Chapter 1943: Emperor's Wrath

Amidst a prolonged cry, her body merged with the phantom of the Ice Phoenix. Her snow sword, like a rainbow, unleashed a decisive strike—"Moon Rupture of Despair"—piercing the dark phantom, which was destined to be inescapable.

Tssshh—

Hideous darkness was met by the dazzling Ice Goddess. Amidst an incomparably sharp explosion, a beam of ice-blue radiance shone across the heavens, like a star bursting in the dark night. The radiant light engulfed the darkness, spreading across countless surrounding stars and star realms.

This was her renewed warning to Yun Che.

Nan Zhaoming's pupils sharply contracted, pierced by the cold light. His outstretched arm violently trembled, and his palm suddenly burst open with a bloody hole from the sudden backlash, splattering dark blood.

"Hmph… this woman!" Nan Zhaoming abruptly gritted his teeth.

This was Mu Xuanyin's ultimate strike, unleashing the full extent of her Ice Phoenix divine power, a blow that astonished the heavens and illuminated the world.

However, due to the immense power disparity, the dazzling radiance of the Ice Goddess lasted only a few breaths before rapidly dimming, swiftly consumed by Nan Zhaoming's dark power, layer by layer.

Nan Zhaoming's intense reaction did not last long, and the bloody hole in his palm was quickly sealed by darkness. His gaze darkened slightly… for her to have brought him a second surprise, the imperative to keep this woman completely intact had just increased.

The ice-blue radiance faded with increasing speed, and darkness once again permeated the void. Gradually, the ice glow around Mu Xuanyin also dimmed. As Nan Zhaoming's blood-stained palm suddenly twisted, her icy body trembled slightly, the Snow Princess Sword's brilliance completely extinguished, and nearly half of her figure was instantly enveloped in darkness.

"A rather splendid struggle," Nan Zhaoming praised. "What a pity…"

Just then, a sharp shriek came from far behind. Two incredibly powerful surges of profound energy overlapped and struck, forcibly halting the dark power that was about to engulf Mu Xuanyin.

Simultaneously, a golden light, like a bolt of lightning piercing the sky, suddenly flew over and coiled around Mu Xuanyin. Upon contact, the golden light transformed into dark profound energy, which then erupted, forcibly pulling Mu Xuanyin away from Nan Zhaoming's dark power.

Mu Xuanyin's body was pulled by the dark light, carried for hundreds of miles until she landed beside a figure.

The spot where Mu Xuanyin had been instantly transformed into a pitch-black vortex, dark as an endless abyss.

As the dark light dissipated, the Divine Oracle appeared in its true form. Instead of returning to its master's waist, it hovered above her jade arm, its entire body gleaming with a cold golden light, like a venomous snake poised to strike.

Qianye Ying'er!

Yun Che had told her not to act rashly, no matter what happened. Clearly, she had not obeyed.

Behind her, Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu's robes flapped, both wearing grave expressions.

"Who are they?!" Qianye Ying'er demanded in a cold voice.

"Didn't you hear my warning?!" Mu Xuanyin's chest rose and fell, blood staining her lips. "You shouldn't have come."

"Hmph, is this your first day knowing me?" Qianye Ying'er's eyes held a deep chill as she asked again, "Who are they?!"

"People from beyond this world!" Mu Xuanyin's voice was chilling to the bone. She had warned the world with the Phoenix Cry and ice light, but now… not only her, but the three Qianye individuals would also find it difficult to escape this calamity.

Her reply left Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu mostly aghast, yet with a hint of understanding.

"Hehehe!" Nan Zhaoguang glanced at Nan Zhaoming's injured right palm and lightly chuckled. "The four strongest individuals in this divine realm have all arrived. It couldn't be better."

"…" Truly facing these individuals, the shock in Qianye Ying'er's heart had intensified a thousandfold. Just as she was about to speak, Mu Xuanyin's low, cold voice reached her ears: "Escape with all your might… there is no other option."

