Chapter 1659: Yanmo Patriarch

"It seems you're very interested in the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea," Chi Wuyao said with a slight smile.

"It's about what I expected." Yun Che slowly rose. When he first heard rumors about the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea from Qianye Ying'er, he had roughly guessed what kind of existence it was. A sea of ancient devils' corpses... It was indeed so.

"We'll take on the Yama Devil Realm first." Yun Che's eyes were dark. These four astounding words were spoken without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

"When?" Chi Wuyao asked.

"In sixteen months," Yun Che added calmly, "at the latest."

Although the core power of the Soul Stealing Realm had completely transformed, annexing the Yama Devil Realm still seemed impossible. However, since Yun Che dared to say so, he must have a plan. She had already witnessed the power of the Heaven Smiting Devil Formation herself. And perhaps, this was merely the tip of the iceberg of the Eternal Darkness power.

Chi Wuyao didn't immediately agree. Instead, she slowly said, "While it seems almost impossible by conventional standards, since it comes from your mouth, I am willing to believe it.""However, if we truly have the power to crush the Yama Devil Realm by then, why not annex the Burning Moon Realm first?"

Chi Wuyao's words made Qianye Ying'er's eyebrow twitch sharply. She asked, "As far as I know, although the Burning Moon Realm is weaker than the Yama Devil Realm, the difference isn't that significant."

"No, you only know one side of it," Chi Wuyao said, glancing at Qianye Ying'er. "Have you heard the term 'Yama Ancestors'?"

Qianye Ying'er's gaze deepened. "What exactly are the Yama Ancestors?" When she previously mentioned the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea to Yun Che, she had also brought up the term "Yama Ancestors." However, in the Eastern Divine Region, there were only very vague records of it, appearing to be either a name or a title. Most strangely, judging by the time span of various records, it seemed to have existed for an incredibly long time.

Chi Wuyao's gaze shifted slightly. Thinking of the Yama Ancestors, she, too, felt a stirring in her heart and slowly said, "Do you believe that there are people in this world who cannot die?"

"..." Neither Yun Che nor Qianye Ying'er responded, but a subtle change appeared in their eyes.

"The Yama Ancestors are such people," Chi Wuyao said. "And there are three of them."

The slight twitch of their eyebrows showed that Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er were once again affected. Neither spoke, waiting for Chi Wuyao to continue.

"The name 'Yama Ancestors' means exactly that: the founding ancestors of the Yama Devil Realm. They have existed for at least seven or eight hundred thousand years... a million years is also not impossible." Chi Wuyao began to explain slowly. Only the three King Realms of the Northern Region knew the existence of the Yama Ancestors in such detail. Other star realms in the Northern Region had only vague rumors.

"In ancient times, these three Yama Ancestors obtained the devil blood and devil arts left by the ancient Yama Devils. Afterward, they occupied the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea and established the Yama Devil Realm.""Later, as they cultivated the Yama Devil Arts to their ultimate realm, they suddenly discovered that, with the help of the Yama Devil Arts, they could link the dark energy of the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea to their own life force. As a result... as long as the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea was not destroyed, they would possess immortal life.""Even... injuries and severed limbs could rapidly recover within the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea.""Not only immortal, but also indestructible!"

Existing for nearly a million years... and being immortal and indestructible devils! It sounded incredibly bizarre and fantastical.

"Since cultivating the Yama Devil Arts to the extreme allows one to become immortal and indestructible by relying on the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea, why are there only three Yama Ancestors?" Qianye Ying'er asked, immediately realizing the answer: "Bloodline?"

"Precisely," Chi Wuyao nodded. "Only those three Yama Devil ancestors who obtained the root devil blood could receive such 'treatment.' Their descendants, whose inherited Yama Devil bloodline is no longer pure, can still cultivate the Yama Devil Arts, but none can achieve 'immortality and indestructibility.'"

"What's the downside?" Yun Che suddenly interjected.Clearly, if there were no corresponding drawbacks or restrictions, and they were truly immortal and indestructible like that, the other two King Realms in the Northern Divine Region wouldn't exist.

Chi Wuyao turned her face, and as she looked at Yun Che, her eyes became like enchanting moons, bright and captivating. "The three Yama Ancestors' own lifespans have long since withered. They rely entirely on the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea to maintain their immortality. Therefore, they cannot leave the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea for more than half an hour; otherwise, they will die."

"Hah!" Qianye Ying'er, who had been full of trepidation, scoffed. "What's the difference between that and being livestock kept in captivity?"

Chi Wuyao, however, said languidly, "Captive livestock have no freedom, but they can guard the house. Having survived for nearly a million years, constantly immersed in the Northern Divine Region's most extreme dark environment, what do you think... their dark profound strength has reached?""Any one of them is no less powerful than the Yama Emperor," Chi Wuyao answered directly.

Qianye Ying'er: "..."

Three Yama Ancestors, in terms of cultivation alone, were three existences no less powerful than the Northern Region Divine Emperors!

"Although they cannot stay away from the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea for long, if the Yama Devil Realm faces a major crisis, three terrifying Yama Ancestors, equal to or even surpassing the Yama Emperor, are enough to crush any enemy and overturn any crisis within half an hour.""That's also why the Yama Devil Realm has never wished to provoke me, and I have never provoked them. The Yama Devil Realm's home ground... is unbreakable by anyone.""So, do you still wish to take on the Yama Devil Realm first?" She was asking Yun Che this question.

A Divine Emperor, even if tethered, is still a Divine Emperor. Counting the already immensely powerful Yama Emperor, the Yama Devil Realm effectively had four Divine Emperor-level figures. Knowing about the three Yama Ancestors, he should, for now, retreat in the face of difficulty.

