Chapter 3085: Quasi-Desolate

The Di Jie dissipated, bringing the exclusive performance of the Sheng Ti lineage to an end.

Following that, the third batch of Da Di set off on their return journey to Zhu Tian, still forming a lineup of nine emperors.

On the day of their return, Zhu Tian was thronged with crowds.

Looking back to before the upheaval of the emperor's path, there had never been a precedent for two emperors existing in the same era. But now, it was far more than two—there were handfuls of them. Even from a distance, it felt surreal.

Precisely because of this, people became even more curious about Tai Gu Hong Huang.

That place was truly a land of wonders, where so many divine generals had failed to achieve the Dao in Zhu Tian, yet became emperors after going there. If possible, they all wanted to see it for themselves—perhaps there were incredible fortunes to be had.

Unfortunately, not just anyone could go there; at the very least, one needed to be at the peak of Zhun Di.

"I told you so! One day, you will return."

The Fourth Divine General laughed heartily. He hadn't seen the Di Zun return to Zhu Tian, but he had heard about the Di Zun's affairs. Glancing at Di Xuan beside him, who was already tearful, he knew that if not for her duties, she would likely have gone back to Tai Gu Hong Huang.

Equally teary-eyed was the Dong Huang Female Emperor.

The news about Di Zun had returned, and along with it, good news about Ye Fan, which made her weep with joy.

"How miraculous."

Ming Di listened with a mix of sighs and tsks. Not to mention ordinary people, even he felt a sense of longing. The fact that those who had died in battle could be resurrected in Tai Gu Hong Huang truly upended all understanding. And that unknown realm—it was just too bizarre.

"Each of you, guard your posts and stay vigilant."

Dao Zu's divine sense spread across Zhu Tian, addressed to the newly arrived emperors.

Without needing his words, the emperors had already divided their tasks.

Previously, the three emperors had each guarded one realm. Now, with a much larger lineup, they had divided the three realms into several major territories, assigning a Da Di to each. They didn't need to worry about anything else—just keep an eye on the Qing Tian Mo Zhu. Whenever one appeared, destroy it immediately. Guarding the home front didn't get more straightforward than that.

"As solid as a fortress."

The people felt greatly reassured. One emperor might not hold the line, but with so many, what was there to fear?

"Quick, quick, keep up."

Not long after, figures gathered from the Tian Huang direction, including men and women of all ages, all at the peak of Zhun Di. With the Da Di returning, the divine generals were naturally setting off for Tai Gu Hong Huang—it was only polite to reciprocate.

In addition to the Zhun Di divine generals, there was also one Da Di.

It was the Dong Huang Female Emperor, who was heading to Tai Gu Hong Huang.

Ming Di and Dao Zu were not surprised by this—it was the Female Emperor's own intention.

Earlier, the Female Emperor's Dao body had returned to Zhu Tian. Besides instructing the three realms to search for the Dun Jia Tian Zi, she had also modified the Ming Ming Great Array, shifting the array foundations that the Dong Huang Female Emperor had been supporting onto other supreme beings. This was now shared among the nine Da Di—a change that Dao Zu and Ming Di had witnessed firsthand.

Only now had the transfer of the array foundations been completed.

As for why they were sending the Dong Huang Female Emperor to Tai Gu Hong Huang, the implication was easy to guess—it must be due to her bloodline. As a successor of the Yao Chi Immortal Body, she had ties to the Sheng Ti and thus to the Heavenly Dao.

Exactly what the connection was remained unknown for now.

Accompanied by a thunderous boom, the Dong Huang Female Emperor forcibly opened the gateway to Tai Gu Hong Huang and led the divine generals inside.

"Is this the Tai Gu Road?"

"Not yet—it's just a passage connecting to the Tai Gu Road."

"What a strange power."

Discussions abounded, much like with the previous two batches of divine generals. The current ones were also full of curiosity.

Not just them—even Yao Chi felt the same; it was her first time here.

Only after crossing the passage did they reach the true Tai Gu Road, which had now been fully connected. It was a glowing path, full of bizarre phenomena, with laws intertwining and shooting through the air. Even the Dong Huang Female Emperor was shocked as she looked on, marveling at the Tian Ting Female Emperor's immense divine abilities—for her to forge a road connecting the upper and lower eras.

