Chapter 1679: Virtual and Real

Instantly, the demonic lights released by the demonic skulls ceased their chaotic turbulence, and even the horrifying wailing sounds vanished completely.

"!" Yan Wu's dark eyes widened, and the words she was about to utter caught in her throat.

An even more terrifying scene followed immediately.

Yun Che casually swept his outstretched hands towards the eleven demonic skulls. Instantly, the eleven streams of dark demonic light completely ceased their rampage, becoming remarkably dim.

They didn't vanish but retreated into the skulls, still gleaming, yet extraordinarily quiet and peaceful.

As the strongest Yama Devil, Yan Wu had witnessed countless dark profound arts throughout her life. Her dark talent and mastery over dark profound energy had reached their pinnacle, with few in the current era able to compare...

Yet, this was the first time she had ever seen such docile dark profound energy.

No, rather... it was the first time she realized that dark profound energy could be so docile!

The eleven calmly shimmering demonic lights illuminated Yun Che, carrying no hint of violence or oppression. Amidst their unbelievable tranquility, there was even a subtle undertone of submission... or even fear!

And the power within those demonic skulls came from the Yama Emperor and the Ten Yama Devils!

"Nice lanterns," Yun Che commented.

With that compliment, Yun Che lifted his feet and headed directly for the Imperial Hall.

"..." Yan Wu stood frozen for a while before her gaze flickered, and she quickly moved to follow.

As she passed the Yama Cry Grand Formation, she paused, then suddenly extended her hand, palm facing the demonic skull into which she had imbued her Yama Devil power.

Immediately, her expression drastically changed.

The power she had infused into that specific demonic skull just half a month ago... was completely unresponsive!

She turned her gaze back to Yun Che's retreating figure, her eyes shaking uncontrollably, her mind in a chaotic turmoil as if countless storms raged within her.

Was the legend... true?

The power of a true god's realm...

How could such power, such a person, exist in this world?

Was the Northern Divine Region... truly about to be completely overturned?

With a flicker of his form, Yun Che stood before the Imperial Hall and strode in.

This was the Yama Devil Imperial Realm, the core of the Yama Devil Realm, the Northern Divine Region's foremost King Realm. The Yama Emperor stood at the front, Yama Devils flanked him, Yama Ghosts guarded, and countless powerful individuals were present.

Yet, he had arrived alone, stepping in by himself.

Such a scene had probably never occurred in the Yama Devil Realm before.

After all, even a Divine Emperor from another realm would bring a retinue of powerful escorts when visiting the core of another King Realm.

This was not the first time in Yun Che's life that he had faced a King Realm alone.

Years ago, he had stormed the Star God Realm alone for Jasmine, and that time, he had gone with the intention of dying.

This time, however, was completely different. He felt not even a hint of apprehension or fear. Even when the Yama Emperor's vast dark aura appeared in his spiritual perception, his heart remained entirely undisturbed.

The massive Imperial Hall was vast and deathly silent. Besides Yan Tianxiao, there was another figure... Yama Devil Crown Prince Yan Jie, who had returned after completing his "mission."

The moment Yun Che stepped in, Yan Jie's gaze fixed intently on him.

Yan Tianxiao slowly turned around, silently releasing the Imperial might of the Northern Region's foremost Divine Emperor... Yet, the other party's steps remained slow and steady, his gaze deep and calm. The aura of a Divine Sovereign, which Yan Tianxiao considered "feeble," showed no disturbance under his Imperial might, like an ancient, stagnant pool.

Yan Tianxiao frowned slightly. He had finally met this legendary figure from the Eastern Region, but he was entirely different from what he had expected.

His lips moved, and he spoke indifferently, "Are you Yun Che?"

"Killing my Yama Ghost King, yet still daring to enter my Eternal Darkness Devil Palace alone... I must truly commend your..."

Before he could finish, his eyebrow suddenly twitched.

He saw Yan Wu quickly following Yun Che from behind.

