Chapter 2554: The Eighth Prince's Invitation

In the quiet night, Ye Chen stood still in the mountain forest, sitting silently on a rock. This was the first time in half a year that he had stopped to rest. His snow-white hair was slightly disheveled, and stubble had grown around his mouth. His eyes held a faint dimness, making him resemble an elderly man in his twilight years, as if he might drift off to sleep at any moment.

That night, his mind was unsettled. Whenever he lowered his head in thought, he would inadvertently look up at the vast sky, always feeling as though he heard rumbling noises and cries of battle, as if epic warfare was unfolding. Unexplainably, his heart ached with each wave.

As dawn approached, he finally set out on his return journey. With Tian Lao no longer in play, he was accompanied by Yue Xin. Tian Lao remained heavily guarded and impenetrable, so the two hovered in the distant void.

Xiu Luo Tianzun could see her, and whenever he gazed at Yue Xin, he fell into moments of distraction. Instinctively, he raised his hand, wanting to gently touch her face and wipe away the sorrow on her cheeks, just to see her radiant smile.

Yue Xin stood gracefully, sensing a pair of eyes watching her from the shadows. The gaze was warm, but she couldn't tell who it was.

Suddenly, a figure materialized in the void, clad in a fluttering purple immortal robe, exuding a majestic aura. Upon closer inspection, it was Zi Yang Xianjun.

"Xing Jun, Ba Taizi requests your presence."

"Wait a moment longer." Ye Chen smiled, leaving a word for Yue Xin, then turned and left.

Yue Xin was bewildered but obedient, knowing she had to follow Ye Chen's words.

As Ye Chen made his way through the sky, Zi Yang Xianjun at his side kept glancing at him repeatedly. This minor great saint had caused him repeated defeats and losses, and he still couldn't figure out why this little stone spirit was so powerful.

"If you want my life, Xianjun, you might as well come at me directly," Ye Chen said indifferently.

"Ye Chen, I truly underestimated you." Zi Yang Xianjun sneered, his eyes dark and terrifying. "One day, you'll meet a horrific end."

"I'm waiting for it." Ye Chen's tone was calm as he picked up his pace.

In Ba Taizi's palace, Yin Ming was already waiting in the pavilion, leisurely sipping tea. Dan Jun was there too, sitting across from him, his face looking rather unpleasant.

"You're letting him toy with you like this and still keeping him alive? That's quite surprising to this king," Yin Ming said with a smile, glancing at Dan Jun.

Dan Jun said nothing, his expression growing even darker, with hints of killing intent in his eyes.

In recent times, he had sent people after Ye Chen multiple times, only to have them wiped out batch after batch. Not a single quasi-emperor had returned. It was more than just losses—it was a severe blow. And hearing Yin Ming's words about the Qi Lin Guo, he realized Ye Chen had been playing him. Being tricked like this had truly ignited his anger.

Ye Chen arrived, his demeanor as indifferent as ever, not even glancing sideways.

He completely ignored Dan Jun, but when it came to Ba Taizi Yin Ming, his eyes narrowed slightly. Having obtained Yin Ming's Dao Jing and undergone half a year of seclusion, his cultivation had advanced further, with profound Dao essences outlining the sounds of the great Dao.

"Peak Great Saint?" Yin Ming glanced at Ye Chen, his eyes narrowing involuntarily. He remembered that when Ye Chen had gone into seclusion, he was only at the first level of Great Saint. Now, just half a year later, he had reached the peak realm, which was truly alarming.

As Ye Chen stood there quietly, Yin Ming spoke.

"Hand over the Qi Lin Guo at once." Dan Jun snorted coldly, skipping any pleasantries and extending his hand. He had already decided that once he got the Qi Lin Guo, he would kill Ye Chen on the spot. At worst, he'd spend some time in Tian Lao—Yu Di wouldn't execute him, especially considering Dan Shen's influence.

"I don't have the Qi Lin Guo," Ye Chen replied flatly.

"How dare you lie." Dan Jun shot to his feet, his peak quasi-emperor aura surging forth, his icy killing intent impossible to suppress.

Yet Ye Chen stood firm, unfazed by the pressure. This was his limit—if Dan Jun dared cross that line, he would show no mercy.

"How interesting." Yin Ming's lips curled into a smile.

"Hand over the Qi Lin Guo."

"I don't have it."

"Dan Jun, you should head back for now. The Qi Lin Guo will be delivered with both hands another day." Yin Ming waved casually.

