Chapter 1886: Father and Son

There was no definitive news, and no one had seen Yun Che in person. Yet, across both the Profound Sky Continent and the Illusory Demon Realm, rumors of Yun Che's return spread rapidly. Within just two days, virtually all the upper-level forces on both continents were aware of it.

That day, the Divine Phoenix City experienced great commotion; the Cangfeng Empress abruptly left during an audience with foreign envoys; the Ice Cloud Snow Region was swept by sudden blizzards; and above Demon Imperial City, a dark streak, left by the Little Demon Empress's swift flight, lingered in the sky.

All of this signaled to everyone that Yun Che, who had been gone for five years, had indeed returned.

The speculative rumors that he had perished in a higher plane undoubtedly vanished with his return.

However, the inhabitants of the Azure Cloud Continent could never have imagined where the returning Yun Che now stood in the vast universe.

Because it was a height their wildest imaginations could not reach.

Unlike the previous reunion, this time it not only transcended life, death, and despair but also came with the most painful losses and the most miraculous wonders. It was truly too precious.

Xiao Lie, Yun Qinghong, Mu Yurou, Cang Yue, Xiao Lingxi, Su Ling'er, Chu Yuechan, Huan Caie, Yun Wuxin... These unforgettable figures one by one reappeared in his eyes, and nothing could ever snatch them away again. The tribulations he had endured and the blood he had shed were all worth it.

His last return, he described the vast God Realm to them but concealed many of the dangers he had faced. Due to too many concerns, uncertainties, and hidden dangers, he couldn't be entirely frank about many things.

This time, all his experiences and all his calamities, he poured out without reserve...

...including the Crimson Disaster; including how he and Jasmine were injured by the world the instant they quelled the disaster; including watching the Azure Cloud Continent be destroyed into dust mingled with blood mist and lost souls; and including dragging his remnant life, saved by Mu Xuanyin, as he fled to the Northern Divine Region...

...until he became the Dark Demon Lord, dyed the three regions with blood, and stepped on heaven to become emperor.

However, it was not entirely without concealment. For instance, he never mentioned the name "Xia Qingyue" throughout; only the wicked Moon God Emperor, who cruelly destroyed the Azure Cloud Continent and was ultimately forced to her death by his own hands, was mentioned.

Profound Sky Continent, Flowing Cloud City, Xiao Sect.

The place had a long-lost bustle, and the air in Flowing Cloud City was filled with restless energy.

In the distant sky, shadows of profound boats rapidly approached, slowing down as they neared Flowing Cloud City. They then uniformly descended slowly outside the city, observing respectfully from a distance and not daring to enter rashly.

They had learned through various channels that Yun Che had appeared in Flowing Cloud City and also knew it was his daughter's twentieth birthday. Thus, they arrived, one after another, bearing lavish gifts.

In truth, they were well aware that Yun Che was highly unlikely to grant them an audience. But while Yun Che might not receive them, they could not afford not to come.

"Your daughter-in-law, Chi Wuyao, greets Father and Mother."

The Empress, Chi Wuyao, knelt before Yun Qinghong and Mu Yurou, performing the rite of respect typically shown by juniors in the Cangfeng Nation.

Although she had restrained herself with all her might, even a wisp of her imperial majesty as the Demon Empress of ten thousand years was still too awe-inspiring for the beings of this plane. From the moment she appeared until she spoke, everyone instinctively held their breath, unable to utter a sound.

Yun Che glanced sideways with a touch of helplessness. Then, his gaze shifted, and he shielded away Chi Wuyao's overflowing soul aura, allowing everyone's eyes to quickly regain clarity.

"You are the... Empress that Che'er spoke of?"

As she spoke, Mu Yurou had unconsciously stood up, her gaze seemingly fixated on Chi Wuyao, unable to shift for a long time.

Every woman by Yun Che's side was an exceptional beauty of this world. Yet, the black-clad woman before her, in every aspect, seemed to be a being for whom no words in this world could possibly suffice to describe.

