Chapter 2145: God's Sleep Forbidden Domain?
No one dares to defy the rules of the Pure Land, not even the Divine Venerables of the Six Divine Kingdoms.
But there is one exception, for his existence itself stands above all the world's rules.
Yuan Huang.
The power of Hua Caili's Heaven-Breaking Sword, unleashed with all her will, and Shen Wuyi's icy gleam that routed Dian Jiuzhi—before him, they were like bubbles that burst at the slightest touch, vanishing without a trace or sound.
He slowly lowered his hands and spoke calmly amidst the crowd's stunned silence: "A body that embodies exquisite grace, a heart that gives birth to glazed light—such a thing has never existed since ancient times. It is a divinely bestowed miracle."
"Hua Caili, at the tender age of just over twenty, has already glimpsed the true essence of the Fourth Heaven-Breaking Sword. In terms of sword dao talent alone, you not only surpass your aunt but are also not far from me in my younger days."
Yuan Huang's intervention surprised not only the Six Divine Kingdoms but even the Great Divine Official.
And the evaluation he gave to Shen Wuyi and Hua Caili undoubtedly shook their hearts like thunder.
For Shen Wuyi, Yuan Huang himself bestowed the word "miracle."
For Hua Caili, he even compared her to himself!
"If either of you two were to suffer even the slightest harm, it would be a tremendous loss to this world. So, let this battle end here. What do you say?"
Though Yuan Huang spoke as if asking, once the words left his mouth, they became a divine decree.
Shen Wuyi calmly sheathed her sword and bowed: "Wuyi shall respectfully obey Yuan Huang's command."
Hua Caili's ability to adapt was ultimately a bit weaker, and she inherently lacked the reverence others held for Yuan Huang. After being dumbfounded for a good while, she finally stammered: "But... that... Uncle Yuan Huang's promised reward..."
Yuan Huang's gaze seemed to tilt slightly toward Hua Caili, a hint of a smile in it: "The grace of you two is naturally enough for me to make an exception and grant rewards to both."
Yuan Huang's words did not stir Shen Wuyi in the least, but they made Hua Caili's eyes suddenly burst with an endless, brilliant starry light: "Re...really! Thank you, Uncle Yuan Huang! See, I knew Uncle Yuan Huang was the best!"
Atop the pinnacle of Eden, beside Yuan Huang, in the midst of the battlefield... her joy and excitement were displayed so plainly, so intensely, and so sincerely.
"..." Dian Jiuzhi closed his eyes, concealing the disappointment in them, and let out a faint sigh in his heart.
At this moment, he suddenly understood why Hua Caili's actions were so contrary to reason and her nature.
She had gone to such lengths, revealing such a resolute side, inflicting heavy harm on herself, and pouring out everything she had—all to obtain Yuan Huang's promised reward. Because this reward was tied to her and Yun Che's future.
Hua Fuchen let out a long, relieved breath, only then realizing that his back was ice-cold, completely soaked in cold sweat.
Hua Caili's joy still showed no sign of receding. Her entire aura was like a different person from when she held her sword, transforming from a fierce and imposing little sword immortal into a spoiled, peerlessly beautiful young girl.
She turned her gaze to Shen Wuyi and said very frankly: "As for this battle with the Eternal Night Divine Maiden, there's no need to stop it. I admit defeat. Because even if I used all my strength, I would only have a one-percent chance of victory. The remaining ninety-nine percent belong to the Eternal Night Divine Maiden."
Yuan Huang smiled and offered no comment.
The Great Divine Official wasted no words and immediately announced: "Zhe Tian's Hua Caili admits defeat. Eternal Night's Shen Wuyi wins!"
"In this Divine Son Battle, both Eternal Night's Shen Wuyi and Zhe Tian's Hua Caili displayed exceptional grace and were remarkably stunning. They caught Yuan Huang's attention and earned his praise. As a special exception, both Shen Wuyi and Hua Caili may seek a reward from Yuan Huang."
With Yuan Huang's promise and the Great Divine Official's proclamation, the outcome of this Divine Son Battle was settled.
In this Divine Son Battle, counting the unexpected Pan Buwang, a total of six Divine Sons and two Divine Maidens had appeared. In the end, both women emerged victorious, and all six Divine Sons were reduced to mere foils. Especially Dian Jiuzhi, once the First Divine Son—nearly all of his former glory had been extinguished by Shen Wuyi's icy gleam.
This result made the Divine Kingdoms unable to resist sighing in lament.
Hua Caili put away her Glazed Cloud Sword. As she turned around, her vision suddenly blurred, and she nearly collapsed on the spot.
