Chapter 1052: Three Thousand Incarnations, Nine Heavens Dao

At the mountain peak, Ye Chen opened his eyes. His complexion was extremely pale. As a fully accomplished Huang Gu Sheng Ti, his vital energy at that moment was unusually weak. However, he didn’t pay it any mind. Instead, his gaze was filled with relief as he looked at the seven Dao Shen before him: Jin Zhi Dao Shen, Mu Zhi Dao Shen, Shui Zhi Dao Shen, Tu Zhi Dao Shen, Feng Zhi Dao Shen, Yin Zhi Dao Shen, and Yang Zhi Dao Shen.

Now, with the addition of Yan Zhi Dao Shen (Xian Huo Dao Shen) and Tian Lei Dao Shen (Lei Zhi Dao Shen), he had a total of nine Dao Shen. As Fu Ya had said, each of his Dao Shen represented a force of heaven and earth: Jin, Mu, Shui, Huo, Tu, Feng, Lei, Yin, and Yang. This was an achievement that seized the wonders of creation.

As Donghuang Tai Xin had mentioned, Ye Chen was leaving a path for himself. He knew better than anyone what kind of place the spatial black hole was, filled with endless dangers. It was a long and perilous journey, where one could get lost at any time, trapped forever in boundless darkness, slowly wasting away until nothing remained.

Thus, he defied the heavens to comprehend the Dao, deducing the primordial forces of the universe and breaking down the essence of heaven and earth into nine powers, each condensed into a Dao Shen. He granted them freedom, extending his hope through them.

From the distant horizon, two figures streaked across the sky: Yan Zhi Dao Shen (Xian Huo Dao Shen) and Tian Lei Dao Shen (Lei Zhi Dao Shen). They stood alongside the newly formed seven Dao Shen, all watching Ye Chen with deep concern. Though they had gained their independence, he was still their original self, and they understood the immense harm he had inflicted upon himself with the nine self-severing strikes.

Ye Jin Chen, Ye Mu Chen, Ye Shui Chen, Ye Yan Chen, Ye Tu Chen, Ye Feng Chen, Ye Lei Chen, Ye Yin Chen, Ye Yang Chen.

Ye Chen smiled as he looked at the nine of them, bestowing names upon each, all sharing his surname.

Go!

With another smile, Ye Chen wearily waved his hand. The nine Dao Shen wanted to speak but held back their words. Suddenly, they all stepped forward, ascending into the void and heading off in nine different directions to help Ye Chen search for reincarnated individuals.

After they left, a trickle of fresh blood overflowed from Ye Chen's lips. In the current state of Da Chu, aside from Tianxuan Gate, no one could harm him—only he could harm himself. The nine self-severing strikes were unimaginably damaging, and his resolve was unmatched. If Taixu Ancient Dragon were still alive, it would surely scold him as a madman, just like Fu Ya, for such strikes could mean he would never reach the peak of cultivation in his lifetime.

A gentle breeze blew, and he sat down cross-legged on the ground. He remained there for nine days.

On the tenth day, at night, his pale complexion finally regained its healthy glow, and his weakened vital energy surged back, vast as the sea once more.

Manifest!

With a soft command, two wisps of smoke emerged from his body, transforming into two clones. These clones then split further: one into two, two into four, four into eight, and so on. In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the two clones had multiplied into three thousand incarnations—this was Ye Chen's absolute limit.

This sight left Fu Ya staring in astonishment. No wonder those with the Huang Gu Sheng Ti were all extraordinary beings; creating three thousand incarnations required an immense foundation of vital energy!

Go and search!

Ye Chen had already given the order. Immediately, the three thousand incarnations dispersed in all directions, each carrying the secrets of Zhou Tian evolution to aid Ye Chen in finding the reincarnated individuals.

This time, his aura plummeted to its weakest point. The three thousand incarnations were all sustained by his own vital energy as the original self, a massive drain that only someone with the Huang Gu Sheng Ti's boundless energy could endure. Any ordinary cultivator would have been depleted and perished.

Yet, he did not regret it. As he often said, sharpening the axe does not delay the work of cutting wood. Relying on himself alone, how many years would it take to find all the reincarnated people of Da Chu? He could not afford to wait. He needed to locate them in the shortest time possible and then set off for the myriad realms of the heavens, a place even more dangerous than Da Chu. The longer he delayed, the greater the risk to those reincarnated souls.

As dawn approached, after slightly recovering, he picked up Ruoxi once more and embarked on a new journey.

In a mortal city, he found the reincarnated Haotian Shixue and Haotian Shiyu. Perhaps heaven's favor was at play, as Chen Rongyun and Lijang had also reincarnated there.

He left behind orbs of memory light and paused before a vast river. Gazing through the rolling waves, he saw at the river's bottom a purple fish glowing with a violet halo, innately possessing awakened intelligence and absorbing pure essence. This was a reincarnated individual: once one of Hengyue Zong's nine great true disciples, Ye Ruxue.

He left another orb of memory light and vanished once more.

In the forest, beast roars echoed as a newly born blood wolf narrowly escaped the icy claws of a cold lizard. Ye Chen arrived just in time to save the young blood wolf cub. Through Zhou Tian evolution, he identified it as the reincarnated Shiyan, another of Hengyue Zong's former nine great true disciples.

When you reach ten years old, your past life's memories will fully awaken!

Ye Chen gently stroked the reincarnated Shiyan. In his previous life, he was a cultivator, but in this one, he had been reborn as a beast. Da Chu's cycle of reincarnation was truly wondrous, allowing any being with a spirit to be reborn, filling Ye Chen with profound awe for the divine abilities of his ancestors.

Without lingering long, Ye Chen turned and left.

During this time, his three thousand incarnations and nine Dao Shen frequently reported good news. For instance, they had located Hengyue Zong's former sect leader Yang Dingtian, Enforcement Hall elder Dao Xuan, Spirit Grass Garden elder Lin Qingshan, Scripture Pavilion elder Huang Shi, Tianyang Peak head Zhong Laodao, ancestors Hengyue Zhenren, Hengtian Shangren, and many ordinary disciples.

Continue!

Ye Chen took a deep breath, feeling immense relief. Although he had not found some like Xie Yun and Xiong Er, the situation was still excellent. More and more reincarnated individuals were being discovered, bringing him great comfort and proving that all his efforts had not been in vain.

Hmm?

As he walked, Ye Chen instinctively stopped and looked toward a rural courtyard. There, two children were playing, both around three or four years old, full of youthful energy.

Activating Zhou Tian evolution, his eyes lit up. These were reincarnated individuals, but not from those who died fighting the Tianmo—they were victims killed by Yin Zhiping's minions, having died three or four years earlier and thus reincarnated that long ago. Now, at three or four years old, they matched that timeline perfectly.

The two children were from Hengyue Zong: outer sect Enforcement Hall elder Dao Jie Zhenren and outer sect Wanbao Ge elder Pang Dahai.

This was an unexpected bonus. Ye Chen quickly sent out two beams of divine light, carrying their past memories and protective energy. He did not disturb them, leaving them to awaken on their own in the future.

Until we meet again at Hengyue Zong!

Ye Chen took a deep breath, glanced one last time at the reincarnated Pang Dahai and Dao Jie, then turned and departed.

On the rest of his journey, Ye Chen continuously employed Zhou Tian evolution. One by one, the reincarnated individuals were revealed—some reborn as mortals, others as plants, insects, fish, or beasts. As long as they had a spirit and had reincarnated in Da Chu, none could escape his detection.