Chapter 2934: What's Missing?

Chapter 2934: What is Missing?

Upon returning to Da Chu, Xing Tian’s head was once again placed in the temple.

Ye Chen and Ji Ning Shuang stood quietly in front of the temple for a long time, gazing in silence. They both had a premonition, not just shared by the Tian Ming Emperors, but it seemed the two of them had also reached a certain understanding.

The war god Xing Tian was likely still alive.

Not to mention the supreme beings, even Xiao Chen felt this way.

This world, this era, was growing increasingly strange.

That very night, Yao Chi went into seclusion. She aimed not only to comprehend the Dao but also to seek a method to seal the Emperor Dao imprint. No matter what, she was determined to try, preparing for Ye Chen’s future path to enlightenment.

Time is like a blade, cutting down all prodigies.

Ye Chen might be one of them. Calculating the time and years, his remaining lifespan was less than five hundred years.

Five hundred years marked a great limit.

The ancient sacred body, dominating heaven and earth, would gradually erode under the weight of time, slowly wearing away until the lamp of life burned out.

At the peak of Yao Nu Peak, Ye Chen sat as still as a stone statue.

The later years of an emperor are melancholic.

The later years of a great achievement sacred body are the same. He was not an emperor, yet he felt the same state of mind as one—possessing the power to destroy heaven and earth, yet helplessly unable to reverse the destined fate.

The five-hundred-year limit might just be that destiny.

Bathed in the dim starlight, he aged a bit more. His snow-white hair could never return to its dark, cascading state. His vital energy was gradually fading, for he had emotions, but time did not.

Given enough time, he would surely attain enlightenment.

This belief was still firmly held by the Tian Ming Emperors.

Yet, who would give him that time?

Suddenly, Ye Chen raised his hand, turning it into a carving knife, etching stroke by stroke on the illusory Emperor Dao gate. Using space-time as his brush, he painted meticulously, one stroke at a time.

The Ming Emperor folded his hands, gazing up at the vast sky.

That illusory Emperor Dao gate was truly enormous, far larger than any he had seen before. It was majestic and grand, exuding an aura of supreme imperial might even in its illusory form. That imperial might was no ordinary kind.

One had to admit, Ye Chen’s carving and painting skills were unparalleled, rendering the Emperor Dao gate with exquisite detail.

Unfortunately, no matter how masterful his techniques, he could not turn the Emperor Dao gate into a solid entity. It remained illusory, still lacking something.

What was missing? No one knew.

The Ming Emperor lowered his gaze and looked no more. That broken Emperor Dao path still needed Ye Chen to explore on his own. As emperors, they could not guide him. Even he did not know how a sacred body could become an emperor.

Hong Jun’s eyes, however, grew even deeper.

There were a few moments when he slightly furrowed his brows.

“Haven’t you thought of something?”

The Ming Emperor glanced at him.

The Dao Ancestor said nothing, only shaking his head gently. His furrowed brows did not relax, and his certain suspicion remained just a suspicion.

The Ming Emperor’s expression was not pleased. He knew Hong Jun all too well—he loved to keep things mysterious. If you have something to say, just say it! Why hold back?

For ten years, Ye Chen carved and painted continuously.

In the eleventh year, he left Da Chu, departing quietly.

That departure lasted many years.

People had seen him wandering through the starry sky or pausing by the star rivers. No one knew if he was comprehending the Dao; they only knew he was like a traveler, or a wandering spirit, always appearing and disappearing unpredictably.

In the twelfth year, he visited the Zhu Xian Sword, standing for a long time at the graves of Yang Ge Lao and Xia Lan, pouring out a cup of wine.

In the fifteenth year, he went to Tian Huang, standing quietly.

In the seventeenth year, he arrived at You Ming Continent, standing before the statue of the You Ming Emperor’s son for three full days, saying nothing.

In the eighteenth year, he went to Xuan Huang and visited the forbidden zone.

In the nineteenth year, he arrived at Wu Lei City.

