Chapter 2207: Why Guard It?

The nights in Zhutian Men were far from peaceful. Hanjiang's challenge was like a clap of thunder, shaking Da Chu and echoing through the myriad domains of Zhutian without end.

"Honghuang Clan, you're too much."

"When the heavenly demons invaded, you were nowhere to be seen. Now that they've been repelled, you come out to stir up trouble."

"If the Shengti were still here, Hanjiang wouldn't dare be so arrogant."

"Let's hope the Yaochi Xian Ti can uphold the dignity of Zhutian."

"Women are no less than men; the Shengti is unparalleled at his level, and his wife won't disgrace him."

Curses erupted everywhere. Wherever cultivators gathered, discussions were underway. Righteous indignation filled the air, and insults flew freely. Many cultivators from the borderlands had already set off for Wangxuan Star to help the Yaochi Xian Ti, showing no signs of returning. If the Honghuang Clan wanted war, no one would back down.

"You idiots, all of you Honghuang people are idiots."

"Who else is going through a heavenly tribulation? Hold it back and let's cross it in Honghuang."

"Beat them to death."

The most boisterous place was undoubtedly Da Chu, known for its fierce people. The folks of Da Chu lived up to their reputation, their voices booming. They might not win a fight against Honghuang, but in a shouting match, each of them could take on a hundred.

In stark contrast to the outside world, Yunu Peak was serene and harmonious.

All the women were gathered there, and the atmosphere was heavy. As the one being challenged, Ji Ningshuang was calmer than expected. She sat under an old tree, sewing floral clothes for her two children.

"What are your chances?"

The silence was finally broken by Nanming Yushu's question.

All the women's eyes turned towards her.

"One hundred percent."

Ji Ningshuang looked up and smiled, her words full of confidence. In this era, besides Ye Chen, the Chaos Body, and Zhao Yun, everyone else at the same level was insignificant. This was her firm belief. Even Ye Chen might not defeat her, and Hanjiang was still a step short. So what if the Honghuang emperor's son ranked second? He was still just an emperor-level figure, while she, Ye Chen, the Chaos Body, and Zhao Yun were the true youthful emperor-level powerhouses.

Despite her words, the other women couldn't hide their worry.

Ye Chen was gone, and now they were being bullied at their doorstep – what a sorrowful state.

"On the day of the battle, bring all of Da Chu's imperial artifacts."

Looking towards Hengyue and Yunu Peak, Donghuang Taixin spoke softly, her eyes devoid of any human emotion.

"All of them?"

Tian Lao asked tentatively.

"All of them."

"What about Zhutian Men?"

"What's the use of guarding it?"

Donghuang Taixin stood before the divine stele, looking at the rows of yuan Shen jade tablets. She felt an unprecedented weariness, her face etched with the marks of time and hardship.

No one objected to her words.

Ye Chen was dead, which meant no one in this world could communicate with Ming Di Huang anymore. There was still a Shengti, but it belonged to the heavenly demons. Asking her to communicate with Ming Di Huang would be impossible until the end of time. Without Di Huang, the hopes of Zhutian were more pitiful than despair.

Now, with Honghuang provoking them, this guardian deity of Da Chu was driven to madness.

For endless ages, she had led Da Chu, working tirelessly to protect the gateway of Zhutian. For endless ages, she had felt lost and hesitated time and again. After guarding through countless changes of seas and mulberry fields, what was she truly protecting? Her homeland? The common people?

What a ridiculous notion.

The Honghuang were also part of the common people, yet what had they done? Time and again, they used Da Chu as a shield, provoked conflicts, and ignited wars, slaughtering lives at will.

In that case, why should she continue to be the watchdog?

Creatures like those in Honghuang weren't worth protecting. She was tired.

Let the heavenly demons' iron hooves trample into Zhutian. Once all the Zhutian cultivators fell, the next target would be Honghuang. If death was inevitable, they would drag them down to the Yellow Springs together.

Indeed, as the guardian deity of Da Chu, she had given up.

With her resolve, the other quasi-emperors could also see it clearly. If it meant mutual destruction, so be it! When people were pushed to the brink, they could do anything insane.

As the quasi-emperors fell silent, a sudden booming sound echoed.

