Chapter 1616: Good and Evil

Yun Che and Zhou Qingchen jointly killed another giant profound beast. Qianye Ying'er stepped forward and, with a practiced flick of her finger, expertly extracted its profound core, which was still imbued with energy, and stored it away.

"Miss Qianye's technique is truly impressive. It seems you two often come here," Zhou Qingchen praised. This was not the first time he had complimented Qianye Ying'er, though he had never received any response from her.

"She's indeed quite good at extracting profound cores," Yun Che seemed to agree, which earned a cold snort from Qianye Ying'er.

"By the way, Brother Chen, this is your first time here, yet you've taken absolutely no resources, and there's no trace of desire in your eyes," Yun Che said with a faint smile, looking at Zhou Qingchen. "Even the hides of these Divine Sovereign ancient beasts are priceless treasures, yet they don't catch your eye at all. It seems your origin must be exceedingly noble."

Zhou Qingchen smiled, not denying it. His gaze involuntarily drifted to Qianye Ying'er, and as he looked at her back, he said, "Brother Ling and I are kindred spirits, and I truly enjoy our company. I don't wish to deceive you. When it comes to my background, I can indeed be described as 'noble.' However, no matter how noble one's birth, the body is still made of flesh, blood, and bones, and the soul is filled with the same seven emotions and six desires. In essence, what difference does it make?"

"On the contrary, I somewhat envy Brother Ling."

"Envy me?" Yun Che glanced sideways.

Zhou Qingchen smiled but didn't answer, his eyes drifting slightly.

"Could it be that Brother Chen envies me having such a woman by my side?" Yun Che suddenly said, a half-smile on his face.

Zhou Qingchen's expression suddenly froze.

"I've always been curious why someone of Brother Chen's exceptional cultivation and noble demeanor would proactively choose to travel with us," Yun Che said with a smile. "Later, I noticed that your gaze often falls, consciously or unconsciously, on Qianye. And whenever we encounter a Primeval profound beast, you immediately secure her position to prevent her from encountering any potential danger."

"Furthermore..." Feeling Zhou Qingchen's slightly constrained aura, Yun Che secretly felt a chill and continued, "Brother Chen, your praises for her are a bit excessive, wouldn't you say?"

Zhou Qingchen averted his gaze, then shook his head with a smile. "Brother Ling, you truly are meticulous. You've seen right through me."

"So, Brother Chen, you really are interested in her?" Yun Che asked, feigning surprise, glancing at Qianye Ying'er, who was quite far away and seemed unlikely to hear their conversation.

Zhou Qingchen, however, shook his head. Then he suddenly looked up at the sky, sighed softly, and asked, "Brother Ling, what do you think... is the hardest thing in this world?"

Yun Che didn't answer, saying casually, "Different people have different answers to that question. I'd like to hear Brother Chen's answer first."

Zhou Qingchen closed his eyes, his voice becoming drawn out. "My origin is quite special. From a very young age, I was told that I had a completely different identity from others, and at the same time, I would bear a 'mission.' In my life, the most important thing is the 'righteous path,' and what I should never have is 'desire.'"

Yun Che remained silent.

"Because of this, I've always been someone with very low desires, treating everything with peace and having little interest in any form of conflict."

"Later, when I reached marriageable age, my father and clan found many suitable candidates for me. But... perhaps due to my cultivation, I always felt nothing towards women. Even if I occasionally felt a glimmer of affection, it would fade away the moment I looked away. I thought it would always be this way, until one day, I saw someone..."

"Brother Ling," Zhou Qingchen asked, "do you believe... that in this world, there is someone who, with just one glance, will be etched into your heart for a lifetime?"

"No," Yun Che answered without hesitation.

Back then, when he fell into Dwelling Phoenix Valley, the fleeting glimpse of Feng Xue'er before he lost consciousness... In the Samsara Forbidden Land, the heart-wrenching moment his soul departed as Shen Xi's divine light dispersed... He had experienced such moments, and they would be etched in his heart for a lifetime. But they were gone now... and there would never be another, never again.

"I once didn't believe it either, but that person..." Zhou Qingchen's voice trembled slightly, and his features unconsciously tightened. "I only saw her from afar, but it was as if I suddenly fell into a nightmare from which I could never awaken."

"Is that so?" Yun Che said, seemingly unconvinced.

"Brother Ling, I understand these words might sound ridiculous," Zhou Qingchen said. "But... if one day you glimpse her true face, you will understand what this 'nightmare' is. Even if... she doesn't show a hint of a smile, and her eyes hold only indifference, perhaps even a hint of mockery, she will still forever imprison you in that 'nightmare.' No one can escape it."

"I see..." Yun Che touched his chin. "So, for Brother Chen, the hardest thing in the world is to let go of this person?"

"Yes," Zhou Qingchen said. "I've tried countless methods, but I simply cannot escape it. Even if she were to one day become..."

His words abruptly stopped.

Yun Che smiled faintly. "For a person like Brother Chen to be so affected, I'm genuinely curious about what kind of femme fatale that woman truly is."

