Chapter 1663: Chaos of the Mind

The dark formation seal was only a foot in size, appearing and disappearing intermittently. The demonic patterns within the formation were eerily simple. They were so simple that a normal person would deem them insufficient to support a dark profound formation.

"What kind of formation is this...?" Gasps of surprise echoed through the hall.

The Blazing Moon God Emperor frowned deeply. His gaze was initially fixed on Yun Che, but suddenly, his expression changed. His eyes sharply shifted to the Demonesses Yuwu and Chan’er, fixing on them intently. Fen Daocang's pupils also widened slightly at that moment. This was because, as the formation fully materialized, an incredible change occurred in the aura of both demonesses! The individual auras of both Demoness Yuwu and Demoness Chan’er vanished. What they now released was, surprisingly, a fusion of both their auras!

At the same time, Fen Daocang distinctly felt an invisible suction, as if from the void itself, violently tearing at his dark aura field. The sinister wind grew increasingly violent, and the dark aura it carried became heavier and heavier. Gradually, it transformed into a swirling dark storm, gathering around the two demonesses with an ever-intensifying dark presence. At this moment, Fen Daocang suddenly had a vague yet terrifying premonition: it seemed as if all the dark energy in the space was being drawn towards the two demonesses by an invisible aura field!

The invisible force tearing at his dark aura field grew stronger and stronger, until his entire aura field began to tremble violently. At that moment, a demonic light flashed around Chan’er and Yuwu, and their sword-like attacks struck simultaneously. The dark aura field from the strongest Moon Devourer was sharply cleaved, like actual fabric.

Two points of cold light rapidly expanded in his pupils. Though surprised, Fen Daocang remained calm. His white hair whipped up as he unleashed a palm strike, conjuring a vast Blazing Moon demonic formation. However, his pupils suddenly constricted at that instant. As he released his power, he was horrified to discover that his dark profound energy seemed to be trapped in an invisible quagmire, operating exceptionally sluggishly. As the demonesses' power approached, the Blazing Moon demonic formation he could normally erect with ease had not yet fully materialized.

*Boom!*

The unformed Blazing Moon demonic formation utterly collapsed under the demonesses' rampaging power. The surrounding Blazing Moon Divine Envoys, Imperial Sons, and Imperial Daughters were sent flying by the aftermath. The scattered dark energy was then swept up by the storm, all gathering around the demonesses.

What... what is going on?! A storm raged in Fen Daocang's mind. He vaguely felt that all of this was influenced by the opponent's suddenly appearing, strange formation seal. But how could such a profound formation exist in this world?!

Yuwu and Chan’er darted forward, attacking Fen Daocang from left and right. The speed they displayed was terrifying, entirely unbefitting of level eight Divine Masters. Yuwu was in front, her jade spike flashing ten feet of cold light. Although it was clearly only Demoness Yuwu, the approaching might was distinctly the combined power of Yuwu and Chan’er. Fen Daocang let out a low roar, flicked his long sleeve, and conjured a massive dark vortex... but after being unleashed, the vortex's power suddenly diminished, as if being forcibly absorbed by an invisible void.

"!??" For the first time in his life, Fen Daocang felt like he was seeing a ghost.

Fen Daocang, as the strongest Moon Devourer, possessed immense power. Even with the sudden drain, he remained incredibly formidable. Where the dark vortex reached, Demoness Yuwu's piercing light was instantly annihilated, and her figure was forced back far away. However, in the very next instant, Chan’er arrived. A demonic shadow of a dark phoenix appeared on her golden longsword, and as the sword-shadow swept forth, it brought with it a soul-shaking phoenix cry.

