Chapter 1875: Blue Dragon's Prayer

After reading the ancient Dragon God records, Yun Che's heart was at peace. Though he had already known the general idea, this account from the ancient era undoubtedly made everything much clearer.

"Our lives, and this world, are far more fragile than we realize," Yun Che murmured suddenly. "Even mighty gods and devils could be completely annihilated, let alone our current era."

Qianye Ying'er snorted coldly. "The Dragon God Realm must have realized this long ago. You haven't even formally ascended as Emperor, and you're already worrying about everything under the heavens?"

Yun Che shot her a look, retorting with annoyance, "You're getting more and more insolent. Whatever I say, you seem to want to throw it right back in my face."

"Of course," Qianye Ying'er leisurely rested her arms on her ample chest, saying unhurriedly, "Before, I was your female slave and plaything, but now I'm about to become your Imperial Concubine. With such a significant change in status, how can I still be the same as before?"

Yun Che suddenly reached out, his fingertips hooking the black sash cinching her waist. His eyes slowly narrowed into a dangerous, dark abyss. "Aren't you afraid that with just one word from me, you'll remain a female slave and plaything for the rest of your life!"

"Oh, really?" Qianye Ying'er, however, suddenly burst into laughter. Her divine smile instantly extinguished all light, captivating souls and snatching spirits. It even made Yun Che, who knew her best in this world, lose his composure instantly.

She leaned forward, her cherry-red jade lips lightly touching Yun Che's ear. Her breath was soft and warm, each word stirring his soul. "For all men in this world, even the Divine Emperors of all realms, a Divine Maiden is an unattainable dream. Yet, she is your female slave and plaything, free for you to debauch and trifle with. *This* is, in my eyes... a true Emperor."

"Is that so..." All the blood in his body ignited instantly, and Yun Che's gaze grew even more dangerous. "In just a few short years, you've gone from an unparalleled Divine Maiden to an unparalleled plaything? Your transformation is probably unparalleled too!"

"No, I've never changed," Qianye Ying'er wrapped her arms around Yun Che's neck, her golden, shimmering eyes gazing directly into Yun Che's dark ones. "Whether as Qianye Ying'er or Yun Qianying, I will stop at nothing to achieve what I desire. What changes is merely the object of my desire."

"For example..." Her voice suddenly turned soft and tender, and her gaze was so alluring it could make any man fall into eternal perdition. "After all my efforts over such a long time, you, who once hated me to the bone, actually can't leave me now, can you?"

"..." Yun Che remained silent. With a sudden forceful tug of his hand, the sash between his fingers snapped violently. Her black robes tore apart, revealing skin as luminous as jade. Qianye Ying'er's jade-like body was roughly pressed beneath him.

Just then, the barrier suddenly parted, and a soft voice, three parts more captivating than Qianye Ying'er's, drifted leisurely in. "This is a place of disaster and chaos, the Dragon God Realm, where the Dragon God remnants haven't been completely purged. No matter how impatient your desires are, you should at least pay some attention to the setting."

"...!" Yun Che's body froze. He quickly tried to get up, but Qianye Ying'er's jade arms hooked him even tighter.

"Empress Devil, you chose this exact moment to come in; could it be that you want to join us?" Qianye Ying'er said with a smile. "Indeed. Eventually, we'll both be serving the Emperor, so starting now isn't a bad idea... Oh? I almost forgot, it seems the Empress Devil hasn't yet received the Devil Master's favor. You probably know nothing about the art of serving, so being so eager to serve together might be a bit premature."

Yun Che gave a strong push and finally managed to free himself from Qianye Ying'er's arms and stand up.

Chi Wuyao's enchanting eyes narrowed slightly as she murmured, "Yun Qianying, you're already provoking me before your title of Imperial Concubine has even been formally bestowed. That's quite dangerous."

Qianye Ying'er stood up, completely ignoring her torn top and allowing her proud, snow-white, jade-like skin to be exposed before Chi Wuyao. "How dangerous can it be? I'm quite curious to find out right now."

"You wouldn't want to know," Chi Wuyao smiled faintly.

"!#$..." Yun Che's gaze darted left and right. His scalp tingled.

Wh-what's going on?

Weren't they getting along very well before? Why did things suddenly turn awkward?

"Ahem, Empress Devil, is there something important?" Yun Che quickly interjected.

