Chapter 1906: Journey (8)

Approaching the Abyss of Nothingness, the figures of the Sword Sovereign and his disciple emerged from the ethereal, pale mist.

They had been there for several years, both to temper Jun Xilei's sword heart and as Jun Wuming's chosen final resting place.

"Senior Sword Sovereign, it's been a long time."Even as the Cloud Emperor, Yun Che's words and gaze still held a trace of respect when facing Jun Wuming.

Jun Wuming opened his eyes, which had been closed for a long time. He looked at Yun Che, a smile on his face: "The astonishingly talented young man has, in the blink of an eye, become an emperor who has overturned the ages. For this old man to witness such a miracle in his remaining years, there is no regret."His aged eyes held no turbidity, only a clear sharpness that seemed to see through the vicissitudes of the world... Yun Che knew this was the final burst of vitality before his lifespan ended.

Beside Jun Wuming, Jun Xilei seemed taken aback by Yun Che's sudden arrival, her gaze shifting with slight disarray, remaining silent for a long time.Disciple of Snow Song... Son of the Gods... Savior Godchild... Devil... Devil Master... Cloud Emperor... Each time she met him, he bore a completely different identity and destiny.

Yun Wuxin bowed to Jun Wuming, then secretly studied Jun Xilei."Another beautiful elder sister... oh no, an auntie. And her aura is indescribably extraordinary, like a beauty stepped out of an ancient painting.""And the way Father is looking at her...""It can't be... again and again..."

"Without Senior Sword Sovereign's help back then, I would not be where I am today."Having learned some truths from Huo Poyun's memories, Yun Che's mindset when facing Jun Wuming and Jun Xilei was completely different from before.The respectful welcome given to an emperor and the act of saving a devil were concepts as different as heaven and earth; the latter was a profound debt of gratitude, as weighty as ten thousand mountains.

"..." Jun Xilei's lips moved slightly... How did he know?

Yun Che raised his hand, a luminous profound light appearing in his palm: "Senior Sword Sovereign's lifespan is nearing its end, but with my profound light energy, supplemented by some spirit herbs and profound pills, I might be able to grant you another hundred years."Jun Wuming had lived for five millennia; his condition was not due to injury but natural longevity reaching its limit, which was the most difficult to extend.

Slightly surprised, Jun Wuming then smiled faintly, his face, a blend of age and elegance, showing no trace of greed for life: "Cloud Emperor's kindness is deeply appreciated by this old man. My actions back then were merely to repay your favor from that time, no need to dwell on it."The "favor from that time" he referred to was Yun Che's "rescue" of her during their battle at the Profound God Convention.

Yun Che said solemnly, "What I did back then was like a speck of dust compared to Senior's kindness, which is like the bright moon. Now that I am the Cloud Emperor, I must not forget this grace or break my promise. If I cannot repay Senior, I fear I will never find peace in my life. I hope Senior will allow me this."

Jun Wuming smiled gently, for Yun Che, for the God Realm, and also for... his disciple.

"Few in this world, with a human body, can live for five millennia as I have. This is an immense blessing from heaven, and I am only grateful and content. Leier has grown, and with these old eyes, I have witnessed the world-shattering miracle, leaving me with no further regrets. There is no need for the Cloud Emperor to trouble himself or waste precious spirit herbs and profound pills.""If the Cloud Emperor truly cannot let it go," he tilted his gaze slightly, his smile becoming even gentler, "then I ask that you look after Leier a little after I pass away."

Jun Xilei froze, then blurted out coldly, "I don't need him to...""Alright, I will," Yun Che nodded without hesitation, giving Jun Wuming the promise he most desired.

His answer was very earnest, his words and gaze conveying unquestionable resolve, which instead left Jun Xilei somewhat flustered.She had realized long ago that her sword heart would always be unsettled whenever she faced Yun Che.In the past, Jun Wuming had achieved perfect clarity of his sword heart in this very Abyss of Nothingness. She had accompanied Jun Wuming here for several years, her sword heart becoming increasingly flawless... yet now, facing Yun Che, it was inexplicably in such disarray again.

"Good." Jun Wuming nodded deeply, his aged eyes slightly misty: "With the Cloud Emperor's words, this old man can release even his last concern."

"Though Senior will pass, I believe soon enough, the name of the Sword Sovereign and the nameless sword gleam will once again shine brilliantly across the world."He gave Jun Xilei a deep look, then moved away with Yun Wuxin.

Jun Xilei's upper body tilted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately not a single word escaped her lips.

At that moment, Yun Che seemed to recall something and stopped.

He extended his hand, and a faint crimson light gently floated towards her."This stone is called the Primordial Jade, imbued with the divine power of the Primordial Spike," Yun Che said, turning his head. "If you ever encounter an insurmountable calamity, Jun Fairy, simply touch it with your profound energy. It will transport you to Emperor Yun City within two breaths, even from within this God Realm of Absolute Beginning."The crimson star hovered before Jun Xilei. After a few breaths, she slowly reached out and took it into her palm.

"Thank you for the Cloud Emperor's generosity." Jun Xilei's voice was as cold and sharp as a sword's edge: "Since this is a gift Senior Master exchanged with his kindness, it would be disrespectful for me to refuse."

Yun Wuxin: (Oh... as expected!)

With that, Jun Xilei flipped her palm and placed the Primordial Jade into her spatial ring.

Yun Che's figure suddenly blurred, appearing instantly before Jun Xilei, his hand abruptly reaching out.

