Chapter 1979: Diligent and Conscientious

After leaving Gu Xing, Xie Mo headed straight north. Whenever she arrived at a new star, she would pause for a moment and use her Xian Yan to search for treasures.

However, this time, her luck was poor. Over the past two months, she hadn't found a single alchemy material.

She didn't mind searching for two months, but the awkward part was that Ye Chen had been carried along the whole time and was starting to forget what it felt like to stand on his own.

Once again, they reached a stretch of starry space, and Xie Mo stopped.

Just as before, she closed her eyes, and her third eye in the center of her forehead opened, radiating immortal light and infused with Dao essence.

After three to five seconds, she opened her eyes and sighed helplessly. There were no alchemy materials to be found. Although Xian Yan could locate treasures, they had to exist first.

"Can I get down and stand for a bit?"

Xie Mo didn't reply but simply set Ye Chen down.

"Can I borrow your Xian Yan for a use?"

"If you can refine the Jiu Zhuan Huan Hun Dan, I'd give you this Xian Yan without a second thought."

Xie Mo said this while glancing at the starry sky.

"I recorded what you just said. Don't go back on your word later."

Ye Chen held up a recording stone and waved it in front of Xie Mo.

Xie Mo ignored him, more concerned about the alchemy materials than anything else.

As she looked around, she took out a mask and put it on, covering her face.

Ye Chen followed suit, pulling out a hat to conceal his features.

It turned out that a tribulation person was passing by—a young man with blood-red hair, dressed in flowing purple robes, exuding overwhelming murderous energy like a supreme demon king. He was at the Huang Jing level, just a step away from becoming a Zhun Sheng.

Upon closer inspection, that blood-haired youth was indeed Mo Yuan.

This was why Xie Mo had put on the mask and Ye Chen the hat—they couldn't interfere with tribulation matters. Ye Chen knew it, and so did Xie Mo. Besides, this tribulation person was Mo Yuan.

"The universe is so vast, yet we meet again."

Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh.

The first time he had encountered Mo Yuan in tribulation, Mo Yuan was on a rampage, slaughtering living beings. For that, the Ren Wang had asked him a ridiculous question, leading to Ye Chen's twenty years of heart refining and cultivation.

Glancing at Xie Mo, he saw her expression was somewhat dazed, her eyes misty. That battle from back then had been too brutal, and the memory was still fresh.

Millennia later, she was still alive, and so was Mo Yuan, but Mu Liuqing and Hong Lian Nu Di had long become dust in history.

By the time they spoke, Mo Yuan had already approached. He glanced sideways at Xie Mo and Ye Chen, his brows furrowing slightly—he felt they were familiar. Even after walking far away, he kept looking back.

"Hope Mo Yuan predecessor passes his tribulation successfully."

Ye Chen took a deep breath.

"He has alchemy materials on him."

Xie Mo said casually.

"Are you sure?"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

"A stalk of Zaohua Qinglian."

Xie Mo replied indifferently.

"Really?"

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Mo Yuan's retreating figure. Mo Yuan hadn't gone far yet, so he could still see clearly.

Unfortunately, compared to Xie Mo, his vision fell short. After scrutinizing, he couldn't detect the aura of the Zaohua Qinglian. Or perhaps Mo Yuan had hidden it well—it evaded Ye Chen's scrutiny but not the Xian Yan of the demon Xie Mo, which was inherently gifted for finding treasures.

So, the question arose: should they take the materials from Mo Yuan or not?

Taking them would disrupt his tribulation;

Not taking them, who knew what complications might arise? If Mo Yuan consumed them, that would be absurd.

Ye Chen was conflicted, and so was Xie Mo.

If it were any other tribulation person, she would act without hesitation. But since it was Mo Yuan, any move she made could lead to his downfall. Even if she later refined the Jiu Zhuan Huan Hun Dan and revived her lover, Mu Liuqing would live with guilt forever. He and Mo Yuan were old friends, after all.

