Chapter 2241: Great Sage Peak

Chapter 2241: Da Sheng Pinnacle

In the early morning, the warm sunlight cast a golden glow, bathing the vast lands of Da Chu in a serene light, as if draping the mountains, rivers, grass, and trees in a layer of peaceful vitality, infusing every inch with a touch of spirituality.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

As dawn broke, the deep and resonant bell tolls echoed outward from the Tian Ting headquarters, spreading across the four seas and eight wastelands.

This bell signified a summons, reserved only for major events.

Upon hearing it, the three sects and nine halls of Da Chu Tian Ting sprang into action. Whether sect leaders, hall masters, or gate masters, they all rose at once and hurried toward the Tian Ting headquarters, their faces lit with joy, as if they already knew the reason—it boiled down to three words: an opportunity.

In the Tian Ting grand hall, the holy lord of Tian Ting, Ye Chen, was already waiting.

His purpose this time was indeed to grant opportunities, specifically the Di Dao Xian Fa from the arid borderlands, which needed to be disseminated throughout Da Chu as quickly as possible.

"After all this waiting, I thought you'd forgotten."

The first to arrive was Gu San Tong, cursing loudly as he burst in, full of energy today, his entire demeanor radiating vitality.

"You jerk, are you rushing to be reborn?"

Close behind came Wu Ya Dao Ren, panting heavily, clearly having chased Gu San Tong all the way, though he couldn't keep up.

The two of them rushed forward, rubbing their hands eagerly.

"Where's the Di Dao Xian Fa? Let us see it."

"Don't rush, it'll be distributed uniformly."

Ye Chen took a swig of wine.

"If this were back in the day, he'd have been sent flying."

Gu San Tong said gravely.

"If this were back in the day, I'd have slapped him already."

Wu Ya Dao Ren stroked his beard.

Ye Chen ignored their remarks completely—don't cause trouble, or you might get a beating.

The wait wasn't long. After Gu San Tong and Wu Ya Dao Ren, Zhou Ao and Liu Yi arrived almost simultaneously, representing two of the three sects. As for Zheng Yang Sect, since Ji Ning Shuang was in seclusion, she was represented by the grand commander, Yang Zhen.

The nine hall masters and eighty-one gate masters were quick on their feet, as were the supreme elders of Tian Ting, all flocking to the headquarters, knowing they were here for the Di Dao Xian Fa, each one beaming with excitement.

Once everyone was seated in the hall, a wave of emotion swept through them. No one could recall the last time they had gathered at the Tian Ting headquarters—it must have been in the previous cycle, when they united against the heavenly demons. That night, Tian Ting's holy lord became the commander of Da Chu, leading the expeditionary force on a path of no return.

Now, after a full cycle, they were back at the Tian Ting headquarters with their leaders assembled, but many were missing—figures like Long Ye, Dao Huang, Du Gu Ao, Ouyang Shi Zun, Chu Cang Zong, and Zhuge Yu, heroes of Da Chu, were absent, and perhaps they would never return.

"Take them back and make your own copies."

Ye Chen was the first to snap out of his thoughts, and jade slips materialized throughout the hall, one for each person present.

He was straightforward, and so were the leaders. These slips contained the Di Dao Xian Fa from the Hong Huang clans, priceless treasures.

In addition, Ye Chen had copied his cultivation insights and understandings of the Dao, engraving them into the jade slips as well, so everyone received a share.

Holding these jade slips, the people in the hall felt their weight. They knew the value of these insights, gained through Ye Chen's journey, stained with his hardships and blood.

"To the heroes!"

Ye Chen raised his wine flask high, pouring out a libation.

Though no one responded verbally, their actions spoke—wine splashed down collectively, a tribute to their past and to the Da Chu heroes who had not returned. This land was buried with their bones, but not their spirits.

This reunion, after a full cycle, came quickly and ended even faster.

The leaders dispersed one by one, hurrying back to spread the Di Dao Xian Fa in the shortest time possible, maximizing their overall combat strength. For the tribulation frenzy could end at any moment, and that day would mark the full-scale war with Hong Huang—they needed to prepare actively.

Ye Chen was the last to leave. Before exiting the hall, he glanced back at the deepest part of the center, where the two grand characters "Tian Ting" stood majestically, reflecting the glory of this land.

Under the moonlight, he stepped onto the vast earth, walking slowly.

Tonight, Da Chu was unusually quiet. In Ye Chen's view, those who had obtained the Di Dao Xian Fa were likely deep in seclusion, and how much opportunity they gained would depend on their individual fate.

In the midst of the world, he suddenly stopped, gazing into the void.

Before his eyes, thousands of immortal lights streaked through the ether, as more tribulation survivors returned, all without exception from the Hong Huang clans. Not a single one from the various heavens.

