Chapter 1383: Missing

"Make way!"

As Ye Chen felt awkward, a shout came from behind him. Before he could turn his head, a large hand grabbed him and shoved him aside. He hadn't even gotten a clear look at the person's face.

Only then did Ye Chen see what it was—a person, to be precise. It was an elder in a purple robe, with impressive cultivation as a Zhun Sheng Wang. He was quite arrogant, even strutting as he walked.

But as soon as he spotted the crowd in the courtyard, the elder instantly became as meek as a lamb.

What good was being a Zhun Sheng Wang? In this courtyard, he still had to bow down. There were plenty of Sheng Wang and Da Sheng here, any one of whom could crush him. With that level of power, how dare he act tough?

"This guy's act is pretty lame," Ye Chen thought, glancing at the purple-robed elder with a smirk.

"What are you looking at? Keep staring!" the purple-robed elder snapped, glaring fiercely at Ye Chen.

"What's your problem?"

"Make way!" Before Ye Chen could finish, another person pushed him aside.

"Move, don't block the path." Shouts kept coming one after another. Ye Chen couldn't even stay steady on his feet; he just kept getting shoved by hands until, despite starting near the front, he ended up at the back.

"Hey!" Ye Chen finally steadied himself, but his anger was rising fast.

"Hmm?" Hearing Ye Chen's discontent, a large group ahead turned and snorted coldly at him.

"Uh, hehehe." Ye Chen forced an awkward laugh and suddenly felt too intimidated to remember his own name.

This was indeed embarrassing. Among everyone here, aside from the godchildren of the three major sacred lands, he seemed to have the lowest cultivation. The way others looked at him was full of contempt: How dare someone like you think of seeing the courtesan?

"Anyone below Da Sheng level can leave now." Tian Fa Shen Zi, standing at the front, spoke up. His words were mocking and commanding, carrying an air of unchallengeable authority. Everyone present understood clearly—this was him using his influence to clear the area early.

"Young friend, you're talking big. Watch you don't bite your tongue." A black-robed elder snorted coldly. This man wasn't weak; he was a Sheng Wang, which is why he dared to confront directly.

"The left protector of Hei Long Jiao—I remember you." Tian Fa Shen Zi smirked at the black-robed elder, his smile dark and sinister. "Once I return, I'll wipe out Hei Long Jiao."

"You..." The black-robed elder's face changed instantly. Without a second thought, he turned and left. He knew all too well Tian Fa Shen Zi's nature—if he provoked him now, the consequences would be dire.

"What about the rest of you?" Tian Fa Shen Zi turned back, scanning the crowd with a flicker of eerie light in his eyes.

"We wouldn't dare disturb the godchild's enjoyment." The others felt a chill in their hearts and quickly turned to leave. It wasn't just fear of Tian Fa Shen Zi himself, but of Tian Fa Sheng Di—the colossal force behind him. Offending this madman could mean death at best, or total annihilation at worst.

It was a ironic scene: a group of Sheng Ren, Zhun Sheng Wang, and Sheng Wang slinking away because of a single Zhun Sheng's words. Their dignity was nothing but a joke.

And so, in the vast courtyard, only the godchildren of the three major sacred lands and a group of Da Sheng remained. Oh, wait—one more, lurking in the corner and wandering aimlessly.

That was Ye Chen. It was as if he hadn't heard Tian Fa Shen Zi's order at all; he hadn't left and was just standing there, shaking his head and looking around, admiring the courtyard's fine scenery.

"Aren't you leaving? Do you have a death wish?" Tian Fa Shen Zi chuckled eerily, watching Ye Chen with interest.

"A mere Zhun Sheng— is this the place for you?" Yu Hua Shen Chao's godchild also turned, his eyes full of mockery, his lips curling into a teasing smile as he looked down his nose.

"And just look at yourself." Cang Ling Dian's godchild was even more blunt, his narrow, phoenix-like eyes scanning Ye Chen with utter disdain, outdoing Yu Hua's arrogance.

"I'm not leaving. I'm waiting to see the courtesan." Ye Chen ignored the words of the three sacred land godchildren completely. He just shook his head casually and kept wandering around.