"On the contrary, I hope Brother Ling never meets her. Meeting someone you admire is a blessing, but meeting her... is a calamity." Zhou Qingchen exhaled slowly, then spoke very softly, "In this world, no one has ever been worthy of her, not even of a single warm glance from her."

"Not necessarily. Some women only seem arrogant, but in reality..." Yun Che placed his hands behind his head, smiling, leaving the rest unspoken.

Zhou Qingchen smiled and shook his head, looking at Qianye Ying'er in the distance. "Miss Qianye has many similarities to her, so I can't help but want to observe her for a while longer. It's also a kind of..."

He gave a self-deprecating smile. "A somewhat pathetic substitute, perhaps."

"I see," Yun Che said. "However, I've been negligent in disciplining her, and she lacks proper etiquette when out. Please don't take offense, Brother Chen."

"No matter," Zhou Qingchen said. "One should maintain such distance and caution towards strangers who actively approach. And... in this respect, they are also somewhat alike."

In the distance, Qianye Ying'er looked ahead, silently searching for the aura of the Heaven God Realm's guardian with her spiritual perception. Zhou Qingchen's voice was clearly audible to her, but she showed no reaction, not even a cold snort.

In the distance, Qu Hui had been following them from afar. He sensed that Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er had no ill intentions towards Zhou Qingchen; rather, they maintained a certain distance and caution, which completely put his mind at ease. After all, it was Zhou Qingchen who had proactively sought to travel with them.

He also overheard Zhou Qingchen's words and muttered to himself, "The Demoness of the Brahma Emperor is truly a scourge. I hope she's truly dead."

Zhou Qingchen regained his composure, seemingly unwilling to continue the topic, and changed the subject. "Brother Ling, for you, what is the hardest thing in this world?"

Yun Che closed his eyes and said, "Probably distinguishing between good and evil."

"Oh?" Zhou Qingchen looked puzzled. "Why would Brother Ling be troubled by that?"

"For Brother Chen, what constitutes good and evil?" Yun Che countered.

Zhou Qingchen thought for a moment and said, "There are many kinds of good. Benevolence and compassion are all good. There are countless small acts of goodness in the world, but great good is rare."

"What do you consider great good, Brother Chen?" Yun Che asked, seemingly casually.

"There's someone I deeply respect," Zhou Qingchen said with a touch of sentiment. "To protect the peace of the world, he would not go against his principles, break his promises, or tarnish his reputation. He even offered his own life to appease the anger of others. This is the greatest act of good I have ever witnessed in my life. Perhaps no one else in this world can achieve what he did."

"And evil?" Yun Che asked.

"Evil also comes in countless forms," Zhou Qingchen said. "My father once taught me that there is no pure evil in the world; many evils can be nipped in the bud, and many can be reformed and redeemed. However, if there's an evil that absolutely cannot be tolerated, it would be the devils of the Northern Divine Region."

Yun Che wasn't surprised by Zhou Qingchen's words in the slightest. He turned his gaze and said, "So, for Brother Chen, devils signify an evil that cannot be tolerated in this world?"

"Naturally," Zhou Qingchen said. "Devils are heretics whose humanity has been twisted, and dark profound energy is a negative force that shouldn't exist. If the world could forever erase the existence of dark profound energy, and there were no more demons or devils, who knows how much darkness and calamity would be avoided."

He glanced at Yun Che. "Brother Ling, don't you agree?"

His words clearly implied that this was fundamental knowledge and common sense, questioning Yun Che's doubt.

Yun Che chuckled. "I suddenly thought of an interesting question. Tell me... if a devil saves the world, is he considered evil or good?"

"Hahahaha," Zhou Qingchen laughed. "That is an interesting question..."

Just as the words left his mouth, his laughter abruptly ceased, and his expression suddenly became complicated. He thought of someone, then said in a very soft voice, "A devil cannot possess the benevolent thoughts to save the world. But if someone who saved the world were to fall and become a devil, then he would be even more intolerable. Because he would be more terrifying than an ordinary devil. When good, he could save the world; when a devil, he might very well bring disaster upon it."

"I see," Yun Che nodded, seemingly agreeing with him, and said with a chuckle, "It seems that once someone becomes a devil, no matter what they did before, they are an anomaly that absolutely cannot be allowed to exist. Brother Chen's insight truly resonates with me."

"Speaking of which," Yun Che continued, "I heard that for the past two years, the Eastern Divine Region has been fully pursuing a devil named 'Yun Che.' He was once a prodigy of your Eastern Divine Region; even I, in the Southern Divine Region, heard of his fame. But no matter how much of a prodigy he was, he was ultimately just a rising junior. Yet, to apprehend him, I heard that the major King Realms of the Eastern Divine Region sent out all their forces. Why is that?"

Zhou Qingchen's expression tightened slightly. He didn't want to answer the question, or even recall Yun Che as a person.

And at that moment, both Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er's eyebrows twitched sharply.

An extremely high-level but exceptionally weak aura was rapidly approaching. From its signature and erratic flight, it seemed the other party was severely wounded.

