Chapter 875: Decisive (Part 2)

Ten days was merely the Golden Crow Spirit's initial estimate. However, the terrifying nature of the Devil Bead at this moment far exceeded its expectations.

Yun Che's body was no longer that of an ordinary mortal; it was a complete anomaly. It had perfectly integrated the Evil God's profound veins, the blood of the Phoenix, the Dragon God, and the Golden Crow, along with the powers of the Desolate God and the Heavenly Wolf, all without any mutual repulsion. Not only the Golden Crow Spirit, but even the divine beast Golden Crow itself would be utterly incapable of comprehending the existence of such a 'freak'.

This was also the primary reason the Golden Crow Spirit, after reading his memories, had bestowed everything upon him without hesitation.

Moreover, within this anomalous body, the Devil Bead's growth rate dramatically defied conventional understanding. When the Golden Crow Spirit exerted its full power to suppress and seal the Devil Bead for the second time, its spirit remained profoundly shocked.

Finally, after a grueling sixteen days, the Devil Bead within Yun Che was once again laboriously sealed.

Within the Sea of Death, Yun Che opened his eyes. Sensing that no demonic energy whatsoever was still raging within him, he took a deep breath, shot into the air, left the Sea of Death, and landed on the crimson earth at its edge.

He was about to thank the Golden Crow Spirit when he suddenly froze.

The Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, which was always filled with the roaring sounds of a fiery ocean, was eerily quiet. At a glance, all the volcanoes within his view were utterly silent; not a single one was erupting. Sheets of lava rolled sluggishly. The fiery ocean, once capable of scorching the heavens, could no longer even be called a "sea of fire"; its flames had dulled, burning exceptionally slowly and feebly.

Turning back to the Sea of Death, the surging inferno had completely dimmed, resembling a decrepit beast.

Yun Che looked up. In the distant sky, the Golden Crow Spirit's golden eyes were fixed upon him. However, the divine pressure emanating from it was far weaker than before.

“Golden Crow Spirit,” Yun Che said, his emotions complex, “Thank you for saving me again.”

“I have told you already, there is no need for such meaningless platitudes,” the Golden Crow Spirit said coldly. “No one can stop what I desire to do. And no one can compel me to do what I do not wish.”

“Now that you are unharmed, depart swiftly. My time is running out; if I do not enter slumber soon, this world could collapse at any moment. But remember, you must release the emotional turmoil in your heart as soon as possible, or the Devil Bead within you could break free from its seal again at any time.”

“…” Yun Che did not immediately depart. Instead, he suddenly asked calmly, “Golden Crow Spirit, could you answer a question for me directly?”

The Golden Crow Spirit: “?”

“How much longer… do I have to live?” Yun Che’s tone and expression were unusually serene.

“…” The air suddenly thickened. The golden eyes in the sky remained silent for a long time before slowly responding, “To know one’s death date is more terrifying than death itself. Are you certain you wish to know?”

“I must know,” Yun Che replied, his expression still calm.

“One month,” the Golden Crow Spirit answered directly.

“…” Yun Che’s eyelids slowly lowered as he softly exhaled. “One month… that’s roughly what I anticipated. When the Devil Bead’s power erupts again, that will be the day my life ends.”

He let out a self-deprecating chuckle. “I never imagined that I, Yun Che, would ultimately die because of an inanimate object… Heh, there’s a certain unwillingness in me.”

“This is the last time I can assist you. The Devil Bead within your body has been continuously growing. The next time it breaks free, even if I were to recover my full strength, it would be nearly impossible to seal it again, let alone with my power now on the verge of exhaustion. The seal I have placed with my current depleted strength can barely hold for approximately one month.”

“Given this reality, you should depart this place as soon as possible and carefully consider what you wish to do in this final month!”

Yun Che remained silent for a long time before suddenly speaking. “Golden Crow Spirit, since you knew that I harbored the Devil Bead and was consequently doomed, beyond salvation, why did you still choose to expend so much of your remaining power to save me?”

“Because I willed it, that is all!” the Golden Crow Spirit replied coolly.

Yun Che: “…”

“When I first read your memories, I was astounding by your constitution and experiences. I concluded that you not only possessed unnaturally potent talent but also an exceptionally strong fortune, making you the most perfect successor. Therefore, I bestowed everything upon you, hoping that the legacy of the Golden Crow’s fire would shine brightly through you.”

“Yet, I never anticipated that you seemed to have exhausted all your good fortune in the first half of your life. In less than two short years, you encountered this calamity, and even I am powerless to save you. Nothing in this realm can.”

