Chapter 1622: The Collapse of the Celestial Heaven

After Yun Che discovered he could absorb the origin power from profound beast profound cores, the Primordial Profound Realm undeniably became his cultivation sanctuary. This was because high-level profound beasts, rarely seen in the outside world, were abundant there.

Frankly, Yun Che was quite reluctant to leave.

Throughout their time in the Primordial Profound Realm, Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er had exclusively hunted Divine Sovereign ferocious beasts, never daring to venture into the domains of Divine Master ones. In the God Realm, the vast majority of profound practitioners never encounter a Divine Master profound beast in their entire lives; for example, even the immense Flame God Realm only possesses two Divine Master profound beasts, the ancient Flood Dragons. However, in the depths of the Primordial Profound Realm, Divine Master profound beasts could appear in clusters. Should they encounter one or two lower-tier Divine Master ferocious beasts, they might still be able to fight, or even hunt them down.

However, a fierce battle with a Divine Master realm beast would undoubtedly be earth-shattering. If they attracted a group, their only option would be to flee, which would come with unpredictable risks. There was no need for them to take such a gamble.

As for the ferocious beast profound cores Cai Zhi had given him... particularly the thirty Divine Master ones, they represented an immeasurable fortune for Yun Che. Setting aside the Divine Sovereign ferocious beast profound cores entirely, thirty Divine Master profound cores would require hunting at least thirty Divine Master ferocious beasts. This fact alone was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.

If he could successfully absorb and refine these profound cores using the Law of Nihility, his cultivation would undoubtedly surge dramatically in a very short period.

The Law of Nihility... Yun Che had never truly felt that he understood or comprehended it, yet it manifested various abnormal abilities within him that completely defied conventional understanding. He was clearly using it, but had never genuinely perceived its true existence. Nihility... could it be that the law itself was also "nihil"?

Placing the Primordial Divine Fruit into the Sky Poison Pearl, Yun Che instructed, "He Ling, how confident are you in refining the Barren World Pill?"

"One hundred percent," He Ling replied without hesitation. "With my natural spiritual energy and the Sky Poison Pearl's refining power, there's no possibility of failure, and no waste will occur for either the Barren Divine Marrow or the Primordial Divine Fruit."

"Good," Yun Che nodded. Qianye Ying'er's earlier statement had been no exaggeration. The medicinal potency of the Barren World Pill refined in his hands would be far superior to the one crafted by the Eternal Heaven Ancestor long ago. Its power would be at least several times greater, potentially even ten times as potent. All thanks to the Sky Poison Pearl and He Ling!

"Refine two pills," Yun Che instructed.

"Two?" He Ling was slightly startled, then meekly asked, "Are you truly going to give... her half?"

"Yes."

"...Understood," He Ling quietly agreed, not saying anything further. It was clear, however, that she was very reluctant to part with half of it for Qianye Ying'er. She knew perfectly well that such an incredibly precious item might never appear again in her lifetime.

"Wait!" Yun Che suddenly interjected. "Don't use all of the Barren Divine Marrow. Leave just a small amount... a hair's breadth will suffice."

"Understood," He Ling confirmed.

"When are you planning to leave here?" Qianye Ying'er's voice sounded in Yun Che's ear.

"Now," Yun Che stated directly. The people from the Eternal Heaven God Realm would arrive soon. Their current strength was insufficient to venture deep into the Primordial Profound Realm, and facing an enraged Eternal Heaven along with other powerful individuals who would inevitably follow, staying here would be fraught with danger.

"Now?" Qianye Ying'er raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to look for your little Heavenly Wolf?"

"I will find her," Yun Che replied, then altered his appearance and aura before flying directly towards the exit of the Primordial Profound Realm.

He had originally intended to remain in the Primordial Profound Realm for a much longer period, but after merely a year, he was compelled to return to the Northern Divine Region. Nevertheless, unlike his previous forced departure, this time he had a clear idea of what he would do upon his return.

Upon leaving the Primordial Profound Realm, the world before him transformed into an endless cosmic starscape. Yun Che glanced back towards the Primordial Profound Realm, his brows slightly furrowed.

"What's wrong?" Qianye Ying'er inquired.

"Are the Primal Chaos Realm and the Primordial Profound Realm truly two entirely separate and independent worlds?" Yun Che suddenly asked, a somewhat puzzling question.

Qianye Ying'er looked at him and replied, "The Primordial Profound Realm originated in the Era of Ancestral Gods, even before the Era of Gods. It has existed independently since antiquity, with no connection to the outside world apart from that mysterious entrance and exit. Why do you ask such a question?"

