Chapter 2335: A Series of Fortuities

Di Huang lifted his foot and continued walking deeper into the space.

At his side, Ye Chen was quite cheerful, constantly checking his Chaos Small World. The spirit and the Immortal Tree had been in the black hole for who knows how long, showing signs of withering, but after being nourished by the Sacred Body's essence, they were gradually regaining vitality, returning to a vigorous state—it was only a matter of time.

The Immortal Fire, Heavenly Thunder, and Chaos Cauldron were quite lively, darting up and down around the Immortal Tree, giving off an impulse as if they wanted to devour it. After Ye Chen gave them a good scare, they finally settled down.

After collecting the Chaos Small World into his eyes, Ye Chen couldn't help but rub his hands together, his eyes still as bright as snow. He felt that Di Huang had brought him to the black hole specifically to collect treasures.

Sure enough, just as he expected, Di Huang walked along, stopping occasionally, and each time he paused, there was always some gain—like a damaged bronze furnace, not of high rank but containing a few Dunjia Heavenly Characters; or a cracked divine mirror, incomplete yet retaining profound mystical insights.

Ye Chen chuckled to himself; having a Sacred Body senior at the Dacheng level was truly beneficial.

Di Huang kept walking. Whenever he encountered a Heavenly Demon, he showed no mercy. If there were treasures, he would seize them for Ye Chen. In the underworld, he often scanned the black hole in his free time, knowing exactly where the treasures were.

However, the space black hole was enormous, and even he couldn't see everything. The places he passed through now were only those he was aware of; as for the unknown areas, they would require many years of exploration.

“Senior, during my thousand-year reincarnation, did you and Ming Di know about it?”

“Of course, we could see it.” Di Huang replied with a smile, not slowing his pace.

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen's smile turned awkward. This meant that all the shameless things he had done were witnessed from start to finish by Ming Di and Di Huang.

Even with his thick skin, he felt a bit embarrassed, his face burning hot.

Amid the awkwardness, he couldn't help but be shocked. No wonder they were supreme beings; their vision was truly divine, able to peer through reincarnation. If he had known earlier, he would have been more restrained.

Speaking of reincarnation, Ye Chen cleared his throat and tentatively looked at Di Huang. “Senior, do you know about my first life?”

“Of course, I know.” Di Huang smiled, but then said no more.

Ye Chen stared at him expectantly, waiting for Di Huang to elaborate on his first life, but after waiting a long time with no further words, as a junior, he understood his senior's ways: he knew, but he had no intention of sharing.

Since Di Huang didn't say anything, Ye Chen didn't press further. What he needed to know, he would learn eventually.

The two fell silent, but Zi Xuan, standing nearby, furrowed her brows slightly. She had no idea about the thousand-year reincarnation or what Ye Chen meant by his “first life,” and she was still in the dark.

As they spoke, Di Huang stopped again, reaching out to grab a strand of lightning from the depths of the black hole.

“Xuan Tian Ice Thunder.” Ye Chen's eyes lit up with excitement; he recognized it immediately.

This thunder was different from others, born in an extremely yin place, incredibly cold, neither high nor low in rank, and rarely seen in the world.

Di Huang waved his hand, sending the Xuan Tian Ice Thunder into Ye Chen's Chaos Small World.

Now, the Heavenly Thunder became even more active, circling around the Xuan Tian Ice Thunder.

As its owner, Ye Chen started lecturing again, intending to make the Xuan Tian Ice Thunder submit. Then, using the Chaos Origin Method, he would fuse it with the Heavenly Thunder—just as he had done with the Immortal Fire.

The Xuan Tian Ice Thunder had decent intelligence and wouldn't submit easily.

In response, the Heavenly Thunder immediately flared up, transforming into a sea of thunder that engulfed it, as if to say: If you don't submit, I'll devour you.

This made the Xuan Tian Ice Thunder back down.

The fusion process went surprisingly smoothly, taking no more than the time of burning a stick of incense before the two thunders merged into one. After the fusion, the Heavenly Thunder's origin clearly increased, though it was still a long way from becoming Chaos Thunder.

Along the way afterward, there were still treasures to be found, all of which went to Ye Chen. His senior was truly good to him, fetching any good items he came across, just like the earlier Honghuang Ancestral Soul.

It wasn't until some time later that Di Huang stopped again.

This part of the space black hole was one Ye Chen had visited before, because he spotted the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Gazing into the distance, the Lingxiao Treasure Hall was grand and majestic, like a mountain or a peak. Standing beneath it, one felt smaller than an ant. It exuded an aura of antiquity, covered in layers of dust from the ages, and carried an vague, ancient pressure that made both Ye Chen and Zi Xuan struggle to breathe.

However, despite its magnificent presence, the hall was in ruins, as if it had been plundered.

