Chapter 2113: The Eve

Yun Che did not dispel the Abyssal Dust covering him after leaving Pan Buwang’s area; instead, he continued to move forward.

That direction led deeper into the Mist Sea.

“Where are you going?” Lishuo suddenly asked, with undisguised caution.

Yun Che’s gaze was fixed on the increasingly profound Abyssal Dust ahead, his steps unwavering: “It’s time to explore the deeper regions.”

Lishuo was silent for a moment, then asked uncertainly, “Could it be that you intend to…”

“Yes, exactly what you’re thinking.” Yun Che raised a hand, a smile on his face, his demeanor as calm as if describing an ordinary trifle: “It’s time to try controlling an Abyssal Beast of the God Sovereign Realm.”

Yun Che’s limit in controlling Abyssal Beasts had progressed from the early stage of the God Extinction Realm to the late stage in less than four years, a terrifying rate of growth.

However, it had always been limited to the God Extinction Realm. As for the Abyssal Qilin God, that was entirely an unexpected outcome derived from the lingering Qilin will.

“You’ve been deliberately suppressing your cultivation realm. In your current state, encountering any God Sovereign Abyssal Beast would be too dangerous,” Lishuo advised… though her advice had never worked on Yun Che.

“Not necessarily dangerous,” Yun Che said dismissively. “Although I don’t have much confidence in controlling a God Sovereign Abyssal Beast, I’m confident enough that they won’t unleash their destructive instincts on me. After all, I am the Emperor of the Mist Sea.”

Lishuo still worried, “You crowned yourself; the Abyssal Beasts of the Mist Sea haven’t acknowledged it, so you absolutely cannot let your guard down.”

“…That’s irrelevant!” Yun Che seemed stung by Lishuo’s words, his gaze darkening slightly: “A mere Life Creation God dares to question this Emperor’s might! Just you wait, soon this Emperor will show you how God Sovereign Abyssal Beasts bow before me!”

Lishuo: “…”

Six hours later… Yun Che burst out of the Abyssal Mist, covered in dust and grime, then sat on the ground, panting heavily, taking a long time to recover.

If he could control a God Sovereign Abyssal Beast, it would undoubtedly be an immense aid to Yun Che.

However, Yun Che’s body was ultimately too fragile against the power of the God Sovereign Realm. Even a slight loss of control could be catastrophic for him in his current state.

Lishuo appeared, her purest light divine power covering Yun Che like a sacred spring, healing his injuries at a visible rate. Even his broken hair grew back.

“If you insist on trying again, it would be best to bring the Ancestral Qilin God,” Lishuo advised.

These words, reaching the Mist Emperor’s ears, were practically a mockery of his “boundless might” and his previous arrogant boasts. His eyes narrowed with coldness, and he said lightly, “That was merely a slight miscalculation. In at most a month, before I set foot in the Sacred Lands, I will certainly succeed in controlling at least…”

He paused for a few breaths, his voice no less imposing: “…one God Sovereign Abyssal Beast!”

Lishuo thought for a moment and chose to offer comfort: “Mm, you will succeed.”

Wisely not pursuing that topic further, Yun Che sat up straight. As a crimson sword light appeared, the Heaven Smiting Devil Slayer Sword was already placed before him.

As he placed his other hand over it, another… “Heaven Smiting Devil Slayer Sword” emerged, pressing tightly against the first, their sword lights merging, their auras intertwining.

They had identical broad sword bodies, from tip to blade to the pearl on the hilt. They emitted almost indistinguishable crimson sword lights, carrying faint wisps of sacred aura.

At least, from their appearance and aura, it was difficult to tell them apart.

Of course, Yun Che could discern them instantly. When their sword might erupted, the difference between them was like heaven and earth.

Staring indifferently at the two “Heaven Smiting Devil Slayer Swords” for a long time, Yun Che suddenly furrowed his brow, grabbed the sword on the right, and violently slammed it down onto the other “Heaven Smiting Devil Slayer Sword.”

Amidst the explosive sound of power, a heart-shattering crack resounded for a moment. Under the Heaven Smiting Sword, the crimson sword body broke in the middle, then fine cracks spread across it in mid-air. When it hit the ground, it shattered into countless crimson fragments.

The Heaven Smiting Sword aura and Sacred Light aura sealed within it completely dissipated.

