Chapter 1456: The Only Hope

Yun Che’s sudden emergence and his words drew everyone’s gaze, but what followed immediately was a mixture of ridicule and pity on their faces.

A figure like the Eternal Heaven God Emperor had been almost condemned to death for merely uttering a word of protest. Yet, here was the weakest person present, someone who had inexplicably tagged along and had the least right to speak, actually daring to step forward… Was he incredibly foolish, or did he simply feel he had lived too long?

"May I have a word with you?" Faced with the Devil Emperor, that question seemed incredibly foolish and pathetic to them.

"Big Brother Yun Che!" Shui Meiyin cried out in alarm.

"You…" Shui Qianheng’s eyes were wide, his heart ablaze with anxiety, but his entire body was paralyzed by extreme terror.

But soon, all their expressions were gradually replaced by astonishment and doubt.

Because, at Yun Che's words, the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor… actually froze in place. Her outstretched palm hung suspended in mid-air; the black aura on it neither condensed nor released, but instead suddenly flickered erratically.

And her abyssal devil eyes were fixed intently on Yun Che.

One breath… two breaths… three breaths… they remained unmoving.

"…?" The Eternal Heaven God Emperor, who had been full of despair and awaiting death with closed eyes, opened them to stare blankly at the suddenly bizarre scene, utterly bewildered.

The scene became incredibly strange. Everyone held their breath, not daring to even exhale.

Wh-what’s going on?

What happened?

Could it be… that this Devil Emperor has been in the outer chaotic void for millions of years and then took a liking to this pretty boy at first sight?!

At this moment, a sudden storm seemed to rise. The black aura on Jie Yuan's hand dispersed, and the dark devil energy that had been suppressing Eternal Heaven, Qianye, the Star Gods, and the Moon Gods also completely vanished. Amidst the storm, Jie Yuan's body streaked across space, suddenly appearing before Yun Che. Her five greenish-black fingers passed through the crimson profound energy on his body, reaching for Yun Che's neck…

After a momentary hesitation, her fingers abruptly moved downward, seizing his collar.

She stared into Yun Che's eyes, her black pupils subtly trembling beneath the profound light emanating from his body. "You… why do you possess 'his' power!?"

With her power, obliterating Yun Che's profound energy would require no action, merely a single thought. Yet, at such close proximity, with her hand already gripping his body, she seemingly did not extinguish his profound energy, allowing the crimson profound light to touch her body and eyes.

Because that was the power of the Evil God's Art, fifth stage, "Yan Huang"!

Yun Che did not struggle. Even his initial anxiety and fear had somewhat lessened, for what he feared was not the Devil Emperor's actions, but rather her remaining completely unmoved. And the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's reaction was far more intense than he had anticipated.

"Because I am the inheritor of 'his' power and will," he said with a calm expression under the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's close gaze… though inwardly he was utterly panicking.

When the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor appeared, these major figures of the God Realm were all terrified out of their wits. Only Yun Che had retained a degree of optimism. If she were merely a Devil Emperor, Yun Che would certainly be as grim and despairing as everyone else. But Yun Che knew something more: that while she was the Devil Emperor, she also possessed another identity…

…the beloved of the Evil God.

As one who prematurely ended his own existence to leave hope for future generations, and whom the Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit called the "greatest god," Yun Che believed that the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, who had received the Evil God's love to the point of him breaking taboos and even giving her the Universe Piercer, was fundamentally not a cruel and heartless devil.

And with her Devil Emperor-level life and will, he also believed that millions of years of existence in the outer chaotic void would fill her heart and soul with hatred, but would not be enough to change the essence of her soul!

He believed… and he had to believe that he could move her.

The world was more silent than ever. Everyone stood frozen like statues; they didn't know what was happening and dared not make a sound.

The profound energy in "Yan Huang" state was the color of scarlet blood, appearing incredibly dazzling in the dim, oppressive, and chilling space.

