Chapter 1284: The Demon Race's Item

Li Kang, with a single palm strike, wiped out three Huang Jing!

News of this spread like wildfire throughout Da Luo Jian Zong, causing the entire immortal mountain to erupt in excitement.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen had already led Nie Feng to a remote mountain peak and found a hidden cave.

Nie Feng was still staring at Ye Chen as if he were a monster.

Having followed Ye Chen this far, Nie Feng had finally figured it out – his junior brother, known as Li Kang, had been hiding his true strength all along. Otherwise, he couldn't have taken out three people with a single palm.

Ye Chen didn't say a word. He raised his hand and conjured a barrier, encompassing an area of over a thousand zhang around them.

Nie Feng frowned. Setting up a barrier was a divine ability possessed only by saints, and he was becoming increasingly perplexed by his junior brother.

It’s back in place!

Ye Chen smiled and flicked a strand of xian guang, which sank into Nie Feng's brow.

Still in a state of shock, Nie Feng’s body trembled violently. He clutched his head with both hands.

Ye Chen glanced at Nie Feng, then took out the small bronze ding he had bought from Zheng Tao. He enveloped it in xian huo.

The small bronze ding hummed and vibrated. The mo wen etched on it began to flow, and a drop of mo xue was refined out, containing pure mo li. Ye Chen absorbed it on the spot, integrating it into his mo dao.

Just like the previous two times, he examined the small ding closely, faintly activating his xian yan, but still couldn’t discern its secrets. He only knew that the material used to forge the small ding was exceptionally special and incredibly tough.

“Ye Chen Shi Di, what is the origin of this small ding?”

Duan Yu, inside the Chaos Ding, asked tentatively.

“It’s a Mo Zu Zhi Wu.”

“What a coincidence, I have one too.”

“You do?” Ye Chen was stunned.

“I obtained it from an ancient tomb.” Duan Yu gently waved his hand, sending out another small ding. “Since it’s useful to you, Shi Di, I’ll give it to you. I have no use for it anyway.”

“Thank you, Duan Yu Shi Xiong.” Ye Chen smiled and took the small bronze ding from Duan Yu.

This small bronze ding was identical to the three he already had – the same material and the same mo wen etched on it.

Buzz!

The small ding hummed, and the other three small dings flew out as well. The four dings circled each other in suspension, as if joyfully, with mo li overflowing and weaving together faint, broken images.

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes and stared at the images formed by the four small dings.

Vaguely, he saw a silhouette – a figure with a mighty physique, as tough as a mountain. It seemed to be an eternal giant; just looking at it made Ye Chen’s eyes sting and his mind grow hazy.

Ye Chen let out a soft rebuke in his heart and steadied his mind.

The four small dings stopped vibrating, and the broken images they had woven dissipated.

Ye Chen put away the four small dings. They were too strange; even with his strength, he had nearly lost control of his mind. Such artifacts must have a significant origin and hide unknown secrets.

Uh!

Meanwhile, Nie Feng was still clutching his head and groaning in pain.

As the xian guang continued to merge and his past-life memories unsealed, a long-buried past gradually emerged.

Ye Chen returned to his original appearance, wanting Nie Feng to recognize him as Ye Chen the moment he awoke.

It wasn't long before Nie Feng's body stopped trembling. His eyes filled with hot tears as he stared blankly at Ye Chen. That face, even across past and present lives, remained so clear.

“Nie Feng Shi Xiong, welcome back!”

Ye Chen laughed, his smile tinged with the tears of time.

A hundred years!

Nie Feng suddenly stepped forward and embraced Ye Chen tightly. The sturdy seven-foot man was covered in tears.

In their past and present lives, it was like a dream. The last moment before waking from the dream was seeing Ye Chen charging toward Bei Zhen Cang Yuan to avenge Da Chu, his desolate figure etched in memory, frozen in that instant.

Now, after reincarnating through past and present, a hundred years had passed in the blink of an eye. To see someone from his homeland at first glance upon waking – Nie Feng’s emotions were beyond words. This scene was enough to bring tears to anyone’s eyes.

Ye Chen summoned several more layers of barriers to protect the cave, then released Duan Yu and the other reincarnated individuals.

