Chapter 1881: The Emperor's Coronation Ceremony (Part 2)

The Divine Realm’s various domains were in turmoil. From the Upper Star Realms to the Lower Star Realms, almost every living being could clearly perceive that even the air currents had become exceptionally unusual.

The Grand Emperor Sealing Ceremony typically occurred only when a Divine Emperor ascended the throne in a Royal Realm. Each occasion was a momentous event that shook all the God Domains, invariably featuring a grand spectacle. After all, a Divine Emperor’s grandeur was meant to be unparalleled.

This particular Grand Emperor Sealing Ceremony, however, was fundamentally different from any other in the history of the Divine Realm. This was because it was not to consecrate a Divine Emperor of a Royal Realm, but rather the Emperor of the entire Divine Realm, the ruler of all creation.

The true Supreme Emperor, an unprecedented figure throughout all ages.

Yet, this unprecedented Grand Emperor Sealing Ceremony issued no invitations, nor was it announced to the world. News of it spread solely by word of mouth among the various star realms.

Nevertheless, its impact on the star realms surpassed anything in history. Especially the Upper Realm Kings, who firmly memorized the time and location of the ceremony and began preparations well in advance. Nearly everyone in their realms, from top to bottom, racked their brains and exerted their utmost efforts, daring not to show the slightest negligence.

This Grand Emperor Sealing Ceremony would not only establish the Divine Realm's first Emperor in all eternity but also mark a colossal turning point in its destiny. Although no invitations were issued, their attitude toward the ceremony would undoubtedly determine the new Emperor's attitude toward them, directly shaping their fates under the new order.

As for the Middle and Lower Star Realms... no one truly cared about the attitudes of the weak.

With all surviving Royal Realms across the God Domains having submitted to the Devil Master, the Upper Star Realms were left with only one choice.

As the time drew near, the atmospheric tremors in the Divine Realm grew more intense. One profound ark after another sped at full throttle towards the Southern Divine Region.

This place was once the core of the Southern Divine Region, the location of the Southern Sea God Realm, the foremost Royal Realm of the South.

But now, the Southern Sea no longer existed in the Divine Realm; its former Royal City had been razed to the ground. Aside from the lingering spiritual energy, scarcely a trace of the Southern Sea remained.

On this former Southern Sea land, countless profound arks and ships were now scattered like stars, stretching as far as the eye could see. Beside each profound ark and ship stood groups of figures.

They wore varied attire and possessed powerful auras. Each person looked up at the high sky, their eyes filled with reverence, trepidation, and an inexpressible complexity.

Their gaze was fixed on a floating city, more than three hundred miles in size.

The Qiankun Dragon City!

However, the common understanding among the Divine Realm’s populace was that it was "Emperor Yun City"!

It was the Peerless Imperial City that, after today's grand ceremony, would proudly reside at the pinnacle of the Divine Realm!

It was widely known that Yun Che's journey in the Divine Realm began in the Eastern Divine Region, and he undoubtedly held the deepest affection for it. Yet, his Imperial City and Imperial Palace were unexpectedly established in the Southern Divine Region.

But no one in the current era dared to speculate on the Devil Master's intentions without permission.

Those who arrived here were either Realm Kings or regional overlords, all possessing noble status and formidable power. Yet, they could only look on from afar, daring not to approach Emperor Yun City by even half a step, let alone set foot inside.

This was because only profound practitioners from the Northern Region and the Royal Realms of the other three regions were permitted to enter Emperor Yun City. Even Upper Star Realms, being below the Royal Realms of the three regions, were only fit to gaze up from below.

A gentle white radiance enveloped Emperor Yun City, casting an aura of majestic coldness and solemnity.

To the south stood the Xuanyuan Realm, the Ziwei Realm, and the Ten Directions Azure Sea Realm led by Cang Shitian and Cang Shuhuo.

To the west were the core forces of the Qilin Realm and the Azure Dragon Realm. However, the three realms formerly known as Royal Realms—the Huilong, Myriad Forms, and Emperor Li realms—were absent. As for the Dragon God Realm, its proud name, which had existed for millions of years, had been erased, and it was personally renamed "Sinful Dragon Realm" by Chi Wuyao.