The world froze briefly once more. Only Jie Yuan's hand, gripping Yun Che's collar, was slowly tightening. Their faces and gazes were mere inches apart. Yun Che saw clearly that her scarred, greenish-black face was trembling slightly… seemingly enduring immense pain.

"'He'… is he dead too?" Jie Yuan spoke, those mere five words uttered with immense difficulty.

Jie Yuan's reaction made Yun Che's heart surge with excitement. He knew very well what this meant…

Yun Che nodded gently. "A million years ago, both the God Race and the Devil Race were completely annihilated… The Elemental Creation God was the last god to fall."

When Jie Yuan and the Heaven Smiting Devil Race were exiled, there was no Evil God in the world yet, only the Elemental Creation God.

Everyone besides Jie Yuan also heard Yun Che's words clearly.

As the highest existences in the current world, who had also learned of the Crimson Calamity, their hearts stirred violently at this moment. Their dilated pupils stared directly at the blood-red profound light on Yun Che's body… In their minds, they also recalled his astonishing feats at the Profound God Convention: wielding three elemental powers, defeating Divine Spirits with Divine Tribulation, and Divine Kings with the power of Divine Spirits…

"C-could it be..." the Eternal Heaven God Emperor murmured.

Jie Yuan's hand abruptly tightened, and Yun Che's collar instantly crumbled into dark fragments.

Her dark pupils were trembling chaotically. Yun Che clearly felt an extremely deep pain and sorrow spreading from Jie Yuan. Her hand clutched her forehead, her teeth clenched tightly: "Ugh… ugh… ah… ugh…"

Like a wild beast suddenly overcome by despair, she emitted a guttural, distorted wail… This was sorrow from the Devil Emperor, a grief capable of shattering even a Devil Emperor's will…

"Dead… d-dead… dead… dead…"

Gnashing… gnashing… gnashing… That was the sound of teeth grinding as if they would shatter.

Everyone stood there dumbfounded; even Yun Che was stunned. Jie Yuan's reaction was far, far more intense than the best outcome he had imagined…

Isolated for millions of years, filled with hatred for millions of years, the returned Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's reaction to the Evil God was actually…

Hadn't it been said that the higher one's status, the stronger one's power, and the longer one's lifespan, the more one's emotions would fade, just like Xing Juekong? Why then, was the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's reaction almost stronger than that of a mortal who had lost their beloved?

"Ni Xuan… why did you die… why… why didn't you wait for me to come back…" Her fingers, twisting, almost dug into her skull, and her body trembled like duckweed…

Everyone's gaze and soul were greatly bewildered. They could not believe that she was actually the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor who had just now intimidated the world, obliterated the three Brahma Gods with a flick of her finger, and filled them with terror and despair.

Ni Xuan… Yun Che murmured in his heart. Is this the Evil God's true name?

The Evil God not only abandoned the divine name of the Elemental Creation God but also seemed to have abandoned his true name. Among those ancient texts, none recorded the Evil God's true name.

"I… in the outer chaotic void… refused to die… not just for revenge… but also… to uphold my promise to you… Why… why were you the one to break your word… Why… wh-why…"

From between her fingers, Yun Che actually caught a fleeting glimpse of a tear.

But the next instant, she suddenly looked up, her gaze fixed on Yun Che. Her profound sorrow instantly transformed into a dark, abyssal pressure: "He's dead… You… are not him! You are merely… a mortal spirit who received his grace and power! How dare you… lecture me!"

"How dare you… a lowly mortal spirit… inherit his power!!"

Her words still carried a slight tremor… The Elemental Creation God, her husband, was dead; the impact of this on her was beyond anyone or any being's comprehension or empathy.

She spoke thus, yet the terrifying devil aura on her involuntarily receded, and receded further… as if fearing to harm the fragile mortal spirit before her.

Yun Che said, "Junior understands. Junior is indeed merely a mortal spirit, but has been blessed with the great grace of the Elemental Creation God throughout his life, a kindness this junior cannot repay. Junior never even hoped to be looked upon equally by Senior Devil Emperor. However, junior requests that Senior Devil Emperor, for the sake of the power this junior bears, allow junior to say a few words to you."

