Every time Chen Yuan returned to Ping'an County, his feelings were different, and this time was especially so. In the past, he returned either as a court official or as a rising star in the Jianghu.

But this time, he was the greatest rebel king in the world.

In other words, Ping'an County now belonged to him. Half of the Central Plains was in his hands, and all of them… were his people.

Chen Yuan's return to his ancestral home was naturally a grand affair, guarded by as many as ten thousand soldiers, stretching as far as the eye could see, with young maids surrounding the royal carriage.

Tens of thousands of people constantly chanted in unison:

"Long live the King!"

"Long live the King!"

If it were an ordinary king, the people daring to shout "Long Live" would certainly be a treasonous crime, punishable by confiscation of property, extermination of the family, exile and banishment. But for a rebel king like Chen Yuan,

it was just right.

It could not be called treason, because the rebel king's purpose was to rebel, to sit on the chair that was called "Long Live."

Chen Yuan raised his hand, signaling the people below to rise. Among those kneeling down, he noticed many familiar figures: Zhao Nanshan, Wu Qingfeng, Wang Ping, and many other former acquaintances.

"Rise!"

The attendant at his side shouted at the top of his voice.

Only then did Wang Ping and the others dare to raise their heads, looking at the figure above the royal carriage, as if covered by a layer of hazy light, making it difficult to see clearly.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Chen Yuan stepped down from the royal carriage step by step, treading the void as he approached Wang Ping and the others. In fact, it had not been long since they last met.

But it felt like a long time had passed, and the relationship between them had undergone earth-shattering changes.

"This humble official, Wu Qingfeng, greets Your Highness!"

"This old man, Zhao Nanshan, greets Your Highness!"

"This humble official, Wang Ping, greets Your Highness!"

The men immediately saluted. Wang Ping and Zhao Nanshan looked relatively calm. After all, they knew Chen Yuan's disposition. Even if he had distanced himself from them due to his elevated status, his past actions could still prove that he was a man who cherished old friendships. At the very least, he would not be angry with them.

But Wu Qingfeng was different. He was very uneasy. His friendship with Chen Yuan was very ordinary, only offering a few words of advice when he left Ping'an County.

He had even specifically targeted Chen Yuan before. Now, as a surrendered official, a single careless word from Chen Yuan could strip him of his official position, or even put him to death.

"Old Zhao, Wang Ping, I still prefer the familiar 'Ge'er' and 'Xiaozi'." Chen Yuan smiled faintly.

Wang Ping and Zhao Nanshan were stunned by Chen Yuan's words, then smiles appeared on their faces. The Chen Yuan in their memories had never changed!

...

After the grand welcoming ceremony, Chen Yuan led Wang Ping and Zhao Nanshan into Ping'an County, and he issued an order to set up banquets for three days on the streets of the four districts of Ping'an County.

All the people and soldiers could enjoy themselves to their hearts' content, which immediately caused even greater cheers.

For the wealthy, meat was nothing. They even had the opportunity to eat higher-level foods containing spiritual energy. But for the common people, a free opportunity to eat meat was still very rare.

And this, too, was a common tactic used by those in power.

At a small cost, they could win over even more people's hearts.

While the outside was excitedly feasting, Chen Yuan, Wang Ping, and Zhao Nanshan returned to the backyard of the Sanhe Fist Hall, drinking a few cups of wine and talking about the things that had happened in the past.

Once upon a time, Chen Yuan was just a small constable in Ping'an County, gradually making contact with Zhao Nanshan because he needed his help, and he became his reliance at the time.

When he was weak, Zhao Nanshan helped him a lot, and he returned the favor. Not only did he avenge Zhao Nanshan, destroying the Dragon Tiger Gate, but he also obtained the Black Fish Bone-Connecting Paste to reconnect his meridians.

Now, Zhao Nanshan had recovered his cultivation, and even the white hair on his head had turned black. He had become much younger.

When talking about the past, he only said with relief that he was fortunate to be good at recognizing people, otherwise he would have missed a latent dragon like Chen Yuan, and there would have been no later rewards.

Wang Ping directly exposed his old secret, saying that he was just casting a wide net, and it was just a coincidence that he met Chen Yuan. In fact, there were many people who had received his favor.

Chen Yuan laughed heartily, scolding Zhao Nanshan for being an old fox.

The three chatted happily, as if they had returned to the time when he was a constable several years ago, when he seemed to drink with Wang Ping often.

