Chapter 2182: "Rebirth Formation"
The moment Shen Wuyi stepped out of the barrier, Yun Che's figure flickered, following closely behind.
His expression was leisurely, with a hint of satisfaction that he could not seem to forcibly suppress.
"Wuyi!"
Shen Wumingque appeared beside her almost instantly, her gaze and profound energy sweeping over her several times. After confirming that she was unharmed, she seemed to relax slightly.
Shen Wuyi gave her a faint smile. "Aunt, no need to worry. The Abyss Divine Son may appear domineering, but he actually harbors the demeanor of a gentleman within. He is quite impressive. I have not failed in my mission this time. Aunt, let us go."
"Thank you for the compliment. I shall not see you off." Yun Che grinned widely, wearing an expression of having gotten what he wanted... even a hint of lingering satisfaction, which invited much speculation.
Shen Wumingque shielded Shen Wuyi and did not linger. "Let's go!"
The two floated to midair. Just as they were about to speed away, Shen Wuyi suddenly paused, stopping there.
Shen Wumingque half-turned to look at her, a puzzled look in her eyes, but she did not forcibly take her away.
Shen Wuyi turned her gaze slightly and spoke in a calm, slow tone. "Abyss Divine Son, between us, this is ultimately just a conflict among the younger generation. Even if your methods are clever and everything goes as you wish, so what? No matter how a Divine Venerable controls his subjects, it is nothing more than a child's game in the grand scheme of life."
On the surface, these words were a veiled criticism of Yun Che for contending over temporary dignity, calling it an immature act of childish stubbornness that did not understand how to hide one's edge. The Six Divine Kingdoms ultimately had the Divine Venerables as the supreme authority; conflicts among the younger generation, no matter how large, were just child's play.
But... this was no longer a cultivation space devoid of prying eyes. Her stopping and speaking these words in front of everyone must contain important hidden meaning.
Yun Che's eyes narrowed, and he understood her meaning in an instant.
She was saying: Even if you truly succeed in stirring up chaos among the Divine Kingdoms, what then? If Yuan Huang makes a move, with his unparalleled prestige of three million years, even the greatest turmoil would be easily quelled.
Yun Che crossed his arms, the leisure on his face fading slightly. He spoke unhurriedly. "Those Divine Venerables, what kind of existences are they? How could they have the leisure to stoop to meddle in the affairs of juniors? I, Yun Che, did not grow up in a Divine Kingdom. At heart, I am a commoner—narrow-minded, vindictive, and I have never been one to tolerate even the slightest loss. I advise the Eternal Night Divine Maiden, whether willing or forced, to provoke me as little as possible."
Hidden meaning: I have my own ways to make Yuan Huang unwilling and unable to interfere.
She turned her head and gazed deeply at Yun Che.
He said he could make Senluo, Zhe Tian, and Weaving Dream turn against each other. He said he had planted a cognitive hint and a trigger-ready suggestion in the Dreamless Divine Venerable's mind. He said he could bring disaster upon Eternal Night from the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom...
Now, he said he could restrain the supreme Yuan Huang...
The emperor of the Eternal Pure Land... her husband, bound by a marriage contract...
Facing those eyes, clear enough to hold not a single particle of dust, and that joy and guilt so profound they had no end...
And that sincerity and caution, as if he wished he could dig out his very heart and soul and present them before her...
She saw it all, and perceived it so clearly that it touched her soul.
What kind of past and secrets did he carry...
What kind of grudges and entanglements had occurred between them...
Was her utterly irrational choice due to her rejection of this world, or... because of him...
Unprecedented, incomprehensible, and complex emotions surged silently within her. She did not speak another word. Her figure drifted gracefully and vanished into the distance.
No one knew, and no one could imagine, that this seemingly forced transaction, a conflict of grievances between divine successors, was actually pulling the threads of fate for the entire Abyss Realm.
Yun Che watched Shen Wuyi leave with Shen Wumingque, then turned around and returned directly to the cultivation space.
As for how Shen Wuyi would explain to Shen Wumingque and the Wuming Divine Venerable what had happened during their time alone, he had no need to worry at all.
Standing alone in the cultivation space, Yun Che pondered deeply for a long time. He extended his right hand and looked at his palm.
The terrifying feeling of being torn apart by spatial rifts when he fell into the Abyss of Nothingness was still clear. When he successfully landed in the Abyss Realm, his body, as strong as it was, had no intact part left. His internal organs were covered in countless cracks, all held together by the last remnants of his profound energy.
She was heavily injured and on the verge of death, her profound power exhausted. How had she safely passed through the Abyss passage? Where had she gone during the missing twenty years...
He could not find even a single possibility that could give him some comfort.
Could it really only be understood as 'divine blessing'...