"The Snow Song Divine Emperor speaks no falsehoods."

Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu silently moved forward. Qianye Wugu's tone remained faint as smoke: "This calamity from beyond the heavens is as absurd as a false dream. Divine Emperor, for my Brahma Monarch… no, for my Qianye clan, please ensure your own safety."

His voice still lingered in their ears when a surge of immense power suddenly struck, pushing Qianye Ying'er and Mu Xuanyin far away.

The two elderly figures, like eagles, pounced forward, their full-power bursts of energy spreading out like an invisible giant curtain.

As they approached the terrifying individuals, they realized what a grave mistake it had been not to forcefully prevent Qianye Ying'er from coming.

They did not seek to push their opponents back an inch, only to cause a brief hindrance and buy Qianye Ying'er a sliver of a chance at survival.

People from beyond this world…

They had originally thought that the surviving Brahma Monarch clan, after the great calamity, would find lasting peace in this world completely controlled by Yun Che, and return to their former peak after ten thousand years.

But, it had only been a few years…

"Hahahahaha." Seeing through their intention at a glance, Nan Zhaoming threw his head back and laughed. "Escape? A wise choice, but… a fool's dream!"

Amidst the laughter, Nan Zhaoming extended his left arm, facing the two with a single hand. Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu unleashed their Brahma Monarch divine power without reservation. Their long hair wildly danced, and their eyes emitted intense golden light. Two beams of golden light, condensed with their resolute power, shot out, smashing towards Nan Zhaoming like blazing golden stars.

Just then, Nan Zhaoming, who had already made his move, suddenly stiffened. His eyes, which had been filled with disdain, seemed to be pricked by golden needles, instantly contracting to their extreme, then expanding to the point of nearly bursting.

What accompanied this reaction was unmistakable terror…

An extreme terror that could almost brutally tear apart one's soul.

Not even the Primordial Dragon Emperor and the Sword Monarch and his disciple, who had suddenly encountered these outsiders, had displayed such a degree of terror.

Not only Nan Zhaoming, but Nan Zhaoguang and the four accompanying knights behind him also became extremely terrified. Moreover, two of the accompanying knights trembled all over, their knees buckling as they collapsed onto the ground.

Boom!!

The two golden lights, which should have posed no threat to Nan Zhaoming and could have been annihilated by his single hand, solidly struck his chest.

In his terror, his entire body's defensive power completely dispersed. Amidst the exploding golden light, Nan Zhaoming sprayed blood from his mouth, his body tumbling away as if swept by a hurricane.

This scene was unforeseen by the two Qianye individuals, who were momentarily stunned. Even Mu Xuanyin and Qianye Ying'er's movements visibly slowed.

But immediately, a palm seemed to extend from the void, firmly attaching itself to Nan Zhaoming's back and instantly dissipating all the power on his body.

"Don't be fooled."

Nan Zhaoguang retracted his arm. His expression was not good, and his eyes still showed lingering terror, but he was rapidly calming down:

"They should be the divine inheritors of the Brahma Heaven God Clan's power. The information brought by the outsiders mentioned this. That's why their power is…"

Actually, Nan Zhaoguang didn't need to remind him; that was merely immense fear triggered by conditioned reflex, which would naturally recede as his rationality returned.

Taking a slight breath, Nan Zhaoming's gaze and voice simultaneously deepened: "I know. Hmph! To make me show such an ugly display, these two old geezers…"

"Wait!"

Nan Zhaoguang reached out again and pressed down on Nan Zhaoming's arm, which was gathering dark mist and anger: "Only them, we absolutely cannot deal with on our own. Otherwise… what if…"

Nan Zhaoming first frowned, then suddenly realized something. Cold sweat instantly dripped from his forehead, and his killing intent towards the two Qianye individuals rapidly dissipated.

"Then let's disable those two women first!"

