The world of fog enveloped them, its chilling silence pressing down from every direction. The oppressive abyssal dust swirled around them, shifting like a living entity, as if sensing their presence.
But neither of them hesitated.
Because now—Neither of them could hold back any longer.
Yun Che could feel it—the insatiable hunger coursing through his very being, the power within him crying out for release.
The moment the Nine Worlds came into contact with his soul, even though he rejected them, something deep within him had begun to stir.
His body, his Ancestral Goddess's Body, reacted.
It was as if an unseen seal had been broken, allowing something ancient, something dormant yet terrifyingly vast, to begin awakening.
Even without Xia Qingyue's Nine Worlds, something far greater was evolving inside him.
Within the depths of his Profound Veins, the vast starry sky—began to shift.
The once static constellations within his veins shuddered, their celestial light flickering, unraveling—reforming.
But before it could complete— Before it could reach its full potential— It needed energy.
Endless, infinite energy.
And where else to take it, but from the abyss itself?
The Endless Fog Sea trembled.
As soon as he stepped outside the Primordial Profound Ark, his body trembled violently.
A ravenous hunger surged from deep within him— A craving, a desperate, primal need—
For power.
His body was like an endless abyss, a bottomless void demanding to be filled.
He needed energy. More energy.
His gaze lifted, piercing through the fog, his profound energy roaring to life.
And he would devour everything the abyss had to offer.
But he was not alone.
Beside him, Xia Qingyue stood, her eyes burning with the same intensity, her breath steady yet filled with undeniable resolve.
She felt it too.
Soon, the pair joined hands in the sky, circulating their power as one!
"BOOOOMMMMM!!!!!"
Yun Che's stirring power had ignited her Nine Worlds, and as if in response, they roared to life—exploding outward in their own hunger for power!
Nine ethereal worlds floated above the vast abyss of gray, their luminous glow a stark contrast against the endless void.
They shimmered with an otherworldly radiance, suspended in the air like celestial bodies, each one pulsating with a rhythm that resonated through the abyss itself.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!"
The very fabric of the Endless Fog Seashuddered.
As if answering their call, the abyssal dust surged toward them, a storm of chaotic destruction, an uncontrollable frenzy of power converging from all directions!
"RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!"
Deep within the abyss, the once swirling dust grew even more violent, its chaotic nature breaking all constraints.
The entire Endless Fog Sea quaked.
Millions upon millions of miles thickened with abyssal dust—no longer an ashen gray, but a pure, suffocating black.
A black tide of unfathomable energy rushing toward a single point.
Toward Yun Che.
Toward Xia Qingyue.
For Yun Che, the abyssal dust was drawn to him instinctively, as if he were the very core of its existence, the one entity it recognized as its rightful master.
For Xia Qingyue—she could not absorb the abyssal dust directly.
But she did not need to.
Because Yun Che's power purified it.
The moment the abyssal dust touched him, it transformed—stripped of its corruption, converted into pure, undiluted profound energy.
A force that Xia Qingyue could absorb effortlessly.
And so—
As the abyssal dust flooded into Yun Che, purified, then passed onto Xia Qingyue—
Her cultivation soared.
The sheer density of it was unimaginable—so much so that even the Abyssal Beasts, creatures born from the very essence of this twisted realm, shuddered as they retreat into far distance.
From millions to tens of millions of miles, the abyssal dust continued its relentless flow, as if an entire region of the Endless Fog Sea collapsing in upon itself
Then—
"CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!"
Fractures spread across Xia Qingyue's body like a porcelain doll breaking apart, her skin glowing with an eerie, unstable radiance as her profound veins trembled on the verge of destruction.
And then—
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!"
A blinding explosion of profound energy erupted from within her, sending shockwaves across the abyss,
At that instant—
She broke through.
From the Seventh Level of the Divine Extinction Realm to the Eighth!
Beside her, Yun Che's aura surged, growing stronger and stronger as he too broke past the limits of the Divine Master Realm, stepping into the Half-Step Divine Extinction Realm!
Yet, unlike Xia Qingyue, who needed to consolidate her cultivation after her breakthrough, Yun Che did not stop.
