Chapter 2106: Eternal Night Awaits Dawn

The Everlasting Night Divine Kingdom.

Seven layers of profound formations operated in an overlapping manner, with various Abyss Crystals within them emitting intensely dazzling profound light. The sheer quantity and high quality of these Abyss Crystals were enough to make any profound practitioner stare in disbelief, as if in a dream. Four women stood at different points around the profound formations, each wielding the terrifying power of the Divine Master Realm in their hands. These seven profound formations were activated by these four immensely powerful Divine Master energies. The power within the Abyss Crystals was being unleashed almost frantically, emitting what could only be described as tempestuous spiritual energy—so tempestuous that it could easily destroy a profound practitioner who had just entered the Divine Extinction Realm and possessed a semi-divine body. Yet, within the midst of these formidable profound formations, a lone female figure sat.

Her long hair and outer garments were violently whipped about. Her exquisitely delicate features twitched continuously—an instinctive reaction to extreme pain—yet her expression remained remarkably calm, stubbornly refusing to show any sign of suffering. Gradually, her jade-like skin began to lose its color, taking on an unnaturally ghastly pallor. After an unknown amount of time, a striking crimson streak of blood slowly trickled from her lips.

Shen Wuyou Luan’s breath hitched slightly. Her eyes struggled before she finally whispered, "Honored Master, this intensity is already unbearable even for a late-stage Divine Extinction Realm practitioner. Even with the Nine Profound Exquisite Body, Wuyi must have surpassed her limit this time. If this continues..."

"Silence!" A cruel, hoarse voice, devoid of any warmth, cut off Shen Wuyou Luan’s plea. "When it's time to stop, I, the Honored One, will act myself!"

Shen Wuyou Luan dared not speak further, only continuing to maintain the seven profound formations and channel the spiritual energy from the Abyss Crystals.

Shen Wuyi’s current cultivation was at Divine Extinction Realm Level 5. The spiritual energy storm within the seven profound formations would cause any other profound practitioner of the same realm to have their profound veins rupture within a hundred breaths, with unimaginable consequences. Yet, she had endured it for a full quarter of an hour. This was because she possessed the Nine Profound Exquisite Body, a legendary existence known to all but unseen for too long. As the Exquisite World within her gradually awakened, her profound veins and body's capacity to withstand power and laws would far surpass that of ordinary profound practitioners. In the past twenty years, her cultivation had grown from the peak of the Divine Sovereign Realm to Divine Extinction Realm Level 5. The terrifying speed of her progress was so unbelievable that even if other divine kingdoms vaguely heard about it, none would believe it. Furthermore, no one knew the cruel methods by which such progress had been achieved.

Shen Wuyan Ye had frantically lavished all the Everlasting Night Divine Kingdom's top-tier resources upon Shen Wuyi. In the same amount of time, the Abyss Crystals consumed were more than all other divine children combined, but the process itself was something no other divine child could replicate or endure. Shen Wuyan Ye was an absolute madwoman in every respect. This was well-known among all divine kingdoms, and deeply understood within the Everlasting Night Divine Kingdom itself.

Another full quarter of an hour passed. All color had drained from Shen Wuyi’s face, and every part of her body periodically experienced increasingly severe spasms. Yet, her expression remained serene, as if she felt no pain or fear at all. Shen Wuyou Luan had long since closed her eyes, unable to bear looking at her any longer.

At this moment, Shen Wuyi’s body finally shook violently. Several long, narrow streaks of blood split open on her waist and chest, and her aura completely collapsed. Her consciousness scattered, and a mist of blood sprayed from her lips as she slowly fell backward. A withered hand reached out from behind a black curtain. In an instant, the profound light of the seven formations vanished, and all spiritual energy was completely suppressed, disappearing without a trace.

"Wuyi!" Shen Wuyou Luan flashed forward, catching Shen Wuyi in her arms. It took a while before she saw Shen Wuyi’s eyes regain their focus.

"Hmph, useless thing!" Shen Wuyan Ye’s icy, piercing voice rang out. "So-called Nine Profound Exquisite Body, nothing more than this! Wuyi, listen. Before you go to the Pure Land, you must reach Divine Extinction Realm Level 6. Otherwise, I will not forgive you lightly."

