Chapter 1315: It's Me

The successive destruction of one Sheng Ren and two Zhun Sheng plunged this stretch of starry sky into a deathly silence. Everything happened in just a moment or two, and Huaxu and the others were still struggling to process it. It was clearly a Zhun Sheng, yet how could it possess such overwhelming combat power? It completely upended their understanding.

Once they snapped out of it, the three of them looked at Ye Chen with changed expressions, grateful they hadn't acted rashly earlier. Compared to them, Shangguan Yuer was far more composed. She knew full well about Ye Chen's strength—he was a peerless figure who could slay a great emperor, and his power couldn't be judged by that of an ordinary Sheng Ren.

"Shuang Er, what is his background?" Seeing that Shangguan Yuer had remained unfazed from start to finish, Huaxu finally voiced the doubt in her heart, unaware that her sister had such an old acquaintance.

"An old friend." Shangguan Yuer chuckled, not delving into those ancient past events right then.

"How come I've never heard you mention him?" Huaxu eyed Shangguan Yuer with a skeptical look.

"When he takes off his mask, you might recognize him too!"

"I might recognize him?"

"Come on, everyone gets a share." As the two were talking, Ye Chen had already returned, holding three storage bags in his hand—the spoils from defeating the purple-robed elder and the others.

"Senior, we couldn't possibly accept this." The two elders were flattered and quickly declined, their lifesaving debt still unpaid; how could they dare take such treasures? As the saying goes, one shouldn't accept undeserved rewards.

"I'm no senior." Ye Chen smiled and handed one storage bag each to Shangguan Yuer and the reincarnated Huaxu, while giving the third to the two elders.

"Senior, this..."

"Take it." Before Huaxu could refuse, Ye Chen smiled and cut her off.

"Consider it a betrothal gift." Shangguan Yuer giggled and even winked at Ye Chen.

"Not giving it anymore? Then take it back."

"As if I'd let you take it back after giving it. Dream on." Shangguan Yuer stuck out her tongue at Ye Chen and dashed off, skipping away with her usual playful and lively spirit, just as mischievous as in her past life.

Ye Chen smiled helplessly and followed her, drawing curious glances from Huaxu and the others. They had clearly heard the word "betrothal gift" earlier—what was going on here? It seemed like something big was brewing; they might even get to attend a wedding banquet in a day or two.

With a mutual glance and a quiet murmur, the three of them hurried after Ye Chen and his group. The four streaked through the vast starry sky like divine lights.

This region of space remained unsettled, with more and more people gathering, drawing in forces from all sides. It was all because of the tremendous commotion caused by Liu Dao—the destruction of a Zhun Di was no trivial matter.

However, they were destined to find nothing. Even Ye Chen, who had pursued Liu Dao, hadn't caught up, let alone them. Liu Dao moved like a ghost, leaving only a fleeting shadow in the starry sky.

By now, Ye Chen and his companions had entered an ancient star. This was the family star of Shangguan Yuer and the reincarnated Huaxu, known as Tianling Xing, not far from the Long Wu family's Yangchen Xing—perhaps about a million li across the lonely void.

As in the past, upon entering the ancient star, Ye Chen performed the Zhoutian Evolution technique. Beside him, Shangguan Yuer watched him expectantly, hoping for a big surprise. But to her disappointment, after the calculation, Ye Chen simply shook his head lightly. Aside from Shangguan Yuer and the reincarnated Huaxu, there were no other reincarnated individuals on this ancient star.

We'll find them! Shangguan Yuer murmured with a smile and gently took Ye Chen's hand, leading him into a stretch of immortal mountains.

Their return drew many elders. It was mainly because Shangguan Yuer had been away for so long with no news, and now seeing her back safely, everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief. The atmosphere was quite warm and lively.

After the joy, most people's attention shifted to Ye Chen. Seeing Shangguan Yuer still holding his hand, the elders scrutinized him like he was some curiosity, eyeing him up and down.

