Just as Qin Weiji no longer wished to engage with her and turned to leave, Shen Xin hurriedly clung to him again, refusing to let go. Qin Weiji, losing patience, was about to use his divine power to push her away when…
Both of their expressions abruptly shifted, and they simultaneously turned their gazes outward.
Of course, compared to Qin Weiji, Shen Xin’s expression appeared far more complex.
For some reason, she suddenly felt an intense, desolate sensation, as though something of great importance to her was slowly fading from the world…
This feeling brought an involuntary redness to her eyes.
In contrast, Qin Weiji merely furrowed his brow slightly before returning to his usual detached composure.
After all, Shen Xin was not the original owner of this body. She couldn’t comprehend the meaning behind this sensation. “What is this…”
Before she could finish her question, Qin Weiji had already vanished.
Shen Xin turned to see that the barrier he had set up earlier had also been withdrawn.
Snapping back to reality, she hesitated no longer and quickly followed after him.
In the Sixth Heaven, six solitary peaks stood suspended in the sky, arranged in a ring around the tallest central peak.
Atop the summit stood a majestic golden palace, with nine golden dragons coiling and soaring above it—this was the Divine Hall.
Enshrined within the Divine Hall were the soul lamps of the High Gods.
The Cloud Sea Realm was the dwelling place of the gods, known as the Divine Realm.
But though it was called the realm of the gods, in truth, the entire Divine Realm now housed only seven deities, including Shen Xin and Monarch Qin Weiji.
Among them was the God of the Underworld, who by divine decree was stationed in the Netherworld.
Thus, only six High Gods resided permanently in the Divine Realm, which had always been a desolate place.
As Shen Xin had remarked, the vast divine palace was as cold and lonely as the Moon Palace.
At this moment, six figures appeared almost simultaneously in the empty Divine Hall, their gazes fixed on the seven soul lamps before their expressions shifted repeatedly.
For one of the lamps had suddenly gone out.
War God Jialuo’s voice trembled slightly, “This is… the God of the Underworld…”
Shen Xin’s brow twitched as she looked at Jialuo. His face was filled with grief and disbelief, clearly unable to accept the sudden extinguishing of the God of the Underworld’s soul lamp.
She recalled her recent conversation with Qin Weiji.
Qin Weiji had said that if she died, her soul lamp would go out.
Medicine God Sufang was equally unable to accept it. “Just a short while ago, I went to the Netherworld to share a drink with him. How could this be?”
For a High God’s soul lamp to extinguish without reason—and if not for the gods’ ability to sense the divine aura present between heaven and earth, and the sudden disappearance of the God of the Underworld’s divine aura—perhaps no one would have noticed.
It was truly too bizarre.
Flower Goddess Luorong looked at Qin Weiji, whose expression was unreadable. “Divine Lord, do you know where the God of the Underworld is at this moment?”
All the High Gods, including Shen Xin, turned their eyes to Qin Weiji.
Qin Weiji’s eyes were tinged with an oppressive darkness, sharp and inscrutable.
His black hair cascaded over his silver robes, which were embroidered with cloud-like dragon patterns. He should have been aloof and transcendent, looking down upon all living beings, yet he resembled a phantom, his murderous aura unrestrained and chilling to the heart.
As Shen Xin watched his profile, she felt that the tear mole at the corner of his eye made him appear even more coldly handsome and bewitching, exuding an intimidating presence.
She couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret—someone like Qin Weiji would have made a perfect Demon.
Qin Weiji gazed at the extinguished soul lamp for a moment before speaking indifferently, “The God of the Underworld has fallen.”
The faces of the High Gods instantly changed, and even Qiyuan, who had been silently watching Shen Xin, couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
Sufang, who had the closest relationship with the God of the Underworld, struggled the most to accept this. “How could it be… I’m going to the Netherworld to find him right now. I don’t believe it.”
Before he could leave, Qin Weiji spoke again, “If news of the God of the Underworld’s fall spreads, the Netherworld will inevitably descend into chaos. And if the Netherworld falls into chaos, the human realm will follow. The priority now is for someone to go to the Netherworld and assume the role of the God of the Underworld.”
The fall of the God of the Underworld seemed to evoke no emotional reaction in Qin Weiji.
While the other High Gods were still immersed in grief or shock, he had already begun considering who should replace the new God of the Underworld.
Sufang halted his steps, clenching his fists tightly, his expression filled with agony.
