Chapter 1558: Middle Ruins Battle?

"Its name is 'Nothingness'," Yun Che murmured.

"Nothing... ness?" Qianye Ying'er's golden brows furrowed.

"It's a special law, or perhaps the 'Origin Power' of profound energy," Yun Che slowly explained, describing a concept no one, not even himself, could fully grasp, only barely sensing its edge. "It can return all things to 'nothingness' and transform them into my own power. However, I've only just begun to comprehend it. Currently, I can only return the most easily convertible profound crystals to nothingness."

"That's all?" To absorb the spiritual energy from devil crystals without hindrance, without even perceiving the process, and convert it into his own cultivation—yet in his words, it was merely "just beginning to comprehend" and "that's all"?

"Is this also power left to you by the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor?"

As Qianye Ying'er, who once stood at the pinnacle of the profound way in this era, she had never heard of a "Law of Nothingness." Yun Che's words sounded like an alien tongue to her. But if it was a special power left by the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, her inability to comprehend it was natural.

Yun Che closed his eyes, offering no reply.

Qianye Ying'er's gaze swept over the black devil crystals Yun Che had laid out. "So, you caused such a stir here just to create an excuse for plunder?" she mused.

Qianye Ying'er used the word "plunder."

"Yes," Yun Che replied without hesitation. "To advance quickly, I need an immense amount of resources. Unfortunately, with my current strength, I can only operate within the middle star realms."

"Heh..." Qianye Ying'er looked at Yun Che, suddenly letting out a rather sarcastic laugh. "People often say that human nature is the hardest thing to change. Yet you have transformed completely. You clearly intend to plunder, but you still need a 'justifiable' cause, making others willingly provide the reason. Your vileness is truly impressive."

Yun Che opened his eyes, his gaze shifting slightly.

At that moment, Qianye Ying'er's golden brows twitched sharply, and her voice deepened. "Divine Sovereign!"

"Divine Sovereign?" Yun Che stood up, his gaze sharpening slightly. "This display is quite beyond my expectations."

He was certain that his actions in the Eastern Region would alarm the Realm King sect of the Eastern Ruin Realm, leading them to dispatch people. He just hadn't expected them to send a Divine Sovereign in person.

However, he showed no panic. With a push of his palm, he said, "Wear this."

Qianye Ying'er took it. "What is this?"

"It's called the Reversing Abyss Stone," Yun Che explained. What he handed Qianye Ying'er was the Reversing Abyss Stone that Jie Yuan had left him, which he temporarily no longer needed. "It can alter your aura. Just infuse it with profound energy, and you'll know how to use it."

Qianye Ying'er cautiously infused it with profound energy. Her face showed a hint of surprise as she murmured, "No wonder you were able to escape to the Northern Divine Region without a trace."

As she spoke, her aura began to subtly change. Her profound energy, originally at the third level of the Divine Sovereign Realm, mysteriously transformed to the first level of the Divine King Realm, just like Yun Che's.

A layer of dark disguise also obscured her snow-jade-like face.

At this moment, Dongfang Hanwei's anxious voice transmitted through the barrier: "Senior Yun! It's the Great Realm King... This time, it's really the Great Realm King's people! You... Ah!"

Her hurried transmission cut off, turning into a gasp, followed by her clearly panicked voice from outside: "Fa... Father King."

"This is my humble daughter, Hanwei. Hanwei, quickly greet Princess Yan and Senior Jiu!"

"No need!" A rather stern and imposing female voice approached from a distance. "Where is Yun Che?"

"Yes... I shall introduce him now."

The Donghan King's voice was infinitely more humble and timid than when he faced the Nine Great Sects. Before he could arrive, Yun Che had already pushed open the door and stepped out of the barrier. Instantly, two sharp gazes fell upon him.

Behind Yun Che, Qianye Ying'er followed silently.

"Venerable Yun!" Seeing Yun Che step out, the Donghan King immediately advanced, concealing his visibly complicated expression. He stated solemnly, "These two are distinguished guests from the Eastern Ruin Sect. This is Princess Yan, daughter of the Great Realm King..."

"My name is Dong Xueyan," the woman coldly interrupted the Donghan King. Her gaze swept over Yun Che several times, finding his overly calm and indifferent eyes unsettling. "Are you Yun Che?"

The old man behind Dong Xueyan's brows twitched noticeably for a moment, then returned to normal.

"Why are you looking for me?" Yun Che said coldly.

Not only was his voice cold, but he showed not the slightest reverence or reaction to her identity. Dong Xueyan frowned deeply, then let out a low laugh. "You're even more arrogant than the rumors suggest."

"Yun Che, do you know whose territory this Eastern Ruin Realm is?" Dong Xueyan stepped forward, radiating the intimidating authority of "Princess Yan." "This land, and the Nine Great Sects, are all under the protection of my Eastern Ruin Sect! You, an outsider, have wantonly trampled over this Eastern Region and forcibly subjugated the Nine Great Sects... That alone might be acceptable; with your strength, you indeed have the qualifications to become a ruler here. But after all this time, you haven't visited my Father King, not even a simple message or an invitation! You clearly don't regard my Eastern Ruin Sect at all!"

