Chapter 2037: Silencing

Chapter 2037: Silencing

When the yellow jade faded as well, Yun Che’s profound energy finally stopped spinning wildly and chaotically. His expression looked a lot more relaxed as well.

If anything, Hua Caili was the one more shaken between the two.

Every time a profound practitioner achieved a breakthrough, their profound energy would experience a new growth and rebirth. This was especially true if they entered a major realm. Their transformation was qualitative to say the least.

Considering the environment and Yun Che’s injuries, it was perfectly normal for him to let slip his profound energy.

The problem was that his profound energy contained five different elements. Excluding light profound energy, which was a power that only existed in the ancient records, there were a total of six elements in the Abyss: Water, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth and Darkness. And Yun Che was cultivating five of them at the same time!

This completely went against her aunt’s, father’s, and the High Priests’ teachings.

Not even High Priest Ling Xian, the elemental master of the four High Priests thanks to her special profound veins and divine inheritance, could control this many elements at the same time. Only three.

Hua Caili wanted very much to ask her aunt about this, but she didn’t want to disturb Yun Che. So, she could only resume her watch in silence.

Before she knew it, she was staring at him blankly all over again.

By now, the profound energy cyclones on his body had decreased considerably. He seemed to have gotten things completely under control.

It was at this moment something unusual happened. When Yun Che’s profound energy seemingly returned to stability completely, a violent storm appeared out of seemingly nowhere, and countless streams of profound energy flowed into his body, billowing his hair and his clothes.

This was just the beginning. The currents of profound energy were already stunning enough, but it was still growing stronger by the breath. It was as if the natural profound energy in this entire space was being sucked into Yun Che’s body, and not even the abyssal dust could impede its flow.

High up in the sky, Hua Qingying could sense the unnatural flow of profound energy in the surroundings as well. This time, her shock traveled all the way to her soul.

The reason was simple. This commotion should never happen in the Divine Master Realm. In fact, it was more like the breakthrough of the Divine Extinction Realm!

The natural profound energy in the surroundings was still flowing into Yun Che without any signs of stopping. Hua Caili’s hair was kicked up, and the wind was so strong that her veil was almost blown away. She stared at Yun Che like she was staring at a monster she never knew existed... until now.

Not only that, she had a vague feeling that the entire Endless Fog was shaking because of this man’s breakthrough.

Suddenly, Hua Qingying realized that her divine perception had left Hua Caili for seven breaths. That was how shocked she was.

Yun Che...

In the Qilin Abyss Realm, he had destroyed an entire group of Divine Masters as a Divine Sovereign. Now, he was affecting the world like a Half-God would during his breakthrough.

It was clear that he possessed a power that transcended common sense.

Just where did he come from?

The crazy storm would last at least a hundred breaths before it finally slowed to a stop.

Yun Che’s black hair slowly fell back on his shoulders, and he looked so peaceful it was like he was asleep.

Even the wounds marring his face had faded a lot.

A certain girl who was guarding him didn’t feel calm, however. Not even close.

Meanwhile, Li Suo was observing Hua Caili’s reaction and attempting to figure out what Yun Che was planning.

He should be doing his utmost to keep his secrets hidden until he was powerful enough to protect himself.

Instead, he had done the complete opposite of what the Devil Queen had told him to.

He should have a reason for doing this though.

It was at this moment that Hua Caili suddenly turned around and looked behind her. Her eyes were narrowing slowly.

She could sense five auras approaching her direction rapidly, and four of them were Half-Step Divine Extinction Realm and close to her level.

As for the aura at the center of the group... it was clearly the aura of a Divine Extinction Realm profound practitioner!

This was the first time she had encountered such a powerful group in this area of the Endless Fog.

As the group came closer and closer, their voices reached her as well.

“The commotion definitely came from this direction.”

“Such a thick blood stench... a terrible battle must have happened here a while ago.”

Very soon, five people entered Hua Caili’s gaze. They were all wearing gray clothes, and their eyes shone with a powerful light.

Below the Kingdoms of God, a Half-Step Divine Extinction Realm profound practitioner was respected no matter where they went. In fact, they were indomitable powers in certain places. However, these four were obeying their leader with perfect obedience and respect.

Most people chose to wear dark-colored clothes in the Endless Fog to better conceal themselves, but the Divine Extinction Realm profound practitioner was wearing a set of silver clothes. He wasn’t even hiding the protective divine runes circulating around his body, which made him an even more conspicuous target than he already was.

He had no idea how the woman figured out that he was a Squire-in-trial, and he had never regretted introducing himself more than he did now.

Behind Fan Qingzhou, his four subordinates were caught in stunned silence as well.

“Haha, you’re overthinking this, fairy,” Fan Qingzhou changed his tone. “I was just advising you to put away the abyssal crystal as soon as possible. After all, the greatest sin one can commit in this Endless Fog is to harbor a treasure that you’re too weak to protect.”

“As for me, I am the man who swore to become an Abyssal Knight. I have long since engraved into my soul the duty to defend the order of the Abyss and protect all of its denizens. I would never lower myself to take from the weak.”

After he was done defending himself, he stopped looking at the abyssal crystal and turned away, waving. “It is clear that our presence is unnecessary. Let’s leave.”

