Chapter 2787: A Rare Gathering

Yu Nü Feng had finally fallen silent.

Chu Ling Er and the others were all sitting cross-legged under the old tree, having entered a state of meditation to heal their injuries, which were not yet fully recovered. Across the entire Da Chu and the vast Xuan Huang, apart from the cultivators left on guard, nearly everyone was doing the same.

Ye Chen was there too, sitting quietly in meditation.

In the ether, that sensation of being watched had vanished, and it was now largely confirmed that the one who had been observing him was the First Kind of Sacred Body, which he had annihilated in the Bo Luo Domain's other space. What he pondered was the connection between the Ancient Sacred Body, Tian Mo, and E Mo—perhaps in some ancient era, or even at the end of time, these three originated from the same lineage.

As he thought about it, he closed his eyes.

The night passed quickly.

In the morning, the warm sunlight bathed the earth, casting a soothing veil over the shattered mountains and rivers. The entire Zhutian had suffered from warfare, and Da Chu was no exception—its landscapes were broken, and everywhere one looked was devastation.

The world was sparse with people, most still healing. Only on the walls of Nan Chu City were armored cultivators stationed, and in Dan City, it was bustling as alchemists hurried back and forth, delivering spiritual medicines to various places.

On the second day, the first group of those with lighter injuries emerged from seclusion and joined the patrol teams, reinforcing Da Chu's barriers. This was to guard against Tian Mo and E Mo, as well as Hong Huang—any of them could launch another attack.

On the fourth day, the successive generations of Da Chu's kings gathered.

That evening, the eight of them went to Guang Han Palace.

In the palace, the sound of a qin played gracefully, the immortal melody ethereal.

It was Qian Shang Yue playing the qin, performing the "Awakening the World" piece. Shen Xuan Feng, who had regained some clarity from his dazed state, furrowed his brows as he watched Qian Shang Yue, and then scanned the surroundings with a frown. He recognized this place as Guang Han Palace, where he had once been, and it was here that he had nearly slain Yue Huang with a sword.

Shen Xuan Feng said,"Who exactly are you?"

Qian Shang Yue smiled faintly,"The daughter of Yue Huang."

At that, Shen Xuan Feng's brows furrowed even deeper.

A breeze swept through, and the eight kings of successive generations appeared.

"Don't tell me you're well," Kui Yu Jiang said with a laugh, finding a spot to sit.

Seeing the crowd, Shen Xuan Feng was somewhat stunned.

What era was this now? He was in Guang Han Palace, with the daughter of Yue Huang personally playing the qin for him, and here were the kings of successive generations, whom he remembered as bitter enemies. How had they all come together?

This gathering was indeed quite literal.

After so many years, it was the first time the nine of them had assembled—not as foes, but as old friends, each carrying a weight of vicissitudes.

"A rare reunion—let's have a drink!"

Yao Wang lifted a large wine jar, full of bold ease.

The eight kings were quite relaxed, not treating themselves as outsiders at all. For instance, Xue Wang and Gui Wang drank themselves silly and started clamoring to have Yue Huang join them for drinks.

In the shadows, Yue Huang rubbed her forehead, feeling extremely awkward.

The later-arriving emperors also gave dry laughs.

This scene was truly something to behold—all the great emperors gathered, the nine kings clustered together, sitting straight and listening to the daughter of Yue Huang play the qin.

And that wasn't even the most lively part.

Accompanied by the qin music, Da Chu Huang Yan, Zhou Tian Yi, Di Fan, Long Teng, Xiao Chen, and the others arrived, each leaning on the railings and gazing at the majestic figures of their forebears.

On the fifth day, more figures emerged in Da Chu—Zhong Kui and his group, Chu Cang Zong and his companions, Liu Yi and Nangong Yue, Dan Chen and Dan Yi, Fu Ling and Zhuge Yu, Dao Huang and Du Gu Ao. Accompanied by old friends, they walked across Da Chu's mountains and rivers, as if revisiting familiar places.

