Chapter 1301: A Feast for the Eyes

After thoroughly sealing that donkey, the white-clothed youth and the two purple-clothed elders finally squatted down. After rummaging through everything, they focused their attention on a bell hanging around the donkey's neck.

That bell was no ordinary item; it was a storage artifact, similar to a storage pouch.

As the bell jingled with a crisp sound, all the treasures inside were poured out at once.

Wow!

Dao Zhi, who had just emerged from the Chaos Cauldron, was stunned, his eyes wide and swallowing hard repeatedly.

It wasn't just him; Ye Chen's eyes also lit up. The only surprising thing was how many treasures were in that donkey's storage bell—never mind the source stones and pills; there were already quite a few Zhun Sheng-level artifacts.

Meanwhile, the white-clothed youth and the two purple-clothed elders were sifting through the pile of treasures, seemingly searching for something specific, and that item was clearly very important to them.

Dao Zhi smirked."Early on, I knew that donkey was so wealthy; I should have robbed him earlier."

Ye Chen sighed."What a missed opportunity. I didn't even realize that bell around the donkey's neck was a storage artifact. If I'd known there were so many treasures inside, that donkey would have knelt even faster."

As the two were talking, a voice of surprise came from nearby."We found it."

One of the purple-clothed elders held up a purple divine bead in his hand. It was an extraordinary object, surrounded by profound Dao essence. They had likely been chasing that donkey relentlessly for this very bead.

The other purple-clothed elder let out a heavy sigh of relief."A family heirloom, finally recovered."

Dao Zhi had already approached, eyeing the pile of treasures before rubbing his hands and looking at the two purple-clothed elders."Since you've got so many treasures, aren't you going to share some with us?"

The two purple-clothed elders replied generously."Feel free to take whatever you like, young friend."

Dao Zhi chuckled."That's just what I was waiting to hear."

He pulled out a large sack—it was an oversized storage pouch—and started grabbing everything in sight without a hint of politeness.

At this, the two purple-clothed elders lost their composure. We were just being polite; you didn't have to take it seriously.

Without hesitation, they joined in, waving their hands to collect the piles of treasures into their own storage pouches. Their speed was no slower than Dao Zhi's, and Dao Zhi wasn't slacking off either—his hands were just as quick.

The white-clothed youth glanced at the three of them and smiled, then turned to Ye Chen with gratitude."This time, I must thank you, fellow Daoist, for your help. Otherwise, our family heirloom would have been impossible to recover."

Ye Chen scratched his ear casually."It's nothing."

The white-clothed youth smiled warmly, still in shock."May I ask where you studied under?"

Ye Chen shrugged."Self-taught."

In his mind, Ye Chen was also amazed by the white-clothed youth. Throughout his journey, this youth was the most terrifyingly talented among the reincarnated ones. In just two hundred years, he had reached the level of Zhun Sheng—a cultivation speed that left others in the dust.

The white-clothed youth didn't press further."Such talent as yours is truly rare."

Ye Chen smiled lightly."You're not bad yourself."

With that, he raised his hand and sent a beam of immortal light into the white-clothed youth's brow.

In an instant, the youth, who had been smiling warmly, shuddered violently. He dropped to his knees with a thud, clutching his head and roaring in pain.

The two purple-clothed elders, who were still scrambling for treasures with Dao Zhi, changed color abruptly. They summoned their natal artifacts without delay and shouted."What have you done to our divine child?"

Ye Chen smiled casually."Nothing much, just helping him clear his mind. It'll pass in a moment."

The elders snapped."Nonsense!"

They channeled their natal artifacts together, directing their peak power toward Ye Chen. Knowing his strength, they didn't hold back.

Ye Chen shook his head helplessly and waved his hand. A secret technique manifested in his palm, and with a single strike, he suppressed the two purple-clothed elders. Their natal artifacts were also held down by the Chaos Cauldron.

The fight came quickly and ended just as fast.

The two purple-clothed elders were stunned, immobilized and in shock at Ye Chen's unfathomable power. Suppressing them with one palm meant he could rival even a Sheng.

Ye Chen just smiled and kept them sealed without further explanation—it wasn't something that could be easily explained anyway.

Ugh!

The white-clothed youth remained on his knees, clutching his head and roaring. As the immortal light merged with him, memories from his past life awakened one after another. He recalled many ancient events and his former name: Long Wu.

Dao Zhi, never one to behave, had already pulled out a razor and dashed over. He shaved Long Wu's head completely bald and even dotted six spots on top.

Ye Chen stroked his chin."Smooth as a polished tile. Now that's pleasing to the eye."

Dao Zhi coughed awkwardly."This guy won't beat me up when he wakes up, will he?"

Ye Chen replied."He should."