His anger towards the two Qianye individuals quickly shifted its outlet, and Nan Zhaoming's figure silently blurred amidst a low growl.

A black shadow pierced past the two Qianye individuals with a speed completely beyond limits and comprehension. It was so fast that even powerful figures like Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu could only barely catch a faint, almost imperceptible phantom.

Rip!

The void seemed to be torn apart by a rapidly flashing black trace. The spreading black mark pressed directly towards the distant Qianye Ying'er and Mu Xuanyin, rapidly closing the originally vast distance at a desperate speed.

The oppressive feeling behind them grew heavier and heavier, to the point of suffocation. Mu Xuanyin's eyes turned cold, and she suddenly struck Qianye Ying'er's back with a palm. She herself surged with a dazzling cold light, thrusting back towards Nan Zhaoming, whom she could fundamentally not resist.

"You!" Qianye Ying'er only had time to let out a cry of surprise before she was quickly pushed away by the icy force from Mu Xuanyin.

As she turned, Mu Xuanyin's figure instantly receded, like a fading ice-blue comet, plunging towards the approaching black trace.

The cold light shattered, like thousands of stars simultaneously breaking apart, scattering endless residual light. This finally halted Nan Zhaoming's advance.

But in just one breath, the residual light was completely extinguished by the black mist. With Nan Zhaoming's low growl, tinged with anger, the Snow Princess Sword flew from its master's blood-stained jade fingers with a mournful cry. Mu Xuanyin, like a powerless ice butterfly, tumbled away, streaks of blood-red mist tragically blossoming on her snowy robes.

Around Yun Che, too many people loathed Qianye Ying'er, some even wishing they could tear her to shreds.

However, two individuals had always held a profound gratitude towards Qianye Ying'er: Chi Wuyao and Mu Xuanyin, and their reasons were remarkably similar.

In such circumstances, perhaps only these two would be willing to sacrifice their lives for another.

If Qianye Ying'er were rational enough, or as selfish and heartless as she once was, she should have desperately seized this sliver of life that Mu Xuanyin had bought for her with her own, fleeing as fast as possible without looking back.

But now, her blood was no longer so cold.

She turned back, unleashing all her dark profound energy. Strenuously resisting the forces exerted on her by the two Brahma Ancestors and Mu Xuanyin, she swung her arm, and the Divine Oracle shot out. A golden trace, swirling with dark light, pierced through space and coiled towards Mu Xuanyin.

At nearly the maximum range, the Divine Oracle barely managed to coil around Mu Xuanyin's slender waist, pulling her towards itself.

"Alas!" Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu simultaneously let out a sigh that was half heavy with sorrow, half filled with emotion.

Although they had not appeared for a long time, they had always watched Qianye Ying'er grow… In just these few years, she had truly changed completely.

"Fool!" Nan Zhaoming waved his hand, dispelling the invading cold. His face filled with mocking amusement. "So unwilling to part? How can I not grant your wish!"

His body suddenly twisted, letting out a venting low growl. As black mist permeated his form, the already dim space suddenly darkened further. The space in front of him suddenly seemed to be violently pulled by an invisible giant hand, breaking apart layer by layer, swirling with terrifying black light and engulfing Mu Xuanyin.

The power on her body was finally shed layer by layer. Qianye Ying'er struggled to stop herself, then coiled the Divine Oracle and plunged towards Mu Xuanyin. She barely managed to block in front of Mu Xuanyin before being devoured by the space-breaking darkness, flinging the Divine Oracle back and hastily unleashing dark divine power fueled by the Devil Emperor's blood.

The Divine Oracle tore through the void; Nan Zhaoming's dark power was barely torn apart, but it ultimately couldn't be fully resisted. Qianye Ying'er let out a muffled groan, yet she forcefully stabilized herself, holding the heavily injured Mu Xuanyin as she flew backward.

It was also at this moment that the power that should have pursued them and completely driven the two into despair instead stagnated.

