Chapter 1638: Reason

"Zhou Xuzi?" Chi Wuyao's gaze tilted, her eyes catching the fleeting, unusual gleam in Yun Che's. "He did indeed send me a message, proposing a special transaction. However, this 'return gift' is something I don't quite understand."

Chi Wuyao looked at Qianye Ying'er. Regarding this perplexing 'return gift,' which was claimed to be as valuable as the Barren Divine Marrow, she showed neither sarcasm nor anger, seemingly eager for a pleasant explanation.

Before Qianye Ying'er could reply, a cold, stern voice spoke up.

"How did you know Zhou Xuzi would send her a message?"

It was Yun Che who asked this question.

It was not surprising that Qianye Ying'er could deduce things he couldn't, as her understanding of everything in the Eastern Divine Region far surpassed his. However, he was clearly displeased that Qianye Ying'er hadn't mentioned this to him at all.

Qianye Ying'er said, "Yun Che, one of the biggest reasons you ended up like this today is because you presumed to understand Zhou Xuzi."

Yun Che's gaze was like a cold sword, but he did not refute her. Chi Wuyao pursed her lips, seemingly watching Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er with an appreciative air.

"You, and most people, know Zhou Xuzi as someone who inherits the Will of the Brahma Heaven, upholds righteous justice, and adheres strictly to principles. None of that is wrong. However, human nature is the most complex thing in this world; his principles are not unbreakable. Otherwise, back then, Xia Qingyue wouldn't have specifically invited him to witness the slave imprint you placed on me. And the promise he made to you was also shattered by his own hands, all because of his so-called righteous path."

"And what can make him break his principles, besides the righteous path, is one other thing: Zhou Qingchen!" Qianye Ying'er spoke slowly, an unusual golden light flickering in her eyes: "You only know that he is Zhou Xuzi's only legitimate son and chosen successor, but you don't know how important that good-for-nothing is to the old man Zhou Xuzi."

"When it concerns Zhou Qingchen, and possibly only because of Zhou Qingchen, he can not only break his principles but even, to a certain extent, abandon the 'righteous path.'"

"Righteous path, huh." Yun Che let out a cold laugh.

"Half a year ago, you turned Zhou Qingchen into a devil, an act that would surely drive that old man into a frenzy of collapse. But then, I suddenly thought of something interesting." She turned her gaze to Chi Wuyao: "Qianye Fantian once said that after their confrontation ten thousand years ago, Chi Wuyao deliberately left behind a demonic jade that sealed a sound transmission profound formation, and this demonic jade was stored in the Brahma Heaven Realm."

"Everyone knows the Brahma Heaven God Realm despises devils the most, and their pursuit of Yun Che was led by them. Yet, their young master has become a devil; how utterly ironic. If it were any other realm, the most logical course of action would be to eradicate him. However, Zhou Xuzi would never do that. He would conceal Zhou Qingchen and then spare no effort in seeking a solution."

"And after all else failed, what would be the last thing he'd consider?"

"If dark profound energy can be forcibly implanted into someone's body, then it might also be possible to remove it." Chi Wuyao slowly said, "So, he sent a message to me, and he offered a price that was very difficult for me to refuse."

Yun Che: "..."

Chi Wuyao's words undoubtedly proved that everything was exactly as Qianye Ying'er had thought and predicted. Zhou Xuzi desperately wanted to capture Yun Che, whether because of his "Devil God Prophecy" or for Zhou Qingchen's sake. However, Yun Che was hidden in the Northern Divine Region, a world he could not enter. The Northern Divine Region was controlled by the three King Realms: Yama, Burning Moon, and Soul Stealing. Thus, the demonic jade Chi Wuyao had left behind all those years ago became a lifeline-like medium. By offering Chi Wuyao an enormous bargaining chip, given her power and influence in the Northern Divine Region, if she were willing, Yun Che, even with countless lives, could not escape her grasp. At that point, the devil affliction on him and Zhou Qingchen's devilish body could both be resolved, killing two birds with one stone.

