Chapter 1869: Black Dust

Vast clouds of dust gently and silently settled over the Azure Sea Divine Realm.

The Northern Divine Region profound practitioners, who had been vehemently keeping their devil blood boiling in preparation to suppress the Western Divine Region, gradually dispersed the fighting intent and malevolence around them. Clearly, Chi Wuyao's decisions were all aimed at avoiding conflict. She no longer wished to see any further damage to these core forces of the Northern Divine Region.

However, even as she avoided conflict, the hand of darkness pressing down on the entire God Realm did not ease; instead, it grew heavier.

Between controlling people and killing people, she was clearly more skilled at the former.

For the King Realms of the Western and Southern Regions, whether they surrendered willingly or under duress, she exploited the value of every individual to the extreme in various ways, while simultaneously maintaining absolute control over them.

Around the Azure Sea Divine Realm, returning Azure Sea profound ships, which had come back after the war, were now docked. This included the Azure Sea Furious Shark, which had been the first to retreat, carrying a group of direct Azure Sea descendants.

Cang Shuhui, whom Chi Wuyao had mentioned, was among them. However, she never appeared, and Yun Che showed no interest in her, not even asking Cang Shitian to call her out for a glance.

One by one, dark profound arks also landed in the center of the divine realm. A group of dark profound practitioners, covered in blood and wounds, carrying their achievements destined to be remembered by the world and the remains of their kin, were about to temporarily return to the Northern Region.

But it wouldn't be long before they returned with more of their people. After all, they could hardly miss Yun Che's enthronement ceremony.

"The Western Region's Azure Dragon, the Southern Region's Shuhui—someone with no emotional connection, someone he's never even met, yet he can declare them a consort with a single word. This is what it means to be an Emperor." Chi Wuyao stood beside Yun Che, speaking slowly, "Whether it's a living being or an inanimate object, as long as there is sufficient reason or value, it can be taken by force, and no one can defy it."

"All I want is that status," Yun Che said, his expression placid. "As for what happens afterward..."

"You handle the big matters, I'll handle the small ones, how about that?" Chi Wuyao smiled enchantingly. In truth, with Long Bai dead and consorts from all four regions, there were no longer any "big matters" in this world that required Yun Che's personal intervention.

"...I've made you work so hard and worry so much," Yun Che said, feeling quite apologetic. And under heaven, besides Chi Wuyao, there was no one else he could trust so completely.

Chi Wuyao's enchanting eyes curved, and her cherry-like lips formed a captivating arc. "My Lord Devil, your words humble your concubine too much. A successful emperor is best at controlling people. And is your concubine not someone you control?"

Yun Che stared into Chi Wuyao's eyes, and for a moment, his vision blurred in a daze. Almost unconsciously, he reached out to touch her cheek.

At that moment, Huajin's voice suddenly came from outside the hall: "Master, Cang Shitian requests an audience."

Yun Che's hand froze mid-air, then immediately moved behind his back as he turned. "I'll go see."

Walking down from the Qiankun Dragon City, pacing among the dark profound practitioners, every one of them would kneel respectfully from a distance. In the future, once he officially became the Emperor of the God Realm, he couldn't predict how profound practitioners from other regions would view him. But at least from the Northern Divine Region, he would receive loyalty beyond mere belief, and perhaps this would last for thousands of generations.

"Daoqi," he called out.

Fen Daoqi's figure quickly approached, and he bowed, saying, "What are your orders, Lord Devil?"

Yun Che raised his hand, and a magatama shimmering with dim black light appeared, floating before Fen Daoqi's trembling eyes.

"It's time to return this Burning Moon Devil Jade to Burning Moon," Yun Che said, his gaze fixed. "With Burning Moon's core withered to this extent, the heavy burden of its revival will fall upon your shoulders. A perfect inheritor of Burning Moon Divine Power is something rarely found and cannot be forced. The current Burning Moon cannot afford such a prolonged and uncertain wait. Find individuals with sufficiently pure Burning Moon bloodline and superior talent, and I will personally ensure their bodies perfectly align with Burning Moon Divine Power. As for everything else, it will depend on your efforts, and Burning Moon's own destiny."

