Chapter 2088: Triplets?

Chapter 2088: San Bao Tai?

The news of Dan Zun's death cast a heavy gloom over the atmosphere. Hong Chen Xue tried her best to hold back, but tears still welled up uncontrollably in her eyes.

Ye Chen sighed inwardly and quietly sipped his wine. Chu Ling Yu and Ji Ning Shuang also remained silent, understanding that their master had met an unfortunate fate in the calamity, and they needed to give her time to grieve and remember.

The oppressive mood enveloped everyone, even those in the ding, who could not hide their sorrow. From the conversations, it was clear that this so-called Dan Zun must have been a highly respected elder.

At some point, Ye Chen furrowed his brow slightly, then closed his eyes and looked inward at the Hun Dun Ding.

Inside the ding, Yang Xuan and the others were each busy with their own tasks, but Ye Chen's attention was on Xiao Yang Lan. The little one was running around inside like a playful sprite, but today she seemed different from usual, with a strange power flickering subtly within her body.

Ye Chen's gaze grew deeper. He could see that the seal the evil demon had placed on Yang Lan's body had dissipated, and this odd power originated from her fate.

The fate of Tian Sha Gu Xing was innately destructive.

This was evident just by looking at Qin Xiong and the others. It was clear that Xiao Yang Lan's fate was slowly countering theirs, though the process was gradual, it was undeniably happening.

Without further thought, Ye Chen activated Hua Yu Wei Chen, drawing everyone into it and vanishing from sight.

Their sudden disappearance startled the other patrons, and the waiter hurried over in a panic.

Damn it, they drank and didn't pay!

In the Chen space, Ye Chen had already summoned the Hun Dun Ding and released Xiao Yang Lan. Yang Xuan, that restless fellow, wanted to come out for a stroll too, but Ye Chen pushed him back with a palm.

"Tian Sha Gu Xing?" Chu Ling Yu and Hong Chen Xue both exclaimed in surprise, recognizing this rare bloodline that appeared once in a myriad of ages. They never expected Ye Chen to have one hidden in his ding.

"Mommy, hug me." Yang Lan lifted her little head and reached out her hands toward Ji Ning Shuang. With outsiders around, she seemed a bit scared and snuggled into her mother's embrace.

Ji Ning Shuang smiled gently and bent down to pick her up, but she frowned slightly, sensing the change in Yang Lan. The seal had dissipated, and the little one's fate was now affecting her own.

Of course, Tian Sha could not overcome her, for Ji Ning Shuang was also one cursed by heaven.

"So dedicated, another one born already." Chu Ling Yu teased Ye Chen with a smile.

"Don't joke around; this isn't a daughter, it's a daughter-in-law." Ye Chen coughed awkwardly.

"Tian Sha with Tian Quan?" Hong Chen Xue said in astonishment.

"Quite a match."

"Quite a match indeed." Chu Ling Yu sighed, clicking her tongue in amazement. Ye Chen's family was something else—one with Huang Gu Sheng Ti, one with Yao Chi Xian Ti, one with Tian Quan Zhi Ti, and now another with Tian Sha Gu Xing. They were all exceptional prodigies! She couldn't help but wonder how terrifying the child born from Tian Quan and Tian Sha would be. It might even be another Wu Qing Da Di, or at the very least, on the level of Jian Shen.

"Continue the seal?" Ji Ning Shuang asked, looking at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen shook his head lightly. "Can't seal it anymore; it would harm her life soul."

"Isolate her for now?"

"That would be best." As Ye Chen spoke, he gently waved his hand, sending Xiao Yang Lan into a treasure pagoda. Ji Ning Shuang thoughtfully created an avatar to accompany the little one. A daughter-in-law was like a daughter, and as a mother, she needed to be the most attentive.

"Let's head out." Ye Chen said, preparing to dispel the Chen space.

"Ye Chen." Hong Chen Xue called out.

"Something wrong?" Ye Chen looked at her questioningly.

Hong Chen Xue said nothing but drew out the Hong Lian Ye Huo from her body, letting it float in the air. Along with it, she produced a purple jade ring, a sacred artifact from Dan Zun Dian. Back when Dan Zun faced his calamity, he had given it to her, implying that if he perished, she would be the next master of Dan Zun Dian, as a way of settling his affairs in advance.

"What's this about?" Ye Chen said, taken aback.

"I only want to protect Hong Chen."

With those words, Ye Chen instantly understood. She wanted him to take her place as the master of Dan Zun Dian. To ensure she could guard Hong Chen properly, she was even willing to relinquish the Hong Lian Ye Huo and the sacred artifact. These gifts were weightier than Mount Tai.

Not just Ye Chen, but Ji Ning Shuang and Chu Ling Yu were also caught off guard.

A second later, Ye Chen smiled faintly and pushed the Hong Lian Ye Huo and the Dan Zun Dian sacred artifact back to her. "Dan Zun Dian has many talents; there will be someone suitable."

"No one would be more fitting than you." Hong Chen Xue said softly.

"Keep them for now; we can discuss it after Hong Chen's trial is over." Ye Chen replied with a smile.

It was fortunate the evil demon wasn't there, or he would have scolded Ye Chen thoroughly. That was Hong Lian Ye Huo, a flame of such high rank, even stronger than true fire—and yet Ye Chen just refused it. With that attitude, how could he ever hope to fuse the Hun Dun Huo?

