Chapter 929: A World-Class Feast

"Mother, there are so many people!"

Under the eyes of the crowd, Xiao Ruoxi's childish voice rang out. Her large, curious eyes blinked as she gazed at the dense throng of people.

Chu Xuan'er said nothing and simply turned her head to look at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's expression was a little strange. *Even if they're here to pick me up, do they need such a grand display? The entire Tian Ting army has been mobilized. Those who know will say it's a homecoming welcome, but others might think we're going to war.*

It wasn't an exaggeration. The major powers in Bei Chu had indeed received the news and were still nervously preparing for battle.

"Huh?" Sharp-eyed Xie Yun spotted Xiao Ruoxi in Chu Xuan'er's arms and couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

"In just over ten days, the child has grown this big? That's unbelievable!" Situ Nan exclaimed in amazement, clicking his tongue.

"Everyone, I hope you're all well." Ye Chen casually nodded his head. Before he even had time to smooth his hair, a large hand pulled him aside.

"This little girl is so adorable." The one who yanked Ye Chen away was Man Shan. His eyes, like enormous copper bells, shone brightly as he stared fixedly at Xiao Ruoxi in Chu Xuan'er's arms.

"Come here, let me hold her." He extended his two massive hands. Xiao Ruoxi was smaller than just one of them.

"Hold your sister, you idiot! Don't scare the child!" Wu San Pao kicked him flying, then straightened his collar and stepped forward, only to be pulled aside by Niu Shi San from behind.

"Come on, Grandpa will hold you."

"Look at that little face, so plump and rosy."

"This is awkward." Ye Chen's mouth twitched as he watched hordes of people swarm toward Chu Xuan'er. He realized he was supposed to be the main attraction today.

"Come on, one at a time!" From behind came a loud shout. It was Xiong Er's voice, as he waddled over with his massive body, hurrying along.

Instinctively turning around, Ye Chen was greeted by a massive spiked club hitting him directly in the face.

"Ouch! That stings!"

The mighty Tian Ting Saint Lord was knocked flat on the spot.

What followed was a chaotic scene. A group of rowdy fellows pounced on him, most wielding weapons, pinning him down and beating him mercilessly, their faces contorted in mock anger.

The scene descended into utter confusion. One group surrounded Chu Xuan'er and Xiao Ruoxi, while another laid into Ye Chen. The atmosphere was incredibly heated.

"The people of Tian Ting truly have a fierce way of life." The spies from Bei Chu, who had witnessed this earth-shattering spectacle from afar, had their eyes widened and their mouths twitching repeatedly.

*The Tian Ting Saint Lord, who commands awe across the world and sent hundreds of thousands of cultivators retreating in defeat, is now being pinned down and thrashed by a bunch of ruffians. It's a scene that's both shocking and oddly satisfying.*

"It looks like we overthought this." Someone cleared their throat. "The Tian Ting army is just here to welcome someone back."

"Don't let your guard down," an elder stroked his beard. "We still need to be cautious. This could be a Tian Ting ploy to lull us into complacency. If we're caught off guard, it'll spell disaster."

The commotion gradually subsided under the gaze of the Bei Chu spies.

"Time to head home!"

At someone's bellow, the Tian Ting army marched off, retreating back to Nan Chu.

As for the world-shaking Tian Ting Saint Lord, he was dragged away by Xie Yun and Xiong Er, each grabbing one of his legs. That bunch didn't hold back at all and nearly beat him to death.

Soon, Nan Chu hosted the grandest event since Tian Ting's founding.

From the skies above, the land below was packed with people. The San Zong, Jiu Dian, and Ba Shi Yi Men all set up banquet tables, the rich aroma of wine filling all of Nan Chu. Even the mortal kingdoms in Nan Chu declared truces, with emperors granting amnesties and opening granaries, creating a scene of prosperous peace.

Outside Nan Chu, the Bei Chu spies rotated in shifts.

From a distance, they saw the wide-open city gates, with everyone in Tian Ting off drinking and celebrating, not a soul on the walls.

Yet, the more this was the case, the more uneasy they felt, not daring to act recklessly.

This was the might of Tian Ting—might exclusive to Nan Chu. Even with the gates flung wide and everyone drinking, the forces of Bei Chu still didn't dare advance, for they had been truly terrified by the bloodshed.

"Drink! Drink!"

On Heng Yue Zong's spiritual mountain, Ye Chen hoisted a wine jar, bellowing at the top of his lungs. His face was bruised and swollen as he staggered about, looking quite comical.

Xiong Er and Xie Yun were just as rowdy, a bunch of wild characters outdrinking the old-timers without using any spiritual power to sober up, leaving everyone stunned by their tolerance.

Watching Ye Chen let loose like this, everyone felt as if the Ye Chen of old had returned.

Yet, they all understood without saying it—he was deliberately cutting loose to hide the exhaustion and weariness accumulated over the years.

With his current cultivation, status, and experiences, his mindset had long since changed. But deep down, he still yearned to go back to the past, to be an ordinary disciple free from the burdens on his shoulders and the pains of the mundane world.

"Drink!"

Everyone played along. After so many years, it was rare for them to gather like this, and even cultivators needed to drown their sorrows in wine.

This grand feast lasted a full three days and nights.

On the fourth night, the thoroughly drunk members of Tian Ting finally stumbled away one by one.

Ye Chen was led back to Yu Nu Feng by Chu Xuan'er and Chu Ling'er.

Everyone shared an unspoken understanding—for instance, Zhang Feng Nian had already moved out to live with Zhang Feng Yang; Xi Yan and Hu Wa didn't return to Yu Nu Feng; and Shangguan Yu Er, Luo Xi, and the others were sensible enough not to disturb the family of four.

"Ah!"

Back at Yu Nu Feng, Ye Chen used his spiritual power to clear the alcohol from his system and sat at the mountain's peak, overlooking all of Heng Yue Zong.

"It feels so good to be home." He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over Yu Nu Feng and Heng Yue Zong. Every mountain, peak, hall, pavilion, flower, and blade of grass here felt so familiar.

Now, Chu Xuan'er was back, and so was he. After three years and then another three, returning felt just like before. Time's changes seemed like they had all happened yesterday, like a dream that wasn't quite real.

"What are you thinking about?"

Chu Xuan'er approached and sat to his left, while Chu Ling'er sat to his right. Xiao Ruoxi nestled in his arms, the four of them like a warm family.

"I remember when I first came to Yu Nu Feng, you two didn't go easy on me," Ye Chen spoke with a nostalgic warmth on his face.

"Now, we can't beat you anymore." Both women smiled, linking their arms with his and resting their cheeks on his broad shoulders, murmuring softly, "Who would have thought that the little cultivator from back then has become a peerless powerhouse, far surpassing his two masters?"

"It's only after experiencing life and death that you truly realize how precious this peace and tranquility is." Ye Chen's smile carried a hint of weariness, his strands of white hair marking the traces of the mortal world.

"So, you're fighting for the realm, but what you really want is that lasting peace."

"There's no such thing as true peace," Ye Chen laughed self-mockingly. "As long as there are desires, there will be deceit and scheming; as long as there are ambitions, there will be conflicts and chaos. It cycles endlessly. Even the most prosperous dynasties will eventually fall, just like the former Da Chu imperial clan or Tian Ting today. In a thousand years, it will face the same fate. That's the way of the mortal world."

"Once Da Chu is unified, let's retire from it all," both women whispered. "Like you said back then, we'll find a secluded paradise, till ten acres of farmland, ignore the world's troubles, rise with the sun and rest at dusk, hold hands and grow old together."

"It won't be long now," Ye Chen smiled.