# Chapter 2076: Demon God Mark
These five short words were like a demon's whisper.
Or like a vast, distant sound from beyond the heavens, like the empty, deep chant of an endless abyss.
As the sound faded, the ferocious demon shadow in Yun Che's pupils slowly dissipated... only to appear reflected within the eyes of Dreamless Divine Venerable.
"Nirvana Wheel... Demon Soul..."
In Yun Che's gradually clearing soul sea, Li Suo's absent-minded murmur sounded.
She recalled that before Yun Che fell into the Abyss of Nothingness, Demon Empress Chi Wuyue had injected a full eighty percent of her Nirvana Wheel Demon Soul into Yun Che's soul.
Yun Che could not control the Nirvana Wheel Demon Soul, nor could he even actively activate it.
But...
*'It was personally severed and transferred by me, so it will obediently hide within your soul... until the moment it is triggered.'*
*'If triggered, what will happen?'*
*'It will be like a demon god waking from a dream. But it can only be triggered once. That might be the Nirvana Wheel Demon Emperor's...'*
*'Final fury!'*
Recalling Chi Wuyue's words at that time, Li Suo finally understood Yun Che's scheme.
The rumor of Heart-Painting Divine Venerable being extremely fond of his daughter, the marriage contract between Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden and Senluo Divine Son, the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom whose main cultivation was soul power and possessed the "Dreamfall" force, and the three Divine Venerables of Senluo, Zhetian, and Weaving Dream being close friends...
Combining all these factors...
Meeting Hua Caili again in the Mist Sea, and capturing Meng Jianxi's Arcane Firmament Soul-Seizing... it was only now that Li Suo realized that from that moment onward, Yun Che had been plotting all the way to this day.
When the pitch-black demon shadow appeared in Meng Kongchan's pupils, she knew Yun Che had succeeded!
Although, compared to a complete true god's soul, a few strands of Nirvana Wheel Demon Soul were insignificantly small... but it was ultimately a Demon Emperor's soul. Even in the distant age of the gods, it was the highest level of soul in the world, a full major realm above a true god's divine soul.
Moreover, this was not a direct confrontation between souls, but a soul-force suppression under Dreamless Divine Venerable's complete control... then, completely defenseless, suffering a furious backlash at the Demon Emperor level.
A silver needle could never defeat a ten-thousand-zhang withered tree, but it would certainly leave an eternal mark upon that withered tree!
The Demon Emperor's fury terrified all demons.
Meng Kongchan's facial features began to tremble, the demon shadow in his eyes twisting rapidly, then slowly fading... accompanied by the gradually receding roar of the Demon Emperor's fury.
The moment the demon shadow completely vanished, that wisp of Demon Emperor soul remaining in the world from the Nirvana Wheel Demon Emperor was gone forever... leaving only the last strand existing within Chi Wuyue's soul.
Yet upon Dreamless Divine Venerable's divine soul, it left an eternal dark mark.
After the demon shadow, the black light in Meng Kongchan's eyes also gradually dissipated.
Finally, he suddenly opened his eyes, then let out a breath and stood up.
He stared fixedly at Yun Che, his pupils contracting, his lips trembling, even his aura seemed out of control, chaotically surging—completely lacking the absolute majesty, detachment, and control he had exhibited before.
Such emotional loss of control should never have appeared in a Divine Venerable.
"Yuan'er... you are Yuan'er! You are Yuan'er!!"
His voice trembled, every word quivering as if being battered by a storm.
"..." A hint of surprise flickered in Yun Che's eyes.
Because Meng Kongchan's reaction was far greater than he had expected... much greater!
Clearly, he had underestimated the weight of the name "Meng Jian Yuan" in Dreamless Divine Venerable's heart.
Yun Che raised his eyes, his expression holding the haziness of just regained clarity: "Dreamless Divine Venerable, what are you... saying? What Yuan'er?"
*Boom!*
Meng Kongchan flew down and pounced forward. For the dignified Dreamless Divine Venerable, such a simple movement caused him to stumble severely as he stood up. He didn't even bother to balance himself, rushing crookedly to Yun Che's side, then tightly grabbing his arm, his eyes fixed on him:
"Yuan'er, you're alive... you're still alive!"
