Chapter 1664: Shattered Heart (Part 1)

"Calamity Demon Blighting Heaven"... This name left the people of Burning Moon bewildered. However, they all clearly saw an unprecedented look of shock on the faces of the Burning Moon God Emperor and Fen Daocang.

One breath... two breaths... three breaths... It took a full three breaths for the Burning Moon God Emperor to finally regain his composure. He gravely stated, "The Heaven-Blighting Calamity Demon Formation, and the changes in the Devil Maidens, are all due to... the power of the Devil Emperor he inherited!?"

After all, he was the Burning Moon God Emperor. Even with his heart churning like a tsunami, he quickly grasped the fact that, while incredible, was now undeniably clear... As the God Emperor of the Northern Region, how could he not know that the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor had once returned, only to leave again because of Yun Che?

The others still didn't comprehend "Calamity Demon Blighting Heaven," but the words "Devil Emperor's power" were heard clearly by all. In an instant, even powerful Eclipse Moon Elders felt as if struck by divine lightning, so stunned their eyes nearly burst.

The Devil Emperor... that was the monarch of the ancient True Devils, an existence revered above all else!

"Eternal Night of Nothingness," Chi Wuyao said with a smile. "Surely the Burning Moon God Emperor knows whose devil art this belongs to, and what kind of power it holds?"

The Burning Moon God Emperor gasped.

"No! Impossible!" Fen Daocang stepped forward a few paces, his voice incredibly urgent. "The Eternal Night of Nothingness is the primordial profound art of the ancient Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor! Records state that even True Devils of her own kind, even other Devil Emperors, couldn't cultivate it. How could Yun Che... how could he possibly...?"

"Then what is it that you're seeing?" Chi Wuyao asked with a faint smile.

Fen Daocang was speechless.

The Devil Maidens' control over darkness, which defied all logic and left even the Burning Moon God Emperor far behind, along with the terrifying devil formation he had personally experienced and could not comprehend... These were not powers of the current world. Instead, they subtly aligned with the legendary Eternal Night of Nothingness, which symbolized the ultimate darkness in ancient records.

"Perfect dark resonance, something never seen in the Northern Region's million-year history, is merely effortless for Yun Che, who inherited the Devil Emperor's power and mastered the Eternal Night of Nothingness."

Chi Wuyao spoke slowly, every word profoundly shocking. "The Burning Moon God Emperor was curious why I recalled all the Devil Maidens, Soul Spirits, and Soul Servants. Do you understand the reason now?"

The Burning Moon God Emperor's body swayed slightly.

Fen Daocang, the Eclipse Moon Elders, the Burning Moon God Emperor, and the Imperial Princes and Princesses were all utterly dumbfounded on the spot.

Perfect dark resonance, something never before seen in the Northern Region... Yun Che can achieve it effortlessly!?

All Devil Maidens, Soul Spirits, and Soul Servants recalled...

This means that their dark control abilities, under Yun Che's guidance, have likely all reached a state of perfect dark resonance, something impossible for even God Emperors to achieve before!?

This... this is simply outrageous...

If all of this is true, then... those who were once their equals in strength will now be inferior?

The Ninth Devil Maiden, a mid-stage Divine Master at level eight, almost completely overpowered Ji Daopian, an Eclipse Moon Elder at late-stage Divine Master level eight, purely through perfect dark control!

If all Devil Maidens have undergone such a transformation, then the Eclipse Moon Elders will undoubtedly be a level below the Devil Maidens from now on!

Extending this to the Soul Spirits and Soul Servants... and further to the Star Realm. Wouldn't the entire Burning Moon Divine Realm then fall beneath the Soul Stealing Realm?!

And what ultimate power level could these nine Devil Maidens potentially reach...?

Just thinking about it for a moment, they were drenched in cold sweat, daring not to ponder further.

Looking at the motionless, silent Yun Che sitting there, their gazes had all undergone a complete shift.

The Burning Moon God Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, subtly concealing the almost uncontrollable turmoil within them. "Years ago, when the dark aura in the Northern Region frequently changed, we later learned that the ancient Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor had not perished but had survived in the Outer Chaos until now, returning with hatred... She then returned to the Outer Chaos because of Yun Che."

Due to the animosity and isolation between the Northern Region and the three Divine Regions, the Burning Moon God Emperor didn't know many details but understood the general situation.

"So, before the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor left, she actually left behind such a precious dark gift."

As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on Yun Che. "No wonder he could kill the Yama Devil King with the power of a seventh-level Divine Sovereign. No wonder the Devil Queen willingly serves him as Emperor. Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor... Eternal Night of Nothingness. It seems my Northern Region's destiny is finally about to be overturned."

His words began to gradually express excitement and exhilaration.

Chi Wuyao saw through his intentions, and a faint smile touched her lips as she said, "Burning Moon God Emperor, it's too late for you to flatter him now. He belongs to me, to the Soul Stealing Realm, not to the Northern Region, and certainly not to the Burning Moon Realm!"

The Burning Moon God Emperor's expression stiffened slightly, then immediately returned to calm as he smiled. "Your words are excessive, Devil Queen. As the Emperor of the ancient True Devils, the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor must have left such a legacy for the fate and future of my Northern Region! How could it... only belong to your Soul Stealing Realm?!"

Others might not have dared to believe that Yun Che possessed the Devil Emperor's power and the Eternal Night of Nothingness, but with the ancient memories and Burning Moon history inherited by the Burning Moon God Emperor, combined with what he saw before his eyes... he simply couldn't disbelieve it.

He also had no doubts about what Chi Wuyao had said!

And so, with all the Devil Maidens, Soul Spirits, and Soul Servants having completed their transformations, his Burning Moon Realm had, unknowingly, been completely surpassed by the Soul Stealing Realm!

