Evil Emperor Zun

Chapter 2027 Unusual Changes After Drinking
Tian Tan, a mysterious space.

Having resolved the clone crisis, Chen Shiyu and his two companions are now holding a celebratory banquet.

It was called a banquet, but in reality, Chen Shiyu cooked a few more dishes, Ye Yunyan brought a few jugs of wine, and the three of them sat together eating and drinking.

This small celebration was suggested by Chu Tianyao. He wanted to use it to solidify his friendship with the two and to integrate himself into their circle.

Ye Yunyan herself felt there was no need to celebrate. They had only used all their strength to resolve a small trouble they had created themselves, while the real crises, such as the demon race's conspiracy, the world-destroying legend of the Devouring Clan's king, and the covetousness of pure souls by the forces of the heavens, still loomed like dark clouds over their path, and there was no sign of the situation improving.

However, Chu Tianyao had indeed been a great help in successfully recovering several clones this time, and he had also demonstrated remarkable abilities during the operation. There might be opportunities to cooperate in the future. Under these circumstances, Ye Yunyan did not want to spoil his mood.

The three of them, true to their reputation as highly career-minded individuals, were discussing their next strategic move while celebrating.

The information that Chen Shiyu brought back from the Mirror Space during his adventure had already been discussed repeatedly by them. The injection of new information, however, brought even more confusion.

Chen Shiyu said that the Devouring Clan he saw was a unified whole.

“Those juvenile Devourers are not clones of the Primal Devourer. If they were clones, they should be independent outlines with the same energy veins. But what I see is a complete outline. However, this ‘whole’ is still incomplete.”

"It's like you see a jigsaw puzzle piece or a cell. They have similar patterns or structures, and you naturally know that they exist as 'parts of the whole'. But these parts are not a complete set, their positions are not accurate, and they cannot truly 'work' yet."

This concept is easy to understand. Imagine a jigsaw puzzle that's been pieced together haphazardly, or a human body with all its internal organs misaligned, further fragmented by large areas of blank space—that's roughly what a defective product looks like.

"As I pondered this, another question suddenly occurred to me: the presence of half a puzzle piece indicates that a complete puzzle was first packaged and sold; the presence of fragmented cells suggests that a human body, which conceived it, existed first. Although I don't know why they were cut out, scattered, and reassembled, it doesn't change the fact that the whole to which they belong must have existed long before them. Then I thought of..."

At that moment, he uttered a chilling statement that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it.

"Perhaps the king of the Gnawing Clan has always been there, but we just can't see him."

If this were true, the King of the Gnawing Clan would have already been born in this world, so wouldn't anything they did be pointless?

Chu Tianyao, however, thought there was no need to be so pessimistic. Since the King had never officially acted as a King, but instead wanted everyone to believe that it had not been born, it meant that it was still under some kind of restriction and had not yet entered its final form.

Judging from this encounter with the Gnawing Clan, they are very adept at psychological warfare, confusing you with their expectations and fears. What you think they are trying to hide may just be a smokescreen they are sending you; what you think you are trying to stop them may actually be helping them break free from their constraints.

The most logical next step would have been to prevent the "puzzle pieces" from returning to their original positions, but they didn't know if that was what the Gnawing Clan wanted them to do. Furthermore, changes to the puzzle's structure couldn't be confirmed at all times.

After successfully retrieving Blue Ten Feathers and Seed Feathers, Dust Ten Feathers reverted to its original form. This was certainly a good thing, but no longer being a mirror image meant it could no longer enter the mirror space, thus losing a safe channel to observe the Gnawing Clan.

It's worth noting that since Kagami Touyu didn't truly die, Kuro Touyu remains a mirror image. This actually breaks the restriction that "two Touyu cannot exist in the same spacetime at the same time," allowing them to coexist stably.

However, even if the laws of heaven and earth allow them to coexist, Chen Shiyu has no intention of coexisting with it. This guy will have to be dealt with sooner or later.

According to Chu Tianyao's plan, all the clones should have been wiped out in one fell swoop, but the most troublesome one escaped. They had searched the mysterious space carefully but couldn't find any trace of it.

Ye Yunyan was somewhat worried. This time, Hei Shiyu had failed at the last minute, and the person it hated the most was definitely Chu Tianyao. It was very likely that it would seek revenge on him.

Chu Tianyao himself wasn't too worried. He knew that Hei Shiyu was a clever man, and clever people rarely act impulsively. With the cloning machine in his hands, if it dared to come looking for him, it would be walking right into his trap.

The machine they had previously obtained from Lan Shiyu was now unusable due to a lock screen password. Considering that the three of them couldn't be together all the time, Ye Yunyan decided it was best to entrust the only remaining copying machine to Chu Tianyao for safekeeping, as he was the most likely person to be targeted by Hei Shiyu.

The red-eyed demons had no objections when they heard they would be borrowing the cloning machine for a while longer. Whether he was simply straightforward or had a guilty conscience was hard to say.

