Chapter 1599: Nine Luminaries in the Sky

Yun Che remained silent, but his foot was slightly blocked by a heavy dragon bone.

Chiba Ying'er's golden eyes, which had held a hint of amusement, clearly changed. She spun around, blocking Yun Che's path. "You actually... you actually *did* the Divine Empress!?"

Yun Che's brows furrowed slightly. He said coldly, "What's it to you!"

Chiba Ying'er's beautiful face froze. Then, the corners of her lips curled up, and she burst into wild laughter. "Hahahahaha... hahahahahahaha..."

"No wonder, no wonder! Hahahahahahahahaha..."

She laughed, her slender waist swaying, her full bosom trembling. It was the first time since she had arrived in the Northern Divine Region that she had laughed so heartily, so unrestrainedly. There was no trace of chill or gloom in her mirth, only pure joy, a pure desire to laugh out loud.

In the God Realm, especially among the King Realms, everyone knew that the Dragon Monarch's life had been profoundly influenced by the Divine Empress. As the Emperor of the Dragon Race and the Empress of the Chaos, she had always upheld the righteous path, disdained villains, and possessed a vast, heaven-like mind. This not only brought immense prestige to the Dragon God Race but also earned them the respect of all realms.

During the Conferred God Battle, the Dragon Monarch's appreciation for Yun Che, even his blatant favoritism, was clear to all. He even publicly announced his intention to adopt Yun Che as his sworn son.

It was extremely difficult for a figure like the Dragon Monarch to admire someone, and even harder for his will to undergo significant change. Yet, his shift in attitude towards Yun Che had been truly bizarre.

After the Devil Emperor left and the Evil Infant was driven out of the Chaos, it was the Dragon Monarch who suddenly stepped forward with chilling, resolute words that turned Yun Che against everyone, forcing him into darkness.

The only one who seemed capable of causing such a massive change in the Dragon Monarch's will was the Divine Empress.

The Divine Empress had entered a mysterious seclusion before that.

The Divine Empress, who had always shunned contact with the world, not only took Yun Che in that year but also taught him to cultivate light profound energy. This could not possibly be explained by mere "appreciation of talent."

Yun Che's brutality when facing the Desolate Heaven Dragons caused Chiba Ying'er to casually recall the Dragon Monarch's grievance with Yun Che. Inadvertently, she connected these pieces, arriving at an utterly preposterous idea that anyone else would deem impossible.

However, no matter how absurd, things could always happen to Yun Che.

The question she had suddenly asked was only one part probing and nine parts teasing. The sarcastic remark that was meant to follow was: "If you didn't sleep with the Divine Empress, why did the Dragon Monarch suddenly become so ruthless towards you?"

But the reaction she received was not Yun Che's cold scoff, but his visibly strange silence, which amounted to an implicit admission and rebuke.

The image of Shen Xi undoubtedly lay in the deepest, most painful, and most remorseful part of Yun Che's heart. His brows suddenly furrowed, and his eyes filled with rage. "What's so funny!"

If Shen Xi hadn't met him back then, she wouldn't have faced the subsequent calamity.

He simply refused to believe that Shen Xi was dead. He preferred to believe that everything Xia Qingyue had told him was a lie.

Chiba Ying'er's laughter gradually ceased, but a smile still lingered on her lips. "Why can't I laugh? The Dragon Monarch's Divine Empress, the Empress of the Chaos, the Divine Empress renowned like me—a woman who made the Dragon Monarch as humble as a loyal dog, and who was seen by all men in the world as pure and holy as a celestial fairy. It turns out she was also a licentious harlot, outwardly pure but inwardly depraved!"

Flames of fury erupted in Yun Che's eyes. He abruptly reached out, grabbed Chiba Ying'er by her collar, and snarled, "Say... that... again...!"

"Did I say something wrong?" Chiba Ying'er continued to sneer. This matter had nothing to do with her, yet for some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

"If you... dare to speak ill of her again," Yun Che's hand trembled slightly, "I'll cripple you!"

"Would you dare?" Chiba Ying'er's eyes were cold, serene, and exquisitely beautiful, without a hint of fear. "If I were crippled, there would be no other woman with the Devil Emperor's blood in this world. Who would help you cultivate the Dark Everlasting Tribulation, who would help you turn the three divine regions into devil lands?"

"...Yun Qianying, without you, I can still trample the three divine regions in the future. But without me, you can forget about revenge forever." Yun Che retorted in a deep voice, but he abruptly flung Chiba Ying'er's collar away. "Also, remember this: she is Shen Xi, not the Divine Empress!"

Chiba Ying'er gracefully smoothed her skirt, her jade hand resting on her chest. Yun Che's words made her thoughtful, but her reply was still full of sarcasm. "Not only did you sleep with her, but you even developed feelings?"

She took a step forward, her orchid-like breath lightly brushing Yun Che's lips. "No wonder the Dragon Monarch treated you that way. The Divine Empress Shen Xi, and the Divine Maiden Chiba, both became your playthings. You truly... deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces!"

"She is not the Divine Empress," Yun Che repeated coldly. "And she is certainly not a plaything! You are not worthy of being compared to her!"

