Chapter 3078: Face, a Good Thing

Boom! Rumble!

On this day, the Taigu Honghuang was far from peaceful, with numerous omens appearing and intertwining, forming vast realms where mountains and rivers coexisted, lush with vegetation. The essence of the Dao flowed naturally, and profound imperial Dao heavenly sounds echoed through the heavens and earth, composing beautiful immortal melodies.

Ah!

Yet, amid this prosperous spectacle, discordant roars pierced the air, filled with resentment, fury, savagery, and menace, like funeral dirges from hell.

It was the Shengmo.

Ever since it had taken root through Dun Jia, it had never ceased its unrest. Seeing the various emperors reshaping their roots only drove it into greater madness, its twisted face more grotesque than any fierce ghost.

No one paid it any mind, and the emperors had no time for it either. Whenever someone left the formation, another would take their place. Emperors departed and returned, each cycle a heaven-defying nirvana. Every one of them merged with a Dun Jia Tianzi, and each carried a universe within a single character.

“Having a root is truly wonderful.”

The successive supreme beings laughed heartily. Without a root, it felt like drifting aimlessly in the wind, with no anchor to rely on.

Now, things were different. With their roots remade, the gloom was swept away, and their life force surged like a vast ocean, banishing all signs of frailty and age.

“The Dun Jia Tianzi is indeed profoundly mysterious.”

Even someone as unreliable as Guidi was astonished. After merging with a Tianzi, he felt his imperial body expand immensely, as if a universe had been nurtured within him. For a few moments, he even sensed the potential for an immediate breakthrough.

It wasn’t just him; the other veteran heavenly emperors experienced the same. Fusing with Dun Jia led to nirvana and transformation. Those at the peak seemed to touch the threshold of Zhunhuang in the shadows, glimpsing that elusive colossal gate. Once crossed, they could vie for the Zhunhuang realm.

“One death, one life, one creation.”

Renhuan returned from the mountain peak and resumed his position in the formation, sighing deeply. Laws around him flickered in and out of visibility, with patterns of the heavens etching into his primordial spirit. Numerous ancient omens shifted because of him, each tribulation a nirvana.

“If I had known the Tianzi was so mysterious, I wouldn’t have given it away.”

Renwang stroked his beard, appearing nonchalant on the surface, but inwardly he felt a sharp pang of regret. It could even remake roots—if someone with a root fused with it, they’d soar effortlessly.

“If only it were as simple as you think.”

Longye said leisurely. This Dun Jia was not the same as the others. Only by entering the unknown domain could it transform. The Dun Jia Tianzi of the past was merely a shell without substance, useless even if fused.

It was like a treasure trove needing a key to open, and the unknown domain—or that strange child—was the key.

But none of that mattered now. What was important was that the crisis had been resolved, and all the emperors had fully returned.

“Shenzun, your sister has been taken.”

With their roots secured and no worries left, certain old supreme beings gathered to jest again. For instance, Lanyu Tiandi had muttered this line over eight hundred times since Shenzun had descended.

Shenzun remained composed, one hand holding a carving knife and the other a block of wood, quietly sculpting. He only occasionally glanced up, shooting a look toward the mountain peak at that scoundrel called Ye Chen.

Just you wait! Once all the emperors have formed their roots, I’ll hammer that guy to death. Our earlier fight isn’t over yet.

“This will be entertaining.”

The supreme beings of the various heavens and the emperors of the heavenly court all had gleaming eyes, already positioning themselves to watch the spectacle, eagerly awaiting a brawl between Shenzun and Ye Chen.

And there would surely be a verbal sparring match to go with it.

On the mountain peak,

Nüdi was diligently at work, fusing a Tianzi for each emperor who arrived, like a savior leading them out of suffering.

Beside her, Ye Chen was utterly relaxed, carrying a wine flask and circling around Ye Fan repeatedly, worried about any mishaps. He occasionally glanced at Nüdi, showing no inclination to help.

Nüdi’s gaze turned sideways. Here I am, toiling away, and you’re just standing there watching?

He had no shame about it.

That would be Ye Chen’s response as the sacred body supreme. You’re the Huangdi! With endless divine power, it’s just a matter of time. I’m different—I’m a minor heavenly emperor. One slip, and I could break through realms, only to be knocked down in an instant. Who can I complain to about that?

Speaking of realms, he already had plans. Once this was settled, he’d enter the realm of illusion to comprehend the Dao and aim for advancing to Zhunhuangdi.

“Boss, it hurts to see this.”

The Chaos Cauldron jumped up and down on the spot, buzzing with each word. The Dun Jia Tianzi that had been etched on it to stabilize it were being taken away one by one. How could it not ache?

