Chapter 2577: Parade Through the Streets

"Take him down," Ziyang Xianjun said with a cold snort.

At his command, two figures in black robes moved in unison. One, with a sinister grin, produced the Suo Xian Chain and bound Ye Chen's hands and feet. The other, with a mocking smile, activated the Feng Shen Talisman, sealing Ye Chen's powers. Their methods were brutally rough.

Ye Chen did not resist, nor could he. At his peak, these adversaries would have been beneath his notice, easily slain, but now he could barely stand, let alone fight. They didn't even need to lift a finger; a gust of wind could knock him over.

"Ye Chen, so this is your day," Ziyang Xianjun said, his lips curving into a playful, mocking smile. He had waited a long time for this moment, and personally capturing Ye Chen felt wonderfully satisfying. At last, Ye Chen was his prisoner.

"Are you all so eager to catch me?" Ye Chen replied without a hint of anger, still smiling at Ziyang Xianjun. "Don't worry, you'll have your turn to cry."

"I'll be waiting. Take him away."

That night was far from peaceful.

Outside Ziwei Dao Fu, a crowd had already gathered, drawn by Ziyang Xianjun's unconcealed arrival. Many had seen him, and as Yin Ming's direct subordinate, his every move might represent Yin Ming himself.

"Has the ruler of the Heavenly Court finally made his move?"

"From the fierce look on Ziyang Xianjun's face earlier, nothing good can come of this."

"Ye Chen is done for this time. His life is surely at risk."

Whispers spread through the crowd. Many were cloaked in black robes—those who had come seeking Ye Chen's alchemy services. Seeing the scene unfold, no one dared to enter. Even immortals kept their distance, unwilling to court disaster at such a moment and risk being caught up in it.

The expressions among the onlookers varied greatly.

Figures like Ying Jie Tianqing were stirred from their routines, standing amid the crowd with eyes fixed on Ziwei Dao Fu's gates, filled with deep concern. Meanwhile, certain alchemists from Dan Shen Hall stood with hands clasped, their gazes brimming with anticipation, eager for the drama to unfold.

Clang, clang!

Amid the murmurs, the sound of iron chains clashing rang out sharply.

"Move it, faster!"

Then came the rough shouts.

Ye Chen emerged, shoved along the way, his appearance utterly disheveled. His daoist robes were in tatters, his snow-white hair disheveled and scattered. Truly a prisoner now, his hands and feet were chained, making his steps unsteady. He wasn't injured, but his entire body felt weak, and blood continued to trickle from his mouth.

"Sain—"

From one side of the crowd, Yue Xin tried to rush forward, but the word "Saint" was muffled as someone covered her mouth.

It was Si Ming who acted, joined by Tai Yi and Tai Bai, who had hurried over upon hearing the news. They wanted to save him but lacked the strength, so they dared not act rashly. They couldn't let Yue Xin do something foolish either.

Not just Yue Xin—even if her master, Bixia Xianzi, were here, she wouldn't have the audacity to attempt a rescue. To try would mean defying the entire Heavenly Court.

Yue Xin struggled, her eyes brimming with tears, blurring her vision. He was the commander of Da Chu, the savior who had slain great emperors. Yet in this foreign land, he was reduced to such humiliation.

"See, I told you he'd get caught."

"With Yin Ming's nature, how could he let him go? The Zhu Xian Platform is probably inevitable."

"But he's the future head of Hua Shan."

"During Yu Di's reign, Hua Shan might have gotten some respect, but Yin Ming is different—a tyrant through and through. I'd bet more on Dan Shen Hall stepping in to plead for Ye Chen than on Hua Shan."

"That depends on whether Dan Shen Hall is willing to wade into this mess."

The crowd grew larger by the moment, with people pointing and chatting, many standing with arms crossed, eager spectators. Not a few sighed—such a remarkable figure, yet he couldn't escape Yin Ming's grasp. Thinking back, Ye Chen wasn't a bad person at all.

Clang, clang!

