The daily image that haunted his thoughts… The beautiful countenance that never faded from his heart… The faint, delicate fragrance lingering in the wind… In a daze, Ye Chen was instantly transported back to yesterday; the entire world vanished before his eyes, leaving only this stunning figure, standing far off with a gentle smile, gazing at the two of them with profound longing, meeting gaze for gaze.

The world suddenly grew utterly silent, so still that not a whisper of sound remained; it seemed even the gentle breeze held its breath, merely gathering softly and quietly around the two figures. The person he had never forgotten for a hundred years, the one he cherished most in this moment of life and death, now stood before him, separated by mere inches! Ye Chen’s excitement was impossible to conceal, his body trembling slightly; he suddenly had an overwhelming urge to rush forward and embrace her tightly!

The beautiful figure stared blankly at Ye Chen, her clear, limpid eyes seeming somewhat lost. The face she hadn't forgotten for a century was now standing right in front of her. Upon hearing him call her name filled with infinite affection, her heart couldn't help but tremble, especially when she saw the bloodstains clinging to his robes and the hardened, chiseled contours of his face, etched by hardship; a sudden pang of heartache struck her.

She recalled that day, the figure on the shard of starlight, though possessing a cold aura, still held a trace of tenderness and charm. Especially when she was infected with the virus, the way this man blindly covered his eyes—truly, he was such a fool! The corners of her mouth curved slightly, her eyes reddening, her delicate frame trembling faintly. After nearly a century apart, she had finally encountered the image she most desired to see, the one for whom she had broken ties with her father, for whom she had risked everything. And every consequence of this was worth the reward.

A century later, you still held me in your heart! As time flowed on, you had not forgotten me in your mind! Such joy rendered her speechless; her heart, full of longing, had been completely saturated with happiness the moment she heard the words "Xiao Jun," moving her to the verge of tears!

Ye Chen gazed intently at the figure deep in his heart, his eyes gradually softening. He slowly walked forward, stopping before the girl, reaching out his hand to grasp her slender, boneless hand in his palm, feeling in that instant that he was the happiest person in the world!

Bai Yijun’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not pull her hand away; instead, she stared raptly at the man before her, tears glistening in her eyes, and whispered, “I finally found you.” Ye Chen was overwhelmed with emotion, too moved to speak clearly, letting out only a long sigh and nodding, “Yes. This time, I will hold onto you tightly, and we will never be separated again.” Bai Yijun’s face reddened, but she gazed earnestly into Ye Chen’s eyes, stating firmly, “You are never allowed to leave me again. No matter the ends of the earth or the depths of the sea, whether in life or in death, I must be with you! You are never, ever allowed to abandon me!” Ye Chen, touched to the core, pulled her into his embrace, breathing in the faint, ethereal scent of her dark hair, murmuring softly, “I won’t leave you again.” Bai Yijun was ecstatic, wrapping her arms around him, feeling a profound sense of security, as if even if the heavens fell, she would not be afraid.

Just then, a cold, drawn-out laugh echoed, "Heh heh," grating like fingernails scraping across glass, sending chills down the spine and raising the hair on the scalp. Bai Yijun nearly reacted by reflex, looking up to see an ancient man suspended in mid-air, clad in a tattered, pitch-black robe. A wide, black hat obscured his features, with only a few strands of silver hair escaping the brim, making his face impossible to discern. “Six figures, a young couple, truly lost in each other’s devotion. They have no idea that countless Divine Emperor powerhouses are surging in from all directions, yet they still have the leisure for such lingering affections. Old man, I must admire that!” the voice of the black-robed elder was harsh and unpleasant.

Bai Yijun sensed the sarcasm in his words, her eyes chilling slightly. She detached herself from Ye Chen’s embrace, seemingly casually stepping in front of him, stating coldly, “Black Demon Great Emperor of the Dark Civilization. Out of respect for your race, I will spare you today. I give you three seconds to vanish from my sight!” The black-robed elder cackled, “How arrogant, little girl. I remember you—you’re the little lass from the Bai family, aren't you? Heh heh, that battle a century ago was truly spectacular. I heard you broke ties with your father, and your own cultivation broke through your previous realm, multiplying your strength. Rumor has it you can slay a Divine Emperor; seeing you today confirms it is not an exaggeration!” “One!” Bai Yijun said coldly.