Fen Daoqi's excitement redoubled, and he kowtowed deeply. "Burning Moon... thanks the Lord Devil for his grace! Thanks for his grace!"

"Go."

Fen Daoqi withdrew, tears streaming down his face.

"Yan Wu," Yun Che called out again.

After Yun Che applied light profound energy, Yan Wu's external injuries completely disappeared within a few days, and her internal injuries healed by sixty percent. With Yan Tianxiao's passing, she seemed to have matured greatly all at once.

"Lord Devil," she said, standing before Yun Che, her head respectfully bowed.

Yun Che slowly extended his hand towards Yan Wu. In his palm was a tiny, pitch-black jade shard, about half the size of a pinky fingernail.

A moment of confusion, then Yan Wu suddenly felt as if struck by lightning. Her hands flew to cover her mouth, and her previously collected, resolute eyes, which had seemed devoid of sorrow, instantly welled up with tears.

"I searched for several days, and this is all I found," Yun Che said slowly. "A faint trace of his aura still lingers on it. I originally wanted to keep it as a memento, but... it should belong to you." This tiny jade shard was from the pitch-black jade buckle on Yan Tianxiao's waist. Yan Tianxiao's body and soul had incinerated, transforming into scattering grey-black dust upon his death, and even that dust was then blasted away by the enraged White Rainbow Dragon God, leaving no trace of blood or bone. This jade shard was his final remnant.

Yan Wu reached out, took the shard, and pressed it to her chest, remaining silent for a long time.

In those days, she had frantically searched the battlefield but couldn't even find a shred of his clothing. This jade shard, which had accompanied her father for many years in life and still carried his aura, offered her profound comfort and a vital sense of connection.

"The Yama Devil Realm is undoubtedly at its most desolate state in history. For such a heavy burden to fall upon a woman like you is indeed too cruel. But besides you..."

"Lord Devil, rest assured," Yan Wu said, raising her head, the tears in her eyes completely gone. "I will not let anyone look down on the daughter of Yan Tianxiao!"

"...Hmm," Yun Che nodded slightly, reaching out to place his hand on Yan Wu's shoulder. What he felt was a heartbreaking fragility.

After Yan Wu came Huo Tianxing.

"Calamity Wild Realm King, after you return, personally deliver the bodies of Tian Muyi and his son to the Imperial Heaven Realm. From among the younger generation of the Imperial Heaven lineage, select at least thirty individuals with superior aptitude, and I will personally cultivate them."

Inside the Qiankun Dragon City Hall, as soon as Cang Shitian saw Chi Wuyao, he immediately knelt on the ground and stated directly, "Empress Devil, I beg... please spare Shuhui."

"Oh? Spare her?" Chi Wuyao said with a faint smile that wasn't quite a smile. "What do you mean by that?"

Cang Shitian remained prostrated on the ground and said, "Shuhui's life has been filled with sorrow. The greatest reason Shitian gritted his teeth and seized the imperial throne back then was to ensure her peace and safety. With her extremely weak constitution, it's already a miracle several times over that she's lived to this day. She cannot bear any heavy pressure, let alone the position of a Divine Emperor or the title of an Imperial Concubine. I beg Empress Devil to choose someone else. As long as it's not Shuhui, I, Shitian, will cooperate to the utmost with anyone in the Azure Sea, and I will be eternally loyal to the Lord Devil and Empress Devil."

Chi Wuyao's demonic eyes narrowed slightly, a faint, dark glow shimmering within them. She suddenly let out a low laugh. "Heh, this is strange. With your intelligence, Cang Shitian, the more you care, the more you should feign indifference. Your current appearance, isn't it just blatantly exposing your weakness to me?"

Cang Shitian slowly raised his head and said, "Trying to act clever in front of Empress Devil is true foolishness."

"Then guess, will I change my mind?" Before Cang Shitian could speak, Chi Wuyao said indifferently, "You don't need to answer. You know that once I have made up my mind, I will not change it. What you want is not for me to change my mind, but a promise."

"Yes," Cang Shitian did not deny it. Indeed, in front of Chi Wuyao, any attempt to conceal his intentions was foolish. "This promise, Shitian dares not ask of the Lord Devil; I can only beg Empress Devil to grant it! Henceforth, Shitian will faithfully serve under the Lord Devil and Empress Devil, without a second thought until death."

