Chapter 2078: Demon God Mark

Five short words, like a devil’s whisper.

They were also like a vast, distant sound from beyond the heavens, or the empty, solitary murmur from an endless dark abyss.

As the sound faded, the ferocious devil shadow in Yun Che’s eyes slowly dissipated, only to then appear in the pupils of Wumeng Divine Sovereign.

“Nirvana…Devil Soul…”

In Yun Che’s gradually clearing soul sea, Li Sa’s dazed murmur echoed.

She remembered how, before Yun Che fell into the No-Dimension Deep Abyss, the Devil Queen Chi Wuyao had injected eighty percent of her Nirvana Devil Soul into Yun Che’s soul. Yun Che couldn’t control the Nirvana Devil Soul, not even activate it on his own.

But…

“It was personally separated and transferred by me, so it will obediently lie hidden in your soul… until the moment it is triggered.”

“What happens if it’s triggered?”

“It will be like a devil god awakened from slumber. But it can only be triggered once; that might be the Nirvana Devil Emperor’s… final wrath!”

Recalling Chi Wuyao’s words at the time, Li Sa finally understood Yun Che’s scheme.

The Huaxin Divine Sovereign, rumored to love her daughter more than life itself; the engagement between Zhetian Divine Maiden and Senluo Divine Son; the Dreamweaving Divine Kingdom, whose practitioners primarily cultivate soul power and possess the “Falling Dream” ability; and the three Divine Sovereigns—Senluo, Zhetian, and Dreamweaving—who were close friends.

Considering all these factors… his encounter with Hua Caili in the Mist Sea, and his soul-seizing of Meng Jianzhou’s Profound Core… Li Sa now realized that Yun Che had been planning for this very day since that moment. When the dark devil shadow appeared in Meng Kongchan’s eyes, she knew Yun Che had succeeded!

Although a few strands of Nirvana Devil Soul were minuscule compared to a complete True God’s soul, it was still a Devil Emperor’s soul. Even in the distant Age of Gods, it represented the highest level of soul in the world, a whole major plane higher than a True God’s soul. Moreover, this wasn’t a direct confrontation between souls, but rather Wumeng Divine Sovereign’s soul power crushing down with complete control, followed by an unsuspecting backlash of a Devil Emperor’s wrath. A silver needle is destined not to withstand a ten-thousand-foot dead tree, but it will undoubtedly leave an eternal mark on it!

The wrath of a Devil Emperor was terrifying to all devils’ souls. Meng Kongchan’s features began to twitch, the devil shadow in his eyes rapidly twisting, then gradually fading, carrying with it the retreating roar of the Devil Emperor. The moment the devil shadow completely vanished, this strand of the Nirvana Devil Emperor’s soul, which had lingered in the world, was gone forever, with only the last wisp remaining in Chi Wuyao’s soul. Yet, it left an eternal dark imprint upon Wumeng Divine Sovereign’s soul.

After the devil shadow, the black light in Meng Kongchan’s pupils also gradually dispersed. Finally, he abruptly opened his eyes, then rose to his feet with a gasp. He stared fixedly at Yun Che, his pupils shrinking, his lips trembling, and even his aura seemed to run wild as if out of control, utterly lacking the absolute majesty, indifference, and self-possession he had before. Such emotional upheaval should not have occurred in a Divine Sovereign.

“Yuan’er… You’re Yuan’er! You’re Yuan’er!!”

He spoke with a tremble, each word quivering as if swept by a storm.

“…” A hint of surprise flickered in Yun Che’s eyes. Meng Kongchan’s reaction was far greater than he had anticipated, much greater! Clearly, he had underestimated the significance of the name “Meng Jianyuan” in Wumeng Divine Sovereign’s heart.

Yun Che looked up, his gaze hazy with newfound clarity: “Wumeng Divine Sovereign, what… what are you saying? What Yuan’er?”

*Boom!*

Meng Kongchan lunged forward. The dignified Wumeng Divine Sovereign, making such a simple movement, actually stumbled heavily as he stood. He didn’t even bother to steady himself, rushing skewed towards Yun Che, then gripping his arm tightly, his eyes fixed on him: “Yuan’er, you’re alive… you’re alive!” Suddenly realizing something, the hand gripping Yun Che immediately loosened its strength but still held on tightly. As he finished speaking, Yun Che distinctly saw a misty sheen in his violently trembling pupils.

