Chapter 1585: Witch Chan Yi

"Aren't you afraid she'll act rashly and go for the kill in a fit of rage?" Yun Che asked.

"I'm sure she won't!" Qianye Ying'er replied with absolute certainty. "Can you possibly understand women better than I do?"

"That's not necessarily true," Yun Che responded coldly.

"Don't worry," Qianye Ying'er said with a cold smile. "Even if she truly wanted to, her master wouldn't allow it."

"Do you know the North Realm Devil Queen well?"

"Not well, but..." Qianye Ying'er's gaze clearly changed. "Her entire life's path proves she is an extremely ambitious person. One could even say she is the most ambitious woman in this world. How could such an ambitious person let go of an opportunity like you, which is once in a myriad of years..."

"No, it's a once-in-an-epoch opportunity!"

"What we must do now is to avoid falling into a passive position, especially since we've already been targeted."

So much time had passed. If Nanhuang Chanyi was truly the Devil Queen's "shadow," then there was no way she hadn't informed the Devil Queen about Yun Che's arrival in the Northern Divine Realm, right under her nose.

However, Qianye Ying'er was equally certain that Nanhuang Chanyi would not reveal Yun Che's identity publicly. Instead, she would conceal it as much as possible, definitely not letting the other two King Realms know.

All of this was still speculation. But... Qianye Ying'er's gaze shifted south. It seemed an answer would arrive soon.

Yun Che's gaze also turned then. In the south, Nanhuang Chanyi's aura was rapidly approaching.

Exactly six months had passed since the Battle of the Central Ruins, not a single day more or less.

Dressed in golden robes with a majestic phoenix pattern, Nanhuang Chanyi's attire was identical to before, her face still hidden behind a beaded veil. She floated gracefully before them, her gaze lightly sweeping the surroundings. She seemed slightly surprised by the change in the storm here but didn't dwell on it, nodding her head slightly. "Young Master Yun, Immortal Ying, it's been... well."

"Hmph!" Qianye Ying'er scoffed at being called "Immortal Ying."

Nanhuang Chanyi's final tone clearly shifted. She stared at Yun Che for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh and saying, "Young Master Yun, your progress... it truly is astonishing."

Six months ago, Yun Che's cultivation was at the fifth level of the Divine King Realm, already deviating from rumors. And today... he was actually at the tenth level of the Divine King Realm?!

"Your Highness's cultivation in the Divine Master Realm allows you to discern my cultivation changes at a glance. That's even more impressive," Yun Che replied indifferently.

Nanhuang Chanyi smiled slightly and said, "My master wishes to meet with you two. I wonder if you would be willing..."

"No interest!" Qianye Ying'er interjected before Yun Che, her four words utterly cold and leaving no room for negotiation.

"Please don't worry, both of you. My master holds no animosity towards you. On the contrary, she and you, in many respects, can be said to have common goals. Therefore, she personally promised to give you the greatest possible assistance... anything you ask for."

Nanhuang Chanyi spoke plainly, and these were not her own words but her "master's" original statement. When she first heard them, she had been astonished for a very long time.

Now, seeing Yun Che's incredible progress with her own eyes, she began to somewhat understand why her "master" had made such a direct promise.

"The condition is to join your Soul Stealing Realm, isn't it?" Qianye Ying'er asked with a faint smile.

"..." Nanhuang Chanyi's gaze shifted, and she sighed in admiration, "As expected... the Brahma Monarch Goddess!"

At this point, Qianye Ying'er's speculation was fully confirmed.

"Heh, as expected of a 'Devil Maiden,' you even know my identity," Qianye Ying'er retorted with a cold laugh.

Nanhuang Chanyi slowly spoke, "Golden hair, a brilliance that makes Chanyi feel self-conscious even without seeing your face, a Divine Master's aura, yet a soul pressure that makes one's heart tremble, plus the name 'Qianying'... Although it's quite unbelievable, Chanyi still thought of the 'fleeing Goddess' from the Eastern Divine Realm not long ago."

"How much do you know about Yun Che?" Qianye Ying'er suddenly asked. "Or rather, how much does Chi Wuyao know!?"

In the Northern Divine Realm, who dared to call the "Devil Queen" by her name?

