Chapter 2230: Primal Divine Flame

Chapter 2230: Taichu Shenhuo

Ye Chen reappeared, now in the Huoyu.

Returning to the Huoyu felt like second nature, as he raced toward an ancient city under the bright moonlight.

"Have you heard? The Shengti Ye Chen is still alive, and he killed the Dizi Hanjiang."

"Is that true?"

"Absolutely certain."

"You have to say, the Dachu emperor is incredibly resilient. No matter how many times he dies, he just won't stay dead. This must be the umpteenth time. Does he treat the Yincao Difu like his hometown, popping back every so often to check in?"

"He's just someone who defies the heavens."

As soon as Ye Chen entered the ancient city, he overheard discussions buzzing everywhere. A few chatty types were planted at teahouses and taverns, spitting out words with such enthusiasm that saliva flew everywhere, drawing a crowd of eager listeners.

He listened quietly, his hood pulled low, and slipped by unnoticed.

This city had suffered a catastrophe over a decade ago, caused by Bei Sheng—or rather, Bei Sheng under the influence of Huatian Mo—who had rampaged through it, slaughtering many. Countless people had perished as a result. If Ye Chen hadn't arrived in time, the entire Huoyu might have been drowned in blood.

In the cauldron, Bei Sheng fell silent, her guilt unmistakable.

Over a decade ago, it was she who had slaughtered the city's inhabitants. Though she had returned to her original form, the sins committed as Huatian Mo were still vivid in her mind. Her hands were stained with the blood of the innocent.

Suddenly, she emerged from the Hunlun Ding and rose step by step into the sky.

Ye Chen did not stop her. Karmic debts like this needed to be settled.

As Bei Sheng ascended, the people in the city looked up, many recognizing her and understanding the meaning behind her actions. She was here to atone. In response, most just shook their heads and waved it off. Over a decade had passed, and the matter of Huatian Mo was clear to all realms—it wasn't truly her fault.

The Shengti had kept his word, providing an account for what happened back then.

Ye Chen headed to a mansion, where the reincarnated Situ Kang resided. Upon seeing the Dachu emperor again, Situ Kang dropped to his knees with a thud, tears streaming down his face. He had wept upon hearing of Ye Chen's death, and now, with Ye Chen's miraculous return, how could he not be overjoyed?

"I'll take you home!"

Ye Chen smiled and gently waved his sleeve, drawing Situ Kang into the cauldron. Also pulled in was Situ Kang's wife, the woman from the Huoyu.

Leaving the mansion, Ye Chen visited many other cities.

In this domain, there were those enduring tribulations and those who had reincarnated. He checked on the Sixth Shenjiang and Zhanwang, took the reincarnated Xiong Dashan with him, and paused at an underground ancient tomb to chat briefly with Bai Zhi.

Afterward, he moved on to the Leiyu and Shuiyu, wandering like a traveler through domain after domain, retracing his old paths. In each one, he gathered many reincarnated individuals.

"Cheers!"

Inside his cauldron, it was lively beyond words. The reincarnated ones reunited after a full cycle of reincarnation, filled with endless emotions. Tears of hardship flowed, turning the scene into an emotional masterpiece.

After crying and laughing, they dove into all sorts of nonsense. True to their Dachu roots, even reincarnation couldn't erase their bold spirit. They carried on with curses and wails that echoed like ghosts and wolves.

Given the vibrant energy of the Dachu crowd, Bei Sheng tactfully exited the Hunlun Ding and walked alongside Ye Chen. Along the way, she also slipped away the damaged emperor sword.

On some night, Ye Chen appeared in the Boluo Domain.

It was the same peach blossom forest. Before he saw anyone, he heard the childish giggles—Dongfang Yuling in her reincarnation, now three years old. Though it was night, she was full of energy, toddling across the grass and chasing butterflies. Under the starlight, she was innocent and carefree, like a little sprite without a worry in the world.

Her mother, however, had aged considerably, her hair already white. Having given birth to an Yongsheng Body, she no longer had any special privileges and would age normally, even faster than most. At this rate, she likely wouldn't live past sixty.

She took it in stride, though. Because of the Yongsheng Body, she had lived long enough. Her husband had died centuries ago, and she had missed so much. Her only comfort was her child, whom she would raise to adulthood and see married off. That would be enough.

"Is that... a Yongsheng Body?" Bei Sheng asked in surprise, hardly believing it.

"Holy Master, is she also reincarnated?" The Dachu crowd poked their heads out of the cauldron.

"Hengyue Zong, Dongfang Yuling." Ye Chen chuckled.

"This is just too..." Many clicked their tongues. As fellow reincarnated ones, the gap was huge. A Yongsheng Body could crush all comers. Looking at themselves, what a bunch they were! Those who had aged the most felt it keenly—after centuries, they were nearly ready for the grave, while she was only two or three. It felt like they were generations apart.

"The Dachu Zhutian Gate is full of talents." Bei Sheng couldn't help but sigh.

When it came to talent, no need to look further than the one beside her. Slaughtering great emperors and slaying dizis, mastering every trick from deception to theft—Ye Chen had trained an extraordinary group.

Ye Chen waved his hand, sealing Dongfang Yuling.

Sealed along with her was her mother. He would take them both to Hengyue. As for her father's grave, Ye Chen thoughtfully had the whole thing relocated.

Under the moon, Ye Chen vanished, leaving the Boluo Domain for other domains.

