Chapter 2112: Instant Gray Flame

The Divine Son's Palace, Dreamweaving Divine Kingdom. This was Hua Fuchen's first visit, and beside him was a beaming Meng Kongchan.

"See, my dear in-law," Meng Kongchan chirped, "I've never once mistreated your son-in-law." Hua Fuchen shot him a sideways glance, retorting tartly, "As expected of the Dreamless Divine Venerable. Your audacity is truly breathtaking, claiming merit for indulging your own son."

"Oh, come now!" Meng Kongchan interjected. "They say a son-in-law is half a son, so in a way, I'm doting on your son *for* you. Is it really so unreasonable to ask for a little credit?"

"Heh heh heh," Hua Fuchen gave a dry, humorless chuckle. He had long observed that ever since "Meng Jianxuan" was rediscovered, Meng Kongchan's bearing in his presence had completely transformed. He now perpetually grinned from ear to ear, his eyes practically disappearing.

In his younger days, Meng Kongchan had diligently sought to cultivate a relationship with Hua Qingying, showering Hua Fuchen with countless acts of flattery and deference. Later, after both attained the rank of Divine Venerable, Hua Fuchen's daughter, Hua Caili, emerged as the sole miracle child of her generation, possessing a perfect divine essence. In contrast, Meng Kongchan had consistently failed to sire a divine heir. Thus, in Hua Fuchen's presence, he naturally felt a head shorter.

But things were different now. He, the Dreamless Divine Venerable, now boasted two divine sons, one of whom possessed a perfect divine essence. Furthermore, this son had utterly captivated Hua Fuchen's most cherished daughter...

The spine he had metaphorically bent before Hua Fuchen for half a lifetime was now ramrod straight.

Hua Fuchen could already envision the smug expression Meng Kongchan would wear when he stepped onto the Pure Land and confronted the other Divine Venerables.

Stepping into the palace, Meng Kongchan jovially called out, "Is Yuan'er here?"

Meng Zhiyuan hurried forward, bowing respectfully. "Reporting, Divine Venerable," she said, "the young master is currently cultivating and it's uncertain when he will emerge."

"Cultivating?" Hua Fuchen's gaze swept across the room, his expression already darkening. "His personal maids are each more fetching than the last. I'd imagine they're quite eager to help your Meng clan expand its lineage. Does he truly have the presence of mind to cultivate?"

"Oh, now hold on!" Meng Kongchan immediately raised a hand. "My dear brother Fuchen, you're misjudging Yuan'er. All the attendants here were personally arranged by me; Yuan'er has never proactively requested a single one. As for expanding the lineage... I'd be quite delighted to see it, but alas... alas."

Meng Zhiyuan, ever perceptive, immediately spoke in a gentle, deferential tone. "Although the young master possesses noble status, he never allows himself the slightest laxity. Over ninety percent of his time is spent within his cultivation space."

"Since we, the maids, entered the Divine Son's Palace, our lives and very beings have belonged to the young master. He treats each of us exceptionally well; not only does he never bully us, he has never even spoken a harsh word. The only thing is... he utterly refuses to touch us even slightly. Occasionally assisting him with dressing is the absolute limit."

By the end, her voice carried a hint of carefully concealed disappointment.

The unpleasant expression on Hua Fuchen's face immediately vanished. He then glanced around, feigning an air of complete indifference.

Meng Kongchan sighed softly. "Over the years," he said, "I've repeatedly urged Yuan'er not to be so hard on himself. He is obedient in every other respect, but on this particular matter, he consistently refuses to comply. And his reason..."

He turned his gaze, casting a deeply meaningful look at Hua Fuchen. Though unspoken, the glance conveyed more than a thousand words.

"Come," Meng Kongchan said, gently pulling Hua Fuchen towards the exit. "I'll go call the boy out."

"No need," Hua Fuchen refused, raising a hand. "I was merely passing by and dropped in on a whim. Seeing him or not seeing him is of no consequence. It would be counterproductive if I were to disturb him during a crucial cultivation phase."

"Hahahaha!" Meng Kongchan burst into booming laughter. "Look at you, saying it's of no consequence, yet your affection for your son-in-law is practically etched onto your face!"

Hua Fuchen sneered, "Whether he becomes my son-in-law is still up for debate. Don't try to force the issue."

"No, no, he absolutely *must* become it!" Meng Kongchan stated firmly. "I won't acknowledge anyone else as my daughter-in-law; at most, they could be a concubine... Oh, speaking of which, how is my daughter-in-law's progress with the formation?"

