Chapter 2593: Fully Armed

In the underground palace of Tianxuan Men, Ren Wang stood tall and imposing, having just woken from a rest that left him refreshed and full of energy. Before him was an inscribed formation array, designed to bear Ye Chen's presence. This time, the borrowing of power was slightly different from before. To be precise, it wasn't just one person performing the ritual, but two. At Ren Wang's side stood Zaohua Shenwang, both forming the same hand seals and channeling the power of creation.

“The power of creation is truly extraordinary; it can even bypass shields for borrowing,” Ren Wang remarked with a sigh.

Previously, he had tried to borrow power without success, but with the addition of creation force, it ignored the barriers entirely. Although he didn't know why Ye Chen had shielded himself, he sensed that the heavens must be in utter chaos.

Around them, the divine generals, emperors, and sword gods were all present, showing great respect for Ye Chen by attending each time he was borrowed. In such gatherings, some of the old-timers always carried a stick, yawning while wiping it with their sleeves, eagerly waiting for someone to return so they could swing it. Once a bad habit forms, it's hard to break.

As they spoke, a divine light descended from the sky, landing straight into the formation array and gradually shaping into Ye Chen's form.

Thud!

No sooner had he materialized than Ye Chen spat out blood and staggered, nearly collapsing.

“Kid!”

Ren Wang rushed forward in alarm, steadying him.

The Quasi-Emperors gathered around immediately upon seeing this.

It was clear Ye Chen was gravely injured, his body covered in blood, with a glaring sword wound across his chest. No questions were needed; they knew he had fought a brutal battle in the heavens, one of extreme ferocity.

“An Emperor Weapon—give me one!”

Ye Chen's eyes were dim, his voice hoarse.

Since he was borrowing power, he would eventually have to return. In his current state, going back meant death. The only way to turn the tide was with a supreme Emperor Weapon. With its protection, he could break through any siege, even against the Four Immortal Venerables.

“Emperor my foot, sit still!”

Ren Wang scolded, forcing him into a cross-legged position.

“How did you get hurt this badly?”

The Quasi-Emperors crowded around, their expressions cold as they surrounded him tightly.

In the past, such a scene would have meant a group beating for him.

But today, it was about healing. Some channeled vast essence into him, others dispelled the killing intent in his body, some offered spiritual pills and elixirs, and still others mended his wounds.

As the old saying goes, many hands make light work.

This moment in the underground palace perfectly illustrated that truth.

Under the treatment of hundreds of Quasi-Emperors, the killing intent in Ye Chen's body was forcefully eradicated, his bloody gashes healed visibly, his weakened aura surged back, his pale face regained color, and his dim eyes sparkled with brilliant immortal light once more.

“It's good to be home.”

Ye Chen smiled, taking a moment to glance into his treasure pagoda. He had been borrowed while shielded, so Siming should have been surprised.

But at a glance, he froze. It was empty.

The pagoda held nothing—no Siming, no Yuexin, no Tianzun, and the others.

They had all been there when the borrowing started, yet now they were gone.

Without thinking further, Ye Chen turned to Ren Wang.

Ren Wang seemed to understand. “The borrowing targets only one person. Those hidden in artifacts aren't included.”

“Get to the point.”

“Your friends were likely held back by some unseen force,” Ren Wang stroked his beard. “Once you return to the heavens, they'll probably reappear.”

“Are you sure?”

“Not sure.”

Ye Chen nearly choked, almost spitting blood again. If you're not sure, why say it so profoundly?

In that instant, his heart sank as if it had been lifted high and then shattered on the ground.

It had been so hard to find the reincarnated ones, the divine generals, and rescue Shura Tianzun. If they were lost now, it would be devastating. And if Siming and the others died because of this, it would be a tragedy.

Due to Ren Wang's words, Ye Chen fell silent.

He had wanted to share the news about Tianqing to bring some joy to the divine generals.

But now, it didn't feel right. Joy here could turn to sorrow if Tianqing was lost.

“You must have stirred up quite the storm in the heavens again!”

Di Lao said, crushing a pill and merging it into Ye Chen's body.

“Getting hurt this badly speaks for itself.”

Tian Lao produced a jade bottle, pouring out a stream of pure essence that washed over Ye Chen, a sacred remedy rich in vital energy.

“Looks like he was ganged up on.”

“Must have been a massive pile-on.”

“Could be heavenly tribulations were involved—this guy loves using them to trap people.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.”

