Chapter 2816: Do You Three Know Each Other?

"Don't miss out as you pass by."

"Once this village is gone, you won't find such a good deal."

In the vast starry sky, a crowd gathered densely, and the shouts from that small meteorite were loud and clear.

The one speaking, of course, was not Ye Chen.

Such hawking required expert skills, handled by the Hundun Ding and Hundun Huo, those two national-treasure-level treasures. They were never ones to sit still, jumping up and down in mid-air. Those in the know thought they were trading thunder; those who didn't might think they were soliciting customers. If they added a line like "Hey, sir, you're finally here!", it would be even more fitting.

Ye Chen had already sat down at the table, holding that strand of Chiyan Xian Lei in his palm. The thunder was extremely domineering, tearing and distorting the space around it, with ear-piercing thunderclaps and dazzling, eye-stinging flashes of lightning.

"What immortal thunder!"

The onlookers hadn't left yet, gazing from afar and licking their lips. Thunder was rare enough, let alone a strand of immortal thunder—it was a priceless treasure. Whether used for cultivation or to forge a foundation, it was a heaven-defying opportunity, all because it was innately infused with mysterious power.

"The Kunlun Shenzi and Huashan Shen Nü are really generous, handing over a strand of immortal thunder just like that."

"You're probably mistaken; it's an exchange. Didn't you see that couple took so many treasures from the Sheng Ti?"

"Whatever the amount, it's worth it."

As they watched, discussions buzzed around, filled with sighs and exclamations. Most were seeing immortal thunder for the first time. It was thunder, sure, but nothing like ordinary heavenly thunder or true thunder—the source of this thunder was incredibly pure.

"Not bad."

Ye Chen chuckled happily, examining it over and over. It was mainly because the rank of the Chiyan Xian Lei was exceptionally high, placing it near the top. Though it didn't match up to the Taichu Shen Lei, it was complete. The Taichu Shen Lei in his small world was fragmented; if it were whole, its temper would be even fiercer and more unyielding than imagined.

Glancing at the Taichu Shen Lei, it stirred restlessly from time to time.

Ye Chen understood what its restlessness meant—it probably wanted to devour the Chiyan Xian Lei to mend its own fragments. Not just that; it even eyed Ye Chen's own heavenly thunder. Its ambitions were grand indeed.

Compared to it, the heavenly thunder was even more lively, having already darted out of the small world. It zipped around Ye Chen and his palm, like a naive child spotting a delicious candy.

Ye Chen smiled and sent the immortal thunder into his small world.

Whoosh!

The heavenly thunder followed suit, with the Hundun Huo and Hundun Lei tagging along.

"Hey, we're talking to you! Hurry up and submit."

"Come with us and live the good life, eating well and drinking fine things."

"You little rascal, don't run away!"

Then, such chatter echoed from the small world—it was the Hundun Ding and Hundun Huo, those two lively ones, yelling and intimidating the Chiyan Xian Lei right off the bat.

"Not bad."

Ye Chen laughed again, in an excellent mood.

Who wouldn't want immortal thunder?

On that point, the Kunlun Shenzi and Huashan Shen Nü were quite generous. Though they had been swindled out of many treasures and pills, it was absolutely worth it. Whenever he had time, he'd pay Kunlun a visit to chat and reclaim those treasures to warm them up.

As for the Huashan Shen Nü, he'd just hang her from a tree.

"I've got thunder! I've got thunder!"

Just as he was smiling, a call rang out.

Glancing up, Ye Chen saw a sleazy old man shoving his way through the crowd. He moved quickly, though his appearance made people's hands itch to smack him—disheveled hair, yellowed teeth, and those sly, narrowed eyes that screamed shadiness.

In his hand, he gripped a bolt of thunder—silver thunder, likely heavenly thunder, with a fairly pure source, crackling as he held it.

"I've got thunder! I've got thunder!"

By the time the call ended, the sleazy old man had arrived.

"I see it."

Ye Chen smiled and waved his hand, summoning treasures floating through the air.

"No treasures for me, I—"

"You old fool, give me back my thunder!"

Before the old man could finish, shouts of abuse erupted. From one side of the starry sky, outside the crowd, people were rushing over—one wielding a divine knife, the other carrying a club, both with faces dark as thunder.

The onlookers could easily guess what was happening—the old man must have robbed their thunder and run here to trade for treasures. Given his sleazy look, he was definitely capable of it, and probably did it often.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow at the sight.

He didn't recognize this sleazy old man.

But the two charging over were old acquaintances of his—none other than Luan Shi Dao Kuang and Tian Gang Yang Xuan. They were his good buddies from Zhuxian Zhen. Only they were here; there was no sign of Jian Sheng Ling Feng.

In no time, the two arrived, their faces not just dark but utterly blackened. They knew Ye Chen wanted thunder, so they had come from afar to deliver it, only to get robbed along the way.

"You old coot, have you no shame?"

Luan Shi Dao Kuang cursed, his eyes blazing with fury. How many years had it been—whether in the mortal world or the cultivation realm—had they ever been robbed? Today was a first, and their anger was uncontainable.

"You old thing, you run pretty fast!"

Tian Gang Yang Xuan's voice boomed just as loudly, with a footprint on his back, suggesting the old man had kicked him during the robbery.

