Chapter 1206: East Window Incident

Yun Che’s gaze shifted to a corner where Jun Wuming and his disciple, Jun Xilei, were walking away in the distance. Jun Xilei hadn't even spared him a glance.

"Let's go," Mu Bingyun said.

Yun Che, however, shook his head, stood up, and said to Huo Poyun, "Brother Poyun, there's something I'd like to discuss with you privately."

Huo Poyun was momentarily startled. He didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.

Yun Che and Huo Poyun flew away. As soon as they were clear of the Conferred God Stage area, Yun Che spoke directly, "Brother Poyun, you've always been seen as the future of the Blazing Heaven God Realm, especially by your fellow disciples of the Golden Crow Sect. They've always had extremely high expectations and praise for you. But in yesterday's battle, the spotlight that should have been yours completely shifted to me. The fervor they showed for me far surpassed what they showed for you. It must be... difficult for you to accept, right?"

Huo Poyun noticeably stiffened. Confronted by Yun Che's blunt words, he was momentarily stunned into silence.

Yun Che turned to face him, saying very seriously, "Yesterday, I originally thought that defeating Lu Lengchuan with the Golden Crow Flame would help you regain confidence in the Golden Crow Flame. But I gravely overlooked that the damage to you might be far greater than any comfort. Although it was unintentional, given the outcome... I must apologize to you."

"No, no!" Huo Poyun quickly waved his hand. He tried to force a smile, but couldn't, and said despondently, "You didn't do anything wrong. On the contrary, it was you who made the Golden Crow Flame shine so brilliantly for the first time. It was... it was me. Not only was I such a disappointment, but I also... I harbored an unworthy feeling of jealousy towards Brother Yun..."

With that, Huo Poyun lowered his head.

"Jealousy?" Yun Che said with a faint smile, "Brother Poyun, do you really think my Golden Crow Flame is stronger than yours?"

"Of course," Huo Poyun whispered, "Your Golden Crow Flame can even defeat Lu Lengchuan. You're more than just a little bit stronger than me."

"No," Yun Che shook his head slightly, "In other aspects, I can be quite confident. But... when it comes to the Golden Crow Flame, I am absolutely far inferior to you."

Yun Che's extremely certain tone made Huo Poyun stare in surprise.

"Brother Poyun, your Golden Crow bloodline and divine soul were fully inherited by you from your Golden Crow Sect's Golden Crow Soul Spirit, at the cost of its very existence, weren't they?" Yun Che suddenly asked.

Huo Poyun abruptly looked up, staring at Yun Che with an expression of disbelief.

Yun Che smiled, "No need to be surprised. Brother Poyun, you must be wondering why I possess Golden Crow divine blood and a Golden Crow divine soul. I can tell you frankly that in the world where I was born, though it's just a small planet, there was also a Golden Crow inheritance left behind."

"...So that's it," Huo Poyun whispered, still dazed.

Golden Crow Soul Spirits are fragments of the divine beast Golden Crow's soul, capable of mutual consciousness. Therefore, even before I arrived in the God Realm, I knew that a Golden Crow Soul Spirit existed here as well. That is to say, at least before that time, the Golden Crow Soul Spirit of your Blazing Heaven God Realm had not vanished. However, after my arrival in the God Realm, the Golden Crow Soul Spirit no longer existed in the Blazing Heaven God Realm, but there was you—a person with an extremely rich Golden Crow bloodline and an unusually powerful command over the Golden Crow Flame. That's why, when we first met in the Snow Song Realm back then, I already guessed this.

"You..." Huo Poyun was stunned, momentarily speechless.

"As for the Golden Crow bloodline and divine soul within me, they came from the Golden Crow Soul Spirit of my world. I imagine that your Blazing Heaven God Realm's Golden Crow Soul Spirit must have also mentioned the existence of another soul spirit to you. And the inheritance I received was a wisp of a divine soul and a total of nine drops of Golden Crow Source Blood."