Ye Chen frowned slightly, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

With his Zhou Tian evolution ability, he had deduced multiple times that the tribulation frenzy ravaging the world was nearing its end. He didn't know the exact time, but it was not far off.

Seek mediation from the forbidden zones again?

Ye Chen pondered internally. If Hong Huang launched a full war, the various heavens would undoubtedly be defeated. They needed the forbidden zones' assistance, but it might not work this time. The forbidden zones had suffered from the tribulation frenzy and were unlikely to get involved again. Blackmailing them once or twice was possible, but a third time would mean not Hong Huang, but the forbidden zones themselves would destroy the various heavens.

So, everything depended on themselves. If he could advance to Zhun Di, he might connect with Ming Di Huang—that would be the true path.

Speaking of Zhun Di, he looked longingly at the Tai Chu Shen Huo.

That flame ignored him completely. Keep staring? It wouldn't help.

Ye Chen didn't speak, just took a deep breath. It was lucky this was just a flame; otherwise, he'd beat the Tai Chu Shen Huo until even its mother wouldn't recognize it. After all his efforts, he was only a step from Zhun Di, yet here it was, failing him.

He gave up trying to coax the Tai Chu Shen Huo—it was pointless.

Along the way, Da Chu was sparsely populated, with few signs of life. The usually vibrant people of Da Chu had quieted down, focusing on serious matters like comprehending the Di Dao Xian Fa.

In that moment, Ye Chen had an epiphany. While walking with his eyes closed, he unwittingly entered a state of enlightenment.

The laws of reincarnation often surprised him unexpectedly, and these fleeting moments were more precious than the Di Dao Xian Fa itself.

Thus, under the bright moon, a solitary figure wandered, crossing vast lands, his mind immersed in enlightenment, pondering the laws of reincarnation and the chaotic Dao.

This walk lasted nine days.

For nine days, he didn't stop, his steps slow but covering immense distances, taking him from the central plains of Bei Chu to the city walls of Nan Chu.

Though short, these nine days brought significant gains, deepening his understanding of the Dao.

On the tenth day, he finally halted, his eyes still closed.

Golden divine light enveloped him, every inch of his sacred body radiating brilliant glory. His Dao bones and origins trembled together, laws and bloodlines intertwined, manifesting various visions.

In that instant, his cultivation surged, advancing all the way to Da Sheng Pinnacle.

In the haze, he seemed to glimpse a towering gate, standing beneath it like an ant, the gate both near and impossibly distant.

That was the gate to Zhun Di—cross it, and he would become a Zhun Di.

Previously, he was just a step away; now, he was only half a step.

Buzz!

As his cultivation reached Da Sheng Pinnacle, the heavens trembled with a buzz.

In that moment, whether in Da Chu, Xuan Huang, the various heavens, Hong Huang, or the five forbidden zones, all peak Zhun Di experts looked up simultaneously, their expressions filled with astonishment and joy.

For just before, the Di Dao suppression of Xian Wu Di Zun had weakened slightly, and as peak Zhun Di, they felt it most acutely. To them, this was undoubtedly a great blessing—if the opportunity arose, they might truly cross that chasm and defy the heavens to become emperors.

"Recently, the weakening of the Di Dao suppression has accelerated noticeably."

In Tian Xu Forbidden Zone, Di Lao stroked his beard, his murky eyes full of profound meaning.

"Perhaps we should visit Da Chu."

Tian Lao said calmly, though his expression was somewhat awkward. They had waited for Ye Chen for so long, thinking he would return, but he was nowhere to be seen. Since he wouldn't come, the forbidden zone would have to humble itself and go find that little sacred body to talk. The Di Dao suppression was surely linked to Ye Chen, and they should also retrieve that Ling Xiao iron staff along the way.

With that, Tian Lao summoned an imperial domain gate, and the two stepped in together.

Before leaving, they didn't forget to awaken two slumbering Zhun Di— Tian Xu couldn't be left unguarded, especially with that female sacred body potentially causing trouble at any time.

"This era might truly produce an emperor."

"Could it be that the heavens pity the world and have bestowed this blessing?"

Many foolishly attributed the weakening of the Di Dao suppression to the heavens, which was laughable.

"No matter who grants it, if there's a chance to become emperor, I'll risk my life for it—it's not in vain that I've lived."

"Such bold words—I've heard them too often, and seen far more true despair."

"In the face of despair, even the smallest hope holds infinite possibilities."

On many mountain peaks, peak Zhun Di stood, gazing into the void, their expressions worn and world-weary, unable to hide their cangsang. Reaching the peak of Zhun Di was easy, but becoming a great emperor was hard—endless ages had seen countless geniuses fall in the river of time, never awaiting their chance to become emperor.