He continued to absorb the rushing energy, devouring everything without pause!
"RUMBLEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"
With millions of miles worth of abyssal dust surging into Yun Che's body, the very foundation of the Endless Fog Sea trembled.
Seeing Yun Che continuing to absorb energy even after breaking through, Xia Qingyue gritted her teeth, determination flashing in her eyes.
Without hesitation, she signaled to Yun Che, urging him to keep purifying the abyssal dust into profound energy.
She absorbed as much as she could, yet she knew—it would take time to fully consolidate her newfound power.
But then—an idea struck her.
Instead of forcing her body to bear the overload, she redirected all the purified profound energy into the Nine Worlds floating above them!
"RUMBLEEEE!!!!!"
The Nine Worlds above them roared to life, as if awakened by the overwhelming flood of energy!
The once ethereal and translucent worlds—mere spectral illusions—solidified, their forms growing clearer, more vivid, more real.
And then—life energy began to take shape!
"RUMBLEEEEE!!!!!"
Even Yun Che's mouth twitched as he sensed the insane rate at which the Nine Worlds were devouring the profound energy!
The speed at which they absorbed power was far greater than the rate at which he could purify it!
Yet, instead of worry—he smiled.
Because in that moment—
His own cultivation surged once more, roaring with even greater power!
"RUMBLEEEEEEE!!!!!!"
The entire Endless Fog Sea trembled, as if the very foundation of this world was about to collapse!
The abyssal dust howled like an enraged storm, continuing to surge violently toward the pair, as if drawn to their very existence.
Above them, the Nine Worlds were now brimming with pure profound energy!
Once transparent and illusory, they now appeared solid, tangible, floating majestically in the blackened abyss, radiating a brilliance that seemed to defy the darkness itself.
Each of the Nine Worlds pulsed with power, yet despite their overwhelming strength, something became evident—
Because of Xia Qingyue's current cultivation level, the worlds could no longer develop any further.
Still—
Each of the Nine Worlds had been filled to the brim with profound energy, a limitless reservoir that now belonged solely to her!
"I'll need some time to absorb them," Xia Qingyue said, her voice calm yet filled with conviction.
"You should focus on your cultivation for now."
The moment her words fell, Yun Che did not hesitate.
With a single breath, he continued absorbing energy, his entire being devouring the abyssal dust without restraint!
More. More. More!
The abyssal dust, like an endless tide, rushed into him, strengthening his cultivation at an alarming rate!
Inside Yun Che's profound veins, something unprecedented was happening—
The infinite starry sky within him roared to life!
Each of his countless stars trembled, hungrily absorbing more and more profound energy, their brilliance intensifying with every breath!
And then—
The change happened.
The stars no longer remained as mere celestial bodies.
One by one, they transformed.
From mere stars, they became worlds.
Not yet fully formed like Xia Qingyue's Nine Worlds—
But they had taken the first step.
Just like when her Nine Worlds first emerged—
They were ethereal, transparent, incomplete.
But unlike hers—
They were countless.
Infinite worlds.
"RUMBLEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!"
Hundreds of millions of miles of abyssal dust rushed toward Yun Che, pouring into his body like an endless tidal wave!
The sheer volume was staggering, an unfathomable force that should have been enough to shatter any existence.
Yet, Yun Che devoured it all.
The abyssal dust flowed endlessly, drowning him in its power—until, at last—
He reached his limit.
Even his Ancestral Goddess's Void Body could absorb no more.
And then—
"BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!"
A thunderous explosion of profound energy erupted from within him as his aura shattered its final constraints!
At that moment—
Yun Che's cultivation soared.
He had broken past the Half-Step Divine Extinction Realm—
And stepped fully into the Divine Extinction Realm!
Half-God.
A realm that once stood as an insurmountable peak before him—
A level that once terrified the entire God Realm.
And now—
He had reached it.
"BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!"
His aura burst outward, an unstoppable tsunami of power!
The impact was so immense that the abyssal dust covering hundreds of millions of miles nearly vanished—
All because his hunger for energy had devoured it all.
--------
"What's happening?!!!!"