Chi Wuyao said, "Cang Shitian's actions were very swift and decisive. He has already publicly announced that he will pass the position of Canglan Divine Emperor to Cang Shuzhao, with the formal ceremony taking place three months from now. Before that, the Devil Master needs to return to the Canglan Realm at least a month in advance to heal Cang Shuzhao's ailing body and ensure her Canglan bloodline fully integrates with her Canglan divine power."

"Also, the Qilin Emperor and Azure Dragon Emperor requested an audience three days ago. I sent the Qilin Emperor away, citing the Devil Master's unavailability. However, the Azure Dragon Emperor insisted on seeing him and has been waiting diligently for over thirty hours. Of course, if the Devil Master doesn't mind, you can continue what you were doing."

"Understood. I'll go meet her."

Yun Che nodded slightly. He stepped towards the hall's exit, also escaping this oddly atmospheric place.

Chi Wuyao remained still. The two women's gazes met in silent collision.

"Yun Qianying," Chi Wuyao said indifferently, "It wasn't my intention to interrupt you, nor do I wish to monopolize the Devil Master. On the contrary, I intend to fully expand his harem from now on. After all, for a peerless Emperor who transcends even the Divine Emperors of the King Realms, if his harem still has fewer consorts than a mere lower realm king, that would be a grave dereliction of duty on my part."

"At the very least, the nine children by my side will accompany me as part of my dowry. You won't object to that, will you?"

"No objection," Qianye Ying'er chuckled faintly. "No matter how many women you put beside him, I will always be the most irreplaceable one. I haven't spent all these years by his side for nothing."

"As for you," Qianye Ying'er, with her graceful figure, had already moved to Chi Wuyao's side. "It's not that I'm jealous of you; I just want to tell you something."

Chi Wuyao: "?"

"You surpass me in almost every aspect, but there's one thing. You seem to be perfectly at ease and in control, but in reality, you're still a novice."

Her lips moved closer to Chi Wuyao's ear as she slowly said, "When it comes to men, no matter how profound or foolproof your schemes are, they're not as effective as simply throwing yourself at them. Because men, when facing enemies, think with their upper body; but when it comes to women, they think with their lower body."

"The more alluring a woman is, the more useful she becomes."

"And Yun Che, no matter how imposing or reserved he acts, is still, at his core, a man."

Finally pulling up the torn clothes over her chest, concealing the charm that could dim the bright moon, Qianye Ying'er smiled faintly... When danger was averted, the fierce battle ceased, and when human nature and schemes were no longer necessary, she finally scored a point against Chi Wuyao.

Just as she said, she had never truly changed; only what she desired had. And it seemed she was no longer quite as cold-blooded.

Of course, that was just how it seemed.

"...A good suggestion." Chi Wuyao slowly closed her eyes, her jade lips curved slightly. "In return, on the day the Devil Master ascends as Emperor, when I, Jie Xin, Chan Yi, and the others serve him together, I might graciously permit you... to observe from the side."

Qianye Ying'er: "..."

As expected of the Empress Devil. Qianye Ying'er's momentary upper hand, which had lasted only a few breaths, was suppressed by Chi Wuyao's single remark.

"Hmph!" Qianye Ying'er crossed her arms over her chest and suddenly said coldly, "We're openly vying with each other here, and all the benefits go to that man outside. It's truly annoying."

"He deserves it, doesn't he?" Chi Wuyao still smiled faintly.

"Tch!" Qianye Ying'er turned her gaze. "Then go ahead and spoil him as much as you like! Preferably until he's completely useless!"

Stepping out of the Dragon God Hall, Yun Che indeed found the Azure Dragon Emperor waiting. Dressed in azure robes, her skirt flowed like water to the ground, trailing more than three feet behind her. As the wind brushed against her, it subtly outlined the remarkably long and beautifully sculpted curves of her legs.

Upon seeing Yun Che, the Azure Dragon Emperor's long-serene azure eyes finally rippled like water. She took a few steps forward and bowed slowly. "Qing Que of the Azure Dragon Realm greets the Devil Master."

Yun Che turned slightly away from her and said coldly, "Kneel and speak."

"..." The Azure Dragon Emperor's brows furrowed slightly, but she eventually knelt on one knee.

Her movement was slow and unaccustomed. After all, as the Azure Dragon Emperor, even when meeting the Dragon Monarch in the past, she only needed to offer a shallow bow.

As the Azure Dragon Emperor lowered herself, the oppressive aura that no man could withstand dissipated. Only then did Yun Che turn around and say indifferently, "What is it?"

The Azure Dragon Emperor bowed her head. "Qing Que is here with a request..."

"Speak directly!"

