Chapter 2163: Ancient Tomb Revisited

Ye Chen's sudden departure caught the revenge-seeking cultivators off guard, leaving them gasping in shock. It was clear that the Sheng Ti was protecting Bei Sheng, which made things complicated. In other words, anyone who wanted to kill Bei Sheng for revenge would have to take down Ye Chen first.

“He is the emperor of Da Chu, the war god who has slain emperors, and his word is as good as gold.”

Si Tu Kang left those words behind as he walked away with the woman from Huo Yu, his back straight and imposing. That mention of the Da Chu emperor carried an undeniable sense of nostalgia for his homeland.

The two figures gradually faded into the distance, while the crowd of cultivators behind them fell into collective silence.

The title of Da Chu’s emperor was more than just a name; it was a symbol. They had unwavering faith in Ye Chen’s words, knowing that the Sheng Ti would one day provide an account for his actions.

Their return journey was filled with sorrow.

The vast expanse of land was littered with corpses, accompanied by the sounds of wailing and crying.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen continued his flight, eventually arriving at a mortal ancient city and descending into it.

In a small garden within the city, Ye Chen set up a barrier before releasing Bei Sheng.

Bei Sheng had fallen into a deep slumber. In her Tian Mo form, she appeared strikingly unsettling to Ye Chen. She was Xuan Huang’s Bei Sheng, the princess of the Jiu Li clan, yet due to the Tian Mo origin, she had transformed into a demon. It was heartbreaking to think that, if the root cause couldn’t be found, this once magnificent woman would fade into the dust of history.

As for Bei Sheng’s damaged Di Qi, it was suspended within the Hun Dun Ding. Earlier, when Bei Sheng had succumbed to the Tian Mo, the weapon had also been corrupted, turning its damaged divine consciousness into a Tian Mo puppet.

Now that Bei Sheng was suppressed, the Di Qi’s divine consciousness had returned, but it buzzed and trembled violently. This supreme Di Qi from the various heavens had actually been controlled by a Tian Mo, a grave humiliation that tarnished the emperor’s prestige.

Ye Chen could sense the damaged Di Qi’s fury, and he felt the same way. An overwhelming rage surged through his heart.

This rage was directed at the Tian Mo for using such methods to disrupt the various heavens. He couldn’t even imagine the horrific scene of people from the heavens slaughtering one another in some future era.

Night fell quietly.

The ancient city was peaceful and harmonious, perhaps because a festival was approaching, with red lanterns hanging in every household.

For three full days, Ye Chen didn’t leave the small garden. His face was pale, and blood kept seeping from the corners of his mouth. During these three days, he had repeatedly performed the Zhou Tian divination in an attempt to deduce the origin of the Tian Mo.

However, his strength was insufficient, and he suffered severe backlash each time.

On the fourth night, he finally left silently, adding over a hundred more seals to Bei Sheng.

Under the cover of night, he donned a hood and a cloak, blending in as a traveler. He followed his previously planned route, visiting one ancient city after another.

His trip to Huo Yu had been worthwhile; besides Si Tu Kang, there were indeed other reincarnated individuals here.

On the ninth day, Ye Chen crossed a mighty river and headed straight for the next ancient city.

As he walked, he couldn’t help but look up toward the hazy sky. He saw omens of the calamity, indicating that someone else was returning—not from the various heavens, but from Hong Huang.

He was no longer surprised by this. He had basically confirmed that this was all part of a conspiracy. Otherwise, why were those who perished all from the various heavens, and those returning all from Hong Huang? There had to be an invisible hand manipulating everything behind the scenes.

The calamity’s tide had caused devastating losses, affecting the myriad domains and various heavens, and Huo Yu was no exception.

As Ye Chen traveled across much of Huo Yu, besides the white-robed elder he had encountered earlier, he didn’t see another Zhun Di. It was no wonder that when Bei Sheng had rampaged, no other Zhun Di had come to help—they had likely all fallen in the calamity.

In a vast ancient city, Ye Chen stopped and found a teahouse. He ordered a bowl of old tea but didn’t remove his hood, occasionally glancing sideways at the tavern across the street. There, a white-haired young man sat alone, drinking in silence, preferring to stay in the corner.

