Chapter 2070: The Halo

Qin Guang Wang returned to the Ming Jie. Xie Mo glanced at Ye Chen, a playful, teasing look in her eyes, as if saying, "This time, make sure it's someone useful. Don't call any ordinary mortals again and waste my time."

"How dare she be so arrogant when asking for help!" Ye Chen grumbled internally, but he still waved his hand and offered another drop of fresh blood. It wasn't Yan Luo's blood; since even Qin Guang Wang had been sealed as a mortal, the other Yan Luo figures were likely in the same boat. Summoning them from the Ming Jie would be pointless, not just a waste of time, but a waste of life itself.

What intrigued Ye Chen was why Xie Mo was seeking out Di Huang. Could it be that his ancestor and the Evil God had some ancient history?

Ye Chen muttered to himself as the fresh blood merged into the void.

The ground trembled slightly, and an ancient stone coffin from the Yin Ming emerged slowly from beneath the earth. Once the coffin lid fell open, it revealed a woman standing inside. She had an absolutely stunning face, covered in dust from head to toe, with a dull expression and empty eyes, like a puppet.

This woman, upon closer inspection, was clearly Qin Meng Yao, the Ming Jiang under Chu Jiang Wang and Zhao Yun's beloved in the Ming Jie. During the great battle against demons in the Ming Jie, Ye Chen had collected her blood. Now, back in the Zhu Tian, this was the first time he had summoned her from the Ming Jie.

"Luo Shen." Xie Mo narrowed her eyes at the sight, her face matching exactly the one in her memories, as if the Qin Meng Yao before her was that very person.

Ye Chen stepped forward and restored Qin Meng Yao's consciousness. The dust on her vanished in an instant, her beautiful eyes shimmering with immortal light, and her expression filled with human emotions. Strands of her hair were dyed with fairy hues, making her look like a celestial fairy descended from the nine heavens—elegant, otherworldly, and dreamlike.

"Bloodline regression, divine treasures fully unlocked." Ye Chen was astonished. He could see that the current Qin Meng Yao was completely different from the past. Her original bloodline had been activated, and all her divine treasures opened—this wasn't just evolution; it was a heaven-defying nirvana! If she were in the Zhu Tian, she would surely be at the level of an emperor's child.

"Was it Zhao Yun's departure that prompted her complete transformation?" Ye Chen murmured lightly, piecing together some clues.

He had been present when Zhao Yun left and had witnessed this woman crying her heart out. The shock had changed her mindset, and her deep devotion had led her to take that heaven-defying step. Or perhaps, it was the shattered fragments of their fate that had created this miraculous opportunity.

Across from them, Qin Meng Yao had awakened, and the first person she saw was Ye Chen, leaving her momentarily stunned.

"Don't tell me you're well."

"You're well too." Qin Meng Yao's smile was forced, mostly weary. Since their parting in the Ming Jie a hundred years ago, reuniting with an old friend now made her realize how fleeting time was. The scene of their meeting was plainer than imagined—no tears, no emotional hugs. Everything was calm as water. Perhaps the only one who could truly stir her heart was Zhao Yun, as proven by the scars on her cheeks—she still hadn't let him go.

"What is your connection to Luo Shen?" This question was directed at Qin Meng Yao.

Qin Meng Yao gathered her thoughts but said nothing, only shaking her head gently.

She might not know, but Ye Chen did.

Luo Shen was a great god from the Hong Huang era, existing even longer ago than the Red Lotus Female Emperor. In terms of seniority, even Xie Mo would have to address her as a senior. Ye Chen knew Xie Mo well; she wouldn't mention Luo Shen without reason. That meant Qin Meng Yao must have some deep ties to the Hong Huang Luo Shen.

Looking at Xie Mo again, her gaze toward Qin Meng Yao grew even deeper, detecting a hidden mysterious power in Qin Meng Yao's soul that belonged to Luo Shen. She couldn't be mistaken.

For a moment, she became intensely interested in Qin Meng Yao. Anyone carrying Luo Shen's divine power was no simple matter, especially since it came from the Ming Jie, which puzzled her greatly.

"Where is this place?" While Xie Mo pondered, Qin Meng Yao scanned her surroundings and looked at Ye Chen in confusion. She had been cultivating at the peak of the Nie Hai, and in the blink of an eye, she was here.

"This is the Zhu Tian." Ye Chen smiled.

"I see." Qin Meng Yao's expression showed a touch of novelty. The vast starry sky here was much brighter than in the Ming Jie. Anyone who had been to the Di Fu knew it was gray and murky, shrouded in a dark veil that felt oppressive and gloomy. But here, it was like another realm, brimming with vibrant life force.

"I used the Di Dao to summon you from the Ming Jie." Ye Chen continued, pointing to Xie Mo. "This great god wants to have a chat with Di Huang, our ancestor, but my cultivation isn't strong enough to summon an emperor. So, I had to use you as a conduit."

"I understand." Qin Meng Yao murmured softly, stealing a glance at Xie Mo. Her power surpassed even the Yan Luo, truly deserving the title of great god.

"In half a shi chen, I'll summon you again." As Ye Chen spoke, he dispelled his seals.

Qin Meng Yao's body trembled and disintegrated into ashes bit by bit.

After she left, Ye Chen glanced at Xie Mo, who was still lost in thought. That woman was still pondering.

Ye Chen's eyes darted around, considering an escape, but such thoughts couldn't escape a great god's scrutiny.