His cold demeanor and words carried immense pressure. If she weren't the Azure Dragon Emperor, she would likely have been too terrified to think.

The Azure Dragon Emperor raised her head, adopting a pleading posture despite her status as a Divine Emperor. "Following the Devil Master's command, most of those bearing the Dragon God bloodline have been subdued, and those who fled are being relentlessly pursued. However... I implore the Devil Master, please show mercy and spare the younger generation of the Dragon God clan."

"..." Yun Che slowly lowered his gaze, his eyes like cold blades. "Azure Dragon Emperor, do you realize how foolish it is for you, a Divine Emperor, to utter such words?!"

"To cut grass without removing its roots leads to endless troubles later," the Azure Dragon Emperor said softly. "I personally witnessed everything that happened back then. Therefore, I understand more than anyone that even if the Devil Master were to not just eradicate the Dragon God lineage but slaughter the entire Dragon God Realm, no one would have the right to accuse him of cruelty."

The coldness in Yun Che's eyes receded slightly. "So?"

The Azure Dragon Emperor raised her azure eyes and slowly said, "My Azure Dragon clan has, for generations, held 'guarding' as its will, and we abhor bullying and slaughter the most. The Devil Master once saved the entire world and spared my entire Azure Dragon Realm. Thus, in this siege of the Dragon God Realm, although my Azure Dragon clan acts against ancestral teachings, we do so without regret or resentment... However, I simply cannot bring myself to harm those innocent young Dragon Gods, even if it were done by the Qilin Emperor... I cannot stand idly by."

"Heh! Heh heh," Yun Che let out a low, cold laugh. "Azure Dragon Emperor, kindness is a good thing, but being a 'saintly mother' is sickening. Which category do you think you fall into right now?"

"They are innocent? Then my family, my homeland... they all deserved to die?!"

Although the Blue Pole Star was safe, the bone-deep pain that had lasted for years still made his face contort into a momentary grimace.

The Azure Dragon Emperor did not flinch. Her azure eyes, reflecting a faint watery shimmer, met Yun Che's gaze. "You are different from those ungrateful people who destroyed your homeland. Even if you bear darkness and have stained many realms with blood, I still believe that you are not truly a cruel villain."

"A true devil would not face the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor alone when others kneel; would not risk death to appear when his homeland was in danger; would not be heartbroken and willingly fall into the abyss due to the passing of loved ones; and certainly wouldn't... have so many people willing to die to protect him."

Yun Che frowned.

"Most of the younger generation of the Dragon God lineage are ignorant and innocent; some have not yet experienced the world, and some are still infants... My Azure Dragon clan's ancestors once received great kindness from the Dragon God Realm. I have tried to convince myself for days, but I simply cannot..."

Her azure eyes closed as she softly gasped and said, "If the Devil Master is willing to show mercy and spare them, I will personally sever their dragon veins, ensuring their cultivation can never surpass the Divine Sovereign realm. This lineage will have no more Master Dragons in future generations, and threats like Long Bai will never emerge again."

"I will also do my utmost to ensure they live in reverence and gratitude towards the Devil Master... I will furthermore wholeheartedly proclaim to the world the Devil Master's boundless grace and magnanimity in sparing the young blood of the Dragon God lineage. I believe the myriad spirits of the Western Divine Region will be touched by this, lowering their guard and becoming more willing to submit to the Devil Master."

"I beg the Devil Master... to grant this." Her voice trembled slightly as she bowed deeply.

"..." Yun Che stared deeply at the Azure Dragon Emperor, and then walked away.

In her ears, Yun Che's footsteps gradually faded. The Azure Dragon Emperor straightened her upper body and sighed despondently.

Just then, Yun Che's voice suddenly drifted from afar. "Those under twenty years old, clear their memories, sever their dragon veins, and they may live."

The situation took a sudden turn. The Azure Dragon Emperor abruptly looked up, her azure eyes shimmering brightly.

"The precondition is, you must agree to one condition of mine."

"Alright," the Azure Dragon Emperor said without hesitation. "Qing Que would not dare defy the Devil Master's command."

"I haven't thought of this condition yet," Yun Che said indifferently, his back to her. "I simply like to have leverage over others first; it makes it much more convenient when I have something to command you next time."

The Azure Dragon Emperor: "..."

"Your words weren't enough to convince me; this is simply me accumulating good karma for my future descendants. Also..."

Yun Che stopped and looked back. "You're not suited to be a Divine Emperor of a King Realm. Being a pretty vase, however, wouldn't be bad."