Hua Fuchen shot him a sharp glare, suppressing the urge to slap him. He then stated, not without pride, "As early as half a year ago, Caili had already consecutively broken through seven star formations. The reason she hasn't emerged yet is that Qingying sealed off the eighth star formation specifically for her."

Meng Kongchan paused, slightly taken aback, before bursting into even louder laughter. "Hahahaha! Truly worthy of being my Meng Kongchan's chosen daughter-in-law..."

Hua Fuchen jabbed him in the arm with an elbow. "Shut up!" he hissed. "The Pure Land hasn't arrived yet, and there's been no progress whatsoever with the Old Hall. Keep it reined in!"

"Alright, alright, my dear in-law, whatever you say is right. And Qingying, she's been..."

"Stop prying! Go ask her yourself!"

Meng Zhiyuan watched the two Divine Venerables depart, her mind lost in a swirl of thoughts.

***

Meanwhile, deep within the Mist Sea. The dark Eternal Calamity Demon Flame illuminated Yun Che's face. Time and again, Abyssal Dust coalesced in his hand, drawing near the flame, yet it never elicited the reaction he had continuously anticipated.

He had already undergone countless similar attempts during this period.

During his time immersed in the Mist Sea, his affinity for and mastery over Abyssal Dust grew with each passing day. As his comprehension of Abyssal Dust deepened, a vague sensation suddenly arose in his consciousness—a feeling that he could harness its power for his own purposes.

This sensation grew progressively clearer with time, but no matter how diligently he strove or how many attempts he made, it was as if a critical threshold perpetually stood before him, utterly impossible to breach.

The Eternal Calamity Demon Flame extinguished. He slowly closed his eyes. In his left hand, crimson flame ignited; in his right, icy frost. As his will concentrated, they fused in reverse order, transforming into a singular ice-flame.

Abyssal Dust drifted past, silently passing through the ice-flame, again without any response.

The ice-flame flickered out. Yun Che exhaled a long breath, drenched in sweat.

"What... what exactly am I still lacking?"

He murmured to himself.

"Could it be my cultivation realm isn't high enough... or is my subtle understanding of the Law of Nothingness still insufficient?"

Lisha's voice drifted gently into the air. "This is your thirty-thousandth attempt," she observed. "Are you still unwilling to give up?"

"There's no reason to give up," Yun Che murmured. "The essence of Abyssal Dust is a power of destruction that transcends all laws. Merely controlling it can trigger chaos in this world and shatter the very perceptions of all beings. But if I can truly unleash its power..."

"Then perhaps... no, it will undoubtedly be a true god-slaying power!"

Lisha replied, "Given that it is a god-slaying power, it would hardly be easily wielded."

"Furthermore, even if you could genuinely unleash the destructive power within Abyssal Dust, with your current cultivation and physical body, you would undoubtedly destroy yourself long before you could slay any god."

Yun Che offered no rebuttal; it was a truth he was keenly aware of.

However, the sensation of being able to tap into the primordial destructive power within Abyssal Dust had gradually transitioned from vague to undeniably clear.

This was an intangible intuitive understanding stemming from the Law of Nothingness—one he had never been able to precisely grasp, yet it had also never once deceived him.

Activating the Yama Emperor, he ignited the Eternal Calamity Demon Flame in its extreme state, unleashing it towards the Abyssal Dust condensed in his other hand.

The demon flame roared, scattering the Abyssal Dust, and Yun Che's aura completely receded.

After this seemingly cathartic final attempt, Yun Che stood, drawing the enveloping Abyssal Mist around himself, and walked into the deepest reaches of the Mist Sea.

The Eternal Calamity Demon Flame, which had fallen to the ground, blazed violently for a long time before slowly extinguishing.

Unnoticed by anyone, within the pitch-black flames, a peculiar, star-like wisp of grey flame mysteriously manifested.

The instant the grey flame appeared, it plummeted downward. Wherever it landed, it inexplicably cleaved through the terrifying Eternal Calamity Demon Flame... and the cut was astonishingly clean. The two severed black flames continued to burn independently on either side of the grey flame's trace, remaining unmerged for a prolonged period.

Even less did anyone notice that beneath the fallen grey star, the impossibly hard ground of the Mist Sea silently melted away like thin early winter snow, vanishing without a trace... descending into unknown depths beneath the abyssal earth.

