Chapter 2139: Truths and Lies

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The moment the Abyssal Monarch spoke, everyone's gaze instinctively followed his line of sight—and all eyes landed on Yun Che.

A wave of shock rippled through the arena.

Surprise turned into confusion, then disbelief.

What was going on?

Why had the Abyssal Monarch pointed them toward Yun Che when asked about Long Xi's mother?

Meng Jianxi's mind raced.

His past interactions with Yun Che flashed through his thoughts, and suddenly, a realization struck him.

Back then, Yun Che had asked about the scarred-faced dragon girl.

At the time, it had seemed like simple curiosity.

It had seemed like Yun Che had some interest in her, but nothing more.

But now…

Now, it was clear there was more to the story.

As murmurs and speculation spread among the gathered crowd, Yun Che, who had been under everyone's intense scrutiny, suddenly stood up. Without a word, without even acknowledging the question posed to him, he began walking forward.

His steps were slow but deliberate, each one drawing more attention, yet his expression remained distant and unreadable. He did not offer a response to the Abyssal Monarch's inquiry, nor did he acknowledge the countless gazes piercing into him.

This… was an act of blatant disrespect.

The Abyssal Monarch had spoken, yet Yun Che ignored him completely. If it had been anyone else, they would have immediately answered or at the very least shown proper deference. But Yun Che simply walked forward, as if no one else existed in this vast arena—as if only he and the girl before him mattered.

The tension in the air grew thicker. What was he doing?

Step by step, Yun Che moved closer and closer until he finally reached the scarred-faced dragon girl lying motionless before the Monarch.

His usually calm and composed expression wavered. His heart clenched, a deep pain twisting through his soul as he stood before her.

Then, for the first time since he stepped forward, he spoke.

"Your Majesty… may I?"

His voice was hoarse, filled with emotions even he could not suppress. His gaze never left Long Xi, the weight of his feelings evident in his eyes.

A small smile tugged at the Abyssal Monarch's lips. Without a word, he gently lifted Long Xi with his power, guiding her fragile form before Yun Che.

"Un."

His approval was simple, but there was an unmistakable sense of acknowledgment in his tone.

If the one who had inherited his elder brother's legacy did not even have the backbone to claim what was his, then that would have been far more disappointing.

By now, everyone in the arena was well aware of Yun Che's (Meng Jianyuan's) relationship with Hua Caili. Many had already begun to anticipate a bloody feud between Yun Che and Long Xi, assuming that hatred and vengeance would dictate the next course of action.

Yet—what happened next left them utterly speechless.

Without hesitation, Yun Che gently wrapped Long Xi in his power, his movements deliberate and filled with care.

"I'm sorry, Xi'er."

His voice was soft, his tone gentle, carrying undeniable sorrow.

Then—Light Profound Energy erupted from his body.

A warm, radiant glow engulfed Long Xi as the pure, divine energy began mending her shattered body.

The stunned silence was deafening.

"Yun Che?!"

Hua Qingying and Hua Fuchen almost jumped to their feet, their eyes filled with confusion and disbelief. This wasn't what they had expected—this wasn't what anyone had expected!

Yet among the chaos, Hua Caili simply smiled.

Without hesitation, she walked toward Yun Che, her expression serene, as if she had already foreseen this moment.

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Across the arena, Meng Kongchan, despite his godly physique, had already begun recovering from his wounds. His body, once burned and battered, was slowly regenerating, yet he paid no attention to his own healing.

Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Yun Che.

His **son—his own flesh and blood—was now holding in his arms the very woman who should have been his mortal enemy.

And beside him—his future daughter-in-law, Hua Caili, had just sat down quietly at Yun Che's side, as if accepting the situation without hesitation.

"What… is going… on?"

Meng Kongchan's mind spun with disbelief.

What was he witnessing?

What was this insanity unfolding before his eyes?

