Chapter 1147: Heavenly Being's Five Declines

"What method?" Mu Xuan Gong asked hurriedly.

"Space black hole," Ye Chen said immediately.

"Are you sure it will work?" Mu Xuan Gong looked at Ye Chen with sharp, piercing eyes.

"I haven't tried it before," Ye Chen replied after a moment of thought. "Based on my understanding of space black holes, it should be able to conceal the signs of the heavenly tribulation. That way, those people won't know she's undergoing the tribulation."

"Seems reliable," Mu Xuan Gong said, stroking his beard.

"We have no other choice; we'll have to take the gamble." Ye Chen activated Xianlun Tiandao and entered the space black hole, taking Ruo Tian Zhuque with him.

"I hope she can survive this calamity." Mu Xuan Gong gazed at the vast starry sky, as if pleading with the heavens.

Inside the space black hole, Ye Chen and Ruo Tian Zhuque appeared together.

As soon as they landed, Ye Chen darted more than ten zhang away, his vital energy surging as he formed an innate gang qi armor.

His face was pale, mainly because he had brought a quasi-saint like Ruo Tian Zhuque into the black hole. The pressure and aura of a quasi-saint were overwhelmingly powerful, putting even Xianlun Tiandao under strain.

Moreover, the deathly energy emanating from Ruo Tian Zhuque was extremely formidable. Being too close to her could cause harm, and prolonged exposure would surely erode one's life force.

Three thousand years!

Ye Chen took a deep breath. This must be Ruo Tian Zhuque's true form.

Now, she looked incredibly aged, emaciated like dry wood, with no sign of vitality. Her entire body was etched with the marks of time's passage.

Ruo Tian Zhuque trembled slightly and opened her eyes, but they were dull and clouded.

"Where is this?" she asked, her cracked lips quivering, her voice hoarse and weary, filled with confusion.

"Space black hole," Ye Chen's voice came from more than ten zhang away.

"This endless darkness is truly frightening," Ruo Tian Zhuque said, her voice still painfully hoarse.

"Everything happened so suddenly, and this was the only method I could think of. Here, it might conceal the signs of your heavenly tribulation."

"Thank you."

"Please focus on overcoming Tianren Wushuai." Ye Chen spoke as he continuously summoned illuminating spirit pearls, lighting up the space black hole for thousands of zhang around. With light, there is hope.

"How is it that you and I meet in dreams?" Ruo Tian Zhuque struggled to lift her head, gazing quietly at Ye Chen.

"Such unusual events are hard to explain," Ye Chen said with a smile.

"Truthfully, I've dreamed of that place more than once, and it's been especially frequent lately." Ruo Tian Zhuque revealed the secret. "The silhouette I painted came from those dreams."

"That place is Da Chu, my homeland."

"Da Chu, your homeland." Ruo Tian Zhuque murmured to herself, furrowing her brow in bewilderment.

"Perhaps it's your homeland as well." Ye Chen smiled meaningfully as he looked at Ruo Tian Zhuque. The overlapping dreams were beyond his explanation, but he was certain that Ruo Tian Zhuque's past identity was likely Yanfei, and the silhouette she painted was probably Chen Huang.

"Perhaps so!" Ruo Tian Zhuque gave a tired smile, still watching Ye Chen. "I'm about to undergo the tribulation—it might mean life or death for me. I have one request; I hope you'll agree."

"I'm listening," Ye Chen said, cupping his hands in respect.

"Marry Ling'er."

"There's no need for that, predecessor. My relationship with Youdu doesn't require a political marriage." Ye Chen smiled faintly. "Even if you're no longer in this world, I will still protect Youdu. As long as Ye Chen lives, Youdu will stand."

"This kindness will be remembered by the Zhuque lineage forever." Ruo Tian Zhuque closed her eyes, smiling contentedly, as if free of worries. She released the suppression on her tribulation, and a halo of light spread from within her, dispersing the deathly energy that enveloped her.

