Chapter 1523: Death and Desperation (Part 1)

Overly dense dark profound energy flickered like a specter in everyone's eyes.

“Dark profound energy… it’s dark profound energy!”

“A devil… a devil?”

“A devil! He’s a devil!”

Everyone’s expressions changed dramatically. Even the three First Divine Emperors, each harboring their own agenda and having cornered Yun Che, revealed looks of shock. But the most astonished, without a doubt, was the Eternal Heaven Divine Emperor.

Dark profound energy, in the common understanding, was negative profound energy that defied the righteous path of heaven and earth. It was a power exclusive to devils! A demonic power that should not exist in this world!

Anyone possessing dark profound energy was a devil! A true, undeniable devil!

“This… how can this be?” The Eternal Heaven Divine Emperor was utterly stunned, unable to believe his eyes. In his eyes, Yun Che was undoubtedly the foremost talent among the younger generation, worthy of all his praise. He possessed a “saintly heart” dedicated to saving the world, and with the power of the Heretic God, his future was limitless. How could he possibly be imbued with dark profound energy?

The very heresy he found most intolerable in this world!

“He’s a devil! Yun Che is a devil!!” Exalted One Tai Yu roared.

“Brother Yun, you…” Zhou Qingchen took a step back, his face contorted.

Beside Yun Che, Xia Qingyue retreated a significant distance, her brows tightly furrowed, her expression a mix of shock… and doubt.

“Hahahahaha,” the Southern Sea Divine Emperor burst into wild laughter. Perhaps only he could laugh aloud at that moment. “No wonder! No wonder he desperately defended the Evil Infant. No wonder he even wanted to kill someone as revered as the Eternal Heaven Divine Emperor… He’s actually a devil hidden within the God Realm! A devil just like the Evil Infant!”

The Shitian Divine Emperor beside him bared his teeth, saying, “This is truly an eye-opener.”

“You… you’re… actually… a devil!” The Dragon Emperor’s words were exceptionally strained, his facial expression changing more drastically than anyone else’s. More than shock, he felt an overwhelming inability to accept it! At that very moment, he even wished Yun Che was that dazzling, formidable, world-saving Divine Son, whom all Realm Kings would revere!

“How could… such a thing… be possible…” Countless Realm Kings murmured the same words.

“Heh… heh heh…” Yun Che continued to smile, his grin more like a devil’s. The dark energy around him became even more twisted and chaotic. Exposing his dark profound energy was always his deepest taboo. Having spent time in the God Realm, he understood with increasing clarity what revealing dark profound energy truly meant. Yet, at the same time, he never worried about exposure. Unlike other devils, he possessed supreme control over dark profound energy, capable of perfectly concealing its aura. Unless he willed it, not a trace could be revealed.

However, as the rage and hatred in his soul completely erupted, the dark profound formation sealed by Jie Yuan in his heart was violently triggered, fully drawing out the dark profound energy within him. Yet, he showed not a hint of panic, nor fear. He raised his head, black hair fluttering, his eyes—emitting a dark, sinister glow—swept across every figure before him. A chillingly sarcastic arc twisted his lips: “That’s right… I am a devil… I am a devil!”

He had possessed dark profound energy even before arriving in the God Realm, yet he never considered himself a devil. Deep down, he harbored considerable resistance toward the concept of “devils.” But now, he willingly admitted to being a devil! He had suddenly realized that these so-called righteous individuals, who swore not to coexist with devils, were countless times more depraved than any devil he had encountered in his life!

“The Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor was a devil… she sacrificed herself and her entire clan to bring about this era’s peace!”

“Jasmine was a devil! She used the Evil Infant’s Wheel of Myriad Tribulations to pull you back from the brink of death!!”

“I am a devil… and it was I, this devil, who saved the Primordial Chaos from the brink of disaster!”

“The Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor is gone. Jasmine was killed by you, and you still malign her as the ‘Utmost Evil Infant.’ Now, it’s my turn.” Yun Che slowly whispered, “Even if I saved the entire world, even if I am your savior, as long as I am a devil, I deserve to die… And a treacherous, ungrateful, vile wretch, simply because he killed a devil, becomes a saint who blesses the whole world… Excellent, truly excellent. Your true faces, your so-called righteous path, they are truly magnificent… Jasmine and I poured all our efforts… to save… precisely this group of vile wretches… Heh heh… ah hahahaha…”

Yun Che’s words pierced their very souls. Many Divine Masters averted their gazes, their minds convulsing.

“Ah, how truly ironic,” Exalted One Tai Yu said. “The world-saving Divine Son is actually a devil. If this news spreads, it will surely become the greatest joke of this era.”

Qianye Fantian stated calmly, “The matter of the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor’s return, and the title of ‘Divine Son Yun,’ will not spread throughout the God Realm. As for the Evil Infant… it was extinguished by the Eternal Heaven Divine Emperor. No one should attempt to claim that credit.”

Everyone understood Qianye Fantian’s meaning. The Eastern Region Realm Kings all nodded in unison. How could they allow the world to know that they once revered a devil as a “world-saving Divine Son”? Even less could they permit knowledge that it was truly this devil and the Evil Infant who saved the entire God Realm.

Watching Yun Che at this moment, Xia Qingyue remained silent. She could sense countless malevolent spirits struggling and roaring within his body. Although only a mere hundred breaths had passed since the sudden turn of events, such a brief period was enough to plunge him into utter disappointment and despair regarding this world.