In the clone incident, the Red-Eyed Demons had been acting suspiciously. After Chu Tianyao got the machine, he used the knowledge he learned from Lan Shiyu to check it out for them and found that the machine had also been tampered with.

To protect user rights, the system itself has several security safeguards. Between the moment the camera finds the target and begins focusing, and the actual cloning process begins, a pop-up should reiterate the security precautions, reminding the user to retrieve the clone within the specified time. Afterwards, if the machine detects that the clone's active time is too long or its memory usage is too high, potentially leading to the mirroring of the original user, a corresponding pop-up will appear.

However, all of the above safety settings were turned off in this machine. The only person who could have done this beforehand was the machine's original owner, the Red-Eyed Demon. He led Chen Shiyu into the trap without his knowledge.

However, even though the Red-Eyed Demon's intentions were as obvious as could be, this alone wasn't enough to kill him. He could easily argue that he was already used to the copying machine and found the constant pop-up notifications annoying, so he turned them off, not because he was targeting them. As for the fact that he never reminded Chen Shiyu, he could say that since the latter had come to borrow the copying machine, he naturally assumed that Chen Shiyu knew how to use it and what the taboos were, so he didn't bother him with unnecessary nagging.

In any case, since neither side intends to break off relations, the most important thing for the Red-Eyed Demon is to go along with their wishes and avoid doing anything that might arouse suspicion.

The food and wine on the table were quickly devoured, and Chen Shiyu became increasingly quiet. Listening to Chu Tianyao and Ye Yunyan's conversation, he suddenly felt changes within his body. His body temperature rose, his heart rate increased significantly, and soon his entire body felt like it was boiling. His consciousness uncontrollably left his body, and the wine jug he was holding slipped from his grasp, crashing to the ground with a crisp cracking sound. Startled by the noise, the two people beside him turned to see Chen Shiyu swaying as he stood up, a layer of strange light visibly emanating from his body, as if some slumbering beast was awakening within him.

As the eerie flames burned and spread wildly, a pure and powerful demonic force, like a massive tornado soaring into the sky, swept out with astonishing force, carrying Chen Shiyu slowly into the air. At this moment, he was more demonic than any demon could imagine. Without even consciously sensing it, one could see wave after wave of tangible malevolent energy exploding and scattering wildly around him.

In that instant, the demons scattered throughout the mysterious space sensed the ever-increasing, overwhelming demonic power, and their faces showed expressions of terror. Such a powerful demon—if it wasn't one of theirs, then who could it be? Could it be that the major powers had already arrived?

Only Cain's expression remained calm, his eyes filled with unfathomable compassion—compassion for the suffering of all beings.

This area was a popular gathering place for players, and many had already arrived at the scene. They were all stunned to see that the person unleashing such overwhelming demonic power was none other than Chen Shiyu, the usually gentle and kind man who would occasionally cook them a delicious meal. What was going on? Was Chen Shiyu not human, but a demon? Had he always been in league with that group of demons?
Su Ye stared, mouth agape. The thought of how she had provoked him yesterday, taking advantage of his good temper, sent a chill down her spine, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

Intimidated by the murderous aura emanating from them, none of the players present dared to step forward rashly.

Ye Yunyan's first thought was that the Gnawing Clan or the clones had other plans, and that Chen Shiyu might have been corrupted by alien energy again. She wanted to check on his condition, but as soon as the tornado sensed someone approaching, it intensified its ferocity and blasted her away on the spot.

Fortunately, Chu Tianyao reacted quickly and caught her in time. But at this moment, Ye Yunyan's body was covered with jagged cuts, and blood quickly stained her white dress.

"Shi Yu?" Chu Tianyao tried calling out to the figure, but when he saw no response, he protected Ye Yunyan as they retreated. Then, he looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar person in front of him, his eyes filled with deep apprehension and suspicion.

It's so similar... The scene before him is so similar to the play that Lan Shiyu and Hei Shiyu staged for him last night. But the sense of oppression is even stronger. He even had a question he knew was impossible: Was that person Chen Shiyu or Hei Shiyu?
Far away, within the Devourer Clan's cage, an unusual commotion arose as the demonic power spread. One after another, clumsy, ugly heads turned in the same direction, their teeth grinding together. They coveted that power, wanting to devour it. This was the first time they had revealed such undisguised lust.

Meanwhile, Mo Qianlong, who had been cultivating in her room, also arrived. Mo Feng had met her on the way and came along with her.

As soon as Mo Qianlong arrived, she went straight to Chen Shiyu. The players who saw Ye Yunyan leave the arena all tried to dissuade her, but Mo Qianlong simply thanked them for their reminders and continued walking forward with firm steps, each step steady and composed.

After witnessing Ye Yunyan's injuries, Mo Feng frowned slightly but did not stop Mo Qianlong like the others. However, his seemingly casual stance exuded a sense of pent-up power. If the situation showed any signs of spiraling out of control, he would act immediately to protect her.