“You all!”

Seeing Duan Yu and the many people from their homeland, Nie Feng's freshly dried eyes filled with tears again.

Ye Chen smiled slightly and sent another strand of xian guang into Nie Feng’s brow.

This strand contained many memories – from Da Chu and from after Ye Chen’s arrival in the Zhu Tian Wan Yu – including how many reincarnated individuals he had found and who they were.

Of course, some things he wouldn’t tell Nie Feng, like the lonely hundred years in the space black hole.

The sight of the homeland people embracing and weeping was deeply moving.

It wasn’t until nightfall that Ye Chen led Duan Yu and the others back into the Chaos Ding. After all, this was Da Luo Jian Zong, with Sheng Wang overseeing it. If they were discovered, the consequences would be dire. Better to be cautious.

At the cave entrance, only Nie Feng and Ye Chen remained. They held wine pots and gazed up at the stars.

Ye Chen changed back to Li Kang’s appearance, making Nie Feng smile and shake his head. He understood now why Ye Chen could sweep away three Huang Jing with one palm – given his power, it was entirely possible.

“Let’s talk about something serious.” Ye Chen collected his thoughts and looked at Nie Feng. “Shi Xiong, do you know where the Jian Shen Jian Yi is? I need to use that trace of sword intent to try contacting the Zhu Tian Jian Shen.”

“I don’t know.” Nie Feng shook his head lightly. “Not even the quasi-saints of Da Luo Jian Zong might know where that sword intent is. Perhaps only the saints know, and it’s extremely secretive.”

“That really is a headache!” Ye Chen scratched his head fiercely.

“With just the Jian Shen Jian Yi, you can find the Zhu Tian Jian Shen?”

“I’ve checked the secret scrolls on this.” Ye Chen spoke slowly. “For existences at the level of Zhu Tian Jian Shen, their sword intent often carries a hint of spiritual intelligence. Once you awaken that intelligence in the sword intent, you can likely communicate with the Jian Shen’s true self, or at least draw some of his attention.”

“Da Luo Jian Zong will soon hold a new selection for the Shen Zi. Those who perform exceptionally may earn the honor of comprehending the Jian Shen Jian Yi.” Nie Feng said hurriedly. “With your strength, Shi Di, you could even slay the Da Luo Shen Zi, so claiming the Shen Zi position shouldn’t be difficult. Then you’ll know where the Jian Shen Jian Yi is.”

“It’s going to delay things again.” Ye Chen took a deep breath.

“You’ve been at it for over a hundred years – it’s time to take a break.” Nie Feng patted Ye Chen’s shoulder, finally managing a smile. Looking at Ye Chen’s face, etched with the weariness of time, it was heartbreaking. He could imagine the hardships Ye Chen had endured over the past century in search of the reincarnated ones.

“Alright, I’ll take a break then!” Ye Chen chuckled and lay back on the ground, arms behind his head. He was indeed tired – from Da Chu to Zhu Tian Wan Yu, a full hundred years, always covered in dust.

“You two are up here?”

As they spoke, someone climbed the mountain peak – it was Zheng Tao.

“You’re everywhere.”

“Don’t mess around – our master is calling you.”

Zheng Tao scratched his ear. He was a fellow disciple with Ye Chen, who was posing as Li Kang, and Nie Feng, who was posing as Yang Feng, but in terms of combat power, Zheng Tao was far inferior.

“Let’s go.”

Ye Chen patted his backside and stood up. Since they were putting on an act, they had to see it through. He wasn’t particularly curious about Li Kang’s so-called master – his real goal was the Jian Shen Jian Yi.

“Back to the mountain.”

Nie Feng also stood up.

“Wait for me.”

Zheng Tao hurried to catch up. He glanced at Nie Feng before fixing his gaze on Ye Chen, his expression odd. “I had no idea you were this strong.”

“Feeling the urge to latch onto a strong thigh?”

“Latch on? Absolutely.” Zheng Tao grinned and stuffed a storage bag into Ye Chen’s arms, filled with a thousand yuan shi. “In the future, please take care of me, Li Shi Di.”

“I like your straightforward style.” Ye Chen didn’t refuse. No matter how few yuan shi there were, it was still money, right?