Ye Chen sat cradled within the downy feathers of the Divine Phoenix, the gale whipping against his face as clouds parted around him. Mountains and rivers retreated below as the Phoenix barely flicked its wings, bringing him to the summit of this snowy peak.
The Divine Phoenix plunged through the atmosphere and settled upon the mountain crest.
With a flicker of movement, Ye Chen leaped from its body, landing softly on the yielding ground. He surveyed his surroundings: a vast, open peak, entirely devoid of snow. Instead, the air was rich with the fragrance of blossoms, alive with birdsong, and bisected by a clear, murmuring stream where tiny fish darted between smooth river stones. A marvelous scent saturated the atmosphere.
Ye Chen looked up.
The sky was an azure blue.
White clouds drifted lazily overhead, utterly at ease.
“Come here.” A voice, ancient and laced with faint amusement, drifted from the flowery expanse ahead.
Ye Chen started slightly, then quickly moved toward the sound. Amidst what looked like a sea of flowers, he saw an ancient, rustic stone dais where a white-haired elder sat enthroned. He was clad in white robes and possessed white hair, yet his skin was full and ruddy, his eyes held a contained, brilliant light, and his expression was one of profound peace.
A light breeze stirred, causing the elder’s long white beard to drift gently—he carried the unmistakable air of an ascended immortal.
Master Baiya!
Ye Chen recognized him instantly. His eyes lit up, and he quickened his pace toward the massive stone dais. He cupped his hands respectfully before the elder and said, “Master!”
Though their parting had been swift, the kindness Baiya had shown Ye Chen remained impactful to this day. Without the Energy Divine Tree from the Civilization of Fire, the Bright Base City might already have been annihilated; without the powerful Fire Arts such as the Nine Palaces within the Yan Dian manual, Ye Chen himself might have perished long ago!
This debt of gratitude Ye Chen had buried deep in his heart.
“Mmm, very good.” Baiya regarded Ye Chen with approval, waving a hand. “Come, sit, keep me company for a game!” Before him rested a small stone table upon which were scattered black and white Go stones. The stone itself was etched with naturally formed lines, clearly marking the grid.
Ye Chen made no argument, settling down onto the dais. He glanced at Baiya, his eyes flickering slightly, choosing not to press with questions.
Baiya smiled gently, warmth radiating from the lines around his eyes. “You go first.”
“Mm!” Ye Chen nodded, reached out, and placed a black stone in the eastern corner of the board.
Baiya chuckled softly, casually sweeping his hand; a soft gust of wind carried a white stone to the western corner.
Ye Chen focused intently, gazing at the board. After a moment of contemplation, he placed another piece. Not long after Ye Chen’s move, Baiya casually swept his hand again, dropping a stone that precisely sealed off Ye Chen’s vital weak point.
The two played slowly...
Time slipped by unnoticed until six hours had elapsed.
Thunk~
Ye Chen’s stone fell off the board. A hint of bitterness crossed his face. “I lose.”
On the board, a massive black dragon struggled desperately left and right, yet it was completely hemmed in by countless white crosses, offering no escape. Baiya smiled faintly. “Not bad. To keep me occupied for six hours is an achievement in itself. I recall, a close acquaintance of your former teacher once played me; our skill was nearly equal. The last time we competed, that single game lasted three thousand years, and in the end, your master barely edged me out!”
Ye Chen felt a tremor of shock. “A single game lasting three thousand years?” How much mental energy must that have consumed?
Baiya smiled slightly, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes as he gazed toward the distant sky. He sighed inwardly, “If that old friend of mine has reincarnated, they should be close to awakening now. How I wish for another grand battle!”
Ye Chen felt a swell of reverence.
To a figure like Master Baiya, a thousand years were but the blink of an eye. Across endless eons, one had long ceased to cling to mere existence. To possess a true friend, a soulmate, that was life’s greatest fortune!
“Little fellow…” Baiya looked at Ye Chen and smiled. “It’s only been a few years since we last met, and you’ve already reached the Ancient Continent. There must have been quite a sequence of events in between, full of twists and turns?”
Recalling the experiences of the recent days, Ye Chen couldn't help but sigh.
First, the great flood on Earth, ushering in the Ice Age; then the war against the demonic beasts, being hunted by quasi-god experts; then entering the Ancient World, progressing through Chi Yan, vanquishing Feng Yue, the great battle at Tianwu Mountain where he stood alone against the masses—the changes in that time, punctuated by countless brushes with death, were indeed a chaotic tapestry.
Baiya’s lips curled into a smile, reminiscent of an old fox, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed Ye Chen. “Little fellow, the Yan Dian I taught you—you haven’t passed it on to anyone else, have you?”
Ye Chen shook his head. “No.”
Baiya stroked his beard and nodded. “That is good. Little fellow, reaching this level through your own strength is no small feat. Your old master will bestow upon you another great fortune—let’s see if you can withstand it?”
Ye Chen’s eyes brightened. “What fortune?”
Baiya’s smile turned mischievous. “I shall grant you the hand of the Seventh Princess of the Yan God Empire. How about that?”
Ye Chen froze.
The Seventh Princess of the Emperor?
One had to realize, the territory of the Yan God Empire was boundless, commanding control over a thousand vassal states, with countless divine beings and powerhouses beneath its banner. To be the daughter of such a monumental figure—her status must be supremely lofty!
She was absolutely above untold billions, so noble that even Heavenly Immortals would feel shame. For a princess of such standing to be betrothed to him?
