Chapter 1777: Magic Lord's Death Order

Dragons live far longer than humans, and the Ash Dragon God had already lived through three generations of Brahma Heaven God Emperors, thus recognizing Qianye Bingzhu and Qianye Wugu instantly.

But they were clearly two people who had already died!

Even with cultivation at the Divine Master Realm, human lifespans do not exceed fifty thousand years. For humans, fifty thousand years is an insurmountable limit, akin to the Divine Master Realm in the profound way.

Qianye Bingzhu's lifespan had long surpassed this limit, so dying of old age was entirely natural for him, let alone Qianye Wugu.

Now, not only did they appear alive before them, but the profoundness of their aura faintly surpassed what it had been in the past.

Apart from the Southern Sea God Emperor, everyone present was startled to their feet upon hearing the names 'Qianye Bingzhu' and 'Qianye Wugu'. This was especially true for Cang Shitian, Emperor Xuanyuan, and Emperor Ziwei, all of whom had seen Qianye Bingzhu in their youth. The person standing beside him was also indistinguishable from the Qianye Wugu described in their inherited memories.

Facing the shock of the crowd, Qianye Bingzhu and Qianye Wugu remained impassive. Qianye Wugu spoke, his voice light as a wisp of smoke: "We are two outsiders who should have died long ago. Our time is also short now. We merely linger in this world to protect the Brahma Emperor through their final journey. You need not concern yourselves."

A strange light flickered in the Ash Dragon God's eyes, and his aura surged erratically. He immediately realized his uncharacteristic lapse in composure, and his expression darkened. Slowly suppressing his agitated aura, he coldly stated, "It seems that news from many years ago was indeed true. That thing your Brahma Heaven God Realm found years ago at the Southern Region border... it was indeed the Seal of Primordial Life and Death!"

The five words 'Seal of Primordial Life and Death' struck like thunder, leaving everyone present dizzy and shaken.

"As expected of the Dragon God Realm," Qianye Bingzhu said, his voice equally calm. "In this world, little can escape your eyes."

"The Seal of Primordial Life and Death is no longer in Brahma Heaven, and you needn't concern yourselves with us," Qianye Wugu said. "Everything in Brahma Heaven is decided by the new Emperor."

"Shut up," Qianye Ying'er said coldly. "You dead men, where do you find so much nonsense to speak?"

Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu fell silent simultaneously.

"Dead men?" The Ash Dragon God was momentarily stunned. Then, realizing the remark seemed directed at him, his body swayed slightly as he burst into unbridled laughter: "Hahahahaha—"

Amidst the loud laughter, Qianye Ying'er didn't even spare him a glance, walking directly towards Yun Che.

At that moment, the Southern Sea God Emperor also rose and stepped forward, smiling as he said, "Ying'er, long time no see. You are now..."

"Nan Wansheng," Qianye Ying'er addressed him by his full name, a smile tinged with contempt on her lips. "Guess if I'm here today to offer congratulations, or to collect a debt!"

Although she had only spent a few short years in the Northern Divine Region, Qianye Ying'er's mindset and aspirations had undergone a complete upheaval. Combined with inheriting devil blood, being tainted by darkness, and the various subtle influences from Yun Che's demonic cultivation and body, Qianye Ying'er's entire demeanor and aura had undergone an immense transformation.

The Southern Sea God Emperor's infatuation with the Brahma Heaven Goddess was a well-known fact throughout the entire God Realm.

As the foremost God Emperor of the Southern Divine Region, there was almost nothing in this world he couldn't obtain. Yet, precisely the one he desired most, Qianye Ying'er, remained out of his reach.

In those years, Nan Wansheng spared no means to curry favor with Qianye Ying'er. Whatever she requested, even if he knew she was using him, he would never refuse, personally handling it, even disregarding the consequences.

Unfortunately, for centuries, he failed to even come close to Qianye Ying'er. Far from harboring resentment, his heart only grew more restless with desire, infatuated to the point of madness.

Now, Qianye Ying'er's temperament had drastically changed. The allure cultivated by darkness and nurtured by Yun Che made the Southern Sea God Emperor, upon seeing her again, feel as though he had been struck by an instantly potent poison, every drop of his blood surging with agitation.

However...

Facing Qianye Ying'er's cold words, the Southern Sea God Emperor paused for two breaths before quickly adjusting his features and smiling. "Ying'er, even if you're here to collect a debt, this King welcomes you immensely. Now that you are honored as the new Brahma Heaven God Emperor, you have also fulfilled your father's lifelong wish. It seems he can rest in peace even in death."

"I merely wonder, has a date been set for the Emperor Conferment Ceremony? This King is already eager to witness it personally!"

"Heh," Qianye Ying'er sneered faintly, slowing her steps slightly. "Nan Wansheng, you truly are regressing with age. It seems in these past years, not only your body but even your mind has been hollowed out by women?"

"Oh?" The Southern Sea God Emperor's eyes crinkled in a smile.

