Chapter 1241: Overwhelming Black Clouds

Luo Changsheng placed his palm over his chest, and wisps of profound energy gradually sealed the massive wound there. Then, step by step, radiating an unprecedented malevolence and ferocity, he advanced towards Yun Che, who lay motionless in a pool of blood.

Honored Quhui did not announce the end of the match. Though Yun Che's aura was incredibly weak, he was still clinging to consciousness and had not fallen unconscious or conceded defeat. On the contrary, a light of defiant struggle—an almost instinctive struggle—still flickered within his slightly unfocused eyes.

"Brother Yun... he hasn't lost consciousness?" Huo Poyun murmured.

Luo Changsheng walked step by step to Yun Che's side. A chilling, malevolent aura enveloped Yun Che's body. Luo Changsheng raised his arm... Just as everyone expected him to create a strong wind to sweep his utterly defenseless opponent off the Conferred God Stage, a terrifying storm suddenly materialized in his hand. Then, amidst the disbelieving gasps of countless onlookers, he mercilessly unleashed it upon Yun Che.

Even at his peak, Yun Che could not have withstood this blow. Severely wounded and completely without profound energy to defend himself, his body exploded internally like a volcano with a heart-shattering roar. Unable to even utter a whimper, he was sent flying a great distance, a tattered bag of blood amidst the storm.

"Yun Che!"

"Yun... Brother Yun!"

"Ah!"

The disciples of Snow Song and Flame God all turned deathly pale with fright. People from other star realms were equally filled with shock. Honored Quhui's brows furrowed deeply, and he almost gave a reprimand.

"He is the esteemed Young Master Changsheng, yet he does this!" On the other side, Luo Shangchen could no longer restrain himself. With a furious roar, he demanded, "What are you doing?! Have you lost your mind?!"

"I said, let him vent!" Luo Gujie said coldly. "Don't stop him from releasing the anger, resentment, humiliation, jealousy... In short, don't obstruct him. Whatever consequences arise, I will bear them all!"

"Aren't you afraid he'll ruin his reputation?!" Luo Shangchen's voice trembled slightly.

"Hmph," Luo Gujie sneered. "He is Changsheng, not you—the Sacred Universe Realm King who forever prioritizes reputation and face, discarding everything else!"

Luo Shangchen: "..."

The spectator stands erupted in an uproar, every face contorted with intense emotion. They could not believe that the rumored "Young Master Changsheng" would commit such a deranged and cruel act. Even more unbelievably, this battle still had not ended.

"Luo Changsheng, you... I won't let you get away with this! If you dare hurt my Brother Yun Che again, when I grow up, I will kill you... Mmph mmph mmph..."

Shui Meiyin's voice was filled with unprecedented rage. But before she could finish shouting, her voice and delicate body were forcibly restrained by Shui Qianheng's profound energy. She struggled violently, and mournful tears unknowingly welled up in her starlit eyes...

...along with a flicker of dark, resentful light that she herself did not perceive.

"Yun Che... he's still conscious... After all this, what... what exactly is he holding on for?" Shui Yingyue murmured in a daze.

Yun Che only needed to naturally fall unconscious for everything to end. But despite Luo Changsheng's repeated cruel blows, he stubbornly clung to consciousness, refusing to succumb. Under such power, his very survival was a miracle. No one could imagine the extreme level of will and conviction required to still endure.

What exactly was he holding on for? Was he unwilling to lose, still hoping to win? In the current situation, how could he possibly have any hope of turning things around? He should know that himself... What exactly was he still holding on for? He would rather be tormented by Luo Changsheng than accept his fate and fall silent...

Luo Changsheng stepped on Yun Che's body, his foot causing Yun Che's chest to violently cave in. His eyes half-closed, he said grimly, "Yun Che, I suddenly find myself somewhat admiring you. It's truly astonishing that you're still holding on, refusing to pass out. Should I call you tenacious, or simply foolish?"

*Boom—*

With a loud bang, flesh and blood flew from Yun Che's chest.

