Chapter 1650: Meeting Appointment Date

Northern Divine Region, Soul Stealing Realm.

In the Soul Stealing Saint Realm, Yun Che stood impassively, his arm extended, palm facing a man who sat cross-legged with closed eyes, his appearance so beautiful it was almost demonic. This was Sheng Shi Yan, the Soul Master of the twenty-seven Soul Spirits of the Soul Stealing Realm.

Dozens of figures stood quietly around them. Anyone who saw these individuals would be speechless with shock.

The Devil Queen Chi Wuyao, the Nine Devil Maidens, and the twenty-seven Soul Spirits! Including the Devil Queen, all thirty-seven core members of the Soul Stealing Realm were gathered here, not one absent. The twenty-seven Soul Spirits each governed their own star regions, and the Nine Devil Maidens rarely stayed within the realm. Such a complete gathering was a sight rarely seen in the Soul Stealing Realm, perhaps once in a millennium.

Yun Che retracted his arm, and as the black light dissipated, the last Soul Spirit's perfect dark attunement was complete.

Sheng Shi Yan opened his eyes and circulated his profound energy. Although he had already witnessed the transformation of one Soul Spirit after another, the dream-like changes throughout his body still made his blood surge with excitement. He did not rise but knelt on one knee, bowing respectfully and speaking with immense emotion: "Shi Yan thanks Young Master Yun for your heavenly grace... In the past, Shi Yan was blind and offended you impolitely. Young Master Yun may punish me as you see fit; Shi Yan will have no complaints."

Perfect attunement with dark profound energy was a peak of darkness never before achieved in the history of the Northern Divine Region, not even by previous Divine Emperors. This kind of blessing was beyond description; even the term "heavenly grace" fell short. Yet this true miracle was effortlessly achieved by Yun Che... and it could even be mass-produced! Upon closer thought, it evoked not admiration, but... a shiver of dread.

Now, neither the Devil Maidens nor the Soul Spirits were surprised by the Devil Queen's attitude toward Yun Che. If Yun Che's ability were known to the Burning Moon and Yama Realms, they would likely come begging on their knees.

Yun Che turned away, offering no response. To him, everything in the Soul Stealing Realm was merely a tool for mutual benefit. He would not invest a single ounce of emotion into it. His current efforts were solely for an equivalent... or even multiple returns later.

By now, all Nine Devil Maidens and twenty-seven Soul Spirits had completed their dark attunement, having been completely reborn. In other words, they were now true dark devil practitioners.

"Next, it will be the three thousand six hundred Soul Servants," Yun Che stated calmly, as if speaking of a most ordinary matter. His words startled the twenty-seven Soul Spirits so much that they almost all knelt simultaneously. As Soul Spirits of the Soul Stealing Realm, possessing Divine Master power, receiving such a gift felt like a dream. But to bestow it upon... even all the Soul Servants?! It was insane... utterly insane, wasn't it? What kind of monster was this person named Yun Che? Could he be the reincarnation of some ancient devil god?!

Chi Wuyao said, "The Soul Servants have already begun to be recalled. We can start tomorrow."

"Master," Qing Ying suddenly interjected, "There are, after all, three thousand six hundred Soul Servants. If all of them undergo this, there's a possibility of short-term exposure."

"Wouldn't it be even better if it were exposed?" Chi Wuyao smiled faintly.

"Huh?" Qing Ying was slightly stunned, struggling to understand.

"However," Chi Wuyao's tone shifted, "before that matter is concluded, it is indeed better to keep it hidden to avoid unnecessary variables. Before we meet with Heaven Smiting, all Soul Servants will be confined within the Saint Realm. You can rest assured about this." She said this for Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er, and also as a warning to the twenty-seven Soul Spirits who commanded the Soul Servants.

"Devil Queen, please be at ease," Sheng Shi Yan stated solemnly. "Should even half a word be leaked without your command, Shi Yan will take his own life to atone."

