"Lord God Father, we have received a report from our people. They say that the Divine Son and the elders of the Boundless Divine Kingdom have begun their journey to the Pure Land."
A deep, composed voice echoed through the dimly lit hall.
The speaker was a young man, his figure enshrouded in pure darkness, his presence so unnerving that even the powerhouses within the grand chamber dared not breathe too loudly.
His darkness was unlike any other.
Not because it was destructive—but because it was not.
Everyone in the room knew the nature of darkness profound energy—it was wild, volatile, and could never be completely tamed. Even those who cultivated the darkness path for ten thousands of years had to remain vigilant, lest the abyssal power turn against them.
It was a power that always demanded a price.
But the young man standing before them—he was different.
His darkness was absolute.
It did not rage. It did not struggle.
It submitted.
It wrapped around him obediently, faithfully, like a living entity that knew its master could never be disobeyed.
His control over darkness was not just unprecedented—it was terrifying.
Even more terrifying than the Divine Regent himself, who now sat calmly upon the throne, watching the young man with an unreadable expression.
For a long moment, silence stretched across the grand hall.
Then, at last—
"Thank you, Buwang."
The Divine Regent nodded, acknowledging the report, his voice deep yet unhurried.
The young man smiled, an air of confidence radiating from him as he turned around to leave.
Yet—just as he was about to step beyond the threshold, he suddenly stopped.
"Lord God Father, if I may… May I ask why you have our people monitoring the Boundless Divine Kingdom?"
His voice was as calm and polite as ever, but beneath its smooth veneer lay a spark of curiosity.
The moment the words fell, the air in the chamber subtly shifted.
The Divine Regent—Qi Heng—leaned back slightly on his throne, his gaze flickering with amusement.
Seeing his son take the initiative to question him, a rare smile graced his lips.
"Because I want to be there to welcome back a fellow friend when the time comes," he replied leisurely, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty.
"?????????"
The words sent a wave of confusion through the room.
The assembled elders and guards exchanged silent glances, their expressions filled with doubt and uncertainty.
Even Pan Buwang, whose composure was rarely shaken, furrowed his brows slightly.
"Welcome back a fellow friend?" he echoed, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.
"Who… might you be referring to, Father?"
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Then—
Qi Heng's lips curled ever so slightly.
His expression was impossible to read.
But his gaze, deep and knowing, seemed to pierce through time itself.
As if he already knew exactly who was coming back.
"I suppose there's no harm in telling you all now," Divine Regent Qi Heng said leisurely, his voice smooth yet carrying an unmistakable weight.
His eyes swept over the room, taking in their barely contained curiosity.
"After all, it will be exposed sooner or later."
The air in the grand chamber grew thick with anticipation, every figure standing a little straighter, their breaths unconsciously held in suspense.
Qi Heng let the silence linger for a moment before speaking again, his next words casual—yet carrying a weight that shook their very souls.
"Everyone knows that Divine Regent Rahu was killed in the Endless Fog Sea, correct?"
"Yes, yes…"
A murmur of agreement rippled through the hall.
Even now, the death of a True God remained one of the most shocking events in history. The sheer thought of it was unthinkable, impossible—yet it had happened.
Among them, Pan Buwang's eyes flickered with an unreadable light.
He had, of course, heard all about it.
The rumors—no, the truth—was that his own master, the Fog Monarch, had slain the Divine Regent.
Even now, months after the event, the mere thought of it sent a chill down his spine.
A God had died.
Not just any God—The strongest of all Divine Kingdom's Gods!
Something that should have been an impossibility.
Yet for his revenge, he had buried those thoughts deep, maintaining an outward façade just like everyone else.
"Yes…" Pan Buwang responded calmly, lowering his head in feigned reverence. "We have all heard of it."
Qi Heng studied him briefly, then smiled.
"Well…" he continued, his voice light, almost conversational—but his next words sent a monstrous wave crashing into everyone's hearts.
"For us Gods, death isn't truly the end. There are ways to bring back a fallen God."
"!!!!!!"
The chamber fell into absolute silence.
For a full breath, no one spoke—no one even dared to breathe.