Xie Mo was quite accommodating; with a casual wave of her hand, she drew a guang quan on the ground and kicked Ye Chen into it. It was a trapping barrier to keep him from running off.

Ye Chen chuckled dryly. Escaping was impossible, and he might even get a beating later.

In fact, that's exactly what Xie Mo was thinking. It had been three years since her last visit, and three years since she'd beaten Ye Chen. For some reason, her hand was itching for it.

Half a shi chen later, Ye Chen performed the ritual again and summoned Qin Meng Yao.

This time, Qin Meng Yao arrived with a jade box in her hands, which she presented to Xie Mo.

Ye Chen wanted to see what was inside, but the guang quan trapped him, so he had to stand on tiptoe and crane his neck. Unfortunately, Xie Mo didn't open it, as if she already knew its contents. She was more curious about Qin Meng Yao herself and just stared silently.

Qin Meng Yao felt uncomfortable under the gaze. Before coming, the Ming Di had warned her that this great god was like a lunatic, never doing anything normal. Now, seeing it firsthand, it was true. We're both women—staring at me like this, what could it mean? Had she taken a liking to me?

Ye Chen was more proactive, constantly trying to get out of the guang quan, but to no avail.

After a long while, Xie Mo finally looked away and removed the guang quan, but she sealed a strand of immortal light into Ye Chen's body. His cultivation, which had just recovered for a shi chen, was sealed again.

"Stay put." Xie Mo left those words and vanished.

Ye Chen slumped dejectedly and sat under an old tree. It proved once more that in front of Xie Mo, he was completely subdued, without any chance to fight back.

"Is this a mortal ancient star where you're cultivating?" Qin Meng Yao hadn't left and was looking around.

"It's a long story—best not to mention it." Ye Chen said with an awkward smile.

Under the bright moonlit night, the two of them started drinking, just like back in the Ming Jie. One was drowning sorrows over Zhao Yun's departure, the other was melancholic over Chu Ling's marriage. Both Ming Jiang and both adrift in the world, they drank until they were utterly drunk, arm in arm on the streets of Gui Cheng, laughing wildly like old buddies. Even now, their drinking escapades were still gossip topics.

But on this reunion, the situation was a bit different.

Back then, Chu Ling's marriage was a scheme by Di Huang to help Ye Chen pass through the six paths of reincarnation. The past misunderstandings had been resolved, and Chu Ling had even given birth to a precious daughter for Ye Chen.

Yet Qin Meng Yao remained as before—her Zhao Yun had left and might never return.

Ye Chen sighed at the sound. That sealed romance, buried in the dust of time, left the devoted woman's heart as bitter as the wine they drank.

The two drank in silence.

Qin Meng Yao downed one jar after another, as if only drunken oblivion would suffice. Her clear, beautiful eyes were filled with mist, turning to frost under the moonlight.

"Don't be like this." Seeing her state, Ye Chen cleared his throat. "There are plenty of talents in the Zhu Tian. Come to my Da Chu someday, and you can pick anyone."

"What if I set my sights on you? What then?"

"Hey, don't joke—I'm married."

"So, the mighty Huang Gu Sheng Ti can be a coward sometimes?"

"Nonsense, this is called loyalty, I—"

Ye Chen's words trailed off as he raised an eyebrow and looked toward Qin Meng Yao's side. Because that woman had dreamed her way here again. He couldn't see her, but he could sense her presence.

"Dream returning through the ages." Qin Meng Yao murmured softly, glancing at her own side.

This surprised Ye Chen—Qin Meng Yao could sense it too.

"Connecting dreams to reality—truly a hidden dragon in the Zhu Tian." Qin Meng Yao said with a foolish smile.

"She is Qin Meng Yao, a Ming Jiang from the Yin Cao Di Fu, and an old friend of mine." Ye Chen laughed, introducing her to the woman in the dream, certain she could hear.

"This junior offers her respects." Qin Meng Yao burped from the wine and wobbled to her feet, barely able to stand. She raised her cup toward the empty space beside her in a toast, recognizing the mastery of dream returning through the ages that linked illusion and reality—it must be from a great master.

"Don't mind her, fellow daoist; she's not quite right in the head." Ye Chen stood up, speaking to the dream woman while supporting Qin Meng Yao. They were just drinking—how did she get so drunk?

His support only made the drunk Qin Meng Yao sit right down on the ground, hugging her knees and sobbing tearfully.

"Zhao Yun, Qin Meng Yao of the Qin family misses you so much."

Ye Chen sighed at the sound and, for good measure, cursed Zhao Yun thoroughly.

"Qin Meng Yao—what a lovely name." In the ethereal blur of illusion and reality, a woman's soft murmur seemed to echo. "I'll convey your longing to him."

Ye Chen and Qin Meng Yao couldn't hear these words.

Though they couldn't hear, the two supreme beings in the Ming Jie heard every bit, and their expressions were quite amusing.

Ming Di rubbed his brow, as if deciphering something from the dream woman's words.

Di Huang just shook his head with a smile—who could hide it from him?

They both marveled at the Ren Wang's methods.

This era of sparkling stars was truly extraordinary. The Chaos Body, the Huang Gu Sheng Ti, and the Yao Chi Xian Ti—the three most monstrous juniors of the Wan Yu Zhu Tian—had such bizarre experiences. One had come to the Ming Jie, one had gone to the Tian Jie, and the third had even reached another universe.