If that were the case, his own standing would soar, his authority rivaling that of a vassal king!
What was the concept of a vassal king?
Master Tianwu King was one such vassal!
Master Tianwu King commanded the peak offensive and defensive artifact created by combining forty-nine domains and a starship, and his own power surpassed that of a mere deity. If Ye Chen were to become the son-in-law of the Seventh Princess, his status would likely surpass even Tianwu King!
Baiya, seeing Ye Chen’s dazed expression, couldn’t help but be inwardly delighted, a slight upturn to the corners of his mouth as he awaited his answer.
After a moment, Ye Chen quietly lowered his head. A while later, he finally spoke in a low voice, “Master!”
“Hm?” Baiya sensed the strangeness in him. “What is it?”
Ye Chen suddenly raised his head, staring directly at him, and declared with absolute certainty, “Please forgive your disciple; I cannot obey this order!”
Baiya was utterly stunned, speechless. “What—what did you say? You refuse?”
Ye Chen nodded, speaking softly, “Your disciple has someone he loves, and in this life, he will never love a second person!”
Baiya was momentarily taken aback, then rolled his eyes. “Is your brain broken? This is the Seventh Princess of the Yan God Emperor! She’s also his most beloved daughter. Everyone in our Yan God Empire knows that the Seventh Princess is the Emperor’s pearl of the crown! He has twelve daughters, and she is the one he cherishes most, this Little Seven!”
Ye Chen nodded slightly. “Thank you for your kind offer, Master.”
“Kind offer my foot!” Baiya nearly swore aloud. “Do you know the status you would attain by marrying her? With the Emperor’s power, he could elevate you to the peak of the Divine Realm in the blink of an eye, and with a little cultivation, making you a being who surpasses the gods wouldn't even be impossible!”
“You—you actually refused?”
Ye Chen looked straight at him, slowly shaking his head. “I will not marry her!” These three words carried absolute finality.
Baiya was momentarily stunned into silence.
After a long pause, he let out a wry smile. “Indeed, you are my disciple. That stubborn streak matches mine exactly. I rather like that spirit in you. Truthfully, having three or four wives is nothing significant. Time is so long; many minor scoundrels at the Ghost God Realm have harems numbering in the hundreds, so why not you?”
Ye Chen remained silent.
Baiya looked at the obstinate young man, letting out a soft sigh, tinged with bitter amusement. “In reality, I was merely suggesting it. If you had agreed, I could have introduced you to the Seventh Princess. That girl is eccentric; she might not have wanted you anyway! Moreover, according to the Emperor’s decree, anyone who marries his daughter must be someone from the Elite Genius Hall!”
“You, while your talent is exceptional, are ultimately second-tier. While you are astonishing among ordinary people, among the geniuses selected from billions in the Genius Hall, you would only be considered average.”
Baiya shook his head. “Since you are my disciple, and I haven't helped you much, tell me your current location. I will send you something. Before you receive this item, you must promise me: from this day forward, you belong to my Yan God Empire!”
Ye Chen frowned. “What thing?”
Baiya smiled faintly. “The authentic versions of the Yan God Hammer and the Nether Flame Shield. But only the first level of each. Cultivate it diligently. Once you master the first level, the amplification granted by the Yan God Possession will be enough to secure you a place in the Elite Genius Hall!”
Ye Chen gasped. “Authentic? Mastering just the first level can give an amplification reaching ten million times?”
Baiya stated proudly, “Naturally. What I gave you before was something I improvised casually. The true Yan God Hammer and Nether Flame Shield have only three levels! Once you master all three, your power will reach an extremely terrifying tier. With only quasi-god cultivation, you will still be able to blast apart deities!”
Ye Chen was deeply shaken. To be able to slay a deity by mastering three levels—the amplification factor of this secret art, even if it wasn't quite equal to the Heavenly Dao Scripture, surely couldn't be far behind!
“If you agree, I will pass it on to you. From now on, you will be a member of the royal lineage of the Yan God Empire!” Baiya gazed at Ye Chen, his expression solemn. Given the previous marriage proposal, although he knew this reward was incomparably rich, he feared Ye Chen might somehow get another strange notion and flatly refuse again.
“I agree.” Ye Chen agreed almost without thinking.
It would be sheer madness to refuse such a magnificent secret art.
“Good!” Baiya’s mouth curved into a smile. “Spend some time cultivating this well. I heard you plan to go to the Bright Empire? Is the girl you favor there?”
Ye Chen nodded. “Yes.”
Venerable Baiya teased him, “Which little young lady is she? Tell me about her. Perhaps when I’m in a good mood and happen to travel there, I can casually bring her over for you.”
Ye Chen pondered for a moment. “She is from the Bai family, located at Moonlight Lake, in the Light Province of the Bright Empire.”
“What!” Baiya shot to his feet, his eyeballs nearly popping out. “Are you certain? The Bai family lady from that Moonlight Sacred Lake in the Light Province?”
Ye Chen started, knitting his brows. “Why?”
Baiya’s expression shifted rapidly. After a moment, he finally let out a long sigh. “It’s nothing. Look after yourself. What I can tell you is this: the head of the Bai family—his wife has passed away. He was once a man whose devotion caused an uproar across the entire Ancient Continent. To prolong his wife’s life, he slaughtered hundreds of vassal-level experts, using their blood to sustain her corpse, ensuring her existence would never fade.”