Chapter 1317: Forbidden Land's Honored Guest

"Light… profound energy?" Yun Che repeated the name softly.

"Have you heard of dark profound energy?" Shen Xi asked.

"Yes." Yun Che nodded. Not only had he heard of it, but he himself possessed extremely strong dark profound energy.

This was also the most critical secret he had to keep. The scene from the Conferred God Battle, where the man called "Hate Only" was utterly destroyed and even his name erased, was still vivid in his mind. The extreme disgust and hatred profound practitioners had shown towards "devils" at that time was truly shocking.

"Light profound energy is a power completely antithetical to dark profound energy. It is supremely sacred and pure, a special profound energy referred to as 'divine'," Shen Xi explained slowly. "Unlike other profound energies, its existence is not for destruction or killing, but for creation and salvation—to purify the souls and minds of all beings, to cleanse all defilement and sin."

"The reason I was able to suppress and remove the Brahma Soul Death-Wishing Mark from you stems from the purifying power of light profound energy."

Yun Che: "..."

"Therefore, light profound energy has very weak destructive and offensive capabilities—even less than the purest profound energy. However, it is uniquely feared by dark profound energy, making it dark profound energy's greatest nemesis. At the same time, its suppression of dark profound energy is reciprocal; while it is feared by dark profound energy, it is also extremely susceptible to erosion by dark profound energy."

Shen Xi's gaze shifted from the white light in Yun Che's hand. "My Primordial Yin indeed imparted light profound energy to you. I simply didn't expect it to resonate with your body and be something you could control... It seems you are even more extraordinary than I initially perceived or imagined."

Her words were calm, as if she were always so gentle. Yet, Yun Che didn't know the exceptionally strong ripples stirring within her heart.

Could it be related to the Royal Wood Spirit Orb he possessed? No, even with the Wood Spirit Orb, it shouldn't be like this.

"Is this power... difficult to control?" Yun Che slightly closed his hand, and the white glow in his palm dimmed. He had never imagined that a profound energy, which profound practitioners typically equated with "destructive power," could be so peaceful and serene.

When he had acquired Mu Xuanyin's Primordial Yin, it was so forceful that even with the Water Evil God Seed, he was nearly injured internally, and he had to refine it with extreme caution. However, this light aura from Shen Xi, while even more mysterious and potent than Mu Xuanyin's Primordial Yin aura, emanated an indescribably gentle sensation when he touched it—like a vast yet remarkably soft warm current. Its flow through his entire body and subsequent return to his profound veins required no focused guidance from his own profound energy.

When first cultivating a new profound energy, mastering it completely and integrating it thoroughly is often much more difficult and time-consuming than simply comprehending it.

However, in Yun Che's hands, the manifestation and control of this light profound energy... couldn't have been easier or more natural. There was not even the slightest impediment or difficulty, as if he were controlling his own breath.

He could control fire, water, lightning, and dark profound energy with complete freedom due to the presence of the Evil God Seeds. Yet, this light profound energy, which he had only just acquired and had not cultivated through his own understanding, could also be controlled so effortlessly...

Was this also a characteristic of light profound energy, as the most sacred and pure power?

"No," Shen Xi lightly shook her head in response to Yun Che's question. "Light profound energy is not difficult to control. On the contrary, it is one of the easiest powers to master. It's just that I originally thought that, besides me, it was no longer possible for light profound energy to exist in this world. I certainly didn't expect it to appear in you."

"Why?" Yun Che asked. "Are there very strict conditions to cultivate light profound energy?"

Xia Qingyue had said her divine power was unique in the world... and that uniqueness was now broken by him, quite naturally, even passively acquired.

Wait, could it be because of my Evil God Profound Veins? It seems to be the most plausible, almost the only reason.

"Have you heard of the Four Creation Gods from the ancient times?" she suddenly asked.

"Yes, I have," Yun Che nodded. "They are the Heaven Punishing God Emperor Mo E, the Life Creation God Li Suo, the Order Creation God Xi Ke, and the Element Creation God... who later became the Evil God."

Shen Xi gently nodded and continued, "The origin of light profound energy is the Life Creation God, Li Suo."

"Among the Four Creation Gods, Li Suo had the weakest combat power but was the most revered by the world. She possessed the most noble divine body and divine heart, and throughout her life, she created countless star realms, countless races, and countless living beings. Her power of creation was the most original, purest, and most powerful light profound energy."

"And the first race she created... do you know which one it was?"

Yun Che: "..."

Shen Xi's jade lips parted slightly, speaking a name Yun Che was extremely familiar with: "Wood Spirits."

"..." Yun Che was startled.

"The innate power of nature possessed by the Wood Spirit race is actually a form of life profound energy. And life profound energy originates from light profound energy. They inherited the special power bestowed by Lord Li Suo, and also possess utterly pure hearts and unwavering beliefs."

"As the first race created by Lord Li Suo, and bearing special blessings, the Wood Spirit race was envied and respected by all beings in the ancient lower realms. Unexpectedly, in a world without gods, everything they possessed instead brought them endless calamity. Now, the Wood Spirit race is in decline, and at this rate, it won't be long before they face extinction."

Her words carried a deep sense of melancholy. Yun Che listened quietly, his heart stirring, while also noticing a detail.

When she mentioned Li Suo, what she subconsciously uttered was... "Lord Li Suo"?

She possessed the last light profound energy in the world, and the Wood Spirit race was created by the original light profound energy. Thus, she could be said to have a special connection with the Wood Spirit race. It was no wonder that she, who never meddled in worldly affairs, would save He Ling and specifically bring her to this forbidden land that originally belonged only to her.

