novel against the - Chapter 2077

Chapter 2077: The Prince’s Palace

Walking alongside the supreme-ruler Venerable Wú Mèng¹, Yun Che could constantly sense the excitement still surging within him, an excitement he couldn’t contain.

“Of the six Divine Kingdoms of this generation, the other five had their supreme successors long ago. Even the Star Moon Divine Kingdom, the most difficult to inherit, found a pair of twins who are a perfect match.”

“Only our Weaving Dreams Divine Kingdom… My father has held the position of supreme-ruler Venerable for ten thousand years, and countless descendants have been born, yet none have become a supreme successor. Even more laughable is that the most outstanding among all my descendants only possesses a six-part supreme essence².” (Dreaming Continent³)

“During that period, the Weaving Dreams Divine Kingdom endured countless hidden ridicule and pity. As millennia passed, the hearts of the people within the kingdom were filled with anxiety and unrest, with secret discussions constantly arising. Rumors even emerged questioning whether my father, despite possessing supreme essence, had inferior roots, thus resulting in the lack of outstanding offspring.”

“The Absolute Luo supreme-ruler Venerable of the Senluo Divine Kingdom and the Painting Heart supreme-ruler Venerable of the Zhetian Divine Kingdom were both close friends of my father. But… Dié Luóhou’s son, Dié Jiǔzhī, is the universally acknowledged number one supreme prince, and Cǎi Lí, that girl, needless to say, possesses a supreme essence that can be called a miracle, a perfect supreme essence. Only my father… During those years, my father rarely left the Weaving Dreams Divine Kingdom, and even more rarely met with them. He was simply too ashamed to face them.”

“Every time I went to the Pure Land to pay my respects to the Abyssal Emperor, facing the supreme-rulers of the other five kingdoms… their gazes always felt filled with pity, making my father feel utterly humiliated. Therefore, after each visit, my father was always the first to leave in a hurry.”

He shook his head, the anxiety and bitterness of those years were imaginable.

“Until a hundred years ago, your mother gave birth to you… my Yūn’er, with an innate eight-part supreme essence.”

His tone changed: “Do you know how happy your father was that day? The stagnation of ten thousand years dissipated in an instant, the countless mountains in my chest crumbled overnight. They said that your father laughed wildly for several days, like a madman.”

Yun Che had more or less known this from the memories he extracted from Mèng Jiànzhōu.

Mèng Jiàn Yūn’s mother was Mèng Kōng Chán’s youngest concubine, but also the most favored. After giving birth to Mèng Jiàn Yūn, who possessed an innate eight-part supreme essence, she undoubtedly posed a threat to the then-supreme-ruler Empress.

When Mèng Jiàn Yūn was born, the supreme-ruler Venerable Wú Mèng’s laughter echoed throughout the Weaving Dreams Divine Kingdom for nearly three days and nights. His love for Mèng Jiàn Yūn was so great that it made Mèng Jiàn Zhōu, who was originally the most favored, jealous to the point of almost biting his teeth.

In other words, Mèng Jiàn Zhōu’s hatred for Mèng Jiàn Yūn was sown from the moment he was born.

“Your father named you ‘Jiàn Yūn.’ The dream world and the waking world are opposing realms. Dreams see the abyss, while awakening soars to the heavens⁴.”

Mèng Kōng Chán slightly tilted his head, a smile on his lips, as if recalling the past: “I waited a full ten thousand years for your birth. At that time, you were not just my son and the supreme prince of Weaving Dreams, but a supreme grace, a salvation.”

“During that time, I couldn’t bear to leave you out of my arms even for a moment. Even when Dié Luóhou and Huà Fú Chén came to congratulate us in person, I never let you go… Only your mother could briefly snatch you from my arms, but before long, I would rush over to see you again.”

As he spoke, tears welled up in the eyes of this supreme-ruler Venerable, who had nearly thirty thousand children.