"During this time, has the Yama Devil Realm tried to demand anyone back again?" Yun Che suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question.

Chi Wuyao replied, "No, they haven't. The Yama Emperor is a very composed individual. However, since you killed the Yama Ghost King, it's impossible for him to remain silent indefinitely. Perhaps he's waiting for a sufficiently opportune moment."

"Hmph, then we won't wait for them," Yun Che said, looking up. "We'll still annex the Yama Devil Realm first." Knowing about the Yama Ancestors, Yun Che not only showed no hesitation but his gaze was even more resolute than before.

"What about the timing? Is it still the same as before?" Chi Wuyao watched him with unblinking, enchanting eyes.

"No," Yun Che slowly uttered four words: "We go now."

This time, Yun Che startled even Chi Wuyao.

Qianye Ying'er reached out and firmly grasped Yun Che's arm. "What do you intend to do? Explain yourself clearly! Otherwise, I won't allow you to go!"

"If you don't explain, I won't agree either," Chi Wuyao said with a serious expression.

The two women's gazes subconsciously met, then darted away.

Yun Che didn't speak. He briefly closed his eyes, released his soul energy, and two fragments of soul condensed, pointing respectively at Qianye Ying'er's and Chi Wuyao's foreheads. Both women closed their eyes simultaneously, then opened them.

"Can it really... be done?" Qianye Ying'er asked, still hesitant.

"Yes," Yun Che replied.

"No!" Qianye Ying'er shook her head, her hand on Yun Che's arm tightening slightly. "It's still too dangerous!"

"Dangerous?" Yun Che scoffed coldly. "What's that?"

Chi Wuyao was silent for a moment, then said, "It is indeed too dangerous. And too much about the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea and the Yama Ancestors is unknown. However... given your eagerness for revenge, you would surely prefer to take a risk rather than endure the torment of waiting."

"Still no!" Qianye Ying'er took a step forward, her eyes fixed on Yun Che. "In a few more years, when your cultivation is sufficient, and the Eternal Darkness Tribulation is complete, with the power of the Soul Stealing Realm, annexing Burning Moon and Yama Devil won't be too difficult. There's absolutely no need for such a risk."

"You can't stop me," Yun Che replied without hesitation or emotion.

"..." Qianye Ying'er wanted to speak but held back.

"Alright, then, as you wish." Compared to Qianye Ying'er's extreme reluctance, Chi Wuyao accepted quite quickly. After a moment of thought, she said, "However, there's no need to rush this matter too much. Before that, why not first eliminate a certain unstable factor, to avoid any future troubles when we enter the Yama Devil Realm?"

"Unstable factor?"

"These past few days, the Burning Moon Realm has been probing frequently," Chi Wuyao said, narrowing her eyes. Her enchanting gaze shimmered with dangerous glints. "Perhaps they discovered that I personally visited the border ten days ago, or perhaps... they've sensed something." It wasn't impossible for them to have sensed the changes in the Soul Stealing Realm. After all, with three thousand six hundred Soul Servants having completed their dark harmonization and their seals lifted, such a large-scale change would easily be noticed.

"If you're so impatient..." Chi Wuyao paused briefly, then continued, "Tomorrow, I will personally make a trip to the Burning Moon Realm!"

"To do what?" Qianye Ying'er asked.

"A show of force," Chi Wuyao said with a faint smile. "And while I'm at it... to collect an old debt!"

Qianye Ying'er turned slightly, seemingly unwilling for Yun Che and Chi Wuyao to see her current expression. "Since we've decided to go to the Yama Devil Realm, aren't you afraid of a counterproductive effect by making a show of force against Burning Moon beforehand?"

Chi Wuyao chuckled. "If it were the Yama Emperor, that would indeed be the case. But as for the Burning Moon Divine Emperor... I know that man all too well.""Ten thousand years ago, taking advantage of the Net Heaven Divine Emperor's death and the chaos in the Net Heaven Realm, he stole the Savage God Marrow. After witnessing my methods, he kept it far away from the Burning Moon Divine Realm, hiding it for ten thousand years without daring to move it even an inch."A hint of mockery played on her lips. "He is someone who values his Divine Emperor position above all else and fears taking risks the most."

"I'll go with you," Yun Che said.

"You may," Chi Wuyao did not refuse.

The Burning Moon Realm was located west of the Yama Devil Realm, at a similar distance from the Yama Devil Realm as the Soul Stealing Realm.

Fen Daojun, a name that once resounded with formidable might throughout the Northern Divine Region. Though now largely forgotten by the world, no one in the Northern Region was unaware of his other title:The Burning Moon Divine Emperor!

That day, as he meditated, Fen Daojun suddenly opened his eyes and slowly rose."Divine Emperor, do you have any commands?" His attendant quickly stepped forward, only to be startled by the exceptionally grave expression on the Burning Moon Divine Emperor's face, which made her heart tighten, and she dared not speak further for a moment.The Burning Moon Divine Emperor looked up at the sky, his brows tightly furrowed, his jade robe subtly billowing. The entire grand hall suddenly became oppressive.That aura, he absolutely could not mistake it.The Devil Queen, Chi Wuyao!She had no intention of concealing her aura; on the contrary, she was deliberately releasing it, and despite the vast distance, he could sense it clearly.Among the three King Realms of the Northern Region, the Yama Devil Realm possessed the strongest overall power. However, the person the Burning Moon Divine Emperor feared the most was Chi Wuyao, the Emperor of the Soul Stealing Realm.Today, she had actually arrived in person, without any warning.His gaze returned, his brows furrowed deeply, and he suddenly commanded in a low voice, "Open the realm, prepare a banquet!"