Chapter 1317: The Skeleton King's Palace

Chapter 1317: Kulou Wang Dian

Under the starry night, Ye Chen flew out of the ancient star.

His divine sea was imprinted with a star map, and his target was crystal clear, with a route already planned.

After three hours, he landed on an ancient star about the same size as Zhuque Star, but he quickly flew out again. Through Zhou Tian evolution, he confirmed that there were no Da Chu reincarnated individuals on that ancient star.

He continued on his way to the second planned ancient star, flying for six hours straight.

This time, he wasn't disappointed; he found over a dozen reincarnated individuals, including three from Zhengyang Sect, two from Ren Huang, one from Nan Chu Xiong Family, and four each from Xingyue Palace and Da Chu Imperial Clan.

Next, he headed to the third ancient star, where there were reincarnated individuals, but it involved some ridiculous conflicts.

In the following days, Ye Chen's solitary figure appeared on many ancient stars throughout this vast star domain.

He was like a traveler, covered in dust from his journey, constantly moving without ever truly resting.

Just like that, a month passed quietly.

In that month, he had traversed nearly all the ancient stars in this star domain, locating nearly ten thousand reincarnated individuals. Not all were human; many had reincarnated as spirit beasts, demon beasts, or immortal herbs.

However, the search wasn't entirely smooth. There were always one or two forces causing trouble along the way, leading to inevitable encounters. For instance, with Kulou Wang Dian, their attempt to show off backfired, resulting in a major defeat at Ye Chen's hands and stirring up considerable turmoil, which prompted forces from all sides to investigate again.

Regrettably, while he found many reincarnated individuals, none were particularly familiar to him. The only one he somewhat recognized was a divine general under Xuan Huang, with whom he had once fought side by side.

On another deep night, Ye Chen paused in a stretch of star space, his eyes slightly narrowed as he gazed into the distance.

There, an extraordinarily large ancient star loomed, comparable in size to the Ziwei Star of Da Luo Jian Zong.

That was the ancient star of Kulou Wang Dian, truly living up to its name. A massive illusory skull enveloped the star's body, and just looking at such a enormous skull was enough to send chills down one's spine.

Ye Chen had been searching for a month, and this was the last ancient star he hadn't visited, deliberately saved for the end.

"Holy Lord, remember to be careful."

From within the Chaos Divine Cauldron came warnings from the reincarnated individuals.

"Understood."

Ye Chen smiled faintly, then donned a black robe, put on a Gui Ming mask, and used Zhou Tian evolution to conceal his aura. This time, he was here to find people, not to fight.

After disguising himself, he suddenly stepped forward, like a divine light, quietly entering the Kulou Star.

The Kulou Star at night was extremely eerie. The moment he landed, Ye Chen heard the wails of fierce ghosts, as if he had stepped not into an ancient star, but into a Jiu You realm. Even the pure spiritual energy in the air carried a bloody scent, along with the resentful and malicious thoughts of lingering spirits.

Ye Chen didn't approach the immortal mountains of Kulou Wang Dian too closely; instead, he hid in a deep mountain forest.

He had already activated Zhou Tian evolution, and to his delight mixed with concern, he discovered that there were indeed reincarnated individuals on this ancient star—two of them, a man and a woman, confirmed.

This was awkward!

Ye Chen scratched his head. Earlier, he had killed two Zhun Sheng and one Sheng Ren from Kulou Wang Dian. If these reincarnated individuals were their ancestors, that would be a real mess. He hadn't realized this point before.

Awkward!

Shaking his head, Ye Chen turned and stepped into the misty void, flying out of the Kulou Ancient Star.

Since it was Kulou Wang Dian, it was undoubtedly no trifling force. He couldn't just charge in recklessly; there was a Zhun Sheng Wang stationed there, and one wrong move could lead to being overwhelmed.

So, Ye Chen needed an identity—one that would allow him to enter Kulou Wang Dian openly.

He had considered using the identities of the two Zhun Sheng and one Sheng Ren he had killed before, but that was poorly thought out. They were already dead, and their Yuan Shen jade plaques in Kulou Wang Dian must have shattered. In the eyes of Kulou Wang Dian, they were gone for good.

If he tried to use their identities to sneak in, it would only arouse suspicion and lead to interrogation.

After thinking it over, Ye Chen decided to play it safe, even if it meant a bit more effort.

Once out of the Kulou Ancient Star, he hid in the void of star space, quietly waiting for someone entering or leaving the star. He just needed to knock them out and use their identity to get in.

It wasn't long before he saw a purple-robed elder flying in on a sword. His cultivation was at the peak of the Huang Jing realm, and he wore a robe embroidered with Kulou totems.

You it is!

Ye Chen struck instantly, saying nothing as he slapped out with a palm.

The purple-robed elder's expression changed drastically; he hadn't expected an ambush right at the doorstep of Kulou Wang Dian. He was caught completely off guard and knelt in one strike.

Go take a nap!

Ye Chen searched the purple-robed elder and tossed him into the void of star space, adding a few seals for good measure.

Then, Ye Chen transformed into the purple-robed elder's appearance, mimicking his aura and cultivation perfectly, with Zhou Tian evolution added to confuse any scrutiny.

Only after that did he turn and fly back into the Kulou Ancient Star.

