Although he had prepared himself mentally, High Priest Six Laughs couldn't stop the twitch at the corner of his mouth. His expression twisted into something strange and almost comical.
He stared with dry, hollow eyes at the soup bowl Yun Che handed over, his face full of unspeakable disbelief.
Was it really done?
Just four tattered, decayed leaves corrupted by Abyssal Dust—things that could be picked up anywhere—and a lump of utterly mundane water infused with nothing but a swirl of ice and fire profound energy. All that, executed with a few lazy motions by a mid-stage Divine Master, and the whole process took less than the time to finish half a cup of tea.
Was this some kind of absurd Creation God joke?
This was a hundred times more outrageous than that Moon and Cloud Cake nonsense from earlier.
He thought back on the past. He had once spent countless years, drawing on the strength of Nine Dragons and Two Phoenixes, and channeling the spirituality of distant True Gods. He refined everything to the peak of culinary perfection—yet if his creation didn't compare to this, where would he even hide his ancient, dignified old face?
Was that old face even worth keeping?
Yes.
He frowned slightly and slowly turned, unable to resist looking at Yun Che, who stood calmly and respectfully. Raising his shriveled hand, he pointed at the bowl of Four-Colored Cloud Soup, asking suspiciously,
"You little brat, you're not trying to trick this old man, are you? With such a casual method, how could you possibly produce something worth savoring, let alone something transcendent? If you're—"
Before the old man could finish, Hua Caili's graceful figure flashed by. She snatched the small, icy bowl from Yun Che's hands, smiling playfully with half theatrics and half eagerness.
"Hehe, Uncle Six Laughs, this Four-Colored Cloud Soup has to be tasted immediately after it's made, or its true flavor will be lost. Since you clearly don't appreciate it and won't give it a proper taste, then let Caili handle it instead\~"
Before her words had even faded, Hua Caili had already raised her delicate arm, lips parted slightly, and the bowl was just about to touch her mouth.
The words that the old man had been about to say were long forgotten. He immediately reached out and grabbed at the air.
In an instant, both Yun Che and Hua Caili experienced a flash of disorientation. The speed was so incredible that Hua Caili didn't even notice. Only Yun Che, his senses heightened by the Dragon Soul, had a subtle flicker in his gaze.
"Huh?"
Hua Caili blinked and suddenly felt her hand go light. The soup that had nearly reached her lips was gone.
Looking up, she saw the tiny, delicate ice bowl now clutched in the old man's withered palm.
He glared at her.
"Little girl! When will you learn to respect your elders? This soup—which you asked him to make for me, and this entire cooking competition you started—now you try to steal it from under my nose?"
"Can you even beat me in a grab if you try?" he added with the mischievous tone of an old rogue.
Hearing this, Hua Caili stuck out her tongue playfully and smiled. "Ehehe\~ Uncle Six Laughs, don't be mad. This bowl of Cloud Soup was handmade by Brother Yun. It's a rare delicacy, and I just didn't want its flavor to go to waste!"
Yun Che said nothing.
Wasn't it just something he made on a whim...
"Hmph." The old man snorted lightly and didn't press the matter further. Instead, he examined the bowl in his hand with care.
The ice bowl was crystal-clear, surrounded by a gentle chill and mist. Inside, the four colors—ancient green, molten gold, blood red, and sky blue—that had once been distinct and separated were now beginning to blend. The borders between them were fading.
Just as Hua Caili said, the Four-Colored Cloud Soup truly had to be consumed right after creation for it to be at its best.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the two youngsters staring at him intently. Hua Caili with a glowing smile, and Yun Che with calm amusement.
High Priest Six Laughs cleared his throat, calmed his thoughts, and without wasting any more time, raised the bowl to his lips and drank it all in one go.
The clear soup slipped down his throat, spreading its flavor across his tongue.
His eyes bulged. His expression froze.
The hand holding the bowl hung motionless in the air. His entire body stood still, like a sculpture.
Clink.
The bowl slipped from his fingers and shattered against the ground with a crisp chime.
