In this universe, "all things" encompass everything.
The greatest reason the Senluo Divine Kingdom stands above the other five nations of the Abyss is their inherited martial art—the Senluo Wanxiang Art. It distills the essence of myriad techniques, discarding the inferior, preserving the superior, and forming its own unparalleled martial philosophy.
"The myriad things of the universe—Calamity Spirit!"
Dian Jiuzhi flicked his left hand. A transparent stream of soul energy burst forth—not toward Yun Che, but veered away to strike Hua Caili instead.
In an instant, Hua Caili stood frozen in place, as if possessed. Her eyes widened, staring into nothingness, her body unmoving, her breath stilled—as though her soul had departed her body.
"What did you do to Caili?!" Yun Che's voice turned sharp and cold. Panic—a rare emotion for him—flickered across his face. Deep down, he had never once believed Dian Jiuzhi would harm Hua Caili. That was his one certainty, the foundation of his gamble.
But now, confronted with the cruel truth, he felt his heart sink into chaos. Even though the Demon Queen's warning—never to fall in love in the Abyss—still echoed in his mind, his worry for Hua Caili surged beyond control.
In that moment, Yun Che was overcome by regret and self-reproach. He had been careless, too confident. He had used Hua Caili in his plan—but never to harm her. His sole purpose was to force Dian Jiuzhi into emotional collapse… to breach the impenetrable wall around his soul.
For someone like Dian Jiuzhi, the Abyss's first Son of God—flawless in cultivation, conduct, and will—the only vulnerability was Hua Caili.
So Yun Che had devised scenario after scenario, each cutting deeper, each aimed at the heart. He made Dian Jiuzhi watch helplessly as the woman he loved was entangled with another man—again and again.
What man could bear such humiliation?
"Nothing much," Dian Jiuzhi said coldly. "I've merely made her quiet—for now. She'd only try to stop me from killing you. I know you've bewitched her… mere words won't undo that. But don't worry. She can still see and feel everything that happens here."
"You could call it the Soul Robbery Technique. It temporarily severs the soul from the body. Her body is frozen at the instant of impact, while her soul leaves and becomes invisible to all but me."
Dian Jiuzhi's crimson eyes locked onto Yun Che like those of a ravenous beast. A cruel smirk played on his lips, as if the prey before him had no escape.
"She is my fiancée. I would never allow her to be harmed. But you… you no longer have a place in her future."
His twisted grin deepened. Dian Jiuzhi had been wary that Yun Che might flee using a teleportation ring—but now, knowing the device had already been destroyed, he felt liberated. Now, he could unleash his fury without restraint.
"Yun Che, you won't die quickly. I'll savor this. I'll make you taste the ultimate depths of despair—then carve your flesh from your bones, one sliver at a time."
He laughed, maniacal and triumphant.
Yun Che exhaled slowly and gently laid Hua Caili in a safe spot.
"Brother Dian, do you even understand what you're doing?" he asked coldly, eyes dark as night. "I may not yet be the official Son of the Dreamweaver God, but I am the 'Dream of the Abyss'—the Emperor's most beloved son. When I recover my memories, I will almost certainly inherit the Dream Source and ascend as the next God of Dreamweavers."
"So what?" Dian Jiuzhi sneered. "Is that supposed to scare me? Until you become a god, you're still just an ant. Even if you possess perfect godhood, so what? No one would risk crossing me—heir to the Senluo God—for the sake of a corpse."
He leaned in, eyes burning with derision.
"If you're hoping the Abyssal Emperor will avenge you, you're dreaming. In the Abyss's million-year history, countless gods have met 'accidental' deaths, and the Emperor never once intervened. He only cares that the divine legacy continues. Who inherits it? He doesn't give a damn."
With a few cruel words, Dian Jiuzhi crushed every last hope Yun Che may have clung to.
But Yun Che stood firm.
"No. You don't understand the bond between me and the God of No Dreams." His voice grew steady. "Though I don't yet recall our past, he treats me unlike anyone else."
