Chapter 1823: Heavenly Divine Realm

Soon, the core members of the Devil Race gathered at the Azure Cloud Main Hall.

Qianye Ying'er was the first to arrive, practically rushing in like a storm.

Qianye Ying'er had just returned to the Azure Cloud Realm today with a group of Brahma Kings and Brahma Heaven God Envoys from the Eastern Divine Region when she suddenly learned that Yun Che had gone south with Shui Meiyin without the Three Yama Ancestors. She was furious on the spot and gave the Three Yama Ancestors a severe beating.

This was why the Three Yama Ancestors were so terrified by Yun Che's smile that they frantically kowtowed and admitted their mistakes. After all, angering their mistress was a grave error to begin with.

If not for Chi Wuyao's intervention, she would have already chased them south to drag Yun Che and Shui Meiyin back.

As Qianye Ying'er stomped in, Yun Che turned around, a faint smile on his face. "When did you get back?"

"How dare you ask me that?" Qianye Ying'er's eyes were icy. "At such a crucial time, you had the leisure to go out with that little girl from the Glazed Light Realm..."

Before she could finish, her beautiful eyes slowly narrowed.

"You... you're not right," she said suddenly, staring at Yun Che.

"Am I?" Yun Che replied with a smile, neither denying nor admitting it. "Don't worry. Even without those three old monsters, no one in this world can stop me. The Devil Queen and Yan Tianxiao are handling the battle formations, and preparations for the war are being independently completed by each star realm. Leaving the Southern Divine Region to Cang Shitian is enough. My presence here isn't that important."

Qianye Ying'er's gaze intensified further.

Because Yun Che was actually patiently explaining to her instead of giving an impatient snort.

As Qianye Ying'er looked on in surprise and doubt, Yun Che suddenly reached out and gently tucked a strand of her golden hair behind her ear. He said softly, "Next time, don't be so flustered by such a small matter."

"…!?" Qianye Ying'er froze for a moment, then abruptly recoiled half a step as if shocked by electricity. Her beautiful eyes stared intently at Yun Che, and her spiritual perception swept directly over his entire body.

She was intimately familiar with every single aura of Yun Che's being, yet at this moment, she couldn't believe the person in front of her was Yun Che.

A person's subconscious cannot be faked. And changes in the subconscious undoubtedly lead to corresponding changes in emotions and behavior.

The destruction of the Blue Pole Star was the root cause of Yun Che's profound inner turmoil. Now, having personally witnessed the Blue Pole Star's continued existence, his subconscious had naturally undergone earth-shattering changes. In the eyes of Qianye Ying'er, who knew him too well, he was like a completely different person.

His hand remained suspended in mid-air. Realizing his actions were far too unusual compared to before, he took a deep breath. Dark profound energy surfaced, as he tried to adjust his expression and aura back to their usual sinister state...

But what floated before his eyes were the safe and sound figures of his parents, daughter, Ling Xi, Caiyi, Yuechan, Cang Yue, Ling'er... His blood flowed hotly through his veins because of them.

His face grew cold, but the darkness and resentment stemming from his deepest will and soul simply could not be released.

Just then, the hall's barrier opened. Chi Wuyao, Caizhi, and Shui Meiyin arrived together. Behind them, Yan Tianxiao's figure descended from the air.

Shifting her attention slightly from Yun Che, Qianye Ying'er glared at Shui Meiyin from a distance. The latter simply chuckled and playfully stuck out her tongue.

"It seems our Devil Master has something important to announce." Chi Wuyao slowly approached, enveloped in a swirling devilish aura.

Like Qianye Ying'er, as she neared Yun Che, her gaze subtly shifted and lingered on him for a while.

"Devil Master, I have already given orders for the divine crystals, divine jades, and top-grade divine swords you require," Yan Tianxiao was the first to report to Yun Che. "They should be gathered sufficiently within three hours at the latest."

Yun Che nodded. "Very good."

"Why are you suddenly calling for such a large amount of divine crystals and divine jades? And what are all those swords for?" Qianye Ying'er asked with a frown.

Resources plundered from the Eternal Heaven, Brahma Monarch, Xuanyuan, Ziwei, and Southern Sea realms, among others, had been fully utilized to replenish the energy of various profound artifacts and profound formations during this period.

"Cultivation," Yun Che replied concisely.

This answer stunned everyone except Shui Meiyin, and his subsequent words astonished them even more.

"The assault on the Dragon God Realm will be postponed by ten days," Yun Che said slowly.

