Chapter 2014: Fragmented Soul's Chant

Apex, Heaven Defying Evil God!

Yun Che had already anticipated this situation.

When the various auras and gazes suddenly turned towards him, Yun Che showed no signs of panic. Instead, a clear sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth: "What? After forcibly seizing Long Jiang's Kylin Bone Spirit Orchid, you intend to kill me to silence me?"

“Hahaha, no, no,” Helyan Jue quickly chuckled and said, “Nephew Yun, the Kylin Bone Spirit Orchid is not very useful to outsiders, but for those of us in the Kylin Abyss Realm, it is a divine object crucial to our future. Since it concerns the future of the entire Kylin Abyss Realm, some actions are unavoidable. I hope Nephew Yun will not mention this to anyone outside.”

To the three sects—Bailin, Panxuan, and Wanren—Yun Che was not only an outsider but, in some ways, an enemy.

But for Helyan, it was completely different.

After witnessing Yun Che's power, which surpassed all understanding and common sense, and becoming convinced that everything he did was for Helyan Lingzhu, Yun Che had become a powerful ally he had to cling to at all costs.

Even while in the Kylin Divine Realm, all he could think about was how to rely on Yun Che to elevate the Helyan lineage to prominence.

This was also why Yun Che remained completely calm. With the situation having reached this point, and harsh words already exchanged, the four major powers had no turning back. At such a time, the last thing they wanted was for their "alliance" to crumble. Therefore, as long as Helyan was unwilling, the other three powers could not act even if they wanted to.

Yun Che slowly said, “I have no interest in what a Kylin Bone Spirit Orchid is. However, for the weak, possessing treasure is a crime, and the law of the jungle is merely the most fundamental rule of this world. In my eyes, it’s simply nothing to fuss about.”

“However… out of respect for you as Lingzhu’s imperial father, I can add one more thing: whether you live or die is irrelevant to me, but I certainly won’t do anything that harms Lingzhu. Even if it doesn’t concern Lingzhu, I disdain to engage in such backbiting.”

At this point, he let out a soft snort through his nose: “Furthermore, standing by idly and observing from the sidelines might roughly count as complicity? In that case, Your Majesty, are you now at ease?”

Although he spoke of "Your Majesty," he was in fact speaking to the two sects and one alliance. Hearing Yun Che directly call her "Lingzhu," Helyan Jue chuckled softly, this time with remarkable relaxation, his features softening with delight: “I have long been aware of Nephew Yun’s relationship with my little daughter Lingzhu. I have also long regarded Nephew Yun as practically one of the Helyan family. How could there be any question of mistrust?”

He shifted his gaze, speaking sternly to Long Jiang: “Long Jiang, hand over the Kylin Bone Spirit Orchid at once! I already gave you a chance. Now, you only have two choices.”

“Hand it over obediently, and you’ll keep your body intact. If we have to take it by force, your death won’t be so pretty!”

The shift from "outsider" to "one of us," from "variable" to "accomplice," coupled with the disdain to act rather than a promise made out of fear, which was far more reassuring… Following this series of calculated moves, and with Helyan Jue’s roar, everyone’s attention shifted away from Yun Che and focused entirely on Long Jiang once more.

“Brother Mo, in urgent matters, one must prioritize. Use the Eldest Princess as a shield, and we can apologize later,” Yun Che transmitted to Mo Cangying.

Mo Cangying’s expression did not turn grim; instead, he looked impressed: “I understand. As expected of Brother Yun, you appeased the two sects and one alliance in an instant. However, I am certain that someone like Brother Yun, who values loyalty so highly, would indeed never do anything to harm Junior Sister Lingzhu, although this action…”

Yun Che shook his head slightly: “Although despicable, this is the reality once the veneer of human nature is peeled away. Brother Mo, you are a man of strong principles. Your reaction should serve as a warning given Long Jiang’s current predicament.”

Mo Cangying remained silent for a long time.

“What a bunch of… despicable wretches!”

Dragon Profound Energy condensed in Long Jiang’s hands. Facing the suppression of eleven Half-God-Extinction forces, her aura had long lost its initial calm and coldness.

“You want to kill me? Are you even worthy?!”

Her low words, however, carried the oppressive might of a dragon soul, heavy as ten thousand mountains, causing the hearts of these overlords of the Kylin Abyss Realm to suddenly sink.

Wan Wei sneered, “It is said that the pride of the Dragon Race prevents them from ever kneeling before any living creature, even in death. To me, such so-called pride is nothing but foolishness.”

