Chapter 933: Azure Phoenix

After Tai Xu Gu Long left, Ye Chen stayed in the pavilion for a long time.

Tonight was an extraordinary night. He had unraveled many mysteries and learned many secrets.

However, there were still some things he hadn't told Tai Xu Gu Long, like the appearance of Hong Chen and the whereabouts of the Xian Lun Eye. It wasn't that he wanted to hide them, but there were too many things he needed to confirm step by step.

At some point, Xing Yue Sheng Nu came in again. Seeing Ye Chen lost in thought, she didn't dare disturb him.

"He's just sleeping."

After a long time, Ye Chen smiled reassuringly.

"When will he wake up?" Xing Yue Sheng Nu asked eagerly, her eyes full of hope, expecting Ye Chen to give her a definite answer.

"I'm thinking of a way," Ye Chen smiled again. "But rest assured, as long as my real body is fine, he will be fine too."

"Thank you," Xing Yue Sheng Nu bowed in gratitude.

"You're welcome." Ye Chen's expression was a little strange. This seems to be my Dao Shen, so why does this thank you feel so awkward? If someone didn't know better, they might think you were the Dao Shen.

Of course, he didn't dwell on it.

He still had a high regard for Xing Yue Sheng Nu and his Xing Chen Dao Shen. Even though she knew Ye Xing Chen was a Dao Shen, she still stayed here to guard him. That kind of relationship said it all.

He left the pavilion and returned to Yu Nu Peak.

As his real body, he truly couldn't find any clues regarding the matter of the Xing Chen Dao Shen. Those words were just to temporarily comfort Xing Yue Sheng Nu.

Standing at the peak of the mountain again, he took out the Hun Dun Shen Ding.

The Hun Dun Shen Ding was now battered and scarred, covered in sword marks. Its spirit was in slumber, and without the previous echoes of the Great Dao, it looked like nothing more than a pile of scrap metal, which was heartbreaking to see.

Hm?

Just as he was about to refine the Hun Dun Shen Ding with his Sheng Ti Ben Yuan, a rolling heat wave surged from the distant sky.

Following that came the cry of a phoenix, carrying immense pressure that even made his sacred blood stir involuntarily.

Instinctively, he looked up at the sky.

What he saw was a phoenix engulfed in flames, its fire blazing fiercely. It was enormous, surrounded by radiant divine light, shining brilliantly against the dawn night. With every flap of its wings, it created fiery storms, soaring through the nine heavens and overlooking the world.

A divine beast!

Ye Chen murmured in surprise, his tone full of astonishment. He never expected Heng Yue Zong to have a divine beast.

Unconsciously, he focused his gaze, and on the phoenix's back, he spotted a graceful figure.

Lin Shi Hua!

Ye Chen paused for a moment, immediately recognizing who it was. Wasn't it Lin Shi Hua, who carried the bloodline of the ancient clan?

While Ye Chen was stunned, the phoenix arrived like a bolt of lightning.

Ye Shi Xiong!

As she spoke, Lin Shi Hua descended from the sky and landed in front of Ye Chen. The phoenix shrank down and perched on her shoulder, eyeing Ye Chen warily.

"I didn't see you at the banquet. Looks like you just came back from training?" Ye Chen smiled.

"I was in seclusion in Qian Qiu Gu Cheng." Lin Shi Hua was elegant and refined, like a proper lady, smiling radiantly. As she looked at Ye Chen, a hint of mist flashed in her beautiful eyes, and for some reason, seeing him standing safely before her made her feel so moved that she wanted to cry.

Over the past three years, she had undergone a complete transformation, awakening the bloodline of the ancient clan. Under Tai Xu Gu Long's guidance, she had become a renowned powerhouse, possessing a peerless aura like Ji Ning Shuang.

But even as she became an exceptional queen, she could never forget that night when a warm hand had pulled her back from the edge of hell.

