Chapter 867: Gloomy

"Brother Yun, what's wrong?" Feng Xue'er asked anxiously, her voice laced with alarm. Just then, she noticed a layer of black mist slowly rising from Yun Che's body. Initially faint, this black mist gradually thickened, emanating a distinctly heavy and malevolent aura.

"Caiyi... Xue'er..." Yun Che gasped, clutching his chest in agony. "Quickly... take me back to... the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley..."

The space before Yun Che rapidly distorted, revealing the Primordial Profound Ark. It was clear that Yun Che understood flying back to the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley in his current condition was impossible; he needed the Ark's assistance.

"Quickly!" The Little Demon Empress swiftly reached out, seizing both Yun Che and Feng Xue'er. Amidst a flash of white light, they entered the Primordial Profound Ark and vanished with it.

"Hiss..." The excruciating pain in Tianxia Xiongtu's palm pierced him to the bone. This sensation was unlike any injury he had ever suffered in his life; it was an eerily cold burning. Despite his formidable cultivation as a mid-stage Emperor and the protection of natural forces, it took over ten breaths for the pain to even slightly subside.

"What in the world... what in the world was that..." Cold sweat trickled down Tianxia Xiongtu's forehead. He took a long breath, looked at Yun Qinghong, and after a brief hesitation, spoke: "That black mist just now... it seemed somewhat similar to what was on Xuanyuan Wentian."

Yun Qinghong remained silent for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh. "We'll ask Che'er when he comes back," he murmured, almost to himself.

The Primordial Profound Ark instantly reappeared at the entrance to the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley. The Little Demon Empress and Feng Xue'er swiftly carried Yun Che into the valley. Less than an hour had passed since their departure.

They passed through the turbulent flames, reaching the far end of the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley. Before they had even come to a complete stop, Feng Xue'er urgently cried out, "Golden Crow Divine Spirit, please save Brother Yun!"

Almost the moment Feng Xue'er's voice faded, the golden eyes, radiating boundless power and scorching heat, opened in the sky above, casting a dazzling golden light throughout the entire Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley.

"You've returned just in time; I have questions for you," the Golden Crow Soul Spirit's voice resonated with deep solemnity. "Who was that person you were fighting just now? And what profound art did he use?"

The Little Demon Empress quickly interjected, "Golden Crow Sacred Spirit, we will answer all your questions. But please, first heal Yun Che; he is currently..."

Yun Che lay curled on the ground, the black mist around him alternately thickening and thinning. Drenched in cold sweat, his features were contorted, clearly enduring immense pain, yet he stubbornly suppressed any sound.

"Save him?" The Golden Crow Soul Spirit's voice was dismissive. "Has the Heavenly Poison Star God injured him again... Hmm?" Before it could finish, the Golden Crow Soul Spirit's tone abruptly shifted. "This aura..."

A beam of golden light shot down from its mouth, engulfing Yun Che. The golden light touched Yun Che's body, lingering for a brief moment... Instantly, the lighting within the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley dramatically changed. The golden eyes in the sky abruptly widened, and the seas of fire and volcanoes extending hundreds of miles behind them churned violently, erupting with colossal flames as if a catastrophe had struck.

"Golden Crow Sacred Spirit!?" The Little Demon Empress looked up in stunned disbelief. She couldn't fathom what could cause it to react with such a loss of control... The supreme divine spirit of the Illusory Demon Realm seemed to have suddenly suffered an immense shock.

"Leave Yun Che here. Both of you, depart at once," the Golden Crow Soul Spirit commanded. "No one is permitted to enter this area for twelve hours, not even you!"

Its voice was unusually solemn and deep, offering no explanation and no further questions about Xuanyuan Wentian. Its reaction made both the Little Demon Empress and Feng Xue'er's hearts pound. Feng Xue'er stammered in panic, "Golden Crow Soul Spirit, Brother Yun... what exactly is...?"

"No more words are needed. Go!"

The golden eyes flashed, and two streaks of golden flame descended from above, landing on the Little Demon Empress and Feng Xue'er, instantly transporting them outside the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley.

