Chapter 2086: Thunder

Meng Jianxi's brows furrowed sharply. "Meng Jianyuan, my patience has its limits. If you continue like this..."

"Divine Son Jianxi," Yun Che said indifferently, "If I were you, having diligently served the Dreaming God Realm for a century and finally establishing my name as a Divine Son, only for a Meng Jianyuan to suddenly appear one day – someone with no achievements, inferior in every aspect, yet destined to be crowned a Divine Son equal to myself... I too would certainly be unwilling."

"Since you're unwilling, then advise the God Sovereign. State directly that Meng Jianyuan is unworthy. You could find a hundred reasons why the Dreaming God Realm doesn't need a second Divine Son, and a hundred reasons why Meng Jianyuan isn't fit to be one... Be straightforward, be open. No one would think you're in the wrong, let alone despicable."

Yun Che narrowed his eyes slightly. "After all, as a Divine Son, one should possess a defensive resolve, along with appropriate initiative, confidence, and ambition."

"But regrettably..." Yun Che shook his head, a look of disappointment and regret on his face. "On one hand, you had your people collectively pressure your father-god, and secretly arranged the most despicable schemes to brand me with shame, ensuring my enthronement day would be a day of disgrace – truly malicious to the extreme. Yet, on the other hand, you loudly proclaimed solidarity and mutual support, showcasing your magnanimous heart and cultivation."

"Why bother?" Yun Che's gaze carried undisguised mockery. "You could have been an open and frank Divine Son of the Dreaming God Realm, expressing your views directly. Why did you make yourself so hypocritical and ugly?"

"Oh, that's right!" Yun Che suddenly leaned closer, the contempt in his eyes pricking Meng Jianxi's pupils like steel needles. "I just thought of a rather unpleasant saying: Some people could be innocent, yet insist on acting like a harlot, and having acted like one, still want to erect a monument to their 'virtue'... Divine Son Jianxi, do you have any thoughts on this?"

Almost everyone present felt their hearts suddenly seize up. These words were more than just a direct, merciless tearing apart of one's reputation; they were a complete and utter public humiliation.

Not to mention the presence of the God Sovereign and the various Dream Masters, or the grand occasion witnessed by countless eyes. Even in the smallest, darkest corner, who would dare utter such vulgar and malicious words to a Divine Son of the Dreaming God Realm?

"Outrageous! Simply outrageous!!" Meng Zangji roared, undoubtedly with the most legitimate reason for his fury at this moment. He stared at Yun Che, his soul-pressure overwhelming. "Meng Jianyuan, do you realize what a great crime it is to insult and slander my Divine Son of the Dreaming God Realm in such a manner?"

"A joke!" Yun Che retorted with a sneer. "If Divine Son Jianxi truly hadn't done it, then yes, my words would count as insult and slander. But if he did, then I merely stated a very real truth. How does that become insult and slander? If you insist it's an insult, then isn't Divine Son Jianxi insulting himself?"

"Meng Jianyuan." Meng Jianxi's voice was low, but his expression remained relatively calm. "You have successfully provoked me."

"You claim my words and actions are inconsistent, and that I secretly used underhanded tactics. What is your proof? Without proof, everything is merely your filthy conjecture... or even deliberate slander. Do you realize that by doing this, you are not harming me, but yourself?"

Even if Yun Che exposed everything completely, even if everyone fully believed him under his guidance... he would never be able to produce genuine proof.

"Proof? It's simple." Yun Che casually pointed to An Zhiming, who stood there. "Just cast 'Dream Descent' on him."

"..." Meng Jianxi's expression remained unchanged, but countless fine red lines instantly burst forth around the edges of his eyeballs.

"Shouyuan."

Yun Che called out softly, and immediately, Meng Shouyuan appeared behind him like a phantom.

Yun Che pointed at the gloomy and unsettled An Zhiming. "Cast Dream Descent on him."

"Yes!" Meng Shouyuan obeyed without hesitation, unleashing his soul power directly at An Zhiming.

"Stop!"

With a furious roar, Meng Shouyuan's Dream Descent power was completely blocked. Meng Xuanji withdrew her arm and said gravely, "Meng Jianyuan, you've lost your memory; you've completely forgotten that 'Dream Descent' is a forbidden power of our Dreaming God Realm, not to be used unless it's a matter of great importance!"

