Chapter 1651: The Soul of the Demon Emperor

Chiangye Ying'er stood on the other side of the profound ark, gazing at another equally vast dark starfield.

Chi Wuyao approached slowly, her steps pausing slightly as her gaze fell upon Chiangye Ying'er.

Golden hair fluttered, and ribbons on her dress swayed. The world often praised beautiful women with the idiom "eyes and brows like a painting," but the golden-haired woman in view, merely a side profile, possessed a grace that no brush could ever capture.

The Brahma Monarch Goddess, a perfect masterpiece gifted to the mortal world by the heavens, imbued with countless spiritual beauties, had paradoxically become the personal possession of a vengeful devil. The mere thought of it would likely pierce anyone's heart with extreme pain.

"Normally, wherever I am, she never stays more than three feet from him. It's rare to see her ten zhang away today," she said playfully, her voice leisurely.

Chiangye Ying'er coldly snorted, "This day every year is when he's in his worst mood. I can't be bothered to provoke him."

She glanced sideways at Chi Wuyao and said, "You seem completely unconcerned about failing this time. That's the Eternal Heaven God Emperor we're dealing with!"

"I never underestimate my opponents," Chi Wuyao replied with a smile, "but I certainly don't underestimate myself either. Besides, the certainty of this outcome was delivered by his own hand."

"You mean, his bargaining chip?"

"Precisely." Chi Wuyao's fair hand moved, her hair dancing in the wind. Even the black mist that usually clung to her imperceptibly thinned, faintly revealing a hazy, dream-like jade countenance. "It's a chip that, in his eyes, I couldn't possibly refuse—a chip no one could refuse."

"It's quite astonishing to me that he would offer such a chip."

Chiangye Ying'er sneered, "Heh, aside from the matter of Zhou Qingchen, it's already a colossal taboo for him, the Eternal Heaven God Emperor, to step into the Northern Region's border to negotiate with you, the Devil Queen. He has to ensure success on the first attempt, leaving no room for errors or accidents that would necessitate a second meeting. So, no matter how high the stakes he offers, I'm not surprised."

Chi Wuyao turned her gaze, letting out a soft "Oh?" "Why aren't you asking me what his chip is?"

"If you want to say it, then say it yourself." Chiangye Ying'er stared at the starfield, her expression blank. How could she humor Chi Wuyao's wishes?

"Oh dear," Chi Wuyao said, a smile gracing her jade lips, "you truly are a disobedient child."

"If you want obedience, go find your male concubines," Chiangye Ying'er retorted mockingly.

"Male concubines? Hehehehe..." She chuckled charmingly, then her voice slowly continued, "Back then, most of the divine remnant power of the Cleansing Heaven Divine Realm was inherited by men. Yet, when it came into my hands, all the inheritors were women."

"And what's more, my most important criterion for selecting devil women isn't talent or background, but... appearance."

Chiangye Ying'er: "..."

"From Jie Xin to Chan Yi, every single one of them is one in a billion in terms of looks. Even the favored concubine of the Burning Moon God Emperor doesn't deserve to be compared to any of them."

"Guess why that is?"

"..." Chiangye Ying'er suddenly felt an inexplicable unease throughout her body, her delicate brows unconsciously furrowing a few degrees. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm trying to say..."

Chi Wuyao's voice suddenly drew near. Chiangye Ying'er instinctively turned her eyes, only to find Chi Wuyao's face incredibly close, wisps of warm, soft breath distinctly caressing her lips. Behind the black mist, Chi Wuyao's eyes, like stars flashing by, uttered, "When men get tired of playing, they might find women more appealing, you know."

Chiangye Ying'er sharply recoiled a step, her beautiful eyes cold and sharp, her entire body feeling a strange tingling sensation.

"Hahahahaha." With a burst of laughter, Chi Wuyao turned her body and gracefully floated away.

She headed in Yun Che's direction.

Dark storms continually swirled past him, yet Yun Che's heart remained as still as stagnant water.

Sensing Chi Wuyao's approach, he didn't turn back, but suddenly spoke, "What exactly is your soul?"