Sensing the two women's departure, Yun Che slowly lifted his head and spoke with difficulty, "Golden Crow Soul Spirit, I implore you... my power alone... cannot suppress this..."

"Don't speak! There will be a time for your explanation!" the Golden Crow Soul Spirit said coldly. As it spoke, a ring of golden flame had already converged around Yun Che. Then, it murmured to itself, "It seems this Venerable One's continued existence for another decade is now impossible."

Yun Che managed a grateful but bitter smile, then closed his eyes, concentrating to receive the power from the Golden Crow Soul Spirit.

Four months prior, the Devil Source Pearl implanted into his profound veins by the Moon Slaughter Devil Sovereign before its complete annihilation had become a nightmarish affliction within his body. Even Jasmine's power had been unable to remove it. Yun Che knew well that it would erupt one day. He had not, however, anticipated it would be so soon, nor had he expected such a violent eruption.

Jasmine's power had previously sealed the Devil Source Pearl. Fearing damage to Yun Che's profound veins, she had used only a minimal amount of power, though she had explicitly stated it would remain sealed for at least six months. Before her departure, she had personally assured him that even if her sealing power dissipated, he could use his own strength to contain it. Furthermore, Yun Che's power then was significantly weaker than it was now.

Yet now, not only had it erupted far sooner than anticipated, but the vast dark demonic aura it unleashed was utterly beyond his ability to suppress. If the Devil Source Pearl was merely a demonic seed implanted within him before, now... it was as if a furious demon god had suddenly awakened.

After the Golden Crow Soul Spirit had bestowed its soul source upon Yun Che, its own power had already greatly diminished. Nevertheless, it remained a soul fragment of the ancient divine beast, the Golden Crow. As Yun Che was enveloped by the blazing golden flames, a powerful surge, like a colossal wave, flooded into his body, heading directly for his profound veins.

In an instant, the black mist around Yun Che slowly receded, and his complexion visibly improved. He sat upright, focusing his mind, and fully activating the Great Way of the Buddha, drawing upon the Golden Crow Divine Spirit's power to suppress the turbulent Devil Source Pearl. Under the Golden Crow Divine Spirit's immense power, the Devil Source Pearl's energy was finally suppressed, little by little. Streaks of golden light, like winding streams, wrapped around the pitch-black Devil Source Pearl, coiling around it layer after layer, gradually sealing its power completely until not a single wisp of dark demonic aura escaped.

Yun Che opened his eyes, his complexion now entirely normal. A full three hours had passed. Had he not possessed the Dragon God's physique and the power of the Great Way of the Buddha, anyone else would have been consumed by the pervasive dark demonic aura within those three hours, long before the Devil Source Pearl could be fully sealed.

"Thank you, Golden Crow Divine Spirit," Yun Che said from the heart. "You've saved me once more. I can never repay the immense kindness you've shown me in this life."

"No need for empty words." The Golden Crow Soul Spirit's voice was noticeably weaker than usual, and even the golden light in its eyes had dimmed. Without its soul source, its power could not regenerate; every fraction used was a fraction gone forever. The three hours it spent helping Yun Che seal the Devil Source Pearl had shortened its already less-than-ten-year remaining lifespan by a full two years.

"You must now explain yourself clearly to me," the Golden Crow Soul Spirit said, its golden eyes suddenly widening. "Why do you possess a Devil Source Pearl within you! That is something that should have been extinct for ages!"

"Explaining this might be a bit complicated," Yun Che admitted. He saw no reason to conceal anything from the Golden Crow Soul Spirit, especially since it had repeatedly saved his life.

"In that case, how about I probe your memories?"

No one, not even the most common mortal, would willingly allow their memories to be probed by others. Yet, Yun Che nodded without hesitation. "Alright," he said.

The Golden Crow Soul Spirit was visibly surprised by his ready consent. Without another word, it cast a golden light that penetrated Yun Che's unguarded mind. Instantly, memories of his time since leaving the Illusory Demon Realm surged into the Golden Crow Soul Spirit's consciousness like a flood.