Yan Wu possessed exceptionally high dark talent. She gained recognition for her Yama Devil power at the tender age of eleven, a feat matched only by her inherent arrogance. Especially after becoming a level ten Divine Master, shaking the entire Northern Divine Region, there were few in the world worthy of her direct gaze.

Even when facing her older brother, Yan Jie, the Yama Devil Crown Prince, she would look down upon him... both in her gaze and her aura.

Yet, given her temperament and arrogance, to lead Yun Che to the Imperial Hall... why was she positioned *behind* him?

What truly shocked the Yama Emperor was Yan Wu's eyes.

Her gaze was actually trembling slightly. In the depths of her eyes, a hint of unconcealed... dread was clearly visible!

Without a doubt, Yan Tianxiao was the one who understood Yan Wu best in this world.

But this was the first time in his life he had ever seen such an expression on Yan Wu.

"...courage!"

The word "daring" which was about to escape his lips, was abruptly swapped for "courage." His stern, imposing face instantly broke into a warm smile, and even his heavy Divine Emperor's might became remarkably gentle.

"Hahahaha," he laughed heartily, striding forward from his proud stance to greet Yun Che proactively. "This King heard of Brother Yun's fame back in the Eastern Divine Region. Later, upon learning of Brother Yun's arrival in the Northern Region and that you carry the legacy of the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, this King became even more eager to meet you. Today, my wish has finally been granted."

Yan Jie was momentarily dumbfounded.

Just moments ago, the Yama Emperor had warned him not to lose the Yama Devil's dignity in front of Yun Che, regardless of whether the rumors were true or false, and certainly not out of apprehension.

Facing the newly arrived Yun Che, the Yama Emperor's might had been awe-inspiring... but in an instant, he suddenly changed his demeanor, personally went to greet him, and even addressed him as "brother."

Yan Jie's heart was filled with shock and doubt. He then suddenly noticed Yan Wu's eyes and his heart abruptly clenched.

Faced with Yan Tianxiao's incredibly warm and intimate posture, even more so than Fen Daojun's, Yun Che smiled faintly and said, "Since you know that Yama Ghost King Yan San Geng died by my hand, shouldn't the Yama Emperor first demand an explanation?"

"Hahahaha!" Far from showing any anger, the Yama Emperor burst into hearty laughter, as if genuinely thrilled to see Yun Che. "My Yama Devil Realm tolerates no bullying, but we also distinguish right from wrong!"

"Back in the Emperor Heaven Realm, Yan San Geng failed to recognize Brother Yun and offended you first. Brother Yun's disciplinary action was perfectly reasonable. If my Yama Devil Realm were to hold you accountable for that, wouldn't it diminish the magnanimity of our Northern Region's foremost King Realm!"

Yun Che: "..."

"What's more, Brother Yun carries the power of the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor. Your existence is undoubtedly a great gift from the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor to my Northern Divine Region. Yan San Geng falling by Brother Yun's hand is not a wasted life at all."

Yan Tianxiao's face was solemn, showing no trace of pretense.

As he spoke, he also transmitted a soul message to Yan Wu: "Wu'er, what's going on?"

A moment later, he received Yan Wu's soul transmission: "Father, your judgment is wise. Under no circumstances must you clash with him here... This person is too terrifying."

The soul transmission clearly carried a slight tremble from the depths of her soul.

If Yan Jie had said this, he wouldn't have fully believed it. But... the one who went to receive Yun Che and returned filled with dread was Yan Wu!

"What exactly happened?" he pressed in a low voice.

"The rumors about him killing Fen Daojun and making Burning Moon submit without a fight are likely no exaggeration. Yun Che... he shattered the Eternal Darkness Barrier with just one finger, and with a casual wave of his hand, all the power of the Yama Cry Grand Formation fell silent, completely unresponsive."

"Wh... what!?"

This gasp of shock was practically a roar from Yan Tianxiao.

"Hm?" Yun Che glanced at him. "What's wrong, Yama Emperor?"