“Since you know that, there’s no need for more talk!” Ximen Borong’s eyes suddenly flared with killing intent: “Kill!”

As the word “Kill” fell, Ximen Borong abruptly made his move.

Ximen Borong usually appeared calm and gentle, but for him to have enabled the Bailin Alliance to rise in such a short time and be on the verge of realizing its ambition to "establish a nation and change a dynasty"—he was certainly no simple character.

The decisive ruthlessness in his bones absolutely surpassed anyone else’s in the Kylin Abyss Realm.

The moment he attacked, a terrifying aura, like the collapse of ten thousand mountains, erupted around him, violently pushing away the surrounding hall masters. A hand glowing with rock profound light shot straight for Long Jiang’s chest.

Long Jiang raised her arm, and the shadowy image of a pale dragon claw appeared, directly meeting Ximen Borong’s rock power.

An eighth-level Divine Master, facing a full-force attack from a Half-God-Extinction realm expert, did not dodge or retreat. Instead, she met it head-on, which was practically suicidal.

Ximen Borong’s gaze narrowed, and the rock power on his arm subtly intensified, poised to pierce through her body with a single blow.

But as he drew near, Ximen Borong’s expression suddenly changed.

The pale dragon claw, now within arm’s reach, suddenly unleashed an explosively increased dragon might.

That was not the aura of an eighth-level Divine Master at all; it was…

With a heavy thud, rock and sand flew everywhere instantly, and a desolate dragon roar echoed. Long Jiang’s upper body leaned back, and she flew a short distance backward.

Meanwhile, Ximen Borong was sent flying mid-air, tumbling more than a dozen times before finally stopping. As he regained his footing, the rock light on his arm had completely dispersed, and intense pain racked him from his arm bones to his fingertips, leaving him trembling for a long time.

“Half… Half-God-Extinction!” Amidst the sandstorm, gasps of alarm arose from all directions.

Yun Che was not surprised at all… she had indeed used a stealth profound artifact to forcefully suppress her profound energy aura.

In other words, this was a dragon who was only one and a half jiazi old, yet her cultivation had already reached the Half-God-Extinction realm!?

Yun Che still couldn’t fully grasp what this meant for the Abyssal Dragon Race. But based on his knowledge inherited from the God Realm, the terrifying talent of this dragoness was truly chilling!

Shui Meiyin, Huo Poyun, Jun Xilei… they were undoubtedly the most exceptionally talented individuals of their generation in the God Realm. Even after experiencing three thousand years in the Eternal Heaven, they were only at the late Divine Master realm.

Seizing the moment when everyone was momentarily stunned, a violent storm erupted from Long Jiang, rushing directly southwest.

Though both were Half-God-Extinction realm experts, the Dragon Race could consistently overpower humans. But Long Jiang wasn’t naive enough to believe she could contend with eleven Half-God-Extinction profound practitioners… not to mention Ku Xuan, who was at the peak of the Divine Master realm.

Fleeing with all her might to the exit of the Kylin Divine Realm was her only chance at survival, her only choice!

However, she had only fled a thousand zhang when her body suddenly sank, and her speed slowed several times over… Under the suppression of eleven Half-God-Extinction realms, even with her dragon body, how could she easily escape?

And three Panxuan Sect elders had already arrived, their combined power overlapping to envelop Long Jiang.

Long Jiang turned around, and behind her, a colossal dragon shadow suddenly appeared, ten thousand zhang tall. The dragon head, filling the sky, carried world-destroying wrath, unleashing an earth-shattering dragon roar.

In an instant, everyone froze, their pupils losing color, and their souls were seized by a fear that pierced their very bones. The three Panxuan elders closest to Long Jiang even plummeted straight down from the air.

“Ugh!” Mo Cangying was knocked out of the air on the spot, clutching his chest, his entire body trembling uncontrollably… He truly felt as if his soul and internal organs had been shattered in an instant.

“...?” Yun Che suddenly froze.

This was the Dragon God's Roar, unique to the Dragon God lineage, capable of instantly intimidating and making countless spirits cower. The stronger and purer the Dragon God’s soul, the greater its might.

But why…?

In the somewhat distant west, the four major powers, waiting in bewilderment, all paled as they were shaken by the dragon roar that seemed to come from beyond the heavens.

“Wha… what happened?” They all looked terrified, their souls trembling uncontrollably, but under the strict orders of their sect leaders, none dared to approach and confirm.

