Yun Che reappeared deep within the Endless Fog Sea, his form swallowed by the thick, suffocating abyss that drained all things—color, warmth, life itself. The air was eerily still, heavy with a silence that made it feel as though the world had ceased to exist.
The dull, lifeless gray stretched endlessly in every direction, an oppressive nothingness that seemed to press against his very soul. Even for someone like him—someone who had bathed in endless bloodshed and destruction—this place carried a weight that soured his mood.
With a simple command, the abyssal beasts moved, their massive forms carrying him deeper and deeper into the abyss. Their silent movements barely disturbed the air, and just like that—they vanished into the fog.
Perhaps it was because of the monochrome emptiness around him, or maybe it was something deeper—something unsettled within his heart. Either way, Yun Che felt his irritation building, the stillness gnawing at his mind.
He exhaled slowly.
This place was not where he needed to be.
His figure flickered, and in the next instant, he entered the world of the Primordial Profound Ark.
As soon as he arrived, his Divine Sense spread outward, seeking what he already knew was there.
Within moments, he found himself drawn toward Shen Xi's coffin.
His gaze softened slightly as he took in the sight—his daughter, Yun Xi, seated quietly beside the massive stone coffin, her small hands resting on its surface, her head lowered in silent vigil.
Not far away, Xia Qingyue stood at a distance, watching, yet making no move to approach. Her presence was like a shadow—silent, lingering, ever present, yet never intruding.
For a brief moment, Yun Che closed his eyes.
He let the scene settle in his mind, forcing himself to gather his thoughts.
A deep breath. A flicker of control.
When he finally opened his eyes again, he turned and flew off in a different direction.
Perhaps it was because all the anger, hatred, and darkness that had been eating away at him for so long had been purified by the Light Profound Energy emanating from Li Suo, the Goddess of Life.
Perhaps it was because, for the first time in a long time, his mind was clear.
But now, as the fog of rage lifted, his body trembled slightly.
Not from pain.
Not from exhaustion.
But because something deeper, something raw and uncontrollable, was surfacing within him—something he did not want to face.
Yun Che gritted his teeth, forcing the thoughts away.
But no matter how much he tried—
They refused to disappear.
"Devil Queen… you once told me that a person's nature is hard to change…"
Yun Che's voice was barely above a whisper, his words carried away by the empty stillness around him. His hand trembled as he clutched his chest, a dull, suffocating pain spreading from his heart. It hurt. Not from any physical wound—but from something far, far deeper.
"You were right."
He had gone too far today.
He had killed countless lives, far more than he could ever hope to count.
And yet, it wasn't the blood on his hands that haunted him.
It was the cruelty.
Not the necessity of it—but how far he had let himself fall.
Even as an Abyssal Beast, the Dragon Lord had—**if only for a fleeting moment—**resisted the command to kill his own son. Even in that twisted, corrupted form, some fragment of his existence had hesitated.
But Yun Che?
He had not.
His hatred had been absolute.
His command had been absolute.
And the father had devoured his son.
Because of him.
He, too, was a father.
And he knew.
He knew what it meant to love your child more than yourself.
And so, he also knew—if the Dragon Lord's soul still existed somewhere, even the smallest fragment of it lingering in the abyss—it would be filled with infinite pain.
Infinite hatred.
For him.
Yun Che's body shuddered, his fingers tightening into fists.
"I… have sinned. Once more."
He slowly sank to the ground, his posture slumped, his head hanging low.
The weight of everything pressed upon his soul—not just today's slaughter, but everything.
All the lives he had taken.
All the choices he had made.
All the hatred he had borne.
The deeper he sank into the abyss… the more he lost himself.
"But… for the God Realm to survive…"
"It was the only way."
His own words tasted bitter on his tongue.
They were true. He knew they were true.
But why, then—why did it feel like an excuse?
He shut his eyes, but his soul was in chaos.
His thoughts tangled together, fighting against themselves. The warmth of Li Suo's purification had cleansed him of his rage, but it had left him raw.
