Chapter 983: The God King Falls

"Kill... kill... kill Ruo Ruo." These were Shen Wang's final words, spoken with his last breath, but he couldn't finish them. His soul scattered, the last flicker of light in his weary eyes vanished, and he died filled with immense regret. Only two trails of bloody tears streaked down his ancient face.

"Shen Xuanfeng." Qian Shang Yue clutched him tightly, her exquisite face streaked with tears. Through the endless flow of time and the world's changes, this might have been the closest she had ever been to Shen Xuanfeng—and it was their final moment together.

Ah!

Everyone present let out a deep sigh as they watched Shen Wang perish. He was the god of slaughter in the night, his Fei Lei Shen Jue unmatched throughout history, even making the Nine Emperors of Da Chu wary. Now, his death felt unreal. Despite being enemies, the fall of such a supreme king stirred a hint of sorrow in their hearts.

In the starry sky, the myriad stars dimmed, with only the brightest one plummeting downward.

The formidable Shen Wang had fallen, dying in confusion and grief, his eyes forever open.

From Da Chu's various factions, Yao Wang, Xue Wang, Shi Hun Wang, Mo Wang, Wu Zhu Wang, and Gui Wang all stared blankly at the falling star, a fleeting sense of melancholy crossing their eyes simultaneously.

Over the long ages, they had engaged in countless battles, and though they were formidable foes, they held a mutual respect.

On the surface of the sea, Ye Chen stood in a daze. The mighty Shen Wang had gripped his hand until the end, those unclosed eyes still fixed on him, stirring an inexplicable pain in his heart.

Hong Chen's expression was wooden, his eyes vacant as he gazed at Shen Wang, overcome by an unprecedented sense of bewilderment.

Suddenly, an ancient funeral melody seemed to echo through the heavens and earth, bidding farewell to the supreme king.

As the mournful tune played, Shen Xuanfeng's body gradually dissolved into mist, returning to dust and earth, until it completely vanished from the world, leaving behind only distant legends.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The experts from Da Chu arrived, filling the surrounding sky.

What...?

Everyone froze at the sight. Ye Chen and Hong Chen were kneeling on the ground, the daughter of the Moon Emperor was collapsed nearby, and they were surrounded by a group of people. It was a baffling scene.

Silence fell over the scene, leaving Tian Zong's ancestors and others stunned and bewildered, exchanging confused glances.

Mas... Master?

Zhong Kui, Zhong Jiang, and Zhong Li stepped forward cautiously, eyeing Hong Chen.

Hong Chen turned his head stiffly, his expression dazed as he looked at them.

Seeing his right eye, the Xian Lun Yan, Zhong Jiang and the others trembled again, hastily kneeling down. "Your disciples greet you, Master."

Master?

The crowd was stunned once more, turning their attention to Hong Chen. For Zhong Jiang and the others to call him Master, he had to be Hong Chen.

Ye Chen and his group were unfazed, already aware that Hong Chen was alive, but the ancestors of the Su family were completely dumbfounded. Wasn't Hong Chen dead? How could he still be alive—and right here?

"This junior, Sui Huang, greets the senior." While everyone was still in shock, Dao Huang stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"This junior... greets the senior." After a moment of hesitation, the Su family ancestors followed suit, their expressions strangely awkward. But with Zhong Jiang and the others kneeling, and even Dao Huang showing respect, it was clear that this man was indeed the legendary and mysterious Huang Yan Shengzhu: Hong Chen.

"As it was in the past." Tian Zong's ancestor looked at Hong Chen with a complex expression, for he was the husband his daughter had taken in the mortal world—and thus his son-in-law.

Seal! Seal!

While Tian Zong's ancestor was lost in thought and Zhong Jiang's group was excited, Tai Xu Gu Long and Zi Xuan acted swiftly, employing a forbidden sealing technique. Still in a state of confusion, Hong Chen's Dan Hai, Shen Hai, and Dao Ze were sealed on the spot.

You!

Zhong Jiang and the others glared angrily at Tai Xu Gu Long and Zi Xuan.

Take him back for research!