"Yes," Chi Wuyao replied with a smile, maintaining an attitude of utmost respect for elders (though her age and experience vastly surpassed theirs). "Wuyao married my husband two years ago, first as the Demon Empress, then as the Imperial Empress. At the time of our marriage, all spirits in the Northern Region bore witness. However, due to the circumstances of fate, his esteemed parents were not present. This was a great regret for both my husband and myself."

"Please rise quickly."

Before she could continue, Mu Yurou quickly stepped forward, reaching out to help her up. Before she even spoke, her eyes were already misty with tears. "Che'er said that if it weren't for you, he might have... disappeared long ago, and there would be no today," she choked out. "You are Che'er's Empress, and even more... you are the great benefactor of our entire family..."

"Mother, you overstate," Chi Wuyao replied with a smile. "My husband and I have always supported each other; our bodies and hearts became one long ago. There is no need to speak of 'gratitude' between us, nor can I accept such praise from Mother..."

"Hmph!" Qianye Ying'er immediately turned her face away. She couldn't bear, let alone tolerate, such a scene.

Unlike Chi Wuyao, she loved Yun Che but would not revere or bow to his relatives because of it... not even his birth parents.

She had come with Chi Wuyao but merely stood by Yun Che's side, looking straight ahead and not uttering a single word. It was as if, apart from Yun Che, no one else even registered in her sight.

Mu Yurou had always been an emotional person, but Yun Qinghong was different. He shifted his gaze from Chi Wuyao and quietly let out a breath.

Although he had prepared himself mentally, when this former Northern Divine Region Demon Empress, now the God Realm Empress, whom Yun Che had spoken of, appeared, just a fleeting glance in that first instant caused an unprecedented tremor in his soul, telling him that this woman was an existence completely beyond the realm of his understanding and imagination.

And such a woman was willing to bow before them... because of Yun Che.

A strange complexity flickered in the depths of Yun Qinghong's pupils, then quickly faded, replaced by a gentle, contented smile on his face.

"Wuxin, this is my welcoming gift to you, and also a birthday gift."

Chi Wuyao lightly tapped her finger, and a streak of black light floated towards Yun Wuxin.

"Thank you, Aunt Chi."

Yun Wuxin respectfully reached out and took it. As the black light dispersed, what remained in her hand was a small profound image stone.

Yun Wuxin paused, surprised.

"A profound image stone?" Yun Che looked at Chi Wuyao with a puzzled expression. Moreover, it was clearly just an ordinary profound image stone.

Ignoring Yun Che, Chi Wuyao smiled at Yun Wuxin and said, "Your father is now the Emperor of all heavens. Given his affection for you, he would procure any treasure in the world you desire. Therefore, after much thought, this Empress could find no gift more suitable for you than this footage..."

"Brother! Brother!!"

At this moment, a great shout filled with immense excitement came from afar. Subsequently, a figure with a distinctly chaotic aura rapidly descended from the sky, rushing straight into the hall amidst the shouts.

Yun Che's lips twitched slightly. As he turned his gaze, Xiao Yun's figure already appeared in his sight.

"Bro...ther!" Seeing Yun Che with his own eyes, Xiao Yun could no longer control himself. He choked out a cry, rushed forward, and sobbed uncontrollably for a long time.

"Xiao Yun, it's been a long time," Yun Che said, patting his shoulder.

"Brother... it's good that you're safe."

Xiao Yun clenched his teeth tightly, barely managing to stop his tears. He quickly reached out, grabbing the young boy who had hurried in behind him. "Yong'an, quickly..."

Before he finished speaking, the boy had already dropped to his knees with a "thud" and kowtowed heavily. "Yong'an greets Uncle Yun."

The boy before him was already seven feet tall, his demeanor resolute, his eyes like bright stars, and his profound energy was nearing the Profound Sky Realm. His future achievements would certainly not be inferior to his father's.

"Yong'an, you've grown," Yun Che said, reaching out to help him up, sighing deeply.