To the east was the Brahma Monarch God Realm, led by Qianye Ying'er, and another star realm that was quite special...

The Snow Song Realm.

Mu Xuanyin and Mu Bingyun stood at the front, while the Snow Song elders and palace masters behind them had flickering eyes, appearing uneasy and restless.

However, Cai Zhi was not present... The Star God Realm existed in name only, and even that "name" was forcibly preserved due to Yun Che.

The death of the six Star Gods had deeply affected her, giving rise to her resolve to restore the Star God Realm's former glory... But she neither wished nor needed to rely on this day for that.

The formation in the north was far more formidable. The Yama Devil Realm, Burning Moon Realm, and Soul Stealing Realm, along with all the Northern Region star realms that participated in the Heaven Defying War, were gathered here. They freely looked down upon the people from the other three regions, who could only gaze up from afar, and fully basked in the bright sunlight, which they no longer needed to fear.

Gaze after gaze continuously turned towards the Imperial Palace, each glance filled with boundless excitement and fervor... Even though half a year had passed since the final battle, for the profound practitioners of the Northern Region, it still felt like an ethereal dream.

"This day has finally come," Chi Wuyao murmured softly, her devil eyes resembling mist. Her life held no regrets.

"This day has finally come," Mu Xuanyin murmured the exact same words almost simultaneously.

"Is the Azure Cloud Continent... truly safe?" Mu Bingyun murmured in an extremely soft voice, looking straight ahead.

"Yes, that's also why he established the Imperial City here," Mu Xuanyin said. "It's difficult for him, but he endured until now."

"Blessed by heaven, yet he spent half his life walking on thin ice, retreating again and again, only to be forced into the abyss... Now, everything is within his grasp, with no imminent or distant threats. After today, he can finally live his life as he pleases, free from worry or fear."

Mu Bingyun smiled faintly: "Sister, you can finally stop worrying every day too."

Responding to Mu Bingyun's somewhat teasing words, Mu Xuanyin slowly tilted her head back, gazing at the pale sky as she murmured, "With the Dragon God lineage severed, there will no longer be any existence in this world capable of threatening him."

"Some regrets are destined to remain unfulfilled, but surely... there will be no more dangers or calamities..."

Even if the slightest possibility arose in the future, she would surely eradicate it before it could fully emerge.

Beneath the many halls of Emperor Yun City lay a dark, silent, and eerie underground space.

Step... step... step...

The light footsteps, however, resonated with an exceptionally jarring intensity in this eerie space.

Clink... clank...

As the footsteps drew nearer, they brought with them the faint, helpless rattling of chains.

In the dim light, Zhou Xuzi slowly raised his head, an apparently simple action that for him was excruciatingly difficult.

His struggling eyes, murky as stagnant pools, only trembled slightly the moment they met the approaching figure.

Covered in blood, with a face like a ghoul and a skeletal frame... anyone seeing him would unequivocally refuse to believe that this was Zhou Tian Divine Emperor, who had always been revered and respected by all beings in the Divine Realm.

All his bones were shattered, his meridians severed, and his profound energy completely dissipated. Yet, a few lingering breaths clung stubbornly to his life force, cruelly denying him the release of death.

A few ordinary chains wrapped around him were enough to entomb this former Divine Emperor in an inescapable nightmare of purgatory.

"Yun... Che..."

Without profound energy, his murky eyes could no longer pierce the darkness. But the aura, etched into his very bones, he would never forget, even in death.

His voice was weak, pained, and hoarse. His body began to tremble, causing the chains to clang chaotically. But for him, rising was impossible, and even lifting an arm was a luxury.

"Zhou Xuzi, do you know why you're still alive?"

Yun Che's voice was low and slow, devoid of any emotion. But even though Zhou Xuzi had fallen to this state, it absolutely did not mean that Yun Che's hatred for him had diminished.

Even if he had reclaimed everything, and even if he inflicted ten million times more torture on Zhou Xuzi, he could never again touch Jasmine's figure in his life.