"Forbidden?" Yun Che scoffed. "I only heard that the greatest taboo of Dream Descent power is that it must never be used on one's own kin. An Zhiming comes from an affiliated realm, and his surname isn't 'Meng.' No matter how you look at it, he doesn't qualify as 'kin.'"

"Furthermore, this act is intended to prove Divine Son Jianxi's innocence. How is it that Divine Son Jianxi's innocence is not considered a 'matter of great importance' in your eyes?"

Meng Xuanji's expression stiffened slightly, and she said sternly, "Once a person undergoes Dream Descent, everything is exposed before others; there are no more secrets or dignity! Although An Zhiming is not a person of the God Realm, he is still a subject under the God Realm's rule! How can our mighty Dreaming God Realm so shamelessly trample upon the dignity of an innocent junior in front of everyone? Wouldn't that invite ridicule and scorn from all beings under heaven?"

"Oh, so, in Dream Master Xuanji's eyes, Divine Son Jianxi's innocence is far less important than the dignity of a citizen from an affiliated nation? Haha, hahahaha!"

Yun Che threw his head back and laughed. "Divine Son Jianxi, did you hear that? This Dream Master Xuanji would rather sacrifice your 'innocence' to protect the dignity of a minor kingdom's prince. You truly are a pathetic and laughable Divine Son..."

"..." Meng Jianxi slowly gritted his teeth, the cracks in his eyes spreading rapidly.

Yun Che's voice suddenly stopped. He looked at An Zhiming, then had a sudden realization. "Oh, Dream Master Xuanji, I understand now. Logically, the dignified master of a Dream Palace, no matter how foolish, couldn't utter such ridiculous and unsightly words as you just did. Unless..."

He pointed at An Zhiming. "Could it be that this person, who calls himself An Zhiming, is actually your illegitimate son, Palace Master Xuanji?"

"You!!" Meng Xuanji's eyes bulged, and the blood in her body almost instantly reversed its flow.

"Pfft... pfft..." Hall Master Jiuzhi tried to hold it in, but muffled snorts kept escaping his lips.

Yun Che said with a knowing look, "If not for this reason, I truly can't think of any other explanation for a Dream Palace Master to utter such an utterly foolish joke. Shouyuan, what do you think?"

Meng Shouyuan calmly echoed, "Young Master speaks wisely."

"Imperial Son Jianyuan!" An Zhiming suddenly roared, his timely outburst breaking the awkward silence for Meng Jianxi and Meng Xuanji. "Dream Master Xuanji is right; though I am a humble person, I too have dignity. But a dignified person would never easily accept being subjected to 'Dream Descent' in front of so many people for a fabricated reason."

"Unless..."

He secretly gritted his teeth, then abruptly stepped forward, mystic light shimmering in his hand as he raised a silver long spear. "My bold move forward this time is to challenge Imperial Son Jianyuan. If Imperial Son Jianyuan wishes me to willingly undergo Dream Descent, then defeat me honorably... Of course, if Imperial Son Jianyuan dares not, and intends to forcibly inflict Dream Descent..."

His eyes rapidly turned crimson, as if stained with blood. "I, An Zhiming, would rather take my own life on the spot than accept!"

Yun Che glanced sideways at him... This was a situation where he was forced to sacrifice his own life for the sake of his entire clan.

He was also quite pathetic.

"Very well." Facing An Zhiming's almost desperate gaze, Yun Che slowly nodded. "Then I will grant your wish."

Seeing him agree so directly, An Zhiming's breathing visibly eased.

Meanwhile, Meng Zangji, Meng Xuanji, and the others, who had previously worn extremely grim expressions, suddenly had their eyes gleam with peculiar light.

Meng Jianze, in particular, was so excited he nearly stood up.

The people he had chosen under Meng Jianxi's orders, though not from the Dreaming God Realm, all possessed top-tier aptitudes. Among them, An Zhiming was the most outstanding.

He was completely certain that among all the affiliated realms of the Dreaming God Realm, no one at the third level of the Divine Master Realm could match An Zhiming.

As for "Meng Jianyuan," in their understanding, he had been drifting outside for a century, receiving no resources, lacking any foundational support, and certainly no powerful figures to solidify his cultivation after each breakthrough. The mystic arts and profound techniques he cultivated must be utterly inferior... perhaps even worse than ordinary third-level Divine Masters in the common world. How could he possibly compare to An Zhiming?