Yun Che remained silent, countless thoughts flashing through his mind. He had already formed a rough idea of what had transpired between Hua Caili and Long Xi during their match. Though it had been a mere suspicion before, after everything that had happened, he was now certain. However, despite his understanding, Hua Caili's reaction still deeply unsettled him.

But no matter what turmoil brewed within him, he did not stop.

He continued to channel his Light Profound Energy, allowing its gentle yet powerful radiance to nurture Long Xi's shattered body, repairing the damage that had nearly pushed her to the brink of death.

Then, a voice broke through his thoughts.

"Brother Yun, will she be okay?"

Hua Caili's voice was soft, steady, yet filled with concern.

For the enemy who had nearly taken her life.

For the woman whom everyone assumed she would hate.

The moment her words echoed through the arena, disbelief spread across the faces of those listening.

What was happening?

Why did it sound like Hua Caili and Long Xi were… friends?

This was not how things were supposed to be.

Yun Che did not immediately answer. His hands remained steady, though a subtle tremor ran through them as his emotions continued to churn in turmoil.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and heavy with an honesty that carried undeniable pain.

"Even with my Light Profound Energy, I can heal her wounded body and help restore some of her lost Blood Essence…"

His fingers curled slightly, the light glowing brighter as he continued his treatment.

"But it will take thousands of years before she truly recovers."

The weight of his words settled heavily upon the room.

He was saving her life.

But the price she had paid could never be undone.

Yun Che's hand trembled, his heart aching with a pain far deeper than words could express.

"What is happening?!"

A wave of shocked murmurs and staggered gasps rippled through the ancient hall, the air thick with confusion and disbelief.

The Divine Regents, Elders, and profound practitioners whispered among themselves, struggling to process the bizarre turn of events unfolding before them.

"Caili?"

Hua Fuchen and Hua Qingying's faces darkened with confusion as they stared at Hua Caili. Out of everyone present, her reaction was the most unfathomable.

Not only had she not shown any resentment toward the very person who had severely wounded her, but now she seemed genuinely concerned for Long Xi's well-being?

This went against all logic.

Where was the hatred?

Where was the rivalry that should have existed between them?

What exactly was going on?

Then, Hua Caili finally spoke.

Her voice was calm, unwavering, carrying only a few simple words—

"Long Xi is Brother Yun's daughter."

For a brief moment, a deathly silence filled the hall.

Then—

"WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!"

A collective roar of shock exploded as every single person—from the Divine Regents to the Elders to the countless spectators—let out unrestrained cries of disbelief.

Eyes bulged wide, faces paled in shock, and even the strongest of cultivators momentarily lost their composure.

The only person who remained unfazed was the Abyssal Monarch.

Yet, beside him, even the High Priests, the Divine Regents, and other powerful figures had shouted in shock, their disbelief just as genuine as the rest.

For the High Priests, this revelation struck them harder than expected.

Though they had already been given some forewarning by the Abyssal Monarch, they had still assumed Yun Che's connection to Long Xi was no more than mere involvement.

But this?

To discover that he wasn't just connected to her—but was actually her father?

Yun Che—Meng Jianyuan—was Long Xi's father.

"Yun... Yun... YUN CHE'S DAUGHTER!!!!!!"

"Brother Yuan… DAUGHTER?!!!!"

"YUAN'ER'S DAUGHTER?!!!!!!!!"

"…. MY GRANDDAUGHTER?!!!!!"

A cacophony of shocked roars erupted from every corner of the hall, shaking the very foundations of the arena. Voices overlapped in sheer disbelief as one revelation after another crashed down upon them like a tidal wave.

Many had already speculated about Yun Che's connection to the Dragon God Clan, especially after witnessing his overwhelming draconic power in his battle against Long Huolie. But this?

This was beyond anything they could have imagined.

By now, many had already pieced together the final, horrifying truth.

The Ancestral Dragon God Blood Essence that Long Wangchu had proudly offered—the very essence he had used to cultivate his strength—

It had belonged to Long Xi.

