Chapter 2144: Prince of Darkness Part 2

Days passed swiftly as the cycle of day and night continued. During this time, aside from healing Long Xi and spending time with Hua Caili and his "family," Yun Che devoted himself to intense cultivation. With the aid of multiple Abyss Crystals, his strength surged, pushing him to the ultimate peak of level six Divine Master. A breakthrough was now within reach.

If anyone in the Abyss were to witness his cultivation speed, they would undoubtedly be shocked, but since Yun Che had already revealed his monstrous talents and abilities, there was no longer any need to hold back. With this in mind, he trained relentlessly, consolidating his gains and refining his strength.

During this period, he also confirmed his suspicions with Li Suo. The power the Monarch had used to manipulate space and move everyone around was undoubtedly connected to the heavenly treasures. Most likely, the Monarch had been informed by the heavenly treasure spirits, orchestrating events from the shadows. If his hypothesis was correct, Pure Land itself might be one of the heavenly treasures.

It was no wonder Mo Su could deduce so much. Yet, despite his seemingly all-seeing nature, it appeared that Yun Che's true origin—his existence as someone from another world—had not yet been discovered. With his most important secret still safe, Yun Che focused entirely on his cultivation.

Before he knew it, a month had passed in the blink of an eye. The day had finally arrived—the highly anticipated battle between the Divine Sons of the Star and Moon Divine Kingdoms against the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom was about to begin!

Soon, everyone took to the skies, flying toward the grand arena where the battle for the fourth and fifth positions would take place. Many had arrived early, eager to witness the fight that would determine the rankings.

From Yun Che to Meng Kongchan, from the Divine Regents to the Divine Children, all were present, seated in their respective areas. Overlooking them all, in the main seating area, sat the Ancient True Gods, with the Abyss Monarch positioned above them, his presence alone casting an oppressive weight over the arena.

The rules of the battle remained unchanged—barriers were erected to contain the immense power that would be unleashed. A designated boundary marked the edge of the arena, and any contestant who stepped beyond it would be immediately disqualified. Though the arena was vast, the number of spectators was notably small. However, that was to be expected—the Pure Land Meeting was an exclusive gathering, open only to the most influential figures. Each person present today was either a pillar of their Kingdom or destined to become one in the future.

Among the crowd, the Dragons were also present, though their demeanor was vastly different from before. There were no proud roars, no displays of arrogance—only blank, subdued expressions. With their place already set at the bottom, they had little reason to celebrate or take pride in anything. They were merely here to observe, passing the time while awaiting their uncertain future.

"Don't fucking hold me back, trash!" Pan Buzhuo's voice echoed coldly in Pan Buwang's mind as the two ascended into the sky, flying toward the battle arena.

"I won't," Pan Buwang replied, his voice devoid of emotion. There was no anger, no resentment—just an unsettling calm. However, as he turned his gaze toward the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom's group, his fingers curled into a tight fist before he silently followed Bezhuo, landing onto the arena.

"Brother Buwang, it is good to see you again." Sha Xing, already waiting in the arena, greeted him with a polite bow, his expression composed yet friendly. Beside him, Xian Yue followed suit, bowing respectfully as well.

"Brother Xing, Brother Yue." Pan Buwang returned the gesture with the same level of respect. Though they were opponents today, he couldn't forget that it was Sha Xing who had provided him the opportunity to enter Pure Land in the first place. Fate truly worked in mysterious ways—one moment, allies; the next, adversaries.

"Tskkk." A scoff broke the moment of cordiality. Pan Buzhuo, standing slightly behind Buwang, shot a look of disdain toward Sha Xing and Xian Yue, his expression twisted in barely concealed contempt.

"Trash always surrounds itself with more trash." The thought crossed his mind with an air of disgust as he barely gave them the courtesy of a nod.

Soon, another figure floated down slowly. He was an old man, his face deeply wrinkled, each line carved by time. The moment everyone saw him, their eyes widened in shock, and many instinctively turned toward the Abyssal Monarch, who sat above with a playful smile.

"This humble one is the real one, hahaha," the old man chuckled, noticing their reactions. "Previously, the Lord borrowed this humble appearance, but now, the true Lord is over there, and I am just my regular self." He laughed freely, unbothered by the weight of the countless gazes upon him.

