Chapter 2094: Arrogance Then Submission
"No, impossible! There must be some mistake!" Meng Jianze shrieked. "How could it possibly be with His Highness! There must be a mistake!"
"Mistake?" Meng Kongchan let out a cold snort that caused everyone's hearts to tremble violently. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade floated up from its jade box. As Meng Kongchan led it with his soul force, its bottom slowly revealed an extremely clear character "Xi."
A soul imprint personally inscribed by the Dreamless Divine Venerable—who could possibly forge it!
This undoubtedly proved that this Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade was exactly the one Meng Kongchan had bestowed upon Meng Jianxi back then, with no other possibility.
"Oh~~" Yun Che suddenly showed an expression of sudden realization. "So it turns out to be a grand play of 'guardians stealing the goods' jointly staged by Divine Son Xi and Emperor Son Jianze. A play this ugly, yet you still had to make a huge fuss, even forcibly disturbing the Chief Palace Master and the Nine Great Dream Masters. You've truly opened my eyes and filled me with admiration."
The Nine Great Dream Masters exchanged glances, each seeing layers upon layers of shock and bewilderment overlapping on each other's faces.
Meng Jianxi forcibly calmed himself. Meeting Meng Kongchan's gaze directly, he spoke earnestly, word by word: "Father God, back when you bestowed the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade upon me, I nearly lost control and used it prematurely several times. So, I chose to entrust it to Mother Empress and informed her to return it to me only when I reached the late stage of the Fourth Level of the Divine Annihilation Realm."
"Thus, over these years, the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade has never been by my side. As for how it ended up with Jianze, I have absolutely no idea. Its appearance in my residence today is even more..."
He wanted to say this was absolutely impossible. But since this was discovered by Meng Kongchan through soul imprint tracking, how could it be false, and how could they dare to question it?
For the first time in his life, he understood the true meaning of being unable to defend oneself even with a hundred mouths. He could only swear by his title as Divine Son: "Father God, fellow Dream Masters, although Jianxi has many shortcomings, over these years, I have always held the title 'Divine Son' as my highest honor. I would never dare do anything to stain this name, much less use such despicable means against Brother Yuan."
"Therefore, I beg Father God and the Dream Masters to look into this clearly. Jianxi... truly knows nothing about this at all."
"Exactly!" Meng Cangji immediately chimed in, but his tone no longer carried its previous certainty and confidence. "Your Excellency, Jianxi is the Divine Son you personally designated. No one in this world knows his character and conduct better than you."
"Jianxi and Jianyuan are the most outstanding youths of our generation in the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom. Their mutual competition is a good thing. But this so-called 'guardian stealing the goods,' framing Meng Jianyuan... this is absolutely something Jianxi would never do."
He suddenly whipped his head around and roared at Meng Jianze: "Jianze, did you secretly pull some tricks yourself! Speak! Tell everything truthfully!"
Earlier, Meng Jianze had transmitted a message to him, stating with absolute certainty that Meng Jianyuan had stolen the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade, which made him charge in with full momentum, believing he could definitely regain ground for Meng Jianxi... Now, he wished he could twist Meng Jianze's head off with one palm strike.
The bizarre turn of events nearly fractured Meng Jianze's mind. More than anyone, he wanted to know what had actually happened.
Under Meng Cangji's explosive roar and fury, his entire body trembled. He could only desperately push everything toward Yun Che: "This has absolutely nothing to do with His Highness the Divine Son! Meng Jianyuan really did steal the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade... really... really... Father God, you must believe me! If even half a word is false, may I suffer eternal erosion by Abyss Dust!"
He had clearly watched Yun Che take the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade and leave in haste. Everything had clearly been a confirmed conclusion. Even if he racked his brains, even though the Dreamless Divine Venerable had personally spoken, he still couldn't believe why the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade would appear at Meng Jianxi's Divine Son Manor.
To prove himself, he didn't hesitate to utter this cruel oath. Then, as if his chaotic mind had caught something, he screamed: "It's Meng Jianyuan! Meng Jianyuan must have stolen the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade and then secretly placed it into His Highness the Divine Son's manor! It must be so!"
Meng Kongchan glanced at him sideways and said in a low voice: "Shouyuan."
Meng Shouyuan's figure silently flickered in, bowing beside Meng Kongchan.
Meng Kongchan said blandly: "Tell me, after Yuan'er left Jianze's place, did he go anywhere else?"
Meng Shouyuan's voice carried no emotion: "After leaving the hall today, the young master went to the Dreamless Pavilion where Your Excellency was residing. Then, upon invitation from Emperor Son Jianze, he entered the latter's manor. He left after half a quarter-hour and returned directly to the Divine Son Hall, resting in his bedchamber until he was disturbed."
