Chapter 1481: Brahma Soul Bell

Soon, Qianye Ying’er, who had been away for a long time, arrived. As she stepped into the Brahma Heaven God Emperor’s palace, the drastically changed aura made her golden brows furrow deeply, and when she saw Qianye Fantian, her steps noticeably faltered.

Qianye Fantian at this moment, the Brahma Heaven God Emperor whose formidable reputation once shook the Eastern Divine Region, was now unrecognizable. His entire face was a terrifying, ghastly green, and his whole body was swollen to twice its previous size, with restless dark energy occasionally surging from him.

At this moment, anyone, even other God Emperors who saw him, would absolutely fail to recognize him as Qianye Fantian.

"Father." Qianye Ying’er came before him. She whispered, with no other words.

"Kneel." Qianye Fantian opened his eyes. The two words, though brief, still carried authority, but betrayed a profound weakness.

In just twelve hours, a God Emperor had been tortured to such a state... Perhaps even Yun Che hadn't imagined that with He Ling's assistance, such a minute amount of Sky Poison could be so terrifying.

Of course, the Devilish Qi of the Evil Infant was another significant factor.

"..." Qianye Ying’er knelt as instructed.

Qianye Fantian let out a long breath, as if gathering his remaining strength. A few breaths later, his visibly disfigured arm extended. In his hand, he unleashed an incredibly dazzling golden light.

In an instant, the entire Brahma Heaven God Emperor's palace was bathed in complete gold.

"Brahma Soul Bell!" The Brahma Kings' expressions simultaneously changed in alarm. They cried out in shock.

The Brahma Soul Bell, the most crucial core divine artifact of the Brahma Monarch God Realm, could only be held by the God Emperor!

The core divine power of the Brahma Monarch God Realm was inherited through the Brahma Soul Bell. It was similar to the Star God Wheel of the Star God Realm and the Moon Emperor Glaze of the Moon God Realm. But unlike them, the Brahma Soul Bell was not only an inheritance artifact but also capable of controlling the divine power of all Brahma Gods.

In ancient times, the Brahma Heaven Divine Clan, as one of the most powerful and warlike divine clans under Mo E, most abhorred and could not tolerate insubordination and betrayal! The Brahma Soul Bell was thus created. With the Brahma Soul Bell in hand, one held the lifelines of all Brahma Gods. It could not only determine the inheritance of core divine power but also control, suppress, and even forcibly strip away the divine power of inheritors...

Therefore, within the Brahma Monarch God Realm, any God Emperor possessing the Brahma Soul Bell held supreme authority!

The Brahma Monarch God Realm never had to worry about disobedience or rebellion from its Brahma Gods and Brahma Kings.

This was something no other King Realm in the Eastern Divine Region could achieve.

Furthermore, the Brahma Soul Bell could only be activated by those who had inherited the power of the Brahma God. Even if it accidentally fell into the hands of an outsider, there was no need for excessive worry.

Thus, when the Brahma Soul Bell appeared, all the Brahma Kings were shocked, but also filled with profound reverence.

Because it could easily suppress and strip away the supreme divine power they currently possessed... To strip away their divine power was to strip away everything from them.

Even they, as Brahma Kings, had not seen the Brahma Soul Bell for over ten thousand years.

"Ying'er, take the Brahma Soul Bell!" Qianye Fantian's palm was trembling, but his movements were unyieldingly firm, without hesitation or doubt. "From today onward, you shall be the new Emperor of my Brahma Monarch God Realm!"

Qianye Fantian's words struck like thunder. All the Brahma Kings were utterly aghast. Even those Brahma Kings afflicted with the Sky Poison rose in astonishment.

To receive the Brahma Soul Bell, even without becoming the God Emperor, meant holding the lifeline of the entire Brahma Monarch God Realm in one's hands. Yet, Qianye Ying’er did not reach out. Instead, she said coldly, "Father, aren't you being a bit too hasty? Are you so certain you're going to die? Aren't you quite sure that Xia Qingyue wouldn't dare let you die?"

"Heh heh," Qianye Fantian smiled faintly. "This has nothing to do with it. You were destined to be the next Brahma Heaven God Emperor many years ago! Today, it's merely happening a little earlier. What? Taking the Brahma Soul Bell and becoming the new Brahma Heaven God Emperor means you can control the entire Brahma Monarch God Realm. Are you still hesitating!?"