Wu Lei City was now deserted, with not a soul in sight. During the great catastrophe of the heavens, everyone except Wu Lei had perished. Wu Lei had left, turning it into an empty, desolate city.

He sat on the mountaintop, quietly carving wood sculptures.

For a moment, he lifted his eyes and glanced in one direction.

Others had come—it was Wu Lei Xianzi and Wu Qing Xianzi, both once from Wu Lei City. They came together for a nostalgic visit, their expressions as indifferent as ever, tearless and emotionless. Yet, inadvertently, they revealed a hint of human sorrow, for those with blood and flesh cannot truly be without tears or emotions.

They stayed for nine days before leaving quietly.

Before departing, they glanced back at Ye Chen.

That night, Ye Chen also left.

In the thirtieth year, he went to Tian Jie.

When he returned, he brought back the Hun Dun body.

In the fortieth year, he went to Ming Jie.

This time, he did not bring Yao Chi, but a two- or three-year-old child—Ming Tian, the son of Ming Jue.

For hundreds of years, Ming Tian had grown to about two or three years old and stopped aging. Ye Chen had observed it was due to his bloodline, which, through the passage of time, was precipitating a divine power known as Dao Yuan.

Though he was still a child, his cultivation was not low. In his innocent daze, he was already a genuine saint, making many old-timers feel awkward. Comparing people truly invites frustration!

“Grandpa.”

The child’s call warmed the emperor’s heart.

The Ming Emperor laughed joyfully. Emperors are human too, and the ways of familial bonds in the mortal world apply to supreme beings as well.

“Not bad.”

Seeing the Ming Emperor holding the little one and strolling around, the Dao Ancestor stroked his beard. It was the first time he had seen that guy look so doting.

The streets of Gui City were incredibly lively.

What a sight it was—the supreme being of Ming Jie carrying a child and wandering the streets, truly eye-catching.

“How wonderful.”

In the depths of Ming Jie, Ye Chen looked back once before continuing his task, digging open an ancestral grave and prying out some treasures.

The Ming Emperor, busy holding the child and strolling, was completely unaware.

“Ye Chen, you scoundrel!”

Three to five days later, a furious shout echoed through the Yin Cao underworld. That guy was truly opportunistic, stealing who knows how many of his treasured items while he wasn’t paying attention.

In the fiftieth year, Ye Chen arrived at the Xian Clan ancestral land.

The Xian Clan was now in ruins. The great catastrophe of the heavens had nearly wiped out all its peak experts, leading to a decline in talent. There were many great saints, but few Quasi-Emperors.

Ye Chen paid his respects to Jiang Tai Xu. It had been several hundred years, and though there were many offerings, Jiang Tai Xu had yet to show any sign of spirit.

There was also the statue of Feng Huang, standing in the Xian Clan.

Like Jiang Tai Xu, it showed no sign of spirit.

By the time he returned to Yao Nu Peak, it was the sixtieth year.

Yao Chi was still in seclusion, with only Emperor Dao visions visible.

“Dad, I went to see Mom.”

Under the old tree, Ye Chen sat as Ye Ling held a small duster, sweeping the dust from his shoulder. She had grown even more sensible.

“Did she speak to you?”

Ye Chen smiled and offered a pot of wine.

Ye Ling pouted slightly but did not respond. She went almost every three to five days and could always enter the Ling Xiao Hall. She was likely the only one in all the heavens who could enter it.

This might be a special privilege granted by Ruo Xi.

“She will come back.”

Lin Shi Hua stroked Ye Ling’s little head, smiling gently.

“It’s out! A spirit has emerged!”

No sooner had Lin Shi Hua spoken than a joyful shout came from one side. From the sound, it was Xiong Er, with his booming voice.

Hearing this, Ye Chen looked up.

It was Ming Jue’s statue that had produced a trace of spirit.

Since Ming Tian, Ming Jue’s child, had inherited some of Ming Jue’s bloodline, and thanks to the Dong Huang Empress, a hint of Ming Jue’s divine power was extracted from Ming Tian’s bloodline. After hundreds of years of offerings, it finally manifested a spirit. Reviving him was now just a matter of time.