Nan Zhaoming's hand stopped mid-air. Behind him, Nan Zhaoguang, who had been watching the spectacle and disdained to act, was also filled with astonishment. The facial features of the four accompanying knights were completely frozen, their gazes fixed in a daze.

Blood seeped from Qianye Ying'er's seven orifices, and her protective profound energy had largely dissipated. The ethereal profound light that usually floated before her, obscuring her face, had completely vanished.

Her true face was thus completely revealed to the six individuals.

Even though her face was pale and streaked with blood, she was still the most captivating Brahma Monarch Goddess of the era, beautiful enough to make any man, or even woman, lose their heart and soul.

This was true even for powerful existences like Nan Zhaoming and Nan Zhaoguang, who came from beyond this world and surpassed the highest limits of this era.

"This world… actually has such a woman…" one of the accompanying knights murmured.

"Gulp!" Another accompanying knight's throat heavily moved. "She's practically comparable to… the Glass Goddess…"

The four words "Glass Goddess" made Nan Zhaoguang's stunned gaze suddenly sharpen. His brows furrowed, and he angrily roared: "You scoundrel! The Glass Goddess's immortal beauty is unmatched through the ages, and she is moreover destined to be a future deity! How dare you compare her to a woman from this lowly world!"

This low growl made all four accompanying knights snap out of their daze. The one on the far right immediately knelt down, saying with endless terror, "This subordinate misspoke! Even if I had a thousand times more foolishness and courage, I would absolutely not dare to compare her with the Glass Goddess…"

"Of course I know you misspoke!" Nan Zhaoguang coldly snorted. "If those words were to reach the Abyss, what a terrible sin they would be! As an accompanying knight and a glorious pioneer, how could such absurd words and actions ever qualify you to become an Abyssal Knight in the future?"

The accompanying knight bowed his head deeply: "This subordinate will strictly obey Lord Vice-Knight's teachings and will surely reflect for a thousand days."

"No need for that, you can't entirely blame him," Nan Zhaoming said indifferently. "Purely on looks, this woman is definitely a gem of this lowly world. It would truly be too regrettable and heartbreaking to crush her into dark dust."

"Of course we'll keep her," Nan Zhaoguang's gaze repeatedly swept over Qianye Ying'er. "But you must think clearly: no matter how tempted you are… you absolutely must restrain yourself and not touch her."

"Of course I understand," Nan Zhaoming said. "A woman this beautiful, even if she's from a lowly world, is still the finest tribute. Including Lord Knight, none of us are qualified to lay a hand on her."

"If we present her to Lord Divine Official, we will naturally gain another heavy layer of merit!"

Forcefully suppressing the restless greed in his heart, Nan Zhaoming directly averted his gaze from Qianye Ying'er. With a sweep of his hand, space once again twisted and gathered with darkness. In just a few breaths, the vast space transformed into a huge dark vortex, with Qianye Ying'er and Mu Xuanyin at its center.

However, within this surging dark power, most of the malevolence and killing intent had dissipated.

"Heh…" Qianye Ying'er raised her eyes and let out a cold laugh, her stunning eyes reflecting a vicious demonic light. "A bunch of filthy curs, you think you… are worthy?!"

As her voice fell, her eyes instantly turned pitch black like an endless demonic abyss.

In this inescapable predicament, she had no other choice. The Devil Emperor's blood in her body frantically pulsed, on the verge of burning itself out.

But in the next instant, the Devil Emperor's blood suddenly ceased its agitation.

To Nan Zhaoming and Nan Zhaoguang's astonishment, Qianye Ying'er and Mu Xuanyin's figures strangely vanished within the dark vortex, leaving only a fleeting crimson light.

Nan Zhaoming was bewildered for a moment, then slowly turned his head.

As far as his gaze reached, in a not-so-distant star field, Qianye Ying'er and Mu Xuanyin reappeared. Around them, seven distinct auras had emerged.

