Chapter 2062: Trouble Arises from Attachment

On the mountaintop, above the clouds, Mo Su gazed at the sea of clouds, his eyes vacant. Ni Xuan approached him, but he seemed completely unaware.

"Why are you suddenly so listless, as if you've lost your soul?" Ni Xuan nudged his lower back with his toe. Mo Su turned his head, his movements somewhat stiff, his eyes still holding a lingering daze. He spoke, "Brother, today, I couldn't fight that... demoness. When she saw me, she only told me that her father knew about her frequent duels with me, so... we won't meet again." Ni Xuan looked at his expression, deep in thought.

"Ha, hehe." Mo Su laughed, but his smile was extremely forced. "It's truly a pity to suddenly lose such a good opponent." Ni Xuan did not tease him. Instead, he asked seriously, "Just an opponent? Just a pity?" A gentle breeze, accompanied by a soft whistle, brushed past, his hair touching his cheek, causing Mo Su's emotions to suddenly spiral out of control.

"I... I don't know why... but the thought of never seeing her again makes me feel... completely drained of strength." He raised his hand and pressed it to his heart. "It's as if something is constantly pressing down in my chest, something I can't shake off. It hurts so much... so much that I almost want to cut it open." "Hmm." Ni Xuan watched him intently for a moment, then slowly said, "Actually, you've already found the answer."

Mo Su opened his mouth but ultimately did not refute. He lowered his head and suddenly murmured aloud, "If one day you find someone who touches your soul and enters your dreams, you will understand that all the splendor of other women through countless ages cannot compare to a single glance from her." These were words Ni Xuan had casually spoken when he first brought Mo Su to the lower realms years ago. Ni Xuan moved forward and sat beside him. "It seems you've found that person."

"But... but... she's a demoness." He turned his head, letting Ni Xuan see the tremor in his eyes. Only in front of Ni Xuan would he completely shed the "shackles" of the Punishing Heaven Prince and reveal his emotions without restraint. "And the Demon Emperor's daughter, right?" Ni Xuan met his gaze, his eyes calm. Mo Su was not at all surprised that Ni Xuan knew her identity. After all, the most outstanding demon of this generation had been widely known throughout the God Clan for years.

Mo Su's expression grew even more despondent. He had thought Ni Xuan was emphasizing "Demon Emperor's daughter" to warn him, but then he heard him say leisurely, "In terms of status, you two are quite well-matched." Mo Su's gaze froze; he seemed unable to believe his ears. "Brother, you... what did you say?" "I said, why are you being so wishy-washy, like a girl!" Ni Xuan directly kicked him, sending the stunned Mo Su sprawling like a dog digging.

Mo Su quickly rolled to his feet, his eyes wide. "No, Brother, she's the Demon Emperor's daughter! You just said... she's well-matched with me?" "And why not?" Ni Xuan said unhurriedly. "In terms of status, you are the Son of the Creation God, she is the Daughter of the Demon Emperor. In terms of talent and cultivation, you are the foremost junior of the God Clan, she is the foremost junior of the Demon Clan. You two have fought so many times and are evenly matched, sharing victories and defeats. As for appearance, hmm..."

Ni Xuan's gaze swept over him, then he nodded. "You're at least eighty thousand times better than that old stubborn man in your family. Even among the entire God Clan, you're only slightly inferior to me, your elder brother. And that Demon Emperor's daughter... she can't be as ugly as a sow, can she?" "Of course not!" Mo Su retorted, his hair practically standing on end. "She's very beautiful, exceptionally beau...tiful..." Realizing what he'd said, his voice instantly dropped as he lowered his head. Ni Xuan laughed, not teasingly, but with a rather peaceful smile. "There you have it."

"But..." The pained expression, momentarily dispelled by Ni Xuan's kick, returned to Mo Su's face. "The God Clan and Demon Clan have been eternally incompatible, after all." "Why incompatible?" Ni Xuan asked, a seemingly inexplicable question.

Mo Su paused, then said, "The God Clan represents righteousness, and the Demon Clan represents evil. Naturally, they are incompatible. Isn't this common knowledge among all beings?" Ni Xuan looked at him deeply. "Over the years, you have traveled countless worlds with me. You've experienced things firsthand. Tell me, does the word 'evil' truly lie in a race, or in the heart?" Mo Su hesitated briefly, then replied, "Regardless of the race, there is both good and evil. Whether it's a high-ranking race, a low-ranking race, humans, beasts, fiends, spirits..."