"Nine... drops?" Huo Poyun murmured, his eyes full of disbelief.

Nine drops of Golden Crow blood... and source blood at that. For other Golden Crow disciples, this would be a divine bestowal beyond their wildest dreams. Yet, the terrifying power of the Golden Crow Flame Yun Che unleashed... how could it possibly originate from merely nine drops of Golden Crow divine blood?

"Yes, only nine drops. Both the divine blood and the divine soul are far weaker than yours," Yun Che said, looking into Huo Poyun's eyes. "The reason the Golden Crow Flame I unleash appears so powerful is because I possess another special profound art that allows me to wield the Golden Crow Flame more effectively, maximizing its might. In other words, at my current power level, that's the absolute limit of the Golden Crow Flame's power derived from nine drops of Golden Crow divine blood; it cannot become any stronger."

"As for you... although your command over the Golden Crow Flame already far surpasses others, you are still too young. You haven't even begun to unearth the true divine might of the Golden Crow Flame. This means that while my Golden Crow Flame has reached its limit, you, who possess the strongest Golden Crow bloodline and the strongest Golden Crow divine soul, still have an incredibly vast, unimaginable potential. When that time comes, at the same power level, my Golden Crow Flame will absolutely be unable to compare to yours... it might not even be worthy of mention alongside it."

Huo Poyun was speechless.

"So, you don't need to dwell on this at all. As for jealousy, there's even less need for it. If anyone should be jealous, it should be me being jealous of you. If I had a bloodline as powerful as yours, I wouldn't have needed to struggle so much against Lu Lengchuan; I could have easily burned him to ash."

Yun Che's words brought a strange light and brightness to Huo Poyun's previously dim eyes. He let out a long breath and finally smiled, "Brother Yun, thank you for comforting me again."

"This isn't comfort," Yun Che said with a smile. "It's just a fact that you subconsciously overlooked. However, even though my Golden Crow Flame is destined to be far inferior to yours in the future, that doesn't mean my overall strength will be weaker than yours. Brother Poyun, how about we make a pact?"

"...What kind of pact?"

"After the Conferred God Battle, you will be sent to the Eternal Heaven God Realm to cultivate for 'three thousand years.' So, how about we have a proper match once you emerge from the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm?"

Three thousand years was an incredibly long time for their young generation, capable of bringing about many unpredictable changes. It could not only change a person's strength but also their understanding, mindset, aspirations... and even their disposition.

Yun Che's words made Huo Poyun's eyes light up. His heart, which had been silent for days, felt as if a scorching flame had been ignited within it. Looking at Yun Che, he nodded heavily, "Brother Yun, thank you for awakening me. I am the inheritor of the Golden Crow Divine Spirit. I am too immature now, but in the future, my Golden Crow Flame will definitely not be weaker than anyone else's."

"Brother Yun, I'm far inferior to you now, but... three thousand years from now, I will... I will definitely make you, my master, and the entire Eastern Divine Region look at me in a new light!"

"Good!" Yun Che nodded, his brow furrowed slightly. "I look forward to that day! I, too, will do my utmost not to let you surpass me! So, for these 'three thousand years,' you'd better not slack off for even a single day!"

Huo Poyun extended his hand and clasped Yun Che's firmly. A smile, like clouds parting and mist dissipating, appeared on his face. Then he turned around and flew off into the distance.

"Phew." Watching Huo Poyun's retreating figure, Yun Che secretly let out a breath and murmured to himself, "Brother Poyun, keep going."

Huo Poyun didn't notice that when Yun Che mentioned the three thousand years in the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm, he said "you" rather than "we."

In the God Realm, Huo Poyun was the only person Yun Che truly considered a friend. This was not only due to his character but also for another, more important reason: he was the last inheritor of the Golden Crow Soul Spirit.

