Chapter 1730: Evil Deal

As Cloud Che drew near, the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit spoke calmly, "The Profound God Convention of that year was established to counter the Crimson Disaster. The Eternal Heaven Divine Realm, which operates for three thousand years, expended all of my divine power and gathered only the true geniuses of the Eastern Divine Region's younger generation. Not a single Eternal Heaven disciple was permitted entry!"

"The dimensional grand formation connecting to the edge of the Primal Chaos also consumed immense resources from my Eternal Heaven Realm."

"In all these endeavors, my Eternal Heaven Realm sacrificed its own interests for the sake of the world, without a trace of selfishness."

"Zhou Xuzi expelled the Heretic Baby from the Primal Chaos, and it was not for any selfish reason. He almost never broke his word throughout his life, yet he broke his promise to you and tarnished his own name, solely for the peace and righteousness of the present world!"

"You should know all this clearly!"

"Since the day my Eternal Heaven Realm became a King Realm, it has upheld 'guardianship' as its guiding principle. All its actions are witnessed by the Heavenly Way, verifiable by all spirits, and it has a clear conscience."

Cloud Che's footsteps halted.

His half-closed eyes gleamed with a dark, chilling light, and his fingers trembled slightly.

Before his eyes, the fervent praise for Zhou Xuzi expelling Jasmine with the Heretic Baby from the Primal Chaos, long ago, suddenly reappeared.

It was as if, at that moment, they had all suffered collective amnesia, completely forgetting that it was Jasmine who, using the Heretic Baby's power, destroyed the crimson rift and saved all their lives. In their memories, only Zhou Xuzi's 'sacred act' of destroying the Heretic Baby remained.

Even Zhou Xuzi's breach of promise to him became, in the mouths of those people, a great sacrifice made to save the world, even at the cost of his own reputation.

He lowered his gaze slightly, looking at his uncontrollably trembling fingers...

Heh... truly worthy of being the spirit of the Eternal Heaven Pearl! The figure whom Qianye Ying'er suggested might be the "Eternal Heaven Progenitor."

After so many years, a few casual words could still provoke such rage in him!

His fingers tightened slightly. When Cloud Che raised his head, there was no longer any anger on his face or in his eyes, only a smile that made one's heart skip a beat. His voice also became unusually gentle: "If you truly have such a clear conscience, then why, after all these years, have you never revealed the truth, but instead tried so desperately to conceal it? Oh, it must be for the sake of the world again, for the sake of the righteous path. After all, for those of you who view devils as heretics, a devil saving the world would be such a disgrace, such an utter humiliation."

The Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit remained silent.

"Heh," he chuckled faintly. "You performed some fancy tricks that accomplished nothing, then grandly claimed all the credit and honor. Yet, the one who truly saved you, who saved the entire God Realm, simply because they didn't conform to your 'righteous path,' was supposed to die, had to die!?"

Cloud Che slowly extended his hand, black light shimmering at his fingertips. "Since the Eternal Heaven Realm is now beneath this Devil Master's feet, then such a 'righteous path' should just perish completely!"

"Kill!"

A single word, a command that filled the sky with murderous intent.

Just as the blood mist was about to spread again, the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit let out a soft sigh. This sigh, once again, caused ancient Buddhist chants to ripple through the Eternal Heaven's sky, forcefully dispelling the surging dark murderous intent. "Enough. Our positions differ, our wills diverge. Argument is pointless."

Cloud Che raised a hand, stopping Yan Zu and the Burning Moon Profound Practitioners. "So what?" he asked.

At this moment, He Ling's voice echoed in his mind: "Master, I can now confirm that it is definitely not the source spirit of the Eternal Heaven Pearl!"

The Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit said, "Regardless of cause and effect, right or wrong, you have already trampled Eternal Heaven to this extent. No matter how great your hatred or resentment, it should be fully vented by now. So, cease your actions and retreat."

"Heh heh heh," Cloud Che chuckled softly. He glanced ahead, then said slowly, "This Devil Master personally ordered earlier that every person, every beast, every blade of grass, and every tree here must die. If I were to retract that order, where would this Devil Master put his face?"

"Besides... what are you to command this Devil Master?"

"It's not a command, but a transaction," the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit's voice remained calm. From its plane of existence, it could never utter the word "request" to anyone.

In such a situation, "transaction" was the lowest stance it could take, and a necessary course of action.

"The remaining guardians and elders have all been annihilated by you, and there are few adjudicators and Divine Sovereigns left. The lives of the remaining Eternal Heaven inhabitants are of little consequence to you. As long as you and your devils retreat now, I will grant you one condition."

Evidently, the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit wished to preserve the bloodline of the Eternal Heaven Realm as much as possible, and even more, to save this entire realm... Although it was almost completely ruined, it was ultimately an irreplaceable ancestral land.

