Purple! Nothing but purple, and everyone present was immersed in that field of violet." However, unlike Xue Rengui and Lu Bu, who were merely paralyzed without any other harm, the one Ye Wen had singled out for "special attention" was not so fortunate.

In a mere instant, the purple that had filled all space dissipated. The time was so short, so brief, that one might suspect the scene just witnessed was merely a figment of imagination.

But even such a short span was enough for much to transpire. As the purple faded, the cavern returned to its vast emptiness. The Yamata no Orochi, which had occupied so much space, vanished simultaneously with the dissipation of the purple light.

"Did it flee?"

Dressed in a pure white bandeau top and a short skirt that reached mid-thigh, Amaterasu, despite having discarded her outer kimono, did not appear disheveled. Ye Wen’s casual toss, though slightly flawed in execution, was perfectly controlled in force. Amaterasu adjusted her posture swiftly once airborne and landed gracefully on the ground.

She knew the preceding moment was no illusion, yet the Yamata no Orochi had suddenly disappeared. The only possibility she could conceive was that it had escaped.

But the reality was…

Ye Wen drew back the hand he had held aloft, exhaled a breath of stale air, and gazed for a long moment at the spot where the serpent had been. A faint smile finally curved his lips.

Artemis had already approached his side. Seeing Ye Wen's smile, she understood the situation. Furthermore, Ye Wen had explained this technique to her in detail when they were on Mount Shu. Although she couldn't grasp the esoteric theories of "ten thousand into one, and one is ten thousand"—such profound concepts—she did understand one thing: once enveloped by that purple, one's life or death was largely in Ye Wen’s hands.

Ye Wen’s previous close-quarters combat was intended to force the Yamata no Orochi to expend its stamina, wearing it down before unleashing the Myriad Sword Convergence. The fundamental reason was that while Ye Wen could use this ultimate move again, he discovered it required a period to mobilize his True Qi; it wasn't something he could summon or dismiss at will.

Given the Yamata no Orochi’s strength and having already suffered from this technique, wouldn't it flee immediately upon seeing that posture? To prevent this, Ye Wen had acted as he did!

"If I could use this move freely, why bother with such trouble? I would simply blast the target dead upon sight—a clean resolution! But as it is, it’s acceptable. Though a bit troublesome, the Yamata no Orochi has ultimately been slain!" With this single strike, the serpent felt as if it were enduring the suffering of a thousand cuts. Moreover, the power erupted by Ye Wen's move was overwhelmingly immense; the serpent could only resist for a fleeting moment before being utterly crushed. Although every scale and every fiber of its body failed to escape the tearing agony of the myriad swords, in just a few seconds, the Yamata no Orochi was cleaved by the boundless sharp blades into the finest dust—so fine the naked eye couldn't perceive it—vanishing completely from this world.

Not even its soul or divine consciousness remained; under Ye Wen’s technique, everything was reduced to powder!

"Finally, this matter here is settled!"

He turned to look at Artemis. Seeing her still maintaining that placid expression, even though deploying a volley of arrows earlier had depleted some of her divine power, she showed no unusual reaction; after all, that attack had only served to warm her up.

"Shall we return to Mount Shu then?"

"Of course!"

In truth, Artemis hoped they could wander freely in this world with Ye Wen, enjoying life wherever they pleased. But she knew this was impossible, so she kept the thought to herself.

Fortunately, Ye Wen was not entirely dense. Sensing something from Artemis's expression, he reached out and gently squeezed the back of her hand, murmuring, "When we return, we need not be in such a rush. If you wish, I will accompany you to truly appreciate the beauties of the Orient!"

Amaterasu's eyes brightened slightly. She seemed very pleased with the suggestion, and a smile unconsciously graced her lips. She nodded almost imperceptibly, feeling a sense of anticipation for the journey home.

In the span of a few exchanged sentences, their decision was made. When they turned back, Lu Bu and Xue Rengui were standing there, stunned, having not yet grasped what had transpired.