"Ah... what?" Yan Tianxiao abruptly looked up, his face full of bewilderment.

The full assault on the Dragon God Realm was originally scheduled for seven days from now.

At this moment, all the devil cultivators of the Northern Divine Region were preparing with full might, their morale and energy accumulated to their peak. The devil blood in their bodies burned more fiercely each day... If a postponement were suddenly announced now, no matter how justifiable or necessary the reason, it would inevitably cause a major morale drain.

When rekindled, their momentum would surely diminish by several points.

"Why?" Chi Wuyao's reaction was calm, her voice soft and soul-stirring.

Yun Che was not surprised by their reactions. He explained, "The Eternal Heaven Pearl, which I obtained from the Eternal Heaven Realm earlier, can temporarily open the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm once."

"Before annihilating the Dragon God Realm, I plan to enter the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm to cultivate for a period." After a slight pause, Yun Che explained in more detail: "The power of the Eternal Heaven Pearl was severely depleted when it was forcibly opened for three thousand years to the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm back then. The residual power it has recovered over the years can only barely open the Divine Realm for three years, and the rate of time flow is far from comparable to that previous occasion."

"These three years in the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm are roughly equivalent to eleven days in the outside world."

Qianye Ying'er: "..."

Chi Wuyao: "..."

Caizhi: "..."

"I see!" Yan Tianxiao suddenly understood, his expression instantly changing from doubt to excitement. "Although three years is short, the Devil Master inherits the legacy of the Devil Emperor. How can ordinary mortals of this world be compared? Currently, the Devil Master is only at the Divine Sovereign Realm yet his divine might already shakes the world. If he can achieve the Divine Master realm this way, I fear even the so-called Dragon Monarch will become nothing more than an ant under the Devil Master's feet!"

After he finished speaking, he suddenly noticed the atmosphere was off. His spiritual sense swept discreetly around... Except for him, everyone else had remained silent for a long time.

Qianye Ying'er and Chi Wuyao exchanged a silent glance.

Yun Che, who couldn't even wait an extra day in the Northern Divine Region, was now actually postponing the assault on the Dragon God Realm to cultivate for three years in the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm!?

If it were a master with a bad temper, they would surely have wanted to jump up and curse Yun Che right to his face: "What the hell were you doing before?! You absolutely refused to stay in the Northern Divine Region for a few more years, and now you're suddenly pulling this?!"

"He's not right," Qianye Ying'er transmitted to Chi Wuyao.

Chi Wuyao glanced thoughtfully at Shui Meiyin, then replied, "It seems something happened during the day he was away with little Meiyin."

"But it looks like... at least it's not a bad thing."

"How many people can enter the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm this time?" Caizhi suddenly spoke, her eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

"Two," Yun Che said, then looked at Shui Meiyin. "For these 'three years,' I plan to cultivate in the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm with Meiyin."

Caizhi's face tightened as she asked, "What about one more person?"

"Uh..." Yun Che's scalp tingled. He could only truthfully say, "For each additional person, the time the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm can sustain itself will be halved."

Caizhi's soft chest heaved, and her lips subtly bit together.

Just as Yan Tianxiao was about to speak, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to breathe.

"Hmph," Caizhi coldly snorted, dismissing it with contempt: "The so-called Eternal Heaven Pearl is nothing special!"

She turned away indignantly, about to leave.

"Caizhi!"

But just as her profound energy stirred, Yun Che's figure swiftly flashed to her, seizing her hand.

She yanked her hand away, but failed to shake Yun Che off. A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her delicate, soft body into a firm embrace. A hurried explanation came from beside her ear: "Caizhi, I absolutely don't want to keep you out of the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm. Going with Meiyin this time is for a special reason."

"You don't need to explain; what does it have to do with me?" Caizhi twisted her body forcefully, but she was held tightly.

Seeing Yun Che and Caizhi like this, Chi Wuyao couldn't help but smile faintly. She helped Yun Che out: "If I'm not mistaken, your primary goal for entering the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm this time is to cultivate your soul, with profound cultivation being secondary?"

"That's right," Yun Che nodded immediately.

"I see." Chi Wuyao thought for a moment, vaguely guessing what Yun Che's special, unrevealed "trump card" might be. "If that's the case, then little Meiyin is indeed the best choice. In terms of assisting soul cultivation, nothing in this world can compare to an Immaculate Divine Soul, including this queen's own devil soul."

