Chapter 927: Unloading the Mill and Killing the Donkey

"What do you mean? Why will I never see her again?" Yun Che suddenly looked up, surprised and questioning, "Do you know something?"

"Hmph, that's because..." The Golden Crow Spirit's voice abruptly paused. Its slightly flickering golden eyes revealed a momentary hesitation—it had thought of Yun Che's temperament and his usual way of handling things. Subsequently, it chose to conceal the full truth, saying calmly, "As a Star God, she naturally has her own unique mission. In five years... no, it might even be less than five years, she will have to fulfill the mission she carries. By then, even if her will desires to see you, her mission will make her beyond her own control."

"Mis...sion..." Yun Che mumbled distractedly, "What kind of mission is it that will make her lose her freedom?"

"This Venerable One does not know. But if you do not see her within five years, you will never be able to see her again in the future. This, I am absolutely certain of. Many things in the God Realm are simply beyond your mortal comprehension." The Golden Crow Spirit's voice remained calm, but it knew deeply that what this "mission" would make her lose was far more than just her freedom. Considering Yun Che's temperament, this was all it could tell him.

Yun Che stood rooted to the spot. He suddenly thought of Xia Yuanba and Xia Qingyue's mother—the woman whom Xia Hongyi had told him about that day, the one he had named "Dongxue."

In Xia Hongyi's account, Xia Yuanba and Xia Qingyue's mother had suddenly regained her memories and power that day. Without staying even a single day longer, she had resolutely abandoned her husband and two children, departing with the words that they would never meet again.

And indeed, they never did.

Why? What kind of place was the God Realm? Why was it that once they returned, they could no longer meet the people "here"? How could someone as powerful as Jasmine be so bound by other factors? What exactly bound her...?

What kind of world was the one she lived in?!

"Is there any way to forcefully go to the God Realm?" Yun Che suddenly looked up, muttering through gritted teeth.

"Forcefully go?" The Golden Crow Spirit snorted faintly. "It seems my words have indeed affected you deeply."

"If I can never see her again, I can't accept it... I can't accept it, no matter what." Yun Che's heart clenched slightly. "I want to know if she's doing well in her world, I want to know why she isn't free... No, I must see her."

"Your power in this world is unrivaled, but once you reach the God Realm, your power wouldn't even cause a ripple. Especially the star realm where your master resides—it is a supreme-level existence even within the God Realm. Even if you were to genuinely reach the God Realm, it would be impossible for you to reach her star realm. And even if you could find her... with your power, what could you possibly do for her?" the Golden Crow Spirit said coldly.

"My power might indeed be incredibly insignificant in that world. But..." Yun Che closed his eyes. "I want to see her not because of your words, but because I want to see her again every single moment. Her departure was too sudden; I still can't fully accept it. Moreover... I want to know how she's doing in her world. Even if she still tells me to leave and never meet again when I see her, I can then leave forever without a single regret."

"Hahahahaha," the Golden Crow Spirit burst into laughter. "Those are indeed words you would say. I previously read your memories and know her position in your soul better than you do yourself. Even if I hadn't provoked you, you would have eventually become impatient and sought her out in the God Realm. But alas, the God Realm is an extremely vast distance from this world. Even depleting all the remaining power within the Primordial Profound Ark would not be enough to reach it, nor are there any other shortcuts or methods available... at least, none that I know of."

"If you wish to see her within five years, the only way is to raise your profound energy to the Divine Profound Realm within that time. Then, you will naturally find a way to the God Realm. However, in this world, where elements are too sparse, aura is particularly murky, and laws are incredibly rudimentary, reaching the Divine Profound Realm through conventional means is far harder than ascending to the heavens. But if it's you, it might be possible."

"If this is the only way..." Yun Che's mind and aura slowly calmed down. "For the time to come, I will devote myself to cultivation, even if..." Yun Che's voice softened, "it's just to see her from afar one more time."

His current profound energy was at the first level of the Sovereign Profound Realm, while the Divine Profound Realm was a level beyond the tenth level of the Sovereign Profound Realm.

He couldn't know if he could achieve this in a mere five years.

And if he couldn't, in another two or three years, Feng Xue'er would certainly be able to. Perhaps, by then, she could take him to the God Realm.

Jasmine... no matter what, I must see you again. I cannot let our separation be so incomplete... I want to know even more, how are you doing in that world...?

