Chapter 2201: Good Brother's Annihilation

The night in the thousand-year-old Da Chu was tinged with a hint of blood.

In the dark mountain forest, the woman’s cries had ceased. The violent third life body had cruelly killed Su Xin Er, buried her deep in the mountains, and then fled in fear of retribution.

Through the darkness, Ye Chen could faintly see Su Xin Er’s bloodstained arm still exposed, not completely covered by the soil.

Under the night sky, Ye Chen instinctively covered his forehead. In the original world, he had seen Su Xin Er's corpse; in the reincarnation, his third life body had violated her. This was karma, a cause and effect spanning lifetimes, binding them life after life, impossible to sever.

Ah!

With a sigh, Ye Chen silently departed. He wanted to properly bury Su Xin Er, but he was merely an intangible presence, unable to leave any trace in the reincarnation or interfere with its events. From beginning to end, he could only be a witness to history.

This time, he did not follow his third life body, unable to bear watching the endless slaughter.

On the vast land, he walked slowly, bathed in starlight, yet to the thousand-year-old Da Chu, he was an invisible and formless existence, unable to do anything.

As he walked, he contemplated the reincarnation, sensing its elusive laws that lingered by his side, appearing and disappearing like a mirage, impossible to grasp or touch.

This walk lasted another ten years.

Through ten years of contemplation, he had moments of sudden insight mixed with confusion. His understanding of reincarnation had advanced slightly, but the endless nature of the Dao perplexed him. Even something as profound as reincarnation was part of the grand Dao's vast flow, yet the so-called Dao was even more intangible and unattainable.

Boom! Bang!

When he stopped again, he was at Dong Ling Ancient Abyss, awakened by the thunderous sounds.

Gazing into the distance, he saw an epic battle unfolding.

He could see people from the Bloodthirsty Hall—nine figures in blood-red robes, fiercely surrounding a man in black. Their attacks were all world-shaking divine abilities, showing no mercy.

The man in black was an acquaintance: Bi You’s father, Dao Huang Sui Yan.

Dao Huang Sui Yan was incredibly domineering, wielding his Golden Dragon Saber and facing nine opponents alone, forcing the Bloodthirsty Hall's nine members to their knees. His saber techniques were overwhelmingly fierce, truly deserving of the title Dao Huang.

Ye Chen's eyes were as still as an ancient well, quietly observing.

According to ancient legends, Dao Huang Sui Yan had once fought at Dong Ling Ancient Abyss, defeating the Bloodthirsty Hall's nine great elders and sending them retreating in defeat—this was that very event.

Like him, there were others watching the battle: Du Gu Ao, Fu Ling, and Zhuge Yu were all there.

In the shadows, Ye Chen also spotted Gu San Tong and Wu Ya Dao Ren, each with their hands clasped behind their backs, quietly admiring Dao Huang's divine prowess, murmuring in admiration.

Ye Chen glanced past Fu Ling, focusing only on Dao Huang, Du Gu Ao, and Zhuge Yu.

These three supreme figures had never been found, and it was uncertain if they still lived. Their heroic souls from the bloody battle against the heavenly demons still stained the mountains and rivers of Da Chu.

Withdrawing his gaze, Ye Chen slowly turned and vanished without a trace.

Ten years later, he located his third life body again.

After ten years, the third life body, who had become a notorious bandit, miraculously survived. He had changed hideouts countless times, still engaging in robbery. Ye Chen didn't need to calculate to know that in these ten years, the third life body had committed even more bloody crimes. Looking at his form, his malevolent aura was stronger than before, his blood-red eyes gleaming with an evil light.

Ye Chen chose to return tonight because the third life body's time was nearly up. He wanted to see which hero would send his sinful third life body to the next reincarnation and thank that person for eliminating harm for the people.

However, when he saw that so-called hero, his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Yes, it was indeed a hero, carrying a long sword with a chilling aura, more like an assassin or a swordsman. His entire demeanor was like a drawn killing sword. Though just a mortal, he was a genuine martial arts master.

And this hero was an old acquaintance, one he knew very well: Xie Yun.

Or rather, one of Xie Yun's lifetimes.

Pfft!

Under the dim moonlight, the third life body was slain by Xie Yun's sword through the throat.

That year, the third life body was only twenty-eight years old, even shorter-lived than the second.

Of course, committing so much evil would bring retribution. In the cultivation world, it's called karma; cultivators face tribulations for their sins, and mortals aren't exempt from consequences.

In the biting cold wind, the third life body clutched his bleeding throat and collapsed with a thud.