"Who is this guy? He's got some nerve!" The group of Sheng Ren, Zhun Sheng Wang, and Sheng Wang who had been cleared out earlier were all staring at Ye Chen from the courtyard entrance. Although they'd been forced out, they were still watching, curious to see if Tian Fa Shen Zi's bold cleanup would let anyone meet the courtesan. Little did they expect to see such an oddball like Ye Chen.

"A Zhun Sheng—where does he get the confidence?" The old folks sighed. "Even we Sheng Ren, Zhun Sheng Wang, and Sheng Wang got kicked out, and here he is, a Zhun Sheng, still hanging around. Doesn't he know what the three sacred lands are?"

"Probably just some inexperienced young cultivator." Many stroked their chins. "Like a calf that doesn't fear tigers? But he's bitten off more than he can chew this time."

"Or maybe he's a godchild from some sacred land himself." Someone said it meaningfully.

"Don't be ridiculous—if he were, he'd have Da Sheng guards with him." Another scoffed.

"Take him down." Amid the murmurs, Tian Fa Shen Zi spoke, his face darkening.

At his command, a Da Sheng behind him casually raised his hand. A Da Sheng-level expert was incredibly powerful; with a simple wave, he could obliterate a Zhun Sheng—no doubt about it.

But before the Da Sheng could strike Ye Chen, a ethereal female voice echoed from deep within the courtyard: "Senior of Tian Fa, this is Diwang Cheng. It's best not to resort to violence."

Hearing this, the Da Sheng frowned and lowered his hand. As a supreme elder of a sacred land, he knew all too well the terror of Diwang Cheng. Starting a fight here—forget him as a Da Sheng; even if their Quasi-Emperor came, they might not escape this ancient city alive.

This was exactly why Ye Chen felt so bold. Ji Ning Shuang had told him early on that Tian Que Diwang Cheng was no ordinary place. Anyone causing trouble here would regret it. Otherwise, he would have bolted long ago.

"Flower Wu Xian Zi, my elder was just joking." Tian Fa Shen Zi smiled gracefully, fanning himself elegantly, a far cry from his earlier menace.

"In that case, Flower Wu has overthought it." Another female voice came from within, naturally from Nanming Yushu, whose name was Flower Wu, much like her graceful, flower-like dance.

"This one is the godchild of Yu Hua Shen Chao. May I have the honor of admiring tonight's beautiful moon with you, Xian Zi?" Yu Hua's godchild also smiled and spoke, fanning himself lightly, exuding a refined air.

"This one is the godchild of Cang Ling Dian. I've brought a rare treasure and would like to appreciate it with you, Xian Zi." Cang Ling's godchild wasn't about to be outdone. He finished speaking and glanced sideways at Tian Fa and Yu Hua's godchildren—they were all here to see the courtesan, after all, and it was a competition.

"We also wish for Flower Wu friend to appear." The various Da Sheng spoke up, all of them elders with imposing presence, yet none dared to be rude.

"I want to see her too." Ye Chen chimed in, squeezing his way forward forcefully.

"I'm tired today, everyone please go back." Nanming Yushu's gentle voice rang out, melodious and pleasant.

Her words left everyone feeling slighted, especially the three sacred land godchildren, whose faces turned ugly, and the Da Sheng who weren't exactly thrilled either.

Even so, no one dared to lash out on the spot—it was all because this was Diwang Cheng.

"Let's go!"

Tian Fa Shen Zi turned and left first, with Yu Hua and Cang Ling's godchildren following suit.

How dare she reject us! The three of them looked positively grim, their fists clenched tightly in their sleeves. As godchildren of sacred lands, they'd never been so humiliated before.

Watching their sour expressions, those who'd been cleared out earlier felt a secret thrill. What's this? You acted all high and mighty, kicking us out, and now you didn't get what you wanted either.

Ye Chen shook his head helplessly and turned to leave as well. Since he couldn't see her, he'd have to think of another way. He couldn't just barge in— he'd probably be killed before he even got inside.

But before he could take a step, Nanming Yushu's ethereal voice came from within: "This dao friend, please stay."