Chapter 1760: Hongmeng Life and Death Seal (Part 1)

The Heaven Orrery’s projection profound formation opened once more. This time, when the apprehensive profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region looked up, they saw a scene that left them utterly dumbfounded.

All the Brahma Kings and Brahma Elders from the Brahma Monarch God Realm were prostrated, their upper bodies touching the ground, bowing in an extremely humble posture before Qianye Ying’er and Yun Che. From their mouths came vows of surrender, each word shaking the heart.

Not far from them, a person lay quietly and starkly in a pool of blood. His body was stained with blood, his face unrecognizable, but the golden robes he wore were known to all as the exclusive symbol of the Brahma Heaven God Emperor.

Horror, dread, disbelief... and the complete collapse of their last glimmer of hope and their final shred of resolve. Of the four King Realms in the Eastern Divine Region: the Heaven Orrery and Moon God Realms were destroyed, the Star God Realm submitted, and even the Brahma Monarch God Realm, the strongest and their last hope, met the end of its God Emperor's death and the entire realm surrendering to the devil.

The projection quickly closed, but the Eastern Divine Region fell into a long, profound silence. One after another, profound practitioners' bodies knelt weakly to the ground, just like their completely shattered beliefs. At this point, only a little over ten days had passed since the Northern Divine Region’s invasion. The Northern Divine Region’s power was tearing apart their understanding almost daily. When even King Realms faced such an end and such a choice, their own persistence seemed incredibly fragile and laughable.

Soon, profound arks, moving at an incredibly high speed, flew from various star realms towards the Heaven Orrery Realm. Previously, the Realm Kings of the major upper star realms had been observing, none daring to step forward... but now, they wished they had eight more legs. In common understanding, those who surrender first undoubtedly receive the most favorable treatment.

With Qianye Fantian’s death, in the Brahma Monarch Capital City, aside from the Brahma Kings and Brahma Elders, likely fewer than half of the Brahma Monarch Divine Envoys survived, all of whom had cultivation levels at or above the mid-stage Divine Sovereign realm. Even so, just the nine Brahma Kings, all at Divine Master Realm Level Nine, along with sixty-three Brahma Monarch Elders with Divine Master Realm cultivation, represented an extremely formidable force. Even withered to this extent, it still far surpassed the Burning Moon God Realm of the Northern Divine Region. Moreover, there were Gu Zhu and the two Brahma Monarch Ancestors who had been forced out. If they could be controlled, it would undoubtedly be an extremely vast power.

The golden light of the Brahma Soul Bell vanished into Qianye Ying’er’s hand. Though her power had changed, it could never alter her Brahma Monarch bloodline. With the Brahma Monarch bloodline, she could fully wield the Brahma Soul Bell. And controlling the Brahma Soul Bell meant controlling the entire Brahma Monarch God Realm.

Qianye Ying’er appeared calm, but the unceasing turmoil in her heart was constantly revealed through the tremor in her gaze. For all these years, she had firmly believed that the moment she saw Qianye Fantian again, she would kill him without hesitation or mercy... and simultaneously, destroy everything he cherished right before his eyes. Today, Qianye Fantian finally died before her... Qianye Ying’er was incredibly clear about the purpose of all his actions and words before his death, yet in the end, she chose to fall into his manipulation. Even though her temperament had undergone significant changes during her years in the Northern Divine Region, Qianye Fantian remained the person who understood her best in this world.

Her gaze swept over the kneeling Brahma Kings and Brahma Elders, and she issued her first command: “Return to Brahma Monarch!”

“Yes.” The Third Brahma King led the others. They stood up and bowed before Qianye Ying’er, but no one moved first. The Brahma Monarch God Realm changing hands to Qianye Ying’er or to Yun Che seemed to make little difference in essence, but for the people of the Brahma Monarch God Realm, the level of acceptance was poles apart. Furthermore, Qianye Ying’er clearly had no intention of handing the Brahma Soul Bell over to Yun Che.