A cyan figure flickered, and she fell into Hua Qingying's arms, only then realizing that her entire body was completely drained of strength, and even lifting her arm was quite difficult.
Hua Fuchen also followed over. He looked at his daughter's pale but satisfied smiling face and couldn't bring himself to utter the scolding words he had prepared. He could only curse fiercely: "It's all that brat's fault!"
Hua Qingying's profound energy carefully flowed through Hua Caili's entire body before she finally felt completely at ease. Yuan Huang's timely intervention had prevented the sword's might from being fully unleashed, so naturally, there was no backlash.
But the consumption of condensation for that sword was far too great. At this moment, Hua Caili's body and spirit were both in a state of severe exhaustion.
One could imagine the consequences if she had suffered a backlash in such a state...
Hua Qingying did not dare to think further. She lifted Hua Caili and brought her back to the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom's camp.
The Seven Zhe Tian Sword Venerables quickly approached, and seven gentle sword energies converged around Hua Caili, rapidly restoring her aura.
"Don't ever do that again," Hua Fuchen finally scolded her.
"I know, Father God. I promise I won't," Hua Caili said, looking like a well-behaved girl receiving instruction. Then, not without a hint of pride, she added, "But it was precisely because of that sword that I succeeded."
The first sentence was an admission of fault, the second was undermining him. Hua Fuchen raised his hand to cover his face and could only glare fiercely at Yun Che in the distance again.
Hua Qingying said flatly, "Going to such lengths without regard for consequences—was there no other motive besides seeking Yuan Huang's promised reward?"
"No!" Hua Caili averted her gaze, absolutely refusing to admit it.
Sha Xing happened to return at that moment. Looking at the current situation, he was momentarily bewildered.
Xian Yue said unhurriedly, "The Divine Son Battle is already over. Dian Jiuzhi was defeated by Shen Wuyi, Meng Jianxi avoided battle by admitting defeat, the battle between Shen Wuyi and Hua Caili was personally stopped by Yuan Huang, who specially granted rewards to both, and then Hua Caili voluntarily admitted defeat."
His words made Sha Xing's face pile up with layers of shock, and he was unable to recover for a long time.
Only then did Xian Yue leisurely take out a Mysterious Shadow Stone: "I've already recorded all the scenes after you left. See, I had the foresight. Otherwise, you'd regret missing too many breathtaking sights that are almost unprecedented."
Over at the Senluo Divine Kingdom, Dian Luohou stroked his long beard, his face full of approval and a smile, as if he had completely forgotten the anger of Dian Jiuzhi's defeat and humiliation.
"This girl Caili, usually so gentle and soft—I never expected that for Jiuzhi's sake, she could also have such a fierce side. And on top of that, her swordsmanship talent that surpasses even Qingying's... Hahahaha, truly worthy of being my daughter-in-law!"
By the end, he was already laughing heartily.
But he failed to notice that behind him, Dian Sansi's face was as dark as pitch.
"Brother Jiuzhi..." he looked at Dian Jiuzhi with trepidation, wanting to offer words of comfort but not knowing what to say.
Dian Jiuzhi, however, shook his head, then revealed a faint smile—a smile that seemed like a kind of relief.
But the more he acted like this, the more unbearable the pain in Dian Sansi's heart became.
Involuntarily, he turned his gaze toward Yun Che and met his eyes for another "coincidental" encounter.
Yun Che's brows curved down and the corners of his mouth turned up. He was smiling—a smile of mockery, of smugness, and of contempt.
Then, he casually turned his face away, as if he couldn't even be bothered to look at him for a moment longer.
And at the moment his gaze shifted, Dian Sansi clearly saw the slight movement of Yun Che's lips.
Pa...the...tic...
"~!@#￥%..." All the blood in his body surged to his head in an instant. From his neck to his face, it turned as red as if stained with blood, and even his vision blurred.
The desire to reveal everything—to enrage his Father God, to bring Yuan Huang's punishment, and to destroy both Yun Che and Hua Caili—surged wildly in his heart. But following that came the fear of the consequences and Dian Jiuzhi's nearly pleading warning...
It took him several breaths, gritting his teeth, to forcibly suppress the surging humiliation, anger, hatred, and unwillingness, bit by bit.
But with all his will, he could only suppress it down to his throat. Though he held back from exploding, he couldn't swallow it completely. It just stuck in his throat, every moment burning with anger, humiliation, and agony, on the verge of bursting.
This was a torment he had never imagined in his life.
"Mm, just about at the critical point," Yun Che murmured leisurely in his soul.
"Dian Sansi?" Li Suo asked.
