Chapter 1623: Demon Queen's Mark

"Less than three years... Is such a thing truly possible?" The Eternal Heaven God Emperor murmured.

He had witnessed Yun Che's battle of deification at the Profound God Convention and seen him summon the Nine-Stage Lightning Tribulation. He had seen so many miracles from Yun Che that they were gradually becoming commonplace.

He had called Yun Che a prodigy, the miracle of the Eastern Region, the sole Divine Son, and even a monster... But even a monster, no matter how extraordinary, should have a fundamental limit.

The God Realm's million-year history was neither long nor short. Every era saw the emergence of astonishing geniuses. Yet, compared to Yun Che, the divine radiance they had once left, or still possessed, seemed incredibly dim and insignificant.

In less than three years, to go from a nascent Divine King to someone capable of killing a heavily injured Tai Yin... As the Eternal Heaven God Emperor, he could neither believe nor accept it.

His mind was in turmoil, making it impossible for him to think clearly. He watched the dark aura constantly rising from Zhou Qingchen's body, his fingers trembling without a moment's pause.

Having served by Zhou Xuzi's side his entire life, Tai Yu deeply understood what Zhou Qingchen meant to him. After a brief hesitation, he said, "Yun Che had the power to kill Qu Hui and Tai Yin, yet he deliberately spared Qingchen's life. Clearly, he intends to..."

Tai Yu didn't complete his sentence, but how could the Eternal Heaven God Emperor not understand? Turning his son into a devil person... To him, there was no crueler revenge in the world.

He himself had never known that, as the Emperor of Eternal Heaven, a man who had cultivated his mind for tens of thousands of years, he could still feel such profound pain and helplessness.

"Perhaps there's still a way," Tai Yu said. "Darkness profoundly fears light. The Dragon Queen of the Western Region must have a method to save Qingchen."

"No," the Eternal Heaven God Emperor slowly shook his head, his gaze vacant. "Yun Che performed the deed of saving the world, yet because of his devil nature, he was hunted by the entire world, led by my Eternal Heaven Realm..."

"My son Qingchen... If I protect and save him, the world will surely suspect. My personal reputation is insignificant, but how can I... defile the reputation of Eternal Heaven?" The Eternal Heaven God Emperor closed his eyes. "Furthermore, while light profound energy can purify external devil energy, his flesh, life force, and profound energy have all been demonized... How could they be purified? Otherwise, Yun Che, who also possesses light profound energy, would have already purified himself."

"No, this is different," Tai Yu argued. "Yun Che willingly fell into devilhood, leading to endless future troubles. Even with his great merits, he had to be eliminated for the peace of future generations. Qingchen was forcefully demonized. Given his status as the Crown Prince of Eternal Heaven, even if the world knew, they would surely tolerate it. Besides, given our relationship with the Dragon God Realm, even if seeking help from the Dragon Emperor and Dragon Queen yields no results, they would have no reason to disclose it."

"Impossible..." the Eternal Heaven God Emperor murmured blankly. Just two simple words, yet the pain and helplessness they conveyed were as heavy as a thousand mountains.

Tai Yu took a deep breath, a profound sorrow welling up in his heart.

Without the 'precedent' of Yun Che, the Eternal Heaven God Emperor wouldn't be in such a state. But Yun Che had truly saved the world, yet was hunted by the entire realm for being a "devil person." Moreover, Yun Che's "demonization" was due to the Eternal Heaven God Emperor, and the pursuit was indeed led by the Eternal Heaven God Realm.

Zhou Qingchen, esteemed as the Crown Prince of Eternal Heaven... but aside from this noble status, he couldn't be compared to Yun Che in any aspect.

With Yun Che as the 'precedent,' what right did Zhou Xuzi, or even the Eternal Heaven God Realm, have to protect Zhou Qingchen? The only thing they should do was consistently uphold the beliefs and laws of Eternal Heaven and kill the demonized Zhou Qingchen.

