Chapter 1991: A Single Step to the Evil God
Helian Xuan’s chest heaved as if about to burst. Even the words of Zhai Liancheng and Ximen Qi had not brought him such shame and rage.
“You did indeed preserve my face for the moment, so I will not kill you.” Helian Xuan forcibly suppressed the turbulent flows in his organs and gave a most fitting reason.
“However, even if I do not kill you, do you think you can escape the pursuit of the Worship Qilin Alliance? You have already dug your own grave, yet you still dare to speak wildly before me.”
“You had better leave this place soon! Do not delude yourself into thinking that I, Helian, will protect you. Not sending you in chains to the Worship Qilin Alliance is already my great tolerance and grace!”
Slap!
Slap!
Slap!
Yun Che clapped his hands in praise: “As expected of King Helian, the words you speak truly never disappoint.”
“However, there is no need for King Helian to worry about my safety. The Worship Qilin Alliance and the Three Sects are not stupid. A person who disregards them and can completely defeat their so-called ‘geniuses’ at the same cultivation level is not someone they would foolishly act against before investigating his background.”
Yun Che was a person with no origins in the Abyss. Even if the Worship Qilin Alliance and the Three Sects exhausted all their efforts, they would find nothing but emptiness.
And this would undoubtedly make them even more wary.
A person whose origins they could not trace even a single trace… what did that imply?
“Moreover, the Lin Shen Assembly is imminent. And after it, there will be a ‘founding of a new nation and change of dynasty.’ At such a time, why would they wish to create additional complications?”
“On the contrary,” Yun Che narrowed his eyes, “if they are smart enough, they will test me while also using some means to win me over.”
“……” Helian Xuan’s mouth twitched noticeably.
At this moment, a great wind rose outside the imperial hall, and a tall man arrived swiftly with a group of imperial city guards.
The crown prince of the Helian imperial clan, Helian Linglang.
“Father! Lingzhu!” He flew down beside Helian Xuan and Helian Lingzhu, his face full of panic and worry: “Are you both alright? I heard someone forcefully intruded and offended. I came late.”
Yun Che gave a faint, cold laugh… When Zhai Liancheng and Ximen Qi had arrogantly barged in, this fellow didn’t dare show his shadow. Now, watching them flee in disgrace, he conveniently appears.
Truly, the son of Helian Xuan!
That Helian had not yet been destroyed as a nation until now was truly a miracle.
“Brother, it’s already fine.” Helian Lingzhu said.
From that look devoid of dependence or comfort, it was clear that Helian Lingzhu held no expectations for this brother who was the crown prince.
“That’s good.” Helian Linglang let out a long breath. Suddenly, he spotted Yun Che and sized up his profound aura, then frowned deeply: “Who are you?”
Yun Che, however, completely ignored him and said indifferently: “Since King Helian is so unwelcoming, I cannot shamelessly stay. For the elder princess’s kindness, I have barely repaid a little.”
He gave Helian Lingzhu a deep look: “Until we meet again.”
With that, he turned around and walked unhurriedly out of the hall.
“Yun… Che.” Helian Lingzhu took a step forward, the sound from her lips not a shout but a somewhat dazed murmur.
“Oh, by the way.” Yun Che suddenly stopped: “The character ‘Xuan’ means unfinished jade. King Helian took this character as his name, presumably your ancestors used it to warn you that a soaring dragon has its regrets, and when the moon is full, it begins to wane. But this is far from your way of ruling.”
“How about taking ‘Funuo’ as your name? The saying goes, a promise in this floating life should last a thousand autumns. Perhaps this name can ensure another thousand autumns for your Helian clan, heh heh.”
With a cold smile, he did not linger any longer and soon disappeared into the distance.
“Bastard!” Helian Linglang flew into a rage on the spot: “What commoner dares to utter my father’s name! Seize him…”
“Shut up!” Helian Xuan shouted angrily, shaking Helian Linglang so much that he quickly lowered his head and dared not speak for a long time.