"Take it or not?"

Ye Chen looked at Xie Mo.

"Follow him."

Xie Mo whispered, leading Ye Chen into the void space and quietly trailing behind Mo Yuan.

And so, the two followed, one ahead and one behind, crossing star after star.

Ye Chen was fine, but Xie Mo nearly acted several times. Truly, when it came to alchemy materials, she often lost her reason, all for the sake of reviving Mu Liuqing.

"I get your mindset, but you have to hold back."

Ye Chen glanced at Xie Mo—it was the umpteenth time he'd reminded her. He feared she might impulsively attack, disrupting the tribulation and potentially dooming Mo Yuan, or even dragging other tribulation people into it.

This wasn't a joke. The death of a Hong Huang Zhun Di didn't bother Ye Chen, but if a Da Chu Zhun Di fell, that would be tragic.

"This god has self-control."

Xie Mo replied coldly.

As they spoke, Mo Yuan had entered a sea of stars, stepping onto a small boat and sailing toward the other shore. His cultivation was too weak; from start to finish, he had no idea someone was following him.

Ye Chen watched with a sigh, thinking Mo Yuan was too bold. He was only at Huang Jing and carried a stalk of Zaohua Qinglian, yet he dared wander through the stars. Wasn't he afraid of being robbed?

Ahead, Mo Yuan stopped and hid in the space.

Xie Mo and Ye Chen found this odd—what was he up to?

Soon, they saw someone emerge on the opposite side, also on a small boat—a black-robed Daoist with a knife scar on his face, blood seeping from it. His eyes were blood-red, his aura vicious; he was a Zhun Sheng, clearly no good sort.

Under Xie Mo and Ye Chen's watchful eyes, Mo Yuan burst from the space, delivering a domineering sword strike aimed at the black-robed Daoist's head.

The black-robed Daoist paled, unaware anyone was hidden there. He had no time to see who it was before his Yuan Shen escaped his body. The attack targeted his true form—if his physical body was destroyed, that was fine, but his Yuan Shen couldn't be extinguished.

Thud!

Blood splattered as the black-robed Daoist's head was severed. Luckily, his Yuan Shen had escaped quickly; otherwise, he might have been done for.

"It's you."

The black-robed Daoist's Yuan Shen finally saw his attacker and seemed to recognize the tribulation-bound Mo Yuan.

Mo Yuan said nothing, his sword piercing the sky with devastating power.

The black-robed Daoist was furious but dared not clash head-on. Without his physical body, his Yuan Shen lacked a foundation. Even though Mo Yuan was only at Huang Jing, he wasn't someone the Daoist could fight—because he knew Mo Yuan was no ordinary Huang Jing cultivator.

Realizing he couldn't win, the Daoist fled.

But Mo Yuan was faster, his form like a phantom, closing the distance in one step and extinguishing the Daoist's Yuan Shen with a sword.

Everything happened in a flash. The black-robed Daoist died in frustration—a Zhun Sheng slain in an instant by a Huang Jing cultivator.

He was frustrated, but the hidden Ye Chen and Xie Mo looked on with strange expressions.

Just moments ago, they had worried about Mo Yuan being robbed. Now, it turned out Mo Yuan was the one robbing others. Their concerns had been completely unnecessary.

Mo Yuan slipped back into the void space, seemingly lying in wait to continue his raids.

Sure enough, more people came, and not just a few—ranging from Huang Jing to Da Sheng levels.

Mo Yuan wasn't foolish; he avoided the Da Sheng and targeted only Huang Jing and Zhun Sheng cultivators.

He diligently carried out his robberies, while Ye Chen and Xie Mo watched earnestly, occasionally rubbing their brows.

That was Mo Yuan! The lover of Hong Lian Nu Di, now a tribulation-bound bandit. Just watching was novel, let alone hearing about it.