However, he was the Crown Prince of Eternal Heaven, the chosen inheritor of Zhou Xuzi's will and power, and his most important kin... without exception.

"Father... Emperor..."

Zhou Qingchen's voice echoed in his ears... Even powerful figures like Zhou Xuzi and Tai Yu, their minds in disarray, hadn't noticed when he woke up.

Given Zhou Qingchen's cultivation, the minor external injuries he sustained shouldn't have caused him to faint. Clearly, the psychological trauma he endured was infinitely greater than his physical wounds, and his unconsciousness was a result of his complete inability to accept his current state.

"Qingchen!" Zhou Xuzi stepped forward, instantly appearing before him.

Although his eyes were open, Zhou Qingchen's gaze was hollow, and his voice was incredibly weak. "The reputation of Eternal Heaven must not... be stained by me..."

"Father Emperor... kill me."

Zhou Xuzi's body trembled violently.

"Qingchen," Tai Yu tried to keep his voice gentle, though his gaze slightly shifted. "You don't have to be like this. There will be a way. You must believe in your Father Emperor, believe in Eternal Heaven."

Tai Yu's words of comfort to Zhou Qingchen seemed to calm Zhou Xuzi's expression slightly. He sighed softly and said, "Yes, there will be a way... Just rest peacefully for a while."

He pressed his palm, and Zhou Qingchen fell unconscious again.

Although he wasn't agitated or collapsing, the grim determination to die he displayed made it unsuitable for him to be conscious.

"Tai Yu, I'll take Qingchen to see the Ancestor... Guard this place."

"I understand," Revered Tai Yu nodded.

The Ancestor... was indeed the only hope left.

Beneath the Eternal Heaven Pagoda lay a world that only the Eternal Heaven God Emperor could freely enter and exit.

It was a pale world, where one strangely felt no sense of space or time.

Amidst the paleness, the Eternal Heaven God Emperor slowly walked, holding the unconscious Zhou Qingchen, his steps heavier and slower than ever before.

He stopped, gently set Zhou Qingchen down, and knelt on one knee, uttering a mournful plea: "Ancestor, how can I save my son Qingchen?"

"Qingchen has lived a very sheltered life, never harboring ill intentions nor committing evil deeds. If Yun Che sought revenge, he should have targeted me. Why must Qingchen suffer this devil calamity?"

The pale world remained silent for a long time, then an incredibly ancient and ethereal voice resounded: "It is the Eternal Calamity of Darkness."

"Eternal... Calamity of Darkness?" The Eternal Heaven God Emperor muttered in a daze.

"During the Era of Gods and Devils, the four Devil Emperors of the devil race had no definitive ranking in terms of power. However, when it came to mastery over dark profound energy, the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor was universally acknowledged as supreme. Her 'Eternal Calamity of Darkness' contained the ultimate dark laws of that era. In this regard, the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor could truly be called the foremost among the Four Devil Emperors."

"The Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor... left the Eternal Calamity of Darkness... to Yun Che?" The Eternal Heaven God Emperor murmured.

That was a Devil Emperor's devil art!

"Though Qingchen is young, his cultivation is extraordinary. For his Divine Sovereign body to be forcibly demonized like this... Even within the fragmented memories of the 'Eternal Heaven Pearl,' only the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's 'Eternal Calamity of Darkness' could achieve such a feat."

"Therefore, it's certain that before she departed, the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor left her core bloodline and core devil arts to Yun Che. This is the only possibility."

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor: "..."

"However..." the ancient voice became even more ethereal. "The profound arts of Devil Emperors and Creation Gods are unique to themselves. Even other Devil Emperors and Creation Gods found them difficult to cultivate, let alone mortals."

"In just a few short years, with such progress, Yun Che... what kind of monstrous being is he?"

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor was deeply shaken. The old man's words, derived from the memories of the Eternal Heaven Pearl, could not be false. Furthermore, no power known could forcibly transform a Divine Sovereign into a devil person... Thus, Yun Che not only possessed the Evil God's inheritance but also a Devil Emperor's inheritance!

