Chapter 1188: Illusory Black Butterfly

Yun Che remained silent for a long time after hearing Mu Bingyun's words.

"Yun Che," Mu Bingyun suddenly said, "Last night, I communicated with your master. She said your goal has changed and that your return to the Heaven Smiting Ancestor Realm is to contend for the top position in the God Sealing Battle. Are you trying to forcefully claim the championship?"

Yun Che nodded.

"How confident are you?" Mu Bingyun sighed inwardly.

"Yesterday, I still had some confidence, but today..." Yun Che closed his eyes and said helplessly, "To be honest, it's completely gone. I didn't underestimate these God Children, but I utterly misjudged the 'Four God Children of the Eastern Divine Region'."

Mu Bingyun was silent.

"Luo Changsheng... Even if what he just showed was his full strength, I could definitely not be his opponent. Even against Lu Lengchuan, who was just soundly defeated by him, I see almost no hope of winning."

Yun Che's voice was calm. Indeed, as he said, Jun Xilei's instant defeat of Huo Poyun with a single sword strike had astonished him, and Luo Changsheng's battle against Lu Lengchuan had utterly crushed all his confidence and expectations.

"Palace Master Bingyun, how do Jun Xilei and Shui Yingyue compare to Lu Lengchuan?" Yun Che asked.

"Far superior," Mu Bingyun replied briefly and directly.

Yun Che fell silent again, his brows furrowed in thought.

"Haha, as expected of your Eastern Divine Region's 'Young Master Changsheng'," the Dragon Monarch said. "Even without seeing him use earth profound energy, his ability to simultaneously control wind and lightning with such ease is astonishing. His full power state is probably enough to transcend the Divine Spirit Realm."

"While there are few with extraordinary talent who can cultivate multiple types of profound energy, it's not unheard of. However, those who can wield them simultaneously are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. And someone like Luo Changsheng, who cultivates three types of profound energy and can control them all at once... he is the only one in our Eastern Divine Region from a hundred thousand years ago until now," the Heaven Smiting God Emperor nodded and smiled. "This requires not only an innate special physique but also extremely high demands on aptitude and comprehension. Even I, an old man, dare not estimate his future."

"With Luo Changsheng among men and Shui Meiyin among women, your Eastern Divine Region seems poised to welcome a peak generation, just with these two," the Dragon Monarch said with a smile.

"No, no, no, Your Highness Dragon Monarch, you've missed someone," the Shitian God Emperor suddenly interjected. Unlike everyone else who was focused on and marveling at Luo Changsheng, his gaze was mostly scanning Yun Che. He slowly said, "The Chaos is so vast, with billions of living beings; it's not surprising for any kind of freak to appear. But... someone who can squarely crush a Divine Spirit Realm cultivator in the mid-to-late stages with only Divine Tribulation Realm cultivation, tsk tsk, such a freak, let alone a hundred thousand years, your Eastern Divine Region seems to have produced only one in a million years, correct? Oh... wait, no! I remember this kid said he was from the lower realms, so he doesn't seem to count as one of your Eastern Divine Region's people, does he?"

The Heaven Smiting God Emperor's expression froze, but the Dragon Monarch smiled, his smile somewhat enigmatic.

"God Sealing Group, third round, third match: Shui Meiyin of the Glazed Light Realm versus Meng Duanxi of the Flying Star Realm!"

Yun Che looked up from his contemplation, his attention returning to the God Sealing Stage.

This was also a battle Yun Che paid close attention to... He wanted to see firsthand how Shui Meiyin, with only a first-level Divine Spirit Realm cultivation, remained undefeated and still in the God Sealing Group.

Shui Meiyin was still wearing her familiar long black dress, with an overly cute butterfly sash tied around her slender waist, so tiny it seemed one could grasp it with ease. Standing on the God Sealing Stage, she seemed out of place with its serious atmosphere. Especially with her head tilted slightly, a dimple faintly showing, and a charming smile, she was indescribably sweet and lovely. Unintentionally, she also exuded a captivating allure unbefitting her age, showing not even a hint of pre-battle tension... which left many young men dumbfounded.

