Chapter 2202: Great Wheel of Reincarnation Illusion

Boom! Bang!

With Shen Xuan Feng's participation, the already fierce battle became even more chaotic. The scene was quite pleasing to the eye; it had only been a little over a decade since Hong Chen and Shen Xuan Feng were locked in a life-and-death struggle, but now they were like old comrades, ganging up to beat down the Zhuxian Jian. Ye Chen watched with excitement, his blood pumping, even itching to join in and land a few kicks himself.

There was no suspense to the fight—the Zhuxian Jian was forced into retreat, escaping from Ruoxi's body and shattering the void as it fled.

Although it had left, the battle didn't cease. Both the muddled Hong Chen and Shen Xuan Feng, for reasons unknown, began fighting each other again. Their battlefield spanned a million li, raging on for nine full days and nights.

When the rumbling finally subsided, neither of them was anywhere to be seen.

As for Ruoxi, she was picked up by a kind passing stranger, and only then did the storm truly end.

Ah!

Ye Chen sighed, not bothering to search for Ruoxi or Hong Chen. No matter how he searched, he couldn't change history. With the free time he had, he might as well focus on his cultivation.

The journey was long, incredibly long. He started from the mortal realm and walked all the way to the cultivation world.

By the time he reached Xiling Yougu, three months had passed.

Today's Yanhuang was nothing like it used to be. With Hong Chen lost in his muddled state and gone missing, internal unrest surged within Yanhuang. Hong Chen's major disciples showed signs of going their separate ways, and the Shixue Dian was undoubtedly fanning the flames.

Ye Chen silently shook his head. Knowing history, there was no need to dwell on it. Before leaving, he couldn't resist stopping by Hong Chen Xue's dwelling for a look. Having just bathed, she was truly fair and tender.

After seeing Hong Chen Xue, he hurried to Tianxuan Men. Racing against time, he arrived just in time to catch Donghuang Taixin playfully splashing in the pond—a sight that was exceptionally captivating.

Having been sealed for over a decade, the first thing she did upon unsealing was to bathe; she had a particular fondness for cleanliness.

Ye Chen couldn't help but admire her. He had a weakness for women who loved cleanliness—they liked bathing, and he adored those who did.

After enjoying that beautiful scene, Ye Chen finally got down to serious business.

Under the moonlight, he sat cross-legged in the small bamboo grove, meditating like an ancient monk, exuding a solemn aura.

Having integrated the reincarnation marks from his second and third lives, coupled with the nourishment of reincarnation power, his understanding of the reincarnation principles had deepened further.

The elusive reincarnation principles in the void were incredibly difficult to grasp; even when he occasionally caught a glimpse, it was only for a fleeting moment. He was seeking those brief instances, but the challenge was that they rarely appeared, making comprehension of reincarnation all the more difficult.

The nights in the bamboo grove were peaceful and serene, with gentle breezes carrying the faint scent of a woman.

Donghuang Taixin was quite bored, resting her chin on her hands as she watched a nearby water curtain. The scenes within it were from some unknown corner of Da Chu, depicting the various aspects of life and the world's prosperity, all passing like a fleeting moment in her eyes.

Although Ye Chen was focused on comprehending reincarnation, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for Donghuang Taixin.

As the goddess of Kunlun, her mission was to protect Da Chu. She would remain awake for a period, then seal herself away for another, often blurring the line between reality and illusion. Through the vast changes of time, she had been worn down to numbness.

If not for the invasion of the heavenly demons and the collapse of Da Chu's reincarnation cycle, she would likely have guarded this land until her old age and death, never able to walk the path of Jian Feidao or wear her crimson wedding dress.

Speaking of the wedding dress, she was quite proactive about it, having prepared one long ago. On quiet nights, she would take it out, put it on, and admire herself in a large mirror, sometimes even adjusting her curves, feeling they had grown a size larger.

Whenever this happened, Ye Chen would peek with one eye open, etching the scene into his memory. When he returned to his original era and Jian Feidao overcame his tribulation, he planned to show it to him: the wedding dress is ready, everything is set—just waiting for you to marry her. If you don't, I might just do it myself.

It was a good thing Chu Xuan and Chu Ling weren't around; otherwise, they might slap him and say, We're waiting for you to marry us too—do you have time to worry about others?

Day and night cycled on, the sun and moon alternating.

Ye Chen's enlightenment this time took quite a while, with another ten years passing in the world.

But that was just the first ten years; winter and summer came and went swiftly.

He sat for twenty years straight, like a stone statue, without moving an inch. Around his body, dao principles occasionally intertwined, merging with traces of reincarnation power. Mystical visions appeared: azure dragons coiling, phoenixes crying out, white tigers roaring, and black tortoises paving the way, one after another. If you listened closely, you could hear the grand sounds of the dao, like tolling bells, ethereal and prolonged.

It wasn't until the twenty-first year that his sacred body trembled slightly, shaking off the dust of time from his shoulders.

Pop!

A sound like a barrier breaking rang out.

In the next instant, he opened his eyes, two beams of tangible golden light shooting forth. Once the immortal glow faded, his reincarnation eyes showed an added layer of profound dao essence compared to twenty years ago, flickering with a dreamlike light that could make one's mind dazed with just a glance.

He had awakened the immortal technique of the reincarnation eyes, called Da Lunhui Tianhuan.