Yun Che slowly raised his hand, feeling the flow of energy around him, then turned away. "It's nothing. Let's go!"

They flew far away from the Primordial Profound Realm, but Yun Che's tightly furrowed brow did not relax for a long time. What did that peculiar sensation mean, the one that seemed to stem from a subtle stir of the Law of Nihility?

"Is something on your mind?" Qianye Ying'er suddenly asked without warning. After years of constant proximity, she could instantly detect even subtle irregularities in Yun Che's heartbeat and breathing.

"You'll get half of the Barren World Pill," Yun Che stated. "Now that I've said it, are you reassured?"

The same words, spoken when the Primordial Divine Fruit was in Qianye Ying'er's possession versus when it was in his, naturally carried entirely different implications. Qianye Ying'er's beautiful eyes momentarily froze, then narrowed into a faint smile. "Isn't that only proper? Yet, coming from your lips, it sounds like a bestowal."

"Hmph," Yun Che scoffed, "Stubborn woman."

"Oh?" Qianye Ying'er's tongue flicked out slightly, grazing her lips, as she slowly uttered, "Do you truly not know if my lips are soft or firm?"

"..." Yun Che's flight path abruptly dipped.

Eastern Divine Region, Eternal Heaven God Realm.

Following the demise of Venerable Zhuliu, the soul-sense signaling Venerable Taiyin's death was transmitted, deeply unsettling Zhou Xuzi for a considerable time. Just as he grew restless and prepared to personally travel to the Primordial Profound Realm, he suddenly sensed the return of Venerable Taiyu, who had only departed two days earlier.

The returning Venerable Taiyu made no stops, heading directly for the inner hall where the Eternal Heaven God Emperor resided. Venerable Taiyu, the chief of the Eternal Heaven Guardians, whose status and power in the Eternal Heaven God Realm were second only to the Eternal Heaven God Emperor, now displayed no hint of his usual calm and elegant demeanor. Instead, his face was horrifyingly grim. Accompanying him was a barrier constructed from his own power. This barrier completely isolated light, sound, and aura, traversing the Eternal Heaven God Realm without allowing even the slightest trace to be detected by other Guardians.

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor quickly strode out to meet him. Having known Taiyu for tens of thousands of years, he had never witnessed him in such a state. Especially the barrier behind him, which Taiyu had clearly constructed with his full might, indicating an evident fear of being observed by anyone.

"What's happened?" the Eternal Heaven God Emperor asked gravely. "Why have you returned so quickly?"

"My Lord," Venerable Taiyu exhaled a long breath. "Please activate the temple barrier. This matter must absolutely not be known or disturbed by anyone."

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor's brows furrowed instantly. With a wave of his arm, a brilliant white light erupted around them as a barrier unfurled, completely isolating the entire grand hall from the outside. "Speak quickly!"

"Taiyin, Zhuliu, Quhui... all have fallen," Venerable Taiyu stated.

"I already know..." Zhou Xuzi's expression subtly shifted. "What? Quhui... dead?" As the Eternal Heaven God Emperor, he could sense the deaths of Guardians, yet he hadn't detected Quhui's demise. Quhui, on this occasion, was acting under his direct orders, serving as the supervisor and guide for Zhou Qingchen's training within the Primordial Profound Realm. He was meant to observe Zhou Qingchen's every action.

The deaths of Taiyin and Zhuliu could be attributed to being overwhelmed by the immensely powerful Primordial Dragon Clan. But if Quhui was dead, then Zhou Qingchen...

A chilling sensation instantly shot through his entire body, and the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's voice trembled slightly. "Then Qingchen... where is Qingchen?"

"On my way to the Primordial Profound Realm, I encountered Quhui's profound ark, and the Young Master was within it," Taiyu explained. As Taiyu spoke, there was no hint of joy on his face; instead, his nostrils flared violently multiple times. Very few things could profoundly stir a God Emperor, even matters concerning their direct descendants. But Zhou Qingchen was different. He was not only the inheritor of his bloodline, power, will, and status, but also the only child born from him and the only love of his life. He was something the God Emperor absolutely could not, and must not, lose.

Taiyu's reaction caused the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's body to stiffen in place, a chilling dread spreading throughout his entire being. "Qingchen... could he have..."