“You were the closest to your father when you grew up, even more so than your mother. Young children need at least four hours of sleep a day, and when you were asleep, your father had to be by your side, otherwise you would cry incessantly. So during that time, this supreme-ruler Venerable had to sleep for four hours every day, which made many people laugh at me, hahahahaha.”

“…” Yun Che lowered his head, his heart stirred.

Mèng Kōng Chán’s voice gradually softened: “But, your father failed to protect you. When you were ten years old, your father eagerly appointed you as the supreme prince of Weaving Dreams. My Yūn’er should have possessed such a glorious status early on. But perhaps it was my eagerness… that caused you to suffer misfortune.”

“Less than a year after you were appointed supreme prince… that day, it was the day I commemorated your grandfather. When I returned, you were gone, from your mother’s sleeping quarters… vanished without a trace, not even a wisp of your aura remained.”

“The only thing that could be found was a strand of spatial residual mark that hadn’t completely dissipated. But the time was too long, and this strand of spatial residual mark could no longer identify what had carved it, nor could it be traced. But it proves that your disappearance was caused by some kind of high-level spatial artifact… it’s unknown where you were taken.”

Mèng Kōng Chán sighed deeply. Although a hundred years had passed, and although Mèng Jiàn Yūn had “returned,” his words still carried pain:

“I slapped myself dozens of times, hating myself for being unworthy of being a supreme-ruler Venerable, for failing to protect my most cherished son. I sent people searching everywhere like headless flies, and I waited in the kingdom for news… because I hoped that an enemy had kidnapped you and would use you to blackmail me, at least then your life would be safe.”

“But, everything remained silent. Unknowingly, a hundred years have passed.”

At this point, Yun Che understood why Mèng Kōng Chán’s feelings for Mèng Jiàn Yūn were so special.

Because the most extreme, most intense joy, happiness, sorrow, grief, and guilt in his life were all because of Mèng Jiàn Yūn.

Even though not long after Mèng Jiàn Yūn disappeared, Mèng Jiàn Xī awakened his supreme essence, surpassing Mèng Jiàn Yūn by a fraction, making the supreme prince of Weaving Dreams “lost and found,” it could no longer stir up the pure and intense affection and fatherly love that Mèng Kōng Chán had felt.

“Yūn’er, we’re here.”

Passing through a layer of transparent barrier, a courtyard spanning dozens of miles appeared before their eyes. The main hall in the center was shrouded in dreamlike light, magnificent yet imposing. In terms of scale and grandeur, it was comparable to Cǎi Lí’s Divine Maiden’s Court.

“This is the Prince’s Palace that your father had people start building for you when you were seven years old. After your disappearance, the construction didn’t stop. It was only completed when you were still nowhere to be found.”

He raised his hand, showing Yun Che everything before him: “This Prince’s Palace, since its completion, has never been inhabited, not even stepped foot in. Because this was built specifically for you, everything should only belong to you. And for all these years, it has been the repository of my obsession… I always thought that one day you would suddenly return.”

He turned to look at Yun Che, filled with boundless emotion: “Look, it really happened… hahahahaha.”

“The supreme-ruler Venerable’s deep love for his son is truly moving.” Yun Che said sincerely: “If this junior is truly Mèng Jiàn Yūn, after my memories are restored, I will surely be filled with countless emotions.”

Mèng Kōng Chán nodded: “These words are enough. It’s a pity that your mother couldn’t…”

His voice trailed off, and he forced a smile: “Since you have no memory, let’s not talk about these depressing things. Another day, your father will take you to her tomb, let her see you, let her rest in peace in the afterlife.”

Although Mèng Kōng Chán didn’t mention it, Yun Che already knew the fate of Mèng Jiàn Yūn’s mother from Mèng Jiàn Zhōu’s memories.

In the fourth year after Mèng Jiàn Yūn’s disappearance, his mother fell ill from worry, and in order to find him, she ventured out of the Divine Kingdom and eventually died in the Mist Sea… However, Yun Che highly suspected the cause of Mèng Jiàn Yūn’s mother’s death. After all, someone who had truly threatened the supreme-ruler Empress’s position would be targeted by the supreme-ruler Empress after losing her support… it couldn’t be more reasonable.