"You... will surely... face divine retribution!"

Having fallen to this state, he no longer pleaded with Yun Che for mercy or for death, only screaming curses with all his remaining strength.

"Divine retribution? Heheheh..." Yun Che chuckled disdainfully. "If the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor hadn't left, perhaps the Heavenly Dao itself would have already collapsed. Does it even have the right to condemn me!?"

Zhou Xuzi's facial muscles twitched, his voice filled with bitter resentment in every word: "You... devil... one day... you will... surely... be executed by blood!!"

"Devil? Humph, with all the blood on my hands and the calamities I've brought forth, how could a mere word like 'devil' suffice?" Yun Che lowered his gaze. "Demon God sounds more fitting."

He took another step forward, his heavy, chilling pressure almost crushing Zhou Xuzi's already battered body. "Zhou Xuzi, guess who forced me to become this Demon God? I'll take a guess first: you surely wouldn't think any of this is your fault, would you?"

Zhou Xuzi lifted his eyes and suddenly roared, "I'm not wrong... What fault do I have! My only mistake was... being short-sighted back then... not getting rid of you, the devil, sooner."

"Truly befitting of the former Zhou Tian Divine Emperor. Even having fallen to such a pathetic state, your words still ring with such righteous fervor and hypocrisy."

Yun Che smiled, a sarcastic and pitiful smile. He tilted his head slightly and said unhurriedly, "While clearing out the Eastern Divine Region some time ago, the Heavenly Mystery Realm had a rather interesting discovery."

"The beings of the Heavenly Mystery Realm have dispersed, leaving it an empty realm. The three elders of Heavenly Mystery sat in self-destructed meditation, and the Heavenly Mystery Divine Codex shattered. However, a fragment of one particular page was perfectly preserved, inscribed with twelve very interesting characters."

"'When benevolent, all heavens will be eternally peaceful; when malevolent, demon gods will slaughter the world.'"

Clang!

Zhou Xuzi's entire body trembled violently, causing the chains to scrape with a dull sound.

"It's widely said that the Heavenly Mystery Realm's prophecies are never wrong, and truly, there seems to be some truth to it," Yun Che said, glancing sideways at Zhou Xuzi's suddenly chaotic and trembling features. He continued, "During those three years I spent away from the Divine Realm, I was once plunged into a depression from which I couldn't extricate myself. Then, suddenly, the clouds parted... because in the darkness, I found the person I had lost, and gained the most important treasure in my life... a treasure that made all the suffering and gloom I had ever experienced in my life seem utterly insignificant."

Yun Che tilted his head back, his voice faint: "At that time, how intensely I appreciated heaven's blessing. My former hatred and resentment no longer seemed so important; I even detested the filth and blood that had once stained my hands."

"Later, when the Devil Emperor returned to the world and the heavens and earth were shrouded in crimson calamity, I considered saving all realms my absolute mission. I hoped to erase the sins I had previously incurred, and even more, I wished that such world-saving merits could bring lifelong blessings to those around me... especially my daughter."

"Heh, heh heh heh..." Yun Che chuckled, his laughter extremely cold and sarcastic: "At that time, I was so benevolent and noble, practically a saint dedicated to saving the world."

"If everything that followed hadn't happened, I would have stayed peacefully in the lower realms, no longer staining myself with any sins. I could have even let go of many grudges, because I truly didn't want to embrace my daughter with hands stained with blood... If the Divine Realm ever needed me, I would have surely helped with all my might, and if I couldn't, I could have borrowed Jasmine's power."

"'When benevolent, all heavens will be eternally peaceful.' That's right. Once a person becomes a parent, they suddenly start believing in things they once found absurd and ridiculous. For instance, at that time, I was so willing to believe that all the good I did would surely return as blessings for my daughter. At that time, I had no regrets and wished more than anyone that this world, after enduring the crimson calamity, could forever remain in peace."

"Unfortunately, one person ruined everything," Yun Che's voice turned sinister. "They destroyed all my beauty, all my good intentions, and almost destroyed the entire Divine Realm."

