# Chapter 2132: Divine Son Battle
"From what I've heard, the Abyss King merely gave an announcement that was within reason. Why has your mood suddenly become so heavy?"
Sensing Yun Che's unusually intense emotional fluctuation, Li Suo spoke up to ask.
Yun Che calmed his mind and replied, "I don't know either."
"You don't know?"
Yun Che thought for a moment, then said, "The Abyss King, who has never paid any attention to the Six Divine Kingdoms, took the initiative today to personally instruct the two God Venerables. Based on my understanding of human nature, this can't simply be explained by a 'particularly good mood.' I'm afraid there's a variable here that lies beyond my cognition and beyond what I've calculated."
Li Suo pondered for a long time before saying, "It's still just a guess, isn't it?"
"Yes..."
"Your steps are too cautious. If every step you take requires you to shackle yourself, you might be crushed by the weight you've placed upon yourself before you even reach the end. Some unclear doubts—set them aside for now and focus your energy on completing what most needs to be done right now."
"Mm..." Li Suo's words gradually relaxed Yun Che's mind. "Alright, you're right."
After a long moment, Li Suo's ethereal voice echoed again in Yun Che's soul sea: "Yun Che, don't always make yourself so alone. Don't keep adding heavier shackles to an already burdened body."
"In this world, you are no longer just a sovereign burdened with the duty of saving the world. You are also a father, a husband. Your daughter—even if she has never journeyed with you, you share a bond of blood that nothing can sever. Your wife—even if she has forgotten you, the karma and the past between you cannot be buried even by the Abyss Dust of the Mist Sea."
"Mm?" Yun Che raised an eyebrow, quite surprised by this speech from Li Suo. "Those words are actually quite touching. Could it be... that without my knowing, the compassionate divine nature of the Life Creation God has quietly awakened within you?"
"I'm merely stating a fact that we both know."
"...Never mind." The eyebrow Yun Che had just raised drooped again, accompanied by his muttered complaint. "Such a boring response... As expected, it's still you."
"Boring, you say..." Li Suo seemed somewhat concerned by this evaluation. She was silent for a while, then spoke softly, "Besides them, I will always be with you until the end of this journey, whether we succeed or fail."
A soft chuckle sounded in Yun Che's soul sea.
He said, seemingly helplessly, teasingly, "When we return to our original world, I'll have to spend considerable effort teaching you how to speak. When comforting someone, the word 'failure'—even if you know it exists—should never be spoken aloud."
"...Very well. I'll remember that." Li Suo replied softly.
But that exchange did relax Yun Che's state of mind considerably.
"Thus, all that I, the Solitary One, wished to proclaim has been declared."
With these words from the Abyss King, the day's gathering was declared concluded. It was incredibly simple and brief, but in truth, looking back at countless eras of Pure Land gatherings in Abyss history, the Abyss King's speech today could be considered "lengthy."
Yun Che concealed the strange gleam in his eyes... The Abyss King's words ended just like that. From beginning to end, he had not once mentioned the "Mist Emperor."
Over the years, he had expended great effort in the Mist Sea to build momentum, using his unique ability to control Abyss Dust and the information gap beyond ordinary cognition to largely create doubts among Abyss beings about the Abyss King's salvation and creation of the world, and also to shake their originally supreme and flawless faith in him.
And this influence was gradually spreading and intensifying.
Faith was undoubtedly the most important foundation. For any sovereign, this was absolutely intolerable.
But the Abyss King had not ordered the Six Divine Kingdoms to suppress it. He had not explained away the Mist Emperor's slander. From beginning to end, he hadn't even mentioned a single word about it.
As if he was utterly indifferent to the Mist Emperor's existence and everything he had done.
At this moment, the High Priest spoke up: "Abyss King, since the last audience of this scale, there have been some slight changes among the Divine Successors of the various divine kingdoms. Would Your Majesty care to appreciate the bearing of today's Divine Successors?"