"Hehehe\~"
Seeing the scene unfold exactly as expected, Hua Caili was genuinely overjoyed.
She turned to Yun Che. He gave her a warm, gentle smile. Her eyes sparkled with light, her smile growing brighter, waves of happiness rippling through her gaze. She looked radiant, like a painting come to life.
Heart stirred, soul enchanted, Hua Caili stepped lightly to Yun Che's side, and without hesitation, linked her arm around his, snuggling close like a little bird. She rubbed against him again and again, as if she would never tire of the closeness.
In any other setting, what followed next might have been deemed too intimate for young eyes.
"Brother Yun\~ I told you, didn't I? Uncle Six Laughs would definitely fall in love with you!"
She looked at Yun Che, blinking playfully.
This was her man. Her one true love. An inseparable part of her life. He fascinated her, protected her fully, and gave her a new kind of experience she had never known before—snow falling on pure skin, the warmth of a snow rabbit spirit pet, breathtaking snowy scenery, stars shining with wonder, his embrace, stepping into the world together, his heart solely for her, loving her with his soul...
Strange culinary skills, divine cooking arts, peerless delicacies—even a mighty High Priest had surrendered to them.
And she was his only one. He had said it himself. She was more precious to him than his own life.
Could there be anything more enchanting in the world?
Yun Che reached out and gently pinched her soft, flawless cheek.
"Mhm, our little Caili is the best."
Watching the girl's spoiled antics, Yun Che reached up and fondly stroked her silky hair, shaking his head.
Though it was a bit much, given what he'd learned of Six Laughs's personality, revealing their relationship this early didn't seem to be a problem.
It seemed Hua Caili had thought the same. That's why she brought him here, to Six Laughs's domain.
In a quiet moment, Yun Che's gaze shifted subtly.
A soul transmission from Meng Jingzhe arrived: Eternal Night Divine Kingdom and the Ancestral Dragon God Clan had arrived at the Pure Land. All guests were present. The Pure Land Assembly was about to begin.
The Dragon Clan...
Long Xi... my daughter...
It seemed that once this was settled, he could return to Dreamweaver.
...
For a long, long while, the withered old man remained motionless. Then, finally, his body stirred, and his expression began to shift into something deeply emotional. Upon closer inspection, one could see the glint of moisture pooling at the corners of his eyes.
His shriveled hand trembled midair, and under the astonished gazes of Yun Che and Hua Caili, two murky tears slid down the deeply wrinkled face, tracing arcs across his cheeks before vanishing into his tangled white beard.
Hua Caili covered her lips in surprise, and Yun Che too was momentarily dumbfounded.
This... was too much, wasn't it?
A Pure Land High Priest, a genuine True God who had lived for over a million years, actually cried... because of a bowl of soup?
If word of this got out, it would spread like wildfire among the citizens of the Pure Land, the Divine Kingdoms, and far beyond. But the real question was...
Who would believe it?
No one.
Not only would no one believe it, anyone who heard such nonsense from another person would either dig at their ears thinking they misheard, or burst out laughing, assuming the speaker had gone mad.
Yet this impossible, utterly unbelievable moment had happened right before their eyes.
High Priest Six Laughs' lips trembled as he remained immersed in the interwoven flavors of the Four-Colored Cloud Soup. His dry, yellowed nose twitched above a beard that shook like it had been struck by a blast, his shifting expression like one who had found a long-lost mother — sobbing from joy.
Even the final sip of soup refused to be swallowed; it simply dissipated of its own accord, permeating his entire being, nourishing his spirit like divine essence, saturating his soul like celestial nectar.
When he lifted his eyes toward Yun Che once more, they had changed completely. The heat within them rivaled that of a thousand-year celibate seeing the perfect maiden of his dreams.
Yun Che, however, shuddered as he met that blazing stare. A cold sweat trickled down his back as he suddenly felt that this shriveled old man might throw himself at him the next second.
The shattered ice bowl on the floor had already evaporated completely into mist, disappearing without a trace.
His shriveled hand clenched and relaxed, again and again. After countless repetitions, the High Priest finally calmed his turbulent emotions and returned to a semblance of normalcy.
