Chapter 2384: Emperor's Tribulation's Sorrow

Upon returning to Tianxuan Men, Ye Chen placed Shangguan Yuer into the Xian Chi along with the others.

That night, he stood tall and straight, gazing at his wives, all of whom were Zhundi-level cultivators. It was truly a sight to behold, and he knew it would bring him great pride to show them off in the future.

As he admired them, Ji Ningshuang awoke, opening her eyes after a year. Under the moonlight, she remained as pure and flawless as ever, like a fairy from a dream, utterly enchanting.

The two exchanged smiles, filled with tenderness from her and warmth from him. Though they were husband and wife, beyond that bond, a subtle wariness lingered between them.

This was the unique understanding shared among young emperor-level figures.

In truth, Dong Shen was well aware that, at their peak, she was not Ye Chen's match. After all, she had fully unlocked her Shen Cang, while Ye Chen's Saint Body Shen Cang remained unawakened.

Additionally, Ye Chen's origin was incomplete, with half of it residing in Hong Yan. If it were whole, he would truly be unbeatable at the same level.

In the following days, Chu Xuan, Chu Ling, and the others also awakened one by one, their eyes reflecting newfound insights from their year of secluded cultivation and comprehension, all thanks to the Da Dao Tian Yin.

Two months later, Shangguan Yuer regained consciousness, solidified her realm, and opened her own small world.

Only then did the group leave the Xian Chi. They went to see Hong Yan, checked on Xiao Ruoxi, and even visited the ancestral hall of Tianxuan Men to pay respects to Xiao Renwang.

That little one had become even more extraordinary, with Dao essence swirling in his large eyes, making him inscrutable.

Ye Chen was unfazed, already familiar with Renwang's current form, but Chu Xuan and the others looked stunned. The ancestor of Zhou Tian had transformed into a child—this was utterly novel.

"How about taking you to Hengyue to raise?"

Fu Ya said, hands tucked in his sleeves. He had been blasted away by Donghuang Tai Xin earlier, only to be dragged back and assigned to guard Xiao Renwang here.

"Sure," Ye Chen replied with a laugh, reaching out lazily. He didn't bother to cradle the child; instead, he grabbed him by one leg and carried him off. From a distance, it looked like he was hauling a rabbit.

Walking with him made the women feel awkward. After all, this was Renwang!

Wah wah wah!

Xiao Renwang's cries echoed through the quiet night. Wherever Ye Chen went, he drew stares from passersby. Who else would dare swing Renwang around like that?

By the time they returned to Hengyue Zong, it was already night.

Yunu Peak was silent and desolate, with only Hong Yan sitting alone under an old tree. She hadn't grown at all and sat there blankly, lost in thought.

Ye Chen and the others' arrival brought some life to the quiet peak.

Hong Yan showed no particular expression, but she paused when she saw Xiao Renwang. With her insight, she could tell exactly who he was—Renwang himself—but how had he become youthful again? When had he overcome his tribulation, and why this form? It was puzzling.

Ye Chen finally set Xiao Renwang down and pulled out a wine flask. "Brought him here to keep you company."

"I don't know." As expected of the female Saint Body, she understood Ye Chen well. Bringing Xiao Renwang was clearly meant for her to examine him.

Ye Chen just shook his head with a smile, used to her saying nothing.

Chu Xuan, Chu Ling, and the others, however, were in high spirits, surrounding Xiao Renwang and playfully teasing him, their laughter ringing out. As women, they couldn't help but feel maternal around such a little one.

Even though Renwang was usually improper, in his childlike form, he was adorable.

Not just them—the female Saint Body's eyes also sparkled, as if she wanted to pinch his little cheeks.

At some point, she stood up on her unsteady little feet and toddled back to her room.

Ye Chen watched her go, wine flask in hand. He had spied the Zhu Xian Forbidden Curse more than once—it was incredibly powerful, trapping a female Saint Body for over a decade without any sign of weakening. At this rate, without someone to break the curse, she might be stuck for another century.

The night grew deeper.

Xiao Renwang fell into a peaceful sleep, and Ye Chen created a clone to watch over him. The women, meanwhile, each returned to their rooms, leaving Ye Chen alone outside.

Unwilling to be left out, Ye Chen hurried after them, his target clear: he wanted to find his ninth wife and discuss life's ideals, perhaps with some deeper conversation.

Unfortunately, as soon as he stepped in, Ji Ningshuang pushed him right back out.

That night, he was destined for a sleepless one.

The next day, before dawn fully broke, a thunderous boom shook the heavens and earth.

Countless people looked up at the void.