"What about the Demon Clan?" Ni Xuan asked. "Or, let me ask about just one person: does the Demon Emperor's daughter, the one who touches your soul and enters your dreams, truly align with your previous perception of the Demon Clan?" "No," Mo Su shook his head without hesitation. "She is straightforward, honorable, clear in her loves and hates, proud yet never disdainful of others, strong but never bullying the weak. She is even... the most wonderful woman I've ever met in my life." "See, all the answers were already in your eyes and heart," Ni Xuan said, his smile meaningful. "You simply haven't yet shed the 'shackles' you've worn for too long."

Mo Su looked at Ni Xuan, a strange divine light flickering in his eyes. "So... Brother, if I like a demoness, you wouldn't think I'm rebellious and unforgivable, would you?" The tremor in his eyes was extremely intense; clearly, Ni Xuan's answer was of immense importance to him. Ni Xuan did not answer directly but said, "If we talk about the person in this world who most resents the Demon Clan, it would be none other than your Father God. No one in this world can change any of that old stubborn man's ideas, but he is he, and you are you." "He is your Father God; you should be filial and respectful to him, but that absolutely does not mean you must obey him in all matters. He gave you life and paved a path for you, but your life should belong only to you, and your path should be the one you wish to walk."

He looked at Mo Su, his gaze completely pure. "Even mortal beings, with lifespans of less than a hundred years, have held beliefs strong enough to break free from shackles, transcend races, leave behind celebrated legends for future generations, and alter distorted perceptions. As the Punishing Heaven Prince, what can't you do? What's stopping you?" With each sentence Ni Xuan spoke, the divine light in Mo Su's eyes would flicker brightly. When Ni Xuan's last word fell, it was as if all the despondency that had filled Mo Su's entire being was suddenly swept away. "Brother..." He softly uttered, his voice clearly tinged with... a choke.

"Oh, come on!" Ni Xuan took a half-step back. "I've given you thousands of these grand speeches over the years; why are you getting so emotional this time?" Mo Su took a deep breath. "I had thought that merely having this idea was an unforgivable sin, and besides the immense pain, there was also deep self-reproach and self-doubt. So... this doesn't have to be a sin, I... I really can..." Ni Xuan was not only his most respected elder brother but also one of the Four Creation Gods, equal in fame to his Father God, and the highest existence in the current realm. His words had an unparalleled impact and uplifted Mo Su beyond measure.

It was as if his heart, submerged in an abyss of pain, was suddenly pulled into a brilliant starry sea. Realizing his severe loss of composure, Mo Su quickly wiped his face, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart. "I don't like my Father God's rigid and old-fashioned life. I want to be as free and uninhibited as you, Brother, and live this life to the fullest. So... I know what I need to do now." He stood up, divine power swirling around him, stirring up winds and clouds for thousands of miles.

"Where are you going?" Ni Xuan asked. "To go after her," Mo Su gazed into the distance. "Perhaps she's waiting for me, waiting for me to do what a man worthy of her should do." Undoubtedly, he had made the most rebellious decision of his life. But at this moment, there was no anxiety or fear in his heart; instead, he felt an extraordinary exhilaration. Throughout his entire being, within his organs, countless flames seemed to burn, igniting his previously dull and placid life.

"Heh heh, good lad," Ni Xuan smiled with satisfaction, but still advised, "Regardless of the outcome, this matter should proceed gradually. Until you have sufficient power and influence, don't let others, especially your Father God, know about it for now." "I understand." Mo Su nodded emphatically. "Brother, I'm off!" A storm arose, and Mo Su soared away... Suddenly, he turned back and said to Ni Xuan, "Brother, having you in this world is truly... wonderful."

Ni Xuan stood silently, watching him disappear into the sky. Just then, a dark shadow flickered beside him, and a tall woman stood by his side. "Hmph! The most outstanding junior of my Demon Clan has actually been captivated by that old scoundrel Mo E's brat!" Jie Yuan scoffed coldly. "If that old geezer Pan Ming finds out, he'll probably flay the boy alive himself."

