The divine rulers and lords wore expressions of surprise. None of them had expected that even the long-standing format of the Pure Land Conference would be upended this time. But upon realizing the potential of this conference to reshape the very course of the Abyss' history, they all silently accepted the change.
Yun Che remained expressionless, yet within his heart surged turbulent waves.
The next time the Abyss Passage opened, 100,000 people would cross into the God Realm.
To the currently weakened and fragile God Realm, this was nothing short of a catastrophic invasion.
As the current Lord of the God Realm—the Demon Lord—Yun Che knew that the enemy he faced was not merely Emperor Yuan, but the entire Abyss.
"Each Divine Kingdom may field two contestants," Emperor Yuan declared, his voice clear and commanding. "One must be a Son or Daughter of God. The second must be a younger generation profound practitioner. There are no other restrictions."
"However," he continued, "the combined cultivation of both participants must not exceed the ninth level of the Divine Destruction Realm. The team's final score will be determined equally by the individual performance of both members—each accounting for 50% of the total score."
It was a carefully crafted rule—fair, balanced, and accommodating all factions.
"The final competition will take place in the Sea of Mist—in three days' time," Emperor Yuan continued. "During this five-day event, your two chosen representatives must hunt as many Abyss Beasts and Abyss Ghosts as possible."
"I will ensure that the Mist Sea is cleared of all other profound practitioners for the duration of the competition. Only your fourteen chosen representatives will be permitted to enter. Final results will be based on the quantity and quality of Abyss Cores collected."
A subtle shift passed through the expressions of the gathered gods—concern and unease surfacing behind their calm façades. But none dared to raise an objection.
Emperor Yuan's gaze swept across the room. As if reading their thoughts, he spoke again.
"Are you all concerned about the so-called 'Mist Emperor'?"
The Sky Star God stepped forward with a respectful bow.
"Reporting to the Abyss Emperor. While I've never seen the Mist Emperor personally, his existence is widely known. His ability to control Abyss Dust and Abyss Beasts is… unfathomable."
"Though there are no known instances of him attacking other Abyss denizens, this competition involves the God Sons and Daughters of our realms. Therefore, I must raise this concern."
Emperor Yuan waved the thought away with complete indifference.
"There's no need to worry. I, too, do not know why the Mist Emperor can control Yuan Dust… but his existence is ultimately insignificant."
"A mere clown masquerading as a ghost. If he truly dares to show himself, he'll be easily dealt with."
Clearly, Emperor Yuan had never considered the Mist Emperor a threat—not now, not ever.
"As for the safety of your representatives, I've already made preparations," he added. "Each contestant will receive a teleportation ring. In the event of mortal danger, they can break the ring and be instantly transported back to the Pure Land."
"However, doing so will forfeit their participation in the competition. Any contestants still remaining when the five days end will also be automatically recalled."
"This ensures the safety of all participants."
"If there are no further concerns, then enjoy this Pure Land Banquet. You have three days to consider your choices carefully… and to prepare for the coming new era."
As Emperor Yuan finished speaking, he rose to his feet.
"Four Great Priests—come with me."
"Emperor Yuan is wise and holy. Farewell, Emperor Yuan!"
"Emperor Yuan is wise and holy. Farewell, Emperor Yuan!"
Voices of reverence echoed across the hall as the divine rulers respectfully bowed and saw him off.
Yun Che exhaled a long, slow breath.
It was his first time meeting the legendary Abyss Emperor in person, and the experience had left him shaken.
Calm, composed, and always thinking three steps ahead—Emperor Yuan exuded a subtle but immense pressure. Though he appeared approachable and free of airs, he was clearly a man of absolute pride. Once he made a decision, no one could question it.
"He's not someone easy to deal with," Yun Che thought. "But what puzzles me… is that he clearly knows I carry the Evil God's legacy—yet he didn't expose it publicly, nor summon me privately. Why?"
Yun Che couldn't find the answer.
"Yuan'er, are you alright?" Meng Kongchan asked with concern, noting his pale face.
"I'm fine, God Father," Yun Che replied with a bow. "This was my first time seeing the Abyss Emperor, and I was simply overwhelmed."
"Do you know what kind of person Emperor Yuan is?" he asked.
"Yuan'er, this is the Pure Land's inner sanctum," Meng Jianxi interjected in a hushed tone. "Be careful not to speak rashly about the Abyss Emperor."
Meng Kongchan nodded in agreement.
"Let's talk about this when we return. I have something else I need to ask you."
With the banquet concluded, the divine lords and heirs returned to their respective kingdoms—each preparing for the looming battle in the Mist Sea.
Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom — Royal Residence
"Yuan'er," Meng Kongchan said gravely, "Tell your father the truth—what is your actual strength?"
"This concerns the fate of our entire Divine Kingdom. You must not hide anything."
Yun Che actually had a good impression of this "cheap father." He could see that Meng Kongchan was considering giving him a precious selection slot.
"I'm not weaker than Jianxi," Yun Che said calmly.
The moment those words left his lips, Meng Jianxi's expression shifted to one of astonishment. He had thought of his younger brother as merely clever and talented—but it now seemed he had underestimated him after all.
"Good! Good!" Meng Kongchan's eyes sparkled with excitement.
He had always trusted Yun Che, and now he had no reason to doubt him—not when the stakes were this high.
"Very well. Then I will have Jianxi join you in this final battle. Don't feel too burdened—just do your best."
"As for your earlier question about Emperor Yuan…" Meng Kongchan's voice grew solemn. "In your father's eyes, he is nothing less than—unfathomable."
"Though I have been a god for many years, I still cannot gauge the depth of Emperor Yuan's power. His strength is like the tallest mountain in this world… and I merely stand at its base."
"His foresight, his schemes—they're nothing short of awe-inspiring. He is, without exaggeration, the most perfect and most powerful being in the Abyss. And he tolerates no doubt or disrespect."
As Meng Kongchan spoke, his face was filled with unwavering reverence.
Any existence that could inspire such absolute faith from a god… could only be described as terrifying.
Yun Che's estimation of Emperor Yuan—Mosu—increased yet again.
Later, when Meng Kongchan officially announced that Meng Jianyuan would be the second representative in the Mist Sea competition, many—including Meng Zangji—vehemently opposed the decision.
Though they acknowledged Meng Jianyuan's flawless divine nature, he was only at the fourth level of the Divine Lord Realm.
In their view, such a cultivation level was like an egg thrown at a stone when facing opponents from the Divine Destruction Realm.
A Divine Lord could barely skim the outskirts of the Mist Sea, let alone reach its depths. How could the outcome possibly be favorable?
But Meng Jianxi's next words silenced them all.
"When Brother Yuan claimed that his strength matched mine, I didn't believe it at first. But we had a private spar… and I swear upon my name and honor—he truly is my equal."
Meng Jianxi had already reached the fourth level of the Divine Destruction Realm, placing him among the elite of his generation within the Dreamweaver Kingdom.
If Meng Jianyuan's strength was equal to his, then no one—not even Meng Zangji—had any room left for doubt.
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