# Chapter 2169: Lonely Cloud
"So Caili has come, then this kid is Yun Che?"
A calm, emotionless old man's voice came. Yun Che followed the sound and saw a figure sitting peacefully on a high platform made of piled exotic wood and abyss crystals. He wore a simple gray robe, had a tall and slender build, hair and beard half-white, and his face showed slight signs of age, yet he could still be described as "handsome."
The gaze he cast downward carried warmth, but his eyes held no real warmth; his demeanor bore no deliberate majesty, yet Yun Che vaguely felt a pressure that seeped straight into the depths of his soul.
And this intangible pressure gave him a rather deep sense of familiarity.
Yun Che's eyes narrowed slightly... This person was one of the four Divine Officials of Pure Land, the Wandao Divine Official, who managed the resources of Pure Land.
With such vast aura and such astounding foundation as the Wandao Divine Pavilion, the person guarding it was undoubtedly extremely strict and cautious.
Yun Che bowed respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant: "This junior, Yun Che of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, pays respects to the Wandao Divine Official."
"Mm." The Wandao Divine Official nodded lightly, a smile on his face, yet his eyes held no trace of amusement: "Truly, both appearance and bearing are extraordinary. That Caili's heart moved to follow you is you profiting, kid."
Yun Che: "?"
These words made Yun Che uncomfortable, but given the other's status, he did not show it on his face.
"Grandpa Wandao!" Hua Caili looked up at him, smiling brightly: "What ancient book are you studying today?"
"Heh." The Wandao Divine Official laughed leisurely, nonchalantly: "No matter how ancient a book, it can't be older than your Grandpa Wandao's age. Just some mortal oddities with occasional merits. Like where some strange abyss crystal was dug up, or where some beauty grew up, tsk."
Hua Caili pursed her lips and teased: "Uncle Liuxiao says you've probably touched nearly a million women in your lifetime. Now you're an old grandpa, yet you still don't cut back on these strange thoughts."
Yun Che: "..."
The Wandao Divine Official narrowed his eyes slightly: "I taste all things, how could women be missing? But this abyssal world is too filthy, hard to find spiritual charm. What's a million? Compared to you and your aunt, they're just a pile of barely swallowable mortal flesh. And all the beautiful meat in this history comes from the Divine Kingdom. Pity, what a pity."
Yun Che's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, then instantly returned to calm.
"Talking about these strange things again," Hua Caili muttered softly.
The Wandao Divine Official's gaze returned to the scroll before him, and he said in an extremely casual tone: "I have already received a sound transmission from Yuan Huang. Of these profound artifacts here, you may choose any one."
The moment he finished speaking, the world before Yun Che's eyes flipped. When space stabilized again, the previous vastness and majesty had completely transformed into a sharpness and murderous intent that shocked the heart and shook the soul.
It was as if countless ferocious beasts that had slept for ten thousand years suddenly awakened. Boundless killing intent and murderous aura erupted from every corner of the world, instantly turning the entire space into a terrifying killing domain woven with sharp edges.
Various profound artifacts filled the view all the way to the horizon. Though not unsheathed, not releasing heavenly power, they already made the surrounding air crackle from being cut, and even space showed fine cracks. Vast murderous aura converged into a river, flowing slowly through the entire Divine Pavilion space.
Yun Che seemed to suddenly realize something, and said half in surprise, half in gratitude: "So... Caili, you used Yuan Huang's favor to help me choose a new weapon?"
"Mm!" Hua Caili's smile bloomed, her eyes sparkling like crushed diamonds, and in that light was reflected the figure of Yun Che: "Without Master's Yunli Sword, Brother Yun is missing a bit of Master's companionship. Although... although I dare not compare myself to Brother Yun's master, I want to..."
Yun Che suddenly reached out, his fingertip gently pressing against her soft lips, stopping her from continuing: "Talking nonsense again. Master is gone, but forever in my heart. And you are not only in my heart, but also by my side. There is never any comparison to be made."