Meng Jianze was once again dumbstruck.
"Laisheng." Meng Kongchan called out softly again.
Lu Laisheng immediately stepped forward and bowed.
"After Yuan'er returned to the hall, did he leave at any point?"
Without any hesitation, Lu Laisheng answered: "Returning to Your Excellency, after the young master returned, he rested in his bedchamber the entire time and never left even half a step. All the guards, stewards, and servants in the hall can testify."
He glanced at Meng Jianze and added: "If Your Excellency, the Dream Masters, and Divine Son Xi still have doubts, you may select any guard or servant and subject them to Dreamfall."
At this point, Dreamfall was unnecessary.
Meng Kongchan stared at Meng Jianze, whose face was filled with lost composure: "Jianze, Jianxi, tell me—if Yuan'er had indeed taken this Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade, how could he, from his own bedchamber, silently place it into Jianxi's manor without anyone noticing?"
Meng Jianxi could not answer.
Meng Jianze's body slowly went limp like mud. He was half-collapsed, his eyes vacant and lost, muttering endlessly: "Impossible... impossible... not... possible..."
Under the weight of "conclusive" facts, he had followed Meng Xuanjue's orders and blown the matter up to the maximum extent, all to restore Meng Jianxi's lost face before as many people as possible.
But now, under such a grand display, what was presented was clearly a joint effort by him and Meng Jianxi to frame Meng Jianyuan—with evidence so ironclad...
Every word he had spoken earlier, every piece of evidence he had presented, had instead become irrefutable proof of his crime.
"Jianze, this is ironclad evidence," Meng Chaoyang said blandly. "To frame Divine Son Yuan like this before Your Excellency and all of us—I never knew you had such nerve."
He glanced at Meng Jianxi: "Divine Son Xi, since he's your man, you should know how to handle this. You'd best... have nothing to do with this matter."
Meng Jianxi slowly closed his eyes, his voice pained: "The Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade came from my hands and was found at my manor. I know I cannot dissociate myself from today's events. I beg Father God, Brother Yuan, and the Dream Masters to grant Jianxi some time. I will definitely get to the bottom of this. If I cannot, I will accept any punishment willingly."
Meng Kongchan turned around and said in a deep voice: "As the masters of the Dream Hall, you actually came here in person over such an ugly, trivial matter. You truly are becoming more 'accomplished' by the day."
The Nine Great Dream Masters all bowed their heads uniformly. Involving the dispute between Divine Son Xi and Divine Son Yuan, during such a sensitive period, how could they resist coming in person to see for themselves?
And this time, they certainly hadn't come in vain. Just the pile of Abyss Crystals Meng Jianyuan had displayed was enough to make their hearts and souls tremble even now, and it made them all realize that no matter how highly they had previously estimated him, they had still completely underestimated Meng Jianyuan.
"All of you, withdraw," Meng Kongchan commanded. "This matter is none of the Dream Hall's concern."
The Dream Masters acknowledged one by one, including Meng Cangji, as they all departed. But before leaving, the looks they cast toward Meng Jianxi and Meng Jianyuan were all extremely complex.
Once the Dream Masters had left, Meng Jianxi suddenly stepped forward and knelt heavily: "Father God, today's events truly have nothing to do with me."
"I know," Meng Kongchan responded coldly.
Meng Jianxi's head shot up, but he felt not a shred of joy. Because the look in Meng Kongchan's eyes when he looked at him was far more terrifying than anger... it was disappointment.
"Do you know why you didn't do anything, yet still suffered a complete defeat?"
Meng Kongchan stared at him: "Managing subordinates is an essential skill for those in power, but it is also a double-edged sword. You trust Jianze too much, allowing him to develop a self-righteous 'initiative.' You rely too heavily on your maternal clan, and you will inevitably be controlled by them. Whose handiwork do you think today's events truly are? Can you really not figure it out?"
Meng Jianxi's face gradually turned pale, but no matter what, he couldn't bring himself to speak that title.
"You truly did nothing, but this matter arose because of you and for your sake. Therefore, you cannot dissociate yourself from it."
Meng Kongchan pushed with his finger, and the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade that had originally belonged to Meng Jianxi slowly drifted toward Yun Che. When it fell into Yun Che's hand, even the "Xi" character soul imprint on it was completely erased.
"This Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade will be given to Yuan'er as compensation. Do you have any objections?"
Though phrased as a question, once the Divine Venerable's words were spoken, how could they be changed?
Meng Jianxi's face was ashen, but he still forced himself to maintain a composed demeanor: "Father God's teachings are etched in my heart. If this Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade can make amends for the grievance Brother Yuan has suffered, I am willing to do so willingly."