"Jiu Niang, are we there yet?"

Ye Ling was there too, placed in a bronze furnace. She poked her head out, half of it visible.

"Almost."

Ji Ning Shuang smiled gently, like a dreamlike imperial light streaking across the Tai Gu Road's sky. The road was now complete, with no outer domains blocking the way and no need for further connections. At the peak of Da Di, her speed was extreme.

But everyone knew the price paid to connect this road—the lives of countless beings. The first batch of divine generals, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, had seen many fall in battle, buried not in Zhu Tian but here.

The journey went smoothly.

Upon reaching Tai Gu Hong Huang, Yao Chi released the divine generals, while she herself instantly manifested at Yu Nu Peak.

"Mother."

Ye Fan had awakened, and the moment he saw Ji Ning Shuang, his eyes filled with hot tears.

One death, one life—it was like a dream.

The bloody battles of the past were still vivid in his mind, and during the Di Jie, his mother had fought fiercely, bathed in blood.

"Child."

Ji Ning Shuang sobbed uncontrollably. What was a supreme being? She was still human, still a mother. She could never forget the pain of seeing Ye Fan die in Ye Chen's arms—it tore at her heart.

"My father is the greatest war god."

"My mother will be the most stunning female emperor."

"The fortunes of Zhu Tian will endure forever."

Ye Fan's final words were etched clearly in her memory, like a brand on her soul.

The women watching were also in tears.

Ye Ling cried the hardest, her face streaked with tears, her vision blurred by mist, which also blurred her memories. A certain guilt was branded on her soul too—it was she who had killed the person Ye Fan loved most.

The scene at Yu Nu Peak evoked deep emotion.

Whether the new or old divine generals, they all held Ye Chen's family in awe and gratitude.

This had long become an obsession.

That year, during the outer domain invasion, it was Ye Fan's sacrifice, the Sheng Ti's solo battle against nine emperors, and Yao Chi and the Female Emperor's efforts to turn the tide. Without the Sheng Ti family, the three realms—heaven, earth, and humanity—would likely have become mere historical dust.

"The Dong Huang Female Emperor is truly extraordinary."

Dong Hua Female Emperor smiled, feeling quite pleased with the little girl who had broken her myth.

"Her life with Ye Chen is nothing short of legendary."

Long Ye laughed. He had basically witnessed the entanglements of their love and fate, from seeing Ye Chen expelled from Zheng Yang Sect to witnessing the three sects' great competition. What followed was beyond his expectations.

The past was too bitter; better to let bygones be bygones.

Who would have thought that, by some twist of fate, a little Ye Fan would come along, with the help of those mischievous spirits playing their part.

Right or wrong, it didn't matter anymore.

What mattered was that the family of three was reunited, bringing this ancient bond to a perfect close.

"Is that the Female Emperor's child?"

"Yes, they say her name is Ye Ling—a little troublemaker who truly takes after Ye Chen."

"Don't say it, those big eyes really resemble the Female Emperor's."

The successive supreme beings guarding the array chattered away.

Compared to the Dong Huang Female Emperor, they were even more interested in the Sheng Ti family's little Ye Ling.

Meanwhile, Shen Zun had already descended to the mountain peak.

This fellow looked quite composed, hands clasped behind his back as he sized up Ye Ling. By his sister's reckoning, this little girl should be his niece. Looking at her pretty face, it was just like his sister's in the past.

"Do you know who I am?"

Shen Zun smiled warmly. He disliked Ye Chen, but he couldn't help liking Ye Ling.

Ye Ling shook her head, unaware of his background, only knowing that he was terrifyingly strong.

"Your mother is my sister."

Shen Zun said with a smile.

Ye Ling's eyes darted around, and she tilted her head up, tentatively asking,

"Big uncle?"

"Yes, what a good child."

Shen Zun laughed, the title "big uncle" making him feel thoroughly pleased.

In high spirits, he was naturally generous. He didn't bother with Zhun Di weapons; instead, he casually offered a Da Di artifact—a palm-sized lotus platform. If imprinted into the divine sea, it could protect the primordial spirit and true form.

"How could I accept this?"

Ye Ling said politely, but quickly took it, huffing on the lotus platform and wiping it with her sleeve. Having come to Tai Gu Hong Huang, she had gained a big uncle, and one who was incredibly generous at that.