Before this, he hadn't detected their approach in the slightest.

Yun Che, the Devil Queen, Cai Zhi, Shui Meiyin, and the three Yama Ancestors.

Jun Xilei's condition was too poor, so Yun Che had forcefully made her stay in Imperial Cloud City.

After his astonishment, Nan Zhaoming burst into laughter: "Tsk tsk, it seems we don't even need to search. The highest-level figures in this world are actually coming to us one after another. It seems ignorance and foolishness aren't entirely bad things, hahahahaha."

The laughter was piercing, and the oppressive aura it carried was so heavy it almost deformed their hearts.

"Yun Che, you…" Mu Xuanyin's vision was already somewhat blurry, but Yun Che's aura instantly reached her soul. Her heart was in turmoil, but then she sensed Shui Meiyin's aura close by and only then did she feel slightly at ease.

Yun Che looked at Mu Xuanyin and Qianye Ying'er, the tragic bloodstains piercing his eyes. His gaze did not linger, slowly shifting towards the distant figures.

He did not comfort Mu Xuanyin, nor did he blame Qianye Ying'er; there was only cold, desolate calm.

Shui Meiyin's hand clutching Yun Che's arm tightened abruptly, and her left hand tightly gripped the Universal Spear, its crimson light faintly appearing and disappearing.

The current Yun Che rarely showed his emotions. But the subtle fluctuations in his aura were enough for the Devil Queen and the others to know the extent of his rage.

The three Yama Ancestors behind him instantly tensed up, not daring to even breathe heavily.

Qianye Wugu and Qianye Bingzhu also arrived by Yun Che's side at this moment. Shui Meiyin's arrival finally put their minds at ease.

"Emperor Yun, do not entangle yourself; retreat quickly," Qianye Wugu said. "This has nothing to do with imperial might. They are outsiders, beyond our comprehension, and not something we can resist. Retreat is the only option."

"Go!" Mu Xuanyin pushed Qianye Ying'er, letting out an undeniable low cry.

Yun Che did not turn back, nor did he speak. He gently removed Shui Meiyin's small hand that was tightly gripping his, then slowly stepped forward.

"Yun Che!" Mu Xuanyin urgently cried out, but a hand gently gripped her frantically raised arm. Chi Wuyao's serene voice rang out: "Rest assured. With Meiyin here, no matter how impossible things become, there's always a perfect escape."

"What's more," Chi Wuyao continued, her gaze fixed on the six distant figures, "the most terrifying person has gone to the Western Region. At this moment, isn't this also an opportunity?"

Mu Xuanyin: "…?"

Nan Zhaoming and the others' gazes focused on Yun Che at this moment.

Mu Xuanyin, the Devil Queen, the three Yama Ancestors, Qianye… a group of individuals clearly at the apex of this world, were actually accompanied by a mere Divine Sovereign, a stark mismatch.

The most peculiar thing was that in terms of posture and positioning, this Divine Sovereign was clearly the leader!

"Aren't you looking for the King of this world?"

Yun Che spoke, treading on the void, slowly stepping forward. "I am."

"Oh?" Nan Zhaoming and Nan Zhaoguang's gazes swept over his entire body, and they simultaneously laughed, uttering identical mocking sounds: "Interesting."

Whether a Divine Master or a Divine Sovereign from this world, to them, there was little difference.

"So, have you come to meekly accept your death?" Nan Zhaoming's mouth was half-curled in a sneer as he stared at Yun Che, as if examining a pathetic insect proudly waving its limbs.

Yun Che's expression remained unchanged, his tone unwavering, and he did not respond to Nan Zhaoming's words. In his cold eyes, there was a deep, surging, violent killing intent that had not appeared for a long time.

"As pioneers of the Abyss, you must have thoroughly enjoyed this brief period of wild abandon and pleasure."

He raised his arm, and dark light flickered in his palm. "Since you've had enough fun, it's about time…"

"You should die!"