Four days had passed since the battle in the Sea of Mist began—only one final day remained.
Within the Pure Land's inner sanctum, the skies still shimmered with the nine radiant stars, their lights unceasing.
Of the contenders, two had fallen.
One was Hua Fuxing of the Zhetian Divine Kingdom, who was forced to withdraw after venturing too deep and crossing paths with a Level Seven Abyss Beast of the God-Destroying Realm. His defeat, though unfortunate, was understandable.
The other elimination shocked the spectators—Meng Jianxi, the sole heir of the Dreamweaver Kingdom, had also been forced to withdraw due to grievous injuries.
Meng Jianxi sat in silent gloom, his expression clouded by defeat. Why had fate turned so cruel? He had encountered an Abyss Beast of the eighth level in the God-Destroying Realm—an existence far beyond his capabilities. He fought valiantly for several rounds, but in the end, was overwhelmed and had no choice but to retreat with shattered pride and bleeding wounds.
He was tormented by guilt, believing he had shamed his kingdom. And yet, he had truly given his all—his conscience was clear. Alas, in the eyes of the Dreamweaver Kingdom, sincerity meant little without triumph.
But to the surprise of many, the divine monarch Wu Meng did not utter a word of reproach. He simply told Jianxi to rest and tend to his wounds… for his gaze was now fixed elsewhere—on Yun Che.
Among the nine remaining stars, the one who still held the foremost position was Dian Jiuzhi, with a staggering count of over a thousand Abyss Cores, far surpassing all others.
Second place belonged to Shen Wuyi, with eight hundred Abyss Cores to his name.
Yet, Lord Wuming's face was etched with displeasure—he clearly found Shen Wuyi's performance inadequate.
Third place brought surprise to all—it was Long Xi of the Dragon Clan, a newly risen demigod, who had collected five hundred Abyss Cores.
The Dragon Lord could not conceal his delight. He hadn't expected Long Xi to possess such potential; his earlier worries had vanished.
Fourth and fifth were Xianyue and Shaxing, both having gathered more than four hundred Abyss Cores. Quiet and calculated, the Star-Moon Divine Kingdom was climbing steadily toward the top.
Sixth was Pan Buwang, with three hundred Cores—an achievement that still left Lord Qi Heng visibly brooding, lips sealed in cold silence.
Seventh was Hua Caili, with two hundred Abyss Cores, a result that left her father, Hua Fuchen, visibly gratified.
Eighth… was Yun Che, whose total still hovered around a hundred Abyss Cores, unchanged since the first day.
Seeing this, Meng Kongchan could barely restrain himself from storming into the Sea of Mist to investigate. But the soul-link ring he had given Yun Che remained intact—though anxious, he stayed his hand.
Last, in ninth place, was Long Wangchu, with a meager count of ten Cores.
When the Dragon Lord saw this, his smile immediately vanished. Long Xi's triumph was instantly overshadowed by disappointment, replaced by a heavy sigh.
"Brother Fuchen," Meng Kongchan said quietly, his brows furrowed, "don't you find this battle… different?"
"Of course it's different. This time, the battle takes place within the Sea of Mist itself. It also determines who may enter the Eternal Pure Land," Hua Fuchen replied offhandedly, his attention fixed on his daughter, Hua Caili.
"I mean something else," Meng Kongchan pressed. "Where are Emperor Yuan and the Four Divine Priests? The battle is nearly over, yet none of them have appeared. In every past Pure Land assembly, they've observed the contest alongside us. This silence is... unnatural."
Hua Fuchen paused. Dian Luohou, overhearing their conversation, added gravely, "I too noticed something. It feels as if… Emperor Yuan and the Four Priests aren't in the Pure Land at all."
"You think they went into the Sea of Mist?" Hua Fuchen finally turned serious.
A heavy silence fell over the three gods.
"Maybe they're just safeguarding the heirs from danger," Dian Luohou speculated.
Meng Kongchan scoffed. "Since when has Emperor Yuan ever concerned himself with the lives of god-heirs? Even if they die, it means nothing to him. No… something isn't right."
