Before Shen Yanye's flames could reach Pan Buwang, the world shifted.
The blazing inferno, once so brilliant and unstoppable, was snuffed out in an instant. The scorching flames that consumed the air, the golden light that defied the abyss — all of it vanished as though it had never existed.
The world turned black.
A terrifying, all-encompassing black.
It wasn't merely the absence of light. This darkness was absolute — ancient and boundless. A darkness that devoured everything. It swallowed the air, the sky, and the trembling remnants of Shen Yanye's divine might. Even the indomitable flames of the Vermillion Bird flickered helplessly before it.
And within that abyss, they emerged.
Butterflies.
Countless, ethereal butterflies, their delicate wings dyed in the deepest shade of night. They fluttered through the void, drifting silently, as if weaving threads of despair across the sky. Each one carried the aura of endless sorrow — a reflection of a world long consumed by darkness.
They did not burn.
They did not tear.
They simply existed.
And by their mere presence, all resistance crumbled.
Shen Yanye felt it — the cold, suffocating embrace of the endless night. Her flames, once so ferocious, were extinguished without a sound. The glorious manifestation of the Vermillion Bird, the proud divine beast that bore her ancestral power, froze in mid-air. Its blazing wings faltered, its glowing eyes dimming into nothingness.
The divine bird — no, its very soul — was shackled.
And so was she.
Her body refused to move. The overwhelming pressure from the surrounding darkness bore down upon her, rendering her powerless. Her arms, once poised to strike, now hung limply at her sides. The flames that once danced across her skin had vanished, leaving behind nothing but cold, empty air.
Time itself seemed to halt.
Even the twisted battlefield below, with its broken earth and rivers of blood, faded from existence. Within this blackened void, there was no war. No sound. No light.
Only the butterflies remained.
And then —
"Ah..."
The world shifted once more.
The oppressive darkness lifted, and light returned. The shattered remains of the sky reappeared, the burning remnants of the battlefield flickering weakly. But it was not the same. The brilliance of the flames had been dimmed. The very air seemed colder, heavier.
And in the midst of it all —
"PUKEEEEE!!!!"
Shen Yanye's trembling figure convulsed as a violent gush of blood erupted from her mouth.
It didn't stop.
Blood poured from her lips, staining her pale face. Her eyes, ears, and even her nose bled uncontrollably. The overwhelming force that had crushed her body from within had ruptured her veins, shattering her internal organs. Every heartbeat sent a fresh wave of pain through her mangled body.
Her once-blazing presence was no more.
The divine flames that had illuminated the battlefield with pride and dominance had been snuffed out entirely. The colossal form of the Vermillion Bird was gone, its divine manifestation erased as if it had never been.
And the agony that tore through Shen Yanye was unbearable.
Her body trembled violently, her fingers twitching in futility. Even the simplest act of moving felt impossible. The flames within her soul were gone, extinguished like a fragile ember in the storm. The God Manifestation had been shattered without mercy.
"You..."
Her voice was barely a whisper, choked by the metallic taste of blood.
"How... can...I..."
But before she could even attempt to comprehend the nightmare that had befallen her, her strength gave out. Her trembling form crumpled, and with nothing to hold her aloft, she fell.
Eternal Calamity Darkness Butterflies.
A technique unlike any other — a twisted marvel born from the fusion of two profound arts.
It was Yun Che himself who conceived this terrifying creation. By merging the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom's ancient divine art with the forbidden techniques granted to him by the Heaven Smithing Devil Emperor, he forged something terrifying. A manifestation of both profound beauty and unparalleled destruction.
And Pan Buwang?
He had been the sole recipient of this power.
Back in the desolate depths of the Endless Fog Sea, Yun Che personally imparted the knowledge of the Eternal Calamity Darkness Butterflies to Pan Buwang, preparing him for what was to come. At the time, it was intended as a trump card — a devastating weapon to be unleashed against Pan Buzhuo in the Pure Land Meeting.
But plans had shifted.
With Yun Che's intervention, Pan Buwang's once limited potential shattered its boundaries. His Nine Divine Essence evolved into the flawless form of a Perfect Divine Essence, elevating him far beyond what anyone could have predicted. With such overwhelming power coursing through his veins, the need to reveal the Eternal Calamity Darkness Butterflies had faded.