However, this was a transaction with a devil. Before that day, Zhou Xuzi might never have imagined, nor would he have believed, that he would make such a choice and take such an action. And this matter could never be made public.

Unfortunately, the Brahma Heaven God Emperor could never have dreamed how much Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er had grown in such a short time. He thought the Northern Region Devil Queen, who he believed could easily control Yun Che's fate, was now actively brought before Yun Che.

"Brahma Monarch Goddess, are you interested in hearing the price Zhou Xuzi offered?" Chi Wuyao asked with a soft, playful smile, "Perhaps after you hear it, you'll immediately tie up this man and return to the Eastern Divine Region."

"Too bad," Qianye Ying'er retorted with a cold laugh, "If you had stayed by his side for a few years, as I have, you would know that even if that old man Zhou Xuzi brought the entire Brahma Heaven Realm... it wouldn't be enough!"

"Oh?" Chi Wuyao's gaze slowly drifted over Qianye Ying'er's face, her eyes playful and ambiguous: "So, your so-called grand gift is to use this to lure the Brahma Heaven God Emperor here, and then slaughter him? I don't think you, the Brahma Monarch Goddess, would be that naive."

"Heh, you're the naive one. With only you, Chi Wuyao, unless you can lure him to the core of the Northern Region, killing the Brahma Heaven God Emperor would undoubtedly be a pipe dream." Qianye Ying'er's tone softened: "Chi Wuyao, the grand gift we are returning to you is a 'reason.'"

Reason, two utterly simple and common words. But as these two words left Qianye Ying'er's lips, the world suddenly fell silent.

Neither woman spoke further. After a moment, Chi Wuyao's gray eyes suddenly shifted, a dark, seductive glow flashing within them—a strange light even the Nine Devil Girls had never witnessed.

"Continue," she said slowly. Her demonic voice remained, but with a hint less of its usual languid charm.

Qianye Ying'er spoke unhurriedly: "If you want to lead the Northern Divine Region out of its cage, you will inevitably face the three Divine Regions who view devils and the Northern Region as heretics. When you deem the time right to lead the devils out of their cage and forcefully attack the three Divine Regions, their profound practitioners will experience brief panic and chaos, followed by fury and a shared enmity, and then... a complete unification of the three Divine Regions in a very short time."

"On the other hand, the Northern Divine Region, facing the immensely powerful three Divine Regions that have cast shadows over them for countless years, will undoubtedly feel panic, cowardice, and fear. Furthermore, even if you, Chi Wuyao, assimilate the Burning Moon and Yama realms, how many devils in the vast Northern Divine Region would genuinely be willing to follow your command to confront the three Divine Regions? One tenth? Or even half a tenth?"

Chi Wuyao: "..."

"But," Qianye Ying'er paused briefly, then continued, her voice grim: "What if the Eastern Divine Region were to invade the Northern Divine Region first?"

"For generations, the devils of the Northern Region have been trapped in a cage by the three Divine Regions, forever unable to leave. Trapped and constantly hunted down, the accumulated pain, resentment, and hatred of countless years and generations will, under such provocation, transform into boundless rage and madness, ultimately giving rise to a desperate will to retaliate."

"At that time, you, Chi Wuyao, wouldn't need to command, mobilize, or incite them. A single declaration from you to counterattack the Eastern Divine Region would ignite a demonic flame far beyond what you might imagine."

"As for the Eastern Divine Region, they wouldn't be facing an invasion from the Northern Divine Region, but a counterattack! Although it would still be a battle, it certainly wouldn't generate the same shared enmity as an invasion. Instead, there would be more dissatisfaction and even resentment towards those who actively provoked the Northern Divine Region. The outcome of the war brought about by these two scenarios would be worlds apart."