The rumbling came from the domain barrier, where a Honghuang Zhundi had drawn the Di Jie. The emperor-level divine might ignored the barrier, spilling into the various heavens, and even a trace of it crushed stars.

The Zhundi of Tianxuan Men gathered in the underground palace, using the domain's restrictions to clearly see the scene. It was indeed the Di Jie, with emperor-level tribulation clouds darkening the entire domain.

"The Honghuang race is truly outstanding," Tian Lao sighed.

"Drawing the Di Jie isn't frightening," Sheng Zun said slowly. Having survived it himself, he knew its terror well. Just attracting it didn't mean one could become an emperor.

Emperor Ji understood his mindset. Only those who truly endured it knew how devastating it was. Proving the Dao and becoming an emperor was no simple feat; without the right opportunities and fortunes, one would be utterly destroyed.

The Honghuang Zhundi's Di Jie came quickly and ended even faster.

It barely lasted half an incense stick's time before the rumbling ceased. No need to check—they knew the Honghuang Zhundi who had faced the tribulation was now gone, his soul scattered.

Such events happened frequently in the months that followed.

Rumbles echoed every few days, with Di Jie triggered every other day or so. Without exception, they were from the Honghuang race, and far too many Honghuang peak Zhundi fell to these tribulations.

Yet, the Honghuang people pressed on relentlessly, believing they could be reborn through the ordeal.

Alas, their hopes were beautiful, but reality was harsh.

In just a few months, over a hundred Honghuang Zhundi had drawn the Di Jie.

At one point, even three Zhundi triggered it simultaneously—a spectacular sight, but each met a more tragic end than the last. Few lasted even an incense stick's time, unable to defy the heavens and become emperors.

Under these repeated Di Jie, the Honghuang Zhundi suffered heavy losses.

These were all supreme-level experts, not inferior to emperors.

The Honghuang race aimed to turn the tide but ended up defeated more disastrously each time.

Ah!

Even through the domain barrier, the people of the various heavens could hear the Honghuang roars of resentment and fury. The once-dominant Honghuang race, the first beings of the world, had been mercilessly exiled.

Yet, their era had passed. This was no longer the Honghuang period, and becoming an emperor was no longer simple.

As Zi Xuan had once said, those who became emperors in the Honghuang era might not succeed in this age. The difficulty of achieving emperorship in later times far exceeded ancient eras, including Honghuang.

That was the easiest era for emperorship, which is why over sixty percent of the Xuan Huang 130 Emperors hailed from Honghuang. Precisely because so many emperors emerged from there, it made the path increasingly difficult for later generations.

By the sixth month, the Di Jie rumbles reached a climax.

Even more Honghuang Zhundi drew the emperor's divine tribulation.

This time, it wasn't just the Honghuang race—Zhundi from the various heavens joined in.

The first from the heavens to draw the Di Jie was a powerhouse from the Ming Realm.

He had been a Ming Wang under the Ming Emperor, his seniority on par with the Ten Yama Kings. In a vast, desolate star domain, he achieved ultimate sublimation, sacrificing all his lifespan for peak combat power, and charged into the emperor's lightning tribulation.

In the end, he was obliterated in the Di Jie, his soul scattered, leaving only eternal regrets.

Ah!

The Ten Yama Kings arrived with wine, pouring it along the way in tribute. He had once been one of the heavens' people, entering the Ming Realm with the Ming Emperor after the division of heaven, earth, and humanity. Sealed for ages, he finally drew the Di Jie but fell at that heavenly chasm, dying in his homeland.

Following him was the Youming Elder from Youming Continent, who triggered the divine punishment for emperorship.

He was also a divine general, having followed the Youming Great Emperor in conquests eons ago. He had lived for countless years and was nearing the end of his lifespan.

This Di Jie was his final charge before death.

Victory would mean defying the heavens to become emperor; defeat, returning his soul to the nine underworlds.

The outcome was predictable—he failed, more miserably than the old Ming Wang. His aged body was completely destroyed in the Di Jie, leaving only cries of unwillingness and sorrow.

That day, Youming Emperor Zi wept openly, tears streaming down, while the descendants of Youming Continent all donned mourning clothes, erected a divine stele, and held a vigil for their ancestor.

Fight!

In the seventh month, a thunderous roar resounded through the vast starry sky.

Another Di Jie descended, and the veteran observers—mostly Zhundi—rushed to witness it.

From afar, they saw a towering figure radiating golden light, his aura fiercely dominant, stirring the blood of all who beheld him.

It was an old ape monkey from the Dou Zhan Saint Ape clan, of higher seniority than the Saint Ape Ancestor; Xiao Yuan Huang would call him Xuan Zu Grandpa. He had been sealed for ages and now unsealed, aiming to continue the legend of the Dou Zhan Saint Emperor by defying the Di Jie to become emperor.

