Chapter 627: Hongmeng Life and Death Seal?

The new emperor's enthronement ceremony, which had been the focus of the entire Illusory Demon Realm, ended in a way no one could have imagined. Instead, it was replaced by a bloodbath targeting the Duke Huai Palace and the rebels.

Under the Little Demon Empress's cruel command to exterminate all nine generations of Duke Huai Palace's lineage, those who had originally pledged allegiance to Duke Huai Palace frantically turned their blades against its members. They, who had once groveled before Duke Huai Palace, now desperately sought to distance themselves, each vying to be the most ruthless. Especially the Seven Guardian Families and the various duke's palaces understood clearly that to save themselves and their families, they had to prove their loyalty to the Little Demon Empress at all costs, even if it meant shamelessly begging for mercy.

Because the current Little Demon Empress possessed the absolute power to annihilate their millennia-old families overnight, and could, with just a few words, forever tarnish their family names.

Duke Huai Palace was still Duke Huai Palace, boasting numerous formidable experts, but it could not withstand the combined might of these peerless powers. The Little Demon Empress had given them ten days. Yet, in just three days, Duke Huai Palace was utterly decimated, its nine generations wiped out... Not a single soul was left alive; even those of its lineage located thousands of miles away were completely slaughtered.

The once immensely prosperous Duke Huai Palace had been reduced to charred ruins, permeated by a dense, lingering stench of blood. No one dared approach within ten miles. Within the Demon Imperial City, all major powers were trembling with fear these days, each fearing for their own safety, walking cautiously and daring not to speak above a whisper.

The powerful figures who had gathered from across the realm to attend the Demon Empress's ceremony and the previous emperor's enthronement had still not been able to leave, because seven days later, the ceremony that had been interrupted four months prior would reconvene... This was a personal command from the Little Demon Empress. Now, who would dare defy her orders?

In contrast, the Yun family had been filled with an atmosphere of excitement these past few days.

Although Yun Qinghong's forbidden formation had been forcibly halted by the Little Demon Empress, preventing the most severe consequences, it had still been partially activated. His physical injuries were secondary; the serious issue was the significant loss of vital essence blood. Losing vital essence blood would not only drastically reduce profound energy but, more terrifyingly, permanently diminish one's innate talent, making further breakthroughs impossible... Once vital essence blood was damaged, it was almost impossible to recover through any means.

However, for Yun Che, who possessed the power of the Heretic God, restoring damaged vital essence blood was not impossible.

Yun Che sat behind Yun Qinghong, his palm resting on his back. The power of heaven and earth, absorbed through the Great Way of the Buddha, continuously flowed into Yun Qinghong's body.

This process continued for over an hour. As Yun Che withdrew his hand, Yun Qinghong opened his eyes. His face was ruddy, his eyes clear and bright, and his aura robust, making it almost impossible to tell that he had suffered such a severe loss of vital essence blood just days prior.

“Phew!” Yun Che exhaled lightly, saying with a relaxed expression, “Father's profound energy was already exceptionally robust, so his recovery is proceeding much more smoothly than anticipated. An hour of this every day, and in at most three months, Father's damaged vital essence blood should be fully restored.”

“Che'er, you've worked hard.” Mu Yurou extended her sleeve and gently wiped the beads of sweat from Yun Che's forehead, her face full of loving affection and contentment.

“This is simply... a miracle!” Yun Waitian exclaimed excitedly.

“With the Young Patriarch's words, we are completely relieved.” Yun Duanshui nodded cheerfully, then sighed wistfully, “Thank heavens for sending our Young Patriarch back to us. Young Patriarch, our entire family has been indebted to you for over twenty years, yet upon your return, you saved our whole family from tribulation... Please accept Yun Duanshui's bow!”

After speaking, he bowed deeply. Though he spoke with emotion, there was no exaggeration in his words. Everyone clearly saw that it was the returning Yun Che who had rescued the Yun family from the brink of destruction, and with his and the Little Demon Empress's powerful return, the Yun family's status had been elevated to an unprecedented level.

