Chapter 1747: Collapse of the Heart (Middle)

A light blue profound glow shimmered like ripples on water.

Yun Che recognized it instantly as the unique profound energy aura of the Glazed Light Realm. He had encountered both Shui Meiyin and Shui Yingyue at the Profound God Convention years ago.

"Illusionary Heart Glazed Shadow Jade? And four of them?" Qianye Ying'er approached, her gaze filled with deep surprise as she looked at the jade in Tian Guhu's hand.

"Illusionary Heart Glazed Shadow Jade?" Yun Che was hearing the name for the first time.

"A high-grade and rare toy," Qianye Ying'er explained. "Essentially, it's a profound image stone. However, it's far more precious than ordinary profound image stones, extremely rare, and only forms in the Illusionary Heart Heavenly Pool of the Glazed Light Realm, which is most blessed by starlight."

"Besides being beautiful and rare, its other unique quality... is that when used to record profound images, it can do so without a trace, completely silently."

"Profound image stone?" Yun Che mused. He reached out, taking the four Illusionary Heart Glazed Shadow Jades from Tian Guhu's hand. As his divine sense swept over them, his expression suddenly changed.

Qianye Ying'er immediately noticed. "What's wrong?"

Yun Che did not respond.

Qianye Ying'er stepped forward, her divine sense directly entering the Illusionary Heart Glazed Shadow Jade in Yun Che's hand. The next instant, her eyes froze, and the drastic change in her expression and aura was several times more intense than Yun Che's.

She abruptly turned to Tian Guhu and demanded, "Who gave you these Illusionary Heart Glazed Shadow Jades... No! Who gave them to Chi Wuyao?"

Tian Guhu rarely interacted with Qianye Ying'er, and hearing her voice so urgent for the first time, he was secretly startled. After thinking hard, he replied, "The Devil Queen seemed to mention... a woman with the surname Shui."

"Shui Yingyue... or Shui Meiyin?" Qianye Ying'er pressed urgently again, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she turned immediately to Fen Daoqi and commanded, "Immediately pile up the Profound Jade of the Heaven Smiting Realm and reactivate the Grand Projection Formation!"

Fen Daoqi did not ask for a reason, immediately accepted the order, and departed.

"No need," Yun Che said with a dismissive chuckle after his initial shock. "As of today, why would I need to prove myself to anyone?"

"No, it's very necessary!" Qianye Ying'er's eyes gleamed with deep surprise and excitement. "These four Illusionary Heart Glazed Shadow Jades are worth trillions of devil soldiers!"

"And their impact extends far beyond the Eastern Divine Region! It will affect the Southern and Western Divine Regions too!"

Yun Che fell silent.

"That little girl from the Glazed Light Realm actually prepared such a terrifying trump card! Could it be that she anticipated the subsequent changes?"

"Heh... she truly lives up to her name... the Immaculate Divine Soul!"

Qianye Ying'er's words still carried an irrepressible, deep excitement. Moreover, she had used the word "terrifying."

Yun Che no longer tried to stop her.

Indeed, he no longer needed to prove anything to anyone! The world was simply not worthy!

However, Qianye Ying'er was absolutely right. In terms of strategy, it was worth far more than trillions of devil soldiers!

For this alone, it wouldn't be an exaggeration for Chi Wuyao to have sent the Nine Devil Girls to deliver it, let alone Tian Guhu himself.

Fen Daoqi personally made the arrangements. With extreme efficiency, the Heaven Smiting Grand Projection Formation was quickly charged with energy. Images from the Heaven Smiting Realm were once again projected across almost all spaces in the Eastern Divine Region through countless Star Stele Monuments.

Qianye Ying'er did not hand the Illusionary Heart Glazed Shadow Jade to anyone. Instead, she personally stepped forward, transferring the image from the first jade into the projection, covering the entire Eastern Divine Region.

The moment the Heaven Smiting projection reactivated, it undoubtedly captured the attention of all profound practitioners in the Eastern Region, and countless battlefields came to a halt.

Unlike the shocking and tragic scenes of the first projection, the profound practitioners looked up to see a starfield filled with a strange red light, and figures dressed in various attires, emanating different profound auras.

They remembered that red light... it was clearly the eerie crimson glow seen everywhere in the Eastern Divine Region during the "Crimson Disaster" years ago.

And when they saw the individual figures in the projection, they were all dumbfounded.

They saw the Brahma Heaven God Emperor, the Heaven Smiting God Emperor, the Star Gods, Moon Gods, Brahma Kings, Guardians... they saw the Saint Universe Realm King, the Glazed Light Realm King... one High-Rank Realm King after another.

They even saw the Supreme Dragon Emperor and the Western Region God Emperor, and the Southern Sea God Emperor of the Southern Divine Region!

Every person they saw possessed a world-shaking reputation... because they were all Divine Masters!

The only exception was a man clad in Ice Phoenix snow-white robes.

