Chapter 936: Tourists

A small interlude passed, and Ye Chen left with a smile.

This was his first time visiting the Tian Ting headquarters as the Shengzhu, and he had the leisure to take a stroll around.

As he walked along, he couldn't help but sigh more than once.

The prohibitions of Tian Ting were overwhelmingly powerful, with many places inscribed with secret array patterns, especially the hidden mountain-protecting barriers, which numbered as many as ninety-nine layers.

There were also spiritual flowers and spiritual trees; several varieties caught his eye everywhere, and among them, a few were ones that even he, as a Dan Sheng, had never seen before—he had no idea where Zhong Jiang and the others had obtained them.

Beyond that, it was the disciples of the Tian Ting headquarters.

Along his path, he truly discovered quite a few individuals with astonishing bloodlines; with proper nurturing, they could all become the future pillars of Tian Ting.

However, his arrival did indeed cause quite a stir, especially among the younger disciples of Tian Ting, who mostly stopped their cultivation to rush over.

The Tian Ting Shengzhu, whose legend shook the world, had a path that was nothing short of legendary.

Now, being so close to him gave those disciples an unreal feeling, particularly the female disciples, whose beautiful eyes were filled with enchantment. But they knew better than to indulge in such fantasies; they didn't dare to hope.

"Shifu!"

As he walked, Xi Yan suddenly appeared from somewhere, her little mouth pouting.

"Someone from Ren Huang came looking for you?" Ye Chen smiled at Xi Yan.

"I don't want to go to Ren Huang; I want to stay with you." Xi Yan lowered her little head, looking reluctant.

"I'm from the Qingbao Ge myself, and I know the matters inside very well—it's truly a place that tempers people." Ye Chen said with a smile. "Just think of it as a trial; don't let your Shifu lose face."

"Uh." Although Xi Yan was unwilling, she still nodded.

"Stay in Tian Ting for the next few days and prepare well for the San Zong Da Bi in nine days."

"San Zong Da Bi?" Xi Yan lifted her little head, her big eyes blinking with sparkling light, full of eagerness. "Shifu, you took first place back then, and I want to take first place too."

"That depends on whether you have the strength for it." Ye Chen smiled, turned, and stepped into the void, flying out of Tian Ting.

"I will definitely get first place." Behind him, Xi Yan clenched her little fist. "Among the Xuan Zi generation disciples, only Hu Wa brother is my real opponent. Hmm, I'll train hard for the San Zong Da Bi in nine days."

Once out of Tian Ting, Ye Chen treaded through the void, walking leisurely like he was strolling in a courtyard, observing everything along the way.

He didn't use the Xutian Transmission Array to return to Heng Yue; instead, he wanted to see this land with his own eyes. This was the empire they had jointly established, and everywhere he looked was a scene of prosperity, which filled him with satisfaction.

This was a journey, one exclusive to him.

He visited many ancient cities—those that had been ravaged by his iron-blooded conquests three years ago, burying many innocent lives. Even now, he could still catch a faint whiff of blood in the air.

But he never regretted it.

Unifying Nan Chu required war, and war meant death. He had simply used a more extreme method, but that extreme approach had proven very effective.

He was like a passerby, coming lightly and leaving lightly.

After touring many ancient cities, he went to various ancient lands, such as the Qianqiu Ancient City, which had been their southern expedition base; the Langu Cangyuan, where he had battled Yin Zhi Ping; the Zhengqi Hall; and the Qi Lu region.

Gazing at these former ancient lands, his expression was filled with many memories.

It was an extraordinary era, full of schemes, intrigues, and deceptions. He had defeated many old enemies back then, stepping on bones and blood to ascend to the peak, forging a prosperous dynasty amid a sea of blood.

Night fell.

After traveling through dust and wind, he entered a small ancient city and found a teahouse, ordering a pot of tea.

"Have you heard? The San Zong Da Bi is in nine days."

"The talk is that they're selecting the nine great true disciples."

"The San Zong Da Bi reminds me of the last one." One person's words drew many sighs. "Although it's been a long time, it's still fresh in everyone's memory!"

The discussions continued, one after another like ocean waves, while Ye Chen sipped his tea unhurriedly, truly like a passerby.

At some point, a sword-carrying figure sat down at the table behind him.

It was a young man, but his hair was already white, his face covered in stubble, and he looked worn out from travel, emanating a sense of weariness. He seemed like a wanderer who had been drifting for a long time.

"One pot of tea!"

His voice was hoarse, carrying traces of fatigue and world-weariness.

"You've changed a lot!" Ye Chen gently set down his teacup, his tone flat, as if speaking to the young man or to himself.

Upon hearing this, the young man, who had just picked up his teacup, instinctively turned around.

Immediately, his body trembled. Even though he only saw Ye Chen's back, he seemed to recognize him at a glance.

"The descendant of Guang Long shouldn't be so disheartened." Ye Chen's words remained flat.

"Meeting you here is quite a surprise." The young man turned back around, sitting back-to-back with Ye Chen like a statue, motionless. His weary, world-worn face carried a self-mocking smile.