Time flowed on. A full month had unknowingly passed since Xuanyuan Wentian was annihilated.

The high-level spatial teleportation array connecting the Profound Sky Continent and the Illusory Demon Realm was finally completed perfectly within the time limit Yun Che had set, thanks to the desperate, tireless efforts of the Four Sacred Grounds.

The array point in the Illusory Demon Realm was located at the Yun Family's detached courtyard, which was where the fairies of the Frozen Cloud Asgard were currently residing.

The array point in the Profound Sky Continent was located in the Ice Crystal Snow Region of the Blue Wind Nation—in front of the former Frozen Cloud Asgard.

To appease Yun Che, the Four Sacred Grounds... especially the Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Sword Villa, invested an extremely large amount of Purple Vein Divine Crystals and Profound Sky Divine Stones into this teleportation array. Not only could it achieve instantaneous travel between the two continents, but its energy was also sufficient to sustain it for ten years. After ten years, when the energy was depleted, it could also be replenished directly with various profound crystals.

It was more than ten times more powerful than the spatial teleportation array they had collectively built when they invaded the Illusory Demon Realm back then—after all, at that time, each of the Four Sacred Grounds feared using even a single extra divine crystal would benefit the other three Sacred Grounds.

On the day the teleportation array was completed, the Four Sacred Grounds were also the first to use this massive spatial teleportation array.

Following Yun Che's order, all figures at or above the elder level from the Four Sacred Grounds arrived in Demon Imperial City via the teleportation array.

For many of them, it wasn't their first time in Demon Imperial City. However, last time, they had come with greed and malevolence, whereas this time, each of them arrived with their necks drawn in, cautious and filled with trepidation.

This was because they had come to atone, under Yun Che's command. Furthermore, Yun Che had explicitly stated that if the Little Demon Empress wished to kill them, no matter who or how many, no one was allowed to resist!

Below Demon Imperial City, they awaited the Little Demon Empress. She arrived incredibly calm, without any murderous intent, not even speaking a single word. She simply led them silently to the Imperial Mausoleum of the Demon Emperor Clan.

"Kneel!"

Facing the mausoleums of the former Demon Emperor and the Little Demon Emperor, the Little Demon Empress finally spoke her first words to the people of the Four Sacred Grounds.

Without much hesitation, the people from the Four Sacred Grounds all knelt in unison. Since they had come, they knew what they had to face. When they invaded the Illusory Demon Realm back then, although they were used by Xuanyuan Wentian and Duke Ming simultaneously, even if they weren't the masterminds, they were still the executioners who brought disaster to Demon Imperial City.

Not to mention kneeling in atonement, even sacrificing their lives would have been fitting.

All the high-level experts of the Four Sacred Grounds knelt before the Demon Emperor's Mausoleum to atone. Such a scene was something the Little Demon Empress, once solitary, had never dared to dream of, nor had anyone in Demon Imperial City dared to imagine it.

Prince Huai's manor was annihilated; all nine clans, except Ming Wang, were exterminated, and the only survivor, Ming Wang, suffered hellish torment daily, wishing for death but unable to find it. The Imperial City was peaceful, the Illusory Demon Realm was calm, and she had reclaimed the absolute imperial authority befitting the Demon Empress.

Xuanyuan Wentian, the other mastermind of all the calamities, had been annihilated. The Four Sacred Grounds who invaded Demon Imperial City were now all kneeling and prostrating before the Imperial Mausoleum... At this moment, she could finally bring complete solace to the spirits of her Imperial Father, Imperial Brother, and all who sacrificed for Demon Imperial City.

Her gaze subtly shifted, quietly falling upon the man beside her... All of this was brought about by him. Without him, there would be no such outcome today, perhaps not even her current self.

She had only intended a brief glance, but her sight, once it touched him, lingered for a long time... A progressively clearer sensation stirred within her soul. Unbeknownst to her, at some point, his position in her heart had actually surpassed that of the Illusory Demon Imperial Family...

Once, in her mind, the dignity and glory of the Illusory Demon Imperial Family far outweighed her own life. But at this moment, the desire to relinquish all her royal burdens and completely entrust herself to him pulsed so intensely within her heart.

Kneeling and then performing nine kowtows before the mausoleum, these esteemed Sacred Ground elders had perhaps never even dreamed that one day they would tremble and cower like lambs awaiting judgment.