The old-timers chatted away while healing him, their words flying back and forth in lively banter.

Ye Chen said nothing, his eyes darting around as he seriously sized up these old folks.

It seemed that after the heavens split, these veterans had grown bored, gathering in the underground palace whenever they could. They were always there for his borrowings.

As he observed, Donghuang Taixin squeezed through the crowd, a drop of crystalline immortal dew hovering in her palm. She slapped it onto Ye Chen's face, and the dew sank into his body.

The slap was crisp and echoing, leaving the young master utterly stunned.

Ye Chen's face darkened completely, his eyes toward Donghuang Taixin flickering with flames.

Healing was one thing, but using it as an excuse to hit him? That was going too far.

Unexpectedly, Donghuang Taixin's beautiful eyes also flashed with fire, dark lines crossing her cheeks, leaving Ye Chen baffled.

He had been answering the calamity for over a year and hadn't been in the heavens lately. Had he done anything to provoke her?

“This guy said that if the historical trajectory hadn't changed, you two would be a couple.”

Fu Ya stirred up trouble with a grin, pointing at Zaohua Shenwang.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, now understanding why he got slapped.

He glanced sideways at Zaohua Shenwang, stroking his chin and paying particular attention to the lower part of his body.

He recalled the past, when he and Lin Xing were caught by Dan Huang and compared their... well, you know, in the alchemy furnace.

Zaohua Shenwang's gaze turned a bit sideways too.

He understood Ye Chen's look.

In fact, only the two of them could fully grasp it. Though revived as Zaohua Shenwang, Lin Xing's memories remained—or rather, Lin Xing was Zaohua Shenwang, and vice versa.

“Not bad at all! You can even peek into that.”

Ye Chen sighed.

“Just caught a glimpse.”

Zaohua Shenwang coughed dryly, not daring to spread more rumors, afraid Kunlun Shennu might slap him too.

Donghuang Taixin wasn't the scary one; it was the Heavenly Sword God behind her.

“As the root of the mortal world, you can probably see some scenes too.”

Shengzun said with a smirk, his tone suggestive, implying they should chat about it—focus on the key parts.

Like, say, bedroom matters.

Ye Chen just shook his head and smiled. He wouldn't discuss it, and there were no such matters anyway. He quietly glanced at Donghuang Taixin, then at the Heavenly Sword God.

The difference was, his look toward the latter carried a hint of sorrow.

Indeed, as the root of the mortal world, he had glimpsed it multiple times, and more clearly. If the historical trajectory hadn't changed, the myths of the heavens would sacrifice themselves for him, aiding his sacred body to reach perfection.

In that future, he bore the Heavenly Sword God's fate.

The Kunlun goddess had always loved the sword, not the path.

Because of his silence, because of the sorrow in his eyes, the underground palace fell quiet.

The Quasi-Emperors sighed deeply. Without asking details, they knew how devastating the wars were in the unaltered historical trajectory—likely mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

And Ye Chen knew it best.

It wasn't just mountains of corpses and seas of blood; it was utter hell on earth.

In that timeline, the heavens had no chance of turning the tide. Even if his sacred body reached perfection and the heavens had emperors, they couldn't reverse the fall.

If not for that, neither he nor future Ye Xingchen would have reversed time, all to change that bleak future.

“In the unaltered historical trajectory, who became the emperor?”

After a long silence, it was Chu Huang who broke it.

At his words, all the Quasi-Emperors' gazes fell on Ye Chen.

Anything involving an emperor piqued their curiosity and gossip.

“One of you.”

Ye Chen replied with a smile.

The Quasi-Emperors were surprised, exchanging glances. Any one of them could be it—including the divine generals, emperors, the four sword cultivators, Kunlun Shennu, Zaohua Shenwang, Feather Immortal King, Shengzun, Di Ji, the child of the realms...

“No need to say it—must be me.”

Di Lao adjusted his robes.

“Achieving emperorship is a technical feat, and I'm the most reliable for that.”

Tian Lao stroked his beard, speaking meaningfully, his posture straight and imposing.

The unaware might think he was already an emperor.

The Quasi-Emperors all turned, scrutinizing these two from head to toe, their looks clearly saying: Have you no shame?

“If the historical trajectory changes, will the one who becomes emperor change?”

“Who knows?”

“Start clinging to thighs early—maybe I'm the one who'll achieve it.”

“Don't joke; if anyone, it's me.”

“Get lost—it's me.”