But if Long Xi was Yun Che's daughter…

That meant…

The Ancestral Dragon Clan had unknowingly offered Yun Che his own daughter's blood essence.

His daughter's stolen lifeblood.

No wonder.

No wonder he had erupted in uncontrollable fury.

No wonder he had cast aside all restraint and revealed his terrifying abilities.

No wonder he had mercilessly slaughtered the elder of the Ancestral Dragon Clan.

This wasn't just an act of rage.

This was vengeance—born from a betrayal so profound that it shattered all reason.

Amidst the chaos, Long Wangchu stood frozen within the gathering of dragons. His thoughts whirled uncontrollably, memories flashing through his mind.

"That's why…"

Everything suddenly made sense.

He had been struggling to understand why Yun Che—who had once been so easygoing, so amicable toward him—had suddenly turned into an unrelenting force of fury the moment he saw the dragon blood.

Now, he finally understood.

They had crossed lines that should never have been crossed.

The sheer weight of their transgression hung over the room like an inescapable storm, suffocating and absolute.

"I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER… I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER…!!!!"

Meng Kongchan's voice erupted with unrestrained joy, his booming laughter shaking the walls of the ancient hall.

"HAHAHAHA… HAHAHAHA!!!"

Pure happiness surged from him like a tidal wave, drowning out the suffocating tension. But just as his laughter grew louder, a hand suddenly appeared out of nowhere, clamping over his mouth.

Meng Kongchan blinked in surprise, only now realizing that the Abyssal Monarch had already signaled for silence.

It was Hua Fuchen who had swiftly moved to silence him. Even though he had acted, his own eyes still held deep confusion, his gaze locked onto the unbelievable scene unfolding before him.

By this time, the chaos had finally settled.

Silence descended once more as order returned to the hall.

Yet, for the Ancestral Dragon Clan, silence did not bring relief.

It brought a slow, creeping doom.

Their fate was already sealed.

They had betrayed the direct bloodline of the Primordial Azure Dragon God.

They had offered a father his own daughter's stolen Blood Essence.

There was no mercy for a sin of this magnitude. The punishment that awaited them was clear as day. And they all knew—their future was no more.

Whatever verdict was to be passed, it might as well be the extinction of their entire race.

In another place, if they were forced into a life-or-death struggle, the dragons would have fought to their last breath—if not to win, then at least to preserve their dignity.

But here?

Here, in the realm ruled by the Abyssal Monarch, their dignity had already been stripped away.

It was not by battle but by the actions of their own Lord.

Now, they did not even have the right to bargain, nor did they have the power to resist.

There was nothing left for them but to quietly await their fate.

If death was their punishment, then so be it. At least, in their final moments, they could cling to whatever shattered remains of their pride still stood.

Then, the Abyssal Monarch's voice rang out once more.

"Meng Jianyuan, do you know where Long Xi's mother is?"

The question hung heavily in the air, more piercing than before.

Yun Che remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.

Finally, he answered, his voice low, laced with both longing and sorrow.

"I really do not know. She and I… parted ways long, long ago."

His words were honest, yet within that honesty lay an aching yearning—a feeling so deeply buried that it seemed to resurface against his will.

He knew the Abyssal Monarch had given him face when he had chosen not to answer the first time. But this?

This was the second time.

There was no avoiding it.

He had to answer.

Yet, deep inside Yun Che's mind, a storm raged.

Thoughts spun wildly, calculations forming and shattering as he scrambled to make sense of everything.

He needed a plan.

An explanation.

The Monarch might seem easygoing, but something about all of this felt wrong.

Too coincidental.

Too controlled.

A chill crept down Yun Che's spine.

Was all of this truly fate?

Or had everything that had happened…

Been part of the Monarch's plan all along?

Everyone present could feel the deep love in Yun Che's voice.