Ni Xuan still wore a full smile. "Don't you think those two are quite well-matched?" "I don't think that boy Mo Su can handle Xiao Die," Jie Yuan said. "When that girl Xiao Die first emerged, she was constantly suppressed by Pan Ming's various children and grandchildren. She didn't complain or resist when she was at a disadvantage. But once she gained full power, she directly confronted those who suppressed her and those who defied her, breaking at least one leg and one arm of her opponents every time." "Now, everyone in the Pan Ming Demon Clan bows their head when they see that girl, not daring to even breathe heavily," she slanted a glance at Ni Xuan. "And Mo Su is so soft and gentle; it's still unknown if Xiao Die would truly be interested in him." "Besides, the boy from the Nirvan family is deeply in love with Xiao Die, almost to the point of wanting to move his entire family to the Pan Ming Demon Clan. If we're talking about who's well-matched... it's hard to say."

"It seems you don't know Mo Su well," Ni Xuan chuckled. "Before he followed me, Mo Su lived within the 'framework' set by his Father God. His character, demeanor, and cultivation were all required to be perfect, making him seem gentle, polite, and without sharpness." "But deep down, he is an extremely persistent person." "For what he pursues, he can exert a will unimaginable to ordinary people," Ni Xuan remarked. "When he first met Princess Pan Ming, he was not her match, but now he can slightly surpass her. The effort he has put in for this likely exceeds your imagination." "He came to me just now, actually to get a reason from me. Now that he has a sufficient reason, how his persistence will bloom into a magnificent flower on this path... is something to look forward to." Jie Yuan narrowed her eyes slightly. "Privately, of course, I hope they can persevere. That way, our pressure will also be significantly lessened." "But you know best what kind of character that old scoundrel Mo E is. Pan Ming dotes on this daughter to her very core, even giving her the Pan Ming Void-Breaking Mirror early on, fearing any accident might befall her."

"Oh?" Ni Xuan looked surprised. "Enough about them," Jie Yuan suddenly furrowed her brow, her gaze becoming more intent. "I heard you visited the Sword Spirit God Clan last month. Did you go near the Life God Temple!?" Ni Xuan's body instantly stiffened. He raised a hand and swore solemnly, "Absolutely not! I promised you I would never see Li Suo again, so I wouldn't even glance at a single strand of her hair." "Is that so?" Jie Yuan looked suspicious. "You two had such a deep connection; you haven't seen her for so many years, and she hasn't actively sought you out?" "Absolutely not!" Ni Xuan's eyes widened, not daring to avert his gaze for a second. "Li Suo is the most ascetic and desires little. Even if I didn't appear for millions of years, she might not even recall me once."

"Oh," Jie Yuan nodded, "Indeed, you know her best." "No, not at all, I don't know her," Ni Xuan shook his head earnestly. "The temperament of the Life Creation God is known throughout the entire God Clan. If you don't believe me, just grab any God Clan child and ask them." Jie Yuan stepped forward and suddenly grabbed Ni Xuan's ear. "Listen up, from now on, add another rule: you're not allowed to go anywhere near the Life God Temple!" "Alright, alright, alright, whatever little Yuan'er says goes. Ah, ouch ouch ouch... be gentle, don't disturb the fetal breath." "You dog of a man, you truly only care about the fetal breath!" Thus, the esteemed Element Creation God was kicked down by the Calamity Heaven Demon Emperor, on a fabricated charge.

The sea of clouds dissipated along with the vision, and Yun Che's consciousness returned to emptiness. Yun Che remained dazed for a long time, replaying everything from the vision repeatedly. "Pan Ming's daughter, Xiao Die... Pan Xiao Die?" Li Suo murmured aloud, "Why does that name sound so familiar?" Yun Che sent a soul transmission: "Among the Six God Nations, there is one called Xiao Die God Nation."

"And the name of the Xiao Die God Nation was personally bestowed by Emperor Yuan. It's also the only God Nation that has never changed its name from ancient times to the present." "What... does this mean? And why would Ni Xuan specifically leave this soul imprint for you?" Li Suo whispered. "Could it be..." Yun Che did not respond to her.