"No, nothing at all," the Yama Emperor quickly composed himself, smiling. "Just now, my youngest son sent a soul message saying he was injured during cultivation. This King was overly anxious and momentarily lost my composure. Brother Yun must find it amusing."

On the side, Yan Jie was thoroughly startled by Yan Tianxiao's sudden exclamation. He stared fixedly at his father, his heart filled with indescribable shock.

As Crown Prince, he had never seen the Yama Emperor lose his composure like this. He couldn't even believe there would be a time when he would be so flustered.

"I see," Yun Che said, his eyes half-closed and his voice languid. "For the Yama Emperor, ruler of a King Realm, to be so concerned about his youngest son is truly touching. If that's the case, shouldn't you hurry to check on him? I wouldn't want to be held responsible if something were to go wrong and he died prematurely."

"Heh heh, there's no need, it's just a minor matter," the Yama Emperor replied, his smile unwavering. Amidst the turmoil in his soul, he didn't even notice the sarcasm in Yun Che's words.

Meanwhile, Yan Wu's soul transmission echoed in his mind:

"Father, everything I saw and experienced was true, without any falsehoods. The Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's legacy likely far exceeds our wildest expectations."

"We must find every way to lure him into the 'tomb.' Only the immortal and indestructible three Ancestors can kill him!"

"Otherwise, our Yama Devils might truly follow in Burning Moon's footsteps!"

Yan Tianxiao's fingers slowly tightened. No matter how calm his expression, he couldn't completely hide the violent tremor deep within his pupils.

Shattering the Eternal Darkness Barrier with one finger, and nullifying the Yama Cry Grand Formation with a single palm... These were feats utterly beyond any known power.

If Yan Wu hadn't said it herself, he wouldn't have believed it possible.

"Ahem, Brother Yun, may I ask why you've come?" the Yama Emperor asked with a full smile, extending his arm to gesture for Yun Che to sit.

Yun Che, however, didn't move. He said, "The journey from the Soul Stealing Realm is long. Why would I waste my time coming here if it wasn't for something important?"

Facing the Northern Region's foremost Divine Emperor and indeed the entire Yama Devil Realm alone, he displayed extreme indifference, arrogance, and impoliteness.

Yet, the more he behaved this way, the less he provoked anger or murderous intent, and the more he instilled a deepening dread.

All the various probing tactics and suppressions the Yama Emperor had secretly prepared were now left unused. Even his demeanor had become so amiable that he himself could hardly believe it.

"Naturally," the Yama Emperor said, his heart tightening slightly at Yun Che's words, but his expression unchanged. He asked, "Please, Brother Yun, state your purpose. If it can assist the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's successor, my Yama Devils naturally have no reason to refuse."

Yan Jie, standing nearby, remained strictly quiet and still. This was because Yan Tianxiao's current affability was so unfamiliar to him... it even made him a little afraid.

Yan Wu also remained silent, her eyes constantly flickering.

What was merely a casual exertion of the Eternal Calamity of Darkness's power for Yun Che was, for her, an impact no less than the collapse of heaven and earth.

"Since the Yama Emperor is so straightforward, I won't be polite either," Yun Che said unhurriedly. "I wish to visit your Yama Devil's Eternal Darkness Bone Sea."

As soon as these words were uttered, the eyes of Yan Tianxiao, Yan Wu, and Yan Jie all flickered simultaneously.

Yan Tianxiao was rapidly calculating how to lure Yun Che into the "tomb" from which there was no escape. He hadn't even come up with a plan yet, and Yun Che had actually proposed it himself?

"This..." Yan Tianxiao's face showed difficulty. He said, "Brother Yun is acquainted with the Devil Queen, so you should know that the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea is only accessible to Yama Devils. For hundreds of thousands of years, this rule has never been broken. Furthermore, our three Yama Devil Ancestors reside there year-round. This King fears that..."

"This is the will of the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor," Yun Che stated coldly.