Dao Zhi rolled up his sleeves."If that's how it is, I'll beat him first."

He charged forward and slapped Long Wu across the face without a word. Long Wu, still in the midst of unlocking his memories, was caught off guard.

What followed was a messy scene. Dao Zhi mounted Long Wu and kept slapping him."That'll teach you for shaving my head and having such a punchable face."

Ye Chen said earnestly."I like this kind of thing."

The two purple-clothed elders couldn't stand it anymore and thundered."Who exactly are you people?"

Ye Chen replied."The folk here are rough; you'll get used to it."

No sooner had he spoken than Dao Zhi went flying—it was Long Wu's palm that sent him soaring.

Long Wu had regained his memories and stood up, not even glancing at the despicable Dao Zhi. Instead, he stared at Ye Chen, his eyes welling with tears, even though he had been unreliable in his past life.

Two hundred years of past and present lives—this dream had lasted long enough. Waking up and seeing someone from his former homeland was truly a gift from the heavens, a surprise that hit like a thunderbolt.

Ye Chen laughed."Welcome back."

Long Wu suddenly stepped forward and hugged Ye Chen, tears streaming down his face as he sobbed uncontrollably."Good brother."

The two purple-clothed elders, still sealed, watched in astonishment.

What's going on here? Why the tears? Why the hug?

No one explained it to them, and even if they did, it wouldn't make sense.

The starry sky fell silent at some point. The seals on the two purple-clothed elders were released, and the group of five set off—wait, make that six, including the dazed donkey that was tied up.

The scene was a bit comical: Ye Chen and Long Wu led the way, with the two purple-clothed elders following behind. Each held an iron chain—one pulling the dazed donkey and the other pulling the equally dazed Dao Zhi. Both the donkey and Dao Zhi were bound tightly.

Dao Zhi had indeed been knocked out by Long Wu, his face bruised and swollen, covered in footprints.

That said, he had foresight. Knowing Long Wu would beat him upon waking, he struck first. I hit you once, you hit me once—now we're even.

Up ahead, Long Wu and Ye Chen walked side by side, chatting.

Long Wu, as a remnant soul of the Taixu Long Emperor, knew many secrets."You said Da Chu's Nine Emperors and the Zhutian Sword God went to search for Da Chu?"

Ye Chen gazed into the distance."That was a hundred years ago. I don't know if they've found it."

Long Wu pondered."Based on what you've said, Da Chu has lost contact with Zhutian Wandui. Finding it won't be easy. And even if they do, bringing Da Chu back to Zhutian Wandui will take a lot of time."

Ye Chen took a deep breath."I just hope Da Chu, with its damaged origin, can hold on until then."

Long Wu replied."With the Zhutian Sword God and Da Chu's Nine Emperors involved, Da Chu must be safe."

Ye Chen said."Perhaps."

Long Wu added, with deeper meaning."The most surprising thing to me, across past and present lives, is you. From the dawn of heaven and earth, when all things took form, you're the first in Zhutian Wandui to slay a Di."

Ye Chen smiled."The one who slew the Di wasn't me; it was the nine million heroic souls of Da Chu."

Long Wu turned to him."Speaking of Da Chu's heroic souls, in these two hundred years, how many have you found?"

Ye Chen's tone carried a hint of sorrow."I've found all the souls that reincarnated in Da Chu itself and quite a few in Zhutian Wandui. But compared to nine million, it's still far short. I don't know how many have become mortals or how many have perished."

Long Wu patted his shoulder."You've done your best."

Ye Chen smiled, though fatigue and weariness showed through."The road is still long."

Long Wu looked straight at him, his heart pounding."Have you found Dongfang Yuling?"

Ye Chen shook his head lightly."Sorry, not yet."

Long Wu forced a smile, his eyes growing misty. He still remembered the scene of Dongfang Yuling dying in his arms under the walls of Nanchu City.

The rest of the journey was unusually quiet, with Ye Chen and Long Wu maintaining a tacit silence.

The atmosphere felt odd, making the two purple-clothed elders behind them feel uneasy. They scratched their heads more than once, completely baffled by Ye Chen and Long Wu's behavior.

At some point, the donkey and Dao Zhi woke up.

These two were quite the pair of unfortunate souls—they'd both been knocked out and tied up. Now, they were both being dragged by the purple-clothed elders. The sight was indeed a treat for the eyes.

The donkey howled."Where's my bell? That's all my stuff! I wake up and it's all gone—hundreds of years of hard work, back to zero."

Dao Zhi yelled even louder."Why am I tied up?"

Everyone—the two purple-clothed elders, and Ye Chen and Long Wu up front—ignored their howls. For some reason, seeing them in such a pitiful state felt oddly satisfying.