"Yes," Yun Che said. "Now, just a slight poke, and he might explode. But if given another big stimulus... his reason will be completely destroyed. No matter the situation, he'll definitely blow."
Li Suo spoke softly, "The Divine Son Battle is already over. The opportunity you need..."
"Yuan Huang will give me that opportunity himself. Perhaps he's even more eager than I am."
Li Suo: "...?"
Only when Hua Caili had recovered enough did Yuan Huang slowly speak: "Hua Caili, what reward do you seek?"
Hua Caili bowed with a smile, showing no timidity at all: "The reward Caili wants is a bit special. May I tell Uncle Yuan Huang in private?"
Yuan Huang smiled: "Of course. But with no one to witness it, aren't you afraid I might go back on my word?"
"Uncle Yuan Huang would never do that. Thank you in advance, Uncle Yuan Huang." Hua caili bowed again, then stepped back behind Hua Qingying with a smile.
Yuan Huang's gaze turned to Shen Wuyi: "Shen Wuyi, what reward do you seek?"
Shen Wuyi's reply was concise and clear: "In reply to Yuan Huang, Wuyi wishes to enter the [God's Sleep Forbidden Domain]."
These words surprised everyone.
From the dark palanquin where the Wuming Divine Venerable sat, there suddenly came an abnormal fluctuation of profound energy, carrying an all-too-obvious anger.
Clearly, Shen Wuyi's request had deviated from her expectations.
"God's Sleep Forbidden Domain? What place is that?" Yun Che frowned and muttered.
During his three years in the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, although his focus on gathering information was on the Divine Sons of the various Divine Kingdoms, he still knew most major information about the Abyss. Yet this was the first time he had heard this name.
Meng Jianxi also lowered his voice to answer: "Before the Abyss World was formed, it was where the ancient gods fell after descending into the Abyss. It was also... where Yuan Huang fell into the Abyss."
"Legend has it that a large number of the first true gods and demon gods who fell were corroded by the Primordial Abyss Dust and turned into Abyss Ghosts... Later, Yuan Huang created the Abyss World, and that burial ground of the gods was sealed off, becoming the 'God's Sleep Forbidden Domain.'"
"I've never been to the God's Sleep Forbidden Domain, so I know very little about it. But according to the records of the Xuanji Hall, although the God's Sleep Forbidden Domain is not within the Mist Sea, the concentration of Abyss Dust inside is comparable to the depths of the Mist Sea. The number of Abyss Ghosts roaming there far exceeds the number of Abyss Beasts, and every Abyss Ghost you encounter could be the ancestral deity of someone alive today."
"Probably out of respect for those ancestral deities, Yuan Huang sealed off that region and designated it a forbidden domain. As I recall, since it became a forbidden domain, it has only been opened a little over a dozen times according to records."
Yun Che asked, "If that's the case, why would Shen Wuyi waste such a precious reward opportunity to go to a place like this?"
Meng Jianxi thought for a moment and said, "That region was once inhabited by too many ancient true gods. With their divine bodies, even under the Primordial Abyss Dust, they wouldn't have perished immediately. So before death, they might have left behind some inheritance, rare treasures, or the like... Is that the reason?"
Meng Jianxi's answer was full of hesitation, clearly just a guess.
Yuan Huang was silent.
But after only two breaths of silence, he slightly nodded: "Very well. As you wish."
"However," his tone shifted, "since the God's Sleep Forbidden Domain is rarely opened, it would be a pity to let only one person enter."
"Zhu Yuan."
The First Knight, Dugu Zhuyuan, stepped forward and bowed to receive the order.
"Ten hours from now, activate the Void-Breaking Array leading to the 'God's Sleep Forbidden Domain.' Each of the Six Divine Kingdoms may choose one junior to enter."
This command from Yuan Huang lifted the spirits of the other five Divine Kingdoms, filling them with unexpected joy.
This was both an act of grace from Yuan Huang benefiting the five kingdoms and a way to make the five Divine Kingdoms indirectly owe Shen Wuyi a debt of gratitude.
"Wuyi thanks Yuan Huang for his grace."
Shen Wuyi naturally had no objections, nor did she show any joy. She calmly withdrew.
Yuan Huang's major affairs had been announced, the "Eternal Pure Land" was within reach, and the Divine Son Battle had also concluded. At this point, it was time for Yuan Huang to depart and for the Great Divine Official to declare the end of this Pure Land gathering.
But at that moment, Yuan Huang cast his gaze toward the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom.
"Kongchan, I have heard that after Hua Caili, another Perfect Divine Rank descended from the heavens upon the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom. Is this true?"
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