Amaterasu still held her long sword, maintaining a focused guard, equally confused by the situation, until Ye Wen announced, "That Yamata no Orochi has been blasted into powder by me. It will never plague the lands again!"

Hearing this, Lu Bu and Xue Rengui paused for a moment before sheathing their weapons. Both men had personal sheaths where their arms could store their arms.

Amaterasu looked utterly disbelieving. After a long silence, she looked back at Ye Wen with unconcealed shock: "The Immortal says he has killed the Yamata no Orochi?"

The event was too bizarre and sudden; it was no wonder she couldn't accept it!

For ages, she and her siblings had been locked in struggle with the serpent, often ending in defeat, and her younger brother and sister had both perished within its maw. Though she harbored intense hatred for the beast, she inevitably carried a measure of fear. It was only after witnessing the Supreme Elder displaying his supreme power and subduing the serpent that she realized the world held countless supreme experts. While she couldn't deal with the Yamata no Orochi, others certainly could. Yet, she never imagined that this Celestial from a superior nation before her could kill the intractable serpent with merely a casual wave of purple light? And to blast it into fine powder, leaving absolutely nothing in existence? Truly, beyond death! Ye Wen nodded, affirming a fact with absolute certainty.

This reality left Amaterasu so stunned she didn't know how to react. The Ten Fists Sword she held clattered to the ground, and her entire being became dull and vacant, standing there, gazing blankly at the empty space.

Ye Wen stood not far from her and waved his hand in front of her eyes, but found her state unchanged, completely unresponsive. He understood that Amaterasu had desperately wanted to slay the serpent and had likely prepared to sacrifice herself in the battle. The anticlimax of having the monster effortlessly annihilated by him—the massive discrepancy between expectation and reality—had rendered her catatonic. More importantly, perhaps Amaterasu had never considered what she would do after killing the serpent, leaving her momentarily adrift.

With a wave of his hand, the orange kimono Ye Wen had tossed aside earlier floated back to him. He lifted it and draped it over Amaterasu’s shoulders, gently patting her drooping shoulders. Without a word, Ye Wen stepped aside and approached Xue Rengui and Lu Bu, inquiring, "My business here is concluded. I prepare to return to Mount Shu! What of you two?"

Xue Rengui already had plans and replied without hesitation: "This humble general has a mission and cannot escort you. Thank you, Headmaster Ye, for your care. If I return safely, I will certainly pay a visit to express my thanks!" "General Xue is too polite!" Xue Rengui’s mission could be easy or difficult to complete; it was entirely uncertain. There was no need to press the issue now, so Ye Wen turned to Lu Bu: "And General Lu?"

"Naturally, I travel with Immortal Ye!" Lu Bu was determined to follow Ye Wen, as it was the only way he might find Diaochan. Otherwise, even if he encountered her reincarnation, he wouldn't recognize her. However, he glanced toward Amaterasu: "Is that woman truly not Diaochan?"

Ye Wen pressed his fingers to his forehead: "I can guarantee you, this one is definitely not!" Then, realization struck him. If Lu Bu took an interest in Amaterasu, perhaps that was a good thing? To keep the fellow from clinging to him, why not set him up with Amaterasu? "But if General Lu is interested, you are free to pursue her. She is, after all, a goddess of a realm. If General Lu could marry her, perhaps you could guard a domain!"

Unexpectedly, Lu Bu shook his head resolutely: "If she isn't Chan'er, then forget it!"

A hint of regret remained in his eyes: "Her look—the delicate charm tinged with a hint of martial spirit—was so similar to Chan'er. It's a shame she isn't..." Ye Wen cursed inwardly, "Stubborn fool!" Then he dismissed it, standing aside to wait for Amaterasu to recover.

If Amaterasu didn't recover, no one could guide Xue Rengui to the entrance of the Hidden Realm. Although Ye Wen didn't intend to accompany Xue Rengui through that trial, having come this far, he would still ensure the general reached his destination before leaving; there was no rush.

