Chapter 1292: Sword God's Dao Body

Jian Shen departed, leaving behind a Dao Shen and a Qian Kun bag.

Time was pressing, and Jian Shen dared not delay. He needed to return and contact those in Kun Lun Xu as soon as possible to search for Da Chu.

On the mountain peak, only Ye Chen and Jian Shen's Dao Shen remained.

Though it was merely a Dao Shen, far inferior to the true self, it was extraordinarily powerful, with an aura as immense as towering mountains and vast ranges, carrying a trace of the true self's profound essence. Such an existence could likely overwhelm even a Da Sheng with a single strike.

Ye Chen had already opened the Qian Kun bag left by Jian Shen.

What else could one expect from the Jian Shen of the myriad heavens? His generosity was unmatched. He set aside the source stones for now—there were countless secret scrolls, and the pills alone left Ye Chen dazzled and overwhelmed.

However, what surprised Ye Chen the most was a star map that nearly encompassed the entire myriad heavens and ten thousand domains.

Seeing Ye Chen absorbed in it, Jian Shen's Dao Shen chuckled softly.

"With only the Sacred Body's origin and without its divine repository, you actually slew a great emperor. Your feats surpass even those of Di Huang from ancient times."

"You're too kind, senior. It was just good luck."

Ye Chen smiled, waved his hand, and stored away the Qian Kun bag.

"You possess the bearing of a young great emperor. Even if you never ascend to the emperor's throne in the future, your achievements will be no less than those of my true self or Liu Dao."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen smiled slightly, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Senior, what is the origin of Liu Dao?"

Ye Chen asked hurriedly.

"That is a strange individual."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen spoke leisurely.

"His mind is not very clear, even somewhat muddled, yet his power is absurdly immense. Back when Jian Shen sealed his position as a Da Sheng, he sparred with Liu Dao and lost by half a move. A being of that level can only be suppressed by a great emperor."

"Muddled... mind unclear."

Ye Chen murmured to himself, growing even more certain that Liu Dao was his future self. Reversing the heavens and traversing time must be related to Ruoxi, though the landing point had deviated. He was meant to arrive in Da Chu but ended up in the myriad heavens and ten thousand domains instead.

"Senior, do you know where Liu Dao is?"

Ye Chen looked at Jian Shen's Dao Shen with hope.

"No one knows."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen shook his head gently.

"What a shame."

Ye Chen took a deep breath. Liu Dao, like Hong Chen, was elusive and unpredictable.

"Your immortal eye—did it come from Jiang Tai Xu?"

Jian Shen's Dao Shen asked.

"As you said, senior."

Ye Chen nodded lightly.

"He must have escaped to Da Chu, likely using the Immortal Wheel's heavenly path to cross the barrier between the myriad heavens and ten thousand domains and Da Chu."

"Before Jiang Tai Xu passed away, he mentioned Tian Xu. Do you know what kind of place that is, senior?"

"That is a forbidden zone."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen spoke slowly, his tone laced with a sigh.

"Even Jian Shen's true self dares not set foot there lightly. It's a pity that Jiang Tai Xu was once so arrogant, provoking entities he shouldn't have, leading to calamity. Even one of his Liu Dao immortal eyes was seized."

"A forbidden zone."

Ye Chen's heart stirred with waves of emotion. Even an existence like Jian Shen hesitated to enter.

"The myriad heavens and ten thousand domains are vast and boundless. There are many terrifying places like Tian Xu, most of which involve taboos."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen continued, gazing at Ye Chen with great seriousness.

"If you ever encounter the one who took Jiang Tai Xu's immortal eye, remember to be cautious. If necessary, destroy the immortal eye."

"Thank you for the warning, senior."

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask? I'll answer without reservation."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen smiled at Ye Chen.

"Yes."

Ye Chen spoke up immediately.

"Have you met the successive emperors of Da Chu, senior? Are they still alive?"

"Of course they are."

Jian Shen laughed.

"Those who sealed themselves as emperors in Da Chu all possess the potential to become emperors. Aside from Xuan Chen and you, the Da Chu emperor, the other eight are in a self-sealed state."

"What about their cultivation levels?"

