Chapter 2553: No Charlatans

Bi Xia slowly closed her eyes and led Yue Xin away.

Si Ming also closed his eyes and departed the Zizhu Forest, not forgetting to glance up at the vast sky on his way. The sudden barrier in the Tianjie meant that Fuxi could no longer borrow power in the short term. No one knew when this barrier would dissipate.

For two or three days, Ye Chen didn't leave the Ziwei Daofu, nor did he attend the morning court. He stayed hidden alone in the mansion, so much so that even the guards and maids couldn't find him. People assumed he had entered seclusion.

On the fourth night, figures cloaked in black robes subtly emerged from the Ziwei Daofu. These were all Ye Chen's clones, numbering more than three thousand incarnations, heading in every direction of the Tianjie to search for the reincarnated people of Great Chu.

As for his true self, he remained in the Zizhu Forest, focusing solely on carving wooden figures.

Deep in the bamboo grove, two tombstones had been added: one for the Fox Immortal and one for the Northern Saint. He visited them every day to pay his respects. The debts he owed them could never be fully repaid in his lifetime.

Under the moonlight, he resembled a weary old man, his hair white and unkempt.

His cultivation advanced further while carving the wooden figures. From the peak of Great Saint, he had reached the threshold of Quasi-Emperor, needing only an opportunity to break through.

Previously, his step-by-step breakthroughs were not without reason. During the borrowing of power, he had helped Yan Laodao slaughter an evil spirit, accumulating mysterious merits. This was an ethereal force that led to instant enlightenment, allowing him to break through nine minor realms at once.

If Si Ming learned of this, he would surely feel frustrated.

Both had borrowed power and cultivated merits, yet Ye Chen surpassed him by far. With one borrowing, Ye Chen broke through nine levels, while Si Ming had borrowed power multiple times without such luck. Comparison only bred resentment.

However, this was due to Ye Chen's tribulation response, which carried memories. The merits he gained from borrowing power were on a completely different level.

Unfortunately, with the Tianjie barrier in place, borrowing power to return home was impossible.

"Ziwei Star Lord is indeed leisurely."

A person entered the bamboo grove—a young man in purple robes, with a flame mark on his robe. A scent of dan medicine wafted from him, and his aura was intensely hot. Inside his body burned a purple immortal fire. At a glance, he was clearly a dan master.

His identity was not simple; he was from the Dan Shen Hall. In terms of seniority, he would address Dan Jun as his shishu, and his official rank was higher than Ye Chen's.

"I wonder why this immortal friend visits late at night."

Ye Chen replied indifferently, with no intention of bowing. Most importantly, he simply disliked the other man.

Ye Chen's indifference greatly displeased the purple-robed youth.

Who do you think you are? In terms of cultivation, I'm superior; in terms of divine rank, I'm above you. Yet you won't even stand to show respect. I'm a dan master from the Dan Shen Hall, and you're just a minor Great Saint—how dare you ignore me like this?

"Dan Jun sent me to take your shen gun."

The purple-robed youth spoke with an air of superiority, looking down on Ye Chen. His words carried a tone of authority—it was not a request, but a command. Moreover, as he spoke, he released a Quasi-Emperor pressure to suppress Ye Chen.

"Trouble him to tell Dan Jun that there is no shen gun."

Ye Chen gripped the wooden block and carved another stroke, effortlessly dissolving the purple-robed youth's pressure. In turn, he shocked the youth, forcing him to stagger back.

The purple-robed youth was stunned, realizing Ye Chen was far stronger than he thought.

"Good, very good."

After a long moment, the purple-robed youth sneered coldly, said no more, and left with a flick of his sleeve. He had considered testing Ye Chen but remembered this was the Ziwei Star Lord's domain. Starting a fight here would invite heavenly regulations, and even as a Dan Shen Hall member, he had to follow the rules.

Ye Chen took it in stride. If anyone dared cause trouble in his domain, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate the purple-robed youth. With his current cultivation, he could disregard anyone except a peak Quasi-Emperor like the Xian Jun.

"Giving face and still refusing it—I must find an opportunity to destroy him."

That night, Dan Jun thundered with rage, his dignity challenged by a minor Star Lord. How could he endure it?

As if on cue, the opportunity arrived.

As dawn approached, Ye Chen left the daofu, not for the morning court, but for the Tian Lao.

From afar, the Tian Lao was heavily guarded, enveloped in a barrier. Inside, obscure auras lingered—clearly, many Xian Jun were stationed there to prevent Xiu Luo Tian Zun from causing more chaos.

Ye Chen wanted to enter, but without the Jade Emperor's order, no one could get in.

"Boy, next time you come, bring her with you, alright?"

As expected of a Tian Zun, his dominance knew no bounds. Even suppressed and under heavy guard, he could still transmit his voice—an Emperor-level transmission audible only to Ye Chen.

"Which her?"

Ye Chen asked instinctively.

"That fairy named Yue Xin."

Xiu Luo Tian Zun chuckled.

"You recognize her?"