For several months, he didn't stop, checking on those enduring tribulations and gathering the reincarnated ones, all in an orderly fashion. The Huatian Mo individuals he had taken from the domains years ago were also sent back home.

At some point, he slipped into a black hole and visited the Lingxiao Baodian. He had hoped to snag some treasures, but this time, his luck was poor—he came away empty-handed.

In the black hole, he paused briefly.

Here, the Xianhuo and Tianlei were as active as ever, buzzing with excitement, as if sensing the presence of something extraordinary—and not just any treasure.

Unfortunately, back then, Ye Chen had been in a rush to reach the Lingyu and hadn't paid attention.

Now, he was back for the treasure, eager to see what could get the Xianhuo and Tianlei so stirred up. It had to be something remarkable.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Xianhuo and Tianlei shot off, one after the other, heading straight for a certain spot.

Ye Chen followed on foot, stepping through the void.

Before long, the three came to a stop together. Looking ahead in the black hole, they saw a flame suspended in the air, enveloped in a purple halo that resembled Hongmong Ziji. It was the essence of fire's origin, with ancient visions faintly swirling around the purple flames.

Taichu Shenhuo?

Ye Chen's eyes gleamed. Having heard of this flame, he knew it had emerged in an era close to the dawn of chaos—hence the name Taichu. In short, among flames, the Hunlun Huo was first, and no other dared claim second except the Taichu Shenhuo. Its rank far surpassed the Jiuyou Xianhuo and Jiuwu Xianyan, truly the king among fires.

This black hole is full of treasures!

Bei Sheng appeared, and the Dachu crowd poked their heads out of the cauldron, marveling and clicking their tongues. Who would have thought this dark, unremarkable black hole hid the Taichu Shenhuo?

Not to boast, but if this fire appeared in the realms, it would spark wars.

Amid their amazement, they couldn't help but sigh. Ye Chen's luck was outrageous—he always found treasures, and they were all top-tier. Like this Taichu Shenhuo, how heaven-defying was it? It was extinct in the realms, perhaps the last one in existence.

Even Ye Chen felt a bit dizzy.

He was fortunate that, after his reincarnation cycle of a thousand years, the Taichu Shenhuo was still here. If someone else had taken it, he'd be kicking himself in regret.

Whoosh!

The Xianhuo couldn't wait any longer, streaking forward like a beam of light. It was rare to encounter such a high-level flame—it had to have a good chat, and if things went well, they could merge.

But as soon as it approached, the dormant Taichu Shenhuo burst into scorching immortal light. What was once a small flame instantly transformed into a sea of fire, as if saying: Get lost!

Hey!

The Xianhuo wasn't having it. With a flicker, it also turned into a sea of fire—a golden one. Your rank might be high, but mine's not low either. When it comes to fighting, you can't beat me.

Boom!

Under Ye Chen's watchful eye, the golden sea of fire collided with the purple one, each trying to devour the other. Both seas raged with massive waves, blazing brightly in the dark black hole.

Truth be told, though the Taichu Shenhuo was high-ranked, it really couldn't match the Xianhuo.

It wasn't that it was weak; the Xianhuo was just terrifying. Having bonded with such a powerful master, it had swallowed countless flames along the way. In a straight fight, the Taichu Shenhuo fell short.

Roar!

With a dragon's roar, the Taichu Shenhuo changed form, morphing from a sea of fire into a purple divine dragon. Every scale was made of flames, gleaming sharply.

The Dachu reincarnated ones watched, swallowing hard. If that dragon tail whipped out, even a Dasheng realm expert would be done for. If it found a master, its power would be even more dominant.

Roar!

The Xianhuo didn't fall behind. Not only can you transform, but I can too—and bigger. Indeed, its golden divine dragon was much larger than the purple one.

From afar, one looked like a small worm, the other like a massive serpent.

Roar! Roar!

The dragon roars echoed nonstop as the two flames battled in dragon form. It was clear the Taichu Shenhuo was still outmatched, partly because the Xianhuo could draw on its master's power, while the Taichu Shenhuo was just a flame on its own, without any external aid.

Considering all factors, it wasn't a fair match.

The reincarnated ones sighed and marvelled, stunned by the Xianhuo's strength—it could even beat the Taichu Shenhuo, which ranked second!

Ye Chen didn't intervene, just holding his wine flask and watching quietly.

At his side, the Tianlei bounced up and down, itching to join the fight, and the Hunlun Ding was restless too, ready to stir things up. They were thinking of ganging up on the Taichu Shenhuo—we're not afraid of a brawl. Keep acting tough, and we'll beat you into submission.

Roar!

Under everyone's gaze, the Taichu Shenhuo lost again.

But it refused to give up. Its dragon form shattered, and it reformed as a fierce tiger. This time, the Xianhuo didn't change with it, staying in dragon form.

Roar! Roar!

The dragon and tiger clashed fiercely.

As they fought, the Taichu Shenhuo suddenly turned and fled. It had to admit defeat.

Only then did Ye Chen make his move.

With a resounding hum, the Fuxi Array manifested, trapping the Taichu Shenhuo.

He wasn't about to let this hard-found treasure get away.

The Taichu Shenhuo had a feisty temper, rampaging wildly inside the array, desperate to escape for a stroll. But as just a flame, it had no way to break an imperial Fuxi Array.

You can't beat me!

The Xianhuo reverted to its flame form and darted around outside the array, looking a bit smug, a bit schadenfreude-ish, and eager for another round.