Every single blade, spear, or artifact in the surroundings… all of them were shivering in fear beneath the aura that swept out of Yun Che's body.
It was too real.
Too impossible.
A state that surpassed all imagination.
"Brother Yun…"
Hua Caili's soft, quivering voice broke through the suffocating pressure, her gaze locked onto Yun Che's figure standing alone amidst the ruins and chaos. Her heart pounded violently, her emotions surging beyond control. She, too, had once believed she had touched the edge of that distant realm… she had once thought herself close to that boundary…
But now—standing before this man—standing before the man she loved…
She realized just how far she truly was.
As shocking and unbelievable as the scene outside was, where gods and divine beings could only look upon Yun Che with speechless awe and terror…
Inside Yun Che himself…
The shock he felt…
Was even greater.
Just a moment ago, at the very heart of Yun Che's infinite world, the that he now called as the Ancestral Sword World—a world that existed because the legendary Heavenly Punishing Ancestral Sword had impaled itself deep into its very core—began to tremble.
Without warning, from the sword buried within the heart of that world, an ancient, boundless aura began to awaken—vast, indifferent, and terrifying beyond reason.
It spread outward, like an eternal tide that washed over every inch of Yun Che's Infinite Starry Worlds. There was no rage within it, no killing intent—only a cold, absolute existence that crushed all resistance beneath its presence.
Sword energy, ancient and primal, far beyond anything mortal or divine, swept through the Infinite Worlds, enveloping all of creation within Yun Che's body.
And in that instant—everything was silenced.
It was as if the Heavenly Punishing Ancestral Sword itself was wordlessly saying —
"Be quiet" As though it were the decree of a Heavenly Monarch, every mortal can only bow their head and listen in submission.
That ancient, terrifying sword that had impaled itself into the heart of Yun Che's infinite worlds didn't unleash waves of slaughtering intent or erupt with destructive force.
It simply trembled once and sent out its aura.
Yet that single motion… that casual release of presence… was enough to silence all existence.
Even the raging Vermillion Bird, whose divine flames existed for the sole purpose of purging all evil from the world, froze in place beneath that suffocating sword presence. Its blazing wings, which moments ago had stretched proudly across the skies, now trembled uncontrollably, its divine body shivering in pure instinctual fear. The Flame of Redemption — the very core of its power, the sacred flame meant to burn all impurities — did not even have the chance to ignite fully, let alone burn itself away.
Under the overwhelming suppression of the Heavenly Punishing Ancestral Sword, its majestic beastly form rapidly disintegrated, reversing back to its most primal state — a single drop of Vermillion Bird's Divine Blood, shining faintly in sorrow and helplessness.
And it wasn't just the Vermillion Bird.
One after another, the other Divine Beasts — the Golden Crow, the Fire Phoenix, the Primordial Azure Dragon, and the Ice Phoenix — all began to shake and tremble beneath that same terrifying sword aura. Their towering, divine forms, which once dominated the skies within Yun Che's infinite world, began to falter and collapse, unable to resist the ancient authority pressing down upon them.
In the end, no matter how proud, no matter how mighty, all of them were forced to return to their original form — the purest essence of their existence — the drops of Divine Blood that Yun Che had inherited.
Those ancient droplets pulsed faintly, radiating with the power of their respective legacies, before slowly descending into the depths of their nearby worlds, sinking deeper and deeper as if fleeing instinctively, retreating as far away as possible from the presence of the Heavenly Punishing Ancestral Sword — a presence that even they, proud Divine Beasts of ancient times, dared not challenge.
Then,
"RUMBLEEEEEEEEE!!!!"
Five deafening sounds echoed simultaneously across the vast expanse of Yun Che's infinite worlds, shaking the heavens within his profound vein like the tolling of an ancient, primordial bell.
The five ethereal worlds — the very places where the drops of Divine Blood from each of the Divine Beasts had fallen — began to tremble violently. Worlds that were once illusory, hazy like distant dreams just barely clinging to form, suddenly began to condense and solidify. Their once-shadowy outlines grew clearer, their boundaries sharpening, as if they were gradually crossing the line between illusion and reality… stepping beyond the limits of imagination and moving toward true existence.