Then, like a thunderclap striking the heavens, an uproar erupted among them!
"Impossible!!!"
"Revive a God?! Lord Divine Regent, do you mean—"
"How can this be?!"
Gasps, exclamations, and stunned whispers filled the hall as even the most composed elders lost their restraint.
Even Pan Buwang, despite all his self-control, felt his heart tremble.
He knew that Gods were far beyond mortals, their very souls carrying divinity itself.
But to reverse the death of a True God…
It was something that defied even the most ancient laws.
Yet, Qi Heng merely smiled, his calm gaze sweeping over the stunned faces before him.
He was enjoying this.
He was a God—a being who stood at the pinnacle of all existence.
And he had just told them the one thing no mortal or lesser divine could ever dream of.
That Gods… could return from the dead.
"Of course, there are limitations as well."
Divine Regent Qi Heng's voice remained calm, but the weight behind his words hung heavy in the air, pressing down on the stunned audience before him.
"To bring a God back from death, a fragment of their soul—one that still contains their divinity—must be used."
His eyes swept across the chamber, watching as realization dawned upon them, their expressions shifting from shock to silent contemplation.
"We Gods… upon our ascension to godhood, leave behind a part of our soul in the Pure Land's Soul Hall."
He paused, letting the magnitude of his words settle in.
"That fragment contains our divine essence, our true self—yet it has no connection to our current existence in the outside world."
A murmur ran through the hall. Even for those who had spent countless millennia serving the Gods, this was not common knowledge.
And yet—it made sense.
Gods stood at the pinnacle of existence, their power defying all logic. If even they could truly perish without a trace, how could the Divine Kingdoms remain so stable for so long?
There had always been secrets buried in the Pure Land—secrets that even the Divine Sons and Elders were never told.
Qi Heng, watching the mixture of awe and unease in their expressions, continued leisurely.
"Resources are also required—a vast, unimaginable amount."
His voice deepened slightly, carrying the weight of divine law.
"And most importantly, the revival must be personally overseen by the High Priests themselves. Only through their ancient Divine Arts can the fallen God be reborn."
The chamber fell deathly silent once more.
Qi Heng leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest of his throne.
"It can only be done once."
A single sentence, yet it carried a finality that sent chills through their hearts.
"The process is neither instant nor guaranteed—it could take decades. If one is lucky, ten years might be enough."
Each word struck like a thunderclap, reverberating through the minds of everyone present.
The silence stretched—then suddenly—
"Decades…?" someone muttered under their breath, their voice trembling.
"A single chance…? If they fail—"
Another elder swallowed hard, his face pale.
The enormity of this revelation had shaken them all.
But Qi Heng was not yet done.
A smirk played at the corners of his lips as he spoke once more.
"This is why I sent our people to monitor the movements of the Boundless Divine Kingdom."
His tone was casual, as if discussing mundane affairs—yet his words carried the weight of inevitability.
"No matter what doubts they may have—
No matter how much hesitation lingers in the Divine Son's heart—
They will choose to revive their God."**
His gaze darkened slightly, a flicker of amusement flashing through his eyes.
"And for us Gods…"
He leaned forward slightly, his presence looming, divine, unshakable.
"It is simply a matter of going to welcome back an old friend."
--------
"So, Caili… I know your heart is in chaos right now, but please, wait just a little longer."
Hua Fuchen's voice was steady, yet tinged with a rare gentleness as he looked at his daughter.
He could see the storm raging in her eyes, the barely contained worry, anger, and desperation that had been eating away at her since Yun Che's disappearance.
But now, there was a sliver of hope.
"When the old Rahu is revived, we will finally know the truth of what happened. And when that time comes, we will find a way to deal with the Fog Monarch… and rescue Yun Che."
His words rang with conviction, as though the mere act of speaking them was enough to make them reality.
Hua Caili's fists clenched tightly, her body trembling with unspoken emotions.
For so long, she had been waiting—helpless, powerless—watching events unfold beyond her control.
She wasn't the only one who was shaken.
Beside her, Hua Qingying was equally stunned, her usual sharp composure cracking at the revelation.
"This… this is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing…" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
It was a God's secret, something that only the Divine Regents and High Priests were privy to.
