Chapter 1400: A String

Qi Wang looked tentatively at Ye Chen, as if testing whether he had sensed anything.

Ye Chen gently lifted his wine cup but did not answer Qi Wang's question. With the Zhou Tian secret technique covering his Six Paths Immortal Eyes, he believed that even the Xian Clan Shenzi's cultivation was far from being able to detect it.

Across from him, the Xian Clan Shenzi smirked mockingly, his deep eyes filled with contempt and disdain, as if the Huanggu Shengti was nothing but a joke to him.

Ye Chen simply ignored it. He downed his cup of wine and popped a few more pills into his mouth. After a series of intense battles, even with his powerful recovery ability, it would take some time to fully heal.

High in the virtual sky, Ji Ning Shuang was still locked in combat with the Shen Clan Shenzi, their fight so fierce that the heavens and earth lost their color.

The Shen Clan Shenzi's secret technique of One Qi Transforming into Three Purities had exceeded its time limit, leaving only one form to face Ji Ning Shuang. Before Dong Shen Yao Chi, he was utterly defeated, with no chance to turn the tide.

"Dong Shen Yao Chi truly lives up to her reputation," the watching cultivators below exclaimed in awe. "Though both are Quasi-Saints, the Shen Clan Shenzi is clearly not on the same level as her."

"Even more so than the Huanggu Shengti!" The veteran Quasi-Emperors sighed with emotion. They had thought the Huanggu Shengti was already overwhelmingly strong, but seeing Yao Chi's combat power, it seemed she faintly surpassed him by a bit.

"Even the Huanggu Shengti couldn't match her, let alone the rest of us." The Long Clan Shenzi, Wu Clan Shenzi, and others rubbed their brows. "In the struggle for the Emperor's Path, we're ultimately just supporting players."

"After three hundred rounds, that Shen Clan Shenzi is about to lose!" Jiu Xiao Zhenren remarked casually.

Sure enough, as soon as Jiu Xiao Zhenren spoke, the Shen Clan Shenzi plummeted from the virtual sky. Ji Ning Shuang struck him with a palm, extinguishing his divine light completely, and scattering his vital energy and mana.

Another deep crater formed, stained with the Shen Clan Shenzi's fresh blood. He was beaten beyond recognition, blood pouring from his mouth, his eyes filled with fierce resentment as he stared at the sky above, full of unwillingness.

He had been defeated, and utterly so, first by the Huanggu Shengti and now by Dong Shen Yao Chi. His heart as a strong warrior and his pride as a Shenzi were completely shattered.

Ji Ning Shuang descended gracefully, landing at the edge of the crater like a goddess, without a single scratch on her. After three hundred rounds, she had defeated the Shen Clan Shenzi, proving she was indeed a step stronger than the Shengti.

The Shen Clan Great Saints rushed forward, giving Ji Ning Shuang a cold glance before taking the Shen Clan Shenzi away. They wanted to rage, but they didn't dare—after all, this was Yao Chi Holy Land.

"Is there anyone else who wants to fight?" Ji Ning Shuang said softly, her voice like the celestial music of the nine heavens.

At her words, everyone's gaze turned to the side of the Ancient Nine Clans, focusing on the Shenzis and Shennus, lingering a second longer on the Yao Clan Shenzi and others.

The Long Clan Shenzi, Wu Clan Shenzi, Man Clan Shenzi, Ancient Clan Shennu, and Ling Clan Shennu all shrugged, as if to say: We know our limits.

As for the Feng Huang Shenzi and others, they gritted their teeth, their expressions ugly. Though they wanted to charge in, they lacked the courage. Dong Shen's strength had far exceeded their expectations.

With a cold hum, the people from the Mo Clan, Yao Clan, Shen Clan, and Feng Huang Clan began to leave one after another.

Notably, as they departed, they all glanced back at Ye Chen in the distance, their eyes filled with resentment, bloodlust, and savagery, not even bothering to say goodbye.

"How rude." The Long Clan Shenzi and his group also rose to leave, but they were more polite than the Shen Clan group, respectfully bowing to Yao Chi Xian Mu. "Thank you for your hospitality this time."

"Please convey my regards to the emperor of your clan," Yao Chi Xian Mu said with a gentle smile.

"You got it." The Long Clan Shenzi grinned, and before leaving, he winked at Ji Ning Shuang with his dazzling dragon eyes. "Someday, if Fairy Yao Chi has time, let's drink wine and admire the moon together."

"What's there to admire? And what wine to drink?" Before Ji Ning Shuang could respond, the Ling Clan Shennu dragged the Long Clan Shenzi away. "I'm free tonight, so why not chat with me?"

"Count me in, I'm free too." The Wu Clan Shenzi hurriedly joined them, sticking close.

"What's it got to do with you?"

"Exactly, what's it got to do with you?" The Ancient Clan Shennu followed, pulling the Wu Clan Shenzi away. "You promised me when we came that you'd take me to the Wu Clan—no backing out."

"Stop messing around, I didn't say that."

"Watch your manners with me, Little Ancient, or I'll beat you." The Man Clan Shenzi grumbled.

"I think I'm a bit confused." The watching cultivators looked at the group of Shenzis and Shennus with strange expressions. Was this what a real "string" meant? They all seemed to be pairing off on their own.

"They actually look quite compatible." Ye Chen stroked his chin thoughtfully. As fellow Shenzis and Shennus of the Ancient Nine Clans, the Long Clan Shenzi and his group were far more refined than the Shen Clan Shenzi and others. At least, they didn't take advantage of others' vulnerabilities, and their character was much more upright.

