Chapter 917: Two Lifetimes Apart

Whoosh!! Boom—Thousands of colossal waves surged from the boundless sea. The highest among them rose tens of thousands of feet, crashing violently against the Supreme Sea Palace.

The power carried by these enormous waves was astonishing. The colossal Sea Palace, which had floated on the sea for ten millennia, was forcefully struck, shifting nearly a hundred feet amidst violent tremors. A wave of gasps rippled through the palace.

The waves then receded, and the sea surface quickly returned to complete stillness. There were no more ripples, and even the ceaseless water patterns and dull roars that had persisted earlier completely vanished.

A long period passed with no further movement.

Feng Xue’er continued to gaze at the sea. The prolonged silence of the water filled her with increasing tension and unease. She bit her lip repeatedly, finally unable to wait any longer. Turning around, she glanced at the distant Sun and Moon Divine Palace and Heavenly Might Sword Region, then suddenly extended her hand. Scarlet phoenix flames rained down from the sky, forming a massive fiery barrier that enveloped everyone.

“Xue’er, what are you doing?” Feng Hengkong asked in a panicked voice, vaguely sensing her intent.

“I’m going to find Big Brother Yun.”

“No! It’s too dangerous… Xue’er!”

Feng Hengkong had no time to stop her. He could only take a hasty step forward, watching helplessly as Feng Xue’er resolutely leaped from the Sea Palace, plummeting into the terrifyingly silent depths of the boundless sea below.

Beneath the boundless sea, as Xuanyuan Wentian’s body disintegrated into ash, his last lingering demonic aura grew increasingly faint until it vanished entirely.

Yun Che had to admit that Xuanyuan Wentian was an incredibly terrifying individual, perhaps the most formidable person he had ever encountered. Both the Profound Sky Continent and the Illusory Demon Realm had fallen victim to his schemes, and everything he possessed was obtained through his own cunning. If Yun Che hadn't unexpectedly acquired the dark Evil God seed on the Azure Cloud Continent, then, aside from Feng Xue’er—whose Phoenix God power would only fully awaken years later—no one in this world would have been a match for Xuanyuan Wentian. The Profound Sky Continent and the Illusory Demon Realm would have both fallen completely under his shadow.

After remaining at the seabed for a long time, Yun Che finally regained some of his profound energy. He steadied himself, extended his hand, and reached into the deep darkness.

Instantly, a dark silhouette flew from the distance and was drawn into Yun Che’s grasp.

The Evernight Devil Sword!

The dark, unadorned sword blade no longer bore the pair of devil eyes. The demonic soul within the sword, even if it hadn't been devoured by Xuanyuan Wentian, would have vanished simultaneously with his death.

Although the Moon-Slaying Devil Monarch had escaped the Evil God's seal, he could no longer see the sun or moon, confined to the Moon-Slaying Devil Cave, unable to wreak havoc on the world. Yet, this sword of his nearly caused an immeasurable catastrophe for the Profound Sky Continent and the Illusory Demon Realm. It brought about the rise of the Evernight Royal Family, and also destroyed it; it empowered Xuanyuan Wentian, and also led to his downfall.

Simultaneously, it also created the tragedy of one person living two lives.

A hum…

The Evernight Devil Sword in his hand suddenly began to vibrate unnaturally. Though subtle, Yun Che perceived it clearly. He frowned, quickly released the sword, and slowly retreated a few steps.

At that moment, a vague image slowly manifested above the Evernight Devil Sword.

Or rather, this image could no longer be described as merely 'vague'; the entire shadow resembled mist at the tail end of dawn, so ethereal that ordinary human eyes couldn’t perceive it. Even with Yun Che’s enhanced vision, he could only barely discern its complete form.

“Fen… Jue… Chen…” Yun Che murmured, his emotions incredibly complex as he gazed at the exceptionally faint soul silhouette.

The faint soul silhouette watched him in silence, without emotion or sound.

Yun Che said, “In the Illusory Demon Realm, I promised you that as long as I lived, I would one day kill Xuanyuan Wentian. Now, I have finally kept that promise.”

“…Finally, I can die…” Fen Juechen whispered softly.

Yun Che’s lips trembled, but no words came out for a long time.

These six brief words carried no discernible emotion, yet Yun Che clearly understood the profound pain and desolation within them.

For him, death would be an incredibly liberating release. Yet, after Xuanyuan Wentian stole his body and everything else, he desperately “lived,” desperately maintaining his consciousness despite the immense pain and hatred. Even when living in purgatory at every moment, he fiercely clung to his final shred of awareness, refusing to let it dissipate.

Because he was unwilling to give up.

Now, he had watched Xuanyuan Wentian—the demon who orchestrated all his tragedies—die. He could finally embrace death… and find release.

Death had always been such an unattainable luxury for him.

Taking a deep breath, Yun Che said calmly, “Aside from Xuanyuan Wentian, I should be the person you hate the most. Yet, you unexpectedly saved me three times. Outside Divine Phoenix City, you shielded Xue’er and me from Xuanyuan Wentian. In the Ice Pole Snow Region, you forced him to retreat. And in the Illusory Demon Realm, it was also thanks to you that we escaped catastrophe…”

“I didn’t do it for you,” Fen Juechen’s voice finally held a hint of emotion. “I did it for Ling Xi. She said that if you died, she would die.”