"When I returned to the Dreamweaver Kingdom, he immediately announced my reinstatement as Son of God. His resolve was absolute—no one could sway him. He even forbade anyone from entering the Son of God's Temple, which he began building after I disappeared. Not even Meng Jianxi—the current Son—was allowed near it."
"Everyone knows Wumeng God favors me. It's no secret. If anything were to happen to me, do you really believe he would spare you?"
Yun Che's words held reason and sentiment alike, trying to pierce Dian Jiuzhi's fury with truth.
But Dian Jiuzhi only laughed louder.
"Hahaha! Yun Che, are you a child? This is the Sea of Mist—danger lurks in every shadow. Dozens of prodigies perish here every year. If you die here, who will know it was me?"
He now saw Yun Che in a different light. Over the years, Yun Che had struggled to survive outside the Kingdom of God. Dian Jiuzhi finally understood—Yun Che's view of the world was still far too naïve.
He had once believed Yun Che to be sly but shrewd, hiding his power behind a dull mask. But now… it seemed he had overestimated him.
"You're insane… You really want to kill me," Yun Che muttered, finally discarding all illusion and hope.
"Yes! I am insane!" Dian Jiuzhi roared. "Losing Caili is like losing my life. And if I've already lost it, then madness is all I have left!"
A silver spear materialized in his hand. In that instant, his aura transformed—what had once been wild and unstable now condensed and sharpened into killing intent. The weakness and sorrow were gone. He had emerged from his despair, reborn in fury.
"This is the Hell-Burning Soul-Severing Spear—a divine weapon bestowed upon me by the Ten Thousand Dao Gods. Forged from Mysterious Dark Iron, tempered by heaven and earth's spiritual fire for a full century before it could take shape."
"I've never used it before. You'll be its first sacrifice."
"They say wounds inflicted by this weapon don't just tear the flesh—they ignite the soul in agony, like falling into Purgatory. It's perfect for filth like you!"
Step by step, Dian Jiuzhi advanced. His smile was cold and merciless.
Yun Che took a deep breath. The gate to the Hell Emperor Realm opened, and an unassuming heavy sword appeared in his hand. Though not the Heaven Smiting Devil Slayer Sword destroyed by Hong'er, this weapon still ranked among the divine.
"You continue to surprise me," Dian Jiuzhi said slowly. "A fourth-level Divine Lord… unleashing the strength of a fourth-level Divine Destroyer. So you were holding back at the God Conferred Ceremony—less than half your strength shown."
He narrowed his eyes. Memories of the Deification Ceremony surfaced—Hua Qingying shielding Yun Che, stepping far out of line.
"No wonder Hua Qingying helped you that day. She must have known your true strength and wanted to keep it hidden. So everything changed the moment you appeared in the Zhetian Divine Kingdom..."
In a sudden flash of insight, the pieces fell into place.
Yun Che had been sent from the Zhetian Divine Kingdom to the Dreamweaver Kingdom. Hua Qingying must have been unaware of his true identity—mistaking him for an ordinary nobody.
That could only mean one thing: he was sent to the Dreamweaver Kingdom so the God of No Dreams could cast "Dreamfall" upon him—to uncover his forgotten past.
During the Dreamfall, the God of No Dreams must have realized Yun Che's true identity: Meng Jianyuan, his long-lost son.
Which led to the Conferred God Ceremony…
It all made sense now.
And Dian Jiuzhi felt a cold, bitter clarity settle in.
He had always been an outsider.
Everything—the Senluo Divine Kingdom, his love, his plans—had been played by the schemes of the Zhetian and Dreamweaver Kingdoms.
"Hahahahahaha..." Dian Jiuzhi's laughter was broken, hollow.
"So that's how it is… In the end, I've always been the outsider. The Senluo Divine Kingdom has been nothing but a pawn… deceived and used by the others from beginning to end..."