"Don't lose my Ba Long Saber." A faint divine sound entered Ye Chen's ear.

"Nonsense, it's mine." Ye Chen coughed dryly, knowing it came from the Long Clan Shenzi.

"Remember to return the Descendant God Arrow when you're done using it." The Wu Clan Shenzi sent back a thread of divine sense.

"Don't spread the Kang Long Secret Technique around." The Man Clan Shenzi also sent a message.

"They leave and keep chattering." Ye Chen shrugged it off, thinking the other Shenzis weren't fools after all. The Ancient Clan Shennu and Ling Clan Shennu were the most well-behaved, not sending any messages to scare him.

"You and I will have a battle someday." The Xian Clan Shenzi glanced over playfully before turning and stepping into the virtual sky. Yet his faint words lingered in Ye Chen's ear for a long time.

"Youth is truly wonderful!" The older cultivators also stood up, bowing to Yao Chi Xian Mu. With the Feng Huang Clan and Ancient Nine Clans gone, the Yao Chi grand event was coming to an end.

Like the Feng Huang Shenzi and others, these veterans subconsciously glanced at Ye Chen in the corner as they left. This event had been truly spectacular, witnessing the rare Huanggu Shengti in a hundred thousand years, who had consecutively defeated five powerful Shenzis, cementing the Huanggu Shengti's formidable reputation.

In the corner, the Wine Sword Immortal picked up his wine jug and rose, his drunken eyes gazing hazily at Yao Chi Xian Mu before silently turning toward the mountains. His back appeared lonely and desolate.

Yao Chi Xian Mu parted her lips slightly, but the words stopped at the edge of her mouth. She quietly watched the Sword Immortal leave. She had grown old, and so had he—what a stark sight each strand of white hair made.

The grand event grew sparse as figures continued to depart, like flowers wilting after their bloom.

Ye Chen stood up, munching on a flat peach without a care, glancing left and right, peering here and there, acting completely carefree and showing no sign of leaving.

The Yao Chi Great Saints approached, surrounding him entirely, black lines crisscrossing their foreheads. This guy had turned the entire Yao Chi grand event into a mess.

"It's not my fault." Ye Chen chuckled dryly, feeling a chill run through his body.

"The event is over—aren't you leaving?" The Yao Chi Great Saints glared at him with darkened faces.

"Yao Chi Holy Land has a few of my old friends from back home." Ye Chen smiled awkwardly. "It's rare for me to come here, so you have to let me catch up. I don't think you seniors would object to some hometown reunions."

"Old friends?"

"Grandmother, leave him to me." Ji Ning Shuang walked over and pulled Ye Chen away from the spot.

"Divine Maiden..."

"Let her go." Yao Chi Xian Mu chuckled lightly and turned into a beam of pure immortal light.

By now, Ji Ning Shuang had led him to a mountain peak, her exclusive domain in Yao Chi. It was enveloped in misty clouds, like a veiled jade maiden, with an air of mystery.

Along the way, Ye Chen couldn't help but glance at Ji Ning Shuang's divine sea several times. That strand of memory immortal light still floated within it, unable to unlock her past life's memories.

Ji Ning Shuang knew he was peering into her divine sea but didn't use any secret technique to hide it, for her divine sea held no secrets anyway.

Night fell, and over a dozen immortal maidens were brought to the divine maiden's peak—all reincarnated from Da Chu.

Ji Ning Shuang tactfully withdrew to a pavilion, sitting under a spirit fruit tree and burying herself in a book.

In the pavilion, the dozen or so Yao Chi immortal maidens stood quietly, occasionally glancing at Ye Chen before them. Their expressions showed both confusion and admiration—confusion about why he had summoned them, and admiration for his combat prowess in the five exquisite battles at the event.

For some reason, this imposing Shengti gave them a strangely familiar feeling, as if they had seen him somewhere before, though they couldn't recall it—they just found him very recognizable.

Ye Chen smiled without speaking. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a concealing barrier, enveloping the entire pavilion. Then, he released over a dozen strands of memory immortal light, each merging into their brows.

All that followed was waiting. The dozen immortal maidens clutched their heads, crying out in pain.

After some time, their bodies stopped trembling. They all looked at Ye Chen with teary eyes, their expressions dazed, carrying a mix of disbelief, confusion, and ancient weariness.

Welcome back! Ye Chen smiled slightly, waving his hand again to send out a dozen divine senses. These contained various matters, such as reincarnation, Da Chu, and the two hundred years that had passed—everything was explained within those divine senses to help clear their confusion.

Once done, Ye Chen left a jade slip sealed with the memory immortal light and turned to exit the pavilion.

As he stepped out, he saw Ji Ning Shuang in the distance, dressed in rainbow robes and dancing gracefully. Her movements were elegant, though compared to Nan Ming Yu Shu, she was still a step behind.

"It's rare to see you not reading." Ye Chen approached slowly, found a comfortable spot to sit, pulled out his wine jug, and sipped while admiring the fluid dance.

"I just learned this in the last couple of days—it's my first time performing it!" Ji Ning Shuang smiled radiantly and continued to sway her colorful jade ribbons, like an immortal from the Wide Cold Palace, pure and untainted by the mortal world.

"Then I'm truly honored." Ye Chen took a swig of wine, his deep, worldly eyes growing distant. On a certain night long ago, he had watched her dance under the moon like this. But now, seeing her graceful form again, it had been separated by a past life and this one, wasted over two hundred years.

In that moment, he didn't want her to recover her past life's memories anymore. That was a history of blood, tears, and pain. In this life, she was fine as she was, free from the fetters of the past.