Chapter 668: Dust of the Mortal World

Everyone emerged from the Di Gong as dawn broke.

There were twenty-one Zhun Tian Jing experts in total: Di Zun Zhong Kui, Yan Zun Zhong Jiang, Lei Zun Zhong Li, Tian Zong Lao Zu, Su Jia Lao Zu, Chu Ling Yu, Gu San Tong, Wu Ya Dao Ren, Hong Luan, Feng Zhi, Jing Jiang, Bai Yi, Hei Pao, Long Yi, Xiong Jia Lao Zu, Si Tu Jia Lao Zu, and Ye Chen’s five Zhun Tian Jing Yin Ming Death Generals.

Behind them were Yang Ding Tian, Feng Wu Hen, Dao Xuan Zhen Ren, Xiao Feng, Pang Da Chuan, Murong Miao Xin, Dong Fang Yu Ling, and Xiao Dao Shan.

In addition, there were many strong experts from Yan Huang, all at the peak of Kong Ming Jing.

“Go!”

With Tian Zong Lao Zu’s command, the group entered the teleportation array in Qian Qiu Gu Cheng. Their formation was immensely powerful, heading directly for Heng Yue Zong.

Their plan was to infiltrate Heng Yue Zong and lie low, waiting for Ye Chen to obtain the token. Then, they would launch a swift and decisive attack to control the high-level members, open the void teleportation array at Heng Yue Zong's main base to allow the Yan Huang army to enter, and thus seize control of the entire sect. This was the strategy of internal and external cooperation.

Perhaps such a massive lineup was excessive for the task.

However, to ensure complete success, minimize unnecessary casualties, and prevent any leaks, this level of force was essential.

After all, Heng Yue Zong was one of the three major sects in Nan Chu. Although not as strong as Zheng Yang Zong, it still possessed numerous powerful experts. To guarantee absolute safety, they needed to commit their full strength.

Moreover, this could escalate into a full-scale war, where anything might happen. Even with twenty-one Zhun Tian Jing experts, it might still be insufficient against a sect's army of cultivators.

At that moment, only two people remained in the Di Gong: Ye Chen and Hong Chen Xue.

Hong Chen Xue stayed behind to oversee Qian Qiu Gu Cheng. She was in control of Yan Huang’s entire intelligence network, and although she wouldn't participate in the battle, she would direct the overall strategy, guiding Tian Zong Lao Zu and the others at every turn.

As for Ye Chen, he was waiting for Tian Zong Lao Zu and the others to infiltrate Heng Yue Zong before issuing his challenge to Yin Zhi Ping.

“You could totally use a Dao Shen to fight Yin Zhi Ping in your place.” Hong Chen Xue said as she put away the map with a flip of her hand and looked at Ye Chen. “As the commander of the three armies, putting yourself at risk is a major taboo in warfare.”

“Don’t underestimate Yin Zhi Ping.” Ye Chen smiled leisurely. “He has the soul of the Tai Xu Ancient Dragon inside him. He can tell the difference between my Dao Shen and my true body.”

“It seems you know your opponent well.”

“I’m the only one who’s fought him twice and lived to tell the tale, so I have some understanding.”

“Then, have you thought about your escape route? This isn’t a joke. Without heavenly tribulation to back you up, you’re always in danger of dying.” Hong Chen Xue looked at Ye Chen, a hint of worry flashing in her beautiful eyes.

And every time she saw Ye Chen's face, she felt a momentary daze, as if she were looking at her former master, Hong Chen.

“Did I hear that right? Are you worried about me?” Ye Chen’s playful voice rang out as Hong Chen Xue lost her focus for a second.

“Who has the time to worry about you?” She quickly averted her gaze, her thoughts interrupted. “If you die after bringing us to Nan Chu, who’s going to lead Yan Huang? I don’t want it to fall back into chaos because of your death.”

“Then maybe I was overthinking it.” Ye Chen shrugged, found a comfortable spot to sit, and pulled out a wine flask. “Hey, since we have some free time, could you tell me about your master?”

“He was a peerless hero.” Hong Chen Xue took a deep breath, her eyes filled with nostalgia, occasionally flickering with pain. As she thought about it, she became lost in her memories.

