Liu Xiao lifted the bowl of chilled soup before him, his gaze shifting to Yun Che. From this seemingly plain bowl of bitterleaf soup, he clearly caught a trace of fragrance that absolutely should not have been there.
As the cool liquid entered his mouth, Liu Xiao could no longer hold back his emotions. A hint of warmth gathered at the corners of his eyes. Without hesitation, he drank down the entire bowl of Four-Colored Cloud Soup in one long gulp.
"Uncle Liu Xiao, slow down! Even delicious things should be savored properly," Hua Caili said with a bright smile, her heart filled with satisfaction.
The fact that Uncle Liu Xiao had finished the bowl so quickly was proof enough of Brother Yun's superb cooking skills. Hee hee.
"This old man feels like a mere child when it comes to the culinary path. You're something else, boy—who would've thought bitterleaf could be turned into something so delicious?" Liu Xiao licked the remaining soup from the edge of the bowl, clearly satisfied.
"Four completely different flavors from a single, simple bitterleaf... Just how did you pull that off?" His eyes turned from Caili to Yun Che. "Your name is Yun... Gege?"
"Junior Yun Che of the Zhimo Divine Nation greets Divine Priest Liu Xiao."
"Yun Che? You're that Yun Che who returned from the lost Dream Abyss?" Liu Xiao frowned, circling Yun Che once. Then his stern face suddenly shifted into one of eager delight. "How about I take you as my master, huh? I thought I'd reached the pinnacle of culinary arts here in the Abyss, but now I see—I've been stuck in a little clean world, thinking I was something. Really, I was just a frog in a well."
"Senior jests," Yun Che bowed respectfully. "While I have some insights into the culinary path, I could never compare to someone who has immersed themselves in it for so long. If Senior does not mind, I'd be honored to exchange ideas with you another time."
"Hmph! If you don't agree, I'll go tell that brat Meng Kongchan to make you stay after the Pureland Assembly ends. This old man refuses to believe I can't beat a youngster like you in cooking!" Liu Xiao scowled, clearly unwilling to concede. "Caili, the boy you brought back looks decent enough. Matches you well. But he's too cocky. I don't like that."
"Aiya, Uncle Liu Xiao, don't scare Brother Yun! He's such a good person," Hua Caili said quickly, stepping protectively in front of Yun Che. "And don't forget, you lost our bet. You still owe me a promise, remember? Hee hee~"
Noticing the unusual closeness between Hua Caili and Yun Che, Liu Xiao gave a knowing, meaningful smile. "You think this old man's the type to go back on his word? A promise is a promise. Come, today's a happy day—let's share a drink!"
"No no, Uncle Liu Xiao, we still have things to do. We'll come visit again next time!" Hua Caili grabbed Yun Che and practically dragged him out of the hall.
"Boy! Don't think you're getting away! One way or another, I'm going to challenge you again in the culinary path!"
—
On the Pureland stage, Shen Wu Yanye emerged with a suffocating aura that warned strangers to keep their distance. Behind her followed only female cultivators—just as the rumors claimed. In the Evernight Divine Nation, males were considered inferior and held no right to enter the Pureland Assembly.
Among all the members of the Evernight delegation, the most striking figure stood just behind Shen Wu Yanye—a young woman whose beauty alone made her identity obvious.
No one could mistake it. This was the newly appointed Divine Maiden of Evernight—Shen Wuyi.
"She's Shen Wuyi? No wonder Shen Wu Yanye protects her so fiercely…" Sha Xing was frozen in place, utterly stunned by a woman's beauty for the first time in his life.
Even the usually murderous Pan Buwang faltered slightly upon seeing her. Though he quickly returned to normal, a cold snort escaped his lips—his gaze toward her filled with nothing but hatred.
"The Divine Maiden of Evernight is truly stunning… she could rival even Divine Maiden Caili."
"But her aura is even colder and more detached… in that sense, she surpasses Caili."
"Heavens, she's already at the sixth level of the Divine Extinction Realm?!"
…
With Shen Wuyi's arrival, nearly every gaze in the Pureland was drawn to her.
Her beauty was truly a gift from the heavens—flawless skin untouched by the Abyss's filth. In the entire Abyss, only Hua Caili and Hua Qingying could be mentioned in the same breath as her.
