Chapter 2154: Decision
"For now…"
The Monarch's deep voice resonated through the silent arena, instantly drawing the breath and attention of every soul present. All eyes turned to him, waiting with bated anticipation. The weight of his words would decide Shen Wuyi's fate.
Yun Che's heart pounded against his chest, his every nerve taut as he awaited the verdict. Would she be condemned? Would she be spared? A storm of uncertainty raged within him, but he forced himself to remain composed, his gaze locked onto the supreme ruler of the Abyss.
The Monarch's eyes lingered on the young girl before him, his expression unreadable. He remained silent for a moment, lost in thought as he recalled everything he had seen within her soul. The memories, the traces of her past—it all led him to one conclusion.
Finally, he spoke.
"Because of her Moon God Bloodline, I am certain that she is a descendant of the Moon God Race. By this reasoning, she can be considered a distant relative of the Moon and Star Divine Kingdom of our Abyss."
His words sent a ripple through the gathered elites. The connection between Shen Wuyi and the Moon and Star Divine Kingdom was now official, though whether this was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen.
The Monarch's gaze swept over the silent crowd before he continued.
"Though I, too, am an outsider, and all of you are descended from those who once came from beyond, the Abyss is the Abyss… and the Eternal Pure Land is the Eternal Pure Land. There are things that must not be ignored. In light of the current circumstances and the unrest brewing within our world, she will remain under watch."
A solemn decree. The meaning behind his words was clear. No matter where she came from, no matter what ties she may have had—her presence in the Abyss was not something that could be taken lightly.
Then, the Monarch gave his final command.
"Confine her within the Eternal Night's residence for now. Until the nature of her ability to control the Abyssal Dust is fully understood, her movements will be restricted."
Gasps rippled through the crowd as his words settled in. The ability to control Abyssal Dust…
The weight of the revelation crashed down upon them once more. Shen Wuyi—no, Qingyue—possessed an ability beyond reason, one that could not be overlooked. The Monarch's decision was not simply about keeping an outsider under observation—it was a response to the threat and uncertainty that her existence represented.
It was not that the Monarch lacked the desire to uncover the secret behind her ability to control the Abyssal Dust—far from it. However, Shen Wuyi, whether in body or soul, was far too weak at the moment. There was no urgency. No need for immediate interrogation.
This was the Eternal Pure Land, the very heart of the Abyss—his domain. Within this realm, nothing could escape his grasp. Not to mention, every god beneath the heavens ultimately answered to him. There was no need for haste.
For now, it was best to let her rest, to allow her body and soul to recover. When the time was right, they would talk. When she was strong enough, they would uncover her secret.
As the decree was issued, Yun Che's hands clenched into fists, his heart hammering. It wasn't an immediate death sentence, but neither was it true safety.
For now, she was spared.
"As for that secret of hers… well, since it poses no threat to the Abyss, I'll let it go for now."
The Monarch's thoughts drifted as he made his decision. After all, he had stumbled upon something interesting. The former Eternal Night Divine Daughter—who was believed to have perished—was still alive. Well, not entirely. Only a tiny fragment of her soul remained, lingering within the depths of existence.
But for those who stood at the pinnacle of cultivation, even death was not an absolute end. The destruction of the physical body was a mere inconvenience; true annihilation only came when the soul was completely erased.
Pan Buwang, the former—and soon to be reinstated—Divine Son of the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom, was a perfect example of this truth. Despite having half his body obliterated by the combined might of the Moon and Star Divine Sons, he remained alive and well. As long as one's soul endured, there was always a path to restoration.
Divine Essence was not solely bound to the body and spirit veins—it was intrinsically tied to the soul itself. And in this case, the Lightless Divine Regent had once told Shen Wuyi to killed her former Divine Daughter completely. But this Qingyue—instead of killing her—had schemed to preserve her soul, sealing it away within a fragment of Abyssal Dust that she alone could control.
For the Abyss, this was a fortunate turn of events.
Even if the Monarch ultimately decided to take Shen Wuyi away from the Eternal Night, he could simply restore the former Divine Daughter by reconstructing her body and returning her rightful position. Nothing would be lost.
A glint of amusement flickered through the Monarch's deep gaze.
"But this level of scheming…" He mused. "To dare plot against her own Lord… and a True God at that. This Qingyue… truly has guts."
His thoughts ended, and with a flick of his hand, his decision was final.
With the conclusion of the Monarch's decree, Shen Wuyi was handed over to the people of the Eternal Night.
"Wuyi… no… Qingyue… let's go."
The elders of the Eternal Night gently supported her weakened body, their expressions unreadable as they turned to leave. Before departing, they bowed deeply to the Monarch, showing their unwavering obedience to his decree. Without another word, they vanished into the distance, carrying Shen Wuyi with them.
As the Divine Kingdoms began to disperse, the Monarch's gaze shifted slightly. Just as the Lightless Divine Regent prepared to leave, his voice rang out once more.
"Yanye, stay with me for a moment."