Fortunately, after a while, Amaterasu finally regained clarity. Seeing her eyes were red, she must have wept while standing there in a daze. After all, her beloved siblings had died in the jaws of the Yamata no Orochi. With such vengeance achieved, such an emotional outburst in her agitation was understandable.

Ye Wen, Lu Bu, and Xue Rengui were not fools, so they naturally understood, and no one mentioned it. Amaterasu wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, then smiled: "I shall lead you all to the entrance of the Hidden Realm now!"

Although the arduous battle, life-or-death struggle, and fierce confrontation she had anticipated never materialized, this outcome seemed the best. No one died, no one was even injured. Perhaps the greatest loss was the slight damage to her kimono, torn when Ye Wen grabbed her.

Meanwhile, Artemis’s white shirt and denim skirt had a few tears caused by stone shards propelled by kinetic energy when she was thrown back by some strikes—she hadn't even bothered to deal with them.

Artemis had just been complaining to Ye Wen: "This clothing is beautiful, yes, but it tears too easily..."

Ye Wen was speechless, thinking, This isn't armor; must it also be able to withstand swords? Aloud, he soothed, "When we return, I'll have Zheng Ying custom-make several sets for you. I guarantee their durability will be no less than the Sacred Armor forged by Hephaestus!" Only then did Artemis nod with satisfaction.

These two pieces of clothing represented the most severe damage of this confrontation. With the main enemy eliminated and almost no casualties, Amaterasu’s smile became much brighter, no longer harboring the faint shadow she carried when they first met. Seeing her smile brought relief to Ye Wen and the others as they chatted casually while proceeding deeper into the cavern.

In a corner of the vast cavern where the Yamata no Orochi resided, several massive stones formed a bizarre structure, perfectly concealing and safeguarding another cave behind them. If one didn't walk right up to it and go around the back, one would surely never find this place.

As they approached the mouth of that cave, Ye Wen immediately sensed an extremely unsettling aura emanating from within. Having grown accustomed to the 'pure energy' world, Ye Wen didn't particularly care for this environment. However, after standing there for a moment, he realized this aura would not impede his ability to fight.

It was Amaterasu who frowned deeply, finally sighing: "I can only escort you this far!"

Then she pointed to the cave entrance: "Entering from here requires no detours; it is a single path forward. Once you walk out of the cave, you will reach that other world."

Amaterasu added, "The far side of this cavern was once considered forbidden territory. However, my younger brother ventured in once and returned to tell me that the world on the other side, despite constant gloom where the sun is rarely seen, is not vastly different from our world. But I cannot bear the aura here, so I never visited myself and have no further information to offer you!"

Xue Rengui adjusted his Water-Fire Robe, straightened his helmet, then drew the White Tiger Whip and held it in his hand. He bowed to the group and said, "It suffices that you brought me this far. General Xue will take his leave here. If fate allows, we shall converse again later!" Knowing Xue Rengui’s journey ahead was fraught with peril, everyone offered words of encouragement and comfort, then watched as he turned to enter the cave.

This cave was truly bizarre. Though right before their eyes, the moment Xue Rengui stepped inside, he seemed swallowed by darkness; not even a vague silhouette could be discerned. Ye Wen activated his Glazed Pupils, yet could only see a blurred figure. He even channeled nearly all his power just to make out the shape of Xue Rengui’s back.

If that were all, Ye Wen would simply have marveled at the earth’s masterful handiwork. But as he looked, he spotted something extraordinary.

"Eh?"

Ye Wen casually waved his hand, and the Purple Qi Heavenly Net energy shot out. Before anyone could understand what was happening, a strange object suddenly appeared in Ye Wen's raised right hand: a large spatula!

"General Xue, wait a moment!"

Although he didn't grasp the situation, Lu Bu keenly sensed something was wrong, especially given Ye Wen's suddenly grim expression. Thus, he called Xue Rengui back immediately.