Helian Lingzhu’s gaze followed Yun Che’s receding figure until it completely disappeared from sight.
Finally, she bit her lip and flew after him.
Unexpectedly, Helian Xuan did not stop her.
“Uh… uh!” He clutched his chest, his body slowly going limp.
The profound energy in his heart vessels was like countless blades cutting and rampaging, nearly pushing him to the brink of collapse. That he had held on until now was already extremely difficult.
Helian Linglang quickly supported him.
“Funuo… Funuo…” He stared blankly ahead, murmuring to himself, actually seriously pondering the name Yun Che had tossed out.
A promise in this floating life should last a thousand autumns…
A thousand autumns!
Xuan means unfinished jade… Could it really be that my name has affected the Helian clan’s fortune?
Mo Cangying rolled his eyes, unable to bear it any longer, and said coldly: “Your Majesty might as well consider these two characters in reverse order.”
Fu… Nuo…
Nuo Fu…
Coward!
Helian Xuan’s eyes bulged. The injury he had barely suppressed at the brink of collapse suddenly suffered a heavy blow, and immediately burst open.
“Pfft!” He spat a fountain of blood, rolled his eyes, and fainted dead on the spot.
……
……
Yun Che flew over the Helian imperial city, his vision a sheet of grayish-yellow.
He still had not fully adapted to the existence of Abyss Dust. But that sticky discomfort was noticeably fading with each passing hour.
And the invisible erosion from the Abyss Dust… could almost no longer be felt.
Lin Yuan Realm, Lin Divine Realm… the place where the earth element of the Abyss is most active.
It was as if some kind of invisible guidance.
At this moment, countless new thoughts had arisen in his heart.
Back then, the Evil God threw the earth-attribute Evil God Seed into the Abyss. Was it really just because he did not want the Evil God’s Mysterious Vein to become complete, giving rise to power that exceeded the tolerance limit of the present world?
Jie Tian Mo Di, through her keen perception of the dark element, sensed the anomaly of the Abyss.
As for the Evil God, he had extremely strong affinity with water, fire, thunder, wind, earth, and darkness. Although not as extreme as Jie Tian Mo Di’s affinity with darkness, upon careful consideration, the possibility that he discovered the Abyss’s anomaly was even several points greater than Jie Tian Mo Di’s.
If we assume he had already discovered the Abyss’s anomaly… Jie Yuan could not venture deep into the Abyss, and naturally, neither could the Evil God. Then he threw an Evil God Seed into the Abyss…
Could it be to…
Yun Che did not continue to ponder deeply, because time-wise, it should be about right.
He looked ahead and murmured softly:
“Three,”
“Two,”
“One.”
“Young Master Yun Che!”
Helian Lingzhu’s voice, somewhat urgent, came from behind.
Yun Che stopped, and Helian Lingzhu caught up, her face slightly flushed with anxiety.
“Is the elder princess here specially to see me off?” Yun Che turned his gaze and smiled at her.
Helian Lingzhu neither nodded nor shook her head. She looked at Yun Che, her eyes shimmering: “Are you… really leaving?”
“Of course,” Yun Che replied. “I have gravely offended your father. A slightly more resolute king would have seized me long ago, so naturally I cannot stay.”
“Speaking of which, I treated your father that way. Do you not blame me, elder princess?”
Helian Lingzhu shook her head without any hesitation: “I know my father best. The words you spoke to him, though insulting, were true in every syllable. If only someone who could overpower him had said these things to him earlier.”
A hint of sorrow gradually crept into her voice.
Yun Che’s eyelids drooped slightly, his gaze carrying a trace of pity: “The other day, you went alone to the Mist Sea, were you worried… about the Lin Shen Assembly?”
“Yes.” Helian Lingzhu nodded slightly: “The Lin Divine Realm is a sacred ground for cultivation, breakthroughs, and opportunities for those who train in earth-attribute profound arts. It is crucial for the growth of the current generation and future generations.”