Yun Waitian quickly bowed alongside him. Yun Che hastily stepped forward to help them up, “Elders, please rise quickly. This is truly too much for your junior. When it comes to contributions to the family, it is you who have truly worked tirelessly and accomplished much. How could a junior like me be worthy of your bows…”

Just then, hurried footsteps approached from outside, followed by Xiao Yun's anxious shouts, “Father, Mother... I'm back!!”

The door was pushed open, and a visibly excited Xiao Yun stood there, his face flushed crimson. “Father, Mother... Big Brother!”

He rushed to Yun Che, his eyes brimming with emotion, utterly at a loss for words. “Big Brother, to see you again... it's truly wonderful... wonderful...”

As he spoke, Xiao Yun was on the verge of sobbing. The Thirteenth Elder slowly approached from outside, chuckling, “The young master was so excited he almost cried when he heard the Young Patriarch had returned... The Little Demon Empress is safe, and our Yun family is safe... Heaven truly would not abandon our Yun family.”

Three days prior, when Yun Qinghong had resolved to fight Duke Huai to the death, he had knocked Xiao Yun unconscious and instructed the Thirteenth Elder to take him thousands of miles away. After all, though he had decided to face death, and the entire family might follow, he absolutely could not let Xiao Ying's descendant be implicated.

Now, with everything developing in a way no one could have dreamed possible, Xiao Yun and the Thirteenth Elder naturally returned.

“Xiao'er, your father is sorry.” Yun Qinghong said with a smile, “for forcibly sending you thousands of miles away without your consent…”

“No, no, no!” Xiao Yun hurriedly waved his hands. “I know that Father and Mother did that to protect me, so how could it be that you've wronged me... I was very scared, and I wanted to come back and face it with Father and Mother, but I also didn't dare, fearing I'd disappoint your painstaking efforts... Now that I see Father and Mother are fine, and Big Brother is well, our family is completely reunited. In short... it's just wonderful!”

“Xiao'er...” Looking at her two sons, Mu Yurou's eyes grew misty, and she felt once more that she had nothing left to wish for in this life.

Yun Che said with a smile, “If we could have Seventh Sister join the family, it would be even more perfect.”

“Hahahaha!” Everyone in the room burst into laughter. Xiao Yun's face reddened, and he lowered his head, joining them in an embarrassed chuckle.

Yun Che took out an Overlord Pellet from the Sky Poison Pearl and said, “I once said I'd divide this Overlord Pellet into two, one half for each of you. I didn't expect so much time to pass by sheer coincidence. Once Father's condition stabilizes, I'll deal with this Overlord Pellet. Then you can take it and go find Seventh Sister; I guarantee your future father-in-law will personally come out to welcome you.”

“Hehehe.” Xiao Yun grinned foolishly, a little shy.

Yun Qinghong's body had sustained severe injuries and a significant loss of vital essence blood, requiring considerable time to recuperate. Yun Che returned to his dwelling, and as he recalled everything that had happened since his arrival in the Illusory Demon Realm, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion. His arrival had indeed completely altered the destiny of the Illusory Demon Realm. Without his presence, the Yun family would have been annihilated, the Demon Emperor Clan would have vanished forever, and the Illusory Demon Realm would have fallen under the dominion of Duke Huai Palace. Furthermore, Prince Ming's sinister plot would never have been exposed to the world.

Now, everything had settled. The faint scent of blood wafting from outside served as proof of Duke Huai Palace's complete annihilation. The only remaining destabilizing factors were Prince Ming, who had escaped using the Blood Escape Art... and the Little Demon Empress, who had only three years left to live.

“When do you plan to return to the Profound Sky Continent?” Jasmine suddenly asked.

“...Father needs three more months to fully recover, so I can't return for at least that long,” Yun Che said, a little distracted. “Besides, there's something very important I must do here in the Illusory Demon Realm.”

