Chapter 743: Escaping the Nightmare with Jasmine

Illusory Demon Realm, Demon Imperial City.

Over three months had passed since Yun Che left the Illusory Demon Realm with Xiao Yun, Fen Juechen, and Feng Xue'er. In these three months, the turmoil and bloodshed in the Demon Imperial City gradually subsided, giving way to a peace and tranquility not seen for a century. The Little Demon Empress had also become the absolute supreme ruler of the entire Illusory Demon Realm, with no one daring or able to defy her.

"...The last infiltrator has just been found and executed in the south of the city. One hundred years ago, a total of nineteen infiltrators were secretly placed by the Profound Sky Continent, and now all have been eradicated! Among these nineteen, eleven came from the Supreme Ocean Palace, one of the Holy Grounds of the Profound Sky Continent, and the other eight came from the Heaven's Might Sword Domain."

Inside the grand hall, Mu Yu Bai knelt on one knee, respectfully reporting to the Little Demon Empress. They knew there were nineteen in total due to the Yun family's Profound Core Soul Search technique. After the first infiltrator was discovered, their numbers, objectives, the approximate locations of the others, how they entered, and what they had done, all became perfectly clear.

The Little Demon Empress wore a crimson-gold gown, a purple glazed tiara, and a crimson glowing sash around her waist, exuding ultimate magnificence and majesty. Her snow-white, delicate face, though unadorned with makeup, was fantastically beautiful beyond compare. Her lips were like cherry petals, and her eyes like cold stars. Although she no longer possessed her former deathly silence and domineering presence, she remained aloof. No one would doubt that if those beautiful eyes could gently curve, they would surely captivate countless beings and bring down a thousand generations of splendor. However, the soft light in her beautiful eyes would only bloom for Yun Che.

"Executed directly? Was this last infiltrator subjected to the Profound Core Soul Search?" the Little Demon Empress asked. Her clear, cold gaze caught the unusual flicker deep within Mu Yu Bai's eyes.

"Reporting to the Little Demon Empress, a Profound Core Soul Search was indeed conducted before his execution," Mu Yu Bai paused, a look of worry appearing on his face. "From him, we obtained some bad news."

"Speak," the Little Demon Empress commanded, her exquisitely beautiful face, which no mortal words could describe, displaying only coldness and intimidating majesty, devoid of any expression.

Mu Yu Bai spoke with utmost caution: "These infiltrators from the Profound Sky Continent carried an extremely unique sound-transmitting stone. Inside it, a very powerful sound-transmitting profound formation was sealed, capable of transmitting sound directly from our Illusory Demon Realm to the Profound Sky Continent. Such sound-transmitting stones are extremely valuable and rare, and their profound energy is completely depleted after a single use. When we rooted out the eleven from the Supreme Ocean Palace, according to the Profound Core Soul Search, they had brought a total of seven such special sound-transmitting stones, all of which were used up one year and three months ago. The last message transmitted back to the Profound Sky Continent was before the Demon Empress's Grand Ceremony had even taken place."

"You already mentioned this months ago. Bringing it up again, could it be that the Heaven's Might Sword Domain's sound-transmitting stones were not all used?" The Little Demon Empress's crescent-shaped brows slightly furrowed.

"Yes," Mu Yu Bai nodded, his tightened brows still unrelaxed. "The eight from the Heaven's Might Sword Domain only brought three sound-transmitting stones. But over the past century, they only used two, and the last one... was used just three months ago!"

"What!?" The Little Demon Empress's face suddenly darkened. She clearly knew what this meant.

"And there was no fluke... In the last transmission, that person specifically mentioned matters concerning Yun Che! And it was extremely complete... including his identity as a son of the Yun family, his origin from the Profound Sky Continent, bringing back the Demon King's corpse from the Azure Cloud Continent, the Prince of Hua's rebellion, obtaining the Golden Crow's legacy, and his marriage to the Little Demon Empress... all of it was transmitted back to the Profound Sky Continent!!"

These matters were not secrets in the Illusory Demon Realm; in fact, they were known to every man, woman, and child! Everyone in the Illusory Demon Realm knew of the Little Demon Empress, and everyone knew of the first Demon Monarch in the history of the Illusory Demon Realm!

The Little Demon Empress's already cold gaze became even more biting and chilling, causing Mu Yu Bai's entire body to suddenly stiffen, making it difficult for him to breathe. After a long while, he finally regained his breath and continued, "In that case, the Heaven's Might Sword Domain must already know Che'er's identity. He is... in danger in the Profound Sky Continent! Although Che'er has extraordinarily high talent and progresses at a divine speed, he can in no way be an opponent for a Holy Ground."