The Lightless Divine Regent paused mid-step. A fleeting flicker of emotion crossed her cold, indifferent face before she turned back toward him.
"Yes…" she replied, her voice calm yet carrying a hint of heaviness. There was no doubt—the Monarch had questions for her.
The weight of the day still hung thick in the air, but the Monarch's authority was absolute.
His gaze swept across the remaining elites, his tone leaving no room for dispute.
"Everyone, you may return to rest."
Without hesitation, the gathered cultivators and Divine Kingdom elites bowed in reverence before departing one by one. The High Priests followed suit, their divine robes fluttering as they ascended into the sky, returning to their respective sanctuaries.
Today had been an exceedingly long day for all of them—a day filled with battles, revelations, and uncertainties yet to unfold.
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"Auntie Yulan… I…"
In the depths of the Eternal Night's residence, Xia Qingyue's weak voice trembled as she called out to the elderly woman beside her. Since her return, she had been confined within the very halls of her own people, watched and guarded at all times. Yet, only Shen Yulan remained by her side, tending to her wounds without fail.
The elder's hands, warm with healing energy, pressed gently against her fragile form. The way Shen Yulan looked at her had never changed. It was the same as before, as if she were still simply Shen Wuyi—as if nothing had ever changed.
Shen Yulan's eyes softened, her voice filled with quiet resolve.
"It's alright, Wu… no, Qingyue… I was the one who found you. I will not let any harm befall you."
Her power surged into Xia Qingyue's weakened body, soothing the wounds that ran deep within both flesh and soul. A faint light glowed as divine energy wrapped around her, pulling her into a deep, peaceful slumber.
Shen Yulan watched over her as she slept, brushing a strand of hair away from her pale face. A quiet whisper escaped her lips, carrying a promise only the night would hear.
"I will protect you…"
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"… to think, she isn't truly a member of our Moon and Star Divine Kingdom…"
A soft sigh echoed through the chamber as the Moon Divine Regent spoke, his gaze shifting toward the Star Divine Regent beside him. His expression was calm, but there was an undeniable trace of regret in his voice.
"It's truly a pity…"
Even though Shen Wuyi carried the bloodline of the Moon God, it did not change the undeniable truth—at the end of the day, she was still an outsider.
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"Buwang… I'm sorry."
Deep within the residence of the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom, Divine Regent Qi Heng sat beside his son. Though a storm of revelations and turmoil raged outside, he paid no mind to any of it.
His focus was solely on Pan Buwang.
Meanwhile, his other son, Pan Buzhuo, had already been caught attempting to flee.
He knew his fate was already sealed.
His position as Divine Son would soon be stripped away. And the one destined to take his place? The one who had already proven himself far more deserving?
Pan Buwang.
His brother had awakened into something beyond all expectations—a perfect Divine Essence, an unparalleled mastery over Dark Profound Energy that even surpassed the Divine Regent himself.
Just what had happened to him while he was outside the Divine Kingdom?!
Over the past days, Pan Buzhuo had made multiple attempts to escape, but each one had ended in failure.
The elders, one after another, had pleaded for his mercy, expecting cold indifference—or worse, retribution. Instead, to everyone's shock, Pan Buwang accepted them all with an open heart.
There was no hatred. No resentment.
Qi Heng, watching all of this unfold, could not suppress the immense joy in his heart. He had searched Pan Buwang's eyes, his aura, his every word—but there was no trace of hatred within him at all. His inner fear was slowly fading away...
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Everyone, regardless of which Divine Kingdom or power they belonged to, was shaken by many events that took place in the past several days. From Pan Buwang's overwhelming strength to his return to Divine Son status, to Dian Jiuzhi's terrifying Vein of Great Rage, and finally, to the shocking revelation that Shen Wuyi was an outsider—these were now the biggest topics in the Eternal Pure Land.
But of all the revelations, one stood above the rest.
Shen Wuyi—no, Qingyue—was from the Eternal Pure Land.
Unfortunately, it seemed she had no recollection of her past before arriving in the Abyss. Yet, this only led to more speculation, more curiosity. What was the Eternal Pure Land truly like? If Qingyue possessed such terrifying combat talent, did that mean everyone from her world was like this? Were there even stronger beings beyond the Abyss?
Countless questions flooded the minds of those who bore witness to the events. The unknown always bred both fear and fascination.
—
Far away, within the Boundless Divine Kingdom's Resident, a man stirred from his painful slumber.
"No wonder… no wonder no one had ever heard of her beauty or her name until now… because she wasn't from this world."
Dian Jiuzhi's voice was hoarse as he murmured, his breath heavy with exhaustion. Lying in his chambers, he listened to the faint voices of his father and the elders discussing the events that had transpired. His body throbbed, muscles torn from the sheer strain of his battle. But worse than that—far worse—was the pain from his very soul being torn apart. The damage ran so deep that he had coughed up blood multiple times.
And yet… none of that mattered.
Even if he had won their battle, even if he had stood victorious—it was meaningless.