He understood clearly: since Qin Weiji had said this, it meant the God of the Underworld had truly fallen.
He had vanished silently, disappearing from the world so abruptly that aside from the few High Gods present, no one else knew.
Shen Xin furrowed her brow in deep thought.
Could the sudden fall of the God of the Underworld be related to the newly emerged Demon God?
Otherwise, why would the God of the Underworld fall just as the Demon God appeared?
Divine Lord Chao Tianjue had said that with the Demon God’s emergence, the Six Realms would inevitably descend into chaos.
And based on Shen Xin’s extensive experience reading novels, sometimes a seemingly minor event could be the catalyst for great turmoil…
The fall of the God of the Underworld might just be the beginning.
She couldn’t help but ask Xiao Ai, “Is the God of the Underworld really gone? Is it related to the Demon God?”
Xiao Ai hesitated: [The plot development has already diverged from the original world’s storyline. It’s hard to say.]
After all, according to the original plot, this Demon God had never appeared—the only Demon God was Qin Weiji after his final corruption.
Even Xiao Ai didn’t know where this entity had come from, usurping Qin Weiji’s position in advance.
Shen Xin pondered this, realizing she still needed to visit the demon realm first.
While she was conversing with Xiao Ai, Qin Weiji turned to Qiyuan, his tone devoid of emotion, “High God Qiyuan has always had ample leisure. Perhaps you should go to the Netherworld and assume the role of the God of the Underworld.”
Qiyuan, who had been watching Shen Xin, was taken aback. He turned to look at Qin Weiji.
High Gods should each have their duties, but now there were few High Gods left, and many positions had been handed over to the immortals of the Immortal World.
However, a place like the Netherworld could only be controlled by a High God.
Come to think of it, in the divine realm, the idlest besides Shen Xin seemed to be Qiyuan.
No, there was also Qin Weiji.
Shen Xin felt that Qin Weiji, as the Divine Lord, was the idlest—every day, it was either cultivation or more cultivation.
Sure enough, Qiyuan shared Shen Xin’s sentiment. He chuckled, “I actually think the Divine Lord has more leisure than I do. Moreover, a place like the Netherworld might be beyond my divine power to control. It would likely require the Divine Lord’s personal intervention.”
Although Qin Weiji was the Divine Lord, Qiyuan had never held much reverence for him. The other High Gods were accustomed to this and merely frowned at his words.
Qin Weiji’s expression remained unchanged, but his tone grew noticeably colder, “The Cloud Sea Realm is not a garbage dump. If a god is useless, why remain in the divine realm?”
He glanced at the extinguished soul lamp of the God of the Underworld and curled his lips, “Since one soul lamp has already gone out, I wouldn’t mind extinguishing another!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a silver longsword materialized suddenly. Mercury-like light flowed along the blade, emanating a chilling Sword Qi.
The longsword hovered in the center of the divine hall, its Sword Qi releasing a pressure as immense as toppling mountains and filling seas, suffocating all the gods present.
Shen Xin recognized it at a glance—this was the very god-slaying sword she had used to stab herself before.
The atmosphere in the entire divine hall froze for a moment.
Qiyuan’s expression shifted several times before he finally gritted his teeth and said, “Is the Divine Lord using his authority for personal revenge?”
Qin Weiji lazily raised an eyebrow. “What grudge could I possibly hold against you?”
Qiyuan curled his lips into a faint smile and suddenly looked toward Shen Xin. “The grudge of stealing one’s beloved. It’s only natural for you to resent me.”
The other High Gods: “…!”
Shen Xin, who had been watching the drama unfold: “?”
Her expression changed as well, and she hurriedly spoke up, “What nonsense are you spouting?”
This despicable man—was he not satisfied unless he dragged her into this mess? How on earth had the original host been so thoroughly deceived by him?
A trace of sorrow flickered in Qiyuan’s eyes as he smiled bitterly. “Xin’er, you promised me yesterday that after divorcing him today, you would form a marriage bond with me and become my wife. Here in this divine hall, before all the gods, dare you say you never agreed to this?”
“I…”
Shen Xin instinctively glanced at the other High Gods, unsure how to refute him. Although she herself had never agreed, the original host indeed had.
Her hesitation was tantamount to an admission.
This made the expressions of the other High Gods turn complicated, yet they didn’t seem particularly surprised.