"I recognize her appearance."

Hearing this, Ye Chen furrowed his brow. He didn't need to ask further; he knew why the Tian Zun had acted strangely that day. It must be because of Yue Xin, who likely resembled Zhao Yun's wife exactly. Otherwise, Xiu Luo Tian Zun wouldn't have been so agitated.

Without another word, Ye Chen turned and left. This time, he was just passing by; he had to continue his journey to find the reincarnated people.

In the Tian Lao, Xiu Luo Tian Zun watched Ye Chen's departing figure, his expression full of surprise. In just a few days, he had reached the peak of Great Saint. That boy's advancement speed was astonishing, on par with Zhao Yun's monstrous talent.

Once Ye Chen was out of sight, the Tian Zun glanced toward another direction and noticed space distorting behind Ye Chen. Shadowy figures followed him, all cloaked in black robes. At a glance, they were up to no good—likely there to kill him.

The Tian Zun sighed, offering a silent mourning for them. Though their numbers were sizable, none were peak Quasi-Emperor. Killing Ye Chen would be impossible. Even if their forces doubled, they wouldn't stand a chance. He knew all too well how formidable Ye Chen was.

As predicted, in a remote sea area, the followers revealed themselves—over a dozen Quasi-Emperors surrounding Ye Chen.

"Run, why aren't you running?"

Shouts erupted, and one of them tore off his black robe, revealing a ferocious face. It was the purple-robed youth from last night. He had joined this manhunt, eager to curry favor and claim credit.

Ye Chen said nothing; he had known they were following.

Looking at the group, it was a bizarre assembly—all Quasi-Emperors, yet all dan masters. Each one was arrogant, not even bothering to hide, as they stripped off their black robes to reveal matching purple dao robes, all from the Dan Shen Hall.

As dan masters, they naturally possessed true fire, which was exactly what Ye Chen wanted.

Before refining the Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Dan, he needed to fuse a Chaos Fire. The flames of the various heavens weren't sufficient; he had to gather some from the Tianjie. Once his tribulation was over, his treasures like the Chaos Cauldron, Immortal Fire, and Heavenly Thunder would manifest.

"Hand over your shen gun, and I'll grant you a peaceful death."

The purple-robed youth sneered.

"And in your next life, don't provoke those you shouldn't."

Ye Chen complied—or so it seemed. He drew out a stick, but not to hand it over; he used it to strike. In an instant, he was before the purple-robed youth, swinging the stick down. Blood mist sprayed as a Quasi-Emperor's body was obliterated.

"You..."

The purple-robed youth's primordial spirit trembled, left with only his spirit, staring at Ye Chen in terror. He couldn't fathom how a Great Saint had moved so fast or destroyed his Quasi-Emperor body with one blow.

Not just him—the other dan master Quasi-Emperors were shocked too.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The scene that followed was brutally bloody. Ye Chen wielded the stick with overwhelming dominance; each swing obliterated a Quasi-Emperor's body. His movements were ghostly and elusive, impossible for anyone to catch.

Amid screams, the sea turned red with blood.

When the screams faded, the dozen or so Quasi-Emperor dan masters were all reduced to primordial spirits, floating and flickering in the air. Their faces were pale, fear etched clearly on them. Ye Chen's power had shattered their limits of shock.

"I'm from the Dan Shen Hall—dare to destroy me?"

In a mix of fear and rage, the dan masters roared hysterically, desperately invoking their backing.

But that seemed futile.

Ye Chen waved his hand, using the Art of Stealing Heaven to seize their treasures. Then, he forcibly stripped their true fires, fusing them into a purple immortal fire. When people delivered gifts, how could he refuse? The more, the better.

As for the dan masters' primordial spirits, they didn't escape either. He used the Swallowing Heaven Devil Art to erase their consciousness, absorbing their primordial spirit essence completely.

Now, the world was quiet. A dozen Quasi-Emperors, all dan masters from the Dan Shen Hall, had set out for a perfect ambush, only to meet their end on the Yellow Springs Road. They were probably still bewildered about how they were wiped out.

After absorbing their primordial spirits, Ye Chen transformed the purple immortal fire into a divine bow and used his imperial essence to form divine arrows. He fired a domineering shot toward a patch of void.

Ah!

Another scream echoed as a person was forced out, pierced by the arrow. His body collapsed on the spot, leaving only a faint primordial spirit.

That Quasi-Emperor wasn't from the Dan Shen Hall; he was a subordinate of Ziyang Xian Jun, who had followed Ye Chen all along. He thought he was well hidden but had underestimated Ye Chen's combat prowess and perception.

Ye Chen showed no mercy to him either, waving his hand to erase him.

"Go back and tell your master: if they dare follow me again, they'll end up just like him."

Ye Chen said flatly.

These words were for someone hidden in the shadows.

Indeed, those following him weren't just from the Dan Shen Hall and Ziyang Xian Jun—there were also people from Bi Xia's side, though they hadn't shown themselves.

With that, he turned and vanished.

