Chapter 1707: Dark Current

"Tai Yu, how long have I been here?" Zhou Xuzi asked suddenly, exhaling a long sigh.

"More than two months, my lord," Tai Yu Venerable replied.

"Two months..." Zhou Xuzi murmured absently, "I thought it had been a century."

Tai Yu Venerable averted his gaze, a pained expression on his face.

Zhou Qingchen's tragic death had been an enormous blow to Zhou Xuzi. Beyond the grief of losing his son, there was also guilt towards his deceased wife and resentment towards himself. Yun Che, once the Divine Son who saved the world, had become so cruel and malevolent after turning to devilry.

"Issue the order," Zhou Xuzi commanded, "Prepare for the anointment of a new Crown Prince."

Tai Yu Venerable was slightly startled. He was about to say that Zhou Qingchen had only just passed away and it was too soon, but then something occurred to him. The best way to quickly forget Zhou Qingchen was to appoint a new Crown Prince. This would not only deflect public scrutiny and suspicion regarding Zhou Qingchen's death but also alleviate Zhou Xuzi's inner pain.

"Qingfeng, is it?" Tai Yu Venerable asked, though it was more of an affirmation, as he knew this was the best and virtually only choice.

Zhou Xuzi nodded, "He has been wronged these past years."

Zhou Qingchen possessed high aptitude, but he was by no means the most gifted among Zhou Xuzi's direct descendants. His position as Crown Prince of Heaven was due to his status as the only legitimate son, and Zhou Xuzi's favoritism towards him surpassed that shown to all his other children. A major reason Zhou Qingchen reached the mid-stage Divine Sovereign realm at a thousand years old was the sheer abundance of top-tier resources piled upon him by the Eternal Heaven God Realm.

As for the most gifted among Zhou Xuzi's descendants... the elders of the Eternal Heaven God Realm were well aware that it was the seventy-seventh son, Zhou Qingfeng. Zhou Qingfeng had cultivated to the tenth level of the Divine Sovereign Realm at four thousand years old, just one step away from the Divine Master Realm. While this achievement was far less than that of the Brahma Monarch Goddess, it was unmatched among all the children of the Eternal Heaven Divine Emperor.

His temperament, true to his name, was gentle, kind, respectful, and frugal. He never complained or contended, and when Zhou Qingchen was made Crown Prince, he showed no resentment or unwillingness, instead fully assisting Zhou Qingchen in solidifying his position and reputation as Crown Prince. His conduct was far from Zhou Qingchen's immaturity and indecisiveness. Even Zhou Qingchen himself held deep respect for this elder brother. Therefore, in the eyes of the Eternal Heaven elders, he was truly the most suitable person to inherit the Eternal Heaven Emperor's throne, both in terms of aptitude and temperament. For this reason, Zhou Xuzi had felt a sense of guilt towards him for years.

"Tai Yu, personally bring Qingfeng here. There's no need to avoid others' eyes," Zhou Xuzi instructed.

"I understand," Tai Yu replied, acknowledging the command. Instead of leaving immediately, he asked, "My lord, do you still... intend to withdraw?"

"No," Zhou Xuzi slowly shook his head, his low voice carrying a terrible profoundness. "I must preserve my power."

"One day, I will personally slay Yun Che!"

Such intense killing intent was exceedingly rare in Zhou Xuzi. Yet, these words were laden with hatred, emanating a chilling aura of murder.

As his voice faded, Zhou Xuzi's expression suddenly changed, and he shot to his feet.

"My lord?" Such a violent reaction startled Tai Yu Venerable. Clearly, Zhou Xuzi had just received a telepathic message.

Zhou Xuzi's eyes widened, his previously somber gaze now filled with shock. He murmured in a low voice, "Yun Che is in the Northern Divine Realm, crowned the Dark Devil Master... above the three King Realms: Yan Mo, Soul Stealer, and Burning Moon."

"What?!" Tai Yu Venerable exclaimed in disbelief, then shook his head without hesitation, "That's impossible. It must be a false rumor."

"Myriad formations projected, witnessed by the Northern Region. Yun Che is the World-Defying Heaven Devil Emperor reborn, countless realms swore allegiance... and he took Chi Wuyao as his Devil Empress."

Zhou Xuzi slowly finished speaking, utterly dazed, then muttered, "Right. This is impossible... This is impossible... This is impossible..." He repeated it several times, unable and unwilling to believe it.

