Chapter 2693: Secrets of the Little Gourd

Chapter 2693: Xiao Hulu's Secret

Ye Chen wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his eye and looked at Dao Zu, not joking around—he was sincerely seeking advice.

The Zi Jin Xiao Hulu on its own didn't seem particularly special.

Back when he first obtained the Zi Jin Xiao Hulu, he had used it to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Little did he know that when the nine small hulu combined into one, it harbored such terrifying power.

"What do you think its origin is?" Dao Zu asked with a smile, gently waving his hand.

In the next instant, the Zi Jin Hulu hidden in Ye Chen's inner world was effortlessly drawn out. No one below the level of a Da Di could retrieve treasures from a Sheng Ti's inner world, but a Da Di was an exception.

Once removed, the Xiao Hulu floated in mid-air, bathing in the starlight and moonlight, absorbing them as well. Strands of mysterious immortal energy cascaded down, making it truly extraordinary.

"I don't know." Ye Chen gazed at it for a few moments before shaking his head lightly.

Dao Zu smiled faintly and flicked a finger to remove the hulu's stopper.

Immediately, bursts of colorful light sprayed from the mouth of the Zi Jin Xiao Hulu, consisting of various strands of essence. They were not only ancient and weathered but also profoundly mysterious. If one listened carefully, faint ethereal heavenly sounds could be heard, along with an unmistakable aura of the ultimate Dao.

"Di Yun?"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, recognizing what was emanating from the Xiao Hulu—it was indeed the divine essence of the emperor's path. Unlike other Di Yun, what this Xiao Hulu released wasn't just one type; it was many, clearly originating from more than one emperor.

Only then did he understand the source of that fearsome power.

Dao Zu said nothing, merely smiling again as a strand of purple divine essence flew out from his body—it was his own Di Yun, like a beam of divine light wandering through the heavens and earth.

Buzz!

The Zi Jin Xiao Hulu trembled with a buzz, and a vortex formed at its mouth, drawing in the strand of Di Yun that Dao Zu had released.

"It can absorb Di Yun?"

Ye Chen exclaimed in surprise, his expression full of curiosity. He had known the Xiao Hulu could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, but he never imagined it could also take in Di Yun—and do so on its own, without anyone controlling it.

"Every Da Di who perishes leaves behind some of their emperor's path essence in the world, intangible and formless," Dao Zu explained leisurely. "It's like an emperor's Dao imprint. That essence may weaken over endless ages, but it never truly vanishes. This Xiao Hulu is an immortal treasure that collects Di Yun."

Gulp!

Ye Chen swallowed hard in secret. Such an overbearing ability made it nothing short of an immortal treasure.

He imagined placing the Xiao Hulu in the starry sky to absorb Di Yun on its own over time—how much could it gather? If that essence could be used for oneself, it could create countless powerful experts. He knew all too well the might of Di Yun.

"Thank you for the gift, senior."

Ye Chen chuckled and quickly stashed the Xiao Hulu away, replacing the stopper and hugging it to his chest. He even huffed on it and wiped it vigorously with his sleeve.

His words amused Dao Zu. You little rascal, did I say I was giving it to you? Calling it a gift— wasn't this something you stole? How are you so quick to claim it!

Still, Dao Zu didn't try to take it back.

Or perhaps, this was meant for Ye Chen all along—a way to indirectly help the various heavens. If Ye Chen could successfully cross the Hun Dun Hai, having this Zi Jin Xiao Hulu would be a stroke of fortune for the human realm.

"Not bad, truly not bad."

Ye Chen was still grinning to himself, wiping the hulu while gently removing the stopper for a peek inside. It was filled with mist and swirling ultimate Dao essence, hiding an immense imperial power. Releasing even a bit of it could crush a peak Zhun Di effortlessly. The power of Di Yun was no joke.

An immortal treasure that collects Di Yun naturally has its own mysteries.

Inside, it was inscribed with an imperial immortal array, similar to a spirit-gathering array, but instead of drawing in heavenly spiritual energy, this array absorbed Di Yun. He just didn't know why the Zi Jin Xiao Hulu had been divided into nine pieces; only when they united did it become the complete treasure, awakening the imperial immortal array and revealing the hidden Di Yun.

Hugging the Xiao Hulu, Ye Chen sighed with emotion.

Looking back, when he first got it, he had sensed it was a great opportunity, and now that he had the treasure, he knew it was true. This stroke of fate spanned past and present lives, arriving a bit late but at just the right time.

"You have two more days—settle your affairs."

With a wave of his sleeve, Dao Zu turned and vanished.

That mention of settling affairs carried deep meaning—entering the Hun Dun Hai might mean not coming out alive.

Ye Chen remained composed, cradling the Xiao Hulu as he strolled away. Having gained this immortal treasure, his mood was excellent, and he had completely forgotten about Dao Zu forcing him into this.

On second thought, Dao Zu really cared for him. Knowing he had stolen the longevity fruit tree and many treasures from Xian Yu, Dao Zu hadn't demanded them back and was even giving him this treasure now. Opportunities kept coming one after another!

"Oh, you're out and about?"

As he walked, he encountered Tai Shang Laojun, the immortal who always had his hands tucked in his sleeves. The way he looked at Ye Chen was a bit odd, as if he was holding back a laugh.

