Chapter 1790: The Final Act

The Snow Princess Sword was sheathed. As Mu Xuanyin's jade fingers lightly swept, Nan Wansheng's personal space, no longer supported by his power, instantly shattered and crumbled, releasing large swathes of strange profound light.

As items personally carried by the South Sea God Emperor, even the most inconspicuous among them were peerless treasures that ordinary people could not hope to possess in a lifetime. When these exotic treasures appeared, the light and aura of the entire planet drastically changed, and the earth began to tremble violently, seemingly unable to bear the powerful aura they released.

Mu Xuanyin's gaze fell upon a golden glow floating in mid-air. This golden glow was not dazzling, yet it was supremely clear and pure. It was clearly soul light separated from a soul source, a process that would cause damage to the soul's origin.

An object that the South Sea God Emperor would protect at such a cost could only be, without a doubt, the very lifeblood of the South Sea lineage—the inheritance artifact of South Sea divine power!

Mu Xuanyin slowly extended her hand, directly freezing and imprisoning Nan Wansheng's head and the South Sea divine source artifact within a blue light. Her figure then blurred and vanished without a sound.

Not a single trace of cold air remained, leaving no sign of her ever having been there.

At the cost of his own life force, he sent the gravely injured Nan Wansheng away. Nan Guichong seemed to have no lingering obsession; he completely withdrew his aura and closed his aged eyes, refusing to look at the royal city below, which had been reduced to a dark hell.

Having been an Emperor for half his life and leaving the last hope for the South Sea before his demise, he felt he had no regrets regarding the South Sea or his ancestors. What the future held for the South Sea was now up to fate.

Watching Nan Wansheng escape, the two Sea Gods fighting against Yan Zu, as well as the elders, Sea Guards, and profound practitioners desperately battling below, were all greatly invigorated. For them, it was undoubtedly a rekindling of hope in the darkness, an endless hope that even revitalized their shattered beliefs.

"The South Sea is eternal and indestructible... Even if we die, our power... will be reborn under the King!" the severely injured Sea God roared with all his might.

"The day our King returns will be the day you devils perish!" With both arms severed, another Sea God cried out with a voice full of blood and defiance. Every word stirred the hearts and souls of all South Sea profound practitioners; their weakening resistance instantly doubled, and they all fought with their lives.

Indeed, hope. For the South Sea at that moment, there was nothing more luxurious.

However, this luxury lasted for only a few fleeting breaths.

*Crack...*An extremely sharp shattering sound echoed in the soul seas of Nan Guichong and the two Sea Gods, instantly chilling their newly ignited fervor to the bone. The soul crystal shattered. Nan Wansheng... was dead.

Nan Guichong's closed eyes suddenly snapped open, but his gaze was murky and so dim that his pupils were almost indiscernible.

The two Sea Gods also froze in mid-air, their entire bodies trembling with cold, as if they had fallen into the deepest, darkest ice hell.

Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu landed before Nan Guichong, both looking at him with confusion as his expression suddenly changed drastically.

Nan Guichong slowly raised his head, his aged face clouded with ultimate despair.

His trembling finger rose, pointing at Yun Che high in the sky, and from his mouth came a difficult whisper: "You... actually..."

"Heh... hehe..." Nan Guichong suddenly laughed, his laughter exceptionally desolate. "My South Sea's strongest power was countered by you, and our last retreat was also part of your calculations long ago... Northern Region Devil Master... you are truly ruthless..."

Yun Che: "...?"

"Oh?" A look of astonishment flashed across Qianye Ying'er's face. Her gaze swept over Nan Guichong and the two Sea Gods as she muttered lowly, "Could it be... Nan Wansheng is dead!?"

Someone intercepted the Phantom Sea Profound Matrix?

She suddenly turned her gaze, glancing at Cai Zhi, who had been indifferent to Nan Wansheng's escape.

"Since it has come to this, find release," Qianye Bingzhu said, extending his palm towards Nan Guichong.

"No need," Nan Guichong said faintly. His aged eyes looked down. In his sight, the royal city was stained with blood, its former prosperity and glory turning into ruin and ashes. Perhaps at this moment, he wished he had truly passed away years ago; at least then, in his life's memories, the South Sea Royal Realm would always remain as magnificent and proud as it once was.

"Flee," his voice was heavy and drawn out, like the chime of a rusted, ancient bell thousands of years old. "In this world, there is no South Sea anymore. Your will no longer belongs to the South Sea... Flee... flee... At least save your own lives."

As his words fell, he raised his palm, gathering the last of his South Sea divine light, and slammed it heavily against his own celestial spirit.

*Boom—*A muffled roar echoed deep within the souls of all South Sea profound practitioners. The last trace of dim light vanished from Nan Guichong's pupils as his body slowly fell... and with it, the newly reborn beliefs of all South Sea profound practitioners crumbled.

More desperate than despair itself was the despair that followed hope.

Nan Guichong's last words undoubtedly told them that Nan Wansheng, who had just escaped—the last hope remaining for the South Sea—had perished in an instant.

Their fighting spirit, belief, and will utterly collapsed. When their former God Emperor personally declared the demise of the South Sea, they no longer had a sense of belonging, no longer a reason to resist.

"If... the... South... Sea... is... destroyed... what... use... are... Sea... Gods..." The two Sea Gods uttered identical whispers. Their gazes met, but produced not a single spark of color, only empty grayness.

*Bang!!*Two exceptionally dazzling golden lights exploded in the air. Their last vestiges of Sea God power erupted within themselves, transforming into divine light to escort themselves to their demise... Perhaps this was the last dignity they could display in their utter despair.

The last remaining Sea God was Nan Qianqiu, clutched in Yan Yi's hand, his head hanging limply, his limbs dangling, unable even to seek death.

