Chapter 1863: Eternal Glory (Part 2)

"Sinner Qilin Realm King Qitianli, pays respects to the Devil Master."

The Qilin Emperor, accompanied by a host of Divine Lord Qilins, respectfully bowed behind Yun Che, awaiting their fate.

"...Azure Dragon Realm King Qingque, pays respects to the Devil Master."

The Azure Dragon Emperor followed the Qilin Emperor's lead, bowing at his side. However, she seemed unwilling to label herself a "sinner." Her fate was no longer in her hands. She had composed herself for a long time, prepared for any outcome.

Yun Che silently watched the northern region profound practitioners in the distance tending to their fallen kin. After a long moment, he finally turned around. As he turned, his gaze flickered, and his upper body instinctively leaned back.

The Qilin Emperor's face was aged and dark, and his figure was withered and short. As he also tried his best to suppress his imperial aura before Yun Che, he looked like a humble and refined ordinary elder. As for the Azure Dragon Emperor...

Her upper body was slightly bent in a respectful bow... yet she was a full half-foot taller than Yun Che. Men often feel an inexplicable sense of pressure when facing a woman taller than themselves. The Devil Master of the Northern Region was no exception. Yun Che's gaze involuntarily drifted to her lower body... The beautiful, long jade legs, vaguely visible beneath her long aqua-blue dress, were simply astonishing.

"...Kneel!" Yun Che said coldly.

The Qilin Emperor knelt without hesitation. The Azure Dragon Emperor followed suit, bending her knees to kneel. The oppressive feeling immediately vanished. Yun Che secretly sighed in relief, his cold eyes looking down at the two kneeling Divine Emperors.

As Western Region Royal Realms that had accompanied Long Bai, the Qilin Realm and Azure Dragon Realm had surprisingly minimal battle losses. According to Chi Wuyao's telepathic message, by the time Yun Che exited the Heaven Smiting Divine Realm, both realms had sustained only about ten percent casualties... even lower than the mighty Dragon God Realm. This was because, in both realms, the Divine Emperors had led by doing the bare minimum, while other Divine Lords had held back. Had they not feared offending the Dragon Monarch, they likely would have seized any opportunity to flee from the start. Afterwards, during the extermination of the Myriad Manifestations, Chilong, and Huilong clans... under the terrifying suppression of the Dragon Gods, it was like chopping vegetables; it was hard for them to even die, at most a few were injured by counter-attacking Myriad Manifestations profound practitioners.

"Your performance just now was decent. The Western Divine Region indeed needs some proper stepping stones." Yun Che's words were chillingly direct.

The Qilin Emperor immediately said, "Devil Master, rest assured. All star realms under the governance of my Qilin and Azure Dragon clans will fully submit to you, harboring no ill intentions whatsoever. As for other Western Region star realms, this old man and the Azure Dragon Emperor will do our utmost..."

"Hmph!" Yun Che coldly interrupted him, his hand, tainted with killing intent, slowly rising. "Before that, all those from your two clans who massacred my devil race profound practitioners, step forward and end your own lives! If even one is missing, I will slaughter your entire clan!"

Every word Yun Che uttered carried murderous intent. Yet, after he spoke, not a single person from the Qilin and Azure Dragon clans stepped forward.

Yun Che's expression suddenly darkened, and he let out a low chuckle. "Very well. It seems you wish for this Devil Master to act personally. But when I do, the deaths will not be limited to just..."

"No, no!" The Qilin Emperor quickly interjected, saying, "Devil Master, it's not that our two clans are afraid of death; rather, this old man and the Azure Dragon Emperor had already issued strict orders. On today's battlefield, no one from our two clans ever delivered a fatal blow to any Northern Region profound practitioner."

"Hah!" Yun Che sneered. "Ridiculous! I can't believe you came up with such foolish words!"

"It does sound quite amusing," Chi Wuyao's voice drifted over. "But what he says is true. Otherwise, I wouldn't have directly suggested that you temporarily pardon them."

"Indeed," Qianye Bingzhu also said faintly.

"…?" Yun Che was momentarily stunned.

"Devil Master, every word our lord said is true," a Purple Qilin from behind stated firmly. "Before today, our lord had issued strict orders: if we had to fight the devil race, we were to seek out evenly matched opponents. If we were forced to be the overwhelming side, and the opponent was pushed into a desperate situation, only members of other clans were allowed to deliver the killing blow. Killing devil race members was a merit that other clans would eagerly strive for, but for us... it was a grave sin that would incur our lord's punishment," another Purple Qilin added. "Therefore, from beginning to end, not a single person in our clan dared to deliver a fatal blow. On the contrary... many devil race profound practitioners counter-attacked with their lives, killing many of our clansmen."

"..." This was truly beyond Yun Che's expectation.

"Why?" he asked the Qilin Emperor.