Her eyes were pure, devoid of any impurities. A single note of coldness lingered within them—like a frosty moon in a cloudless night sky, or a lotus emerging from still water. Her presence exuded a transcendent allure that made one want to look away, yet unable to resist staring. She was like a celestial being who had stepped out of a painting—someone who should never have descended to the mortal world.
Even dressed in plain black robes, her breathtaking beauty could not be hidden. Though of the Evernight Divine Nation, she stood out like a luminous pearl in the dark, radiating her own unique light that would never be dimmed.
"Hmph!" Shen Wu Yanye waved her hand, sending a fierce gust of wind to break the spellbound silence. Her eyes flashed with unmasked disgust—especially at the men who gazed at Shen Wuyi with longing. "Wuyi, wear your veil. Do not remove it without my permission."
"Yes." Shen Wuyi answered calmly, emotionless, placing a black veil over her exquisite face—concealing her world-toppling beauty.
Even as she walked far into the distance, many remained trapped in that illusory dream, unable to wake.
"Brother Yuan, there's something important I need to tell you."
As the six divine nations arrived one by one, Yun Che and Hua Caili parted reluctantly after leaving Liu Xiao. Yun Che returned to the Zhimo Divine Nation's area, listening curiously to Meng Jianxi's update.
"It's about the new Divine Maiden of Evernight—Shen Wuyi."
"I once thought Hua Caili was the pinnacle of beauty in the Abyss. But I never expected someone could rival her. Caili gives off a refreshing and ethereal charm, but Shen Wuyi… she's cold and untouchable, like a goddess beyond this world."
"She's like a fallen immortal. Any man who sees her true face would be left speechless by the miracle that is her existence. No—even women can't help but sigh at her otherworldly grace."
Meng Jianxi's voice carried an uncontainable thrill and wonder.
"That's it?" Yun Che looked curious, but not particularly impressed. He had seen more than his fair share of goddesses.
There was once Qianye Ying'er… once Longxi the Dragon Queen… and even now, the former Creation Goddess of Life remained at his side.
"No, that's not the real point. The astonishing part is her cultivation. She rose from peak Divine Master to the sixth level of the Divine Extinction Realm in less than half a cycle! It's almost unbelievable—it's nothing short of a miracle."
Meng Jianxi's awe faded into solemn seriousness. Shen Wuyi's cultivation speed was nothing less than monstrous.
If only… she weren't from the Evernight Divine Nation.
A silent sigh escaped Meng Jianxi's heart.
Such beauty, such talent—she should have been the shining star of all the Abyss. And yet she was born into a nation where men couldn't even approach her.
Yun Che's expression shifted. Even he couldn't help but be shocked.
After all, he possessed the sacred Void Body gifted by the Ancestral God, along with the legacies of the Evil God and the Wild God—each one defying the heavens themselves.
A woman with talent like that reminded him of someone—Xia Qingyue.
Only that miracle of a girl, who walked with him from Floating Cloud City, a being created by the Ancestral God herself, could match such heaven-defying gifts.
Qingyue… could it be you?
Yun Che's thoughts drifted, recalling every moment they had shared. Coming to the Abyss, his final goal was clear—to bury this world forever, so no threat could ever return to the world of life. And… to find Xia Qingyue and care for Shen Xi and her daughter.
Qingyue… if I ever see you again, I will give everything I have to make up for what I owe you.
"Sixth level of Divine Extinction Realm… That's the highest among all Divine Sons and Daughters—second only to Dian Jiuzhi, the First Divine Son."
"Her divine constitution isn't confirmed yet," Meng Jianxi added. "But with talent like that, she must at least possess a nine-part divine core. She might even have a perfect divine constitution… like you."
"Brother Yuan? Are you listening?"
"…Yes," Yun Che nodded, his thoughts returning. "Keep an eye on the movements of all the Divine Sons and Daughters. Let me know the moment anything changes."
"Understood. Aside from the Dragon Clan's envoy, the other six nations have all arrived. The Pureland Assembly should begin any day now—be ready."
"It's you who should be getting ready, Jianxi," Yun Che chuckled as he returned to his quarters. "This time, Zhimo Divine Nation will only have one representative—and it's going to be you."
With the final arrival of the Dragon Clan, every participant of the Pureland Assembly was now present. The six nations and the Dragon Clan each began making their final preparations—awaiting the summons of the Abyssal Emperor.
…
(End of Chapter)