Yun Che!

Completely different from the Devil Master Yun Che they had seen in projections days before, the Yun Che in the current projection was respectfully bowing to the elders nearby, his demeanor peaceful and reverent. When he occasionally looked up towards the crimson light, a faint nervousness was subtly visible on his calm face.

There was not the slightest trace of malevolence; his eyes were not abyssal, but like a tranquil lake unwilling to be tainted by any worldly strife.

They heard the Heaven Smiting God Emperor begin to recount the reasons for the "Heaven Smiting Convention" in an incredibly somber tone... And at this moment, they suddenly realized that this was a projection of the "Heaven Smiting Convention" from four years ago!

Four years ago, when the Crimson Disaster fully erupted, the Heaven Smiting Divine Realm, in response to the Crimson Disaster, forged an immensely vast dimensional profound formation, said to connect to the edge of chaos. Afterward, a "Heaven Smiting Convention" was held, which only Divine Masters were reportedly allowed to attend.

This event was widely known not just in the Eastern Divine Region, but throughout the entire God Realm.

However, what exactly happened during the "Heaven Smiting Convention" remained largely unknown to anyone except the Divine Masters who participated.

Two or three months later, the Crimson Rift suddenly vanished, and the frequent profound beast disturbances caused by the Crimson Disaster never erupted again.

It was said that the crimson light was a rift in chaos, and that the combined power of countless Divine Masters from all Divine Regions successfully annihilated it... and, incidentally, expelled the greatest calamity, the Heretic God's infant, from the Crimson Rift and outside of chaos.

It was also during that period that Yun Che's devilish identity was exposed, leading to him being hunted by various realms.

And now, from this projection originating from the Heaven Smiting Realm, they were suddenly witnessing the entire "Heaven Smiting Convention" from that year.

The Heaven Smiting God Emperor explained the purpose of the Heaven Smiting Convention, his voice growing even heavier as he recounted a nearly mythical legend involving the ancient Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor and her subordinate devil gods.

This legend, however, quickly turned into reality.

With wide eyes, they watched as the Divine Masters collectively attacked the Crimson Rift... and then personally witnessed a terrifying woman in black robes with black eyes slowly emerge from the Crimson Rift.

As the woman emerged, even though it was only a projection, all living beings in the Eastern Divine Region still felt an oppressive aura that nearly shattered their souls.

"Filthy Divine Race, you send a bunch of lowly mortals to greet this Empress!?"

An overwhelmingly majestic voice proclaimed the Devil Emperor's return to the humble mortals.

They saw the Divine Masters trembling, the God Emperors quaking... Even the mighty Dragon Emperor's entire body was wracked with deep fear.

They watched as the incredibly powerful Three Brahma Gods of the Brahma Heaven Divine Realm were instantly annihilated by the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, crushed like ants.

They saw the Divine Masters and God Emperors, who usually stood proudly above all beings, kneeling on the ground, displaying a level of fear, humility, submission, and pleading that was utterly unbelievable to them.

"Senior Devil Emperor, may this junior offer a word?"

In that moment of fear and despair, only one person stepped forward, standing alone before the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor. He revealed his Heretic God's inheritance and the Sky Poison Pearl, miraculously extinguishing the Devil Emperor's rage and killing intent, preventing her from striking down anyone else.

What followed was an even more shocking and bewildering scene:

"This humble king, Qianye Fantian, pledges to lead the Brahma Heaven Divine Realm to eternal loyalty and follow Senior Devil Emperor. Should there be even a hint of defiance, may I, Qianye Fantian, and my entire Qianye clan be struck by five divine thunderbolts, annihilated by heaven and earth!"

The Brahma Heaven God Emperor knelt on both knees, his head bowed in the humblest posture, uttering words of fealty so subservient that they made the profound practitioners of the lower star realms' scalps tingle.

And after him, all the other God Emperors and Realm Kings followed suit. Whether it was Heaven Smiting, Southern Sea, or the Dragon Emperor... they practically vied with each other to prostrate themselves on the ground, loudly swearing their allegiance and submission.

They could not imagine that these figures, who stood at the peak and were like gods in their eyes, would be so utterly pathetic in front of an irresistible powerhouse... where was their dignity, where was their courage?

The fierce battles across the star realms ceased. An eerily profound silence fell over the Eastern Divine Region; both the profound practitioners of the Eastern Region and the devil people, all eyes were fixated on the projection above, unwilling to miss even a single moment.

They had a premonition that what they were seeing was a truth involving all realms, one that had been meticulously hidden for a long time.

As for the High-Rank Realm Kings who had participated and knew the full truth, their expressions either suddenly turned grim or became extremely complex.

A terrible premonition arose in their hearts, but this was a projection from the Heaven Smiting Realm, and they were powerless to stop it.

The Eastern Region profound practitioners watched as the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor took Yun Che away. Subsequently, the scene in the projection switched to another world.