In contrast, Meng Duanxi, who absolutely crushed Shui Meiyin in profound energy, had a solemn expression. The moment he stepped onto the stage, his sword flashed, positioning itself horizontally before him. As profound energy surged, the sword body rippled slowly like flowing water, exuding an astonishing aura.

"Begin the battle!" Extermination Venerable's eyebrow twitched.

"Big brother, please enlighten me," Shui Meiyin said, flipping her hand. A blue stream of light spread outwards, revealing a slender, watery-blue long shadow in her grasp.

"A spear...?" Yun Che murmured softly.

The spear's shaft was crystal clear, emitting a dreamlike blue radiance like the ocean. The shaft was extremely thin, appearing to be only about half an inch thick at a glance, yet Shui Meiyin's small hand could easily grip it completely. Strangely, it was exceptionally long, almost a full丈—even surpassing the Sky-Rending Spear in Lu Lengchuan's hand!

Shui Meiyin, whose height was less than half a丈, holding it in her hand, created quite a visual impact.

"The Glazed Light Realm's inheritance comes from the ancient divine beast 'Glazed Light Butterfly'. This spear, it is said, originated from a wisp of the Glazed Light Butterfly's wing and has a special name: 'Illusory Heart Butterfly Whisper'. Because it contains a strand of the Glazed Light Butterfly's true soul, no one has ever been able to truly wield it. But... Shui Meiyin was actively chosen by it as its master."

"...Please enlighten me," Meng Duanxi nodded. Facing such an opponent, despite his efforts to maintain composure, he still felt somewhat unnatural.

"Hah!!"

Despite having a full eight minor realms of profound energy advantage, Meng Duanxi struck first. On this battlefield, or any battlefield, underestimating an opponent was a grave mistake. The moment Meng Duanxi made his move, the God Sealing Stage was instantly swept by a raging gale. Wind-borne sword qi descended like a sudden downpour, instantly sealing off the space around Shui Meiyin.

He was not Yun Che; he had personally witnessed how Shui Meiyin had defeated her opponents in the previous two matches. Therefore, from the outset, he attacked like a sudden storm, aiming to immediately suppress Shui Meiyin with his absolute profound energy advantage... or even utterly defeat her.

This was indeed the most correct strategy, as Shui Meiyin's profound energy cultivation was truly her greatest weakness. If they were to clash head-on, she would be defeated by Meng Duanxi in a single exchange.

Shui Meiyin's face tightened, and a hint of panic seemed to appear in her expression. Blue light flickered around her as she gracefully floated upwards. The "Illusory Heart Butterfly Whisper" danced lightly with her petite body, conjuring a small profound formation shimmering with dreamy blue light before her.

Whoosh!!

The storm, carrying sword qi, swept down, tearing countless black fissures in the space. However, within the sword qi storm, Shui Meiyin's figure slowly vanished.

Above Meng Duanxi, Shui Meiyin's figure reappeared like a spiritual butterfly. Behind her was the same blue profound formation.

"What exquisite movement!" Yun Che couldn't help but exclaim. It was an instant teleportation, like spatial transference, yet it was swifter... and more dreamlike than tearing space itself.

Moreover, profound energy at the Divine Spirit Realm seemed far from enough to tear open space in the Divine Realm.

"Illusory Dream Butterfly Dance!" Mu Bingyun explained. "Like our Snow Song Realm's 'Broken Moon Shadow,' it's an extremely difficult movement technique to master."

She paused, then added, "At least, Shui Yingyue hasn't mastered it."

Yun Che was silent.

Meng Duanxi instantly turned his body. In the same instant, Shui Meiyin stepped into the void, her slender spear dancing lightly. A faint blue light suddenly rained down, then instantly transformed into a massive water curtain, covering Meng Duanxi.

The water curtain had decent momentum, but it failed to give Meng Duanxi any sense of pressure... After all, water profound attacks were widely acknowledged as the weakest in terms of offensive power, let alone coming from a young girl whose profound energy was eight minor realms below his.

Meng Duanxi didn't even look; with a casual swing of his sword, the water curtain was instantly torn in half. In the air, Shui Meiyin continued her light dance. As the "Illusory Heart Butterfly Whisper" waved, blue light intertwined chaotically, and one water curtain after another descended, creating an oppressive sensation of obscuring the sky when they overlapped.

