Chapter 1487: A Promise Kept

Late at night, Ye Chen finally stopped at the outskirts of the Kong Que Clan's immortal mountain. To avoid detection by the clan's experts, he used the Heavenly Dao escape technique. Once he confirmed his position, he landed on the Kong Que mountain peak.

As soon as he looked around, he saw Kui Niu and Xiao Yuan Huang's six troublemakers—some picking their toes, others plucking fruits, digging holes, or blowing bubbles. What a bizarre bunch.

Oh boy! Spotting Ye Chen's return, the six of them jumped up and rushed over for a big bear hug.

Kui Niu, however, got shoved aside by Ye Chen with one hand, since he was the one who had been picking his toes earlier. That overwhelming stench of cow funk was enough to make anyone want to run to the bathroom.

"Xiao Kong Que said it, and I didn't believe it at first, but now I do," Xiao Yuan Huang grinned and clicked his tongue, scratching his monkey fur while circling around Ye Chen. "Impressive, you're really impressive."

"So many quasi-emperors, so many great saints, so many saint kings, and you still made it out alive."

"We've been waiting impatiently for three days, just for you to come back and show off," Di Wu Xiong said with a meaningful smile. "Can't deny it, this time you pulled off the act pretty well."

"Keep it low-key." Ye Chen smoothed his hair, his aura of coolness growing even more refined.

"You really nailed it, damn, it's satisfying." Kui Niu smirked and opened his storage bag, pulling out huge wine jars one after another, stacking them into a small mountain. "My family is about to seal itself away, who knows when we'll meet again. Let's brothers drink our hearts out."

The word "brothers" lit up the atmosphere. The group rolled up their sleeves, tore off their shirts, grabbed the wine jars without using bowls or any spiritual power—it was all raw, real deal.

Ye Chen didn't hold back. These jokers might be a bunch of shameless types, and they hadn't known each other long, but they were loyal to a fault. At the Wan Zu Sheng Hui, they helped him without hesitation—people he could trust with his back, true brothers.

After a few rounds, the seven of them were totally hammered, sprawled out on the grass, chatting about their cultivation adventures. As they talked, the dirty jokes started flying, one after another.

Of course, they didn't forget about Jin Wu and Kun Peng—those two shameless scoundrels. The seven hated them to the bone, unanimously deciding to settle old scores with each one day.

The night grew deeper, and Kui Niu, Xiao Yuan Huang, and the others passed out from the booze.

Ye Chen sobered up and headed deeper into the mountain peak, entering a bamboo grove. There, he found an immortal pool bathed in moonlight, its radiant colors swirling with ethereal visions.

Qian Shang Yue stood beside the pool, dressed in men's clothing with a black outfit and a black cloak, a hood hanging at her waist. She looked ready for a long journey.

"Is this outfit for a trip that lasts centuries?" Ye Chen smiled slightly as he approached and stood by the pool. Man Shan was lying inside, still unconscious.

He had been badly injured before, with his bloodline devoured and his Dao roots affected. Thanks to Qian Shang Yue's desperate efforts to save him, his cultivation and life were preserved. Now, with the immortal pool nourishing him, he was out of danger.

Ye Chen gently raised his hand, adding various immortal liquids and crushing several high-grade pills—all for strengthening foundations and solidifying origins—to stabilize Man Shan's roots and prevent the injuries from worsening.

"I thought I wouldn't get to see you before I left," Qian Shang Yue turned her head with a gentle smile. "I'm heading out to find Shen Xuan Feng. It's probably going to be a long journey."

"The reincarnated ones—have their seals been lifted?"

"Don't worry about my work." Qian Shang Yue chuckled softly. "The jade slip with the memory-sealing immortal light you gave me has been distributed to them. They're likely already on their way to search for people."

"More people means more power." Ye Chen laughed, though his smile carried a hint of exhaustion.

"Your lifespan..." Qian Shang Yue looked at Ye Chen, noticing his full head of white hair and the wrinkles at his eyes. She bit her lip, her watery eyes filled with worry. She couldn't help but regret bringing him to the Wan Zu Sheng Hui, or none of this would have happened.

"Don't worry, I'm tough as nails. Even if I have to cling on shamelessly, I'll make it to the day Da Chu returns." Ye Chen laughed freely. "One day, I'll take you all back to our homeland."

"Since Ye Chen says so, don't go back on your word." Qian Shang Yue smiled lightly, slowly standing up and gently cupping Ye Chen's face in her hands. She planted a red lip mark on his forehead.