"Very good," Chi Wuyao ordered. "Starting tomorrow, one hundred people per day. In one month, the transformation of all Soul Servants will be complete. Sending people is a small matter, but the meaning behind this, I believe you are already clear enough... What's at stake is far more than just the fate of our Soul Stealing Realm!" Chi Wuyao's voice wasn't loud, but the hearts of the Soul Spirits were violently shaken.

Even after leaving, their minds were still surging like overwhelming tidal waves.

After the twenty-seven Soul Spirits departed as ordered, Ye Li stepped forward and said, "Master, our sisters and the Soul Spirits have all completed their dark attunement. Only you remain, Master."

No sooner had Ye Li finished speaking than a cold voice responded, "She doesn't need it."

"..." Ye Li froze, and all the Devil Maidens were astonished. Qianye Ying'er suddenly glanced sideways, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

Chi Wuyao smiled faintly, ignoring their words. "Yun Che, the mere three years you set will not allow for much significant improvement for these lovely children by my side. However, this Queen believes you certainly have a method to make them grow rapidly within three years, correct?" Her lips curved upward, and she cast a look of boundless charm at Yun Che.

"Of course there is," Qianye Ying'er replied instead, her eyes narrowed. "Do you want to hear it?" The Devil Maidens turned their gazes, filled with a hint of anticipation. What was once considered impossible, they now believed could certainly be achieved in Yun Che's hands. After all, three years ago, Qianye Ying'er was merely a half-crippled Divine Sovereign, yet now she could face the Fourth Devil Maiden Yao Die and not be defeated.

Chi Wuyao seemed to guess with a single glance what her "method" was. With a seductive smile, her devilish voice purred, "Never mind. How could my children possibly share a 'method' that belongs solely to you?"

"No, I welcome it very much," Qianye Ying'er replied with a faint smile. "It would be best if all nine of you came together, allowing me to truly witness the genuine grace of the Nine Devil Maidens of the Soul Stealing Realm. It would certainly be exquisite."

"???" The Nine Devil Maidens exchanged confused glances, as if in a fog, not understanding her meaning.

Chi Wuyao's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, surprised by Qianye Ying'er's reaction. Then, as if realizing something, her lips curved into a seductive arc. "So that's it. Interesting... truly interesting. How could a god-goddess with broken wings tolerate the complete and beautiful wings of others?"

"What is Master talking about?" Yu Wu cautiously transmitted.

"I don't know," Chan Yi shook her head. "Perhaps... it's about Yun Qianying's profound energy being crippled, so she harbors some kind of trauma that Master has exposed?"

"Ah?" Yu Wu was even more confused.

"..." Qianye Ying'er's heart tightened abruptly, and she bit her lip, not speaking, but the gaze she directed at Chi Wuyao carried a dangerous chill.

"Have those nine follow me," Yun Che suddenly commanded.

The silent confrontation between Chi Wuyao and Qianye Ying'er was abruptly cut off. Chi Wuyao turned her gaze back, her lips slightly parted in a clearly feigned expression of surprised bewilderment. "You're not really going to help them improve their cultivation? All nine of them at once, aren't you afraid you... won't be able to handle it?"

Yun Che shot her a sideways glance and said, "I do have a method to make them grow quickly, but not now, and not here."

"Oh?" Chi Wuyao felt a flicker of surprise in her heart, looking thoughtful.

"Aren't you very interested in the 'Calamity of Darkness and Devils'?" Yun Che's voice slowed, each word dark and heavy. "For this first time, they will be the dark vessels!"

This was a declaration, not a question. The Calamity of Darkness and Devils formation, a dark devil formation recorded in the Eternal Calamity Middle Realm. Yun Che had never felt confident enough to fully control it, which was why he had never attempted to use it on Qianye Ying'er, fearing he might harm her. This was his first decision to employ it, and he would use it on all nine Devil Maidens at once.