Exposed.
He didn't know how long he remained there—lost in the storm of his own mind.
But then—
A warmth.
A familiar, gentle warmth wrapped around him from behind.
Soft arms embraced him, pressing into his back, steady and unwavering.
He stiffened for a moment.
Then, slowly, his body relaxed.
His storm quieted.
And for the first time in what felt like eternity—
Yun Che simply sat there… in silence.
Her aura, her scent, her warmth—they pressed against him, seeping through the cracks of his fractured soul, melting into him from the inside.
It was a warmth he hadn't realized he needed.
A warmth that felt foreign, yet familiar.
A warmth that refused to let the abyss consume him completely.
Yun Che slowly opened his eyes, his breath deep and unsteady as he turned his head slightly.
"Thank you, Qingyue."
His voice was soft, hoarse, filled with an exhaustion that had nothing to do with his body—but everything to do with his heart.
The woman behind him did not loosen her embrace.
Instead, she held him tighter.
She was silent for a moment, as if carefully choosing her words. Then, her voice came—gentle, yet steady, carrying a quiet strength that reached deep into his being.
"We're husband and wife… is there really a need for 'thank you'?"
Xia Qingyue's gaze met his as he turned further to look at her, her eyes unwavering as they peered into his own.
Eyes that were no longer the eyes of the Yun Che she had once known.
Eyes that had seen too much death, too much hatred, too much loss.
Eyes that had been tainted by darkness and abyss.
And yet—deep within that abyss, something still remained.
Something hidden.
Something that refused to fade.
A lingering pain.
A sorrow so deeply buried that even Yun Che himself refused to acknowledge it.
Xia Qingyue saw it.
She saw it clearly.
And so—she did not let go. She did not flinch. Instead, she only tightened her hold around him, pressing her forehead gently against his back.
She didn't tell him that everything would be fine.
She didn't tell him that he was not a monster.
She simply stayed there, silent, present, unyielding.
For in this moment, she understood—
Yun Che did not need to be saved.
He simply needed someone to stay.
"I won't ask what happened outside," Xia Qingyue said softly, her voice carrying the weight of unspoken understanding. "But if you're tired, just rest for a bit."
Her words were gentle, an offering rather than a demand. But Yun Che only shook his head, a bitter smile playing at his lips.
"There will be time to rest later."
Rest? How could he?
The weight of the world—the weight of everything—still pressed down upon his shoulders.
Instead, he lifted his hand in a subtle motion, signaling for her to sit beside him. She hesitated for only a moment before settling down next to him.
With a simple wave of his hand, two figures materialized beside them, their presence instantly breaking the heavy atmosphere.
"Master! Are you and your wife here to play with us again?"
A bright, mischievous voice rang out like a chime in the air, carrying an infectious energy that shattered the gloom around them.
Hong'er.
Her ruby-red eyes sparkled with mischief as she grinned up at them, bouncing slightly in excitement.
Beside her, another girl stood—a figure eerily similar to Hong'er, but more composed, her violet eyes filled with quiet expectation.
You'er.
Yun Che's gaze softened at the sight of them. In a world so chaotic, so merciless, these two—these innocent, childlike existences—remained untouched by the darkness.
And he wanted to keep it that way.
"Take You'er out and go explore the world," Yun Che said, his voice carrying a rare gentleness. "The Sky Poison Pearl's world isn't as beautiful as this place."
It wasn't good for them to remain confined in that space forever.
They needed to experience the world—a world that wasn't filled with war and slaughter.
"Aww…."
Hong'er's face dropped in disappointment, her excitement instantly fading as she pouted dramatically.
"Let's go, You'er," she sighed, grabbing the other girl's hand.
But then, just before leaving, she turned back with a sly, knowing grin.
"Master probably wants to do his evil thingy with his wife."
And just like that, she dragged You'er away, giggling as they vanished into the distance.