"Very well," Meng Kongchan acknowledged, then gave a slight nod to Yun Che before turning and leaving without even a glance at Meng Jianze, who had collapsed limply on the ground.
And in Yun Che's ear, Meng Kongchan's voice transmission rang out: "Yuan'er, how did you manage this?"
"As expected, I cannot hide it from the Divine Venerable's eyes," Yun Che said without embarrassment, responding vaguely: "Just a minor spatial trick."
Meng Kongchan said: "Jianxi's manor is filled with powerful guards, one of whom is not much inferior to Shouyuan. How could a mere 'spatial trick' have evaded their spiritual senses, without a single flaw from start to finish? It seems you have quite a few hidden 'trump cards.'"
"The day your aunt suddenly intervened, I suspect she also didn't want you to reveal the upper limits of your strength... Very good."
There was no reproach in his words, only gratification.
Just as Yun Che was about to speak, Meng Kongchan seemed not to need his response and continued: "Displaying so many types of Abyss Crystals today has already greatly shaken Meng Cangji and the Nine Great Dream Masters, and will inevitably influence their inclinations to a large extent. That's enough. Keep all your other trump cards well hidden. Do not reveal them lightly... not even to me."
The departing Meng Kongchan turned his head slightly, giving Yun Che a faint smile, before his figure faded from sight.
A flicker of emotion stirred in Yun Che's heart for half a breath... He had already prepared sufficient explanations, but Meng Kongchan had not pressed further.
Not pressing further was undoubtedly a great gesture of tolerance and trust.
Meng Kongchan and the Dream Masters had left, and the invisible pressure that had filled the space dissipated. Meng Jianze seemed to gradually find his soul again. His eyes trembling, he crawled to Meng Jianxi's feet: "Your Highness the Divine Son, I did not lie! I clearly saw Meng Jianyuan take..."
BANG!!
Meng Jianxi kicked out fiercely, sending Meng Jianze flying a hundred zhang away to crash heavily against the hall wall.
The force of his kick in such fury was terrifying—where Meng Jianze flew, the ground was gouged into a deep trench, and countless cracks burst open on the hall's wall.
Meng Jianze hit the ground, convulsed for a moment, and then went completely still... The violent and bizarre impact had already left him shaken and mentally deranged. This kick knocked him straight into unconsciousness.
Staring at the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade in Yun Che's hand, Meng Jianxi forcibly averted his gaze and said through gritted teeth: "Meng Jianyuan, no matter what you think, I'll say this only once: I had absolutely nothing to do with this matter!"
"I know," Yun Che said lazily, playing with the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade that had originally belonged to Meng Jianxi.
Meng Jianxi's body stiffened slightly, and in an instant, he understood. He whipped his head around, his gaze fixed intently on Yun Che: "Could it be... So you deliberately took it and silently placed it into my manor?"
"Of course," Yun Che's smile deepened. "What? Can't believe it?"
"..." Meng Jianxi was silent for a long time, his breathing slowly growing heavier. Suddenly, he shook his head: "How... exactly did you do it?"
"Good question." Yun Che's expression grew increasingly playful. "You can't even begin to imagine how this could be achieved, but I can. The Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade that you regard as a divine object is nothing more than a common lighting stone that I can grab by the handful."
"So, do you see the gap between you and me now?"
Meng Jianxi's eyes flickered violently, but he could find no words to refute.
Yun Che pinched the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade and said nonchalantly: "You're at least a Divine Son of the Weaving Dream Kingdom. You wouldn't stoop to such methods just to target me. This kind of play seems more like the work of a flustered woman who's lost her composure. Hmm..."
Yun Che assumed a contemplative expression, then said slowly: "Divine Son Xi mentioned earlier that this Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade had been kept by your Mother Empress all these years. Why would the Divine Empress be in such a hurry to target me... This makes me wonder, could the calamity that befell Meng Jianyuan a hundred years ago have something to do with the Divine Empress?"
Meng Jianxi's expression did not change at all, but his heart and soul were roiling like a giant wave.
Yun Che cast a faint, sidelong glance at Meng Jianxi and suddenly let out a low laugh: "A normal person, upon hearing their mother slandered like this, would instinctively explode with rage and rebuke. But Divine Son Xi has to put on such a forced calm. It seems my guess is not only correct, but you also already knew about this."
Meng Jianxi's heart shook again, and he put on an angry expression: "Meng Jianyuan! My mother is the current Divine Empress of the Weaving Dream Kingdom. How dare you slander her so recklessly!"
Yun Che said with a sly smile: "Divine Son Xi, no need to be nervous. It's just a guess. Without solid evidence, how would I dare spread such things around? But Divine Son Xi should worry more about himself these days. After all, this matter was blown up so huge. When the truth spreads, the backlash will be equally enormous. It's bound to be quite a blow to Divine Son Xi's reputation and support."