"Good, very good." Cloud Che's eyes flashed with black light, seeming excited. He did not ask what "condition" the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit could grant, but directly said, "As expected of the spirit of the Eternal Heaven Pearl, your words are truly hard to refuse."

"These wretched lives are precious to your Eternal Heaven, but to me, they are nothing more than a pile of garbage too filthy to even step on. If they can be exchanged for something useful, why wouldn't I be delighted?!"

Within the Eternal Heaven Realm, teeth were clenched so hard they seemed about to shatter.

Being an Eternal Heaven citizen was, without a doubt, the greatest honor of their lives, yet they had never been insulted to such an extent.

But, besides hatred and sorrow, they dared not utter a single word. Instead, after that, a humiliating sense of relief arose within them.

When the devil agreed to the transaction, it seemed those who were teetering on the edge of hell might not have to die after all.

The Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit said, "As long as you retreat now, I can grant you..."

"Since that's the case, I won't stand on ceremony!" The Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit had not finished speaking when Cloud Che unceremoniously interrupted it. His soul-piercing voice overshadowed the Pearl spirit's grand tone: "My condition is very simple..."

He extended his hand, palm facing the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit. "I want half of the Eternal Heaven Pearl's will to belong to me!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit's phantom visibly wavered.

Inside and outside the Eternal Heaven Realm, all Eternal Heaven citizens, as well as countless profound practitioners from the Eastern Region, had their expressions drastically change.

It was common knowledge that the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm originated from the Eternal Heaven Pearl, became a King Realm because of it, and was even named after it.

Before Cloud Che's appearance, the Eternal Heaven Pearl was the only Heavenly Profound Treasure manifested in the God Realm. It not only enabled the rise and glorious history of the Eternal Heaven Realm, but was also its soul, and the supreme glory of the Eternal Heaven Realm and even the entire Eastern Divine Region.

Half of the Eternal Heaven Pearl's will... amounted to half of the Pearl's control.

If it were truly handed over, it would mean that from then on, the Eternal Heaven Pearl would be jointly held by Cloud Che and the Eternal Heaven Realm!

It was almost equivalent to severing half of the Eternal Heaven Realm's core and soul!

"Cloud Che!" The Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit's voice clearly carried anger. "Everything in the Eternal Heaven Realm can be conceded or abandoned, but the Eternal Heaven Pearl..."

"Shut up!" Cloud Che interrupted its words unceremoniously once more, the smile on his lips filled with grimness and mockery. "Don't get one thing wrong: this 'condition' is not a transaction, but this Devil Master's final pity and grace bestowed upon your Eternal Heaven Realm!"

"You have no right to bargain!"

The Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit's phantom trembled continuously.

"Of course, you can absolutely refuse!" Cloud Che's smile grew even more sinister. "Compared to getting half of a crippled Pearl, admiring the Eternal Heaven Realm where not a single blade of grass grows in pools of blood, isn't that an even more beautiful sight, heh heh heh heh!"

Giving the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit no chance to 'bargain,' he slowly extended three fingers. "Since you're a divine spirit after all, this Devil Master should show some respect. I'll give you three breaths of time."

"After three breaths, whether this Eternal Heaven Realm barely survives or becomes utterly barren... this Devil Master grants you the glorious power to decide!"

He chuckled ominously, and as his words fell, his first finger mercilessly bent down.

In its entire existence, the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit's mind and soul had never been this chaotic.

Years ago, it had given the Cloud Che of the Profound God Convention immense attention and praise, and deeply anticipated his future.

His failure to enter the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm had also become a huge regret for it.

When it learned he had resolved the Devil Emperor's calamity, it was immensely relieved. When it heard he had fallen to become a devil, it sighed with lament.

In its lifetime, it had witnessed countless individuals and experienced much vicissitude.

But never had a single person undergone such a drastic transformation in so short a time.

And never had anyone forced it to such an extent.

Cloud Che's second finger bent down, and a surge of dark murderous intent spread with it.

With a helpless sigh, the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit no longer tried to contend. "Very well, I agree to your condition!"

Relinquishing half of the Eternal Heaven Pearl was, for the Eternal Heaven Realm, far beyond mere loss of dignity.

But as things stood, it had no choice but to agree.

At least Cloud Che hadn't forced it to completely acknowledge him as its master... at least it wasn't utterly unacceptable.

Furthermore, as the Pearl spirit of the Eternal Heaven Pearl, its connection to the Pearl was far beyond what any external will could compare to.

Even if it surrendered half of its will-space, in the future, at an opportune moment, it would always have the ability to reclaim everything.

Cloud Che's third finger bent down, and he burst into laughter. "Hahahahaha, truly worthy of being the divine spirit of the Eternal Heaven Pearl! Indeed, you are unlike those fools in the Eternal Heaven Realm, having made the wisest choice."

Beneath his wild laughter, however, was the ashen despair that covered the faces of every Eternal Heaven disciple... Amidst their sorrow and humiliation, there was also a profound sense of relief.

Could this disaster, this nightmare, finally be over...?

