Chapter 927: Layers of Mist

In Yunruo Valley, a scene of tranquil peace unfolded.

Amidst the scattered snow and fallen peach blossoms on the ground, Ye Chen lay in a deep slumber.

However, his sleep was far from peaceful. His face was slightly pale, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his expression conveyed an indescribable pain, as if he were trapped in a nightmare. This caused his body to tremble uncontrollably.

When the Tianmo Chong Qisha occurs, it will be the time for the immortals to war against the heavens!

Suddenly, those words echoed in his ears once more, like a haunting curse that entangled him and muddled his mind.

Kill!

In his torment, he seemed to hear thunderous battle cries. Each roar was filled with desperate hysteria, each bellow like crashing thunder, shaking his cultivation and resolve so severely that his ears nearly went deaf.

In the haze, he caught glimpses of that illusory and vast Xianxu Realm.

Gods and demons clashed across the skies. Countless beings fell in blood-soaked battles, only for more to charge into the heavens, wave after wave, in a scene of unimaginable carnage, staining the vast world red with blood.

Once again, he saw that crystalline jade hand, covering the sky as it descended from the void of the nine heavens. It shattered the firmament and collapsed the earth in a cataclysmic force, turning all life in its path to ash.

On the ground below, multitudes roared, whether gods, immortals, or demons. All unleashed their supreme divine powers in an instant to halt the descending jade hand.

Yet, the hand was overwhelmingly powerful. The hordes in the sky had not even truly reached the heavens before they were crushed into blood mist by its immense pressure. Their bodies shattered and souls extinguished, vanishing completely as the vast world transformed into a bloody hell.

The heavens and earth fell silent, a dead calm settling in.

He saw that blood-drenched figure once more, clad in tattered armor and gripping a broken spear, staggering forward.

Kill Ruoxi!

Kill Ruoxi!

The figure's eyes were filled with bloody tears, his voice hoarse and aged, laced with grief, sorrow, and desperation.

Uh...!

In his sleep, Ye Chen clutched his head and let out a pained groan, feeling as though his skull might split apart.

Mother! Mother!

Suddenly, he seemed to hear that childish cry.

Ruoxi!

In his subconscious, he recognized the voice. His eyes snapped open as he bolted upright from the snow.

Before him, in the swirling snowflakes, he spotted the small, delicate figure struggling to shake the sleeping Chu Xuan'er beside her.

Xuan'er!

Ye Chen quickly got up and dashed over in a single step.

Chu Xuan'er slept soundly, showing no sign of waking despite Ruoxi's calls.

Ye Chen's face darkened with worry. He placed a finger on Chu Xuan'er's forehead, well aware of how formidable Hongchen was. Chu Xuan'er might not even withstand a single move from him. Now, with her lying here unconscious, something must have gone wrong.

After a few seconds, he slowly withdrew his finger and let out a heavy sigh of relief. Chu Xuan'er was merely unconscious with no injuries, which puzzled him greatly. Why hadn't Hongchen harmed her?

Big brother!

The little girl was terrified and burrowed into Ye Chen's arms.

Don't be afraid!

Ye Chen comforted the child while scanning their surroundings. All he could see were swirling snowflakes and scattered peach blossoms. There was no trace of Hongchen, nor any signs of a fight.

Has she left?

Ye Chen murmured to himself, but his brows furrowed tightly.

Thinking of Hongchen made his entire body break out in cold sweat.

Even facing millions of cultivators, he had never felt fear, but when confronting Hongchen, terror gripped him.

Hongchen was unimaginably powerful, instilling a deep dread in his soul. Even now, recalling the image of her finger piercing his forehead, his body shuddered involuntarily, for he had truly felt the embrace of death.

He had no idea why Hongchen had departed or what had transpired in Yunruo Valley after he lost consciousness.

The events of this night were too bizarre. The legendary Hongchen had reappeared, her power enough to make one's soul tremble, yet her sole purpose here was to kill an ordinary little girl.

Speaking of Ruoxi, he glanced down at the child in his arms.

Once again, his eyes narrowed slightly as he examined her life essence, confirming she was indeed just an ordinary mortal.

"Hongchen, she's clearly only a mortal. What could your motive be for killing her?" Ye Chen muttered to himself.

Inevitably, his thoughts turned to the earlier nightmare, where the words "Kill Ruoxi" lingered in his mind. Hongchen wanted to kill Ruoxi, and so did that mysterious figure. Who exactly was Ruoxi?

He wasn't certain if this was the same Ruoxi from his vision, but it was likely not, for this one was truly just a mortal.

"That's not right." As he pondered, Ye Chen seemed to recall something.

"I don't have the Xianlun Eye, and I haven't entered the Xianxu Realm, so why could I see those bloody visions from there?" He frowned and whispered, "And what is Tianmo Chong Qisha?"

Many secrets surrounding Hongchen remained unsolved, and that strange nightmare along with those elusive words only added more layers of fog to his thoughts, leaving him without a single clue.

Cough, cough!

While Ye Chen was deep in thought, Chu Xuan'er coughed twice beside him and sat up, rubbing her forehead. She looked around in confusion before turning to Ye Chen. "How did I end up sleeping here?"

Hearing this, Ye Chen instinctively examined Chu Xuan'er from head to toe. Seeing she wasn't lying, he furrowed his brows slightly and thought to himself, "Could it be that Xuan'er didn't encounter Hongchen? Then why did she faint here?"

"How strange." Chu Xuan'er murmured while still rubbing her forehead.

"This doesn't make sense." Ye Chen stroked his chin, continuing to scrutinize her.

"What... what are you looking at me like that?" Chu Xuan'er felt uncomfortable under his gaze, sensing something off about his eyes, and instinctively covered her chest.

"N-nothing." Ye Chen cleared his throat awkwardly and decided not to mention the night's events. Since Chu Xuan'er seemed unaware of Hongchen, he wouldn't bring it up. After all, he hadn't figured things out himself, let alone explain them to her.

"Tell me, did you carry me out here?"

Chu Xuan'er reached out and pinched Ye Chen's arm hard.

"Hey, stop that. I'm a gentleman, you know."

"As if I'd believe you." Chu Xuan'er shot him a sidelong glance, then quickly snatched little Ruoxi from his arms. She gently stroked the child's plump, rosy cheeks, utterly fond of her, so much so that anyone might think the child was hers.

"You know, we could have one of our own."

"In your dreams." Chu Xuan'er glanced at him dismissively, hugged Ruoxi, and turned to leave. "Let's go, time to head home."

"I was so focused on Hongchen earlier that I wasted a perfect opportunity." Ye Chen stroked his chin as he followed, muttering under his breath, "If I'd made a move just now, would she have strangled me when she woke up?"