Chapter 1604: The Naihe Bridge

Donghuang Taiyi let out a sigh. Her steps were light and graceful, like a lotus blooming. She stepped into the void and, with a casual wave, drew Ye Chen into her sleeve.

The goddess of Kunlun unleashed her great divine powers and left the realm of Da Chu.

Following her, many from Tianxuan Gate ascended to the heavens in a single step.

Without exception, they were all Zhundi. Ji Huang was among them, though he did not bring any ultimate Dao Emperor weapons. They were not there to fight.

Yue Huang murmured softly, "I wonder if telling him about this was right or wrong. Nai He Bridge is just a path to the Yellow Springs."

Yan Huang replied, "At least, it won't leave any regrets."

Zhan Wang said, "Should we call in the Red Dust and the Six Paths? We might not lose if we fight with force."

Chu Huang responded coolly, "Don't underestimate Wulei City."

The emperors fell silent. Clearly, the Red Dust and the Six Paths could not be released. Even if they were, it wouldn't guarantee a victory against Wulei City.

In the end, it all depended on Ye Chen himself. The people of Da Chu could not interfere.

In the vast starry sky, Wulei City floated, radiating immortal light in all directions.

On Nai He Bridge, the Zhundi wine seller still trudged forward with his aged steps, bent under an invisible pressure.

Even a powerful Zhundi found it difficult to walk. His old body cracked apart continuously.

He was not alone on the bridge. There were over a dozen other figures, including youths, middle-aged people, and elders, all with tears in their eyes.

Like the wine-selling Zhundi, each of them had a loved one in Wulei City, haunting their dreams night after night.

Though they knew it was a road to death, they pressed on relentlessly.

A gentle breeze blew, and several figures turned to ash in an instant.

More followed, collapsing one after another, vanishing into dust before reaching the end of the bridge, lost to the winds of history.

In the end, only the old wine-selling Zhundi remained on Nai He Bridge.

His back was desolate and lonely. His body was so aged it was unrecognizable.

He was close to the far end of the bridge, but his steps grew heavier, his legs trembling as if about to kneel.

Finally, he collapsed with a thud and could not rise again.

In his final moments, his murky old eyes were filled with ancient tenderness, calling out until the end.

Crystalline tears blurred his vision. In his haze, he saw a graceful shadow dancing under the moon.

Even a Zhundi could be deeply in love, but he never crossed Nai He Bridge.

Sighs echoed from all directions, thick with sorrow. The splendid Nai He Bridge had buried too many souls, each leaving with regrets.

From beginning to end, not a single woman emerged from Wulei City.

Xiao Jiuxian, furious, muttered, "You're splitting up loving couples! How could you do that?"

She quickly hid behind Kui Niu.

Xiao Yuan Huang covered Xiao Jiuxian's mouth and whispered, "My dear girl, keep it down. That city is dangerous."

Xiao Jiuxian pouted and said, "I'm just so angry. They're clearly meant for each other, yet you're forcing them apart, one in the living world and one in the underworld."

Her words struck a chord, resonating with everyone around.

Why couldn't lovers in the world end up together? Wasn't that a better outcome?

Yet Wulei City insisted on separating those with deep affection.

What a beautiful city, but it did such heartless things. And it calls itself the Immortal City of the human world? What a perfect irony.

For a time, the onlookers cursed Wulei City a thousand times over.

"Is that Da Chu's nine ultimate ruthless figures?" someone exclaimed in surprise, drawing all eyes to one side.

In that part of the starry sky, divine rainbows streaked continuously, and Da Chu's nine emperors were among them. Their reputations had already spread across the heavens.

"It's really them, along with the Zhutian Sword God and the Dan Zun."

"Such a lineup—surely they're targeting some race again." Remembering past events, many felt a shiver in their hearts.

"They're not going to attack Wulei City, are they?" someone speculated, instantly brightening everyone's gazes.

Da Chu's nine emperors were fiercely powerful, having once raged against four races and even wiped out Ling Shan. They were the epitome of dominance.