The black-robed elder’s smile instantly vanished, his eyes blazing with killing intent as he looked at her. “So arrogant! Today, I will discipline you on your father’s behalf!” As he spoke, he raised a hand from beneath his black robe. What shocked everyone was that it was a skeletal claw, composed only of stark white bone, yet this bone was not pure white, but mixed with dark impurities, appearing almost decayed. “Two!” Bai Yijun’s expression remained cold, as if she hadn't noticed, continuing the countdown. The black-robed elder’s face took on a greenish tint. A dark, swirling vortex slowly materialized in his claw, resembling a miniature tornado, which he brought down with a deafening roar. This dark tornado left his palm, growing larger with the wind, its sharp tip like a venomous stinger, plummeting downward.

Sensing the terrifying energy contained within the dark tornado, Ye Chen’s expression shifted slightly. He swiftly reached out his hand, intending to interpose himself before Bai Yijun and prepare to activate the Blood God Mode. At that moment, a voice as cold as a summons from Death itself slowly issued from Bai Yijun’s scarlet lips: “Three!”

Boom! The entire sky shuddered. The violent dark tornado tore through the void, unleashing world-shattering might, yet before it could descend, it was violently shredded by an unseen, enormous hand, splitting apart mid-air and instantly dissipating into nothingness. Immediately following this, a shocking scene unfolded: a black light flashed in Bai Yijun’s eyes, and her hand slashed upwards toward the sky. A howling, roaring, faint black blade-qi surged upward, cleaving the entire void in two, passing the black-robed elder at a speed of a thousand times the speed of light.

The wind suddenly died. The clouds… BAM!!

An explosion rang out abruptly, yet it resonated in everyone’s chests, causing the hearts of all who witnessed the scene to contract violently. The black-robed elder’s body was cleaved in twain, bursting apart from the center. The black robe, made of some unknown material, was terrifyingly durable, but it too was ripped apart, revealing the black skeleton within. This skeleton was like reinforced steel, unbelievably solid, yet it too was split into two halves, the cut perfectly straight and smooth.

Instant kill! Everyone on the Genius Peak—the reporters, and all those watching on the Ancient Continent through their screens, including Ye Chen—were dumbfounded. The strength of this black-robed elder was undeniably terrifying, yet he was instantly killed by Bai Yijun! This was a Divine Emperor!! And one of the elite among Divine Emperors!

Bai Yijun swept her hand, retrieving the body that had been split into two pieces, its consciousness wiped clean, and turned to face Ye Chen. “This Black Demon Great Emperor was a High-level Divine Emperor who had reincarnated twelve times. This physical form contains abundant energy, and in its brain core resides a Higher Universe. With your Devouring talent, absorbing this corpse is enough to grant you the physique of a Peak Divine Spirit!”

Ye Chen naturally understood how precious this corpse was. He stared blankly at the figure he hadn't seen for a century and couldn't help but ask, “How did you become so strong? I recall you were only at the Half-God Realm back then. Even with rocketing cultivation speed, a hundred years should only push you to an Early Divine Emperor at most. To instantly kill a High-level Divine Emperor is simply…” Bai Yijun smiled sweetly, her gaze gentle as she looked at him, “All of this was gifted by you. Back then, you gave me your heart. Through a special nurturing process, your heart became my current body. I cultivated within it for 20 years, completing the Great World Secret Manual. When I prepared to emerge, I discovered the earth-shattering changes that had occurred. Originally, cultivating the manual should only have amplified the manual’s effects, not brought about physical enhancement or other powers.”

She exhaled like fragrant orchids, speaking softly, “However, I discovered my physique had directly reached the level of the Ten Hall Masters. My soul and this body merged perfectly, generating an unknown mutation that propelled my power directly to the pinnacle of the continent! Moreover, I feel there are still gaps between my body and soul that haven't fully integrated; otherwise, I would be even stronger!”

Ye Chen was utterly shaken. “You currently possess the strength of a Ten Hall Master?” “Mhm!” Bai Yijun found this man’s shocked expression endearing, blinking playfully, “Didn't expect that, did you?” Ye Chen’s heart was filled with unconcealed awe. What level was a Ten Hall Master? Beyond the Divine Emperor! Yet, in just a century of separation, Bai Yijun had reached such a terrifying echelon!