"Hmph, loyalty is never something spoken with the mouth."

Chi Wuyao's figure flickered slightly as she swept past Cang Shitian, slowly walking out of the main hall. Her faint devilish voice drifted from behind to Cang Shitian's ears: "Were it not for Cang Shuhui's existence, how could I confidently entrust you with important tasks? But conversely, to ensure you act diligently and serve your master faithfully, Cang Shuhui will also fare very well. The Lord Devil's light profound energy will grant her a new life, freeing her from the ailments that have plagued her all her life, and she will be able to fully wield the Azure Sea Divine Power. The Lord Devil has never stooped to bullying women, so you need not worry about her being harmed. As for what status she can attain by the Lord Devil's side, that will depend on her own capabilities. Even if she has no desires, simply standing under the heavens with an air of superiority would be far better than her past."

Cang Shitian turned while still kneeling, but Chi Wuyao's figure was no longer in his sight.

Still, he kowtowed deeply, his voice trembling slightly as he uttered, "Thank you, Empress Devil, for your benevolence."

Demonic might, weakness, leverage, profound grace... Cang Shitian knew full well that as the former Shitian Divine Emperor, he could no longer escape Chi Wuyao's grasp. For the rest of his life, his only path was to wholeheartedly dedicate himself to Yun Che, purging all unwanted impurities.

A few days later, all the dark profound ships took flight, carrying the Northern Region profound practitioners back towards the Northern Divine Region.

Of the dark army that had accompanied Yun Che out of the Northern Divine Region, now only the Three Yama Ancestors, Chi Wuyao, and the Nine Devil Girls remained by his side.

"Where will you go next?" Mu Xuanyin asked.

"To the Dragon God Realm, of course," Chi Wuyao said with a slight smile. "As the foremost King Realm that has dominated the God Realm for a million years, how can we not plunder it once? Emperor Qilin, you'll play the villain this time. This is such a lucrative task; even secretly keeping one or two tenths for yourself would be a considerable fortune. I trust Emperor Qilin won't refuse?"

Emperor Qilin hastily replied, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Every blade of grass and every tree in the Dragon God Realm should fall into the Lord Devil's hands. How could this old man dare to touch even a single bit?"

"Xuanyin, come with me. It won't take long, and then I'll accompany you back to the Snow Song Realm," Yun Che's body subconsciously leaned towards Mu Xuanyin... but Qianye Ying'er instantly pulled him back.

"No," Mu Xuanyin shook her head. "Bingyun has been grieving for years, and I haven't been able to show myself to meet her. Now that the dust has temporarily settled, I must return immediately to put her mind at ease."

"Then... Caizhi, you..."

"I want to return to the Star God Realm for a visit," Caizhi said softly. The jade box in her hand contained the remnant blood and radiance of the six Star Gods. "Also, I should release the Primordial Dragon Clan there."

"Meiyin, you..."

"Father has sent me dozens of voice transmissions these past few days," Shui Meiyin whispered, sticking out her tongue. "I want to take Sister back to the Glazed Light Realm first, or Father might worry himself to death."

Yun Che was speechless.

In times of danger, whether openly or secretly, none of them were willing to stray half a step from Yun Che. Now, with no force left in the world capable of threatening Yun Che, they could finally release all the heavy burdens in their hearts.

"Divine Emperor," Qianye Bingzhu said, "your vitality is severely damaged, and you urgently need rest. We will escort you back to the Brahma Monarch God Realm now."

"No," Qianye Ying'er said coldly. "I will accompany the Lord Devil to the Dragon God Realm. By his side, I will only recover faster. You needn't concern yourselves."

"Yes," Qianye Bingzhu could only obey.

"Bury Uncle Gu's remains in the Brahma God Tomb. And..." Qianye Ying'er's voice suddenly lowered as she briefly glanced at Qianye Wugu in the distance. "Take good care of that old man."

"Rest assured, Divine Emperor," a faint smile appeared on Qianye Bingzhu's face.

Not long after, various auras dispersed in different directions.

The dust of the world no longer drifted chaotically; it settled slowly and silently. Only, this dust was now subtly tinged with a deep hue of darkness.

No one dared to predict the future of the God Realm.