Chapter 1641: Cloudze's Trump Card

The Soul Stealing Realm was far from as vast as imagined; from a distance, it wasn't even as large as the Snow Song Realm. But within that dark world, the star region was like the gaping maw of a dark demon; once approached, one would fall into an eternal abyss.

This was the King Realm of the Northern Divine Region... Yun Che watched from afar as the Soul Stealing Realm, enshrouded in black mist, constantly changed shape. An absolutely terrifying sense of coldness, oppression, and danger constantly repelled any living being attempting to approach.

"This is almost the center of the Northern Divine Region," Qianye Ying'er said with certainty, though she had never been there before. "There's a special area in the Northern Divine Region called the Evernight Bone Sea. It's the center of the Northern Divine Region and also the core of the northern darkness. To some extent, it can be understood as the dark origin pulse of the Northern Divine Region."

"Dark origin pulse?" Yun Che scoffed disdainfully. "Given the Northern Divine Region's current decline, this so-called origin pulse is likely a dead one."

Qianye Ying'er continued, "That's also why the dark aura here is the purest and most intense. The three King Realms—Yama Devil, Burning Moon, and Soul Stealing—are all located here. In other words, these three King Realms of the Northern Region are very close to each other. It's said that a Divine Master, at full speed, can travel between them in a few hours."

Yun Che's eyebrows slightly twitched. He asked, "Among the three King Realms, which is closest to the Evernight Bone Sea?"

"Yama Devil," Qianye Ying'er replied. "The Evernight Bone Sea originally belonged to the Yama Devil Realm. Therefore, the Yama Devil Realm has always been located at the very core of the Northern Divine Region. This is probably also why the Yama Devil Realm is the strongest among the three King Realms in terms of overall power."

"Speaking of which..." Qianye Ying'er suddenly thought of something, her voice deepening. "Regarding the Yama Devil Realm, I once saw a name called 'Yama Ancestor' in the records of the Brahma Emperor. This name had a very heavy warning soul imprint, but there was no related explanation."

"This means that a Brahma Emperor ancestor once vaguely knew of the 'Yama Ancestor's' existence through some means, but didn't know what it truly was. However, the warning soul imprint on these two words was excessively heavy."

"Chi Wuyao wouldn't be unaware. Just ask her," Yun Che said.

As they spoke, the two drew closer to the Soul Stealing Realm. Passing through layers of soul-devouring black mist, they set foot on a grayish-black land.

Although the Soul Stealing Realm was small, it was unexpectedly an open King Realm. However, there was no doubt that the core area where the Devil Queen and the Devil Maidens resided was absolutely inaccessible to ordinary people.

Yun Che released his spiritual perception, piercing through layers of darkness, his gaze finally settling on the northeast.

That was the core demonic region of the Soul Stealing Realm, the Devil Sacred Land where the Devil Queen of the Northern Region resided.

Their speed slowed as they flew northeast. Below, they swiftly passed over the land and living beings of this dark King Realm.

"I've told you everything I know about Chi Wuyao," Qianye Ying'er said. "As for the Nine Devil Maidens, while there are many rumors and records, I only knew the names of three Devil Maidens when I was in the Eastern Divine Region."

"Three?" Yun Che was slightly surprised.

"The Seventh Devil Maiden, Huajin," Qianye Ying'er said slowly. "Her profound strength is among the lower ranks of the Nine Devil Maidens, but she possesses an unidentifiable power of concealment and disguise that even gods and devils cannot discern. She may have even appeared in the Eastern, Western, and Southern Divine Regions more than once."

"It's precisely because her abilities in this regard are too powerful and strange that all King Realms know of this Devil Maiden's existence." Remembering the little girl in the bamboo forest earlier... being deceived by her at such close proximity, Qianye Ying'er frowned deeply.

Although her cultivation was far from what it once was, carrying the Devil Emperor's blood, her dark perception abilities were extremely strong. Yet, she couldn't see through Huajin's disguise even within ten steps. Such an ability was beyond what "terrifying" could describe.

"What about the other two?" Yun Che asked.

"The Great Devil Maiden. She was the first Devil Maiden 'created' by Chi Wuyao, and also the strongest among the Devil Maidens," Qianye Ying'er's voice suddenly deepened. "A level ten Divine Master!"

Yun Che's eyebrows twitched sharply. He then asked, "And the third one?"