Ye Chen felt uncomfortable under their stares, a chill running down his spine, as if he might get mobbed at any moment. But he was overthinking it—these elders were quite reasonable, looking at him like a spectacle, or perhaps like a future son-in-law. The only drawback was that Ye Chen was still wearing his mask.

Let's go! Shangguan Yuer giggled and pulled Ye Chen away. After a few steps, as if remembering something, she turned back and took the reincarnated Huaxu with her—it was time to awaken her past-life memories.

Huaxu was a bit startled but went along, curious to see Ye Chen's true face. Watching the three depart, the elders stroked their beards thoughtfully. "This young man is no ordinary one. A Zhun Sheng with such concealed aura—truly unfathomable."

"He's more than that." The two elders who had protected Huaxu earlier sighed in admiration.

"What do you mean?"

"On the way back, he punched a Zhun Sheng to oblivion, split another with a palm strike, and beheaded a Sheng Ren's Yuan Shen and true form—their physical body is still sealed in his cauldron."

"Is that even possible?" The elders were stunned, their eyes wide with shock. A Zhun Sheng cultivator taking down two Zhun Sheng and one Sheng Ren? Such a heaven-defying feat was hard to imagine.

"The opponents were from the Kulou Wang Dian. We would have perished in the starry sky if not for that senior." The two elders took a deep breath, gratitude flickering in their old eyes.

"Kulou Wang Dian." The moment those four words were spoken, every Sheng Ren and Zhun Sheng present turned ice-cold. This was outright provocation!

"Our old ancestor is gravely injured and nearing the end of his lifespan, which is why Kulou Wang Dian dares to act so boldly."

"Let's head back and discuss this first." The elders turned to leave, their cold expressions mixed with deep worry. If the old ancestor passed away, they could only imagine the blow to their family.

On the other side, Ye Chen had been led by Shangguan Yuer to a mountain peak—her private one. Soon, a barrier enveloped the entire peak.

Only then did Ye Chen remove his Gui Ming mask, revealing a face with sharp features and an aura of desolation. Seeing Ye Chen's true appearance, Huaxu felt a moment of daze, as if she had seen that face somewhere before.

Ye Chen smiled and flicked a ray of immortal light, which sank into Huaxu's forehead. Immediately, her body trembled, and her dazed expression turned to pain, accompanied by soft groans of agony.

Ye Chen couldn't ease her pain; he simply watched quietly, much like two hundred years ago in Da Chu, where he had watched her die on Haotian Shiyue's back. That bittersweet fate, with its tragic beauty, remained vivid even after the passage of time.

Beside him, Shangguan Yuer stayed silent, though her heart ached, she couldn't help in any way. It wasn't until sometime later that Huaxu's trembling stopped, and the last trace of confusion faded from her eyes, replaced by misty tears. She stared at Ye Chen, her expression stunned.

"Chen Ye, is that you?" Huaxu wept as she reached out with a trembling hand to touch Ye Chen, hoping to feel a real, living person rather than an illusion.

"It's me." Ye Chen smiled through his tears, his expression tinged with weariness.

"So, should I call you sister or senior?" Shangguan Yuer chimed in, blinking her bright eyes at Huaxu. "Honestly, the seniority in Da Chu is a bit of a mess."

"You're Shangguan Yuer." Huaxu paused, recalling their meeting in the past in Da Chu.

"That's right."

"This..." Huaxu felt dizzy and turned to Ye Chen in confusion.

"Through the Liu Dao cycle of reincarnation, you were reborn." Ye Chen smiled faintly. "Shangguan Yuer, like you, is a reincarnated soul. Coincidentally, you've become sisters in the same family."

"Reincarnation... rebirth." Huaxu's mind grew even more chaotic, her past memories intertwining with her current ones, now mixed with the ethereal concept of cycles and rebirth, like a dream.

Ye Chen said no more, knowing that reincarnation was too profound a topic. With Huaxu having just awakened her past memories, she needed time to adjust—even someone like the Jian Shen would struggle to accept it at first.

Soon, the bewildered Huaxu suddenly grasped Ye Chen's hand, her teary eyes full of hope.

"What about your father? And Shiyue and the others? Where are they? Are they still alive?"