And the then and current supreme-ruler Empress was the mother of Mèng Jiàn Zhōu and Mèng Jiàn Xī.

“This is the main hall… this is your sleeping quarters… these are for guests… as for this area, hehe, my Weaving Dreams Divine Prince, how could he lack concubines? These are all… and here, is a space specifically for your cultivation.”

Yun Che stopped, looking at the inner hall where a thick Xuan Qi was surging.

Seeing his interest, Mèng Kōng Chán immediately explained in detail: “This hall has a space of a hundred miles, paved with countless Dan stones and Dream Crystals used to assist in soul cultivation. The seven layers of isolation barriers allow you to do whatever you want inside. The various Xuan formations laid down long ago are still intact, and can maximize your ability to heal or refine Yuan Crystals.”

Yun Che said: “supreme-ruler Venerable might know, this junior’s visit is to complete the test given by the Painting Heart supreme-ruler Venerable, so during these five years, this junior will spend most of the time cultivating diligently. But… this junior’s master is a reclusive expert, and the Xuan techniques he teaches are extremely unique. He repeatedly warned me not to easily reveal the secrets about myself before my wings are fully grown.”

“Therefore, this junior has a request.”

Mèng Kōng Chán smiled and nodded: “Respecting your master, following your master’s instructions, keeping your master’s promises, very good. You don’t need to be polite to your father, just speak your mind. If I’m not mistaken, you hope that this cultivation space has sufficient isolation power to prevent the secrets about your master from being leaked?”

“Yes!” Yun Che nodded: “I wonder…”

“Hahahaha, it’s simple!”

With a loud laugh, Mèng Kōng Chán took a step forward and stretched out his arm.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the wind stopped, the world fell silent, only the supreme-ruler Venerable Wú Mèng’s robes billowed, his long hair fluttered, and where his five fingers pointed, the power of a True supreme-ruler slowly flowed out.

Standing beside him, Yun Che could see that his power was extremely calm, but the True supreme-ruler aura emanating from him still caused the sky to subtly sink and the earth to silently tremble.

The power of a True supreme-ruler… Yun Che silently clenched his fists.

If such power were to enter his own world… in the blink of an eye, all the worlds would turn to dust.

Even if these True supreme-rulers never made a move, their mere existence would cause the fragile laws of the supreme-ruler Realm to be unable to withstand such power and gradually collapse…

There are still forty-nine…

Absolutely not a single person from the Abyss can set foot in the supreme-ruler Realm!

No matter what… absolutely not!!

The True supreme-ruler aura lasted for a full hundred breaths before Mèng Kōng Chán finally lowered his arm. The sky immediately cleared, and Yun Che’s chest, which had been tight, slowly relaxed.

Outside the cultivation space, a light silver isolation barrier appeared.

Mèng Kōng Chán pointed a finger, and a drop of blood flew out from Yun Che’s fingertip, was flicked forward by Mèng Kōng Chán, landed on the isolation barrier, and then silently merged into it.

The isolation barrier flashed slightly, then slowly disappeared, becoming invisible.

It was invisible and imperceptible when quiet, but once touched, it would release the aura of a True supreme-ruler

Having personally fulfilled “Yūn’er’s” first request, Mèng Kōng Chán seemed to be in a very good mood. He put one hand behind his back and chuckled: “So, it’s done. This is an isolation barrier created by your father using the power of a True supreme-ruler Except for you, including your father, no one can enter or leave without permission.”

“Your father has also left a soul mark on it. If anyone dares to forcefully break it, your father will personally come and sweep away that audacious madman.”

“Every fifty years, your father will come to reinforce it. So, you can rest assured and cultivate inside.”

At this moment, Mèng Kōng Chán’s eyebrows moved slightly. He turned around, half helpless, half apologetic: “Yūn’er, the news of your return has spread, causing quite a stir. Your father has to go out and deal with it. You can familiarize yourself with this place… don’t worry, every brick, every tile, every plant, and every tree here exists for you, you can do whatever you want without any worries.”