Shen Wuyou Luan turned her gaze, about to speak, but felt her hand gently squeezed by Shen Wuyi, which stopped the words she was about to utter. She struggled to rise from Shen Wuyou Luan’s embrace, her voice weak yet still respectful and resolute: "Mother God has poured all her resources and effort into me. If I were to fail her, I would not be able to forgive myself."

"It's good that you know," Shen Wuyan Ye said coldly. "Go rest! Return here in seven days!"

Shen Wuyi, however, softly replied, "Mother God, please rest assured. Five days will be enough." She lifted her gaze, her weak voice carrying a determination that seemed to stem from the depths of her soul: "Mother God wishes for no woman in this world to be subservient to men. In the Pure Land, Wuyi will certainly defeat all divine children, making them prostrate themselves before Everlasting Night. Only then can I fulfill Mother God's wish and partially repay her grace. Therefore, Mother God need not worry about Wuyi's injuries... This body may perish, but Mother God's wish... must not be disappointed." With these words, her body swayed, blood once again overflowed from the corner of her mouth, and she fainted into Shen Wuyou Luan’s arms.

A deathly silence ensued. After several breaths, Shen Wuyan Ye finally spoke with a chilling voice, "You Luan, take her back."

"Yes," Shen Wuyou Luan quickly responded, and hurried away with the unconscious Shen Wuyi.

"All of you, get out!" As her dreadful voice descended, the Everlasting Night Divine Hall was left empty, returning to a suffocating cold silence.

A withered hand fumbled in the darkness, and the secret tome it held was opened. Just moments ago, after several months, another layer of Abyss Dust had been meticulously removed by her, allowing another page of the secret tome to be turned. Her withered finger lightly traced the ancient characters inscribed there, still faintly covered with Abyss Dust, as her incredibly sharp four senses deciphered them.

Ice... Snow... Glazed... Heart...This page recorded information about the Glazed Heart.

The Ice Snow Glazed Heart... Formed from the purest primordial energy at the dawn of chaos... The purest and cleanest soul-heart in the world... It was rumored multiple times that it could receive the blessings of the Heavenly Dao... Truth unknown... It could perceive the essence of heaven and earth... and sense the soul of all things... Its heart was as pure as unblemished ice and snow, as clean as glazed glass, allowing no defilement... Thus, its feelings, intentions, heart, thoughts, loyalty... once imprinted, would remain steadfast until death, never to betray...

The withered fingers began to tremble. She let out a nearly shrill sound: "Its feelings, its loyalty... steadfast until death... never to betray... Haha... Hahahahaha..."

"Where is true affection in this world! Where does loyalty exist! Fake... Ridiculous... It's all fake... Hahahahaha... Hahahahahahaha..." She laughed loudly, maniacally, her laughter like that of a heartless fiend, yet clear, unclouded tears streamed down her withered, bark-like cheeks.

After bringing Shen Wuyi back to her sleeping quarters, Shen Wuyou Luan wasted no time, hastily pulling out several healing pills and quickly setting up a healing profound formation. Gentle profound light enveloped them. Looking at Shen Wuyi’s paper-white face, Shen Wuyou Luan slowly closed her eyes, tightly suppressing the uncontrollable dampness welling within her.

"I'm sorry... Wuyi," she murmured softly. "If I had known this, I would never have..."

A sudden voice near her ear made Shen Wuyou Luan snap her eyes open, a flicker of panic in them before she calmed down and said, "Wuyi, you... woke up?"

"I've been awake all along," Shen Wuyi whispered. "I've worried Aunt."

Shen Wuyou Luan was visibly startled for a moment, then very naturally said, "Being awake can speed up recovery, which is excellent. What I just said... was just rambling. You don't need to pay attention to it."

"I know," Shen Wuyi replied softly.

Just as Shen Wuyou Luan secretly exhaled in relief, she heard Shen Wuyi continue, "I've always known that the one who saved me back then was Aunt You Luan."

As if struck by lightning, Shen Wuyou Luan shot up. In her panic, she didn't forget to extend her hand, about to set up a soundproofing barrier. But Shen Wuyi seemed to have anticipated her move. As Shen Wuyou Luan lifted her hand, Shen Wuyi gently pressed down on her arm... Shen Wuyi was so weak that Shen Wuyou Luan hastily stopped her action.

