Chapter 2160: The Forbidden Domain Gate
"However, the information about this Abyss Lord is not entirely useless to me. His existence has instead resolved the greatest doubt I've always had."
"The greatest... doubt?" In his memories, Li Suo had never heard Yun Che mention this.
"Li Suo," Yun Che said seriously, "With all the Creation God knowledge you've recovered so far, try to think about one question... Is there a way for you, and the Creation Gods you know of, to pass on a True God's divine power intact?"
Li Suo's contemplation did not last long before she gave the most direct response: "No."
"Right, no. According to the simplest and most obvious reasoning, if a True God's divine power could be inherited intact by a non-divine body, then the True Gods of the ancient era would never have truly 'died.' The number of gods standing at the pinnacle of the world would only increase, the divine clans would swell until they surpassed the mortal races, and might even shake the order of the Heavenly Dao itself."
Hearing this, Li Suo finally understood what Yun Che meant by "the greatest doubt." Indeed, once one thought about it carefully, it was a contradiction that sent chills down one's spine.
"Even with your knowledge as a Creation God, you answered 'no.' Then how did Mosu... how did he manage to create six inheritance vessels capable of passing on a True God's divine power?"
"Unless... the inheritance vessels of the Divine Kingdoms were not created by him at all!"
Bam!
Yun Che, who had been deeply focused on his conversation with Li Suo, slammed his head into Dugu Zhuyuan's silver armor.
He quickly looked up, only to see Dugu Zhuyuan stop, turn around, and bow toward the distance.
In the distant sky, a streak of red light flashed past rapidly. A fleeting scorching aura brushed gently over Yun Che's body, and then the red light vanished into the layers of thin clouds.
In that instant, Yun Che felt both his Phoenix bloodline and Golden Crow bloodline stir simultaneously.
Was that... the Transcendent Immortal Divine Official?
Dugu Zhuyuan straightened up and turned his eyes: "What caused the Abyss Divine Son to lose focus?"
Yun Che replied calmly, "Senior Dugu, roughly where is this 'God Sleep Forbidden Domain'?"
It wasn't a particularly sensitive question, but Dugu Zhuyuan did not give a precise answer: "It is a remote area, connected via a Void-Breaking Array."
"Oh... If one were to enter it, could the divine sense of my senior from Weaving Dream follow along inside? That way, if we encounter danger within, we could be rescued at any time to avoid accidents."
"No." Dugu Zhuyuan answered bluntly: "The Abyss Dust within the God Sleep Forbidden Domain is extremely dense, making it difficult for divine sense to extend. Moreover, there is a barrier personally constructed by the Abyss Emperor that separates it. Divine sense from outside the barrier cannot penetrate it by nature. If the Abyss Divine Son has concerns, you may simply choose not to enter."
Yun Che: Then I'm reassured.
"I see." Yun Che nodded knowingly. "So the God Sleep Forbidden Domain is an extremely dangerous place. Why would the Eternal Night Divine Maiden insist on entering it... Could it be that great risks come with great opportunities?"
Dugu Zhuyuan neither confirmed nor denied, saying indifferently, "Although there are dangers, those who enter are mostly Divine Sons and Divine Maidens of the various kingdoms. Safety should be a priority. When you enter, Pure Land will provide methods to preserve your life."
"Oh?"
"The Abyss Divine Son will know when the time comes."
Just then, an ethereal yet urgent voice came from afar:
"Brother Yun! Brother Yun!!"
The sound was still in the air when the figure arrived. Hua Caili grabbed Yun Che's hand, her starry eyes anxiously scanning him from head to toe: "Brother Yun, are you okay? Did Uncle Abyss Emperor do anything to make things difficult for you?"
"Of course not." Yun Che smiled. "If the Abyss Emperor truly wanted to make things difficult for me, a single word from afar would suffice. Why would he go through all this trouble?"
Worried that Yun Che was just comforting her, Hua Caili turned her gaze to Dugu Zhuyuan: "Uncle Dugu, Uncle Abyss Emperor really didn't make things difficult for Brother Yun, right? You are the noblest and most upright knight, the one who never lies."
Dugu Zhuyuan said, "Little Caili, rest assured. I swear by the name of Dugu that the Abyss Emperor absolutely did not make the slightest trouble for the Abyss Divine Son."
As he finished, he glanced at Yun Che with a rather complicated look in his eyes.
It wasn't just no trouble...
"That's good!" She gripped Yun Che's hands even tighter, seemingly completely relieved. A smile bloomed on her brow: "Then I'll give Uncle Dugu some good news too. Auntie said she agrees to fight you."
Dugu Zhuyuan, whose temperament was as steady as a mountain, suddenly stiffened at these words. Then, uncontrollably, a blazing excitement and battle intent surged from his body.