After he left, a black-robed figure emerged, nearly stumbling. His face was unseen, but his entire body trembled. In the previous second, he had felt like he was facing a cold god of death, beckoning him. That person was too strong.

Since the killing god had spoken, he didn't dare follow anymore. Only a fool would continue and risk annihilation.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen had crossed a mountain range, following his planned route to search onward. the Upper Xianjie was vast and boundless; truly traversing it would take countless years. He summoned even more clones, not sparing his mana.

"What exactly is he searching for?"

Upon receiving reports from her subordinates, Bi Xia frowned. After witnessing Ye Chen's ferocity, she no longer dared send anyone to follow, knowing they would likely be destroyed.

Dan Jun shared her curiosity. He had dispatched over a dozen Quasi-Emperors, yet none returned; their primordial spirit jade tablets had all shattered. He wondered what had gone wrong.

The more this happened, the more intrigued he became by Ye Chen, convinced that Ye Chen harbored secrets. He was determined to uncover them, even if it meant sending more people until he got what he wanted.

Compared to them, Ziyang Xian Jun was already accustomed to it.

How many times was this? Every time he sent followers, hardly any returned alive. He had lost many subordinates, yet still hadn't figured out Ye Chen's origins, let alone the Kongdong Seal.

Ye Chen passed through an ancient city, but found no reincarnated souls.

Bathed in starlight, he pressed on, covered in the dust of time, tireless. Along the way, he located many reincarnated people, but none like Long Ye and the others. He wasn't even sure if they were still in the mortal world.

This journey lasted half a year.

In half a year, the Tianjie barrier showed no sign of dissipating, and no major events occurred—everything remained calm. However, those following him came in waves, mostly sent by Dan Jun to kill him, only to be wiped out batch after batch.

One could say Dan Jun was quite generous, sending people every few days to deliver treasures to Ye Chen, many of whom were dan masters with true fire.

Since others offered gifts, Ye Chen accepted them all without hesitation.

Over six months, he fused over a hundred types of true fire. The purple immortal fire within him had become incredibly dominant. If he passed his tribulation and merged it with the Nine Martial Immortal Flame, he might just produce Chaos Fire.

The Tianjie was peaceful, but the various heavens were in turmoil.

In the dead of night, a thunderous boom echoed through the entire starry sky.

Then, rolling Honghuang qi surged from various domains. Countless channels connected the heavens, and massive domain gates materialized across the stars. Innumerable Honghuang experts poured out from within.

"Kill! Kill for me, conquer the various heavens!"

Roars filled the universe, coming from all directions.

These were the Honghuang clans, who had lain dormant for ages and finally invaded the various heavens from their domains. Returning to their homeland evoked many emotions, but mostly killing intent. The Honghuang Emperor lineages were especially furious; their emperors' descendants had been exiled by the Emperor Desolate, a supreme humiliation. With no supreme beings in the heavens now, they aimed to reclaim their former glory.

"Where did these Honghuang clans come from? Weren't they in the various domains?"

"What about the Great Accomplishment Saint Body? What about the Emperor Dao Seals? Why aren't they appearing to suppress this?"

"Are there even any Emperor Dao Seals left?"

Such voices echoed in every star domain. Battles had already erupted in the starry skies, with shouts shaking the heavens. Swaths of figures fell, blood staining the stars, and Emperor Dao divine lights crisscrossed, shattering vast expanses of space.

"They've come so quickly."

The Nine Emperors snorted coldly and charged out of Great Chu. The other Quasi-Emperors did the same, rushing to different parts of the starry sky. They had been monitoring the Honghuang, but with no prior signs, this invasion from the domains was overwhelmingly massive and caught them off guard.

"There must be some mysterious force concealing the surveillance."

"No need to guess—it's the Zhuxian Sword. It must have helped the Honghuang clans slip through."

"Dammit."

The Quasi-Emperors' faces darkened. They had underestimated the Zhuxian Sword. In the past, it controlled Ye Chen, causing a great bloodbath in the heavens and destroying the Emperor Dao Seals. Now, it was hiding their movements, aiding the Honghuang's invasion.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

More star domains ignited with war—the clash between the various heavens and the Honghuang. Blood and smoke filled the starry sky, the fluctuations so immense that the universe trembled. Every ancient star burned with flames, the fighting relentless until one side was annihilated.

"What a wonderful sight."

In a corner of the starry sky, a graceful figure stood, enveloped in seven-colored immortal haze. It was a woman's body, controlled by the Zhuxian Sword. Her lips curved in a smile as she leisurely enjoyed the battle, particularly relishing the bloody scenes.

"You truly are all-knowing and all-powerful."

The Ming Emperor said indifferently, his voice transmitting across the human and nether realms—directed at the Zhuxian Sword.

"A mere great emperor dares to judge me?"

The Zhuxian Sword chuckled, turning her head slightly and glancing casually toward the Nether Realm. Her expression grew more playful, looking at what was essentially a great emperor with utter disdain, as if gazing down at an ant.