No sooner had Qianye Fantian finished speaking than a golden blur flashed past, and the Brahma Soul Bell was already in Qianye Ying’er's grasp.

And this seemingly ordinary action struck all the Brahma Kings' hearts and souls like a heavy hammer.

The change of ownership of the Brahma Soul Bell signified the change of ownership of the Brahma Monarch God Realm!

Holding the Brahma Soul Bell in her hand, and feeling its endlessly mysterious golden light, Qianye Ying’er's golden eyes narrowed slightly as she spoke softly, "This is something I've always dreamed of possessing. Why would I refuse? Hmph, I thank Father for fulfilling my wish."

Qianye Fantian seemed very pleased with Qianye Ying’er's demeanor at that moment. A look of satisfaction finally appeared on his face. "Very good, you truly won't disappoint me. My years of expectations and nurturing have not been in vain... With this, I can finally rest at ease."

"Rest at ease?" Qianye Ying’er directly put away the Brahma Soul Bell. Her lips curved slightly. "You're resting at ease too soon! The succession of a God Emperor is a momentous affair; it must be legitimate and executed with full prestige. Otherwise, wouldn't I lose face the moment I become God Emperor?"

Qianye Fantian: "..."

"So, either you die, and I naturally succeed as God Emperor; or you live, legitimately transfer the God Emperor's position to me, and then retire as the Grand God Emperor. Today... let's forget it! I can't afford to be so shabby!"

"..." Qianye Fantian's eyes narrowed slightly, then he chuckled. "Good, very good. Now that the Brahma Soul Bell is in your hands, your words are everything! At least within the Brahma Monarch God Realm, no one will dare to question or defy you in the slightest. But there is one thing you must remember!"

"Regardless of whether I live or die in the end, you must never forget today's humiliation!"

"Hmph! You don't need to tell me that." Qianye Ying’er said coldly.

"Furthermore, you are wrong about one thing, gravely mistaken!" Qianye Fantian rasped sharply. "If Xia Qingyue ultimately backs down and resolves the poison in my body with Yun Che, then from now on, I will not be some Grand God Emperor, but merely a Brahma God under your command, whom you can use as you please! The King of my Brahma Monarch God Realm doesn't need a Grand God Emperor, much less a father, understand!?"

"Good!" Qianye Ying’er tilted her head slightly.

"If Xia Qingyue ultimately backs down and resolves the poison in my body with Yun Che..." The subtext of this sentence was clear: Qianye Fantian had internally confirmed that if Xia Qingyue did not proactively resolve it, he would surely die.

The poison and devilish qi were in his body, so he naturally knew his condition best.

"If I die..." Qianye Fantian slowly closed his eyes, his voice low. "Bury me and your mother... together."

These words were met with Qianye Ying’er's scoff. "Heh, a joke! Do you even deserve that!?"

"..." Qianye Fantian's face showed pain, his lips trembled. He was unable to utter another word for a long time.

Without another glance at Qianye Fantian, who was simultaneously afflicted by deadly poison and devilish qi, Qianye Ying’er, having taken the Brahma Soul Bell and thus grasping the core lifeline of the Brahma Monarch God Realm, turned away coldly. She left under the trembling gazes of the Brahma Kings, as if she no longer cared about Qianye Fantian's life or death.

"God Emperor, you... what on earth..." The First Brahma King shook his head heavily. His heart was filled with a thousand fears and ten thousand confusions.

"No need for more words!" Qianye Fantian's voice grew increasingly hoarse and weak, yet it remained extremely firm, leaving no room for argument. "Even if this king... is truly going to die... I absolutely cannot bow to the Moon God Realm... Absolutely not!!"

"The God Emperor is right; how can we easily bow to the Moon God Emperor?" The First Brahma King clenched his fists, his body churning with murderous intent. "But, since the God Emperor's life is at stake, we absolutely cannot just sit here and wait any longer! I will now lead the Brahma Kings personally to the Moon God Realm and send messages to the other King Realms to pressure the Moon God Realm together! If the Moon God Realm refuses to comply... we will forcefully attack it! And make her comply!"