And now, it all made sense.
"No wonder… no wonder none of the Gods made a move after the Boundless End Divine Regent's death," Hua Qingying murmured, her mind racing.
"None of the Gods want to risk dying. Because outside of the Boundless Divine Kingdom, no other Divine Kingdom possesses the Primordial Flame Stone."
If they fell, their chance at revival would be forever lost.
And no God—not a single one—would gamble their eternal existence on a battle they weren't sure they could win.
A heavy silence settled over them.
Then—
"...Yes… father."
Hua Caili finally exhaled, her head lowering slightly in acceptance.
Even though her heart was still restless, even though her soul screamed at her to act—
She knew.She had no choice but to wait.
With that, Hua Caili bowed deeply, bidding farewell to her father and her aunt before turning to leave. Her steps were steady, yet there was a heaviness in her heart that she could not shake.
She had no choice but to wait.
And waiting… was the hardest thing of all.
As she approached her room, reaching for the door—
"Big sister!"
A familiar voice suddenly rang out behind her, causing her to pause.
Turning around, she saw a small figure rushing toward her—her younger sister, Hua Lianzhi.
Her little sister's eyes were filled with worry, her delicate brows creased with concern.
"What is it, Lianzhi?" Hua Caili asked, her voice soft as she regarded her sister.
Hua Lianzhi hesitated for a moment, then spoke with clear unease.
"Are you… okay?"
Her voice was gentle, but her concern was evident in every word.
Since that fateful day when Hua Caili had been forced to return from the Endless Fog Sea, she had not been the same.
Her once unshakable spirit had dimmed, her once unyielding confidence had wavered.
And Hua Lianzhi, as her little sister, had noticed every single change.
She hated seeing her sister like this.
She hated feeling so helpless.
Yet, all she could do was ask—
And hope that her sister would not continue to carry this burden alone.
Hua Caili stared at her sister for a long moment before finally smiling.
It was the same smile as always, warm and bright—so much so that for a brief moment, it almost felt real.
"I'm fine…" she finally said, her voice calm and reassuring.
"I'm just a little tired. You don't need to worry. I just need to rest for a bit, and I'll be fine."
With that, she turned away, stepping into her room.
As the door closed behind her, the formations that guarded her chamber flickered to life.
From the outside, it seemed as if nothing was amiss.
But inside—
Hua Caili's smile faded.
"Big sister…"
Watching Hua Caili's departing figure, Hua Lianzhi's hands clenched into small fists.
She wanted to say more.
She wanted to do something—anything to ease the pain she knew her sister was carrying.
Yet, in the end, all she could do was lower her head and turn away.
She could only hope that one day, her sister's smile would no longer be a mask.
As soon as Hua Caili stepped into her room, the barriers and formations flared to life, isolating her completely from the outside world.
And in that very instant—
Her legs gave way.
Her body collapsed onto the cold floor, and her delicate hands trembled as she covered her face.
Tears—silent, unrestrained, endless—spilled from her eyes.
Like raindrops, they fell.
Each tear carried pain.
Each tear carried longing.
Each tear carried the unbearable weight of worry.
Her shoulders shook violently as she pressed her forehead against her knees, her voice breaking into sobs.
"Big Brother Yun…"
Her voice trembled, her breath uneven as the emotions she had locked away for months overflowed.
"Back then… you told me that people can have many faces… many masks… I think I, too, have many faces now."
Her lips quivered, and a bitter, broken smile stretched across her tear-streaked face.
"I will put on the best face… the brightest smile… the strongest front for everyone to see…"
Her sobs grew heavier, her vision blurred with the endless flow of tears.
"All I ask… is for you to come back…"
Her hands clenched against her chest, as if desperately holding onto something that was slipping away.
"Return home… return to me safely… okay?"
The words faltered into the quiet.
A whisper. A prayer. An eternal waiting.
Inside the quiet chamber, Hua Fuchen and Hua Qingying sat in solemn silence, their expressions heavy with unspoken sorrow.
Though they were not physically present in Hua Caili's room, their Divine Senses stretched through the walls, watching every painful tear, every trembling sob, every whispered plea.