"No! It wasn't me! I wasn't wrong... I wasn't wrong!!" The already frail Zhou Xuzi suddenly let out a hysterical roar. His soul, though seemingly dead ash, projected chaotic distortion in his dim pupils.

Yun Che's tone remained faint and cold, but every indifferent word silently carved into Zhou Xuzi's already shattered soul: "Because of that palm strike of yours back then, I, a benevolent person wholeheartedly seeking peace, became a Demon God who wished to wash the heavens with blood. Because of that palm strike, countless star realms in the Divine Realm collapsed, and countless profound practitioners perished... Because of that palm strike, the Zhou Tian Realm was slaughtered, your clansmen, your descendants, and you..."

"Shut up! Shut up!" A roar like a fiend's echoed, Zhou Xuzi's entire body shaking, spitting blood with every word: "Back then, I was trying to eliminate the menace of the Evil Infant, for the sake of all living beings under heaven! The one who brought disaster and killed them was you, the devil! It was you!!"

Yun Che gave a faint smile and continued slowly, "Back then, I promised to return to the lower realms with Jasmine, vowing never to interfere with each other again; before the Crimson Fissure, if not for Jasmine's intervention, the Divine Realm would have surely fallen into eternal calamity. And that palm strike of yours was not only an act of betrayal but also an act of repaying kindness with enmity."

"It was Jasmine and I who saved all beings. Yet you struck Jasmine out of the Chaos and then relentlessly pursued me, claiming it was for the sake of all living beings under heaven?" Yun Che's eyes slanted faintly. "Zhou Xuzi, even a rabid dog, having lost its mind, probably couldn't bark out such absurd and ridiculous sounds."

"You..."

"Your so-called benevolent heart, which you forcibly maintained, initially intended to grant me 'forgiveness.' But then your attitude suddenly shifted dramatically, and you didn't hesitate to mobilize all your forces, becoming the person most determined to kill me. I guess your change was likely due to seeing the Heavenly Mystery Realm's prophecy. You feared the prophecy would come true, that you would become the eternal sinner who forced a saint to become a Demon God, so you began to eliminate me as soon as possible, at all costs."

"All that talk of sacrificing yourself for the world, or for the common people... you're nothing but a filthy old dog, claiming greatness while desperately trying to conceal your own sins!"

"Yun... Che..." Zhou Xuzi, his teeth shattered, still let out a chaotic, bone-chilling sound: "Even if I'm defeated to this extent, you won't defile me..."

"And you've seen the result," Yun Che's cold tone overshadowed Zhou Xuzi's voice. He continued, "Of the two who saved the world, one was struck out of Chaos by you, and the other was forced by you to become a Demon God. The three God Regions became mountains of corpses and rivers of blood because of you, and all beings trembled in fear."

"As for the Zhou Tian Realm, its hundreds of thousands of years of legacy were destroyed by your hands. Oh, not just the legacy, but also its reputation and prestige built over hundreds of millennia, including the lifelong renown of your founding ancestor, all utterly ruined."

"And who caused all of this..." Yun Che's dark eyes swept over Zhou Xuzi's old face. "Zhou Xuzi, tell me, who was it?"

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang...

The chains let out a trembling wail, and Zhou Xuzi's body trembled so violently it seemed about to shatter. He abruptly opened his mouth, frothing blood spewing forth with his frantic roar: "It's you! It's all you, you devil! I wasn't wrong! Everything I did was for... Ngh!"

Yun Che tilted a finger, and Zhou Xuzi's voice was instantly choked back into his throat, only blood foam continuing to spray out: "No need to be so agitated. Your life is still very long; you have plenty of time every day to deceive yourself about your innocence and blamelessness. But who will care?"

Yun Che slowly turned his face, a dark, chilling faint smile on his lips: "Who in this world doesn't know that you, Zhou Xuzi, are the Divine Realm's foremost hypocrite, the greatest sinner in its history? How many who suffered misfortune wish they could eat your flesh and drink your blood."

"That you can lie here crippled like an old dog with broken bones, you should be truly grateful for my benevolence. Because if I threw you out alive, you would instantly be drowned by the spittle of the world, and your flesh, even your bones, would be torn to shreds until nothing remained."