Hua Caili's gaze froze for a moment, then her smile fully bloomed, pure and beautiful, surpassing the clearest heavenly light above the Pure Land sky.
On the distant platform, the Wandao Divine Official let out a snort only he could hear: "Smooth talk."
Hua Caili took Yun Che's hand and stepped forward very carefully: "Uncle Yuan Huang said that no matter which one you like, you can take it, even if Grandpa Wandao is unwilling, he can't stop it. But there is very terrifying murderous aura inside the weapon pavilion, which can invade the heart and disturb the soul. Before stepping inside, one must use profound energy to block it."
As she spoke, a faint sword light flickered in her eyes, and she built an exquisite sword energy domain around them.
Yun Che, however, remained expressionless, making no move at all, until just as they were about to enter the weapon pavilion, the Wandao Divine Official's voice, hard to read in tone, sounded in his ear: "Kid, use profound energy to defend yourself. The murderous aura here is not something a junior like you can withstand."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior."
Yun Che responded with due courtesy, but still didn't release any profound energy. Instead, he strode forward directly into the terrifying murderous domain woven by thousands of weapons ahead.
Hua Caili subconsciously reached out to stop him, but withdrew halfway. The ferocity of the weapons here was indeed not something ordinary people could endure, but her man—how could he be compared to ordinary people?
One step forward, and the already intense murderous aura suddenly condensed like lead. Walking within it was like having ten thousand mountains pressing down, making it hard to breathe momentarily. Boundless dark energy pierced through profound energy like needles, straight into the skin and flesh, bringing a bone-deep cold, and then igniting a violent burning pain deep in the marrow, as if two extreme forces were tearing and struggling inside his body.
But compared to the physical pressure, the soul's assault was even more terrifying. All five senses were twisted in an instant. Sight became dark and blurred, his nose filled with a rusty, metallic sweetness and decay, as if he weren't breathing air, but the death qi rising from ten million dry bones.
The darkness in his heart was wildly stirred up, unconsciously bringing forth mad thoughts of slaughter and destruction, as if possessed by countless ferocious souls, his reason gradually collapsing under the violence.
That was the yin-killing aura and slaughter essence that had accumulated over millions of years from countless profound artifacts. To withstand it relied not so much on cultivation level, but on experience... or rather, the madness and blood of living beings that had been experienced in the heart and stained on the body.
One step... two steps... ten steps...
Yun Che walked slowly among them, his eyes sweeping over one profound artifact after another, his expression unchanged, his breath unruffled, strolling as if admiring fine objects.
"Oh?" The Wandao Divine Official slowly turned his gaze, for the first time focusing on Yun Che's figure.
"Brother Yun, do you feel any discomfort?" Hua Caili walked beside him, her eyes holding three parts concern and seven parts admiration.
Yun Che smiled faintly and said calmly: "No matter how strong or fierce the aura of a profound artifact, it is ultimately just a lifeless object. Only when it meets its master does it gain life. If you regard it with reverence, it will take advantage. If you look down on it as a dead thing, then it is just a dead thing—what right does it have to make one afraid?"
"Hmm..." Hua Caili seemed to understand, but her eyes sparkled with admiration: "As expected of Brother Yun. Like this... the murderous aura here really doesn't seem so scary anymore."
Yun Che's steps suddenly stopped. His gaze turned downward, focusing on a faint gray shadow in the bottom corner.
It was a large sword, covered in gray, simple and unadorned.
Every single artifact that existed here was extraordinary. The "Eternal Firmament Rock" on Mo Beichen that had once forced Yun Che into a dead end most likely came from here. Their aura and divine radiance were all extremely intense, either to display weapon might, to repel life force, or to attract their master.
But this gray large sword emitted no sword light or sword might at all. It hid itself in the most cramped, lightless corner, and under the overwhelming weapon aura around it, it was even difficult to perceive its existence.
Its existence was out of place with the surrounding world, only holding endless, lightless loneliness.
Yun Che reached out and grasped the gray sword hilt. His palm was covered with a layer of thick ancient dust.