Chi Wuyao stopped only when she stood beside Yun Che, shoulder to shoulder with him. Her lips parted slightly, a hint of a smile and a touch of complaint in her voice, "It truly surprises me that you held back until today to ask that question."

At such close proximity, her soul-stirring devilish voice almost directly pierced the depths of his soul.

If Yun Che were replaced by any other man—or even his former self—he would likely have gone limp, unable to stand.

"If I ask, will you tell me?" Yun Che asked coldly.

"For you, yes." Chi Wuyao's smile was gentle and lingering. In this brief solitude with Yun Che, she was not the Devil Queen, but a captivating enchantress.

Yun Che: "..."

"You probably have some idea, after all, only you could perceive it," Chi Wuyao said. "It's just that I'm far less fortunate than you; it's only a very tiny trace of a soul. The original owner of this soul was named..."

"Nielun Devil Emperor."

Yun Che's brows furrowed, showing a slight stir of emotion. "So it is."

The Nielun Devil Emperor, along with the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, was one of the four ancient Devil Emperors.

In the Soul Stealing Realm, when Chi Wuyao personally transmitted her voice to the three Yama Devils, the soul aura she released caused his Dragon God Soul... to tremble for a moment.

The Primeval Azure Dragon, as the Emperor of Dragons, was an existence that transcended ordinary True Gods even in ancient times.

Only the souls of Creation Gods and Devil Emperors could make the Dragon God Soul tremble, and only they could surpass the Dragon God Soul in terms of power level!

Now, with Chi Wuyao's personal admission, it was indeed true that her soul contained a trace... of the soul aura from an ancient Devil Emperor!

Apart from the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, who had briefly returned, there was actually a remnant of a Devil Emperor existing in the current era!

Even if it was just an infinitesimal wisp, it was still soul power at the Devil Emperor level!

No wonder she, a mere mortal woman, became the Queen of the Northern Region; no wonder her soul power left a ten-thousand-year shadow on the two great God Emperors, Qianye Fantian and Zhou Xuzi.

Perhaps her frightening insight and cunning also stemmed from this.

"Aside from me, only you know about this," Chi Wuyao said with a faint smile. "To others, I can use it to look down on everything. But compared to you, it's almost insignificant, and deliberately trying to hide it would be ridiculous."

"Hmph, who would dare belittle a Devil Emperor's soul!" Yun Che retorted.

Chi Wuyao shook her head, smiling, and softly said, "The Creation God power you bear is the Heretic God's profound veins. The Devil Emperor power you bear is the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's primordial bloodline. And you also cultivate their unique ultimate profound arts."

"As for the Devil Emperor's soul in me, it's only a wisp as tiny as dust, utterly incomparable to yours. Its greatest use..." She gave Yun Che a shallow glance, a hint of dreaminess flitting through her eyes, "is merely for employing some special minor tricks."

"Otherwise, how could I have been locked in a cage, unable to escape?"

Yun Che suddenly turned his head, his gaze turning dark, cold, and sharp. "How do you know the phrase 'Heretic God's profound veins'?"

Years ago, at the edge of the Primal Chaos, facing the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, he publicly revealed his secret of inheriting the Heretic God's power. However, what he spoke of at the time was "Heretic God's primordial power," and he never disclosed that he possessed the Heretic God's profound veins within his body.

Because Mu Xuanyin had warned him more than once that if he ever had to expose the secret of the Heretic God's power, he absolutely must not reveal the existence of the "Heretic God's profound veins"—power at the Creation God level would generally give people the impression that possession was almost impossible, whereas a concrete existence like "profound veins" would endlessly stimulate others' desire for forceful appropriation.

Aside from those extremely close to him, even the Eastern Divine Region only knew about the Heretic God's divine power within him, not the Heretic God's profound veins. Yet, Chi Wuyao, far away in the Northern Divine Region, had spoken the four words "Heretic God's profound veins" with striking clarity.

"..." Chi Wuyao paused for an exceedingly brief moment, then her lips parted slightly, her soft voice like a dream, "Secrets are a woman's greatest charm; they make those who wish to explore them utterly captivated, unable to let go. Do you think I'd be willing to tell you?"

