Chapter 2140: Unchanged Heart
The trajectory of his plans, everything that had led to this moment, all of it had started because of the Heavenly Treasure Spirits.
And Yun Che—
His spiritual veins…
Even now, just thinking about it made the Monarch's expression shift imperceptibly.
Back when he had first laid eyes on Yun Che's spiritual veins, he had been so utterly shocked that even with his millions of years of wisdom and experience, it had taken everything in him to not let his astonishment show.
A spiritual vein resembling an endless starry sky… filled with infinite stars.
It was something beyond comprehension.
Was it possible…?
Could it be that his father, elder brother, the other Creation Gods, and the Devil Emperors…
Did they once possess such spiritual veins as well?
The thought alone sent a chill down even his spine.
A perfect Divine Essence was known to possess ten stars—an achievement beyond the reach of most.
For those who attained such perfection, it was enough to inherit the power of a being at the True God Realm.
But that only applied to the early stages of the True God Realm.
For most, this was the pinnacle of potential—a path that, at best, could guarantee ascension to True Godhood.
Yet, for someone like Yun Che, whose spiritual veins contained an infinite number of stars…
Becoming a True God wasn't just a possibility.
It was an inevitability.
And beyond that…
Perhaps… just perhaps… he could reach even higher.
To many, even the True Gods of the Divine Kingdoms, the term "Ancient True God" was believed to be nothing more than a title.
A designation for those who had survived since the Gods and Devils Era until the present day.
But what they did not understand—what they had never truly grasped—was that it was not just a title.
It was a ranking of power itself.
The True Gods of the Divine Kingdoms could never defeat even a single Ancient True God of the Pure Land.
Not because they lacked talent.
Not because they were weak.
But because they were simply not in the same realm of power.
No matter how much they tried, no matter how much they cultivated—
The gap between them was absolute.
Divine True God was the first minor realm of True Godhood, marking the moment when one achieved True Divinity, officially ascending to become a True God.
This ascension could be achieved in two ways:
Naturally, by cultivating one's divine essence to its limit and breaking through the boundary of mortality. By inheritance, receiving the Source Power of a fallen True God, thus inheriting their divinity.
These were the True Gods of the Divine Kingdoms—powerful, but still within the first stage of True Godhood.
However, to become an Ancient True God, one had to step beyond the limits of ordinary True Divinity.
Their spiritual veins had to accumulate a vast number of stars, forming a cosmic network within their divine essence.
But that alone was not enough.
A true Ancient True God had to use those stars to create a world.
A world that could sustain life, gather the fates of living beings, and receive their belief.
It was through this process that they transcended mortality, achieving a form of everlasting existence.
This was the reason why the Ancient True Gods of the Pure Land had survived till now.
As long as the Abyss existed, as long as life continued to thrive within it, the Ancient True Gods could not die.
Their very existence was interwoven with the fate of the Abyss itself.
But the cost of such power… was sacrifice.
During the great catastrophe, the beginning of today's Abyss, countless True Gods and True Devils had offered up their divine power to create a land for the living.
In doing so, they weakened themselves, making them vulnerable to the Abyss Corrosion—the very force that had devoured all thing.
Many of them perished, unable to withstand the encroaching darkness. But their sacrifice was not in vain. Because of them, the Ancient True Gods of today still live on.
They had endured, tethered to the Abyss itself, their existence inseparable from the world they had helped create.
Above the Ancient True Gods, there existed only two realms: the Creation Gods and the Devil Emperors.
These two were one and the same in terms of power, yet fundamentally different in nature.
The Abyssal Monarch, Mo Su, had spent countless years striving to break through into that realm.
But no matter how much he tried, no matter how close he came, there was an invisible line that barred his path—
A boundary.
Thin as it seemed, it was an insurmountable chasm.
A threshold that no one, not even him, had been able to cross.
But now, with the arrival of Meng Jianyuan…
He saw a way forward.
He saw the key to that forbidden realm.
If Yun Che truly was Meng Kongchan's son, then Mo Su was certain—
Given Meng Jianyuans unshakable devotion to his master,
Given Meng Jianyuan willingness to sacrifice and reveals everything for his dughter,
If one day, Yun Che were to surpass all limits and reach a higher realm,
Then Mo Su was certain he could still make Yun Che kneel before him.
After all—
The power source that Meng Kongchan had inherited…
Was power that Mo Su himself had created.
As long as Yun Che loved Hua Caili…
As long as he still held attachment to his family…
He could be controlled.
This was Mo Su's plan.
To manipulate, to exploit, to bend fate itself to his will.
For her—he would do anything.
For his true goal, he would stop at nothing.
He would use everything, everyone, every possible leverage to ascend.
But unfortunately for him…
Even with his unfathomable wisdom…
Even with the knowledge of the Heavenly Treasure's spirits…
There were still things beyond his sight.
Things that even he did not know.
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"Alright then, I'll put that matter aside."
Clearing his thoughts, the Abyssal Monarch spoke with finality before shifting his gaze toward Hua Caili, who remained seated beside Yun Che.