It was as if anything shameless Shen Xin did—even secretly engaging in an affair behind the Divine Lord’s back—was considered normal.
Shen Xin’s hesitation also caused Qin Weiji to lower his gaze slightly, concealing the surge of irritation that instantly welled up in his eyes.
The career-focused system began frantically reporting his corruption index in his mind, bewildered as it asked what was wrong again and why the corruption index had suddenly risen once more.
Qin Weiji paid it no mind.
Why? Even he himself didn’t know the reason.
This inner demon was too strange—it seemed that anything involving Shen Xin made it impossible for him to remain calm.
For a moment, Qin Weiji genuinely considered using the god-slaying sword to kill her.
Killing her would mean killing his inner demon.
In all of heaven and earth, no one should ever fantasize about controlling him!
As soon as this thought emerged, the frantic ding-ding-ding sounds in his mind grew even more urgent. The corruption index skyrocketed in that instant, spiraling completely out of control.
The career system urged anxiously: Divine Lord, quickly approach the Divine Maiden! Even if it’s just holding her hand or embracing her, do something to stop the corruption index from rising!
Qin Weiji remained motionless, still lowering his gaze in silence, allowing those irritable and dark thoughts in his mind to breed and spread…
As for Shen Xin’s hesitation, Qiyuan also felt a mocking disdain, thinking to himself that she was nothing but a foolish woman.
Outwardly, however, he maintained his gentle and sorrowful demeanor. “Xin’er, I don’t know how he threatened you to make you go back on your word after declaring your divorce today. But I would never stand by and allow the woman I love to be threatened. Just tell me the truth, and I will surely help you.”
As he spoke, his expression suddenly shifted again, becoming exceptionally resolute as he looked firmly at Qin Weiji. “Even if he is the Divine Lord, so what? For you, I would dare to fight even the Heavenly Dao itself!”
Shen Xin almost felt like applauding him.
If it were the original host, she would likely have been deeply moved. A woman neglected by her husband for a thousand years, left to guard her “Lonely Palace” alone, would find it hard not to be tempted and deceived by such a devoted “Wu Gang.”
Qin Weiji slowly lifted his gaze, darkness churning in his eyes.
Yet he didn’t look at Qiyuan. Instead, his eyes fell on Shen Xin, who stood not far from him, and he called out, “Shen Yaoyao.”
Shen Xin turned to look at him and immediately met his pitch-black eyes.
She was startled, then delighted—was this…
His corruption awakening?
Qin Weiji spoke again, “Didn’t you say you wanted to prove it?”
Shen Xin, “?”
Prove it again?
Indeed, Qin Weiji had never believed her from the start. Now, with Qiyuan causing such a scene, he must be even more suspicious of her.
She sighed helplessly, “How should I prove it?”
The corner of Qin Weiji’s lips curved slightly, “Pick up the god-slaying sword.”
Before Shen Xin could retort—wondering if he was going to make her stab herself again—he suddenly turned his gaze to Qiyuan, enunciating each word with icy coldness, “Slay… the god.”
Shen Xin was momentarily stunned but quickly understood. He wanted her to use the god-slaying sword to kill Qiyuan.
The other three High Gods were equally shocked, “Divine Lord…”
As they attempted to speak, Qin Weiji raised his hand. A silver barrier materialized like a wall, isolating Jialuo and the other two gods outside. Within the barrier remained only Qin Weiji, Shen Xin, and Qiyuan.
This way, Jialuo and the others could only watch and hear what happened inside the barrier but could not enter. No matter what occurred within, they would be powerless to intervene.
Qiyuan’s brow twitched slightly as he finally sensed the danger.
Was Qin Weiji… serious?
But this was utterly unlike the Qin Weiji he knew.
Qin Weiji shouldn’t have reacted this way. He should have been indifferent to Shen Xin. Upon learning of her betrayal, he should have simply severed their marital ties and never concerned himself with her life or death again.
A trace of panic finally crept into him, “Divine Lord, what are you planning?”
Qin Weiji merely looked back at Shen Xin, the emotions in his eyes now completely chilled, devoid of even the slightest agitation.
He asked leisurely, “What’s the matter? Are you afraid, or reluctant?”
After recognizing Qin Weiji’s tendency toward darkness, Shen Xin knew he would never let Qiyuan go today.
She called out to Xiao Ai in her mind, “Activate the Truth-Speaking Card now.”
Since Qiyuan had no shame, she would expose his true, shameless face before all the gods before he died.
