Casting a sweeping gaze over the sun-kissed, suited man before him, Ye Wen inquired, "The Church? The European Church?"

"Indeed!" The man in the suit nodded. "My name is Andy I. Hause. I belong to the British division of the European Church. My subordinates and I are here this time searching for an item. There might have been some conflict, but I believe it was all due to a misunderstanding!"

Ye Wen scrutinized the man again. He felt something was amiss, but he couldn't pinpoint any immediate anomaly.

Finally, the suited man waved his hand. "It’s inconvenient to talk here. Perhaps we should move somewhere else!" He glanced at the bodies already strewn on the ground. The small, tear-like mark on each forehead made Andy Hause's brow twitch momentarily, but he quickly adopted an air of indifference. "I'll have my men handle cleaning this up!"

From Andy Hause’s words, Ye Wen gathered that this Englishman commanded considerable influence. Comparing this to descriptions of the Church he'd read in novels, Ye Wen was certain: "This pretty boy must be some formidable figure, perhaps even a Paladin or something!"

With that thought, Ye Wen suddenly asked, "I wonder if the one who caused trouble here was a Paladin of the Church?" As he spoke, he saw the stunningly surprised look on Andy Hause's face and abruptly realized he had been speaking Chinese. Assuming the pretty boy didn't understand, he immediately prepared to rephrase the question in English.

Unexpectedly, Andy Hause replied to Ye Wen's question in perfectly fluent Chinese: "I am not a Paladin of the Church. Paladins are the most precious fighting force in the Church and are rarely dispatched... unless..." Here, a slight, almost imperceptible smirk touched the corner of Andy Hause's mouth, but it did not escape Ye Wen's notice.

Ye Wen felt things were not quite right, but the current situation prevented him from making a more accurate judgment. He had no choice but to follow the pretty boy outside for now. After all, he had a certain confidence in his own strength. Though things seemed slightly different since returning to Earth, Ye Wen judged that he could still fully utilize his power. With formidable martial arts as his backing, these so-called clergy of the Church shouldn't pose a threat to him.

He glanced back at Tommy. The black brother was utterly bewildered, even suspecting he might have stumbled onto a film set for some grand fantasy blockbuster, with hidden cameras secretly recording him.

Regardless, he was inextricably involved in today’s events. The man in the white suit, Andy, also gestured for him to come along, clearly inviting him too.

"I don't think I should..." Tommy gestured around. "Look, I still need to mind the shop! I have so many things here, many of them antiques. What if someone steals something..."

"Don't worry, I'll have my men watch the store for you!" With a flourish of his hand, accompanied by the crisp jingle of a bell, the door was pushed open. Over a dozen burly men in black suits and sunglasses appeared before Ye Wen and Tommy.

Andy I. Hause approached and said something to one of the men. That man then pointed to a few others beside him and walked into the shop, apparently to deal with the aftermath.

Simultaneously, Ye Wen surveyed the surroundings. This street was somewhat secluded, but even so, it shouldn't be this eerily quiet. There had been gunshots and screams from the shop just moments ago, yet no one seemed to notice?

"It seems this fellow named Andy I. Hause has tremendous pull!" This was the only logical explanation Ye Wen could fathom.

Stepping out of the shop, just as he took his first stride, a gust of wind whistled overhead. Ye Wen looked up to see two familiar faces leaping down from the opposite building and lunging toward him.

This sudden development shocked the onlookers. Several of the men in black immediately drew pistols, preparing to shoot. However, Ye Wen’s next action made them realize these were likely allies.

"Senior Brother!"

"Master!"

Two delicate cries made Ye Wen both surprised and delighted. He had been wondering how long it would take to see the two women, yet here they were so soon! Ye Wen glanced at the silver ring on his finger and thought, Good. You didn't cause me too much trouble, or I would have destroyed you!

When shattering the void, the three of them felt themselves gradually leaving their original world, subsequently entering a space of profound darkness. Within this void, the three could only feel a force constantly tearing at them, as if trying to rip them to shreds. Simultaneously, the zhenqi within their bodies was affected, seeming intent on escaping their core.

Fortunately, the meridians of their bodies had all undergone rigorous refinement. In the end, they endured the torment without suffering any serious harm. Ye Wen, whose body had been thoroughly tempered by the Crimson Fruit, was beyond discussion. The two women, through diligent cultivation during this period, had barely reached the requirement for Shattering the Void in terms of power, yet their physical constitutions had been elevated by several tiers. At this point, they all understood: to shatter the void, not only must one's power meet the standard, but one’s body must also be exceptionally robust to withstand such tremendous tearing forces; otherwise, one would be ripped to shreds, dissipating into dust within that strange space.

Then the three saw a luminous opening appear before them. They immediately realized this was the exit; crossing it would likely lead to a new realm.

What none of them expected was that Ye Wen’s ring would suddenly flare with brilliant light, as if it had gone haywire. A faint voice echoed in Ye Wen’s mind: "Upgrade complete!" Immediately, the surrounding space seemed to descend into chaos. The tearing force intensified manifold, and the seemingly stable space became a tapestry of distortion.