The Creation God Li Suo was the first Creation God to fall after the Heaven Punishing God Emperor.

The Heaven Punishing God Emperor died of old age due to overuse of the Heaven Punishing Ancestral Sword. Li Suo, on the other hand, was the first Creation God to perish at the hands of the Devil Race, and her Primordial Seal of Life and Death was also stolen... The reason she was the first to be destroyed by the Devil Race was also due to the Devil Race's fear and apprehension of her light profound energy.

"During the Era of the Gods, besides the Creation God Li Suo and her assembly of Light Gods, there was another special divine race, also under her command, who also possessed light profound energy. That divine race was called the 'Sword Spirit Divine Race'."

The name "Sword Spirit Divine Race" made Yun Che's eyelids twitch sharply.

"Have you heard this name before?" Shen Xi seemed to glance at him gently.

"...I have," Yun Che nodded. Not only had he heard of it, but he had heard it before arriving in the God Realm. Jasmine had told him back then that Hong'er might very well be from that special divine race called the "Sword Spirit Divine Race."

Shen Xi did not press further, continuing, "The Sword Spirit Divine Race is a special divine race that can transform into swords. The sword they transform into is called the 'Devil Punishing Sword.' It is called the 'Devil Punishing Sword' because, due to the light profound energy they possess, the transformed sword naturally holds supreme divine power, feared by all devils."

"Although the special 'Devil Punishing Sword' you control is not a pure Devil Punishing Sword, it also possesses divine power, allowing it to greatly suppress dark profound energy. If you've ever encountered an opponent with dark profound energy, you should have already experienced this."

"..." Yun Che didn't know how to respond and forcibly changed the subject. "Then why is it almost impossible for light profound energy to appear anymore?"

Shen Xi did not press him about the "Devil Punishing Sword," nor did she voluntarily mention "Hong'er." Instead, she followed his train of thought, saying, "To cultivate light profound energy, one must possess a 'Sacred Body' or a 'Sacred Heart'... And in this increasingly defiled world, brimming with desires, neither of these is any longer possible. And you... are even less likely to possess them."

Sacred Body... Sacred Heart?

A body without blemish, or a pure and unblemished heart?

Indeed, these were completely unrelated to him.

Yet, light profound energy had appeared within him with uncanny naturalness!

"While you cannot be called evil, you do possess a righteous path and a compassionate heart. However, your body has been stained by countless bloodstains and impurities, and your mind carries strong desires and darkness. It should be absolutely impossible for light profound energy to appear in you..." She looked at Yun Che; behind the white glow, her eyes perpetually held surprise and incomprehension. "I also cannot understand why."

Yun Che frowned, then suddenly asked, "Did the Evil God from back then possess light profound energy?"

"No, it was impossible," Shen Xi replied, shaking her head without a moment's hesitation.

"Could it be because of He Ling's Wood Spirit Orb?" Yun Che murmured to himself.

Shen Xi still shook her head. "The natural power possessed by Wood Spirits is sourced from light profound energy. Even a royal Wood Spirit's power cannot surpass light profound energy in its essence."

"..." Yun Che was bewildered. If even Shen Xi couldn't understand, he naturally had no chance.

"Perhaps, this is also some kind of divine will," Shen Xi suddenly sighed softly. As she faced Yun Che, a subtle change occurred in her gaze. "Yun Che, are you willing to accept me as your master?"

"Ah?" The unexpected question instantly stunned Yun Che.

Shen Xi looked into the distance and spoke softly, "Back then, the reason I brought Ling'er back also stemmed from my own selfish desire. I didn't want light profound energy to disappear after me. A significant reason I brought Ling'er back was that the Royal Wood Spirits were the most likely race in this world to cultivate light profound energy."

"But... as I had anticipated, even with Ling'er, light profound energy could not be generated within her."

Shen Xi's words made Yun Che understand her intention. "You want me to inherit your light divine power?"

"No," Shen Xi shook her head. "Although I don't know the reason, you already possess light profound energy. I wish to take you as my disciple to teach you... to let you inherit the world's only Divine Light Art."

Divine Light Art?

Just as Yun Che was about to ask, he suddenly noticed a shift in Shen Xi's aura, and her gaze simultaneously turned to the distance. "We have distinguished guests arriving. Let's discuss this matter later... Remember, for now, do not expose your light profound energy to anyone."

Distinguished guests!?

Yun Che instinctively turned his head, looking in the direction Shen Xi was gazing. What kind of figures could be considered distinguished guests in this Samsara forbidden land?

Eastern Divine Region, Brahma Monarch God Realm.

"What's happening?" Qianye Ying'er, who had been quiet, suddenly opened her eyes, her moon-like brows tightly furrowed. At her level, few things in the world could cause such an emotional ripple in her.

"What is troubling you, Miss?" the aged, hoarse voice of Gu Zhu came from beside her.

Qianye Ying'er said coldly, "The soul sensation from the Brahma Soul Death-Wishing Mark I planted on Yun Che has become several times weaker."

Gu Zhu: "..."

"No one can endure the torment of the Death-Wishing Mark for two months, let alone suppress it... What exactly is going on!?" Qianye Ying'er's expression grew colder. No one understood the terrifying and domineering nature of the Brahma Soul Death-Wishing Mark better than she did.

"No," Gu Zhu slowly spoke. "There is indeed one person in this world who might be able to suppress your Death-Wishing Mark, and even potentially erase it completely."

"She is in the Dragon God Realm."

Gu Zhu's words made Qianye Ying'er's brows tightly knit. A name and a figure seemingly forever bathed in immortal mist simultaneously appeared in her mind.

"You mean... the Dragon Queen!?"