"In this regard, men are the same, you know."

*Whoosh!*

A sharp current of air suddenly struck, forcibly severing the space and interrupting the colliding gazes of Chi Wuyao and Yun Che.

Chiangye Ying'er appeared like a phantom between the two, her gaze meeting Chi Wuyao's with icy defiance. "Then let that group of women around you thoroughly investigate your secrets! Yun Che and I have... no... interest... whatsoever!"

Chi Wuyao's eyelids lowered slightly, her autumn-water eyes gradually dimming with a hint of sorrow. She turned around and sighed softly, "True. To have stayed in the Divine Bestowment Region for months, yet never once considered looking upon my true face. Such heartlessness truly wounds one."

"Hmph," Chiangye Ying'er sneered, lowering her brows, "Chi Wuyao, you can use these base, foxy allurements to toy with those inferior men. Trying to bewitch Yun Che... will only bring you humiliation!"

"And don't say I didn't warn you." Chiangye Ying'er's eyes and voice grew a few degrees colder. "On the first day of our cooperation, we warned you explicitly not to attempt anything improper. You surely don't want to make an enemy of me... and Yun Che!"

With her back to Chiangye Ying'er, a subtle, meaningful smile appeared on Chi Wuyao's lips. "What a sensitive girl. I'm growing to like you more and more."

Chiangye Ying'er: "...!?"

At this moment, the dark profound ark gradually slowed. Huajin's figure arrived silently, stopping before Chi Wuyao. "Master, we will arrive in half an hour. Does Huajin need to go ahead and scout?"

"No need," Chi Wuyao replied. "The other party is the one who fears any deviation from the plan."

"Yes, Huajin understands."

Huajin's figure vanished, and the dark profound ark's speed resumed, heading straight for the Northern Region's border.

From start to finish, Chi Wuyao seemed utterly unconcerned about her movements being detected by other forces in the Northern Divine Region.

"Half an hour left," Chi Wuyao said, looking back. "Will you come willingly, or... will I have to personally restrain you?"

No sooner had Chi Wuyao finished speaking than Yun Che suddenly turned, slamming a fist into his own chest.

*Boom—*

The dark profound ark shuddered violently.

Wounds spread wantonly across Yun Che's body, instantly staining half his black robes. Blood seeped from all seven of his facial orifices, especially from the corners of his mouth, where it flowed profusely.

"You..." Chiangye Ying'er took half a step forward, then abruptly stopped.

A black light flashed over Yun Che's body, and the fresh blood immediately darkened, appearing like residual blood that had dried up years ago.

"Actually, you don't need to do this," Chi Wuyao said, averting her gaze. "To minimize exposure of their whereabouts, Zhou Xuzi will bring at most one other person besides Zhou Qingchen, most likely the First Guardian, Taiyu."

"If he comes alone, that would naturally be even better."

"This time, I specifically brought Jie Xin and Jie Ling. While they can't do anything to Zhou Xuzi and Taiyu, forcibly killing Zhou Qingchen from under their noses doesn't seem to be a difficult task. Most importantly, it carries no risk... Are you sure you must do this yourself?"

"..." Yun Che offered no direct reply. He walked past Chi Wuyao, stood at the very front of the profound ark, and from between his tightly clenched fingers, blood beads filled with hatred continuously dripped.

Chiangye Ying'er walked to Chi Wuyao's side, stopping her steps, and sneered, "I didn't expect the so-called Devil Queen could ask such a foolish question."

Chi Wuyao chuckled and said, "Many men like clever women, but no man likes a woman who is *too* clever. Occasionally revealing a bit of foolishness might stir a man's heart more easily... Don't you think?"

"Hmph, so this is how the Northern Region's Devil Queen climbed to power by clinging to men. It's truly eye-opening. But then again, it's not surprising, after all... the men of the Northern Region are just a bunch of useless cowards content with their cages."

After a merciless torrent of mockery, Chiangye Ying'er coldly departed... But for some reason, Chi Wuyao's last remark repeatedly entwined itself in her mind, refusing to leave.