Although the deterrent power of the Dragon God’s soul was unparalleled, it clearly still couldn’t buy Long Jiang enough time to escape.

When she had fled several tens of li, terrifying pressure once again overlapped and descended upon her, and increasingly frenzied powers, accompanied by roars, closed in from behind.

To her left and right, the quicksand below was rapidly cut and plowed, surging forward at an astonishing speed to block her path. Then the quicksand burst open, and two figures, accompanied by a sandstorm, surged at her from the front.

Wanren Sect’s Sand Escape Art!

Boom!

In a head-on confrontation, she could completely defeat any single person, but it was absolutely impossible for her to withstand the combined might of two.

Under the immense power of the two Wanren elders, Long Jiang was heavily knocked back, flying several li backward in an instant. And behind her, Helyan Jue and Wan Wei were already poised, striking her back simultaneously.

Long Jiang's body was unstable, with only a dragon shadow protecting her back.

Thump-boom!!

Her dragon bones were extremely hard; even the combined force of a king and a sect master failed to produce the sound of shattering bone.

Long Jiang’s body flew into the air, twisting violently. A pale dragon claw rapidly expanded with the swing of her arm, growing to a thousand zhang in an instant, and slammed down from above.

The dragon claw covered the ground, forcibly blasting Helyan Jue, Wan Wei, and the two Wanren elders into the quicksand below.

But the moment she attacked, Ximen Borong and Zhai Kexie had also surged forward. Their bodies, condensed with rock power, were like falling meteors, heavily slamming into Long Jiang.

Boom! Boom—

Long Jiang was instantly sent flying several li, and crimson bloodstains rapidly spread across her grayish-white hood.

Mo Cangying finally came to his senses. Suppressing the lingering shiver, he stood up, only to see Yun Che floating in place, staring intently in one direction, his eyes clearly in a state of daze.

He quickly flew up and came to Yun Che’s side: “Brother Yun, are you alright?”

“…” Yun Che showed no reaction.

“Brother Yun?” Mo Cangying reached out and waved his hand in front of Yun Che’s eyes.

“…” Yun Che’s gaze returned, and he forced a smile: “I’m fine. I suppose I was a little shaken by that dragon roar just now.”

What’s going on?

Why do I have such a… strange sense of familiarity?

Where have I sensed this dragon soul aura before?

No! I’ve only just arrived in the Abyss, and I don’t know anyone here at all. Long Jiang is the first dragon I’ve encountered…

Could this sense of familiarity be… because we both possess Dragon God bloodline and a Dragon God soul?

But I never had this feeling when facing the Dragon God Clan of the Western Divine Region.

“That dragon roar was indeed terrifying.” Mo Cangying wholeheartedly agreed: “I never expected a Chi Dragon’s soul to have such terrifying deterrent power. It reminds me of…”

His expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly turned his gaze towards Long Jiang: “Could she not be a Chi Dragon, but rather… but rather…”

Rumble!!!

A colossal boom, loud enough to shatter eardrums, echoed from the distant sky.

A total of seven Half-God-Extinction forces simultaneously slammed into the visibly weakened dragon shadow in front of Long Jiang.

After the earth-shaking rock explosion, came a mournful dragon roar.

The pale dragon shadow completely shattered, crushing Long Jiang’s last protective dragon power.

A cloud of blood mist, too dense for even her thick hood to block, gushed out. Long Jiang’s body, like a withered leaf in a sandstorm, was sent flying far away, tumbling onto the quicksand that had stopped sinking.

If there had only been one opponent, she could have utterly defeated them; with three, she would have been highly confident of escaping unscathed; with five, she would still have had a significant chance of holding out until the exit of the Kylin Divine Realm…

But there were eleven of them.

Rip—

Her grayish-white wide robe tore, revealing the pure white brocade underneath.

A gust of wind swept up, and the hood that had completely obscured her head suddenly shattered, scattering her long hair… revealing the true face she had desperately tried to hide.

“Hiss!”

Gasps and intakes of breath rippled through the air. Helyan Jue, who had been slowly approaching at the forefront, was even startled back a step.

It was a face… so terrifying that anyone who saw it would be haunted by nightmares.

Her neck and skin were very white, as white as snow, and smooth as jade.

Yet upon this snow-white, jade-like skin, two terrible marks crisscrossed.