"The Great Devil Maiden is two people," Qianye Ying'er said, uttering something strange.

"What do you mean?"

"Jie Xin, Jie Ling," Qianye Ying'er uttered two names that commanded world-shaking prestige in the Northern Divine Region. "They are a pair of twin sisters, and they are the Great Devil Maidens of the Soul Stealing Realm."

Yun Che frowned. "So, the 'Nine Devil Maidens' are actually ten people?"

"No," Qianye Ying'er denied. "Below the Great Devil Maidens is the Third Devil Maiden. Jie Xin and Jie Ling not only look identical, but their auras and cultivation levels are also exactly the same. It's said that no one, except the Devil Queen and themselves, can tell them apart."

"Therefore, they jointly hold the title of Great Devil Maiden. There is no Second Devil Maiden among the Nine Devil Maidens."

Yun Che pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned his gaze. "You mean, both of them are level ten Divine Masters?"

"Yes," Qianye Ying'er nodded. "This is likely also why the Burning Moon Realm is so wary of the Soul Stealing Realm."

Yun Che remained silent for a long time.

A level ten Divine Master was, in the common perception, equivalent to a Divine Emperor.

The level ten Divine Masters in the King Realms of the Eastern Divine Region were:The Star God Realm originally had one: Xing Juekong, who was crippled.The Moon God Realm had one: Xia Qingyue.The Eternal Heaven Realm had two: Zhou Xuzi and Grand Venerable Taiyu.The Brahma Monarch God Realm originally had six, but three Brahma Gods were casually slain by the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, and Qianye Ying'er was crippled to remove the slave imprint. Now, only two remained: Qianye Fantian and Gu Zhu.

Yet, the Soul Stealing Realm of this withered Northern Divine Region actually had three!Chi Wuyao, Jie Xin, Jie Ling.

"Ten thousand years ago, when this place was still the Pure Sky God Realm, there was only one level ten Divine Master: the Pure Sky God Emperor," Qianye Ying'er continued. "Later, the Pure Sky God Emperor died suddenly, and Chi Wuyao forcibly took power. All realms believed the Pure Sky God Realm would fall into chaos, with the most likely outcome being its disintegration under internal strife and external predation, to be devoured by the Yama Devil and Burning Moon Realms, ultimately leaving only two King Realms."

"However, the final result was that the Pure Sky God Realm's internal strife ended with incredible speed almost as soon as it erupted. Chi Wuyao also used unknown means to alter the Pure Sky God Realm's inherited power, transforming it into the Devil Maiden's power, which could only be passed on to women."

"After the 'birth' of the Great Devil Maidens Jie Xin and Jie Ling, Chi Wuyao instilled fear both internally and externally." Qianye Ying'er looked at Yun Che. "Her secrets are somewhat similar to yours—abilities that cannot be explained by current knowledge or common sense."

"You possess the inheritance of a Creation God, but... what about her?"

"If she didn't possess strength that surpassed others, how could she harbor ambitions that others dared not? Isn't this also why you chose her?" Yun Che replied indifferently, "As for her secrets, they're not important."

"No, it is important," Qianye Ying'er said without hesitation. But she glanced at Yun Che and said nothing further. For the current Yun Che, revenge was everything; he truly was indifferent to anything else.

The two passed through a small portion of the Soul Stealing Realm, and a massive, invisible barrier appeared within their perception.

Even a hundred miles away, the sheer invisible pressure was enough to deter anyone from taking another step forward.

Within the barrier lay the core of the Soul Stealing Realm, and also one of the supreme locations in the entire Northern Divine Region. Although it was just an invisible barrier, it separated two worlds of completely different planes.

Yun Che's steps involuntarily slowed, and his gaze momentarily became hazy.

What he saw before him was strikingly similar to the center of the Snow Song Realm, specifically the Ice Phoenix Realm, which was isolated by an invisible barrier.

An arm stretched out, blocking Yun Che's path. Qianye Ying'er looked ahead, her gaze cold and stern. "You have one last chance to hesitate. Either take this step now, or... lay low for a few more years."

Yun Che narrowed his eyes slightly. "Being timid and indecisive—isn't that what you despise the most?"

"What makes me hesitate isn't your current ability, but Chi Wuyao herself," Qianye Ying'er said in a deep voice. "Our interaction with her has been too ideal in its outcome. After just one meeting, we're already standing on the Soul Stealing Realm's soil. This kind of 'cooperation' shouldn't be so smooth at all."

