Chapter 1187: Are You Shocked?

The Shen Chao was bustling with activity, and outside Shen Chao city, people were also hurrying about.

Looking out from afar, there weren't few people around—most had come to attend the auction.

These individuals hadn't left yet because they wanted to see if the Huanggu Shengti could emerge safely from Shen Chao. Many old charlatans were busy calculating with their fingers, adopting a sage-like demeanor as they hoodwinked the younger generation.

High in the void, Bi You and the others were still waiting.

Bi You remained composed, standing gracefully with an air of calm from start to finish.

In contrast, the two quasi-saints, the black and white old crones, were growing restless, mainly out of fear that Ye Chen might meet with trouble. It had been no easy feat to find someone who could help Bi You rise to power, and they couldn't afford to lose him now.

He's out!

No one knew when or who said it, but all eyes turned toward the gates of Shen Chao city.

Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Ye Chen walked out unharmed, stepping out boldly. Behind him, numerous Shen Chao elders escorted him, each one a quasi-saint.

This sight left people from all sides bewildered.

What was this supposed to mean?

Escorted no less— what was Shen Chao playing at?

Amid the exclamations of surprise, many wore knowing expressions. Shen Chao's treatment of Ye Chen couldn't be solely due to Lingxiao Gong; it was likely because of that large bell. Though only at the Tianjing level, it had a significant origin.

This person is not to be provoked!

Many veteran cultivators stroked their beards thoughtfully, their words carrying weight. Shen Chao's attitude had made everything clear.

He's leaving!

Ye Chen took a step onto the celestial path.

Bi You smiled gently and linked her arm with his, her veil fluttering away in the wind.

Wow!

Bi You's face was devastatingly beautiful, astonishing everyone, especially the young cultivators, who were utterly mesmerized. It was just as they had imagined—beneath the veil was a face so stunning it took one's breath away.

Ye Chen departed, heading into the heavens with Bi You, leaving the onlookers below green with envy. They truly were a match made in heaven.

Ye Chen had emerged, and the crowd dispersed, though everyone sighed with emotion.

The auction at Wangu City had been well worth attending. They had witnessed what it meant to be deceptive and had seen the dominance of the Huanggu Shengti. From this day forward, Ye Chen's name would surely spread throughout this star domain.

The starry sky remained vast, inspiring endless wonder.

On a massive flying sword, Ye Chen and Bi You stood quietly, admiring the beauty of the stars.

Behind them, the black and white old crones also stood in silence, their expressions awkward and their faces flushed with embarrassment. As two quasi-saints, they had truly misjudged this time, and their error had been monumental.

Hold on!

As they traveled, Ye Chen suddenly spoke up from ahead.

At his words, Bi You and the black and white old crones furrowed their brows and narrowed their eyes at the starry sky ahead.

There, a mass of dark clouds surged forward. Deep within the clouds, two pupils flickered in and out of view, emitting a cold, eerie glow that was sinister and terrifying, like an unfathomable abyss that one dared not look into directly—as if a single glance could swallow one's mind whole.

The starry sky rumbled, all due to the dark clouds, which carried the oppressive aura of a saint, causing the entire space to solidify.

"I wonder which senior is ahead? We are from Lingxiao Gong—could you perhaps make way for us?"

The white-clothed old crone spoke up, her tone humbly respectful.

"Leave the star map and storage pouch behind."

A faint, sinister voice echoed from the dark clouds. The speaker did not reveal their true form, seemingly wary of Lingxiao Gong's power, hence the concealment.

"A saint engaging in highway robbery? Aren't you afraid of being shamed by future generations?"

Ye Chen chuckled lightly.

"Enough talk—hand over what I want, and I'll let you go."

"If not?"

A leisurely laugh rang out as a figure slowly appeared beside Ye Chen. It was a scholarly young man—or more precisely, a woman disguised as a man.

"A saint."

The one in the dark clouds narrowed their eyes, focusing on the scholar beside Ye Chen.

"A saint resorting to robbery— it seems you're quite idle, my friend!"

The scholar regarded the black mist with interest.

"This doesn't concern you. Step aside."

"You won't listen to reason, so I suppose I have to lose my temper."

The scholar moved decisively, striding forward and charging straight into the black mist, accurately homing in on the mysterious figure.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

In an instant, the dark clouds erupted with thunderous roars.

The clash between saints shook the starry sky, turning vast swaths of meteorites to dust and even affecting nearby ancient stars. Overwhelming divine abilities erupted, truly capable of destroying heavens and earth.

What immense pressure!

The black and white old crones' expressions shifted. They had seen saints before, but one as powerful as this scholar was a first for them.

As they watched, their gazes shifted to Ye Chen.

Clearly, Ye Chen knew the scholar, and their relationship was no ordinary one. This made the black and white old crones extremely curious about Ye Chen's identity— what kind of background could warrant a saint's protection?

Like them, Bi You was also observing Ye Chen, equally astonished to learn that a saint had been guarding him all along.

Ye Chen smiled mysteriously but did not reveal the scholar's true identity.

Boom!

The starry sky thundered as the dark clouds were shattered by the scholar's sweep.

Only then could Ye Chen and the others see the figure hidden in the black mist— an old man in black robes, his true face obscured by a dim light, revealing only those abyss-like eyes.

At that moment, the black-robed old man looked utterly disheveled. As a fellow saint, he was being beaten so badly by the scholar that he couldn't even lift his head.

In comparison, the scholar appeared completely at ease, strolling as if in a garden with her feet on an immortal sea. She used no grand techniques, only a crystalline jade hand, relentlessly pummeling the black-robed old man.

Who exactly are you?

The black-robed old man roared in fury, his face twisted with malice. As saints, their levels were the same, yet the scholar's combat prowess far surpassed his.

Guess!

The scholar responded casually, thrusting out a palm that unleashed an immortal sea, engulfing the black-robed old man.

We'll meet again!

The black-robed old man was driven mad, employing a secret technique to escape the immortal sea. Drenched in glaring blood, he fled like a streak of ghostly light through the stars, his speed truly astonishing.

The scholar smiled faintly but did not pursue.

As fellow saints, while her strength was superior, she knew she couldn't stop a determined escape.

Seeing the scholar's victory, Ye Chen approached through the air, looking at her with a mix of admiration and tongue-clicking. "Fellow saints, yet the gap is so vast! You really beat him down without mercy."

"Is that meant as praise?"

The scholar gazed at Ye Chen with a smile.

"Of course it's praise!"

"Greetings, senior."

Bi You and the black and white old crones arrived, bowing in respect.

"No need for formalities."

The scholar waved her hand lightly, revealing her true appearance— a woman in snow-white robes, pure and untainted, ethereally beautiful. Upon closer inspection, she was indeed Ruotian Zhuque.

"A female saint."

The black and white old crones were taken aback.

"You're Yan Fei?"

Bi You was equally startled, staring at Ruotian Zhuque in shock.

"Shocking, isn't it?"

Ye Chen grinned.

"Shocking, how could it not be?"

Bi You gazed at Ruotian Zhuque in a daze, her mind still reeling. She never imagined that the imperial consort of the Chen Emperor from the legends of Da Chu would be here in the myriad realms.

"Is she also from Da Chu?"

Yan Fei glanced at Bi You before turning her eyes to Ye Chen.

"Bi You, daughter of Dao Huang."

"Old friends meeting old friends."

Yan Fei smiled, feeling an instant warmth, even though she had never met Bi You before.

"Daughter of Dao Huang?"

The black and white old crones on the side were completely baffled, unable to follow the conversation. They were lost on terms like Da Chu and didn't know what it was.