His aura, however, was anything but lighthearted. It was suffocating, pressing down upon the younger generation like an invisible force, making even the most confident Divine Sons tense. His strength was undeniable.

"I am Abyss Knight Commander, titled Carefree. It is a pleasure to meet you Divine Sons. I will be your referee for this match," he introduced himself casually, yet his voice carried enough weight to shake the air.

"Greetings, Sir Knight Commander!" The four contestants bowed slightly in unison. No matter how prideful they were, none dared to show disrespect. Abyssal Knights ranked two hundred and below were all at Divine Limited Realm, and as for the Knight Commanders, their cultivation could range anywhere from the mid-stages to late-stages of Divine Limited Realm, making them figures worthy of respect.

"Is everyone ready?" Carefree asked, his sharp eyes scanning each Divine Son.

"Yes!" The four roared in unison, their auras igniting like flames.

"Then let it begin!"

The instant his voice fell, Carefree's form vanished into the void, leaving behind only a faint ripple in space—his presence erased as though he had never been there at all.

Now, it was just them. The battle had begun.

"BOOOMMM!"

Darkness erupted violently as a figure shot forward like a black comet, tearing through the air toward Sha Xing and Xian Yue. Pan Buzhuo wasted no time, going all out from the very start. His speed was blistering, leaving afterimages in his wake as he closed the distance in an instant.

His fist, enveloped in pure darkness profound energy, crackled with destructive force as he struck forward.

"BOOM!!!"

The devastating impact shattered the area where Sha Xing and Xian Yue had just stood, reducing it to nothing but crumbling debris and shattered void. Yet, when the dust settled, there were no bodies.

"Star God's Broken Shadow..." Buzhuo spat in frustration as his eyes locked onto the two Divine Sons, who had reappeared in the sky a distance away. The same movement technique they had relied on before! He had already fought them once, and seeing them use the same ability again filled him with disappointment.

"But that won't save you!" he roared, his body twisting as he shot into the air, chasing them with relentless speed.

"BOOOMM!!!"

His aura exploded, an overwhelming wave of darkness expanding outward, shrouding the sky in an abyssal domain.

Below, Pan Buwang stood motionless, gazing up at the sky where Buzhuo was unleashing his rampage. His eyes were dark, unreadable.

"Buwang! What are you doing?!"

Divine Regent Qi Heng frowned in confusion. His sharp gaze bore into Pan Buwang, his voice laced with irritation. "It was your request to fight, yet you're just standing there doing nothing! Why aren't you helping Bezhuo?!"

With a composed expression, Pan Buwang turned his head slightly and spoke in a calm, respectful tone.

"Lord God Father, Divine Son Bezhuo stated that he could handle everything on his own. If I enter the fight, I would only hold him back."

"You…"

His words stunned everyone.

"BOOM!"

A starry radiance and lunar brilliance burst forth as Sha Xing and Xian Yue counterattacked. Their profound energies, one as vast as the night sky and the other as ethereal as moonlight, intertwined seamlessly.

Pan Buzhuo's figure streaked through the sky like a shadow of pure destruction. His darkness profound energy surged, twisting space itself as he shot toward Sha Xing, his fists crackling with abyssal force.

"You won't escape me!" he roared.

"Starshatter Eclipse!"

Sha Xing and Xian Yue split apart, their movements perfectly synchronized. With a sweep of his hand, Sha Xing unleashed blinding astral beams, while Xian Yue called forth crescent-shaped slashes of lunar energy, each as sharp as a divine blade.

"Too slow!"

With a thunderous detonation, Buzhuo's darkness expanded into a swirling void field, consuming the incoming attacks. At the same time, his figure vanished, appearing directly before Sha Xing.

"You're first!"

His fist, coated in pure abyssal force, smashed forward like a collapsing mountain.

"BOOM!!!"

Sha Xing barely had time to react before the impact shattered his protective aura, sending him flying backward like a shooting star.

"Brother Xing!" Xian Yue called out.

But before he could assist, Buzhuo spun midair, kicking out with ruthless force. His foot, wreathed in swirling darkness, collided with Xian Yue's chest.

"UGH!"