"We've returned at last."

"It's like a dream, almost too unreal."

"Still, the landscapes of our homeland are the most beautiful."

They walked and sighed along the way, pausing by long rivers, gazing from mountain peaks, greedily taking in their homeland—the mountains, the waters—wishing to etch them into their souls for eternity.

On the ninth day, the Ten Halls of Yan Luo emerged from seclusion.

On the eleventh day, the nine great divine generals of Di Zun rose.

On the twelfth day, the peak sword cultivators appeared in the world.

On the fourteenth day, two divine rainbows shot into the sky, piercing two massive holes in the vast Hao Yu heavens, followed by flashes of lightning and thunder, like a thunderous divine tribulation.

However, it was not a heavenly tribulation.

Upon closer inspection, it was Di Dou and Mu Liu Qing—he as the supreme Saint Emperor, she as the Hao Miao God King; he awakening from his stupor, she returning from her silence.

Zi Xuan bowed,"I have seen the Saint Emperor."

The Saint Emperor smiled with a sense of weariness, his entire body covered in the dust of ages.

Compared to him, Mu Liu Qing was in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Learning the reason for her revival, the pain tore at her heart, and she could no longer see the world with her former grace.

At her side, Mo Yuan quietly gazed up at the vast starry sky, tears in his eyes as well. Hong Lian was buried in extinction, the evil demons turned to historical dust, leaving only him and Mu Liu Qing in the world.

On the sixteenth day, strange phenomena appeared in the skies above Da Chu.

The phenomena were vast, accompanied by silent lightning and the oppressive aura of an emperor. At first glance, it seemed like an emperor's tribulation, but in reality, it was just a phenomenon.

These phenomena came from Sheng Zun and Di Ji.

Those two supreme ruthless figures emerged from seclusion one after the other, having survived their emperor tribulations. They were both treasures of the nation, carrying such phenomena wherever they went.

"What dazzling auras!"

Many veteran quasi-emperors sighed, hands behind their backs, clicking their tongues. In this lifetime, they were all quasi-emperors, but the difference was like night and day—comparisons only lead to frustration.

Unfortunately, whether Sheng Zun or Di Ji, despite their brilliance, they had no fate with the emperor's position in this life. Their tribulations contained seals that made ascension impossible.

In the second month, Yu Hua Xian Wang and Zao Hua Shen Wang stepped out of their caves together. Though their faces were still pale, they were both full of vigor, their vital energy restored after prolonged seclusion.

"Want to become sworn brothers?"

Zao Hua Shen Wang said with a cheerful grin.

Yu Hua Xian Wang glanced sideways at him. When had drawing blood ever been described so elegantly? Were they even of the same generation? I'm your senior, aren't I?

Zao Hua Shen Wang ignored him and headed straight for Hun Luan Ti. Hun Luan Ti had also emerged from seclusion, and along with him came Xiu Luo Tian Zun, who followed Hun Luan Ti, claiming to form a brotherhood—but really, he just wanted to draw some blood.

This Tian Zun and Shen Wang hit it off immediately, and that very night, they found a place to become sworn on the same day, month, and year.

After that, people emerged from seclusion every day—Lao Jun, Tai Gong, Yuan Shi Tian Zun, Tong Tian Jiao Zhu, Hong Huang Qi Lin, Jiang Tai Xu, Feng Huang, Yong Sheng Ti, and many other supreme peaks, each appearing with an overwhelming presence.

"Damn it, let's attack Hong Huang!"

Seeing these powerhouses emerge, the people of Zhutian were energized, the suppressed fire in their chests ready to erupt. They wanted to wipe out Hong Huang entirely.

However, after waiting many days, no order to attack came, because over ninety percent of the people were still in seclusion healing, with less than ten percent having emerged.

Another peaceful night.