Apart from the Realm-Breaking Ceremony, held once every fifty years and attended only by the God Venerables and Dragon Lords, such formal Pure Land gatherings invariably included the Divine Successor competitions.
"Of course." The Abyss King's faint smile remained unchanged. His gaze did not move, yet it seemed to gently brush over every Divine Successor. "The Divine Successors of this generation are not only the future foundation stones of the divine kingdoms but also the new buds that will bloom in the Eternal Pure Land."
"Your bearing today will determine how radiant a flower you will blossom in the first era of the Eternal Pure Land."
The Abyss King, who had once only been a spectator, rarely bestowed such warm and precious expectations.
And they ignited fighting spirit and strange light in the eyes of the Divine Sons and Divine Maidens.
Yes, they were the first generation of Divine Sons and Divine Maidens who, treading upon over a million years of their predecessors' efforts, were about to step into the "Eternal Pure Land." They would also be the first generation of sovereign God Venerables to be crowned in the "Eternal Pure Land."
Such fortune, such glory, demanded the most dazzling bearing and brilliance to match!
The High Priest received the order and nodded. He took half a step forward, raised his massive arm into the sky, and then swung it down in an instant. A faint light barrier descended from the heavens, landing on the central domain of the Eden Cloud Summit.
The barrier was nearly transparent, with only a faint bronze light flowing slowly.
"This barrier isolates force but not the body. Stepping out of the barrier is considered defeat."
"The challenged may only concede, not refuse battle!"
"For those of different cultivation levels, the lower-level cultivator may request balance to the same realm!"
"This battle is solely to display the bearing of the Divine Successors, not for contention, and certainly not for malice!"
"The one with the most brilliant bearing may have the Abyss King fulfill one wish."
The High Priest personally read out the rules. His words were concise and clear, each word striking the heart like a celestial decree.
Basic rules such as no external interference, no use of external means, no malicious heavy strikes—he didn't even need to mention them, because no one would dare to overstep under the Abyss King's watch.
The barrier was less than ten thousand zhang in size, surprisingly small, similar to previous years, clearly designed to force a quick decision.
"It's starting." Dreamkong Chan said in a low voice. "Abyss Child, you are not a Divine Son, so this battle does not concern you. But watch carefully. This is your best chance to gain direct insight into the Divine Successors of the various kingdoms."
"In every move and stance, what flows is not only profound force but also their will and nature. When you have some accomplishment in the Dreamweaving Divine Scripture in the future, you will better understand the true meaning behind it."
On the other side, Dreamseeing Brook's eyes were already shimmering with silver light, eager to try.
Yun Che turned his gaze to Hua Cailli.
As if by telepathy, Hua Cailli's gaze also turned to him. The moment their eyes met, Yun Che instantly understood the sword intent in her eyes.
She wanted to challenge Dian Jiuzhi!
With her cultivation at Divine Annihilation Realm Level 2, she naturally couldn't be a match for Dian Jiuzhi at Divine Annihilation Realm Level 8. But in a Divine Son competition, cultivation levels would be balanced to the same realm. Facing Dian Jiuzhi at the same realm, she had sufficient confidence and determination.
Perhaps, in her still immature heart, if she could defeat Dian Jiuzhi, it would add a bargaining chip for Yun Che's future... Although, in Yun Che's view, victory or defeat held no practical significance.
And if she could become the one with the "most brilliant bearing" that the High Priest spoke of, she could have the Abyss King fulfill one wish. What she wanted was undoubtedly to have the Abyss King retract the marriage contract he had personally granted.
But someone stepped out before her.
A streak of starlight flashed. A tall, upright figure stepped on the Star God Remnant Shadow, standing proudly within the barrier.
"Sha Xing of the Star Moon Divine Kingdom, daring to fight first!"
Boom!
