Chapter 993: The Only Hope
"In your memories, there are some rumors from the ancient era of the gods. Among them, there is the secret of how the Heaven-Slaying God Emperor Mo E used the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword to banish a Demon Emperor and his nine hundred Demon Gods beyond the Chaos."
Yun Che nodded. These were things that the Golden Crow Soul Spirit had told him back then—how Mo E used a fragment of the Heaven-Defying World Scripture as a lure, claiming they would study it together, thus luring that Demon Emperor. Then, he used the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword to blast open the Chaos Wall, sending that Demon Emperor and all the Demon Gods he had brought flying beyond the Chaos.
[If your impression is vague, please refer back to chapters 921-922, very important!]
And beyond the Chaos is eternal nothingness. To fall into it means one can never return; perhaps the only outcome is to turn into nothingness within that void.
"Then do you know why the Heaven-Slaying God Emperor Mo E forcibly killed that Demon Emperor?"
The girl's voice was soft and gentle, like a tender whisper under the moonlight.
Yun Che thought for a moment, then said: "Back then, the Golden Crow Soul Spirit told me that the Heaven-Slaying God Emperor Mo E was extremely upright and abhorred evil. He believed that demons who used negative profound force were sinful existences, and since the fragment of the Heaven-Defying World Scripture was left by the Primordial Divine at the very beginning of Chaos, it must absolutely not fall into the hands of the demon race. So he used this method to forcefully seize it."
"Alas," the girl gave a soft sigh, carrying the helplessness of ancient times: "Back then, this was indeed a rumor that spread throughout the god and demon races, a 'truth' known to all gods and demons of that era. But... the Heaven-Slaying God Emperor Mo E was a god of extreme uprightness and hatred for evil, and naturally he would also greatly disdain vile actions. It was precisely for this reason that the Demon Emperor had no great wariness and attended the meeting without hesitation. Yet Mo E, using the Heaven-Defying World Scripture as bait, ambushed that Demon Emperor."
Yun Che opened his mouth, his heart slightly shaken.
"The Heaven-Slaying God Emperor Mo E could not fully control the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword. Each time he used the power of the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword, it cost him a great amount of his lifespan. Though he could defeat that Demon Emperor, there was absolutely no way he could overcome the Demon Emperor plus nine hundred Demon Gods without relying on the sword's power. Yet, at the cost of a massive reduction in his lifespan, he still used the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword."
Yun Che: "..."
"The Demon Emperor whom Mo E ambushed was named Jie Tian Mo Di. She was one of the four great Demon Emperors, equivalent among the demons to the Creation God among the gods. Although the god and demon realms had never been compatible with each other, they had never truly been at complete enmity either. To ambush and kill a Demon Emperor would undoubtedly enrage the entire demon realm. The consequences would likely lead to the god and demon realms becoming completely hostile, sparking a vicious war... That would be an unimaginable disaster. The Heaven-Slaying God Emperor Mo E could not have been unaware of this."
Yun Che: "..."
"Willing to use underhanded means, willing to sacrifice a great deal of his lifespan, willing to disregard the consequences of the gods and demons completely breaking ties and becoming enemies—all to eliminate Jie Tian Mo Di... How could the reason be merely because the fragment of the Heaven-Defying World Scripture originally belonged to the demon race?"
"Then... what was the real reason?" Yun Che's brow sank heavily, his heartbeat quickening... The girl was revealing secrets that even the Golden Crow Soul Spirit, even the ancient gods, did not know.
Although he didn't know why this girl was telling him this, he could already sense that what he was about to hear would be an earth-shattering ancient mystery.
The girl's voice resounded in his soul, each word deeply imprinting into the depths of his being: "That banished Jie Tian Mo Di was the only female Demon Emperor among the four great Demon Emperors. She had another identity..."
"She was Xie Shen's wife."
Five words, each one striking like a thunderbolt.
...
...
"What... what?!" Yun Che was stunned for a full ten seconds before letting out an uncontrollable roar.
Xie Shen... a god, at that time still a Creation God.
Jie Tian Mo Di... the emperor of all demons, the most powerful demon in the demon race!
The god race and the demon race, inhabiting opposing worlds, two races that could not coexist...
