Chapter 787: Still Not Admitting It?

After throwing the four despicable individuals away, Ye Chen dusted off his hands.

Yet, the atmosphere at the scene remained awkward, especially with that massive ten-zhang iron bed looming before them, impossible to ignore.

"This bed is quite nice." Luo Xi had wiped away her tears and even patted the iron bed as she spoke, then turned to Ye Chen with her eyes curving into crescents. "Ye Chen, can I sleep with you tonight?"

"I... I'm used to sleeping alone." Ye Chen cleared his throat.

"That wouldn't be fun. It's much more lively together." Luo Xi blinked her eyes and giggled. "And with Xuan Nu jie-jie, Bi You jie-jie, Yu'er jie-jie, and Han Yue jie-jie... mmph."

Luo Xi's words were cut off as Xuan Nu covered her mouth from behind. The little girl truly had a talent for saying shocking things. Not just Xuan Nu, Bi You, and Shangguan Han Yue, but even the usually mischievous Shangguan Yu'er blushed. So many people on one bed? That would be lively indeed.

"And me." Xi Yan jumped in to join the fun, giggling as she glanced at Chu Ling'er. "And Chu Ling shizu."

"Xi Yan, you're getting out of hand." Chu Ling'er was caught off guard, her face burning as she headed toward Yu Nu Ge. Before leaving, she shot Ye Chen a fierce glare.

"It wasn't even me who said it." Ye Chen tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Still not admitting it? That's exactly what you're thinking." Shangguan Yu'er shot Ye Chen a sharp look.

"Nonsense, I'm very devoted."

"As if I'd believe you."

"Hmph, believe it or not." Ye Chen shrugged it off, sensing the strange atmosphere, and quickly changed the subject, turning to Bi You. "How is your father's condition?"

"He's in seclusion." Bi You spoke softly, though the blush on her cheeks lingered.

"Father?" At the word, everyone's gazes focused on Bi You.

"Bi You jie-jie, are you also a princess from the mortal world?" Xi Yan blinked her eyes in surprise as she looked at Bi You.

"Her father is the legendary Dao Huang." Seeing everyone's confusion, Ye Chen answered for Bi You.

His words instantly changed how everyone looked at Bi You, their eyes shifting with newfound respect. Without Ye Chen saying it, they might not have known this secret for who knows how long.

"Father once said it's just an empty title." Facing the crowd's astonished gazes, Bi You smiled faintly.

"That's no empty title." Shangguan Yu'er sighed in admiration. "I've known you for so long, Bi You jie-jie, and I had no idea your father was Dao Huang. What a shock!"

"It's not too late to know now."

"Since we're all here, let me help you open your Dan Hai and Shen Hai!" While Bi You and Shangguan Yu'er were talking, Ye Chen had already summoned his Xian Huo Dao Shen, Tian Lei Dao Shen, and Dan Zu Long Hun, targeting Xuan Nu and Luo Xi.

"You can force open Dan Hai and Shen Hai?" Xuan Nu and Luo Xi both froze.

"Anything is possible." Ye Chen smiled. "Sit down and guard your minds. It might be painful."

Though they looked skeptical, Luo Xi and Xuan Nu sat down cross-legged on the spot. They each took a breath and gently closed their eyes, their minds growing calm.

Immediately, Dan Zu Long Hun, Xian Huo Dao Shen, and Tian Lei Dao Shen stepped forward, each unleashing their divine abilities. Pain appeared on Xuan Nu and Luo Xi's faces, their complexions turning pale in an instant.

Glancing at Xuan Nu and Luo Xi, Ye Chen turned his attention to Shangguan Han Yue and Bi You. "You both carry special bloodlines, so stay at Heng Yue Zong for now. It's best not to go out."

"That's also why Father asked me to come to Heng Yue with Yu'er." Shangguan Han Yue said softly.

"You're right; Heng Yue Zong is safer than the Shangguan family." Ye Chen chuckled.