"Shi Hua, where did you find a phoenix?" Ye Chen didn't notice the unusual look in Lin Shi Hua's eyes. He glanced at the shrunken phoenix before turning his attention back to her.

"This isn't a phoenix; it's a Qing Luan, a branch of the phoenix lineage." Lin Shi Hua smiled quickly. "I summoned it from the spirit realm and formed a contract with it. Now, it's my life-bound divine beast."

"Qing Luan—quite impressive!" Ye Chen sighed in admiration, stroking his chin as he examined the Qing Luan with a peculiar gaze, making it feel so uncomfortable that it flew away directly.

"Xiao Luan, remember to come home. Don't wander off."

"A branch of the phoenix lineage," Ye Chen muttered to himself while stroking his chin. "For refining the Tian Ji Dan, I'm still missing phoenix marrow and Qilin horn. I wonder if the essence blood of this Qing Luan could substitute for the phoenix marrow."

"Ye Shi Xiong?" Seeing Ye Chen mumbling to himself, Lin Shi Hua called out tentatively.

"Shi Hua, I have something to discuss with you." Ye Chen was pulled from his thoughts and cleared his throat.

"Shi Xiong, don't be so formal with me." Lin Shi Hua smiled sweetly.

"I want to draw some blood from your Qing Luan."

"Draw blood?" Lin Shi Hua was taken aback.

"I'm refining a batch of pills and need phoenix marrow as the catalyst." Ye Chen chuckled awkwardly. "Your Qing Luan has the bloodline of the phoenix clan, so its blood might work as a substitute."

"That's no problem at all. Leave it to me." Lin Shi Hua agreed without hesitation.

"In that case, thank you, Lin Shi Mei."

"Shi Xiong, what are you saying? You saved my life." Lin Shi Hua's face lit up with a smile. Being able to help Ye Chen was perhaps a wish she had held for a long time. She had always strived to one day fight alongside him, not just follow in his shadow.

"Shi Hua, have you forgotten about your master now that you've seen your heart's desire?" Just as Lin Shi Hua was lost in her thoughts, an ethereal voice echoed up to Yu Nu Peak—it was Tai Xu Gu Long.

As soon as the words were spoken, Lin Shi Hua's cheeks flushed red.

"Ye... Ye Shi Xiong, I... I'll take my leave first."

With that, she fled into the sky, her jade hands covering her burning face. What had been a romantic moment was completely ruined by Tai Xu Gu Long's comment.

"Do you have nothing better to do?" Ye Chen glanced in that direction, as if he could see Tai Xu Gu Long there.

Tai Xu Gu Long just shrugged it off, completely ignoring Ye Chen's look.

Ye Chen turned away decisively, summoning his Sheng Ti Ben Yuan and continuously pouring it over the Hun Dun Shen Ding.

In the early morning, the warm sunlight bathed Heng Yue Zong, draping this earthly paradise in a layer of bright radiance.

Before dawn fully broke, diligent disciples were already out, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth.

Of course, some people were slinking out with covered faces, like Xiong Er, Xie Yun, and Si Tu Nan—those troublemakers—as well as Gu San Tong and Wu Ya, those lecherous old fellows. They had all been thoroughly beaten by Ye Chen the night before.

By now, Ye Chen had put away the Hun Dun Shen Ding and descended from the mountaintop.

From afar, he saw Xiao Ruo Xi toddling after butterflies, her chubby little face making her look like a tiny sprite.

Nearby, Chu Xuan Er and Chu Ling Er were bustling about, carrying jade trays filled with their homemade delicacies. At that moment, they seemed less like the peak masters of Yu Nu Peak and more like devoted wives.

The scene was heartwarmingly peaceful, and Ye Chen watched, lost in thought. He had imagined moments like this many times before.

"What are you staring at? Come over and eat."

Chu Ling Er set down the tray and waved at Ye Chen.

"Coming."

"Mommy, I want that one." Xiao Ruo Xi's childish voice rang out, her little mouth stuffed full.

"Be careful not to choke."

