Chapter 1709: He is Ye Chen

Qing Luan pulled Ye Chen, soaring into the sky and streaking across the vast heavens.

In the distance lay a stretch of immortal mountains, shrouded in swirling clouds and misty haze, bathed in moonlight like a woman veiled in light gauze.

That was the immortal mountain of Qing Luan's family, a paradise akin to the mortal realm.

This clan was a branch of the Hong Huang Yuan Feng lineage, considered a major powerhouse in the Ling Yu domain, with an inherited bloodline comparable to that of divine beasts.

Qing Luan was the princess of the Qing Luan clan, of noble status.

As she spoke, Qing Luan had already entered the immortal mountain, drawing the attention of her clanspeople, who looked up. When they saw Ye Chen, their expressions turned to surprise.

"Princess, why did you bring back a beggar?"

"From the look of him, he's a beggar who's out of his mind."

"Are you all that idle? Get back to your duties." An elder scolded coldly, dismissing the gossipy crowd with an air of authority.

Qing Luan landed on a mountain peak and set Ye Chen down.

A boy and a girl ran over from the peak, bowed to Qing Luan, and then fixed their curious eyes on Ye Chen.

"Old Ancestor, come quickly and take a look at him," Qing Luan called out.

No sooner had she spoken than a graceful figure appeared, dressed in phoenix robes, with a peerlessly beautiful face surrounded by radiant divine light, pure and flawless.

She was the old ancestor of the Qing Luan clan, known as Qing Luan Old Ancestor.

Her cultivation had reached the pinnacle, a true Zhun Di level expert.

Unfortunately, her lifespan was nearing its end, with a trace of black energy lingering on her forehead. Unless something unexpected happened, she wouldn't survive beyond three years.

Meanwhile, Qing Luan cast layers of barriers.

Qing Luan Old Ancestor remained silent, her eyes like still water as she stared quietly at Ye Chen. As she looked, her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

Instinctively, she waved her jade hand over Ye Chen, drawing a drop of blood from his body and suspending it in her palm. "An Ancient Sacred Body?"

"Old Ancestor, he is Ye Chen," Qing Luan said hastily.

"Ye Chen?" Qing Luan Old Ancestor frowned, glancing at Qing Luan with a probing look. "The one who slaughtered two emperors in his lifetime?"

"That's him," Qing Luan nodded firmly.

"But isn't he dead?" Qing Luan Old Ancestor was stunned. "Could the news from the various heavens be incorrect?"

"But he really is Ye Chen," Qing Luan insisted absolutely.

"How strange, truly strange." Qing Luan Old Ancestor furrowed her brow, her Zhun Di-level composure shaken by great waves of emotion.

Legends and myths about Ye Chen had already spread throughout the Ling Yu domain.

In both the first and second invasions of the heavens by the heavenly demons, he was the main protagonist, having slain two emperors, and in the second invasion, he had perished in the starry sky.

Yet now, Ye Chen was alive—how could this not shock everyone?

If this news got out, the entire Ling Yu domain would be in an uproar.

There might even be ill-intentioned people rushing to seize Ye Chen. After all, his ability to kill two great emperors proved his extraordinary nature.

While shocked, she was also puzzled, deeply confused.

How had Ye Chen come to the Ling Yu domain? How had he gotten here? And his current state—clearly, he was out of his mind!

Without Qing Luan saying a word, she placed her finger on Ye Chen's forehead.

After a few seconds, she withdrew her hand, her brows tightly knitted, silent, with a profound light flickering in her beautiful eyes.

"Old Ancestor, what's the root cause?" Qing Luan asked.

"He's touched a taboo and suffered backlash. The fact that he's still alive is already a stroke of immense luck," Qing Luan Old Ancestor replied.

"Another taboo." Qing Luan frowned, her expression turning grim.

"From what you're saying, has he touched other taboos before?"

"Yes, back in Da Chu, he once fell into a daze and needed the Jiu You Xian Qu to awaken him. The one playing it also had to have feelings for him."

"Our clan has no one who knows the Jiu You Xian Qu." Qing Luan Old Ancestor shook her head. "Even if we did, there wouldn't be anyone with those feelings to play it."

"Is there no other way?" Qing Luan asked.

"Let me consult the secret scrolls." Qing Luan Old Ancestor turned and left, her ethereal voice echoing back. "Keep this news from spreading outside."

After she left, Qing Luan looked at Ye Chen, her brows fur rowing even deeper.

Ye Chen remained as he was, sitting quietly like a statue, motionless, his expression dull, his eyes vacant.

Qing Luan sighed. A peerless war god had fallen to this state, abandoned by the world—it was truly pitiful, truly lamentable.

"I wonder how heartbroken Lin Shi Hua would be to see you like this."

Qing Luan sighed again, gently waving her hand to summon a large bronze mirror, over a zhang high, placed in front of Ye Chen.

She then took out a razor and a comb, shaving off Ye Chen's white beard and combing his disheveled white hair.

