Chapter 1662: I Cannot Give You

For a whole day, Ye Chen remained in a coma, focusing on stabilizing his cultivation. His entire body was enveloped in brilliant golden light, his Huanggu Sheng Ti appearing like a casting of pure gold, with golden blood essence burning like raging flames. Ancient visions outlined a magnificent scene. Chaotic Dao principles intertwined, flickering in and out of existence, as the ways of all things evolved on their own, imprinting themselves onto his Sheng Ti and enhancing its foundation. This process of transformation and rebirth brought with it opportunities and good fortune.

Kui Niu sat nearby, not disturbing him, quietly gazing into the void, his dark bovine eyes marked by the passage of time. Although it hadn't been long, he missed his home; the Zhutian was still the best place. Yet, the Zhutian of today was not what it once was. With the Honghuang great clans suppressing it, the beings of the myriad domains lived under great oppression. His fists clenched tightly, hatred turning his eyes blood-red, as he could hardly wait to return and fight Tuo Wu again. This time, not only would he go back, but Ye Chen, the Sheng Ti, would join him. Since they had signed a truce agreement, it would be a contest among the younger generation, and he had absolute confidence in Ye Chen. The myth of the Sheng Ti being invincible at the same level was not just a legend. Naturally, what gave him the greatest reassurance were Di Jun and Di Huang. They were the true world-shaking figures, with one taking on five emperors single-handedly; their heaven-defying feats remained unparalleled in the Zhutian to this day. If they could bring back such a great god, all the Honghuang great clans would have to bow down. Go ahead, try taking on five emperors yourselves.

"Zhutian, wait for us."

Kui Niu's words had barely faded when Ye Chen woke up. Exhaling a turbid breath, he opened his eyes, two beams of divine light shooting forth.

"The feeling I've missed."

Ye Chen took a deep, satisfying breath, his face full of contentment and enjoyment. He had once again reached the Sheng Ren level. This time, there was no backlash from the heavens; he was a true Sheng Ren, even stronger than in the Zhutian myriad domains. If he activated his Ba Ti, defeating Sheng Wangs would be effortless—he had earned that right.

Kui Niu walked over, his eyes bright, rubbing his hands eagerly. Ye Chen's advancement to Sheng Ren seemed to excite him more than it did Ye Chen himself. As the big brother, having such a brother was truly a source of pride.

"Oh? You've condensed your Yuan Shen."

Ye Chen bounced to his feet.

"I'm still a bit short compared to you."

Kui Niu pursed his lips and clicked his tongue in admiration. He had seen prodigies before, but none as monstrous as Ye Chen.

"No need to say more, I'll go back with you to get your revenge."

Ye Chen laughed.

"Speaking of going back, when are the two of us leaving?"

Kui Niu asked.

"Hold on for a bit. I need to make a trip to Yan Luo Dian first."

Ye Chen patted Kui Niu on the shoulder and vanished.

Now that he had become a Sheng Ren, he qualified as a Ming Jiang and could request a passport document. With that document, he could cross to the Nai He Qiao. Once he brought Chu Ling away, they could prepare to return to the Zhutian. He sped along like a divine ray, his heart stirred with emotion. After three hundred years and another great cycle, he truly missed Chu Ling.

He wasn't afraid of the judges playing tricks; things were different now. If the Pan Guan tried to dodge the issue, he wouldn't mind going to chat with Di Huang.

"Huh? Is that the Sheng Ti?"

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

"Don't say, it really is."

People on the ground all looked up, while those in the sky quickly cleared a path for Ye Chen from a distance.

"He's actually advanced to the Sheng Ren level; his combat power must be even more terrifying."

Gazing at Ye Chen, many couldn't help but recall the earlier events. The seventy-two Ming Jiangs had been beaten down by him alone, with most wiped out and the rest nearly crippled. Back then, Ye Chen was only a quasi-Sheng Ren, and now that he had become a Sheng Ren, anyone could imagine how frightening his power was. The Ming Jie was full of prodigies, but ones as monstrous as Ye Chen were rare. Among the younger generation in the Di Fu, no one was his match.

By this point, Ye Chen had descended from the sky and stood before the Yan Luo Dian. Seeing it was Ye Chen, the Gui Wang guarding the hall felt a jolt in their hearts. This was a ruthless figure who had turned the Ming Jie upside down. Glancing at his cultivation, the two were shocked again. Did he have to be so outrageous? Every visit, his cultivation leaped forward. Their expressions turned awkward; they were all part of the Yin Cao Di Fu, but comparing themselves to Ye Chen, the Sheng Ti, was disheartening.