"However..." Yun Che's tone suddenly shifted. Just as everyone thought he was about to find an excuse, he pointed behind An Zhiming. "You arranged nine people. If they come out one by one, it'll be a bit too troublesome. How about you all come at once?"

"Although I'm not yet a Divine Son of the Dreaming God Realm, my time is equally precious!"

These words immediately caused an uproar.

Meng Jinghai directly scoffed, "Meng Jianyuan, are you out of your mind?"

As everyone expressed surprise or ridicule, Meng Kongchan's eyes, however, blazed with light. He suddenly raised his hand, and with several overlapping cries of alarm, the eight third-level Divine Masters previously indicated by Yun Che were simultaneously drawn into the arena by an irresistible force, standing alongside the stunned An Zhiming.

"Yuan'er," Meng Kongchan said calmly, "I'll ask you only once: Are you sure you want to face all nine of them at the same time?"

"Of course." Yun Che turned around, responding without a moment's hesitation. "As a man, one must speak truthfully and act decisively; a word spoken is a promise kept! Otherwise, how would I be any different from those deceitful and ugly individuals?"

*Crack*... Meng Jianxi distinctly heard the sound of his teeth cracking.

"Good!" Meng Kongchan slowly nodded. "All nine of you attack together, and you must use your full strength. If you win, there will only be rewards, no punishment. But if you dare to hold back... you will be severely punished without mercy!"

The God Sovereign's words carried immense weight!

This left the already surprised crowd even more bewildered.

"As the God Sovereign commands!" An Zhiming responded loudly. He seemed eager to end this quickly; the mystic light already swirling around his spear, he pointed it directly at Yun Che. "Imperial Son Jianyuan, please enlighten me!"

As his voice fell, the mystic light on his spear transformed into lightning, and he himself rushed towards Yun Che like a bolt of thunder streaking across the ground.

The power he unleashed was clearly at the limit of a Divine Master at the third level... undoubtedly his full strength.

At such close range, with the lightning flashing forth with full power in an instant, it seemed to everyone that the relaxed Yun Che had no way to dodge.

And that was indeed the case.

*Rip!*

After the tremendous roar of lightning tearing through the air, the sound of thunder suddenly ceased.

Yun Che still stood in place, not moving an inch, and even the expression on his face remained utterly unchanged.

Only his right hand was raised, his index finger extended forward... And An Zhiming's silver spear, carrying the full might of his attack, was frozen just before Yun Che's fingertip.

Even the lightning on the spear itself had completely vanished.

An Zhiming maintained his forward-charging posture, yet was frozen there as if encased in ice... The color rapidly drained from his face, and his pupils dilated sharply, as if he had encountered the most extreme terror in the world.

The scene was utterly silent, followed by a cacophony of confused sounds as countless people suddenly stood up or leaped into the air, their eyes widening repeatedly, as if they could not believe the sight before them.

"Wh-what... what... happened..." Meng Jianze stammered, murmuring distractedly.

Meng Zangji, Meng Xuanji, Meng Jinghai, Meng Kongdu... indeed, all the Dream Palace Masters rose from their seats, their faces displaying the same astonished expression.

"..." Hall Master Jiuzhi's usual spectator demeanor was instantly replaced by shock.

Yun Che's lips curved slightly, as if he smiled, and then... his figure suddenly blurred.

An Zhiming's body was sent flying horizontally, and the silver spear in his hand had already landed between Yun Che's fingers. As Yun Che moved with his 'Broken Moon Sweeping Shadow' steps, a seemingly real yet illusory icy figure flashed almost simultaneously through the eight pairs of widened, terrified eyes.

*Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!*

Eight instantaneous movements, eight spear shadows. Before An Zhiming's body even hit the ground, the other eight profound practitioners had all been sent flying high into the sky in different directions, their screams echoing endlessly.

Yun Che's figure finally became still. Behind him, eight spear shadows, which had not yet dissipated, formed an extraordinarily brilliant dragon-like image.

He turned, casually sweeping the spear, and immediately whipped up a massive storm that engulfed all nine falling profound practitioners, then brought them down before him.

*Thud thud thud thud...*

Consecutive thuds sounded by Yun Che's feet, forcefully striking the endlessly shocked souls of everyone present.

Countless mouths hung wide open. Meng Jianze stood there dumbfounded, and even the assembled Dream Palace Masters stared fixedly, their minds reeling for a long time.

The fractured red lines in Meng Jianxi's eyes had long vanished, replaced by pupils so dilated they nearly filled his entire eyeballs.