"Only a few hours remain," Dian Luohou said at last. "Let's not speculate further. What the Emperor decides is beyond our guessing."
"Still… the battle site was chosen by Emperor Yuan himself," Hua Fuchen murmured. "And with the teleportation star rings, the young ones should be able to escape even in dire situations."
Though unease still gnawed at his heart, Meng Kongchan relented and decided to wait for the outcome.
Within the Sea of Mist…
Yun Che sat cross-legged in deep meditation. After days of exploration, the mists that concealed the sea's depths were no longer a mystery to him. He knew the coordinates of every remaining contestant; the entire battlefield was now a web in his grasp.
"…It's time," Yun Che said softly as he rose. Over these days, he had steadily gathered his strength. Now, the moment to cast the net had come.
"If you won't come to me," he murmured, his eyes narrowing, "then I'll force you to appear."
He began to move, heading directly into the heart of the fog.
"The Mist Emperor patrols the sea. All spirits, retreat!"
The words echoed through the heavens, shaking the sky itself. The voice of the Mist Emperor thundered once again—this time, not from afar, but directly beside Yun Che.
A chill pierced his soul.
"The Mist Emperor truly exists…?" Yun Che whispered, stunned.
"Retreat… disperse!"
The voice in the mist turned impatient as Yun Che stood frozen in disbelief.
Startled awake from his daze, Yun Che hurriedly stepped aside. But before he could compose himself, an even deeper roar came from the fog.
"You reek with the blood of my Sea of Mist's kin! You have slaughtered too many! This sin must be punished—for their sake, justice must be served!"
"Abyss Beasts! Abyss Ghosts! Rise! Reclaim your vengeance!"
At that command, the mists began to roil. Abyssal creatures—beasts and phantoms both—emerged in terrifying numbers, a dark tide rising to blot out the sky. The Sea of Mist had become a hellish apocalypse, filled with shrieking ghosts and monstrous roars.
Never before had such a spectacle been seen within the Abyss Realm. Amidst the deathly fog, glowing grey eyes radiated overwhelming majesty—an emperor's presence given shape, forcing all lesser spirits to bow in fear. None could meet such a gaze and remain whole.
Yun Che stood transfixed. His cultivation was but the fourth level of the Divine Lord Realm—how could he possibly stand against such overwhelming numbers?
But he did not yield.
Even in the face of doom, his eyes burned with will. Clutching the Heaven Smiting Devil Slayer Sword, he raised it high.
The scarlet blade blazed like a beacon through the suffocating mists.
"Falling Moon, Sinking Stars!"
He unleashed his strongest strike, the sword's arc clearing a path of searing light. The very fog recoiled from it—and his aim was true.
He struck not at the beasts… but at the Mist Emperor himself.
Only by severing the serpent's head could the tide be turned.
"Foolish mortal," the Mist Emperor snarled, voice echoing across the void. "You dare defy this emperor's judgment?! Fan Ling, your sins overflow. Your punishment shall be the destruction of your meridians!"
The gray eyes glowed—then exploded with divine power. An irresistible force swept toward Yun Che like divine wrath incarnate, obliterating all in its path.
Yun Che's pupils shrank. His sword light was shattered before it reached its target.
"Seal the Clouds, Lock the Sun!"
He summoned his strongest defense. Holding his sword across his chest, he faced the incoming storm with all he had.
But it was futile.
"No spirit may defy this emperor! Break!"
The roar tore through heaven and earth. Yun Che's weapon flew from his grasp, swallowed by the mist. His body was flung like a broken doll, blood pouring from his lips as his bones shattered. He lay in a heap, barely alive.
"You dared offend my majesty. Be thankful I do not crave slaughter. I will spare your life… but your meridians are forfeit."
The Mist Emperor's words were like the chants of a ghostly god, reverberating through the gray realm, seeking to drag Yun Che into eternal silence.
And then—suddenly—four beams of divine light surged from the mist, forming a square of sacred radiance. The light enclosed Yun Che, the Mist Emperor, and the entire horde of Abyssal beasts.
In that instant… time froze.
(End of Chapter)