With a new identity, he no longer sneaked around; he entered the immortal mountains of Kulou Wang Dian openly.

The immortal mountains of Kulou Wang Dian were on par with those of Da Luo Jian Zong, comprising thousands of peaks that formed a grand array for defense and attack.

Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh in admiration. This level of defense alone would keep most people out, and few would dare to attack.

The Kulou Wang Dian at night was eerily quiet, with almost no one in sight—most had likely returned to their peaks.

Though no one was visible, Ye Chen could detect many obscure auras, including those of Zhun Sheng and Sheng Ren. He also sensed a familiar one—the person who had ambushed him during his tribulation.

Beyond that, what made him wary was a underground palace deep in the immortal mountains, where the most obscure aura resided—a flawless Zhun Sheng Wang, whose combat power far surpassed that of a Sheng Ren.

Truly a gathering of experts!

Ye Chen withdrew his gaze and once again performed finger calculations, accurately pinpointing the location of the reincarnated individuals.

Without hesitation, he stealthily made his way over, planning to rescue them first.

Before long, he stopped.

In the distance, between three immortal mountains, stood a high platform.

Chained on the platform were two people—a man and a woman. The man had his pipa bones pierced and was hung up, his body covered in bloody wounds. The woman was locked to a copper pillar with iron chains, also scarred all over.

They seemed to have committed some grave offense, left there as a form of punishment until tortured to death.

Ye Chen's eyes turned ice-cold. The man and woman on the platform were the reincarnated individuals, and from their robes, they weren't from Kulou Wang Dian—they looked like innocent people captured and tormented.

Not only was Ye Chen furious, but the reincarnated individuals inside the Chaos Divine Cauldron and various magical treasures were also seething with killing intent. These were people from the Da Chu homeland, who had fought to protect the myriad domains of the heavens two hundred years ago, yet now they were being tortured so cruelly. How could they not be enraged?

Ye Chen extended his palm, manifesting a massive hand to grab the chained man and woman.

However, the platform had a barrier. A powerful seal suddenly appeared, blocking his manifested hand.

Break!

Ye Chen shouted softly, overwhelming with force as he shattered the seal with one palm, pulling the reincarnated individuals down and instantly drawing them into the Chaos Divine Cauldron for the others to heal their wounds.

Perhaps his actions were too ferocious, causing a huge commotion and alerting Kulou Wang Dian.

Who is it?

Roars erupted immediately, and figures appeared on the peaks of Kulou Wang Dian, all with icy expressions and sky-piercing auras. How dare someone intrude on Kulou Wang Dian at night?

Zheng!

With a sword cry, Chi Xiao appeared in Ye Chen's hand, surrounded by sword energy, cold and unyielding. He had no intention of leaving quietly—he needed to kill a few to vent his anger.

What audacity!

A thunderous shout rang out as a black-robed elder from Kulou Wang Dian charged forward. He was a Zhun Sheng, wielding a scepter wreathed in monstrous killing intent.

Ye Chen moved, stepping into the sky and slashing out a sword that formed a stellar river, its power immense and world-shattering.

The black-robed elder's face changed; he felt a chill throughout his body and hurriedly raised his scepter to block.

But against Ye Chen's peak strike, his efforts were futile. The scepter was shattered on the spot, and as its owner suffered backlash, he was instantly reduced to ashes.

Damn it!

A Sheng Ren arrived, his blood-red hair flying as he roared in fury. He had tried to save the elder but was too late.

I've been looking for you!

Ye Chen sneered coldly, charging straight at him with overwhelming force. This blood-haired Sheng Ren was the one who had ambushed him during his tribulation, and Ye Chen remembered his aura all too well.

Perish!

The blood-haired Sheng Ren shouted coldly, swinging his sword in a devastating strike.

Ye Chen dodged sideways, using Suo Di Cheng Cun to close in on the blood-haired Sheng Ren, slashing him flying with one sword. He nearly split him in half, with fresh blood staining the void, each drop strikingly vivid.

The blood-haired Sheng Ren stabilized himself, his face paling. He knew his opponent could kill Zhun Sheng, but he hadn't realized just how terrifying he was. As a full Sheng Ren, he was defeated in a single move.

Ye Chen advanced with his sword, his demonic and killing auras intertwining.

Kill!

Strong experts from Kulou Wang Dian swarmed from all directions, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, blotting out the sky like a vast ocean, surging with massive waves and overwhelming killing intent.

Get back!

Ye Chen roared, his voice shaking the heavens as he carved a bloody path with his sword. The attackers turned to ash in droves, including several Zhun Sheng, leaving the Huang Jing cultivators pale with terror.

Stop him!

Behind the crowd, the blood-haired Sheng Ren snarled viciously, though he kept retreating. Ye Chen was killing others, but his icy gaze remained fixed on him.

Disobeying a Sheng Ren's order was not an option; despite their fear of Ye Chen, the experts of Kulou Wang Dian surged forward like a tide.

Any who block me die!

Ye Chen's roar carried his cultivation power, turning weaker Kulou Wang Dian members to blood mist on the spot.

Another bloody path opened as Ye Chen used Suo Di Cheng Cun to evade the fatal strikes of various Sheng Ren and Zhun Sheng, closing in on the blood-haired Sheng Ren for the second time and shattering his body with a palm.