"Little Yun."
"I am here," Yun Che answered respectfully, bowing slightly.
The old man narrowed his eyes. A gleam of sharp light passed through them, but instead of speaking to Yun Che, he turned to Hua Caili, shook his head lightly, and sighed.
"Ah, Caili, you little girl. I knew you were up to no good."
"Hehe, then Uncle Six Laughs, that means I win the bet again, right?" Hua Caili let go of Yun Che's arm and stepped forward, smiling sweetly.
"I, the old man, admit defeat," Six Laughs muttered, waving his hand impatiently. Now that his heart had calmed, he had already noticed how intimately the two interacted. He understood what it meant. "So? What's that little request of yours? Let's hear it."
Hua Caili giggled, pinched her fingers together with the tiniest gap between thumb and forefinger. "It's really small, really really small. Compared to all the divine treasures you've lost to me before, it's nothing\~"
Six Laughs inwardly sighed. Great, another bleeding loss.
"Spit it out already. If you drag it out, don't blame this old man for taking it back."
"Hehe." Hua Caili's grin turned sly, but she took a slightly more serious tone.
"The thing is... I did something that might upset the Abyss Emperor Emperor. So, Uncle Six Laughs, when the time comes... could you take my side, and... help me persuade him?"
As she reached the end, her tone grew hesitant and sheepish. Still, her voice carried unwavering resolve.
Six Laughs nodded gently, as if he'd expected this all along. He lifted his eyes and took a good look at the girl he'd watched grow up. Only now did he realize how drastically she'd changed since they last met.
That pure girl, once like a blank canvas... had she become enlightened through tribulation?
He frowned faintly, his gaze turning toward Yun Che with a trace of unease. Then, he slowly shook his head.
Blessing or disaster... who could say?
"Little girl. Since you've come here asking this old man for such a promise, I won't meddle in your other affairs. But for your own sake, I must ask you one thing today."
Hua Caili's eyes sparkled with joy — Uncle Six Laughs had agreed to help them!
"Ask whatever you like, Uncle Six Laughs. I won't hide anything from you."
The old man paused, his lips quivering as he spoke. A rare solemnity appeared on his deeply wrinkled face.
"Do you truly understand... what you will have to face?"
Invisible soul force laced his aged voice, spreading gently but powerfully. Though it was faint, its level was staggeringly high. It silently brushed across Hua Caili's thoughts and soul.
Unaware, the girl clenched her tiny fists before the old man and spoke with firm determination:
"Caili knows. No matter what I must face, no matter how twisted or thorny the road ahead, even if gods and demons block my path, I will not retreat. No matter the cost."
"For Brother Yun, for myself, to live the destiny we've woven together — I am willing to bear it."
"Heh." Six Laughs curled his lips. "Even if it costs you your father's life... you are still willing? Can you truly bear it?"
His soul force surged again, unseen but oppressive.
"This..." The unexpected words struck Hua Caili like a blow to the chest. Her bold declaration and firm expression faltered. She didn't know how to answer.
If she really had to choose...
If being with Brother Yun meant losing her father's life...
Even with her boundless stubbornness, that was a price she could not bear.
Her father had already sacrificed too much for her.
Power diminished...
Unmatched affection...
Millennia of doting love...
Everything...
Would things really go that far?
the Abyss Emperor was a good god... wasn't he?
Why would he... why...
Without warning, her breathing grew heavy. Her eyes closed, brows arched with sorrow. Her thoughts fell into a quagmire of pain and helplessness.
Before her thoughts could spiral further, Six Laughs' ancient voice rang out again:
"Even if it means gambling the fate of every soul in the Heaven Breaker Kingdom..."
His tone pressed like a blade.
"Even if it costs your aunt Hua Qingying's life..."
"Even if everyone you hold dear must perish..."
"Are you still willing? Can you bear it?"
Six Laughs narrowed his eyes and stared directly at her. Though he looked like a withered old man, his gaze was sometimes as gentle as a spring, other times as sharp as lightning. It pierced the soul, crushed the spirit.