Yun Che leaned back slightly, his face full of surprise and bewilderment: “I am Yun Che, definitely not the ‘Yuan’er’ Wumeng Divine Sovereign speaks of. Please, Wumeng Divine Sovereign…”

“No, you are Yuan’er, you are the Yuan’er your father lost for a hundred years!” Meng Kongchan grew more agitated with each word, the mist in his eyes thickening: “Back then, your father was incompetent, unable to protect you, letting you be lost for so many years… A hundred years, a full century, but your father never gave up searching for you.”

“Heaven be praised, you’re alive, you’ve returned to your father… grown so big… and so well…” His voice gradually grew hoarse, and by the end, it was clearly tinged with a slight sob.

Yun Che slowly shook his head: “I… truly don’t know what Wumeng Divine Sovereign is talking about…”

At that moment, urgent shouts came from outside the hall: “Father God, what happened?” Meng Kongchan’s aura was clearly in disarray, and his voice was out of control, greatly alarming Meng Jianxi, who was near the divine hall. As he rushed in, the scene before him made him freeze on the spot. His body trembling, eyes brimming with tears… In his life, this was only the second time he had seen his Father God, the Wumeng Divine Sovereign, in such a state. The first time was a hundred years ago, when Meng Jianyuan disappeared.

Behind him followed a tall, sharp-eyed young man, whose face was also filled with shock, just like Meng Jianxi’s.

Meng Kongchan turned his gaze, his excitement undiminished: “Jianxi, Jianze! Yuan’er is back… He’s back! This is Yuan’er!”

“…!?” Meng Jianxi looked at Yun Che, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Meng Jianze’s eyes widened. He stared at Yun Che, disbelievingly asking, “Which… which Yuan’er?”

Meng Jianxi also stepped forward slowly at this moment, asking excitedly, “Could he be… Brother Yuan?”

“Yes, yes.” It seemed only then that Meng Kongchan regained a sliver of composure. He took a deep breath, steadying his aura and emotions: “Yuan’er didn’t die; he’s back, returned safe and sound.”

Meng Jianxi: “…”

“This…” Meng Jianze glanced at Yun Che, then at Meng Jianxi, unsure how to react.

Yun Che, however, turned slightly, neither humble nor arrogant: “Greetings, Dreamweaving Divine Son. My name is Yun Che, and I came to visit Wumeng Divine Sovereign under the orders of Huaxin Divine Sovereign. I am certainly not any ‘Yuan’er’; Wumeng Divine Sovereign must be mistaken.”

“No, no mistake.” Meng Kongchan’s hand remained on Yun Che’s arm, as if he feared letting go would make Yun Che leave his world again: “Yuan’er, I ask you, is your age two *jiazi* (120 years)?”

“Yes,” Yun Che nodded.

Meng Kongchan continued: “Huaxin Divine Sovereign said you were rescued around the age of ten, and after waking, you had no memory of anything before ten. Is that correct?”

“That is correct,” Yun Che nodded again.

Meng Kongchan’s fingers tightened slightly. Looking into his eyes, he said softly, “Your father’s Yuan’er disappeared without a trace a hundred years ago, when he was ten years old. There was no sign of him, alive or dead. The timing and age are perfectly consistent.” He continued: “Your memory loss must be due to an ambush you suffered back then, which damaged your soul. And Meng Jianyuan was your name before you were ten… a name your father personally gave you.”

Yun Che’s gaze flickered slightly, but he still shook his head: “The timing and age could simply be a coincidence. The matter of Wumeng Divine Sovereign’s offspring is too significant to determine my identity as Meng Jianyuan based solely on this.”

Meng Kongchan’s eyes misted over. Apart from the moment Meng Jianxi and Meng Jianze rushed in, his gaze had remained fixed on Yun Che, not leaving for even a second: “I, Meng Kongchan, am the Divine Sovereign of this Dreamweaving Divine Kingdom. Even if my soul were to collapse, my cognition become disordered, I would never mistake my own son!”

“Your soul, your aura, your flesh and blood… how could your father be mistaken, how could he possibly be mistaken!”