Obtaining information from the Northern Divine Realm was incredibly difficult, especially from its core regions. Yet this time, the news arrived exceptionally quickly. This was because the Devil Master's coronation ceremony had been witnessed by the entire Northern Divine Realm. Its grandeur was unprecedented! Even the outer fringes of the Northern Region could faintly hear the world-shaking sounds.

But how could such a thing be possible?! Just three years ago, Yun Che was merely a Divine King. Three months ago, Yun Che's cultivation at the seventh level of the Divine Sovereign Realm had greatly shocked Zhou Xuzi, but he was still no match for him. How could he suddenly become... a Devil Master, surpassing the King Realms and causing countless realms in the Northern Region to surrender?!

What concept were the three King Realms of the Northern Region? The devils of the Northern Divine Realm were known for their dark and violent temperaments! How could they possibly embrace Yun Che... a person from the Eastern Divine Realm, as their Devil Master? It was too absurd, so absurd that no known words could describe it.

After some thought, Tai Yu Venerable whispered, "It is plausible that the World-Defying Heaven Devil Emperor showed great favor to Yun Che and left him a bloodline or devil art. But to make the Northern Region's King Realms submit to him in such a short time... wouldn't that make the King Realms of the Northern Divine Realm a huge joke?"

"And to do it with such fanfare, there must be something fishy going on," Tai Yu Venerable continued. "In my opinion, if all this is true, it can only be that the three Northern Region King Realms have set him up as a puppet, using the 'Devil Emperor' mark on Yun Che."

"The Northern Region has been chaotic since ancient times, and the words 'Devil Emperor' are a transcendent existence there, beyond mere belief. Establishing such a puppet would create a belief that inspires immense awe among the Northern Region devils... by controlling this belief, they can control all devils."

Tai Yu Venerable's thoughts and words were identical to the reactions of high-ranking individuals in the Northern Divine Realm upon first hearing the title "Devil Master."

Zhou Xuzi slowly sat down, seemingly not having fully heard Tai Yu Venerable's words. In his mind, those twelve words reverberated like a curse, refusing to fade...

If benevolent, the heavens will be eternally peaceful.If malevolent, devils and gods will slaughter the world.

***

Moon God Realm, Moon Emperor Palace.

Jin Yue hurried forward and bowed before a gauze curtain, speaking softly, "My lord, strange news has come from the Northern Divine Realm. Yun Che has been crowned the Devil Master there, his status above the three King Realms. And it seems... the three King Realms publicly swore allegiance to Yun Che under projections spread throughout the Northern Divine Realm."

"..." From behind the gauze curtain, the Moon God Emperor responded indifferently, "I already know about this. He's merely a puppet established in the name of the Devil Emperor. Creating such a grand spectacle, clearly afraid that the world wouldn't know, is laughable."

The Moon God Emperor's reaction was largely consistent with external speculation. Jin Yue bowed again and continued, "There's also something else: a recent rumor suggests that the Eternal Heaven Divine Emperor secretly entered the Northern Divine Realm several months ago. The timing perfectly matches Zhou Qingchen's publicly announced death date, leading to speculation that Zhou Qingchen actually died in the Northern Divine Realm."

"And... it's possible he had already become a devil before his death."

"..." The Moon God Emperor was silent for a moment, then murmured, "So soon..."

The Moon God Emperor said, "Baseless rumors. Pay them no mind. You may leave."

"Yes," Jin Yue bowed lightly, but did not rise. She raised her head, her eyes shimmering, and suddenly spoke softly, "My lord, Jin Yue... may Jin Yue look at you?"

Moon God Emperor: "..."

Having spoken, Jin Yue finally mustered her courage and poured out, "After my lord entered the Moon God Realm with the former lord, it was always Jin Yue who dressed and groomed my lord. That was always Jin Yue's happiest and most honored task."

"But ever since my lord became Emperor, you have not allowed Jin Yue to touch your person again. Recently... every time I pay my respects, there is a gauze curtain between us. It has been so long... Jin Yue hasn't even been able to see my lord's sacred face."

Moon God Emperor: "..."

"Has Jin Yue... done something wrong to displease my lord? Please point it out, and Jin Yue will certainly correct it."