Always walking by the river, how could one not get wet? Tonight, he had met his match. He hadn't even drawn his knife or spoken a word before being instantly killed by a single sword, not even managing a final cry or any last words, ending his life of sin.

In that final moment between life and death, Ye Chen clearly saw tears at the corners of the third life body's eyes.

The third life body's dying expression was complex, filled with fury, regret, hatred, weariness, and nostalgia, even a hint of relief.

Perhaps he never wanted to be a bandit.

But fate was cruel; he could have lived an ordinary life, married, and had children in peace. Yet disaster struck from the heavens, branding all harmony with scars of devastation. His fragmented memories returned in that throat-sealing sword strike, back to that farmhouse courtyard. Even bandits had families and parents.

I am a sinner!

That was what the third life body desperately tried to say in his last instant, but blood poured from his mouth, drowning his final repentance.

He closed his eyes, and the third life reincarnation mark flew out, merging into Ye Chen's body and perfectly fusing with the second life mark.

Ye Chen felt his body tremble as a strange sensation arose.

In that instant, he could clearly capture the laws of reincarnation, even more than from ten years of cultivation.

Unfortunately, the feeling vanished in a flash.

When Ye Chen regained his senses, Xie Yun had already hoisted the third life body's corpse onto his shoulder and headed straight for the nearest ancient city, apparently to claim the bounty. With each step, his aura grew more imposing.

If the Xie Yun from the original era knew about this, he would surely jump up and down in excitement.

Recalling, Ye Chen's only major defeat was at Xie Yun's hands, during the Heng Yue Sect's outer door selection for inner disciples. Ye Chen was matched against him and surrendered without a fight, as he wasn't his opponent at the time.

Now, in the reincarnation, he had slain Ye Chen's third life body.

Among all peers across the myriad realms, who else had such feats? Not to boast, but just these two events would give that guy bragging rights for a lifetime. So what if you're the Desolate Ancient Holy Body? So what if you've slain emperors? I'm the one who defeated you, the one who killed you. Is being a Da Chu emperor impressive? I have even more glorious achievements.

Ye Chen didn't leave; he followed behind Xie Yun, his face dark.

It was a good thing he couldn't interfere with history, or he would have kicked Xie Yun back to his mother's womb.

That night, Xie Yun handed over the third life body's corpse to the authorities.

The night was quiet, but the ancient city erupted in cheers. The bandit who had terrorized for ten years was finally caught, and everyone rushed to kick the body.

Thus, the third life body's corpse was hung on the city gate tower. At the people's insistence, it would be left exposed for three days and nights to vent their anger.

Good and evil always have their rewards, and this was no exception. No one pitied him, and Ye Chen felt no pity either. Committing so many heinous acts, he deserved to hang there.

With the third life ended, the fourth life was born.

Ye Chen had once gazed into the ethereal void and glimpsed the heavens' reincarnation, which bore the soul marks of every person in Da Chu. One death leads to another birth, cycling endlessly.

To this day, he still didn't know which great emperor had set up this heavens' reincarnation. It truly defied the heavens, and if the entire myriad realms had such a system, it would be fascinating.

But that was just wishful thinking. The myriad realms were too vast; even a great emperor couldn't traverse them all in a lifetime, let alone create reincarnations. Of course, beings beyond emperors might achieve it, and those surpassing heavenly emperors definitely could.

In the tranquil night, Ye Chen descended upon an ancient city.

In the city, there was a escort agency where a baby cried. A burly man was holding the infant in swaddling clothes, cheerfully coaxing it.

That's right, the baby in the swaddling clothes was Ye Chen's fourth life body, destined to follow in his father's footsteps as an escort head, wandering mountains and rivers for life.

"Until next time, I shall return." Ye Chen smiled and turned away.

As he looked, he saw a little girl, about two or three years old, wearing tattered clothes and worn-out shoes, holding a chipped bowl and begging on the street. Not only did no one give her alms, but she also faced abuse, crying with tears streaming down her face.

Ye Chen's heart trembled; he recognized her—it was Xiao Ruo Xi.

Seeing Xiao Ruo Xi here didn't surprise him.

Xiao Ruo Xi was unique; Dong Huang Tai Xin had said she existed outside the three realms and six paths, not bound by the heavens' reincarnation, and she would never grow up.

The first time Ye Chen met Xiao Ruo Xi, she was the same age, and her mother had frozen to death in the wilderness. But he knew that wasn't her real mother. As for who had given birth to her, it remained unknown. Even the heavens' reincarnation couldn't trace it, and his previous attempts at divination had yielded no results, only bringing terrifying backlash.