"Especially the nine masters of the Dream Hall. Looking at their reactions and expressions just now, after today, the weight you and I hold in their hearts is probably going to be reassessed."
"With that..." Yun Che's smiling expression vanished in an instant, his gaze deepening like a black abyss. "Meng Jianxi, do you still really want to contend with me?"
As a Divine Son of the Weaving Dream Kingdom, how could he show any weakness in momentum? His brow sank, and he was about to retort sharply—but the moment he met Yun Che's gaze, the words on his lips instantly shrank back into his throat.
It was a feeling too intense, too real—of being looked down upon, of being regarded with contempt...
His pupils were filled with Yun Che's figure, but in Yun Che's pupils, he couldn't see even a trace of his own reflection.
At that moment, he felt with stunning clarity that he had never once been considered worth noticing by this man.
Suddenly, it was as if all his strength had drained away. The momentum he had just mustered dissipated in an instant, and his body swayed weakly.
Yun Che no longer looked at him, his voice cold and imposing: "Meng Jianxi, what belongs to you, no one can take away. What doesn't belong to you, if you forcefully scheme for it, you're digging your own grave. I am not a patient man."
"In life, choices are often far more important than effort. With everything you have, if you make the right choice, you can become the second person under me in the Weaving Dream Kingdom's future."
"But if you consider yourself proud, unwilling to bend, and determined to fight... I will appreciate you, and then I'll trample you into the mud from which you can never rise again, making you a hard bone that will stink for eternity and be trampled by everyone."
Meng Jianxi looked at Yun Che's profile, his lips trembling uncontrollably.
Such words should have been a threat.
But coming from Yun Che's mouth and falling into his ears... it felt as if it were merely a simple statement of a reality that could be easily achieved with a casual effort.
Finally, he managed to speak: "You... exactly..."
He only got out two words before he couldn't continue. Because his heart and mind were churning too violently, in chaos so great that he suddenly couldn't remember what he had wanted to ask.
Yun Che turned around, walking unhurriedly back into the Divine Son Hall. As he stepped through the door, he flicked his finger, sending the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade flying straight toward Meng Jianxi with a trail of radiant light.
Meng Jianxi caught it reflexively and stood there for a long time, dazed.
"I'm not used to other people's things. Take it back."
His tone was casual and indifferent, as if he were merely tossing back an ordinary, worthless lighting stone that he couldn't be bothered with.
As a type of exotic Abyss Crystal, for others to obtain one, they would not only have to venture deep into the Mist Sea, but also hunt down who knows how many Abyssal Beasts, and rely on an immense stroke of fortune for the slightest chance of occasional discovery.
As for Yun Che, a single sweep of his divine sense told him which Abyssal Beast contained an exotic Abyss Crystal, and he could simply take it directly.
Even so, he had only found seven of these Heavenly Revelation Divine Jades in total. That alone showed how rare they were in the Mist Sea, in the world of the Abyss.
Holding the Heavenly Revelation Divine Jade in both hands, Meng Jianxi stared blankly for a long while before turning away with vacant eyes. But the moment his body turned, it was as if some long-unwilling-to-be-touched corner of his soul suddenly opened up...
He spun around abruptly: "Wait!"
"Hm?" Yun Che glanced back slightly.
The moment the shout left his mouth, his chaotic sea of souls also became clear in an instant. Looking at Meng Jianyuan, he said, each word distinct: "As long as you spare my Mother Empress, I, Meng Jianxi, am willing to stand beneath you and assist you as the sovereign!"
Once these words were out, they were not as difficult as he had anticipated.
If it were merely an opponent who had bested him through strength, he would never have yielded so easily. But... the sense of powerlessness Yun Che had inflicted on him was far too strong—so strong that it easily annihilated all his unwillingness to submit.
Yun Che showed little reaction, merely saying blandly: "Organize your intelligence network. I'll be needing it soon."
"Laisheng, see the guest out."
The hall doors closed, cutting off Meng Jianxi's line of sight to Yun Che, and at the same time, severing the fate that had been predetermined for him until now.
...
Ancestral Dragon Mountain Range.
"How far has Wangchu progressed?"
The Dragon Lord's voice carried a note of powerlessness. He seemed older than ever.
Long Chixin shook his head. "Barely acceptable."
"Ai." The Dragon Lord let out a light sigh. "Never mind. If Wangchu can achieve the Divine Annihilation Realm within ten Jiazi, my wish will be fulfilled... What are Long Xi's movements?"
Long Chixin instinctively lowered his voice: "She is still searching with all her might for Primordial Flame Crystals."