***

Pan Buwang's entire being was enveloped in darkness. Even with the heavy interference of Abyssal Dust, his aura remained so faint as to be almost imperceptible.

This also indicated that his harmony with dark profound energy was increasingly approaching perfection.

The Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom was the only divine kingdom in the Abyss that primarily cultivated dark profound energy. The Pan lineage, in particular, represented the pinnacle of dark profound energy within the Abyssal world. Consequently, within the Pan lineage's understanding, the volatile and easily uncontrollable nature of dark profound energy was considered one of its unalterable core essences.

Only upon becoming a Divine Venerable could one achieve near-perfect mastery over dark profound energy to its fullest extent.

Yet, the dark profound energy flowing within Pan Buwang was now remarkably gentle. The last instance of it spiraling out of control and harming him occurred over a year ago, and even then, it was exceedingly minor and easily suppressed.

This level of affinity for darkness was something previously observed only in past generations of Owl Butterfly Divine Venerables.

And all of this was attributed to his master... the Mist Emperor.

Sensing the Mist Emperor's approach, the darkness enveloping Pan Buwang dispersed. He immediately knelt and bowed in deep reverence. "Disciple Buwang respectfully welcomes Master," he intoned.

By now, his reverence, gratitude, and admiration for the Mist Emperor stemmed entirely from the depths of his heart.

"Dispel all profound energy from your body," the Mist Emperor commanded directly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Yes, Master!"

Without any resistance, the dark mist swirling around Pan Buwang rapidly dissipated. Even the naturally emitted protective profound energy was completely withdrawn.

The abyssal mist swirled. What appeared to be a human arm rose from within its concealment, and then a colossal force suddenly descended, violently pressing Pan Buwang, who possessed no protective power, flat onto the ground.

Even then, no resistance flared from Pan Buwang's body. Even his instinctively surging protective profound energy was immediately and entirely withdrawn.

He lay prostrate on the ground, sensing his Master's approach, neither raising his head nor speaking, offering not the slightest resistance.

The abyssal mist enveloped his body, so dense it swiftly sapped his vitality. A seemingly temperate hand settled upon the center of his back, and then the flesh and bone of his back erupted. A force tore through his physique, then mercilessly pierced into his profound veins.

Pan Buwang bit down hard on his teeth, yet astonishingly, he did not utter a single groan of pain, nor did he attempt to flee.

To have one's profound veins pierced by another's power would leave any profound practitioner aghast and terrified, prompting them to retaliate with their full might... for the assailant needed only a slight thought to directly shatter the profound veins. At best, this would result in permanent damage; at worst... it could leave one utterly crippled.

Pan Buwang's teeth chattered from the excruciating pain and instinctive fear, yet he continued to offer no resistance, and not a single sound escaped his lips.

He was a person who clearly delineated between love and hatred. Everything he currently possessed had been bestowed by the Mist Emperor; even if the Mist Emperor wished to claim his life, he would bear no regrets or grievances.

Thump! Thump! Thump—

A series of explosive sounds, accompanied by soul-searing pain, emanated from his body and profound veins. He distinctly felt his physical form being cruelly torn open, leaving several gaping holes.

Finally, the excruciating pain transcended the limits of what his will could possibly endure. A hoarse, wretched groan escaped his throat, and then his entire body was flung far away like a ruptured blood bag.

He lay prostrate on the ground, gasping for breath, his entire body drenched in sweat.

The Mist Emperor's voice was cold. "Your final divine essence has also been forcefully ruptured," he stated. "You now possess ten divine essences—what the world refers to as a 'perfect divine essence' and a 'child of miracles.'"

Pan Buwang's trembling immediately ceased. He abruptly lifted his head. Though his emotions were seldom turbulent, he was now utterly stunned, unable to believe what he had just heard.

For the concise phrase 'perfect divine essence' was exceedingly rare throughout the entire history of the Abyss. And each time it manifested, it was invariably linked to the term 'divine miracle.'

Having once been the Owl Butterfly Divine Son, his innate talent was unquestionably among the pinnacle of his generation. Yet, he had never dared to harbor the slightest hope of embodying such an almost ethereal divine miracle.

Yet, as profound energy circulated within him, he clearly perceived an additional, unique profound aperture within his profound veins... precisely the tenth divine essence, as designated by the Divine Kingdom!

He stared at the constantly shifting grey eyes in the abyssal mist. After a long silence, he finally seemed to awaken from a dream, struggling to his feet and bowing profoundly. "Disciple Buwang thanks Master for yet another immense grace," he said.