Reading about a year's worth of memories was a relatively quick process. Yet, after the Golden Crow Soul Spirit withdrew its golden light, it remained silent for a long time. Its constantly flickering golden eyes betrayed the immense upheaval within its soul.

After a long silence, the Golden Crow Soul Spirit slowly spoke: "When I observed your battle earlier today, I detected a faint demonic aura and the presence of the Eternal Night Illusory Devil Canon on the person named Xuanyuan Wentian. I had initially suspected it was an illusion, as devils were believed to be long extinct. I never imagined that it was truly the aura of the Eternal Night Illusory Devil Canon! I, carrying the will of the Golden Crow, have existed in this world for so long, yet never once detected that in the distant Northern Continent, a true devil, surviving from the ancient era, was hidden!"

Having probed Yun Che's memories, it naturally became aware of the Moon Slaughter Devil Sovereign's existence. "It is fortunate that you inadvertently discovered and annihilated him. Otherwise, if his soul had truly revived, his demonic nature combined with the resentment accumulated from being sealed for millions of years would have undoubtedly plunged this world into an incomparably terrifying catastrophe. It is tantamount to you, by your own power, saving this seemingly peaceful world."

Yun Che smiled faintly and shook his head. "I killed him simply to save my own life," he stated. "If he hadn't died, I would have; that's all. As for saving the world, I honestly don't possess such magnanimity or a saintly heart. Moreover, what does killing the Moon Slaughter Devil Sovereign truly amount to? Compared to him, Xuanyuan Wentian is a hundred times more terrifying."

"You are mistaken," the Golden Crow Soul Spirit countered. "How can a devil god be compared to a mortal? Although today's Xuanyuan Wentian far surpasses the Moon Slaughter Devil Sovereign you annihilated, the Moon Slaughter Devil Sovereign was a true devil. If it had truly revived, its power would be beyond your imagination. Even with your Dragon God's physique, it could have annihilated you in an instant. As for Xuanyuan Wentian, he merely obtained diluted devil blood and a fragment of a devil soul. Even if he were to fully acquire and perfectly integrate all of its power, he could never truly step onto the divine path."

"However, even though my power has advanced by leaps and bounds over these past three months, I am still far from being Xuanyuan Wentian's match. If Fen Juechen's remnant soul hadn't intervened today, I would likely be dead. Furthermore, Xuanyuan Wentian himself stated today that his devil blood hasn't fully awakened yet, and in three months, it will reach its perfect state. By then, his strength will undoubtedly far surpass what it is now. *Sigh*... I truly cannot fathom how I am supposed to fight him."

Yun Che looked up, murmuring to himself, "If only Jasmine were here. Even if she still couldn't use her own power, she could at least teach me what to do."

From Yun Che, the Golden Crow Soul Spirit sensed a heavy gloom. More than a year ago, upon their first meeting, Yun Che had shown respect but no fear, displaying impressive fortitude even against its might. When it had attempted to forcibly erase his Phoenix bloodline, he had staunchly refused, even daring to curse it. At the time, instead of being angered by his defiance, it had found him even more admirable. As the soul of the Golden Crow, its nature was inherently proud and volatile. Yet now, it sensed only gloom from Yun Che. It couldn't determine whether the source of this gloom was Xuanyuan Wentian's despair-inducing power or Jasmine's departure. Perhaps, it was the latter.

"Golden Crow Soul Spirit, with your power, can you defeat Xuanyuan Wentian?" Yun Che asked, though his tone clearly conveyed little hope.

"A year ago, I might have been able to," the Golden Crow Soul Spirit admitted candidly. "But now, even if I were to defy the Golden Crow's will and forcibly leave this place, I absolutely could not incinerate Xuanyuan Wentian."