Yet… just as they seemed to be approaching completion…
Everything came to a halt.
The worlds froze in place — caught between the realm of dreams and reality.
As if something crucial was missing.
As if a final key, a final piece, the ultimate requirement for their birth… had yet to be found.
But even so, Yun Che could feel it clearly.
From within each of those five incomplete worlds, he could sense a deep, ancient presence stirring. Faint echoes of divine roars reverberated from within, carrying the undying pride and might of the ancient Divine Beasts whose blood now resided there.
The very air within those worlds was thick, filled with their distinct auras — the searing heat of the Golden Crow, the eternal flames of the Fire Phoenix, the overwhelming majesty of the Primordial Azure Dragon, the freezing stillness of the Ice Phoenix, and the purifying will of the Vermillion Bird.
Five worlds—each carrying the shadow of an ancient beast.
The moment these five worlds took form, the terrifying sword aura that had dominated everything—originating from the Heavenly Punishing Ancestral Sword—began to slowly recede, withdrawing like a tide that had accomplished its purpose.
Leaving behind only silence.
And Yun Che — standing alone amidst the aftermath of that terrifying storm — remained motionless, his figure suspended in the endless void of his inner world, his heart still pounding, his mind still struggling to comprehend everything he had just witnessed. The image of the Heavenly Punishing Ancestral Sword silencing all with a mere tremble lingered heavily in his thoughts.
-------
In the outside world, all powerful cultivators, regardless of their status or cultivation level, could only stare in horror and disbelief as the terrifying sword aura slowly receded, fading away like a storm that had passed—but leaving behind an oppressive silence that weighed heavily on their hearts.
Thankfully… that dreadful sword aura, one powerful enough to erase worlds and cleave apart the heavens themselves, seemed to have remained confined strictly within the borders of the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom, never once crossing its boundaries.
But even so…
The tremor within their hearts and souls could not be easily stilled.
Their breathing was ragged, their bodies tense, and their divine senses quivered uncontrollably as their eyes all turned toward a single figure — Yun Che, who still sat in silent meditation at the very center of it all.
He sat there… unmoving. Untouched.
And yet, to them…
He might as well have been a god descending upon the world.
"Ling Xian's Divine Blood... has fully merged and submitted to him..."
Liu Xiao's voice escaped his lips like a whisper, heavy with shock, awe, and indescribable complexity as he gazed at Yun Che's figure.
In his long life, in all his vast experience, there were few things left in the world that could truly shake him.
And yet now…
His heart was a mess.
Did the Vermillion Bird's Divine Blood truly submit out of its own will?
Or… was it forced into submission by that ancient, unfathomable sword aura?
What about the clear rejection from earlier — the will so determined it was prepared to burn itself away?
What exactly was that sword aura that erupted from Yun Che's body… a power so ancient, so terrifying?
What kind of existence… had this boy truly become?
Question after question flooded Liu Xiao's mind like an unending tide, twisting his thoughts into knots, leaving him more uncertain than ever before in his long, godly life.
He could only stare…
Soon, Yun Che's body trembled slightly, his long-closed eyes slowly opening, revealing a gaze filled with profound complication and deep thought. His eyes, calm yet layered with emotion, swept across the vast and silent surroundings — gods and cultivators alike still frozen in awe and fear.
With a slow, deliberate motion, Yun Che raised his right hand.
And in the next instant—
Golden flames quietly ignited within his palm.
Yet these flames… were different.
Different from the domineering, scorching flames of the Golden Crow he had long since mastered.
These flames radiated a soft yet boundless heat, a flame filled not with destruction… but with purity and majesty. It carried with it an indescribable holiness, a warmth that did not burn the body — but cleansed the soul.
The flames spread upward from his palm, enveloping his entire body in a soft golden glow, dyeing his figure completely in radiant light. It did not scorch his clothes or sear his flesh — instead, it shrouded him like a divine robe, making his presence appear distant, untouchable, god-like.
"What... is this ... flame…?"
