4: Chapter 4 Long hope

In a corner on the other side of the restaurant sat a luxuriously dressed middle-aged man. He was the Seventh Elder under the Dragon Lord, and he had been watching Yun Che for a long time. As soon as Yun Che got up to leave, his sound transmission order was already sent out: "Follow him!"

After leaving Yinlong Pavilion, Yun Che did not hesitate for a moment and flew out of the city.

Not far behind, three Dragon guards followed. The leader, wearing a golden battle helmet and black armor, clearly held a high position; he was Wu Chi, one of the fifty-seven Dragon guards. Accompanying him were his two attendants, Fan Xin and Baitong.

A wisp of abyssal dust drifted through the air and landed on them. Far ahead, Yun Che snorted coldly in his heart: "One in the first level of the Divine Extinction Realm, and two in the Half-step Divine Destruction Realm."

After flying tens of thousands of miles outside the city, Yun Che stopped in a remote, uninhabited valley and turned around. In just a few breaths, Wu Chi, Fan Xin, and Baitong had arrived.

"Who are you?" Wu Chi asked loudly. Although Yun Che was only at the Half-step Divine Destruction Realm, Wu Chi did not dare to take him lightly. The Seventh Elder had already sent him information about Yun Che at Longyin Pavilion.

Yun Che did not answer, but instead stepped forward, closing in on Wu Chi, his momentum no weaker than his opponent's. He spoke five words, one by one:

"Submit, or die!"

"Just you? A mere Half-step Divine Destruction Realm, and you dare to challenge the Divine Extinction Realm?" Wu Chi was furious and laughed. As a dignified Dragon guard, when had he ever been looked down upon like this? "Get down and surrender immediately, perhaps I can still spare your life."

Since that is the case, then fight!

"Boom—"

God Ash and the Evil God realm were activated, and Yun Che's profound energy surged instantly. The Heaven-Abducting Sword was already in his right hand, and a sharp sword light slashed across the sky. Wu Chi raised the Heaven-Breaking Golden Blade in his hand and blocked with all his might.

"Crack—"

The blade shattered and was sent flying into the air. Yun Che's sword momentum slowed for only an instant, but it did not decrease at all, continuing to slash down.

Wu Chi was greatly shocked and hurriedly retreated in a panic, but it was ultimately a step too late. The sword light fell, leaving a long sword scar on his chest; blood sprayed, and white bones were exposed.

Fear appeared in Wu Chi's eyes like never before. He could not understand how someone who was clearly at the Half-step Divine Destruction Realm could have an attack force comparable to the middle or late stages of the Divine Extreme Realm. This was completely beyond what he could face or match; he already regretted accepting this mission. He wanted to turn and flee, but it was too late!

"Boom—"

He took another punch to his chest. He could clearly hear the sound of his own ribs breaking, his entire chest was collapsing, and involuntarily, a mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth. His body flew backward, falling heavily to the ground, unable to climb up again.

Seeing that the situation was bad, Fan Xin and Baitong, who were standing on the side, leaped up and fled.

"Broken Moon Flickering Shadow!"

Yun Che flashed and blocked their path. He grabbed forward with both hands, seizing their necks with his left and right hands respectively, and lifted them back like catching two chicks, throwing them beside Wu Chi.

"Are you still going to run? If you don't want to run, let's start." Yun Che said unhurriedly: "Let me read your memories, or die, choose for yourselves."

By this time, the three of them were already terrified, the first time in their lives they felt so depressed, their fate at the mercy of others.

"I choose to have my memory read!" Wu Chi sighed deeply.

"Please read my memory too!" Fan Xin and Baitong echoed.

Although having one's memory read was a disgrace to a Dragon, it was ultimately far better than dying in this desolate wilderness. Life only happens once; it should be cherished and seized.

Soon, Yun Che learned roughly that Long Xi had appeared suddenly ninety years ago, bringing only a worn-out, lusterless sword when she arrived.

Long Xi seemed to have made some kind of deal with the Dragon Lord, but Wu Chi did not know exactly what the deal was. Because of this, the Dragon Lord set up a small barrier specifically for her, which only the Dragon Lord, Long Chixin, several elders, and Young Clan Leader could approach.

Long Xi almost never had contact with outsiders; besides cultivating, she searched for the "five spirit treasures." This "five spirit treasures" was said to be able to awaken something, but exactly what, only the Dragon Lord, the Grand Elder, and a very few others knew.

