Chapter 959: Severing a Blade

As they spoke, the two stepped out of the teleportation array.

Take care of yourself!

Tai Xu Gu Long casually muttered, then strode out of the underground palace and vanished in an instant.

You should be telling yourself that!

Ye Chen sneered. If it was truly Shen Wang Shen Xuan Feng himself, he wouldn't have a chance. But if it was just Shen Xuan Feng's Dao body, what was there to fear? Although a Dao body could borrow power from its true self, and though the Jie Mie Shen Ti had a natural advantage over the Huang Gu Sheng Ti, a Dao body was still just a Dao body.

With that thought, he walked out of the underground palace and leaped high, landing on Yu Nu Peak.

Wow!

Xiao Ruo Xi tilted her little head up, her bright, clear eyes full of curiosity as Ye Chen descended from the sky.

"The Heavenly Court's Holy Lord is truly extraordinary; even his landing is so stylish." A nearby voice carried a hint of playfulness. Who else could it be but Shangguan Yu Er?

"Here for a free meal again?" Ye Chen walked over, scooping Xiao Ruo Xi into his arms.

"Nonsense! I helped with this whole table." Shangguan Yu Er cleared her throat. "Look, I carried the dishes, set the chopsticks, and even poured the jade dew wine."

"My, oh my, hope I didn't tire you out!"

"Not at all."

"Time to eat!" Xiao Ruo Xi giggled and sat down right next to Ye Chen, then cheekily stuck her tongue out at him.

"Come on, go find your auntie for milk." Ye Chen gently tapped Xiao Ruo Xi's little nose.

"Get lost!" Chu Xuan glared fiercely at Ye Chen, but Xiao Ruo Xi had already scampered over, climbing up her leg and helping herself. This sent everyone at the table into fits of laughter.

"Having food to eat is such a joy." Ye Chen dug in, eating even more heartily than Xiao Ruo Xi.

"Wow, smells amazing!" As always, such a comment rings out at times like this, and this time was no exception.

When they looked over, a figure had already landed on Yu Nu Peak. It was a young man, looking carefree and dashing at first glance, but upon closer inspection, he seemed like a complete scoundrel. Most notably, he had that same punchable face as Ye Chen.

That's right, it was the Xing Chen Dao body. He rubbed his hands together and dashed over, squeezing into a spot at the table and starting to eat as if he belonged there.

"Here, have more. Eat up so I can send you flying later." As the boss, Ye Chen kept piling food into the Xing Chen Dao body's bowl.

"You're just trying to scare me." The Xing Chen Dao body grinned.

"What about your little girlfriend?" Shangguan Yu Er blinked at the Xing Chen Dao body.

"Oh, almost forgot the important stuff." The Xing Chen Dao body set down his bowl and chopsticks, then stylishly tossed his head and smoothed his hair. "Boss, I need a favor."

"Asking for help and acting all high and mighty?" Ye Chen said while eating.

"No, really, I have something important." The Xing Chen Dao body looked serious.

"Go on."

"Come with me to the Xing Yue Palace and help me propose marriage."

"Propose marriage?" The Xing Chen Dao body's words made everyone at the table turn their eyes on him in unison.

The atmosphere suddenly grew strangely awkward.

The women's gazes became oddly peculiar. A Dao body proposing marriage? It just sounded so awkward.

And as they looked, their eyes couldn't help but shift to Ye Chen, who was still chowing down on his rice. He's your Dao body, and you share memories. If he gets married, it's like a live broadcast for you when they consummate the marriage and all that.

They were even curious: If the Xing Chen Dao body and the Xing Yue Sheng Nu got together, could they have children? And if they did, whose child would it be—Ye Xing Chen's or Ye Chen's?

"I agree, boss!"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ye Chen wiped the grease from his mouth.

"Alright then!"

The Xing Chen Dao body chuckled and turned to leave, but after a few steps, he doubled back and grabbed a basin of fish soup from the table before scampering off.

After he left, the women's gazes all focused on Ye Chen, their expressions still strangely odd.

"It's fate bringing lovers together; I'm just building good karma." Ye Chen shrugged casually at their stares.

"The entire Heavenly Court knows he's your Dao body." Chu Ling Er looked at Ye Chen and said, "Proposing with that kind of identity? The Xing Yue Palace would never agree. She's their Sheng Nu, after all."

"Then we'll just kidnap her!" Ye Chen cracked his neck, still full of his roguish vibe.

"You can't do that."

"Or I could marry her myself." Ye Chen grinned. "Then let Ye Xing Chen handle the wedding night."

"Get out!"

"Alright!" Ye Chen stood up immediately, waved casually, and strode to the top of Yu Nu Peak.

Once he reached the peak, the playful look on his face faded away.

He stood quietly, gazing toward a mountain deep within the Heng Yue Sect. Through the misty clouds, it was as if he could see the Xing Chen Dao body humming a tune and primping in front of a mirror, his messy hair combed smoother than ever before.

Ye Chen smiled slightly. Though the Xing Chen Dao body was his Dao body, he was also like family.

Suddenly, he sat down cross-legged on a cloud.

Then, he gently closed his eyes.

From then on, he sat in meditation like an old monk, completely still, with strands of divine light swirling around him.

He remained like that for an entire day.

Until nightfall, his sacred body suddenly trembled.

Sever!

With a soft command from him, it seemed as if an incredibly sharp divine sword in the void had cut through something.

Pfft!

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. The divine light around him dimmed, and that sharp divine sword had sliced out some of his sacred body essence from within.

Boss!

The Xing Chen Dao body shot through the sky like a divine ray and landed on the peak.

As his Dao body, how could he not know what Ye Chen had done? Now, he was no longer Ye Chen's Dao body—he was a completely free person, no longer bound or suppressed by his true self.

"You're free now." Ye Chen smiled wearily.

"I only want to be your Dao body." Tears glimmered in the Xing Chen Dao body's eyes.

"Crying like a woman—cut it out." Ye Chen scolded. "Now get out of here, fix yourself up, and tomorrow I'll take you to propose. Don't embarrass me."

"Boss, I—"

"Enough chattering." The Xing Chen Dao body hadn't finished when a large hand suddenly appeared from behind and grabbed him by the collar. It was that jerk, Tai Xu Gu Long.

"You're done here." Tai Xu Gu Long casually lifted his hand and hurled the Xing Chen Dao body away.

"Don't be so rough." Watching the Xing Chen Dao body fly off into the distance, Ye Chen couldn't help but cough.

"Self-severing like that—you've got some nerve!" Tai Xu Gu Long cursed. "Do you even know what that means?"

"It means he's free." Ye Chen laughed freely.

"Bullshit." Tai Xu Gu Long exploded. "You're not even a complete Huang Gu Sheng Ti to begin with, and now you've severed some of its essence. Your power will take a huge hit. Was it worth it for a Dao body?"

"What's worth it or not?" Ye Chen shrugged. "Letting him be a whole person, able to marry and have kids—what's wrong with that? If I die someday, he could carry on for me. My sacred body essence, my bloodline power, my chaotic principles—they'd all be his. If I go, the Xing Chen Dao body will be me, Ye Chen, and Ye Xing Chen will be the Holy Lord of the Heavenly Court."