Chapter 1717: Magic Blade

In the Southern Divine Region, in the Southern Sea Realm.

Southern Sea Divine Emperor Nan Wansheng, as the foremost Divine Emperor in the Southern Divine Region, also held a unique "first"—he possessed the most Imperial Palaces. Within the Southern Sea Realm alone, he had thousands of Imperial Palaces scattered across various regions, all dedicated to his personal pleasure.

In the Western Territory of the Southern Sea, in front of one of the Southern Sea Divine Emperor's grand Imperial Palace halls, a beautiful woman, richly dressed and gracefully poised, approached with light steps. She paused before the hall, bowing slightly, and waited quietly with an air of respect. From within, the continuous sounds of multiple people engaging in activity, interspersed with the Southern Sea Divine Emperor's occasional wild laughter, could be heard. The woman remained unfazed, accustomed to the noise. The Southern Sea Divine Emperor's insatiable lust was no secret throughout the Divine Realm; he never concealed this fact, but rather took pride in it.

After the woman waited for a long time, the Imperial Palace doors were abruptly pushed open. Nan Wansheng strode out, his golden robe half-draped, his chest exposed. His youthful face bore a handsome, demonic charm capable of captivating any woman. "What is it?" He approached the beautiful woman, his eyes narrowed, seemingly displeased by her interruption. Yet, he also knew that no one would dare disturb him at such a time without an important reason.

The beautiful woman curtsied deeply, holding something up with both hands. "Your Majesty, half an hour ago, this suddenly appeared beside me. It contains a voice recording and must be opened by Your Majesty personally. I fear it is a matter of great importance, so I dared not delay. I apologize for disturbing Your Majesty's pleasure; I deserve death. Please forgive me." In her hands was a tiny soul crystal, emitting a faint white glow. Despite her cultivation at the peak of the Divine Sovereign Realm, whoever placed this object there did so without her knowledge. Moreover, the high-level power of the white glow on the soul crystal caused her heart to pound with trepidation. Therefore, she truly dared not delay.

Nan Wansheng took the soul crystal from the beautiful woman's hands, his long, narrow eyes slowly narrowing. This soul crystal could only be read once; no one else could pry into it. The power covering it required at least an eighth-level Divine Master's strength to erase without damage. Instead of immediately reading the soul crystal, Nan Wansheng looked at the beautiful woman, a low, sidelong chuckle escaping him. "You truly deserve to die. Is this the kind of pathetic group of women you're finding to entertain me now?"

The beautiful woman lowered her head, her body trembling slightly. "I... I am guilty. But these are already the most beautiful women I could find within hundreds of surrounding domains. I truly... truly..." "Heh," Nan Wansheng sneered. He extended a finger, slowly lifting the beautiful woman's chin, staring into her eyes where she desperately tried to conceal her fear. He slowly drawled, "Ah, what a pretty face. What a pity, compared to Ying'er, it's so crude and unrefined."

The beautiful woman bit her lip slightly and said, "The beauty of the Brahma Monarch Goddess is comparable only to the Dragon Queen. I... I am truly powerless." "So you're going to keep finding these crude women to disgust me with every day?!" The beautiful woman dared not argue further, saying remorsefully, "I am useless."

In the past, these women were considered top-tier beauties in his eyes. But ever since he had seen the Brahma Monarch Goddess, he could no longer find a single woman among the countless ones around him who was pleasing to his sight. Especially after years of ceaseless attempts to curry favor with Qianye Ying'er, granting her every wish without gaining even a single chance to get close to her, his desire had become unbearable, driving him to a state of infatuation. This also made him increasingly irritable and disgusted with the women he had once favored and cherished.

"If you know you're useless, then get out!" Nan Wansheng jabbed a finger, mercilessly sending the beautiful woman flying a considerable distance. "Next time, if you bring me such rubbish again, you can leave permanently." A flicker of sadness crossed the beautiful woman's face. She bowed deeply and quickly departed.

Nan Wansheng picked up the soul crystal with his fingers and gently squeezed it. Instantly, the message within the soul crystal appeared in his soul sea. His half-closed eyes slowly opened, and an intensely burning, strange light flickered deep within his pupils. "Heh heh heh, they actually want to use me as a pawn." His lips curled into a half-smile, dark and excited. "However, I've decided to be that pawn. After all, who can resist the temptation of 'eternal life'? Hahahaha!"

Seven days was truly too short. The fervor of discussion sparked by the colossal gossip originating from the Brahma Heaven Realm had not yet dissipated. Countless profound practitioners in the Eastern Divine Region were still immersed in their various audacious conjectures when the deadline for the "Brahma Heaven Divine Emperor to commit suicide within seven days as atonement" swiftly passed. But no one paid attention. A vicious dog might still inspire fear, but a caged dog, no matter how fierce its appearance or how menacing its barks, would not truly concern anyone... especially when it had been confined to a cage for a million years.

No one knew that during this time, a vast swathe of dark shadows, extending across the entire Northern Divine Region like ominous clouds in the sky, was slowly moving and gathering towards the southern territories. The sky above the Northern Divine Region also grew darker and more oppressive each day.

In the Southern Territory of the Northern Divine Region, within a lower star realm with limited power and depleted resources. When the Devil Master and Devil Empress arrived and paused there, the realm king of this small star realm trembled with every breath. Yun Che, Chi Wuyao, and Qianye Ying'er stood high above, gazing southwards. Their sight pierced through layers of darkness; there lay the Eastern Divine Region. Seven days had passed. Beneath them, in the distant west, east, and north, lay a vast, crushing darkness.

