo Beichen's mouth.
"Mo Beichen's realm was the Divine Annihilation Realm," Chi Wuyue said. "In the Abyss, breaking through from the Divine Lord Realm to the Divine Annihilation Realm requires crossing a vast chasm of realms, and very few can truly achieve it. But once one becomes a demigod, they stand at a very high level in the Abyss and enjoy a very high status."
"Mo Beichen ranks near the bottom among the Abyss Knights, yet he still has a formidable reputation throughout the Abyss World. It can be said that beneath the true gods, no one dares to lightly offend him."
"After an Abyss profound practitioner breaks through the Divine Lord Realm and sheds the shackles of mortality, they do not immediately enter the Divine Annihilation Realm. Instead, they are blocked before the chasm between mortal and demigod. This subtle realm is called the Half-step Divine Destruction Realm."
"If they can successfully cross it, they can truly step into the Divine Annihilation Realm, become a demigod, and complete their transformation. The vast majority of profound practitioners spend their entire lives unable to cross it, remaining at Half-step Divine Destruction until death."
"Nan Zhao Ming and Nan Zhao Guang, who followed Mo Beichen, were at the Half-step Divine Destruction Realm. This realm seems to have a significant number of existences in the Abyss."
Although the Half-step Divine Destruction Realm does not truly achieve demigod status, it is still incomparable to the Divine Lord Realm. At that time, even the combined strength of Mu Xuanyin and Qianye Ying'er could not match Nan Zhao Ming and Nan Zhao Guang.
"Above the demigods, are there true gods?" Yun Che asked with a focused gaze.
"Yes and no," Chi Wuyue said. "The Divine Annihilation Realm originally had ten levels, but now it only has nine. The original tenth level of the Divine Annihilation Realm has become a separate realm, called the [Divine Extreme Realm]."
"It means the extreme beneath the gods, the pinnacle of demigods."
"It is the transcendent existence in the Abyss, above demigods and second only to true gods."
"The Divine Extreme Realm is divided into nine minor stages, called the 'Nine Heavens of Becoming a God.' Each minor stage is as difficult to cross as ascending to heaven. At the same time, the Divine Extreme Realm is also the highest realm that Abyss beings can achieve through their own cultivation."
Chi Wuyue's words made Yun Che's heart stir sharply: "Through their own cultivation... the highest realm? Does that mean that now the Abyss cannot cultivate true gods through training? Or that true gods are not achieved through cultivation?"
"Yes," Chi Wuyue nodded slightly. This point was also very different from what they had previously imagined.
"Although the level of energy in the Abyss World is far higher than the mortal world, it still cannot compare to the era of gods and demons. When the Abyss World first formed, there seemed to be a very few existences who could cultivate to become true gods. But... from what Mo Beichen understood, no one has been able to cultivate to become a true god through training for at least two million years."
Yun Che frowned deeply and mused, "Then the true gods that exist in the Abyss now... are they also achieved through some kind of inheritance?"
"Exactly," Chi Wuyue nodded again. "Although I cannot clearly discern what kind of inheritance method that is from Mo Beichen's remaining knowledge, I feel it should be similar to the Divine Source Inheritance we know—also an inheritance of 'Divine Source Power'—but at a much higher level and with much more stringent conditions."
After a brief thought, Chi Wuyue continued, "To bear the inheritance of a true god's power, one seems to need sufficient something called 'Divine Rank'."
"Di... vine... Rank?" As the current emperor, Yun Che heard this concept for the first time, as if it had never existed before.
"If one's Divine Rank is sufficient, they can inherit the power of a true god. If the Divine Rank is insufficient and one forcibly inherits, at best they will fail and suffer severe injury, at worst they will die on the spot. Given the level of the Abyss World, one with sufficient Divine Rank appears perhaps once in ten thousand years."
"Once in ten thousand years"... the harshness of this condition is incomparably more brutal than the Divine Source Inheritance of the mortal world.
However, this was clearly not what Yun Che should focus on at the moment. He furrowed his brows and asked, "How many true gods currently exist in the Abyss World?"
"Twelve," Chi Wuyue said in a low, unhurried tone, giving an unambiguous and precise number.
"Seven of these twelve true gods are the ones I mentioned to you earlier—the seven true gods who rule over the six great divine kingdoms."
"The other five are all in the Pure Land. One is the Abyss Emperor who rules the Abyss, while the other four are called the 'Four Divine Officials of the Pure Land'."
"The four Divine Officials are directly loyal to the Abyss Emperor. They are the administrators of the Pure Land, the maintainers of the Abyss's order, and the leaders of the Abyss Knights. Their status is subtly higher than that of the seven true gods of the six kingdoms. Especially the [Great Divine Official], the head of the Four Divine Officials, is known throughout the Abyss as being beneath the Abyss Emperor and above all living beings."
Among the twelve gods of the Abyss, the Pure Land alone possesses five.
Moreover, the strongest, the Abyss Emperor and the Great Divine Official, are both in the Pure Land.
Its overwhelming dominance is evident.
Yun Che etched this information firmly into his sea of souls.
At present, compared to these terrifying true gods, he was undoubtedly as insignificant as an ant beneath ten thousand mountains. Yet this was something he had to transcend... and within a mere "fifty years."
"Among the true gods, how does the Abyss Emperor's power compare to the others?" Yun Che asked.
Chi Wuyue was silent for a long while before saying, "Although Mo Beichen was an Abyss Knight close to the Abyss Emperor, this is clearly not knowledge he is worthy of possessing. However..."
"The Abyss Emperor seems not to have made a move in a million years—at least not publicly. His true strength should be known to very few... or perhaps no one truly knows. Some rumors say he is slightly stronger than the Great Divine Official, while others say that even the seven true gods of the six kingdoms joining forces cannot defeat the Abyss Emperor alone."