In the distance, Venerable Qu Hui's expression changed abruptly. There was only one aura, incredibly weak and carrying a heavy scent of blood. A chilling sensation instantly swept through his body, causing him to abandon all pretense of concealment. He unleashed his profound energy completely and rushed forward at maximum speed.

Qu Hui suddenly appeared and sped away, his face pale with alarm. Zhou Qingchen also suddenly perceived the approaching aura at that moment. His face similarly changed dramatically. He muttered, "Uncle Taiyin," then, disregarding everything else, he shot up into the air, closely following Qu Hui.

"Hey... Brother Chen, where are you going?" Yun Che called out. His and Qianye Ying'er's auras briefly communicated, and then they naturally rose into the air, following at a not-so-fast pace.

Venerable Taiyin was covered in blood, with most of his flesh and bones exposed, as if he had been flayed a thousand times and then steeped in a purgatorial blood pool. His entire right arm was completely gone. However, he was still a Heaven God Realm guardian. Even in such a wretched state, all the Primeval profound beasts that tried to approach him along the way met their demise at his hands. He firmly clutched the World-Veil Cauldron, guarding against any mishap. Finally, dragging his mangled body, he arrived where Qu Hui and Zhou Qingchen were.

Seeing the blood-red figure from afar, Qu Hui froze rigid. If not for the unique aura of a guardian, he would never have believed it was Taiyin... the sixth-ranked guardian of the Heaven God Realm!

"Taiyin..." It wasn't until he was close enough that Qu Hui finally snapped back to reality, then he said in a deep voice, "What happened? Where is Venerable Zhuliu?"

Venerable Taiyin slowly took a breath, then quickly swallowed several drops of spiritual liquid. Between heavy gasps, he had no time to speak.

"Uncle Taiyin!!"

Zhou Qingchen's frantic voice came from afar, and then his figure rushed over. Seeing Taiyin's appearance, he froze on the spot, just like Qu Hui, utterly unable to believe his eyes.

Taiyin silently suppressed his injuries, and after a while, he opened his eyes. In his vision, he saw two figures landing far away, looking over with puzzled expressions.

"Don't worry, they are not enemies." Qu Hui clenched his fists and asked again, "What exactly happened? Venerable Zhuliu... could he have..."

Two Divine Sovereigns at the fourth level, even if they were mortal enemies, wouldn't pose the slightest threat. Venerable Taiyin let out a long breath and slowly said, "Zhuliu... has fallen."

"Wh-what!?" Qu Hui and Zhou Qingchen's bodies trembled simultaneously.

They were perfectly aware of what the death of a guardian meant for the Heaven God Realm, for the Eastern Divine Region, and even for the entire God Realm.

"However," Taiyin said urgently, while adjusting his breathing, "we succeeded in our mission... the gift for the Crown Prince has been acquired. We must return immediately... quickly!"

Acquired... the Primeval Divine Fruit acquired!

Amidst the devastating news of Zhuliu's fall, this was undoubtedly a huge comfort. Qu Hui quickly nodded. "Good!"

Without a moment's delay, he waved his palm, and a small profound ark, about ten zhang long, appeared. He grabbed Zhou Qingchen and said, "Let's go! We'll discuss the rest when we get back."

At this moment, Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er's expressions subtly changed simultaneously.

The Heaven God Realm obtaining the Primeval Divine Fruit from the Primeval Dragon Clan was undoubtedly the outcome they desired, and it was also Yun Che's reason for approaching Zhou Qingchen.

However, the developments after its acquisition were completely different from what they had anticipated.

Originally, if the two guardians had successfully retrieved the Primeval Divine Fruit and returned, their immense curiosity would surely have prompted Qu Hui and Zhou Qingchen to immediately gaze upon the fruit's true form and bathe in its unique aura. It was even possible that they would have directly handed the divine fruit over to Zhou Qingchen right then and there.

And with two guardians by their side, who could possibly seize it during that process?

This was Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er's best, and only, opportunity. They were already close enough, and how could two Heaven God Realm guardians be wary of mere fourth-level Divine Sovereigns?

However, with one guardian dead and himself severely wounded, Venerable Taiyin's sense of crisis had clearly reached its peak. He not only intended to leave the Primeval God Realm immediately but also showed no intention of taking out the divine fruit.

Because the Primeval Divine Fruit was safest on him; even in his severely wounded state, his cultivation far surpassed Zhou Qingchen and Qu Hui, not to mention he still held the World-Veil Cauldron.

"I understand," Zhou Qingchen said, nodding gravely. "Allow me to bid farewell to our two new friends first."

With that, he turned and raised a hand, speaking quickly, "Brother Ling, Miss Qianye, an urgent matter has arisen, and we must depart immediately. If you two ever visit the Eastern Divine Region in the future, perhaps we shall meet again."

His gaze lingered on Qianye Ying'er for a full breath before he finally turned to leave.

Yun Che nodded, taking a soft step forward... but his hand was instantly seized by Qianye Ying'er.

"We are no match for Taiyin," Qianye Ying'er said softly. "A Heaven God Realm guardian is far more terrifying than you imagine. Even in his current state... he still has the ability to counter-attack and kill us!"