Two figures moved slowly across the tranquil landscape of the Pure Land. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers and rustled the tall grass, creating a serene melody. One was a young woman, her delicate features illuminated by the warm glow, and the other was a man, whose quiet strength seemed to anchor her presence.
They paused occasionally, their footsteps halting to admire the scenery. The young woman, Hua Caili, would point to the meandering stream or the swaying trees, her voice soft yet brimming with life as she explained the history and beauty of the place. The man, Yun Che, listened intently, though his gaze rarely left her face. There was a quiet reverence in his expression, as if every word she spoke was a treasure.
As they walked further, Yun Che reached out, pulling Hua Caili closer. Their steps slowed until they stopped entirely, wrapped in each other's warm presence. Her soft features leaned into him, and he encircled her in his embrace, a shield against all the hardships of the past.
"Big Brother Yun, after this, we'll be together, right?" Hua Caili asked, her voice trembling slightly as her luminous eyes turned misty. She tilted her head upward to meet his gaze, the weight of years apart shining in her eyes, before resting her head quietly against his chest, finding comfort in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"Yes," Yun Che answered, his voice low and steady but filled with conviction. It was only one word, but it carried all the promises she needed. He lowered his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, lingering as if to seal the moment.
"I've missed you so much, you know," Hua Caili murmured, her voice a fragile whisper that broke the stillness. Her arms tightened around him, as though afraid he might slip away. The past three years had been a trial for her, each day a test of her patience and resolve. Yet she knew it hadn't been easy for Yun Che either. The lines of weariness on his face, faint but unmistakable, told their own story. Yun Che said nothing in response, but his embrace grew firmer, his actions speaking the words he could not.
For a moment, time seemed to stop, their shared warmth shielding them from the world. Slowly, reluctantly, they eased apart, though the bond between them remained unbroken.
"We have to show a bit more restraint for now," Yun Che said softly, his hand lifting to gently brush away the tears that clung to the corners of her eyes. "Mm," Hua Caili replied with a soft hum of agreement, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. She cast her gaze downward, but her hands lingered in his, unwilling to fully let go. The two slowly made their way toward the spot where their respective groups were waiting.
Earlier, Hua Caili had brought Yun Che to meet High Priest Six Laughs. During their meeting, Yun Che completely shattered the High Priest's understanding of cooking mastery. Not only did Yun Che flawlessly create the legendary Moon and Cloud Cake and the intricate Four-Colored Cloud Soup, but he went on to prepare several other extraordinary dishes when the High Priest, unwilling to accept the results, asked Yun Che to cook him again and again.. In the end, the old High Priest, though reluctant, was forced to accept the results.
Yet, even as he acknowledged Yun Che's mastery, his pride as a culinary expert—refined over millions of years—would not let the matter rest. His piercing gaze locked onto Yun Che as he asked, his voice heavy with disbelief, "How did you do it? How can someone so young, who hasn't even lived a fraction of my years, possess such terrifying cooking mastery? What is your secret?"
The room grew silent as the High Priest's words echoed, the weight of his question pressing down on everyone present. For someone of his status, revered not only as a profound cultivator but also as a legendary culinary master, being surpassed was an unimaginable blow. To think that a mere youth could achieve something that had eluded him for countless millennia was almost unbearable. Yun Che, however, remained calm under the High Priest's scrutiny. His expression was serene, betraying none of the storm within his mind. He knew the risks of revealing too much but also understood the importance of gaining the High Priest's trust.
With a slight smile, he replied, "It's not as mysterious as you think. I used Light Profound Energy to enhance their natural essence. It's a subtle but effective technique." As Yun Che answered his hand grew faintly with white light, its holiness and pure aura spread out. The room froze. Gasps rippled through the attendants as their eyes widened in shock.
The High Priest's composure cracked as his eyes widen with shock. It was a pity, but in the end, the High Priest had no choice but to let Yun Che go. His questions remained unanswered, his pride bruised, and his thoughts restless, but he could not stop the pair from leaving.
Yun Che and Hua Caili ascended into the sky, their figures shrinking as they flew further into the horizon, leaving the dejected High Priest. The attendants, still dazed from the events that had unfolded, dared not speak a word as their master remained motionless, lost in thought.
