Chapter 2360: Well Hidden

One sentence left everyone dumbfounded, with astonished looks all around.

Ye Chen glanced about, then sensibly lowered his head and sipped his meat broth. There was no need to ask; from their expressions, it was clear no one knew what the "eight characters" referred to.

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances and dropped the subject.

It was late when Ye Chen finally departed. He had given up on pursuing the male Yong Sheng Ti. If even the emperors couldn't catch him, what chance did he have? Pushing oneself too hard for too long turns one into a demon; the kind that breeds monsters.

Although he had given up, Sheng Zun and the others remained relentlessly persistent.

Their sparring over the years had become a form of training, and they had fought everyone they could. The only one left was the male Yong Sheng Ti; they had to test themselves against him.

At this moment, everyone felt a twinge of nostalgia for Ren Wang. If he were here, he would surely find him. As the ancestor of Zhou Tian, Ren Wang could divine and seize heavenly fortune with pinpoint accuracy.

Unfortunately, no one knew where Ren Wang's tribulation had taken him, or when he might return; it could be years from now, or even longer. Without him, their supply of rare treasures was depleted, and life felt utterly dull.

In the vast starry sky, a domain gate suddenly appeared, and Ye Chen stepped out, intending to return to Da Chu to continue his enlightenment on the Dao of Pills.

However, before he could activate his own domain gate, he felt the stars tremble with a buzzing vibration.

Then, misty clouds emerged, faintly revealing a massive world within; endless and vast, with towering mountains, sprawling rivers, like a paradise on earth.

"Xian Zu."

"Xian Zu."

Ye Chen and Xiao Ling Wa said in unison. That unique aura belonged only to the Xian Zu. They never expected it to be hidden in this part of the starry sky; even Ye Chen, with his Reincarnation Eye, hadn't noticed it before. Clearly, the Xian Zu had just unsealed themselves.

Speaking of the Xian Zu's self-sealing, that history was quite ancient, on par with the Feng Huang Zu and Jin Wu Zu. Self-sealing meant retreating to their ancestral land.

Hundreds of years had passed. The Feng Huang Zu, Shen Zu, Mo Zu, Yao Zu, and Xi Mo Ling Shan had all been destroyed. As for the races in Nan Yu, those not wiped out had been exiled to other domains. The Xian Zu was the last to emerge, only doing so now.

"Hidden so well," Xiao Ling Wa sighed.

Ye Chen couldn't help but click his tongue. First came the invasion of the Tian Mo, then the chaos of the Hong Huang. Through all the great upheavals of the heavens, they never showed themselves. They truly had remarkable patience.

"Their divine child was killed by you, so they're probably coming for revenge," Xiao Ling Wa stroked his chin.

"Whatever," Ye Chen shrugged.

As they spoke, the clouds dissipated, fully revealing the Xian Zu's ancestral world to their eyes. Across the vast starry expanse, they could see figures of the Xian Zu seated in meditation.

Ye Chen moved to step closer for a better look.

But before he could approach, the Xian Zu's ancestral land was once again shrouded in mist, vanishing into nothingness. That entire world appeared briefly like a fleeting vision before disappearing entirely.

"How interesting, just popping out to show off for no reason?" Xiao Ling Wa muttered, curling his lip.

Ye Chen said nothing, retracting his outstretched foot instinctively.

His eyes narrowed into slits as he scanned the starry sky, but there was no trace of the Xian Zu anymore; as if they had never been there, or perhaps they had already moved elsewhere.

How intriguing!

Ye Chen, the young master, stroked his chin, his eyes flickering with deep meaning. He sensed that the Xian Zu were hiding some secret. Otherwise, why didn't they appear during the Tian Mo invasion or the Hong Huang chaos? Moreover, their ancestral land didn't seem fixed; it appeared to be constantly shifting.

If he hadn't stumbled upon it this time, he probably wouldn't have seen it at all.

Slowly withdrawing his gaze, he stepped into his domain gate. For matters like this, asking Jiang Taixu would be best. If Jiang Taixu wouldn't say, then there was still Di Huang, who could surely figure it out.

It was a quiet night when he arrived on an ancient star, in a small city, where he found Long Yi and Long Wu. Murong Miaoxin was with them, all seated under an old tree in meditation.

Long Yi was relaxed, casually sipping from a wine flask.

Long Wu, however, looked extremely pale, with fresh blood trickling from his mouth and his breath weak.

Ye Chen didn't reveal himself; he just watched from a distance before turning away with a sigh. Defeating the male Yong Sheng Ti was easier said than done; perhaps Long Wu would never fulfill that lifelong wish.

Compared to Long Wu, Long Yi was much luckier. And compared to their master, Long Ye, they were both fortunate; at least they were still alive, while Long Ye's fate was unknown. He might have perished in the cycle of reincarnation years ago, reduced to a pile of dust.