Both Emperors were dead, and the Sea Gods who fought to the very end also chose to self-destruct... The blood-soaked South Sea profound practitioners, even the highly esteemed elders and Sea Guards, felt their last shred of belief utterly collapse, leaving nothing to support them.

Stunned, wailing, despair... The South Sea profound practitioners, already at a massive disadvantage, crumbled again and again. They no longer had the will to fight and began to flee with all their might, frantically, because by now, the only thing left for them to protect was their own lives.

The blood-stained Primordial Dragons, with every flap of their wings, annihilated countless South Sea profound practitioners. As for the Yama Devils and Yama Ghosts, they harbored resentment and the pleasure of slaughtering Southern Region profound practitioners. Their attacks showed not the slightest mercy. A mere few dozen of them tore open one hellish realm of death after another across this devastated land.

The South Sea Royal City within sight had transformed into a true blood-colored hell, and the sound of endless, despairing wails filled the air. Yan Tianxiao gazed down proudly; as an invader, his dark eyes held not the slightest trace of pity or remorse, only endless satisfaction... Their hatred and resentment for the profound practitioners of the Three Regions had long been ingrained in their bones, passed down for nearly a million years.

"As expected, that seemingly mysterious escape profound array was also long within the Devil Master's control." A mocking smile played on Yan Tianxiao's lips, while inwardly, he held an indescribable reverence for Yun Che's overwhelming might. He flashed, appearing beside Yun Che, and knelt with bowed head, asking, "Devil Master, although the remaining South Sea forces are numerous, they have no will to fight and are fleeing in all directions. Should we pursue them to extinction?"

As the South Sea profound practitioners fled, the Primordial Dragon Clan's offensive clearly slowed. Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu both stood silently before Nan Guichong's corpse, no longer making a move.

"I said that not a single blade of grass from the South Sea lineage must remain!" Yun Che's voice was icy. "However, with just the few people you've brought, attempting to annihilate them all would be delusional."

To conceal their tracks, Yan Tianxiao had only brought the Yama Devils and Yama Ghosts. Although they all possessed terrifying Divine Master power, their numbers were ultimately too small. To completely wipe out the South Sea lineage with just them was indeed a pipe dream.

"What does the Devil Master mean?" Yan Tianxiao asked for instruction.

"Pursue them to the South Sea border. As for what happens next..." A terrifying, dark light flashed in Yun Che's eyes. "Someone will take care of it."

Eastern Divine Region, Eternal Heaven Realm.

Since Yun Che departed for the Southern Divine Region, Chi Wuyao, though not showing any signs of worry, had remained somewhat restless these past few days.

When Yun Che was by her side, no matter how outrageous his actions, she could handle them. But now, with the Eastern and Southern Regions separated, her reach was limited, and she ultimately could not feel completely at ease.

Her only two sources of comfort were Mu Xuanyin, hidden in the Southern Divine Region, and Qianye Ying'er, who had secretly followed with the two Brahma Ancestors and Gu Zhu.

A fragrant breeze wafted as a colorful silhouette appeared like an illusion before Chi Wuyao. Huajin knelt on the ground, her voice slightly hurried: "Master, over in the Southern Region..."

"What happened?" Chi Wuyao abruptly rose. For Huajin to show even a slight hint of panic, it was certainly no small matter.

Huajin steadied her breath and said, "The Devil Master tortured and killed Ash Dragon God, one of the Nine Dragon Gods of the Dragon God Realm, at the South Sea Crown Prince's investiture ceremony."

A short sentence, yet every word was absolutely world-shaking, especially since Huajin specifically emphasized "tortured and killed."

"..." Chi Wuyao's crescent brows furrowed slightly, but she remained silent.

Huajin continued, "This news is spreading extremely fast. The South Sea is clearly actively fueling it, and it won't be long before everyone knows."

"Dragon Gods surely have mutual senses; if Ash Dragon God dies, others would know instantly. Now is absolutely not the time to provoke the Dragon God Realm..." Chi Wuyao murmured, "Why would he do this?"

Suddenly, her eyebrow arched, and she whispered, "Could it be that he's using this to instill fear in the South Sea, to force them to use the Sea God Cannon!?"

"Sea God Cannon? What's that?" Huajin looked up and asked instinctively.

"If that's truly the case, then I... still underestimated his madness for revenge." Chi Wuyao gently closed her eyes, sighed softly, and muttered to herself, somewhat lost in thought, "I thought that after the matter with Ying'er, he would at least..."

Huajin, understanding vaguely, asked, "Master, the Dragon God Realm will surely be furious. Even without the Dragon Monarch's command, they cannot remain silent. What should we do next? Please give your orders."

A brief silence. Chi Wuyao opened her eyes, her dark pupils as deep as a dark sea. "Order Tian Mu I and Tian Guhu to immediately mobilize at least fifty star realms guarding the western regions of the Eastern Divine Region. Have them abandon their posts and, led by their respective realm kings, immediately move north, returning to the Northern Divine Region. The faster, the better; the grander the scale, the better!"

Now, she must fully distract the Dragon God Realm's attention to buy as much response time and opportunity as possible.

"Yes!" Though shocked inwardly, Huajin did not inquire further and prepared to leave.

"Wait!" Chi Wuyao suddenly thought of something, her jade arm rising and freezing in the air.

"The order remains, but have Tian Mu I and Tian Guhu postpone their actions." Chi Wuyao's voice was slow, as if speaking to Huajin, yet also to herself. "Wait a few more hours; there might be a surprise from the Southern Divine Region."

"There's another possibility..." she mused softly. "If a Dragon God dies, the Dragon Monarch might also sense it."

If that were the case, the Dragon Monarch, who had been "transferred away," would surely return to the Dragon God Realm immediately!