Through this information, Yun Che could already feel Long Xi's solitary, lonely, and bitter life. His child, carrying her mother's remains, had lived in this abyss where there was no light and abyssal dust drifted for ninety years. In her world, there were no relatives, no friends, only an obsession; she lived a truly difficult life.

Yun Che could not help but feel a wave of bitterness welling up in his heart. Ever since parting at the Lin God Realm, he often guessed and explored Yun Xi's life. Although he was prepared, he still felt dejected and blamed himself deeply.

Yun Che was extremely grieved and indignant. He suddenly stretched out his hands and grabbed Fan Xin and Baitong's necks. Two red flames ignited in his left and right palms, then turned crimson, then turned gray-white, and finally turned black...

The black flames began to burn, with Fan Xin and Baitong's flesh and bodies as fuel. Because their necks were held, they could not make a sound, but the expressions on their faces were extremely hideous and terrifying, and their bodies were twitching and twisting violently... In a moment, Fan Xin and Baitong were burned to nothing, leaving no trace of them in the air.

Yun Che turned his face and looked coldly at Wu Chi: "Now it's your turn!"

At this time, Wu Chi was full of terror, showing a look of despair: "Don't, don't kill me, let me do anything."

At this moment, Wu Chi was covered in blood, kneeling on the ground, kowtowing incessantly. His will had already collapsed; he no longer cared about face or dignity, and the honor of a Dragon guard had nothing to do with him at this moment.

"Is that so?" Yun Che stared straight at Wu Chi, his pitch-black eyes like two endless black holes, as if to swallow Wu Chi: "Look up at me!"

As their gazes met, a demonic light flew into Wu Chi's eyes, and a wisp of Demon Emperor Nie Lun's soul slipped into his soul sea. A terrifying demonic chanting echoed in his soul sea, and his soul trembled to the point of shrinking...

After a long time, Wu Chi finally woke up, his gaze becoming clear again. At this time, Yun Che looked over, his eyes no longer as dark and terrifying as before. Yun Che flickered and turned into the appearance of Baitong, then gently said to Wu Chi:

"From now on, you are still you, and I am your subordinate, Baitong."

In the Dragon City, in the main hall of a grand mansion, the Seventh Elder sat quietly on a high chair in the hall, feeling calm and composed. Directly in front of him, Wu Chi was kneeling on one knee respectfully, covered in wounds.

"This subordinate deserves to die!" Wu Chi said tremblingly.

"Fan Xin has died in battle; only I and Baitong have retreated."

"It seems I still far underestimated this Yun Che." The Seventh Elder muttered to himself, ignoring Wu Chi.

"Drinking Dragon Breath Brew, and with a wave of his hand, fierce flames burn; he has mastered extremely powerful fire-type skills. It looks like Phoenix Flame, and also like Golden Crow Fire, but it is not either of these two."

"A Half-step Divine Destruction Realm can actually fight one against three, seriously injuring the Divine Extinction Realm Wu Chi, and killing the Half-step Divine Destruction Realm Fan Xin."

"Such a person, if we are enemies, must not be underestimated."

The Seventh Elder thought for a while, waved his right hand, and said to Wu Chi: "You go down first and recover from your injuries."

After Wu Chi left, the Seventh Elder immediately sent two sound transmissions.

"Be on alert within the entire Dragon Domain and track down a young man named Yun Che. Everyone remember to be safe; although this person has the strength of the Half-step Divine Destruction Realm, his actual combat power is enough to rival the middle and late stages of the Divine Extinction Realm."

"From today on, the number of guards in Dragon City will be increased to twice the usual number. All guards must perform tasks in pairs and must include personnel above the third level of the Divine Extinction Realm."

After Wu Chi walked out of the mansion, he met with his guard Baitong—who was now Yun Che—and quietly walked toward a place; that was exactly the mountain peak where Long Xi's small barrier was located.

Ever since returning from the Lin God Realm, Long Xi had not gone out again. She really wanted to go out again to search for the last of the "five spirit treasures," the "cold pool immortal grass." However, her physical condition did not quite allow it. Long Wangchu kept demanding essence blood, which not only delayed her recovery but also caused serious damage to her body, resulting in a severe deficiency.

Since birth, she had never been so painful; she knelt before a tombstone.

"Mother... I miss you so much..."

"Mother, I have already obtained four of the five spirit treasures... But even though I am getting closer and closer to the goal, I can't be happy."

"Is your daughter useless? My body has been in pain recently, my essence blood is deficient, and my origin energy is damaged... I don't know when I will be able to go out and find the last spirit treasure."