Lishuo looked sideways, very surprised by Yun Che’s action: “To forge this sword, you spent a great deal of effort finding crimson abyssal crystals, then immersed and sealed the Heaven Smiting Sword’s aura within it for two full years, and infused it with light power hundreds of times, only to achieve this result today. Why did you suddenly destroy it?”

Yun Che said, “I spent a lot of effort to create a sword that perfectly mimicked the Heaven Smiting Sword’s appearance and aura, so as not to leave any flaws. But I’ve reflected on it repeatedly during this time… its existence might actually become an even greater flaw.”

“After weighing it, I think I should choose another approach.”

Putting away the Heaven Smiting Devil Slayer Sword and clearing away the crimson fragments on the ground, he whispered to Lishuo, “I plan to find a suitable moment to ‘discard’ it.”

Lishuo sighed softly… He was consumed by endless thoughts like this every day; would he truly never be exhausted to the point of collapse?

***

Breaking Heaven God Realm, Seven Star Breaking Heaven Array.

The star array shone, swirling with endless sword lights.

And each of these sword lights originated from Huan Qingying, each a cruel trial. If one could not comprehend its sword intent and integrate its sword might, even lacking a single one would prevent them from ever breaking out of the array.

Now, the sword lights released by this vast sword array were no less brilliant than myriad stars shining simultaneously, casting a faint, bright glow over the entire sky of the Breaking Heaven God Realm.

Finally, the last sword light suddenly illuminated, leaving no dark spot in the massive star array.

The next instant, ten thousand swords resonated in unison, and the entire vast star array inverted, flying straight upwards. Then it circled and swirled, like stars holding up the moon, projecting a maiden’s figure in the center of the array.

The maiden looked up, and that instant’s overly radiant grace dimmed the myriad sword lights.

The jade sword in her hand also gleamed with a divine light far brighter than before. Where its tip pointed, all the sword lights in the star array tilted neatly, flying straight towards Huan Qingying in the distant sky.

Huan Qingying’s posture remained still. With a gentle wave of her jade hand, the sword lights obediently halted before her, then slowly faded like melting snow until they completely dispersed, like fleeting dream blossoms that had never truly existed.

“Auntie!”

The maiden’s figure had already rushed forward, embracing her like a fluttering jade butterfly: “I missed you so much.”

Huan Qingying gently stroked the maiden’s back, her heart swelling, her lips softly speaking: “You actually cultivated the Third Sword of Breaking Heaven. This time, the Abyssal Emperor will surely marvel at you.”

The maiden looked up from her embrace, not joyful because of her aunt’s praise, but suddenly and abruptly asked, “Is Brother Yun doing well? Has he encountered any… setbacks or bullying in the Dream Weaving God Realm?”

It was only the second sentence after breaking the array, yet she was already so impatient.

Huan Qingying had thought that three years of array-breaking cultivation would make her sword heart tougher and more solidified, gradually distancing her from all mundane thoughts and emotions.

But the reality was clearly not so.

“He is very well, better than you can imagine. Moreover, he has found his birth past and his true belonging.”

Huan Qingying’s first half of the sentence made the worry filling her eyes dissipate by more than half. The latter half filled her eyes with surprise and doubt: “Brother Yun’s… birth past?”

“Your Father God’s accidental blunder back then, or perhaps it was destiny,” Huan Qingying said. “After Yun Che arrived in the Dream Weaving God Realm, he discovered that his true identity was actually Dream Weaver, the Divine Child who disappeared years ago.”

“Eh? Ah?” Huan Caili was clearly stunned, unable to collect herself for a moment.

“Though this matter sounds exceptionally bizarre at first listen, it has been personally confirmed by Dreamless God Venerable, making it absolutely certain,” Huan Qingying calmly stated. “Furthermore, during his divine attribute test, he exhibited a perfect divine attribute, just like yours, which consequently shocked all six God Realms.”

“During your three years of devoted cultivation within the array, his name has resounded throughout this world, known to everyone. Not only will he not suffer any bullying in the Dream Weaving God Realm, but he can bully whoever he wishes. So, you can put all your worries aside.”

Huan Qingying’s description was concise and direct, yet it took Huan Caili a while to react. She said, somewhat dazed, “So, Brother Yun… he is now… the Divine Child of Dream Weaving?”