"Come on, old official, let's find a spot to chat."

"I'm busy today."

"How could you be? You've got time."

Ye Chen put away the Xiao Hulu, slung an arm around Laojun's shoulder, and dragged him off regardless of whether he wanted to go. From behind, they looked like the best of buddies.

Ah!

Soon, a miserable scream echoed from a remote mountain nook, so loud it startled many who were still asleep, thinking someone was slaughtering a pig!

In a flash, Ye Chen turned into a streak of light, racing away with the speed of wind and thunder.

Laojun followed, gripping his white fly-whisk and cursing all the way, his figure disheveled, hair a mess, and two black eyes like a raccoon's. He looked utterly wretched.

It was clear he had been beaten, and by Ye Chen no less. They had agreed to chat, but it turned into a fight the moment they arrived. A slap from a Nine Heavens' Huang Gu Sheng Ti was no ordinary thing; without his imperial artifact, he might have been turned into a pulp.

Ahead, Ye Chen had already left Xian Yu.

By the time Laojun caught up, that guy was nowhere to be seen. Laojun choked back his breath and spat out blood on the spot. As Dao Zu's eldest disciple, getting dragged to a corner and beaten was outrageous!

Dao Zu rubbed his forehead, having witnessed it all. Even an emperor's dignity was losing face.

It seemed that in his lineage, aside from the Hun Dun body, everyone who crossed paths got a thrashing.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen had already opened a domain gate and headed straight for Bu Zhou Shan. With only two days left before his departure, he wanted to bid farewell to Xuan Di.

He was extra diligent on this visit to Bu Zhou Shan, holding the Xiao Hulu and scanning everywhere as he went.

Bu Zhou Shan was the site of an ancient heavenly court battle, where emperors had fought, so there must be Di Yun lingering. With this rare treasure, he wasn't about to let it go to waste.

As expected, this forbidden ground did contain hidden Di Yun, formless and invisible, but when the Zi Jin Xiao Hulu absorbed it, faint traces became visible—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, each like a hair-thin strand. Dao Zu hadn't lied; no matter how much time passed, as long as it existed, that essence remained, impossible to erase from the void.

"What a treasure, truly a treasure."

Ye Chen laughed to himself. Once he returned to the various heavens, he could divide up the Di Yun and give everyone a share, boosting their combat strength for sure.

Grinning like that, he pressed deeper.

It was the same mountain crevice as before, with no sign of Xuan Di's shadow; he was hiding in the rock wall again.

Ptooey!

Ye Chen stepped forward and spat right there. You knew I was coming and still wouldn't show yourself? Take that.

Xuan Di emerged, his face as dark as could be. Every time he saw spit, he couldn't help but recall Ye Chen's parting gift last time—a big glob of phlegm straight into his mouth. The memory still made him want to gag; it would be a shadow over his life.

"In two days, I'll be leaving. Just came to say goodbye."

"This journey might mean we never meet again. Take care, fellow Daoist."

"Whatever you do, don't miss me."

Ye Chen responded word by word, his tone full of melancholy, trying to create a sense of farewell sorrow. He even looked ready to give Xuan Di a hug in the heat of the moment.

Xuan Di said nothing, just stood with his hands tucked away, eyeing Ye Chen up and down suspiciously. He could tell this guy was here to stir up emotions. First, you spat all over me, and now you're acting sentimental—is that appropriate?

"The kindness of a senior is something I'll never forget."

As Xuan Di watched, Ye Chen kept talking, his acting as polished as ever.

While speaking, he casually pulled out the Zi Jin Xiao Hulu, gripping it in one hand and circling around Xuan Di like a security guard scanning with a device, covering every angle meticulously.

Xuan Di's face darkened instantly, his eyes blazing as he glared at Ye Chen. You're pulling out all the stops— even faking sentimentality—just to collect Di Yun. Is that your real goal?

Well, Ye Chen was indeed here for that.

Xuan Di's shadow was linked to the emperor, so of course, it carried Di Yun.

And sure enough, a faint, mysterious essence seeped from Xuan Di and was drawn into the Xiao Hulu—but only a single strand.

Ye Chen was thorough, scanning Xuan Di's shadow and then inch by inch through the mountain crevice, determined to gather every last bit of lingering Di Yun into the Xiao Hulu.

Ah!

Suddenly, Xuan Di's shadow let out a wild howl, whether from anger or some habit, it echoed loudly—it seemed to be his thing every so often, and this time it was the loudest yet.

Ye Chen acted as if nothing had happened, still diligently searching for Di Yun.

Unfortunately, besides that initial strand, he found no more.

Only then did he put away the Xiao Hulu, putting on a regretful expression as if ready to get sentimental again.

"Get lost." Xuan Di barked.

"Too much anger will harm your health."

Ye Chen advised earnestly, patting Xuan Di's shoulder before turning to leave. He had considered asking why Xuan Di howled for no reason, but decided it wasn't important anymore.

Watching Ye Chen's retreating figure, Xuan Di clutched his chest, feeling pain all over from that scoundrel's antics.

If Dao Zu were here, he would surely be pleased.

As fellow members of the emperor's Dao F4, it seemed the reincarnation of Di Zun outshone Xuan Di's shadow body in certain ways, indirectly proving that Xuan Di still lagged behind Di Zun in some areas.