The moment Xue Rengui entered the cave, he was enveloped in absolute blackness. Fortunately, the Water-Fire Robe emitted a soft radiance that illuminated the area immediately around him. But before he could feel relief, he felt an object graze past his ear. In his haste, he couldn't make out what it was, only that the shadow looked vaguely familiar.

While on high alert, he heard Lu Bu's voice—though they were only a few steps apart, the sound seemed to travel from dozens of meters away, faint and unclear. Had he walked a few steps further, he likely would have only heard muffled noises without discerning the words.

Fortunately, he heard clearly at that moment. Xue Rengui immediately knew something was amiss. Gripping the White Tiger Whip, he retreated cautiously, fully on guard.

Once outside the entrance, he turned to see Ye Wen frowning deeply, holding a colossal spatula. He stepped forward and peered down at the spatula, noticing faint characters carved near the handle: Shu Shan Li Xiaoyao!

"Shu Shan?" Xue Rengui paused: "Isn't that precisely..." Before he finished speaking, Ye Wen retracted the spatula into his ring: "I will accompany General Xue to take a look on the other side of that cavern!"

Xue Rengui wanted to ask more, but after a moment of reflection, he understood. Perhaps a fellow disciple of Immortal Ye had visited this place and left behind such an item. That must be why Ye Wen needed to investigate if something had happened.

But... a spatula?

"I wonder who this Li Xiaoyao is..." He was curious. Was this person a cook from the Shu Shan Sect? Ye Wen’s expression suggested it was more complicated than that.

"He is Ye's disciple!"

Xue Rengui was unaware, but Ye Wen knew. Li Xiaoyao was known for his indulgence in food and drink, and being an excellent eater, he had extremely picky tastes, unable to stomach ordinary cuisine. To satisfy his palate, he had to cook for himself, and therefore, he never parted with this spatula! To emphasize how much he valued it, he always carried the spatula strapped to his back (many cultivators preferred carrying their flying swords on their backs, the famous example being Lu Dongbin). Others thought he carried a magical flying sword, but who would have thought he cherished such a large cooking implement so dearly?

Such a valuable item being abandoned here made it impossible for Ye Wen not to take it seriously. Had his disciple encountered some mishap? Thinking it over without finding an answer, Ye Wen suddenly recalled Zhang Guifang's earlier remark: "A cultivator came by a few days ago, but I don't know where he went?" Perhaps she meant Xiaoyao? If he was missing, he most likely went to the other side of the cavern, and would naturally not be found in this world!

"But why would Xiaoyao go there?"

Although this disciple was fond of food and drink and terribly playful, he was not someone who lacked judgment. He would never do anything reckless without necessity, so the probability of him being in danger increased significantly.

"Let's go take a look!"

After much deliberation, he decided there was no point waiting here; it was better to investigate personally! He glanced towards Artemis, only to find his hand already grasped by hers: "If you go, I go too!"

Ye Wen smiled: "It's not like you're jumping off a cliff; don't be so serious. With our strength, ordinary folk can't harm us; there won't be any danger!"

This statement served both to reassure the others and to boost morale. After speaking, he said to Xue Rengui: "It seems my bond with General Xue is not yet severed; we must travel together!" Xue Rengui smiled and nodded. Lu Bu insisted on going along too, with a reason that left Ye Wen speechless: "Who knows, Chan'er might be on the other side of that cavern, so I'm coming too!" In any case, as a Divine General, he wasn't afraid of the environment there, so going or not made little difference. Besides, Lu Bu's presence would provide some aid, so Ye Wen didn't need to stop him.

As for Amaterasu, after hesitating for a moment, she clenched the hilt of her sword with a determined bite: "You all helped me avenge my great feud. Regardless of the reason, I cannot leave now. So, count me in this time too!"

As a result, it turned out everyone intended to enter! Ye Wen looked at the group, then scratched his head: "Did I forget something?"

Over on the side, Zhang Guifang crouched at the cave entrance, peering inside continuously. Suddenly, she let out a huge sneeze, muttering, "The miasma's poison has dissipated, so why hasn't anyone come out?"