The Little Demon Empress knew about the existence of the Primordial Profound Ark on Yun Che. With its help, no matter how great the crisis, he could escape far away and should not encounter mortal danger. But for her to be completely at ease was impossible... Her imperial father had fallen to the Heaven's Might Sword Domain, and Yun Canghai and the Yun family's ancestors had also perished in the Heaven's Might Sword Domain's "Heaven's Might Soul Suppressing Formation." If one Heaven's Might Sword Domain was already so terrifying, once Yun Che's identity was exposed in the Profound Sky Continent, he would face far more than just one Heaven's Might Sword Domain. The consequences... would be almost the entire Profound Sky Continent arrayed against him!

"When that infiltrator transmitted the message, did he mention the Mirror of Samsara?" the Little Demon Empress asked in a deep voice.

"He did mention it!" Mu Yu Bai then remembered a crucial point he had overlooked, his face changing again, teeth slightly gritted. "On the day of the Little Demon Empress's grand wedding, it was announced that the Demon Emperor's supreme treasure, the Mirror of Samsara, would be the betrothal gift... That sentence, he also transmitted completely... This is bad!"

"Indeed, it's very bad news." The Little Demon Empress turned her face away, not wanting Mu Yu Bai to see the worry flickering in her cold pupils. At the Demon Empress's Grand Ceremony, everyone learned that the Mirror of Samsara, lost for many years, was on Yun Che. However, he returned the Demon Emperor's Seal but never mentioned returning the Mirror of Samsara. The Little Demon Empress brought it up three times, but he shamelessly refused to return it. After that, she simply declared the Mirror of Samsara as a betrothal gift... After all, Yun Che, who married her, could be considered a member of the Demon Emperor Clan. Although the Mirror of Samsara was a supreme treasure guarded by the Demon Emperor Clan for generations, no one ever knew its function or how to use it. However, the Profound Sky Continent... was obsessed with the words 'Mirror of Samsara'! The calamity of the Illusory Demon Realm back then, and the Prince of Hua's scheme, were both initiated and led by the Mirror of Samsara!

If the Heaven's Might Sword Domain knew the Mirror of Samsara was very likely on Yun Che, they might not reveal Yun Che's identity and instead seek an opportunity to "monopolize" the Mirror of Samsara... But this thought didn't ease the Little Demon Empress at all, because she thought of something even more terrifying: The Heaven's Might Sword Domain knew Yun Che's identity... but Yun Che would not know that the Heaven's Might Sword Domain already knew his identity!

"How much longer until the Yun family's Sky-Breaking Ring regains its power?" The Little Demon Empress suddenly turned around, her voice biting and cold.

"The entire Yun family is also worried about Yun Che's safety, so they did not hesitate to use all the Purple Vein Divine Crystals they had previously received, exerting their full effort to restore the Sky-Breaking Ring's power. But even so, for it to fully recover, it will take at least three months, but no longer than six months..."

The Sky-Breaking Ring was the secret artifact Yun Qinghong and his wife used to infiltrate the Profound Sky Continent back then.

"Three months..." Clearly, the Little Demon Empress was displeased with this timeframe. Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly asked, "How are the investigations into Prince Ming's whereabouts progressing?"

"I am ashamed to say, there has been no progress in the past month. We will certainly..."

"I will give you three more months!" The Little Demon Empress coldly interrupted Mu Yu Bai. "Within three months, you must find Prince Ming's hiding place! But do not attack rashly like before; instead, inform me immediately! Although Prince Ming is severely weakened, he is by no means an opponent that ordinary people can handle! Once his hiding place is known, I will personally take his life!"

The Little Demon Empress had thoroughly understood the Blood Escape technique Prince Ming used to flee, based on the jade slip recording the Fallen Flame Demonic Arts found underground in Prince Hua's manor. If Prince Ming fell into her hands, even if he used Blood Escape again at any cost, he would not escape.

"If you still cannot find Prince Ming's whereabouts within these three months, all of you shall sever a finger to atone for your failure!"

Mu Yu Bai's entire body stiffened, and he said in dismay, "Yu Bai's performance has been inadequate. Little Demon Empress, please calm your anger... Within three months, Yu Bai will certainly not dare to disappoint the Little Demon Empress again."

"You may withdraw... Have Yun Qinghong come to see me at once!" The Little Demon Empress turned around, her back to Mu Yu Bai. An overwhelmingly oppressive aura heavily filled the entire grand hall, making Mu Yu Bai afraid to even breathe.

"Yes!"

Mu Yu Bai withdrew. Only after he had exited the grand hall did he let out a heavy breath, wiping his forehead with his palm, which came away covered in cold sweat.

"Phew... she's my nephew's wife, after all," Mu Yu Bai muttered with a belly full of grievance, carefully making his exit.

At the same time, in the Profound Sky Continent, Frozen Cloud Asgard.

It was early morning, and the sky was already bright. At this time previously, Yun Che would have already been using the Tyrannical Emperor's Pill to enhance the profound energy of the Frozen Cloud disciples. But now, Yun Che still lay on the ice bed where Chu Yuechan had slept for decades, his eyes still closed, seemingly deep in slumber.