It became a forgotten weapon — until now.
And now, in this moment of violent reckoning, Pan Buwang had chosen to unleash it.
The twisted elegance of the technique had surpassed even his own expectations.
The sky that once blazed with crimson flames had been consumed, devoured by a world of absolute blackness. The Eternal Calamity Darkness Butterflies danced across the shattered heavens, leaving only despair in their wake. Every delicate flap of their wings resonated with an ancient malice, a force that whispered of annihilation.
Even Pan Buwang hadn't foreseen the devastating magnitude of his own creation.
He had expected the technique to suppress, to weaken. But what it achieved was far beyond that.
The legendary flames of the Vermillion Bird, the undying pride of Shen Yanye's bloodline — reduced to nothing.
And even if she had come at him with her full strength from the very start, even if her God Manifestation had been in its prime without a single injury — it wouldn't have changed the outcome.
The technique wasn't something that could simply be resisted.
Even if the Divine Regents of every Divine Kingdom gathered their strength, joining forces to oppose it, the result would remain the same. The overwhelming force of the Eternal Calamity Darkness Butterflies would still reign supreme.
It was a reminder.
A reminder that in the face of Pan Buwang's newfound might, the very concept of resistance was meaningless.
And as Shen Yanye's bloodied figure plummeted from the heavens, the echoes of the butterflies' silent wings lingered — a chilling testament to the depths of destruction that had just been unleashed.
"What... is that... technique?!!!"
The exclamation came from Meng Kongchan, his voice trembling with disbelief. His eyes remained locked on the horrifying scene before him — the once-mighty Lightless Divine Regent, Shen Yanye, reduced to a bloodied, crumpled figure plummeting from the sky.
The unbearable pressure of the Eternal Calamity Darkness Butterflies had faded, yet the lingering terror it left behind gripped his heart.
"A completely new Divine Art..."
Even the usually calm and composed High Priest Ling Xian, who had remained concealed in the shadows, could no longer hide her shock. Her ancient eyes gleamed with disbelief, the spectacle before her shaking even her vast understanding of divine power.
To witness a technique like this — something that transcended the norm, defying the limits of comprehension — was nothing short of terrifying.
The others were no different.
Still, despite her composed demeanor, High Priest Ling Xian could not ignore the sight of one of her own suffering such a devastating defeat.
The bloodied figure of Shen Yanye was still plummeting from the sky, her battered body consumed by the countless wounds she had sustained. The once radiant flames of the Vermillion Bird had long since vanished.
But she wasn't dead.
Her unconscious body fell like a withered ember, drifting through the shattered sky.
A faint sigh escaped Ling Xian's lips.
Without hesitation, she emerged from the void.
Her white robes billowed with divine brilliance as her ancient presence washed over the battlefield. Though she bore no malice, the sheer force of her arrival caused the trembling remnants of the air to stir, like the gentle hum of the cosmos itself.
"That's enough."
Her words were calm, but they resonated with the authority of a being far beyond the realm of gods. In an instant, she raised her hand, and a soft starlight descended. It wrapped around Shen Yanye, catching her mid-fall. The blood-streaked figure, trembling from the trauma of the battle, was carefully cradled within the High Priest's divine energy.
The oppressive silence that followed her words was shattered only by the faint, pained breaths that escaped Shen Yanye. But her unconscious state ensured she could no longer bear witness to the humiliating end of the battle.
Then, with a subtle motion, Ling Xian dismissed the barrier that had contained the gods. The fragmented void shuddered as the ancient formation crumbled into faint wisps of light, returning the gods' power to the world outside.
"We greet Lord Ling Xian!"
The four gods who had hidden themselves during the clash finally emerged from the void. Meng Kongchan, Star Divine Regent, Moon Divine Regent, and Hua Fuchen bowed respectfully, their voices steady despite the lingering shock in their eyes.
Even after everything they had seen, the presence of a High Priest commanded their absolute reverence.
"Pan Buwang greets Lord Ling Xian."