"What is going on?!!!!!!"
"Lord East Star, do you know what's happening?!!!!"
A cacophony of panicked voices erupted one after another, roaring across the land.
The ones speaking were not mere commoners—they were nobles, royals, and powerful cultivators who resided in the territories surrounding the Endless Fog Sea.
Even among them, fear gripped their souls.
Hundreds of Abyssal Knights and Pure Land Guards stationed throughout the region stood frozen, their expressions filled with sheer disbelief as they witnessed the impossible.
It hadn't been long ago that the news of a fallen God had shaken the world, sending waves of terror through the Divine Kingdoms, forcing them to retreat from the Endless Fog Sea.
Yet today—
Even though they were far from the abyss, even though they had withdrawn to safety—
The land was trembling.
No—
The world itself was trembling.
They could feel it.
The once oppressive, suffocating Abyssal Dust that had always lingered over the lands—
It was thinning.
The air was clearer than it had ever been.
And yet—they had no idea why.
Some whispered in hushed fear, believing it to be the work of the Gods.
Some shook in terror, convinced that this was the end of the world.
And some—
Some hurriedly sent reports to their Lords, hoping for answers.
But no one—not a single one of them—could have imagined the true cause of this phenomenon.
As suddenly as the abyssal dust had disappeared…
An even more terrifying tide of abyssal dust surged out from the extreme depths of the Endless Fog!
It was as if the Endless Fog itself had been wounded—had sensed the unnatural shift—and responded.
And so, in mere moments, the abyssal dust returned, rolling in from the abyssal unknown and covering the Endless Fog Sea and the surrounding once more.
As if nothing had ever happened!
As if millions of miles of void had never existed.
But—
In that brief, fleeting moment…
Yun Che had already acted.
His newly ascended Divine Sense erupted outward—
And for the first time, he truly tested the limits of his own perception.
What he discovered… shook him to his core.
His Divine Sense had reached a range of hundred of millions of miles!
And yet—
Even at this level…
He still could not reach the end of the Endless Fog!
It stretched beyond him. Farther. Deeper. Unfathomable.
But within his perception, something else sent a chill through his very soul as he smile.
Yes, there were the hundreds of thousands of Abyssal Beasts, creatures whose cultivation ranged from Divine Extinction Realm to the early and middle stages of the Divine Limited Realm.
But beyond them—
There were others.
His Divine Sense brushed against them, and what he sensed made his entire body tense involuntarily.
Few in number.
But their presence was overwhelming.
Beasts that had reached the latest stages of the Divine Limited Realm!
"Qingyue, how long will it take you to absorb all that energy?" Yun Che suddenly asked, his gaze shifting to Xia Qingyue.
She sat in complete stillness, her eyes closed, fully immersed in consolidating her power. Even without looking, Yun Che could tell—she was close.
Close to yet another breakthrough.
"Give me half a year," Xia Qingyue replied calmly, her voice steady despite the raging energy surging through her. "I should be able to absorb all of it!"
Then, her eyes fluttered open slightly, revealing a glimmer of confidence.
"Once I'm done, stepping into the Divine Limited Realm shouldn't be a problem!"
"Good!" Yun Che nodded in satisfaction.
But his expression soon darkened.
"With all the commotion we caused here, the Gods will definitely make a move. We can't afford to stay in one place—we need to go deeper."
He turned to her, a knowing glint in his eyes.
"Let's find ourselves a new home."
Before she could react, he suddenly swept her into his arms, cradling her like a princess.
Xia Qingyue's eyes widened, momentarily pulled from her deep absorption of profound energy.
"Yun Che, what are you—"
"And I think it would be better if I helped you absorb all that energy…" Yun Che smirked, winking at her.
Before she could protest, he soared forward, carrying her effortlessly as they vanished into the depths of the abyss.
-----------
"Divine Son, please make a decision! It has been three months!"
A powerful voice rang out, filled with urgency. The speaker—an elder whose cultivation stood at the very peak of the Divine Limited Realm—stared intently at the young man before him.
His expression was solemn, his voice firm.
"Divine Son, I understand that our resources are invaluable, but if there is even the slightest chance to bring back our Lord, then it is worth it!"