Hua Caili's lips moved without sound. With every one of Six Laughs' cruel words, her world darkened. Even Yun Che beside her faded into dimness... until only the old man remained in the colorless void.
As her soul trembled, she saw within his eyes a clear and vivid vision —
A once-glorious Divine Kingdom, collapsing in a single night. Trillions displaced, dead, scattered. Souls lost forever, beyond reincarnation.
Her heart clenched painfully.
Then she saw her beloved aunt, the Heartless Sword Fairy Hua Qingying, her chest pierced by her own proud sword technique, blood trickling from her lips, life extinguished.
She saw her father, once a Supreme God, tortured for her sake. His divine power destroyed. His body consumed by world-burning fire, vanishing into nothingness.
The Divine Kingdom gone forever.
And Yun Che... her Brother Yun...
No!!
Hua Caili's emotions spiraled out of control. Her previously stable and gentle aura suddenly surged into chaos, turning wild and volatile.
Whoosh—
A storm of profound energy erupted, stirring violent winds like a furious dragon in the air. Dust spiraled and twisted into mini cyclones, yet not a single thread of the old man's tattered robe or a single strand of his beard was disturbed—despite standing merely a few feet away.
Observing the scene, High Priest Six Laughs lightly stroked his messy beard and nodded slowly. His soul aura, silent and vast, quietly retracted.
Almost there... he thought to himself.
Just as Hua Caili's mind teetered on the brink of collapse, another hand gently rested upon her delicate shoulder from behind.
A warm wave of soul power, refined from the Dreamweaver Divine Canon, flowed silently, easing the chaos in her heart.
Her body stiffened. Her thoughts were pulled back to reality. Light returned. Her painful, confused gaze regained clarity, and she whipped her head around.
"Brother Yun…" she whispered. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she couldn't stop herself from leaning forward and burying herself in his warm embrace. Her delicate body trembled slightly.
"Brother Yun… Caili… Caili saw…"
Just now, she had realized something. Her so-called determination… wasn't as indestructible as she had believed.
"It's okay. I'm here," Yun Che whispered, holding her in his arms. The soft fragrance surrounding her, her presence against his chest—he gently stroked her hair, silently brushing away the shadows haunting her heart.
He could more or less guess what she had seen within Six Laughs' illusion.
Lifting his gaze, Yun Che looked at the High Priest. The heavy solemnity on the old man's face had vanished, replaced once more by the playful look of a mischievous trickster.
A Pure Land High Priest… an Ancient True God… His name was well-deserved.
"Senior Six Laughs," Yun Che asked calmly, "was this to test Caili's resolve?"
"If you already know, why ask?" Six Laughs tilted his shriveled head and gave Yun Che a strange look, sizing him up from head to toe.
"Tut tut tut… You're quite the odd one. My Soul Hooking Illusion may be a small trick, and I didn't cast it on you directly, but even so, ordinary demigods would be affected. Yet you, a mere Divine Master brat… hehe."
The old man chuckled wickedly but didn't pry any further. Someone capable of stealing Hua Qingying's prized disciple under her nose, someone bold enough to compete with Dian Rahu for a future daughter-in-law—how could he be ordinary?
The Pure Land Assembly was just around the corner. He had a feeling this one would be more entertaining than the last.
Six Laughs reached into the air, retrieving an ancient bronze gourd. He tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful of celestial wine. "Good stuff," he praised, then glanced at Yun Che.
"Kid, based on that cake and soup of yours—and the bet I just made with this little girl—I'd personally be happy to lend you a hand…"
"But you must understand. What Caili wants to do… who she intends to oppose… could bring disaster of unimaginable scale. Then again, maybe not. Whether the Abyss Emperor is willing to go that far, to kill a Divine Sovereign he still finds useful, or even destroy an entire Divine Kingdom…"
"…remains to be seen."
Yun Che's heart stirred. Destroy a Divine Sovereign? Would the Abyss Emperor really go that far? If he did, how would he gather the divine power necessary to reopen the Abyss Passage to the God Realm?