He was certain the Mist Emperor was a person... yet he found himself increasingly unwilling to imagine what kind of being he truly was.

A single divine essence difference represented an almost insurmountable chasm in status for the divine sons and daughters of a divine kingdom, potentially directly impacting a major divine kingdom's prestige in the coming era.

Because of such a difference in divine essence, a divine kingdom could unhesitatingly discard a divine son it had already poured its heart and resources into cultivating, transferring all resources to a divine son possessing a higher divine essence.

Yet the Mist Emperor... could actually *forcefully open* a divine essence!

Raising him from his original eight-point divine essence to nine, and now, to a perfect divine essence—a feat the divine kingdom itself considered a divine miracle.

This was something even the Supreme Pure Land would deem utterly impossible.

His Master... who exactly was he? What kind of being was he...?

And why did he treat me this way, helping me so profoundly...?

In truth, Yun Che's ability to forcefully open divine essences was not applicable to all profound practitioners. It was limited solely to dark profound practitioners, requiring their physical body, profound veins, and dark profound energy to achieve a sufficient degree of compatibility.

Possessing the Law of Nothingness and the Dark Eternity, he was the true master of darkness, capable of commanding any dark body to the greatest extent.

"In another month, the core figures of the six divine kingdoms will gather in the Pure Land, Pan Buwang. Tell this Emperor, what are your preparations?"

Pan Buwang slowly lifted his head, stating with resolute pride, "Upon the Pure Land, I will crush Pan Buzhuo, make my father god deeply regret his choice, and reclaim my title as Divine Son with the most undeniable declaration!"

"Is that all?" the Mist Emperor questioned. "Even if you reclaim the title of Owl Butterfly Divine Son, how long will you have to wait until you possess the power for revenge?"

Pan Buwang bowed his head deeply. "Please instruct me, Master," he murmured.

The Mist Emperor raised a hand, and instantaneously, darkness swirled, transforming the surrounding space into a lightless realm.

"I command you to temporarily set aside your disappointment and resentment towards your father," the Mist Emperor declared. "Upon entering the Pure Land, you will fight for the dignity of the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom. You will make everyone see that you are far more deserving of being the Owl Butterfly Divine Son than Pan Buzhuo, and you will astound the world by revealing yourself as a dark divine miracle bestowed upon the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom by the heavens!"

"Buwang, remember this: the most expedient emotion to exploit in this world is not regret, but guilt!"

"The extent to which you can instill guilt in your father will determine when you are qualified to fully control your own destiny, and more crucially, when you are qualified to thrust the spear of vengeance at Shen Wuyan Ye!"

To Pan Buwang, the Mist Emperor was no longer merely a master; he was a deity, transcending even the Abyssal Emperor.

He etched every word the Mist Emperor spoke firmly into his heart. "Master's teachings," he vowed, "Buwang has committed them all to memory!"

"Excellent," the Mist Emperor approved coldly. "I trust that one as intelligent as you will surely know precisely what to do."

"For the next seven days, cease your cultivation and devote your time solely to recovery. After seven days, you will depart the Mist Sea and proceed to the Pure Land. However, on this journey, you must not accompany the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom. As for how you are to enter the Pure Land without them..."

The Mist Emperor's voice trailed off, but Pan Buwang responded with unwavering resolve. "Master, rest assured," he affirmed. "If I cannot even accomplish such a trivial matter, how could I possibly be worthy of being your disciple?"

"No," the Mist Emperor's voice was low and deliberate. "I command you to enter the Pure Land specifically with the Star Moon Divine Kingdom, regardless of the method you employ!"

Pan Buwang was slightly taken aback but refrained from asking further questions, assenting with a firm voice. "Yes, Master!"

The Mist Emperor raised a hand, and several peculiar Abyssal Crystals, shimmering with dark radiance, materialized before Pan Buwang.

"Darkness devours the heart; even your father god cannot entirely escape its influence. How you choose to utilize these is entirely up to you."

The Mist Emperor's voice receded, until it vanished completely into the darkness.

Pan Buwang reached out, carefully picking up each of the peculiar Abyssal Crystals before him, then tightly clenching them in his palm.

Wuqing... wait for me...

Whether you are still in this world or have already journeyed to another, you must wait for me...

Even if it only grants me a fleeting, tragic moment, I will absolutely not allow myself... allow *our* lives to be left with nothing but powerlessness and desolation...

As for the cost... it ceased to matter the instant the news of death reached me!