He remained silent for a long time. Of the five soul fragments Ni Xuan left him before dissipating, three had now unfolded. Why did this particular soul fragment suddenly unfold at this time? Wait... Was that previous crazy conjecture, that inexplicable urge to believe, influenced by these soul fragments? The unfolded soul fragments of the Heretic God Ni Xuan primarily told the story of Mo Su, the Punishing Heaven Prince.

The world within his soul sea churned ceaselessly, slowly calming down only after a full quarter of an hour. "Have you thought of anything?" Li Suo asked. Yun Che did not answer directly. "Those things... are not important right now." "What I should focus on completing most is preventing Emperor Yuan from reopening the Abyssal passage. For now, I'll concentrate all my efforts on disrupting the Six God Nations, so that Emperor Yuan can no longer gather the power to open the Abyssal passage."

The Pan Ming Void-Breaking Mirror... Could it be the "Nether Mirror" that the Demon Queen insisted must be found? Yun Che's consciousness returned, enveloped by a soft touch and a maiden's fragrance.

He opened his eyes, meeting the beautiful gaze of Hua Cai Li, who was staring at him in fascination. "Ah, big brother Yun, you're awake." The girl smiled, her face too perfect, her voice too ethereal, making him feel as if he were still in a dream.

It was then that he realized he was lying on Hua Cai Li's lap. As he tried to sit up, his cheek sank slightly into the girl's soft bosom. He decided against getting up, instead rolling over to embrace her slender waist, mumbling, "I don't think I'm fully awake yet; let me sleep a little longer." "Okay," the girl agreed with a smile, doting and compliant. "I'll protect you. You can sleep for as long as you want." Hua Cai Li's aura had undergone a drastic change; it was a genuine demigod's aura. Each major breakthrough in cultivation changed not only one's power but also one's demeanor. At this moment, Hua Cai Li's starry eyes still held countless stars, but among them, there seemed to be countless dark, profound black holes, capable of easily tearing apart any soul they touched until it fell into eternal oblivion.

Upon her skin, already like immortal jade and white snow, a faint aura of divinity now shimmered. When Yun Che's fingers gently touched her, an intangible sense of holiness and allure simultaneously stirred his soul. "Don't tickle me." Hua Cai Li laughed, catching his hand that had secretly snuck inside her clothes to tease her. Yet, she did not remove it from her clothing, letting him be.

"Cai Li," he suddenly spoke, his tone as soft as the wind. "Hmm?" Hua Cai Li leaned down, pressing her ear close to him. "Shall we... leave the Misty Sea, and I'll go with you to the Heaven Folding God Nation?" It was a very gentle voice, yet it instantly stirred endless ripples in her eyes and heart. She parted her lips, and after a moment, spoke in a voice trembling with joy, "You... you're willing to... return to the Heaven Folding God Nation with me? You're really serious, aren't you?"

Hua Cai Li knew clearly that in the Misty Sea, they could forget everything outside and enjoy their intimacy to the fullest. But facing the Heaven Folding God Nation, facing her Father God... for Yun Che, that pressure was unimaginably cruel even to contemplate. She had initially thought this would be a very difficult and prolonged process. In recent days, she had considered countless efforts she would make... but none of them included forcefully persuading Yun Che to return with her. She hadn't expected Yun Che to suggest it himself. "Yes," Yun Che responded firmly. "I know what I'll face there. But... that day you said you weren't afraid of anything anymore, so I, too, can be afraid of nothing."

"I was a rootless drifting weed, thinking I had no home anywhere. But now, I suddenly don't want to go anywhere else; I just want to see the place where you grew up, meet your Father God, face it early, and understand early exactly what I need to do to firmly grasp... a life that belongs only to the two of us." As he finished speaking, a warm tear quietly dropped onto his face. Hua Cai Li quickly raised her hand to wipe away the tears that had welled up unnoticed, then nodded vigorously. "Okay, let's leave the Misty Sea. I'll take you to meet my Father God... Now, I'm truly, truly not afraid of anything anymore."

"There are less than three months until the day I promised Father God I'd return. We can travel and explore on our way back; three months is enough time to visit many places... with you." As she uttered the last four words, she felt a profound sense of beauty. "Okay."