The boy and girl watched in astonishment. Their princess had never treated a man this way before, personally grooming his hair.

"Do you still remember Da Chu? Do you still remember Heng Yue Zong?"

"I am Lin Shi Hua's contracted divine beast. I understand her feelings best—she loves you deeply. If you go back, don't let her down."

"Over three hundred years, and I still miss Da Chu sometimes."

"I remember the first time I met you, you wanted to draw my blood. If not for Lin Shi Hua speaking up, I wouldn't have let you."

Qing Luan continued speaking, combing as she murmured softly.

Back in Da Chu, she had joined the battle against the heavenly demons, fighting alongside Lin Shi Hua to protect that land.

Her former master was so devoted, willing to risk her life for Ye Chen. Qing Luan hadn't understood it back then, but she did now.

In the blink of an eye, three hundred years had passed, and she hadn't seen Lin Shi Hua since.

It was because Lin Shi Hua had reincarnated, no longer of the ancient clan bloodline, unable to communicate spiritually. Their contract had ended in her previous life.

Despite Qing Luan's every word, Ye Chen showed no reaction.

Occasionally, when he heard mentions of Da Chu, he would stiffly turn his neck.

Subconsciously, he wanted to regain his clarity, but he couldn't break through that mysterious force imprisoning him, leaving him lost.

Night deepened, and the mountain peak fell silent.

The boy led Ye Chen away to a spiritual spring, as Ye Chen was covered in filth and needed to bathe in the pool.

Qing Luan ascended to the mountaintop, standing quietly and gazing into the void.

At the peak of Jie Ming Mountain, the sound of a zither lingered like heavenly music.

Chu Ling Er plucked the strings with deep emotion, tears dropping onto them. Through her tear-filled eyes, she only saw Ye Chen.

"That girl is quite beautiful." While Chu Ling Er watched Ye Chen, Ming Jue was watching Qing Luan, utterly captivated.

Perhaps this was the legendary love at first sight.

As the disciple of the Ming Emperor, he was of noble status and had seen all kinds of women, yet he had fallen for Qing Luan—truly, fate was unpredictable.

"Master, is it not ready yet?" Bai Zhi couldn't help but ask.

Compared to that scoundrel Ming Jue, this young woman was far more reliable.

It was mainly because she couldn't bear to see it—two people with feelings for each other, separated by worlds, one lost in a daze and the other in tears. The scene was heartbreaking.

"The connection between realms is too significant. I need to bypass the laws of the underworld to channel the zither's sound into the Ling Jie domain," Di Huang said faintly.

Bai Zhi dared not speak further. As a supreme being, he knew more secrets, and even her master wouldn't touch them lightly—it was clearly a tricky matter.

Chu Ling Er cried even harder. She should be grateful that Ye Chen had encountered an old friend.

If anything happened to him, it would be an eternal regret.

At the very least, Ye Chen should know that the so-called emotional tribulation was all a ploy, and about the child in her belly—she bore the Ye surname.

The Qing Luan clan's immortal mountain welcomed the dawn, peaceful and serene.

Qing Luan Old Ancestor arrived, but only with sighs. "I've searched through all the ancestral secret scrolls. The only way to help him awaken is the Jiu You Xian Qu."

"Perhaps we could send him back to the various heavens," Qing Luan pondered. "There are many in Da Chu who know the Jiu You Xian Qu."

"How would we send him?" Qing Luan Old Ancestor smiled at Qing Luan.

"Implant a contract in his body. If someone in the various heavens can communicate spiritually, they could summon him back," Qing Luan said.

"It's not impossible, but don't forget the current state of the various heavens. The Hong Huang great clans have been unsealed, causing chaos across the myriad domains. If he goes back in his current dazed state, it's extremely dangerous. Forget about regaining clarity—he might not even survive."

"But we can't leave him in this daze forever; it's as good as being dead."

"Let's wait a bit. Soon, some of our clan's spiritually gifted disciples will return from the various heavens. We can ask for the full picture first, then send him back."

"That works too." Qing Luan scratched her head, feeling helpless.

"Enough about Ye Chen for now. Let's talk about you. How are you considering the marriage proposal from the Huo Feng clan?" Qing Luan Old Ancestor sat down.

"I don't want to." Qing Luan's expression turned cold in an instant. "Old Ancestor, you know what kind of person Huo Feng Crown Prince is—cruel and bloodthirsty, with countless innocent lives on his hands."

"You understand the situation of our clan. My lifespan is ending, and after I pass, the Qing Luan clan will face disaster. With enemies watching from all sides, we need the protection of the Huo Feng clan."

"In the end, I'm just a sacrifice in this political marriage." Qing Luan gave a sorrowful smile, tears welling in her eyes.

"Don't blame me for being heartless, old ancestor. Everything is for the clan's survival." Qing Luan Old Ancestor sighed, even a Zhun Di feeling powerless.