Yun Che's words were addressed to Jie Yuan, but they resonated like thunder in the hearts of everyone present.

Elemental Creation God… Evil God…

Yun Che's performance at the Conferred God Battle had been world-shaking. The special power continuously displayed and unleashed from his body had led countless people to speculate and covet it.

Today, they finally knew that Yun Che carried the divine power inheritance of the Evil God!

A Creation God inheritance that had never appeared before!

The six Star Gods of the Star God Realm also showed expressions of shock… Back then, in the Star God Realm, Heavenly Origin Star God Tu Mi had immediately declared that Yun Che very likely possessed the Evil God's divine power inheritance. But at that time, it was merely speculation, and anyone facing such a conjecture would find it hard to truly believe. Now, however… with the relationship between the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor and the Evil God, the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's reaction, and Yun Che's personal admission… no one could harbor any doubts anymore.

No wonder… no wonder Yun Che could master the divine powers of fire, ice, and water with unparalleled skill. No wonder he could defeat opponents across a major realm in the Divine Way… He inherited the power of a Creation God, a power a full level higher than a True God's inheritance!

If this matter had been revealed before today, while causing a commotion, it would certainly have attracted countless covetous gazes and greed… just like Qianye Ying'er.

But now, besides their shock, what also emerged was excitement… and the hope that came with it.

They suddenly understood the reason Yun Che stepped forward, and more clearly saw the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's incredibly abnormal reaction when facing the power on Yun Che's body.

Their gazes towards Yun Che completely changed, as if they had suddenly seen a bright dawn in a dark world. The Eternal Heaven God Emperor raised his hand, his lips parting and closing, yet he dared not make a sound. His gaze towards Yun Che was filled with hope… and entreaty.

Or rather, pleading…

Finally, Jie Yuan gave Yun Che an answer: "Tell me, how did 'he' die?"

These words from Jie Yuan were undoubtedly a promise to give Yun Che a chance to speak with her!

Everyone's eyes instantly brightened by several degrees.

It was impossible to describe the turmoil and complexity within their hearts… They were the rulers of the current age, and only they were qualified to confront this calamity.

But what awaited them was utter powerlessness and despair. And this sudden hope was tied to a junior who had "infiltrated" the Eternal Heaven Convention, whose level was far below theirs, and who was barely thirty years old.

Yun Che let out a slight breath and said, "Back then, after Senior was ambushed, the relationship between the Devil Race and the God Race deteriorated day by day. Later, the Heaven Punishing God Emperor Mo E died of old age after overusing the Ancestral Sword, which then became ownerless. Using this as a fuse, the two races launched a fierce war, and countless Devil Race and God Race members successively perished in the long, brutal conflict…"

Yun Che's narration was subtly artful; he used the phrase "ambushed," and when mentioning the two ancient races, he always put the Devil Race first.

"…Finally, under defeat, the Devil Race unsealed the Evil Infant's Myriad Tribulation Wheel. The Evil Infant's Myriad Tribulation Wheel, uncontrollable by anyone, then hijacked the Devil Monarch of the Eternal Night Devil Race as its vessel, and combining with the power of the Sky Poison Pearl, unleashed the ultimate devil poison 'Myriad Tribulations Extinction,' which annihilated all devils and gods, including… the Elemental Creation God."

Yun Che was, after all, too young and had read very few ancient texts. But he still recounted in as much detail as possible the world-ending calamity that everyone in the God Realm knew of.

Jie Yuan listened in silence, not uttering a single word. But when Yun Che finished his last sentence, her dark pupils suddenly stirred, displaying a reaction Yun Che had not anticipated.

"No, that's not right!" Jie Yuan shook her head, her eyes as deep as an abyss. "He is the master of Sky Poison! How could his Sky Poison Pearl be hijacked by the Evil Infant!"

"...Huh?" Yun Che was stunned.