The future was unimaginable.

"Ancestor... is there a way to save Qingchen?" the Eternal Heaven God Emperor pleaded, all his thoughts now focused on this single point.

"Two methods."

The ancient voice's reply made the Eternal Heaven God Emperor suddenly look up.

"Firstly," the ancient voice slowly began, "shatter his profound veins, disperse all his profound energy. Then sever all his meridians, extract his marrow, replace all the blood in his body, and at his weakest point of life force, forcibly purify him with light profound energy... If he survives, he might escape the darkness."

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor stood stunned, speechless.

"There is over a fifty percent chance of death with this method. Even if successful, Qingchen will be crippled for life, requiring reliance on spiritual medicine and profound jade to survive. Even with constant sustenance from the highest-grade spiritual medicine and profound jade, his remaining lifespan will scarcely exceed a thousand years."

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor's throat moved, and he said with difficulty, "Please, Ancestor, teach me the second method."

This method was unacceptable to Zhou Qingchen, and indeed, to any profound practitioner. It was far more cruel than death itself.

"Yun... Che." The ancient voice slowly uttered two words.

"…!" The Eternal Heaven God Emperor's pupils dilated. "Ancestor, do you mean..."

"The Eternal Calamity of Darkness holds ultimate mastery over dark profound energy. If Yun Che can now forcibly demonize someone using the Eternal Calamity of Darkness, then he can also use its power to dispel it."

"Only Yun Che can do it."

"Besides this, based on my lifelong knowledge, and even the fragmented memories of the Eternal Heaven Pearl, there is no other possibility."

"..." The Eternal Heaven God Emperor looked up at the void, speechless for a long time.

The deathly silence lasted for over half an hour. Finally, the Eternal Heaven God Emperor stirred. He picked up Zhou Qingchen, turned, and left, his steps heavier than when he arrived.

After Zhou Xuzi departed, the pale world returned to its ancient stillness. But not long after, the pale voice slowly sounded again: "Yun Che... he is clearly a mortal, yet why does everything about him seem to transcend boundaries that even Creation Gods and Devil Emperors could not cross..."

"Yun Che's hatred runs deep, deep enough to sink into the Nine Netherworlds. There is no possibility of redemption."

"Could it be that my unease these past years was not due to the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor..."

Back in the divine hall, Tai Yu saw the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's expression and knew the outcome. Without asking, he said, "My Lord, should we go apprehend Yun Che now?"

"No," the Eternal Heaven God Emperor shook his head. "His actions with Qingchen clearly show he was confident and unafraid. He must no longer be in the Primal Chaos Dimension. The Primal Chaos Dimension is far too dangerous, not somewhere ordinary profound practitioners can enter. If we publicize this matter, countless profound practitioners would rashly enter the Primal Chaos Dimension for the reward, with unpredictable consequences... and it's also possible that some traces might expose Qingchen's situation."

Revered Tai Yu nodded slightly. "What should we do now?"

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor slowly raised his eyes. His aged gaze, long dimmed, finally regained some of its former resolve. "Do you still remember the encounter with the Northern Region Devil Queen back then?"

"Of course I remember," Revered Tai Yu slowly uttered the name, "Chi Wuyao. There could never be a more terrifying woman in this world than her."

"It was also because of that battle that we learned that a female Divine Master had appeared in the remote Northern Region, in the Snow Song Realm, which is closest to the Northern Divine Realm. And it is because of her that Yun Che, this future trouble, was allowed to remain."

Mu Xuanyin!

Thinking of Mu Xuanyin, Tai Yu's brow twitched sharply, and he continued, "That battle was nearly ten thousand years ago. At that time, Mu Xuanyin had just entered the Divine Master Realm. Decades ago, rumors said she had reached Divine Master Realm Level Four, her progress already extraordinary. Yet, when she forcefully rescued Yun Che back then, her strength was already at the peak of the Divine Master Realm. If not for her, Yun Che would have died at the hands of the Moon God Emperor, with no possibility of escape."