Another elder spoke up, his tone equally fervent. His strength was no less than the first, both of them standing as pillars of their Divine Kingdom.
Around them, the gathered figures stood in complete silence, watching Dian Jiuzhi with expectation burning in their eyes.
They were waiting. Waiting for his answer.
Three months ago, they had received a message.
A message that had descended upon them like divine revelation—
A message so monumental, it felt as if the heavens themselves had spoken.
The High Priests had revealed a long-hidden God's secret.
A truth that sent shockwaves through their kingdom—
The dead Divine Regent… could be brought back to life.
Their fallen Lord… could return!
Everyone was shocked and exhilarated at the same time.
Losing their God meant losing their standing—it meant becoming insignificant in the grand order of the Divine Kingdoms. But if their Lord could be reborn, if a True God could return, then they could once again hold their heads high.
Of course, the High Priests had also spoken of the price required to bring back their fallen God.
The risk of failure existed.
However—
If more Divine Abyss Stones were used, the success rate would increase significantly.
Parting with their greatest treasures pained them—but what was a Divine Stone compared to a God?
A True God was worth far more than any treasure!
Yet, despite everything—
Even after three long months, Dian Jiuzhi remained unwilling to part with the necessary treasures to revive his own father!
The issue lay in the circumstances of his father's death.
Normally, when a God passed down their divinity through the God Source, it would be directly transferred or stored within a sacred treasure designed to contain the God Source before being bestowed upon the Divine Child, allowing them to ascend as a True God.
Throughout the millions of years of the Abyss, this process had been unchallenged.
Because the Pure Land ruled over all and there had been no wars, the Gods had always passed down their God Sources directly, by hand—
And so, they had never needed to store them.
But, because their Lord had perished deep within the Endless Fog, he hadn't had the time to use their Kingdom's Divine Blade to store his God Source.
As a result—
The God Source had already returned to the Pure Land. All because of that, everything was decided by Pure Land.
Though none among them fully understood the mysterious process of reviving a God, the Pure Land's decree left no room for negotiation—
They had requested nearly their entire supply of Divine Abyss Stones to proceed with the ritual.
And there was only one answer.
Because a God was worth everything.
Without a God—
There would be no Divine Kingdom.
Yet even after three full months, Dian Jiuzhi still refused to comply.
Whispers had already begun to spread.
Some even suspected that if the God Source had remained within the Boundless Divine Kingdom, Dian Jiuzhi would have used it for himself rather than spending it to revive his father.
And then—
"Elder Brother Jiuzhi, please make a decision."
A calm yet firm voice suddenly rang out, breaking the tense atmosphere.
The younger generation immediately bowed, their gazes filled with respect as a young man stepped forward and bowed before Dian Jiuzhi.
This man was Dian Xiang—the most gifted genius of the entire younger generation of the Boundless Divine Kingdom.
He was also the one who had accompanied Dian Jiuzhi on their journey to the Pure Land.
"Xiang… I—"
Seeing the young man before him, Dian Jiuzhi's heart clenched with guilt.
When it came to cultivation talent, Dian Xiang was unrivaled.
Four years ago, he had already reached the Third Level of the Divine Extinction Realm—
Now, he had advanced to the Fourth Level.
And despite his overwhelming strength, his age was far younger than Dian Jiuzhi.
Yet even with all his talent—
He still stood before him, awaiting his decision.
Dian Xiang, like Dian Jiuzhi, possessed the Eighth Level of Divine Essence.
However, unlike Dian Jiuzhi, who was the Divine Son and inherited the Divine Vein of Great Rage, Dian Xiang was not a Divine Child.
Despite this, there was no resentment, no jealousy in his heart.
He held no anger toward his elder brother—only respect.
With unwavering loyalty, he bowed his head without hesitation and followed him.
Yet, this only made Dian Jiuzhi's guilt deepen.
After a long silence—
He finally exhaled, his voice heavy with reluctance.
"Alright… we'll agree to the High Priests' request. Send out the message… we depart for the Pure Land."
In the end—
Dian Jiuzhi made his decision.