Soon, Mo Qianlong had reached the edge of the storm. Ye Yunyan had been hit at this distance earlier, and the onlookers couldn't help but hold their breath. Unexpectedly, the ruthless storm became unusually docile when facing Mo Qianlong, even actively parting to the sides to leave a passage for her to enter, allowing her to walk smoothly to Chen Shiyu.

Seeing that Mo Qianlong was easily accepted, Feng Boling thought that the magic had finally stabilized and wanted to go over as well. However, she had only taken a few steps and hadn't even reached the spot where Ye Yunyan had been last time when the storm that had been dormant suddenly surged fiercely and pounced on her.

Feng Boling's mind went blank for a moment, until Mo Feng pulled her back at the last second. She could still feel the lingering heat on her nose from the energy that rushed past her. A few strands of her severed hair fluttered in the wind, blurring her vision.

After rescuing Feng Boling, Mo Feng immediately turned his gaze to Mo Qianlong, the center of the storm. Seeing that she was unharmed, his slightly gloomy expression softened. Feng Boling noticed his change in expression and a sudden, inopportune thought crossed his mind: In that moment, was his greatest concern my safety, or that I had reactivated the risk and might endanger Mo Qianlong?
The howling winds surrounding Chen Shiyu forcefully shut everyone out. Only Mo Qianlong was allowed to remain. The still raging, towering waves served as a grand backdrop against which the two faced each other.

Faced with Chen Shiyu, Mo Qianlong showed no fear or hesitation. She looked up at him, reached out her hands, gently stroked his face, and softly called out to him.

Chen Shiyu's pupils remained unfocused, but the powerful players present clearly sensed a change in the flow of energy within him. The restless demonic energy was suppressed by a subtle and mysterious divinity. The fierce demonic power that had almost engulfed the entire mysterious space, like a tornado that had naturally dissipated, returned to complete calm in just a few breaths, as if it had never existed.

The moment the storm subsided, Chen Shiyu completely lost consciousness and plummeted from mid-air. Mo Qianlong's hands caught him, and Chen Shiyu's head, which had been tilted forward, rested on her shoulder. Only then did his feet touch the ground.

Mo Qianlong half-supported, half-carried him, letting him lean against her as they slowly lowered their center of gravity until he lay on her lap. The others stared blankly at this scene, the entire room silent. They didn't know what had just happened, nor were they sure if anything else would happen, so they all remained silent and no one dared to make a move.

The atmosphere in the live chat was incredibly excited. The audience hadn't seen the goddess Qianlong for so long, and just looking at her beautiful face made them feel so happy!
As the prisoners in the jail cheered for Mo Qianlong's long-awaited appearance, an unusual noise suddenly came from behind.

Sheng Zeqi, who had hidden himself in a corner early on, now walked towards the screen with a cold expression.

He looked like a corpse just crawled out of a grave, all life drained from him. He walked forward as if no one else was there, ignoring prisoners who were sitting in his way and forcing his way through them, causing several to fall over. Some people were about to turn around and yell at him, but seeing his lifeless appearance, they wisely kept quiet.

"Brother Qi..." Yue Xiangyang called out cautiously, his eyes filled with worry. Sheng Zeqi ignored him, walking straight past rows of prisoners to the screen. He chose the best viewing angle and sat down without a word. His dry, lifeless eyes were fixed on the screen, and the bloodshot veins in his eyes began to spread again.

Ever since he heard what her half-soul said in the Sun Realm, foreshadowing that there was no longer any possibility between them, he couldn't bear to look at her. Seeing how kind she was to others, and the thought that it was kindness he would never be able to enjoy, caused him unbearable pain. Yet, he couldn't bear not looking at her.

The time we can live under the same sky, breathe the same air, together is running out. So, let me look at her a little longer, because I'll never see her again...

His heart felt like it had been thrown into a blender, churned into a bloody mess, the pain causing him to nearly die countless times. Yet, he was filled with gratitude for the pain; this pain, born of her, was the only connection between them. Only when enduring this excruciating pain, unlike anything else in the world, did he feel that he had finally… gotten a little bit closer to her.

I want to be born in the same plane of existence as you, to be your best friend, to play and laugh with you, to see you every day, and to pursue you openly and honestly… Perhaps only in the next life, when everything starts anew, will I have the chance to do all this…

At least by then, he would be clean. Even if he couldn't be the lucky one to spend his life with her, as long as he could be a kitten that happened to pass by her and meow at her, receiving a moment of her tender care; or a bird that flew to her window and sang for her, receiving a kind smile from her, even if their fate only led to a fleeting encounter, it would be better than being forever isolated from her world, enduring a long and hopeless life alone.

For him now, only death is liberation, only rebirth. He just wants to spend his last moments with her. Once the show ends, he will end his own life as soon as possible.