Chapter 1816: 乱魂

Here, near the southernmost border of the Seven Star Realm, the most terrifying aura ever known was permeating the air.

Yun Che's gaze and aura were fixed on the burly man. His chest was heaving, and his eyes trembled—a reaction more intense than any he had experienced since entering the Northern Divine Region and becoming a devil.

For the burly man reflected in his eyes was someone he knew all too well, more than a relative, yet someone who was clearly no longer of this world.

Xia Yuanba!

Though Xia Yuanba remained robust and imposing after more than four years, his physique had noticeably slimmed down. This was a natural change, a result of his cultivation entering the Divine Way and the influence of the Tyrannical Emperor's Divine Veins.

His expression had grown more resolute, and his aura more profound.

Even if these changes had been several times more drastic, Yun Che could not have mistaken him, for this was Xia Yuanba. Moreover, the Tyrannical Emperor's Divine Veins, unmistakably his, were radiating brightly on his chest.

For Yun Che, there could be no clearer or simpler identification. Yet, his gaze flickered, and his spiritual perception wavered. He confirmed it again and again, then doubted himself, unable to believe what he saw.

A mere resemblance?

Even the life aura and profound energy were identical...

And also possessing the Tyrannical Emperor's Divine Veins...

But back then, he had clearly...

The power of a Divine Emperor unleashed by Xia Qingyue herself had instantly annihilated the Blue Pole Star. How could he possibly still be alive? No living being on the Blue Pole Star could have survived; not even a tiny trace could have been left behind.

He looked at Xia Yuanba, and Xia Yuanba looked back at him.

Compared to Xia Yuanba's transformation, Yun Che's changes over the past few years were undoubtedly earth-shattering.

His hair had more than doubled in length, like congealed darkness, and as it fell loose, it seemed to spread out an endless, bottomless dark devil realm, making it impossible to meet his gaze.

The Yun Che Xia Yuanba knew preferred light-colored outer garments, predominantly white after he entered the Ice Phoenix Palace. But now, he was entirely clad in black, with devilish patterns etched onto his attire, exuding a dangerous aura.

His skin seemed to be coated with an unsettling grayish-white pallor, and his eyes and aura were entirely different. This caused Xia Yuanba's heart and breath to freeze, his blood unable to flow, his entire body rapidly growing cold, with only his soul trembling violently and ceaselessly.

The only things that remained the same were his build and facial features.

No... he's not brother-in-law... he's not!

Having grown up together in Flowing Cloud City, knowing each other as well as any two people possibly could, they now stared blankly, not daring to acknowledge the other.

"De-de-de-demon... Demon Master!"

The voice in his ear was a terrified, hoarse rasp, as if scraped from the depths of a soul. The moment the two Seven Star Realm profound practitioners clearly saw Yun Che before them, every hair on their bodies stood on end. Endless terror, like countless fanged devils, completely devoured their bodies and souls.

"P-p-p-please... spare our lives... Demon Master, spare our lives... spare our lives..."

The 'bold words' they had just uttered toward the low-realm individual with the Tyrannical Emperor's Divine Veins had undoubtedly been heard firsthand by the Demon Master.

They couldn't believe such absurd misfortune existed in this world.

They desperately wanted to escape, to flee with all their might. But their legs had completely turned to jelly, rendering them unable to stand. They had even forgotten how to use their profound energy, their entire bodies convulsing as they desperately squirmed like two despairing, legless larvae.

Without Yun Che making a single move or uttering a sound, the two men had already turned into dark smoke and dust, dissipating in an instant.

The world fell silent. Xia Yuanba, however, staring blankly at Yun Che, had not witnessed this scene.

Shui Meiyin caught up, looking at Yun Che, then at Xia Yuanba, a bewildered expression on her face.

"Yuan...ba..."

A faint sound finally escaped Yun Che's lips, as if he feared accidentally shattering an illusory dream. "Is it... you?"

Xia Yuanba's eyes twitched. Clearly hearing the name 'Yuanba,' all his fear and doubt instantly transformed into wild joy. He sprang to his feet, shouting with immense excitement, "It's me! It's me! Brother-in-law... Is it really you! Is it really you?!"

That single cry of 'brother-in-law' caused Yun Che's body to tremble violently.

In this world, only two people called him 'brother-in-law':

One was Caizhi, the other Xia Yuanba.

It's Yuanba...

He's still alive?

Still... alive...?

Terrifying as the Demon Master's dark might was, Xia Yuanba seemed completely oblivious. He took a few quick steps forward, practically lunging in front of Yun Che, his face alight with excitement and joy.

No matter what Yun Che had become or what heights he had reached, as long as he was Yun Che, Xia Yuanba would never need to be on guard; there would never be any estrangement between them.

"Brother-in-law, I found you... I finally found you! Finally... finally..."

Before he could say more than a few words, he bit his lip, trying hard to hold back, but tears still involuntarily burst from his eyes.

He quickly wiped away his tears and forced a grin. "You've been gone for so many years, I thought... *hiss*... it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. It's just good to see you're safe, that's wonderful..."

Shui Meiyin's pink lips slowly parted and remained open for a long moment. Gradually, her gaze grew complex, finally settling into a soft, yet endlessly complicated sigh.

Was this... fate?

Xia Yuanba was tearfully laughing with excitement, while Yun Che, seemingly indifferent before him, was in truth even more overwhelmed. Too excited and confused to think or speak, his mind was a complete blank.

He reached out a hand, touching Xia Yuanba's arm, truly sensing his life aura, as robust and fiery as volcanic rock.