Yun Che closed his eyes, his hands subtly clenching into fists. Jasmine's departure, Yu Luo's treacherous plot, the transformed Xuanyuan Wentian, the erupting Devil Source Pearl... He was still lost in the confusion of Jasmine's absence, unable to fully recover, when all these crises came flooding in. In the past, no matter how terrifying the danger, his fighting spirit had never wavered. But now, without Jasmine by his side, he felt as if half his soul had been forcibly severed, leaving him despondent and powerless. Only after her loss did he truly comprehend that his dependence on Jasmine far exceeded his own estimation.

"Don't you want to know why the Devil Source Pearl in your profound veins suddenly broke free from its seal and erupted?" the Golden Crow Soul Spirit suddenly asked.

"I've been wondering that too," Yun Che replied, his gaze sharpening. "Golden Crow Soul Spirit, do you know the answer?"

"That Devil Source Pearl from the Moon Slaughter Devil Sovereign originally possessed very weak power," the Golden Crow Soul Spirit explained slowly, its voice still distinctly weak. "Had you not been severely injured after your fierce battle with the Moon Slaughter Devil Sovereign that day, you could have sealed it yourself. It merged into your profound veins and naturally began absorbing your profound energy. It was like a dark seed on the verge of death. Though it awakened by drawing upon your profound energy, it is an entity on the level of a devil god. The power it gradually generated would far surpass your own strength and realm. If you wish to live, you must either destroy your profound veins or continuously seal it to prevent its ever-increasing demonic aura from overflowing.

"Originally, for the awakened power of this Devil Source Pearl to become fatal to you, it would have taken a significant amount of time. With your profound strength from three months ago, you could have relied on your own power to repeatedly seal it for at least several decades. However, over the past three months, your dual cultivation with Feng Xue'er in the Dragon-Phoenix style kept your vital and profound energy in an extremely active state. Your profound strength soared consecutively within those three months... This unfortunate coincidence caused the Devil Source Pearl's power to rapidly proliferate amidst your continuous activity and successive surges, ultimately leading it to break through the seal your master had left and release a dark demonic aura that you could not withstand."

Yun Che was speechless.

"This was my oversight. Had I discovered the Devil Source Pearl in your body three months ago, this outcome would not have occurred," the Golden Crow Soul Spirit sighed briefly. It did not explicitly state how truly terrifying the Devil Source Pearl within Yun Che had become. Though it had been difficult to seal...

Yun Che, however, smiled and shook his head. "This isn't your fault," he said. "If you hadn't guided Xue'er and me in dual cultivation, I likely would have died three months ago. The Devil Source Pearl is within my profound veins. I had long been prepared for this outcome... it just arrived too quickly," Yun Che paused, then suddenly added, "Regarding the Devil Source Pearl, I'm very puzzled as to why it could so easily merge into my profound veins. A profound practitioner's profound veins are where profound energy accumulates and should repel all foreign objects. Furthermore, my profound veins are those of a Profound God. Why could a Devil Source Pearl, which belongs to a devil, merge directly without any repulsion?"

"This is something I also cannot comprehend," the Golden Crow Soul Spirit said slowly. "A Devil Source Pearl is the source power pearl of a devil god. The genesis of a devil god begins with a Devil Source Pearl. It carries a devil god's source power and resides at the core of a devil's profound veins. Should a devil lose or have its Devil Source Pearl destroyed, it will lose all its power and potentially perish. If a devil god's Devil Source Pearl is destroyed, they can seize another devil god's Pearl and integrate it into their own profound veins through a special method to regain power... While this sounds bizarre and its veracity is unknown, there were indeed similar rumors during the Age of Gods. However, for the profound veins of a true god or a mortal to integrate a devil god's source power pearl is fundamentally impossible. Unless..."

The Golden Crow Soul Spirit clearly had a thought, but its voice abruptly cut off, and even its golden eyes repeatedly flinched.

"Unless what?" Yun Che pressed.

"...I cannot answer you, because that is merely an utterly absurd conjecture, and there's no need to ask further."

Yun Che could discern an unusual shift in the Golden Crow Soul Spirit's tone. It had clearly thought of something but was unwilling to reveal it to him, and stubbornly so.