Wait! Ye Chen’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly asked, “I heard you are the reincarnation of an ancient great figure. Have you awakened the power of your previous life?” Bai Yijun shook her head. “No awakening. When ordinary people awaken past life powers, it is usually accompanied by the awakening of past life memories; otherwise, there is no difference between this life and the last. I have no memories of a previous life, nor did I experience any awakening phase, so it shouldn't count as an awakening.” Ye Chen paused for a moment, then mused thoughtfully, “You only saw a massive increase in physique after obtaining my heart as your body. Could it be the effect of my heart?” Bai Yijun nodded happily, “That is precisely it!”

Seeing her attribute all the merit to him, Ye Chen felt a warmth spread through him. He smiled faintly. The specifics of this matter were too complex to figure out immediately, and he couldn't investigate it now. He let the matter rest, not feigning modesty, and directly accepted the corpse she offered, pausing briefly before storing it in his ring. “Why aren’t you absorbing it?” Bai Yijun asked curiously. “I see your laws have reached the Great Perfection of the Divine Spirit Realm. If you absorb the energy from this corpse, your physique enhancement could allow you to break through directly, giving you more confidence against the strong opponents arriving later.” Ye Chen smiled faintly. “I have a Divine Emperor-level heart inside me that I am currently refining. Once this heart is completely refined, it will be enough to elevate me to the Divine Emperor level! I have only refined 0.018% so far; the process is ongoing.” Bai Yijun suddenly understood. “So that’s it.” She looked up at him, “You gave me your heart; how did you survive?” Ye Chen scratched his head. “Well, that must be thanks to great fortune, good karma, and the fact that Heaven favored me, especially since it was for your sake, that my little life wasn't taken.” Bai Yijun’s face blushed, and she scoffed lightly, “Stop talking nonsense.”

Seeing her charmingly shy appearance, Ye Chen felt an indescribable joy. He grinned cheekily; if Bai Long and the others were present, their jaws would have dropped, never imagining Ye Chen could look like this. One could only sigh at the boundless power of love, capable of turning hardened steel into soft silk!

Ye Chen smiled, then suddenly sensed something, his smile fading, his brow furrowing. He turned toward the southeast, where a fierce whistling sound was rapidly approaching. Six figures sliced through the air—four men and two women. Among the women, one was stunningly beautiful with a captivating, sensual figure; the other was an elderly woman in coarse white robes, her face covered in wrinkles, short and stooped, gripping a staff that looked like dogwood.

The arrival of these six figures in the sky sent waves of commotion across the Genius Peak. Everyone who saw them was struck with shock. “The Big Dipper Seven Stars!” “It’s actually these old monsters coming out of seclusion!” “What is happening? Why are old monsters appearing one after another? What secret is this white-haired youth hiding?” “Does this white-haired youth possess some peerless treasure?” The reporters harbored their own speculations. They were all at the Divine Spirit or Pseudo-God level, with ordinary aptitude, which is why they took up journalism. While their exposure was vast, they had certainly never heard of peerless treasures like the Heavenly Dao Scripture!

The six figures arrived before Ye Chen and the girl, gazing at Ye Chen with ill intent. They scrutinized him from head to toe. The leading, muscular man stated coldly, “Kid, you are the successor of the Heavenly Dao?” Ye Chen looked up, responding coolly, “Indeed!” “It really is you!” A seductive woman beside him flashed a cold glint in her eyes. “Hand over the Heavenly Dao Scripture and the Heavenly Dao Divine Boat, then commit suicide. Don’t make us do it ourselves; otherwise, even dying won't be easy for you!” “Stop the nonsense! That damned Heavenly Dao, and his wretched successor—neither is any good! Kill him first and avenge our Seventh Sister!” A handsome man in blue robes had a contorted, ferocious expression, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Ye Chen, radiating killing intent that pierced the heavens.

The muscular man swept a cold glance over Ye Chen, then suddenly noticed Bai Yijun beside him, frowning slightly. He said coldly, “Little one, are you that girl from yesterday?” Bai Yijun’s demeanor was elegant. “I am. Are you the famed Big Dipper Seven Stars of the continent? I often heard my father mention you, saying that every member of the Seven Stars was valiant and kind-hearted. To meet you today, however, I find it quite different; you truly disappoint me!” “Nonsense!” An elder with long white robes and eyebrows, his face flushed crimson, roared, “You little child, lacking any proper upbringing, daring to comment on us! We have saved more people than you have met in your entire life! Do you think we covet that damned Heavenly Dao Scripture? We are here to avenge our fallen Seventh Sister!”