Ye Chen said nothing, just watched the Dun Jia Tianzi suspended in the air. With each emperor’s arrival, one would disappear, and the numbers were dwindling.

As he spoke, another emperor descended.

It was Xuandi.

Though he looked aged, he exuded an air of refinement, stroking his beard with an air of seniority. He seemed every bit the elder, drawing eye rolls from both Ye Chen and Nüdi.

How amusing—to act superior in front of a Huangdi and a heavenly emperor sacred body?

“The younger generation is truly formidable!”

Xuandi spoke gravely, his refined demeanor reaching new heights, as if regarding juniors from on high.

“Come, senior, lie down.”

Ye Chen chuckled, tossing aside his wine flask. As soon as Xuandi lay down, Ye Chen sent him into a deep sleep.

This wasn’t just to make fusing the Tianzi easier; the key was that what followed wasn’t suitable for Xuandi to witness—it might provoke some serious cursing.

“I hope we can find more Tianzi.”

“Damn this war—I’m already tired of it.”

“Peace in the world would be so much better.”

Ye Chen hauled out a large sack, chattering nonstop as he reached into Xuandi’s small world. With each remark, he pulled out a treasure—divine iron, immortal materials, source stones, secret treasures—and stuffed them into the sack. Anything he could grab, he took without hesitation. His movements were seamless and practiced.

But that wasn’t the funniest part.

The funniest was that while doing something so shady, he acted as if nothing was amiss, his tone solemn and wistful, his expression profound and serene.

Nüdi glanced sideways, her eyes scanning Ye Chen from head to toe, her lips twitching.

Listening to his words, they sounded so upright, but watching his actions completely upended one’s worldview.

He spoke with such earnestness.

In reality, his integrity was shattered.

“Times create heroes.”

Nüdi didn’t say a word, but her expression perfectly conveyed that sentiment.

An era that could produce a talent like Ye Chen was truly classic.

“This jade pendant, I quite like it.”

Ye Chen continued muttering, having already cleared out Xuandi’s small world. Now, he rummaged through Xuandi’s person, taking everything he could lay hands on.

If Nüdi weren’t there, he might have stripped Xuandi down to his underwear.

Only then did he casually grab a Dun Jia Tianzi—the eye-catching “pig” character.

He had quite fancied this “pig” for Shenzun, but Nüdi hadn’t agreed, so he gave it to this one instead.

Truth be told, it suited Xuandi’s demeanor perfectly.

The process that followed went surprisingly smoothly.

Xuandi fused with the Tianzi in his sleep, forming his root and gaining a heaven-defying transformation.

“Nirvana and transformation bring me great solace.”

Ye Chen remarked, fetching a container. After robbing the treasures, he casually drew some blood from Xuandi as well.

Robbery came with the essentials.

“Face is a good thing.”

Nüdi suddenly commented, her tone meaningful. She didn’t mind the robbery, but don’t fleece one person to death.

“What’s the use of face?”

Ye Chen’s reply was equally profound.

Nüdi took a deep breath.

Even with the mindset of a Huangdi, she was speechless. Getting involved with such a character was genuinely exciting. He was proper when being proper, but when not, he had no concept of shame.

Before long, Xuandi awoke, overjoyed to find his root formed, completely unaware that his treasures had been stripped clean.

“Thank you.”

Xuandi was uncharacteristically serious, bowing to Ye Chen in gratitude. He had been saved, a immense favor.

“Such a grand gesture from you, senior—I’m truly unworthy.”

Ye Chen hurriedly stepped forward, feigning flattery.

This scene made Nüdi want to laugh.

Facts proved that in certain areas, the talents of her ancient heavenly court were still a step behind those of the various heavens.

“I’m leaving.”

Xuandi smiled and ascended in a single step, having gained his root and needing to replace the other supreme beings.

Perhaps from the excitement, or maybe from losing too much blood, he stumbled mid-step and plummeted from the void, his head a bit dizzy.

“It’s nothing serious.”

Xuandi straightened his collar and walked away.

Behind him, Nüdi looked at him with pity. Encountering a thief like Ye Chen must mean he’d committed too many sins in his past life.

“Ye Chen, you scoundrel.”

Soon, from the direction of the Taigu formation, Xuandi’s furious roar echoed. Only after sitting in the formation did he realize his treasures were gone and a good amount of blood had been drawn. He’d been so proper and joyful earlier, but now he was exploding with rage, his face as dark as ink. If not for needing to guard the formation, he’d have charged over already.

“Too much anger harms the body.”

Ye Chen acted as if he hadn’t heard, huffing on a divine pearl and polishing it with his sleeve. This was a treasure—a heavenly emperor-level divine object—and among all he’d looted, this was the most valuable.

Nüdi glanced at it but said nothing. With Ye Chen, what was there left to say? He had no integrity, so why expect shame?