Under Fen Daocang's large hand, the phoenix shadow was obliterated, and Chan’er was also forced back. But before Fen Daocang could recover and counterattack, Yuwu attacked again... still with an illogical speed, and still carrying the fused might of both demonesses! Even with their powers fused, Yuwu and Chan’er were far inferior to Fen Daocang. However, their figures rapidly intertwined, their attacks dense like a torrential storm. Combined with their incredibly strange aura fusion, Fen Daocang, though seemingly facing only one demoness at a time, was constantly contending with the power of both. What was most terrifying was that with every strike Fen Daocang made, he distinctly felt his unleashed dark power silently being drawn away, significantly diminishing its might. As for Yuwu and Chan’er... their dark power, instead of gradually weakening due to their high-speed, high-frequency dark outbursts, grew increasingly swift and potent! Despite every attack being delivered with full force, there was no sign of their aura depleting in the slightest, as if it were boundless.

One side gradually weakened while the other grew stronger. Fen Daocang's initial absolute advantage rapidly diminished, his expression shifting from shock to dismay, and he could no longer maintain his inner calm. Finally, under Yuwu's power, Fen Daocang, who had stood proudly unmoving, suddenly took a step back... In the next instant, a sword light, carrying the shadow of a dark phoenix, plunged straight down. In this battle, even when facing the combined power of the two demonesses and despite his power constantly being strangely drawn away, Fen Daocang still held an absolute advantage in profound energy. However, the speed at which the two demonesses condensed, released, and recovered their dark profound energy was simply too fast. Furthermore, it never diminished from beginning to end; instead, it continued to defy logic and rise. Even with his absolute advantage, he constantly felt a deep sense of suffocation.

Driven back half a step by Yuwu, Fen Daocang had no chance even to catch his breath before Chan’er's power immediately followed. Fen Daocang's face twisted into a grimace as he lunged to grab Chan’er's sword.

*Boom—*

Dark energy violently erupted between them, sending Chan’er's upper body recoiling... As for Fen Daocang, the sleeve of his right arm burst open, revealing his old and withered arm.

"Stop!"

A low roar sent a thrill through everyone's souls.

The Blazing Moon God Emperor appeared like a ghost between Fen Daocang and the demonesses. He made no discernible movement; merely by standing there, the previously chaotic dark aura field rapidly dissipated. If he didn't intervene, and Fen Daocang truly lost... the strongest Moon Devourer of the Blazing Moon Realm being defeated by the two weakest demonesses of the Soul Stealing Realm would be beyond mere "disgraceful."

"This is the Imperial City, after all. If this continues, this King's palace will likely turn to dust. Let's stop here."

Fen Daocang knew full well why the Blazing Moon God Emperor had stepped forward to stop the fight. He glanced at his shattered sleeve and trembling clenched his hands.

Yun Che's flowing black hair slowly settled. The storm in the hall gradually ceased, and the formation seals on Yuwu and Chan’er also faded away. He sat down, his eyes indifferently closed, not even sparing a glance at the Blazing Moon God Emperor.

"Oh?" Chi Wuyao smiled faintly, "Is it fear for your palace, or fear for your reputation?"

The Blazing Moon God Emperor: "..."

"Fen Daocang," Chi Wuyao was not someone easy to deal with, "Do you now understand what 'qualification' means?"

"..." Fen Daocang's lips twitched, but he was speechless. His gaze remained fixed on Yun Che... a mere Divine Sovereign at Level Seven, yet it sent an inexplicable chill through his heart. What exactly was that just now? What was it?!

The Blazing Moon God Emperor did not respond to Chi Wuyao's taunt. Instead, he turned, looked directly at Yun Che, and said, "Is this person, by any chance..."

"Why bother asking when you already know, Blazing Moon God Emperor?" Chi Wuyao gently interrupted him. "He is Yun Che from the Eastern Divine Region. Although he has only appeared a few times in the Northern Divine Region, his reputation precedes him. If the Blazing Moon God Emperor wishes, you may continue to ignore him and pretend not to know him."

"..." A hint of awkwardness flashed quickly across his face. The Blazing Moon God Emperor chuckled, "How could this King not know the name Yun Che? A Level Seven Divine Sovereign, yet with a single sword stroke, he severed the life of Yama Ghost King Yan San Geng. Such a world-shaking feat, had it not been personally witnessed by numerous Upper Realm Kings and my son, this King would never have believed it."

