novel against the - Chapter 2076

Chapter 2076: The Mark of the Demon supreme-ruler

Five short words, like a demon’s low murmur. They also resembled the vast, distant echoes of the heavens, the silent, profound contemplation of an endless abyss. As the sound subsided, the ferocious demonic shadow in Yun Che’s eyes slowly dissipated… …and was reflected in the eyes of the Dreamless Divine Lord.

“…”

A murmured sound. In Yun Che’s gradually clearing soul sea, Li Si’s bewildered whisper echoed. She remembered that before Yun Che fell into the Abyss of Nothingness, the Demon Empress had infused eighty percent of her own Nirvana Demon Soul into Yun Che’s soul. Yun Che couldn’t control the Nirvana Demon Soul; he couldn’t even activate it consciously.

‘It was personally severed and transferred by me, so it will obediently hide within your soul… …until the moment it is awakened.’¹

‘Awakened? What will happen then?’

‘It will be like a demon supreme-ruler awakened from a deep sleep. But it can only be awakened once. That might be the Nirvana Demon Emperor… …’

‘A final burst of rage!’²

Remembering his words from then, Li Si finally understood Yun Che’s plan. The rumored Painting Heart Divine Lord, who loved his daughter dearly; the engagement between the Fallen Heaven Divine Maiden and the Senluo Divine Son; the Dream Weaving Divine Kingdom, whose main cultivation was soul power and possessed the power of “Falling Dream”; the three Divine Lords, Senluo, Fallen Heaven, and Dream Weaving, who were close friends… …

Considering all these factors… …the encounter with Hua Cai Li in the Sea of Mist, and the transfer of the Xuan Soul from Dream Island… …Li Si only now realized that from that moment on, Yun Che had been plotting this day.

When that dark demonic shadow appeared in Meng Kong Chan’s eyes, she knew Yun Che had succeeded!

Although, compared to a complete True supreme-ruler’s soul, a mere wisp of the Nirvana Demon Soul was insignificant… …it was still the soul of a Demon Emperor. Even in the distant era of the supreme-rulers, it was the highest level of soul in the world, surpassing a True supreme-ruler’s soul by an entire plane of existence.

Furthermore, this wasn’t a direct confrontation between souls, but a soul power suppression completely controlled by the Dreamless Divine Lord… …followed by an unsuspecting backlash of the Demon Emperor’s rage.

A single silver needle cannot withstand a towering dead tree, but it will inevitably leave an eternal mark on the wood!³

The Demon Emperor’s rage, terrifying even demons.

Meng Kong Chan’s features began to tremble. The demonic shadow in his eyes twisted rapidly, then gradually faded… …carrying the fading roar of the Demon Emperor.

The moment the shadow completely disappeared, this wisp of the Nirvana Demon Emperor’s soul remaining in the world ceased to exist… …leaving only the last trace in Yun Che’s soul.

But on the Dreamless Divine Lord’s supreme soul, it left an eternal mark of darkness.

After the demonic shadow, the black light in Meng Kong Chan’s eyes also gradually dissipated.

Finally, he suddenly opened his eyes, then stood up with a gasp. He stared fixedly at Yun Che, his pupils shrinking, his lips trembling, his breath even seeming to be uncontrollably chaotic, completely lacking his previous absolute majesty, indifference, and control.

Such emotional instability shouldn’t even appear in a Divine Lord.

“Yuan’er… …you are Yuan’er! You are Yuan’er!!”⁴ He trembled, each word shaking as if being ravaged by a storm.

“…” A hint of surprise appeared in Yun Che’s eyes.

Meng Kong Chan’s reaction was far greater than he had anticipated… …much greater. Clearly, he had underestimated the importance of the name “Dream Yuan” in the Dreamless Divine Lord’s heart.

Yun Che looked up, his eyes hazy with newly regained clarity: “Dreamless Divine Lord, you… …what? What Yuan’er?”

Boom!

Meng Kong Chan lunged forward. For the dignified Dreamless Divine Lord, such a simple action resulted in a staggering stumble as he rose. However, he completely ignored his balance, rushing towards Yun Che in a crooked posture, grabbing his arm tightly, his eyes fixed on him:

“Yuan’er, you’re alive… …you’re alive!”