The marks were pitch-black: one stretched from her left forehead to her right jaw, and the other from her left jaw to her right forehead. Both were an inch wide and twisted in shape…

Like two intersecting black centipedes crawling across her face.

Her excessively pale complexion made them even more conspicuous and horrifying.

She slowly raised her head, her naturally parted long hair making the two terrible marks appear even more completely within everyone’s view.

Streaks of fresh blood trickled from the corners of her lips, forming rivulets that fell onto the parched sand below.

From Yun Che’s direction, he could only see her profile, yet even so, the black marks were terrifyingly shocking, causing his brows to furrow deeply.

Ordinary injuries, given the Dragon Race’s physique and Half-God-Extinction power, could be easily recovered from.

Clearly, these were caused by the Abyss Dust’s erosion, beyond any power to resolve.

“Hmph, no wonder she was wrapped up so tightly.” Helyan Jue took several steps forward. Clearly, the step back he had been startled into earlier left him feeling quite humiliated and angered.

Wan Wei said, “This is the first time I’ve seen someone whose face was eroded first while the rest of their body remained unharmed. How unusual.”

“She’s not a Chi Dragon!” Ximen Borong suddenly exclaimed: “She’s an Ancestral Dragon!”

That terrifying dragon roar had already given them all a premonition, but when Ximen Borong spoke, their expressions still darkened severalfold.

Chi Dragons and Ancestral Dragons… both belong to the Dragon Race, yet there’s a world of difference between them.

An Ancestral Dragon… that is the supreme dragon inheriting the Dragon God bloodline! They are the paramount beings of the Dragon Race. Furthermore, they are the only race outside the Six Divine Nations qualified to participate in the Sacred Land Assembly!

The power of Ancestral Dragons is known to everyone in the Abyss. However, their weakness is also universally known… that is, their difficulty in reproduction.

This has resulted in the Ancestral Dragon lineage always having very small numbers. It is said that there are currently fewer than ten Ancestral Dragons in existence.

This naturally means that the demise of every Ancestral Dragon will inevitably cause immense upheaval within the Ancestral Dragon lineage, and even the entire Dragon Race.

It’s a completely different concept from the fall of a Chi Dragon.

“Heh…” Long Jiang slowly stood up, her long hair falling to partially obscure her horrific face: “Since you know I am an Ancestral Dragon… if you dare to kill me… your Kylin Abyss Realm… will surely… be buried with me!”

“Retreat… and I can pretend nothing happened!”

Her words were a sign of weakness, but how could they possibly sway these old foxes, whose reason had been completely consumed by greed?

Because at this stage, no matter who the opponent was, they absolutely had to be killed.

If they let her go, the subsequent retaliation would truly lead to their entire realm being buried with her.

If they killed her, they could attribute it to the sandstorm and rockslide in the Kylin Divine Realm… With the deterrence of "Abyss Emperor’s Blessing" and the testimony of the Abyssal Knights, even if it brought disaster to the Kylin Abyss Realm, it wouldn’t lead to the annihilation of their clans and sects… they might even remain safe and sound.

What’s more, there was the Kylin Bone Spirit Orchid, within easy reach!

Although the Half-God-Extinction realm bore the words "God-Extinction," its essence was actually still the peak of the Divine Master realm.

It was just that too many profound practitioners forever stopped at this realm, unable to break through in their entire lives. Thus, this awkward pseudo-realm gradually came into being.

In essence, its existence was merely to comfort those profound practitioners who had reached the absolute peak of the Divine Master realm but could never touch the Half-God realm, giving them the illusion of having touched the "God-Extinction realm" while proclaiming "Half-God-Extinction."

And the existence of this realm undoubtedly highlighted the immense yearning of Divine Master profound practitioners for the Half-God realm.

Such was the magnitude of this yearning… that even the words "Dragon God" could not deter it.

“Retreat? Heh heh heh, it seems you still haven’t understood the situation.” Ximen Borong chuckled… The moment his smile appeared, he abruptly made his move.

White light flared, and a protective profound artifact in front of Long Jiang emitted a powerful profound glow… but it only managed to push back Ximen Borong’s power.

As Ximen Borong made his move, the Bailin Alliance’s Hall Master also followed closely, and a rock pillar slammed into Long Jiang’s left arm from the side.

Long Jiang’s protective profound energy was already severely weakened. Under this blow, Long Jiang’s left arm bent unnaturally, and the sound of her dragon bones shattering was like a clap of thunder.

From behind, led by Zhai Kexie, four individuals from the Panxuan Sect also teleported over.