Qianye dared. Furthermore, with her former status and the heights she had once stood at, she indeed possessed such qualifications.

"A lot," Nanhuang Chanyi replied simply and calmly.

"Including the 'Devil Emperor'?" Qianye Ying'er's gaze suddenly turned chilling, seemingly able to penetrate the exceptionally dazzling beaded veil and pierce into the depths of Nanhuang Chanyi's eyes.

"Yes, including that," Nanhuang Chanyi replied.

"..." Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er fell silent simultaneously. Then, Qianye Ying'er smiled faintly. "To extend her reach to such an extent, it seems Chi Wuyao's ambition is far greater than rumored, far greater than I imagined. Is she not only planning to escape the 'cage' of the Northern Divine Realm but also intends to spread darkness back into the other three Divine Realms?"

Beneath the beaded veil, a dark glint flashed in Nanhuang Chanyi's eyes. "Isn't that precisely the ultimate goal for those of you forced into darkness?"

Nanhuang Chanyi's brief reply, consisting of just a few words, revealed to Qianye Ying'er the Devil Queen Chi Wuyao's terrifyingly vast ambition.

The Northern Divine Realm constantly yearned to escape its cage, but it had never succeeded, rarely even attempting to. In the steadily shrinking Northern Divine Realm, they held an absolute home advantage, making them perfectly safe. But once they left, they could never be a match for any single Divine Realm... let alone all three.

The three Divine Realms guarded against each other in many aspects, even engaging in covert struggles, but they had never truly regarded the Northern Divine Realm as a threat.

However, this time, she clearly sensed the Devil Queen Chi Wuyao's quietly extending dark edge, while the three Divine Realms were completely oblivious and unprepared... even if they knew, they would likely only dismiss it as a joke.

If the Devil Queen truly understood Yun Che to that extent, then, harboring such ambition, she would indeed use every means to cultivate Yun Che, who possessed Creation God power and the "True God's prophecy," into her sharpest tool!

Qianye Ying'er's thoughts subtly shifted. "Well said! That is indeed Yun Che's and my goal. We two have just arrived in the Northern Divine Realm, without support or reliance, humble as dust. It is truly fortunate that the Devil Queen not only disregards our past identities but also extends a helping hand and makes such a profound promise. How could we possibly refuse?"

"..." Yun Che remained silent, letting her continue.

"However," Qianye Ying'er's tone shifted. "Since the Devil Queen spoke of 'cooperation,' it should be between equals. With our current strength, we don't even qualify as cannon fodder in a realm like the Soul Stealing Realm. Wouldn't it be a joke if we went there?"

"Is Immortal Ying refusing?" Nanhuang Chanyi asked. "And what does Young Master Yun think?"

"Of course not a refusal," Qianye Ying'er continued. "I'm not so foolish as to not understand the simple truth that it's good to seek shade under a big tree. But, with insufficient strength, even if the Devil Queen's sincerity is as vast as the heavens, we would still only be living under someone else's roof in a King Realm... I imagine Her Highness, the Devil Maiden, understands this."

Nanhuang Chanyi: "..."

"We are deeply honored by the Devil Queen's favor and invitation, and there is absolutely no reason for us to refuse. Therefore, I accept on behalf of my master, Yun Che," Qianye Ying'er said calmly, without any pretense. "However, we will not go to meet the Devil Queen now, but rather... three hundred years from now."

Before Nanhuang Chanyi could speak, Qianye Ying'er quickly added, "The Devil Queen personally promised to fulfill any request as long as we are willing to 'cooperate'... Such a simple request, I imagine you and your master have no reason to refuse, do you?"

"Furthermore, a mere three hundred years is but a fleeting moment compared to the eternal darkness of the Northern Divine Realm."

Qianye Ying'er's casual mention of the Devil Queen's promise effectively blocked Nanhuang Chanyi's retreat. Nanhuang Chanyi was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about after three hundred years?"

"Whether Yun Che and I achieve the qualifications to enter the Soul Stealing Realm or not, we will go to meet the Devil Queen," Qianye Ying'er calmly promised.

Three hundred years was a very subtle pretext.

For a profound practitioner, three hundred years was a short time. At the level of Divine Lords and Divine Masters, three hundred years was truly as fleeting as a wisp of smoke on the path of cultivation; often, several such periods would pass during a single secluded cultivation session.