He said gratefully, "Thank you, Caili. This favor..."
Hua Caili quickly interrupted him: "No need for favors just yet. Auntie said she has one condition."
Dugu Zhuyuan immediately replied, "Speak freely."
"Auntie says that in this battle, the loser must agree to one request from the winner, and within the bounds of heavenly law and human ethics, it cannot be refused. If you don't agree... she won't fight."
"Good!" Dugu Zhuyuan did not hesitate for even a moment. His already burning battle intent did not cool in the slightest: "The loser must naturally accept the loser's outcome. Please trouble Caili to tell the Sword Immortal that once I open the gate to the God Sleep Forbidden Domain, I will await the Sword Immortal's presence at any time in 'Abyss Above Heaven'!"
With his mission to escort Yun Che complete, Dugu Zhuyuan vanished into the distance, but his formidable aura still lingered in that space, refusing to dissipate for a long time. Yun Che couldn't help but sigh: If only I could turn him into my Abyss Ghost, how wonderful that would be.
"What are you thinking about?" Hua Caili floated up, her jade arms wrapping around Yun Che's neck, forcing their gazes to lock only into each other's eyes.
Yun Che sighed in admiration: "I'm thinking... Auntie is really good."
"Huh? Auntie?"
"Right." Yun Che pulled his arm tighter, pressing her soft, boneless jade body close to his: "Auntie chose to accept the battle because she's trying to pave the way for our future in every possible way."
Hua Caili's beautiful eyes froze for a moment, then she understood. She pressed her body even closer, hanging completely onto Yun Che: "Auntie has always been this good. Now I have the Father God who loves me most, the aunt who dotes on me most, and the best Brother Yun in the world... Right now, I feel like the heavens have given me all the best things."
"..." Yun Che said nothing. His arm around her slender waist unconsciously tightened, then loosened slightly.
In the distance, Hua Fuchen didn't know whether to approach or leave. He could only shake his head helplessly and mutter, "This is in Pure Land. What kind of behavior is this? What kind of behavior!"
Hua Qingying disagreed: "They were forcibly separated when their feelings were deepest. Now that they no longer have to fear the light of day, why should they suppress themselves?"
"But you have to consider the occasion. This is..." Hua Fuchen took a deep breath, then waved his hand abruptly: "Forget it, forget it. Let them be. As long as that kid is fine, that's what matters."
Hua Fuchen left, but Hua Qingying remained where she was, watching the inseparable pair from afar. Without realizing it, she felt a strange twitch at the corner of her lips.
She unconsciously raised her long finger and touched her light cherry-colored lips.
Was that... a smile just now?
...
Back at the pavilion of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, Yun Che immediately went to find Meng Jianxi.
"Brother Xi, I have a request."
Meng Jianxi said seriously, "Brother Yuan, just tell me anything you need. There's absolutely no need for the word 'request.'"
Yun Che got straight to the point: "I want to enter the 'God Sleep Forbidden Domain' to have a look."
The person originally chosen by the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom was, of course, Meng Jianxi.
"Ah?" Not only Meng Jianxi, but even Hua Caili was startled.
"This..." Meng Jianxi hesitated briefly without asking for the reason, then said frankly, "There's no problem with that in itself. However, the Abyss Dust in the God Sleep Forbidden Domain is as thick as the deep Mist Sea, and there are countless unpredictable dangers. And with your current condition..."
"Don't worry." Yun Che smiled. "The Wild Devouring Punishment only caused a temporary collapse of my body and soul, not a severe injury. There are still several hours left, enough for me to recover."
"Then... I'm going too!" Hua Caili said urgently, her eyes full of eagerness.
Knowing this would happen, Yun Che said with some helplessness, "Your Father God probably won't agree to you taking risks."
"He has to agree!"
Hua Caili let go of Yun Che and flew away urgently: "I'm going to find Father God right now... Brother Yun, wait for me for a little while. I'll be right back to accompany you."
Meng Jianxi smiled: "How enviable. If you two marry and have children soon, you will surely be the treasures of both our Weaving Dream and Zhe Tian kingdoms."
Yun Che laughed: "Brother Xi doesn't have any offspring yet, so why should I be in a hurry?"
Meng Jianxi shook his head: "I'm not afraid of Brother Yuan laughing at me. Although I am married... my talent cannot compare to Brother Yuan's. I have yet to truly master the Weaving Dream Divine Canon. I truly dare not easily lose my virginity."
Yun Che: "Uh...?"