Ye Chen awoke from his healing, his face flushed and his qi and blood surging. The Sacred Body's recovery was formidable; his injuries were already mostly healed, with only minor ones left to mend.

Under the moonlight, he took out a small fragment.

It was cut from the Zhu Xian Jian, hovering in his palm and buzzing intensely, as if desperate to break free from his grasp. But it lacked the power to do so.

Ye Chen didn't notice that because of this fragment, a flash of seven-colored light passed over Ye Ling, who was asleep—it seemed Zhu Xian Jian had sensed something.

"What material is it made of?"

Under the old tree, Hun Luan Ding had darted out of its small world, hovering in the air and buzzing. Ever since it swallowed the Zhu Xian Jian fragment, it hadn't been able to digest it.

Ye Chen said nothing, just stared at the fragment.

What material was it made of? That was his question too. It was incredibly strong—despite his experience, he'd never heard of anything like it, nor did he know of any material in the world that was this hard.

After studying it all night, he found no answers.

When dawn broke, he put away the fragment, tied on an apron, and stepped into the kitchen to make breakfast for his wife and children. This was the peace he longed for, but the world's chaos—with Tian Mo and E Mo lurking outside, and Hong Huang stirring trouble within—made such tranquility seem distant. Perhaps only by standing at the absolute peak of the world could he truly reshape the heavens and earth.

Breakfast was still warm and cozy.

Apart from Chu Xuan, Chu Ling and the others had all emerged from seclusion. Their injuries persisted but were no longer serious, though they would need a long time to fully recover.

After the meal, Ye Chen stood up.

When he returned to Tai Xuan Gate, all the quasi-emperors were there, as if they had anticipated his arrival. They had gathered in Dong Huang Tai Xin's small bamboo grove, quietly brewing tea.

In the bamboo grove, a illusory water curtain stood, displaying the scene of Hei Lian Empress being struck down, playing over and over. The quasi-emperors present watched intently, their eyes narrowing more with each viewing.

This included Ye Chen.

It was his first time seeing this scene, and it shocked him greatly. He hadn't realized that Tian Xuan Gate hid such a terrifying existence. Hei Lian Empress, a mid-level empress, had been knocked down twice.

"What do you all think?"

Dong Huang Tai Xin retracted the water curtain and looked around, paying special attention to Ren Wang, who had been guarding Da Chu and witnessed it firsthand.

Ren Wang shook his head, hands behind his back—he still didn't know.

"I believe it's a contingency left by Di Huang."

Chu Jiang Wang stroked his beard, though not entirely certain.

"Even a contingency couldn't surpass his true self and strike down a mid-level great emperor twice. It shouldn't be related to Di Huang—at least, that's my view."

The speaker was the Fifth Shen Jiang, his words measured.

"She mentioned something about foundations—who's could it be?"

Yan Huang stroked his chin, deep in thought.

"Could it be Xiao Ruo Xi?"

"It's possible; that little girl is quite mysterious."

"But we didn't see any unusual signs from her."

The quasi-emperors sat discussing, each offering their guesses. They had to figure out who it was! They needed to check if there were more such foundations and whether they could be used to protect Zhutian. This was crucial—after all, even a mid-level great emperor had been struck down, indicating immense power, like a force of destruction.

Ye Chen sipped his tea quietly, his gaze profound.

It clearly wasn't a contingency from Di Huang.

More than that, he believed it was likely Xiao Ruo Xi. She looked exactly like the Ancient Heavenly Court Empress, which raised questions. As for foundations, Wu Lei had mentioned them before. If they had to pinpoint someone, Ruo Xi was the most probable—he couldn't see through that little girl.

Seeing Ye Chen remain silent, Dong Huang Tai Xin looked at him,"What about you? What do you think?"

Ye Chen shook his head lightly,"I don't know."

It wasn't deliberate concealment; he just wasn't sure. Striking down a great emperor at that level wasn't trivial—they'd need to clarify it first.