"If you set up a soundproofing barrier, she'll notice. She should be reading the secret tome right now, so Aunt can rest assured."

Shen Wuyou Luan’s eyes widened, staring blankly at Shen Wuyi, as if seeing her for the first time. Then she forcefully lowered her voice and said, "Wuyi, you must not speak such nonsense!" She left the healing profound formation, took a step back, and added, "Heal your injuries properly. As for what you just said, I'll pretend I heard nothing, and you absolutely must not say another word." Having said that, she left as if fleeing.

Just as she was about to step out of the hall door, Shen Wuyi’s soft, gentle murmur came from behind her: "There is no true everlasting night in this world. Even the deepest darkness will see the break of dawn."

Shen Wuyou Luan abruptly halted. "Aunt, you are the Azure Luan hidden in the shadows. And your 'Phoenix,' despite enduring all humiliations, did not escape the darkness alone. When the Everlasting Night breaks into dawn, the Luan and Phoenix will surely sing together again."

Shen Wuyou Luan’s body trembled. She bit her teeth tightly, yet could not stop. Her neck turned, but halfway through, it stopped with difficulty... because at that moment, she suddenly dared not meet Shen Wuyi’s gaze. After an unknown period, she finally turned around with difficulty. She saw Shen Wuyi gently raise a finger to her lips, signaling to her: there's no need to say anything. Shen Wuyou Luan nodded gently, and suddenly tears welled up like a spring.

The two words "Mist Emperor" swept through every living land of the Abyss like a storm. This time, it was thousands of times more intense than all previous instances combined. Moreover, when profound practitioners of the Abyss spoke of "Mist Emperor," there was no longer the usual doubt, debate, or ridicule, but an unprecedented terror, shock... and an unspoken suspicion in their hearts. Even every speck of Abyss Dust seemed to stir with an abnormal restlessness. Only the Pure Land remained as quiet as before, devoid of any commotion involving Yun Che... or any other anticipated disturbances.

In the shallows of the Mist Sea.

Yun Che had altered his appearance and attire, and his aura was muddled by the Reverse Abyss Stone. Even if Hua Caili were to pass by him now, she wouldn't be able to recognize him by his appearance or aura. He had maintained the same posture for eight or nine consecutive hours, and this same action had continued for over ten days. Finally, he opened his eyes, let out a long breath, and heavily leaned against the black stone behind him.

A white figure appeared, and a jade-like hand, bathed in divine light, neared Yun Che’s forehead, bestowing the world's most sacred profound light upon him. "Twelve days have passed," she said softly. "What exactly are you searching for? Doing this every day, even your soul will find it hard to bear."

Yun Che closed his eyes and remained silent for a while, only then did the profound sense of exhaustion finally ease a little. Instead of answering Lisha’s question, he said with a half-smile, "Twelve days have passed, and I still haven't waited for you to reprimand me. I'm more curious about that than you are."

"Reprimand?" Lisha asked, puzzled. "Why?"

Yun Che twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "To demonstrate the Mist Emperor's power to control the Mist Sea, I caused the people of an entire living land to lose their homeland forever. Who knows how many will suffer and die from Abyss Erosion because of this? With your divine heart, you surely cannot accept this. You should have already lectured me."

Lisha remained silent for a long time.

It wasn't until Yun Che closed his eyes again, preparing for a brief nap, that Lisha’s voice, light and ethereal like a cloud, reached his ear: "You are too lonely."

"...Hm?" Yun Che looked at the faint figure before him, whose features were indistinguishable. "Not at all, aren't you always with me?"

Lisha whispered, "I am not He Ling. I cannot, like her, always know your heart, follow your will, or comfort your soul. Moreover, I cannot manifest a physical body like He Ling, to appear and offer you solace when I sense your pent-up loneliness and soul's sorrow. Therefore, facing your irrepressible loneliness and soul's anguish, I only feel ashamed, having no right to reprimand you."

"Uh..." Yun Che reached out, unconsciously rubbing the tip of his nose, and said somewhat weakly, "The 'solace' you mentioned, I assume it's not what I'm thinking of, right?"

Lisha: "…?"