Regrettably, he was too old, his aura worn thin by time. He plunged into the lightning sea of the Di Jie and never emerged, leaving only a majestic silhouette.

Xiao Yuan Huang wept, and the entire Saint Ape clan knelt, wailing in grief.

At the end of the seventh month, the ancestor of the Kui Niu clan charged into the ethereal void with his battle axe. Though he fought valiantly, he eventually succumbed to exhaustion and fell to the passage of time.

The Kui Niu clan's blood and tears splattered the stars.

In the eighth month, at the edge of the cosmic wilderness in a desolate star domain, Di Jie rumbles echoed.

When the Zhundi arrived, they saw an old woman leaning on a cane, frail and aged.

"That is..." Sheng Zun suddenly spoke, his tone laced with shock.

"I have seen you, senior," Emperor Ji said, stopping and bowing respectfully, as if she recognized the old woman.

Mo Yuan, Xie Mo, and Jiang Taixu all looked dazed, recognizing her as well.

She was the first divine general under the Hong Lian Female Emperor and the only one still remaining from that era.

Once, she had been a peerless beauty, hailed as the top figure below the Hong Lian Female Emperor.

Now, after eons, even she could not withstand the blade-like years and had reached her limit.

The old woman smiled, discarded her cane, and sacrificed her remaining lifespan, transforming into a youthful woman. Her graceful figure evoked the first goddess general of antiquity as she charged into the Di Jie's lightning sea, carrying her legends with her.

Yet, she could not defy the heavens and perished in the thunder, meeting her end in glory.

In the ninth month, a man emerged from Da Chu—it was an old Zhundi from Tianxuan Men, dressed in rough hemp clothes, his eyes dim and murky, shuffling with each step as if on the verge of death. His seniority was so high that even Kunlun Shen Nu would bow in respect.

The people of Tianxuan Men turned out in full, and many from Da Chu followed.

This journey would either witness his ascension to emperor or serve as his farewell.

Life or death—both were possible.

"Why must you insist on becoming emperor? Isn't enjoying your later years enough?"

Luo Xi whispered. In these months, she had seen too many attempting the Di Jie, all fighting so fiercely and dying so tragically; she couldn't bear to watch more ancestors fall.

Ye Chen remained silent, not answering, but he understood the old Zhundi's mindset.

Sealed for endless ages, what sustained them was a single belief—the belief in becoming emperor. As people aged, that unwillingness, etched into their souls since youth, drove them to make one final push before their lifespan ended, so their lives wouldn't be in vain.

In the starry sky, the old Zhundi walked farther and farther, gazing around as he went, wanting to take one last look at his homeland. His murky eyes gleamed with greed, as if etching everything in this world into his memory, for the battle ahead might lead to eternal slumber.

Behind him, the people of Da Chu followed silently, whether they were emperors, divine generals, or later generations—all quiet.

In some bygone era, that old Zhundi had been an invincible war god, but he lacked that sliver of emperor's opportunity and never reached the throne. He had weathered the ages, endured the heavens' turmoils, and now, no longer able to withstand time, he forced himself to take that step.

Finally, in a vast, desolate star domain, he stopped abruptly. This would be his place for the Di Jie—or perhaps his chosen grave, where defeat meant burial.

Under the world's gaze, the emperor's lightning suddenly appeared.

The old Zhundi's hunched back straightened immensely, his murky old eyes shedding their age to become vast as the starry sky, his aged form restoring to youth, like a standing immortal king radiating the most brilliant immortal light.

Fight!

His roar shook the eight directions, carrying invincible will as he charged into the void.

He never returned, defeated by the Di Jie, body and soul destroyed.

All present bowed in unison toward that direction, offering respects. They had followed to see him off.

This month saw the most Di Jie attempts.

Whether from the Honghuang race or the heavens, they occurred almost daily, and not just one at a time.

Each of them was a world-shaking giant—be it reclusive elders or emperors' divine generals—who had their own myths in certain eras.

Alas, the heavens were heartless, wiping them out one by one.

Amid the rumbles came sorrow, as venerable Zhundi after venerable Zhundi fell, none crossing into the emperor's path. That ethereal divine gate seemed to stand at the end of time, more distant than a dream.

Ah!

Even the Ming Emperor sighed, his emperor's eyes filled with sorrow.

Over endless eons and countless cycles, he had watched genius after genius perish in the Di Jie.

Each time, he would take a flask of rough wine to pay tribute, not because they lacked brilliance, but because they were born in the wrong era.