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As Yun Che and Hua Caili flew through the open skies, the winds carried with them. The serenity of the moment should have eased Yun Che's mind, but his thoughts were clouded, his heart unsettled. He glanced at Hua Caili, her expression bright and carefree, a sharp contrast to the storm brewing within him. Just as the pair gone vast distance away, Yun Che suddenly heard a voice echo in his mind. "Kid," the familiar voice of High Priest Six Laughs resonated, startling Yun Che. "I've watched that little girl grows up and treasure her as if she were my own granddaughter. The way she looks at you… I hope I'm wrong about what I'm thinking. But ah… whatever. Since you're interesting, I'll help you out when the time comes."
The voice faded as abruptly as it had appeared, leaving Yun Che momentarily stunned. His flight faltered slightly as the words sank in. He didn't respond, knowing it was unnecessary—the old priest would not expect one. Yet the message lingered in his mind, stirring unease.
The High Priest's tone carried no malice, but there was a depth to his words that Yun Che could not ignore. The casual demeanor of the man who called himself Six Laughs hid a terrifying perception, one that saw far deeper than anyone Yun Che had encountered before. That the old man had already grasped the subtle nuances behind Hua Caili's actions was both impressive and unsettling. As Yun Che and Hua Caili drew closer to where their respective kingdom groups were stationed, a sudden resonance echoed in their minds—voices imbued with divine authority.
"Yuan'er, you've returned"
"Caili, you've returned" The voices carrying relief. Without exchanging a word, the pair quickened their pace, their figures streaking across the sky like meteors as they headed toward their respective forces. Soon, Yun Che arrived at the gathering spot of the Dreamweaver Kingdom's people located. The area was bustling with activity, but a subtle tension hung in the air, palpable to someone as perceptive as Yun Che. Among the group, Meng Kongchan, the so-called "father," stood with his usual calm demeanor. He greeted Yun Che with a faint smile, but his silence conveyed an undercurrent of seriousness. Yun Che responded with a polite bow; his expression respectful yet unreadable.
Just as he was about to speak, Meng Kongchan's voice echoed directly in his mind, calm but firm: "Yuan'er, go to Jianxi and he will tell you what you want to know"
It seemed that Meng Kongchan was aware of Yun Che's dealings with Meng Jianxi. This was hardly surprising; after all, he was the God who ruled over the Dreamweaver Kingdom of God. With another bow to the "father," Yun Che simply replied, "Yes," before turning and flying toward where the rest of the group was located. As he ascended, his thoughts swirled.
It wasn't long before Yun Che's sharp eyes spotted Meng Jianxi waiting among the gathering. The latter's expression was grim, his usually composed demeanor showing visible cracks. Yun Che's gaze hardened slightly as he adjusted his approach, his mind already racing through possibilities. As Yun Che descended, Meng Jianxi's eyes snapped toward him, recognition lighting up his face. Relief mingled with tension as he called out, "Brother Yuan, you're here!" His figure blurred as he flew forward to meet Yun Che, his movements hurried and unsteady.
"What's happened?" Yun Che asked, his tone steady but edged with curiosity. Despite his calm exterior, he could tell from Meng Jianxi's flustered appearance that something significant had happened. Meng Jianxi hesitated for a moment, as though gathering his thoughts. His voice trembled as he finally spoke,
"While you were away… the people of Eternal Night have arrived."
"Have you seen their Divine Daughter?" Yun Che asked immediately, his tone firm and focused. He knew nothing about the Eternal Night Kingdom of God, and the mention of their arrival had ignited his curiosity. He needed to know more—and quickly.
"Yes…" Meng Jianxi replied after a brief pause; his voice slightly unsteady. "Although I wasn't able to see her face because she was wearing a veil to cover it, I can tell that she's a heavenly beauty…"
Meng Jianxi said, his voice gradually steadying as he recounted everything, he knew about the Divine Daughter of the Eternal Night Kingdom of God. Yun Che listened quietly, not interrupting.
