Chapter 1573: Eternal Night Massacre

Under the roar of the Northern Cold Divine Monarch, the ten Divine Kings simultaneously released their profound energy... yet none advanced or attacked. After all, setting aside the immediate situation, ten reputable, master-level figures attacking one person in front of millions of profound practitioners would always be psychologically and reputationally awkward.

The entire arena fell silent, all eyes fixed, but they were not waiting for a battle so disproportionate that its outcome held no suspense. Instead, they were waiting to see how the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom would resolve this affair.

Bei Han Chu had humbly and sincerely made his request, but Nan Huang Chanyi directly refused. If Nan Huang Chanyi were to become Bei Han Chu's servant, the Southern Phoenix Divine Kingdom would undoubtedly become the greatest laughingstock among all middle star realms.

Qianye Ying'er slightly raised her head at that moment, staring indifferently at Nan Huang Chanyi. In an instant, she withdrew her gaze and closed her eyes once more. Just as she closed her eyes, a dangerous, cold light flashed deep within her golden eyes.

On the battleground, the ten Divine Kings exchanged glances, still unwilling to make the first move. Just then, Yun Che slowly raised his arm, his five fingers unfurling at an even slower pace. At that very moment, the silent battleground inexplicably grew oppressive, and the light also visibly dimmed. The sudden change made everyone instinctively look up, but they found no black clouds covering the sky above. And yet, the oppressive feeling was subtly intensifying, as if something increasingly heavy was pressing down on their hearts.

As everyone watched in surprise and confusion, black light suddenly erupted from Yun Che's body, and the immense Central Ruins battleground before them instantly plunged into absolute darkness. This drastic transformation was not gradual; in a single instant, the entire battleground was completely enveloped in darkness, as if the deepest night had abruptly descended solely upon the Central Ruins battleground, consuming all.

This was an incredibly dense darkness, devouring every speck of light from the battleground. Everyone, including the various Divine Monarchs, had their vision completely obscured by the darkness, unable to discern even a trace of Yun Che or the ten Divine Kings. Even their spiritual perception was markedly hindered.

Qianye Ying'er's delicate brows twitched slightly...

The darkness shrouding the battleground was, unequivocally, the special dark domain from the Eternal Night Illusory Devil Tome—Eternal Night Without Light! He had indeed also cultivated the Eternal Night Illusory Devil Tome!

However, to go to such lengths simply to deal with a few Divine Kings... it seemed he had some specific plan. Could it be...

Gasps of astonishment spread through the surroundings, and the various Divine Monarchs all abruptly stood up, their faces etched with shock. And for the ten Divine Kings standing on the Central Ruins battleground, the moment the darkness descended, what they felt was not merely night, but an abyss!

Without preparation or warning, everything within their sight dissolved into darkness. In their terror, they instinctively unleashed their profound energy, but their hearts became even more gripped by terror in that instant, because their limbs, and indeed their entire bodies, felt firmly bound by countless invisible forces. Even merely raising an arm nearly drained all their strength. Their profound energy felt as if it were being crushed under mountains tens of thousands of feet tall; they couldn't break free no matter how fiercely they struggled. Even more horrifying, cold, oppressive, and sinister auras surged frantically towards their bodies and souls from all directions, as if countless malevolent spirits were gnawing at their physical forms and consciousness, fostering an increasingly profound sense of fear and despair.

Eternal Night Without Light devoured not only light, but also vitality and hope!

Within the darkness, Yun Che's figure drifted silently, appearing before one of the Divine Kings. Though only a few feet away, this mighty peak Divine King remained utterly oblivious to his presence; even his spiritual perception had been almost entirely consumed. Yun Che pointed a finger into the void, and a stream of dark profound energy struck the Divine King directly, erupting within his body and viciously tearing at his limbs.

"Wuaaaah!"

The pained scream was completely swallowed by the darkness. The first Divine King's chest burst open, and both his arms and legs simultaneously shattered... Though Yun Che had merely flicked his finger, the profound energy and will of these Divine Kings were doubly suppressed, leaving them utterly defenseless or prepared. Under Yun Che's power, they were as fragile as rotten wood.

Treading on the darkness, Yun Che's figure instantly materialized before another Divine King, and he similarly extended a hand with effortless ease... Before the first Divine King's body had even fully collapsed, the second Divine King erupted in a fountain of blood, all four limbs severed. The eruption of power, the shattering of bodies, the desperate screams... all were completely buried by the darkness.

Beyond the battleground, the onlookers saw nothing but absolute darkness. Not a single figure could be discerned, nor a sound heard, making it impossible to know what transpired within the gloom.

The Northern Cold Divine Monarch, Eastern Ruins Divine Monarch, and Western Ruins Divine Monarch all frowned deeply. Before them lay a mass of pure darkness, so utterly pure it was almost inconceivable. They instinctively stepped forward, but just as they drew near, the darkness on the battleground suddenly shattered. It was like a pitch-black curtain being torn apart from the center, light abruptly bursting forth, then instantly consuming all traces of darkness in return.