"Mother, last time I told you, he came... I saw him... I know you want to see him very much, and he also wants to see you very much... But I really don't want him to come see you... He is only in the Divine Master Realm; if he comes to the Dragon Domain, he will only be courting death..."

As Long Xi spoke, she actually began to sob:

"Mother... I really want you to come back... I will definitely find the last spirit treasure... I will set off to find it in two days... Even if my body hasn't recovered... I have to go..."

"Mother... I will definitely be able to do it..."

Just as Long Xi was burying her head and crying, a very faint impact sound rang out on the barrier behind her.

"Dong..."

"Who?" Long Xi turned her head suddenly, but could see nothing.

She rubbed her teary eyes and looked again.

At this time, outside the barrier, Yun Che was using "Broken Moon Flickering Shadow," his entire being blending with the surrounding air. Seeing Long Xi look over, he paused "Broken Moon Flickering Shadow" slightly, and a figure flashed in and out, then dimmed again.

"It's me, I came to see you and your mother!"

"I don't want to see you, get lost!" As soon as she saw it was Yun Che, Long Xi immediately returned to her usual coldness.

"I said last time, don't come looking for me."

Yun Che looked at Long Xi's frail figure through the barrier, a wave of bitterness in his chest, painful to the core.

"Your injuries haven't healed, and your essence blood deficiency is even more serious than before."

"I am not a qualified father; I am not begging you to forgive me or understand me. I am just asking you to protect yourself, care for yourself, and take good care of yourself."

A look of disdain appeared on Yun Xi's lips: "I don't need you to care! From the time I was born until now, when have you ever cared for me? Besides, with your strength, can you even manage me?"

"It's my fault, it's all my fault. I am not a good father. I have experienced many things over these years; I will tell you when I have the chance. But what I want to say is, no matter what I have experienced, that is not an excuse for me not to fulfill a father's responsibility."

"I am sorry to you, and sorry to your mother." Yun Che continued to say in a low voice.

He was Yun Che, who stood above billions of living beings; in the eyes of countless people, he was a towering, unprecedented hero. He was worthy of the billions of living beings, yet he was sorry to Shen Xi and her daughter.

"You left back then; do you know what my mother and I experienced? Have you ever cared? Have you ever managed?"

As she spoke, Yun Xi actually began to cry sadly.

"If you want to cry, cry out loud. You must have suffered so many grievances over these many years. You have always carried it alone silently; you must be tired and in pain."

"Today, your father, I am here. Just cry to your heart's content. I will be your listener and listen to your inner voice..." As he spoke, Yun Che himself began to choke up.

At this moment, this entire mountain was surprisingly quiet, with only Yun Che and Long Xi crying silently.

Finally, Yun Che raised his hand and tore a hole in the barrier, "You come in, see your mother, and then you can leave."

As soon as Yun Che stepped into this small barrier, he saw a small tombstone. Although there was no inscription on the tombstone, he guessed at a glance that it was Shen Xi's grave. He knelt down and held the tombstone with both hands!

"Shen Xi, I have come to see you!"

These short seven words were better than millions of words, better than the most magnificent rhetoric and text in the world. Each word weighed more than ten thousand catties, carrying endless longing and concern, containing the most affectionate self-reproach and guilt of a man in the world.

Back then, when he was implanted with the Brahma Soul Death-Wishing Mark by Qianye Yinger and was desperate with no way out, Xia Qingyue carried him on her back and went far away to the Dragon God Realm.

It was there, in that place of green grass, blooming flowers, flying butterflies, and colorful scenery,

He and Shen Xi met for the first time...

She was dressed in white, like a saint from the nine heavens, appearing from the mist that was like a dream, with a small bamboo house behind her.

That's right, it was this bamboo house that carried the most beautiful memories of the two people. They had once merged in body and soul here, once merged in spirit, in a dream where they could not tell who was who, whether it was you or me, whether it was me or you, they had given each other the best of everything, leaving behind the most magnificent memories.

However, beautiful times are ultimately short-lived and fleeting; all the beauty has been relegated to the past.

Shen Xi, and that dreamlike realm, represented and carried the most sacred and beautiful things in the world, yet had to bear the most terrible sins in the world, being relentlessly harmed, destroyed, and finally completely ruined by that obsession that had been fermenting and twisting for hundreds of thousands of years.

The once dreamlike world had long been shattered.

The world only left behind regret.

The beautiful, pure, and flawless woman had already turned into a tombstone.

Suddenly, a drop of Yun Che's tear fell onto the ground...