Chapter 2342: Taiyin and Taiyang

The starry sky was vast and boundless.

Ye Chen treaded through the void, wandering aimlessly, crossing one star domain after another.

This era of recuperation and recovery was far from peaceful.

The unrest came from those restless figures who frequently challenged each other to fights. From peak Zhundi experts down to novice Qi Condensation cultivators, each seemed highly motivated. These sparring battles served as training, a way to stay vigilant even in safety—a principle understood by all.

As a result, the rumblings in the starry sky echoed constantly, one after another.

Ye Chen walked and observed along the way, often joining in the excitement to secretly learn various secret techniques.

Of course, what he watched included not just the battles, but also the bustling affairs of the mortal world.

A year had passed since the end of the Honghuang war. The lingering blood mist in the starry sky had long been obscured by time, and a vibrant vitality now cloaked the vast universe in a fresh new face.

Gazing into the distance, each ancient star teeming with life was full of vigor, shimmering with brilliant starlight. Wherever people passed, light illuminated everything, and even the deepest darkness could not hide it.

Ye Chen smiled, feeling quite fortunate. The rise of a new generation signaled the approach of a golden age, and he, merely a speck in the grand scheme, would also bear witness to this prosperous era.

The tenth emperor of Da Chu continued onward, having taken the secret scroll given by Zi Xuan.

As he walked, he entered a state of enlightenment. The array formations created by the Nv Di were indeed heaven-defying and transformative, sharing similarities with Di Dao Fu Xi in their ingenious principles, though each had its strengths and weaknesses.

This journey lasted an entire month.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was even deeper, like the vast starry sky flickering with starlight. He had fully comprehended the Twelve Tianzi Daming Array and integrated it with Di Dao Fu Xi.

In the past, array formations had been his weak point; now, he had admirably compensated for that deficiency. His mastery of arrays placed him among the elite of his level, with few peers.

"Time to go home." Accompanied by a contented laugh, he stepped into a domain gate.

However, in the next instant, he emerged from the domain gate again, staring in surprise at a certain direction.

There, in the opposite part of the starry sky, a massive wine gourd was flying toward them. Perched on it was a little old man with an extraordinarily long beard, kind-eyed and benevolent. At his sides sat a woman in white robes and a young man in black robes, one on each side.

And it was precisely this woman in white and the young man in black that caught Ye Chen's attention.

"Taiyang Zhiti."

"Taiyin Zhiti."

Ye Chen murmured softly, his eyes gleaming brightly. These were both heaven-defying bloodlines. In the history of the myriad heavens, instances where these two inheritances coexisted in the same era were rare, and he never expected to encounter them here.

Legend had it that the union of Taiyin and Taiyang could give birth to a Chaos Body.

This legend was proven in ancient times by the Chaos Great Emperor.

"Struck gold." Ye Chen's eyes shone even brighter as he rubbed his hands eagerly, grinning as he approached. As the emperor of Da Chu, he felt a strong sense of responsibility—whenever he saw heaven-defying bloodlines, he thought about bringing them to Da Chu. After all, gathering talents was always beneficial.

Seeing someone block their path, the little old man abruptly braked.

Though short in stature, this old man was a peak Zhundi. Without any special bloodline, his age was astonishingly ancient, exuding an aura of timeless antiquity. He was likely not from this era, much like many old fossils who had self-sealed themselves until now.

"Kid, don't you watch where you're going?" The little old man stroked his beard, sizing up Ye Chen from head to toe. He couldn't see through Ye Chen's true form, as Ye Chen had concealed his aura with Zhou Tian.

Unable to see through him, the Taiyin Zhiti and Taiyang Zhiti beside him couldn't either. They only knew that the person before them had a hidden and extremely powerful presence, one that made their hearts tremble.

"I say, little old man, you're quite something! One Taiyang Zhiti and one Taiyin Zhiti." Ye Chen tucked his hands behind his back and circled around the wine gourd, glancing at the woman in white, then at the young man in black, confirming they were indeed of those two bloodlines.

Under his gaze, both the woman in white and the young man in black felt a chill run through them. It was all because of Ye Chen's look—like a commoner spotting a pile of gold.

While Ye Chen was observing, the little old man was observing him too. The difference was, Ye Chen focused on the Taiyin and Taiyang, while the little old man focused on him. Ye Chen circled around the Taiyin and Taiyang, and the little old man circled around Ye Chen, scrutinizing him from head to toe.

This scene was quite comical, with both of them idling away, as if watching monkeys, their eyes sparkling like mortals beholding treasure.

"Don't be afraid, I'm a good person."

Those words only made things worse, especially paired with Ye Chen's cheerful smile—it looked anything but normal. Claiming to be a good person? No one would believe it, especially with that gleeful grin.

"Anyone who can see through Taiyin and Taiyang must be no ordinary figure."

The little old man rubbed his eyes, speaking earnestly, the glare from Ye Chen's brilliance making his eyes see stars.

"Just a nobody, a small fry."

Ye Chen replied casually, then couldn't help reaching out to pinch the young man in black's face. This was the Taiyang Zhiti, the real deal.

The young man in black's face darkened instantly. What do you think you're doing?

Ye Chen ignored it and turned to the Taiyin Zhiti. Though the young woman was not very old, she had an absolutely stunning, fairy-like appearance, with an expression as cold and aloof as ice, carrying a unique air of pride.

Looking at her, he couldn't help but recall Huo Zun from the Shixue Hall, who had also been a Taiyin Zhiti, though long ago slain by Ji Ning Shuang. As fellow Taiyin inheritances went, Huo Zun's bloodline was far inferior to this woman's—hers was purer and more refined.

The woman in white furrowed her brows slightly. If Ye Chen dared to pinch her face, she wouldn't mind kicking him. So what if he was a senior? Her own ancestor was a peak Zhundi too!

"I say, little Shengti, have you had your fill?"

The little old man finally rubbed the stars from his eyes and pulled Ye Chen back a bit. It seemed he had recognized Ye Chen.

"It's rare to see two living Taiyin and Taiyang—they're quite a sight."

Ye Chen said meaningfully, growing fonder of the young man in black and the woman in white with every glance.

Just two simple exchanges left the young man and woman stunned, staring at Ye Chen in astonishment. They weren't fools; they could hear the implication. The person before them was the tenth emperor of Da Chu!

In terms of seniority, they might even have to address him as a senior. They'd only heard legends of Ye Chen before—today was their first time seeing the real person, so how could they not be shocked?

"So, are you selling these two kids of yours?"

Ye Chen rubbed his hands, grinning at the little old man.

That question made the young man and woman twitch at the corners of their mouths.

People said the folk of Da Chu were fierce and unpredictable, and it seemed true—especially their tenth emperor, who was in a league of his own. Today, they saw it firsthand: he just outright asked if someone was selling their kids. How outstanding could you get? If this were back home, you'd have been beaten to death ages ago.

The little old man was amused too, chuckling heartily.

"The price is negotiable."

Ye Chen stepped forward, casually draping an arm over the little old man's shoulder. Height wasn't an issue—from behind, they looked like old buddies.

"Then how about your Tian'e Zhiti and Tian Sha Gu Xing—are you selling them?"

The little old man laughed back at Ye Chen. "If so, this old man wouldn't mind trading. What do you think, Shengti?"

"Don't joke around—mine are blood relatives."

"Mine aren't picked up off the street either."

"If you put it that way, I might just rob you."

Ye Chen said, pulling out the Lingxiao Iron Stick. He even huffed on it and polished it vigorously with his sleeve, making sure it shone brightly. It might see blood soon—the folk of Da Chu were indeed quite fierce.