Chen Yuan brought top-quality spirit wine, which was not only strong but also contained more abundant spiritual energy. After drinking only one jar of wine, Wang Ping and Zhao Nanshan, two martial artists in the Coagulating Gang Realm, could not hold their liquor and fell on the stone table.

Standing up, Chen Yuan looked at the familiar scene and constantly recalled the past. After standing for a while, he left the Sanhe Fist Hall and walked on the streets of Ping'an County.

At this moment, many soldiers were carrying tables on the street, and countless people's faces were filled with long-lost smiles.

But one thing was common: no one could see Chen Yuan's existence.

He walked aimlessly, and the memories sealed in his mind became clearer. This was not the first time he had returned, nor the first time he had walked on the streets.

But it seemed that none of his previous experiences could compare to his current feelings.

It felt as if he was more complete.

He walked to the Iron Mansion and saw Madam Iron, who was still beautiful, but the traces of time had left their mark on her face.

She was reprimanding the maids beside her, seemingly because the maids had broken her beloved cup.

He walked to the Four Seas Gang and saw the leader of the Four Seas Gang, Zhu Si Hai, who was still very strong, savoring his favorite chicken soup.

Chen Yuan had also tasted it before. It was made with a hen that had been raised for two and a half years, and it tasted delicious and fresh.

Taking a sip, Zhu Si Hai savored it endlessly, exclaiming to the people around him about the scene where he and the current Prince Yan, Chen Yuan, had sat at the same table, saying that Chen Yuan had once said,

"In this northern part of Ping'an City, the Blackest is me, and the Whitest is Chen Yuan."

As a result, not long after, Chen Yuan was promoted to Nanling Prefecture and left Ping'an County. Since then, like a latent dragon entering the water, he had established an amazing reputation in the Jianghu.

Now, he had a million soldiers and occupied half of the Central Plains, becoming the Prince Yan admired by all. The entire Ping'an County had benefited from this. It was his old Zhu who was blind, he should have sworn brotherhood with Chen Yuan, even giving up his wife would have been worth it, saying that Wang Ping, who was now in Ping'an County, was just a small follower, who didn't even have the opportunity to eat with him.

And now?

Even the magistrate had to give way to him, he was the greatest in Ping'an County!

The people around Zhu Si Hai told him to say less, lest it spread outside and cause a huge disaster. Zhu Si Hai was silent, taking spoonful after spoonful of chicken soup.

After watching for a while, Chen Yuan left.

Zhu Si Hai was just a small interlude in his life. He could come this far purely because of his whims, following his heart to take this step.

Walking and walking, Chen Yuan walked to the county office again, seeing countless busy constables and runners, including many of his old acquaintances.

Continuing to walk, Chen Yuan followed his heart to a room in the county office, a simple room, very familiar, the bronze mirror on the table had been changed.

Back then, he had first come to another world, opening his eyes here, his heart filled with hesitation as he walked out of the room, seeing this mysterious alien world.

Lying on the bed, Chen Yuan slowly closed his eyes, thinking of the initial scene, his stomach churning, his mind almost exploded by the memories of his predecessor.

At this moment, time seemed to have returned to the past.

The past of his life, like a fleeting image, constantly appeared in his mind, obtaining the Vajra Glazed Body, assassinating Iron Lady's brother, Tie Xuan.

From the Huang Family Ancestral Hall, he obtained the Marrow Cleansing Pearl and became a constable in Ping'an County.

After that, he left Ping'an County, went to Nanling Prefecture, then to Qingzhou, and then to the stage of the world.

Those past events were vivid in his mind, as if they had reappeared again.

He was thinking, if he had to choose again, would he still embark on this path?

This path full of killing and bloodshed.

Chen Yuan thought for a long time, opened his eyes, slowly stood up, sat in front of the bronze mirror, looking at the familiar and unfamiliar face in the mirror, he smiled.

If he had to do it again, he would still choose this path!

And he would walk it even more smoothly than before.

His eyes became brighter and brighter, and he only felt that some of the deficiencies in his heart were gradually being filled, and his artistic conception was tending towards perfection.

Originally, Chen Yuan's idea was to go to the Western Regions to take the Amber Divine Pearl in order to perfect his artistic conception, and he had also indirectly asked Moro whether there was any treasure in the world that could directly perfect people.