The Moon Divine Son was blasted downward, his body crashing into the arena floor, leaving behind a crater.

"HAHAHAHA!" Bezhuo roared in triumph, his aura flaring menacingly.

The spectators stirred, their faces displaying mixed emotions.

"Good Good Good!," the Divine Regent Qi Heng said. 

"The battle has just begun," a High Priest murmured. His eyes glowed faintly as he observed the field.

In the main seating area, the Abyssal Monarch remained expressionless, merely watching with an amused glint in his eyes.

"Hmph, pathetic," Pan Buzhuo spat as he descended, his hands forming dark tendrils that lashed out toward Sha Xing and Xian Yue.

Pan Buzhuo had already broken through to the upper compatibility of his darkness art, refining his mastery to an extreme. Though he had only stepped into the fourth level of Divine Extinction Realm a few years before the Star and Moon Divine Sons, his unparalleled control over darkness elevated his strength to that of an early fifth-level Divine Extinction cultivator.

In his mind, this battle was already over. Whether facing them individually or together, he was fully confident in his ability to crush them effortlessly. Pan Buwang's presence was meaningless—there was no need for him at all!

"BOOM!!!!!"

The tendrils collided into Sha Xing and Xian Yue, who had barely managed to stabilize themselves after the last exchange. They were swatted away like insects, their bodies flung across the battlefield as streaks of light and shadow.

Silence.

The Star Divine Regent and the Moon Divine Regent watched the scene unfold, their expressions unreadable.

The impact sent Sha Xing spiraling downward, his body smashing into the ground with a violent thud.

"BOOM!!!"

Dust exploded into the air as his body trembled slightly from the impact, his muscles twitching under the strain of the devastating blow.

In the distance, Xian Yue lay on the ground, his form similarly quivering, struggling to rise.

Pan Buzhuo stood tall in the sky, his darkness billowing like an unholy storm, a look of complete disdain on his face.

"Trash!" Pan Bezhuo sneered as he plummeted downward, his leg laced with darkness as he aimed a devastating kick to finish off Sha Xing first, given that he was the closer target.

Just as his strike was about to land, a deafening wolf's howl tore through the air.

ROARRRR!!!

A gigantic blue wolf, formed entirely from profound energy, materialized from thin air, its enormous jaws snapping shut with terrifying force.

"Shit!" Pan Buzhuo cursed as he narrowly avoided being torn in half, twisting his body midair at the last possible moment. His robes were shredded to pieces, the fangs just missing his flesh.

From the audience, Yun Che's gaze flickered. "Wild Fang..." he murmured under his breath. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"What an insidious move."

Though his voice remained calm, his thoughts churned. Sha Xing had clearly never been as injured as he made it seem—he had been waiting for this very opportunity. A single mistake, a moment of overconfidence, and he had nearly turned the tables.

"Obviously, being a Divine Son is not a place for the naive," Yun Che mused, watching the battle with renewed interest. They were all schemers, through and through.

His gaze drifted toward Pan Buwang, the supposed disciple he had taken under his name.

"It seems that proving superiority doesn't always mean defeating someone directly."

His lips curled slightly.

"What a smart guy."

"Come on, you missed!" A grumpy voice rang out as Xian Yue slowly pushed himself up from the ground, shaking off the dust from his robes.

"My bad, hahaha." Sha Xing chuckled as he stood up as well, brushing off his sleeves as if nothing had happened. Both of them turned their gazes toward the fuming figure of Pan Buzhuo hovering in the sky.

"YOU!!!!" Pan Buzhuo's rage exploded, his veins bulging as he realized the truth—they had been faking their injuries all along!

"Hey, hey, hey, it's not like we were faking everything," Sha Xing shrugged, flashing a cocky grin. "Your attacks really hurt, you know? We just thought we'd make the best of it."

By the time he finished speaking, Xian Yue had already arrived beside him, his usual calm demeanor now carrying a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Then, Sha Xing suddenly turned toward Pan Buwang, who stood motionless in the distance. "Brother Buwang, are you sure you won't regret your decision?"

It was a casual remark, but there was an underlying sharpness in his tone. Moments ago, he had actually maneuvered his fall toward Pan Buwang, hoping to land a surprise attack—yet Pan Buwang had simply moved away without even looking at him.

