Chapter 1429: Three Years

In the vast and ethereal void, Ye Chen moved like a streak of immortal light, his speed astonishingly fast, the crescent pendant clutched in his hand.

The damaged Di Jue flew out on its own and merged with the crescent pendant in Ye Chen's grasp. A faint imperial aura emanated, subtle and gentle, devoid of any killing intent.

Much to his regret, even after fusing with the crescent pendant, the Di Jue remained incomplete, still missing a piece. He had no idea where it was or if it was held by that despicable person.

Upon returning to Hengyue Zong, Zhen Yang Dao Ren personally came out to greet him, accompanied by a large group of elders.

"From now on, there is no more Blood Moon Zong."

Ye Chen smiled and retrieved the treasures he had seized from Blood Moon Zong, generously scattering them from the void for everyone to share.

"Blood Moon Zong is gone?"

Zhen Yang Dao Ren was stunned. It had only been about three hours; destroying a sect so quickly seemed unbelievable. Just how powerful was the person before him?

Ye Chen smiled and headed towards the mountain peak where Hengyue Zhen Ren and Liu Yi resided. He released the few reincarnated individuals he had brought, including one who had been a Xuan-generation disciple of Hengyue Zong in his previous life.

"Ye Chen, my junior brother, you are as decisive as ever."

Liu Yi handed him a wine flask.

"My heart has grown cold, so I kill without mercy."

Ye Chen chuckled.

"In this turbulent world with its cruel laws, there is no room for pity. My hands are stained with blood."

"Ah."

Hengyue Zhen Ren and Heng Tian Shang Ren both sighed. How many people in this world were like Ye Chen? They should have been full of youthful vigor, yet they had all been forced to become cold-blooded killers.

"Shizu, I'm setting off."

Ye Chen took out a storage bag containing various pills, cultivation secret manuals, and jade slips sealed with memory immortal light.

"Come with us!"

Hengyue Zhen Ren immediately laughed.

"We're old folks, but we're still young at heart."

"Wait until you have advanced to Zhun Sheng."

Ye Chen smiled slightly. As before, the cultivation levels of Hengyue Zhen Ren and Heng Tian Shang Ren were too low, making it dangerous for them to venture out.

Understanding Ye Chen's meaning, Hengyue Zhen Ren and the others chuckled awkwardly. Even someone as formidable as Ye Chen couldn't guarantee his safety, let alone them at the Heaven Realm or Emperor Realm.

"Until we meet again."

Ye Chen left as quickly as he had arrived. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he departed with Liu Yi. For them, Hengyue Zong was merely a stopover.

"Truly our noble benefactor from Hengyue."

Zhen Yang Dao Ren looked at him with profound respect, as did the other elders.

"And he was brought here by me."

The white-robed young man named Li Yuan, who had guided Ye Chen here, was overwhelmed with excitement.

"Quickly, go and cultivate."

The senior elders urged hastily. Ye Chen had brought so many cultivation resources that they could last for a long time; they couldn't waste such a generous gift.

The disciples obeyed, each clutching their treasures and returning to their mountain peaks. Looking at the abundant resources, they saw a bright path ahead. They had never witnessed such vast wealth before.

The people of Hengyue Zong also retreated to their own caves, hoping to advance to Zhun Sheng as soon as possible. Only at that level would they be qualified to join Ye Chen in searching for loved ones.

Hengyue Zong entered collective seclusion, expecting peaceful days, but visitors kept arriving, including Zhun Sheng and Sheng Ren, all coming to forge connections. This was a great opportunity.

Zhen Yang Dao Ren didn't refuse, benefiting from Ye Chen's influence. In the past, they had never enjoyed such honors. Now that fortune had come, getting along peacefully with all sides wasn't a bad thing.

In the ethereal void, Ye Chen and Liu Yi parted ways, agreeing to meet at Kunlun Xu in a hundred years.

Another long stretch of time passed. He was like a wandering preacher or a traveler, journeying through dust and hardship, crossing great rivers and mountains, traversing vast plains and hidden valleys. He pressed on through wind and rain, resting in the dead of night, visiting many corners of the Dong Huang lands.

Time flew by, and years slipped away. By the time he left Dong Huang, three years had passed in the world.

In those three years, he found countless reincarnated individuals, each like a spark of life, spreading out in all directions, taking root and sprouting, passing down through generations until the flames were scattered across Xuan Huang.

In three years, his hair had turned completely white, and he looked even more aged. Most notably, the aura of weariness had grown thick around him. Even with the Zhou Tian evolution secret technique, it was hard to conceal, for he had experienced too much.

Now, the land beneath his feet belonged to the Zhongzhou of Xuan Huang. It was even more expansive than Dong Huang, with every inch of soil bearing witness to the changes of seas turning into fields, seeming older than time itself.

It was another quiet night. After his dusty travels, he stopped on a vast expanse of wilderness, holding a map and occasionally scanning the surrounding terrain.

"This is the place, no mistake."

This area hadn't always been a barren wilderness; it was once a stretch of immortal mountains, the immortal mountains of Kunlun Xu. But like the ancient city of Dong Huang, Kunlun Xu had sealed itself in a separate space, vanishing from sight.