“…Do you have any message for her?” Yun Che’s chest rose and fell heavily.

“Please thank her for me.” Fen Juechen’s voice became very soft. “She made me feel that this world isn’t entirely cruel; she made me feel that I am still… a living person…”

“I understand.” Yun Che nodded slightly. He knew exactly how profound the “cruelty” in Fen Juechen’s words was.

“I remember you should have some things left in Floating Cloud City. I will bury them there… After all, Floating Cloud City can be considered your last home.”

“Home…” Fen Juechen murmured softly.

Yun Che hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, “Do you… have any unfulfilled wishes? Perhaps I can help you fulfill them.”

Given Fen Juechen’s pride, Yun Che had expected his words might prick his ego. But unexpectedly, Fen Juechen looked into his eyes and said with utmost seriousness and deliberation, “Marry Ling Xi within one month!”

Yun Che was stunned.

“She cries because of you. She laughs because of you. She loses herself in thought because of you, and her words are always of you. She saved me because of you. And you… you only return to Floating Cloud City three times a month, with one woman after another by your side, yet you have never…”

Fen Juechen’s words seemed to carry a hint of anger, but then slowly calmed. “Only you are worthy of her; no one else.”

Yun Che stood frozen for a moment, then a slight smile touched his lips. “Is this… your acknowledgment of me?”

Fen Juechen remained silent.

“Your words are entirely unnecessary,” Yun Che said with a smile. “When she was my little aunt, she was my little aunt alone. When I learned she wasn’t my little aunt, I became even more determined never to let her belong to anyone but me. And now, today…” Yun Che tilted his head slightly, his gaze growing exceptionally warm. “The promise I made to her can finally be fulfilled.”

Fen Juechen watched him silently for a moment, then slowly turned away, his faint soul silhouette subtly wavering.

Yun Che stepped forward. “Fen Juechen, you…”

“I… no longer hate you…”

These seven soft words were the last Fen Juechen would utter in his life. His soul silhouette, like faint smoke carried by a gentle breeze, slowly dissipated at that moment.

Yun Che froze, his heart feeling as if it had been violently struck. Was it heavy? Bitter? Light? A tangled mess of emotions, too complex to fully articulate, crashed chaotically within his chest. He moved his lips, and from the very depths of his soul, he called out his final words to Fen Juechen…

“Thank you… I’m… so… sorry…”

The seawater rippled gently, and at that very moment, Fen Juechen’s soul silhouette completely vanished, leaving no trace behind.

His body, his soul, his hatred, sorrow, and all his concerns—everything he was—vanished forever from the world.

Perhaps, in the final moments of his existence, he heard the “I’m sorry” spoken by Yun Che.

A profound sensation lodged itself in Yun Che’s heart, refusing to dissipate for a very long time.

Fen Juechen, like Yun Che, had lived two lives. However, their paths and destinies were vastly different. Yun Che’s life comprised two extraordinary legends, while Fen Juechen’s was two brutal tragedies. His homes and all his relatives from both lives were utterly annihilated: one eradicated by Xuanyuan Wentian’s vicious schemes, the other by Yun Che’s own uncontrollable rage.

Later, Fen Juechen found the remnant soul of Ye Mufeng and recovered his memories of the past life. He believed he had finally found his last remaining relative, but unexpectedly, Ye Mufeng, whose soul was twisted by hatred, offered him not paternal affection but a demand for revenge.

Years ago, Ye Mufeng and his wife used forbidden Evernight techniques at any cost to allow Fen Juechen to reincarnate. Their purpose was to preserve the Evernight Royal Family’s bloodline and ensure their son’s survival. However, upon their reunion, Ye Mufeng forced him to become a tool for revenge, cruelly extinguishing Fen Juechen’s last glimmer of hope for familial affection.

Fen Juechen plummeted into the abyss of hatred, forcing himself to embrace demonhood and enduring hellish torment day and night for power. Yet, from beginning to end, he remained a mere puppet in Xuanyuan Wentian’s hands. All the power he desperately accumulated ultimately served Xuanyuan Wentian, who even stripped him of his own flesh and blood.

No one could truly comprehend or imagine the extent of that cruelty and despair.

Perhaps, fate’s last shred of mercy for him was his encounter with Xiao Lingxi.

“I hope your next life is carefree,” Yun Che murmured, slightly lost in thought. But then, his gaze dimmed.

He suddenly remembered that Fen Juechen, like Xuanyuan Wentian, had been utterly annihilated, body and soul. Even without having undergone any reincarnation forbidden art, he was destined never to reincarnate, vanishing completely and utterly forever.

Yun Che picked up the Evernight Devil Sword and placed it inside the Primordial Profound Ark. After all, it could be considered Fen Juechen’s relic.

Furthermore, this was a genuine ancient devil sword. Although it no longer possessed a demonic soul or a powerful aura, it might still hold some extraordinary secrets.