"Princess Yan!" the Donghan King said urgently. "Venerable Yun absolutely did not mean that! He has long intended to visit the Great Realm King, but he has been preoccupied recently..."

"Silence!" Dong Xueyan sharply rebuked. Her gaze towards Yun Che grew increasingly cold... because in response to her words, Yun Che's eyes remained completely unperturbed, which undeniably ignited her anger. "When is it your turn to speak?"

The Donghan King immediately fell silent, no longer daring to speak out of turn.

"Heh heh," the old man suddenly interjected, his tone remarkably gentle. "Her Highness is quick-tempered and not adept at etiquette. If her words have been overly harsh or offensive, I hope you will be understanding, esteemed sir."

"…?" The old man's words made Dong Xueyan turn her gaze in astonishment, but she remained silent.

"And who are you?" Yun Che said, his eyes slanting.

"A maid?" Dong Xueyan's beautiful eyes narrowed. "A maid who directly addresses her master by name is truly rare!"

"We have our own unique way of interacting, Princess Yan, so it's understandable if you find it difficult to comprehend." Compared to Yun Che's cold and rigid tone, Qianye Ying'er's words were much gentler. She looked at Yun Che, seemingly asking for his opinion. "Yun Che, this is, after all, the territory of the Eastern Ruin Realm. It is indeed improper for us to cause such a stir here and yet neglect to visit the Great Realm King for so long."

"Now that the Great Realm King has personally sent Princess Yan, it shows his sincere invitation and is an excellent opportunity for us to visit him. To be able to serve the Great Realm King in this capacity would also be an honor and an opportunity. There's no reason to refuse. What do you think?"

"Since the Great Realm King has personally invited me, and the esteemed Princess Yan has come in person, how could I refuse?"

Yun Che's face remained so rigid and cold that Dong Xueyan wished she could punch him. However, his tone had softened considerably, showing no intention of refusing her invitation.

"Good," Dong Xueyan nodded. As Princess Yan, she held an extremely high status in the Eastern Ruin Realm; no one had ever dared to treat her with the slightest disrespect. She had never before encountered a countenance like Yun Che's. If it weren't for this crucial period, and her Father King's significant interest in this newly emerged individual, she might have ordered Dong Jiukui to directly kill this arrogant and presumptuous man on the spot.

With her objective achieved and no refusal from him, Dong Xueyan truly did not want to look at him any longer. She turned her body, and with a backhand motion, pushed a token wreathed in greenish light towards Yun Che. "This token has your name engraved on it," she said coldly. "Within thirty days, bring this token to the Eastern Ruin Sect. You will bear the consequences if you are late!"

"Lord Jiu, let's go." Dong Xueyan walked away directly, not even bothering to inquire about Yun Che's origins.

Dong Jiukui nodded slightly towards Yun Che and said with a smile, "I believe esteemed sir will shine brilliantly in this Middle Ruin War. I greatly look forward to it. Farewell."

As he left, his gaze seemingly inadvertently flickered towards Qianye Ying'er.

"Your humble servant respectfully escorts..."

"No need!" Dong Xueyan's cold remark froze the Donghan King in place.

Once outside Donghan Royal City, Dong Xueyan's expression suddenly darkened. She stomped her foot, making the ground ripple. "I have never seen such a rude and arrogant madman!" she said resentfully. "He truly doesn't consider my Eastern Ruin Sect at all!"

"Heh heh," Dong Jiukui chuckled. "No need to be angry. He indeed has the right to be arrogant."

Dong Xueyan said, "Lord Jiu, why were you so polite to him? Could it be that..."

She suddenly thought of something, her expression changing.

"No," Dong Jiukui knew what she was thinking and shook his head. "Don't worry, his cultivation is indeed at the Divine King Realm, not a Divine Sovereign, and his lifespan does not exceed fifty *jiazi*, so he is qualified to participate in the Middle Ruin War. However..."

"However what?"

"However..." Dong Jiukui paused, his expression solemn. "The rumor I thought was nonsense is actually true. His cultivation is indeed only at the first level of the Divine King Realm."

"..." Dong Xueyan was startled, then gasped. "What did you say!? Impossible! How could a first-level Divine King defeat Sword Master Lunyang and Old Ancestor Mingpeng?! Could it be... he used some kind of illusion technique?"

Dong Jiukui offered no explanation and continued, "I was previously worried that with such cultivation, his lifespan might exceed the limit. But... another rumor is also true: his life aura is astonishingly young."

"How young?"

Dong Jiukui slowly extended three fingers.

"Could it be that his age doesn't exceed thirty *jiazi*?" Dong Xueyan asked, her face showing surprise. Not yet thirty *jiazi* — at most a little over a thousand years old — and he already possessed the strength of a Divine King at peak?

"No," Dong Jiukui still shook his head. "I feel that his age is very likely... under three *jiazi*!"