Without resistance, Pan Buwang withdrew his dark energy. The suffocating aura of the abyss that had dominated the battlefield vanished, leaving only the lingering traces of destruction. His figure remained imposing, but the cruel malice that had flickered in his eyes was now absent.
He bent his head slightly, offering a respectful bow.
There was no defiance. No argument.
"Thank you for letting this junior vent his hatred. I feel much clearer now, and much better."
His voice rang out, disturbingly calm.
"For that, there is no need for this war any longer."
The words came so abruptly that High Priest Ling Xian stood frozen. Her ancient eyes, so often calm and composed, widened ever so slightly. Of all the possible outcomes, this was something she hadn't anticipated.
Pan Buwang's tone was neither mocking nor resentful — simply matter-of-fact, as though the catastrophic battle, the destruction, and the sight of a fallen god were nothing more than necessary steps to soothe his wrath.
He had achieved what he wanted.
And now, without hesitation or the slightest trace of regret, he dismissed it all.
"Everyone, return!"
The words echoed like a divine command.
The cultivators of the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom, stirred from their daze. Many of them had stood paralyzed, still processing the carnage left behind, but at his order, they immediately withdrew. One by one, the profound arks lifted into the sky, their formations igniting as they turned away from the battlefield.
"Farewell, Lord Ling Xian."
Without waiting for a response, Pan Buwang offered a faint, insincere smile. Then, in a blur of motion, his figure vanished. The oppressive darkness that had once clung to the sky dissipated with him.
Just like that, he was gone.
"What..."
The words faltered on Ling Xian's lips. She remained still, her mind racing to make sense of what had just occurred. Only moments ago, the world had trembled beneath the clash of gods. The brutal power that Pan Buwang had unleashed was something even the heavens themselves seemed to fear.
And now?
He simply walked away.
"The hell just happened?"
The disbelief was not limited to her alone.
The four gods behind her stood in utter bewilderment. Meng Kongchan opened his mouth as if to speak, only to close it in stunned silence. Star Divine Regent and Moon Divine Regent exchanged incredulous glances, their minds refusing to grasp the absurdity of it all.
"He… he just left?"
Hua Fuchen rubbed his temples, the weight of the confusion bearing down on him. "After all that…? That wasn't even a victory celebration. He just… decided he was done!"
"What... the... fuck."
The words slipped from Star Divine Regent's lips, breaking the silence that followed. The phrase seemed to echo in the air, perfectly capturing the thoughts of all five figures.
Even the lingering divine pressure, the residual traces of shattered flames and the ominous void left by the Eternal Darkness Butterflies, could not overshadow the sheer absurdity of the moment.
"Just like that..."
Ling Xian shook her head slowly. She was an Ancient True God. She had witnessed the rise and fall of countless powerful beings. But even in her endless years, she had never encountered anything quite like Pan Buwang.
The five stood in silence, their gazes still locked on the fading remnants of Pan Buwang's dark energy. Even as the battlefield lay in ruins and the injured Shen Yanye remained unconscious, the abrupt end to the conflict left them all with one overwhelming thought.
What the hell just happened?
High Priest Ling Xian stood in the midst of the broken battlefield, her thoughts a chaotic storm.
She had anticipated a very different outcome.
When Pan Buwang unleashed the devastating might of his Eternal Calamity Darkness Butterflies and overwhelmed Shen Yanye in mere moments, she had already steeled herself for what would come next. With such power in his grasp, she was certain he would be blinded by it.
Drunk on his newfound strength.
It wasn't uncommon. Many gods, after tasting the intoxicating rush of absolute dominance, allowed their reason to crumble. They were destroyed with a thought, believing themselves untouchable.
That was why she had stepped in.
Ling Xian expected his arrogance to flare, for him to disregard even her presence in the throes of his overwhelming confidence. With that, she would have every justification to teach him a lesson — a lesson that even gods, no matter how powerful, could not act without consequence.
But instead…
He stopped.
The very moment she appeared, Pan Buwang ceased his attacks.
No hesitation. No defiance.
And now, as the shattered battlefield echoed with the last remnants of divine power, the realization struck her like a thunderclap.
He knew.
He had anticipated her arrival from the very beginning.