For a Divine Master, achieving even a minor realm breakthrough in three hundred years would be considered immense progress.

However, during this time, Qianye Ying'er had been in close proximity to Yun Che day and night. She had personally witnessed one astonishing secret and anomaly after another on him, clearly understanding what kind of changes three hundred years would bring to Yun Che.

No, it wouldn't even take three hundred years. In just a few decades, or even less, he might reach a level where the Devil Queen Chi Wuyao would no longer be able to control him, even if she wanted to.

So short that Chi Wuyao... or anyone, for that matter, could never imagine, much less guard against, such a pace.

This was the most effective stalling tactic she could think of on the spot to stabilize the situation... Otherwise, if they outright refused, given Chi Wuyao's chilling ambition and "sincerity," there was no telling what tricks she might pull on them.

"What is Young Master Yun's intention?" Nanhuang Chanyi asked.

"Three hundred years from now, we will naturally visit the Soul Stealing Realm," Yun Che said calmly. "However, before that, we have our own matters to attend to and do not wish for any interference. Since the Devil Queen desires 'cooperation,' she should at least show this basic sincerity!"

"Very well," Nanhuang Chanyi slowly nodded. Three hundred years was indeed a very short time, almost negligible at the King Realm level. "Chanyi will convey your words to my master without missing a single detail. Please do not forget your promise today, three hundred years from now."

"Oh?" Qianye Ying'er's gaze shifted slightly. "So, you can make decisions on behalf of your master?"

"As my master's 'shadow,' Chanyi's life is bound to her will. My master personally promised to grant any request as long as we agree to cooperate. Based on that, Chanyi can indeed make decisions on her behalf."

"A Devil Maiden... truly intriguing." Qianye Ying'er extended a finger, and a faint golden light flickered in her palm. "In that case, as a token of sincerity and good faith for our 'cooperation,' please deliver this to the Devil Queen."

"Oh?" Nanhuang Chanyi's gaze tilted slightly.

And at that very instant, Yun Che, who had been exceptionally quiet, with few expressions or words, suddenly unleashed a black glow from his eyes. A massive, azure dragon shadow appeared above him, its dragon eyes a deep, night-like black. The moment Nanhuang Chanyi turned in shock, it let out an earth-shattering roar.

The supreme Dragon God's soul, with the qualitative change in Yun Che's conviction, was assimilated into a dark dragon soul. The world-shaking dragon roar seemed to emanate from ancient times, and even more so, from the abyss.

Caught completely off guard by the sudden Dragon God's Roar, Nanhuang Chanyi's eyes instantly lost focus. At that very moment, the golden light in Qianye Ying'er's hand also materialized, releasing all its remaining Brahma Soul power without reservation, pouring into Nanhuang Chanyi's temporarily shattered mind and soul under the dragon's roar...

Nanhuang Chanyi's world instantly transformed into a hazy golden realm, a world solely of warmth and dreams, so pure it was untouchable... Beneath the beaded veil, a pair of beautiful eyes slowly closed, and her body gently collapsed.

Qianye Ying'er quickly extended her hand, and a layer of gentle profound energy supported Nanhuang Chanyi's body, letting her fall incredibly softly to the ground.

The power of Brahma Soul was not just demonstrated by the Brahma Soul Death-wishing Mark... Before them, Nanhuang Chanyi, the Devil Queen's Devil Maiden, a being of unfathomable strength, had fallen into peaceful slumber under the influence of the Brahma Soul power.

But Qianye Ying'er had also told Yun Che that this was a deep slumber, not soul restraint! At this moment, any attack, the proximity of an overly powerful aura... or even an excessively loud sound, could potentially wake her directly.

"Excellent." Qianye Ying'er directly discarded the small Brahma Soul Bell onto the ground; its soul power was depleted, rendering it useless and leaving her with no lingering attachment. If she hadn't been afraid of waking Nanhuang Chanyi, she would have even turned it into dust.

Gazing at Nanhuang Chanyi, who lay peacefully sleeping on the ground, exuding an invisible elegance and nobility, a twisted pleasure flashed in Qianye Ying'er's golden eyes. She quietly murmured, "Strip her clothes!"