Chapter 1350: Bounty Order

Under the starry night, the two stood side by side, like two beams of divine light streaking across majestic mountains.

As they flew along, Ye Chen gazed around at everything, finding the vast and boundless wilderness of the Xuan Huang Continent even more extraordinary than he had imagined. As he had said, everything here surpassed expectations.

As for Xiao Ling Wa, that rascal had transformed into a carefree young man. His original Ba Wang Long form was too conspicuous and could attract troublemakers, so this change was necessary to avoid unnecessary hassle.

Beyond that, Ye Chen had used the Zhou Tian Evolution technique to conceal their auras, muddying any traces that might give them away.

It was nearly dawn when the two finally landed in front of a massive city. The city was ancient, exuding an aura of timeless simplicity, and it was the closest ancient city to the Xuan Huang Star Sea.

By daybreak, the ancient city was bustling with people, including many with bizarre appearances—demon cultivators and demon practitioners among them. With a single glance, Ye Chen spotted numerous individuals with powerful bloodlines.

As they spoke, the two approached the city walls.

Gathered below the walls were many cultivators, all pointing and commenting on the notices posted there.

The notice was a wanted order for pursuit and killing, featuring a portrait of a person—more precisely, Ye Chen's portrait. No need to guess; it had been issued by Tai Qing Gong.

Tai Qing Gong was a major powerhouse in this realm, and any move they made drew widespread attention. This wanted order had caused a massive uproar as soon as it was posted.

"Is this the Archaic Holy Body?" someone asked, eyeing Ye Chen's portrait up and down. "He doesn't look all that impressive! Yet he carries a heaven-defying bloodline on par with emperors. The heavens are truly unfair."

"What kind of nonsense is that?" Many others glanced at the speaker. "From where we stand, you're the one who looks mediocre compared to him. The heavens are plenty fair."

"You..." The person was instantly furious, his face turning beet red, but he didn't dare act recklessly.

"The world still has Holy Body inheritances." The crowd ignored him and focused on Ye Chen's image on the notice, their eyes filled with awe. Legends of the Holy Body were immortal myths.

"Being able to nearly wipe out five hundred warships from Tai Qing Gong and Bai Yue Sect, the Archaic Holy Body is no joke. I was there that day—the scene was absolutely mind-blowing."

"It's strange, though. Why isn't the Holy Body bound by the Xuan Huang Star Sea? That's really odd."

"An old man like me can tell you're quite the show-off." Listening to the discussions around them, Xiao Ling Wa chuckled meaningfully. "Just arriving in the Xuan Huang Continent and already stirring up such a commotion."

"Nine million yuan stones, nine Saint-level artifacts, and nine seven-pattern spirit pills—Tai Qing Gong is loaded." Glancing at the rewards on the wanted notice, Ye Chen let out a cold laugh.

"Good thing we used secret techniques to hide our faces." Xiao Ling Wa scratched his ear. "Otherwise, things would be even more chaotic. Tai Qing Gong has deep roots and plenty of experts—I don't want to be hunted every day."

"Look, people from Tai Qing Gong." Amid the discussions, someone pointed it out, drawing everyone's gaze. In an instant, over a dozen figures soared through the sky and entered the city, their oppressive auras making the void tremble as if it might collapse.

"All Saints, and quite the lineup. It seems they're here to control the teleportation platform in this ancient city." Someone murmured thoughtfully. "Tai Qing Gong has taken over ancient cities across millions of miles. They're clearly lying in wait—if the Holy Body tries to use the teleportation platform, he'll be captured for sure."

"I heard Tai Qing Gong's divine son has emerged from seclusion, vowing to slay the Holy Body to prove his dao."

"The Tai Qing Divine Son—that's one tough character." Someone took a deep breath. "I remember back at the Blood Burial Mountains, even as an emperor-level expert, he cut down three Saints and shook the entire East Wilderness."

"Now at the quasi-Saint level, he must be even more terrifying."

"I wonder how he'd fare against the Archaic Holy Body—who's stronger?" Many stroked their beards. "If he could break the myth of the Holy Body being unbeatable at the same level, his path to cultivation would be heaven-defying."

"Even emperors have been defeated—what's the big deal?" Ye Chen turned away, not interested in competing with the Tai Qing Divine Son. His real concern was the reincarnated person—that was his true purpose for coming to the Xuan Huang Continent.

The two entered the ancient city one after the other, with Ye Chen already activating the Zhou Tian Evolution technique to its fullest for divination.