Xiao Yong'an's eyes were filled with tears as he sincerely said, "Uncle Yun's life-saving grace back then, Yong'an will never forget for his entire life. Throughout these years, Yong'an and Father have always prayed together for Uncle Yun's safe return... and we always believed that Uncle Yun would have divine protection no matter where he was."

"...Good child," Yun Che nodded gently.

"Brother Yun," came a smiling voice from behind as Number Seven Under Heaven walked over. In her hand, she held a delicate, doll-like little girl who appeared to be only four or five years old.

Yun Che's heartstrings and gaze stirred simultaneously. "Could she be..."

"Yongning," Number Seven Under Heaven paused and bent down, saying to the little girl, "This is Uncle Yun, whom your father and I often speak of."

Indeed... Yun Che's lips curved into a smile, and his gaze grew exceptionally warm. When he had left back then, Number Seven Under Heaven was newly pregnant, and Xiao Lie named the child "Yongning." In what felt like a dream, she had already grown so big.

"Uncle Yun... hello."

The girl seemed a bit shy. She softly called out, then shrank behind her mother, only half her delicate, pink face showing as she secretly peered at Yun Che.

Yun Che quickly and gently responded. While delighted that Xiao Yun now had both a son and a daughter, he also hastily pondered what welcoming gift he should give this little princess of the Xiao family.

"Hahahahahaha!"

A loud laugh came, making the entire Flowing Cloud City tremble.

"Grandfather!" Yun Che turned and hurried to meet him.

Mu Feiyan's laughter always arrived before he did. As Yun Che swiftly moved to greet him, he "whooshed" past him, leaving Yun Che with only a ringing in his ears from his booming voice: "Little Wuxin, look what your great-grandfather brought you! A Purple Dragon Lizard, rarely seen in a thousand years, just caught from Thunderflame Valley, hahahahaha..."

The air in Flowing Cloud City surged, yet no dust was stirred.

Today was Yun Wuxin's twentieth birthday, and also a dust-free new beginning and starting point.

Xuanyuan Wentian... guests from the God Realm... fallen Star Gods... the Crimson Disaster... the fall of the Azure Cloud Continent... hatred-filled demon souls... the Western Region Dragon Monarch...

All of it had receded into eternal distance, leaving only peace that no one could ever harm again.

The clamor gradually subsided, and stars dotted the night.

Yun Qinghong stood in a courtyard, gazing up at the deep starry sky.

This was where Xiao Ying, Xiao Yun's father, had lived. He had stood silently here for a long time, seemingly reminiscing about the past.

"Father."

Yun Che walked over, glanced at the almost unchanged surroundings, and asked, "Still reminiscing about the past?"

Yun Qinghong came back to his senses, smiling. "Yes, and no."

"Oh?"

"There's something else that gives me more pause," Yun Qinghong said slowly. "In fact, it feels even stranger than the experiences you've recounted from these past years."

This truly piqued Yun Che's curiosity. "What is it?"

"Are you... truly my son?"

"Hahahahaha!" The words he heard made Yun Che burst into laughter. "Father rarely jokes. For you to suddenly make one now is quite unexpected."

However, his father's answering laughter never came. Yun Che glanced sideways, only to find Yun Qinghong looking up at the sky, with no trace of a smile on his face. His expression, instead, carried an unusually complex wistfulness.

Yun Che's smile faded. He said, somewhat between laughter and tears, "Father, you can't possibly... truly think that, can you?"

Yun Qinghong lowered his head, giving a faint smile. "You and I are biological father and son, connected by blood. This fact, no matter how the world changes, cannot be denied or altered. However..."

He paused, then continued, "Although I have never interacted with that world called the 'God Realm', the people there can turn an entire Azure Cloud Continent into dust with a mere wave of their hand... Undoubtedly, that is an existence I cannot comprehend, and a plane I could never hope to reach in my entire life.

"And you, from the first time you set off for that place, barely more than a decade has passed, yet you actually became an emperor who controls everything." Yun Qinghong slightly closed his eyes. "This makes me wonder... could I, Yun Qinghong, truly have given birth to such a son?"

Yun Che said with a smile, "My current standing is precisely because you, Father, are exceptional enough."