Suddenly realizing something, he quickly loosened his grip on Yun Che’s arm, but still held on tightly, refusing to let go. As he finished speaking, Yun Che saw a mist in his violently trembling eyes… …

Yun Che leaned back slightly, his face full of astonishment and bewilderment: “My name is Yun Che. I am not the Yuan’er the Dreamless Divine Lord speaks of. I beg the Dreamless Divine…”

“No, you are Yuan’er, you are my father’s Yuan’er, lost for a hundred years!” Meng Kong Chan spoke excitedly, word by word, the mist in his eyes thickening. “Back then, it was my father’s incompetence that failed to protect you, causing you to be lost for so long… …a hundred years, a full hundred years, but my father never gave up searching for you.”

“Heaven be praised, you’re still alive, alive and back by my father’s side… …you’ve grown so much… …so well… …”

His voice gradually became hoarse, and finally, it was clearly choked with sobs.

Yun Che slowly shook his head: “I… …I truly don’t know what the Dreamless Divine Lord is talking about…”

At this moment, an urgent shout came from outside the hall: “Father supreme-ruler, what happened?!”

Meng Kong Chan’s breathing was clearly disordered, his voice even more uncontrolled, greatly startling Meng Jian Xi, who was near the supreme hall. When he rushed in, the scene before him left him standing there dumbfounded. His body trembled, his eyes filled with tears… …this was the second time in his life that he had seen his father, the Dreamless Divine Lord, in such a state. The first time was when Dream Yuan disappeared a hundred years ago.

Behind him was a tall, sharp-eyed young man, who, like Meng Jian Xi, was full of astonishment.

Meng Kong Chan turned his gaze, his excitement unabated: “Jian Xi, Jian Ze!! Yuan’er is back… …he’s back!! This is Yuan’er!”

“… …!?” Meng Jian Xi looked at Yun Che, his eyes full of astonishment.

Meng Jian Ze’s eyes widened. He stared at Yun Che, incredulous:

“Which… …which Yuan’er?”

Meng Jian Xi also stepped forward at this time, excitedly saying: “Could he be… …?”

“That’s right, that’s right.” It seemed that only now did Meng Kong Chan regain a little composure. He took a deep breath, calming his breath and emotions: “Yuan’er didn’t die, he’s back, completely unharmed.”

Meng Jian Ze glanced at Yun Che, then at Meng Jian Xi, unsure of how to react.

Yun Che, however, turned sideways, neither humble nor arrogant: “Greetings, Dream Weaving Divine Son. My name is Yun Che. I am here on the orders of Painting Heart Divine Lord to visit the Dreamless Divine Lord. I am not some ‘Yuan’er.’ The Dreamless Divine Lord must have made a mistake.”

“No, it can’t be wrong.”

Meng Kong Chan’s hand remained on Yun Che’s arm, as if afraid that if he let go, Yun Che would leave his world again: “Yuan’er, I ask you, are you two hundred years old?”

“Yes.” Yun Che nodded.

Meng Kong Chan continued to ask: “Painting Heart Divine Lord said that you were saved around the age of ten, and after waking up, you had no memories before the age of ten. Is that correct?”

“Indeed.” Yun Che nodded again.

Meng Kong Chan’s fingers tightened slightly. Looking into his eyes, he softly said: “My Yuan’er disappeared a hundred years ago, at the age of ten, without a trace. Neither alive nor dead.”

“The time and age are completely consistent.”

He continued: “Your memory loss must be due to an attack you suffered back then, resulting in soul damage. And Dream Yuan was your name before the age of ten… …a name my father personally gave you.”

Yun Che’s gaze faltered slightly, but he still shook his head: “Time and age could just be a coincidence. The matter of the Dreamless Divine Lord’s offspring is of great importance. How can you determine that I am Dream Yuan based solely on this?”

Meng Kong Chan’s eyes were misty. Except for the moment when Meng Jian Xi and Meng Jian Ze rushed in, his gaze had remained on Yun Che, never leaving for a moment: “I, Meng Kong Chan, am the Divine Lord of this Dream Weaving Divine Kingdom. Even if my soul collapses and my perception is distorted, I will never mistake my own son!”

“Your soul, your aura, your flesh and blood… …how could my father possibly mistake you, how could he possibly mistake you!”

“……” Meng Jian Ze turned to Meng Jian Xi, only to see that his eyes were also red, and he excitedly exclaimed: “Wonderful… …wonderful! This is truly a supreme miracle.”

As he spoke, he quickly stepped forward and placed his hand on Yun Che’s shoulder: “Yuan, welcome back. Do you know how much your father has worried about you day and night over these years, and how he has been deeply mired in guilt, refusing to emerge even after a hundred years have passed? Even so, Father supreme-ruler never gave up searching for you.”

“Your safe return is not only a great joy for our Dream Weaving Divine Kingdom, but it has also saved Father supreme-ruler!”