"Young friends, too much anger is bad for your health."

The sleazy old man stroked his beard meaningfully, trying to look like a wise elder, but it couldn't hide his shady vibe.

"Cut the crap and give back the thunder."

"Don't cause trouble; I picked it up."

"Hey."

As the three bantered, they looked ready to fight.

"Enough."

Ye Chen, amused, stopped their arguing and grinned at Luan Shi Dao Kuang and Tian Gang Yang Xuan. "You two old brothers, I hope you've been well."

"All good, all good."

The title of "old brothers" made the two feel elated, straightening up as if proclaiming to the world: Hear that? We're good friends—fought side by side, shared battles.

"You three, know each other?"

"What do you think?"

"Here, your thunder."

The sleazy old man was the most awkward, quickly returning the thunder and scurrying away. He muttered to himself that today was an unlucky day—his fortune was off, robbing Ye Chen's friends and coming here for fun. This wasn't trading treasures; it was heading straight for the Naihe Qiao.

"You old bastard, I'll remember you."

"Don't let us advance to Zhun Di."

Shangguan Jiu and Yang Xuan grumbled as they left.

Indeed, both were now at the peak of Da Sheng realm. It had only been a few hundred years since they followed Ye Chen out, yet they had become formidable figures—not your average Da Shengs. If not for the old man's sixth-level Zhun Di cultivation far surpassing theirs, he couldn't have snatched the thunder so easily.

Ye Chen was impressed by the two.

Reaching Da Sheng in just a few hundred years was quite monstrous. With enough opportunities, they could become Zhun Dis. Given their talents, they were destined to be major powers one day.

Speaking of opportunities, he had to give them some.

He accepted the thunder and casually drew out some Di Dao essence—the aura of the emperor might just be their chance.

"How could we accept this?"

The two chuckled, not hesitating to take it.

"What about Ling Feng?"

"Dead."

"Dead?"

Ye Chen paused, wine flask in hand, his expression startled. That wasn't good news—Jian Sheng Ling Feng was a prodigious talent from Zhuxian Zhen.

"To be precise, he faced his tribulation."

Yang Xuan said casually, busy examining the essence.

"A Da Sheng facing tribulation."

Luan Shi Dao Kuang added.

Ye Chen was stunned for a moment. A Da Sheng undergoing tribulation was rare—that guy must have been extraordinarily talented to attract such a calamity.

"Gone. We haven't returned to Da Chu in a long time."

The two turned and waved goodbye to Ye Chen. After so many wars, the fact that they were still alive made them elites of the cultivation world. Those tempered by battle would go further on the immortal path.

Ye Chen watched them leave, their figures casting a sense of weariness, dusted with the passage of time. He still wondered if bringing them out back then was the right choice. The road was too long; by the time they looked back, it would all be changed beyond recognition.

Suddenly, he thought of Elder Yang Ge.

Yang Lan's father, his late in-law, buried for centuries. Ye Chen could still hear the erhu's sorrowful melody echoing in his ears, laden with pain.

"I didn't expect I'd still be alive!"

Lost in thought, someone approached, and Ye Chen didn't notice at first. When he looked, it was another old acquaintance—Fan Tong from Zhu Que Star.

Ye Chen smiled and handed him a wine flask. As an old friend, he remembered him well—from the gambling dens in Youdu, where he always lost everything.

Fan Tong now looked alarmingly aged, surrounded by deathly energy, his lifespan nearly spent. Due to his poor talent, he was still only at the Sheng Ren realm level. Surviving this long was impressive.

"Before I die, I'll give you this treasure."

Fan Tong took the flask and offered a strand of thunder—it was just true thunder, but purely by chance, and it had some source energy.

"Dying so soon?"

Ye Chen laughed and flicked a golden divine light into Fan Tong's body—it was a refined essence from the Sheng Ti, instantly merging with his physique.

Fan Tong's body trembled violently.

Then, he broke through on the spot.

From Sheng Ren realm to Zhun Sheng, his aged body regained vitality, dispelling the deathly energy and filling him with radiance and surging vitality.

"That's a few more centuries of life."

"How about it? Want more?"

"A gift from the Sheng Ti? I'll reluctantly take it!"

"Then get lost and wait over there."

Ye Chen waved his hand and, in a very friendly manner, sent Fan Tong flying. You little brat, acting all reluctant—might as well stuff you in a coffin.

It wasn't until far away that Fan Tong stopped.

He got up in a disheveled state, shook his head with a smile, glanced back at Ye Chen, and then turned and walked off into the distance. For some reason, he felt like he had seen through the mortal world.

"I want that war spear."

Meanwhile, another person arrived with thunder.

It was a burly, bald youth with a heavy aura and a hint of barbarian lineage, though not a barbarian himself—probably descended from someone with barbarian roots.

The thunder he brought was true thunder, glowing with golden light.

"Take whatever treasure you want."

Ye Chen replied casually, accepting the thunder. But his eyes weren't on the giver; they were on his small world, because Xing Tian's head had opened its eyes again.

In Xing Tian's eyes, the scene that appeared was still that land of death, shrouded in mist and blood, a dim and unknown place.

Unlike last time, this time through Xing Tian's eyes, Ye Chen caught a glimpse of Di Huang's figure—a fleeting shadow, but he was certain it was him.