The quiet night over You Ji Heng Yue became unrestful.

Qing Luan was seen weeping inconsolably, tears streaming down her face.

The Ming Emperor sat on Jie Ming Mountain, secretly wiping away tears.

This was not the only joyous event.

Just three days later, Bai Zhi also manifested a spirit.

Unlike Ming Jue, her emergence was due to the Emperor Artifact Feng Huang Qin. Back then, the qin had fought alongside her, stained with her blood, precipitating a trace of spirit.

In the years that followed, Ye Chen went out every ten years or so, sometimes for three to five days, sometimes for three to five years, coming and going repeatedly.

The Tian Ming Emperors knew he was deep in contemplation.

The Emperor Dao gate was already formed; it just lacked one thing.

Time slipped away, and another century ended.

Ye Chen had only four hundred years of life left.

Late at night, he stood on the mountaintop again, continuing his carving.

“A great achievement sacred body not yet two thousand years old, yet already in his later years.”

The revived Ming Jue sighed and shook his head.

“The strongest and most astonishing, but must it also be the shortest-lived?”

As Bai Zhi passed by Heng Yue, she murmured softly before walking away, going to find her lover, and she would be gone for many years.

Under the moonlight, Ye Chen appeared even more aged.

Those who saw him, whether supreme beings or ordinary people, sighed. He had tried almost every life-extending pill and divine object, but the four-hundred-year limit might still be inevitable.

“If you die, what will happen to your wives?”

In the dead of night, Xiong Er stroked his chin and muttered.

“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of them.”

Xie Yun and Situ Nan folded their hands, speaking with deep sincerity.

Boom!

That night, a thunderous boom echoed through Heng Yue and Da Chu. Centered on Yao Nu Peak, the Emperor Dao halo filled the sky.

Looking up, they saw Ye Chen standing on the mountaintop, transformed. His back was resolute, like a monument standing at the end of time, with Emperor might overflowing and Emperor Dao heavenly sounds resonating.

“Has he become an emperor?”

Too many people were awakened, gazing toward Yao Nu Peak.

“Become your sister, that’s not Ye Chen.”

Those who were awake gave a definitive answer.

Indeed, it was not Ye Chen—it was Di Zun.

After several hundred years, Ye Chen and Di Zun had switched in reincarnation once more.

Unlike last time, this switch was passive; even Ye Chen did not know how he had entered it in a daze.

Di Zun was still that Di Zun, standing quietly without moving, only gazing up at the Emperor Dao gate.

“Come to Tian Jie, let’s catch up.”

“Come to Ming Jie, let’s catch up.”

At the same moment, the Tian Ming Emperors both sent their messages.

Di Zun did not respond, showing no reaction at all.

Both emperors felt awkward and called no more.

“The first reincarnation?”

Nan Ming Yu Shu and the others stood under the old tree, looking up at the mountaintop. For some reason, a trace of unease stirred in them, fearing Ye Chen might disappear.

Yao Chi emerged from seclusion—or rather, was awakened by Di Zun. After a hundred years of seclusion, she had gained some insights into the Dao, but she remained helpless against her own Emperor Dao imprint, unable to seal it.

She was watching too. This was her second time seeing Di Zun. As fellow emperors, the pressure Di Zun exerted on her was indescribably immense.

Outside the mountain, several figures had already soared through the air.

They were Di Xuan, the Fourth God General, Jian Shen, and others like Ren Wang, Zao Hua Shen Wang, Xuan Huang, Mo Zun, Jian Zun, and Dong Huang Tai Xin.

Unfortunately, the mountaintop had become a forbidden zone. Except for the Dong Huang Empress, no one could set foot there—the Di Zun’s pressure was too overwhelming.

That night, many more people arrived, just to catch a glimpse of the emperor’s demeanor. Not everyone knew the connection between Di Zun and Ye Chen; they only knew that this emperor was terrifying, even more so than the Dong Huang Empress.