Just like with Hong Chen Xue in the past, the one Qian Shang Yue kissed was not Ye Chen, but Shen Xuan Feng.

She left, putting on her hood, her cloak swaying in the moonlight. She faded into the distance, no longer the princess of the Kong Que Clan, but more like a wandering traveler setting off to cross mountains and rivers.

Behind her, Ye Chen smiled, but a trickle of fresh blood overflowed from his mouth, forcing him to sit cross-legged. Lightning was already surging through his body—dark, violent bolts tearing at his saintly form.

Heavenly tribulation had come, without any warning. Though its power wasn't overwhelming, it was because his tribulation had partially canceled out with Ji Ning Shuang's. Otherwise, it would have been a real headache.

Soon after, he forcefully suppressed the tribulation, but he couldn't erase it completely. As long as he was alive and defying the heavens, he couldn't escape this punishment.

The heavens held grudges, their authority and will supreme, intent on erasing anyone who opposed them.

"Am I even still alive?" In the immortal pool, Man Shan's body trembled, though he didn't open his eyes. It was his divine sense speaking, his tone laced with confusion and simmering anger.

"Pretty much, just barely." Ye Chen smiled, finding a spot to sit nearby.

"Ye Chen?" Man Shan was surprised, recognizing the voice, but he couldn't open his eyes.

"You were hurt too badly, your Dao roots damaged, but they've been mended." Ye Chen spoke slowly. "As for your bloodline, it was destroyed, so I found you a new one. It's not bad at all."

"This time, I really took a huge fall." Man Shan fumed, cursing nonstop. "That damn feathered Jin Wu bird—I swear, once I'm recovered, I'll make him pay for scheming against me."

"Let's not dwell on that." Ye Chen changed the subject. "What about the others? Hao Tian Xuan Zhen, Mo Yuan, and Xiao Ling Wa—did you get any news about them after we split up that day?"

"We split into groups. Liu Yi and I stayed in Xuan Huang, while Hao Tian Xuan Zhen and Mo Yuan went to the outer star domains." Man Shan replied. "As for Xiao Ling Wa, he went to the Ba Wang Long ancestor's land—he's not in Xuan Huang, and I don't know which star domain he's in. He said he was going to save his father."

"I almost forgot about that." Ye Chen frowned, recalling how Xiao Ling Wa had mentioned his father years ago. Due to a rebellion in the Ba Wang Long clan, the emperor was sealed, and Xiao Ling Wa had once invited him to help rescue him. But back then, their cultivation was too low, and he hadn't realized Xiao Ling Wa had gone alone.

Man Shan fell silent, focusing on merging his new bloodline and stabilizing his Dao roots to rebuild his golden body.

Ye Chen waved his hand, sending out a strand of immortal light containing various details, explaining that this was the Kong Que Clan's territory and a safe place for Man Shan to recover.

With that done, Ye Chen stood up. Now that Man Shan was regaining his senses, it was time for him to hit the road and continue his search. From here on, it would be a dusty journey until Da Chu returned, until his last second of lifespan was spent.

As soon as he left the bamboo grove, he spotted a figure standing there, back turned to him. Taking a closer look, it was the Kong Que Clan's Da Ming Wang, who seemed to have been waiting for a while.

Seeing Ye Chen emerge, Da Ming Wang sighed in admiration, sizing him up. "No wonder Que Er acted like nothing was wrong earlier—she must have known you were still alive. You've truly surprised me. I underestimated the descendants of the Six Paths. Your ancestors dominated the eight wastelands, and you juniors certainly live up to that legacy."

"You're too kind, senior." Ye Chen bowed respectfully, always polite to his elders.

"You're not lovers with Que Er, are you?" Da Ming Wang sat down, smiling warmly with a kindly expression. "I'm old, but I can still see some things clearly."

"As you said." Ye Chen chuckled awkwardly. "Honestly, I couldn't handle her."

"What a shame." Da Ming Wang shook his head with a smile, thinking he had imagined the Kong Que Clan's little princess and the Archaic Holy Body as a perfect match, but now it seemed otherwise.

"The one she loves is even more astonishing than you might imagine," Ye Chen couldn't help but smile.

"Let's not talk about my Que Er. Let's discuss the City of No Tears." Da Ming Wang smiled, looking at Ye Chen. "Has your Six Paths ancestor ever mentioned that legendary City of No Tears to you?"