He closed his fingers, raised his arm... The gray sword didn't move at all.
"Eh?" Hua Caili opened her mouth, surprised: "Brother Yun, you're not going to..."
Boom—
Yun Che's profound energy exploded, directly opening the Evil God Realm Gate to Yama King. Instantly, a booming sound rang out, and the heavy gray sword was slowly dragged up from the ground, standing before him, bringing a thunderous metallic sound. A slightly startled Hua Caili subconsciously covered her ears.
He tightened his fingers again, slowly brought the sword horizontally before his chest, then turned to look at the Wandao Divine Official, saying clearly: "May I ask, Senior Wandao, what is the name of this sword?"
The Wandao Divine Official replied indifferently: "This sword was not forged in Pure Land. Perhaps from a distant era, obtained in the Divine Slumber Forbidden Domain. Its origin is unknown. Other than being extremely heavy, it contains no divine aura, breeds no sword spirit, and no one pays it any mind. Thus, it has never been given a name. If it hadn't already been forgotten, it should have been turned into waste material for forging."
Clearly, if Yun Che hadn't picked it up today, the Wandao Divine Official would have even forgotten that such a nameless, soulless sword still existed here.
These words were enough to make anyone who entered abandon it without hesitation, but Yun Che turned around, sword in hand, casting no further glance at the endless weapon pavilion: "Then this is it."
"..." The Wandao Divine Official narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze unreadable.
Although surprised, Hua Caili gladly trusted Yun Che's choice: "Alright. Since it has no name yet, let Brother Yun give it a name."
Yun Che looked at its gray blade and slowly spoke two words: "Lonely... Cloud."
"..." Li Suo seemed about to speak but stopped.
Boom!
Blazing flames ignited on the blade, and surging heat instantly dispersed the surrounding killing and murderous aura, causing many profound artifacts to hum.
"From today, you will be my companion. No longer a nameless, solitary sword forgotten here!"
The flaming blade let out trembling sounds. The long-silent sword body released a heavy authority, as if this soulless giant sword was trying its utmost to respond to him.
"Lonely... Cloud..." Hua Caili murmured softly, tilting her head slightly, and said seriously: "For the sword Brother Yun names, having the word 'cloud' is of course best. But why 'Lonely Cloud'? With me here, I will never let Brother Yun be lonely."
Yun Che lowered his eyes slightly, looking into the girl's pure eyes, and said: "'Lonely' doesn't just mean solitude. It also symbolizes the irreplaceable uniqueness of heaven and earth!"
He quietly leaned close to Hua Caili's ear, and said in an extremely soft voice: "Even your Uncle Yuan Huang calls himself 'the Lonely One.'"
Hua Caili suddenly understood: "I see. Mm! My Brother Yun is, of course, truly unique between heaven and earth."
The Wandao Divine Official twitched the corner of his mouth, letting out a faint snort again: "This little girl, she's already feeding herself sweet talk. Pity, what a pity."
He said aloud: "The artifacts you've seen are not even one ten-thousandth of what is stored here. Once you step out of here, there will be no chance to change. Kid, have you truly thought it through?"
"This junior has already chosen and sees no need to change."
Yun Che replied without a trace of hesitation. He put away Lonely Cloud, took Hua Caili's hand, and walked out of the weapon pavilion, then gave a distant bow: "This junior's wish is fulfilled, so I shall no longer disturb you. Farewell."
If it had been another Divine Official, he would have considered getting closer. But this Wandao Divine Official, despite his very calm appearance and gaze, made him feel uncomfortable.
"Mm, go ahead then." The Wandao Divine Official replied casually, his eyes on the scroll, never once stepping down from the platform.
"Grandpa Wandao, we're leaving. Next time I come to Pure Land, I'll visit you again. Oh right, I haven't thanked you for giving me the Liyun Sword!"
The Wandao Divine Official didn't look up, saying indifferently: "I didn't give you the Liyun Sword. The Liyun Sword chose you. Since the last time you left, the Liyun Sword trembled ceaselessly, howling day and night, so I threw it to your aunt. To find a compatible master is your fortune and its destiny. No need to thank me."