"And if you die, and go to the Underworld, your father, your grandfather, your ancestors, and your descendants... what do you think they will do to you, the sinner who buried everything of the Zhou Tian Divine Realm? I wonder if all the tortures of the Nine Underworlds could exhaust their hatred?"

Deathly silence... Zhou Xuzi's body slowly collapsed, followed by a faint, trembling whisper: "No... don't say any more... I wasn't wrong... I wasn't wrong... don't say any more... don't say any more..."

With a wave of Yun Che's hand, a small profound formation in front of him instantly lit up, projecting a clear image before Zhou Xuzi.

The sudden light harshly pricked Zhou Xuzi's dim eyes. In the projection, the Royal Realms stood silently, bowing their heads in respectful anticipation. Far below, an endless tide of people gazed up at the floating city; even through the projection, their boundless reverence was palpable.

"The Divine Realm I saved, the Divine Realm that took everything from me, deserves only to become a lightless hell," Yun Che murmured softly. "That was the vow I made back when I was in the Northern Region."

"But as you can see, that vow has been voided. Those who were kind to me, those who were useful, and those who obeyed me, I have all forgiven."

Yun Che smiled faintly: "Because before the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor departed, she left behind her Universe Thorn. Therefore, the Azure Cloud Continent that was destroyed back then... was fake."

Zhou Xuzi, whose consciousness was already fragmented and on the verge of collapse, abruptly raised his head... like a dying insect pierced by countless arrows.

"So, my homeland, my family, my beloved women, they are all safe and sound, and I am about to ascend as Emperor of this world... And you?"

Zhou Xuzi stood frozen. After a long moment, he suddenly lunged forward, his features contorted, the clanging of chains mixing with frantic screams: "Ah... ahhh... ahh... ahhhhh..."

This sound was utterly inhuman, an agony, despair, hatred, and breakdown that defied description. His pupils were bloodshot, almost bursting, and from his mouth, besides the desperate cries of a wild beast, he could no longer articulate a single complete word.

Yun Che turned around, walked slowly through the projected profound formation, his chilling voice gradually drifting back:

"I originally had no intention of becoming a devil, but fate forced my hand. Zhou Xuzi, you just watch with your filthy, sinful eyes how I will trample this world beneath my feet."

"Oh, and by the way, I didn't exterminate your bloodline entirely. Your son, Zhou Qingfeng, who remained in the Dragon God Realm, is still alive, and he's doing very well, just as well as you."

"As for his life or death, it's not in my hands, but in yours. However long you live, he will live."

"So, will you try every means to die for his sake, or will you continue to live a life worse than death for him? I look forward to finding out."

Yun Che's voice gradually faded, answered only by increasingly desperate, blood-curdling screams...

"Ahhh... ahhh... ahhhhh..."

The Imperial Palace gates slowly opened. The soft sound instantly brought silence to the heavens and earth, and all beings held their breath.

A figure slowly stepped out, treading on the red carpet beneath his feet, and also treading upon the heads of countless beings across the world.

Golden crown, white robe, black sash, green jade tassels, crimson devil markings, body enveloped in white radiance, eyes brimming with devilish light...

Wielding darkness yet standing proudly in the bright light, he seemed to stand at the world's apex and core in the eyes of countless trembling gazers. Beneath his feet, he not only crushed the quivering beings of all realms but also all former understandings and laws.

*Thud!*

Profound energy burst forth as pair after pair of reverent knees slammed heavily to the ground, creating a resounding thud that nearly shook one's soul.

"We respectfully welcome the Devil Master!"

Divine Emperors from all domains simultaneously knelt and bowed in welcome. Such a scene was unprecedented throughout eternity, and the impact it delivered was too profound to be described by any known words.

As the Emperors knelt, an immense pressure, unbearable for both body and soul, descended from the heavens.

Below Emperor Yun City, the bodies and souls of the Upper Realm Kings and profound practitioners from all domains surged as if under immense weight. Their bodies knelt heavily before their wills could command, and their heads were bowed so deeply they dared not lift them for a long time.