Looking closely, they saw three supreme imperial artifacts flipping out from an underground palace: the Feng Qin, the Xianwang Pagoda, and the Kunlun Mirror, which had smashed three mountains in the process.

Could they really break free like that?

Everyone's expressions changed as they saw the Female Shengti emerge from the dark underground palace. She moved with ethereal grace, bathed in moonlight, like a dreamlike illusion stepping out of the river of time from a distant era. She had over ten thousand seals on her body, but with each step she took, they slowly dissipated—or rather, those seals were mere decorations to her.

Her eyes were slightly vacant, as if devoid of a soul, and she spoke no words.

It seemed that from the moment she was suppressed, she had no desire to say another word to anyone in the world. She was truly detached from mortal affairs, untouched by the dust of the mundane.

"I really underestimated her."

Tianjiu took a deep breath.

"A Shengti infinitely close to great accomplishment—truly domineering."

The evil demon was also there, and as a woman herself, in this era, there was no one who made her afraid—except the Female Shengti, whom she truly dreaded. Over ten thousand seals and three imperial artifacts had suppressed her, yet she broke free, showing just how terrifying she was.

"Suppress her."

Tian Lao shot into the sky.

"Let her go."

Donghuang Taixin said indifferently.

"But..."

"Whether she's friend or foe doesn't matter anymore."

Donghuang Taixin's expression was calm.

Everyone understood her state of mind.

They weren't planning to guard Zhutian anymore, so why bother sealing the Female Shengti? The heavenly demons would come sooner or later, so why not let the storm arrive more fiercely? This kind of surprise would surely please Honghuang, for the devastation of Zhutian was largely their doing.

Silently, the figures in the sky made way for the Female Shengti, clearing a path.

The message was clear: Go your way. Once you're out of Da Chu, do as you please—kill, summon heavenly demons, whatever. It doesn't matter. At worst, we'll all die.

The Female Shengti didn't glance sideways; she stepped into the void and gradually faded into the distance.

Only outside Hengyue Zong did she stop.

This time, she wasn't covered in a black robe or hiding her form. She simply stood there, gazing at Yunu Peak, at Ye Chen's wives, at Ye Chen's children. Now, they were without a husband, and the two little ones were without a father.

For some reason, looking at this scene, she felt an inexplicable pang in her heart.

All of this was her doing.

It was she who had personally sent Ye Chen down the path of no return.

"This place doesn't welcome you."

Ye Ling spoke up, meeting the Female Shengti's gaze across the sky. Even facing a Female Shengti infinitely close to great accomplishment, she showed no fear.

"Ling'er."

Chu Ling pulled Ye Ling back.

"If I achieve the Dao one day, I'll be the first to kill you."

Ye Ling's eyes were filled with tears, though they didn't spill over. Her gaze at the Female Shengti held nothing but hatred.

If not for her, Father wouldn't have died.

Seeing the mist in her eyes, the Female Shengti suddenly felt a moment of daze.

Her stubbornness was so like the deceased Ye Chen.

She wouldn't harm Ye Ling—not for any other reason, but because she was Ye Chen's child. She would give her an opportunity, even protect her path all the way, helping her reach the peak of the Dao, so this little girl could truly have the qualification to avenge her father.

I await your achievement of the Dao.

After three years, the Female Shengti spoke for the first time, then slowly turned and left.

The women fell silent, quietly watching her depart.

As women themselves, and all loving Ye Chen, how could they not see the Female Shengti's feelings? Precisely because they could see them, they were even more puzzled. If she had feelings for him, why become an enemy of Zhutian, deceive Ye Chen, and tarnish the Shengti's reputation? What kind of fate was this?

Mother, it's Father!

The women's contemplation was interrupted by a childish voice. Ye Fan was tugging at Ji Ningshuang's clothes, pointing with his little hand, his big eyes blinking curiously.

Hearing this, all the women turned their heads.

What they saw was an illusory figure standing in the flowerbed, holding a little brother and watering the flowers. Wasn't it Ye Chen? In all of Da Chu, no one had a thicker face than him.

The women were stunned, thinking they were seeing things, and hurriedly rubbed their eyes.

When they looked again—well, they had indeed been mistaken.