The Qilin Emperor let out a sigh filled with endless sorrow, and said, "We Qilins are revered as auspicious beasts by the world. As the supreme beings of the Qilin clan, we dare not tarnish this reputation. We strictly avoid bloodshed and killing, seeking only peace for generations to come. We dared not offend the Dragon Monarch, so we had no choice but to obey his command and come here. However, this old man similarly dared not offend the Devil Master... Though young, the Devil Master wields the power of the Heretic God and inherited the Devil Emperor's legacy. From this old man's experience, the Devil Master has repeatedly shaken and startled my heart, leading me to gradually believe that the Devil Master truly possesses the power to overturn the world. Therefore, even with a tenfold advantage, this old man still tried his utmost to leave a glimmer of hope. If the Dragon Monarch won, we would accept severe punishment. If the Devil Master won... we could still strive for a chance at survival."

Yun Che narrowed his eyes and chuckled faintly, "What a remarkable effort to leave a glimmer of hope. What a cunning old fox. The title 'Qilin Emperor' probably doesn't do you justice."

The Qilin Emperor bowed his head again. "The Devil Master's lesson is well-received. We only seek peace and stability, harboring no ambition or ill intent whatsoever. This old man has always held the utmost admiration and reverence for the Devil Master, and only begs... for the Devil Master to spare our lives."

"Peace and stability? Heh, so afraid of death. If someone superior to this Devil Master appears in the future, you'll immediately kneel and switch allegiance, won't you?" Yun Che sneered.

"Yes," the Qilin Emperor replied without hesitation. "The Qilin lineage is extremely difficult to inherit. For generations, continuity has been paramount. Within our control, we never dominate others; beyond our control... we merely go with the flow. However," the Qilin Emperor immediately added, "the Devil Master's might is already enough to awe heaven and earth. Even someone as powerful as the Dragon Monarch was effortlessly crushed by the Devil Master. For a thousand generations to come, it will be impossible for anyone to surpass the Devil Master. Therefore, my Qilin clan shall forever revere the Devil Master. This is the oath of the Qilin Imperial Clan, with heaven and earth as our witnesses."

"..." Yun Che's gaze shifted slightly as he turned to the Azure Dragon Emperor. "Are you the same?"

The Azure Dragon Emperor said, "Azure Dragons are dragons of guardianship. Our dragon bodies and dragon power are solely for protection. The Devil Master only needs to examine the history of my Azure Dragon clan to know that we have never actively offended any other clan, nor have we ever involved ourselves in others' disputes. Everything today was out of necessity. Even the killing of the Chilong and Huilong clans was out of necessity."

"..." The redundant latter half of her statement startled the Qilin Emperor, making him break out in a cold sweat and almost speak up.

The Azure Dragon Emperor's words were calm and detached, almost devoid of emotion. Her tone was quite similar to Mu Xuanyin's back then.

"Little Azure Dragon!" Cang Shitian roared, jumping forward. "How dare you threaten the Devil Master!?"

"No, no, the Azure Dragon Emperor absolutely did not mean that!" The Qilin Emperor quickly interjected, "She is merely upright and too scrupulous about principles... otherwise, she wouldn't have been unwilling to exert her full strength even under the Dragon Monarch's watchful eye today."

An Azure Dragon Divine Attendant behind the Azure Dragon Emperor looked up and said, "Devil Master, when you saved all realms back then, you also saved our entire Azure Dragon Realm. Our lord has always harbored immense gratitude towards you. When your dark profound energy was exposed and you were hunted by all realms, our lord never changed her view of you because of your dark profound energy. Instead, she often lamented her powerlessness and felt deeply ashamed... During this fierce battle, our lord sent three telepathic messages: feign combat, and absolutely do not deliver a fatal blow. If the Devil Master doesn't believe us, you may probe my memories." With that, the Azure Dragon Divine Attendant closed her eyes, completely dispersing her soul power.

*Clap! Clap! Clap!*

Yun Che slowly clapped his hands, each sound striking at the heart. "Interesting, truly interesting. One prioritizes self-preservation and security, always leaving a path of retreat; the other prioritizes guardianship and abhors war, strictly adhering to principles. Two races utterly devoid of ambition or aggression, yet capable of governing a royal realm. Heh, were it not for your talent advantage far exceeding other races, I fear you would have long since been annihilated."

The Qilin Emperor bowed his head. "The Devil Master's lesson is well-received." In his heart, he let out a long sigh of relief... because he sensed that Yun Che was not angered by the Azure Dragon Emperor's words; rather, his chilling aura had somewhat receded.

"Hmph, still too comfortable," Chi Wuyao said softly. "If you had been born in the Northern Divine Region..." She did not continue, but everyone understood her implied meaning and sensed the invisible resentment from the Devil Queen of the Northern Region... For a million years, the Northern Divine Region had suffered terribly under the persecution of the three Divine Regions. Only today had it finally seen the light of dawn. What would be their approach to the three Divine Regions now? Would they repay hatred with hatred, or...? The power to decide all of this rested solely with Yun Che. In the Northern Divine Region, he had roared multiple times, vowing to transform the three Divine Regions into a dark purgatory, to make those he once saved live forever in tribulation, fear, regret, pain, and despair. However, from the day Yun Che suddenly decided to enter the Heaven Smiting Divine Realm, Chi Wuyao had strongly sensed that Yun Che's mindset seemed to have changed... a rather significant change.