This city had no reincarnated individuals, but it did have someone from the calamity. That white-haired young man drinking alone was a calamity survivor—the Sixth Shen Jiang, Hua Qing Luo, who had undergone the calamity in Huo Yu. Even in the midst of it, he couldn’t hide the world-weary aura from before the calamity.

The Shen Jiang under the Di Zun were all extraordinary figures, daring to wander through the Di Zun’s tribulation, which spoke volumes about the Sixth Shen Jiang’s power.

Perhaps sensing he was being watched, Hua Qing Luo suddenly looked up in Ye Chen’s direction.

Ye Chen quickly lowered his head and pulled his hood down further, completely covering his face. Although Hua Qing Luo’s fate was strong, Ye Chen didn’t want to recklessly interfere with his calamity. The Shen Jiang’s return was only a matter of time.

After finishing his bowl of tea, Ye Chen left quietly.

Under the moonlight, his figure looked desolate and lonely. Along the way, he kept calling out, hoping for the Nü Sheng Ti to return. That unparalleled senior must know more about the Tian Mo origin and might even be able to save Bei Sheng.

Unfortunately, there was no response from the Nü Sheng Ti, or perhaps she wasn’t in Huo Yu at all.

Days turned into months, and nights into days; three months passed in the blink of an eye.

On a tranquil night, Ye Chen, covered in dust from his travels, stopped in front of an ancient city.

This ancient city would be his final stop in Huo Yu.

Although it was night, the city was still bustling with activity.

Ye Chen entered but paid no attention to the worldly splendor. Instead, he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes and look down, peering through the ground toward the depths below. There, in the darkness, lay an ancient tomb, even larger than the city above it. This piqued his curiosity about who was buried there—the setup was extraordinarily grand.

Without thinking further, he dove underground, descending tens of thousands of feet before finally reaching the tomb’s entrance.

The tomb door was massive and thick, engraved with ancient immortal patterns, and in the center was a single seal character. For some reason, looking at this tomb door felt familiar to Ye Chen.

It was indeed familiar, very much like the ancient tomb where Ming Jue was located.

“Senior, forgive my intrusion.” Ye Chen said, combining his nine fists into one and striking the tomb door.

Thud!

Golden blood splattered everywhere. Even with the strength of his Tai Shang Sheng Ti, Ye Chen’s fist exploded on impact. Yet, the tomb door remained unmoved, and the sacred blood on it was actually absorbed.

Ye Chen reformed his fist and summoned the damaged Di Qi, unleashing his peak combat power in an instant. With a sword strike that could cleave the heavens, he slashed at the tomb door.

Clang!

A sharp sound rang out as the sword sparked against the door but failed to break it open. Instead, Ye Chen was sent flying backward, his face full of shock. With the boost of the damaged Di Qi, his power was enough to slay a peak Zhun Di, yet he couldn’t even crack a tomb door.

Could an emperor be buried inside?

Ye Chen’s eyes flickered uncertainly. His full-power strike hadn’t left a single mark on the door—or rather, some mysterious and terrifying force was protecting the tomb, making even a Di Qi struggle, let alone a damaged one.

“No wonder there’s no trace of yin energy—it must all be sealed within the tomb.”

Ye Chen murmured to himself, piecing together some clues. Since he arrived, he hadn’t detected any aura leaking from the tomb; it was all concealed by that mysterious force.

He didn’t try to attack again, as it would be futile. Instead, he approached the door and focused his gaze, using his self-sealed Lun Hui Yan to peer inside.

Awkwardly, the Lun Hui Yan couldn’t pierce the illusion and was met with backlash, causing fresh blood to flow from both corners of his eyes.

Now, Ye Chen was at a loss. It was truly bizarre—such strange events were rampant this year. In this small Huo Yu, there was actually such an impressive ancient tomb, making even a Da Sheng-level Tai Shang Sheng Ti like him suffer repeated setbacks.

“Farewell.” Ye Chen coughed dryly and turned to leave.

