Chapter 2603: Unclear

Whoosh!

Under the watchful eyes of the group, Ye Chen vanished in an instant with a whoosh.

Going home?

Bi Xia Xianzi arched her delicate eyebrows slightly, confirming she had heard correctly. Aside from Yue Xin and Si Ming, the others wore similar expressions, all feeling that Ye Chen was inextricably linked to the human realm—perhaps he had even come from there.

By then, Ye Chen had already materialized in the underground palace of Tian Xuan Men.

As soon as he took form, blood overflowed from the corners of his mouth. While he had borrowed the power of the Emperor Artifact and the various Zhun Di to thrash the Heavenly Court, he had also suffered severe backlash. Even after returning to the human realm, the backlash persisted.

"Yo, already at Zhun Di second level."

The Saint Venerable sighed in amazement, waving his hand to withdraw the Emperor's essence. Di Ji did the same.

"Responding to the tribulation with memories intact is truly overpowered."

The God King of Creation clicked his tongue, also raising his hand to reclaim the power of creation.

All the Zhun Di were busy; the forces they had previously granted to Ye Chen were now being taken back.

"How's the backlash feeling?"

Ren Wang asked with a laugh, drawing out the Xuanyuan Sword from Ye Chen's body, his smile carrying a hint of schadenfreude.

"It's alright."

Ye Chen wiped the fresh blood from his mouth, unfazed by Ren Wang's gloating. In his heart, though, he cursed the Dao Ancestor properly once again.

After glancing at the Zhun Di, Ye Chen turned and left.

Last time, he had left in a hurry without visiting home, so this time he needed to make up for it.

The Zhun Di were quite understanding and didn't mention the matters of the Heavenly Realm, fearing it might trigger more backlash for Ye Chen.

"If someone like Ye Chen completes his tribulation and returns, will it be to the Heavenly Realm or back to the human realm?"

Fu Ya asked, looking toward Ren Wang.

"It's unprecedented, so it's hard to say." Ren Wang shook his head. "Completing the tribulation in the Heavenly Realm isn't impossible. But if that's the case, returning to the human realm afterward won't be straightforward."

As he spoke, he glanced at the Ten Yama Kings.

The Ten Yama Kings understood his look.

In the past, when Ye Chen returned from the Netherworld to the various heavens, they knew the kind of ordeals he had endured. Even someone as powerful as Di Huang, the Great Accomplishment Sacred Body, had fallen in the Six Paths of Reincarnation, showing how terrifying that path was.

The Heavenly Realm was on par with the Netherworld. If Ye Chen completed his tribulation there, it would be a real mess, and there would surely be a path leading back to the various heavens—one that might be even more dreadful than the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

"He's already at Zhun Di second level, surpassing his cultivation before the tribulation. If he completes it, will his cultivation revert to what it was before?"

Di Lao stroked his chin, also looking at Ren Wang.

"Why are you all looking at me? I really don't know." Ren Wang coughed dryly. The so-called "jack-of-all-trades" had moments of ignorance.

It was all because responding to the tribulation with memories was too bizarre, inherently full of anomalies. Even Zhou Tian's Ancestral Soul remnant couldn't explain it clearly.

Ye Chen was unclear, and so was Ji Ning Shuang's tribulation.

This couple were both absolute monsters.

For others undergoing tribulation, they would train desperately just to catch up to their pre-tribulation levels, but these two had already surpassed it in such a short time.

For a moment, the hall fell silent. More than eighty percent of the Zhun Di were stroking their chins or twirling their beards, lost in thought.

"Suddenly, an ethereal voice echoed into the underground palace: the First Divine General is still alive, undergoing tribulation within another tribulation."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the Zhun Di present perked up, especially the Divine Generals, who were completely stunned and in disbelief, thinking they had misheard.

But they hadn't: the First Divine General was still alive.

"Undergoing tribulation within a tribulation?"

Ren Wang scratched his head subconsciously, his face full of confusion, question marks floating above his head.

Clearly, this kind of tribulation was a first for him too.

"I told you, that guy isn't so easy to kill."

The Fifth Divine General said excitedly, his once aged demeanor instantly looking much younger.

The other Divine Generals were equally excited, confirming it was Ye Chen's voice transmission and that it was true. Though Ye Chen wasn't always reliable, he wouldn't joke about something like this.

"Since he knows, he must have seen him."

"Obviously, the First Divine General is also in the Heavenly Realm, probably still in the midst of his tribulation."

"What a real talent!"

After a brief silence, the underground palace buzzed with chatter. Some cursed loudly, some were excited, some sighed, and some clicked their tongues. Back when the First Divine General had perished in his tribulation, so many had shed tears.

Now it seemed those tears had been wasted.

"Two people half-undergoing tribulation, one in a dream tribulation, one with memory tribulation, and one undergoing tribulation within a tribulation."

"It's truly the era of imperial path anomalies."

Ren Wang took a deep breath, his eyes growing even more profound. He carried eighty percent of Ren Huang's memories but couldn't find any explanation for such oddities. Not even Ren Huang, if alive, would likely avoid a sigh of imperial amazement.

Pfft!

By this point, Ye Chen had arrived at Heng Yue. Before he could even enter his home, he spat out fresh blood.

A force from the Heavenly Realm was backlashing against him, all because he had revealed secrets he shouldn't have.

As Si Ming had said, some things just shouldn't be spoken.

Unfortunately, as an official in the Qing heavens undergoing tribulation, his rank was too low, with no divine position. If he had one, he could borrow the laws to visit his hometown.

Whenever backlash hit, Ye Chen would drag out the Dao Ancestor's name and curse him thoroughly. Are you really that bored? Setting up all these pointless forces—probably just for me!