And these two, the most supreme existences of the god race and the demon race, were actually...
"Impossible... impossible!" Yun Che shook his head wildly: "How could this be? The two races have always been like fire and water. Those of the god race who practice negative profound force are considered traitors and evil, subject to extermination... If I didn't have the Evil God's power, I would have long been killed by the Eternal Night Demon Emperor. Such a conflict... how could it be!"
"This is indeed an unimaginable secret for all gods and demons today... No, I should say, it is an unimaginable secret shared by both the god and demon races. If the ancient gods and demons living in that era knew of it, they would be no less shocked than you."
"Then... then why..." Yun Che wanted to say "how did this happen," but he couldn't find the words.
"Back then, the three Creation Gods shaped heaven and earth, created all things, and also created the gods, ruling over all existence. After the gods were created, conflict was inevitable, giving rise to an opposing existence—the demons. The gods and demons warred endlessly. The first Creation God gave his life to transform the Chaos Wall, separating the two realms, bringing peace to both sides. However, countless years later, a Creation God fell in love with a Demon Emperor."
"No one knew how, when, or where their love began. It was an unbreakable bond between souls, an impossible destiny. The more they tried to part, the more they were drawn together. Even the gods and demons, eternal enemies, could not sever their feelings."
"Perhaps, it was the will of heaven and earth. Perhaps it was the soul oath they had sworn in the cycle of reincarnation. Perhaps, it was that after the first Creation God became the Chaos Wall, the two worlds began to gradually merge and draw closer. But no matter what, this love between Xie Shen and Jie Tian Mo Di was an absolute violation of sacred laws, unpardonable by both heaven and earth."
Yun Che slowly closed his mouth. He had originally wanted to ask, "Why are you telling me all this," but now, these words were stuck in his throat.
This secret was far too heavy. It felt like an altar he could not possibly carry on his back.
The girl in white continued: "Xie Shen and Jie Tian Mo Di had a daughter, one with the Evil God's bloodline, the Demonic Emperor's bloodline, and her own perfect, unparalleled bloodline."
Hearing "daughter," Yun Che's heart skipped a beat. He immediately thought of a certain name.
"Her name was... Jie Yuan."
"Jie Yuan..." Yun Che repeated in a low voice, as if his soul had been hollowed out.
"The birth of her daughter did not expose their secret. Their feelings only grew deeper, and their daughter was unprecedentedly perfect. But at this time, the other two Creation Gods had already noticed exceptional activity within the demon realm. The demons were frequently moving, seemingly preparing for a war that would destroy both the god and demon realms. The Creation Gods could not sit idly by. They summoned the Heaven-Slaying God Emperor Mo E, informing him of their discovery. At the same time, they also discovered Mo E's connection with Jie Tian Mo Di's husband, Xie Shen."
"Xie Shen had originally been unwilling to see the world thrown into chaos, and he wanted to try to stop the impending calamity. However, the two Creation Gods sent down a divine decree to Mo E, demanding that he take the opportunity to kill Jie Tian Mo Di. At the same time, they left behind two promises: if Mo E could accomplish this, firstly, they would ensure that Xie Shen was not held responsible and would be spared. Secondly, if Mo E could kill Jie Tian Mo Di, and if the demon realm still dared to invade, the two Creation Gods would personally take action, forcing the demons back and preserving peace."
"Mo E was extremely upright, but he was no fool. He understood clearly that the two Creation Gods were using him as an expendable pawn. But he had no choice; the two Creation Gods were too powerful, and if they turned hostile, no one could stop them. If by sacrificing himself, he could avert a calamity between the gods and demons and protect Xie Shen, then he was willing—even if it meant dying a thousand deaths."
"The appearance of the Heaven-Defying World Scripture fragment was, in fact, an arrangement by the two Creation Gods to create an opportunity for Mo E's ambush. As for that Demon Emperor... she was long aware that the two Creation Gods had discovered something and was prepared to be destroyed at any moment. But she never expected that the one who would kill her would be Xie Shen's good friend, Mo E, and that he would use the Heaven-Defying World Scripture as bait..."
