"Uncle Yuan Ying\~!" As they stepped out from the light curtain, Hua Caili spotted Yuan Ying's back and immediately called out to him with unrestrained cheer.
The man, who carried an air of unrestrained darkness, had rid himself of all the grime he'd picked up during Six Laughs's kitchen explosion.
"Caili, you two are back," Yuan Ying turned to look at them, his brow tightening slightly. "Hmm?"
Why did that boy look so calm and composed? Shouldn't he be shocked after meeting that... unconventional priest? Everyone else had been.
But it was Caili—no matter how well she tried to hide it, there was still a faint, unshakable gloom between her brows.
Strange... far too strange.
"Senior Yuan Ying, is there something dirty on my face?" Yun Che asked quietly.
Yuan Ying came back to himself, gave a dry cough, and smiled, "No, no. The Six Kingdoms and the Dragon Clan have all arrived. The Pure Land Assembly is about to begin. You two can head back now."
"Mm. Father has already sent me a soul transmission. Caili will return right away. Goodbye, Uncle Yuan Ying," Hua Caili replied politely.
Yun Che also bowed. "Farewell, Senior Yuan Ying."
"Goodbye, goodbye." Yuan Ying watched them leave, then turned his eyes toward the stone house's sealed door.
The house was covered in divine soul seals. Without intentional transmission or the dispersal of spiritual energy, nothing from inside could be sensed by those outside.
...
"Wan Dao, did you really come here because you sensed the Heretic God's aura in that boy?" Six Laughs asked lazily.
The scholar didn't respond to the question. Instead, he posed one of his own. "Old Six Laughs, tell me this: From the end of the Primordial Era to now—millions of years—there's been almost no trace of the Heretic God… Why is it that, just as the Abyssal Passage nears its completion… he suddenly appears in this world?"
Six Laughs furrowed his brows. "You mean to say…?"
"I have a few more doubts," Wan Dao continued as he walked slowly, hands clasped behind his back. "You and I both know how the Era of the Gods and Demons ended—when the devil race unsealed the Evil Infant's Wheel of Myriad Tribulations. The Myriad Tribulation Poison it unleashed dissolved the very foundations of gods and demons alike.
"But Lord Ni Xuan was a Creation God. His life force far surpassed any ordinary deity. According to my calculations, even if afflicted by that poison, he could have survived another million years, perhaps longer. And yet… in all these years, among the many who've fallen into the Abyss—many of whom were from the higher strata of the God Realm—not a single one has ever reported anything about the Heretic God.
"So… when, and where, did Lord Ni Xuan finally discard his fading divine body?
"And when, and why… did he fall into the Abyss at all?
"All that time… all those questions… and he chooses now to pass on his legacy. So tell me—what kind of will did this Yun Che… this Meng Jianyuan… inherit from Lord Ni Xuan?"
"Don't ask me," Six Laughs yawned, covered his mouth, and with a carefree leap, lay flat in the air, reclining as if upon invisible cushions, and promptly fell asleep.
...
"Brother Yun, Grandpa Wan Dao's little pagoda—quick, let Caili see!" Hua Caili tugged at Yun Che's arm as they walked back.
Yun Che flipped his palm. The ancient pagoda appeared, and he handed it to her.
"Wow\~ it really is so cute." Hua Caili admired it closely, then puffed her lips in playful complaint. "He wouldn't let me even touch it earlier. Hmph."
Yun Che chuckled, then suddenly pulled her into his arms with his left hand. Her sweet, floral scent filled his senses. His right hand slid to her waist, soft and warm, then crept upward, drawing a blush to her cheeks and a quiver to her breath.
"Since even I belong to you, then what's mine is yours too. If Grandpa Wan Dao gave it to me… it's really like he gave it to you." Yun Che whispered near her ear, breath warm.
Then he lowered his head and kissed her deeply. Their tongues entwined.
Time passed. When they finally parted, Hua Caili was dazed, and Yun Che's hand had already explored forbidden territory.