As they spoke, another person approached—a bearded, fat old man, bare-chested and burly, like a Maitreya Buddha. He strolled along, drinking from a flask and humming a tune, completely at ease.

The fat old man was at Da Sheng level, so Mo Yuan didn't dare provoke him and stayed hidden in the void, his concealment skills impressive. The old man passed by without noticing a thing.

Mo Yuan didn't act, but Ye Chen's eyes lit up. He stared intently at the fat old man, or more precisely, at the wine gourd in his hand. That was a treasure—specifically, the golden characters etched on the gourd were the treasure: Dun Jia Tian Zi, and not just one, but three.

"You keep watching; I'll go chat with that old man."

Ye Chen turned and walked away, moving through the void space and stealthily following the fat old man.

Xie Mo didn't stop him; she knew what Ye Chen wanted. With so many Dun Jia Tian Zi etched on his Hun Dun Ding, how could she not know?

With Ye Chen gone, she stayed put, still watching, wondering if she should knock Mo Yuan out and take the Zaohua Qinglian. But in the end, she dismissed the idea.

On the other side, the fat old man had left the sea of stars, stowed his boat, and summoned a flying sword to sit on while drinking. He had no idea someone was tailing him.

It wasn't until they reached a desolate starry space that Ye Chen emerged from the void, stepping forward to block the fat old man's path.

The sudden appearance startled the old man; he collided straight into Ye Chen. Fortunately, Ye Chen's saintly body was tough—if it had been an ordinary Sheng Wang, he'd have been turned into a pulp.

"Are you in such a hurry to reincarnate? Watch where you're going!"

The fat old man grumbled.

"It was rude of this junior; please don't be angry, senior."

Ye Chen smiled.

"Are you sick?"

The fat old man was decent enough not to hassle Ye Chen further. He remounted his flying sword, ready to leave.

"Wait a moment, senior."

Ye Chen stepped forward quickly, blocking him again. Without beating around the bush, he stated his purpose with a smile.

"That wine gourd of yours—could you sell it to this junior?"

"What? What did you say?"

The fat old man burst out laughing, sizing up Ye Chen. You little fool, I'm not robbing you, and here you are trying to buy my treasure?

The awkward part was that Ye Chen wore a hat, with Zhou Tian evolution concealing him. Even this Da Sheng couldn't see his true face, which piqued the old man's interest. A mere Sheng Wang with such mysterious hiding techniques—wasn't that something?

"The price can be negotiated."

Ye Chen said with a grin, opting for courtesy first. It wouldn't do to just snatch someone's treasure; he'd resort to force only if needed. Besides, he could handle this old man.

"You're no fool."

The old man chuckled, pointing to the three golden characters on the wine gourd.

"These are Dun Jia Tian Zi—priceless treasures. How much are you offering? Can you even afford it?"

Oh, he knows his stuff. Ye Chen scratched his head, thinking the old man hadn't recognized them. Turns out, the man was well-traveled and knew Dun Jia Tian Zi were valuable.

"Come on, take off that hat and let grandpa have a look. I want to see what you look like."

The fat old man was bored and in no hurry; he was just curious about Ye Chen's face.

"I'll keep the hat on."

Ye Chen laughed and stretched his neck.

"Just say yes or no—let's keep it straightforward."

The old man laughed again.

"What, if I say no, are you planning to rob me?"

"If you don't sell, I'll rob it."

Ye Chen was blunt, speaking the truth.

The old man was stunned, almost thinking Ye Chen was the Da Sheng and he the Sheng Wang.

How many years had it been? He was always the one robbing others, and no one had ever tried to take his treasures—let alone a Sheng Wang.

"Have all the Sheng Wang in the heavens gotten this arrogant?"

The fat old man stroked his beard, speaking with a tone of experience. It had been eight hundred years since he'd seen such a character.

"I'm a busy person, so no more chit-chat."

Ye Chen stepped forward and, without another word, threw a straightforward punch.