"A Demon Emperor, alone and unsuspecting, against Mo E, who was prepared and determined to die. He activated the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword with all his might, blowing her and the nine hundred Demon Gods who followed her beyond the Chaos."
Yun Che was silent for a long time. Finally, he let out a long breath and said, "If the Creation Gods themselves were so powerful, why didn't they directly kill Jie Tian Mo Di?"
"An excellent question." The girl's voice remained gentle: "The two Creation Gods may have been all-powerful, but they were still unable to break through the Chaos Wall. Moreover, within the demon realm, there were also Creators who had emerged—the Demon Lords, whose power matched theirs. Although the two factions were hostile, they maintained a delicate balance. The two Creation Gods feared that by personally taking action, they would trigger a war between gods and demons that neither side could stop. That is why they had to use Mo E's hand to kill, manipulating him into becoming their puppet."
"And... Xie Shen's existence was even more of a taboo. If it were discovered that a Creation God was in love with a Demon Emperor, the consequences would be unimaginable. It is possible that the entire god race would become chaotic and split apart, even subverting the Creation Gods themselves. So, they had to kill her and erase this truth."
"So, the truth was buried alongside the ancient era's extinction," the girl in white said softly. "The gods and demons of that time all believed it was because the Heaven-Defying World Scripture fragment had fallen into the hands of the demon race, prompting an ambush. As for Xie Shen... in order to prevent the secret from leaking, the two Creation Gods also erased his memories of Jie Tian Mo Di and their daughter. Afterward, Xie Shen never once remembered that he had a lover or a daughter."
Yun Che slowly clenched his fists. Just listening, he felt a deep, aching pain.
Xie Shen, a Creation God who created heaven and earth, after losing his lover and daughter, was also erased of all memories about them. For an unknown number of years, he lived as if they had never existed...
"Later on, why did the two Creation Gods also perish?" Yun Che asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
"I don't know," the girl said softly. "The extinction of the ancient gods was too sudden. Even I, who had never died, do not know the truth behind it."
"You..." Yun Che's eyes moved, then he suddenly thought of something and blurted out: "Could it be... you are the daughter of Xie Shen and Jie Tian Mo Di?"
The girl quietly shook her head: "No. I am just a wisp of consciousness that my master left here when she was dying."
"Your master..." Yun Che's heart stirred. "Your master... is Jie Tian Mo Di?!"
"Yes."
The girl in white's voice carried a faint, barely perceptible sorrow.
"Before falling into the nothingness beyond Chaos, she managed to leave behind a wisp of consciousness within the Hell Wheel... she just wanted someone to know the truth."
Yun Che was silent for a moment, then said: "But... why are you telling me all this?"
"Because," the girl's voice became ethereal, as if from another world: "The moment you obtained the Evil God's inheritance, you have already taken on the legacy of Xie Shen. The moment you absorbed the Evil God's Indestructible Blood, two worlds, long sealed off, shattered a gap for your sake, connecting once more. The Evil God's Seed, the Evil God's Indestructible Blood... In this era, you are the only one. You are the only one who can pass through the foreign Chaos and bring back my master who was banished beyond the Chaos!"
"Return... bring back?" Yun Che's heart trembled violently. "You mean... you want me to go find Jie Tian Mo Di who was banished into the nothingness by Mo E... and then bring her back to the Chaos!?"
"Impossible... That was the Chaos Wall being blasted open by the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword. Even a Creation God being blasted beyond the Chaos would perish. Moreover, so many years have passed. She... she must have already..."
"Beyond the Chaos is not an eternal void. A dead silence of nothingness," the girl said softly, her voice incredibly calm but carrying a power that silenced all doubt. "Beyond the Chaos exists only nothingness. Nothingness is the antithesis of existence. Things that die fall into nothingness and vanish. But if something has not died, it can never turn into nothingness. My master was forced beyond the Chaos by the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword, but she did not die. She has never died. For over a hundred thousand years, she has always been silent in that eternal nothingness, waiting to return to this side of the Chaos."
"She... hasn't died!?" Yun Che's expression shook violently. "She, a person... no, a Demon Emperor, was blasted into the nothingness by Mo E, and she still hasn't died after all these years!?"