Yet, the price for this outcome was so immense, the humiliation so profound.

With no path to retreat, amidst the gazes of the Eternal Heaven and countless profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region, the phantom of the Eternal Heaven divine spirit slowly raised its hand.

As a white light shimmered, a pale spherical pearl descended from the sky, appearing before the eyes of all present.

The fourth-ranked Heavenly Profound Treasure—the Eternal Heaven Pearl!

Like countless others, this was the first time Cloud Che saw its true form.

It was the size of a child's fist, similar to the Sky Poison Pearl. Within its spherical body, rich and mysterious pale mist flowed. Its entire being emitted a somewhat dim white light.

It was hard to imagine that such a small pearl contained the vast and boundless 'Eternal Heaven Divine Realm,' which possessed independent time laws.

"This is the Eternal Heaven Pearl," the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit said, having resigned itself and completely abandoned any pretense. It raised its hand. "You are the master of the Sky Poison Pearl. You should know that its will-space is extremely special. Even if I surrender half, whether your will can occupy it depends on your own ability."

"You needn't trouble yourself with that."

Cloud Che grinned. He slowly stepped forward, stood before the Eternal Heaven Pearl, extended his arm, and pressed it against the Pearl's body.

No repulsion was felt. With the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm activated for 'three thousand years,' the Eternal Heaven Pearl's special and mysterious power aura was indeed extremely faint, just like the Sky Poison Pearl back then.

And with the current chaotic aura, its divine power recovery would undoubtedly be extremely slow... and it would never be able to reach the level of the Gods' Era.

In the Eternal Heaven Realm, in the hands of this 'Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit,' that was indeed the case.

But in his hands, it would be entirely different.

A faint, strange glint flickered deep within Cloud Che's pupils. He commanded, "Step back!"

Even though the decision had been made, at this moment, the Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit's phantom still visibly warped. Its voice deepened. "Cloud Che, after obtaining half of the Eternal Heaven Pearl's will, you must immediately leave the Eternal Heaven Realm with your devils, and for ten thousand years, neither you nor any devil under your command shall set foot here again!"

"With the projection active above, let all spirits bear witness!"

It did not explicitly state that Cloud Che must not pursue Zhou Xuzi or other guardians, knowing that Cloud Che harbored extreme hatred for Zhou Xuzi and would be unable to comply. Such a demand might even cause a terrible backlash at this final moment.

However, the "ten thousand years without entering Eternal Heaven" clause had, in an invisible way, secured a path of retreat for Zhou Xuzi and the Eternal Heaven after this disaster.

Even with the Eternal Heaven Pearl revealed, it did not forcibly seal the massive profound projection formation above. This was to ensure that "the world would bear witness," preventing Cloud Che from going back on his word.

"Good," Cloud Che agreed readily, then a mocking expression appeared on his face. "What? Afraid I'll go back on my word, hahahaha!"

He laughed wildly and arrogantly, his gaze sweeping contemptuously over the ravaged Eternal Heaven Realm. "As the Dark Devil Master who rules the Northern Divine Region, every word I utter is the supreme, ultimate will of darkness!"

"Do you think these filthy pieces of trash are worthy enough to make this Devil Master break his promise? Do you, by chance, believe this Devil Master's word is as base as that old dog Zhou Xuzi's promise?!"

The Eternal Heaven Pearl spirit said nothing more. It raised its hands, white light swirling around its body, and slowly drew its soul back from the Eternal Heaven Pearl's will-space.

As promised, exactly half of the will-space was vacated.

"Heh heh... heh heh heh heh..."

Outside the Eternal Heaven Realm, watching the white light on the Eternal Heaven Pearl in the projection gradually transform, Zhou Xuzi painfully closed his eyes, letting out a wretched, despairing laugh.

Since the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm became a King Realm, every era, every generation, had been filled with utmost glory and revered by all spirits.

Now, however, it had fallen to such a state under his command. Ultimately, the 'Progenitor' had to personally intervene, sacrificing all dignity to secure a final retreat and a chance at survival.

How tragic.

What face did he have left to return to Eternal Heaven, or to meet the 'Progenitor'?

Feeling the change in the Eternal Heaven Pearl's will-space, Cloud Che's divine sense suddenly retracted at that moment. He murmured in his mind, "He Ling!"

Instantly, He Ling's will directly entered the Eternal Heaven Pearl, and in just a moment, she occupied half of its will-space... without even the slightest repulsion or incompatibility.

Years ago, Shen Xi had stated with utmost certainty that He Ling was the only being in the current era capable of becoming the toxin spirit of the Sky Poison Pearl.

The same applied to the Eternal Heaven Pearl, and indeed, to all Heavenly Profound Treasures!

Cloud Che opened his eyes, slowly removing his palm from the Eternal Heaven Pearl. As his lips slowly curved, he pointed a finger towards the distance and uttered a single, incomparably grim and cruel word:

"Kill!"