Chapter 1559: The Game of the Haunted Ruins

In the Northern Divine Region, due to the presence of dark profound energy and the cultivation of dark profound strength, the emission of life aura is vastly different from that in the outside world. As a result, perceiving life aura is far less clear and accurate here. Nevertheless, a general range can still be determined.

Dong Xueyan paused, not in shock, but merely stated, "That's not a funny joke."

Dong Jiukui did not press the matter. Of course, he couldn't believe Yun Che's lifespan was truly within 180 years. In the Northern Divine Region, it was quite normal for perceptions of life aura to be inaccurate. The life aura emitted by the same individual could vary significantly depending on the dark profound art they cultivated.

"Xueyan, you seem to have forgotten to ask him about his origins directly," Dong Jiukui said.

"Hmph!" Remembering Yun Che's cold, stiff face, Dong Xueyan's brow furrowed deeply. "With his arrogant, conceited demeanor, asking would be pointless. Besides, Father King doesn't care about his origins at all."

"The Sect Master isn't indifferent; he simply hasn't had time to care," Dong Jiukui said, shaking his head slowly. "In past Void Realm Battles, our Eastern Ruin has usually ranked second, only behind the Northern Ruin. But the last two times, we were continuously suppressed by the Western Ruin, placing third."

"Two consecutive results like that, the decrease in resources is secondary; our Eastern Ruin's status and reputation have suffered repeated heavy blows. Given your Father King's temperament, how could he possibly bear it?"

"If we lose to the Western Ruin again this time..." Dong Jiukui sighed heavily. "Your Father King would never be able to accept such an outcome, no matter what."

"Now, Yun Che has appeared here, capable of defeating two level-ten Divine Kings working together, and his own cultivation is within the limits. He will certainly be a considerable asset for this Void Realm Battle. In comparison, his origins are not important. We can investigate them thoroughly after the Void Realm Battle."

"Hmph, no matter how strong he is, can he be stronger than my elder brother?" Dong Xueyan sneered.

"Haha, the Crown Prince has already grasped some principles of the Divine Master realm; ordinary Divine Kings naturally can't compare to him," Dong Jiukui said with a smile. "However, the Void Realm Battle is not a one-person fight after all. Moreover... while the Crown Prince has advanced rapidly in recent years, the Western Ruin side... absolutely cannot be underestimated either."

"Furthermore, this Void Realm Battle..." Dong Jiukui paused, seemingly hesitant, but then continued, "There's actually another, more important reason why the Sect Master is determined to surpass the Western Ruin Realm this time, and that is the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom of the Southern Ruin Realm."

"?" Dong Xueyan arched an eyebrow. "What does the Southern Phoenix have to do with this?"

Among the Five Void Realms, the Southern Ruin Realm is the weakest. In all previous Void Realm Battles, the Southern Ruin Realm has always ranked last, with no signs of rising.

"I heard that in this Void Realm Battle, the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom will be led not by the Southern Phoenix Monarch, but by... Southern Phoenix Chan'yi."

"Her?" Hearing that name, Dong Xueyan's brow twitched sharply, and her eyes grew colder. "What qualifications does she have? Has the Southern Ruin Realm truly declined to this extent?"

Beneath her mockery, deep-seated jealousy was still evident in her face and eyes.

Most women are prone to jealousy. Ordinary women envy pretty women, while pretty women envy women more beautiful than themselves... and the latter often feel it more intensely than the former.

As Princess Yan, known to everyone in the Eastern Ruin Realm, Dong Xueyan was not only of noble status but also possessed unparalleled beauty, her renown spreading far and wide... However, if she stood next to Southern Phoenix Chan'yi, she would instantly dim, and no one's gaze would remain on her.

Southern Phoenix Chan'yi, the ninety-ninth princess of the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom, the realm-king power of the Southern Ruin Realm, was famed throughout the Five Void Realms, not just for her title as a Southern Phoenix Imperial Daughter, but even more so, for her reputation as the most beautiful woman in all Five Realms, known even to ordinary women and children.

Since she was fifteen, no one had been able to challenge that title.

"Because Southern Phoenix Chan'yi is no longer an ordinary imperial daughter," Dong Jiukui said. "Just half a month ago, the Southern Phoenix Monarch suddenly deposed the Crown Prince and then enfeoffed her as Crown Princess."

"What!?" Dong Xueyan's face showed astonishment, followed by incomprehension.

"Upon hearing that rumor, no one could believe it. But... Xueyan, do you know who will be the supervisor and witness for this Void Realm Battle?" Dong Jiukui suddenly asked.

"Could it be... not Venerable Hidden Mirror anymore?"

"This time, it's Venerable Hidden Sword," Dong Jiukui said.

"..." Dong Xueyan paused, then suddenly realized something. "Are you saying..."

"That's right." Dong Jiukui nodded, a hint of envy flashing in his sigh. "He will bring another person... Bei Hanchu."

"Bei Han" is the surname of the realm-king sect of the Northern Ruin Realm, which is also the foremost sect among the Five Void Realms.

Dong Xueyan gritted her teeth slightly, her hands unconsciously clenching. Three parts jealousy, three parts unwillingness, and the rest apprehension. She suddenly understood why her Father King attached such importance to this Void Realm Battle.