His eyes were full of excitement and emotion, no less than Meng Kong Chan’s.

“Hahahaha!” Meng Kong Chan laughed heartily: “That’s right, there’s no greater joy than this. I must immediately announce… …announce to the world that my Yuan’er has returned!”

Compared to their immense excitement, Yun Che’s expression was more of confusion and bewilderment. He said in a louder voice: “Dreamless Divine Lord, Dream Weaving Divine Son, I know this may be disappointing, but… …my name is Yun Che, a name given to me by my master, engraved on my body for life, and never to be abandoned.”

“Today is my first time setting foot in the Dream Weaving Divine Kingdom. Before this, my memory has no trace of the Dream Weaving Divine Kingdom, nor do I know the name Dream Yuan. Therefore, I beg the Dreamless Divine Lord to understand that I am Yun Che, not Dream Yuan!”

“Nonsense!” Before Meng Kong Chan could speak, a sharp shout came. Meng Jian Ze said with a stern expression: “How could Father supreme-ruler, such a distinguished figure, make a mistake about bloodline matters! You disappeared for a hundred years, and now you return, yet you dare to question and defy…”

*Slap!!!!*

The sound of teeth and cheekbones shattering echoed throughout the hall. Before Meng Jian Ze could finish speaking, he was sent flying, a large amount of sticky blood foam spraying in mid-air.

*Fool… …* Meng Jian Xi muttered under his breath.

Meng Jian Ze scrambled to his feet, and as he looked up, he met his father’s extremely sinister gaze.

His knees, which he had just tried to straighten, buckled again. Endless fear made his eyes shrink and tear.

“Yuan’er has just returned from a near-death experience. This father is overjoyed and cherishes him beyond measure… …yet you dare to speak to Yuan’er so harshly!”

The Divine Lord’s anger was like a collapsing sky. As one of Meng Kong Chan’s most outstanding sons, Meng Jian Ze had never been looked at by his father with such a gaze. He fell to his knees in fright, trembling: “Child… …child dares not, child just…”

“Get out!”

Meng Jian Ze retreated in panic and fled.

When his gaze returned to Yun Che, the sinister look instantly turned gentle: “It’s alright. Your master saved your life. He is not only your benefactor, but also my benefactor, and the benefactor of the entire Dream Weaving Divine Kingdom. Your memory loss makes it difficult for you to accept the identity of Dream Yuan, and to accept me as your father. This is natural… …natural, and there’s nothing wrong with it.”

“So… …if you like, continue to use the name ‘Yun Che.’ When you remember, or when you are willing to accept me as your father, then use the name Dream Yuan.”

His words and demeanor were more than just a compromise… …they were almost a plea.

“This… …” Meng Jian Xi advised: “Father supreme-ruler, I know you have always felt guilty towards Yuan and want to make amends. But Yuan is still Father supreme-ruler’s son. For Father supreme-ruler’s son to use another surname… …this will inevitably invite gossip.”

“Hehe,” Meng Kong Chan smiled faintly: “Yuan’s safe return is a great blessing from heaven. Everything else is unimportant. As long as Yuan is safe and happy, it doesn’t matter what he chooses.”

Yun Che tried to suppress the confusion on his face and respectfully said: “The Dreamless Divine Lord’s kindness is overwhelming. I am truly honored. But this matter… …is too shocking for me. I don’t know how to react.”

Yun Che still refused to call him Father supreme-ruler, and continued to deny the identity of “Dream Yuan.” Meng Kong Chan felt a pang of disappointment, but quickly waved his hand to comfort him: “It’s alright, it’s alright. It’s just that your father is too anxious. Don’t feel any pressure because of this. Your father will definitely find a way to restore your memory. Until then, whoever you want to be, you can be. No one will force you.”

Yun Che immediately bowed: “Thank you, Dreamless Divine…”

“Thank you for what? You and I are father and son. There’s no need for such formality.” Meng Kong Chan stopped Yun Che from bowing, laughing heartily. He looked at Yun Che, his joy overflowing: “You’ve grown up to be far more handsome than your father was back then. If your mother were to see you, she would be overjoyed.”

“No wonder that girl…”

Speaking of which, he suddenly turned his gaze: “Jian Xi, quickly announce to the entire kingdom that Yuan has returned safely! Distribute five thousand high-grade Yuan Crystals to each of the major dream palaces; open the Prayer Dream Immortal Realm for three months, allowing all disciples of the Divine Lord rank and above to enter; reduce the sentence of all criminals in the Sinful Realm by a hundred years; exempt all affiliated territories from tributes for a hundred years… …go quickly!”

