Chapter 1669: Divine Ashes (Part 2)

"Ding... Ding... Ding..." The faint sound of fingers tapping a jade goblet was strangely amplified, as if striking the heartstrings of everyone present. It was slow, even, dull, and oppressive, like the sound of life draining away.

The hall fell silent, and everyone's gaze became focused.

The Blazing Moon God Emperor's brows furrowed slightly. Yun Che's incredibly calm statement suddenly filled him with an inexplicable sense of danger. Especially the phrase "final moment" caused his soul to tighten involuntarily for some unknown reason. Undoubtedly, this was a spiritual premonition of danger—a kind of premonition that was almost impossible for a God Emperor to experience.

In a world without the Heretic Baby and the Devil Emperor, there was nothing left that could make a God Emperor feel threatened by death. Moreover, he was facing only a seventh-level Divine Sovereign, and all the core powers of the Blazing Moon Realm were gathered around them.

The Blazing Moon God Emperor's expression changed. He began to thoroughly sense that something was wrong. At the very least, Yun Che's sudden solo return did not seem to be for the reasons they had imagined.

"A grand gift for the Dragon Monarch?" The Blazing Moon God Emperor emphasized the word "gift" and narrowed his eyes. "Then this King is very interested. What exactly is this grand gift?"

Facing the Blazing Moon God Emperor and the distinctly changed aura and tone of the Moon Eaters, Yun Che, standing alone, seemed oblivious. His expression remained cold and calm. His fingers rested on the table as he lowered his gaze and said, "Blazing Moon God Emperor, you previously mentioned wanting to witness the dark realm beyond the boundaries. Do you think such a realm exists?"

"No, of course not." Somewhat unexpectedly, the Blazing Moon God Emperor replied without hesitation. He looked at Yun Che, and the imperial might he had deliberately restrained silently spread out. "The realm beyond the limits belongs to devils and gods. The Divine Master Realm is already the ultimate achievement for beings in this world. No matter how hard a person strives, or how extraordinary their talent, they can never become a devil or a god. This is limited by race, by the Heavenly Way, and by chaos itself."

The Blazing Moon God Emperor smiled faintly. Under his invisible imperial might, everything in the world seemed insignificant. "What this King said to the Devil Queen earlier was merely a test. If she had truly surpassed the boundaries, she wouldn't have just come to demonstrate; she would have long ago directly swallowed my Blazing Moon Realm whole."

Yun Che raised his eyes, looking directly into the God Emperor's arrogant gaze. His pupils were dark as a bottomless abyss. "You're right. Even if you live to your death, even for a thousand generations, you will never be able to touch the realm of 'gods,' because you, a so-called God Emperor, are ultimately just a mortal. Before the power of a true god, you are no different from a common chicken or dog."

The Blazing Moon God Emperor's eyebrows twitched involuntarily, and his eyes narrowed into two thin slits. "Interesting. What you say, Brother Yun, is truly amusing. You're not suggesting that you possess the power to regard this King as a common chicken or dog, are you?"

Yun Che's lips curled into an icy smile. "Perhaps."

"Hahahahahahaha!" The Blazing Moon God Emperor burst into wild laughter. The Moon Eaters and Blazing Moon Divine Envoys' expressions and eyes also turned to mockery. Yun Che indeed possessed the Divine Power of the Heretic God and inherited the Devil Emperor's power, unrivaled in the world! However, his profound cultivation was ultimately only at the seventh level of the Divine Sovereign Realm! Furthermore, he had come to the Northern Divine Region because he was being hunted by the other three Divine Regions; essentially, he was a "stray dog" fleeing for his life in a pathetic state. If not for the Heretic God's divine power and the Devil Emperor's power he bore, given his background and circumstances, he wouldn't even have the right to be glanced at by beings like the God Emperor or the Moon Eaters. How could he have the audacity or confidence to utter such an enormous joke?