Hall Master Jiuzhi had risen at some unknown point, staring fixedly at Yun Che... at this man whose cultivation was only at the third level of the Divine Master Realm.

As the recognized foremost Divine Son of the Six God Nations, he considered his profound cultivation talent, after awakening the Great Desolation God Vein, to be unparalleled under heaven. But... while he could easily defeat opponents of the same realm at the third level of the Divine Master Realm, there was absolutely no way he could defeat nine profound practitioners of the same realm in such a brief instant.

It was practically unheard of.

"..." Meng Kongchan's chest visibly rose and fell several times.

And the strange light flickering deep within his pupils was so intense it seemed to burn his soul.

Brother Fuchen truly didn't lie to me!

This is more than just a colossal surprise!!

"Hahahaha!" Meng Kongchan burst into laughter, an unusually unrestrained laugh under the gaze of the crowd. "Good! Very good. Truly worthy of being my Yuan'er. Even after drifting for a century without enjoying a single resource from the God Realm, his aptitude and quality remain so outstanding!"

"Such aptitude, it's more than just outstanding..." The Valley Master of Chenmeng Valley murmured aloud... then quickly stopped himself as he realized his mistake.

In such a situation, praising one side could easily draw one into factional disputes; silence was the most sensible choice for neutrals.

But at this moment, even these neutrals, who never involved themselves in factions, felt the scales in their hearts gradually tilt towards "Meng Jianyuan"... whereas before this ceremony, no one had believed the returning "Meng Jianyuan" had the qualifications to compare with Meng Jianxi.

An Zhiming knelt limp on the ground, his eyes vacant, unable to stand for a long time.

With a heavy thud, his beloved spear, which had accompanied him, fell and stuck into the ground before him.

Yun Che's low voice reached his ears: "It seems you've messed up your task. I imagine the consequences will be quite tragic, how pitiful..."

"Before you pick up this spear again, think carefully about who truly harmed you, and even more importantly, consider who can save you in this situation!"

An Zhiming's vacant eyes trembled slightly, then began to shake more violently.

Suddenly, he propped himself up, heavily kneeling on the ground, and let out a desperate roar: "God Sovereign, Divine Son Jianyuan, please save me... save my Anmeng Royal Family!"

This sudden, violent roar almost tore his throat, directly startling everyone's ears.

Meng Jianze's expression changed abruptly.

Meng Kongchan glanced sideways, first at Yun Che, then spoke calmly, "Save you? What do you mean?"

An Zhiming abruptly raised his hand and pointed directly at Meng Jianze. "It was him! Imperial Son Jianze! He threatened the lives of my father and imperial sister, demanding that I deliberately provoke and challenge Divine Son Jianyuan at today's enthronement ceremony, and then defeat him in the most humiliating way, so he would never be able to show his face again..."

"You shut up!"

Meng Jianze leaped up, his face livid like a pig's liver. "An Zhiming! How dare you! How dare you slander me in front of my father-god!"

At this point, An Zhiming had no retreat. He faced Meng Jianze directly, his gaze fierce, every word filled with soul-shaking sorrow: "I, An Zhiming, swear by my own life and lifelong honor, if there is a single false word, may I..."

"Still daring to slander?! You truly deserve ten thousand deaths!"

Meng Jianze's entire face was now dark green, like congealed blood. He suddenly flew forward, hand clawed, lunging at An Zhiming like a runaway beast.

For a God Sovereign's son, even publicly killing a minor kingdom's prince would certainly not be an unforgivable offense.

Yun Che, who was closest to An Zhiming, flashed forward and blocked him... But before Meng Jianze's power could even reach Yun Che, a sword beam appeared out of thin air in front of him.

"Ugh!"

Meng Jianze screamed, flying backward dozens of times faster than he had charged, slamming heavily onto the ground, his body convulsing, unable to stand again.

No one looked at Meng Jianze's pathetic state; instead, all eyes, filled with shock, turned towards the sky.

Because the one who had acted was...

Hua Qingying!

The person least likely to interfere among everyone present!

Yun Che immediately turned and bowed to Hua Qingying. "Thank you, Aunt, for saving him."

In that instant, the entire hall fell so silent that a pin drop could be heard, with only Meng Jianze's pitiful screams remaining.

What had they just heard?

Meng Jianyuan had actually called Sword Immortal Hua Qingying...

Au... Aunt?