“Important matter?” Unusually, Jasmine couldn't discern Yun Che's thoughts.

Yun Che remained silent for a long while before quietly saying, “Does the Little Demon Empress truly only have three years left to live...? Is there no way at all?”

“What? You don't want her to die?” Jasmine's voice carried unmistakable contempt.

“At the very least, the primary reason the chaotic situation stabilized so quickly was the Little Demon Empress's overwhelming power. But three years is too short; if she were to fall after three years... the Illusory Demon Realm would very likely descend into chaos again,” Yun Che slowly added, “Besides... she is my woman, after all!”

“Hmph! That last sentence is the real point, isn't it?!” Jasmine said disdainfully. “You always prioritize matters concerning women!”

“...Thanks for the compliment,” Yun Che said weakly. His mind flashed back to the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, to the scene where the Little Demon Empress had blocked Prince Ming's attack for him, sustaining severe injuries herself. He recalled her pressing him down, her pale face and lifeless eyes... and her unwavering resolve when the Golden Crow's soul spirit told her she only had three years left... and her cruel ruthlessness towards Duke Huai Palace upon her return...

A sharp pang of pain pierced his heart, uncontrollable.

People now only saw her unassailable majesty and undeniable power, yet no one knew the extent of what she had endured, carried, sacrificed, and given up all this time. She had lost her closest relatives, and everything had been borne by her alone. Now, she was alone in avenging her Demon Emperor Clan, alone in reorganizing the Demon Imperial City, and alone in bearing the accumulated blood debt of Duke Huai Palace's entire nine generations.

She was, after all, just a woman.

Had it been any other woman, perhaps even with a thousand times her willpower, she would have long since crumbled.

Stripped of her facade as the Little Demon Empress, she was far more burdened and pitiful than the most ordinary woman.

“The Little Demon Empress's profound energy is currently sustained by burning and overdrawing on her own life force! She can live for at most three more years—these are the words of the Divine Beast Golden Crow's soul spirit! If even the soul spirit of a divine beast says so, do you truly believe there is anyone or any power in this world that can reverse it?!”

“From your knowledge... is it completely impossible?” Yun Che asked, unwilling to give up.

“Hmph, I knew you'd ask that.” Jasmine scoffed lightly. “If you're so insistent on knowing, then yes, I do know two methods... but if I tell you, you'll only be more disappointed.”

“What methods?” Yun Che's spirits lifted. “Tell me quickly. If there truly are ways... no matter what, it's better than having no hope at all!”

“Then listen carefully.” Jasmine snorted slightly. “The first method is to cultivate your Great Way of the Buddha to the tenth stage or higher! At that point, you'll not only possess a body akin to a true god but also be able to absorb the purest and most primal Grandmist Aura from the vast cosmos! If you transfer enough Grandmist Aura to her daily, over time, her constitution will undergo a qualitative transformation, and she might be able to live for another hundred or eighty years.”

“However, not to mention that for a human body, cultivating the Great Way of the Buddha to the sixth stage is already the absolute limit. Even if you could truly reach the tenth stage... she only has three years left! You took five years to break through from the first to the fourth stage, which is already a miraculous speed. In three years, whether you can even break through to the fifth stage is unknown... The tenth stage is pure fantasy. Even if the Heretic God were alive, it would be impossible to advance the Great Way of the Buddha from the fourth to the tenth stage in three years.”

“...What's the second method?” Yun Che gritted his teeth slightly. Although he knew the method Jasmine mentioned would be incredibly difficult to achieve, this cold shower was too thorough. Jasmine had said before that her brother, with his lifelong efforts, had only managed to cultivate the Great Way of the Buddha to the sixth stage. For him to cultivate to the tenth stage in three years... that was utterly impossible.

“The second method,” Jasmine's voice paused slightly, then she said faintly, “is to find the third-ranked of the Seven Profound Sky Treasures... the ‘Grandmist Indestructible Seal,’ which possesses the power of ‘Eternity’!”