Was this situation truly because Yun Che, for the sake of the Evil Infant, wished to kill the Eternal Heaven Divine Emperor? No, of course not. Both Jasmine and Yun Che had saved the lives of everyone present, and beyond that, they had bestowed the greater grace of saving the world. Such profound kindness, anyone with a conscience would never forget it throughout their lives. The ones truly responsible for this situation were the Dragon Emperor, the Brahma Heaven Divine Emperor, and the Southern Sea Divine Emperor—the three most powerful, highest-ranking, and most influential figures of this era. As the First Divine Emperors of their respective God Realms, few dared to defy the will of any one of them. But when the will of all three suddenly converged to target a single individual…

Who would dare defy? Who could defy them!?

And if the choices made by those present earlier were forced and reluctant, born of a deep sense of shame… then, the sudden eruption of dark profound energy from Yun Che’s body instantly provided everyone with more than enough justification. Suddenly, everything became self-evident, even seemingly righteous and awe-inspiring!

“…” Xia Qingyue’s gaze gradually narrowed, the warmth slowly fading from her eyes until they became a dark, abyssal pool reflecting an eerie, cold light.

Over a dozen streams of profound energy converged from different directions, each one far beyond Yun Che’s ability to resist. Yun Che instantly felt as though he was crushed by ten thousand mountains; let alone escaping, he couldn’t even move a finger. The black profound formation on his chest vanished, and the tumultuous dark profound energy throughout his body was firmly suppressed. Only his eyes still gleamed with an abyssal black light.

“Seize him!” The Dragon Emperor growled. Regardless of Yun Che’s past identity or deeds, now that he was a devil, this command was delivered with perfect justification!

The instant the Dragon Emperor spoke, Yun Che let out a low growl of his own: “Kill!”

Before revealing his dark profound energy, Yun Che wasn’t yet in a death trap. But the moment his dark profound energy erupted, he knew he was essentially doomed. Anyone had a reason to kill him—the most undeniable and righteous reason in this world! It wasn’t Yun Che himself who unleashed the dark profound energy, but the mysterious “seed” left by Jie Yuan. Jie Yuan could never have imagined that so soon after her departure, this seed would be abruptly and so violently triggered. Yun Che, of course, bore no resentment towards Jie Yuan, nor did any living being in this world have the right to resent her.

Darkness not only coiled around his body but also devoured his spirit and his already faltering sanity. He didn’t consider how to cope or how to escape; only extreme hatred, extreme rage, and a killing intent potent enough to consume everything remained. Unfortunately, his power was insufficient to kill anyone present, nor could he even break free slightly.

Even more ironically, the only power he could rely on was Qianye Ying’er! Although the three First Divine Emperors were all present, Qianye Ying’er, no matter how powerful, would eventually be suppressed. However, killing a few individuals would still be well within her capabilities! And Yun Che’s command to her was to spare no effort, even if it meant sacrificing her life! He had never harbored any affection for Qianye Ying’er as a person!

Qianye Ying’er acknowledged the command. Golden light erupted from her body, and the full force of her Divine Master aura, unleashed in that instant, caused the assembled Realm Kings and even the Divine Emperors to blanch in surprise. For a long time, rumors circulated that the Brahma Monarch Goddess’s strength was close to that of the Brahma Heaven Divine Emperor. However, Qianye Ying’er had always concealed her power profoundly. While no one dared to underestimate her, few truly believed her strength was comparable to her father’s. After all, with her lifespan of merely less than a thousand years, no matter how terrifying her talent, it was deemed impossible for her to truly reach the Divine Emperor Realm. However, the profound energy Qianye Ying’er unleashed without reservation at that moment… was clearly at the Divine Master attainment, exerting a pressure akin to a Divine Emperor! It undeniably surpassed the three Great Brahma Gods, who were universally acknowledged as second only to the Brahma Heaven Divine Emperor!

The Divine Emperors’ gazes suddenly snapped to Qianye Ying’er, and nearly a third of the Realm Kings hastily retreated. Only Qianye Fantian’s lips curved into a strange arc as he subtly flicked his finger.

Jingle!

A clear, melodious jingle suddenly resonated through the vast space, exceptionally pleasing to the ear and refreshing to the mind. The moment the bell chimed, the terrifying pressure emanating from Qianye Ying’er abruptly solidified.

Jingle!

With another identical jingle, Qianye Ying’er’s body trembled violently. She suddenly let out a pained whimper as her figure plummeted, the profound energy that had just surged through her body dispersing wildly like a breached dam. This sudden anomaly caused everyone’s gaze to snap to Qianye Fantian’s hand. In his hand, a peculiar golden glow appeared. The jingle they had just heard emanated from this light.

“The Brahma Soul Bell?” The Dragon Emperor glanced sideways.

“Oh?” The Southern Sea Divine Emperor’s eyes gleamed with a strange light. “Brahma Heaven Divine Emperor, you wouldn’t… actually be willing, would you?”

The Brahma Soul Bell, the most vital and fundamental Divine Relic of the Brahma Monarch God Realm, could forcibly reclaim the inherited Brahma God power!

Jingle!!

No sooner had the Southern Sea Divine Emperor’s words fallen than an exceptionally heart-shaking chime resonated from Qianye Fantian’s hand, and the golden light of the Brahma Soul Bell vanished instantly. Simultaneously, an exceptionally dazzling golden light burst forth from Qianye Ying’er’s body, accompanied by a deeply suppressed groan of pain.

In that instant, it was as if a golden star had shattered in their eyes.