"Hehehehe..." As the Blazing Moon God Emperor roared with laughter, Yun Che also began to laugh, but his laughter was incredibly low, like the groaning of a demon from a distant abyss: "The power of the divine realm is something no ordinary body can withstand; otherwise, it would instantly turn to dust, ensuring countless deaths with no survival." Amidst the laughter, mockery, and gradually oppressive aura of the crowd, Yun Che slowly murmured, "And I cannot die yet, so I can only sacrifice other things."

He slowly extended his palm, and streams of radiant light reflected in everyone's eyes. The laughter abruptly ceased as all eyes converged on Yun Che's palm, accompanied by a slight contraction of their pupils. In his hand was a shimmering wheel, emanating a fantastical glow. The wheel was less than a foot long, encircled by twelve streams of light in different colors. Four of these lights were exceptionally vivid, like burning candle flames.

Gazing at the wheel in Yun Che's hand, the Blazing Moon God Emperor's eyes sharply narrowed. Although the four exceptionally dense star-rays were only tiny flickers, the moment his imperial power touched them, it was as if he had suddenly fallen into a world of endless starlight.

"Divine Source Power!" the Blazing Moon God Emperor whispered.

"Indeed," Yun Che said, holding the wheel as he slowly rose, a grin spreading across his face, revealing his stark white teeth. "It's called the Star God Wheel."

A profound look of shock flashed across the Blazing Moon God Emperor's face. "The Divine Source Power of the Star God Realm! How is it in your hands!?" The strength of a King Realm relied on its inexhaustible and everlasting Divine Source Power, which could be passed down through generations. Thus, the Blazing Moon God Emperor instantly recognized it as clearly the aura of Divine Source Power! As the most crucial and core divine artifact of a King Realm, Divine Source Power resided solely in the hands of its God Emperor, never to be relinquished, even in death. For if the Divine Source Power were lost, the King Realm's legacy would be severed! If it could not be recovered, destruction was inevitable! Yet, the Divine Source Power of the Star God Realm in the Eastern Divine Region was, astonishingly, in Yun Che's hands, presented right before their eyes.

The Star God Wheel, the vessel for the Star God Realm's twelve Star God Source Powers. This was personally given to him by the deposed Star God Emperor Xing Juekong, who implored him to deliver it to Cai Zhi, hoping it would thereby return to the Star God Realm. Yun Che accepted the Star God Wheel, but he would never obey Xing Juekong's wishes!

Yun Che did not respond. Under the bewildered and shocked gazes of the Blazing Moon God Emperor and the Moon Eaters, he slowly raised the Star God Wheel. At that moment, the four star-rays shining upon it suddenly detached and slowly flew towards him. The azure Heavenly Poison Star-ray (from the Heavenly Poison Star God, Yu Luo) settled on Yun Che's chest; the grayish-white Heavenly Origin Star-ray (from the Heavenly Origin Star God, Tu Mi) settled on Yun Che's left shoulder; the dark copper Heavenly Might Star-ray (from the Heavenly Might Star God, Shen Hu) settled on Yun Che's back; and the pale gold Heavenly Leader Star-ray (from the Star God Emperor, Xing Juekong) settled on Yun Che's right foot. The instant the lights came to rest on Yun Che, the four divine source auras slowly connected with… and merged with Yun Che's own aura.

"!!?" The Blazing Moon God Emperor abruptly took a step back, his eyes darting as if pricked by needles. As the Blazing Moon God Emperor, controlling the demonic source power of the Blazing Moon Realm, he was also the person in this world who best understood this kind of divine (demonic) source power. As the immortal power left behind by true gods, it could be passed down through generations, but it was absolutely impossible to control or command at will. The person wielding it must possess the corresponding bloodline, and the most crucial aspect of its inheritance was to gain its acknowledgment. In other words, if a King Realm's Divine Source Power fell into the hands of another, it would be nothing more than a useless waste; it would be utterly impossible to activate any of its divine source power. Yet, the Star God Realm's source power was actually being controlled by Yun Che and merging with his aura! And it was four streams of source power simultaneously! This was an anomaly that had never appeared, nor could it possibly appear, in the history of any Divine Region!

"You... How could you..." In this world, there were very few things that could shock a God Emperor into silence. But today, they came one after another: first the Eternal Calamity of Darkness, and now the Star God Source Power controlled by Yun Che.