The sight pierced their hearts like a blade.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
The weight of helplessness pressed upon them, suffocating, unbearable.
Then, at last—
"Is there really no other way?"
Hua Qingying's voice broke the silence, her tone low yet trembling.
"Can't we send people to the Endless Fog again?"
Her hands curled into fists at her sides.
She had never been one to accept fate without a fight.
But this time—
This time, it felt as if they were being forced to simply wait while someone they loved was suffering.
Hua Fuchen closed his eyes, his heart heavy.
"It is the will of the Abyssal Monarch."
His voice was quiet, yet filled with an undeniable sense of resignation.
"There truly is no other way."
He shook his head slowly, his own frustration barely contained.
The Abyssal Monarch's decree was absolute—unchangeable, unchallenged.
No one, not even them, had the authority to defy it.
And so—
As the two of them exchanged a glance filled with silent grief, their only choice…
Was to wait.
And to hope.
Even though neither of them dared to voice their greatest fear—
That by the time they finally had the chance to act…
It would already be too late.
---------
"ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!"
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!"
The thunderous clash of power shook the very depths of the Endless Fog Sea, sending violent tremors through the abyssal darkness.
Another deafening roar echoed through the vast void—
"ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!"
"BOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!"
A colossal serpent, its abyssal-black scales glistening with an unnatural sheen, coiled and thrashed violently before Yun Che.
Its body was massive, easily matching the Abyssal Dragon Lord in size, its eyes burning with pure, predatory malice.
Its scales were so unnaturally tough that even Yun Che, despite his overwhelming power, struggled to break through them.
This Abyssal Beast was a monstrosity, its aura suffocating, its strength nearly on par with the Divine Dragon Lord itself.
Yet, Yun Che could tell—
This was not even a peak-level abyssal beast.
This creature had only reached the Eighth Level of the Divine Limited Realm.
And yet—it was pushing him back.
Yun Che's eyes narrowed, his body radiating a power that should have long surpassed such an opponent.
After countless rounds of Duo Cultivation with Xia Qingyue, his foundation had become stable, his aura firmly settled at the peak of Level One Divine Extinction Realm.
But something was wrong.
Even though he tried to absorb more abyssal dust, to force his cultivation higher—
Nothing changed.
His progress had stagnated, his growth completely halted despite the endless abyssal energy swirling around him.
At first, he thought it was a simple bottleneck, but when he delved deeper—
He realized the truth.
All the energy he had been absorbing…
None of it was going to him.
His profound veins—the infinite starry worlds within him—
Had devoured everything.
They were siphoning every last trace of profound energy, hoarding it for their own transformation.
And Yun Che?
He got nothing.
Not a single drop of the energy had gone toward strengthening his cultivation.
His profound veins were evolving—but at what cost?
And what would they become when the transformation was complete?
He didn't know.
Right now, Yun Che stood in his God Ash state, his body radiating an overwhelming might that pushed his combat power to the peak of the Divine Limited Realm.
That was why he had dared to venture deeper than anyone before him, plunging into the true depths of the Endless Fog—a place so far in that even the most powerful abyssal creatures never left.
Hundreds of millions of miles in.
A place where even Gods would hesitate to step foot.
But Yun Che had come willingly.
It was about proving his strength. It was about knowing exactly where he stood.
And so— He had settled on a place where he would station the Primordial Profound Ark, a place so deep in the abyss that no one, not even the Pure Land, would ever think to search for it.
Once he had secured the location—
He ventured out.
He had specifically searched for late-stage Divine Limited Realm abyssal creatures—monstrosities that ruled this dark domain.
And when he had finally found one—
He did not use his power to suppress it.
He did not control the abyssal dust to weaken it.
Instead—
He let his life aura flare, allowing the suppression of the abyssal environment to weigh upon him just as it did upon every other being here.
He wanted to know.
Could he fight on equal footing, without relying on external factors?
And now—he had his answer.
Even with his current strength, even with God Ash enhancing his abilities—
Here, in the deepest reaches of the Endless Fog, he was struggling.
The abyssal suppression was so strong that it felt like weights pressing down on every fiber of his being.