Chapter 1323: A Little Favor

Ye Chen's sudden appearance startled everyone present, and they collectively turned their gazes toward him.

Tianling Shengzhu and all the elders looked at Ye Chen with unusually strange expressions, their eyes seeming to ask: Our home has a barrier, how on earth did you get in?

Huaxu and Shangguan Yuer had already stood up and hurried to Ye Chen's side, their faces filled with guilt.

This scene only added to the confusion of Tianling Shengzhu and the others; they had no idea what the relationship was.

Under the curious stares of the crowd, Ye Chen bowed with his hands clasped.

"Junior Ye Chen, greetings to all you seniors."

"Ye Chen?" Many elders stroked their beards. "Why does that name sound so familiar?"

"Is he the Ye Chen?" Tianling Shengzhu exclaimed in surprise, sizing Ye Chen up and down. He had never met Ye Chen before, but he had heard the elders mention him—a man named Ye Chen who had saved his two daughters and even slain two Zhunsheng and one Shengren from Kulou Wang Dian. Tianling Shengzhu had been in seclusion at the time and missed the encounter, but now, seeing the real person, he truly lived up to the reputation of a dragon among men.

"Is he really that strong?" Tianling Shengzhu wondered to himself, still doubting the rumors.

"I've got it, he's the one who saved our saintess, and his name is also Ye Chen." As Tianling Shengzhu pondered, many elders slapped their foreheads. "The one with Zhunsheng cultivation who killed two Zhunsheng and one Shengren from Kulou Wang Dian. But I remember he was wearing a mask last time."

"I never imagined such a handsome face was hidden under that mask."

"I thought he was some old guy thousands of years old."

"When my daughters were in danger before, it was all thanks to this young friend for saving them. We at the Tianling family will never forget this kindness." Tianling Shengzhu spoke up, smiling warmly. "If you ever face any troubles in the future, feel free to speak up."

"What a coincidence, junior here does have a trouble and was hoping the Tianling family could help with a small favor." Ye Chen replied with a smile.

"Go ahead and say it, young friend."

"It's nothing major, just asking the Tianling family to send some forces to Yangchen Star to lend a hand."

"Yangchen Star again." The elders present were taken aback, looking at Ye Chen as if he were a fool. Is this a small favor? This is war, how does it sound like child's play coming from you?

Tianling Shengzhu frowned.

"May I ask, young friend Ye Chen, what is your connection to Yangchen Star?"

"That's my family's ancient star." Ye Chen replied casually, not bothering to explain further.

"Yangchen Star has such an extraordinary descendant, it's truly shocking."

"Seniors, you did promise to help earlier." Ye Chen scratched his ear, ignoring Tianling Shengzhu's irrelevant comments. His only goal was to secure reinforcements.

"Young friend, I'm afraid the Tianling family can't help with this." Tianling Shengzhu shook his head apologetically. "I have to be responsible for my people. If we go to war with Kulou Wang Dian, there will be countless casualties."

"Father, you can't go back on your word." Huaxu and Shangguan Yuer spoke up from the side.

"War is no joking matter."

"I understand your concerns, senior." Before Huaxu and Shangguan Yuer could argue further, Ye Chen interjected calmly. "But wouldn't wiping out Kulou Wang Dian solve everything once and for all? Without Kulou Wang Dian lurking as a threat, I think the Tianling family would be much safer."

"Wipe out Kulou Wang Dian?" Ye Chen's words made everyone present shudder. What kind of force was that? It was filled with powerful experts and even had a Zhunsheng Wang in charge—how could it be destroyed so easily?

"Young friend, it's a nice idea, but reality is harsh. The Tianling family can't destroy Kulou Wang Dian." Tianling Shengzhu said with a smile. "Even if we could, we wouldn't have many people left afterward. Our fate would be no better than theirs—just a loss for nothing."

"That makes sense." One elder pondered aloud. "Not to mention anything else, just Kulou Wang Dian's old ancestor is a huge problem. It's easy to guard against an open attack but hard to defend against a hidden one. Having him target us would be disastrous."

"What if junior here takes out Kulou Wang Dian's old ancestor?" Ye Chen smiled as he looked at the group of elders.

"Don't joke around, that's a Zhunsheng Wang, and you're just a Zhunsheng."

"If young friend does take out the Kulou old ancestor, then the Tianling family will send troops." That elder's words were cut off by another voice, which echoed from deep within the Tianling family's immortal mountains, sounding ethereal and distant.

"It's the old ancestor." Whether it was Tianling Shengzhu or the elders present, they all bowed toward one direction. From that direction, a white-haired elder slowly approached, exuding an air of immortality and wisdom. He was the only Zhunsheng Wang in the Tianling family, known as Tianling Laozu.

"Grandfather." Huaxu and Shangguan Yuer also bowed, surprised that the family ancestor had been disturbed.

Tianling Laozu smiled warmly and looked at Ye Chen. "Little one, are you satisfied with this answer?"

"Absolutely." Ye Chen grinned, though he furrowed his brow slightly as he glanced at Tianling Laozu's yuan shen. Strangely, a wisp of black qi was wrapped around it, slowly devouring his life force.

"What is that thing?" Ye Chen leaned in closer, narrowing his eyes for a better look. He realized the black qi was actually a strand of hair, incredibly eerie and emanating a terrifying aura of desolation. If not for Tianling Laozu's profound cultivation, he would have been consumed by it long ago.