Seeming unwilling to watch Yun Che thank him again with the respect of a junior, as soon as he finished speaking, he flew up and disappeared from Yun Che’s sight.

Only a heartfelt message slowly drifted into Yun Che’s ears: “Yūn’er, your father knows that your memory is incomplete, and you can’t accept the identity of ‘Mèng Jiàn Yūn.’ Don’t worry, don’t force yourself. Your father failed to protect you back then, and has already owed you too much. Now that you’re back… your father swears by the name of supreme-ruler Venerable, that he will never let anyone hurt you again.”

“…” Looking at the direction where Mèng Kōng Chán disappeared, Yun Che’s heart was extremely complex.

“You’ve succeeded again.” After Mèng Kōng Chán had been gone for a long time, Lí Suō’s voice slowly came.

“Yes… and I succeeded a little too much.”

As he spoke, Yun Che walked towards the cultivation space in front of him. The moment his body touched the barrier, a silver light flashed, and the barrier automatically parted to the sides, until Yun Che completely stepped inside, then instantly closed, disappearing into nothingness.

A space of a hundred miles appeared before him, filled with interwoven dreamlike light, and the spiritual energy was so rich as to be extravagant.

“You… altered Mèng Kōng Chán’s perception?” Lí Suō asked.

“Yes.” Yun Che replied: “When his soul was attacked and the Nirvana Demon Soul was broken, I carved the perception of ‘I am Mèng Jiàn Yūn’ into the gap in his soul.”

“The backlash of the Demon Emperor level, even if he is a True supreme-ruler, will never be able to erase it, and he will never even notice it for the rest of his life.”

This cognitive imprint carved by the Nirvana Demon Soul would make Mèng Kōng Chán firmly believe that Yun Che was Mèng Jiàn Yūn… no matter what, even if a million pieces of evidence were presented to refute it, he would not have the slightest doubt or suspicion.

“Aren’t you afraid of being exposed?” Lí Suō was worried: “Mèng Kōng Chán’s perception is certainly unshakeable, but what about the others? After all, your bloodline, soul… many things can be fatal flaws.”

“You’re thinking too much.” Yun Che’s face showed no sign of worry: “In the Weaving Dreams Divine Kingdom, Mèng Kōng Chán is the supreme being. In the eyes of the world, would a supreme-ruler Venerable of a Divine Kingdom mistake his own son?”

“I’m afraid that even if these people suspect that their children are not their own, they would never suspect that the supreme supreme-ruler Venerable would mistake his own son… especially the Wú Mèng supreme-ruler Venerable, who possesses the strongest soul power and is the least likely to make a mistake.”

“Even if someone dares to doubt it, the moment they raise their doubts, they will be met with the wrath of the supreme-ruler Venerable. Whether it’s a blood test or a soul test, it will be completely stopped before it even begins. As for age and so on, I’ve also made basic adjustments, which is enough.”

“Therefore, as long as Mèng Kōng Chán believes that I am Mèng Jiàn Yūn, then no one will suspect that I am Mèng Jiàn Yūn. And the only two flaws… the two people who killed Mèng Jiàn Yūn (Mèng Jiàn Zhōu and Mèng Jīng Zhé), are already dead and gone.”

“…” Lí Suō seemed to understand, and she asked again: “That strand of Nirvana Demon Soul, you seem to… have done more than just implant that perception.”

“Yes!” Yun Che nodded, his eyes cold: “With such a large dark void created in Mèng Kōng Chán’s soul, it would be a waste to only implant a perception. In addition, I also left three hints.”

“Hints?”

“Only three times.” Yun Che didn’t elaborate, but his words were somewhat regretful: “I’m afraid that if I’m greedy, it will be too much, and there’s a possibility of being discovered.”

Looking at this cultivation space that belonged only to him, the corners of Yun Che’s lips curled slightly. He never expected that this place, which he thought would require enormous effort to obtain, would be so easily acquired, and far more perfect than he had imagined.