Meng Jianxi waved his hand with a smile: "Just a small matter, nothing to worry about. I'll go inform Father God and the various Dream Masters now. Brother Yuan, do your best to recover here. When the gate to the God Sleep Forbidden Domain opens, I will come to inform Brother Yuan at the appropriate time."
A full half-hour later, Hua Caili returned gracefully. Clearly, she had gone through quite a struggle, likely having to drag Hua Qingying in as reinforcement, before finally barely obtaining Hua Fuchen's permission.
Then, she quietly stayed by Yun Che's side, gazing dazedly at him as he closed his eyes to recover amidst the white light. For several hours, she couldn't bear to look away.
In her world, after today, they would truly and completely belong to each other.
They had walked the edge of death together and broken through the great barrier set by the Abyss Emperor. The double Wild Devouring Punishment had filled Yun Che's entire body with pain, but it had also deeply engraved Yun Che's figure—along with the promise she had shouted atop the Eden Cloud—into every corner of Hua Caili's soul... No one else could ever enter, and no one could ever erase or replace him.
She quietly extended her slender jade fingers and gently traced across Yun Che's body. Her eyes sometimes glimmered with smiles, sometimes with misty haze, sometimes with deep longing... All converging in her gaze, reflecting only an undying devotion.
...
At the edge of Pure Land, all the kingdoms had gathered... except for the Senluo Divine Kingdom.
As Dugu Zhuyuan's hand gestures changed, the long-dormant profound array before them suddenly blazed with intense spatial divine light... but it was a slightly odd gray color.
Shen Wuyi of the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom stood at the front. The God Sleep Forbidden Domain had been opened for her, so she was qualified to be the first to step in.
The Star Moon Divine Kingdom had Xianyue, and the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom had Pan Buzhuo... When Hua Caili and Yun Che stepped forward together, it naturally drew a host of astonished looks.
Hua Caili's skill in the way of the sword was evident to all... but Hua Fuchen had never been willing to let her take risks.
Dugu Zhuyuan swept his gaze over everyone and said indifferently: "Step into this array, and you will enter the God Sleep Forbidden Domain. Anything you obtain inside belongs to you; there is no need to report it to Pure Land. However, I must remind you all that through this Void-Breaking Array, your teleportation positions within the God Sleep Forbidden Domain will not be fixed."
"In other words, from the very beginning, there is a high probability that you will be isolated and without support."
Hua Fuchen's brow visibly sank by a fraction.
Dugu Zhuyuan shifted his gaze. When no one showed cowardice or retreated, he continued: "However, considering that all entrants this time are divine successors of the various kingdoms, the Abyss Emperor has specially granted the gift of preservation."
With that, he waved his finger, and five faint shining stars flew toward the five individuals, condensing on their shoulders into a jade bead that shimmered with a faint gray light.
"This is a special Void-Breaking Divine Jade. At the seventy-second hour after you enter the God Sleep Forbidden Domain, it will forcibly shatter and send you back here. If, during those seventy-two hours, you encounter an irresistible danger, you can actively destroy this bead and retreat safely."
Upon hearing this, the elders of the various divine kingdoms all felt a great relief, their tense expressions swept away. Hua Fuchen and Meng Kongchan's faces brightened, and they exchanged a rather surprised glance.
Given the Abyss Emperor's temperament... he had never been one to bestow such favors specially.
Xianyue immediately expressed gratitude: "In that case, please thank the Abyss Emperor for his gift on our behalf, Senior Dugu. We are deeply grateful."
Dugu Zhuyuan made no comment. He turned sideways and said: "Consider this journey a trial. Do not force yourselves into danger out of greed. Otherwise, once you fall into a desperate situation and fail to shatter the Void-Breaking Divine Jade in time, no one will be able to save you."
"Everyone, please proceed."
Before his words had faded, Shen Wuyi had already moved, diving straight into the array without a moment's hesitation.
Pan Buzhuo glanced at the Void-Breaking Divine Jade on his shoulder, smiled lightly, and stepped into the array with an imposing manner.
"Abyss Divine Son, Zhe Tian Divine Maiden, please go ahead." Xianyue stepped aside, his expression quite friendly. Clearly, he intended to form a bond with Yun Che.
Yun Che responded: "Alright, then we won't stand on ceremony. If we are fortunate enough to meet the Moon Divine Son within the forbidden domain, perhaps we can fight side by side."
Xianyue smiled: "Xianyue greatly looks forward to it."
Yun Che and Hua Caili stepped into the Void-Breaking Array side by side. The moment their figures were swallowed by the spatial divine light, Hua Caili's voice called out:
"Brother Yun, you must never take risks alone. Wait for me... I will find you as quickly as I can."
The gray light flashed, and both light and sound vanished simultaneously. Yun Che slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the space before him would no longer be that of Pure Land.
—