"You're still... alive," he said softly.

"Heh, heh, of course!" Xia Yuanba thumped his steel-like chest with a fist. "Although ascending to the Divine Realm was as dangerous as brother-in-law said, I'm no pushover. Not only did I successfully arrive here, but I also found you, brother-in-law."

He clearly couldn't grasp Yun Che's meaning.

"Speaking of you, brother-in-law," he chuckled, scanning Yun Che up and down, "your outfit is strange... yet a bit imposing."

"Oh, right, those two scumbags who were bullying others just now seemed to call you Demon Master. You're not really who they said... huh?"

As he spoke, he naturally turned his head, only then discovering that the two Seven Star Realm profound practitioners were already gone without a trace, which momentarily stunned him.

Yun Che had been desperately trying to suppress the turmoil in his heart, adjusting his breathing. It wasn't until this moment that he finally managed to calm down a little.

Grasping Xia Yuanba's arm tightly, Yun Che slowly asked, "Did you leave the Blue Pole Star four years ago?"

Given the power that annihilated the Blue Pole Star, Xia Yuanba absolutely could not have survived.

Therefore, the only possibility he could conceive was that Xia Yuanba had left the Blue Pole Star before its destruction.

After all, at that time, Xia Yuanba had forcefully reached Divine Origin Realm Level One with the help of the Divine Water of Life Yun Che had given him, barely possessing the ability to travel through space and ascend to the Divine Realm.

"Huh? Of course not." Xia Yuanba was momentarily stunned, then immediately shook his head, wondering why Yun Che would ask such a strange question. "I set off four months ago, and just the day before yesterday, I arrived at this place called the Seven Star Realm. I never expected to meet you, brother-in-law, right away."

While filled with excitement and joy, he had many questions for Yun Che.

For example, why, when he had inquired about the name 'Yun Che' in the Seven Star Realm, everyone he asked had fled in terror as if facing a plague. And the two he met today had even directly attacked him.

"Four months ago..." Yun Che shook his head. "No, that's impossible."

Xia Yuanba scratched his head, saying sheepishly, "I know I'm slow. It's mainly because I encountered several spatial turbulences along the way, and the stars I landed on before were all dead—I was like a headless fly. Uh... I definitely can't compare to you, brother-in-law."

"But seeing you safe and sound, I now wish I could turn back immediately and let them rest assured," Xia Yuanba grinned.

Yun Che parted his lips. "They...?"

"You've been gone for so many years without any news; everyone was incredibly worried." Xia Yuanba's expression grew serious. "Especially Wuxin. She broke down and cried for a long time on her eighteenth birthday, and after her nineteenth birthday, she insisted on coming to the Divine Realm to find you. I had to promise her I would go to the Divine Realm right away to finally stop her."

Yun Che's mind buzzed.

Wuxin... nineteenth birthday...

Each word struck him like soul-shattering thunder.

For three full breaths, Yun Che remained stunned, then the hand gripping Xia Yuanba's arm suddenly tightened. "What are you saying...? What Wuxin...? What nineteenth birthday...? What are you talking about...? Who is this Wuxin you're speaking of...? Which Wuxin...? Which Wuxin?!"

Xia Yuanba grimaced in pain, but even more terrifying was Yun Che's expression at that moment.

With his eyes wide, Xia Yuanba cried out, flustered, "Wuxin is your daughter, of course! Brother-in-law, what's wrong with you? Hiss—Brother-in-law, you... you seem off."

Yun Che fiercely bit the tip of his tongue, and a strong bloody taste accompanied by a sharp sting quickly spread throughout his mouth.

His chest heaving, he forced himself to calm down. Suddenly, he released Xia Yuanba, his teeth slightly clenched, his gaze sinking. "You're lying to me... You're lying to me!"

"This is south of the Southern Divine Region! How could you possibly come here from outside the Eastern Divine Region in just four months? Everything else you're saying is also a lie!"

Back then, he had personally watched the Blue Pole Star be annihilated by Xia Qingyue's sword. The stardust left behind, the bloody aura that permeated the air after countless beings perished—none of it could have been false.

A host of Divine Emperors and Realm Kings had also been observing from the side.

He had many times gazed at his homeworld from the void, blue and mysterious, still exquisitely dazzling among a multitude of brilliant stars. Its light, its location in space, its position in the star realm—he could not possibly have remembered them incorrectly.

How could his daughter still be alive?

"From outside the Eastern Divine Region?" Xia Yuanba's already wide eyes widened further. "Speaking of that, I was actually going to ask you, brother-in-law. You told me back then that the closest Divine Region to our Blue Pole Star was the Eastern Divine Region. So after I left the Blue Pole Star, I kept heading west. But I soon discovered that the direction was completely wrong, because the further west I went, the sparser and more turbid the aura became."

Yun Che: "..."

"Afterwards, I changed direction to north and finally arrived here. If I hadn't gone the wrong way at first, I would have been much faster."

Staring at Xia Yuanba, Yun Che's gaze gradually darkened. "To the north? Are you saying the Blue Pole Star is south of the Southern Divine Region?"

"Of course," Xia Yuanba nodded. "My biggest fear on the way was getting disoriented, so I made soul marks all the way."

He pointed south. "Our Blue Pole Star is located almost exactly due south of this Seven Star Realm. The general direction is south of this Southern Divine Region... Uh, did I say something wrong?"

The moment his voice fell, his whole body suddenly trembled.

A chilling murderous intent enveloped him.