"Yun Che!" Mu Bingyun cried out again. The force of Luo Changsheng's kick was clearly aimed at Yun Che's profound veins. She flashed up to the sky above the Conferred God Stage, a look of pleading on her face. "Honored Quhui, I beg you, please allow this junior to say a few words to Yun Che. This junior understands that the rules of the Conferred God Battle must not be violated, but if this continues... Yun Che will surely perish."

Honored Quhui glanced at her but did not consent. Just as Mu Bingyun was about to plead again, Honored Quhui's deep voice suddenly resonated across the Conferred God Stage:

"Yun Che! You have undoubtedly lost this battle. If you let your consciousness go, the match will end, and you will be ranked second in the Conferred God Battle, bringing glory for a lifetime. But if you insist on holding on, Luo Changsheng can continue to attack you legitimately, and no one can interfere! Do not destroy your future for a momentary, inexplicable show of tenacity!"

As Honored Quhui's voice faded, the entire arena fell silent.

But Yun Che's desperate will to cling on still had not crumbled.

Yun Che's world was sometimes blood-red, sometimes stark white. He could no longer feel pain, and even his own existence was extremely blurred. The only things he could perceive were Luo Changsheng's aura and the various mixed sounds from outside.

Inexplicable tenacity...

Heh... what a joke...

Luo Changsheng... does he even deserve my unwillingness to yield?

Yun Che's soul gave a miserable laugh... When a faint red shadow appeared, his soul became incredibly warm again.

Jasmine...

I could pick the Brahma flower for you...

I could come to the God Realm for you...

But now... I can no longer win this Conferred God Battle for you...

Is it destined... that I will never see you again...?

We owe each other nothing, never to meet again... Heh, what a joke. In this life... that's impossible!

Although, as I am, I'm unable to reach the pinnacle of the Conferred God Battle for you...

But at least, for your sake, let me hold on until the very last moment, with my very last shred of will, my very last glimmer of belief...

This is my... proof of my unwavering devotion to you... and also... my punishment for my own inadequacy...

*Bang!!*

His body was once again heavily kicked away by Luo Changsheng...

He didn't know where he landed, nor could he ascertain the extent of his current injuries. He was simply using everything he had to sustain his final vestiges of consciousness.

I can't feel pain, nor my body. Now, I can't even feel the existence of my profound veins anymore...

Is my profound energy completely depleted... or... have my profound veins... been destroyed...?

My consciousness... also...

Yun Che's pupils gradually approached complete unfocus. The last wisp of profound energy in his body suddenly dissipated at that moment. From within to without, there was no longer even a trace of profound strength left in his entire body.

"Heh, not bad, not bad. Still holding on, are we?" Luo Changsheng walked unhurriedly towards Yun Che. The longer Yun Che clung on, the more pleased Luo Changsheng felt, yet also the more annoyed. His steps were slow, but in his hands, two cruel storm forces had quietly coalesced...

This time, he intended to sever Yun Che's arms directly.

And just as he was only ten steps away from Yun Che, the world suddenly grew dark.

There was no change in aura, no unusual sound, no prior warning. The light instantly became incredibly dim. Everyone instinctively looked up, then simultaneously showed expressions of terror.

Above the sky, black clouds rolled, boundless and endless, engulfing all light.

Yet, just a moment before, the sky had been clear and cloudless, with only occasional wisps of clouds.

The various God Lords and God Emperors also stood up, their brows tightly furrowed. This was because even they had not detected where these black clouds came from—the transition from a clear sky to one filled with black clouds had been instantaneous... an incomprehensible, utterly bizarre moment.

The dense black clouds heavily churned, and in an instant, visibility between heaven and earth was almost zero. What those on the Conferred God Stage didn't know was that, at the same moment, the entire sky above the Eastern Divine Region was also covered in black clouds.

The black clouds slowly pressed down as they churned, like a suddenly awakened dark demon god, intent on plunging the entire Eastern Divine Region into an abyss of darkness.