Even the two weakest junior Devil Maidens were just able to suppress his Burning Moon Realm's strongest Eclipse Moon Elder. If the Grand Devil Maidens were to arrive... that would be truly alarming!

And all of this was due to Yun Che alone!

The Burning Moon God Emperor appeared outwardly calm, yet every fiber of his soul and every vein felt as if intensely burning with fire, filling him with ceaseless shock, unease, and the most profound jealousy he had ever experienced.

He had long known that Yun Che was in the Northern Region, and years ago, he had even secretly pursued and hunted him down for the Primordial Divine Marrow. Yet, he never knew Yun Che possessed the Devil Emperor's power and the Eternal Night of Nothingness... and that the Soul Stealing Realm had gotten to him first!

If the Burning Moon Realm had gained Yun Che, then all of this... would belong entirely to his Burning Moon Realm!

"Heh, what a joke."

As expected, the Burning Moon God Emperor's words were met only with Chi Wuyao's cold sneer. "Yun Che is a living, breathing person. Where he goes, and to whom he belongs, is for him to decide. Since when did he become common property of the Northern Region? Burning Moon God Emperor, did you not consult your own mind before speaking?"

"Furthermore, the matter of you secretly sending people to hunt him down back then... you haven't forgotten that so quickly, have you?"

"Even if you have truly forgotten, I will remember it for you."

The Burning Moon God Emperor tried his best to remain calm, but his brow line still dipped slightly.

Chi Wuyao suddenly turned her gaze, her soul-piercing eyes slowly sweeping over everyone in the hall before she spoke softly, "The Northern Region's destiny is indeed about to change, but the one who will change it is only my Soul Stealing Realm. Of course..."

"If anyone wishes to transform overnight, to personally experience another dark domain, and to personally build and witness all of this, my Soul Stealing Realm naturally welcomes you heartily."

Wisps of devilish sound entered their ears and hearts, coiling and lingering endlessly within their souls.

From the Eclipse Moon Elders to the Burning Moon Divine Envoys and the Imperial Princes and Princesses, every single person was moved.

The Burning Moon God Emperor's hands clenched slightly. Without even looking, he knew the immense impact Chi Wuyao's words would have on them.

They had all witnessed the Devil Maidens' power. Undergoing such a transformation overnight... this could almost be called the greatest temptation in the Northern Region's history. Practitioners of dark profound energy could not help but be swayed by it, regardless of their loyalty.

And the stronger one was, the more intensely one would be tempted.

To openly sway the hearts of the Burning Moon people right in front of their God Emperor. Any other God Emperor would surely fly into a rage... but the Burning Moon God Emperor did not get angry, nor did he even utter a word of reprimand.

This was because the feeling of being thoroughly overshadowed by the Soul Stealing Realm was simply too clear. He, who had always been unwilling to directly confront the Soul Stealing Realm, now... perhaps didn't even need to weigh the options.

Casting a subtle glance at the Burning Moon God Emperor, a barely perceptible curve touched Chi Wuyao's lips. Her purpose for coming this time had been fully achieved.

Setting aside whether the Burning Moon God Emperor dared to harbor any further intentions, the restless hearts of the Eclipse Moon Elders and Burning Moon Divine Envoys alone would keep him preoccupied for a long time.

It wasn't that she was so cunning, but rather that Yun Che's Eternal Night of Nothingness was simply too powerful... After all, that was the ultimate power that led the True Devils in ancient times.

Chi Wuyao turned gracefully towards the hall's exit, her back to the Burning Moon God Emperor, and said, "Over the past two years, I presume the Burning Moon God Emperor has been worried I would settle old scores with you?"

The Burning Moon God Emperor remained silent.

"Hmph," she chuckled faintly. "However, you can put that worry aside for now. Because a mere Primordial Divine Marrow is no longer that important to me."

"When Yun Che is crowned Emperor in the Soul Stealing Realm, I hope the Burning Moon God Emperor will not hesitate to attend."

"Let's go."

Just as Yun Che was about to rise, the Burning Moon God Emperor's voice suddenly rang out:

"Wait."

Chi Wuyao turned her head. "Does the Burning Moon God Emperor have any further instructions?"

The Burning Moon God Emperor slowly stepped forward, his calm gaze unreadable. He smiled faintly and said, "I fully understand the Devil Queen's intentions. A meeting with the Devil Queen is exceedingly rare, and seizing this precious opportunity, I have an impudent request, which I hope the Devil Queen will grant."

"Oh?" Chi Wuyao responded indifferently.

The Burning Moon God Emperor raised his head slightly and said, "For generations, the emperors of the Royal Realms, nearing the end of their lives, have held the greatest wish: to glimpse the dark domain beyond the ultimate limits. Yet, no one has ever succeeded."

"Even Yan Zu of the Yama Devil Realm, who had immersed himself in darkness for hundreds of thousands of years, was never able to break through the 'Divine Master' boundary."

"However... with the Devil Queen's power, infused with the might of the Eternal Night of Nothingness, perhaps you could reveal a dark domain unseen even by our ancestors."

The Burning Moon God Emperor's left hand glowed with devilish light, and his right hand made a beckoning gesture. "I implore the Devil Queen, allow me to witness this, to fulfill my lifelong aspiration."

Clearly, he wanted to probe Chi Wuyao's true strength.

Even the weakest Devil Maidens could undergo such astonishing transformations with the power of the Eternal Night of Nothingness. So, would Chi Wuyao, with her already immensely powerful strength augmented by the Eternal Night of Nothingness, also far surpass her previous power?

As the Emperor of the Soul Stealing Realm, whose strength and status had always been on par with his, this point was clearly of immense importance.