Taiyu shook his head, his expression infinitely complex. "The Young Master only suffered some minor injuries; it's just... it's just..." Unable to articulate it immediately, he gently waved his arm backward, and the barrier behind him instantly dissipated, revealing Zhou Qingchen's figure. He was clad in tattered white robes, covered in wounds that were all external, with no traces of internal injuries, and his life force remained unharmed.

Mere external injuries were nothing to a Divine Sovereign. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, despite these injuries, Zhou Qingchen was in a comatose state, his expression one of extreme torment, his features subtly twitching and trembling even in unconsciousness.

Zhou Xuzi quickly stepped forward, confirming at a glance that Zhou Qingchen was unharmed. This was undoubtedly a stroke of great fortune amidst a string of misfortunes. He secretly let out a breath and said, "It seems Quhui protected him with his life, buying him time to escape... This time, I greatly underestimated the Dragon Clan guarding the divine fruit, and the perils of the Primordial Profound Realm, which led to such a catastrophe."

"Fortunately, Qingchen is safe."

"No... no," Taiyu shook his head, uttering "no" twice, each word incredibly heavy. "My Lord, have you not noticed that Qingchen's body, bloodline, profound energy... everything is different from before?"

Zhou Xuzi's brows furrowed slightly, and his spiritual sense swept forth. His expression instantly changed, his pupils constricting to pinpricks as if pierced by a venomous barb. He took a step forward, holding his breath in complete silence. His finger slowly extended, touched Zhou Qingchen's body, and then recoiled as if from an electric shock the moment it made contact.

From Zhou Qingchen's body, a wisp of black aura slowly ascended. It was faint, yet it caused the surrounding space to become abruptly cold and stifling.

"Dark... profound energy..." Zhou Xuzi stumbled back half a step, freezing in place as if trapped in a nightmare, mumbling, "What's going on... what's going on...?"

"It's not just Qingchen's profound energy," Venerable Taiyu said, closing his eyes, his voice heavy as lead. "His flesh, blood, bones, meridians... everything has been demonized. In other words, the current Qingchen is a... very pure dark devil."

Taiyu's words mercilessly shattered Zhou Xuzi's last remaining illusions. His body swayed violently, his aged eyes losing their luster, as he continued to mumble like one in a trance: "What's going on... what on earth is going on...?"

A devil—an abomination utterly intolerable to his Eternal Heaven God Realm, and an anomaly historically reviled across all three Divine Regions. In the eyes of the world, they represented the purest evil, to be executed on sight. Indeed, eradicating the existence of devils from the world was one of the core tenets his Eternal Heaven God Realm had always upheld and enforced. And his son, the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's most important son, had actually become... a devil!?

"It was Yun Che," Taiyu stated.

"...What!?" Zhou Xuzi's head snapped around.

"In the Primordial Profound Realm, Qingchen encountered Yun Che and the long-missing Brahma Heaven Goddess," Venerable Taiyu explained slowly. "However, Yun Che and the Brahma Heaven Goddess had not only altered their appearances but their auras were also vastly different from before, to the extent that even Quhui failed to recognize them. They lured Qingchen into approaching them, then... killed Quhui, and also Taiyin."

"Tai... yin?" The Eternal Heaven God Emperor's gaze slowly drifted, his movements stiff and sluggish, like an aging machine.

"Yes, Taiyin was killed by Yun Che," Taiyu affirmed. His own reaction upon hearing this from Zhou Qingchen had been almost identical to the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's. "Although Zhuliu died, Taiyin had successfully obtained the divine fruit, though he also suffered extremely severe injuries. When he returned to Qingchen and Quhui's side, he was ambushed by Yun Che and ultimately perished."

"The divine fruit was also seized by Yun Che. Even the Void Cauldron fell into Yun Che's hands."

"As for Qingchen's demonization, although I don't know what wicked, evil art Yun Che used, it could only have been his doing."

"..." Zhou Xuzi stood there utterly stunned. Not only his facial features, but every pore on his body was trembling and twitching.

Yun Che... killed Taiyin...

Venerable Taiyin was a ninth-level Divine Master, ranked sixth among the Eternal Heaven Guardians. No one in the world understood his true strength better than Zhou Xuzi. Even if he suffered the most severe injuries, even if he was on the verge of death, he was still an Eternal Heaven Guardian, certainly not someone to be trifled with by ordinary individuals... yet he had died at Yun Che's hands!?

He clearly remembered that the demonized Yun Che, back then, had been at the first level of the Divine King Realm. During the chase across various realms, Yun Che had fled desperately like a lowly mosquito, utterly devoid of any power to resist. It had been less than three years since that time. And he had actually killed Taiyin!?