It was a snow-covered world, featuring Yun Che, along with various God Emperors and a multitude of High-Rank Realm Kings.

In the scene, Yun Che, with a confident and composed demeanor, informed everyone of the great news: the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's promise not to harm the world.

All the God Emperors and High-Rank Realm Kings were ecstatic. The Heaven Smiting God Emperor, in particular, bowed deeply to Yun Che:

"Yun Che... No, Divine Son Yun! The Devil Emperor's return was originally a world-ending calamity, and today's outcome is something one could only dream of achieving. This outcome is entirely due to your grace. Otherwise, let alone future peace, we might not even be alive to stand here now... Please accept this old man's bow."

"You are truly worthy of the title 'Divine Son Who Saved the World.' This old man's bow, which others could not accept, you absolutely can. You can accept the gratitude and bows of anyone in this world."

The Brahma Heaven God Emperor also bowed deeply in gratitude. "The Heaven Smiting God Emperor is right! You alone saved the world, allowing the God Realm to avoid calamity and regain long-term peace. All living beings in this world should express their gratitude to you."

After the God Emperors, came the High-Rank Realm Kings:

"Divine Son Yun, please accept this humble king's bow!"

"Divine Son Yun's merit in saving the world shall be recorded for a thousand autumns!"

"Divine Son Yun's kindness is impossible to repay even in ten thousand years. Henceforth, whatever Divine Son Yun asks, my Luo Star Realm will obey without fail!"

"Whatever Divine Son Yun commands, my Yi Yang Realm is willing to sacrifice everything! From this day forward, Divine Son Yun's enemies shall be the eternal enemies of my Yi Yang Realm!"

All the profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region were stunned into silence. For a long time, no one could utter a single word, only hearing the frantic beating of their own hearts.

The third projection appeared on the Conferred God Stage of the Heaven Smiting Divine Realm.

The Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor appeared, announcing a dream-like piece of news to those present:

"My kin will no longer enter the Primal Chaos. In six days, I will return to where I came from! You need not live in perpetual fear any longer."

The Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's words resonated deeply... not because of the supreme devilish might in her voice, but because as an ancient Devil Emperor, a being who disdained all living things of the current era, she actually chose to sacrifice herself and her entire clan for the peace of this world!?

This was a shock to their souls that could not be described with any words!

Especially... she was a devil!

And the empress of true devils!

Beyond the shock, it was a complete subversion of their understanding.

The Heaven Smiting God Emperor appeared in the scene, bowing deeply to the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, almost tearfully grateful: "Senior Devil Emperor, you willingly sacrificed yourself to protect all living beings of this era. This compassion for the world, this virtue of salvation, this grace of sparing lives—we shall never forget it, for all eternity. We are humble and have nothing to repay you with... please accept this old man's bow!"

After the Heaven Smiting God Emperor, all the other emperors and kings present also bowed, their shouts of gratitude resounding throughout the heavens and earth, like a chorus of devout followers.

"Compassion for the world? Virtue of salvation?" The Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, however, let out a mocking devilish laugh. "What a bunch of naive and foolish mortals. Do you truly believe that I did this for you?"

"Hmph, with just you, with this already pathetic world, do you think you're worthy of me doing such a thing?"

"You should indeed thank someone, but it is not me! All I brought was countless deaths and disasters; where is this talk of kindness and virtue? Do your lives and deaths, or the safety of this world, even deserve to be on my mind!?"

"The reason I chose to depart is because one person made up for the greatest regret of my life and fulfilled my final wish! As the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, how could I deign to owe a mere mortal? My abandoning my kin and returning to the outer chaos is merely a promise and repayment to him alone, and has nothing to do with any of the rest of you!"

"That person is Yun Che!"

The projection's image, along with everyone's gaze, focused on Yun Che.

"You had best remember this forever, and engrave this name into your memories! In the future, when you live in peace and freely wield your power in this world, do not ever forget who saved you and this Primal Chaos from the brink of darkness!"

The Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor's figure vanished from the projection. But her voice, deeply etched into the hearts and souls of everyone present, continued to echo in their ears and minds for a long time.

After the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor left, the Heaven Smiting God Emperor again took the lead, bowing deeply to Yun Che in gratitude:

"Divine Son Yun, please, you must accept this old man's bow... Divine Son Yun, had it not been for you, after those devil gods returned, the entire God Realm, the entire Primal Chaos, would surely have plunged into endless calamity. It was you who saved all living beings of this era; you are worthy of anyone's most profound bow, worthy of any gratitude and praise. Every living being in this world, and even future generations, should forever remember your name!"

All the God Emperors and Divine Masters gathered around Yun Che, bowing deeply to him just like the Heaven Smiting God Emperor, expressing the most magnificent words of gratitude and praise they could conceive.

In particular, every one of them addressed Yun Che as...

...the Divine Son Who Saved the World.