"Mmm…" she moaned softly, collapsing against him like a boneless doll. "Brother Yun… Caili wants…"
Three years ago, whether in the Misty Sea or back at Heaven Breaker Kingdom, she had clung to Yun Che every day. And after three whole years apart, her yearning and his teasing stoked the flames of her desire beyond control.
Yun Che kissed her again to silence her, then tapped her nose lightly.
"Be good, Caili\~ We still have business to attend to."
She gazed at him, breathless and flushed. "Hmph. You're the worst."
Still, her hand didn't let go of his. Together, they walked back toward the crowd. Only when they neared others did she finally release his hand and part ways to return to the Dreamweaver and Heaven Breaker delegations.
...
"Caili." Hua Qingying's voice was both cool and gentle.
"Auntie, you're back!" Hua Caili dove into her arms. She had grown into a young woman, but Hua Qingying still stood taller.
Cold, elegant, pure—such words were made for Hua Qingying. Only by seeing her did one truly understand their meaning.
"You little rascal!" snapped Hua Fuchen. "You promised again and again to return when the other kingdoms arrived, but now everyone's here and only now do you come back!"
"Well, it's been years since I saw Grandma Ling Xian and Grandpa Six Laughs!" Hua Caili clung to her father's sleeve, "It's your fault for making your daughter so lovable. Grandpa Six Laughs insisted I stay for treats. As a junior, how could I refuse him?"
Hua Fuchen frowned. "So it's my fault now?"
"You're the one who spoiled her and let her go." Hua Qingying defended her niece.
"You—!" Hua Fuchen choked on his words.
Taking advantage of his silence, Caili quickly tried to change the subject. "Okay okay, I know I was wrong. But right now, the Pure Land Assembly takes priority. We can talk about this later."
Hua Fuchen sighed deeply. What else could he do? He had spoiled her—now he had to live with it.
Just let those two kids not get caught doing anything outrageous… especially not by anyone from the Boundless Divine Kingdom…
Sigh… So exhausting…
...
Elsewhere—
"God Regent." Yun Che bowed.
"Ah, Yuan'er has returned," said Meng Kongchan with a cheerful smile. "How did your visit with Caili go?"
"It went well. She took me to visit Senior Ling Xian and Senior Six Laughs. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to meet Senior Ling Xian due to her illness. But I've handed the Primordial Flame Crystal over to Senior Su Shang. It should be with her now."
"Excellent," Meng Kongchan nodded, pleased. "That earns you a favor from the Ling Xian Priest. With that relationship established, the resistance against your union with Caili will lessen. For both myself and Hua Fuchen."
Yun Che: Actually, I earned another favor from Six Laughs… not sure if Wan Dao counts though…
As they chatted, a white divine glow suddenly flashed before them. A Pure Land Divine Guard appeared.
"The six kingdoms and the Dragon Clan have arrived. The Pure Land Assembly is about to commence. God Regent Wumeng and esteemed guests, please follow me to the Divine Soul Hall."
"Thank you," Meng Kongchan nodded.
The divine guard raised a bronze token high into the sky—
WOOOOONG——
DOOOONG——
A deep, ancient sound spread across the land like thunder. Another echo followed, like a bell from the source of time, cleansing the soul and clearing the mind…
SHOOOM——
A golden light screen a thousand feet tall cascaded from the heavens. It spread before the Dreamweaver delegation like a radiant waterfall.
Holy power and profound force danced within it, majestic and eternal.
Meng Kongchan remained calm.
But behind him, Meng Jianxi and the other divine sons and palace masters—except for a few—stood with clenched fists, trembling eyes, hearts full of awe and reverence.
DOONG— DOONG— DOONG— DOONG— DOONG—
Five bell chimes rang from different directions.
Then, five golden waterfalls of light—just like the one before them—descended from the sky.
"Lord Wumeng, esteemed guests, this way please." The divine guard gestured toward the screen and bowed.
Meng Kongchan glanced at Yun Che and saw that his expression was calm and steady. He smiled approvingly.
Without delay, he grabbed Yun Che's shoulder and leapt forward, entering the pillar of light that bridged heaven and earth.
The others followed close behind, streaks of divine light vanishing into the holy veil.
...