"And there's the most crucial point," Qianye Ying'er continued, "An active invasion would be met with the rapid unification of the three Divine Regions. But a counterattack would be the Eastern Divine Region 'reaping what it sowed.' Why would the Western and Southern Divine Regions sacrifice their own power to help the Eastern Divine Region bear its own burden? They'd be lucky not to kick them while they're down."

"Heh," she sneered faintly, "The relationship between the three Divine Regions is far more subtle than you, the Northern Region Devil Queen, imagine or understand."

"The mere Northern Divine Region, or devils breaking free from their own domain and forcing their way into the Eastern Divine Region, would not be seen by the Western and Southern Divine Regions as something the Eastern Divine Region couldn't handle. At most, they would suffer some vitality loss. The other two regions would only gloat."

"And by the time they react," Qianye Ying'er's lips curved into a dangerously cold arc, "the ruler of the Eastern Divine Region will already be you, Chi Wuyao."

Chi Wuyao slowly clapped her hands. Even through the black mist, the alluring, devilish curve of her lips was faintly visible. "Brahma Monarch Goddess, your words are truly magnificent, almost too good to be true. However... What makes you so confident that the Eastern Divine Region will suddenly attack my Northern Divine Region? My Northern Region is far weaker than the Eastern Region to begin with. Moreover, once our people leave the dark lands, their strength is significantly reduced. What gives you the confidence that my Northern Region can claim the Eastern Region as its own before the Western and Southern Divine Regions even react?"

"He will." Qianye Ying'er's gaze sharpened, her prediction stated with absolute certainty: "You don't understand how much that old man Zhou Xuzi values his good-for-nothing son, nor do you know... the extent of the hatred this man beside me harbors for the old man Zhou Xuzi."

Yun Che remained expressionless.

"As for the latter..." Qianye Ying'er gave Yun Che a deep look. "Take us to your Soul Stealing Realm, and you will soon know the answer."

"Very well." Without further questions or doubts, Chi Wuyao's response was unexpectedly direct and decisive. Her gaze also fell on Yun Che: "However, not 'you two,' but 'him.'"

"Oh?" Qianye Ying'er narrowed her eyes slightly.

"For all this, he alone is enough, isn't he?" Chi Wuyao smiled sweetly, "As for you. You're so beautiful I'm jealous, and far too clever. As a woman, how could I possibly tolerate you?"

"Then it seems I'll have to disappoint you." Qianye Ying'er also smiled faintly: "Indeed, he alone is enough for all this. But this man, he can't be without me."

Yun Che: "..."

"Unless you can replace me as his cultivation vessel and plaything."

But then, her tone shifted, each word dripping with sarcasm: "Unfortunately, your body, defiled by who knows how many men, he probably wouldn't like."

"Giggle, giggle, giggle, giggle, giggle, giggle!" Far from being angered, Chi Wuyao instead let out a delicate laugh, her demonic body trembling as she did so, causing Qianye Ying'er's golden brows to furrow slightly.

"Cultivation vessel..." Chi Wuyao softly repeated the two words, then slowly said, "No wonder you could wield dark profound energy to a degree that even that child Yao Die found astonishing, despite cultivating it for less than three years. So, besides the Primeval World Pellet, you also possess... Devil Emperor's Blood."

At the mention of those four words, Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er simultaneously turned their gazes sharply.

"You've met the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor!?" Yun Che asked, taking half a step forward.

Chi Wuyao didn't answer directly, saying softly, "When you two fled the Eastern Divine Region and set foot in my Northern Region, you were like startled birds. Your first reaction upon hearing my name was to flee far away, yet you seemed to forget to properly consider why I would even propose 'cooperation' to two stray dogs who had just escaped to the Northern Region."

"With your abilities at that time, Chan Yi could have easily restrained you with a mere flick of her finger and thrown you directly before me. Yet she never did, and instead, you managed to ambush her."

"Do you truly believe Chan Yi is soft-hearted and indecisive? If she were, how could she have become my Devil Girl?"