“I’m also a peerless hero!” Ye Chen straightened his clothes.

“You?” Hong Chen Xue turned her head and sized up Ye Chen, her expression clearly saying: You’re more like a peerless scoundrel, and you’d be the undisputed champion.

“Hey, what’s with that look?” Ye Chen’s mouth twitched.

“The look is just that. You know what I mean.” Hong Chen Xue shrugged.

“Enough with the nonsense. Tell me about your master’s Six Paths Xian Lun Yan. Where did it come from?”

“I don’t know.” Hong Chen Xue shook her head lightly. “He already had the Six Paths Xian Lun Yan when he took us as disciples. His identity was very mysterious, and none of us knew where his Xian Lun Yan came from.”

“Have you ever seen your master use Xian Lun Tian Zhao?” Ye Chen asked hastily. “You know, like the black flames I use with my left Xian Lun Yan.”

“No, I haven’t.” Hong Chen Xue shook her head again.

“Then you must know something about your master’s Xian Lun Yan abilities!” Ye Chen pressed on, hoping to piece together some clues about Hong Chen’s origins from her answers.

“My master’s Xian Lun Yan abilities…” Hong Chen Xue thought for a moment, then spoke after three to five seconds. “His Xian Lun Yan has sealing capabilities, and it’s an extremely powerful sealing technique. Once, a Taishang Lao Zu from Shi Xue Dian was hit by it and was directly sealed.”

“A sealing ability—Xian Lun Tian Jin, maybe?” Ye Chen murmured.

“Besides that, it’s also an incredibly strong illusion technique.” Hong Chen Xue continued. “Anyone who knew about my master never dared to look into his eyes, because in an instant, they could be pulled into an endless illusion realm. Once, a family patriarch fell victim to my master’s illusion and was trapped for three whole years. When he finally woke up, his cultivation was completely dispelled.”

“Xian Lun Tian Huan.” Ye Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.

After three to five seconds, he looked at Hong Chen Xue. “Was your master versed in many secret techniques?”

“Of course.” Hong Chen Xue said with certainty, her face full of reverence. “In my memory, my master knew everything—anything you could think of or couldn’t think of, he could do.”

At that, Hong Chen Xue glanced at Ye Chen with interest. “In this way, you and my master are quite similar. His talent was otherworldly; he could learn any divine ability just by seeing it once.”

Now, Ye Chen’s eyes narrowed even more, a deep light flashing in them. The abilities Hong Chen Xue described were exactly the replication and deduction capabilities of the Six Paths Xian Lun Yan.

In that instant, Ye Chen suddenly had a strange feeling—that his left Xian Lun Yan and Hong Chen’s right Xian Lun Yan were a pair.

But the timelines didn’t match up.

His left Xian Lun Yan came from Jiang Tai Xu, and Jiang Tai Xu’s right Xian Lun Yan had been taken five thousand years ago. At that time, Hong Chen clearly hadn’t been born yet, so there was a gap of several thousand years.

Wait!

Ye Chen seemed to think of something, a flash of insight in his eyes. “Could Hong Chen’s Xian Lun Yan have come from the person who took Jiang Tai Xu’s right eye?”

In a flash, Ye Chen had an epiphany, feeling that this guess made perfect sense.

If that were the case, everything would add up.

If so, his left Xian Lun Yan and Hong Chen’s right Xian Lun Yan were both from Jiang Tai Xu’s Six Paths Xian Lun Yan.

“Have I uncovered a shocking secret?” Ye Chen thought, his face changing slightly.

“In his later years, my master became very strange.” Hong Chen Xue continued from the side. “He often talked to himself, muttering incoherently, and sometimes fell into states of forgetfulness. At times, he wouldn’t even recognize me or my senior brothers.”

“And then?” Ye Chen stared straight at Hong Chen Xue. He had heard about Hong Chen’s muttering from Zhong Jiang before, but from Hong Chen Xue’s expression, she seemed to know more.

“Ruo Xi.” Hong Chen Xue uttered those two words—or more precisely, a person’s name.

“Ruo Xi?” Ye Chen raised an eyebrow and looked at Hong Chen Xue probingly. “Who is she?”