Countless greedy and reluctant gazes swept across the abyssal crystal, but none of his subordinates dared to defy Fan Qingzhou’s order. They quickly followed behind him and left.

Hua Caili let out a small sigh of relief. The Glass Cloud Sword also returned to normal.

It was at this moment Yun Che spoke up, “You need to leave now.”

Hua Caili looked around in surprise. “Are you done with your breakthrough already?”

“No.” Yun Che was still closing his eyes, and his voice wasn’t coming from his mouth. “You need to leave now before it’s too late.”

“Why’s that?” Hua Caili looked confused.

Yun Che’s profound energy was merging and swelling at a rapid pace. He was currently in the final stage of his breakthrough. “You should’ve given them the abyssal crystal just now. If you had, then it would be a happy ending for everyone. After all, what he said wasn’t wrong. The abyssal crystal can only go to the strong.”

“But not only did you refuse to give up the abyssal crystal, you exposed the fact that he was a Squire undergoing a trial to become an Abyssal Knight.”

“A ‘noble soul’ is the label of every Abyssal Knight. If his behavior was exposed, it would become a black mark in his career even if he became an Abyssal Knight in the future. Not only that, he was stupid enough to give you his name. This means that he will soon return to silence you!”

Hua Caili’s mouth parted slightly. “But... our brief interaction didn’t even count as conflict. He wouldn’t go so far... would he?”

“He definitely will,” Yun Che replied. “You’re noble-born, so I’m sure you don’t understand just how important the title is to a profound practitioner with an ordinary background. It could very well be the dream he has chased after his whole life; the highest honor that would elevate his entire clan and his descendants to unimaginable heights.”

“As if that isn’t enough, Fan Qingzhou is half a step away from becoming an Abyssal Knight. He will not allow any ‘accidents’ to impact his chances... even if that chance is miniscule.”

Hua Caili was too inexperienced to pick up the hint of murder in Fang Qingzhou’s eyes as he turned around, but not Yun Che.

Hua Caili might have experienced all kinds of evil during her trial, but she still found it difficult to accept Yun Che’s words.

It was because this was a Squire-in-trial they were talking about, not your average stock.

The very first trial a Squire must go through was the Trial of the Heart. The fact that he was undergoing the Trial of the Endless Fog right now meant that he couldn’t be too bad a person.

So, she comforted Yun Che, “Don’t worry. He wouldn’t. Abyssal Knights are all righteous people. Fan Qingzhou might just be a Squire, but the fact that he’s qualified to participate in the trials proves that he isn’t too bad a person.”

Hua Caili respected the Abyssal Monarch deeply, and her affection for everything in the Pure Land was as deep as the sea.

Yun Che scoffed internally. In the end, she’s just a hothouse flower. Her understanding of good and evil is so shallow it’s laughable.

He explained slowly, “What gives an Abyssal Knight their ‘righteousness’ isn’t their nature, but the status itself.”

“...” Hua Caili blinked and shot Yun Che a strange look. Why are you talking like my senior when you’re not even sixty?

“The title ‘Abyssal Knight’ is both an honor and a restriction. However, those who desire to become an Abyssal Knight care little for its restrictions. They are infinitely willing to bury their own natures and imitate a ‘noble soul’ as best they can.”

“This superficial change does not mean that their nature has changed though.” His tone slowly darkened. “In the public, an Abyssal Knight was an impartial defender of order and a stern adjudicator. But in a place where no eyes could see—especially a place like the Endless Fog where death is all too easy—there is no need for them to pretend to be a ‘noble soul’ at all. If anything, this was his last chance to let loose his repressed nature to his heart’s content!”

“Plus, he isn’t an Abyssal Knight yet. He is a Squire working toward becoming an Abyssal Knight.”

“But!” Hua Caili argued, “I’m not going to out him or anything! Who would silence a person just because of something like this? Plus, he would’ve killed us already if that was his plan!”

“You overestimate a person’s bottom line.” Yun Che let out a forlorn sigh. “The only reason he didn’t attack us earlier is because he had company. If he killed us, he would only be giving his four Half-Step Divine Extinction Realm companions a weakness to exploit.”

“The Endless Fog is the easiest place to conceal oneself, and the hardest place to track another. He will definitely ditch his companions and return as soon as possible. At the latest, he will show up in a hundred breaths.”

Hua Caili wanted to argue more, but a low chuckle came from behind her before she could begin.

“If you already know my plan, then why are you still here? I don’t know whether to call you smart or stupid.”

Hua Caili wheeled around and saw a familiar figure stepping out of the fog. He was none other than Fang Qingzhou.

His face was no longer gentle, and his voice was icy and cold. The purple, lightning-covered sword in his hand was the last proof she needed to see that he was ready to kill.

All of her arguments died inside her mouth. Yun Che’s prediction... was spot on.

Hua Caili was one-third shocked and two-thirds dazed. She couldn’t understand why a powerful Divine Extinction Realm profound practitioner would actually try to silence someone just because there was a tiny chance they might become a black mark in their career, not to mention that this was a Squire who had a high chance of becoming an Abyssal Knight, a symbol of all that was pure and righteous.

As a girl who had grown up in the Pure Land and held deep affection for everything it held and represented, this was a shocking moment for Hua Caili to say the least.