"The Law of Nothingness..." Bathed in the four-colored glow of the Star Gods, Yun Che's eyes also subtly took on four hues. "This is also a realm that you... will never be able to touch, not in a thousand lifetimes, nor will you ever be qualified to touch."

The vague sense of danger that had been hovering before suddenly magnified at this moment. As the Blazing Moon God Emperor frowned, profound energy already surged around him. All twelve Moon Eaters also stood up, their bodies tense, profound energy overflowing. Despite Yun Che's aura being only that of a seventh-level Divine Sovereign, and him being alone, a chilling sense of danger fiercely pierced the souls and nerves of everyone present.

The Blazing Moon God Emperor abruptly raised a hand, pulling Fen Hehuang, who was closest to Yun Che, far away. He took a step forward, his brows deeply furrowed. "You... What exactly are you trying to do!" He clearly felt that his own words were trembling faintly. Yes, he was afraid... a fear stemming from instinct, transcending his own will! What was happening? What was this fear about!?

Yun Che slowly raised both arms, the slightly contorted face of the Blazing Moon God Emperor reflected in his pupils. "After all, it's the source power of true gods. At the cost of their destruction, it should at least hold for a few breaths..." "Though it's a bit of a shame, but..." "You... deserve... to die!!" The Blazing Moon God Emperor's pupils contracted once more, and he suddenly roared, "Seize him!!" This roar shattered everyone's taut nerves. All twelve Moon Eaters attacked simultaneously in the same instant, rushing towards Yun Che.

There was no fear on Yun Che's face, only an instant... a ferocious grin more terrifying and cruel than that of a true devil. He spread his arms, and as he tilted his head back, he let out a hoarse, bloodcurdling roar! "Ughhhhaaaaaaahhhh!!" Boom----

In Yun Che's profound vein world, an incredibly dull rumble echoed. The Heretic God's profound veins surged violently in an instant, and his rampaging aura was like thousands of world-destroying storms raging madly. The first profound realm, Heretic Soul... the second profound realm, Burning Heart... the third profound realm, Purgatory... the fourth profound realm, Heaven Smiting... the fifth profound realm, Yama Devil... All opened at once. And that forbidden... Sixth profound realm!

Blood-red profound light violently burst forth from Yun Che's body. His hair flared up, dyed the color of thick blood, and his clothes disintegrated. Under the horrifying and unparalleled shockwave, the Moon Eaters charging towards Yun Che—all twelve of them—cried out in unison as if struck by a colossal hammer, plummeting away like withered stars... leaving behind twelve shocking streaks of blood that were instantly annihilated into nothingness. In an instant, with just the shockwave from that brief eruption, all twelve Moon Eaters were wounded! This was a terrifying scene that, even if witnessed firsthand, would be utterly impossible to believe.

Boom!! The Blazing Moon Main Hall, fortified by over a dozen powerful profound formations, and which had remained undamaged even during battles involving Divine Masters... collapsed with a roar.

"Aaaahhhhaaaaaahhhh!" Yun Che's agonizing cry drowned out all other sounds in the world. Countless blood-red marks spread across his body, his pupils, and then extended to the completely distorted space around him. From his body, the four points of Star God Source Power suddenly unleashed star-rays ten, hundred, even a thousand times more intense! However, these wildly flashing Star God lights exuded a tragic beauty and despair, like the desperate struggle of someone on the brink of death.

Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble... The Blazing Moon Royal City trembled... the vast Blazing Moon Realm trembled... the immense starfield where the Blazing Moon Realm was located trembled... The dim starfield was instantly covered by endless dark clouds. Crack! Lightning struck, and the sky shuddered... This was a terrifying tremor from the Heavenly Way.

The Heretic Baby's appearance was the awakening of innate power. Jie Yuan's return was that of an anomaly from the outer chaos. But... this world, long devoid of gods and where gods should not exist, had at this very moment, in a King Realm called Blazing Moon in the Northern Divine Region... given birth to the power of a divine realm!