"Although I have faith that my master has not died, the cost of crossing the Chaos Wall is extremely high. Mo E was a God Emperor; even he had to lose a massive amount of lifespan to unleash the power of the Ancestral Heaven-Slaying Sword. Crossing the opposite direction is bound to be even more difficult... But you are different. You have the bloodline that combines the Evil God and Jie Tian Mo Di, the Evil God's Indestructible Blood that has been tempered time and again. And you also have the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel that is within you. It was left behind by my master during her dying breath. It is the key to unlocking the Chaos Wall and also the beacon for my master to sense your existence."
"Evil Infant... Myriad Calamity Wheel..." Yun Che had long been shocked speechless.
He had always known that the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel was incredibly powerful, possessing power that far surpassed what a Divine Lord realm profound practitioner could have. But he never expected that its origins were actually this...
"My master left behind the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel, hoping that one day, someone who obtained Xie Shen's power would use it to cross the Chaos Wall and rescue her. For over a hundred thousand years, in this world, you were the only to obtain the Evil God's inheritance, absorb the Evil God's Indestructible Blood, and bring the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel into your body. Even the Evil God's Seed, which caused the extinction of the gods... these all point to the same conclusion. You are the only possibility, the only hope, of bringing my master back."
"My master, the four Demon Emperors of the demon realm, the one banished by Xie Shen's closest friend... She has waited over a hundred thousand years, but finally, she has waited for you."
The girl in white's voice echoed faintly, each word imprinting itself heavily onto his soul.
After a long, long time, Yun Che managed to take a breath, but he could not look up.
This secret... was far too heavy.
It was impossible for him to bear, nor did he want to bear it.
"What exactly is the power of a Creation God... a Demon Emperor... these far exceed my current comprehension. Just the Chaos Wall alone, to me, is an insurmountable chasm. I'm afraid you might have placed your hope in the wrong person," Yun Che's voice was somewhat dispirited.
"You are the one who obtained the Evil God's power. With a single glance, my master already understood your entire life story. She could sense every bit of your perseverance, your growth, and she even felt your soul-clenching pain, your hatred, your sorrow, your remorse... If you have made up your mind, then that will truly disappoint my master's century-long wait," the girl in white's voice carried a genuine sense of loss. "But, the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel has already merged with your blood and soul. Even if you are unwilling, you will inevitably be drawn by it to the Chaos Wall, to step outside the Chaos."
"...What?" Yun Che's eyes widened.
"The Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel, left behind by my master, will by itself eventually draw you beyond Chaos. This is the time to wait for the Evil God's chosen one."
Yun Che stared blankly.
"My soul is already incredibly weak. I might not be able to persist much longer. I have already told you the secrets I must tell you, so that when you do see the Chaos Wall in the future, you won't be caught off guard. And... there is another most important secret I must tell you."
"..."
"In those days, the two Creation Gods sensed an unusual and massive movement from the demon realm, indicating they were preparing for a devastating war that would destroy both the god and demon realms. My master, with her sharp senses, also sensed it. But she discovered very early on that the movements of the demon realm... were not sent by the demon realm itself."
Yun Che concentrated, carefully listening to her words.
"The demon realm was being secretly infiltrated by some kind of abnormal force. Their inner faction had already lost most of its autonomy and was being driven by a strange force. That force was not of the god race, nor of the demon race. Even the two Creation Gods at the time could not find its source nor understand its origin. They did not dare to disclose it, for fear of causing a fatal panic... My master was unable to determine the nature of that force. Before being blasted beyond the Chaos, she only had time to leave this vague memory within the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel."
"That force... engulfed the entire demon realm, blending into their bodies, their minds, and their profound energy. It was incredibly strong, far exceeding what the demon realm should have possessed. It completely turned the entire demon realm into a giant vessel of war, ready to launch itself at the god realm. The most terrifying thing was that even the demon realm's own members were unaware that they had become puppets."
"My master told me that the demon realm's abnormal movements were actually... the most likely truth behind the extinction of the ancient gods!"
The girl's words came to a halt here. The voice was still ethereal, but Yun Che felt as if a knife had been thrust into his heart, making it clench and feel suffocated.