"Heh, naive." Qianye Fantian gave a distorted, cold laugh. "When Yue Wuya was alive, the Moon God Realm would never have dared to offend us in the slightest. Why does Xia Qingyue dare to now? We all know this matter was Xia Qingyue's doing, but this so-called alliance with other King Realms to pressure the Moon God Realm is a joke... Because the devilish qi in my body is from the Evil Infant, and my poison is from the Sky Poison Pearl... What does any of this have to do with the Moon God Realm!?"

"..." The First Brahma King suddenly froze.

"If we forcefully pressure the Moon God Realm, we will have no legitimate justification! And with Xia Qingyue's cunning, she will absolutely use this as legitimate grounds to counterattack with the power of the Eternal Heaven God Realm... Furthermore..." Qianye Fantian gasped violently. "What I am afflicted with is the Sky Poison Pearl's poison! The only one who can resolve this poison is the Sky Poison Pearl itself, and only Yun Che! And behind Yun Che is the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor! This is Xia Qingyue's greatest reliance for her audacity."

The First Brahma King felt as if ice water had been poured over him, chilling him to the core. He stood stunned for a long time. The profound energy and murderous aura that had just surged through him dissipated like a receding tide. He lowered his head, giving a bitter smile, and said weakly, "Are we then left with... only begging for mercy?"

"Begging for mercy? Heh..." Qianye Fantian gave a cold laugh. "Never... utter those four words again!"

As his voice fell, the aura behind him immediately became chaotic. He quickly focused his mind to suppress it...

However, in the instant his eyes closed, an incredibly dark, eerie glint flashed deep within his pupils.

Between the cities of Brahma Heaven, there was an exceptionally quiet secluded forest.

A green stone tablet stood in the center of the secluded forest, seemingly guarded by all the spirits of water and wood in the area.

A golden figure stood before the tablet. At this moment, she exuded no aura, having shed all coldness and imposing might. Then... she slowly knelt down.

She cupped her hands. Between her palms was the Brahma Soul Bell, its golden light searing the soul. Her head bowed low, her voice faint as smoke. "Mother... do you see? This is the Brahma Soul Bell. It's in Ying'er's hands now... This was Ying'er's ambition and her promise to you back then. At that time, you always laughed at Ying'er for being foolish... But now, Ying'er has made it all a reality... You must be able to see... right...?"

Her only answer was the gentle wisps of wind.

"Mother, why... why don't you answer me? Why can't I feel your joy? Have you... sensed it too?" She whispered softly, slowly closing her hands around the Brahma Soul Bell. "My entire life, I've strived to obtain it, willing to sacrifice anything for it. But why... now that I hold it in my hands, do I not feel any joy at all...?"

"Could it be that all my efforts these past years, everything I've done, wasn't for it...?"

"Mother, after you passed away, he posthumously conferred upon you the title of Divine Empress, and you were the last, the only one. That wicked woman who harmed you, he personally killed her, stripped her of all titles, and even her name and traces were completely erased... I once resented him so much, yet I can no longer hate or resent him."

"All these years, he treated me differently from all his other children... He said that no matter what my future achievements were, even if I became mediocre, I would still be the future King of the Brahma Monarch God Realm, the only King. Because I was the only child of him and his Divine Empress..."

"He is a ruthless person, and he taught me countless times to be ruthless too. When necessary, I should not hesitate to use or abandon even him. Yet, for all these years, no matter how cruel and unyielding he was, he never showed the slightest trace of that towards me..."

"And today, he gave me this Brahma Soul Bell without any hesitation."

Qianye Ying’er closed her eyes and whispered softly, "Mother, tell me, is the answer in my heart true...?"

"Back then, my efforts were so that you would no longer be looked down upon or bullied. After you left, all my efforts were, astonishingly... to not let down his dedication and expectations for me..."

"Heh... heh heh... ridiculous... too ridiculous... utterly ridiculous..."

"How could this be true... how could this be true..."

She laughed a desolate, cold laugh, as the Brahma Soul Bell in her hand emitted a soul-piercing hum.

She knelt there, motionless for a long time, like a soulless ice sculpture.

Half an hour later, she finally rose slowly. Her gaze turned northwest as she murmured coldly, "Xia Qingyue... you won!"