"The frigid Northern Region, a barren mid-realm, a sparse Ice Phoenix lineage... I could never figure out how she managed to possess the strength to contend for the peak."

"Since she's already dead, further discussion is pointless," the Eternal Heaven God Emperor said. His gaze deepened as he recalled the events of that year, speaking somewhat distractedly, "Ten thousand years ago, the Pure Heaven God Emperor of the Northern Region died violently. His newly wedded empress seized the throne and changed the Royal Realm's name to 'Soul Stealing.' It should have been a time of rampant internal strife, yet shortly after, she appeared in our Eastern Region."

"In that battle, you and I, along with Qianye Fantian and Qianye Wubei, intended to use the opportunity to bury her directly. But we were deceived by her deliberately feigned defeat, lured to the Northern Region's border, where she drew upon tens of thousands of miles of devil energy and unleashed the terrifying and unparalleled Soul Stealing Devil Arts... Even someone as powerful as Qianye Fantian still feels his mind unsettled when Chi Wuyao's name is mentioned."

Tai Yu's brow twitched involuntarily. Even after so much time, his heart would constrict whenever he thought of the names "Chi Wuyao" and "Soul Stealing."

For years, the Eastern Divine Region had never dared to trespass into the Northern Divine Region, and that battle from long ago was a major reason.

That battle, however, unexpectedly alarmed the Snow Song Realm, which was closest to the Northern Divine Region... Mu Xuanyin, who had recently ascended as Realm King.

A Divine Master from a mid-level star realm was naturally remarkable. But that was a battle between the Devil Queen, God Emperors, Guardians, and Brahma Gods; her nascent Divine Master strength arguably didn't qualify her to participate. Yet, she forcefully intervened in the fight, completely disregarding her own life.

It was later understood that because the Snow Song Realm was so close to the Northern Divine Region, it frequently encountered devil people attempting to flee the Northern Divine Region. Her lineage of Realm Kings was, without a doubt, the leader in combating devil people. Consequently, some of her ancestors, and even some close relatives, had died at the hands of Northern Region devil people.

Thus, she harbored an engraved hatred for devil people.

Even someone as powerful as Qianye Fantian had been ambushed by Chi Wuyao, suffering immensely and still bearing lingering trauma. The consequences of Mu Xuanyin, a nascent Divine Master, forcefully intervening were imaginable.

She fell unconscious under "Soul Stealing" and into Chi Wuyao's hands.

Strangely, however, Mu Xuanyin later escaped safely. No one knew how she managed to flee Chi Wuyao's grasp... not even she herself.

Perhaps Chi Wuyao was at the end of her rope at that time and didn't waste her remaining strength on killing an insignificant person, instead focusing entirely on escaping deep into the Northern Region.

"My Lord, why bring this up suddenly?" Tai Yu asked.

He knew that the Eternal Heaven God Emperor never wished to speak of that battle. The world had never known about it... After all, how could the two strongest God Emperors of the Eastern Region, along with the strongest Guardian and strongest Brahma God, publicly admit to being utterly humiliated by a single woman from the Northern Divine Region?

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor was silent for a moment, then said, "That mark Chi Wuyao left behind back then... is it still intact?"

Tai Yu was startled, then frowned and said, "My Lord, do you intend to..."

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor slowly closed his eyes, his voice heavy and slow: "Qingchen's calamity is a burden he suffers because of me. I absolutely cannot, due to my own considerations, condemn him to a wasted life... otherwise, even if my soul departs, I would have no face to meet my ancestors, much less her."

"In that battle, Chi Wuyao's ambition was clearly revealed; it was obviously a very bold and highly ambitious probing," the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's hands slowly clenched. "If that's the case, then I will... make a deal with her."