"If not for Uncle Dugu always guarding me, I probably would have been captured long ago." Bi You revealed a secret. "I can clearly sense that some unknown force is watching me—or more precisely, my special bloodline. They're just holding back because of Uncle Dugu Ao's strength."

"Be careful." Ye Chen took a deep breath, thinking of Ji Ning Shuang's experience. For certain purposes, the Wang had even dared to touch the Sheng Nu of Zheng Yang Zong—what wouldn't he do?

And that was just one Wang. Add in the blood clan experts who had targeted Shangguan Han Yue before, and now what Bi You mentioned—it was clear that Da Chu had more than one ancient force collecting special bloodlines. Though their goals were still unknown, anyone could guess it wasn't anything good.

"For the upcoming Qing Yun Zong battle, I hope we can participate." Shangguan Han Yue looked at Ye Chen expectantly.

"Even if you didn't say it, I'd let you join." Ye Chen shrugged casually. "You're all top-tier prodigies. How can you grow without the tempering of war?"

Pop! Pop!

As they spoke, Xuan Nu and Luo Xi successively had their Dan Hai opened, and their cultivations advanced to the first level of Kong Ming Jing.

Opening Shen Hai would take longer, as it involved the soul, so Dan Zu Long Hun didn't dare rush it. After all, they weren't like Chu Ling'er.

"It'll take a while." Ye Chen glanced at Luo Xi and Xuan Nu one last time, then leaped onto the Hui Xin Stone and sat cross-legged, slowly closing his eyes.

In the past two days, his cultivation had advanced too quickly, so he needed time to consolidate it. His Chaos Dao was only superficially understood and required further enlightenment. The external pressures left him no room for slack.

The scene fell silent because of his meditation. Luo Xi and Xuan Nu were opening their Shen Hai, while Bi You, Shangguan Yu'er, and Shangguan Han Yue sat bored, each resting their chins in their hands, lost in thought.

As for little Xi Yan, she simply formed a cloud and sat on it, her hands propping up her chin as she blinked her big eyes at Ye Chen.

"That little girl's expression looks a bit odd." Nearby, Shangguan Yu'er remarked curiously.

"She’s Ye Chen's disciple from when he was on a mission in Zhao Guo." Bi You smiled. "Apparently, she's a girl with extremely high talent, higher than anyone I've met. Her future achievements won't be inferior to Ye Chen's."

"This era is truly extraordinary." Shangguan Han Yue took a deep breath, looking at Xi Yan with a meaningful glint in her eyes. "So many special bloodlines, so many geniuses with exceptional talent—this generation is destined to be one of dazzling stars."

As the two chatted, Shangguan Yu'er was thinking about something else: Zhao Guo.

Every time she heard those two words, she couldn't help but recall some embarrassing memories. She and Ye Chen had met in Zhao Guo, and their first encounter had been completely open—no need to elaborate, they hadn't been wearing clothes.

Time passed slowly.

Three hours later, Luo Xi and Xuan Nu awoke, both wearing expressions of joyful surprise. Opening Dan Hai and Shen Hai, plus advancing their cultivation—it was quite a stroke of fortune.

But Ye Chen still hadn't woken up; he remained seated for over a dozen hours.

During this time, experts from Heng Yue Zong, Yan Huang, and the major families flew back and forth, with cultivator armies being secretly mobilized, all aimed at Qing Yun Zong—a systematic encirclement of the Zheng Yang Zong forces was underway.

Eventually, the sky darkened, and the bustling Heng Yue Zong gradually quieted down.

Hm?

On the Hui Xin Stone, the meditating Ye Chen furrowed his brow slightly and slowly opened his eyes, instinctively glancing toward the outside of Heng Yue Zong.

Through the nine layers of the mountain-protecting barrier, he saw a figure in black robes and a black cloak standing there, gazing into Heng Yue Zong. Their eyes met briefly through the void.

"Why did you come back again?" Ye Chen muttered strangely, instinctively standing up and stepping into the air, heading outside.