Although there were four of them, and Long Jiang was clearly gravely wounded, they still attacked with full force, holding nothing back. Their power was such that it instantly pressed down the sand sea below for several tens of zhang.

Long Jiang painstakingly raised her right arm, and the roaring dragon shadow, imbued with a resolute sorrow, emerged.

Boom-whizz—

The quicksand tens of li behind Long Jiang was instantly pushed away, revealing a terrifying void. Her body only held out for an incredibly brief moment before drifting away with the shattered dragon shadow. The Wanren Sect’s attack swiftly followed, with three rock pillars chasing after her, then solidifying into three zhang-long rock spears as they neared… Amidst the deafening sound of bones being crushed, they brutally pierced through Long Jiang’s body, emerging from her back and scattering three large plumes of blood mist.

“Ugh!”

Yun Che’s body suddenly recoiled, and he clutched his chest fiercely.

“Brother Yun? What’s wrong?” Mo Cangying quickly turned back to ask.

“…” Yun Che said nothing, his palm still pressed tightly against his chest.

What’s going on?

Why such… inexplicable agony?

It felt as if his heart was being savagely pierced by something.

Long Jiang fell into the sea of sand once more.

She struggled to stand… but this time, she could only barely prop up her upper body with one arm before collapsing again.

Her tattered grayish-white wide robe, and the brocade garments beneath, were rapidly soaked crimson with dragon blood.

Ximen Borong, Wan Wei, Zhai Kexie, and Helyan Jue slowly approached.

However, this time, no one vied for the lead, and no one made another move for a while.

Long Jiang was critically wounded; even if she was an Ancestral Dragon, such injuries would leave her utterly incapable of further resistance… As for escaping? There wasn’t even the slightest possibility left.

When the prey was destined to be captured, composure naturally began to take over.

As for who would deliver the final fatal blow… naturally, none of them wanted to be that person.

“Alliance Master Ximen,” Zhai Kexie said, “Long Jiang was brought by your Bailin Alliance, so naturally, your Bailin Alliance should be the one to deal with her.”

“Exactly!” Wan Wei stated gravely, “If your Bailin Alliance hadn’t brought her here, the Kylin Bone Spirit Orchid would already be in our hands. Why bother with all this trouble!”

“Heh, doesn’t saying that now sound ridiculous?” Ximen Borong gave a cold glance: “It’s simple enough to decide who deals with Long Jiang. Of course, it’ll be the person who exerted the least effort just now.”

“Since we’re all in this together, we should contribute equally and share the same burden! Don’t you agree, Your Majesty Helyan?”

Helyan Jue paused, about to retort, but then saw Wan Wei and Zhai Kexie’s gazes also fixated on him.

“Indeed.” Wan Wei said, “Your Helyan faction only contributed the effort of one person. Naturally, this final blow should be left to you.”

“Precisely, that’s fairest.” Zhai Kexie naturally had no objections: “Your Majesty Helyan, the glory of seizing the Kylin Bone Spirit Orchid falls to you now.”

The three parties instantly formed a united front, and Helyan Jue’s resistance was futile. He gritted his teeth, but instead of acting himself, he turned and growled, “Ku Xuan, kill her!”

When the two sects and one alliance simultaneously pressured Helyan Jue, Ku Xuan knew this would be the outcome.

He showed no surprise or emotion, stating calmly, “I obey Your Majesty’s command.”

Mo Cangying turned away with a heavy sigh: “It’s tough for Master… I hope it truly won’t leave behind any trouble.”

“…” Yun Che still said nothing.

The pain in his heart persisted, and a strange irritation welled up deep within his soul, refusing to subside no matter how he tried to calm himself.

What’s going on…?

What exactly is going on?

Ku Xuan instantly appeared before Long Jiang.

Crimson blood stained her gray robe, staining the large patch of yellow sand beneath her.

Ku Xuan averted his clouded, aged eyes, unable to look directly at her, and murmured softly, “Your Majesty’s command cannot be disobeyed. You… should not have come here.”

Long Jiang slowly raised her head…

Ku Xuan thought she had something to say. His raised palm did not rush to fall, giving her a chance to speak her last words.

But from her mouth, he heard a soft murmur, like a dream whisper:

“Strange cloud… chaotic wind… brushing… bright… smoke…”

Ku Xuan: “??”

“…!!” Yun Che suddenly looked up, as if ten thousand thunderclaps had exploded within his soul sea.