"Sealed for a hundred years and still not unsealed."

Ye Chen murmured to himself, putting away the map and pondering deeply. Would it only unseal when Da Chu returns? That would be a long wait.

Helpless, he had no choice but to leave and head to the nearest ancient city: Kunlun City.

As the closest city to Kunlun Xu, Kunlun City was bustling, remaining lively even at night.

Ye Chen entered and saw crowds everywhere, so numerous it was startling. There were human cultivators, as well as demon cultivators, devil cultivators, and barbarian cultivators—all sorts of strange shapes and forms, anything you could imagine and more, a complete melting pot, as if they had all gathered by appointment.

Most striking were their bloodlines, each one exceptionally powerful. A few even made his saint blood stir, they were so ancient. Even with his vast knowledge, he couldn't identify them all, only knowing they were incredibly strong.

Besides that, the stalls lining the streets were manned entirely by old men, selling remarkable treasures. Their calls echoed nonstop, leaving Ye Chen dazzled.

He didn't dare underestimate these old men. Though they looked unremarkable, they were all highly skilled cultivators. He had already spotted no fewer than a dozen at the Great Saint level.

"Well, since I'm here, might as well spend some money!"

With that, he headed straight for one of the stalls.

The stall sold various artifacts: immortal swords, great bells, spirit mirrors, bronze cauldrons, treasure seals—everything was available, and none were low-grade. The weakest were Zhun Sheng weapons, with some damaged Great Saint weapons as well.

"After looking around, I see you have the best eye."

The stall owner, an old man, puffed on his pipe and exhaled smoke rings deeply, like some kind of mystic sitting there cultivating.

"I'll take all the Sheng Bing."

Ye Chen gathered up all the saint-level artifacts.

"All of them?"

The old stall owner raised an eyebrow and sized up Ye Chen.

"Little thing—oh, I mean, young fellow—these treasures are worth a fortune. Are you sure you have that much? Don't joke with an old daoist like me in the middle of the night."

"Not short on money. Can you give me a discount?"

Ye Chen grinned.

"Of course I can. Since you're taking them all, this price, no haggling."

The old stall owner held up two fingers.

"Not two million yuan shi, but twenty million."

"No haggling, but how about throwing in one extra?"

"Deal."

"You got it!"

Ye Chen handed over the storage bag and swept away all the saint-level artifacts with a wave of his hand.

"I've got Sheng Wang Bing and damaged Great Saint weapons too. Want to take a look?"

The old stall owner rubbed his hands.

"If you buy them all, I can cut you a deal. You're not short on money, after all!"

"Can't afford those."

Ye Chen coughed and turned to leave. He had plenty in his bag, but Sheng Wang Bing and damaged Great Saint weapons were ridiculously expensive.

He didn't stop there, visiting stall after stall, making bold purchases—all artifacts, and all Sheng Wang Bing, in considerable quantities.

He had a plan: whenever he found reincarnated individuals, he'd give each one an artifact for protection. He thought he was doing a fine job as their saint lord.

Because of him, many stall owners on the street packed up early. They loved customers like this—straightforward, no nonsense, buying in bulk.

After a while, he finally stopped, glancing into his storage bag and wincing. His heart ached; he'd spent every last yuan shi, not a single one left.

With the money gone, his mind settled. He wandered aimlessly, spotting more treasures but unable to buy any, almost tempted to trade pills just to get them back.

In the end, he headed straight for the city center. There were no Da Chu reincarnated people here, so no point wasting time. Xuan Huang Continent was vast, and he had a long way to go.

"Not inferior to Dong Huang Ancient City at all."

As he walked, Ye Chen marveled. Even the pavilions, towers, and arched bridges were exquisitely carved from jade; they could fetch a fortune if dismantled.

"Hey, are you blind? Didn't you see me?"

Just then, Ye Chen felt someone poke him from behind. The voice was familiar—it was an old acquaintance.

Ye Chen turned instinctively and saw a big-bearded man—it was his old buddy, Yan Laodao.

"What's up, surprised?"

Yan Laodao stroked his beard, seeing Ye Chen's stunned expression.

"When did you come to Xuan Huang Continent?"

Ye Chen was indeed taken aback, not expecting to run into Yan Laodao here. The city was so crowded that he must have passed by earlier without noticing.

"A couple of years before you."

Yan Laodao pulled out his wine gourd.

"Kid, I've heard all about your earth-shattering deeds these past few years. My ears are callused from it."

"Wait, I was so discreet, and you still recognized me?"

Ye Chen said in astonishment.

"You're underestimating me."

Yan Laodao smoothed his messy hair.

"My innate divine ability lets me spot you no matter what—even if you turned into a pile of crap, I'd know it's you."

"Your analogy is spot-on vivid."

Ye Chen remarked meaningfully.

"Enough chit-chat, I'll take you to a great place."

Yan Laodao grabbed Ye Chen without asking and dragged him along, pushing through the crowd into a tavern.

"Wow!"

As soon as they entered, Ye Chen exclaimed in surprise. The tavern was enormous, like a whole spatial world—only someone at the Quasi-Emperor level could create something like this.

"Come on, take a look. See any familiar faces?"

Yan Laodao winked at Ye Chen.