Qianye Ying’er flew up to the Brahma Heaven Ark, and Yun Che quietly joined her side. Neither spoke. Qianye Ying’er gazed blankly southwards, remaining motionless for a long time. Only then did the Brahma Kings and Brahma Elders move, boarding the Brahma Heaven Ark in sequence... Without Qianye Ying’er’s command, they dared not make the slightest superfluous move. After all, this was the best possible outcome Qianye Fantian had exchanged for, by giving everything.

The Brahma Heaven Ark started. Just as it was about to take flight, Qianye Ying’er suddenly spoke: “Bring his body along, lest it soil the eyes of so many people!”

All the Brahma Kings trembled, then, with tears in their eyes, accepted the command: “Yes.” The Third and Fourth Brahma Kings personally descended, coming to Qianye Fantian’s corpse... The moment his body was lifted, Qianye Ying’er’s gaze shifted slightly, giving Qianye Fantian one last look. Though it was only for an incredibly brief moment.

The Brahma Heaven Ark took flight, quickly reaching maximum speed and heading straight for the Brahma Monarch God Realm.

“How does revenge feel?” Yun Che stood beside Qianye Ying’er. “Is it as satisfying as you’ve been hoping for all these years?”

“Satisfying?” Qianye Ying’er let out a cold, low laugh. “How dare you say those words to me?” It seemed she was greatly displeased that Yun Che had prevented her from personally killing Qianye Fantian. Yet, beneath her cold words, her gaze subtly shifted away, and within her pupils, there was no chill or resentment, but rather a deeply hidden complexity.

Yun Che looked into the distance and suddenly said, “When the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor returned to the world back then, he was the first to kneel and swear a poisonous oath of loyalty. When I no longer had the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor and Jasmine by my side, he was the first to try and obliterate me. And when you could bring greater benefits to the Brahma Monarch, even though you were his most cherished daughter, and had once sacrificed yourself to save him, he abandoned you without hesitation. In the end, to preserve the Brahma Monarch lineage, he didn't choose to retaliate fiercely with his remaining power and perish with dignity. Instead, he chose a death devoid of dignity, effectively handing over the foundation he had protected his entire life to others. It’s a bit of a pity that such a person is gone from this world.”

Qianye Ying’er cast a sidelong glance. “You’re actually pitying your mortal enemy?”

“Pity?” Yun Che gave a cold smile. “Those two words have long been absent from my will. I’m just very curious about what Qianye Fantian said to you in the end that made you suddenly change your mind.”

Qianye Ying’er unnaturally shifted her gaze and said indifferently, “Why wouldn't I accept a loyal dog that willingly offers itself and can be completely controlled!”

“Completely controlled? Including those two old ancestors?” Yun Che asked.

“You’ll know when the time comes,” Qianye Ying’er said, her eyes glinting with an unusual light.

In the Brahma Monarch Capital City, poisonous mist permeated the air. Some Brahma Monarch Divine Envoys were still struggling desperately within the Heaven Poison, while outside the Brahma Monarch Capital City, areas also doused with He Ling’s Heaven Wounding Absolution had already been reduced to dust.

Amidst the ruins of the collapsed tower, Qianye Wugu, Qianye Bingzhu, and Gu Zhu simultaneously opened their eyes, looking at the Brahma Heaven Ark slowly descending from the sky. On the Brahma Heaven Ark, the auras of the Nine Brahma Kings and the Brahma Monarch Elders were exceptionally weak, but all of them were present, except for Qianye Fantian. Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu let out long sighs, but they did not show much emotion.

Qianye Ying’er and Yun Che descended, arriving before the three. Gu Zhu slowly rose. His pale face twitched slightly under the torment of the Heaven Poison, yet he displayed a gentle smile, speaking words he had repeated countless times before: “Young lady, you have returned.”

Facing Gu Zhu, the coldness in Qianye Ying’er’s eyes completely dissipated. She nodded gently to him and said, “Yun Che, remove the poison from Uncle Gu.”

Yun Che wasted no words. With a wave of his hand, under the light of purification, the Heaven Wounding Absolution on Gu Zhu’s body quickly dissipated. Had it not been for Gu Zhu back then, Qianye Ying’er would never have escaped the Brahma Monarch God Realm, let alone had the chance to flee to the Northern Divine Region. Yun Che was aware of this.