Every action, every word — even his "gratitude" for being allowed to vent his hatred — had only confirmed it further. Pan Buwang wasn't merely surrendering to her authority. No, this was something far more deliberate.
He manipulated the entire situation.
From the start, he knew she would intervene. And when she did, instead of resisting, he carefully framed his actions to appear as though he had simply "vented enough" — a justification to retreat on his own terms. This young man, was never blind by power nor is he someone without control! Everything, was planned, step by steps! Such a terrifying person!
----------
In the foremost profound ark, streaking across the abyss like a black comet, stood Pan Buwang. The dark expanse of the Abyss reflected in his cold eyes, but unlike the ominous silence that surrounded him, a faint smile curved on his lips.
Everything had gone exactly as he planned.
From the very beginning, the war wasn't about conquest. It wasn't about proving his strength or claiming dominance over the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom. Pan Buwang knew that killing Shen Yanye — a Divine Regent under the watchful gaze of the ancient gods — was an impossible feat, at least for now.
No, what he wanted… was vengeance.
Not the complete and final vengeance that would end with her corpse beneath his feet — that day would come, but not yet. For now, he only wanted her to suffer. He wanted her to crumble beneath the weight of her humiliation, to feel the despair of her own weakness.
To see her pride burn away.
"Half-dead is enough."
His fingers traced along the cool metal of the ark's railing as he watched the endless darkness ahead. The twisted satisfaction in his chest lingered like a heavy warmth.
Every aspect of his so-called madness, the fury he displayed, the declaration of war — all of it had been a performance. A perfect facade.
The uncontrollable hatred.
The reckless brutality.
The apparent thirst for destruction.
They were merely tools.
He knew the ancient gods would watch. He knew that High Priest Ling Xian would eventually step in. That was why he never intended to kill Shen Yanye. Doing so would not only invite the wrath of Pure Land but also force the other Divine Kingdoms to unite against him.
But crippling her, humiliating her — that he could do.
And he had done it perfectly.
The Eternal Calamity Darkness Butterflies had shattered her flames and her pride. Even if her body survived, the scars of that defeat would remain. A god who once stood in unshakable dominance, reduced to nothing but a trembling, blood-soaked figure. It was a scene that would haunt her forever.
"She won't forget."
And that was exactly what he wanted.
Yet, even as the satisfaction lingered, there was something else — a patient longing. The twisted anticipation of a future that had yet to arrive.
"Not yet."
The words echoed in his mind.
A Divine Regent who dared to decide who was worthy of existence. A woman who destroyed without hesitation, all because of her twisted hatred.
"You will pay more..."
But not today.
There would be a day when he would no longer be bound by the eyes of the ancient gods. A day when the fear of consequences would no longer hold him back. That day would come — and when it did, Shen Yanye would fall.
Yet, there was one more reason why he stayed his hand.
His master.
The faint whisper of the title stirred something within him — a shadow of loyalty and reverence.
Even as a god, even as someone who now possessed a strength few could rival, Pan Buwang had never once forgotten the one who gave him everything. The one who reached out to him when the world abandoned him. The one who unlocked his true potential.
The Fog Monarch.
The name alone sent a wave of reverence through his soul. Though the Abyss was vast and ancient, the name of the Fog Monarch was one that struck fear and awe in equal measure. Even now, the mere thought of his master's presence was enough to make his blood surge.
"Master has caused quite the chaos."
Even with his newfound godhood, Pan Buwang understood his place. The current turmoil in the Abyss was only a prelude — the Fog Monarch's influence ran deeper than any mere battle.
He had not yet returned, but when that day arrived, Pan Buwang would be ready.
"I will repay that kindness."
The vow was etched into his very soul. No matter the cost, no matter what price had to be paid — he would stand by his master's side.
And when the time came, there would be only one thing he asked for in return.
"To kill Shen Yanye."
His fingers clenched into fists, the cold metal groaning under his strength. The twisted satisfaction returned, mingling with the burning desire that had festered for so long.
"And to reunite with my loved one… in another world."
As the endless abyss stretched before him, the cold smile on Pan Buwang's face deepened.
The war was over. The war, that was born from love and hate.