"They are on the same level as Jian Shen—all at the peak of Zhun Di."

"They truly bring honor to Da Chu."

Ye Chen grinned. In Da Chu, they were peak existences, and even in the myriad heavens and ten thousand domains, their brilliance remained undimmed, standing shoulder to shoulder with Jian Shen.

"You are fighting against the heavens."

Jian Shen's sword intent seemed to pierce through something, his brows furrowing slightly.

"I despise being bound by the heavens."

Ye Chen shrugged casually, though beneath his indifferent demeanor hid deep torment. His path had left him scarred and battered.

"How can the human path oppose the heavenly path?"

Jian Shen's Dao Shen sighed and shook his head.

"Let's not dwell on that. I want to ask about a place."

Ye Chen changed the topic, fixing his gaze on Jian Shen's Dao Shen with hope.

"Have you heard of Wu Lei Zhi Cheng, senior?"

"Supreme forgetfulness leads to no tears, which means no emotion."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen spoke in a ethereal tone.

"Why would you ask about that place?"

"My wife is in Wu Lei Zhi Cheng."

"From what you've said, if I'm not mistaken, she must be a reincarnated soul from Da Chu."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen looked toward the misty void.

"Forgive my bluntness—even if you find that city, you won't be able to take your wife away. Unless you reach Jian Shen's level, you might have a chance to cross the Nai He Bridge."

"The Nai He Bridge?"

Ye Chen looked at Jian Shen's Dao Shen in confusion.

"You can see it as a trial. Cross it, and you'll reach the immortal palaces of the heavens; fail, and you'll fall into the nine underworlds."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen explained slowly.

"In my memory, no one has ever succeeded."

"Even the smallest hope, in the face of despair, holds infinite possibility."

Ye Chen's eyes were full of determination.

"From the day you began cultivating the Zhou Tian evolution, your so-called hope has come infinitely close to despair."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen's white robes fluttered, his calm words carrying a hint of sorrow.

"Are you pitying me, senior?"

Ye Chen smiled at Jian Shen's Dao Shen.

"You are the most astonishing junior I've ever seen—not just in cultivation and combat prowess, but in courage, vision, and unyielding resolve."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen smiled back at Ye Chen.

"Like how you're driving yourself to a dead end for the sake of a reincarnated soul, doomed to a fate of endless wounds."

"A heavenly lone star never believes in fate."

"In that case, you're even more like that mad Liu Dao."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen chuckled softly, waving his hand to retrieve two ancient scrolls from Ye Chen's storage bag. Both depicted the same person, who bore a striking resemblance to Ye Chen—one from the Mo family ancestor, the other from the Chu family ancestor, both carrying the dust of ages.

"Do you know who painted these two scrolls?"

Jian Shen's Dao Shen suspended the scrolls in midair.

"One by Kun Lun Shen Nu, the other by Zhutian Jian Shen."

Ye Chen smiled slightly.

"Liu Dao's path is one of defiance against fate."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen gazed at the ancient scrolls with a nostalgic expression.

"Though he is muddled, he is unyielding, walking a path of extremes and cursing the heavens."

"What about your path, senior? Does it also disregard the heavens?"

Ye Chen whispered, looking at the scrolls as well.

"The sword is not the Dao."

"We are of the same kind."

Ye Chen smiled, still gazing at the scrolls. Looking at the Liu Dao in the paintings was like seeing his future self—a lifetime of madness and muddled defiance, battling the heavens.

"Let's go, to find the reincarnated soul."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen withdrew his gaze and stepped into the void.

"Another journey through dust and wind."

Ye Chen stowed the scrolls with a wave and followed Jian Shen's Dao Shen into the sky.

"I forgot to mention something to you, senior. Jian Shen's disciple is also a reincarnated soul."

"Is she the one you hold dear?"

Jian Shen's Dao Shen turned his head, smiling at Ye Chen.

"She loves not the me of this era."

Ye Chen pulled out a wine flask. From the moment he saw Jian Shen's disciple in the portrait, he had no intention of unlocking her past memories. For in this world, there was no Hong Chen left—recalling the past would only bring scars and wounds.

"You're becoming more and more unfathomable."

Jian Shen's Dao Shen laughed and shook his head.