Chapter 2068: Confrontation

In the Senluo Divine Kingdom.

"Your Highness, after searching all six Divine Kingdoms, we've finally found a flawless Jade Glow Heart Pearl. However, it's in the possession of Prince Pan Buzhuo of the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom. Knowing it's something you desire, he's made an exorbitant demand: he wants three Seven Purity Divine Jades in exchange." The man's voice was tight with suppressed anger by the end.

Prince Jiu Zhi, however, showed no surprise or anger. He smiled faintly, gently pushing his palm forward. Three points of ethereal green light slowly floated towards the reporting man. "Thank you for making another trip," he said. "Take these and make the exchange."

The man stared, surprised, as he took the three glowing orbs. His face was filled with astonishment. "But that Jade Glow Heart Pearl is merely a trinket for amusement," he exclaimed. "It's not worth a single Seven Purity Divine Jade, let alone three!"

As a son of the Senluo Divine Venerable himself, he had, in the past, often bullied Prince Jiu Zhi. Yet, Prince Jiu Zhi always remembered the kindness he received from Hua Caili in those days. After becoming a Prince, he responded with magnanimity, never retaliating against those who had once tormented him. This behavior, in turn, left the other imperial children feeling a mix of apprehension and remorse, leading them to be exceptionally loyal to him.

At that moment, a rough, booming voice echoed, "Just go when I tell you to go. This is a birthday gift for that girl Caili. Forget three; even thirty wouldn't make this boy flinch."

"Father God," both men quickly greeted.

"Go quickly!" Divine Venerable Luo Hou of the Absolute Luo Temple waved the man away with a flick, then stood beside Prince Jiu Zhi. "You boy, as long as it makes that girl happy, you'll spare no expense, hahahaha!" Though his words sounded like a reproach, he soon burst into hearty laughter.

Prince Jiu Zhi smiled slightly. "Father God seems to be in an exceptionally good mood today. Is there some joyful news?"

"For me, it's nothing extraordinary, but for you, my boy, it's a momentous occasion," Divine Venerable Luo Hou said with a beaming smile. "That girl Caili has returned from her first trial, and upon her return, her cultivation has successfully reached the Divine Extinction Realm."

"Ah!" Prince Jiu Zhi's eyes widened with surprise and joy, and his voice rose several octaves. "This... is this true?"

"Would your own father lie?" Divine Venerable Luo Hou stroked his sword-like long beard. "This girl, born to Hua Fuchen, is truly extraordinary. You're quite fortunate, my boy."

Prince Jiu Zhi raised his hands, clearly unable to contain his excitement. "Excellent! As expected of Sister Caili. Not yet twenty, and already a demigod—this is truly unprecedented and unparalleled throughout history. Her glory alone surpasses the combined glory of all our divine princes and princesses." Judging by his expression, he was even more excited than he had been when he achieved his own breakthrough years ago.

"Of course!" Divine Venerable Luo Hou said proudly. "Just look at who chose the daughter-in-law!" With the Senluo Divine Kingdom and the Folding Heaven Divine Kingdom becoming in-laws, they would naturally share in each other's prosperity.

"However, there's one question I must ask you again, my boy." Divine Venerable Luo Hou's expression suddenly became serious. "Are you certain you will only have that girl for your entire life?"

"Yes!" Prince Jiu Zhi replied without the slightest hesitation. He looked directly into his Father God's eyes, allowing him to see his resolve. "Caili's background goes without saying. Her outward appearance is transcendently beautiful, her heart is pure and flawless, and her talent is unprecedented. If it weren't for her saving me back then, I would have spent this life mired in self-loathing and shame, and my Great Wilderness Divine Veins would have had little to no chance of awakening.

"In the past, all my efforts were solely to be worthy of glimpsing her from afar. Now... to have her as my wife, for me, this is a divine blessing attainable only through good deeds across ten thousand lifetimes. How could I ever do anything to tarnish or harm her? She and I will be a pair for life, with no third person."

Divine Venerable Luo Hou didn't appear angry. He simply said, "Once one becomes a Divine Venerable, the most important matter is lineage. Your idea, as it stands, should be considered treasonous. However, if it's that girl Caili, then it's a different story. With your combined talents, your children would likely all be prodigies, and it would naturally be easy for Divine Successors with sufficient divine essence to emerge."

He reached out and patted Prince Jiu Zhi's shoulder. "One meaning of the name 'Jiu Zhi' I gave you is 'to know gratitude.' Your devotion is so profound that, while a bit excessive, it's not a bad thing. How about this: I'll grant you three thousand years. If, after three thousand years, you haven't produced a Divine Successor, we'll reconsider this matter.