"You... what are you doing!" The sudden action made Jun Xilei recoil, but the sword qi and sword gleam that always surrounded her seemed to have suddenly lost their instinct, not striking Yun Che.She immediately saw the red jade stone in Yun Che's palm... He had pulled it directly from her spatial ring.

Biting her lip slightly, Jun Xilei steadied her breathing, forcing herself to be calm, and said coldly, "What? Regretting it already?"

No sooner had she spoken than a gentle breeze suddenly wrapped around her waist, lightly affixing the Primordial Jade to her sash."If it's in your spatial ring, there might be a delay in a real crisis. It's better to keep it on your outer garment," Yun Che said slowly, his gaze distant, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips.

"...Mind your own business!"As she spoke, she suddenly realized Yun Che's face was incredibly close to hers, his eyes, even more profound than usual, gazing directly into her cheeks.Her cheeks abruptly felt hot. She retreated a small step in alarm, subtly activating her profound energy, but she couldn't dispel the irritating warmth on her face.

"Hahahahahahaha!" From beside them, Jun Wuming's inexplicably hearty laughter rang out.

With a slight chuckle, Yun Che turned again, gradually moving away with Yun Wuxin, leaving behind the young Sword Sovereign whose sword heart was in complete disarray.

"Father, I think I've completely figured you out."As he walked slowly with his daughter along the edge of the Abyss of Nothingness, letting her feel its unique aura and laws, Yun Wuxin suddenly uttered a strange remark.

"Oh, what do you mean?" Yun Che asked.

"When it comes to women!" Yun Wuxin emphasized, her voice deliberately louder.

"Uh... ahem." Yun Che nearly choked on his own saliva.

"Which women to be gentle with, which to be passive with, which to be assertive with, which to be distant yet close... Father truly understands it all."Yun Wuxin twitched the tip of her nose, letting out a soft hum: "I thought Father kept refusing Aunt Wuyao's suggestion to fill the imperial harem because he was content with Mother and Master and didn't want anyone else. It turns out that wasn't the case at all.""Just now, that young... auntie, you were clearly deliberately teasing her."

"Sigh." Yun Che let out a soft sigh, a wry smile on his face: "Watching your horizons broaden and your thoughts become more intricate little by little, as a father, I feel both relieved and worried."

"Oh?" She hadn't expected Yun Che to admit it so readily. She murmured, "He's not even defending himself."

"There's nothing to defend," Yun Che said with certainty, his expression unchanged: "Even with countless treasures by my side, when I see a magnificent pearl, I will still desire to possess it.""To put it nicely, it's being affectionate; to put it bluntly, it's possessiveness; and if one were to defend it, it could be called an inherent flaw men can't change."

Yun Wuxin secretly stuck out her tongue: "As expected of the Evil Cloud Emperor, he can make even such matters sound righteous and watertight."She actually wanted to ask her father if he would want her to meet a man like him in the future... but after thinking it over, the question seemed too difficult for him, so she held it back.

"Hahahahaha." Yun Che burst out laughing.

A low, terrifying sound suddenly boomed—it seemed to emanate from his own heart, yet also from a distance farther than the sky.

Yun Che's laughter abruptly ceased, his expression changing drastically. His spiritual sense suddenly expanded, stretching far into the distance.

The sudden change in his expression and aura startled Yun Wuxin. She quickly pressed close to Yun Che, asking nervously, "Father, what... what happened?"

"This sound isn't right," Yun Che said gravely.

"Sound? What sound?" Yun Wuxin looked around in confusion.

"...?" Yun Che frowned: "You didn't hear it?""Huh? No," Yun Wuxin shook her head.

Yun Che said nothing more, his spiritual sense continuously extending outwards.However, despite his powerful soul energy, he could not detect any abnormal aura.More than the sound, what caused his heart and soul to tremble was the sudden, intensely strong feeling of unease that had arisen.The impulsive act of giving the incredibly precious Primordial Jade to Jun Xilei just now was precisely because of this subtle feeling of unease, which he had perceived upon nearing the Abyss of Nothingness.

Much more time passed, yet Yun Che still found nothing. He even tried extending his spiritual sense into the Abyss of Nothingness, but without exception, upon touching the abyss, all he felt was an emptiness that could not be penetrated even by an inch.

Yun Che retracted his spiritual sense and glanced back at Yun Wuxin, finding her face filled with worry and apprehension, clearly startled. He quickly smiled and reassured her, "It's nothing. I was just too sensitive. The God Realm of Absolute Beginning often has things that defy external understanding. What I heard was probably some kind of ancient echo."

"Oh... you startled me." Yun Wuxin let out a small sigh of relief. It was the first time she had seen her father, now the Cloud Emperor, look so terrifying.

"Alright, let's go."Taking Yun Wuxin's hand, Yun Che swiftly soared into the air with her, flying towards the exit of the God Realm of Absolute Beginning: "Although there are many strange places here I haven't shown you, it's about time we left. If we don't go to the Eastern Divine Region soon, some people might just come looking for us."

Yun Wuxin's beautiful eyes subtly shifted: "So, in the Eastern Region, we're going to the Brahma Monarch God Realm first, right?"

"Mhm."

"Hehe..." Yun Wuxin chuckled softly: "I've noticed that although Father can sometimes be harsh with Aunt Qianying, he actually spoils her quite a lot."

"Me? Spoil her?" Yun Che's voice unconsciously rose by several degrees: "How could that be! I just don't want that woman to always cause unnecessary trouble for me.""Yes, yes, Father is definitely right," Yun Wuxin agreed verbally, a suppressed laugh on her lips.