Chapter 1870: 希、云

The Western Divine Region, Dragon God Realm.

The Dragon God Realm once boasted nine Dragon Gods, forty-three Dragon Sovereigns, and three hundred and eight Master Dragons. Furthermore, the Supreme Dragon Monarch presided over them, with the Five Withered Dragons secretly standing guard.

This was a power that, to anyone, seemed utterly unshakeable.

Now, however, it had fallen to the point where not a single Master Dragon had survived.

The Dragon God Realm's million-year reign as hegemon collapsed in a single day, collapsing completely and utterly. Under Yun Che's cruel demonic decree to exterminate the Dragon God lineage, there was no chance for them to recover, not even to catch their breath.

A King Realm without a Divine Master was like a tiger stripped of its claws and fangs, its bones broken throughout its body. While its lingering prestige might remain, in reality, it was weaker than a jackal.

When the Azure Dragon and Qilin arrived with the demonic decree of "submit and live, resist and perish," even Emperor Chi, Hui Dragon, and Vanishing Dragon could not muster the will to resist and were forced to kneel.

As for the Dragon God Realm itself, things were much simpler. The Qilin Realm directly moved in, taking control of the Dragon God Territory, which had once symbolized the core of the Dragon God Realm and was the highest sacred ground of the Divine Realm.

The entire Western Divine Region trembled and shuddered.

Had Yun Che or Chi Wuyao arrived wielding their power, the various realms of the Western Region might have united against a common enemy, briefly forming a united front.

However, those now standing before them were the Qilin Realm and Azure Dragon Realm, who held the best reputation in the Western Divine Region. This was not only another heavy blow to their will but also, subtly, made their acceptance of submission several times easier.

While the Western Region was in turmoil, Yun Che and Qianye Ying'er had already appeared before the Samsara Forbidden Land.

A massive barrier stretched before them. The Dragon God aura emanating from it was so formidable that it felt as if ten thousand mountains were pressing down on someone from ten thousand miles away. It was clear how much power Long Bai had poured into this barrier.

Yun Che's gaze remained fixed for a long time... Even though he had long accepted the worst possible outcome, his heart still pounded several times faster.

"Can you open it?" Qianye Ying'er pursed her lips, pulling him out of his daze.

Yun Che stepped forward. With Phoenix Flame in his left hand and Golden Crow Flame in his right, the two divine flames merged in the darkness, instantly transforming into the terrifying and peerless Eternal Calamity Demon Flame, which struck directly at the Dragon God barrier before them.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle... Sounds of soul-rending consumption arose as Yun Che's arms slowly sank into the Dragon God barrier. His gaze darkened, and his flaming hands suddenly ripped.

A ten-foot-long tear was forcefully torn open in the Dragon God barrier. At the edges of the tear, the Eternal Calamity Demon Flame continued to twist and consume, preventing the fissure from healing for a long time.

Yun Che's brow furrowed sharply at this moment.

Qianye Ying'er darted forward, passing through the tear and entering the barrier. As she glanced sideways, she noticed Yun Che was still outside the barrier, seemingly lost in thought.

"What's wrong?" Qianye Ying'er asked.

Yun Che stepped forward, entering the barrier, and suddenly said, "Long Bai's Dragon Soul has always been attached to this barrier."

With Long Bai's death, the Dragon Soul entwined around the barrier was rapidly dissipating, but the lingering soul traces were still clear enough for Yun Che to perceive.

"That's perfectly normal," Qianye Ying'er said without surprise. "To conceal such a major secret, it would be strange if Long Bai didn't attach his Dragon Soul to the barrier."

Yun Che's furrowed brow did not relax. After a brief silence, he asked, "Qianying, is there any way in this world to pass through such a soul-attached barrier without detection?"

Qianye Ying'er fixed her gaze on him, then thought for a moment and said, "As far as I know, there are probably three ways."