As the name suggested, it was a domain of illusion; no seals were needed to cast it. Anyone who dared to meet his gaze would be pulled into the illusion unwittingly, much like the technique of "one thought blooms."

Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh at this. After sitting for twenty years straight, he hadn't fully comprehended the reincarnation principles, but unexpectedly unlocked Da Lunhui Tianhuan. The surprise came so suddenly.

Unfortunately, being in the reincarnation cycle meant he was relatively non-existent, so there was no one to test its power on.

As he pondered, a woman's soft moan suddenly reached his ears, making Ye Chen perk up, innocently thinking it was Donghuang Taixin up to something.

In reality, he was being a bit naive. There was indeed a moan, but it came from the illusory water curtain, not Donghuang Taixin.

The water curtain was displaying a steamy scene: a newlywed couple in their bridal chamber, completely undressed, with the bed creaking clearly audible.

As for Kunlun's goddess, she was watching with rapt attention, her flawless face flushed with a rosy hue.

To be fair, it had started as scenes of worldly prosperity, but somehow turned into an adult film—and an explicit one at that.

Don't deny it!

Ye Chen seemed to sense Donghuang Taixin's thoughts and quickly got up.

Then, he used his reincarnation eyes to copy the entire scene she was watching.

This was definitely a collector's edition, one of a kind in the world.

Ye Chen had already decided: once he returned to his original era, he'd share copies with the talents of Da Chu, Xuan Huang, and the various heavens.

Imagine, a collector's edition of Kunlun's goddess—if it spread across all domains, she would become famous everywhere, and the sight of Donghuang Taixin losing her composure would be quite thrilling.

Donghuang Taixin kept watching, her cheeks burning, completely unaware that beside her sat someone from the reincarnation cycle, enjoying the show with her.

A Da Chu emperor and Da Chu's guardian goddess, watching together—this scene was another collector's edition, fully recorded by a certain observant individual, who could only be the Ming Emperor.

This night was worth remembering.

Ye Chen watched with his blood racing, while Donghuang Taixin watched with a ripple of emotion, harboring a strange longing in her heart: she wished the couple on the bed were her and her Jian Feidao.

Ye Chen glanced sideways at her, his expression meaningful. This trip had been well worth it.

As dawn approached, Donghuang Taixin left again, heading to the immortal pond for another bath.

This time, Ye Chen didn't follow. He'd seen it so many times that he could picture her measurements with his eyes closed.

After twenty years, it was time for him to leave and find his fourth life.

On his way past Hengyue, he couldn't resist slipping in for a peek.

The Hengyun Daoist had passed away, and the new master of Jade Maiden Peak was even more beautiful than expected. Ye Chen had seen her portrait before—it was displayed on Jade Maiden Peak. Meanwhile, Tongxuan Zhenren had become the acting sect leader of Hengyue, designated as the next successor by the current leader.

As for Chu Xuan and Chu Ling, they hadn't been born yet—at least not for several more centuries.

Leaving Hengyue, Ye Chen didn't stop and vanished into the distance.

Entering the mortal realm of Beichu, Ye Chen landed in a mountain forest.

He Wu!

As soon as he arrived, he heard the call, shouted by the escort guards as a greeting, signifying harmony and friendship. It was meant to alert any bandits lurking along the road, ensuring a safe passage—as the saying went: "He Wu once, and the escort carts roll on; half a year in the jianghu passes in peace." It was a way for thieves to show courtesy to the escorts, with deeper implications.

The sound of wagon wheels soon followed as a convoy came into view.

The vanguard shouted He Wu all the way.

In the middle was the escort leader—Ye Chen's fourth life. True to his heritage, he had followed in his father's footsteps, becoming an escort head. He carried a large saber on his back, exuding a formidable presence.

"Once we cross this mountain, we'll reach Yunyang. Finish this escort job, and I'll treat everyone to drinks—drink as much as you want."

His laughter was hearty and bold.

At his words, the escorts perked up with excitement.

With cries of He Wu, the convoy gradually moved farther away.

Ye Chen smiled and followed at a leisurely pace. They were escorts, but also travelers. Dust-covered and wandering, their lives were half spent on the road, traversing rivers and mountains across the land, etched with the marks of time's hardships.

If they were travelers, so was he. This journey with them lasted decades, from his fourth life's twenties until he was over sixty, witnessing most of that life's story firsthand.

The dusty travels settled his dao, adding a touch of ordinariness.

At sixty-eight, his fourth life undertook his final escort mission, and Ye Chen followed as usual, accustomed to trekking mountains and rivers with them, enduring wind and meals along the way.

But this time, it wasn't just the end of the escort—it was the end of his fourth life's time.

In the dark mountain forest, the convoy was ambushed by bandits. Dozens of people, including his fourth life, perished without exception. Gripping his worn saber, his fourth life fought to the last breath before collapsing in the blood, exhausted.

Even in death, he clutched his escort flag tightly.

Ye Chen crouched on the ground, covering his forehead in dismay.

It wasn't just any bandits—their leader was an old acquaintance: Situ Nan. It was one of Situ Nan's past lives, much like Ye Chen's third life; he had become a robber, even establishing his own stronghold with quite a few underlings.

Ye Chen's face darkened completely.

You two are really something—brothers to the end. One wiped out my third life, the other my fourth. I can't even...!