Meng Jian Xi suppressed the shock in his heart and respectfully obeyed.

Meng Kong Chan took Yun Che’s hand: “Yuan’er, your father will take you to a place… …a place that belongs only to you.”

The moment they stepped out of the Dream Weaving Divine Hall, Meng Jian Xi’s expression suddenly turned gloomy, then slowly returned to calm as he walked.

Soon, Meng Jian Ze rushed out from the side and came behind Meng Jian Xi. His silver clothes were stained with blood, his face was swollen, and he looked disheveled, his face still showing lingering fear.

“Your Highness, that kid… …is he really the Dream Yuan who should have died long ago?” Each word Meng Jian Ze spoke was punctuated by the piercing pain of his broken teeth.

“Do you think Father supreme-ruler could possibly make a mistake in this matter?” Meng Jian Xi’s voice was calm: “With no news for a hundred years, anyone would think he was dead. It’s incredible that he’s still alive. He’s truly lucky.”

Looking at Meng Jian Xi’s expression, Meng Jian Ze cautiously said: “Your Highness, aren’t… …aren’t you worried?”

“Worried? Why?” Meng Jian Xi smiled faintly.

“He’s the former Divine Son!” Meng Jian Ze said solemnly: “It would have been fine if he had died. Now that he’s back alive, he might threaten your position.”

“Threat?” Meng Jian Xi chuckled: “In terms of cultivation, he doesn’t have the resources of the Divine Kingdom. To cultivate to a Third-Level Divine Master in two hundred years is an undeniable genius in the mortal world, but in front of me, he’s nothing; in terms of knowledge and control of the Dream Weaving Divine Kingdom, in terms of merit, in terms of popularity, he doesn’t even have the qualifications to compare with me.”

“Aside from everything else, my Divine Rank is also one level higher than his. With this alone, do you think he could possibly threaten my position as Divine Son?”

“Your Highness is right, but Father supreme-ruler’s attitude makes me uneasy,” Meng Jian Ze said: “He calls us Jian Xi and Jian Ze, but he calls that Dream Yuan ‘Yuan’er’.”

“Your Highness, don’t forget that although Divine Rank is an important condition for selecting the Divine Son… …the final decision-maker is always Father supreme-ruler!”

Meng Jian Xi’s steps faltered for a moment.

“When Dream Yuan disappeared, you certainly haven’t forgotten Father supreme-ruler’s appearance. Moreover, Dream Yuan was just a baby back then, and Father supreme-ruler immediately appointed him as the Divine Son, with a ceremony so grand that the entire world was invited to celebrate, and he had a supreme hall built for him early on. Even after his disappearance, the construction of the supreme hall never stopped until it was completed.”

“But Your Highness, you still don’t have your own divine…”

“Don’t say it.” Meng Jian Xi coldly interrupted him: “We are all brothers with Jian Yuan. We should work together, not create discord. Don’t say these things again.”

“Your Highness!” Meng Jian Ze, however, raised his voice: “My life depends on Your Highness, and I dare not disobey in the slightest. But Your Highness must not take this lightly!”

“Don’t you remember what happened to Pan, the former Divine Son of the Owl Butterfly Divine Kingdom?”

Early loyalty to the Divine Son, waiting for the Divine Son to become a Divine Lord, naturally leads to the elevation of one’s family. Therefore, as Meng Jian Ze said, his fate was already tied to Meng Jian Xi.

The return of Dream Yuan, coupled with Meng Kong Chan’s unusual attitude towards him, how could he not be worried?

And after the news of Dream Yuan’s return spread, were there only those two who were worried?

—

**Translation Notes:**

1. **It was personally severed and transferred by me, so it will obediently hide within your soul… …until the moment it is awakened.’**: This highlights the Demon Empress’s control over the transferred soul fragment and its dormant state until triggered.

2. **’A final burst of rage!’**: This refers to the planned use of the Demon Emperor’s residual soul as a weapon against Meng Kong Chan, exploiting his emotional vulnerability.

3. **A single silver needle cannot withstand a towering dead tree, but it will inevitably leave an eternal mark on the wood!:** This is a Chinese idiom illustrating how even a seemingly weak force can leave a lasting impact on a powerful one.

4. **”Yuan’er… …you are Yuan’er! You are Yuan’er!!”:** The repetition emphasizes Meng Kong Chan’s overwhelming joy and disbelief at finding his long-lost son. The use of “Yuan’er” (a diminutive of Yuan) shows his deep affection.