"Why are you still in Nan Chu?"

"This is my home." The young man's voice was hoarse, his somewhat turbid eyes flickering with hesitation.

"The past is like smoke, ultimately turning to dust." Ye Chen finished his last cup of tea, stood up, and slowly disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind a faint voice. "If you're willing to follow Ye Chen in conquering the world, come find me in Heng Yue."

"Is this the breadth of a young emperor?" The young man laughed, his laughter tinged with desolation. "Is there still anyone in this world who remembers that my name is Hua Yun?"

By now, Ye Chen had already left the ancient city.

He continued on his way, wandering across the vast lands of Nan Chu, pausing at each ancient land he visited.

During this time, he visited many clans, most of which had migrated from Bei Chu and were now settled in Nan Chu as part of Tian Ting. Compared to the chaotic Bei Chu, Nan Chu was a peaceful paradise.

Night fell once more, and he stopped at the foot of a spiritual mountain.

The spiritual mountain at night was bathed in moonlight and starlight, dazzlingly radiant, with swirling mists creating a dreamlike haze, like an immortal realm.

Ye Chen stood quietly, his expression complex as he gazed at a stone tablet at the base of the mountain, more precisely at the words carved on it: Haotian Shijia.

He hesitated, wanting to move his feet but ultimately unable to take a step. He still hadn't figured out how to face this unfamiliar family; his nature was such that even now, he couldn't ignore the knot in his heart.

A gentle breeze blew, stirring his white hair, and in the end, he didn't set foot there, silently turning away.

"Are you just going to leave like that?" A light, melodious female voice sounded from behind as Haotian Shiyue appeared.

"I'm just passing through."

"Since you've come, there's no harm in coming in for a sit." Haotian Shiyue smiled gently, stepped forward, grabbed Ye Chen's arm, and pulled the departing Ye Chen into the Haotian Shijia spiritual mountain.

Immediately, the quiet Haotian Shijia at night became lively beyond measure due to Ye Chen's arrival.

"Please, come inside quickly!"

A group of elders in seclusion all rushed out, the atmosphere extraordinarily warm, making Ye Chen feel quite uncomfortable.

It wasn't anything else; it was just that his identity was too special—not only was he of the Haotian Shijia bloodline, but he was also the king of Nan Chu. With such status, they couldn't afford to slight him.

In the grand hall of Haotian Shijia, the hall was filled with people, both from the younger and older generations. Naturally, Haotian Xuanzhen, the current family head of Haotian Shijia, was present.

Those pairs of eyes held admiration, guilt, and gratitude. It was this young man before them who had risked venturing alone to bring the Haotian Shijia from Beizhen Cangyuan to the lands of Nan Chu.

Of course, along with the gratitude came guilt.

Even though it was Haotian Xuanzhen's fault, the Haotian Shijia as a whole couldn't escape responsibility. Such a large family owed him too much.

The atmosphere in the hall was awkward. Ye Chen's silence left everyone unsure how to start.

"All elders, please return."

In the end, it was Haotian Xuanzhen who broke the silence in the hall.

Upon hearing this, although the people in the hall still wanted to say something, they held back. The one who tied the bell must untie it; the knot in Ye Chen's heart ultimately lay with Haotian Xuanzhen. Outsiders couldn't help resolve it.

In an instant, the hall became much emptier, with even Huaxu and Haotian Shiyue and the others withdrawing.

Now, only Ye Chen and Haotian Xuanzhen remained in the hall, but the atmosphere grew even more awkward. Haotian Xuanzhen tried several times to speak but didn't know how to begin.

"I'm just passing through."

In the end, it was Ye Chen who spoke first, his tone carrying an indescribable coldness.

"Even now, you're unwilling to tell me who your mother is?"

Although Haotian Xuanzhen felt disappointed, he still looked at Ye Chen with eyes full of hope, hoping for a definitive answer.

"I've never met my mother."

This time, Ye Chen didn't evade, his expression cold, his tone flat.

"Then..."

"I have no impression of her at all. From the moment I had memories of this world, everything was dark. I didn't know who my parents were; I only knew that when I was hungry, I had to find something to eat—mice, cockroaches, dry grass, tree roots—anything edible, I'd stuff it into my mouth desperately. I didn't know the purpose of my existence; I only knew that when wealthy children passed by, I had to crouch like a dog. If they were pleased, they might toss me a copper coin. In my memories, I loved places where wild dogs roamed because I could snatch food from their mouths and sleep in their dens. In my memories, when people are starving, they're more terrifying than fierce beasts—they can eat their own children and lose all humanity."

Ye Chen's demeanor was unusually calm, his words steady from start to finish, as if he were recounting an irrelevant story rather than his own past.

Meanwhile, Haotian Xuanzhen's body was trembling uncontrollably, his wise eyes brimming with tears.

Is this what my child's childhood was like?

Haotian Xuanzhen clenched his fists in his sleeves, his knuckles bleeding.

He had wanted to know about Ye Chen's past, and now Ye Chen had told him, but it was a memory drenched in blood.