An ear-splitting explosion resounded through the sky above the Eden Cloud Summit. A colossal silver sword, larger than his own body, appeared before Sha Xing.
Without any hesitation, Sha Xing raised the great sword and pointed it directly at the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom.
"Xiaodie Divine Son Pan Buzhuo, I respectfully request your instruction!"
Roar—
The shadow of a celestial wolf appeared behind Sha Xing, raising its head to howl at the sky. The profound shadow, carrying boundless might, covered the Celestial Wolf Greatsword in a cyan-blue radiance of power.
Pan Buzhuo stepped forward, black light rising from his body like wild, blazing flames.
The challenged could not refuse battle. As a Divine Son, one could only be defeated, never retreat!
With a single turn, he appeared within the barrier, facing the Star Divine Son directly.
At the same moment, behind the Star Moon Divine Kingdom, Pan Buwan slowly raised his head. A line of sight, steeped in endless resentment, pierced straight at Pan Buzhuo... But in the next instant, all emotions were hidden deep within his eyes, not a trace leaking out.
Qiheng God Venerable and Tianxing God Venerable's gazes also met.
A divine sound from Qiheng God Venerable shot straight toward Tianxing God Venerable: "As a Divine Son, to engage in such a childish grudge for a discarded piece of my Xiaodie—Tianxing God Venerable has truly raised an accomplished Divine Successor."
Wushen Star replied with a faint smile: "I, the Venerable One, rather think that occasional pettiness is not inappropriate. It's much better than raising a wolf who would poison his own blood kin. What does Qiheng God Venerable think?"
Pan Yusheng snorted coldly and did not respond.
"Sha Xing of Star Moon, Pan Buzhuo of Xiaodie. Both at Divine Annihilation Realm Level 4. No need for balancing. Begin."
The moment the High Priest's voice fell, Pan Buzhuo struck instantly. A streak of black light, like a demonic rift tearing through space, stabbed straight at Sha Xing.
Dreamkong Chan said in a low voice: "The Star Divine Son cultivates the Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture, using a heavy sword as his weapon. His techniques are grand and sweeping, with unparalleled might, but somewhat difficult to control. When battling him, one must first seize the initiative and second avoid his edge."
Yun Che nodded slightly, indicating he was taking the lesson to heart.
"The sword in the Star Divine Son's hand is called Celestial Wolf Star-Seizing. It is the heaviest and most powerful among all the Divine Sons' weapons of the various divine kingdoms. The spear in the Xiaodie Divine Son's hand is called Cold Crow. Once struck by it, darkness will consume the body, and sorrow akin to a crow's cry will afflict the soul."
Dreamkong Chan, the dignified Divine Venerable of Dreamlessness, spared no effort, explaining to Yun Che in extremely detailed fashion.
Ssssshhh!
Sword and spear clashed. Countless pitch-black demonic patterns bloomed in the space, like ten thousand demon crows wailing, directly consuming Sha Xing's body and soul. Even the surrounding light abruptly dimmed.
But in the next instant, the Celestial Wolf roared in fury. Celestial Wolf Divine Power struck from behind, shattering the demonic patterns and demon crows completely.
Boom!
The thunderous crash was like the sky collapsing. Darkness was almost instantly devoured by the Celestial Wolf. It seemed that in the very first exchange between the two Divine Sons, the victor was already decided.
But Pan Buzhuo's sudden spear strike, meant to seize the initiative, was actually a feint.
The moment the Celestial Wolf devoured the demon crows and revealed a slight opening, Pan Buzhuo appeared above like a ghost. His spear pointed downward, and countless web-like pitch-black demonic patterns burst open at the spear tip.
With the explosion of black light in his pupils, ten thousand pitch-black demon crows flapped their wings from the demonic patterns. Their sharp cries were piercing and harsh, like the wailing of dead souls or the curses of bone-eating resentment. They swarmed densely toward Sha Xing, intent on tearing apart his flesh and devouring his soul.
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