Suddenly realizing something, the hand gripping Yun Che quickly released its force, yet still held on tightly, unwilling to let go. When he finished speaking, Yun Che could clearly see a mist of light in his violently trembling pupils.
Yun Che leaned back slightly, his face full of surprise and confusion: "I am Yun Che, certainly not the 'Yuan'er' Dreamless Divine Venerable speaks of. Please, Dreamless Divine Venerable..."
"No, you are Yuan'er, you are the Yuan'er I lost a hundred years ago!" Each word from Meng Kongchan was more agitated than the last, the mist in his eyes growing thicker: "Back then, I was incompetent, unable to protect you well, letting you disappear for so many years... A hundred years, a full hundred years, but I never gave up searching for you."
"Heaven has taken pity—you are still alive, have returned to my side... already so grown... so good..."
His voice grew hoarse, and by the end, it was clearly tinged with a bit of choking.
Yun Che slowly shook his head: "I... truly do not know what Dreamless Divine Venerable is talking about..."
Just then, a hurried shout came from outside the hall: "Father God, what happened?"
Meng Kongchan's aura was clearly disordered, his voice even out of control, which greatly alarmed Meng Jianxi, who was near the divine hall. When he rushed in hurriedly, the scene before him left him frozen in place.
His body trembling, eyes filled with tears... this was only the second time in his life he had seen his father, the Dreamless Divine Venerable, in such a state.
The first time was a hundred years ago when Meng Jian Yuan disappeared.
Behind him followed a tall, sharp-eyed young man, his face also full of shock like Meng Jianxi's.
Meng Kongchan turned his gaze, his excitement undiminished: "Jianxi, Jianze! Yuan'er is back... he's returned! This is Yuan'er!"
"...!?" Meng Jianxi looked at Yun Che, his eyes full of astonishment.
Meng Jianze's eyes widened. He stared at Yun Che, unable to believe it: "Which... which Yuan'er?"
Meng Jianxi also slowly stepped forward at this moment, speaking excitedly: "Could he be... Brother Yuan?"
"That's right, that's right." It seemed only now that Meng Kongchan managed to regain a bit of composure. He took a deep breath, steadying his breath and emotions: "Yuan'er didn't die. He's back, completely unharmed."
Meng Jianxi: "..."
"This..." Meng Jianze glanced at Yun Che, then at Meng Jianxi, momentarily unsure what expression to make.
But Yun Che turned aside, neither humble nor arrogant: "Greetings, Weaving Dream Divine Son. My surname is Yun, given name Che. I came on orders from Heart-Painting Divine Venerable to visit Dreamless Divine Venerable. I am certainly no 'Yuan'er.' Dreamless Divine Venerable must be mistaken about something."
"No, there is no mistake."
That hand of Meng Kongchan's remained on Yun Che's arm the entire time, as if afraid that if he let go, he would leave his world again: "Yuan'er, let me ask you, your age—is it two jiazi?"
"Yes." Yun Che nodded.
Meng Kongchan continued: "Heart-Painting Divine Venerable said you were rescued around the age of ten, and when you woke up, you had no memories before the age of ten. Is that so?"
"That is indeed the case." Yun Che nodded again.
Meng Kongchan's fingers tightened slightly, and he looked into his eyes, speaking gently: "My Yuan'er disappeared a hundred years ago, at the age of ten, without a trace—neither seen alive nor dead."
"The time and age match perfectly."
He went on: "You lost your memory—you must have been ambushed back then, causing soul trauma. And Meng Jian Yuan was your name before the age of ten... the name I personally gave you back then."
Yun Che's gaze was momentarily stunned, but he still shook his head: "Time and age could just be a coincidence. The matter of Dreamless Divine Venerable's offspring is of great importance—how can it be determined solely by this that I am Meng Jian Yuan?"
Meng Kongchan's eyes were misty. Aside from the moment Meng Jianxi and Meng Jianze rushed in, his gaze never left Yun Che, not for half an instant: "I, Meng Kongchan, am the Divine Venerable of this Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom. Even if my soul were to collapse and my cognition go haywire, I could never mistake my own son!"
"Your soul, your aura, your flesh and blood... how could I mistake it, how could I mistake it!"