"Furthermore, it is rumored that he inherited the ancient Evil God's legacy and gained the Heavenly Profound Treasure, the Sky Poison Pearl, as its master."

"Such an extraordinary person, this King had long wished to befriend him."

"Alas, it's too late," Chi Wuyao slowly rose. As she stood, a subtle, oppressive majesty silently settled upon everyone's souls. "Soon, Yun Che will be the new Emperor of my Soul Stealing Realm, and I, the Empress, will truly become the Empress of Soul Stealing. What good would befriending him now do?"

At these words, everyone present was dumbfounded. The Blazing Moon God Emperor sharply turned his head, his brows furrowing deeply. Qianye Ying'er's eyebrow arched, but she remained silent.

Yun Che: "?"

"Soul Stealing... new Emperor?" The Blazing Moon God Emperor glanced at the overly silent Yun Che, then at Chi Wuyao, seeking any trace of jest in her expression or aura. "Is the Devil Empress serious?"

Chi Wuyao clasped her hands behind her back and said coldly, "Lately, you, the Blazing Moon God Emperor, seem quite concerned with the affairs of my Soul Stealing Realm. In just a hundred days, there have been thirteen probes, including those by Moon Devourers."

The Blazing Moon God Emperor: "..."

"I have remained indifferent, yet you, Blazing Moon, have intensified your actions. Could it be that because I have been silent for so many years, and haven't even sought to settle that rather significant 'old debt' with you, that you, Blazing Moon, have begun to think I am easy to bully!?"

"Haha," the Blazing Moon God Emperor chuckled faintly, "In this world, many do not fear Yama, but those who believe the Devil Empress is easy to bully have likely not even been born yet. And if any ever did, they have long since turned to dust."

"This King did indeed dispatch people to the Soul Stealing Realm some time ago," the Blazing Moon God Emperor admitted openly, his face calm and unperturbed. "But it was absolutely without any ulterior motive or intention to offend. It was merely that this King happened to hear that the Devil Empress had ordered the recall of all demonesses and soul spirits, and finally, even all three thousand six hundred Soul Servants. This King wondered if something major was happening in the Soul Stealing Realm and therefore sent people to inquire."

"Given the Devil Empress's magnanimity, you surely wouldn't become agitated over such a minor matter, would you?"

"Minor matter?" Chi Wuyao smiled, yet not quite, "Then, Blazing Moon God Emperor, have you found your answer?"

The Blazing Moon God Emperor shook his head, smiling. "I have not."

"Then I shall tell you clearly."

Chi Wuyao's reply caused the Blazing Moon God Emperor's eyebrows to furrow in surprise.

"Just now, the dark profound formation that my demonesses enhanced, do you recognize it?" she said unhurriedly.

The Blazing Moon God Emperor, Fen Daocang... and all the Moon Devourers had strange lights in their eyes. What exactly was that incredibly strange demonic formation that allowed two minor demonesses to suppress Fen Daocang? They desperately wanted to know.

"That demonic formation is truly extraordinary. This King has never seen or heard of anything like it," the Blazing Moon God Emperor said, casting a faint glance at Yun Che. "Please enlighten me, Devil Empress."

"Calamity... Devil... Bane... Heaven." Chi Wuyao's jade lips softly uttered, "Have you heard of it, Blazing Moon God Emperor?"

Those four short words struck the Blazing Moon God Emperor's heart like four world-destroying tribulation lightning bolts. The Blazing Moon God Emperor, who had remained impassive even while constantly suppressed by Chi Wuyao, finally had his eyes change abruptly, and his body violently swayed. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly thought of something, his gaze sweeping rapidly from Yuwu and Chan’er before finally fixing intently on Yun Che.

"Could it be... could he be..."

"Indeed. It seems even if the Blazing Moon God Emperor makes no further progress, he is not entirely foolish," Chi Wuyao said, her praise clearly veiled sarcasm, her tone faint and ethereal. "Everything is exactly as you're thinking."

"Do you understand now?"