From dressing her daily, to not being allowed to touch her body, and then to being separated by a gauze curtain at every meeting... Jin Yue's heart grew increasingly anxious and desolate, her voice subtly tinged with a sob as she spoke. From behind the gauze curtain, the Moon God Emperor's figure slowly turned, her voice utterly placid: "Issue the order: this King requires several months of secluded cultivation. No matter how significant the matter, I am not to be disturbed!"

"...Yes." Jin Yue acknowledged the command and retreated with a downcast heart.

***

Northern Divine Realm, after the Empress Consecration Ceremony concluded.

Far above the Soul Stealer Realm, beyond the churning dark clouds.

"Are you really not going to see him?"

Before Chi Wuyao stood a petite and exquisite girl with a face as delicate as carved jade. As she spoke, her charming eyes held a hint of complexity.

Caizhi shook her head, "No."

Chi Wuyao smiled, "If you don't wish to see him, then why are you here? And why have you stayed for so many days?"

Caizhi turned, her slender back exuding a chilling indifference that deterred any approach. "Not killing that woman is already my bottom line. But there's no way I'll stand with her!"

Chi Wuyao's beautiful eyes flickered, "Then I'll go help you get rid of her."

Caizhi unleashed her profound energy and flew away.

Chi Wuyao's figure flashed, blocking her path. "Alright, alright, I won't force you then. So... can you answer one question for me?"

Caizhi: "?"

"Your change is due to the World-Defying Heaven Devil Emperor, isn't it?" Chi Wuyao softly asked, her gaze fixed on Caizhi's starlit eyes, like the endless dark night.

Caizhi did not answer. Her figure flickered, and she was already far away, quickly vanishing from Chi Wuyao's sight.

"As expected," Chi Wuyao murmured softly, looking in the direction Caizhi had left. "No one in this world understood human nature better than the World-Defying Heaven Devil Emperor. Before she left, she must have considered the worst-case scenarios, so she secretly left many contingencies for Yun Che; there must be many things I don't know about yet."

"After all, her daughter is with Yun Che."

In this world, Chi Wuyao was one of the very few who knew about the World-Defying Heaven Devil Emperor's and Evil God's daughter. After all, Yun Che had rarely hidden anything from Mu Xuanyin back then.

Whether for revenge or for the Northern Divine Realm to break free from its shackles and defy fate, the most crucial element was the small fraction of core power. That is, the power of Divine Masters and Divine Sovereigns—especially Divine Masters.

After the coronation and Empress Consecration Ceremony, Yun Che's next task was quite simple. The Northern Divine Realm comprised two hundred Upper Star Realms and eight hundred Middle Star Realms. In terms of both the number of upper-level star realms and the number of upper-level profound practitioners (Divine Masters, Divine Sovereigns, Divine Kings), it was far lower than any other divine region—less than half that of the Eastern Divine Region.

Each Upper Star Realm would organize and gather all Divine Masters, Divine Sovereigns, and Divine Kings to come to the Yan Mo Realm in sequence to receive the Eternal Calamity Devil Art, three realms per day. As for the Middle Star Realms, with the sharp decrease in the number of powerful individuals, the speed would undoubtedly accelerate significantly.

After achieving great success in the mid-stage of the Eternal Calamity, this kind of Eternal Calamity bestowal could be widely applied. What he could do with ease was a massive boon for profound practitioners of all levels, a gift they wouldn't have dared to dream of for countless ages. In return, besides their excitement and transformation, there was undoubtedly submission, awe, and loyalty. These elements, unseen, transformed into sharp dark swords that Yun Che could wield at any time.

During other times, Yun Che focused his efforts on the core of the Northern Divine Realm's power... the Yan Mo, Moon Eaters, Devil Maidens, as well as the Yan Ghosts, Burning Moon Divine Envoys, and Soul Spirits. They were gathered by Yun Che in waves into the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea, and outsiders had no way of knowing what transpired within. However, upon closer observation, one would notice that each time they emerged from the Eternal Darkness Bone Sea, the dark light emanating from their bodies would subtly deepen. At the late stage of the Divine Master Realm, even the slightest progress was extremely difficult. Yet, the advancements evident in their bodies' changes were far beyond what the word "exaggerated" could describe.

The Eternal Darkness Calamity... the Devil Emperor's ultimate profound art. Its existence was indeed too extraordinary and terrifying for the devils of the present world and for the current chaos.