The chains continued to rattle clearly.

That night, Ziyang Xianjun seemed unusually relaxed. With Ye Chen captured, he didn't rush to the heavenly prison but instead led him on a leisurely stroll through the streets, step by step, unhurried and composed, his demeanor the picture of calm.

The streets were lined with people. Ye Chen, bound and shoved along, made the scene look unmistakably like a public parade.

This, perhaps, was Ziyang Xianjun's idea of enjoyment—to subject Ye Chen to the world's scorn. Once a genius in the spotlight, now he would taste the bitterness of a prisoner. The more degraded Ye Chen became, the more thrilled Ziyang Xianjun felt.

"Typical petty villain riding high," Ye Chen muttered, feeling a bit more strength return, at least enough to walk steadily. While Ziyang Xianjun took his time, Ye Chen was even more at ease. Chained though he was, he acted as if nothing were wrong, occasionally brushing dust from his shoulder.

To him, this forced parade was child's play.

In his past, he had endured far worse humiliations. Before becoming an immortal, he had fought dogs for scraps, eaten tree bark, gnawed on roots, bitten rats, and chewed centipedes. At least now, there was still light around him, but back then, the whole world had seemed dark.

Life was like that—after surviving utter misery, even the deepest lows became mere footnotes.

That was why he was a born emperor, possessing a certain bearing and mindset. He could be a war god admired by all or a prisoner spat upon by the world.

He had seen through it all: hell was just another form of the human realm.

Sometimes, standing high didn't mean seeing clearly; being in the depths of Jiu You might reveal the truth of the heart.

Look at the people lining the streets, at those contemptuous gazes—they perfectly illustrated the ways of the world. When you rose, they flocked to you; when you fell, they mocked you. Everyone was just a spectator.

And he was the show.

"You fool, I told you to leave, but you stayed in the Heavenly Court and got caught!" came a telepathic message from Tai Yi, grumbled with frustration, as if scolding a wayward student. If Ye Chen had left earlier, none of this would have happened.

Ye Chen glanced sideways, casually eyeing Tai Yi, and in that instant, he gave a quick wink.

Tai Yi froze for a second, then nudged Tai Bai beside him. "Did that guy just wink at me?"

"You're imagining things!"

"Maybe I am." Tai Yi rubbed his eyes.

This broad avenue stretched longer than expected, and the crowd was larger than imagined.

Ye Chen, paraded through the streets, remained the center of attention.

Yet what people saw now wasn't his legendary feats but how low he had sunk.

The once heaven-defying prodigy, with every step, was accompanied by the clear, crisp clink of chains—perhaps not the most pleasant sound, but to some, it was music to their ears.

"Keep moving, faster!"

The rough shouts echoed down the street. The two behind Ye Chen were no ordinary beings—both quasi-emperors—and they played their roles of enforcers well, shoving him along the way, subtly currying favor with Ziyang Xianjun.

"Fifty-eighth time," Ye Chen muttered to himself, silently keeping count. Each shove was mentally noted; for every one, he'd repay with a blade.

"Saint Lord."

Yue Xin followed along, pushing through the crowd, held back only by Si Ming and the others; otherwise, she might have burst out. Her clear, beautiful eyes were filled with tears.

Ye Chen glanced back again, offering her a reassuring smile:

Stay calm.

Stay calm!

Those three words were also what Ye Chen's clone said to the Hua Shan Zhenren. The clone acted as if nothing were amiss, sitting in the hall, casually munching on a piece of immortal fire. Linked in mind with his original self, he knew everything.

In the hall, Hua Shan Zhenren was clad in battle armor, as were Hua Shan Xianzi and the various hall masters of Hua Shan. The atmosphere was tense.

Hua Shan had spies in the Upper Immortal Realm, and there were many of them. Upon hearing of Ye Chen's capture, they had stirred up this commotion. Clearly, they were preparing to demand his release, even if it meant war.

However, Ye Chen's clone's words left them all frowning. From his demeanor, he didn't seem troubled at all.