Huan Qingying said with a touch of emotion, “You know he has no memory from before the age of ten, so he cannot recall being Dream Weaver. And he values his master’s kindness too much. Even in front of Dreamless God Venerable, he firmly stated that he would never abandon the name ‘Yun Che’ before recovering his memories, nor did he wish to become the Divine Child of Dream Weaving.”

These words from Huan Qingying did not cause Huan Caili any surprise. Instead, she smiled, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a faint, misty brilliance: “Brother Yun has always been this kind of person, most devoted to affection, most intelligent yet also most foolish. The title of Divine Child, which others cannot even dream of, cannot shake his devoted heart.”

“However, though he is not currently the Divine Child of Dream Weaving, with his perfect divine attribute and Dreamless God Venerable’s undisguised favoritism towards him, in the eyes of the world, he is, in essence, the Divine Child. Also, I don’t know what method Yun Che used, but according to the information I have, Meng Jianxi, who was originally extremely wary and hostile towards Yun Che, is now very submissive to him. She has even directly told her mother’s clan more than once that she is willing to assist Yun Che in the future.”

The maiden’s beautiful eyes had transformed into a vast, dazzling sea of stars, filled with joyful stars, proud stars, excited teary stars… filling her entire being, yet each reflected the name Yun Che.

“Auntie… so… between Brother Yun and me…”

“Mm.” Huan Qingying gently patted the maiden’s shoulder. She felt her boundless joy, but this joy inexplicably made her feel a little pained: “The barrier of your identities no longer exists. If not for the marriage bestowed by the Abyssal Emperor, as children of God Venerables, both possessing perfect divine attributes, your union would not invite any questions or criticism.”

“The greatest obstacle still remains, but it is already much, much better than three years ago. Your Father God’s acceptance of Yun Che is also far greater than before. In these three years, he has been closely following Yun Che’s news in the Dream Weaving God Realm, and even personally visited him.”

Huan Caili’s slender brows arched: “Father God has always been like this. He always likes to say harsh things, but his heart is actually the softest.”

With a light laugh, she flew down: “I’ll go see Father God first. It’s the first time I haven’t seen him for so long; I really miss him.”

Huan Qingying did not follow her. She silently watched Huan Caili’s receding figure, momentarily lost in thought.

She had always firmly believed that the sword heart must remain unsullied. To achieve the pinnacle of the sword dao, one must eliminate all desires and unnecessary emotions.

Her progress in the sword dao was faster than Huan Fuchen, surpassing generations of ancestors, until she reached the pinnacle of the current era, drawing exclamations from the Divine Officials… This made her even more convinced and steadfast in her adherence to the “ruthless” sword dao.

In Huan Qingying’s eyes, Huan Caili was a true anomaly. All her talents surpassed her own… including her sword dao talent.

And she clearly sensed that the complete transformation of Huan Caili’s sword cultivation happened after she met Yun Che.

Huan Caili’s originally pure sword heart, which Huan Qingying had guided to isolate all distracting thoughts, had deeply etched Yun Che’s image… Consequently, the Breaking Heaven Sword, which had been difficult to advance an inch in a millennium, saw her comprehend three swords in three years.

So…

The ruthless sword dao that abandons all desires and emotions…

Could it actually be wrong?

“Hahahaha! Congratulations, Caili, on breaking the eighth grand star array! It truly makes all of us greatly… huh? Where’s Caili?”

All seven Sword Venerables had arrived, none absent, but Huan Caili was nowhere to be seen.

They knew better than anyone what the eighth-level star array, personally set up by Huan Qingying, truly meant.

Huan Qingying said, “All return to the Sword Pavilion and await orders. The God Venerable should announce the Sacred Lands journey in the coming days.”

“Qingying,” Tianshu Sword Venerable stroked his white beard, saying meaningfully, “Are you also going on this Sacred Lands journey?”

After a few breaths, Huan Qingying replied faintly, “Yes.”

***

Star Moon God Realm.

“Brother Buwang, is that truly you!?”

Shaxing quickly approached Pan Buwang, examining him up and down, his expression a complex mixture of emotions.

Pan Buwang had not only lost his title as Divine Child but also faced the death of his mother, his father’s disdain, and even the person he loved being crippled and dying.

