“I’m leaving.”
At that moment, Xuanji Holy Lord turned her snow-white neck slightly towards Ye Chen. Beneath her crystalline white hair, only a flawless profile was visible, like a statue carved from suet jade, exquisitely perfect, showcasing a graceful curve.
Ye Chen was slightly startled. He bowed respectfully, “Senior, are you the powerful expert who saved me in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone all those years ago?”
Xuanji Holy Lord merely nodded lightly, offering no words.
A sudden, profound silence descended upon the world.
Yao Yan emerged once more from the jade pendant on Ye Chen’s chest. He bowed deeply to Xuanji Holy Lord in gratitude, “Many thanks, Xuanji Holy Lord. My Yao Family is eternally grateful.”
Xuanji Holy Lord remained silent, showing no reaction.
She had saved Ye Chen back then because she sensed a faint thread of the Power of Karma / Causality. This Power of Karma / Causality was formless, traceless, and ineffable—a force that transcended even the Emperor Realm. Her current encounter with Ye Chen in this place was, likewise, a matter of Karma.
With this thought, her snow-white jade palm extended, and a Divine Radiance flickered on a finger as slender as a spring onion. In an instant, a wisp of Divine Radiance bloomed like a galaxy, surging towards Ye Chen and circulating around his body.
Ye Chen was slightly astonished. “What kind of power is this?” he wondered. He only felt a warm, comforting sensation wash over him, as if bathed in sunlight, utterly pleasant.
Xuanji Holy Lord was probing Ye Chen’s body. She was surprised by the sheer amount of Dao Rhyme within his Internal World, far exceeding even a low-star Great Emperor, and noting the unrefined Dao Rhyme still present.
She had also heard rumors about Ye Chen’s Master, the White Robe Great Emperor. Now, in the Emperor Realm Area, she had picked up more whispers about Lu Xuan and Chen Changsheng. She suspected that Lu Xuan and the White Robe Great Emperor might, in fact, be the same person.
The White Robe Great Emperor was far too doting on Ye Chen. The Heavenly Treasures he had given Ye Chen to consume were Supreme Treasures capable of stirring up storms of blood in the Southern Wilds. Yet, the White Robe Great Emperor had bestowed them without hesitation. Across countless eons, Xuanji Holy Lord had witnessed too much “evil,” seeing every conceivable facet of the world. Thus, she wasn’t afraid to assume the worst in others. In the Ancient Era, there were countless examples of masters using disciples as cultivation cauldrons or cultivating Dao Fruits within them, only to ultimately devour them. This was why she had conducted this examination.
Moments later, the Divine Radiance vanished from Ye Chen’s body. Xuanji Holy Lord had gained no definitive answers, yet she still harbored reservations about Lu Xuan.
Ye Chen asked curiously, “Senior, have the Eerie Power and Ominous Power within you completely dissipated?”
A flicker of dimness appeared in Xuanji Holy Lord’s eyes. She uttered just two words: “Not yet!”
These were the two most potent Forbidden Powers in existence! It was already difficult enough to suppress them using the Ancient Great Medicine. To completely annihilate them was nearly impossible. Over countless eons, these two Forbidden Powers had become intertwined with Xuanji Holy Lord, and she was constantly trying to find ways to utilize them. Forbidden Power could kill, but it could also become her unique path. Unfortunately, the Rules of Heaven and Earth in this realm did not permit the existence of such powers, so her progress was negligible.
Now that the two Forbidden Powers within her were suppressed, her immediate priority was to enter the Above Emperor Realm Area and seek opportunities for the Supreme Path. In this lifetime, she was determined to contend for the Supreme Fruit Position! There was no other path for her. Succeed, and she would ascend; fail, and she would be annihilated.
At this, Ye Chen said with some concern, “Senior, I can take you to meet my Master. He can effortlessly destroy these Eerie Power and Ominous Power with a mere flick of his hand!”
Hearing this, Xuanji Holy Lord’s eyes flickered, but quickly dimmed again. She knew that in Ye Chen’s heart, Lu Xuan might be omnipotent. But she had her own “Dao” to follow!
With that thought, Xuanji Holy Lord shook her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the distant void.