“Kid, you did a fine job.”

With Xuandi gone, Huangquan Tiandi was replaced and came over, giving Ye Chen a thumbs-up. He’d already heard of Xuandi’s fate and had long disliked that guy. What Ye Chen did was exactly what he’d wanted to do himself.

“It’s what I should do.” Ye Chen pocketed the divine pearl and approached again. “Senior, please lie down first.”

“I won’t trouble the sacred body with that.”

Huangquan Tiandi stroked his beard, speaking solemnly. He really didn’t want to be the next Xuandi.

Certain people might look respectable, but they were utterly without integrity. Lying down was fine, but he’d end up stripped bare.

“As you wish.”

Ye Chen shrugged, not insisting, and sat back under the old tree, pulling out Xuandi’s divine pearl again to polish it in his arms. A heavenly emperor-level treasure was innately attuned to the primordial spirit—truly a gem.

“Nüdi, you need to keep an eye on him.”

Huangquan Tiandi sent a message, lying down on Nüdi’s side. Before sinking into sleep, he specifically reminded her, implying: It’s not easy to accumulate treasures—don’t let that kid rob me.

“Easy enough.”

Nüdi replied casually, waving her hand to take a Tianzi.

Only then did Huangquan Tiandi sleep soundly.

As soon as he fell asleep, Ye Chen wandered over, circling Huangquan Tiandi a few times and occasionally reaching behind to pinch his arms and legs.

“Thirty-seven.”

Ye Chen said while examining him.

“Sixty-forty.”

Nüdi replied offhandedly.

“Fifty-fifty.”

“Deal.”

This was a bizarre exchange, just the two of them calling out numbers—no one else would understand.

It was professional jargon.

And so, a certain transaction was swiftly decided.

After the deal, Ye Chen rolled up his sleeves and reached into Huangquan Tiandi’s small world.

What followed was quite a sight.

The sleeping Huangquan Tiandi fell victim to the same fate— no matter how well he hid his treasures, it was futile. Ye Chen could retrieve over ninety percent of them.

Anything he couldn’t get, well, Nüdi was there. With a wave of her jade hand, it was no issue.

You two jokers!

That’s what Shengmo wanted to say. The various supreme beings couldn’t see it, but he could clearly. One was the heavenly court commander, the other the sacred body supreme—they worked together with perfect synergy, completely overturning his worldview.

“Scoundrel, you scoundrel.”

Shengmo fell silent, but Xuandi’s cursing didn’t stop. Since sitting down, he’d spat blood more than once.

“Character matters.”

Xianyu Dadi said leisurely, and many other supreme beings agreed. We all came back fine—why only you?

Soon, Huangquan Tiandi returned, his face even darker than Xuandi’s, like charred coal.

The emperors instantly understood—this one had also been victimized and stripped clean.

“Impressive!”

“Truly a matched pair.”

“Pah!”

Huangquan Tiandi’s face darkened further as he cursed nonstop, lashing out at Ye Chen and dragging Nüdi into it.

She’d promised to watch that scoundrel Ye Chen, but when he woke up, everything that should have been taken was gone. Couldn’t she even keep an eye on him?

Clearly, Nüdi had done it on purpose.

They were probably dividing the spoils right now.

“Here, yours.”

Ye Chen handed over a storage bag to Nüdi and casually passed it to her—a fair and just fifty-fifty split.

Nüdi was straightforward, not even looking at it before stashing it in her small world. Her expression didn’t change the whole time.

“So, you’re that kind of person.”

While tallying the loot, Ye Chen couldn’t help but glance at Nüdi, seriously sizing her up from head to toe and back again. Though he didn’t speak, his eyes said it all.

Such a beautiful woman—how did you get so fluent in this lingo? You must have done your share of shady dealings.

“Face is a good thing.”

Ye Chen pocketed his share and tossed back the line, his tone just as meaningful. I don’t know what integrity is, and apparently, neither do you. How can you still call me out on it?

Looking back, it turns out we’re in the same line of work. Why didn’t you say so earlier? You had me on edge for nothing.

Nüdi still showed no expression.

Who knew if she’d been led astray by Ye Chen or if this was her nature all along, actually colluding with a minor heavenly emperor.

If asked to explain, she’d put it nobly: After all the effort of fusing Tianzi, she deserved some compensation.

“You two, go easy.”

As the words fell, another supreme being descended—Mingtou Tiandi. When he arrived, he had a righteous air, like heading to the execution ground. With Nüdi getting involved, what more could he hope for?

“You’re off the hook.”

Ye Chen glanced at him and went back to counting his treasures.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to rob him.

This heavenly emperor had come without any valuables—his small world was empty, not even a pendant. All he had was the clothes on his back.

If he insisted, he’d have to strip him naked.