From the Divine Child of the Fierce Butterfly to the abandoned child of the Fierce Butterfly, his destiny’s rise and fall clearly illustrated what it meant to fall straight from heaven to hell.

The Pan Buwang before him now showed no trace of his former youthful vigor. His entire aura was dark and gloomy.

Let alone the dignity of a Divine Child, even his outer clothes were tattered and bloodstained, as if he had just emerged from a dark and bloody mire.

His pupils were no longer the arrogant, heaven-defying black stars of yesteryear, but a murky gray, obscure and indistinguishable from clarity.

Shaxing sighed inwardly… Even losing the title of Divine Child, his status should still be far above other Imperial Princes, yet he had actually… fallen to this extent…

After learning that he had gone to the Sunken Dream Valley and then appeared in the Mist Sea, the Fierce Butterfly God Realm had even publicly declared that they had abandoned him, never to search for him, dead or alive.

The fundamental reason was his refusal to bow to the new Divine Child and his unwillingness to let go of his mother’s affair… Such a character could be called foolish, or praised as unyielding. But in terms of outcome, it clearly leaned towards the former.

Pan Buwang smiled: “I am merely a discarded person now, far from having the right to stand as an equal with Divine Child Shaxing. That Divine Child Shaxing is still willing to meet me, Buwang is profoundly grateful.”

“Nonsense, Brother Buwang,” Shaxing shook his head. “I have personally experienced the pain and helplessness of life’s ups and downs. This was not your wish, nor your fault. No one should look down on you because of this, and you yourself certainly shouldn’t.”

Pan Buwang was touched, and said gratefully, “To be able to befriend Divine Child Shaxing in this life, what a fortune.”

After the Abyssal Erosion incident, Shaxing’s state of mind had clearly undergone subtle changes. He said directly, “Brother Buwang, you must have an important matter for coming here. Please speak frankly.”

“Very well, I won’t be polite then,” Pan Buwang said. “I hope to accompany the Star Moon God Realm to the Sacred Lands to meet the Abyssal Emperor.”

Shaxing’s face showed surprise, then he frowned and shook his head: “I apologize, I cannot help you with this. Brother Buwang, you must know that this journey to the Sacred Lands carries far more significance than any previous one. And each God Realm can bring a maximum of only a hundred attendees.”

“The various Star Palaces and Moon Cities have already organized several large-scale competitions to contend for these mere hundred positions. If I were to bring you along, it would be unfair to the Star Moon disciples who fought for it, and the Fierce Butterfly God Realm would certainly look askance at the matter, leading to unpredictable conjectures. If this were to cause a rift between our two nations… even a slight one, it would be a transgression.”

Shaxing’s words were well-reasoned and firm. Pan Buwang slowly nodded, no disappointment on his face, as if he had never held out hope from the beginning: “Divine Child Shaxing is absolutely right. I was too shallow in my thinking, to utter such an overstepping request.”

“I truly apologize for not being able to help,” Shaxing apologized again. “Brother Buwang, if you are determined to enter the Sacred Lands, you can seek other methods. Or perhaps…”

He glanced at Pan Buwang and said, “Forgive my frankness, but your aspiration doesn’t seem all that firm.”

Pan Buwang chuckled self-deprecatingly: “Divine Child Shaxing’s insight is truly keen. Since things have come to this, there’s nothing I cannot speak candidly about. This journey to the Sacred Lands is not my persistent desire, but rather to follow the will of the Mist Emperor.”

Shaxing froze for a moment, then said in a tone of absolute incredulity, “You said… the Mist Emperor?”

“Yes,” Pan Buwang said frankly. “Three years ago, in utter despair, I had thought of abandoning my heart and withdrawing from the world, to fall into eternal slumber in Sunken Dream Valley. But the Dream Weaving God Realm, perhaps considering my identity, did not put me into a dream state after I fell asleep. Instead, they sent me out via a profound ark. When I woke up, I was already in the Mist Sea.”

He said with gratitude, “To be honest, Divine Child Shaxing, my ability to escape from despair and ‘live again’ in this world is all thanks to the Mist Emperor. I have been cultivating secretly in the Mist Sea for these past three years to repay the Mist Emperor’s kindness.”

“To truly escape the abyss of the heart, one must face it directly. My desire to go to the Sacred Lands this time is due to the Mist Emperor’s words.”