“In the beginning, the Helian clan held absolute power in the Lin Yuan Realm. Who could enter the Lin Divine Realm was decided solely by the Helian imperial clan. At that time, every time the Lin Divine Realm was about to open, the major powers would desperately curry favor with the imperial clan, hoping to allow their exceptionally talented juniors to enter.”
That former glory has all turned to dust, forever out of reach.
“Later, the three sects — Pan Xuan, Wan Ren, and Lie Sha — gradually rose, and the Helian clan began to lose absolute control over the Lin Divine Realm. Thus, the Lin Shen Assembly came into being.”
“The purpose of the Lin Shen Assembly is to determine the ‘allocation’ of the Lin Divine Realm among the four powers. According to the rankings, the number of people from each power allowed to enter the Lin Divine Realm is decided. And the rankings are determined by the competition among juniors under ten Jiazi.”
“In that case,” Yun Che said bluntly, “I imagine that in recent times, the Helian imperial clan has been at the bottom.”
“Yes…” Helian Lingzhu’s face grew even sadder: “And by my father’s generation, he seemed to have accepted his fate. He sought no progress, only temporary peace, avoiding the three sect masters whenever possible… After the incident with Mo Beichen, he became even more dispirited, swallowing his anger again and again at the provocations of the three sects, even when his bottom line was crossed, only cursing behind their backs, never confronting them directly.”
From ruling the entire realm to being confined to a corner—how tragic and ironic.
Helian Lingzhu continued: “In recent years, the Worship Qilin Alliance has gradually grown powerful. My master and I have repeatedly warned Father that if another major power arises, the Helian imperial clan may lose the right to enter the Lin Divine Realm. If that happens, the Helian imperial clan will be completely… cut off from the future.”
“But Father said that the Worship Qilin Alliance is focused on faith and has no ambition. If it does rise too quickly and becomes a threat, there would be no need for the imperial clan to act; the three sects would suppress it. His reasoning was that the three sects could not tolerate anyone threatening their control over the Lin Divine Realm.”
“Father is always like this, forever seeking safety and stability, forever putting the initiative in others’ hands… And when a real opportunity came, he used the excuse of ‘cannot break precedent to chill others’ hearts’ to order the cessation of protection for Mo Beichen’s wife and daughter.”
Her eyes were misty with tears as she poured out her heart. Even before Mo Cangying, who was closest and most trusted, she had always presented her strongest front, never feeling such a strong urge to confide.
“I heard news a month ago that the Worship Qilin Alliance might participate in the Lin Shen Assembly, but Father did not believe it. He still firmly believed that the three sects would never allow anyone to threaten their control over the Lin Divine Realm. My crown prince brother has always obeyed Father without question… So the only thing I could do was seek a breakthrough within myself.”
“If the Lin Shen Assembly really gains a fifth power… If I could achieve a breakthrough and become a Divine Lord, the possibility of the worst outcome would at least decrease by a few points…”
“But.” She shook her head, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks: “Reality is far worse than the worst outcome I had imagined, by so many times.”
“I can… no longer see a future.”
She was also tired, exhausted both mentally and physically.
Yun Che raised his hand, a spark of crimson flame on his fingertip, dispelling the tear stains on Helian Lingzhu’s face and bringing a warmth into her cold, desolate heartstrings.
“The outcome may not be that bad,” Yun Che said with a smile. “At the very least, for this Lin Shen Assembly, you don’t have to give up as they wish.”
Helian Lingzhu was stunned for a moment and said softly: “But is there really still hope? The Worship Qilin Alliance is not the rising power we expected; instead, it has made the three sects bow their heads. Even the Abyss Knight who will witness this Lin Shen Assembly comes from the Worship Qilin Alliance… How can there still be a place for us, the Helian clan, in the Lin Divine Realm?”
He looked into Helian Lingzhu’s eyes: “Do you believe me?”