He understood it now. With the way things had fallen into place, he would never be able to claim Shen Wuyi—no, Qingyue—as his woman.
The more the realization sank in, the more hatred festered in his heart.
The veins on his arms bulged as his hands clenched into fists, his blood boiling with rage. His teeth ground together, his expression twisted with resentment.
"IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, MENG JIANYUAN!!!"
A silent, vicious curse echoed in his mind. His hate had reached a new height.
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"Are you sure you won't regret this?"
Li Suo's voice echoed within his soul, soft yet carrying a deep weight.
Yun Che's expression remained unchanged. "I've made up my mind."
In these past days, after everything that had transpired, he had finally come to a decision.
He had let things spiral out of his control for far too long.
It was time to end this charade.
It was time to go.
A brief silence followed before Li Suo's voice faded, her presence retreating into the depths of his soul.
"Then, I will wait to see your success."
Deep within the residence of the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom in the Pure Land, Yun Che sat alone in his chambers, his mind weighed down by countless thoughts. He had spent the past several days carefully thinking everything, discussing matters with his so-called "father," learning more about ever-shifting undercurrents of the Abyss after Qingyue identity have been exposed. He played the part well, gathering all the information he could, but beneath it all, his decision had already been made.
It had been weeks since Xia Qingyue's secret was exposed. Rumors swirled that the Monarch would likely cancel their match, as she was no longer considered a rightful member of the Abyss. It made sense. She was not of this world. The tournament was meant for those within the Abyss, and now that her origins had been revealed, she was no longer part of the cycle.
With her disqualification, Yun Che was to be crowned the first among the Divine Sons, followed by Dian Jiuzhi and Pan Buwang.
A prestigious title. An honor coveted by all.
Yet Yun Che cared nothing for it.
None of it mattered to him. Titles, recognition, rank—it was all insignificant compared to what was truly at stake. His mind was set, and nothing would sway him now.
Over the past several days, Yun Che had carefully observed his surroundings, expanding his senses to their very limits. And time and time again, he had felt that presence. It was faint, nearly imperceptible, yet undeniably real. He had confirmed it.
The time had come. He can no longer wait! Even if the Monarch doesn't know of his secrets now, eventually, as True God, Yun Che fears he will have the method forcefully read Xia Qingyue memories beyond his current states.
And that, was enough for him to make the decision.
He had no choice but to act. Though he had initially planned to remain hidden, to conceal his identity until the perfect moment, circumstances had forced his hand. He could not wait any longer.
As for how he would justify his next move—how he would explain himself once he escaped this place safely—
That… he would decide later.
"Fate… truly hasn't been kind," Yun Che thought to himself, his expression dark and unreadable.
Before arriving in the Abyss, he had meticulously planned everything alongside the Devil Queen. Every step, every potential threat—he had prepared for it all. Yet, upon setting foot in this world, he had been forced to adjust, refining his strategies as he learned more about the Abyss and the forces that ruled it.
Everything had been proceeding smoothly—until the heavens decided to intervene.
Now, standing in the dimly lit chamber, his gaze fell upon Long Xi, who lay quietly upon the bed. Her physical injuries had long since healed under the effects of his Light Profound Energy, and even the damage to her soul had been carefully mended. However, her Blood Essence, the very foundation of her strength, had been severely depleted. Its recovery would take a long, long time.
Still, Yun Che had not left it entirely to fate.
Through the power of the slave seal, he had commanded the Dragon Lord to retrieve whatever remnants of her Blood Essence had yet to be expended and return them to her. Though this would not restore her instantly, it was the best course of action. It would take time before Long Xi awoke.
And that was a good thing.
Because tonight…
Tonight, he would disappear.
"It's been fun playing the role of Meng Jianyuan…" Yun Che murmured to himself, his voice low and laced with indifference. Memories flashed through his mind, each one a reminder of the persona he had carefully crafted—the false identity he had worn for these fast four years.
Hua Caili would be devastated. His so-called "father" would be thrown into the Abyss once the truth of his deception was revealed. None of it mattered.
His gaze darkened. The only people he cared for in this world—the only ones who truly mattered—were already within reach. Outside of them, the people of the Abyss meant nothing.
They were strangers. Pawns. This was not his home.
He was Yun Che. The Ruler of the God Realm. The Enemy of the entire Abyss!
His family, his friends, his people—his everything—awaited him beyond this wretched place. He had come too far, suffered too much, and fought against fate itself to reach where he stood.
He would not falter. He would not allow fleeting attachments to shake his resolve.
Deep within the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom's residence, sealed off from the outside world, Yun Che sat in complete stillness. His surroundings were shrouded in darkness, but within his eyes—a sinister gleam flickered, cold and dangerous.
A suffocating pressure filled the air and darkness in his eyes revealed. The facade was ending.
The Devil Master…
The Emperor Yun…
Had returned!!!
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!"
A terrifying aura erupted in the dead of night, shaking the heavens and the earth. Like a violent storm tearing through the void, its sheer force rippled across the entire Pure Land, shattering the silence and jolting countless cultivators awake.