"My name is Yun Qianying," she said, shifting her gaze away from the Southern Sea God Emperor. "As for the Qianye Ying'er you called out, she died long ago. And that deceased Qianye Fantian was not my father; he was merely an old dog who should have died ages ago."

"The Brahma Heaven God Realm now acknowledges me as its master and Emperor. There's no need for any ceremony or grand occasion, and it's certainly not for you to witness... Understand?"

Her words sent a ripple of alarm through the crowd. Yet, Qianye Wugu, Qianye Bingzhu, and Gu Zhu, who followed behind her, remained entirely... unresponsive?

"Furthermore, 'Ying'er' was my former name, after all," Qianye Ying'er said, lowering her gaze. "To me, it's a shameful name belonging to someone who is dead. And my man is very narrow-minded, so whether he'd be pleased to hear it isn't something I can guarantee."

Nan Wansheng's expression froze instantly.

Qianye Ying'er walked to Yun Che's side and instructed Yan San, "Get to the back."

Under everyone's gaze, Yan San, whose chilling aura unnerved even the emperors, quickly rose and retreated behind Yun Che without daring to utter a sound.

Qianye Ying'er took her seat beside Yun Che. Behind her, Gu Zhu, Qianye Wugu, and Qianye Bingzhu stood impassively.

The space silently constricted, and all glancing gazes subtly twisted... because within that small section of the royal hall, there stood seven Divine Masters of level ten!

Moreover, among these seven, the three Yama Ancestors and the two Qianye Ancestors (excluding Gu Zhu and Qianye Ying'er) were all at the very peak of the Divine Master level ten realm. Any one of them alone was capable of defeating every other God Emperor in the Southern Region, with the sole exception of Nan Wansheng.

What a terrifying lineup this was.

The people of the Southern Region had just been reeling from the shock of the Brahma Heaven Ancestors' appearance and the revelation of the Seal of Primordial Life and Death. When they suddenly realized this profound detail, their recently subdued horror magnified dozens of times in an instant.

Even the Ash Dragon God, who had just been enraged by Qianye Ying'er and should have immediately retaliated, suddenly fell silent, his face taking on an unprecedentedly somber cast.

Seven Divine Masters of level ten, five old monsters... And this was without even considering Yun Che, whose strength was the most unfathomable and underestimated, or the most terrifying Demon Empress and 'Northern Region's First Emperor' Yan Tianxiao, who had not yet arrived.

With the Eastern Divine Region's defeat, the world had mostly witnessed various cunning schemes and unusual tactics from the Northern Divine Region. Especially during the Battle of the King Realms, the only realm directly breached was the Eternal Heaven Realm.

At this moment, they suddenly realized that it seemed everyone had been utterly oblivious to the Northern Divine Region's true power!

The surroundings grew incredibly quiet and oppressive; no one spoke for a long time. Emperor Xuanyuan and Emperor Ziwei, who had stood earlier, had even forgotten to sit down, their expressions undergoing an intense series of changes.

"What are you doing here?" Yun Che asked, casting a sideway glance at her, his voice low.

"If you can come, why can't I?" Qianye Ying'er slightly turned her face away, seemingly quite displeased that Yun Che had deliberately avoided her before his departure.

"Acting on your own initiative!" Yun Che's voice grew even deeper.

"Even if it's acting on my own initiative," Qianye Ying'er scoffed softly. "With me, Old Gu, and these two old fellows, we certainly wouldn't drag you down, would we?"

"Besides, when it comes to grudges, I am, at the very least, the master of the Brahma Heaven God Realm now. My reasons for being here are far more substantial than yours."

Yun Che said nothing further. Since matters had reached this point, he couldn't very well force Qianye Ying'er to leave.

During her final period in the Northern Divine Region, she had become quite obedient. Yet, once she took control of the Brahma Heaven God Realm, wielding power far surpassing her past, she predictably began to act 'arrogant' once more.

"Hehehe," a low chuckle escaped as the Ash Dragon God slowly rose to his feet. "A new Brahma Heaven Emperor? With Yun as a surname? Qianye Wugu, tell me, is the current Brahma Heaven God Realm truly surnamed Qianye, or Yun?"

Qianye Wugu slightly closed his eyes, offering no reply.

He still hadn't settled the score for being called 'a lapdog at the Dragon Emperor's feet' by Qianye Ying'er earlier, and now his question was being ignored by Qianye Wugu once more!?

As a Dragon God, second only to the Dragon Emperor and above all other spirits, when had anyone ever dared to treat him in such a manner? Not even Qianye Fantian would ever have shown him such disrespect.

"Qianye Wugu, you used the Seal of Primordial Life and Death to cling to your old life, but have your ears gone deaf?"

In such a situation, no Dragon God could tolerate such behavior, let alone the Ash Dragon God himself.

"Heh," Qianye Wugu chuckled faintly, maintaining his calm, downcast gaze. "My master is right here. If you have any doubts, you may consult my master directly."

As a great-grandfather, yet addressing Qianye Ying'er as 'my master,' and doing so even after she had abandoned the Qianye surname for Yun—this left the Ash Dragon God's brow deeply furrowed. Everyone in the Southern Region reacted with a series of bewildered expressions, unable to comprehend.