"This..." Meng Jianze turned to look at Meng Jianxi, only to see that his eyes had also reddened, his voice excited: "Excellent... excellent! This is simply a divine miracle!"
As he spoke, he quickly stepped forward and placed his hand on Yun Che's shoulder: "Brother Yuan, welcome back. You don't know how Father God has worried about you day and night all these years, always trapped in the quagmire of guilt, unable to escape. Even after a hundred years, Father God never gave up searching for you."
"Your safe return is not only a great joy for our Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom—it has also saved Father God!"
His face was full of excitement and emotion, no less than Meng Kongchan's.
"Hahahaha!" Meng Kongchan laughed heartily: "Indeed, there is no greater joy. I will immediately announce to all domains... announce to the world—my Yuan'er has returned!"
Compared to the two men's extreme excitement, Yun Che's expression was more one of confusion and bewilderment. He raised his voice and said: "Dreamless Divine Venerable, Weaving Dream Divine Son, saying this is bound to be a disappointment, but... my surname is Yun, given name Che. This name was given by my master, inscribed upon my body for life, and can never be cast aside."
"Today is my first time setting foot in the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom. Before this, there is not a single image of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom in my memory, nor do I have any knowledge of the name Meng Jian Yuan. So, I ask Dreamless Divine Venerable to see clearly—I am Yun Che, not Meng Jian Yuan!"
"Nonsense!" Before Meng Kongchan could speak, a sharp rebuke came. Meng Jianze's expression was stern: "What kind of figure is Father God? How could he make a mistake in matters of bloodline! You disappeared for a hundred years, and now that you've returned for the first time, you dare to question and defy him like this..."
*Slap!!!!*
The sound of teeth and cheekbone shattering echoed throughout the great hall. Before Meng Jianze could finish his words, he was already sent flying sideways, scattering large patches of sticky bloody foam in midair.
*Idiot...* Meng Jianxi muttered inwardly.
Meng Jianze scrambled up in panic. When he lifted his head, he met his father's gaze—a look of extreme darkness and menace.
The knees he was about to straighten went weak again, and boundless terror caused his pupils to contract as if they might split.
"Yuan'er has just returned from the brink of death. I am filled with all manner of love and joy that I do not know how to express... and yet you dare to speak such evil words to Yuan'er!"
The wrath of a Divine Venerable was like heaven collapsing. As one of Meng Kongchan's most outstanding sons, when had Meng Jianze ever been stared at by his father with such a gaze? He prostrated himself in terror, trembling as he spoke: "C-C-child dare not. I was just..."
"Get out!"
"Yes... yes!"
Meng Jianze retreated hastily and fled in panic.
When his gaze returned to Yun Che, the intense darkness instantly softened: "It's alright. Your master saved your life—he is not only your benefactor, but also mine, and the benefactor of the entire Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom. It is only natural that you have lost your memory and cannot accept the identity of Meng Jian Yuan, cannot accept me as your father... natural, not wrong at all."
"Like this... if you wish, you may continue to use the name 'Yun Che.' When you remember, or when you are willing to accept me as your father, then you may take the name Meng Jian Yuan."
His words and demeanor were not just a compromise... they were almost fawning.
"This..." Meng Jianxi attempted to advise: "Father God, I know you have always felt guilty towards Brother Yuan and wish to make up for it in every way. But Brother Yuan is, after all, your son. For your son to bear another surname... this will surely invite gossip."
"Heh." Meng Kongchan merely smiled faintly: "Yuan'er's safe return is already a great divine gift. Nothing else matters. As long as Yuan'er is well and happy, whatever pleases him is fine."
Yun Che tried to suppress the confusion on his face, speaking respectfully: "Dreamless Divine Venerable's great kindness leaves this junior utterly overwhelmed. But this matter has impacted me... far too greatly. I truly do not know how to handle it or how to respond."
Yun Che never called him "Father God," and kept denying the identity of "Meng Jian Yuan." Disappointment welled in Meng Kongchan's heart, but he quickly waved his hand to console: "No matter, no matter. It is I who am too impatient. You must not feel any pressure because of this. I will find a way to restore your memories. Until then, you may be whoever you wish to be. No one will force you."
Yun Che immediately bowed: "Thank you, Dreamless Divine Vener..."