Every piece of information was crucial to him. After all, he already had plans in motion for many of the Divine Kingdoms, but with nothing yet for Eternal Night, every detail was invaluable. His sharp gaze remained fixed on Meng Jianxi, ensuring that not a single word was missed.
"…And not only that, but it seems our intelligence wasn't wrong," Meng Jianxi said, his voice dropping to a near whisper as though the very words carried immense weight. "Lord God Father confirmed it himself," he added, his tone solemn.
!!!! Yun Che's brows shot up, his sharp gaze locking onto Meng Jianxi. "You don't mean…?" His words trailed off as his mind raced, piecing together the earlier fragments of information about the Eternal Night Kingdom Of God. His usually calm demeanor cracked, betraying a flicker of genuine astonishment.
"She's at the sixth level of the Divine Extinction Realm!" Meng Jianxi declared, the words carrying a force that seemed to ripple through the air.
!!!!!!!! Yun Che's eyebrows shot up even more as his eyes widen, his mind racing as countless thoughts flashed through his head. For a moment, his breathing quickened, but he soon forced himself to steady it, regaining his composure. After a brief pause, he spoke, his tone measured but laced with curiosity.
"Even if she's at the sixth level of the Divine Extinction Realm, she should be thousands of years old, right?" Yun Che asked, his sharp gaze fixed on Meng Jianxi. As far as Yun Che knew, reaching such a realm required not just talent but time—an immense amount of time. Dian Juizhi, one of, if not the most renowned geniuses across the Abyss, had been considered the pinnacle of talent in this era.
Even so, after several thousand years, he had only managed to reach the eighth level of the Divine Extinction Realm. If the Eternal Night Kingdom's Divine Daughter had truly reached the sixth level, logic dictated she must also be thousands of years old. Even if she only became Divine Daughter not too long ago, her actual age should be far greater than that.
"No," Meng Jianxi said, shaking his head with a serious expression. "Lord God Father himself confirmed it—she's definitely under a hundred years old." Although life aura in the Abyss is quite unreliable, but for True God, it was not the same. Not many thing can escape the glaze of the God so their words have more weight than other.
His answer was nothing short of shocking. Yun Che's eyes narrowed as he processed the revelation. Under a hundred years old? The concept was almost inconceivable. The Divine Extinction Realm was a pinnacle of power, a realm so distant that countless cultivators devoted their entire lives to pursuing it, only to fall short.
For someone to reach the sixth level of the Divine Extinction Realm at such a young age defied all logic. Hua Caili, the Divine Daughter of the Heaven Breaker Kingdom of God, had already shaken the Abyss when she broke into the Divine Extinction Realm at just nineteen years old. Her achievement was hailed as a once-in-a-generation miracle, one that set her apart even among the Divine Daughters and Sons. But even with her monstrous talent, progressing further would take her decades—perhaps centuries.
Each level in the Divine Extinction Realm was akin to scaling the heavens themselves, the difficulty growing exponentially with every step. For the Eternal Night Divine Daughter to have reached the sixth level at such a young age… it was something beyond comprehension.
"To think such a monster exists… one just like you, aren't it?" A soft, ethereal voice echoed in Yun Che's mind—it was Li Suo, her tone calms yet tinged with subtle amusement.
"Indeed," Yun Che responded inwardly, his thoughts racing. His outward expression, however, mirrored Meng Jianxi's grim demeanor, though his mind was already churning through countless possibilities, adjusting plans and devising contingencies.
After a moment of heavy silence, Yun Che let out a soft sigh, as though releasing the weight of his thoughts. Slowly, he reached out and rested a reassuring hand on Meng Jianxi's shoulder.
"Do your best, Jianxi," Yun Che said plainly, his tone calm but carrying an unmistakable finality. Without waiting for a response, he turned and began to walk away, his figure exuding an air of quiet authority. Meng Jianxi remained frozen in place. Yun Che's words were simple, yet the weight they carried left him stunned.
"Brother Yuan… you are the true Divine Son…" Meng Jianxi called out, his voice trembling with emotion. But Yun Che paid him no mind, his expression unreadable as he turned a deaf ear and vanished into the distance, leaving Meng Jianxi standing alone, his words hanging in the air.