She also wanted Qin Weiji to know that she truly had no connection with this man.
Curving her lips into a smile at Qin Weiji, Shen Xin replied calmly, “I’m neither afraid nor reluctant. It’s just that there are some things that need to be clarified before he dies.”
Without waiting for Qin Weiji’s reaction, she turned to the flustered Qiyuan and said with a light smile, “You claim to love me deeply, even willing to defy the Heavenly Dao for me? Qiyuan, you’re actually lying.”
Qiyuan clenched his jaw, staring at her, “Xin’er, has he been telling you something?”
Shen Xin sighed, “No one needed to tell me. I’ve always known you don’t love me. Your purpose in getting close to me was merely for my Spiritual Root, wasn’t it?”
Jialuo and the other two High Gods, who had been trying to combine their strength to break the barrier and prevent them from killing each other, suddenly froze, staring in disbelief at Qiyuan’s increasingly panicked expression within the barrier.
The indifference around Qin Weiji vanished in an instant, replaced only by coldness and danger.
Qiyuan never expected Shen Xin to know about this. His throat moved as he swallowed nervously, his mind in turmoil, “Xin’er, have you…”
He intended to ask if she had heard some rumor from others, but the moment the words were about to leave his mouth, something seemed to crash into his Divine Sense. A sharp pain shot through his Sea of Consciousness, and his Divine Sense suddenly went out of control.
He heard his own cold, mocking laugh as he answered Shen Xin, “So what if I am?”
Qiyuan watched himself in terror, listening to his own words yet powerless to stop them, continuing: “As a High God, you’re utterly useless and incompetent. Keeping your Spiritual Root would only make you a worthless fool. Better to let me extract it for Yi’er.”
Shen Xin nodded. “So you’ve always looked down on me, unwilling to even touch my hand.”
Qiyuan’s face contorted. “Naturally! A foolish, filthy woman like you – even glancing at you disgusts me. How could I possibly touch you!”
Though the words were harsh, Shen Xin only sneered coldly. “Rest assured, I’ve no interest in toads either – they disgust me too. I’ve just been playing along to uncover your intentions.”
She raised her hand, and the god-slaying sword that belonged solely to Qin Weiji obediently fell into her grasp. “Now that I know, there’s no need to keep pretending.”
Perhaps because it had pierced her heart and tasted her blood, Shen Xin felt the god-slaying sword was quite affectionate toward her and obedient. After landing in her palm, it even nuzzled her hand with its hilt.
Qin Weiji watched her quietly, while Qiyuan’s face twisted almost beyond recognition. “What do you think you’re doing, Shen Xin? Do you really believe you can defeat me?”
Shen Xin nodded. “Let’s find out.”
She had always been a law-abiding citizen – never killed anyone, let alone slain a god.
Truthfully, her hands felt somewhat weak, but Qiyuan truly couldn’t be allowed to live. Since she’d have to kill him eventually to avenge the original owner anyway, and everyone would die when he destroyed the Six Realms, she might as well use him for practice.
Thinking this, Shen Xin clenched her teeth, closed her eyes, and thrust toward Qiyuan randomly, not caring where she struck.
As she moved to attack, Qiyuan naturally tried to counter, only to discover he couldn’t move.
Shocked and uncertain, he suddenly looked at Qin Weiji – and saw the darkness in his eyes.
Qiyuan’s pupils contracted sharply. “You… you… Demon…”
Qin Weiji withdrew his gaze, took hold of Shen Xin’s wildly waving sword hand, and gently pulled her before him, making her face him.
With one hand holding her sword hand and the other gripping her chin, he lowered his head, his thin lips meeting hers.
Beyond the barrier, the three gods’ expressions instantly turned complex. Qiyuan’s eyes widened further. “Shen Xin, do you know that Qin Weiji has fallen…”
His words cut off as the god-slaying sword flew from Shen Xin’s hand. With a “thud,” it pierced straight through Qiyuan’s heart, giving him no chance to retaliate.
Shen Xin’s gaze flickered – that strike just now had been guided by Qin Weiji’s hand holding hers.
Yet he was only kissing her gently, softly sucking her lips, slowly pecking at her mouth as he whispered, “Only by piercing the heart can one truly slay a god.”
After speaking, he lowered his head again, actually parting her lips with his…
At that moment, Shen Xin seemed to hear him ask very tenderly, “Remember now?”