The old-timers chattered on, bickering noisily, as if the supreme emperor position was already theirs.

Ye Chen just shook his head and smiled, gently closing his eyes.

As for who that emperor was, he didn't reveal it.

As a descendant of Zhoutian, he avoided leaking heavenly secrets; better to keep his mouth shut.

Gathering his thoughts, he focused on healing, aiming to return to his peak as quickly as possible.

When he went back to the heavens, he needed to take a supreme Emperor Weapon with him.

Let those troublemakers in the heavens see what a true divine weapon was.

Time passed second by second.

The seniors of the heavens were still good to him. Though they seemed unserious on normal days, they were reliable in critical moments, healing him without holding back.

Many old-timers used their long-treasured spiritual pills and elixirs on him—items they had saved for themselves.

“He's advanced again—his progress is frighteningly fast!”

“I'm used to it.”

“Can you see it? There's residue of a nine-mark pill in his body, not fully absorbed yet.”

“It must be an emperor-level divine pill.”

The Quasi-Emperors whispered among themselves, all experienced experts who had thoroughly analyzed Ye Chen. His severe injuries and clear consciousness were likely sustained by that divine pill.

Speaking of nine-mark pills, the demonic one's emotions fluctuated the most, eager to ask Ye Chen if he could refine them.

It wasn't until sometime later that Ye Chen stood up.

Now, he bore no wounds, his vital energy surging, and his eyes shining with dazzling light.

“Take whichever one feels right.”

Zhan Wang waved his hand, projecting an image of Great Chu's supreme Emperor Weapons.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen reached into the void.

Clang!

In the next instant, a sword's resonant hum echoed, a beam of light streaking through the void and entering the underground palace—it was the Emperor Sword Xuanyuan.

If anything suited him best, it was Xuanyuan Sword; they had slain an emperor together in the past.

Their bond was unmatched by other weapons.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Xuanyuan Sword vibrated, surrounded by supreme divine principles, as if puzzled or delighted.

“It's rare to come home once; can't let the heavens underestimate a Great Chu emperor.”

Shengzun said, placing a hand on Ye Chen's left shoulder.

“This power is lent to you; remember to return it someday.”

Di Ji smiled lightly, placing a hand on Ye Chen's right shoulder.

At the same time, these two supreme figures channeled their emperor essence into his body, knowing he was in trouble and sending it to aid his battle.

“If you can fight, then fight—don't waste time talking.”

Zaohua Shenwang chuckled, placing a hand on Ye Chen's back and infusing him with creation force.

Even Zaohua Shenwang had his playful moments.

Or perhaps, after spending too much time in Great Chu, he had picked up some bad habits.

Like a certain flashy demeanor.

The other Quasi-Emperors weren't idle either, offering their true destiny origins or Yuan Shen power—anything that could boost Ye Chen's combat strength, they gave freely.

As for Ren Wang, he glanced around, not sure what to contribute.

So, he pulled out a storage bag and casually tucked it into Ye Chen's embrace. Inside were all treasures.

The so-called treasures were the legendary collector's editions.

Those editions—forget the old-timers here; even Ming Di from the underworld wanted to borrow them for a look.

In an instant, so many powers flooded in that even Ye Chen grunted uncomfortably. His body overflowed with immense, terrifying force, and the Emperor Sword Xuanyuan in his hand trembled incessantly.

Now, his eyes were no longer visible; they were like two blazing suns, impossible to look at directly.

He was fully armed now.

“After the battle, it's best to return the Emperor Weapon and all these powers, or you'll face backlash from the borrowing. The heavens aren't like the underworld; there are too many rules and taboos you shouldn't touch.”

Ren Wang said leisurely.

“Got it.”

Ye Chen replied with a smile. As fellow Zhoutian descendants, he understood Ren Wang's words well. The heavens had more complications than one could imagine.

Suddenly, immortal light enveloped him.

The borrowing time was up.

Ye Chen turned his head, gazing in a certain direction, as if through the underground palace and the mists, he could see Yunu Peak and Chu Ling's figure, holding little Yaochi and quietly watching the stars.

But he had no time to go back and see.

In a flash, he transformed into a divine light and shot into the sky.

“What a hasty guy.”

Ming Di looked up, hands behind his back, sighing as he watched Ye Chen leave.

If you can't win, just go home for reinforcements!

Great Chu was full of talent—one gives a bit, another adds a bit, and presto—god-level setup complete.