“This…” Meng Jianze turned to look at Meng Jianxi, only to see that his eyes were also red, and he spoke excitedly: “This is wonderful… truly wonderful! It’s simply a miracle from heaven.” As he spoke, he quickly stepped forward and placed a hand on Yun Che’s shoulder: “Brother Yuan, welcome back. Do you know how Father God has worried about you day and night all these years, and how he has been deeply mired in a swamp of guilt, unable to escape? Even after a hundred years, Father God never gave up searching for you.”

“Your safe return this time is not only a great joy for our Dreamweaving Divine Kingdom, but it has also saved Father God!” His eyes were filled with excitement and emotion, no less intense than Meng Kongchan’s.

“Hahahaha!” Meng Kongchan burst into hearty laughter: “That’s right, there’s no greater joy than this. I will immediately announce it to all domains… announce it to the world: my Yuan’er has returned!”

Compared to the intense excitement of the two, Yun Che’s expression was more one of confusion. He emphasized his words: “Wumeng Divine Sovereign, Dreamweaving Divine Son, saying this must be disappointing, but… my surname is Yun and my given name is Che. This name was bestowed upon me by my master, and it is etched into my being for life, never to be abandoned.”

“Today is my first time stepping foot in the Dreamweaving Divine Kingdom. Before this, I had no memory whatsoever of the Dreamweaving Divine Kingdom, nor did I know the name Meng Jianyuan. Therefore, I ask Wumeng Divine Sovereign to understand clearly: I am Yun Che, not Meng Jianyuan!”

“Nonsense!” Before Meng Kongchan could speak, a sharp cry came, and Meng Jianze said with a solemn expression: “What kind of person is Father God? How could he possibly be mistaken about matters of lineage! You disappeared for a hundred years, and now on your first return, you dare to question and defy him like this…”

*SMACK!!!!*

The sound of teeth and cheekbones shattering echoed throughout the hall. Meng Jianze was sent flying sideways before he could finish speaking, scattering a large spray of viscous blood mid-air.

*Fool…* Meng Jianxi thought to himself.

Meng Jianze scrambled to his feet. Looking up, he met his Father God’s extremely sinister gaze. His knees, which he had just begun to brace, immediately buckled again. Endless fear made his pupils shrink to the point of tearing.

“Yuan’er has just returned from tribulation, and this Divine Sovereign is filled with overwhelming love and joy, unsure how to contain it… and you dare to speak such harsh words to Yuan’er!” The wrath of a Divine Sovereign was like the heavens collapsing. As one of Meng Kongchan’s most outstanding sons, Meng Jianze had never been stared at by his Father God with such a gaze. He prostrated himself in terror, stammering, “Your… your child would not dare, your child was just…”

“Get out!”

“Yes… Yes!” Meng Jianze stumbled backward in a panic and fled in disarray.

When his gaze returned to Yun Che, the sinister look instantly softened: “It’s alright. Your master saved your life; he is not only your benefactor but also a great benefactor to your father and to the entire Dreamweaving Divine Kingdom. Your memory loss prevents you from accepting the identity of Meng Jianyuan, from accepting me as your father—this is perfectly normal… perfectly normal, nothing wrong with it at all.”

“So… if you prefer, you may continue to use the name ‘Yun Che.’ When you recall, or when you are willing to accept me as your father, then you can use the name Meng Jianyuan.” His words and demeanor were more than just compromise… they were practically an attempt to curry favor.

“This…” Meng Jianxi advised: “Father God, I know you’ve always felt guilty towards Brother Yuan and wish to compensate him in every way. But Brother Yuan is, after all, Father God’s son. For Father God’s son to bear another surname… this will surely invite gossip.”

“Hehe,” Meng Kongchan merely smiled faintly: “For Yuan’er to return safely, that is a tremendous gift from heaven. Nothing else matters. As long as Yuan’er is well, and Yuan’er is happy, anything is fine.”

Yun Che tried to suppress the confusion on his face and respectfully said: “Wumeng Divine Sovereign’s immense kindness is truly overwhelming for this junior. It’s just that this matter has been… too great a shock for this junior, and I truly don’t know how to handle myself or how to respond.”

Yun Che consistently refused to call him Father God and continued to deny the identity of “Meng Jianyuan.” Meng Kongchan felt a pang of disappointment but quickly waved his hand reassuringly: “No worries, no worries. Your father was simply too anxious. You must not feel any pressure because of this. Your father will surely find a way to restore your memories. Until then, whoever you wish to be, that’s who you are; no one will force you.”