Gu Zhu, weakly kneeling, without even time to regulate his breathing, pleaded, “I beg the young lady and the Devil Master to show mercy and remove the poison from the two ancestors. The two ancestors will certainly be of great help to the young lady and the Devil Master.”

“Help?” Yun Che gave a cold laugh. “I’m the one who kicked your Brahma Monarch God Realm into hell. These two old geezers must hate me to the core, what reason do I have to save them!”

Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu both gazed deeply at Yun Che for a moment. What they had seen before was only through projections; this was the first time they truly saw Yun Che... the young man who, in such a short time, had drastically changed the fate of the Eastern Divine Region and the Brahma Monarch God Realm. There was no resentment, no killing intent, only a profound calmness, as if he had completely seen through the vicissitudes of the mortal world.

“If the Heaven Poison is not removed, the Brahma Monarch will surely perish. To achieve this outcome now is already a heavenly gift,” Qianye Wugu began. “We two have few years left in our lives and are long past hatred or desire. Now that Ying’er is Emperor, we will naturally assist with all our remaining strength. The Devil Master need not worry.” Through the Brahma Kings’ telepathic messages, they had already learned what happened in the Heaven Orrery.

“...Hmm?” Yun Che slightly frowned.

Qianye Ying’er, however, did not respond to anyone. She stepped forward directly: “Come, I’ll show you something.”

Shaking open the ruins, in the profound depths of the tower, a gigantic golden profound formation appeared. Every trace of its dazzling golden light carried soul-piercing coldness. Without a doubt, merely approaching this profound formation, let alone touching it, would unleash an incredibly powerful destructive force.

Qianye Ying’er took out the Brahma Soul Bell and gently shook it. Immediately, the golden profound formation slowly parted, gradually revealing the space beneath. Another golden light shone forth from it, but unlike the golden profound formation above, it was not aggressive at all; instead, it was as gentle as the glow of a setting sun.

“Let’s go!” Qianye Ying’er reached out, grabbed Yun Che, and descended directly.

It was not a wide space. Beneath their feet, they stood on a profound formation that pulsed with a slow profound light, emitting a gentle golden glow. This formation was only ten zhang wide, yet it nearly covered the entire exceptionally small underground space.

Without investigating the profound formation, Yun Che’s gaze fell directly upon the jade stone at its center, which emitted a faint, soft white light. Its appearance resembled a lustrous white jade disc, palm-sized, with irregular, strange divine patterns etched along its edges. Its center was hollow, where a crystalline water jade floated, like a silent water droplet, or a beauty’s tear. With no visible support and no discernible force field, this “water droplet” floated quietly and strangely within.

“Master, that is...” He Ling’s excited whisper came from within Yun Che’s heart. Both the Sky Poison Pearl and the Heaven Orrery Pearl produced an incredibly subtle resonance at this moment.

“This is the Primordial Seal of Life and Death!” Qianye Ying’er stated with an incredibly light tone, speaking five words capable of shaking anyone’s soul to its core.

Yun Che said nothing. He slowly walked forward, towards the center of the profound formation. In the small space, he reached it in just a few steps. The Primordial Seal of Life and Death, ranked third among the Heaven Profound Treasures, was also the most coveted among the seven great Heaven Profound Treasures... even in ancient times. For possessing the Primordial Seal of Life and Death granted eternal life. Facing this instrument of eternal life, so close at hand, even Yun Che could not remain perfectly clear-minded and devoid of desire.

He stood before the lustrous white jade seal, almost involuntarily reaching out to touch it. Qianye Ying’er did not stop him. His finger touched the jade seal; it felt warm and gentle, like warm jade... Beyond that, there was nothing unusual. At least, there was absolutely no sensation or aura of one’s lifespan being affected.

“It seems to be a dead seal,” Yun Che said indifferently. “If it’s a dead seal, then how did you use it to allow those two ancestors...”

“Nixuan... is that you...”

Yun Che’s voice abruptly ceased.