Ye Chen was slightly taken aback. He could tell that Xuanji Holy Lord likely didn’t believe his words, so he pressed on, “Senior, my Master hails from the River of Time, transcending reincarnation itself! Even the Lord of the Vast Star River must look up to him. He is already invincible across the starry skies, invincible across the River of Time!”
Ye Chen spoke with passionate fervor, practically spitting with excitement. But Xuanji Holy Lord remained unmoved. As the saying goes, “seeing is believing.” Yet, having lived through countless eons, Xuanji Holy Lord knew well that even what was seen might not be real. She did not believe him.
Moments later, a Jade Slip appeared on her jade palm. Whoosh! The Jade Slip flew towards Ye Chen. It contained the markings of places she had visited while searching for Ancient Great Medicine in the Emperor Realm Area, almost entirely encompassing all regions within it. Some locations held untapped opportunities, even those of Nine-star Emperor-tier, but to her, they were merely superfluous.
Among them were several spots perfectly suited for Ye Chen’s cultivation. Ye Chen’s divine sense probed the Jade Slip, immediately revealing an incredibly vast Spirit Map. He exclaimed, “Is this the map of the Emperor Realm Area? It was so immensely grand and boundless, easily spanning hundreds of great states! Far larger than the Below Emperor Realm Area! Truly worthy of the ancient supreme artifact, the Bronze Ancient Palace!”
Next, Ye Chen saw several marked locations where Outer World inheritances remained unclaimed. One was called the “Yanwu Sect, Branch Sect.” The Yanwu Sect specialized in the Path of Spirit Fire and the Dual Cultivation of Martial and Spiritual Paths! Ye Chen was thrilled; this inheritance was practically tailor-made for him and Senior Sister Ji Fuyao! There was another called the “Panshi Sect, Branch Sect!” And another named the “Qianhuan Sect, Branch Sect!” Ye Chen continued to examine the map, discovering an Ancient Sword Sect, the “Heavenly Sword Sect Branch Sect!”
Divine Radiance flickered in his eyes. Once Luo Lingkong, Fang Yan, and Liu Xuan entered the Emperor Realm Area, he could direct them to these Outer World inheritance sites!
A moment of silence passed. Ye Chen bowed respectfully to Xuanji Holy Lord and asked, “Senior, could you perhaps transport us to the Yanwu Sect Branch Sect?”
Xuanji Holy Lord, Baili, nodded, not refusing.
At this point, Ye Chen glanced at the demon corpses strewn across the ground. These were the physical bodies of Great Demons, and even Storage Rings belonging to supreme experts. Xuanji Holy Lord hadn’t touched any of them.
Ye Chen asked, “Senior, should I help you collect these Great Demon bodies and Storage Rings?”
Hearing this, Xuanji Holy Lord’s crystalline jade palm gently flicked. Boom! Boom! Boom! Over a dozen Great Demon corpses instantly transformed into streaks of light, flying into a Storage Ring that then floated before Ye Chen.
Ye Chen was somewhat surprised. “Senior, are you giving these to me?” Xuanji Holy Lord nodded faintly. Ye Chen rubbed his nose. “Senior, how can I possibly accept such generosity?” he said, even as he promptly took the Storage Ring. Now, he owed Xuanji Holy Lord, Baili, even more favors! Two life-saving graces, plus so many Supreme Treasures! Xuanji Holy Lord was truly too kind to him!
The next instant, Xuanji Holy Lord ascended into the air, her Three Thousand Zang of White Hair billowing around her, shimmering with terrifying Divine Radiance. Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen found themselves, almost without realizing it, standing upon a single strand of her white hair. This strand was like a colossal pillar reaching the heavens, inscribed with Dao Patterns, intensely brilliant and profoundly mysterious. Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen secretly touched it, marveling at the flowing Dao Rhyme, their hearts filled with wonder.
At that moment, Xuanji Holy Lord’s beautiful eyes subtly furrowed. As Ji Fuyao also stepped onto a strand of her hair, she once again sensed a faint thread of the Power of Karma / Causality. A Power of Karma / Causality connected to Ji Fuyao! Xuanji Holy Lord’s heart was filled with bewilderment. “Why is this?”