"It's clear that the one truly intending to 'supervise' this Void Realm Battle isn't Venerable Hidden Sword, but Bei Hanchu. He went as far as to persuade both Venerable Hidden Mirror and Venerable Hidden Sword to come here. Of course, it couldn't be just to observe the Void Realm Battle. The only possibility is that it's for Southern Phoenix Chan'yi! After all, his infatuation with Southern Phoenix Chan'yi back then was no secret in the Five Void Realms."

"The Southern Phoenix Monarch must have received some hint, which is why he so suddenly and urgently deposed the Crown Prince, established Southern Phoenix Chan'yi as Crown Princess, and had her lead this Void Realm Battle."

"Therefore, the most likely scenario is that Bei Hanchu will use this Void Realm Battle to publicly propose marriage to the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom. With Bei Hanchu's current status, the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom absolutely cannot refuse. In this way, the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom will not only form an alliance with Beihan City but also gain the protection of the Nine Luminaries Heavenly Palace through Bei Hanchu! Even if their overall strength is lacking, their reputation and status will far surpass ours and the Western Ruin Realm!"

"If we are defeated by the Western Ruin Realm again, our Eastern Ruin will fall to the lowest rank among the Five Void Realms. Such an outcome would be a humiliation far harder for the Sect Master to bear than death itself."

"Southern Phoenix Chan'yi..." Dong Xueyan gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, "She's just... blessed with a pretty face. Bei Hanchu... rejected by Southern Phoenix Chan'yi back then, now valued by the Nine Luminaries Heavenly Palace and a dragon among men, yet he still can't forget her... Hmph! He's nothing but a shallow pervert!"

Donghan Nation.

"Why did you agree to them?"

"Hmph, so that's how it is."

"They will divide the Void Realm into ten regions," Qianye Ying'er said. "The first-place winner of the Void Realm Battle gets four regions. Second place gets three regions, third place gets two regions, and the last place only gets one region."

Qianye Ying'er had arrived in the Eastern Ruin Realm more recently than Yun Che. However, her methods allowed her to quickly gather a significant amount of information about this unfamiliar star realm.

"So, you agreeing to them on my behalf means you want to use this... to enter the Void Realm?"

"Exactly!" Qianye Ying'er said. "If you can help the Eastern Ruin Sect secure first or second place, he'll have no reason to refuse your request to stay and cultivate in the Void Realm."

"Given the abilities you've just displayed and described, the Void Realm, with its unusually active elements and abundant natural treasures, would be the most suitable place for you at this stage," Qianye Ying'er said slowly. "As for the 'plundering' you wish to undertake, with our current strength, it's not suitable even in a mid-level star realm!"

"Why?" Yun Che asked coldly.

"Because this is the Northern Divine Region!" Qianye Ying'er said gravely. "The Northern Divine Region's environment and rules of survival are extremely brutal. To protect themselves, there are often numerous tributary relationships. Smaller sects pay tribute to larger sects, lower star realms pay tribute to mid-level star realms, and mid-level star realms pay tribute to upper star realms!"

"With our current strength, it would be extremely difficult to defeat the Realm King of this Eastern Ruin Realm, and even if we could, if it were to alarm an associated upper star realm... do you think that would be a good thing?"

"Heh," Yun Che suddenly chuckled. "Yun Qianying, you once knelt directly before me, begging me to plant a slave imprint on you, showing such desperation. Now, you're starting to become timid?"

Qianye Ying'er also sneered. "At that time, I was nothing more than a dog with broken bones; you were my only chance. All I could offer was my dignity and everything I had. But now, it's different."

She suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Yun Che's collar with one hand. "I see hope... hope that I can definitely reach as long as I'm alive! And so can you!"

"So now, I won't allow you to take any unnecessary risks!"

Deep within her golden eyes, a dark light flickered. "My experience is dozens of times greater than yours! The human nature I've witnessed, the people I've plotted against, and the schemes I've endured are thousands of times more than yours!"

"You didn't want to plant a slave imprint on me; what you wanted was my clear mind, not just an obedient puppet! So, if you want to succeed in your revenge, you'd best listen to me on these matters!"

Yun Che's eyes narrowed slightly. He suddenly extended an arm, directly gripping Qianye Ying'er's right breast and forcefully pushing her back.

His fingers tightened. Yun Che's lips curved into a dangerous, sinister sneer. "Yun Qianying, don't ever forget one thing: between you and me, I am in charge. In my eyes, you are merely a useful tool!"

"What you say, if it's worth hearing, I will naturally listen. But if our opinions differ, unless you can convince me, my word must be final. Understand?"

Yun Che's hand was slapped away by her. Qianye Ying'er said coldly, "Don't worry, since I made my choice, I won't regret it... So, what do you plan to do this time?"

Yun Che tilted his head back, a half-smile on his face. "For the plundering matter, I originally had my own plans. However, the Void Realm Battle sounds even better!"

"One month... that's just right!"

"Just right?" Qianye Ying'er asked, puzzled.

"You'll know when the time comes." Yun Che sat down, his expression turning serious. "Within half a month, the initial fusion of the devil blood must be completed... Let's begin!"