This was all thanks to Ye Chen. During his previous visit, he had carried off the dragon chair, hauled away a heavenly pillar, and pried up countless bricks and tiles—who knows how many.

“What a strong pressure.” Zi Xuan murmured softly, gazing up at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall with a dazed expression. In the memories of the female emperor, there was no such grand and ancient hall, with such overwhelming might. What kind of force could have such profound foundations?

Ye Chen said nothing, glancing sideways at Di Huang. He could easily guess that Di Huang's real purpose in coming to the black hole was this Lingxiao Treasure Hall. Its significance was profound—it was the first divine hall of the ancient Heavenly Court.

Di Huang remained silent, quietly gazing at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall. Though he wasn't afraid of the pressure, he was awed by its grandeur. That extremely ancient aura surpassed even that of a great emperor.

Indeed, he had come specifically for the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, hoping to uncover secrets of the ancient Heavenly Court. Perhaps here, he could find some clues. Since the forbidden zones wouldn't reveal anything, he had to seek them out himself.

Buzz! Buzz!

Just then, two buzzing sounds rang out: the white jade dragon chair and the Lingxiao iron staff, like two beams of divine light, flew out from Ye Chen's body and rushed into the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, returning home.

Seeing this, Zi Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly. Clearly, Ye Chen's dragon chair and that domineering iron staff had come from the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Di Huang had already started walking, stepping into the Lingxiao Treasure Hall one step at a time, observing as he went. He had only seen it from the underworld before, but now, truly entering, he realized how extraordinary it was.

Zi Xuan followed behind, full of curiosity, looking around.

As for Ye Chen, this was his second visit, so he was quite familiar with it. As soon as he entered, he eyed the remaining three heavenly pillars, stroking his chin as he circled them. From time to time, he reached out to tap one—who knows, maybe he could talk them into coming with him.

Unfortunately, the remaining three heavenly pillars ignored him. As if to say: Have you no shame? If you steal another one, the entire Lingxiao Treasure Hall will collapse and crush you.

Ye Chen pouted and walked away disinterestedly. Since he couldn't take the pillars, he turned his attention to the white jade floor tiles, actually starting to pry them up one by one.

Zi Xuan glanced around and finally fixed her gaze on Ye Chen. That emperor was truly dedicated to his robbery, getting straight to work as soon as he entered.

The female emperor's remnant soul looked at him sideways. I knew it! How could a fine Lingxiao Treasure Hall be in such a mess, like it had been ransacked? Turns out, you're the thief. And the roof tiles—those must have been taken by you too.

“No way around it, we're poor at home.” As if sensing Zi Xuan's gaze, Ye Chen gave himself a perfectly reasonable excuse.

Zi Xuan was amused. You're poor, so you tear down someone else's house? Besides, you're not exactly poor! Just admit you have no principles and stop with the excuses.

Ye Chen didn't mind at all and kept at it, bargaining as he went. The items in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall all had spirits, so he had to negotiate before they would agree to leave with him.

And indeed, his smooth talking worked wonders—he managed to take quite a few treasures. Most importantly, he knew about the grudge between the Zhuxian Sword and the ancient Heavenly Court.

So, in his persuasive words, he didn't skimp on mentioning the Zhuxian Sword. Back in the day, that's how he had convinced the Lingxiao iron staff and the white jade dragon chair to come with him.

Zi Xuan ignored him and went elsewhere, still full of wonder.

In her view, this palace was more like a golden throne hall, the ruins of an ancient dynasty, carrying a era's civilization and a lineage's inheritance. As for which dynasty it was, she didn't know yet.

When she reached the center of the hall, she stopped involuntarily and looked up subconsciously. Above, there was no longer a ceiling, but a vast starry sky—a real cosmic expanse. The sun hung high in the east, its light shining over the mortal world; the moon was suspended in the west, its glow enveloping the earth; stars twinkled, covered in the dust of ages.

In that moment, she was stunned, her mind blurring. The hall was truly mysterious—where did that starry sky come from? Those brilliant stars were incredibly real, not supported by any secret technique, but forming their own universe.

Like her, Di Huang was also gazing at it, but even he couldn't see through it.

Soon, he withdrew his gaze and stepped onto the stairs one by one. Ye Chen had walked these stairs before, just to sit on the white jade dragon chair, and he had nearly lost his life doing so.

Bang! Boom! Bang!

A series of booms erupted—who knows if it was because Di Huang's steps were heavy or the pressure on the stairs was too strong, but each time his foot landed, it echoed with a rumble, shaking the entire Lingxiao Treasure Hall and causing more tiles to fall, as if it might collapse.

One could see that Di Huang's brows were furrowed, due to the invisible pressure.

Zi Xuan and Ye Chen exchanged glances, both showing surprise in their eyes. Who was Di Huang? A genuine Dacheng Sacred Body, capable of fighting nine Heavenly Demon Emperors alone, yet even he was furrowed his brow under this pressure.