Yun Che: "..."
"There is another even more terrifying rumor, which you should have already heard from Mo Beichen's several mutterings." Chi Wuyue's tone changed subtly: "The Abyss Emperor seems to have been trying to pursue... the realm of the Creation God!"
Yun Che was momentarily speechless.
"Which of these Abyss rumors are true and which are false is not important to us now." Chi Wuyue sighed very softly. Even someone with as strong a mind as hers had to repeatedly ease the pressure in her soul, for what she was narrating and facing were the distant and unreachable true gods.
"After you successfully enter the Abyss, directly breaking into the Pure Land is fundamentally impossible. Your steps will inevitably begin from the six great divine kingdoms, or from the godless kingdoms beneath them."
"I understand." Yun Che nodded, regaining his composure. "Regarding the six great divine kingdoms, did Mo Beichen leave behind any sufficiently clear fragments of knowledge?"
"Very superficial," Chi Wuyue said. "But it still includes some of the most basic and most core information that is common knowledge in the Abyss."
Next, the core of the Abyss's 'living lands,' the six great divine kingdoms upon which the countless beings of the Abyss relied, were laid out before Yun Che one by one through Chi Wuyue's words:
"[Senluo Divine Kingdom], the kingdom among the six that most reveres power. The ruling true god is named [Dian Luohou], with the divine title 'Jue Luo.' In terms of personal strength alone, he is recognized as the strongest true god among the seven true gods of the six kingdoms."
"His temperament is quite fierce; joy and anger are easily visible on his face, and he scorns hypocrisy and concealment. People with such a temperament naturally value faith and loyalty the most and cannot tolerate hypocrisy, indecisiveness, or broken promises."
Chi Wuyue emphasized his temperament traits heavily. Because in her lifelong dealings, temperament had always been her most important starting point.
Senluo Divine Kingdom... Dian Luohou... the strongest true god of the six kingdoms!
Yun Che etched this firmly in his mind.
"[Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom], its ruling true god is named [Hua Fuchen], with the divine title 'Hua Xin' (Heart-Painting)."
"The name of this kingdom sounds arrogant and unrestrained, as if wanting to break the heavens. But in truth, the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom is peaceful externally, lenient internally, never actively interfering in other kingdoms' affairs, and even less willing to provoke or meddle in any conflicts. It never oppresses or bullies the godless kingdoms under its rule. It can be said to have no ambition or edge."
"Furthermore, the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom has been on good terms with the Senluo Divine Kingdom for generations. In this generation, the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden and the Senluo Divine Son have even been betrothed, with the Abyss Emperor personally blessing the marriage. This is undoubtedly a beautiful tale in the Abyss, and at the same time, it showcases the unshakeable union of these two kingdoms to the people of the Abyss."
"Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden... Senluo Divine Son?" Yun Che questioned.
"The concept of 'Divine Maiden' and 'Divine Son' in the Abyss World is completely different from that in the God Realm." Chi Wuyue said solemnly. "In the Abyss, there are only seven beings given the titles of Divine Maiden or Divine Son, corresponding to the seven true gods of the six kingdoms."
"Because they are all peerless prodigies with perfect Divine Ranks, one in billions. They are the successors of the seven true gods' power, the future rulers of divine kingdoms, and the true gods of the Abyss."
Yun Che's chest heaved heavily.
Back when he first entered the God Realm, he had risen to fame through the Profound God Convention and was given the title of 'Divine Son.'
But his 'Divine Son' status was nothing but a grain of sand compared to the 'Divine Son' of the Abyss.
"Speaking of which, from Mo Beichen's fading remnant soul, we could only glean some basic knowledge and his most profound memories. Even the imprints of the Four Divine Officials were too blurred to identify. Yet... he had quite a deep memory of this Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden."
"I can even capture a not-so-blurry shadow from his faint remnant soul."
"Your meaning is..." Yun Che pondered, "that between him and this Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden..."
"Of course not." Chi Wuyue directly denied Yun Che's speculation. "Even though Mo Beichen was an honored Abyss Knight, he was not qualified to have any interaction with the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden. It was merely that when the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden went to the Pure Land, he caught a distant glance."
"And a glance from afar is enough to be engraved for a lifetime."
"I see." Yun Che said indifferently. "It seems this Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden is also a beauty who captivates the entire Abyss."
Yun Che's perception of female beauty far surpassed ordinary people. And in his cognition, Shen Xi and Qianye Ying'er were undoubtedly the ultimate forms of female beauty—there could never be any woman surpassing them... especially in the naturally harsh environment of the Abyss.
"What I'm more interested in," Chi Wuyue's enchanting eyes reflected a deep, demonic light, "is that the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom and the Senluo Divine Son of the Senluo Divine Kingdom have a marriage blessed by the Abyss Emperor. And the divine sovereign of the Senluo Divine Kingdom is fierce in temperament, most detesting broken faith. So, if we could find a way to destroy this marriage, wouldn't it be like lighting a huge powder keg between these two divine kingdoms?"
Yun Che: "..."
Having said that, Chi Wuyue gave a charming smile, full of regret: "But such a wonderful thing can only be lightly thought of. Not to mention how utterly fantastic it is, after you step into the Abyss, even just getting close to this supremely honored Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden would be as difficult as ascending to heaven."
"What about the other four divine kingdoms?" Yun Che asked directly. He seemed not to have paid much attention to what Chi Wuyue had just said.
Having no knowledge of the Abyss and the level of the Divine Maiden being utterly unreachable... that was indeed nothing more than a fleeting fantasy.