The battleground reappeared in everyone's sight. Accompanying this was a prolonged sense of suffocation. In the very center of the battleground, Yun Che stood motionless, his stance and position entirely unchanged from before. He was expressionless, his gaze unruffled, and his attire was free of any wrinkles or dust, as if he hadn't stirred from start to finish.

Before him, amidst ten shocking pools of blood, lay ten ghastly figures. Their bodies were drenched in blood, especially their chests and limbs, which bore five identically shaped blood holes, from which blood was still rapidly gushing forth.

"Urgh... ahh..." The Divine King from Northern Cold City, who was at the center, squeezed out a painful sound through his bleeding teeth: "Demonic arts... it was demonic arts!" That sudden darkness, the suppression of their bodies and profound energy, the gnawing at their souls... For the first time, he believed, and even became certain, that demonic arts truly existed in this world.

"Yes... it was... demonic arts..." another Northern Cold Divine Monarch also shrieked desperately, his terrified, despairing voice, like wisps of chilling wind, piercing everyone's ears.

From his place of honor, Bei Han Chu frowned deeply. He whispered, "Uncle-Master, what exactly happened!?"

"..." Elder Bu Bai remained silent for a moment, then said, "The talk of demonic arts is pure absurdity. However, this youth must have used some extremely high-grade demonic artifact." He said it with absolute certainty.

Bei Han Chu nodded slightly. "This disciple also believes so." As he spoke, a strange light flickered in his eyes.

Elder Bu Bai slightly lowered his head. "It seems you've taken an interest in this demonic artifact."

"Of course." Bei Han Chu smiled faintly. "Since such an opportunity has presented itself, it would be a pity not to test it."

The painful cries of the two Northern Cold Divine Kings made the Northern Cold Divine Monarch suddenly lift his head, his gaze piercing directly at Yun Che: "Yun Che! What exactly did you do!"

"Isn't it obvious what happened?" From the south side of the battleground, Nan Huang Chanyi's voice emerged: "My Southern Phoenix Yun Che, alone, defeated your three sects' ten Divine Kings. Can't you see that? Or... do you, the esteemed Northern Cold Divine Monarch, truly believe Yun Che employed some demonic art?"

"Hmph! How could Yun Che, a mere... possibly defeat ten of them!" The Northern Cold Divine Monarch had lost all his previous certainty, his voice seething with unconcealable shock and murderous intent: "Even if it wasn't demonic arts, he must have used some demonic artifact!"

What he said and thought was identical to Elder Bu Bai's.

"So what?" Nan Huang Chanyi asked. "Was it ever stipulated that no profound artifacts could be used in the battle between Yun Che and your three sects' ten Divine Kings?"

"You!!" The Northern Cold Divine Monarch's features instantly tensed... Nan Huang Chanyi's words seemed to tacitly admit that Yun Che had indeed used some powerful profound artifact, yet they also left the Northern Cold Divine Monarch speechless. Because on almost all battlegrounds, profound pills and profound arrays are forbidden, but profound artifacts other than armor are generally not prohibited. Weapons are also a type of profound artifact, and the ability to wield powerful profound artifacts is a skill in itself. Forcing oneself to wield them without sufficient ability is almost suicidal.

The scene before them finally found its explanation. The Eastern Ruins Divine Monarch's face twisted with furious indignation, and he sharply declared: "Although the Central Ruins battle doesn't restrict profound artifacts, the demonic artifact Yun Che employed is clearly not an ordinary item; it very likely involves forbidden arts!"

"To use a forbidden demonic artifact to injure our three sects' ten Divine Kings, and to strike with such brutality... this cannot be forgiven!" The Western Ruins Divine Monarch also stated angrily.

"Oh?" Nan Huang Chanyi said leisurely. "My Southern Phoenix, one person against your three sects' ten. The result of this battle is already clear: Yun Che achieved a great victory. However, judging by the looks of you three Realm Kings, are you perhaps preparing to abandon your own and your sects' reputations by publicly reneging on the outcome?"

The Northern Cold Divine Monarch's brows furrowed even deeper. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Nan Huang Chanyi's tone shift as she said: "Young Master Bei Han. As the supreme supervisor and witness of this battle, what is your judgment?" The words the Northern Cold Divine Monarch was about to utter were immediately retracted. He knew that Bei Han Chu, no matter the circumstances, could not rule in Yun Che's favor.

Under everyone's gaze, Bei Han Chu stood up, smiled faintly, and said: "The Central Ruins battle indeed never prohibits profound artifacts. However, profound artifacts that exceed the battle's expected power level can be termed 'forbidden artifacts.' Normal profound artifacts serve as reasonable aids for profound practitioners, making combat more thrilling and intense. But forbidden profound artifacts that cross the line will destroy the most fundamental balance and rules of the battleground. On the battleground, victory and defeat should be determined by the profound practitioner themselves, not by profound artifacts that disrupt the balance! Therefore, this battle is fundamentally meaningless! If a victor must be named, then the victor is that demonic artifact which should not have appeared on this battleground, not Yun Che!"

Yun Che didn't even raise his head, stating with extreme indifference: "I didn't use a demonic artifact."