"Furthermore, although I can't see her eyes, I always feel she's somewhat strange towards you. Yet, I can't pinpoint what's strange, and that's the most dangerous aspect."

Yun Che remained unmoved. He pushed away the arm blocking his path and said indifferently, "Let's go."

"Wait," Qianye Ying'er stopped him. "Although I've been with you day and night for the past few years, I know you still hold many secrets and trump cards that I'm unaware of."

Yun Che remained silent.

"Of course, the fewer people who know about a trump card, the better, which is why I've never asked nor tried to uncover them. But this time, I want you to answer me."

Qianye Ying'er's figure flickered, directly blocking Yun Che's path. Her golden eyes fixed on his. "What is the limit of the trump cards you currently possess?"

Yun Che's gaze turned slightly cold, but as his eyes met Qianye Ying'er's, the coldness that had just surfaced wavered slightly.

Her eyes held a somberness and a resolute demand for an answer. But beyond that... there was also an emotion that shouldn't have been present in her.

It seemed to be... deep, hidden concern?

His eyebrow tilted slightly. Yun Che slowly whispered, "Enough to eliminate... anyone in this world."

Qianye Ying'er's golden eyes flickered sharply.

"However, it can only be used once," Yun Che continued. The scene of Mu Xuanyin's demise flashed before his eyes, and his voice became very soft and slow. "In the end, I will bestow it... upon Long Bai!"

Dragon Monarch Long Bai, Emperor of the Dragon Race, Emperor of the Chaos... In Qianye Fantian's words, a transcendent existence whom even the four Divine Emperors of the Eastern Region combined could not defeat, truly the foremost person of the current age.

Yun Che's statement, "enough to eliminate anyone in this world," clearly included Long Bai!

Moreover, his eyes showed no wavering at all... Destroying the Dragon Monarch was not just a possibility; it was clearly something he could definitely achieve once that trump card was used!

Qianye Ying'er withdrew her gaze. "No wonder you've always been so confident. It seems my worries were unnecessary. Even if we face the worst possible scenario imaginable, you'll still be able to..."

But then, she suddenly realized something and sharply turned her head back. "'In the end,' what does that mean?"

"Heh." Yun Che gave a cold smile. "Some trump cards require a life to be exchanged. Is this the first time you've learned that?"

With that, his figure flickered past Qianye Ying'er and descended directly.

Qianye Ying'er did not immediately follow, but remained silent for a few breaths.

The current Yun Che, though still alive, had only revenge filling every corner of his being.

Once revenge was complete, with no lingering attachments or goals, perhaps...

He wanted to use his own life to end Long Bai in the end... He said it without a shred of hesitation or sorrow.

It was as if the life he now possessed was merely a tool for his revenge.

"Besides revenge, is there really no... slightest reason left that makes you want to live?"

Watching Yun Che's retreating figure, she murmured softly to herself.

Revenge...

She extended her hand, quietly gazing at her palm. Every bit of her skin was as fair as snow, faintly glowing with a jade-like luster. Anyone seeing her hand would feel as though they were witnessing a divine miracle from a dream, unwilling to believe it had ever been stained with countless blood, filth, and sin.

What's happening?

Her fingers curled into her palm, clenching unconsciously... Wasn't revenge also the obsession that kept her alive after being crippled, her entire purpose?

Why, as she drew closer to her goal, was she beginning... to "hesitate and be indecisive" as he'd said?

What was she even worrying about?!

Her fingers dug into her palm, producing crisp sounds of bones shifting. In an instant, Qianye Ying'er's golden eyes became as cold as an icy hell, and the confusion and worry that had arisen from who knew where were firmly frozen away.

Qianye Fantian... he killed her mother, fooled her her entire life, shattered her beliefs, destroyed everything she had! She had trampled her dignity, fallen into darkness, sold her body and soul, all just to kill him with her own hands!

Aside from that, nothing else mattered!

No... it... matters... not...

She plummeted down, landing before the barrier with Yun Che.

As soon as they approached, a wave of dark energy suddenly surged towards them, accompanied by a low roar filled with majesty and murderous intent: "Intruders into the sacred domain shall be slain with no... Ugh!"

The word "mercy" had not even left his lips before it turned into several muffled groans. The dark storm was torn apart in an instant, and the four shadowy figures within the storm all fell backward, crashing heavily onto the barrier.