Chapter 3131: Family

It became quiet. Hui Mie Mo Zun was suppressed, the heterospace quieted down, and the entire world fell silent. Even the flowers and grass seemed much more vibrant.

"So strong."

Ruo Shui's mouth was slightly agape, her expression stunned. She knew all too well how powerful Hui Mie Mo Zun was, yet in front of Ye Chen, he hadn't stirred up even a ripple. From start to finish, he had no power to fight back and was utterly dominated. What was even more embarrassing was that Ye Chen was still under restraints—if he were in his normal state, a single palm strike would have sufficed to suppress him. Such combat prowess and foundation were absolutely not inferior to her master. The awkward part was that this mighty figure who shook the universe was someone she had never even heard of. It truly lived up to the old saying: the immortal and divine realms were full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with far too many formidable experts.

Bang!

Ye Chen had descended, and Hui Mie Mo Zun came down with him, casually tossed onto the ground. Bound hand and foot, he made quite a sight. Looking at his demeanor, regret didn't even begin to describe it. The villain dies from talking too much—he was a classic example. He should have struck early and escaped early, or at least brought some allies before coming. Now, things had turned out badly; he'd be walking the Huang Quan road alone. His greed to claim the spoils for himself and monopolize Ruo Shui had come at a terrible price—he hadn't seized the opportunity but had invited his own demise instead.

What a relief!

For some reason, the supreme beings in the cauldron all felt quite pleased. Seeing another supreme being captured brought them a sense of balance. No wrongdoing, no death.

"Thank you, senior, for saving me."

Ruo Shui broke free from her seals and stepped forward, cupping her hands in respect.

"We're family."

Ye Chen waved it off. As Zhao Yun's disciple, she was practically family! As for the thanks, he'd take it as a favor and count it toward Zhao Yun.

"Family?"

Ruo Shui looked puzzled, her expression a bit blank.

Let her stay blank.

Ye Chen didn't answer. With a light wave of his hand, he seized Hui Mie Mo Zun, refined him into yuan shen power, and infused it into Ruo Shui's body to rebuild her physical form. Poor Hui Mie Mo Zun—one wrong move and the whole game was lost. He hadn't gotten to enjoy the spoils of the gods; instead, he became nourishment for someone else, body destroyed and spirit extinguished.

"May I ask, senior..."

Ruo Shui spoke softly, her tone probing. Using a supreme being's yuan shen to rebuild her body—that wasn't something just anyone would do.

"I and your master are sworn brothers."

Ye Chen pulled out the prepared excuse. He and Zhao Yun shared a genuine bond of true affection.

Ruo Shui looked even more confused. She'd never heard her master mention anything like this. Suddenly having a sworn brother—who was he, a martial uncle or something? The situation was completely unexpected.

Her confusion gradually faded.

Then came more surprise. Indeed, all of her master's friends were no ordinary people. First, there was the heroic Xiu Luo Tian Zun, and now another peerless god of war.

"How many wives does your master have?"

Ye Chen sat down and pulled out a wine flask. Though he was short and his voice youthful, he was full of curiosity.

"Two."

Ruo Shui replied, giving Ye Chen another glance. Was he really sworn brothers? He didn't even know that?

"When it comes to wives, I've got more."

Ye Chen laughed happily, feeling utterly content, and straightened his back with pride.

It was a good thing Zhao Yun wasn't there; if he were, he'd probably give Ye Chen a sideways glance. In terms of the number of wives, across the two universes, no one seemed to outdo him. Who knew how many cabbages he'd snatched.

Ruo Shui coughed awkwardly, not understanding why Ye Chen was laughing so joyfully. Was this really that funny?

"Have you seen her?"

After the amusement, Ye Chen waved his hand and brought out Ji Ning Shuang's scroll.

"My master's wife."

"Come here."

Ye Chen raised his small hand, his face darkening. This was his wife—who said she was your master's wife? Good thing Ruo Shui was a girl; if it were a boy, he'd beat him to tears.

"The Yue Shen master's wife told me from a young age that anyone beautiful is my master's wife."

Ruo Shui also sat down.

"There's a flaw in that statement."

Ye Chen took a deep breath, glanced at his inner world, and looked at that jade seal.