Xiao Ling Wa wandered around, eyes gleaming with mischief as he scanned the surroundings. After looking around, he turned to Ye Chen. "Well? Is there a reincarnated person in this ancient city?"

There is one!

Ye Chen smiled and headed straight for the city center.

Hearing this, Xiao Ling Wa's eyes lit up, and he quickly followed.

The city center was even more vibrant, all thanks to the teleportation platform located there. Cultivators came and went in droves, many there to use the platform, including some with profound and hidden auras.

The Xuan Huang Continent was enormous, and the teleportation platform was much faster than flying. For distant destinations, it was essential—which was why it so valuable.

By the time Ye Chen and Xiao Ling Wa arrived, a crowd had already gathered at the teleportation platform, forming a long line.

Ye Chen's gaze was sharp as he quickly spotted a figure in the crowd: a young man in purple robes. His cultivation was modest, only at the fourth level of the emperor realm, and his bloodline was quite ordinary.

Looking at that face, Ye Chen felt a moment of daze, recalling a twist of fate from deep in his memories: casually adopting the name Hao Tian Chen Ye had unexpectedly given him a father, leading to a chain of karma and coincidences.

No mistake—it was Hao Tian Xuan Zhen, the former holy lord of the North Chu Hao Tian family in his past life.

Suddenly, a hint of regret flashed in Ye Chen's expression. It was his past resentment that had left Hao Tian Xuan Zhen with regrets until his death, never hearing Ye Chen call him father.

Seeing Ye Chen like this, Xiao Ling Wa sighed, as if he too had noticed Hao Tian Xuan Zhen in the crowd.

Everyone in Grand Chu knew about Ye Chen and Hao Tian Xuan Zhen's story, and as Ye Chen's close friend, Xiao Ling Wa knew even more. The name Hao Tian Chen Ye had entangled their karma across past and present lives.

As Xiao Ling Wa sighed, Hao Tian Xuan Zhen, who was at the front of the line, stepped onto the teleportation platform and handed the fee to a black-robed elder guarding it.

The black-robed elder was a Tai Qing Gong elder, sent to oversee the teleportation platform in this ancient city. His purpose was simple: to search for Ye Chen, with many other Tai Qing Gong Saints hidden nearby.

"Where are you headed?" the black-robed elder asked flatly, glancing at Hao Tian Xuan Zhen's storage pouch on his waist, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Senior, to East Heaven Ancient City," Hao Tian Xuan Zhen replied hurriedly, his demeanor respectful.

"You may go, but leave what belongs to Tai Qing Gong behind." The black-robed elder's voice was stern and hollow.

"What belongs to Tai Qing Gong?" Hao Tian Xuan Zhen was stunned, unsure what the elder meant.

"Still playing dumb." The black-robed elder snorted coldly and waved his hand, pulling a golden divine bead from Hao Tian Xuan Zhen's storage pouch. "This is our Tai Qing Gong's Hao Yue Divine Bead."

"Senior, you must be mistaken." Hao Tian Xuan Zhen panicked. "This is a family heirloom."

"How dare you lie?" The black-robed elder roared in anger, his Saint-level pressure surging and turning Hao Tian Xuan Zhen's face pale. "Do you think I don't recognize my own sect's treasure?"

"Senior, this... this really is my family heirloom." Hao Tian Xuan Zhen's voice trembled, humble and fearful. He could see the elder's intentions—he was after the heirloom.

"You fool." The black-robed elder snapped coldly. "Seize him!"

Instantly, the hidden Tai Qing Gong experts emerged from the shadows, all exuding powerful auras as they surrounded Hao Tian Xuan Zhen on the teleportation platform, their expressions cold and menacing.

Hao Tian Xuan Zhen's face turned deathly pale, his body frozen under the Saints' pressure.

He regretted resisting, knowing their motives, but it was too late. He could imagine his fate—Tai Qing Gong's cruelty was all too clear.

Onlookers watched with sympathy, stepping back quickly. Though they knew Tai Qing Gong was bullying him, no one dared speak out. Tai Qing Gong was too formidable; provoking them would lead to a horrific death, as proven by bloody examples in the past. Who would dare interfere?

For a moment, the crowd cast pitying glances at Hao Tian Xuan Zhen. An ordinary person was guilty only of possessing something valuable—blame his weakness. In the world of the strong, the weak were meant to be oppressed.

"Take him away!"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the black-robed elder spoke, his voice echoing eerily with a hint of mockery.

At his command, someone produced a specially refined rune chain to bind Hao Tian Xuan Zhen.

But before they could move, a golden divine light shot up from below the teleportation platform, carrying an icy, devastating force that shattered space as it advanced.