Yun Che's voice rang out quietly, carrying just enough weight and confusion for all the surrounding gods and profound practitioners to hear clearly.
Of course, these words were nothing more than an act.
Yun Che purposely allowed his voice to carry, feigning shock as if discovering this for the first time.
After all… the five worlds within his profound vein had already begun their next stage of transformation. Though incomplete, their connection to him remained unshakable, their power still flowed freely through him — because this was his world.
Everything within it.
Every beast, every will, every drop of divine blood…
Was his power.
His possession.
His domain.
"Yuan'er!"
"Big Brother Yun!"
Meng Kongchan and Hua Caili both cried out at the same time, their voices trembling with overwhelming relief and emotion as their figures descended from the sky like shooting stars, rushing straight toward Yun Che, who still wore an expression of feigned confusion and daze.
They were the first to reach him.
Meng Kongchan, whose heart had nearly shattered from worry, could no longer restrain himself. Without a shred of hesitation, he stepped forward and pulled Yun Che into his embrace—hugging him with such force, with such raw emotion, that Yun Che actually felt as though his bones might crack from the sheer strength of it.
For a brief moment, Yun Che's body stiffened.
Then, as if catching something from the corner of his eyes, he looked up at Meng Kongchan's face.
Tears.
Actual tears, silently falling from the eyes of a man known as the most powerful being of the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom.
"Father… why are you crying…?"
Yun Che asked softly, his voice carrying both gentleness and a faint trace of deliberate confusion, perfectly playing his role.
But Meng Kongchan… said nothing.
Only the sound of quiet sobbing could be heard from the old man's throat, muffled but impossibly heavy, as if all the weight and pressure in his heart had finally shattered.
Above them, high in the sky, the countless members of the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom were all watching this scene with complicated emotions flooding their hearts — awe, respect, envy, and above all else, deep relief.
"Welcome back, Brother Jianyuan!"
Meng Jianxi's loud and cheerful voice suddenly echoed across the heavens, breaking the heavy silence. His figure sped toward Yun Che like a shooting beam of light, followed closely behind by countless other figures — elders, protectors — all rushing down from the sky one after another.
Toward Yun Che.
Toward the man whose very existence had shaken their hearts beyond anything they could have imagined.
"Home...?"
Yun Che's gaze swept across everyone gathered before him, his expression filled with confusion, his voice soft, as if lost in thought.
"Aren't we in the Pure Land… attending the Pure Land Meeting? How… how come we're home? What happened?" Yun Che asked slowly, his brows furrowing in apparent bewilderment, his words carrying the perfect mixture of hesitation and doubt, as if trying to grasp onto memories that simply didn't exist.
For a brief moment, silence reigned.
Then —
"You don't remember…?"
Meng Kongchan, who had finally managed to suppress the torrent of emotions threatening to spill over again, gently pulled Yun Che away from his crushing embrace — just slightly, just enough to see the young man's face clearly.
His heart trembled once more at the sight.
Yet, even in this tender moment, Meng Kongchan couldn't help but twitch slightly. From behind him… he could swear he had heard someone coughing rather pointedly. Not once. Not twice. But several times now.
"Who the fuck keeps ruining my moment with my son?!!!"
Meng Kongchan cursed fiercely within the depths of his heart, his expression darkening momentarily. But no matter how annoyed he felt, he simply didn't have the heart — not now, not at this moment — to look away from Yun Che's face.
Everything else could wait.
"I… I don't remember anything…"
Yun Che replied softly, shaking his head with a faint look of helplessness in his eyes.
Of course, this was all nothing more than an act — a perfect veil of ignorance.
After all, it had been the Fog Monarch who had kidnapped him all those years ago. If Yun Che were to suddenly remember anything beyond what should be possible, it would only arouse unnecessary suspicion.
In these past years, trapped in the hands of the Fog Monarch… there was no way he could know anything. No way he could have seen anything.
And so — he would play the role to perfection.