"Damn it, causing trouble now!" In his urgency, Ye Wen saw the exit was near. He immediately channeled his gongli to shield the two women, clapped his palms together, and first sent them out, while he braced his aura to stabilize the surrounding space and buy time for the women.

Perhaps it was because the ring’s flash of light was fleeting that the space gradually calmed, or perhaps Ye Wen’s actions took effect. In any case, after the two women rushed into the light, the space returned to normal, and only then did Ye Wen slip through the halo-like exit.

According to Ye Wen's deduction then, his ring suddenly finishing its upgrade caused turbulence in space and time, which is why he returned to Earth 'z' four years late. The two women, sent out ahead of him, might have reached the normal point in time. Ye Wen surmised that the difference was the time he spent in that other world added to the point of his own crossing.

He had anticipated not seeing the two women for at least another eleven years, yet here they were, appearing before him after such a short separation.

The two women briefly recounted what happened. Ye Wen learned they arrived exactly at night, materializing inside that very shop. Fortunately, no one was present then, so the women waited right there, hoping Ye Wen would appear shortly thereafter. However, they waited until dawn when Tommy arrived to open the shop. The women had to slip out quietly to find another place to wait, daring not to stray far. So, they stayed in the building opposite until this moment, in the early afternoon, when Ye Wen finally emerged from the shop.

"I entered the light gate about half an hour after the women, but emerged half a day later." Still, half a day is lucky enough! If it were a century or two, there would be nowhere to cry about it.

The two women were equally overjoyed and began recounting their experiences to Ye Wen right there, ignoring everyone else. Upon suddenly arriving in this world, they saw only blondes, blue-eyed, or dark-haired people, immediately assuming they had arrived in a foreign land. Coupled with the completely unfamiliar languages they heard, they were overcome with panic and anxiety. Moreover, Ye Wen's fate was then unknown, and the women saw only darkness ahead!

Fortunately, Ye Wen reappeared before them soon enough, preventing their panic from lasting too long. After exchanging a few words, they obediently stood by Ye Wen’s side.

"My apologies for making you wait so long!" Ye Wen gestured toward the two women. "These two are my wives!"

"Oh," Andy I. Hause didn't find a man having two wives strange; he had some understanding of the Eastern world. Judging by Ye Wen’s attire, he inferred this man was an ancient cultivator of unknown age. According to the customs of that country in the past, a man having multiple wives was entirely fitting.

He pointed toward the stretch limousine parked nearby and made a 'please' gesture toward Ye Wen and the others: "Mr., please get in. We can discuss matters on the way to a hotel!" Ye Wen gave the two women a look conveying 'caution and prudence,' then became the first to enter the elongated car he had never ridden in before.

They all filed into the vehicle, and with a slight lurch, the car began to move slowly. Andy suddenly opened the mini-fridge beside him and retrieved a few glasses. "Mr., do you prefer white wine?"

Hearing this, Ye Wen realized the pretty boy mistook him for the legendary ageless immortal. A mischievous humor surfaced, and he casually requested, "Just give me a can of Coke!"

Andy was indeed somewhat taken aback. Seeing Ye Wen dressed in ancient robes, he had assumed he was a recluse cultivator who rarely ventured out. Who knew this man would ask for Coke? Did ancient China have Coke? This question baffled Andy.

Although his mind was spinning, his hands were quick. He retrieved a can of Coke, sufficiently chilled, and handed it to Ye Wen. He watched as Ye Wen skillfully popped the top, then took a long gulp—his movements were so practiced it was obvious this wasn't his first time drinking such a thing.

Huayi and Ning Ruxue tilted their heads, watching Ye Wen happily drinking from the bright red metal can. Curiosity sparked, and Andy, perhaps sensing their thoughts, offered each woman a can as well.

The two women clearly saw Ye Wen’s actions and mimicked him, opening the cans and taking a small sip—but immediately, both frowned simultaneously: "What a strange taste..."

Chuckling, Ye Wen said nothing. After downing the entire can of Coke in one go, he leaned back against the seat with casual elegance. With a slight exertion of force, the can was crushed into a small ball of metal. But that wasn't the end. A faint purple halo shimmered around his hand, and the metal can dissolved into iron dust, sprinkling out through the open window.

Andy’s eyes sharpened. He knew this was Ye Wen showing off his skill, signaling that he shouldn't be underestimated. But he hadn't underestimated the young man from the start—it was rumored that Eastern cultivators with profound skills were impossible to judge by appearance. Ye Wen’s action confirmed the truth of that saying.

"May I ask how you are called, sir?"

"Ye Wen!"

"Mr. Ye..." Andy nodded, then began: "Perhaps there's been a misunderstanding between our sides. But I still wish to know why Mr. Ye killed my subordinates!"

"Because they tried to kill me!" Ye Wen kept his eyes fixed on Andy's expression and noticed the corner of Andy's eye twitch slightly when he spoke.