"You are truly from some divine origin." Ye Chen murmured, still unable to discern Xiao Ruo Xi's identity, only knowing her background was extraordinarily vast.

Mentioning Xiao Ruo Xi naturally led him to think of Chu Xuan and Chu Ling. As children, they looked exactly like Ruo Xi, and the same went for the Lord of Wulei City.

Ye Chen didn't believe this was a coincidence. The Female Holy Body's fear of Chu Xuan and Chu Ling proved it all; there must be some strange connection among the four, tied to shocking secrets.

In his sight, Xiao Ruo Xi was taken away by a burly man—a human trafficker—who, under the cover of night, smuggled her and other children out of the city.

Ye Chen followed unhurriedly.

This group of traffickers was persistent, crossing a mountain range and fording a mighty river, all for some quick money, trudging hundreds of miles.

Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh at the distance. In the three hundred sixty professions, every one has its experts—these traffickers were diligent and hardworking, to say the least.

Awkwardly, their deal fell through.

Someone intervened—more precisely, a sword intervened: a seven-colored immortal sword, from who knows where.

With a flash of seven-colored immortal light, the traffickers were all sent on their way.

As for the children, except for Xiao Ruo Xi, none survived.

Ye Chen's eyes turned ice-cold; since entering the reincarnation, this was the first time he had seen the Zhu Xian Jian. Every appearance brought bloodshed, sparing not even the youngest lives.

In his view, the Zhu Xian Jian circled around Xiao Ruo Xi.

Xiao Ruo Xi was in a deep sleep, her little belly growling with hunger—she was starving, on the verge of fainting. Those traffickers were heartless, not even feeding the children; at this rate, they would starve before reaching their destination.

Buzz! Buzz!

The Zhu Xian Jian hummed, as if it had found a treasure, buzzing with excitement as it darted into Xiao Ruo Xi's body.

The sleeping Xiao Ruo Xi slowly opened her eyes, her bright eyes flickering with seven-colored immortal light, her tiny body enveloped in fairy mist. Under the moonlight, she looked like a little sprite.

However, before she could leave, a figure suddenly appeared—a man in black robes wearing a ghost mask, his face hidden, only his eyes visible, which were dull and empty, devoid of any human emotion.

This person was Hong Chen, like the Zhu Xian Jian, appearing out of nowhere.

Then, the two clashed without a word.

Ye Chen wasn't surprised by this; Hong Chen was his future self, who had reversed time to kill Xiao Ruo Xi, and he had a grudge against the Zhu Xian Jian. Now that they had merged, a fight was inevitable.

Boom! Bang!

The mortal realm's heavens rumbled, mountains collapsing one after another, with various destructive phenomena intertwining and soaring. Annihilating immortal light streaked through the ethereal void, the two locked in a fierce battle with no clear victor.

Ye Chen stood in the air, merely observing, as he could only observe. If he could participate, he would join Hong Chen in the reincarnation to destroy the Zhu Xian Jian, even at the cost of disrupting history, for this damned sword had caused too much slaughter.

The two fought all the way, leaving devastation in their wake.

The mortal world suffered greatly; villages turned to ash in an instant, and swathes of weak mortals perished.

Ye Chen glanced around; among the fallen mortals, many were his acquaintances.

This wasn't surprising; Da Chu had its own reincarnation, so the dead were reborn on this land. Their appearances might change, but they were still recognizable.

In other words, almost everyone Ye Chen had seen along the way, he knew.

This situation was like comparing Da Chu to a stage—it was perfect. The supporting actors came in waves; aside from a few unique individuals, the rest were the original cast.

Why was Da Chu's lineage so chaotic? It was all thanks to the heavens' reincarnation. In one cycle, you might be my master; in the previous, I could be your father.

Such things were common. As the tenth emperor of Da Chu, Ye Chen was used to it. Based on his second life, he was even Xiong Er's grandfather.

Pfft!

As Ye Chen watched, Hong Chen spat blood and nearly fell from the sky. It wasn't that his power was lacking; it was just that the Zhu Xian Jian wasn't in a weakened state this time. After merging with Xiao Ruo Xi, it generated some mysterious power, strong and enigmatic.

At the height of the battle, a third person joined.

This third figure was also in black robes with a ghost mask, his expression dull, eyes empty, identical to Hong Chen: it was Shen Wang Shen Xuan Feng.

He was just as decisive, striking without a word, teaming up with Hong Chen, one on the left and one on the right, against the Zhu Xian Jian.