“Is the pressure really this strong?” Ye Chen stroked his chin. Back then, he had managed to walk up, so a Dacheng Sacred Body should cross it easily, but in reality, Di Huang was still struggling against it.

“Could the pressure vary based on the person?” Ye Chen pondered, feeling that this guess was plausible. Otherwise, with Di Huang's strength, why would it be so difficult?

Compared to him, Zi Xuan saw it more clearly. The pressure on the stairs was real, increasing with each step, and tracing back to its source, it came from the aura of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall itself, which surpassed that of a great emperor—or even a Heavenly Emperor.

What was a great emperor? A supreme existence, let alone one above that, like a Heavenly Emperor or an even stronger Huang Emperor. Even a trace of their aura could crush Di Huang.

She was certain that if the owner of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall were still alive and the hall intact, with Di Huang's strength, he wouldn't make it to the top—he'd be reduced to dust before reaching the end.

Bang!

With another boom, Di Huang stepped onto the final stair. One could see blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, and his face was slightly pale. Only after truly experiencing it did he realize how powerful the hall's aura and pressure were. It really did vary by person; different cultivations meant different burdens.

For the first time, he stood at the end of the stairs and looked down.

With that single glance, the massive Lingxiao Treasure Hall trembled with a buzz.

Di Huang felt his mind blur, and the scene before his eyes changed instantly. The dark and solemn Lingxiao Hall transformed back to its ancient glory: immortal mist swirled, clouds and fog billowed, the magnificent hall radiated divine light, every brick and tile gleaming, with visions manifesting—divine dragons coiling in the nine heavens, phoenixes crying as they bathed in fire, white tigers roaring across the sky, and black tortoises blocking the path ahead. It was truly an immortal palace on earth, a supreme Lingxiao treasure bastion.

Vaguely, he seemed to see figures standing in neat rows, bowing to him—or more accurately, to the commander of the ancient Heavenly Court.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen and Zi Xuan, looking up from below, saw a different scene: Standing at the end of the stairs was not Di Huang, but a woman with her back to the world.

That woman seemed to stand at the end of time, more distant than a dream, visible but unattainable. Her robes fluttered ethereally, her three thousand strands of hair flowing, each one dyed with immortal radiance, holy and perfect, untouched by mortal dust or worldly affairs.

Zi Xuan's eyes grew misty, her expression dazed.

The female emperor's remnant soul couldn't believe that in this world, there was a back figure even more stunning than that of Donghua Empress. Though her face wasn't visible, she was more graceful than Donghua.

Ye Chen's gaze was also hazy.

He knew that this was the commander of the ancient Heavenly Court, surely a female emperor of unparalleled splendor, with at least the level of a Heavenly Emperor.

What made his mind blur was that the commander's back figure felt familiar. Besides seeing it in Di Jue's realm, he seemed to have encountered it somewhere else.

Buzz!

Suddenly, the Lingxiao Treasure Hall buzzed again, and the three of them snapped back to clarity.

The hall returned to its original state.

In an instant, the great hall fell into a dead silence. Di Huang furrowed his brows deeply.

Ye Chen and Zi Xuan did the same.

Especially Ye Chen, who was certain that Di Huang had seen an ancient scene, just as he had back then.

What surprised him was that, within that defined time, standing at the base of the stairs and looking up also revealed an ancient scene.

He hadn't known that before, because during his previous visit, he was alone and hadn't tried looking from below.

Di Huang stepped down from the stairs one by one, his brows furrowing deeper.

“Senior, did you find anything?” Ye Chen approached and asked tentatively.

Di Huang remained silent, shaking his head slightly. His brilliant divine eyes flickered with deep meaning. He only knew that the ancient scenes were remnants of auras, and at a specific moment, they restored the view from antiquity.

What he could affirm was that the commander of the ancient Heavenly Court was not at the great emperor level—at least a Heavenly Emperor. Even the lingering aura was this terrifying; his Dacheng Sacred Body was far from a match.

“Forgive me, predecessor.”

Di Huang bowed respectfully toward the stairs, offering a禮.

This bow was to the ancient supreme commander, worthy of a Dacheng Sacred Body's reverence.

Ye Chen and Zi Xuan, one on each side, also bowed respectfully.

Not just Di Huang—even if a true emperor came, they would have to bow.

Di Huang was the first to turn and walk toward the hall's exit, step by step. Beyond people, there were greater powers; beyond heavens, there were higher realms. Today, he had truly witnessed it: great emperors weren't the strongest, and neither were Dacheng Sacred Bodies.

“How about we take the Lingxiao Treasure Hall back and study it slowly?” Ye Chen caught up with Di Huang, rubbing his hands with a grin.