The number and scale of dark profound practitioners willing to step out of the Northern Region and risk their lives for its rebirth far exceeded Yun Che's—and everyone else's—expectations. No matter how awe-inspiring Yun Che's demonic power was, he had only been crowned Emperor for a year and could not yet command a faith-like allegiance. However, compared to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Divine Regions, the Northern Divine Region, oppressed for a million years, had its hatred and fighting spirit undeniably more easily incited and ignited. Beyond retreat, this was undoubtedly another unique "advantage" of the Northern Divine Region.

"Finally, this day has come," Chi Wuyao murmured, looking forward. Regardless of the outcome, regardless of the future, this day would undoubtedly be remembered by the Northern Divine Region and the entire Divine Realm. If successful, it would change not only the fate of the Northern Divine Region but also the destiny and structure of the entire Divine Realm. And all of this was due to Yun Che alone. Without him, even if the Northern Divine Region's scale and power were many times greater than they were now, it could never truly take this step. Although, he was never fighting for the fate of the Northern Divine Region, but only for his own revenge... On the contrary, everything in the Northern Divine Region had always been merely his tool.

At this moment, Tian Guhu's figure swiftly arrived, stopping before Yun Che. "Devil Master, the hour has come." After speaking, he raised his head. Beneath his calm demeanor, a fighting spirit that threatened to burst from his body was hidden. "Are you ready?" Yun Che asked, his voice low, looking at him. "Devil Master," Tian Guhu's eyes were as deep as an abyss, his words resolute. "Tian Guhu's entire life has been in preparation for this moment." "Good." Yun Che slowly nodded. At this instant, his figure also became illusory, and in the next moment, he appeared at the very front of the vast dark demonic army. "Go." These two faint words, spoken by the Devil Master, were the command that initiated the Northern Region's first step towards vengeance and defiance of fate. "Unleash your anger, your hatred, your desires with darkness and blood upon those filthy, sinful lands! The dark chapter that has been silent for a million years shall be rewritten by you!"

Boom! Like a sky-shattering thunderclap, amidst earth-shaking shouts, countless streams of dark profound energy were unleashed at the same instant. Together with boiling blood and fighting spirit, they converged to form the Northern Dark Region's first anthem of vengeance in a million years. "Men who have long slumbered in darkness!" Tian Guhu roared from the front, his voice impassioned. "Every one of you is a pioneer breaking through this pathetic cage! For the glory of our descendants, to reclaim the humiliation endured by our ancestors, transform into swords of vengeance! Follow me... Charge!" The long-silent darkness violently erupted. Under the distant sky, ten dark demonic shadows, led by a hundred Northern Region Heavenly Monarchs and accompanied by tens of millions of dark profound practitioners, transformed into ten dark blades radiating endless murderous aura. They tore through the Northern Divine Region's border, stepped out of the cage they had never dared to leave, and fiercely stabbed towards the not-so-distant Eastern Divine Region.

The Eastern Divine Region was in its usual state of calm. This dark upheaval arrived for them as suddenly as a nightmare, without even the slightest preparation... even though Yan Tianxiao had given them an incredibly clear warning seven days prior.

High above, Chi Wuyao and Qianye Ying'er floated at the edge of the Northern Region, personally witnessing its first step out of the cage. Though it was only a very small step. "Ten teams, each led by ten Heavenly Monarchs, a million dark profound practitioners, each taking one star realm," Qianye Ying'er murmured. "Why not have the Heavenly Monarchs secure the star realm cores first, with the demonic troops following? This way, there will surely be massive casualties."

Chi Wuyao smiled faintly. "The more easily emotions are incited, the more easily they cool down. What do you think can keep the profound practitioners of the Northern Divine Region continuously enraged and eager to fight?" Qianye Ying'er: "..." "It's sacrifice, it's death," Chi Wuyao said with a shallow, alluring smile, uttering the most cruel words. "Heh, I've learned something," Qianye Ying'er sneered softly. "As expected of Yun Che's former 'master,' truly a venerable elder who inspires respect." "Elder? His master is Mu Xuanyin, and I am his Empress. As for you..." Chi Wuyao's enchanting eyes subtly shifted, and she spoke languidly, "You should call me Elder Sister. Don't make that mistake again." "Hmph!" Qianye Ying'er scoffed lightly through her nose.

Her resplendent, alluring demonic eyes turned southward again. Watching the ten dark demonic blades draw closer to the Eastern Divine Region, she murmured, "What will the Brahma Heaven God Realm's reaction be? I'm truly looking forward to it. Speaking of which... In the past few days, have you thought of any new uncertain factors that could lead to danger?" Qianye Ying'er had previously told Chi Wuyao that there were two uncertain dangerous factors for the first "stage" of battle: First, the Brahma Heaven Pearl. As a Heaven Profound Treasure, no one outside the Brahma Heaven God Realm knew its full power and secrets. And the unknown was the greatest danger. Especially since the Brahma Monarch God Realm had had a faint feeling for generations that the founding ancestor of the Brahma Heaven God Realm had not truly "died." Second, the Moon God Emperor, Xia Qingyue. She was the only woman who had left a profound shadow on Qianye Ying'er. The unease and uncertainty she brought to Qianye Ying'er stemmed from her incredibly formidable cunning and intuition... and also her understanding of Yun Che. After all, she and Yun Che had known each other since they were sixteen. She had once been the person Yun Che trusted and was closest to... even somewhat dependent on.

"No," Qianye Ying'er said. "Be wary of the Brahma Heaven Pearl and Xia Qingyue. As for anything else..." A cold light flashed through her mind. Qianye Ying'er suddenly thought of something, her expression subtly changing. As she pondered, a sudden chill spread through her entire body. "What's wrong?" Qianye Ying'er's sudden change made Chi Wuyao's crescent brows furrow. "I actually... overlooked the most terrifying factor," Qianye Ying'er murmured, looking ahead. Chi Wuyao turned, her expression becoming exceptionally solemn. "What is it?"