But the evil demon had underestimated Ye Chen. He couldn't take the position of Dan Zun Dian's master; that was Dan Zun's legacy, and Hong Chen Xue was the direct disciple. It wouldn't be right for an outsider to claim it. Though he desired the Hong Lian Ye Huo, he wouldn't obtain it this way.

Hong Chen Xue wanted to say more, but Ye Chen had already turned and exited the Chen space.

"You doing it or him, it's all the same." Chu Ling Yu chuckled and followed Ye Chen out, her voice lingering behind. "If needed, just move Dan Zun Dian to Da Chu."

When they reappeared, the surrounding patrons were stunned again. Coming and going like ghosts—what was this? The most awkward part was that the waiter had already cleared the table.

Clearing it was fine; they could just order another. None of them lacked money.

The new wine and dishes arrived, but the atmosphere still carried a trace of sadness, with no one speaking.

Soon, the silence was broken by a wolf-like howl from below—Hong Chen had woken up, stretching lazily and howling with great satisfaction.

"Pass by and don't miss out—it's free, no charge!"

Hong Chen's shouts echoed through the streets, his way of attracting customers so skilled that it made people think he was a street performer rather than a fortune-teller, effortlessly drawing the attention of passersby.

Ye Chen glanced over briefly before turning his gaze away, remaining silent.

Inside the ding, Yang Xuan and the others were peeking out from the edge, looking at Hong Chen with strange expressions, then glancing at Ye Chen with even odder looks. They noticed the two looked identical.

"Twin brothers?" Shangguan Jiu stroked his chin.

"Their family's fortune-telling must be a family tradition." Yang Xuan said meaningfully, and no one refuted it. Ye Chen had practiced divination in Zhu Xian Town, and this twin brother of his was in the same line of work. If they weren't from the same mother, no one would believe it—they were cut from the same mold.

They might not know the truth, but Qin Xiong did.

As a person from Da Chu, he had heard some of Ye Chen's secrets and recognized Hong Chen Xue. Back then, it was she who summoned him to the Tian Ting headquarters and handed over the highest command of Da Chu to them ordinary folks, to lead the cultivators in battle.

That war ended in defeat, not due to poor command, but because the demon forces utterly overwhelmed Da Chu's cultivators. Fortunately, Ye Chen did not disappoint the common people; he slew the Tian Mo Di, avenging the nine million souls of Da Chu.

"I say, why another one?" While Qin Xiong was lost in thought, Shangguan Jiu exclaimed in surprise, still peering out from the ding's edge toward the city gate. A person was slowly walking in, nothing particularly striking about him, but he looked exactly like Ye Chen.

"Triplets?" Yang Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Ye Chen had also spotted him and frowned, as if he knew who it was.

"The Liu Dao of the calamity?" Chu Ling Yu said in surprise.

"It's him, no doubt." Ye Chen confirmed, his brow furrowed in unexpected astonishment. Calculating it, he hadn't seen Liu Dao in over a hundred years. He had planned to seek him out after leaving this place, but Liu Dao had appeared on his own, and in the midst of a calamity at that.

By the time they finished speaking, Liu Dao had already entered the bustling street, carrying a wine gourd and stumbling along drunkenly. He seemed quite leisurely, wandering as he went, occasionally stopping at stalls to buy miscellaneous items. His bargaining skills were impressive.

Is that really Liu Dao? Now even Chu Ling Yu and Hong Chen Xue showed signs of surprise. At first glance, he was just a drunkard, completely different from the Liu Dao in their memories.

Ji Ning Shuang's expression was the most peculiar—who would think that a drunkard and a charlatan could be the renowned Hong Chen and Liu Dao? It was quite dramatic.

Under their watchful eyes, Liu Dao strolled along and paused when he passed Hong Chen, or rather, froze in place. Hong Chen did the same, both staring in bewilderment for a long time. They looked at each other as if seeing a mirror—how could they look so alike?

This scene was truly a sight to behold: both were defiers of the natural order, both in a half-calamity state, and they met here. It was quite novel.

This also evoked a sense of fate—after a hundred years, Ye Chen, Hong Chen, and Liu Dao ended up in the same ancient city. It must be the pull of their destinies.

Ye Chen sat up straight, quietly observing the two. Before the calamity, Hong Chen and Liu Dao would fight on sight, but he wondered if they would continue after the calamity. Hong Chen Xue and Chu Ling Yu watched with full concern; Liu Dao's arrival was completely unforeseen, and they feared something might go wrong with Hong Chen.

The imagined battle between the two did not happen.

Down below, Hong Chen and Liu Dao actually started chatting, and they chatted happily. The world was vast; it wasn't strange for two people to look alike. Meeting was fate, after all!

The two hit it off immediately, like old friends, with nothing major occurring. But in the tavern, Ye Chen's expression changed, his face paling visibly. His sea of consciousness buzzed loudly, and a dark aura suddenly manifested, swirling around his body. His once clear eyes were now clouded with turbidity.

The three women frowned slightly, unsure what was happening to Ye Chen.

In the next instant, Ye Chen spat out blood, his face contorted in agony, his head throbbing as if it might explode. Even his innate divine sense was hard to maintain, gradually being overtaken by a mysterious force. He shifted between clarity and dullness, a fierce look creeping onto his face.

Perhaps even he didn't realize how terrifying he looked at that moment—like a malevolent ghost, his eyes blood-red and filled with rage, his presence so sinister that no one dared to meet his gaze.