Then, a divine rainbow burst from her body, transforming into a massive Zhuque that shone brilliantly in the black hole.

Ye Chen tilted his head slightly, gazing at the enormous Zhuque with caution. She carried the pressure of a saint, far beyond that of a quasi-saint.

Turning his attention back, Ye Chen saw that Ruo Tian Zhuque had begun her tribulation. Thunderous electricity coursed through her entire body, from within to without, ravaging her aged form—her organs, meridians, limbs, and bones all torn apart.

Witnessing this, Ye Chen felt a deep sense of dread.

Tianren Wushuai was a personal calamity, even more severe than heavenly lightning.

Suddenly, Ye Chen raised his hand and began calculating with his fingers, using Zhou Tian divination to foresee Ruo Tian Zhuque's fate.

However, to his frustration, Ruo Tian Zhuque's destiny was too exalted, obscured by a mysterious force that blocked any insight. Even Zhou Tian divination couldn't penetrate it. To divine her fate, he would need to reach the imperial realm at least—this was an innate suppression from the heavens.

You must be Yanfei, and you surely are!

Ye Chen withdrew his divine ability and quietly observed Ruo Tian Zhuque. Their accidental meeting in the Da Chu dream had strengthened his conviction.

Yet, he restrained himself from using the forbidden technique to unlock her past memories.

For a quasi-saint, tampering with past lives was taboo; a single misstep could lead to inner demons, potentially disrupting her Tianren Wushuai. He didn't dare risk it.

Ye Chen needed to wait until Ruo Tian Zhuque advanced to sainthood, free from the tribulation's constraints. Only then might he attempt it.

After one last glance at Ruo Tian Zhuque, Ye Chen turned and exited the space black hole.

How did it go?

Seeing Ye Chen emerge, Mu Xuan Gong hurried over.

She's undergoing the tribulation!

Ye Chen replied, also glancing at the surrounding starry sky. Indeed, no signs of the tribulation had appeared, proving his guess was correct—the space black hole could conceal such phenomena.

"Without the tribulation signs, Qinglong Star and the others won't know Zhuque is undergoing it," Mu Xuan Gong said, excited.

"As long as she endures this period, we'll be fine," Ye Chen said with a smile.

"I'll go set up defenses in case Qinglong Star attacks," Mu Xuan Gong said, preparing to leave.

"Hold on, predecessor," Ye Chen stopped him. "Just keep things as they are. If we suddenly mobilize troops and strengthen defenses, it might arouse Qinglong Star's suspicions. If they do attack, that would be disastrous."

"I didn't realize you understood military strategy," Mu Xuan Gong said with a laugh.

"The art of war relies on blending truth and deception, reality and illusion—that's the way to win hearts," Ye Chen replied casually.

"In that case, I'll follow your lead." Mu Xuan Gong took a deep breath and looked toward the hazy starry sky. For some reason, with Ye Chen there, he felt at ease, as if Youdu would safely weather this crisis because of him.

Ye Chen found a comfortable spot, pulled out his wine flask, and lay back, gazing at the vast starry sky. It was as if he could see through countless miles to the beautiful mountains and rivers, and to the soul-stirring Yunu Peak.

However, on Yunu Peak at that moment, two figures stood silently.

They were a man and a woman, both ethereal as dreams—one was Donghuang Taixin, the other was Fu Ya. No one knew they had come here, or that they were standing on Yunu Peak.

"Divine Maiden, are you certain you saw Ye Chen?" Fu Ya scanned the surroundings before tentatively looking at Donghuang Taixin.

"Not just Ye Chen, but also Yanfei," Donghuang Taixin replied in a distant voice.

"That's impossible." Fu Ya shook his head. "If Ye Chen had returned, I would know. And Yanfei— she passed away three thousand years ago. How could she be in Da Chu?"

"Imperial Dao immortal technique: Dream Back Through the Ages."