Wulei City was ancient and mighty. It had slain a Zhundi in an instant, its terror unmatched, rivaling even the forbidden zones.

If these two sides clashed, the heavens would truly erupt in chaos.

"Is that Da Chu's nine emperors?" Elders from recently unsealed ancient clans, such as the Yuangu Dragon Clan, Man Clan, Xuanwu Clan, and Kui Niu Clan, hid in the shadows, all gazing in that direction.

"Nine Zhundi at the peak—this lineup is absolutely explosive!"

"No wonder the four major races were crushed and couldn't lift their heads."

"Even now, no one knows where Da Chu is located." The Dragon Clan elder stroked his beard, full of confusion.

Amid the discussions, Da Chu's nine emperors, Donghuang Taiyi, and the others descended, a total of twenty Zhundi, their presence dominating the starry sky.

Donghuang Taiyi spoke softly, "Wulei, long time no see."

She stood in the stars, her divine form elegant, gazing toward Wulei City.

From within Wulei City, a voice finally replied, ethereal as if descending from the nine heavens, melodious yet laced with supreme indifference, "Long time no see."

Zhutian Sword God also spoke, "May we ask Wulei for one person? Consider it a favor from Da Chu."

Wulei's voice drifted leisurely, "Wulei means without tears, just as your sword is without Dao."

"What a perfect 'Wulei without emotion'," a childish voice suddenly rang out, coming from Donghuang Taiyi's sleeve—or more precisely, from within it. It was Ye Chen speaking.

He emerged, standing quietly and gazing at Wulei City, his expression devoid of joy or sorrow.

His appearance stunned the cultivators from all sides.

For Ye Chen, with his two- or three-year-old appearance, was plump and adorable, yet his words carried great weight.

Ye Chen ignored the surroundings, his eyes fixed solely on Wulei City, and said calmly, without arrogance or humility, "If I cross Nai He Bridge, may I take her with me?"

Wulei replied indifferently, "Naturally."

Ye Chen was decisive, saying, "Very well, your word is your bond."

With that, he stepped onto the starry sky and ascended to the head of Nai He Bridge.

"Who's that little guy?" Seeing Ye Chen on the bridge, everyone was shocked, not expecting him to step forward.

"Even Zhundi are kneeling—a Tianjing cultivator? What's he playing at?"

"Can't deny it, he's awfully cute."

"An old man like me can tell with a quick divination—he's not here for a wife; he's here for his mother," someone said meaningfully.

"He looks a bit familiar." Xiao Yuan Huang, Kui Niu, and the others stroked their chins. "Feels like we've seen him somewhere before."

"Hope he can create another legend." The nine emperors took a deep breath, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Ye Chen stood at the bridge's head, closing his eyes slightly and steadying his breath.

Only upon stepping onto Nai He Bridge did he realize how extraordinary it was. An invisible pressure bore down like a mountain.

He was certain that the further he went, the stronger the pressure would become.

At the far end of the bridge, a figure materialized.

It was a woman, veiled and shrouded in immortal mist, her hair flowing like rippling water, each strand glowing. Her bright, clear eyes were serene and emotionless.

In the haze, she seemed like a dream, standing at the bridge's end yet as distant as an unattainable vision.

She was like a banished immortal, pure and flawless, untouched by any dust.

Ye Chen opened his eyes and looked at the woman opposite him, his gaze overflowing with tender tears that blurred his vision.

It was her—definitely her. No need for Zhou Tian divination or questions; on Nai He Bridge, he recognized her at a glance.

After three hundred years of trials, three hundred years of hardships, through lifetimes past and present, battered by the winds of time, he had finally found her.

Ancient memories and past events all returned in this instant.

On Nai He Bridge, at the two ends—one side and the other—he gazed at her, and she gazed back at him.

Though only a hundred or so zhang apart, it felt like eons of change separated them. Their eyes met, aging through the mortal world.

His eyes were full of tears, while hers were filled with confusion. In her dreams, she had seen him before—strange, yet familiar.

Ye Chen choked out, "Chu Xuan, wait for me. Your Ye Chen has come to take you away."