"Pardon or kill?" Chi Wuyao asked. The hearts of all Qilins and Azure Dragons hung in suspense...

Yun Che turned around and walked away directly. "You decide." He recalled that back then, on the edge of the Primal Chaos, outside the Blue Pole Star... among all the Divine Emperors of the Royal Realms, only the Qilin Emperor and the Azure Dragon Emperor had never kicked them when they were down—even with the Dragon Monarch present.

At Yun Che's words, the Qilin Emperor's mind immediately relaxed, and his entire body felt on the verge of collapse. Glancing at Yun Che's retreating back, Chi Wuyao's exquisite lips parted slightly, and she slowly said, "You made a very wise choice today. This choice saved your lives, and more importantly, saved your entire clan. Remember everything from today. In the future, you absolutely must not make foolish mistakes."

"Thank you, Devil Master, for sparing our lives! Thank you, Devil Queen, for your grace!" The Qilin Emperor prostrated himself deeply, trembling with excitement as if reborn from disaster. "From now on, our Qilin and Azure Dragon clans will wholeheartedly pledge allegiance to the Devil Master and Devil Queen, obeying all your commands and orders. In leading the Western Divine Region this time, our two clans will do our utmost and certainly not disappoint the Devil Master and Devil Queen. Otherwise, we are willing to accept severe punishment." The Qilin Emperor knew that the Azure Dragon Emperor would be too proud to say many of these things, so he spoke on her behalf. It was well known that the Qilin Realm and Azure Dragon Realm had been on good terms for generations, as their principles of conduct were remarkably similar. Furthermore, the Qilin Emperor had always regarded the Azure Dragon Emperor as half a disciple and half a daughter, watching her grow and ascend to emperorship... This time, it was also he who pulled the Azure Dragon Emperor and the entire Azure Dragon Realm back from the brink of death.

The Qilins and Azure Dragons behind them were also greatly moved. At this moment, they truly understood that the Qilin Emperor's various cautious and hesitant behaviors since the Devil Master's return to the world were, in fact, a profound wisdom beyond others' grasp. After a long while, the Qilins and Azure Dragons slowly rose from the ground, their bodies still damp with sweat, feeling as if they had returned from another life.

The Azure Dragon Emperor raised her head and looked at Yun Che, who was already in the distance. He sat cross-legged on the ground, holding the petite Sirius God in his arms. He hadn't moved an inch since, his downcast eyes silently gazing at her face, seemingly hoping to be the first person she saw upon waking. Such a sight made it incredibly difficult for anyone to associate him with the Devil Master who had just brutally massacred the four Western Region clans.

Meanwhile, Shui Meiyin appeared before the Qiankun Dragon City. The Qiankun Dragon City floated high above, outside the Cerulean Sea Divine Region, far from the battlefield. Moreover, as an ancient divine vessel, it remained completely unharmed even when touched by numerous residual shockwaves. With Long Bai dead, the Qiankun Dragon City was now without a master.

Shui Meiyin watched in silence for a while, then extended her snow-white hand... In an instant, the strange red patterns covering the bottom of the Qiankun Dragon City flickered slightly before vanishing. In that fleeting moment, the Qiankun Dragon City had changed masters. The Qiankun Dragon City's spatial divine power originated from the Qiankun Stele. As the master of the Qiankun Stele, it wouldn't have been too difficult for Shui Meiyin to forcibly take control, even if Long Bai had been alive.

Behind her, a flash of devilish light revealed Chi Wuyao's figure. White mist swirled, ancient aura surged, and majestic palaces stood tall... Observing everything within the Qiankun Dragon City, even she was deeply astonished.

"It's three hundred and sixty li in both length and width, containing over two hundred palaces of various sizes. Thirty percent of these palaces contain intact independent spaces, making them far larger than they appear from the outside. Although it doesn't seem large overall, every brick and tile within it is crafted from ancient divine stone. Even if over ninety percent of its divine power has long since dissipated, it remains indestructible in this era."

Shui Meiyin continued, "Furthermore, every palace in the city has ancient seals. The Dragon God Realm evidently dared not forcefully break them, only waiting for them to naturally dissipate. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons it never appeared for a million years. Long Bai awakened it only for spatial teleportation... In other words, these Dragon City palaces have never been utilized."

"So?" Chi Wuyao's beautiful eyes shifted.

Shui Meiyin blinked and smiled faintly, "How about using it as Elder Brother Yun Che's Imperial City?"

The Qiankun Dragon City was a profound ark forged by the ancient Heretic God. It was then gifted to the ancient Dragon Gods. It was both a legacy of the Heretic God and a legacy of the Dragon God. For Yun Che, it was truly perfect... In this era, he was the only one truly worthy of the Qiankun Dragon City.

"A good idea," Chi Wuyao said, her enchanting eyes curving slightly. "However, the name needs to be changed."