For a moment, Yun Che sat there, completely stunned, his mind struggling to process what he had just heard.
Beside him, Xia Qingyue—who had been quiet for most of the exchange—suddenly let out a light, melodic laugh.
"Hahaha…"
Her laughter, soft and fleeting, tugged at something deep within him.
It had been so long since he had heard her laugh like this.
Since he had seen her so at ease.
Yun Che turned to look at her, watching as she gazed after the two departing figures, her eyes carrying a warmth he had thought he would never see again.
And for the first time in what felt like forever—
The crushing weight on his chest felt just a little lighter.
-------------
"…To think that Xiao Lingxi is the reborn Ancestral Goddess…"
Xia Qingyue murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she absorbed everything Yun Che had just told her.
She had listened intently as he explained everything—everything that had transpired since the day she left the God Realm and descended into the Abyss.
And now, she finally understood.
She felt… relieved.
Even though things had not gone as she had originally planned, even though the path had been far more treacherous than she had ever foreseen—in the end, everything had turned out fine.
Even the Moon God Realm, which had been completely destroyed, had been rebuilt.
And with that knowledge, the heavy burdens she had carried for so long began to lift.
For the first time in a long time, she felt as though she could breathe freely.
"And that girl, Jinyue…" Yun Che suddenly brought up with a faint smile, his voice carrying a teasing edge. "She truly believed in you, you know. Her reverence and loyalty toward you have never wavered… If we go back to the God Realm, be sure to treat her right. Hahaha."
Xia Qingyue's eyes softened, her expression tinged with nostalgia as she thought of Lian Yue.
"She has always been loyal."
A hint of sorrow flickered in her gaze, though she quickly masked it.
"That's why, on that day, I drove her away…" she admitted, her voice quieter now, as if the weight of that decision still lingered.
But then, her lips curved into a faint, almost wistful smile.
"But I'm glad she's doing well now."
Her mind drifted back to the past—to the days she had spent as the Moon God Emperor, to the ones who had followed her with unwavering devotion.
And now, sitting beside Yun Che, in this place so far from that world, she found herself speaking of them once more.
Not as burdens.
Not as regrets.
But as precious memories that had withstood the passage of time.
They sat together, speaking of everything—their pasts, their journeys, and the roads they had walked alone.
Sometimes, Yun Che took the initiative, recounting his time in the Northern Divine Region—how he had risen from nothing, clawed his way to the top, and carved his name into history with blood and defiance.
Other times, Xia Qingyue would share her own experiences, telling him of what she had been doing in the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom—the secrets she had uncovered, the battles she had fought in silence, and the burdens she had carried all on her own.
The atmosphere was peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaotic world outside.
Xia Qingyue, despite having lost her Ice Phoenix Bloodline, still retained her icy beauty.
Her presence was as cold and untouchable as ever, and yet—when she looked at Yun Che, her eyes were warm.
This was the Xia Qingyue he knew.
Not the distant Moon God Emperor.
Not the woman who had once severed ties with him for the sake of fate.
But his Qingyue.
She had truly returned to him.
A brief silence stretched between them before she finally spoke again.
"So, what's your plan now? Are you planning to return to Dreamweaver?"
Her voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of concern beneath it.
After all, Yun Che had been "kidnapped" for some time now.
His cultivation had grown immeasurably, but she knew better than anyone—he was still not strong enough.
Not yet.
Not enough to stand against the Gods.
Not enough to challenge the High Priests.
Not enough to face the Abyssal Monarch.
And the longer he remained in the Endless Fog, the greater the risk became.
If those beings were to step foot into the Endless Fog themselves…
Then the chances of his true identity being exposed would rise significantly.
And if that happened—
Even Yun Che would not be able to escape.
Although Yun Che's strength seemed vast, with his Abyssal Beast army and the overwhelming power of the Endless Fog Sea under his control, he was far from invincible.
Yes, within the Endless Fog, he reigned supreme.
But the moment the Gods decided that the "Fog Monarch" needed to be eliminated, they would not act alone.