Pan Buwang's expression remained indifferent as he casually waved his hand.

"He's all yours." His flat response carried neither amusement nor concern, making it clear he had no intention of stepping in.

The surrounding Divine Regents and spectators exchanged glances. Even after witnessing Pan Buzhuo's display of strength, Pan Buwang remained utterly passive.

"Interesting..." one of the High Priests murmured, stroking his beard. "So he's simply... observing?"

"Not just that," another High Priest noted. "He's calculating. Rather than rushing in recklessly, he's using Buzhuo as a test against the combined power of the Star and Moon Divine Sons."

"Or," a someone sneered, "he's just a coward."

Back in the arena, high in the sky, Pan Buzhuo's patience snapped as his fury erupted.

"Enough of your games! You will pay for that deception!"

Darkness exploded from his body, devouring the light in an instant. The once bright arena dimmed rapidly, as if the entire space had fallen under an eclipse.

"Imperial Owl Butterfly Darkness Domain!"

The sky twisted, and a vast abyss of blackness spread outward, swallowing the battlefield whole.

Within the pitch-black void, two colossal spectral beasts—a monstrous butterfly with wings the size of mountains and a giant owl with piercing red eyes—materialized from the darkness. Their roars shook the entire arena, sending shivers down the spines of even the most battle-hardened Divine Sons.

"Hmph. The Star Divine Regent observed coolly, his arms crossed as he looked down upon the battle.

"An absolute domain created from darkness profound energy," the Moon Divine Regent commented. "This is what makes the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom's darkness path so fearsome. But..."

The High Priests looked on impassively, waiting.

In the darkness, Sha Xing and Xian Yue remained still, their eyes flashing with determination.

"SCREECHHHHH!!!!"

The deafening cry of the Owl Butterfly Divine Art echoed across the arena, shaking the very air itself. This was the fifth level of the Divine Art unique to the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom—a level that few could reach, let alone someone at just the fourth level of Divine Extinction. Yet, Pan Buzhuo, despite his arrogance, had proven his exceptional talent by mastering it.

A massive owl and butterfly, formed entirely from condensed darkness, loomed high above, their ethereal forms pulsating with terrifying might. The owl's gleaming, abyssal eyes locked onto its prey, while the butterfly's translucent wings stretched wide, exuding a sinister aura.

"Descend!"

With Pan Buzhuo's command, the colossal beasts swooped down at blinding speed, their oppressive presence suffocating the battlefield. The sheer scale of the attack engulfed the entire arena in a tide of blackness, blotting out every last trace of light. Sha Xing and Xian Yue were directly in their path, but even Pan Buwang, standing off to the side, would not escape unscathed.

The temperature dropped sharply as the howling winds of darkness raged, distorting space itself. The pressure of the impending impact sent violent ripples through the barriers protecting the spectators. Even among the watching Divine Regents and elders, many furrowed their brows, sensing the sheer destructiveness of Pan Buzhuo's move.

"Tch... he's actually using this already?" muttered Moon Divine Regent, watching intently.This was the same move he used to defeat their Divine Son in their previous encounter.

"He's going all out early. Overconfidence or desperation?" remarked one of the High Priests, their ancient eyes gleaming with interest.

As the dark monstrosities bore down on their targets, the moment of impact drew near—bringing with it the full weight of Pan Buzhuo's unrelenting assault.

"BOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!"

The colossal beast crashed into the arena, swallowing everything in its path. The sheer impact sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, its devastating energy devouring all within its reach. The ground quaked, fissures spiderwebbing across the surface as an overwhelming force of destruction spread outward.

"Hahahaha! Take that, you trash!" Pan Buzhuo's triumphant voice rang through the darkness. He had deliberately unleashed the attack to consume not just Sha Xing and Xian Yue, but Pan Buwang as well. The thought of crushing them all in one fell swoop filled him with unrestrained satisfaction.

"Hahaha! This is the difference between me and you all!" His laughter boomed across the battlefield, dripping with arrogance. Not only had he beaten down the Star and Moon Divine Sons, but he had also struck Buwang, ensuring that all of them felt the consequences of defying him.

But just as he basked in his supposed victory—

"Crack..."

A sharp, unsettling sound echoed through the battlefield.