Everyone stood in stunned silence at the swift and resolute action taken by Lord Jue Luo.
In terms of value, severing one's own arm was certainly a price equal to compensation. But emotionally—it meant far more than that.
Meng Kongchan's expression was deeply conflicted. He had always known that Dian Luohou was a man of principle and decisiveness, but he hadn't expected him to go to such extremes. This left him in an impossible position.
"Old friend, why must you go this far…"
"Brother Meng," Dian Luohou said solemnly, "I know that losing one arm is not enough to erase your grief. But Jiuzhi is the future of the Senluo Divine Kingdom. Even if I must die, I will never allow harm to come to him."
Dian Jiuzhi, bearer of the Great Wilderness Divine Vein, was the hope of an ancient kingdom that had long since left behind mere survival. After millions of years of legacy, what the Senluo Divine Kingdom pursued now was transcendence—ever greater strength, ever higher ascension.
In Jiuzhi, they saw the spark of that potential. The divine vein in his body granted him limitless future possibilities. Perhaps, one day, he might even stand shoulder to shoulder with the realm's highest priests.
"So if you still wish to strike him down…" Dian Luohou's voice grew colder. "Know that I will never allow it. I've severed an arm, yes—but don't think for a moment that makes you my equal."
As the strongest deity among the six nations, Dian Luohou's pride and confidence were absolute.
"Today, I'll let him go—for your sake. But I'll never forgive him." Meng Kongchan's voice trembled, his soul quaking with emotion. "Dian Jiuzhi may be your son, worthy of protection at the cost of your life. But Yuan'er… he was my life."
"I've lost him once. And now… again!"
His spiritual power wasn't the most dominant among gods, but his soul power was unmatched. Each word carried such grief, such rage and remorse, that the air itself seemed to mourn with him. Everyone present felt their hearts clench at the raw sorrow of an old man who had lost his son.
"Brother Meng…" Dian Luohou faltered. Words couldn't ease the pain of losing a child. If Jiuzhi had died today instead, he knew he would have gone completely mad—no one could have stopped him.
His gaze shifted to Hua Caili.
In the past, he'd been overjoyed with her—both her beauty and her talent were rare, making her a perfect match for Jiuzhi. But now, there was no warmth in his eyes. Only boundless resentment.
"All of this began with her. Brother Meng, hand her over to me, and I will see that you are given justice. When I return, I will personally offer a gift in apology."
But Meng Kongchan stepped forward, shielding Hua Caili with his outstretched arm.
"Jue Luo God Lord, Cai Li was innocent from the start. She was young. When Emperor Yuan arranged her marriage, she didn't yet understand what love meant. How could she refuse? But once she met Yuan'er, everything changed. From that moment on, she followed her heart—and there's no fault in that."
"She was Yuan'er's beloved. I will not allow her to be harmed. I'm letting Dian Jiuzhi go today—but you must also let Cai Li leave safely."
Meng Kongchan was unwavering. With Dian Luohou's appearance today, it was already impossible to take Jiuzhi's life under his watchful eye. He would not allow another tragedy.
Dian Luohou sighed deeply. Even with his strength, there were things brute force could not resolve.
The human heart was the hardest thing in the world to understand—or change.
"Jiuzhi, let's go. Until you inherit the divine source, you are not to take a single step beyond the borders of Senluo Divine Kingdom," he ordered coldly.
Dian Jiuzhi turned to look at Hua Caili one last time. She stood only steps away, yet she felt as distant as the stars.
The threads of fate had shifted the moment Yun Che entered their lives. Their lines, once meant to intersect, had been twisted by his "death" into parallel paths—destined never to meet again. The only thing still linking them… was hate.
"You are the Son of God of Senluo! The first Divine Son of the Abyss! How could you lose your heart over a woman? From this day on, you are forbidden to see Hua Caili again. She is unworthy of you!"
Dian Luohou's rebuke was harsh, but his voice trembled. He knew all too well how much Hua Caili meant to his son. But he had no choice. Even if this command tore Jiuzhi apart, it had to be done.
Without another word, Dian Jiuzhi turned away and followed his father into the mist.
"Cai Li… let's go back. Yuan'er is gone." Meng Kongchan spoke softly.
"Uncle Meng, please… let me stay a little longer," Hua Caili replied. Her voice was faint and trembling, yet resolute. "This is the last place Brother Yun was seen. I don't want him to be lonely."
Meng Kongchan silently nodded and stepped away. But he did not go far. He would stand guard quietly—just as he had failed to do before.
"It seems your 'fake death' didn't have the effect you were hoping for," came a calm, feminine voice. "No battle broke out. No real losses on either side. Your plan failed."
"You're wrong," Yun Che replied, smiling faintly. "Things have gone even better than expected."
"The hardest obstacle among the six nations, Jue Luo God Lord Luohou, has injured himself and handed over the divine weapon to Jiuzhi. His strength has surely diminished. Breaking through the Senluo Divine Kingdom will now be far easier."
"Not to mention," Yun Che added, "the cracks between the three kingdoms are real—and growing. We only need to fan the flames. When the fire takes hold, no one will be able to put it out. It won't end with a 'severed arm'—it'll be all-out war."
He knew that seizing the divine source would take time. So he would isolate and defeat each kingdom one by one.
"As long as this serves your plan. But what about the girl—the one with the painted glass?"
Li Suo's gentle voice echoed in his mind.
And instantly, Yun Che's thoughts rippled with turmoil.
Watching Hua Caili, so alone and grieving, Yun Che couldn't summon even a shred of cruelty toward her. All he felt was pain… and guilt.
Though the abyss had declared them enemies, he simply couldn't hate her.
"I can only avoid her… stop seeing her… and push the Zhetian Divine Kingdom to the bottom of the list," Yun Che whispered. "Maybe time really is the only cure for emotion."
He closed his eyes for a moment, then exhaled softly.
"It's done here. Now we wait for the clash between the Star and Moon Kingdom and the Eternal Night Kingdom. The first true rupture may be close. But before that… there's one more person I need to see."
Hardening his heart, Yun Che turned his back on Hua Caili—and disappeared into the fog.
No divine war had broken out today. But the seeds of hatred Yun Che had sown were more than enough to shatter the balance between Senluo, Zhimeng, and Zhetian.
The true storm was just beginning.
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