Could it be…?
A trace of melancholy flashed across Six Laughs' expression. He looked at the still-troubled Hua Caili and continued:
"I just don't want to see such a lovable, foolish little girl walk blindly down a path of no return… one where even regret is a luxury."
Like a certain fool from the past… he added silently. He took another long gulp of divine wine and belched.
Raising a finger, a pure aura of profound light coiled around Six Laughs' fingertip, spinning like countless stars.
"She can be disappointed… but she must never regret. That's all there is to it."
Yun Che remained silent.
Then, with a flick of his finger, a small orb of warm profound light shot into Hua Caili's forehead. Her emotions instantly calmed and settled.
"I understand," Yun Che said respectfully.
"Understand my ass," the old man scoffed, then turned to Hua Caili. "Little girl. What did you see?"
Her soul had been strung taut, plucked into chaos, and then gently soothed. Countless images she had never imagined before now lingered in her mind, impossible to forget.
She wanted to smile—to laugh like she always did, brightly and joyfully. But she couldn't.
"Uncle Six Laughs… will what I saw really happen?" she asked quietly, her small hands clenched tightly.
"Maybe yes, maybe no."
The old man tossed the gourd into the air and caught it casually, as if he had given her an answer… or none at all.
"Heh, maybe yes, maybe no? Since when did you become a damned fortune teller?"
A warm and elegant voice suddenly rang out, drawing all three pairs of eyes.
A tall man stepped forward—taller than even Yun Che. He wore a plain robe that resembled a scholar's garb. His left hand was behind his back, his right hand in front. Ink patterns stained his chest. Cloud motifs lined his sleeves, and on them were tiny fan-shaped leaves. His features were sharp, confident, and calm. Two streaks of silver hair threaded through his dark locks. He looked in his early thirties.
Yet his aura was completely restrained. Without seeing him directly, no one could sense his presence.
"Grandpa Wan Dao!" Hua Caili cried out with surprise. Her lips finally curved into a slight smile as she leapt toward him.
Yun Che's eyes flickered. Wan Dao… another High Priest.
But why now? Why here, in Six Laughs' domain? Why precisely during their visit?
Too much of a coincidence. How much had he heard? Would it affect their plans…?
And why did this youthful-looking man get called Grandpa Wan Dao, while the withered old cook was called Uncle Six Laughs?
Seniority issue?
"Grandpa Wan Dao, the sword case you sent to the Heaven Breaker Kingdom arrived! It's beautiful, and I love it!"
"Haha, of course it is. And who made it?" Wan Dao chuckled warmly. He gently patted her fragrant, soft hair. "Come now, let Grandpa Wan Dao have a look. It's been years. Have you grown even more beautiful?"
"Heehee\~" Hua Caili twirled on the spot, spinning like a dancer. Her snow-white skin, delicate features, and near-perfect figure exuded charm and elegance.
Wan Dao nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. The childishness is gone. Your full bloom is showing. In all of history, none can rival the Abyss' finest daughter."
"But that smile… definitely not as bright as the last time."
He shot a look at Six Laughs. "Look what you've done, old geezer. This cheerful girl—now she can't even smile properly after your little Soul Hooking stunt."
The old man didn't respond. He simply sipped his wine and snorted.
"What are you doing here anyway? Don't tell me you want a taste of my cooking?"
Wan Dao took Hua Caili's hand and walked forward.
"With the Pure Land Assembly near, you'd best save your delicacies for later. I'm here… for this boy."
His gaze fell upon Yun Che.
Yun Che blinked. "Me? What now…?"
"Grandpa Wan Dao, have you met Brother Yun before?" Hua Caili asked curiously.
Wan Dao looked sideways at her and gently shook his head with a smile. "No, but Grandpa Wan Dao and he… we share a connection."
"Connection…?" Hua Caili was still puzzled.
Yun Che: …
"A long-lost aura." Wan Dao studied him. "Should I call you Mengjian Yuan… or Yun Che…?"
"…or perhaps…"
"…the Heretic God's successor?"