“Nevertheless, you are the one I chose. Even if the choice was flawed, I shall see it through to its conclusion.”

This was the Golden Crow Spirit’s explanation, every word imbued with profound stubbornness and pride.

“…I have one more question, one that is equally vital to me,” Yun Che continued. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze turned somber. “If I forcibly activate the Evil God’s Fifth Realm, the Yama Emperor, is there any possibility of killing Xuanyuan Wentian?!!”

The Golden Crow Spirit was momentarily startled, then suddenly burst into booming laughter. “Hahahaha! An excellent question! This is the spirit you should embody!”

Yun Che also chuckled. “It seems you can provide me with a sufficiently clear answer. After all, you inherited some of the Golden Crow’s memories, and the Golden Crow itself had a rather close relationship with the Evil God in its lifetime. You must have some understanding of the Evil God’s power.”

“No, my understanding of the Evil God’s power is not significantly greater than yours,” the Golden Crow Spirit stated gravely. “However, judging by the power you unleashed when forcibly activating Heaven Smiting against the Moon-Slaying Demon Lord, if you were to activate Yama Emperor, it is indeed possible that you could forcibly strike down Xuanyuan Wentian!”

Yun Che: “!!”

“However, that is merely a possibility. The consequence of forcibly activating Heaven Smiting is not potential death… but certain demise! Even if it only lasts for one or two moments!”

“When you struggled fiercely against the Moon-Slaying Demon Lord, although you ultimately activated Heaven Smiting to eradicate it, I trust you haven’t forgotten the dire consequences you faced! Had your master not forcibly sealed your Evil God Realm then, your body would have already exploded. Now, your strength far surpasses what it was when you confronted the Moon-Slaying Demon Lord, and your physique has undergone immense changes, yet you can, at most, barely endure a single breath of Heaven Smiting’s power. But should you forcibly activate the Yama Emperor, the very instant you unleash its power will also be the moment you are utterly annihilated, without the slightest chance of survival.”

“Good!” Yun Che slowly nodded, his hands clenching tightly. His face revealed not disappointment, fear, or unwillingness, but a faint, somewhat savage smile. “Since you say it’s possible, then it must be possible!”

“So, you intend to gamble your life?”

“Heh, since death is inevitable, why not gamble everything?” Yun Che chuckled, his voice low.

“Hahahaha,” the Golden Crow Spirit laughed again. “As a man facing death, you’re not grieving your fate, but contemplating how to die spectacularly! I truly did not choose the wrong person, nor did I save the wrong person. Your fierce, flame-like resolve and decisiveness are indeed worthy of the Golden Crow’s blood and soul within your body!”

“I will not obstruct you. Since you have made this decision, you should return to the Profound Sky Continent as soon as possible. You must know that the power of demonic blood within Xuanyuan Wentian is awakening daily, causing his strength to grow exponentially. Every day you delay, your odds of success in this life-or-death gamble will diminish! If you genuinely succeed in killing Xuanyuan Wentian this way, the entire Illusory Demon Realm will be saved because of you, and your death will be a worthy one!”

“I understand,” Yun Che murmured. “But I still need some time… perhaps two or three days.”

“Hmph, is it for a final farewell?” the Golden Crow Spirit said indifferently.

“…Besides that, there’s one more matter.” Yun Che turned his head, his gaze towards the distance gradually blurring. Two vague figures emerged in his mind, slowly sharpening, then gradually… merging into a single form…

“I want to make a trip to the Azure Cloud Continent, to see Ling’er… I need to know if what I saw and experienced six years ago was truly a dream,” Yun Che’s voice softened, like a murmur in a dream.

“Since you are already destined to die, what meaning is there in seeing her again?” the Golden Crow Spirit said coldly. Having read Yun Che’s memories, it knew who “Ling’er” was and what the “dream” referred to. However, as a divine beast spirit, it disdained human romantic affections.

“Just a distant glance will suffice,” Yun Che said with a smile. “If that wasn’t a dream, if that was truly Ling’er, then even in death, I could find a measure of contentment.”

“When do you intend to go? The Azure Cloud Continent is nearly ten million li away from the Illusory Demon Realm.”

“Immediately!” Yun Che declared without hesitation.

He had no intention of saying goodbye to the Little Demon Empress and his parents first, as that would only needlessly increase their worries. Furthermore, he could not conceive of any explanation to offer them.

If Ling’er in the Azure Cloud Continent turned out to be a figment of a dream, then he would fully resign himself to his fate. If she was truly Ling’er… he would fulfill his last wish, then return to spend his remaining time with them.

After that, with his own life… he would drag Xuanyuan Wentian down to hell with him!!