Just then, a red light suddenly flashed beside him, and a petite, slender girl with red hair and red clothes appeared there. Her expression was serene, and her eyes shimmered with an eerie glow.

Yun Che opened his eyes and immediately sat up: "Jasmine, why are you out?"

"Today is the day of your arranged battle with Fen Juechen. You haven't forgotten, have you?" Jasmine said indifferently, her slender eyebrows slanted.

"Of course not. I'm currently conserving my energy," Yun Che said with a relaxed expression.

"It seems you're not worried at all. I've already reminded you that his profound energy will surely skyrocket compared to three months ago... Hmph, never mind. Before that, I have some good news. Do you want to hear it?"

"Good news?" Just as Yun Che was about to ask, he suddenly noticed that Jasmine's body no longer emitted the purifying aura of the Sky Poison Pearl. He instantly lunged forward, exclaiming in surprise, "Could it be... all the devil poison on you has been purified?"

"Yes, all of it!" Jasmine turned her face away, but Yun Che could see her lips curving slightly upward... But this time, it wasn't a cold sneer, but a very faint, yet genuine, shallow smile!

Counting carefully, he and Jasmine had been together for exactly six years and ten months. Yet, it was the first time he had seen Jasmine truly smile... although it was very slight and brief.

"That's great!!" Yun Che exclaimed in a low voice, his joy coming from the bottom of his heart, from his soul. It wasn't because being free from the devil poison nightmare could provide him immense assistance, but simply because she had escaped the nightmare of the devil poison.

"As expected of the Sky Poison Pearl. Even this devil poison, known as 'God Slaying' and invading the soul, could be completely purified. When I first realized I was afflicted with this devil poison, I thought I was certainly going to die," Jasmine said softly, looking at her palm. Now, her soul body was completely pure as before, without a single trace of the God Slaying Tribulation poison. She knew far more about the horror of this poison than Yun Che... Even an ancient True God, if poisoned by this, would essentially only face destruction. Yet, she survived and purified all of the God Slaying Tribulation poison. And it only took her less than seven years.

"Hey... it was clearly my credit, wasn't it? It's thanks to me finding you on the back mountain of the Xiao Sect that night, and coincidentally having the Sky Poison Pearl on me. Otherwise... hmph hmph," Yun Che said with a face full of indignation.

Jasmine let out a cold sneer, disdainfully saying, "Hmph, if you hadn't met me, you would have died not a thousand times, but eight hundred!"

Yun Che was speechless.

"There's one more thing I can probably tell you now." Jasmine tilted her head, her face more delicate than the most exquisite porcelain doll, saying with a hint of pride, "I claimed back then that I had sealed my profound energy... that was actually false!"

Jasmine finished speaking, waiting for Yun Che to show expressions of shock, wide-eyed astonishment, or exasperation. However, Yun Che, after hearing her words, merely glanced at her silently, then nodded: "Oh, I know."

"You know?" The surprised one turned out to be Jasmine. "When did you know?"

"Probably when we were on the Primordial Profound Ark." Yun Che leaned back against the ice wall, hands behind his head, saying softly, "During those eighteen months when the Primordial Profound Ark endured the spatial storms, every time my body and spirit reached their breaking point, the spatial storms would suddenly slow down, giving me a brief moment to breathe... For a full eighteen months, the amount of time I could endure increased each time, but it always slowed down precisely at the critical point, without exception."

"During those eighteen months, all my mental energy was focused on survival; I couldn't spare a single shred of thought for anything else. Later, when the spatial storms stopped, and I recalled those eighteen months, I began to guess that you must have interfered with the spatial storms, because there couldn't be a coincidence lasting a full eighteen months, and you share one body with me, so you could clearly sense when I reached my breaking point."

"...Then why didn't you expose me?" Jasmine looked at Yun Che with considerable surprise. The spatial storms were her interference, and the Primordial Profound Ark ultimately stopping in the Illusory Demon Realm was also unintentionally caused by her interference with its trajectory. "When you encountered Prince Ming in the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, were pushed to desperation, and even almost died at his hands, you still didn't seem to think about borrowing my strength!"

"Because I knew your intention in doing so was to prevent me from developing an unconscious reliance on you, which would severely affect my growth. Plus... I was only guessing after all, and I constantly tried to tell and hint to myself that it was just a guess, so that in any situation, I would have to rely on myself wholeheartedly, and not dare to depend on your 'possibly unsealed power'—it's that simple."

Jasmine: "..."

Jasmine's pink cheeks puffed out slightly. Yun Che rarely saw her look so adorably vexed, perhaps once every two or three years. Just as he was about to tease her, he suddenly thought of something, his eyes widening. He sprang up, his upper body almost lunging directly towards Jasmine, and eagerly said, "Jasmine! All the devil poison has been purified, does that mean you can use your power freely now? Quickly... help me locate Little Fairy! You promised me this before!"