Sensing his troubled state, Li Suo gently comforted him. "Perhaps, when she fell into the abyss, she happened to touch a dimensional rift torn open by spatial turbulence, which directly teleported her to this world. Perhaps the time laws of this world have become completely disordered, and the distortion of time flow by the time black tides is fluctuating violently, causing the temporal confusion."
"Or perhaps this world... this abandoned place of the Primordial Divine, still hides many unknown secrets. It is difficult enough to understand a person, let alone the entirety of a vast world."
"But... as Shen Wuyi said, the path ahead is extremely difficult. There is no need to dwell excessively on unresolved matters of the past."
"Mm, I know." Yun Che replied calmly. He lowered his arm, collected his thoughts, and seemed to let it go, no longer dwelling on it.
But a thread of unease that could not be dispelled still lingered in his soul.
Its name... the unknown.
............
Eternal Night Divine Kingdom, dark and oppressive.
Clang... crack... clang... crack...
Heavy shackles scraped against cold gravel, each sound heavier than the last, each dragging a powerless defeat, every step heavy, every step hopeless.
A group of thirty people, thirty pairs of shackles that pierced flesh and bone. Every step brought excruciating pain, but none dared to fly, none dared to lift their deeply bowed heads.
As the lowest of criminal slaves in the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom, the 'livestock' in the mouth of the Wuming Divine Venerable, they did not have the right to fly within the kingdom.
Clang... crack... clang... crack...
Their steps were uniform and silent, their eyes devoid of light, their expressions flat, like mechanical walking corpses. The blood-stained shackles bound not only their bodies but also their broken souls and their crushed faith and dignity.
The leader had long hair half-gray, his face dirty and grimy. The thick layers of blood and plasma on his body carried a nauseating stench. His coarse face was hidden beneath his messy long hair, concealing eyes that once dominated all living beings.
Even low-level profound practitioners from borderlands would avoid him in disgust, not even bothering to spare a glance of contempt or pity.
None could ever dream that this filthy, stinking, shackled man had a profound cultivation as high as the ninth level of the Divine Extreme Realm.
He was once a teacher to the Divine Son of the Divine Kingdom, a transcendent existence whose profound power and status were second only to the Divine Venerable.
A name that, when mentioned by the powerful of the Divine Kingdoms, only drew sighs...
Shen Wuye Feng.
When Shen Wuyanye seized the divine source and became the Wuming Divine Venerable, he fell from being the teacher of the Divine Son and the arm of the Divine Venerable to the lowest of criminal slaves in the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom.
All because he was a man bearing the surname 'Shen Wu'.
And his duty as a criminal slave was to lead other Shen Wu men, also reduced to slaves, time and again into the deep Mist Sea, using their blood, wounds, and lives to bring back Abyss Crystals... any deficiency would be severely punished if the quota was not met.
Under the Eternal Night Death-Seeking Seal, they dared only to die, not to flee.
But what truly trapped Shen Wuye Feng was not the Eternal Night Death-Seeking Seal, but his wife...
Shen Wuyouluan.
Even if his dignity was shattered and he suffered endless humiliation, he did not dare to die, to flee, or to resist... year after year, night after night. Only her safety remained the comfort and support that never extinguished.
A beam of light approached from afar, slowed as it entered the kingdom, and passed slowly overhead.
Without raising his head, Shen Wuye Feng knelt and prostrated, speaking in a hoarse voice. "Criminal slave Ye Feng, respectfully welcomes the Divine Maiden and the Night Patrol Envoy."
All the 'criminal slaves' knelt and prostrated, causing a harsh, grating sound of shackles colliding.
Even if these shackles were ten times stronger, they could easily break free. But their existence was not for restraint; it was pure humiliation.
Shen Wuyi and Shen Wumingque did not stop, nor did they cast even a glance. Criminal slaves did not deserve any response, nor could they approach any Eternal Night woman; they were only fit to be the lowest tools and servants... such was the era of Shen Wuyanye.
Shen Wuye Feng remained kneeling and prostrating, motionless, until the auras of Shen Wuyi and Shen Wumingque faded into the distance. Only then did he rise first, and then, trembling, continued forward.
But the shackles seemed even heavier and harsher.
His direction seemed to deviate slightly, until at some point, his steps and his aura brushed against the space beneath Shen Wuyi's flight path.
His steps did not stop; his deathly stillness remained... but beneath the filthy, smelly hair, a flicker of abnormal light briefly flashed.
Within the Eternal Night Divine Hall, the 'Panlong Seven Profound Crystal' floated in midair, emitting an extremely peculiar aura and abyssal light... Even Shen Wuyanye, behind the black curtain, had never felt such an unusual Abyss Crystal aura.