“Ye Chen, is that you?” Suddenly, a voice called out from within the tomb.

Hearing this, Ye Chen spun around, staring at the tomb door in astonishment. “Bai Zhi?”

“Long time no see. I hope you’re well.”

“I hope you’re well.” Ye Chen replied with a dry laugh, his expression strange—more accurately, he was completely baffled. He never expected to find the Di Jun’s disciple inside the tomb and wondered why she was there. From their last parting until now, over 170 years had passed. Bai Zhi’s situation now was just like Ming Jue’s before, and Ye Chen couldn’t fathom what missions Ming Di and Di Jun had assigned them, making everything so mysterious.

“Have you seen Ming Jue?”

“I have, and it’s the same with her.” Ye Chen sat down, pulled out a flask of wine, and asked casually, “How much longer do you have to stay in the tomb?”

“Because of the Tian Mo invasion disrupting the cosmos, it will take some time yet.” From within the tomb, Bai Zhi rested her chin on her hands, replying with a bored tone. It seemed that, even though she was inside the tomb, she was aware of some external events, like the Tian Mo invasion and the trampling of Huo Yu—this ancient city hadn’t been spared, and she could sense it from deep underground.

“What exactly are you two doing?”

“I can’t say.” Bai Zhi smiled and shook her head.

Ye Chen pouted. They were all so secretive, leaving him in the dark, which was frustrating. Since Bai Zhi wouldn’t elaborate, he didn’t press further. He couldn’t guess the plans of Ming Di and Di Jun, and Ming Jue and Bai Zhi’s missions were undoubtedly significant.

“Boring. I’m leaving.” Ye Chen patted his backside and stood up, waving a hand toward the tomb door.

“There are treasures in the tomb. Want me to pick a few for you?” Bai Zhi said with a smile.

“Do you have Zhen Huo?” The clever Ye Chen turned back smoothly for the second time, rubbing his hands together with a grin. Back during his trip to Ming Wang Xing, Ming Jue had given him many Dun Jia Tian Zi, and since this was also an ancient tomb, there had to be treasures.

“No Zhen Huo, but plenty of Dun Jia Tian Zi.” Bai Zhi smiled and gently waved her hand.

Immediately, golden characters passed through the stone door and floated in front of Ye Chen—over a hundred of them, each shimmering with golden light, dazzling his eyes.

Buzz!

Before Ye Chen could reach them, the Hun Dun Ding darted out and snatched them all away in one go.

“Now that’s what I call efficient.” Ye Chen said with a tone of admiration.

As he spoke, another item flew out from the tomb—a sachet.

Ye Chen caught it with a wave of his hand and could see at a glance what was inside: a strand of a woman’s hair, carrying a faint feminine fragrance. He easily guessed it was Bai Zhi’s.

In the world of cultivators, there was an unwritten legend that a woman’s lock of hair was like the red thread of the Yue Lao, symbolizing a destined bond.

“Don’t mess around; I have a wife.” Ye Chen coughed awkwardly, speaking righteously.

“How thick-skinned can you be? I never said it was for you.” Bai Zhi rolled her eyes.

“Majorly awkward.”

“Give it to Tian Shuo.”

“I knew it! You’re being so generous just to have me deliver your token of affection.” Ye Chen sighed and clicked his tongue, stuffing the sachet into his storage bag. “I know Tian Shuo well—he’s the emperor’s son from Xuan Gu. He’s not as handsome as me, so how did you fall for him? Unfair!”

“Get lost.”

“Alright!” Ye Chen was obedient this time, hugging the Hun Dun Ding and scurrying away happily. His trip to Huo Yu hadn’t been in vain—everywhere he went, he met acquaintances and found opportunities.

Watching Ye Chen’s retreating figure, Bai Zhi fell silent. Only after a while did she slowly lift her gaze toward the hazy void, as if she could see through the boundaries of the human and nether worlds to Ming Jie Shan.

Like her, Ming Jue on Ming Wang Xing was also looking up.

The expressions on both their faces carried a trace of sadness, for they understood that from the moment they became the disciples of two supreme beings, their fates had been sealed.