Though he had already received reports, though he had even secretly used the Heavenly Treasure's power to spy on everything, he still turned his attention to her.
He knew why Hua Caili bore no grudge against Long Xi.
After all, it wasn't truly Long Xi herself who had gone berserk.
The real cause…
Was the Abyssal Core that had fused onto Long Xi's scarred face.
"Little Caili, you should already know… that it wasn't Long Xi who attacked you that day, right?"
The Monarch's voice was calm, yet it carried a weight that instantly silenced the hall.
Hua Caili nodded gently.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Her tone was unwavering, her expression composed.
"It wasn't Long Xi who injured me that day."
"WHAT???!!!!!"
"HUH???!!!!!"
A deafening explosion of voices followed her words.
Today had already been one shock after another—but this? This shattered all expectations. Everyone who had witnessed the battle that day had seen it with their own eyes—
Long Xi had been the one fighting Hua Caili!
Why, then, would the Monarch himself claim otherwise?
And even more baffling—
Why would Hua Caili agree with him?!
What the hell was going on?
At that moment, the Chief Priest, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
"The Abyssal Core… It was the Abyssal Core embedded in Long Xi's face."
His words cut through the confusion like a blade.
"It spread Abyssal Dust through her body, but what we did not expect… was that it had already developed a weak consciousness."
A hushed silence overtook the room.
"For a brief moment, the Abyssal Core took control of Long Xi's body."
"And because the Abyssal Core embodies only destruction—pure, absolute destruction—it unleashed its power without restraint."
"That is why, in just a single instant, it nearly killed Hua Caili."
The revelation left the room stunned beyond words.
What they had assumed to be a fight between two Divine Daughters…
Had actually been the influence of an Abyssal power beyond mortal control.
Long Xi had never truly meant to kill Hua Caili.
She had simply lost control.
Another Priest stepped forward, his voice grave.
"For now, we have erased the weak consciousness from the Abyssal Core."
"However… there is no guarantee that it will not return in the future."
"After all, none of us—not even the Monarch—possess the ability to control the Abyssal Dust like certain someone does."
His words carried a heavy implication—
They had merely suppressed it.
It was not truly gone.
And if it returned… Long Xi could lose herself again.
But as those thoughts raced through their minds, another realization erupted like a thunderclap.
The Priest had just acknowledged the Fog Monarch!
He had openly admitted that the Fog Monarch had the ability to control the Abyssal Dust.
For everyone present—whether they were Divine Sons, Divine Daughters, powerful Elders, or even the Gods themselves—this admission was earth-shattering.
Throughout the countless years they had lived, they had all witnessed the same tragedy time and time again.
Many of their friends, family members, subordinates, and even respected figures had fallen victim to the erosion of Abyssal Dust.
Because once the Abyssal Dust invaded the body, there was no power in existence capable of purging it.
Not the Divine Kingdoms.
Not the Pure Land.
Not even the Abyssal Monarch himself.
Yet, the Fog Monarch alone…
Had proven capable of controlling the Abyssal Dust.
Had risen from obscurity to become one of the most powerful and feared beings in the world.
At first, when rumors spread of his existence, many had dismissed it as a joke.
But as time passed, and as more undeniable evidence surfaced, the world had no choice but to acknowledge the truth.
Even the Pure Land itself had once dispatched their Knight Commander to capture him—
And failed.
That alone had elevated the Fog Monarch to the level of a True God in terms of threat.
And his ability to command the Abyssal Beasts of the Fog Sea…
Just the thought of it sent chills down everyone's spine.
At that moment, as soon as the Fog Monarch was mentioned, one figure in particular reacted immediately.
Pan Buwang.
His hands tightened into fists, his entire body tensing as thoughts flashed through his mind.
He still remembered his master's words.
He still remembered what the Fog Monarch had told him.
And now, hearing his master's name openly acknowledged by the Priests of the Pure Land…
"At the time, when Long Xi attacked this junior, I was unfortunately distracted for a brief moment during the battle…"
Hua Caili's voice was calm yet unwavering as she spoke, her gaze steady.
"It was because of Long Xi's words before she lost control."
"For that, I wholeheartedly apologize for causing Father, Auntie, and everyone to worry."
Her words carried genuine remorse, yet there was no hesitation in them.
Then, as she turned, her eyes fell upon Yun Che—
The father of the very person who had gravely injured her.
Yet, in those clear, bright eyes, there was no resentment.
No anger.
No hatred.
"I know Brother Yun may have secrets here and there…"
Her voice was gentle, yet it reached straight into his very soul.
"But my heart remains the same."
"I will love Long Xi as if she were my own—"
"If you promise to never keep a secret like this from me again."
The moment she spoke those words, Yun Che felt his entire body tremble.
His hand shook slightly, unable to suppress the emotions crashing within him.
His heart was already in turmoil, but now—
It was something beyond that.
He could already piece together what must have happened.
Long Xi must have accidentally revealed that he was her father during the battle.
That moment of realization had caused Hua Caili to falter—even if only for a split second.