"You were kidd…"
Meng Kongchan instinctively began, ready to launch into a full, detailed explanation like any worried and overprotective father finally reunited with his long-lost son. His tone was already rising, his expression growing serious, clearly preparing for one of those long, dramatic storytelling moments that would probably take forever.
But before he could even finish the word —
A cold, chilling voice suddenly drifted over from behind him, carrying a weight of silent warning.
At the same time, a firm hand landed heavily on Meng Kongchan's shoulder from behind, making him freeze on the spot.
"Hey… I think it'd be best if you leave that part… to my daughter… your future daughter-in-law… to explain, right?"
The voice belonged to none other than Hua Fuchen, the mighty God of Heaven Breaker Divine Kingdom, whose voice, despite trembling faintly, was laced with a terrifying sharpness that sent shivers down Meng Kongchan's back.
Meng Kongchan's mouth twitched.
His eye twitched.
His entire body stiffened.
He could practically feel Hua Fuchen's killing intent pressing down on him, despite the man maintaining a cold, calm front.
Behind him — almost pitifully — stood Hua Caili, her beautiful face already streaked with tears, biting her lips hard to keep herself from sobbing outright.
She had rushed over the moment Yun Che had awakened — faster than anyone else save for Meng Kongchan himself — but unfortunately, she was just a little slower.
And so, she could only watch as Meng Kongchan shamelessly snatched the first hug, holding Yun Che tightly in his arms while she stood there helpless, her heart pounding with joy, relief, and a touch of grievance.
Still… even so…
Her eyes never left Yun Che.
Her tears never stopped falling.
But in her heart… was only endless warmth and happiness.
Everyone who witnessed this scene, whether god or mortal, could only feel their hearts soften without realizing it.
Ever since Yun Che had been kidnapped by the Fog Monarch, Hua Caili — known throughout countless realms for her peerless beauty — had never once worn a veil to conceal her face. Not because she wished to flaunt her beauty, but simply because... there was no longer any meaning in hiding it.
And yet, the Hua Caili everyone had seen these past years... was never the same radiant girl as before.
Her stunning appearance — once enough to shake all who laid eyes upon her — had long been overshadowed by the constant trace of worry etched into her delicate features, by the sadness lingering deep within her gaze, and by the faint, bitter smiles she forced whenever she appeared in public.
But now… for the first time in many years…
Even though she was crying — her smile was real.
And because it was real, because it came from the deepest part of her heart, she looked unbearably pitiful… yet impossibly beautiful at the same time.
Especially in this moment… when her slender arms, already raised halfway in a desperate attempt to embrace Yun Che, had been left awkwardly hanging in the air — frozen — because Meng Kongchan had beaten her to it.
Everyone saw it.
Everyone felt it.
Even the mighty Hua Fuchen, the fearsome Sword God whose name alone caused countless realms to tremble, could no longer bear the sight of his pitiful daughter standing there, her hands frozen mid-air, her tears falling without restraint, her eyes fixed longingly on the man who had finally returned to her.
He had been coughing for a while now.
Softly at first. Then louder. Then downright exaggerated.
He coughed once.
Twice.
Over and over again.
Trying to hint, trying to signal, trying to tell his old friend Meng Kongchan to for the love of the heavens look behind him.
And yet…
Meng Kongchan never even turned his head.
As if the entire world had narrowed down to just the young man in his arms — the son he thought he might never see again.
Finally, after reaching his limit, unable to endure the scene any longer, Hua Fuchen reached out and firmly grabbed Meng Kongchan's shoulder, his voice cold and low, practically growling in restrained fury.
But how could Meng Kongchan — who had just been reunited with the son he had long thought lost to the abyss — so easily let go?
No.
Absolutely not.
Without hesitation, he planted his feet and resisted with all his might, gripping Yun Che even tighter, his arms like iron clamps refusing to budge an inch.
And just like that —
The two Lower Gods — the only Gods of their respective Divine Kingdoms — began to silently clash in the most ridiculous of ways.
Their divine auras slowly, steadily rose.
It wasn't violent. It wasn't explosive.
But it was absolutely filled with the stubbornness of two old monsters refusing to back down — one for his beloved daughter… and the other for his long-lost son.