After what happened to the Boundless End Divine Regent, they would be more cautious—more united.
Next time, if the Gods truly moved against him, they would not come alone.
They would work together.
And that… was a fight he could not afford to lose.
Even with just one Divine Regent-level God, he had already been forced to expend all his trump cards.
If two Gods attacked? Three? More?
The result would be catastrophic.
He could not take that risk.
"I do have a plan, but not yet." Yun Che finally answered, his voice calm, but resolute. "I want to become stronger first."
Indeed, he had already thought through all the possibilities.
His cultivation had increased drastically in such a short period, and that alone would raise suspicion.
But if he returned with the excuse that he had been "accidentally possessed by the Fog Monarch", it would be a sufficient explanation—at least for now.
Still…
When he went back, he knew that his so-called 'father' would definitely be watching him more closely than ever.
Every move he made would be scrutinized.
Every opportunity to cultivate would be limited.
And if his growth became too suspicious—then things would only become infinitely more dangerous.
Here, within the Endless Fog Sea, he had the best environment to grow stronger.
Here, he could cultivate without restraint, without interference.
Here, he could prepare.
Back in Dreamweaver, Yun Che had once been able to slip into his cultivation chamber, using the power of the World Piercer to secretly enter the Endless Fog and cultivate in secret.
But that had only been possible because Dreamless Divine Regent had never placed his soul imprint inside the cultivation room—only outside of it.
That small oversight had allowed Yun Che to move freely, without his presence being detected.
However, things had changed.
With everything that had happened—with the way the Dreamless Divine Regent now viewed him, with all the so-called 'affection' that had developed—Yun Che was certain that from now on, he wouldn't be able to slip away so easily.
Returning to Dreamweaver meant constant surveillance.
His every move. His every breath. His every action.
There was no way he would be given the same freedom as before.
And so, he had to make the best use of the time he had here.
Hearing his explanation, Xia Qingyue nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful as she silently contemplated everything he had told her.
The pieces of his story fit together in her mind, forming an image far greater than just the events themselves.
Then, without warning, she reached out and grabbed his hand.
Yun Che blinked in surprise as her delicate fingers trembled slightly against his palm.
Her face—usually so composed—turned slightly red.
For a brief moment, she hesitated. But then, as if forcing herself forward, she finally spoke.
"Then… why don't we cultivate together?"
Her voice was soft—too soft.
It was clear that saying those words had taken all of her strength.
Yun Che stared at her, momentarily stunned.
Cultivate together?
"Of course… I was planning to do that anyway."
He smiled lightly, completely oblivious to what she truly meant.
But then, he noticed—
Why was she turning even redder?
Before he could ask, Xia Qingyue gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and then—
"Not like that…"
Her voice trembled slightly, but she didn't back down.
Then, as if sealing away all hesitation, she lifted her gaze to his and spoke again.
"Let's… duo cultivate."
Yun Che's mind blanked.
!!!!!!!!
The words hit him like a bolt of divine lightning, leaving him momentarily speechless.
He simply stared at her.
Xia Qingyue, who had always been so cold, so distant, so untouchable, was now sitting before him, her face tinged with shyness, her hands clutching onto his as she waited for his response.
"Yes..."
Yun Che's voice was steady, yet beneath that calm, a storm of emotions churned violently.
The moment the word left his lips, his profound energy surged, weaving through the air as multiple barriers formed around them—layer after layer of isolation, sealing them away from the outside world.
These were not ordinary barriers.
Each one was infused with his full power, ensuring that nothing—no divine sense, no external force—could intrude upon this moment.
As the final layer settled, a heavy silence filled the space.
Within this secluded world, it was just the two of them.
Yun Che and Xia Qingyue.
Their gazes met, and though neither spoke, the weight of what was about to happen hung thick in the air.
For the first time, the distance that had always existed between them—the invisible wall of fate that had kept them apart for so long—
Had finally disappeared.