Meeting his eyes, clear as a mirror lake, Helian Lingzhu nodded without any hesitation: “I believe. Of course, I believe.”
“Then do your best to persuade your father to participate in this Lin Shen Assembly. I have my own methods to ensure you gain the qualification to enter the Lin Divine Realm.”
Yun Che’s tone was gentle and calm. To the Helian clan, it was a hopeless matter with no recourse, but in his mouth, it seemed like a trivial thing that could be done with a flick of the hand.
Helian Lingzhu’s lips parted, but for a moment, she found no words.
“In doing this, I am both repaying your kindness and also acting out of self-interest.” Yun Che’s eyes were frank: “I wish to enter the Lin Divine Realm and take a look.”
After all, the Lin Divine Realm was established by the Abyss Emperor. When it opens, there will be Abyss Knights present. Entering secretly is extremely risky, and forcing one’s way in is simply asking for death.
Entering along with them is undoubtedly the most rational, and almost the only choice.
Without asking why Yun Che wanted to enter the Lin Divine Realm, or even what method he had to ensure the Helian imperial clan would win the qualification, she averted her gaze from Yun Che’s direct stare and her voice suddenly became softer: “You had no grievance or enmity with Ximen Qi, yet you struck so heavily to humiliate and severely injure him. Was it only… to repay a kindness?”
As a member of the imperial clan, when facing the three sects, she could only swallow her anger and endure humiliation.
Including her father, never… never had anyone been able to protect her dignity and vent for her like this.
“…Not entirely.” Yun Che answered.
These three short words were enough to spark endless thoughts.
A strange joy surged in her heart, almost uncontrollably flooding her cheeks. She lifted her head, her bright eyes fixed unblinkingly on Yun Che’s face, so close to hers: “Alright, I will do my best to persuade Father. If Father does not listen, I will go… to seek an audience with the Grand Ancestor.”
“So, for now… you are not leaving, right?”
“Mm!” Yun Che nodded.
In fact, even if Helian Lingzhu failed to persuade, he still had another path.
His earlier merciless scolding of Helian Xuan was not for the sake of insult alone; after all, a broken-backed king, even with a Half-step Divine Annihilation cultivation, was not worth his deliberate waste of breath.
It was to provoke him to anger.
And extreme anger attacks the heart.
His heart vessels were entwined with the demigod power left by Mo Beichen, and what he feared most was anger.
Helian Xuan was first angered to the point of vomiting blood by Zhai Liancheng and Ximen Qi, and then Yun Che added a series of heart-stabbing, soul-piercing words… Yun Che could see that the injury to his heart vessels had fully erupted, and he was barely managing to suppress it with all his might, on the verge of collapse and loss of control.
If it came again…
So before leaving, he deliberately gave him the two characters ‘Funuo’.
By the time he figured out the meaning of these two characters, he would probably have fainted from rage.
Yun Che had previously examined the condition of his heart vessels in detail. The current severity… combined with multiple waves of extreme anger gnawing at the heart, was almost enough to push Helian Xuan into a desperate situation.
And in a hopeless situation with no way out, who would he think of?
Earlier, he had angrily refused.
If he came back to beg… that would be a different price.
Helian Lingzhu left. Before leaving, she exchanged sound transmission marks with Yun Che and gave him a place to stay… an outer hall on the edge of the imperial city where she used to meditate in solitude.
In the distance, Mo Cangying's figure flickered. He took a step as if to say something to Yun Che, but then quickly withdrew his step and concealed himself. After a few breaths, he quietly left.
Yun Che turned around. The warmth and pity in his eyes instantly turned into a quiet, chilly stillness.
This was the third day since he had arrived in the Abyss.
Before arriving in the Abyss, the first path he had been envisioning had now been paved so quickly.
The Lin Divine Realm was extremely likely to be the key place for him to possess the complete Evil God's Mysterious Vein and thus break through his limits.
If everything goes smoothly.
Then he, Yun Che, would from then on become the complete, true…
Evil God of the Present World!