"However, what I'm more concerned about right now is who the first Divine Successor should belong to. When the time comes, I'll inevitably have to argue it out with that Hua Fuchen fellow, hahahaha!"

Divine Venerable Luo Hou's booming laughter echoed across the land, completely unaware that the threads of fate binding Prince Jiu Zhi and Hua Caili had been quietly severed by someone they knew nothing about.

***

Hua Qingying gave Hua Fuchen twelve hours to calm down. Once the twelve hours passed, Hua Qingying personally led Yun Che to the Heart Memory Sword Pavilion.

Before even drawing near, Yun Che sensed a divine consciousness circling him several times. As he stepped into the pavilion, Hua Fuchen's gaze pierced directly at him. Hua Fuchen's expression was calm, his eyes unrippled, yet to Yun Che, they held none of yesterday's watery tranquility. Instead, it was as if countless invisible sharp swords were pressed against his eyeballs and soul.

As soon as they entered the pavilion, Hua Caili cast aside her reservations. She quickly pressed close to Yun Che, her hands tightly clutching his arm. Her beautiful eyes showed not only nervousness and worry but also a clear hint of wariness. This trace of wariness undoubtedly deeply wounded Hua Fuchen.

He sighed inwardly and said, "Caili, you and your aunt should go out first. I need to speak with him alone."

"No!" Hua Caili immediately refused, her hands tightening their grip on Yun Che. "For the past few months, Yun Che and I have never been apart. Whatever Father God wants to discuss with him, there's no need to hide it from me."

"Don't worry," Hua Fuchen's voice noticeably lacked some of its usual strength. "I won't make things difficult for him."

Hua Caili still didn't move. Yun Che gently patted her hand and said in a very relaxed tone, "Caili, some things are indeed better discussed between your Father God and me alone. Don't worry... trust me." Under his reassuring gaze, Hua Caili slowly released him. "Alright, I understand."

"Father God, Aunt and I will go out first. You... you absolutely must not come to blows." Hua Caili pulled Hua Qingying out of the Sword Pavilion.

Hua Fuchen slowly exhaled. His daughter, whom he had cherished since childhood... when he said the same words, Hua Caili flatly refused, but when Yun Che said them, she was so compliant.

"This junior, Yun Che, greets Divine Venerable Hua Xin."

"Sit," Hua Fuchen said, casually waving his hand.

Yun Che sat as instructed, and then, a long silence descended upon the Sword Pavilion. Hua Fuchen remained silent for a long time. As a junior, Yun Che naturally wouldn't speak first. He was Divine Venerable Hua Xin, a true god who governed a Divine Kingdom. The divine pressure emanating from him was immense.

However, dozens of breaths passed, and Yun Che maintained his initial expression and posture throughout, showing no disrespect, no arrogance, no servility, and no hint of impatience... not even a ripple could be felt in his aura. A Divine Master at the third level, who had never set foot in a Divine Kingdom, yet remained so composed in his presence... Hua Fuchen began to understand Hua Qingying's rather astonished evaluation of him.

"Where are you from?" Hua Fuchen finally spoke, his words bland, yet each carried the soul-pressure of a god. Under such divine pressure, who would dare speak presumptuously?

Yun Che "sincerely" replied, "This junior has no origin to speak of, nor do I know where my parents are."

"No origin, yet you possess considerable audacity." Hua Fuchen's words were as indifferent as water, yet they were enough to easily make even a demigod's soul tremble with fear. "You did, after all, save Caili, and I don't wish to make things difficult for you." He looked directly at Yun Che, a little surprised by his composure. "Therefore, I'm offering you... perhaps the greatest opportunity of your life. State your terms. What will it take for you to leave my daughter forever!"

Yun Che immediately stood up, saying earnestly and urgently, "Divine Venerable, Caili and I are—"

"You don't need to say such useless words." Hua Fuchen raised his hand, effectively silencing Yun Che. "Do you think you are worthy of my daughter?!" Without waiting for Yun Che's reply, he continued, "Caili's background, appearance, reputation, talent... every single aspect is top-tier in this world. Even if you were to turn this entire Abyss Realm upside down, you wouldn't find a single woman who could compare to her.

"And you... Caili's aunt spoke to me about you yesterday. She said your future is immeasurable, that your potential ceiling is certainly no weaker than any Divine Kingdom's Prince, and she even speculated that the 'master' you mentioned is likely an ancient divine soul beyond the true god level. But what does that matter? Even if you possess countless secrets and extraordinary qualities, ultimately, you are without roots or origin. You don't even have a respectable identity, let alone reputation or influential backing." He watched for any change in Yun Che's expression. "A nameless wanderer with no roots, and a divine maiden unparalleled throughout history—tell me, how are you a suitable match?"