"So you're saying," the Ash Dragon God remarked with a faint, unreadable smile, "that as Brahma Heaven Ancestors, you willingly became... a devil's lapdog!"

"Ash, you speak too harshly," Qianye Bingzhu said. "My master holds the future of Brahma Heaven in her heart, and the blood flowing through her veins is still that of Brahma Heaven. What does her surname matter?"

"Furthermore, if not for my master, Brahma Heaven would have long since followed in the footsteps of the Moon God Realm. We have witnessed everything and are content with this outcome. We also wish to personally witness and behold where Brahma Heaven's destiny will ultimately lead under this choice."

Qianye Bingzhu and Qianye Wugu had both once been Brahma Heaven God Emperors. Their experience and vision were immensely vast. Compared to others, they had even transcended the boundaries of life and death. During the years they existed as 'deceased individuals,' what they immersed themselves in and comprehended might have been a realm untouchable by mortals.

And yet, such individuals had unexpectedly made such a 'choice'?

In the ensuing silence, everyone present, from the lowest Sea Guards to the highest God Emperors, felt an immense, invisible tremor in their hearts.

"Shut up!" Qianye Ying'er reprimanded coldly. "I just told you not to waste words on dead men. Are you truly deaf?"

Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu fell completely silent.

"Dead men?" Ash scoffed. "Qianye... oh no, Yun Qianying, you couldn't possibly be referring to this Venerable One, could you?"

"Oh?" Qianye Ying'er raised her gaze, a faint smile gracing her lips, and said leisurely, "You couldn't possibly truly believe you can leave here alive today, could you?"

The moment these words were spoken, everyone in the royal hall, save for Yun Che's entourage, turned pale.

"Hahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!!"

The Ash Dragon God laughed wildly and without restraint, discarding all pretense of decorum. "Excellent, truly excellent! This is genuinely the most hilarious joke this Venerable One has ever heard in his life... Hahahahahahaha!"

The Southern Sea God Emperor immediately interjected with a laugh, "Hahaha, Ying'er has always enjoyed jesting, and I'm sure the Ash Dragon God won't take it seriously. Please be seated; before the ceremony, this King has prepared many entertainments that will surely not disappoint anyone."

The Ash Dragon God, however, paid no heed to the Southern Sea God Emperor's attempt at mediation. His laughter abruptly ceased as he scowled, glaring coldly at Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er. "In just one month, you forced the Eastern Divine Region into a humiliating defeat; you certainly possess some ability. But you couldn't possibly believe that this alone qualifies you to challenge my Dragon God Realm, could you!?"

"Tsk tsk," the Ash Dragon God shook his head, his lips curling in a sneer that was one-third mockery and two-thirds pity. "Originally, I kindly showed you a path to retreat. What a pity; in this world, the most incurable things are naivety and foolishness."

The Southern Sea God Emperor remained silent. With the Northern Region Devil Master on one side and a Western Region Dragon God on the other, no one from the Southern Region dared to easily interject.

Furthermore, in such a perfectly advantageous situation, how could the Southern Region God Emperor genuinely mediate!?

The Ash Dragon God possessed a violent and arrogant temper. However, the might of the Dragon God Realm, and indeed the entire Western Divine Region, was something no one had ever been able to question, nor dared to, since ancient times. Furthermore, standing at the supreme pinnacle, their true power would always be far more exaggerated than what was overtly displayed.

"Heh," Yun Che chuckled softly, speaking slowly. "Those who dare to act arrogantly or even insult this Devil Master in my presence will either become loyal dogs useful enough to keep their lives, or... they will die!"

"And you..." He lifted his head, his gaze indifferent and shadowed, as if he wasn't facing a Dragon God, but rather a pitiable person on the brink of death. "Only death awaits you."

Under Yun Che's chilling words, the already oppressive atmosphere suddenly became several times colder and heavier.

Die... here? Make a Dragon God die!?

Just because of the Ash Dragon God's earlier rude and arrogant words, which were, in truth, entirely normal given his temperament?

They dared not, could not, believe it.

"Just with you?" Facing Yun Che's gaze, the Ash Dragon God suddenly sensed that he wasn't joking at all, which paradoxically made him feel even more sarcastic and amused.

His gaze slowly swept over those behind Yun Che, and he said in a deep voice, "These old monsters behind you, I admit I am no match for them. But if I decide to leave, do you truly believe you can stop me? As for the consequences... Hah, you couldn't possibly be so foolish, could you?"

If Yun Che were to truly act against the Ash Dragon God in the Southern Sea King's Hall today, the most direct consequence would be to utterly provoke the Dragon God Realm!

And it would be for a reason that, to others, wouldn't even count as a reason.

This was far beyond what 'madness' or 'insanity' could describe.

Yun Che's expression remained utterly unchanged, his fingers seemingly unconsciously tapping the table. He spoke languidly, "When killing a chicken, one still worries about it flapping away. Killing a dragon... heh, that's merely butchering a dog."