When they met, he had to crack a walnut for the Yue Shen to eat. Zhao Yun was decently serious, so how did she end up so playful?

When he looked back, he examined Ruo Shui again. As disciples went, she seemed quite different from his own Xi Yan. She looked a bit dull no matter how you saw it, but her demeanor was somewhat like Ji Ning Shuang's—bookish and a tad naive.

"I've seen her, many years ago."

Ruo Shui held the scroll, examining it closely.

That was fine, but the way she looked at it, she seemed to be gazing at her own master's wife.

"Since it's our first meeting, I don't have much to give."

"Take these and keep them safe."

Ye Chen produced four storage bags, all filled with specialties from Da Chu. One was for Zhao Yun, one for the Yue Shen, one for Di Xian, and the last one, naturally, for Ruo Shui.

It was a rare trip, so he might as well take everything in one go.

After that, he casually put away Ji Ning Shuang's scroll. Looking at Ruo Shui, she really seemed to treat her as her master's wife. Get it straight—this is my wife.

"Thank you, senior."

Ruo Shui didn't stand on ceremony. She understood Ye Chen's intention—the four storage bags were clearly divided: one for her master, two for his wives, and one for her. Perfect.

"Xiao Jiu, where have you run off to?"

Ye Chen hugged his wine flask and muttered to himself. He'd asked so many supreme beings, and none had seen Ji Ning Shuang. It was strange—she was clearly still alive, so why couldn't he find her?

"Senior, what about your restraints?"

Ruo Shui put away the storage bag and looked at Ye Chen. With her insight, she could see the state of his body. Though she didn't know why he'd regressed to a childlike form, the restraints on him were clearly extremely domineering, even beyond his ability to break.

"You should heal first."

Ye Chen took a swig of wine, waiting for Ruo Shui to recover. He'd need to borrow her principles to break his own restraints.

Ruo Shui was obedient and immediately sat cross-legged, then closed her eyes, as still as an ice sculpture.

For a moment, Ye Chen suddenly turned his gaze, looking at Ruo Shui with unusually deep eyes. This young girl wasn't as simple as she seemed. Her bloodline was extraordinary, innately carrying a strange principle that even he couldn't fully see through. Beyond that, there was an ancient power hidden within, just not yet unsealed.

"She has undergone reincarnation."

Ye Chen murmured lightly, pondering for a moment before looking toward the vast sky, his brows slightly furrowed and eyes narrowed.

Did this universe also have the concept of reincarnation?

Looking at Ruo Shui, her previous life must have been no ordinary thing—perhaps even a peerless god. The innate principles she carried and the hidden power in her body were likely connected to her past life. From this perspective, it wasn't surprising that Xi Yan fell short of her in cultivation; her origins were truly frightening.

"How beautiful, truly beautiful."

The little old man emerged from the inner world, along with Shen Yun Suan Yuan. The two circled around Ruo Shui, turning back and forth.

Ye Chen looked at them sideways. They seemed to be of the same generation as Ruo Shui, both already at the Tian Di level, while these two were still lingering at the quasi-di stage.

But as he watched, both Shen Yun Suan Yuan and the little old man showed signs of breakthrough. Their dao essence had settled enough, and their cultivation was sufficient—they could advance in an instant.

"They sure know how to pick the time."

Ye Chen grumbled, raising his hand to summon the Zhou Tian formation, turning it into two chains of order that he inscribed into their bodies, sealing their cultivations. Advancing was one thing, but it would trigger heavenly tribulations and anomalies, drawing other supreme beings. In his current awkward state, he couldn't protect them; attempting to transcend the tribulation would mean death.

"We've finally waited for this."

The two of them were overjoyed. Being sealed didn't matter; once the timing was right, they could break through on the spot and step into the realm of gods.

Sometime later, Ruo Shui awoke.

Having fully integrated Hui Mie Mo Zun's yuan shen, her injuries were completely healed. Her aura was vast and majestic, enveloped in immortal haze, like a dream or an illusion. She was like a fairy stepping out of a painting, with strands of her hair dyed in worldly immortal splendor. Her principles were one external and one internal, both echoing with the sounds of the great dao. Beyond that, ancient visions appeared, showing a phoenix reborn from flames within her. In Ye Chen's view, it must be related to Ruo Shui's past life—perhaps she had once been a phoenix.