Yun Che, however, met his gaze directly. He bowed slightly and respectfully said, "This junior dares to ask a question in return, Divine Venerable... whether we are a suitable match, should that be determined by Caili, or by you and me?"

Hua Fuchen paused for a moment, stunned.

Yun Che continued, "All living beings strive throughout their lives simply to have better choices. If Caili is, in your eyes, the finest woman in this world, then why should she be denied the right to choose?"

"Heh, hehe, hahahaha." As if a nerve had been struck, Hua Fuchen suddenly began to laugh—a laugh that made one's heart tremble and soul ache. "Calm in demeanor, sharp-tongued—no wonder you could coax Caili like this." Divine Venerable Hua Xin tilted his head back, seemingly unwilling for Yun Che to see his expression at that moment. "Those words of yours might be useful for deceiving naive youngsters, but to me... they're utter nonsense."

Yun Che remained silent.

"I'll ask you one more time. What will it take for you to leave my daughter forever?"

Yun Che slowly shook his head. "Unless Caili herself chooses to abandon me, I will never forsake her."

Hua Fuchen was not angered by his reply. Instead, he said calmly, "I hear that when Caili first approached you, you chose to withdraw and vowed never to see her again. This shows you are intelligent and rational enough. Why, then, are you acting so foolishly now?"

Yun Che replied with neither arrogance nor servility, "At that time, I was well aware of the disparity between us, and I also knew Caili had a publicly known engagement. If I couldn't control my feelings, it would inevitably bring her unimaginable burdens... even disaster, so I chose to leave. But since then, we have faced life and death together. Caili said she had already died once and feared nothing anymore. She even entrusted her Longevity Pearl into my hands."

Hua Fuchen: "..."

"With Caili's devotion being so profound, what reason do I, as a man, have to escape or fear any longer?"

Hua Fuchen stared fixedly at Yun Che for a long while, then suddenly whispered, "A very good... no longer fearing."

Yun Che: "?"

Hua Fuchen slowly rose. He paced to the center of the Sword Pavilion, his fingers lightly caressing a long sword of ordinary material, yet imbued with countless strands of true god aura. "Yun Che, let me tell you a story... a story Caili has never heard."

Yun Che moved behind him. "This junior is all ears."

Hua Fuchen tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath before beginning his narrative:

"Long, long ago, when I was still young, I was as fearless as you, perhaps even more unbridled and audacious. At that time, my Folding Heaven Divine Kingdom produced two Divine Successors: myself, and Caili's aunt, Qingying. In terms of aptitude and cultivation, Qingying surpassed me, and her divine essence was even a degree higher than mine. According to the Divine Kingdom's long-standing rules of succession, Qingying should have been the Folding Heaven Divine Maiden.

"However, Qingying was a born sword fanatic, devoted solely to the way of the sword. She had no interest in anything outside of swordsmanship, and she was extremely averse to the idea of 'governing a Divine Kingdom.' Furthermore, the former Divine Venerable, at heart, favored males over females and believed that a female succeeding as Divine Venerable would cause the Folding Heaven Divine Kingdom's bloodline inheritance to lose its legitimacy." Yun Che noticed that Hua Fuchen referred to him as 'the former Divine Venerable' rather than 'Father God.'

"Combined with Qingying's temperament, the former Divine Venerable wished for me to inherit the position of Divine Venerable from the very beginning. However, Qingying's divine essence, talent, and cultivation all surpassed mine. If I were made the Divine Prince alone, it would undoubtedly draw criticism. To silence dissenting voices, both a 'Divine Prince' and a 'Divine Maiden' were established simultaneously. The former Divine Venerable hinted at this to me many times, and Qingying also repeatedly stated that she would never succeed as Divine Venerable. So, I implicitly accepted the matter of succession. That is, until I met... Caili's mother."

Hua Fuchen's voice trailed off. Yun Che could clearly sense that this man, possessing the power of a true god, was silently regulating his breathing.

"Her name was Qu Wanxin. Her background was quite similar to yours... no, even less fortunate than yours. Both her parents were deceased, and her family had been annihilated. On her body, there was an indelible mark of sin... simply because her family had inadvertently angered a powerful force and committed what was called an unforgivable great sin.

"I met her in an ordinary place. Without realizing it, I became deeply captivated by her, haunted by her in my thoughts and dreams. Her unruliness, her unyielding spirit... everything about her..." He did not continue to speak of their bond, perhaps because he could no longer recall it with calm.

"At that time, I was unrestrained and acted on impulse, feeling it was a great fortune in life and never thinking it could be wrong. Soon, the former Divine Venerable learned of this..."