"No," Yun Qinghong shook his head. "Your father is by no means a self-deprecating person, and a touch of arrogance still lingers in my character. Back then, you saved the Yun family and the Demon Imperial Clan from peril, and later defeated Xuanyuan Wentian, becoming the supreme existence in the Profound Sky Continent and the Illusory Demon Realm. I felt endless joy and pride for that, and countless times I sighed, truly worthy of being Yun Qinghong's son.

"A person's fate, vision, and limits are often determined by their bloodline and origin; this is a cruel and undeniable fact. Yet, Che'er, the height you have reached is one that your father, and indeed the entire Yun Clan, cannot even hope to gaze upon, let alone reach, with all their might. Frankly, in these past two days, the wistfulness in my heart has surpassed my pride."

Saying this, Yun Qinghong chuckled. "A son who is too outstanding, so outstanding that his father doesn't know what to do with himself... A father in my situation is probably rare in this world, hahahaha."

"Alright, alright, let's not be sentimental about this." Before Yun Che could speak, Yun Qinghong waved his hand, turning to look at his son. "Che'er, since you are already the Emperor of the God Realm, you must have many pressing matters. Will you be leaving again soon?"

"No," Yun Che said with a smile. "The title 'Emperor Yun' is more of just a designation for me. Controlling the God Realm is entirely left to Wuyao; she is far more adept than I am. Even if I were to completely let go and disappear for a thousand or a hundred years, it wouldn't matter."

"Besides, this is my home."

"That's good," Yun Qinghong laughed heartily. "Spend more time with them, especially Wuxin. You've been separated from her for far too long."

"...I understand," Yun Che nodded heavily. "I will certainly make up for my absence all these years."

He chatted with Yun Qinghong for a long time, until the moon set and the stars grew sparse.

After seeing Yun Qinghong off, Yun Che sat alone on the rooftop, falling into a long period of wistfulness, just like his father.

Xuanyuan Wentian planned and endured for a millennium to achieve the Divine Dao, only then gaining a half-crippled divine body.

Long Bai became the Dragon Emperor, looking down upon the God Realm; with Shen Xi's salvation and help, it still took him nearly a hundred thousand years.

And he himself...

He was now only thirty years old, yet he had trampled them all underfoot. All the heavens and myriad realms were beneath his feet.

Before he was sixteen, he had been a cripple.

The beginning of all changes was when he was poisoned to death on his wedding day with Xia Qingyue... "Reborn" on the Azure Cloud Continent... then "reborn" again from the Azure Cloud Continent back to the day of his wedding with Xia Qingyue...

Afterwards, he met Jasmine, gained the Heretic God's legacy, acquired the power of the Wild God, encountered the Phoenix spirit and the remnant soul of the Dragon God, obtained Hong'er and the Primordial Profound Ark, and in the Illusory Demon Realm, encountered the Golden Crow spirit...

Facing Xuanyuan Wentian, who had achieved the Divine Dao, he met You'er in his despair.

Upon reaching the God Realm, he encountered the Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit, still existing to this day; met another Phoenix spirit in the God Burying Inferno Prison; received special treatment from Shen Xi in the Forbidden Land of Samsara. Later, when the Devil Emperor returned to the world, the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor, who terrified all, bestowed many favors upon him.

The Primordial Seal of Life and Death, the Eternal Heaven Pearl, the Sky Poison Pearl, and the Mirror of Samsara were all upon him, and the World Piercer was also by his side.

Among these, any single blessing would be difficult for others to obtain even in a thousand lifetimes.

And he, from sixteen years old until now, only just over twenty years had passed.

How...

How did all of this converge upon him? And in such a short span of time?

This was actually a thought that had crossed Yun Che's mind more than once over the years.

Yun Qinghong's words brought these thoughts of his completely to the surface.

Was it truly what was called "destiny" or "luck"?

"I never used to believe in anything like 'heaven's will'. But after meeting you... you definitely have some great destiny upon you!" This was also something Jasmine had said to him more than once back then.