The Heretic God's Art worked on oneself, continuously breaking limits in an instant and unleashing unimaginable power. The Eternal Calamity of Darkness, however, was more about controlling others... including all forms of dark vessels. As powers of the same level, in a world without true gods, they possessed truly heaven-defying power in their respective domains. From Qianye Ying'er's earlier reaction, it was clear she was unaware of the "Calamity of Darkness and Devils." Yun Che had naturally never used it on her. Given Chi Wuyao's discerning mind, how could she not see that Yun Che was using the Nine Devil Maidens—the nine most important people by her side—as test subjects?

However, she did not refuse. Instead, an unusual black light gleamed in her eyes. It was likely that, apart from Yun Che, she was the only one in this world who truly understood what the "Calamity of Darkness and Devils" was. The miraculous power that allowed the Devil Maidens to perfectly attune with darkness was merely a basic ability of the Eternal Calamity of Darkness. But the Calamity of Darkness and Devils was an ability of its middle stage. Its might could well be imagined.

"Very well," Chi Wuyao said with a smile. "Since you have this interest, how could this Queen bear to refuse?" She turned to the Nine Devil Maidens and stated, "From today onwards, Yun Che's words are this Queen's words. You must all obey them."

At these words, everyone, including Yun Che, froze on the spot. Although it was just a short sentence, it undeniably handed over control of the entire Soul Stealing Realm to Yun Che. Understanding a person is extremely difficult; trusting one is even harder. Yun Che, who had been ruined by the Heaven Smiting Divine Emperor, and Qianye Ying'er, who had been abandoned by the Brahma Heaven Divine Emperor, both knew this well. And the unfathomable Chi Wuyao would undoubtedly be extremely cautious when dealing with anyone. Such a bold, almost insane decision, should not have come from her lips at all.

"Oh? Do you have any questions?" Chi Wuyao asked with a smile.

"No, we will strictly follow Master's command," Jie Xin and Jie Ling said first.

"It's just... what exactly is the Calamity of Darkness and Devils?" Ye Li asked, her expression solemn.

"You will know very soon," Chi Wuyao said with a mysterious smile. "The day you can freely attune with it will be roughly... the day you step into the Burning Moon and Yama Realms." Chi Wuyao's words instantly dispelled all dissenting thoughts in the Devil Maidens' hearts, leaving only unwavering determination.

Time flowed, and a hundred days passed in a flash. No one knew the details of Chi Wuyao's negotiations with Zhou Xuzi, but the agreed-upon transaction time ultimately fell on the "hundred days later" period that Chi Wuyao had originally chosen. It was terrifyingly precise.

After the third watch passed, Yun Che, who had taken a brief rest, opened his eyes. Uncontrolled black light trembled within them before slowly fading after several breaths. Today was the date of the transaction agreed upon by Chi Wuyao and Zhou Xuzi. If Yun Wuxin were still alive, today would have been her eighteenth birthday.

"Let's go," Qianye Ying'er, beside him, said.

Yun Che rose and walked slowly forward, each step accompanied by faint black mist. The hall doors opened. Chi Wuyao was already standing outside, having arrived at some unknown time. Seeing the two emerge, she twisted her seductive body and said, "Let's go. This Queen has long awaited the coming spectacle. I wonder how much Zhou Xuzi has improved compared to ten thousand years ago."

A dark profound ark, a hundred zhang in length and width, descended. The Great Devil Maidens Jie Xin and Jie Ling, along with the Seventh Devil Maiden Hua Jin, were already waiting on it. They seemed to be accompanying them. The profound ark activated and flew southward. The journey from here to the Northern Region's border was extremely far, but the ark's flight was neither rushed nor slow. After all, the truly anxious party should be Zhou Xuzi.

Yun Che stood at the stern of the profound ark, coldly gazing at the boundless dark world. He remained silent throughout the journey, his hands tightly clenched, not relaxing for a moment.

The Heaven Smiting Divine Emperor, Zhou Xuzi... The person who had destroyed everything he held dear and created his painful nightmare... After three years, he was finally going to face him again! It was clearly too early, clearly not the best time, yet he could not stop himself, could not control himself!