If you're an emperor, why not learn from Ming Di? He just flips through his collector's editions and enjoys himself quietly!

Speaking of Ming Di, Ye Chen glanced toward the vast sky.

He was certain that Ming Di was watching the human realm right now, probably holding a collector's edition in his hand.

And he was right.

Ming Di was indeed watching the human realm, and he really had a collector's edition in his hand—the only one in the three realms of heaven, earth, and humanity. In the fragrant and alluring scenes, you could see Di Huang and Dong Hua Empress.

People like him, having lived so long, needed to find some fun. For instance, Ming Di had become quite wild since Di Huang left.

It was a good thing Di Huang wasn't around; otherwise, the Netherworld would probably have collapsed.

As he spoke, Ming Di landed on Yu Nu Peak.

Yu Nu Peak was still as quiet as ever. Chu Xuan and the others were still in seclusion recovering. Under that old tree, only Chu Ling and Xiao Yao Chi were there.

Chu Ling stood up holding Yao Chi, offering a gentle smile without a word.

Ye Chen did the same.

Some words didn't need to be said; they were understood in silence.

Ye Chen took Xiao Yao Chi in his arms and held Chu Ling's hand, heading to the bamboo grove to pay respects to the Fox Immortal and Bei Sheng.

Xiao Yao Chi blinked her big eyes innocently, not understanding what those two tombstones represented. She only knew that Chu Ling came every day, holding two bunches of immortal flowers, lighting three slender sticks of incense, and sitting there until late at night.

A breeze blew by, and among Ye Chen's fluttering white hair, a touch of world-weariness emerged.

Chu Ling linked her arm with his, resting her cheek on his shoulder. From him, she could sense a deep fatigue. Even in the midst of his tribulation, her Ye Chen had likely been wandering through dust and hardship, driven by an obsession to find reincarnated souls, unrelenting until death.

This brief warmth was finally broken by a burst of borrowed law immortal light.

The time limit had arrived, and Ye Chen's body disintegrated inch by inch into radiance, gathering into a brilliant beam that shot straight into the sky.

Chu Ling looked up, watching him leave.

Once, seeing her husband was so easy, but now it had become incredibly difficult.

Once, returning home was simple, but now it was a luxury.

In the peach blossom forest, Ye Chen reappeared.

Night had deepened, and everyone had returned to their rooms to rest.

At that stone table, only Shura Tian Zun remained, propping up his face with one hand, quietly healing while gazing at Yue Xin's chamber, lost in a daze. His mind flickered in and out, his eyes growing hazy.

"What kind of woman is she, exactly?"

Ye Chen sat down, taking out a wine jug and cups, and setting out a dish of side dishes.

"She looks quite ordinary and is blind."

Shura Tian Zun smiled, knowing Ye Chen meant Zhao Yun's wife. Yet, from his lips, it was filled with warmth.

Ye Chen fell silent, feeling a bit more curious about that woman. She must have some kind of magic; Zhao Yun loved her, and so did Tian Zun, turning that love affair into something ancient and tragic.

"Your universe is likely facing a great catastrophe."

Shura Tian Zun spoke abruptly, his words laden with meaning.

"Zhao Yun once said something similar back then."

Ye Chen took a deep breath.

It was the forces in the shadows that had lost balance, causing the universe to expand endlessly. At some extreme point, it would probably collapse.

This imbalance was likely related to the ancient primordial chaos.

Unfortunately, only emperors were qualified to know the secrets, and even they might not know everything. One would have to go to the ancient primordial chaos to uncover the truth.

"Where can we find the big shots in your Heavenly Realm?"

Tian Zun asked leisurely.

"No need to look; just make enough noise, and they'll come out on their own."

Ye Chen refilled his cup, having come to the Heavenly Realm with the intention of causing chaos. If they didn't want to show up, that was fine—as long as the people of the Heavenly Realm couldn't handle a beating.

"That's the plan!"

Shura Tian Zun laughed, cracking his neck. Without needing more questions, he knew the situation of the Heavenly Realm's big shots—they must be in self-seal, sleeping soundly.

A breeze stirred, and his foundation recovered a bit more, drawing closer to his peak state.

But compared to him, Ye Chen was even more of a freak—recovering and even surpassing his previous strength.

After downing a cup of wine, a cold glint appeared in both their eyes, reflected in the liquor.

They had been hunted so mercilessly; it wasn't something they could just let slide. Once they reached their peak, they would settle the score with Yin Ming.

By then, it wouldn't just be Ye Chen fighting alone; there would be the domineering Shura Tian Zun as well. Not only would they wipe out Yin Ming, but they'd overturn the entire Heavenly Palace and drag out the self-sealed Jade Emperor, hanging him at the South Heaven Gate.

It wasn't until who-knows-when that Ye Chen stood up, stretching lazily as he headed to his room.

Before leaving, this guy sneaked over to Bi Xia and Yin Yang's area, squinting to peek inside, wanting to see if there were any steamy scenes.

Then, he left, rubbing his eyes fiercely—the place had restrictions, leaving him seeing stars.

Shura Tian Zun watched and chuckled.

Peeping was something he often did back home.

For that, Zhao Yun would drag him out for a "chat about life" whenever he had free time, and it would last several days.

How to put it? It wouldn't end until he was half-crippled.

Sadly, that beauty was gone, and he and Zhao Yun would never fight over her again. That blind woman would never show her world-toppling smile again.

Ah!

Tian Zun sighed, finishing his last cup before suddenly turning and walking step by step into the depths of the peach blossom forest. Bathed in starlight, his back appeared desolate and world-weary.