And that brief hesitation had nearly turned their battle into tragedy.
He had expected resentment.
He had expected anger.
Even hatred.
He had prepared himself for the worst.
For her to turn away from him.
For her to question everything between them.
Especially after he had once told her she was his first woman…
The weight of that lie should have shattered everything between them.
But instead—
Instead, she stood before him, eyes filled with the same unwavering love as before.
No, not the same.
As Yun Che looked deeper into her eyes, he felt his heart tighten.
There was something more.
Something different.
The light in her eyes…
It was brighter.
Like a sky filled with endless stars.
A brilliance that seemed to draw in his very soul.
"Just what happened to her while she was unconscious…?"
Yun Che could not understand it.
But what he did understand was one thing.
Even now—
Even knowing everything… She still loved him. Just as deeply. Perhaps even more.
As everyone listened to Hua Caili's words, the pieces finally fell into place.
It all made sense now.
That day during the battle, the two must have been exchanging words in secret—words that no one else had heard.
And at some point in their exchange, Long Xi must have revealed the truth—that she was Meng Jianyuan's daughter.
That single revelation had caused Hua Caili to momentarily lose focus.
And in that exact moment, the weak consciousness of the Abyssal Core had seized control of Long Xi.
What followed was not Long Xi's own will, but the Abyssal Core unleashing her full strength in an instant.
It was that attack that had nearly killed Hua Caili.
No wonder.
No wonder the High Priests had remained silent until now.
No wonder they had recognized from the very beginning that Long Xi wasn't truly at fault.
That was why, even when Hua Fuchen and Hua Qingying had been blinded by rage, the High Priests had refused to allow them to harm Long Xi.
They had known the truth all along.
And now, everything had finally come to light.
"I promise not to lie to you again."
Yun Che nodded, his voice steady as he met Hua Caili's gaze.
His eyes were filled with sincerity…
But deep inside—within the depths of his soul—a pain only he and Li Suo could sense trembled like an unbearable weight.
He had already figured it out that the moment he stepped into the Pure Land. His connection to Long Xi had been exposed from the very beginning. Their auras were too similar. The Abyssal Monarch must have realized this immediately—
And then used that knowledge to orchestrate everything that had happened until now.
From the very first moment, this had all been within the Monarch's plans.
But at the very least…
His most important secret remained safe. For now.
Yun Che let out a slow breath before pulling Hua Caili closer, holding her gently in his arms.
"I'm sorry."
His voice never rose above a whisper.
And yet, in that moment, those two words echoed deep within his soul—
A silent confession that would never reach beyond that.
Whether it was Meng Kongchan, the people of Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom, or Hua Fuchen and Hua Qingying from Heaven Breaker Divine Kingdom,
Whether it was the other Divine Kingdoms, the elders, the spectators—
Everyone could feel it.
Hua Caili's love for Meng Jianyuan was genuine and unchanged.
And Meng Jianyuan's words and actions proved that he truly loved her as well.
Whatever they still needed to discuss,
It was something only the two of them could resolve.
No one would interfere.
But just as the atmosphere seemed to settle…
The Abyssal Monarch's gaze shifted.
His cold eyes turned toward the dragons.
A single glance.
That was all it took for every dragon present to tense up.
The weight of inevitable judgment bore down on them like a mountain of fate.
They knew.
They had known from the moment this trial began.
They would not escape their fate today.
"You should all know your sins."
The Abyssal Monarch's gaze bore down on the dragons, his voice like an undeniable decree.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The dragons lowered their heads, their voices unified in submission.
Even the Dragon Lord, whose injuries had barely begun to stabilize, forced himself to kneel just like the others.
No matter their status, no matter their strength, at this moment—they were nothing before the Monarch's judgment.
Then, to everyone's shock…
The Monarch's gaze shifted to Yun Che.
"Meng Jianyuan, you should already understand everything that has happened."
"I would like you to pass judgment on them."
Silence.
Utter silence.
The hall felt as if it had lost all air, as if time itself had frozen.
The Monarch had just given Yun Che the right to punish the dragons.
"I know that they have wronged your daughter."
"So it is only right that you decide their fate."
The moment those words fell, gasps and murmurs erupted across the hall.
Everyone sucked in cold air, their minds struggling to process what they had just heard.
This was the Abyssal Monarch.
The absolute ruler of the Abyss.
His word was law.
Why would he—of all people—pass judgment to someone else?
Why would he allow another to decide the fate of an entire race?
There was only one possible answer.
Meng Jianyuan was truly valued by the Monarch.
To an extent beyond imagination.
But at the same time…
It also felt right.
Long Xi's mother—Meng Jianyuan's woman—was the True Ancestor of the Dragon Race.
And yet, her own descendants had betrayed her daughter.
As the man who carried dragon legacy, as the one who possessed the strongest dragon bloodline and soul among them…
It was only right that he be the one to pass judgment.
And so, every eye in the room slowly turned to Yun Che.
His fate, his choice—
Would now decide the destiny of the entire Ancestral Dragon Clan.