The answer he received was relatively vague, there were spiritual objects that could assist, but no one had ever been able to rely on external objects to directly cultivate their artistic conception to perfection, because what the artistic conception reflected was oneself!

If oneself was without flaws, the artistic conception would naturally be perfect.

Therefore, he returned to Ping'an County again. This was the beginning of his rise. Here, he obtained the most opportunities, allowing his state of mind to be perfected.

Allowing his Yuanshen to cultivate to the unprecedented ten-inch realm.

He was thinking, this time, could he also cultivate his artistic conception to perfection.

He came, without much hesitation.

Thinking that he could make mistakes here casually, after all, there was no cost.

Fortunately, his idea seemed to be right.

Here, he did perceive something.

From the time Wang Ping and Zhao Nanshan were drunk on the stone table, he had some strange perceptions, and then he walked to the streets of Ping'an County, walking the road leading to his heart.

His artistic conception was gradually tending towards perfection. Chen Yuan directly emptied everything, only following his feelings to leave Ping'an County, heading north of the city.

To be precise, he returned to that small courtyard.

Many of the surrounding neighbors were discussing Chen Yuan, the former and the current Prince Yan, with an increasingly excited meaning. They could not be said to be close to Chen Yuan, but there was no enmity either.

But when one person attains the Dao, even his pets ascend to heaven.

These neighbors of his were equivalent to having a great backer. From now on, no officials would dare to oppress these neighbors of Prince Yan.

Passing through the walls, the thick walls were like a mere formality in front of him. Entering the room, there were still three brand-new spiritual tablets.

Obviously, Wang Ping came here often.

He reached out and took down his uncle's spiritual tablet and crushed it, and then waved his hand to destroy his father's tablet. The former was because the other party had not yet passed away, and setting up a spiritual tablet was unlucky.

The latter was because that Xiang Qianqiu guy was really not worthy.

Only his mother's tablet was left on it. Chen Yuan lit the incense on the table and respectfully bowed three times.

He did not respect heaven, did not respect earth, did not respect his father, only respected his mother.

When the three bows were completed, Chen Yuan only felt that his heart was suddenly more comfortable, and his whole body was enveloped in an inexplicable invisible Dao rhythm.

It was as if he had sublimated!

Chen Yuan had actually experienced a lot. Although his cultivation years were short, his accumulation far exceeded those who had cultivated for hundreds of years, and his comprehension was excellent.

When good fortune came, he could quickly grasp it and completely unleash his accumulation.

This time was the same.

There was no heavenly flower, no earth springing with golden lotuses, only a layer of invisible Dao rhythm enveloped him, making him even more detached.

And even more in harmony with the heaven and earth.

The surrounding void rippled, and Moro, dressed in white, slowly condensed. When his gaze fell on Chen Yuan, he stared for a moment, and then a smile appeared on his face.

"Congratulations, Benefactor, for the perfection of your artistic conception!"

"I also want to thank Senior for his previous guidance."

"That's just because you are gifted and understand everything with one point."

"Hehe."

Chen Yuan smiled lightly, without arrogance.

"When do we set off?"

Moro was following Chen Yuan, not because he had nothing to do, but because it was something they had agreed upon long ago: Moro would accompany Chen Yuan to the Luli Kingdom in the Western Regions.

Originally, Chen Yuan was going to go alone, take the opportunity and leave, without staying, but later he thought about it and decided to ask Moro to accompany him.

One was because the other party knew the Western Regions better and could save him effort, and the other was because it was safer to have such a powerful guard with him.

After all, no one could have predicted whether Xiang Qianqiu would attack him out of desperation, or whether the Buddha would attack him without Wude. To be on the safe side, safety was the most important thing.

And this time he came to Ping'an County, besides trying to perfect his artistic conception, he also wanted to confuse those existences outside who were paying attention to him, telling them that he was here.

But his true body had already left the Central Plains!

"Let's go now!"

Chen Yuan waved his hand, and a figure was quickly condensed by his vitality and essence blood. A drop of essence blood was enough to keep this avatar alive for several months.

As long as he didn't make a move, even those who knew him well wouldn't find out that he was fake.

"Good!"

Moro nodded slightly, and the surrounding void rippled.

Then, he took the lead and stepped into it, and Chen Yuan followed closely behind. When the waves in the void gradually calmed down, the avatar left behind sat cross-legged, closing his eyes and breathing.

————

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