“Hahahaha!!!”
Across heaven and earth, Chen Jiuyang finally saw Yao Zixuan. Tears streamed down his face, and as he embraced the familiar, cherished figure he had longed for countless days and nights, Chen Jiuyang let out a hearty laugh, his eyes crinkling like a young boy’s.
“Jiuyang!” Yao Zixuan, held in Chen Jiuyang’s arms, still found it hard to believe. Just as Chen Jiuyang shed tears, she too was overcome with emotion.
Fate had been cruel, but they were finally reunited.
In this moment, Chen Jiuyang felt that all his previous struggles had been worth it.
Nearly a decade of effort, during which Chen Jiuyang had faced numerous life-or-death crises and endured countless setbacks, carried a burden of heartache and pressure that no one else could comprehend.
“Zixuan, I’m here to take you home.”
This single sentence reduced Yao Zixuan to tears.
Holding the beauty in his arms, Chen Jiuyang’s resolve was further strengthened. Even if he had to endure this life alone, it would be worth it, as long as those around him were safe and not burdened by him.
Once the peak of prosperity inevitably waned, sweetness would follow hardship.
“Rumble!!!”
The heavens and earth erupted in a battle that seemed apocalyptic, yet it did not hinder their reunion.
Having traversed myriad obstacles, they had finally crossed the halfway point.
Spatial rifts appeared before Chen Jiuyang, and Patriarch Meng Yi spoke, “My husband is currently engaged in battle and may not be free for a short while. Please, follow me.”
Chen Jiuyang laughed heartily, holding Yao Zixuan’s hand as they stepped into the spatial rift, which led to the Sacred Land of Chongming Sea.
Yao Zixuan’s beautiful eyes were filled with confusion.
Chen Jiuyang patted her small hand. Though his eyes betrayed an undeniable weariness, his face was filled with a smile. He had never been this happy in his life. “Many things have happened these past few years. I’ll tell you everything, but for now, there’s a problem that needs to be resolved.”
As if predestined, the Pure Yang Medical Immortal, who had accidentally arrived in the Lesser Immortal Realm of Beidou during his tribulation, lost the chance to reincarnate and cultivate. He then forcefully returned to the Mortal Realm, where a heart demon was planted within him. The dignified Tribulation Transcending cultivator willingly accepted his demise.
And now, Yao Zixuan might face a similar predicament to the Pure Yang Medical Immortal’s past. She currently possessed immortal cultivation. If she were to return to the Mortal Realm with him in this state, it was uncertain whether it would trigger the descent of a heart demon.
Patriarch Meng Yi frowned and said, “Even with my cultivation, I am not entirely certain about this matter. Holy Lord, please wait a moment. I will contact my husband.”
In essence, Patriarch Qiankun was of the same kind as Chen Jiuyang.
Yao Zixuan saw unease and fear in Chen Jiuyang’s eyes, but she had no idea what had happened. However, she knew it must be very important to them.
Half a day later, space tore open, and Patriarch Qiankun emerged. An ancient monster was roaring outside the Chongming Sea, seemingly cursing Patriarch Qiankun for retreating mid-battle, accusing him of lacking the dignity of a peak expert. However, the monster dared not charge into the Sacred Land of Chongming Sea. After a few roars, it eventually departed.
“Among the group who ascended to the Lesser Immortal Realm back then, there was an Earth Immortal who proved quite troublesome, delaying things a bit longer,” Patriarch Qiankun stated.
Chen Jiuyang asked, “Patriarch Qiankun, can my wife Zixuan return to the Mortal Realm with me like this?”
Patriarch Qiankun looked at Chen Jiuyang’s somewhat anxious and uneasy face, then glanced at Yao Zixuan, and said with a smile, “Naturally, she can. One with the Qianyang Dao Body, and the other with the Pure Yin Physique. They are truly a match made in heaven.”
“Strictly speaking, the Holy Lord’s wife has already ascended. She no longer belongs to the Mortal Realm, nor does she belong to the Lesser Immortal Realm. Therefore, she can freely travel between the lower worlds and even the upper realms.”
“When the Five Great Sacred Lands opened the Celestial Gate back then, it was a genuine celestial realm ascension. However, the anchor point of the ascension was mistaken, leading not to the Celestial Realm, but to this Beidou Lesser Immortal Realm.”
“Hoo.” Chen Jiuyang breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much better. “That’s good.”
Patriarch Qiankun looked at Yao Zixuan and smiled, saying, “Holy Lord, this is also an excellent opportunity for you.”
“There are some truths I must inform you of beforehand. With the rise of this great era, your previous use of the ‘Shile’ divine ability, Holy Lord, had alerted the pillar of Chongming Sea, the ‘Imperial Tutor.’ He once said that the dark tribulation of this great era would arrive early.”
“This is one of the reasons why Chongming Sea is eager for the Holy Lord to revive it as soon as possible.”
“The dark tribulation is approaching, and all things are inescapable, except for those who ascend to the Celestial Realm.”
“The Holy Lord’s wife has received recognition from the Celestial Realm and can lead the Holy Lord’s relatives to ascend to the Celestial Realm for safety.”
“Although the Crippled Elder Village is powerful, it cannot escape the dark tribulation. Moreover, they will actively attack the Celestial Realm. At that time, the Holy Lord can have the old Human Emperors of the Crippled Elder Village lead the Holy Lord’s relatives to ascend to the Celestial Realm.”
“And then, the Holy Lord will have no more worries, undergo tribulation in this world, and then ascend to the Celestial Realm to reunite with his family.”
Yao Zixuan suddenly became nervous. “Jiuyang, are we going to be separated again?”
Chen Jiuyang tightly grasped her hand and said, “No.”
Patriarch Qiankun said, “Holy Lord, once you leave Chongming Sea on this journey and return to the Mortal Realm.”
“You will immediately face the heavenly tribulation of peak prosperity and decline, and encounter a killing tribulation.”
“Even if you survive the killing tribulation, once you enter the Crippled Elder Village and become a villager, you cannot leave this world again. You can only wait for this great era to rise and fall, and only appear in the next great era.”
“The endless darkness of the Crippled Elder Village has miraculous effects, capable of devouring all things, including the ‘peak prosperity and decline’ on the inheritors of the Human Emperor’s path. Therefore, the inheritors of the Human Emperor’s path throughout the ages have resided in the Crippled Elder Village, seeking to be revived and reappear in another great era.”
Chen Jiuyang smiled slightly and said, “In that case, choosing to live in seclusion in the Crippled Elder Village is the best option. Is that also why you, Patriarch Qiankun, are not truly obstructing me?”
Patriarch Qiankun merely smiled and said nothing more, leaving Chen Jiuyang and Yao Zixuan to ponder the implications.
Chen Jiuyang held Yao Zixuan’s hand and slowly led her towards the teleportation array of Chongming Sea. He told Yao Zixuan, “Zixuan, on the other side of the teleportation array is Earth, in Su Hang, Long Kingdom.”
“But once we return, many enemies will come to kill us. Are you afraid?”
Yao Zixuan’s eyes were firm and resolute. “With you by my side, I am not afraid.”
“Even if I have to die, I want to die with you in this life.”
“Hahahahahaha!!!” Chen Jiuyang let out a hearty laugh. “Good!”
Patriarch Qiankun and Patriarch Meng Yi, standing not far away, exchanged a look upon witnessing this scene, smiling. Then, the teleportation array lit up.
Their vision flickered.
Chen Jiuyang and Yao Zixuan had returned to the True Demon Sect on Earth.
The next moment, killing intent surged from all directions!
Chilling to the bone!!!