“My original plan was to step on Mèng Jiàn Xī step by step, to make the position of supreme prince lean towards me, so that I could gradually make requests to Mèng Kōng Chán that were closer to my expectations.”

“But I didn’t expect that Mèng Kōng Chán’s feelings for Mèng Jiàn Yūn were so special.” Yun Che sighed deeply: “It’s no less than Huà Fú Chén’s doting on Cǎi Lí.”

“Besides doting, there’s also guilt.” Lí Suō said.

Yun Che spread his hands and closed his eyes slightly: “It seems that the fate of this Abyssal World has always been favoring me.”

Lí Suō thought for a while, and finally asked: “What is the ultimate goal of your series of actions?”

“Simple.” This time, Yun Che was frank: “To prevent anyone from the Abyss from entering the supreme-ruler Realm, the most fundamental method is to seize, or destroy, the ‘冥镜’ (Míng Jìng)⁵ in the Abyssal Emperor’s hands, which is used to open the Abyssal passage.”

“But the Abyssal Emperor is too powerful, and too far away. So we can only change direction and destroy… the energy source of the ‘Míng Jìng.’”

“You want to… destroy the supreme sources of the six Divine Kingdoms?” Lí Suō whispered thoughtfully, but she didn’t seem too surprised.

The “Míng Jìng” can be used once every fifty years, and each time, it requires the True supreme-ruler power of the Abyssal Emperor, the four Divine Officials, and the seven supreme-rulers of the six kingdoms.

If the supreme sources of the six Divine Kingdoms are destroyed, it will cut off the True supreme-ruler inheritance of the six Divine Kingdoms, and it will also cut off the energy source needed to open the “Míng Jìng”… even if it can’t be completely cut off, it can at least delay it for a very, very long time.

“Yes!” Yun Che said calmly: “The Senluo, Zhetian, and Weaving Dreams Divine Kingdoms are already in the net. I already have a plan for the Star Moon Divine Kingdom. The Divine Kingdom of the Tyrant Butterfly mainly cultivates dark Xuan power. Although I haven’t had any contact with them yet, they will definitely be the easiest to deal with. As for the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom…”

“That supreme-ruler Venerable Wú Míng has a strange personality, is extremely evil, and is unwilling to get close to other Divine Kingdoms. He is the most troublesome one, and I still don’t know how to approach him.”

The males of the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom are all lowly slaves… such a terrifying place, for Yun Che, a male, it would be undoubtedly extremely difficult to even set foot in it. It can only be dealt with slowly in the future.

—

**Translation Notes:**

1. **Wú Mèng 神尊 (Wú Mèng Shénzūn):** This translates to “supreme-ruler Venerable Without Dreams.” The title “supreme-ruler Venerable” indicates a very high level of power and status in this fictional world.

2. **Six-part supreme essence (六分神格, liù fēn shén gé):** In this fictional world, supreme essence seems to be a measure of innate power, with eight parts being the highest. A six-part supreme essence is still very powerful but not the highest potential.

3. **Dreaming Continent (梦见洲, Mèng Jiàn Zhōu):** This is a proper noun referring to a specific location, likely a continent or region within the Weaving Dreams Divine Kingdom. It also serves as a character’s name.

4. **Dreams see the abyss, while awakening soars to the heavens (梦既见渊,醒当凌天, Mèng jì jiàn yuān, xǐng dāng lìng tiān):** This is a poetic phrase that plays on the duality of dreams and reality. “Jiàn yuān” (见渊) literally means “to see the abyss,” but it also alludes to the depth and mystery of the character’s destiny. “Lìng tiān” (凌天) means “to soar to the heavens,” symbolizing a rise to greatness.

5. **Míng Jìng (冥镜):** This term translates literally to “dark mirror” or “hell mirror.” It’s a crucial artifact in the story, likely possessing significant power related to the Abyss. The context suggests it’s a key to opening a passage to the Abyss.