As he spoke, his hand casually swept down, and the space of the Divine Pavilion flipped again, hiding the weapon pavilion in an unknown void.
And as he swept his hand, Yun Che caught a flash of golden light that flickered in his eyes.
In that instant, Yun Che understood where the familiarity came from.
That was clearly the Brahma Emperor Divine Power that Qianye Ying'er cultivated! Only the realm was so high that he couldn't immediately align it with his knowledge.
Could this Wandao Divine Official possibly be one of the Sword Servant Divine Clans under the Heaven-Slaying God Emperor... an ancient Brahma God of the Brahma Emperor Divine Clan!?
Leaving the Wandao Divine Pavilion, Hua Caili was in an excellent mood. As she laughed and chatted, she noticed that Yun Che's brow was slightly furrowed. She immediately asked: "Brother Yun, you seem unhappy. Is it... because of the lost Yunli Sword again?"
Yun Che snapped back to attention and shook his head: "I remember when you mentioned the Wandao Divine Official to me before, you said he was an old grandpa who was always smiling and especially kind."
"Yes," Hua Caili blinked: "Grandpa Wandao has always been like that. I've never seen him angry, although... I don't know why the Abyss Knights all seem very afraid of him."
Yun Che thought briefly: "From now on, perhaps it's best to come to this Wandao Divine Pavilion less often."
"Huh?" Hua Caili was surprised and puzzled: "Why?"
"Maybe..." Yun Che casually made an excuse: "I simply don't like it here?"
"Alright." Hua Caili nodded in agreement: "Then I won't come here anymore. Any place Brother Yun doesn't like, I naturally won't like either."
After briefly parting with Hua Caili, when Yun Che returned to their original spot, Meng Kongchan was already waiting for him.
He didn't ask what the Lingxian Divine Official had summoned him for. Meng Kongchan just smiled faintly and said: "You're back just in time. I've already taken my leave from the Great Divine Official. It's time to leave Pure Land and return to fully prepare for stepping into the Eternal Pure Land."
"But before we leave, there's a big show to watch."
"A big show?" Yun Che raised an eyebrow slightly.
Meng Jianxi smiled mysteriously: "You'll know when the time comes."
At that moment, Yun Che suddenly frowned slightly and said in an extremely low voice: "Senior, at this very moment, is someone spying on this place?"
Meng Kongchan's gaze shifted and fixed on Yun Che for a moment, then slowly said: "No. Where the Divine Venerable is, even in Pure Land, no one would be so rude as to spy. Why do you say that, Abyss Child?"
Yun Che's brow relaxed a little: "Ever since I entered the Divine Slumber Forbidden Domain, I've occasionally felt a divine consciousness secretly spying on me. It just appeared again. But if even Senior is completely unaware... then it's most likely an illusion."
Meng Kongchan narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a brief silence, slowly spoke: "In this world, even Yuan Huang cannot approach with his divine consciousness without disturbing my soul aura. Perhaps the soul wound you sustained from the Wild Devouring Punishment hasn't fully healed, causing occasional strange sensations."
His implication was that it was not "most likely" an illusion, but definitely an illusion.
"Abyss Brother," Meng Jianxi said with some concern: "Soul wounds are no small matter. It's best to rest for a while after returning. Don't push yourself."
"Mm, I understand." Yun Che nodded in agreement, and the furrow between his brows slowly, completely relaxed.
A faint sense of being watched...
Yet even the Divine Venerable, with the strongest soul power in this world, sensed nothing...
The spying he felt in the Divine Slumber Forbidden Domain could still be suspected as a trace of an ancient remnant soul not completely annihilated by the abyssal dust.
But this was Pure Land!
Like this... it truly must be an illusion created by the soul wound left from the Wild Devouring Punishment.
With this thought, Yun Che closed his eyes to clear his heart. In just a few breaths, he forcibly cast aside all strange thoughts.
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