He suddenly recalled the words of the Netherworld Brahma Flower: You will eventually face an unimaginable horror. Only by stepping out of this era will you be able to cross the endless, starless night.
Is this "force" the unimaginable horror he will have to face?
"Given the current state of the world, the realm of gods and demons has long perished. That strange force has likely also vanished. But there can be no absolute certainty. My master's worries and fears are preserved within the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel. Today, I pass them on to you. For all these years of heavy silence, finally seeing someone to confide in... I can now rest in peace."
The girl's voice gradually became indistinct, as if she were about to fade away at any moment.
"Wait..." Yun Che quickly shouted: "Since you are a wisp of Jie Tian Mo Di's consciousness, you should know a lot about her. Do you know... what exactly happened to Jie Yuan later? And... is she still alive?"
Although, rationally speaking, Jie Yuan was almost certainly no longer alive. But since Jie Tian Mo Di could survive over a hundred thousand years in nothingness, perhaps...
"I'm sorry... I don't know. My master's consciousness dissipated the moment she was banished beyond Chaos. I am merely the last thoughts she left within the wheel..."
"Is the Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel a power left by Jie Tian Mo Di?" Yun Che thought about it and nodded to himself. It made sense—the "Evil Infant" part referred to the Evil God, and the "Myriad Calamity Wheel" perhaps referred to Jie Tian Mo Di's calamitous power?
"Let me think... I recall that Jie Tian Mo Di's title came from her ultimate technique, 'Myriad Calamities of Oblivion.'"
"I see... so that's the origin of the name 'Evil Infant Myriad Calamity Wheel'..."
"By the way," Yun Che lifted his head: "What is your name?"
The girl was quiet for a long time. Finally, her voice, which was drifting away, faintly added a trace of warmth.
"My name is... He Ling."
"He Ling..." Yun Che softly repeated.
"Xie Shen... Xie... Xie... My master's beloved and also my father... Father... A name that I could never before call out, I can finally say it out loud when facing you..."
The voice faded away completely. The peerless silhouette in white slowly lost its color and finally dispersed into a faint mist, sinking back into the blood-red wheel.
Yun Che pondered deeply in place for a very, very long time.
"Is she really still alive?"
"If I can truly bring her back, what if she becomes an enemy?"
"Ah, forget it; what am I even thinking about. I'm still far too weak. Many of these things are beyond my reach. But the strange force sealed within the demon realm... I need to remember it in my heart."
Yun Che shook his head and stopped thinking about those distant matters. When Mu Xuanyin and the others came back to find him, it would be bad if they saw him with a stupefied expression.
He lifted his head into the distant celestial world. The journey to the Eastern Divine Region was long and arduous. After that, he still had to pass through the divine realm trials.
Becoming stronger...
This was the first and most crucial step.
"Miss He Ling," Yun Che suddenly remembered something and asked, "Now that I have officially become Mu Xuanyin's disciple, how do you think she is as a teacher?"
The girl He Ling had clearly not completely dissipated. After a brief pause, she replied: "Although I cannot comprehend the hearts of those of this world, this Mu Xuanyin... she is indeed a very good master. I can sense that she truly wishes to see you grow stronger."
Yun Che nodded; he had already guessed her thoughts.
"I cannot assist you; after all, this is no longer my world, nor my era. However, choosing the current Yinxue Realm King as your teacher is indeed your best decision. She possesses great strength and high wisdom. She is a more suitable profound art teacher than your previous master. Only..."
"Only?" Yun Che widened his eyes.
"She often enters the Minghan Heavenly Lake to cultivate, and my divine sense can perceive everything about her. Her temperament is rather peculiar, possessing two completely opposing extremes... Words are hard for me to describe. When you interact with her in the future, you will understand."
Temperament... two extremes?
What the hell??
Extremes mean being heavily inclined toward one direction. Two extremes are inherently contradictory... let alone in terms of temperament.
Yun Che slowly nodded: "I understand. Though I don't know what the future holds, and I never considered myself great enough to bear some... um, strange mission or anything, I still hope I won't disappoint you when the time comes."
With that, Yun Che did not linger. Releasing his profound energy, he swam against the current and ascended.
(End of this chapter)