"I vaguely remember the first time we ate together." Chu Xuan Er held Xiao Ruo Xi and said casually, glancing playfully at Ye Chen and Chu Ling Er as she spoke.

"I remember too." Ye Chen scratched his ear.

"Oh, sister, you're bringing that up again." Chu Ling Er shot Chu Xuan Er a fierce glare.

"To be honest, when I first saw two people who looked exactly alike on Yu Nu Peak, I nearly wet myself from fright." Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh. "As the only disciple of the Yu Nu Peak master, I had no idea she had a twin sister."

"You're still talking about it? With all this food, can't it keep your mouth shut?"

"Exactly, back then you kept piling food into my bowl, and your eyes clearly said one thing: Eat up, get full, and then I'll send you on your way. It scared me so much I spent half the night digging a hole in my room."

Hee hee hee!

Ye Chen's words made Chu Xuan Er burst into laughter. She didn't even need to picture it—just hearing his description, she could imagine how strange that meal must have been.

As she laughed, Xiao Ruo Xi in her arms paused, then giggled along in her childish way. She had no idea what was happening or what the adults were saying.

Chu Ling Er's face flushed with waves of red, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.

The family of four enjoyed their meal in harmony. Looking back on those events now, they seemed funny, but they were filled with warm memories.

"Wow, it smells so good!"

Soon, the peaceful scene was interrupted by a playful figure approaching. It was Xi Yan.

"Greetings, Master!"

"Greetings, two Masters' wives!"

Xi Yan was quite polite, bowing formally to Ye Chen, Chu Xuan Er, and Chu Ling Er.

Ahem!

Her words made Ye Chen choke.

Chu Xuan Er and Chu Ling Er's expressions also turned wonderfully complex in an instant, feeling like something was off about the hierarchy.

"This little girl is so cute." While the three were stunned, Xi Yan giggled, scooped up Xiao Ruo Xi, pinched her chubby cheeks, and hung a spirit pearl around her neck.

"Xi Yan, aren't you supposed to be cultivating?" Ye Chen cleared his throat.

"I'm tired, so I came up for a meal." Xi Yan giggled, blinking her big eyes at Ye Chen. "Master, you wouldn't mind, would you?"

"What are you saying?"

"And the two Masters' wives wouldn't mind, right?" Xi Yan giggled again, turning to Chu Xuan Er and Chu Ling Er.

"You cheeky girl." The two women smiled, utterly amused and exasperated by their grand-disciple. She was clearly cut from the same cloth as Ye Chen!

"Wow, it smells amazing!"

Before Xi Yan could even pick up her chopsticks, more laughter echoed as Shangguan Yu Er and Xiao Luo Xi arrived, dragging along Bi You, Shangguan Han Yue, and Xuan Nu.

"We're here to crash the meal."

"That much is obvious." Ye Chen cleared his throat, nearly burying his head in his bowl. He didn't know what would happen if everyone found out about that day in the alchemy furnace—he might get kicked to death on the spot.

"Greetings to the two seniors." Shangguan Han Yue, Bi You, and Xuan Nu were very courteous, bowing respectfully to Chu Xuan Er and Chu Ling Er.

"We're all family here; no need for such formalities." Chu Xuan Er smiled, then glanced at Ye Chen with a knowing look.

"Why are you looking at me?" Ye Chen cleared his throat. He vaguely remembered that whenever Chu Xuan Er wore that amused smile, he was probably in for a beating. It was a shadow from his younger days!

The atmosphere grew a bit awkward.

The women, each with their stunning beauty, sat around the table, chatting and laughing, truly like one big family.

Ye Chen, however, felt completely out of place and just focused on eating, not lifting his head once.

"Wow, it smells so good!"

Soon, more voices came from below, and it wasn't just one person. Xiong Er and his group, along with Xie Yun and the others, climbed up, rubbing their hands. "Today, we can finally eat our fill."

But the next second, they were sent flying off Yu Nu Peak—not kidding, they really flew far, far away.