"Perfect."

Shen Zun took a deep breath, feeling more than content.

Truth be told, Ye Ling's way of handling treasures—huffing and wiping—was exactly like Ye Chen's.

If it wasn't inherited, no one would believe it.

As fellow juniors, if Ye Ling got something, so did Ye Fan.

It was another Da Di artifact, with ultimate divine principles weaving together.

"How come we don't have a big uncle like that!"

Xie Yun sighed, and Si Tu Nan clicked his tongue. Handing out Da Di artifacts so freely—who wouldn't envy that?

"Someday when you have time, come visit your uncle's place."

Shen Zun left those words and vanished in an instant. With a niece now, he couldn't stop saying "uncle."

Before leaving, he glanced at the Dong Huang Female Emperor.

In that moment, his brows furrowed slightly. From Yao Chi, he detected a trace of aura not belonging to this universe. No need to ask—he knew this little Female Emperor had once been to another universe.

This might be another reason his sister had sent her to Tai Gu Hong Huang. Across the upper and lower eras, Ji Ning Shuang was likely the only one who had gone to another universe and returned alive.

In the past, many had tried, but whether they succeeded was unknown—they never came back.

So, Ren Wang was impressive! Back when he was at Zhun Di, he could send Ji Ning Shuang out of this universe. Even Ren Huang was astonished and didn't know how his remnant soul had managed it.

"This is getting complicated."

Ren Wang stroked his beard, full of an air of sophistication. In an era that valued appearances, technical skills were also key.

With that interlude over, Tai Gu Hong Huang returned to tranquility.

The newly arrived divine generals were like country bumpkins, looking around as they went. Seeing the successive supreme beings, they were filled with awe and trepidation—these were legendary emperors, and meeting them was a tremendous honor.

Boom! Rumbling!

Three days later, a thunderous boom echoed through Tai Gu Hong Huang as the Di Jie manifested once more.

It was Ye Fan's.

He could have crossed the tribulation on the day he fused with the Tian Zi, but Ye Chen had forcibly sealed it. Now, the seal was lifted.

In mere moments, another boom resounded.

It was still a Di Jie, but this time, it was the genuine ultimate heavenly emperor tribulation.

This one belonged to the Dong Huang Female Emperor.

Already at the peak of Da Di and cultivating the Dao of Dreams, where a dream could last from a hundred to a thousand years, it was an absolute divine skill for her. In dreams, she comprehended the Dao and had long reached a bottleneck. If not for the risk of attracting outer domain attacks by crossing in Zhu Tian, she would have advanced ages ago. Thus, she chose Tai Gu Hong Huang.

"Clearly only a few thousand years old, but her Dao aura traces suggest at least eighty thousand years."

"The Dao of Dreams is a good thing—enlightenments in dreams can be brought to reality."

"Compared to that one, you're still a bit short."

The emperors chatted away, sighing and marveling, while also referencing Meng Hui Da Di. Besides the Dong Huang Female Emperor, Meng Hui Da Di was the only other emperor present who cultivated the Dao of Dreams.

Meng Hui Da Di smiled contentedly—the emperors of later eras were truly extraordinary.

Boom! Rumbling!

The booms continued endlessly. After the Dong Huang Female Emperor, the illusory realm also echoed with the Di Jie's roar.

Evidently, it was Ye Tian Di.

Since entering the illusory realm, about twenty days had passed in the outside world, but by its internal time, it was over two thousand years. He had spent two thousand years comprehending the Dao and another two thousand settling his aura, finally achieving a breakthrough.

"This family must be here to show off their Di Jie."

Yan Yu Tian Di said with a tone of deep meaning.

His words resonated with everyone. First, it was the various wives; now, the whole family was joining in.

"Incredible."

The successive supreme beings sighed.

The youngest Zhun Huang Emperor, the youngest heavenly emperor, the youngest Da Di, and behind them, a youngest Zhun Di youth emperor—they had cornered the market on the four major realms.

If you counted the Tian Ting Female Emperor, that made five.

So, this family was not to be messed with carelessly—one misstep, and you'd be ganged up on.

PS: Two chapters today.

(May 15, 2020)

Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement!!!