"Oh really?" Chiba Ying'er wasn't angered in the slightest. In this world, the one who could undoubtedly bring her the most "sense of fate's balance" was Shen Xi. She leaned her head forward, her jade lips almost touching Yun Che's ear. "Then tell me, when Shen Xi was with you, was she also in that lofty, holy demeanor?"

Yun Che's palm clenched slightly, but just before his fury could erupt, he suddenly suppressed it. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face. "She is the most perfect woman in the world. In front of me, she could be as holy as a snow lotus, or as wanton as a vixen."

"During the time I spent with her, I wished I could have been with her every moment... wished I could have died in her arms. Even in that, you can't compare."

"You, in the end, are merely a tool for my cultivation, and a superior plaything. Do you understand?"

The smile on Chiba Ying'er's face slowly vanished, but her lips did not leave his ear, and her voice became much softer. "Yun Che, rest assured, I will fulfill my duties as a tool and a plaything... and so will you."

"Hmph!" Yun Che turned and quickly moved out of the lightning domain.

Chiba Ying'er slowly followed behind him, her mind clearly unsettled.

"Not the Divine Empress..." Chiba Ying'er did not simply dismiss Yun Che's words. She smiled, but this time, her smile was full of mockery. "So, the so-called number one in Chaos was just a pathetic joke."

"In this world, who has truly seen anyone clearly?"

Leaving the Heavenly Origin Cloud Clan, Yun Che unleashed his full speed, heading straight south without hesitation or any need for preparation.

He had told Yun Ting that he would destroy the Qianhuang Divine Sect. In truth, even with Chiba Ying'er's help, it was impossible for him to genuinely destroy the Qianhuang Divine Sect in his current state.

As the King Realm's sect of the Qianhuang Realm, its immense prestige, profound foundation, and countless experts were each undoubtedly a towering, insurmountable mountain.

Moreover, the Grand Sect Master of the Qianhuang Divine Sect, the great Realm King of the Qianhuang Divine Realm, was a true Divine Master!

Yet, Yun Che had still told Yun Ting that, and given himself a very short time limit. After all, the news of Divine Emptiness Daoist's death at the Heavenly Origin Cloud Clan must have already reached the Qianhuang Divine Sect. For such a major event, they would seek to punish the Heavenly Origin Cloud Clan within a few days at most.

The reason was simple.

During his time at the Heavenly Origin Cloud Clan, he had clearly touched the bottleneck of the Divine Sovereign Realm.

He needed only an opportune moment... no, not even an opportune moment, just a slight push, and he could directly break through and become a Divine Sovereign!

This was also why he had told Chiba Ying'er that he would help her regain her Divine Master status within three days.

A breakthrough to a major realm brings about a qualitative change in profound energy and a surge in cultivation for any profound practitioner. For Yun Che, the increase in strength would be earth-shattering.

Nine Heavens was a small world suspended above ten thousand mountains, where the renowned Nine Heavens Palace of the Qianhuang Realm was located.

In the Qianhuang Realm, Nine Heavens Palace was one of the most powerful sects under the Qianhuang Divine Sect, a dream profound-path holy land for countless Qianhuang profound practitioners. Entering any of the nine palaces would be a lifelong honor.

However, Nine Heavens Palace was anything but peaceful today.

Because the Grand Palace Master, who had personally gone to the Heavenly Origin Cloud Clan to take advantage of the chaos, had actually died there!

Dark energy swirled around Nine Heavens Palace, and the atmosphere was filled with an unprecedented disarray.

Hidden Abyss Venerable, the chief of Nine Heavens Palace's nine branch palace masters, held a position second only to Nine Heavens Venerable in Nine Heavens Palace. With Nine Heavens Venerable's sudden death and his descendants not yet having come into their own, it was only natural for Hidden Abyss Venerable to inherit the position of Grand Palace Master.

Yet, even now, he was still in shock.

He had accompanied Nine Heavens Venerable to the Heavenly Origin Cloud Clan today, personally witnessing the Desolate Heaven Dragon Clan being massacred like lowly insects, personally seeing Divine Emptiness Daoist stomped to death, and personally watching Nine Heavens Venerable being torn into eight pieces in an instant.

He had seen countless scenes of death in his life, but those were Desolate Heaven Demonic Dragons! And that was a peak Divine Sovereign!

"Grand Palace Master, the various branch palace masters are waiting in Nine Heavens Palace, awaiting the Grand Palace Master to preside over important matters." Hidden Abyss Venerable's chief disciple bowed low, a flattering expression on his face, directly addressing him as "Grand Palace Master" and using the term "preside" instead of "discuss."

Hidden Abyss Venerable nodded, exhaled deeply, and stood up.

As he moved, he subconsciously raised his eyes to glance upwards. It was this single glance that made his entire body tremble. He plunged violently back down from the air, letting out a terrified, beast-like roar: "Yun... Yun... Yun... Yun Che!!"

Above Nine Heavens, Yun Che and Chiba Ying'er floated in the air, coldly observing the majestic Nine Heavens Palace below.