"Forgive my presumption, but I know exactly what kind of men my subordinates are. They would never casually..."

"You can check your men's gun barrels for any sign of firing, and the remaining number of bullets in the magazines can tell you something... If that's not enough, the pile of spent casings couldn't have been caused by me, could it?" Ye Wen gave the man no room to argue, making it clear: I have ample justification, don't even think about denying it!

Andy smiled, perhaps to mask his embarrassment, and remarked, "Mr. Ye... is somewhat different from the Eastern cultivators I know." In his impression, Eastern cultivators were ancient beings whose behavior and speech often resembled those of antiquity, and they were often ignorant of modern affairs. But Ye Wen... if not for his ancient attire, he would be indistinguishable from a modern person! He had speculated Ye Wen might just be a young cultivator, but the subtle reactions of the two women told him he was mistaken. He had clearly observed the curiosity and wariness displayed by Huayi and Ning Ruxue since they boarded the car.

No one spoke much on the ride; both parties were sizing each other up. Although Ye Wen had displayed a small feat, he knew that display would at most earn him some apprehension from the other side, not fear.

After a long silence, it was Ye Wen who broke it. He had too many questions, and this fellow before him was an excellent encyclopedia: "You mentioned you were looking for an item. What is it?"

"An antique!" Andy’s eyes narrowed slightly. Although his face retained its sunny smile, Ye Wen detected a sliver of cold killing intent. "A very ordinary antique..."

"Do you take me for a fool? An ordinary antique? A clergyman of the esteemed Church leading a squad of men in black suits armed to the teeth just to find an ordinary antique? Even if I hadn't studied deduction, I’ve watched novels and movies!" Ye Wen narrowed his eyes too. "Mr. Hause, you don't seem to be entirely honest!"

"How could that be?" For an instant, the two seemed locked in a standoff. Tommy Johnson, forced into the car, could only huddle in the corner like a wronged little bride, humming a tune—if he knew one appropriate for the situation.

They stared coldly at each other for a while. Finally, Andy I. Hause let out a soft laugh. "Since Mr. Ye wishes to know, it’s not impossible to tell you. Moreover, I believe if you assist me, the task will be much easier to complete!" Without waiting for Ye Wen’s reply, he continued, "This item, I believe you must have heard of it. It is a precious relic from the ancient days of your country, known as the Kyushu Ding! Or perhaps, the Nine Tripods!"

Ye Wen’s expression changed. He suddenly remembered the small bronze tripod he had shrunk and put away. Could that be one of the Nine Tripods?

The stretch limousine suddenly stopped, almost without warning.

Unfortunately, inside the car, only Tommy the unfortunate soul bumped his head; the others didn't move an inch, not even a strand of hair shifting.

"My subordinates just reported that they found that bronze tripod in this gentleman's shop. But by the time I arrived, the tripod had vanished, and all my men were killed by Mr. Ye! I presume Mr. Ye must know where the Kyushu Ding is?"

"Don't know," Ye Wen replied, spreading his hands and shrugging his shoulders, his manner deliberately provocative.

Andy I. Hause showed some anger at Ye Wen's response. The temper he had been concealing finally erupted: "Mr. Ye had best be sensible, otherwise..."

"Otherwise what? Hunted by the Church?"

"Hahahaha!" Andy I. Hause burst into laughter. "There's one more thing I must inform Mr. Ye about: I am not one of those disgusting wretches in the Church! I am a great and noble—" Before he could finish, a mocking voice interjected from across from him: "If you find them disgusting, why pretend to be one? It seems you aren't all that great or noble after all!"

This single sentence completely enraged Andy I. Hause. The devastatingly handsome young man let out a furious roar, and the suit covering him instantly shredded. The muscles beneath the fabric swelled alarmingly, and dense fur sprouted out. His handsome face contorted into a terrifying wolf's head.

"Ahhhhh!!! A werewolf!" The first to react was Tommy Johnson. This poor young black man desperately wished he could faint, then reopen his eyes to find himself back in his uninspiring, shabby room, and all that was happening now just a bad dream. Sadly, this wish might never be realized.

Andy I., transformed into a werewolf, swept his hand, flipping the interior entirely, and the two-meter-tall creature loomed over Ye Wen, who looked on with mild curiosity. "Hand over the Kyushu Ding!"

Ye Wen observed him, then whistled lightly. "Big doggie, you look quite impressive!"

Ning Ruxue and Huayi had been somewhat frightened; the sight of the unknown monster had nearly made them draw their weapons. However, Ye Wen stopped them, gave them a reassuring look, and then stated, "This treasure and I have fate, so..."

"...!" Andy I. Hause, feeling utterly toyed with, roared in anger and raised his hand to strike down the man, shouting triumphantly, "I have already set up a magic array in the vicinity. Eastern cultivators who enter cannot exert even half their strength...!" But before he could finish shouting, he discovered his raised right arm would move no further. Not only that, his entire body was frozen, as if bound tightly by countless iron chains.

"How... is this possible?"