"Yes, Brother Yun Che said the same," Shui Meiyin added. "Although I'm not entirely sure yet how to help Brother Yun Che, please don't worry, Sister Caizhi. I will do my utmost and won't disappoint you."

Her inner agitation was gently quelled, and Caizhi's face subtly flushed. She squirmed in Yun Che's arms and said, "Alright, I get it. I didn't... didn't do anything, you don't need to explain to me... let go."

Yun Che still didn't let go. He whispered in her ear, "The next time the Eternal Heaven Pearl recovers enough power, I'll stay with you in the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm for as long as you want."

Caizhi's body instantly softened by several points, and even her struggles became weak and listless. She said in a small voice, her face buried against him, "You still haven't let go... there are so many people here."

Caizhi's waist was too slender and soft like jade silk, making Yun Che unwilling to let go, yet also afraid to hold too tightly. He declared righteously in her ear, "I am the Devil Master of the Northern Divine Region, a person destined to become the master of the God Realm. It is only natural for me to embrace my wife! Who dares to object?!"

Chi Wuyao: "..."

Yan Tianxiao: "..."

"Hmph!" Qianye Ying'er turned her face away. "Scoundrel."

"Oh?" Chi Wuyao's eyes showed curiosity. "Where did you learn such a strange word?"

"I don't know," Qianye Ying'er snapped.

"How strange." Chi Wuyao's seductive eyes narrowed. "What exactly did he experience in that single day away? It's as if... he's swapped souls."

Five hours later.

In the center of the Azure Cloud Royal Hall, the Eternal Heaven Pearl floated quietly in the air, emitting a pure, flawless white light.

After considering various factors, they chose this core of the Azure Cloud Realm as the place to set the Eternal Heaven Pearl and activate the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm.

Seven different barriers had been set up inside and outside the Royal Hall. And after Yun Che and Shui Meiyin entered the Eternal Heaven Pearl, the Three Yama Ancestors would also guard the place day and night to ensure nothing went wrong.

He Ling's ethereal figure appeared within the Eternal Heaven Pearl. Her hands were clasped before her chest as she focused on gathering the Pearl's power.

"Master, the residual power of the Eternal Heaven Pearl is too scarce. After the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm opens, I must constantly guide and operate the Pearl's divine power to maintain its activation. Therefore, during this time, I will also be unable to perceive or transmit outside information and sounds to you."

"I understand," Yun Che nodded. "He Ling, thank you for your hard work."

"Also, because my mastery over the Eternal Heaven Pearl is not yet complete, it is best... no, it is absolutely crucial to ensure that the Eternal Heaven Pearl is not disturbed by external forces. Otherwise, if the Eternal Heaven Pearl encounters an overly powerful external force, causing the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm to collapse, I cannot guarantee full control. Should that cause a terrible spacetime distortion, the consequences would be... unimaginable."

"I understand," Yun Che said, glancing at the Three Yama Ancestors. "Let me repeat: no one is allowed to approach the barrier by even half a step, except for the Devil Queen, Qianye Ying'er, and Caizhi. Do you understand?!"

Yan Tianxiao instinctively lowered his head.

"We obey Master's command!" The Three Yama Ancestors promptly replied, then simultaneously glared at Yan Tianxiao.

If Yun Che hadn't spoken, they would have eagerly followed orders to drive away anyone not permitted.

Yun Che took Shui Meiyin's hand. He said to Chi Wuyao and the others, "I'll leave matters here to you all."

"Oh, and by the way, no matter what... be wary of Cang Shitian."

"When you come out, you'll definitely bring us a surprise, right?" Chi Wuyao smiled faintly.

"Hmph, I don't need your reminder," Qianye Ying'er said coldly. She cast a sidelong glance at Shui Meiyin: "Three years in the Eternal Heaven Divine Realm isn't long, but it's not short either. When you get tired of cultivating, why don't you try out all those depraved methods you used on me on this little divine maiden a few times? I'd really like to see if she'll be 'broken' after three years, or become a..."

"Cough, cough, cough, cough!" Yun Che stopped Qianye Ying'er's words with a stiff series of dry coughs. Tightening his grip on Shui Meiyin's suddenly hot little hand, he quickly said, "He Ling, open the realm!"

As Yun Che's voice faded, He Ling, inside the Eternal Heaven Pearl, parted her hands.

A swirl of white light enveloped them. The scene before Yun Che and Shui Meiyin instantly turned into a boundless expanse of white. The aura of the Azure Cloud Realm vanished in an instant.

An ancient, vast, desolate, and exceptionally heavy aura slowly permeated the air.