"Tianling Laozu must have entered an ancient tomb." Ye Chen muttered to himself, stroking his chin. "And he must have provoked some fearsome entity. That hair is probably from the tomb's owner and has latched onto him."

Ye Chen was deeply focused on his observation, which only made the Tianling family elders look at him even more strangely. Is this guy really here for reinforcements? Why is he staring at our ancestor like that?

He's acting all mysterious, does this kid have some kind of issue?

Many elders stroked their beards thoughtfully, sizing up Ye Chen once again.

Huaxu and Shangguan Yuer felt awkward and cleared their throats, reaching out to tug at Ye Chen.

His reverie interrupted, Ye Chen realized his faux pas and chuckled dryly. He turned to Tianling Laozu. "Senior, that strand of hair looks at least nine thousand years old. The ancient tomb's owner must be quite formidable, right?"

As soon as he spoke, Tianling Shengzhu and the others were stunned, but Tianling Laozu frowned deeply and flicked his sleeve, vanishing instantly from the hall, taking Ye Chen with him.

Tianling Shengzhu and the others were left bewildered, with no idea why Tianling Laozu had taken Ye Chen away.

On a mountain peak, Tianling Laozu landed and eyed Ye Chen tentatively. "You can see it?"

Ye Chen nodded with a smile. "At a time like this, junior wouldn't joke about something like this with you, senior."

"Truly a formidable younger generation!" Tianling Laozu's gaze toward Ye Chen changed. "Even the Kulou old ancestor couldn't see through it, yet you spotted it at a glance. I underestimated you."

"You're too kind, senior."

"It is indeed from an ancient tomb." Tianling Laozu sighed. "Back when I advanced to Zhunsheng Wang, I became arrogant and went treasure hunting in an ancient tomb. I saw plenty of treasures, but I also awakened a terrifying entity. That strand of hair is exactly as you guessed—the person buried in that tomb has been at rest for at least nine thousand years. Due to my recklessness, I triggered her corpse transformation."

"A nine-thousand-year-old ancient tomb zombie, and yet senior managed to return alive, junior is quite shocked."

"Every cause has its effect." Tianling Laozu shook his head with a smile. "That strand of hair has been clinging to me for nearly a thousand years, constantly draining my life force. Over time, it's damaged my dao roots. I've tried to destroy it but couldn't. If not for my Zhunsheng Wang cultivation, I would have turned to dust long ago."

"If junior hadn't come for reinforcements, you probably would have gone to fight the Kulou old ancestor soon, right?" Ye Chen said meaningfully, assuming Tianling Laozu would understand.

"As you said." Tianling Laozu smiled without denying it. "My lifespan is nearly spent, and soon I'll return to the heavens. After I die, the Kulou old ancestor won't spare the Tianling family. It's death either way, so I might as well drag him down to the underworld with me to prevent further chaos."

"Are you so certain junior can take him out?" Ye Chen asked, eyeing Tianling Laozu with interest.

"You're no ordinary person." Tianling Laozu replied with a laugh. "I'm not sure if you can defeat the Kulou old ancestor, but I'll follow you in secret. When you fight him to the point of death and leave him gravely wounded, I'll strike without hesitation to finish what you started and pull him into the depths of the underworld."

"Can junior take this to mean you're using me?" Ye Chen asked lightly.

"A man on his deathbed will do anything for his family's legacy, even if it means acting against morality or using a junior as a vanguard." Tianling Laozu responded openly, facing his own schemes without shame. "At least I'm being straightforward about it."

"Junior understands." Ye Chen pulled out a wine flask. "If I were in your position, I'd do the same. We all have people to protect, even if the methods are underhanded."

"Since you know I'm using you, are you still willing to go fight the Kulou old ancestor?"

"No need to go all out, he's no match for me." Ye Chen shrugged casually.

"I have no idea where your confidence comes from." Tianling Laozu chuckled. "Even so, I'll go with you. Our goals align, to eliminate the Kulou old ancestor. My fading body still has some use; I might as well lead the charge for you."

"There's no need to be so pessimistic, senior. Junior has a way to cure your injury."

"Really?" Tianling Laozu turned sharply, his dim eyes suddenly sparkling with brilliant light.

"Senior's injury stems from that strand of hair. Though it's more severe than a dao injury, it's easier to treat." Ye Chen smiled and summoned his immortal fire, a golden flame hovering in his hand.

Seeing Ye Chen use flames, Tianling Laozu's eyes, which had sparkled with light, quickly dimmed again. "I've tried that many times, true fire won't work."

"Of course, true fire won't do." Ye Chen smiled slightly and enveloped Tianling Laozu's yuan shen with the immortal fire. As the Jiuwu Xianyan, it was the ultimate yang fire, while the hair was a yin entity of the deceased. Yang naturally countered yin.

"Go ahead and try, it won't take long." Tianling Laozu smiled gently, not stopping him. "But don't delay too much. Yangchen Star is under siege, and any slip-up could lead to its fall."

"Round trip won't take more than three hours, plenty of time." Ye Chen said leisurely. "Curing your injury will only take an hour. Once that's done, we can head over together."

"You're quite the optimist."

"There's no harm in trying, what if it works?"