Chapter 2027: Wonderful, Truly Wonderful

"What a monster," Yang Ge Lao shuddered, keeping pace with Ye Chen. In his eyes, the young man ahead was nothing short of a demon.

By the time they reached Zhu Xian Zhen, the night was already deep.

Ye Chen headed straight for his small garden. Yang Ge Lao, meanwhile, trailed behind at a leisurely pace, shaking his head all the while. Even after reaching Ye Chen's doorstep, the old man made no move to leave and occasionally let out a light cough, seemingly reminding Ye Chen that he was still there.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, glancing at Yang Ge Lao several times.

It wasn't until the moment before entering his home that he finally understood—the old man had forgotten something. What was it? Oh, right, he had promised to pass on the light skill manual to Yang Ge Lao. Otherwise, why would the old fellow follow him all the way here? Ye Chen’s memory might be fuzzy, but Yang Ge Lao hadn't forgotten.

"Just say it outright!"

"I thought you'd remember eventually," Yang Ge Lao said, his tone one of earnest advice.

"You're making things complicated. Wait here."

Ye Chen went inside, and in less than three minutes, an ancient scroll flew out from the door.

"Take the manual and be on your way."

"Got it!"

Yang Ge Lao caught it, grinning from ear to ear. With one arm hugging the Hei Xuan Tie and the other clutching the manual, tonight was full of joyous surprises. He had acquired the divine iron for forging weapons and now an unparalleled secret manual—one a stroke of fate, the other a profound opportunity. Tonight, sleep was out of the question.

Back at the inn, he bolted the door, set down the Hei Xuan Tie, and eagerly unrolled the scroll. It was filled with text, each character brimming with an indescribable aura, elaborating on the wonders of Tai Xu Bu. Along with it were Ye Chen's many insights, all written within.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful."

By candlelight, Yang Ge Lao read aloud in admiration. Even as a martial arts expert who had cultivated internal energy for decades, he couldn't help but praise it. He had never seen such a profound manual, explaining the essence of light skills so thoroughly that it gave him a moment of sudden enlightenment.

Amid his excitement, he felt deeply honored. A manual like this was a treasure of the martial world, and Ye Chen handed it over without hesitation, treating him like family. What an honor!

Calming his emotions, Old Yang tucked the scroll under his arm and headed to the backyard, trying step by step as described in the manual.

Unfortunately, his aptitude was average, and he struggled to grasp the essence of Tai Xu Bu. He ended up sweating profusely without even scratching the surface.

The more difficult it was, the more thrilled he became. A manual that anyone could master easily would be mediocre. Something like Tai Xu Bu required gradual accumulation and comprehension to truly understand its secrets.

That was spot on. Even Ye Chen, when he first learned Tai Xu Bu years ago, had taken several centuries to fully master its essence. How much more so for an ordinary mortal?

In the blink of an eye, dawn arrived.

In the inn's backyard, Yang Ge Lao was still immersed in deciphering the manual.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen had already reached the inn's entrance, casually setting up his fortune-telling gear. He wasn't surprised not to see Yang Ge Lao waiting today. After all, Yang Ge Lao was a reclusive martial arts master and also a martial arts fanatic. The profundity of Tai Xu Bu would captivate anyone.

"Grandpa, I brought you something to eat," Yang Ge Lao might not have come, but little Yang Fan had. As always, he held out steaming hot meat buns, smiling with simple sincerity, pure and innocent.

Ye Chen smiled and didn't refuse.

The little guy was very sensible. He waved goodbye and scampered off to his private school.

After finishing one bun, Ye Chen struck his classic pose: hands cradling his cheeks, looking utterly bored. If no one came for fortune-telling, he'd just wait.

He didn't know how long it took before he glanced sideways.

In the bustling crowd, a few figures supported each other, limping along. Their hair was disheveled, clothes tattered, and faces pale—they looked badly injured. At first glance, they seemed like refugees, but a closer look revealed they were no ordinary folk.

They were the martial arts experts and mystics who had gone to explore the ancient tomb earlier. Dozens had set out, but only a few returned. Their expressions still showed lingering fear, clearly indicating they had endured great hardships in that old grave. Surviving was a blessing from the heavens.

The lively street grew even more noisy with their arrival.

The passersby wisely cleared a path, gathering on both sides and pointing at them with curious stares. Covered in blood, they drew attention wherever they went.

Those few people smiled self-mockingly, trying to hide their faces as they helped each other into the inn.

This tomb expedition had been devastating, nearly wiping them out. They hadn't realized until they entered—just how shocking it was, completely overturning their worldview.

What was even more ridiculous was that they hadn't even found the main tomb chamber. Their self-mocking laughter was warranted—they had been utterly arrogant, thinking their knowledge of Yin Yang Wu Xing made them invincible, only to be humbled by an ancient tomb.

"Exciting," Ye Chen withdrew his gaze, not at all surprised, showing no particular emotion. If he had to say he felt anything, it was a bit of amazement—that these people had actually made it out alive was a miracle.

Before long, Yang Ge Lao emerged, chuckling cheerfully. He had probably spotted them too.