In the Illusory Demon Realm, he had not only received the Golden Crow Soul Spirit's bestowal of divine blood and a divine soul but also numerous guidance from it. When he was despairing and on the verge of death under the poisonous hands of the Prison God, it was the Golden Crow Soul Spirit that guided Feng Xue'er's phoenix flame to save his life. When the Devil Origin Pearl repeatedly erupted within him, it was also the Golden Crow Soul Spirit, at the cost of its own existence, that forcefully prolonged his life again and again.

Ultimately, the Golden Crow Soul Spirit bestowed its last remaining power upon the Little Demon Empress, and then vanished like smoke.

Yun Che never even had the chance to repay all that kindness.

Therefore, Yun Che felt not just closeness towards Huo Poyun but also a very special kind of affection. Subconsciously, he had always wanted to repay his gratitude to the Golden Crow Soul Spirit through Huo Poyun.

Over the past two days, Huo Poyun had suffered continuous emotional setbacks, and even Huo Rulie hadn't seemed particularly concerned. Instead, it was Yun Che who racked his brain to help him resolve his issues.

Compared to Huo Poyun's concerns, what Yun Che was about to face next was a truly big problem.

In three days... Jun Xilei!

Lu Lengchuan's words undoubtedly told him that there was an absolutely insurmountable gap between him and Jun Xilei.

His only reliance now was the seven Time Wheel Pearls. But could a mere seven months truly bridge such a vast gap?

Back in the courtyard, Mu Bingyun was quietly waiting for him. Her first question was, "Jun Xilei, how do you plan to deal with her?"

"I don't know," Yun Che shook his head. "I currently have seven Time Wheel Pearls. If I can achieve a significant breakthrough within these 'seven months,' there might be a slight chance of fighting... maybe."

A native of a Mid-Realm entering the ranks of the Four Conferred God Children had sent the entire Eastern Divine Region's Mid-Realms into an uproar. Yet, Mu Bingyun saw no trace of joy or excitement on Yun Che's face, only profound solemnity. She sighed softly, "Yun Che, it seems even reaching this height is still not enough for you... Must you win the battle against Jun Xilei?"

"I must win!" Yun Che declared decisively.

With three days still remaining, Yun Che didn't immediately activate the Time Wheel barrier for cultivation. Instead, he sat by the pond, eyes closed, lost in deep thought. Seven months seemed like a good amount of time, but he knew very well that the gap between him and Jun Xilei was not something that could be bridged in a mere seven months.

He had to think of other methods... were there any ways to significantly increase his strength and the power of the Heaven Smiting Sword in a short amount of time?

As he pondered deeply, time quickly passed. Before he knew it, dusk began to settle.

Just as night was about to fully descend, Yun Che suddenly looked up, a strange flicker of firelight momentarily flashing in his eyes. At that moment, an angry shout suddenly came from outside:

"Yun Che, get out here now!!"

Before the voice even faded, a blue sword light pierced down from the air, directly shattering the courtyard gate.

This instantly alarmed everyone from the Snow Song Realm. Mu Bingyun, Mu Huanzhi, and others appeared in an instant, but when they clearly saw the female figure walking in with a sword, they were all stunned.

The woman was dressed in blue, her posture exceptionally ethereal, and the sword in her hand pulsed with shimmering, colorful light.

It was none other than Shui Meiyin.

As the eldest daughter of the Glazed Light Realm King and one of the Four Divine Children of the Eastern Region, Shui Meiyin had long been famous throughout the Eastern Divine Region. However, the Shui Meiyin people knew was true to her name: as peaceful and gentle as water, as noble and elegant as the moon, almost never showing clear emotional fluctuations... But at this moment, Shui Meiyin's gaze was icy cold, her beautiful face filled with rage, and the Jade Stream Sword in her hand was not only unsheathed but also held killing intent.

Yun Che whooshed to his feet, his scalp tingling... Oh no, oh no, the cat's out of the bag, this is absolutely terrible!