Tai Xu Gu Long coughed awkwardly and whisked Hong Chen away in a flash of divine light, disappearing in an instant.

Damn it!

Even with their composure, Zhong Jiang and the others couldn't help but curse. The large group charged after them in pursuit.

With the crowd dispersing, the sea domain suddenly felt vast and empty.

Zi Xuan sighed quietly, sealed the purple-robed figure still trapped in the cage, and vanished.

The descendants of the emperors stood silently, watching Qian Shang Yue still seated on the ground.

She sat like one possessed, clutching Shen Xuanfeng's killing sword tightly, as still as an ice sculpture. Crystal tears continued to stream down her sorrowful face.

The bonds of fate in this world are truly wondrous.

The daughter of the Moon Emperor had fallen for someone she should not have loved, waiting through countless seasons of blooming and fading flowers, through endless years of shifting seas and lands. In the end, that hidden affection remained an empty dream.

"Shang Yue." Nan Ming Yu Shu and Da Chu Huang Yan approached and gently helped Qian Shang Yue to her feet.

"I'll take you home." Qian Shang Yue held Shen Wang's killing sword, smiling sadly as she walked step by step into the distance. Her graceful figure, under the moonlight, appeared lonely and desolate, like that of a fragile woman.

Ah!

Da Chu Huang Yan, Nan Ming Yu Shu, and the others followed at a distance, keeping watch to ensure no harm came to Qian Shang Yue.

On the vast sea domain, only Ye Chen, his Xing Chen Dao Shen, and Xing Yue Sheng Nu remained.

Ye Chen's mind was still in turmoil, struggling to believe all that had unfolded that night.

Beside him, Xing Chen Dao Shen and Xing Yue Sheng Nu were unusually calm, their minds even more dazed than his, their faces pale, hearts aching faintly without knowing the source—only that the pain was deeply confusing.

Let's go!

After one last look at the sea domain, Ye Chen finally moved his feet.

Behind him, Xing Chen Dao Shen and Xing Yue Sheng Nu followed.

Once they had left, the expansive sea domain truly fell silent, with only the occasional ripples of waves.

The night was far from peaceful.

Tai Xu Gu Long brought Hong Chen back to Nan Chu, but was immediately set upon by Zhong Jiang, Zhong Kui, and the other old timers.

Although they reclaimed Hong Chen, Zhong Jiang and the others did not dare remove Tai Xu Gu Long's seal, for his condition was too unstable, and lifting it rashly could lead to unforeseen complications.

Master!

Hong Chen Xue arrived like a lost child returning home, overcome with emotion as she threw herself into Hong Chen's arms, her tears soaking his clothes.

How many years had it been? She could no longer remember. The person who had haunted her dreams was now before her, making it feel like a dream. She clung to him with all her strength, afraid he might vanish again.

Hong Chen gazed blankly at Hong Chen Xue in his arms. Her face seemed familiar yet strange in his wooden eyes—as if he had seen it before but could not recall, or recalled it but had never truly seen it. Everything tangled endlessly in his memories.

"I'll take you to see your wife." After choking back her tears, Hong Chen Xue wiped her eyes and led the still-dazed Hong Chen away.

"Is... is he really Hong Chen?" Watching the departing figures of Hong Chen and Hong Chen Xue, Heng Yue Zhen Ren and the others turned to Dao Huang and his group.

"It's undoubtedly him." Dao Huang took a deep breath, barely containing his own excitement.

"But... but wasn't he dead?"

"The heavens have shown mercy, allowing him to be reborn."

Nan Chu erupted in uproar, buzzing with excitement.

Hong Chen's arrival stirred a massive wave in the recently quieted Da Chu.

He, too, was a legend.

The ninety-seventh generation Shengzhu of Huang Yan, he was the strongest leader since the founding of Huang Yan, aside from Huang Di himself. In his time, the Huang Yan he led rivaled the eras of the great kings and was a true powerhouse in Bei Chu.

Such a figure, who once commanded the heavens and earth and was revered as a god—even inspiring awe in Dao Huang—had long been thought gone. Now, learning he was alive, how could it not shock everyone to their core?