A sharp profound light suddenly shot out, instantly pulling the 'Panlong Seven Profound Crystal' behind the black curtain. Then, the surrounding air began to churn violently, causing even the entire space to tremble slightly.
Shen Wumingque's fingers tightened slightly, her heart pounding like a drum. She had served Shen Wuyanye for so many years, enduring her countless bouts of furious madness, but never once had her emotions been so disordered... not from anger, but from an extremely intense excitement and ecstasy.
Sssss—ssss!
The black curtain was torn apart by the chaotic airflow, revealing a pair of hands twisted in excitement, with ten fingers completely contorted. No one could understand what this moment meant to the Wuming Divine Venerable, perhaps not even she herself fully knew.
This terrifying emotional disorder lasted for a long time. When it finally subsided, Shen Wumingque bowed deeply. "Congratulations, Venerable, for achieving your wish. This is heaven's blessing upon you and upon our Eternal Night Divine Kingdom."
The world suddenly fell silent. Amid the sudden hush, the black curtain was violently thrown open, and a surge of wild energy directly enveloped Shen Wumingque, accompanied by a rage-filled roar like a vengeful spirit:
"Wretched thing!"
With a dull thud, Shen Wumingque was blasted back to her knees, blood oozing from her seven orifices.
"Who gave you the audacity to act on your own?"
The violent voice nearly tore the ears. Shen Wumingque did not dare to resist or defend. Pale-faced, she prostrated again. "Mingque... admits fault..."
"Mother-God!" Shen Wuyi hastily pleaded. "Please calm your anger. This is not Aunt Mingque's fault. It was Wuyi who insisted..."
"Shut up!"
Shen Wuyi's voice was abruptly cut off. The same Shen Wuyanye who had moments ago been so excited she lost control now transformed into a raging vengeful spirit. "Wuyi, your audacity is truly growing. Such a major matter, yet you dared to hide it from me and leave the domain without permission! To go and beg that loathsome Yun Che!"
"Do you think that by retrieving this Panlong Seven Profound Crystal, I will let this matter slide and even be grateful to you?"
"No..." Shen Wuyi shook her head in panic. "Mother's wish is more important than Wuyi's life. Today's matter, regardless of cause or effect, was Wuyi's fault first. Please, Mother, mete out punishment. Wuyi... has no regrets or resentment."
"Punishment? The shameful deed is done, the humiliation complete. What use is punishment?"
Shen Wuyanye's voice grew even more shrill. "You trampled over Dian Jiuzhi at the Eden Cloud Peak, received the personal favor of Yuan Huang, and severely humiliated those base men, finally winning me some face!"
"Yet now, in barely two months, you have voluntarily stooped to beg a filthy, deceitful beast..." The terrible voice began to carry an increasingly violent tremor. "You are my daughter, my chosen divine successor! And you commit such a degrading, filthy act!"
Shen Wuyi's face turned pale. She opened her lips, a faint tremor escaping, as if she wanted to explain something, but in the end, she bowed deeply, filled with infinite guilt. "Wuyi... admits fault... please calm your anger, Mother. Your soul wound has not yet healed... you must not anger yourself further..."
"Mingque!" Shen Wuyanye's voice shifted sharply. "Speak! How exactly did you obtain this Panlon Profound Crystal? If you dare utter a single false word, I will tear you apart right now!"
Shen Wumingque shuddered violently. Following the instructions Shen Wuyi had given upon their return, she recounted everything truthfully. "Reporting to Venerable... Wuyi and Yun Che were alone for one kè. Outsiders could not pry. After that one kè, Yun Che handed the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal to Wuyi."
Boom—
Space exploded, extreme anger split the soul.
The voice from behind the black curtain twisted into the screech of an abyssal ghost. "Wuyi... do you still remember... what I hate most!"
"Wuyi... dare not forget." Shen Wuyi murmured softly. "Mother hates the men of this world the most, and hates betrayal and defiance the most..."
Bang!
She slammed down with a palm, and the Eternal Night Divine Hall immediately cracked, with rubble flying everywhere. "You remember! If you remember, how dare you still come into close contact with that filthy beast! You... you..."
"Mother-God, Wuyi did not! And she would never do such a thing!"
Shen Wuyi raised her head, her eyes carrying three parts sorrow and seven parts determination. "Mother's teachings, Wuyi has never forgotten for even a moment. No matter what, Wuyi will never allow Yun Che... nor any man in this world to touch her even a little."
She extended her hands, facing Shen Wuyanye's anger directly. "If Mother does not believe me, she can thoroughly inspect the aura on Wuyi's body. Wuyi and Yun Che have not seen each other for even twelve hours. If there had truly been any contact, it could never escape Mother's perception."
Shen Wuyanye had no sight, but that made her other senses extremely acute. She had an extreme, bone-deep hatred and disgust for the aura of men. Even a trace would trigger her spiritual sense, stir her abyss of hatred, and leave no hiding place.