"First, there's the Heaven Smiting Cauldron of the God Realm of Brahma. As the strongest spatial artifact said to exist in this era, traversing multiple layers of soul-attached barriers is no problem for it. Second, there's the Ziwei Realm's special spatial profound art, 'Splendorous Ziwei'."

"However, I cannot guarantee whether the Heaven Smiting Cauldron can pass through a soul-attached barrier of Long Bai's caliber without leaving a trace. As for 'Splendorous Ziwei,' it seems no one in the Ziwei Realm has cultivated it for two hundred thousand years."

"Third, of course, is the Heaven Punishing Ancestral Divine Spike in Shui Meiyin's hands. As a Heaven Profound Treasure, the undisputed strongest spatial divine artifact in the history of chaos, it can even move stars and alter moons. Passing through a mere soul-attached barrier would be like child's play."

Yun Che had already told Qianye Ying'er all the truths he had disclosed to Chi Wuyao that day.

Qianye Ying'er's answer did not alleviate Yun Che's suspicion in the slightest. He asked, "Does the Moon God Realm have any similar spatial secret arts?"

Qianye Ying'er finally understood. "So that's it. I remember you mentioning that Xia Qingyue was the one who told you about Shen Xi's death. You're wondering why Xia Qingyue would know about Shen Xi's death so early, despite this soul-attached barrier personally crafted by Long Bai?"

Yun Che: "..."

"Hmph, there's nothing strange about it," Qianye Ying'er coldly snorted. "Every King Realm possesses its own deeply hidden secrets and trump cards. It's not unusual for them to have unknown spatial secret arts or profound artifacts of this kind."

"Especially that woman, Xia Qingyue. She possesses an exceptionally unique Glazed Heart and Exquisite Body. It wouldn't be surprising if she could pass through Long Bai's barrier without a trace, or even accomplish something that defies common understanding... In that regard, she's quite similar to you."

Yun Che shook his head, casting aside extraneous thoughts, and said, "Never mind, it's not important. Let's go."

Not long after, the Samsara Forbidden Land appeared before them.

However, the barrier of light that had guarded the Samsara Forbidden Land for hundreds of thousands of years was now only a layer as thin as smoke, as if a slightly stronger storm could completely disperse it.

Yun Che reached out a finger towards the barrier of light. The moment his knuckle touched it, his fingers curled tightly.

This fading barrier of light undoubtedly cruelly crushed the last vestiges of hope and illusion within him.

Passing through the barrier of light, Yun Che's steps halted. The Samsara Forbidden Land before him was desolate and heartbreaking.

There were no chirping birds or dancing butterflies, no holy light lingering, no myriad of grasses and flowers... only widespread ruin and desolation.

"Huu..." Yun Che closed his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

From within the Sky Poison Pearl, He Ling's suppressed sobs continuously resounded.

When he first arrived here years ago, it was like falling into an unreal, beautiful dream. Now, it was as if that dream had shattered... shattered so completely and cruelly.

Qianye Ying'er parted her lips, wanting to say something, but sensing the overwhelming weight on Yun Che's heart and soul, she ultimately remained silent.

After a long time, Yun Che opened his eyes and slowly walked towards the core of the Samsara Forbidden Land... which was also the dream within a dream from years past.

The bamboo house that once stood there had turned into a pile of withered bamboo.

The ground, once filled with immortal herbs and spiritual flowers, was now covered in cracks, clearly having been subjected to a massive force.

Amidst the ruin and desolation, a faint wisp of spiritual energy emanated. Yun Che's gaze flickered intensely, and he quickly moved forward. In his sight, a cluster of extraordinarily vibrant and strangely out-of-place exotic herbs and spiritual flowers appeared.

Carefully stepping into the cluster of flowers, Yun Che's gaze fixed on the patch of long-dried bloodstains... The faint wisps of spiritual energy were Shen Xi's unique aura of light.

He slowly knelt down, carefully scooped up the blood-stained soil, and placed it into a jade box.