At this point, he stepped back: “Buwang will no longer bother Divine Child Shaxing. I shall take my leave now.”

As he turned, Shaxing’s voice, distinctly colder, suddenly came from behind him:

“Wait!”

Pan Buwang stopped his steps, which he had not truly intended to take.

Shaxing’s expression darkened: “You wouldn’t be unaware of the Mist Emperor’s opposition to the Sacred Lands, yet you speak so freely of the ‘Mist Emperor’ in front of me. It seems you know I once received the Mist Emperor’s favor.”

Pan Buwang’s expression was subtle, neither affirming nor denying.

And silence was the answer.

“Are you threatening me?” Shaxing’s voice suddenly turned cold.

“No,” Pan Buwang smiled. “Revealing that you once received the Mist Emperor’s favor might cause you trouble, but it would bring me no benefit. I am helping you repay the Mist Emperor’s kindness.”

“I believe that for someone as proud as you, the word ‘indebted’ will always be like a thorn in your heart, especially for such a person and such a great kindness.”

Shaxing’s face was grim, remaining silent for a long time.

Pan Buwang’s expression remained unchanged, his voice still faint: “Of course, how to choose in this matter is entirely up to Divine Child Shaxing. Although I am no longer the Divine Child of Fierce Butterfly, I would not do anything to harm a former friend. Divine Child Shaxing can rest assured.”

Shaxing stared directly at Pan Buwang, then suddenly said, “You’ve changed.”

Pan Buwang returned his gaze: “Everyone changes. Not changing can only be because there’s no need to change.”

Shaxing’s lips trembled, then he actually laughed: “I suddenly want to know what you, a person who was so utterly abandoned, truly want to do in the Sacred Lands? Cry to the Abyssal Emperor about the injustice you suffered? Try to prove on the Sacred Lands that your Father God misjudged you? Or simply to displease your Father God?”

Pan Buwang: “So…”

“So, I agree to take you to the Sacred Lands,” Shaxing slowly said. As one of the Divine Children of the Star Moon, he naturally had that qualification: “You said something absolutely correct: what I despise most is owing favors!”

“But…”

“No need to remind me,” Pan Buwang said before him. “Neither of us has ever met the Mist Emperor, nor do we have any relationship with him.”

He looked up, in the direction of the Sacred Lands.

The dark blood in his body churned wildly, yet no trace of dark aura overflowed.

***

In the depths of the Mist Sea, Yun Che slowly rose. When he opened his eyes, a terrifying, strange light shone from them.

His meditation for these past few days was not for cultivating profound energy breakthroughs, but rather the opposite: to forcefully suppress another restless surge of profound energy that was about to break through. This time, he suppressed it incredibly severely. If it were anyone else, forcing it to this extent would likely cause severe damage to their profound veins.

By now, Lishuo was too lazy to ask him why he always insisted on suppressing his realm in this manner.

In his three years in the Dream Weaving God Realm, Yun Che had only advanced one minor realm, from God King Realm Level 3 to God King Realm Level 4.

With a perfect divine attribute and the top-tier resources of the Dream Weaving God Realm, “Dream Weaver’s” progress, although considered within the “Divine Child” range in the eyes of the world, was far from that of Huan Caili, the Breaking Heaven Divine Maiden, who also possessed a perfect divine attribute.

However, it was still within a reasonable range.

But only Lishuo knew that he was Yun Che, an anomalous individual who could not be judged by normal standards.

“I’m finally going to meet that person,” Yun Che murmured to himself.

Lishuo said, “Nixuan specifically warned you not to get close to him too early; he can easily detect the Heretic God’s legacy on you.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Yun Che replied, then said something rather strange: “He is the most powerful existence in this world. If he wanted to annihilate me now, perhaps a mere flick of a finger would suffice.”

“But, in a way, he might actually be… the easiest person to deal with.”

“…” Lishuo could not understand.

“This meeting with him will determine when I will ignite the storm of the Abyss.” Yun Che exhaled softly: “I hope everything goes smoothly.”

He hoped that everything about the Abyssal Emperor would not deviate too much from his conjectures and expectations… especially his character and his obsessions.

He hoped that the Eternal Night God Realm, which he had never been able to contact nor had a chance to plant “seeds” in, would remain stagnant as rumored, causing no ripples.

He hoped…