There were many like Long Ye: Dao Huang Sui Yan, Ouyang Shizun, Tian Zong Laozu, Hu Wa, and so many more. The names on the Heroes' Tomb might truly just be names now.

Boom! Rumble!

As he walked, he heard thunderous roars echoing from the distant starry sky.

Ye Chen was used to it by now. Along his journey, challenges were common. In this era of peace and recovery, without wars to disrupt them, everyone was getting bored.

Even more idle were the spectators, all well-informed about where the battles were happening and where the excitement was. They gathered in groups of three or five, rushing in one after another.

Ye Chen walked at a steady pace, following the source of the rumbles.

When he got closer, his eyes lit up. The fighters weren't elders but two young ones. One was the Child of the Earth.

The other, Ye Chen recognized; the Tai Yang Zhi Ti.

Back in the day, he had considered bringing him to Da Chu, but the old man was too strong. Not only did he fail to recruit him, but he also got a thorough beating. To this day, Ye Chen still didn't know the old man's background.

"Is that the Tai Yang Zhi Ti?"

"Looking at his origin, it must be the legendary Solar Bloodline. What a rare sight."

"Between the Child of the Earth and the Tai Yang Zhi Ti, who's stronger?"

People's comments buzzed around, their eyes gleaming with excitement. They'd grown tired of watching the elders fight; seeing these two young ones duel was a fresh thrill.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Amid the discussions, the roars grew louder. The Child of the Earth and the Tai Yang Zhi Ti battled fiercely, like immortal kings drenched in each other's blood, fighting with wild frenzy.

The commotion was massive, causing many dormant stars to collapse.

It was clear they were evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand. Both the Child of the Earth and the Tai Yang Zhi Ti carried powerful inheritances, and neither was inferior to the other.

"I thought only the Heavenly Tribulation Body from the Sheng Ti lineage could rival the Child of the Earth. Who knew the Tai Yang Zhi Ti was just as dominant?" Many sighed in admiration, some even using memory crystals to record the fight.

"Just wait! Once the Heavenly Tribulation Body grows up, things will get even more exciting."

"And don't forget the Heavenly Evil Lone Star. Anyone from the Sheng Ti family is a monster."

"Why are our kids so ordinary?"

The rumbling shook the starry sky, and the discussions never ceased. The Child of the Earth and the Tai Yang Zhi Ti fought with intensity, while the spectators seemed even more exhilarated.

Ye Chen watched quietly, a smile on his face. In this prosperous era, the younger generation was rising. In a few years, these two combatants would surely become great powers.

"Your precious daughter is here, and so is your precious son-in-law," Xiao Ling Wa pointed out, gesturing to one side.

Ye Chen turned and spotted Ye Ling in a black robe amid the crowd, along with the chubby Tang San Shao. They were here as spectators, their eyes shining with eagerness.

Ye Ling was his daughter, but that little chubby one wasn't his son-in-law; not that he would agree, and certainly not his wives. They just didn't match at all.

"That little chubby guy would be fine if he looked a bit more normal," Xiao Ling Wa stroked his chin. He actually liked Tang San Shao a lot. Despite his dark appearance, among the younger generation of the heavens, he was top-tier. His talent wasn't absolutely heaven-defying, but he had a god-level cheat.

In battles of the same realm, no one could beat the Bloodline Limit. He could wear down his opponents through sheer endurance.

The Child of the Earth couldn't do it, the Heavenly Tribulation Body couldn't, and the Tai Yang Zhi Ti definitely couldn't. In an era of clashing bloodlines, combat power, and talents, it was also an era of cheats.

Clearly, when it came to cheats, no one topped Tang San Shao, the little chubby one from the Tang family.

Beside him, Ye Chen stroked his chin, pondering something else. If he were lucky enough to awaken the Bloodline Limit again, should he find a wife and try to create something like Tang San Shao—an extraordinary being?

This idea seemed quite feasible.

Boom! Bang!

As he thought, both the Child of the Earth and the Tai Yang Zhi Ti plummeted from the void. Their final clash ended in a deadlock; neither could overcome the other. Their falling bodies shattered two sections of the starry sky.

Only then did the battle cease. One stood to the east, the other to the west, staggering and swaying, covered in bloody wounds, but it ended in a tie.

The onlookers felt disappointed, having hoped for a clear winner, but it wasn't to be.

"Until next time," the Tai Yang Zhi Ti steadied himself, glanced at the Child of the Earth, and turned to leave. He refused to accept defeat, believing himself invincible in his realm.

The Child of the Earth was just as unwilling, much like he had been with the Heavenly Tribulation Body in the past.

"Next time, I will defeat you," the Child of the Earth also left, his blood-soaked robes fluttering dramatically. Though a junior, his demeanor could rival that of his predecessors; radiant and dazzling.

Perhaps no one noticed, but two people stealthily followed the Child of the Earth and the Tai Yang Zhi Ti.