Qianye Ying'er had silently followed behind him. Although she had often used Shen Xi's proactive embraces of Yun Che to mock and even humiliate her, bringing herself psychological balance and twisted pleasure, in this situation and setting, she could only offer quiet companionship, unable to utter any sarcastic remarks.

"Shen Xi," Yun Che murmured softly, "you were not the Dragon Queen. Even though you are no longer in this world, I will never allow any future records of you to be tainted with the title of Dragon Queen."

"Although I still don't know what feelings you harbored for me, or what your purpose was, or even your true identity..."

"But none of that matters anymore. You are my woman, Yun Che's woman... This much I am absolutely certain of, and even you cannot deny it."

"Future generations will forever remember... that you are Emperor Yun's Concubine Xi." Yun Che's voice trembled slightly. "Unless you stand before me and refuse, then... I will take it as your acceptance."

As he murmured, Yun Che closed the jade box, as if talking to himself, as if making a promise.

Hmph... Qianye Ying'er inwardly snorted. He hadn't even formally ascended as Emperor yet, and already he was naming concubines one after another!

At this moment, Yun Che suddenly sensed something. He sharply turned his head, looking at the scattered withered bamboo on the ground... From there, a faint, almost imperceptible aura of light emanated.

His figure twisted, and he instantly appeared beside the withered bamboo.

Closer now, Yun Che was certain this was no illusion. However, this aura of light was simply too faint; had he not possessed profound light energy, he would not have detected it at all.

The source of the light aura was not within the withered bamboo, but deep beneath the ground.

"Hmm? Did you find something?" Qianye Ying'er immediately asked.

Yun Che didn't speak. He spread his five fingers, and a beam of power very carefully descended.

With a muffled thud, the ground ten zhang deep evenly collapsed. Yun Che gripped his hand, and as the dust scattered, a simple bamboo plaque, broken from a bamboo joint, appeared between his fingers.

He flipped the bamboo plaque over. On it was carved a very elegant character: Xi.

He recognized at a glance that it had been inscribed by Shen Xi with her jade-like fingers, and where her fingertips had touched, faint wisps of light aura remained.

"Xi?" Qianye Ying'er murmured softly.

But this wisp of light aura was not unique. Yun Che's left hand covered the ground, and as the earth collapsed again, another almost identical bamboo plaque was drawn into his palm.

On this plaque, the character 'Yun' was inscribed. It was equally beautiful and elegant, overflowing with light. Just by looking at it, one could almost perceive the gentle emotions she felt as her jade fingers carved it.

"Yun... Xi Yun... Yun Xi... Xi Yun." Qianye Ying'er narrowed her eyes, then suddenly chuckled softly. "I was previously wondering if Shen Xi was just playing with you like a toy. But it seems she truly developed feelings for you. These two characters, 'Xi Yun,' truly speak of a longing gaze and unending affection."

"Don't talk about her like that," Yun Che said, slowly closing his palm around the bamboo plaques.

Xi Yun... After she left that year, did she truly harbor feelings for him...? Was that dream-like year not merely one of pure utilization...?

"Hmph, I was praising her," Qianye Ying'er retorted in a slightly lower voice.

"Let's go."

Yun Che did not linger. Before long, he had left the Samsara Forbidden Land with Qianye Ying'er.

He did not forcibly destroy the barrier that Long Bai had created. This was where Shen Xi had once lived peacefully. Even without her presence, he did not wish for it to be disturbed by outsiders.

As soon as they exited the barrier, Yun Che received a sound transmission from Huajin.

"Reporting, Devil Master. My mistress said she made some interesting discoveries while inventorying the Dragon God's relics. She requests that you visit the Dragon God Territory when you have some leisure."

"What is it?" Qianye Ying'er asked.

Yun Che grasped her wrist. "To the Dragon God Territory."

"The Dragon God Realm, after all, has a million years of hegemonic foundation. Don't let me be too disappointed."