"How's that manual working out?"

"Vast and profound, utterly mysterious," Yang Ge Lao's voice trembled as he spoke.

Ye Chen just smiled and said nothing. A martial arts manual derived from immortal techniques and adapted for the mundane world would keep Yang Ge Lao occupied for a lifetime. Not to mention his remaining forty years—even if he lived another life, the old man would struggle to grasp its true essence. Still, in the mortal realm, even a superficial understanding would let him stand above the rest.

That was the way of the mortal world—a true immortal, even sealed as a mortal, could still dominate all.

Yang Ge Lao left again, off to comprehend Tai Xu Bu. Before going, he still got his daily fortune-telling.

That day, aside from Yang Ge Lao, no one else came. Ye Chen's day passed uneventfully.

Nightfall came as expected.

Ye Chen packed up his gear unhurriedly, had a bowl of plain noodles, and returned to his small garden.

Under the moonlight, his entire body was bathed in starlight, his internal energy cultivation advancing further. His current skill was quite formidable; an ordinary person would need at least a hundred years of practice to catch up.

After three hours of meditation, he slipped into a peaceful sleep.

Over at Yang Ge Lao's side, things were much busier. After practicing Tai Xu Bu and returning drenched in sweat, he hauled out the Hei Xuan Tie. Using a magnifying glass-like tool, he studied it all night. This was divine iron for forging weapons—if successfully cast, it would become an unparalleled divine blade, sharp enough to cut through iron effortlessly.

Sadly, Hei Xuan Tie was too hard; ordinary flames couldn't melt it. Even his sword shattered upon impact, unable to budge it, let alone remove its impurities.

Yang Ge Lao was helpless. He sat on the bed's edge, hands tucked in, staring out the window, anxiously waiting for dawn.

In his mind, Ye Chen must have a way to melt the iron. The young man seemed capable of anything.

As he waited impatiently, a hint of red appeared in the eastern sky.

Yang Ge Lao got up, stashed the Hei Xuan Tie, and stood like a guardian at the inn's entrance, his old eyes fixed in one direction, full of anticipation.

The inn's owner and waiter scratched their heads in confusion at the sight. Yang Ge Lao's behavior had been so odd lately—waking up extra early every day, skipping breakfast to stand at the door. Those in the know saw him as a martial arts master; others might think he was just a gatekeeper.

Under his watchful gaze, Ye Chen appeared in the crowd, carrying his table and chair.

"I'll handle that," From a distance, Yang Ge Lao hurried over, full of enthusiasm, helping Ye Chen set up the seat and arrange all his gear neatly.

"So, how tough is that Hei Xuan Tie?"

"Since you know about it, do you have a way to melt it?" Yang Ge Lao rubbed his hands eagerly.

"Hei Xuan Tie from the heavens can't be melted by ordinary flames," Ye Chen sat down lazily. "To work with this kind of iron, you need the power of nature, like lightning."

"Lightning?" Yang Ge Lao was taken aback, instinctively looking up at the sky before turning back to Ye Chen with a dry laugh. "Lightning's no joke—it might ruin everything."

"It won't."

"That's great," Yang Ge Lao chuckled and sat at the table, as he did every day, for a fortune-telling—this time about romance, still dreaming of his epic love story.

Ye Chen didn't hold back and shared what he knew.

Another day passed in a flash, and night fell quietly once more.

Tonight, Ye Chen was in a romantic mood, cooking a few delicious dishes himself, sipping wine, and gazing at the stars.

Ever since being sealed as a mortal, his ability to divine the heavens had been greatly restricted. It was hard to see if anyone had overcome their destined trials or perished in calamity, or even how things were in Da Chu—was everyone doing well, and did anyone miss him?

In this foreign place called Zhu Xian Zhen, he couldn't help but recall the Six Paths of Reincarnation, feeling an isolating loneliness that drove him mad. Even the smallest sense of connection was precious.

Soon, dark clouds gathered, thunder rumbled, and a torrential rain poured down.

Ye Chen shook his head with a sigh and moved the table back inside.

The rain came quickly and left just as fast, leaving a cool breeze in the garden.

"Young friend, are you home?" As Ye Chen was lost in thoughts of home, a call came from outside the garden—it was Yang Ge Lao.

In the middle of the night, Ye Chen didn't want to bother, but the old man was persistent, leaping straight into the garden without waiting.

Ye Chen's face darkened as he got up.

The moment he saw Yang Ge Lao, his lips twitched involuntarily.

It wasn't without reason—Yang Ge Lao's current state was hilarious. He stood there wobbling, his clothes in tatters, clutching the Hei Xuan Tie, his face smeared with soot, and his hair frizzled into curls, still smoking.

At first glance, he looked like he'd touched a live wire, but on closer inspection, it was clear he'd been struck by lightning—and not lightly, either; it had been a direct hit.

"Young friend, your method doesn't work!" Yang Ge Lao grimaced in pain.

"Don't tell me you hugged the Hei Xuan Tie and let the lightning strike you."

"How else was I supposed to do it?"

"Your intelligence is truly touching."