Those two were Ye Ling and Tang San Shao. Ye Ling tailed the Tai Yang Zhi Ti, while the little chubby one followed the Child of the Earth. Both wore mischievous grins.

"By my estimate, the Child of the Earth and the Tai Yang Zhi Ti are in for some bad luck," Xiao Ling Wa said meaningfully. He had clearly seen Ye Ling and Tang San Shao, both armed and ready.

"The younger generation having some spirit is a good thing," Ye Chen replied with a knowing expression.

Xiao Ling Wa glanced sideways at Ye Chen. On the surface, that sounded fine, but if Ye Ling were the one getting beaten, would he still be so calm?

The show ended, but the spectators lingered, feeling it was worth the trip. The juniors' battles were thrilling indeed.

Ye Chen smiled and set off back to Da Chu.

For some reason, he kept hearing screams and curses from behind.

From the sound of it, they came from the Child of the Earth and the Tai Yang Zhi Ti—probably ambushed by Ye Ling and Tang San Shao. Those two troublemakers were likely looting their spoils right now.

Self-reliance leads to abundance.

Ye Chen's contented expression perfectly illustrated this truth.

His own wealth had been built this way—kidnapping for ransom when short on money, robbing for treasures when needed. He was a master of deception, trickery, and theft.

When he returned to Da Chu, it was a profound night.

Da Chu under the night sky was bathed in starlight and moonlight, peaceful beyond words.

But this night wasn't calm. The moment Ye Chen stepped in, he heard thunderous booms shaking the nine heavens. Through the hazy void, he saw dark clouds gathering, lightning flashing, and thunder roaring.

At a glance, it was clear someone was undergoing a Heavenly Tribulation—and a Quasi-Emperor one at that. The scale was enormous, forming a sea of thunder that blanketed the sky. Each bolt carried destructive power, reducing many mountains to ash.

Ye Chen stopped and narrowed his eyes slightly. Peering through the thunder sea, he saw who was transcending it: the princess of the Seven-Colored Peacock Clan, Tian Zhi. She moved through the tribulation like a queen, obliterating swaths of lightning; not even billions of thunderbolts could touch her.

"This girl must have water in her brain, crossing a Quasi-Emperor Tribulation in Da Chu," Xiao Ling Wa grumbled, wincing at the mountains being reduced to dust.

Ye Chen was straightforward. He soared into the sky and dove straight into the thunder sea.

Then, he dragged Tian Zhi out and headed straight for the outer reaches of Da Chu. The outside space was vast—why cross it here? Was she still half-asleep?

Tian Zhi felt awkward; she had been so focused on the tribulation that she overlooked that detail.

When they reappeared, it was in the vast starry sky, in a desolate star domain.

Only then did Ye Chen step back.

That was the Sheng Ti for you—casually entering someone else's tribulation as if it were nothing. Tian Zhi's Quasi-Emperor thunder tribulation was powerful, but it couldn't break his sacred body.

"You brat, next time you jump into someone's tribulation, give a heads-up," Xiao Ling Wa complained.

Ye Chen was fine, but Xiao Ling Wa had suffered. His small body was scorched and smoking, with a faint barbecue scent. He hadn't expected Ye Chen to charge in and got caught in the tribulation by accident, leaving him battered and bruised.

Ye Chen didn't respond; instead, he stared curiously at one side, watching Tian Zhi's tribulation.

The thunder tribulation had dispersed, with no sign of an Emperor Dao Dharma Body, but something strange appeared—a odd, square object etched with ancient thunder patterns.

"I say, is that a coffin?" Xiao Ling Wa spotted it too, looking baffled. He'd seen all kinds of tribulations, but a coffin one was a first.

Not just him; Ye Chen was equally stunned—it was his first time seeing such a tribulation.

Tian Zhi was just as confused, staring blankly at the coffin. What kind of tribulation was this? Unheard of. No Dharma Body, and now a coffin? Really?

"What's that thing?" Many Quasi-Emperors from Da Chu had arrived, spotting the coffin from afar. Their expressions mirrored Ye Chen's—utter bewilderment at this type of tribulation.

A crowd gathered, all craning their necks to look.

That coffin was massive, like a mountain, ancient and heavy, making it hard to breathe. If it fell, it could crush someone to dust.

"This big coffin could hold quite a few people," Di Lao stroked his beard.

"It'd be great for smashing enemies," Tian Lao's eyes sparkled.

"Any insights?" Many elders turned to Ye Chen. With his Six Paths Reincarnation Eye, he should see more, or at least divine something.

Ye Chen didn't answer; he just kept rubbing his eyes. As he rubbed, blood started to seep out—or more accurately, he suffered backlash. Using the Reincarnation Eye to peer at the coffin left him seeing stars, and attempting Zhou Tian divination only brought more backlash, making his head buzz.