Their mindset mirrored that of Da Chu's Zhun Di, all lifting their aged eyes to the void, where the still-weakening Di Dao suppression reignited their dim gazes.

"This era is full of changes, and with changes come opportunities—we all have hope."

Yue Huang smiled lightly.

"If I get another chance, I will become emperor."

Sheng Zun spoke firmly, uncharacteristically serious, his youthful body and eyes radiating determination.

"You're not cut out for it."

Xi Chen said meaningfully.

"I'll survive the tribulation."

Sheng Zun glanced sideways at the son of the realm.

"You're not as tall as me."

"I'll survive the emperor tribulation."

"You're not as tall as me."

The son of the realm and Sheng Zun bantered back and forth, their exchange heartfelt. Sheng Zun, serious for only a couple of seconds, reverted to his playful nature.

Not everyone was in such a mood.

The seductive Xie Mo was more composed than imagined, her eyes on the void filled with cangsang. As a Hong Huang-level powerhouse, she occasionally recalled events from eons past. As fellow peerless queens, they had both reached Zhun Di Pinnacle in their time, but Hong Lian had become emperor while she had not—not because she was inferior, but because she lacked that crucial thread of opportunity.

Now, after countless shifts of seas and mountains, she yearned for the supreme emperor realm, just as she was determined to revive Mu Liu Qing.

"This must be connected to you."

Among the Zhun Di present, only Dong Huang Tai Xin was watching a Huan Tian water curtain, which displayed Ye Chen.

From some unknown era, she had begun studying this little sacred body. Every time Ye Chen's cultivation advanced, the Di Dao suppression weakened slightly, and as it did tonight with his rise to Da Sheng Pinnacle, her suspicion was confirmed.

Ye Chen was unaware of the outside world. At that moment, he stood quietly in place, not only enlightening but also stabilizing his realm. His thousand-year reincarnation wasn't for nothing—it was a buildup for this breakthrough, bringing continuous fortunes since his return.

With the breeze, the various visions around him slowly dissipated, and the divine light on his body gradually retracted into his form. He stood like an unyielding monument, his black hair fluttering, naturally exuding the Dao.

It wasn't until the tenth day that he opened his eyes, two beams of tangible light piercing the void before fading into calm.

"Recently, good things just keep coming."

Ye Chen laughed, stretching lazily. Now at Da Sheng Pinnacle, his combat strength was even more dominant. Sadly, though he could see the Zhun Di gate, he couldn't challenge it yet—it still lacked that elusive thread of opportunity.

For celebrations, wine was essential.

He pulled out his wine gourd, but as it reached his lips, he paused.

Then, like a divine ray, he shot into the sky, heading straight for Heng Yue, as if remembering something urgent, speeding along with thunder and lightning.

What had he forgotten? His two little ones, of course. All the women were in seclusion, leaving no one to watch them. This unreliable father had been gone for over ten days, lost in enlightenment and forgetting the time.

By the time he returned to Heng Yue, night had fallen.

The two little ones were as cheerful as ever, their giggles echoing nonstop.

They weren't unattended. A woman sat under a distant old tree, smiling as she watched them, radiating maternal warmth.

That woman was none other than Qi Yue, Xu Fu's disciple.

"Oh, you finally remembered to come back?"

Seeing Ye Chen land, Qi Yue glanced at him. With your wives in seclusion, is it right to leave the kids on the mountain?

"I got caught up in enlightenment and lost track of time."

Ye Chen chuckled dryly.

"Good thing I passed by."

Qi Yue rolled her eyes, then averted her gaze from his, afraid of getting lost in it again. It was his eyes—they had a mesmerizing power that always made her linger.

"Really grateful to you, senior sister."

Ye Chen smiled and sat down beside her.

Their side-by-side figures under the starlight and moonlight were quite hazy, and from behind, they even looked like a couple; from the front, definitely a couple.

This couple-like aura had been planted since Ye Chen's second life.

In that cycle, he was an emperor ruling the seas, and she was his queen, overseeing the realm.

They even had a wasteful son, who became Xiong Da Hai in another life, squandering his empire.

Though that cycle had passed, the memories remained, along with a subtle bond lingering silently.

"I'm leaving now—be more reliable and watch the kids."

Qi Yue lowered her head and stood up, though reluctant, she knew this place called Jade Maiden Peak wasn't hers. A self-mocking smile crossed her face, as poignant as in the previous cycle.

"Yun Er."

Ye Chen, in a daze, murmured the name.

Qi Yue froze, stunned. I have a name like that?

"Slip of the tongue."

Ye Chen coughed awkwardly.

"Flirtatious playboy."

Qi Yue glared at him fiercely and stormed off, fuming. Who knows who that Yun Er is—probably another of his wives she hadn't met. Mistaking me for someone else—did you even think about my feelings? I watched your kids for nothing.