"What thanks? We are father and son—why be so courteous?" Meng Kongchan laughingly stopped Yun Che's bowing motion. He looked at Yun Che, the more he looked, the more his joy overflowed: "The way you look now as an adult—you far surpass me in my youth. If your mother could see you, she would be overjoyed."
"No wonder that girl..."
At this point, he suddenly turned his gaze: "Jianxi, quickly announce to the entire domain that Yuan'er has returned safely! Each major Dream Hall is to be issued an additional five thousand top-grade abyss crystals; the Prayer Dream Immortal Domain is to be opened for three months, with all cultivators at the Divine Sovereign level and above permitted to enter; all sinners in the Sin Domain are to have their sentences reduced by a hundred years; all subordinate domains are exempt from tributes for a hundred years... go quickly!"
Meng Jianxi suppressed the shock in his heart and respectfully accepted the order before leaving.
Meng Kongchan took Yun Che's hand: "Yuan'er, I will take you to a place... a place that belongs only to you."
...
The moment he stepped out of the Weaving Dream Divine Hall, Meng Jianxi's expression darkened sharply. As he walked, it slowly returned to calm.
Soon, Meng Jianze rushed out from the side and came behind Meng Jianxi. His silver robes were stained with blood, his face swollen high, utterly disheveled—his face still bearing the remains of unshed terror.
"Your Highness, that brat... is he truly the Meng Jian Yuan who should have died long ago?" With every word Meng Jianze spoke, the broken teeth stabbed him with piercing pain.
"Do you think Father God could possibly make a mistake in such a matter?" Meng Jianxi's voice was flat: "A full hundred years without any news—anyone would think he had been killed and his body disposed of. To think he's still alive... truly tenacious."
Looking at Meng Jianxi's expression, Meng Jianze said cautiously: "Your Highness, you... are you not worried?"
"Worried? Why?" Meng Jianxi said indifferently.
"He is the former Divine Son!" Meng Jianze said gravely: "If he had died, that would have been the end. But now that he has returned alive, he might threaten your position."
"Threaten?" Meng Jianxi smiled faintly: "In terms of cultivation, he lacks the resources of our divine kingdom, yet he has managed to become a third-rank Divine Lord in two jiazi. In the mortal world, that would make him an undisputed genius, but before me, he is nothing. In terms of his familiarity with and control over the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, in merit, in the hearts of the people—he is not even qualified to compare with me."
"Putting everything else aside, my divine rank is also one grade higher than his. With just that one point, do you think he could possibly threaten my position as Divine Son?"
"Your Highness is not wrong. But Father God's attitude makes me unable to help but worry." Meng Jianze said: "To us, he addresses us as 'Jianxi' and 'Jianze,' but to that Meng Jian Yuan, he says 'Yuan'er' over and over."
"Your Highness, do not forget that although divine rank is an important condition for selecting the Divine Son... the final decision is always up to Father God!"
Meng Jianxi's steps froze for an instant.
"Back when Meng Jian Yuan disappeared, you certainly haven't forgotten how Father God looked. Moreover, when Meng Jian Yuan was just a weaned child, Father God couldn't wait to make him Divine Son, with a ceremony so grand he wished the whole world would come to celebrate. He even began building a divine hall for him early on, and even after Yuan'er had been gone for a long time, the construction never stopped until it was fully completed."
"And Your Highness, to this day, you still do not have your own divine..."
"Enough." Meng Jianxi coldly cut him off: "Jian Yuan and I are brothers. We must work together with one heart. How can we harbor such discord? Do not speak of these things again."
"Your Highness!" Meng Jianze instead intensified his tone: "My entire life's fate is tied to Your Highness. I dare not disobey in the slightest. But you must not take this matter lightly!"
"Have Your Highness forgotten the fate of Pan Buwang, the former Divine Son of the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom!"
Those who pledged early allegiance to the Divine Son, when the Divine Son became Divine Venerable, would naturally rise with him. Thus, as Meng Jianze said, his fate was already bound to Meng Jianxi.
Meng Jian Yuan's return, combined with Meng Kongchan's attitude far different from that toward his other sons—how could he not be anxious?
And once the news of Meng Jian Yuan's return spread, he would not be the only one consumed by anxiety.