After everything was completed, Yun Che cast an inquiring look at the Little Demon Empress, then turned around and said, "Yuanba, Master Zi, take your people and leave."

At his words, the people from Absolute Monarch Sanctuary and Supreme Ocean Palace were overjoyed, while everyone from Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Sword Villa stood dumbfounded. Xuanyuan Bo of Heavenly Sword Villa stammered fearfully, "Palace Master Yun, what... what about us?"

"Heh heh," Yun Che chuckled, asking with feigned concern, "Is your esteemed sect's Young Sword Master doing well?"

Xuanyuan Bo's scalp tingled, and his voice trembled, "Young Sword Master... he is recovering from his injuries in the Sword Domain. All is well, I appreciate... I appreciate Palace Master Yun's concern."

"That's excellent," Yun Che nodded with a smile, then suddenly turned his gaze towards Sun Moon Divine Hall. "Which one of you is Elder Ye Xuange?"

Ye Xuange, whose name was called, stepped forward with a bewildered expression, nervously saying, "What are Palace Master Yun's orders for me?"

"You are Ye Xuange?" Yun Che sized him up.

"Yes, yes," Ye Xuange hastily nodded, his heart filled with suspicion.

"Very good," Yun Che nodded slightly, a sinister, faint smile appearing on his face. "It seems your fate is rather good; at least you'll live a bit longer than your comrades."

"..." Ye Xuange looked up, his face instantly contorted in terror. "Palace Master Yun, what... what do you mean by that?"

"It means that you people are useless, and you can all die!!"

Yun Che's profound energy surged to its peak at that moment. A blue light, following the sweep of his palm, enveloped everyone from Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Sword Villa.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

The air temperature plummeted. As the blue light swept through, dozens of terrifying Ice Bound Trees, as if grown from the depths of hell, completely sealed everyone from Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Sword Villa within their crisscrossing ice constructs.

These were Ice Bound Trees from Yun Che's peak state. Regardless of their terrifyingly cold aura or their utterly dominant Ice Bound confinement, even powerful figures like these Sacred Ground elders and divine envoys had no chance of breaking free. Their faces rapidly turned blue-purple under the intense cold, and deep despair and terror appeared on each of their faces.

"Yun... Yun Che! You..." The strongest of Sun Moon Divine Hall's Heaven-Reaching Divine Envoys let out a shriek of terror and rage, but no sooner had the sound left his mouth than his lips were firmly sealed by an ice construct.

Beside them, the people from Absolute Monarch Sanctuary and Supreme Ocean Palace stood dumbfounded, daring not even breathe. Seeing this, how could they not guess what was happening...? With just a casual wave of Yun Che's hand, over a hundred Sacred Ground elders and five immensely powerful Sun Moon Divine Envoys were all completely ice-bound, unable to struggle even slightly. Although they had never dared to doubt Yun Che's terrifying power, they were still terrified to their core by this scene.

This was a power so immense it was almost beyond their comprehension.

"Heavenly Sword Villa, as Xuanyuan Wentian's lackeys, look at all the wicked deeds you've committed over the years! You plunged the Illusory Demon Realm into disaster, nearly annihilating the Illusory Demon Imperial Family! You also caused the death of my grandfather and countless martyrs of my Yun family. Even my parents almost fell victim to your poisonous hands, causing Xiao Yun's family and mine to be separated from childhood... Tell me, what reason do I have to let you continue to exist in this world!"

"And Sun Moon Divine Hall, given the enmity between us, did you truly think I would kindly spare you!?"

"All blood debts can only be repaid with your lives!"

Despair and terror appeared on their frozen, blue-purple faces, but not a single one of them could utter a sound, only faint whimpers occasionally.

"Caiyi, will you do it or shall I?" Yun Che asked in a low voice.

No sooner had he spoken than the Little Demon Empress soared forth, golden flames radiating scorching despair, incinerating the ice-bound bodies below.

Boom—

The cold dissipated quickly, but the binding force of the ice did not weaken in the slightest. The people from Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Sword Villa were freed from the icy abyss, only to be plunged into an even more desperate fiery purgatory. Amidst ghost-like shrieks of agony, they were rapidly incinerated into charred ashes by the Golden Crow Flame...

In mere dozens of breaths, everyone from Sun Moon Divine Hall and Heavenly Sword Villa, except for Ye Xuange whom Yun Che had singled out, was utterly annihilated.