At these words, Dan Jun frowned and glanced at Yin Ming, his eyes carrying a strange implication. What kind of tactic is this? We're not even done talking, and you're already dismissing me? I'm Dan Jun, after all— you're not giving me any face?

In truth, he didn't fully understand Yin Ming. The reason Yin Ming was rushing him out was that the conversation to follow wasn't meant for his ears.

Ye Chen, however, knew this all too well. He was clear on what Ba Taizi was planning. Whether Dan Jun was there or not made no difference to him. His boundaries remained the same—if either Dan Jun or Yin Ming dared overstep, he wouldn't hesitate to cause chaos in Tian Ting. If he wanted to leave, no one in the heavenly court could stop him.

With a cold hum, Dan Jun flicked his sleeve and stormed off, grinding his teeth in frustration.

"Have a seat."

Today's Ba Taizi was different from before, with an added layer of subtlety. His killing intent was hidden deep, and he had learned to conceal it well. After half a year of seclusion, he had become more restrained, which only made him more dangerous.

Ye Chen sat down, his expression unchanging.

"My Kong Dong Yin—do you know where it is?" Yin Ming asked with a smile, looking at Ye Chen.

"I don't know."

"Very well." Yin Ming smiled without anger, his expression growing more playful. "You've taken down so many of my subordinates. You're the most intriguing Great Saint this king has ever seen. That veil of mystery you wear—I almost hate to uncover it so quickly."

"You're joking, Your Highness." Ye Chen picked up his teacup.

"The Qi Lin Guo, the Kong Dong Yin, and your iron staff—I want all three." Yin Ming adopted a relaxed posture, his tone casual, his eyes still curved in that slight smile as he watched Ye Chen. "With these three items, I'll ensure your safety."

"I don't have them." Ye Chen shook his head again. Only a fool would hand them over—he was certain that if he did so now, he'd be ambushed in the next second.

As for why Yin Ming had sent Dan Jun away, it was precisely for this. He wanted to reclaim the Kong Dong Yin and keep the Qi Lin Guo and the divine staff for himself. These were priceless treasures—why share them with Dan Jun? That was Yin Ming's calculation.

"In that case, you can go." Yin Ming smiled and waved his hand.

Ye Chen was straightforward, saying nothing more as he turned and left.

"Your Highness, you're just letting him go like this?" Zi Yang Xianjun asked hastily. "The Qi Lin Guo, the Kong Dong Yin, and that divine staff—they must be on him."

"Do I need you to tell me that?" Yin Ming stretched his neck comfortably. "This king always gets what he wants. Let him have a few peaceful days. My father, the emperor, will soon enter seclusion, and by then, I'll be governing Tian Ting in his stead. What kind of waves can a minor Xing Jun make? If I want to eliminate him, one command is all it takes."

"What if he gives the treasures to Dan Jun in the meantime?"

"I won't let him give them to me, so do you think he'll give them to Dan Jun?" Yin Ming's lips carried a cold smirk.

"What if he returns to Hua Shan? Things might get complicated."

"Then I'll destroy Hua Shan."

Yin Ming laughed, a flash of ferocity in his eyes. With Yu Di in seclusion and him in charge of Tian Ting, he would be the ruler of the upper immortal realm. If Hua Shan knew what was good for it, fine—but if it insisted on opposing the heavenly court, he would make the scattered immortal realm witness the full might of Tian Ting.

Zi Yang Xianjun trembled, his gaze toward Yin Ming shifting.

This Ba Taizi had changed dramatically since emerging from seclusion. He had tempered his former sharpness and altered his mindset. On the surface, it was about the treasures, but in reality, he was no longer fixated on just one thing. Or rather, he had set his sights higher—to become the master of Tian Ting. Yu Di might hesitate to touch the Hua Shan lineage, but Yin Ming would not.

This was Ba Taizi's ambition. Once he ruled Tian Ting, he would undoubtedly ignite widespread warfare and unify the upper and lower realms.

And Ye Chen would be the fuse he lit.

At that moment, Yin Ming hoped Ye Chen would flee to the lower realm. Anyone who dared shelter him, even places like Feng Chan Immortal Realm, would face Tian Ting's assault. Ye Chen would be the perfect pretext to start a war and begin the unification of the heavens.

Of course, Ye Chen was well aware of Ba Taizi's thoughts.

Unfortunately, Yin Ming was destined for disappointment. Ye Chen hadn't finished searching for the reincarnated ones yet, so he wouldn't leave Tian Ting. If Yin Ming dreamed of unifying the heavens, something even Yu Di didn't dare attempt, where did he get such confidence?