"You two Gui brothers, could you please announce my arrival? I wish to see the Pan Guan."

Ye Chen said with a smile. Though he had slain many Ming Jiangs, he carried no airs, which made the two Gui Wang feel quite comfortable.

"No need to announce; come in directly."

Before the Gui Wang could speak, an ethereal voice from the Yan Luo Dian called out.

Ye Chen smiled and stepped inside, his mood excellent.

In the hall, the Pan Guan sat at the head, with Hei Bai Wu Chang standing on either side. As Ye Chen entered, the three of them clicked their tongues in amazement, sizing him up and down. This guy was truly a talent, an exceptionally formidable one. The battle half a month ago had made Ye Chen famous, and the first hall had also gained notoriety. In that fight, the Ming Jiangs of the first hall were fine, but those from the other halls had been killed or maimed.

"You're really something, kid."

The Pan Guan stood up and came down, stroking his beard as he circled Ye Chen, grinning nonstop.

"In such a short time, you've advanced to Sheng Ren."

Hei Bai Wu Chang also came down, following the Pan Guan and circling Ye Chen.

"The passport document."

Ye Chen chuckled and extended his hand. "I've advanced to Sheng Ren, so no backing out now."

"With Di Jun backing you, I'd have to think twice!"

"That may be, but hurry up. I'm rushing to the Nai He Qiao to woo a girl."

"Very sorry, the passport document you want—I can't give it."

The Pan Guan waved his hand and returned to his seat.

"You said that once I became a Ming Jiang, you'd give me the passport document."

Ye Chen's face darkened, black lines crawling across his forehead.

"I did say that."

The Pan Guan shrugged. "But the problem is, you're not actually a Ming Jiang position, so I really can't give it."

"Or, you could check your Gong De book first."

Hei Bai Wu Chang added meaningfully.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, flicked his sleeve, and summoned the Gong De book into his hand. As he flipped through it, he was stunned, his mouth twitching wildly. On the Gong De book, his merit points were zero. Below that, lines of text recorded all the "good deeds" he had done recently, such as slaying the Ming Jiangs half a month ago. Every Ming Jiang he had killed was listed clearly, each as an act of wickedness that deducted merits.

Well, then! He had boldly wiped out nearly fifty Ming Jiangs, but his merits had been deducted down to nothing. His expression became extraordinarily colorful. Earlier, his merits had been sufficient, but his level wasn't, so he couldn't be sealed as a Ming Jiang. Now, his level was reached, but his merits had been deducted to zero.

"Hey, have I backed out on my word?"

The Pan Guan looked at Ye Chen with a smile.

"No."

Ye Chen rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on. He had been so caught up in the killing that he forgot the rules of the Ming Jie—this surprise hit him out of nowhere.

"I handle things fairly and never back out."

"For Di Jun's sake, could you make an exception?"

Ye Chen rubbed his hands and chuckled, not wanting to run around earning merits; he just pulled out the Di Huang card to avoid trouble.

"Can't."

The Pan Guan refused outright, though he was laughing heartily.

Ye Chen felt like cursing. If you're not giving me the passport document, why are you smiling so much? Are you just messing with me?

"Head out and turn left to earn some merits! You're a real talent; I have high hopes for you."

The Pan Guan said meaningfully.

"Fine."

Ye Chen took a deep breath and held back his urge to explode, strongly suspecting the Pan Guan was doing this on purpose. Merits? With his Sheng Ren combat power, plus the Ba Ti state, going to the Nie Hai to slay evil dragons was just a matter of time.

Ye Chen left, his face full of black lines, having been thwarted again. That passport document was truly a stumbling block for heroes; he had slain great emperors twice, yet capsized in this shallow ditch.

"Wooing a girl really drives progress!"

Watching Ye Chen's departing figure, the Pan Guan and Hei Bai Wu Chang both said earnestly. Though they didn't know why Ye Chen was so fixated on the new Nai He Qiao deity, for her sake, he had skyrocketed in power. A few months ago, he was just a ghost soul without even a Yuan Shen. A few months later, not only had he condensed his Yuan Shen, but his cultivation had surged all the way to Sheng Ren. Such a heaven-defying speed was unbelievable. Even Di Jun hadn't been this extraordinary in the past. The Huanggu Sheng Ti lineage was full of absolute prodigies, incredibly formidable ones.