Even those who knew nothing of his past, nothing of his struggles, could hear the raw longing, the unspoken sorrow laced within his words.

The weight of his emotions did not go unnoticed.

But as the realization sank in, their shock kept multiplying—until it reached a level beyond comprehension.

It was one thing to learn that Long Xi's mother was a True God.

It was another to realize that Long Xi herself was only around ninety years old—and that Meng Jianyuan was merely one hundred and thirteen.

Which meant…

That motherfucking Meng Jianyuan actually laid with a True God when he was barely twenty-something years old.

This fucking…

…This absolute lunatic…

And not just any True God!

The True God of the Dragon Race!

The daughter of the Primordial Azure Dragon God himself!

But as shocking as it was, this revelation carried an even greater implication.

Everyone in the Abyss had always believed that there were twelve True Gods.

Seven belonged to the Divine Kingdoms, and five were the Ancient True Gods who had survived from the ancient era. But now? With this revelation?

That meant that a thirteenth True God was still out there somewhere. A True God from the Dragon Race. A True God that they had long forgotten.

For the dragons, this truth was a death sentence in itself.

Instead of feeling relief that a True God of their own race still existed, all they felt was despair.

Because they had wronged her daughter.

Because they had destroyed their own future with their own hands. Their sins would be irredeemable.

"You really don't know…?"

The Abyssal Monarch's voice carried a trace of something indiscernible—perhaps curiosity, perhaps something deeper.

"I really do not know."

Yun Che shook his head once more, his voice steady but tinged with sorrow.

"Back then, because of Master, she and I were forced to part ways. At the time, I didn't even know she was pregnant. It wasn't until I met Long Xi in the Abyss Qilin Realm that I realized… she was my and Shen Xi's daughter."

He spoke honestly, his words carrying undeniable weight.

The revelation settled over the hall like an unseen storm.

His eyes, filled with sadness, reflected the emotions he could no longer suppress.

Beside him, Hua Caili listened in silence.

She did not show anger.

She did not show displeasure.

She simply listened, as if she had already accepted the truth.

And in that moment, everything from the past clicked into place.

Back then, in the Abyss Qilin Realm, Yun Che had acted like he didn't recognize Long Xi.

Now, they finally understood why.

He truly hadn't known.

But after Hua Caili and Hua Qingying left the Abyss Qilin Realm, Yun Che and Long Xi must have recognized each other afterward.

Everything lined up.

"I see."

The Abyssal Monarch gave a small nod, his expression unreadable as his thoughts ran deep.

Beside him, everyone else began piecing the truth together.

They had heard the rumors.

They had seen Meng Jianyuan's monstrous talent—a man who, despite only being at the Divine Master Realm, had displayed strength that defied all reason.

They had heard that a century ago, Meng Jianyuan had disappeared.

And that when he returned, he still kept the name Yun Che, a name given to him by his Master.

Now, it all made sense.

If it was because of his Master that he had been forced to part with Shen Xi, then given Yun Che's unwavering respect for his Master, it was reasonable.

Still…

For a man like Yun Che, for someone who had achieved everything through sheer defiance of fate—

How much had it torn him apart to know he had a daughter all along… and never even knew?

Seeing that he wouldn't get any more information out of Yun Che, the Abyssal Monarch decided to let the matter rest—for now.

Had it not been for his need for Yun Che's power in his future plans, he would have pressed further. But for now, it wasn't worth the risk.

Everything that had happened so far…

From the moment Yun Che arrived in the Pure Land, every step he had taken, every revelation that had unfolded—

Had all been within the Monarch's design.

It had all been under his control.

But from the way Yun Che had reacted…

From the wariness beginning to show in his eyes…

It was clear that Yun Che was starting to pick up on it.

The Abyssal Monarch's gaze darkened, a flicker of thoughts passing through his mind.

"If it weren't for the Heavenly Treasure's spirits… I would have been kept in the dark as well."