Yun Che immediately bowed: “Thank you, Wumeng Divi—”

“Thank me for what? We are father and son; there’s no need for such formalities,” Meng Kongchan said with a chuckle, stopping Yun Che’s bow. He looked at Yun Che, his delight overflowing the more he looked: “You’ve grown up to be far more handsome than your father was back then. If your mother saw you, she would be overjoyed.”

“No wonder that girl…” At this point, he suddenly turned: “Jianxi, quickly announce to the entire domain that Yuan’er has returned safely! All major Dream Palaces are to issue an additional five thousand superior Abyss Crystals; the Prayer Dream Immortal Realm will be open for three months, accessible to all disciples above Divine King; all criminals in the Sin Domain will have their sentences reduced by a hundred years; and all affiliated domains will be exempt from tribute for a hundred years… Go quickly!”

Meng Jianxi suppressed the shock in his heart and respectfully took his leave.

Meng Kongchan took Yun Che’s hand: “Yuan’er, your father will take you to a place… a place that belongs only to you.”

The moment he walked out of the Dreamweaving Divine Hall, Meng Jianxi’s expression suddenly darkened, then slowly returned to calm with his steps. Soon, Meng Jianze rushed out from the side, appearing behind Meng Jianxi. His silver robes were stained with blood, his face was swollen, and he was in a sorry state, still showing lingering fear.

“Your Highness, is that boy… truly the Meng Jianyuan who should have died long ago?” Every word Meng Jianze spoke caused him agonizing pain from his broken teeth.

“Do you think Father God could be mistaken about something like this?” Meng Jianxi said faintly: “A full hundred years with no news; anyone would have thought he was annihilated without a trace. It’s truly a miracle he’s still alive.”

Observing Meng Jianxi’s expression, Meng Jianze carefully said, “Your Highness, aren’t you… anxious?”

“Anxious? Why?” Meng Jianxi said faintly.

“He was the former Divine Son!” Meng Jianze said gravely: “It would have been fine if he had died, but now that he’s returned alive, he could potentially threaten your position.”

“Threat?” Meng Jianxi smiled faintly: “Regarding cultivation, he has no divine kingdom resources, yet he managed to cultivate to a third-level Divine Master in two *jiazi*—he’s an undeniable genius in the ordinary world. But in front of me, he’s simply not worth mentioning. In terms of familiarity and control over the Dreamweaving Divine Kingdom, in terms of achievements, and in terms of public support, he doesn’t even have the qualifications to compare with me.”

“Putting everything else aside, my divine nature is also superior to his. Just on that point alone, do you think he could possibly threaten my position as Divine Son?”

“Your Highness is not wrong, but Father God’s attitude makes me unable not to worry,” Meng Jianze said: “He addresses us as Jianxi and Jianze, but for that Meng Jianyuan, it’s ‘Yuan’er’ every time.”

“Your Highness, please don’t forget that while divine nature is an important criterion for selecting the Divine Son, the ultimate decision-maker is always Father God!”

Meng Jianxi’s steps stiffened for a moment.

“When Meng Jianyuan disappeared back then, you surely haven’t forgotten Father God’s state. And back then, Meng Jianyuan was just a nursing infant, yet Father God couldn’t wait to bestow upon him the title of Divine Son. The ceremony was so grand that he wished the whole world would come to celebrate, and he had a divine hall built for him early on. Even after his long disappearance, the construction of the hall didn’t stop until it was fully completed.”

“Yet Your Highness still doesn’t have his own divine…”

“Stop talking,” Meng Jianxi coldly interrupted him: “Jianyuan and I are brothers; we should work together with one heart. How can we have such discord? Do not speak these words again.”

“Your Highness!” Meng Jianze, however, intensified his tone: “My fate in this life is entirely tied to Your Highness. I would never dare to show the slightest disobedience. But this matter, Your Highness must not take lightly!”

“Has Your Highness forgotten what became of the former Divine Son Pian Buwang of the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom!”

Having pledged loyalty to the Divine Son early, one naturally rises when the Divine Son becomes Divine Sovereign. Thus, as Meng Jianze said, his fate was already tied to Meng Jianxi. Meng Jianyuan’s return, coupled with Meng Kongchan’s attitude, which was vastly different from how he treated his other sons, how could Meng Jianze not be anxious? And after the news of Meng Jianyuan’s return spread, he was not the only one who felt anxious.