Although the water curtains posed no threat, and even if they all struck him, they wouldn't harm him, they severely obscured his vision and perception of auras. Especially as layers of water curtains overlapped, they completely engulfed Meng Duanxi's sight as they approached.

Meng Duanxi's expression remained unchanged. He leaped into the air and executed a horizontal slash. With a ripping sound, more than a dozen water curtains were torn apart simultaneously, showering down a torrential rain around him. However, above him, as far as his eyes could see, there were still layers of water curtains, and no sign of Shui Meiyin.

"????" Meng Duanxi's brows twitched. His ascent speed suddenly accelerated, and he thrust his sword into the empty air. With a burst of sound, he clearly felt his sword pierce through at least dozens of water curtains, and these dozens of water curtains exploded as he expected, showering down even finer rain around him.

But even after all the water curtains were shattered, above him, there were still layers of water curtains, and no sign of Shui Meiyin... Moreover, even her aura had vanished at some point... completely disappeared, without a trace of her presence.

Meng Duanxi was greatly alarmed. "What's going on? How are these water curtains seemingly endless? To isolate an aura to this extent, the water curtains would have to be stacked at least fifty layers deep, and all this happened in an instant... How did she do it?"

As Meng Duanxi was startled, his gaze shifted downwards, startling him even more.

Around him, there was already a vast expanse of water!

He couldn't see Shui Meiyin, nor the God Sealing Stage, nor the spectator stands. Below, above, and all around him, water waves churned, layer upon layer.

Only then did he realize with a shock that, unknowingly, he had been trapped within a Gui Water domain.

After his surprise, Meng Duanxi quickly calmed down. A faint, confident smile slowly appeared on his lips as he muttered to himself, "I've long heard that the Glazed Light Realm's Gui Water Divine Art has unparalleled control abilities... However, it's ultimately only profound energy at the first level of the Divine Spirit Realm. Even if the domain is strong, it's impossible to truly trap me!"

With a low roar, his profound energy surged again. The sword in his hand instantly erupted with a three-丈 sword aura. His figure flickered as he charged directly into the water, bringing his sword down in a strike that flashed with nine sword lights.

Rumble!!

Like thunder drawing forth an angry tide, the water domain instantly exploded violently. Layers of raging waves surged, only to be completely annihilated in the next instant. Meng Duanxi's lips curved into a smile, but it immediately froze... because beyond the water domain, there was still more water. His sword strike had not broken through the Gui Water domain.

At this moment, the true power of the Gui Water domain finally erupted. In an instant, ten thousand waves surged like countless enraged aquatic dragons, all engulfing Meng Duanxi.

Meng Duanxi snorted coldly, his sword like a flying rainbow. Those enraged sea dragon tides were slashed apart in swathes before they could even get close to him. Imperceptibly, a sensation of dominating the vast ocean began to rise within him. He roared, rushing forward like a flood dragon, each sword strike cleaving through the furious waves, each strike astonishing the boundless sea.

Soon, he felt the Gui Water domain begin to tremble. He focused his mind, gradually expanding his movements, determined to completely tear apart this Gui Water domain.

The surrounding world trembled more and more violently. The "Gui Water domain" was clearly nearing the brink of collapse... Finally, at a certain moment, all the water curtains and raging waves dissipated, and then, in an instant... they completely vanished.

Meng Duanxi's vision suddenly cleared. In his ears, the thunderous voice of the Extermination Venerable resounded:

"Meng Duanxi has left the God Sealing Stage and fallen into the loser's bracket, entering tomorrow's fourth round of the loser's bracket!"

"Shui Meiyin wins! She will enter the God Sealing Group's third-round battle the day after tomorrow!"

Meng Duanxi stood there dazedly, stunned for a long time before slowly turning around.

He was high in the air, below him the vast spectator stands. He had been sent far away, hundreds of miles from the God Sealing Stage area.

In his hand, there was no sword... his sword lay quietly at the center of the God Sealing Stage. Not far from his beloved sword, Shui Meiyin stood gracefully, smiling sweetly.

Meng Duanxi was utterly stunned, as if still trapped in an illusion, unable to wake up.