In fact, when Shen Wuyi entered the hall, Shen Wuyanye's perception had already swept over her entire body. If there had been any aura of Yun Che... or any man on her, her fury would have been far more than this.
"Men's flesh and blood are filthy and vile, and their hearts and minds are the most dirty and disgusting things in the world! You offered yourself willingly; how could such a beast not have wicked thoughts... and how could he easily hand over the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal to you!"
Although Shen Wuyanye could not see, Shen Wuyi still looked up at her, her eyes filled with flawless sincerity. "Reporting to Mother, Wuyi went with the intention of apologizing. If I could fulfill Mother's wish, I would not hesitate even to kneel and lose my dignity, but I never once thought of overstepping Mother's teachings."
"But... while alone with Yun Che, he stood far opposite me and did not make any request of me. He did not even ask for an apology. He merely said some slanderous and offensive words about Mother, and then handed the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal to me."
"Wuyi knows this is hard for Mother to believe, but every word is true. If there is a single false word, Wuyi is willing to have her bones and body corroded by abyssal dust..."
"Slanderous and offensive words about me?" The shriek suddenly turned vicious... If it were any other Divine Venerable, they would dismiss the words of a junior, but she was Shen Wuyanye, mad as a ghost. "What did he say!?"
Shen Wuyi was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied. "Just some absurd and dirty words, not fit for Mother's ears..."
"Speak!! Word for word!"
"No falsehood, no omission!"
"...Yes!" Shen Wuyi closed her eyes helplessly and "repeated" in a very soft voice:
"He said... that although Mother is a Divine Venerable, she is actually nothing more than a... foolish and senseless madwoman. He didn't need to do anything at all, only... only needed to keep me for this one quarter-hour. Even if I returned with the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal, Mother would not take it as a merit, but instead... would rage... curse... punish... and then create an irreparable rift. Just like... just like Shen Wuqing, who once approached Pan Buwang."
"Such a revenge is effortless and bloodless."
As she spoke, her voice unconsciously grew softer, and her head gradually drooped, as if she could hardly face Shen Wuyanye's fury that could erupt at any moment.
If one could see through the black curtain, they would witness every organ and every fiber of muscle on the terrifying face of the Wuming Divine Venerable trembling violently.
"Yun Che's words" perfectly matched her previous mad rage, like a resounding slap that directly crossed the two kingdoms and struck the face of the Wuming Divine Venerable.
Shen Wuyi continued in a fearful tone. "These absurdities are truly unworthy of defiling Mother's ears. Wuyi deeply knows that Mother's anger is truly because she cannot bear to see Wuyi humiliated and disgraced, not at all as Yun Che said. Shen Wuqing was wrong first and deserved punishment. How could she and I be..."
"Get out..."
She rasped, then followed with a throat-tearing roar:
"Get out!!"
Rumble————
Space erupted in chaos, a terrifying boom shaking the entire Eternal Night Divine Kingdom. The figures of Shen Wuyi and Shen Wumingque were blasted far away, landing a hundred kilometers away.
Shen Wumingque shielded Shen Wuyi and let out a long sigh of relief.
Every audience with Shen Wuyanye was undoubtedly stepping into a terrible nightmare.
The figure of Shen Wuyouluan rushed over. Before she even got close, she was already asking with concern. "What happened? Wuyi, are you alright?"
Shen Wuyi smiled faintly and shook her head. "I'm fine. I was not thoughtful in my actions and angered Mother."
Seeing that Shen Wuyi was unharmed, Shen Wuyouluan breathed a slight sigh of relief. She cast a surreptitious glance at Shen Wumingque and asked softly. "Mingque, Wuyi, did you really find the Panlong Seven Profound Crystal?"
"Yes!" Shen Wumingque nodded. "And it has been handed to the Venerable."
Shen Wuyouluan's eyes sparkled with a strange light, and she said eagerly. "So then, the Abyss Crystals needed for the Venerable's 'Rebirth' technique are all gathered? That... that would mean..."
Shen Wuyi slowly shook her head. "Mother's matters, she will decide on her own. We need not speak rashly; we only await Mother's orders."
Amid the swirling dust and the remaining tides of rage, a withered hand slowly opened an ancient book shrouded in abyssal dust.
Night Withered Pearl, Liuyào Essence Cleansing Jade, Ming Soul Stone, Heiyào Evil-Exorcising Crystal, Abyss Heart Vine, Panlong Seven Profound Crystal...
According to the ancient text, the six Abyss Crystals required to construct the Rebirth Formation had all been found.
Now, only the last vestiges of abyssal dust needed to be dispersed to reveal the complete form of the Rebirth Formation...
And so... finally...
Finally...