Chapter 1078 - 1077: Return to Hidden Dragon Mountain

"I have returned once more!"

Southern Heaven.

Three days later.

Ye Qingchen crossed the East Sea, gazing at the vast expanse of mountains and rivers, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

To ordinary people, this was merely a brief span of half a year.

But to Ye Qingchen, it felt as though centuries had passed.

Half a year before.

He had just concluded the Thirty-Six Sects Assembly when Yu Hongqing undermined him, capturing Su Moran and laying a deadly trap in the Taotian Palace. He narrowly escaped death to rescue Su Moran.

Afterward, the Thirty-Six Sects united to kill him, forcing him to flee Southern Heaven with Su Moran and Bai Ji, leading to the heaven-shocking battle at the Black Water River. Then followed the conflict in the Enchanting Sea Region, the relentless fighting against Zou Ji Dao, slaying the pursuers of the Thirty-Six Sects, culminating in a showdown with Yu Hongqing.

One thing after another weighed heavily upon him.

For others, any one of these would suffice to crush them utterly. Yet to his surprise, he endured it all.

At that time, he was merely an Earth Immortal Sixth Layer, but in a blink of an eye, he had stepped into the ranks of the Celestial Immortals.

"Taotian Palace, the enmity between us must be thoroughly resolved!"

"From the moment I joined Taotian Palace, you've relentlessly pressed forward, determined to kill me. Now is the time for your total annihilation!"

Ye Qingchen's eyes flashed with cold light.

Back then.

He still held some hope for Taotian Palace, but who knew that the seven Supreme Elders would seek to eradicate him completely? At that time, he was still weak and had many concerns.

Now, Su Moran had defected from Taotian Palace, with many changes, and he no longer needed to hold back on anything.

Ye Qingchen let out a cold laugh.

He had prepared everything to definitively settle his grievances with Taotian Palace.

"Whoosh!"

Ye Qingchen's figure moved.

In an instant, he transformed into a streak of azure light, swiftly heading towards the direction of Taotian Palace.

"This aura is..."

Swish!

With Ye Qingchen's movement, everywhere along the East Sea's shores, people simultaneously lifted their heads, looking towards the position where Ye Qingchen was flying with wonder, shock, or fear.

"Master Ancestor, what happened to you?"

A young man with a sword on his back, full of curiosity, asked.

"Just now I sensed a terrifying aura..." The white-haired, elderly man nearby trembled all over, his face ash as death, shivering like a startled rabbit.

The young man beside him was shocked, incredulous. After all, his family's Master Ancestor was an experienced Earth Immortal. What existence could frighten him so?

Only after a moment did the elderly man seem to recover from his fear, expressing lingering fear:

"Your perspective is too limited to understand the vastness of the world. The Sect Leader of Taotian Palace, Yu Hongqing, entered the Earth Immortal at eighteen and confirmed the Celestial Immortal at thirty! Yet he was defeated by Ye the Demon!"

"Then, reorganizing his forces, he returned with overwhelming might, shocking the East Sea, easily subduing Su Moran. But who would have thought this time he not only lost again to Ye the Demon but also forfeited his own life!"

"Although we are seasoned Earth Immortals, in front of such world-shaking beings, we are but insignificant!"

The old man continued while slowly shaking his head.

"Master Ancestor, is what you're saying really true?" the young man asked, mouth agape and eyes wide in disbelief. "I always thought the tales of Ye the Demon were mere rumors..."

The old man shook his head, speaking with a bitter tone: "How could they be mere rumors? Look at how Taotian Palace now is on high alert, every sound alarms people, and you'll understand. A single misstep, and the Thirty-Six Sects will become history!"

This kind of conversation was pervasive across the shores.

After all.

Ye Qingchen had now reached the realm of Celestial Immortal. His every move resembled that of a celestial being. The Immense Realm, even the slightest leak, was of catastrophic existence to ordinary Earth Immortals.

However, by then, Ye Qingchen had already left the shores, speeding towards the direction of Taotian Palace.

During his initial escape, he traveled with Su Moran and Bai Ji, hiding along the way, taking a full three months for the journey. But on his return, by the third nightfall, he could already see the standing Taotian Palace at the meeting of heaven and earth.

Nevertheless.

Instead of heading straight towards Taotian Palace, Ye Qingchen inexplicably arrived at Hidden Dragon Mountain.

"In just a year, Hidden Dragon Mountain has become chaotic!"

Gazing at the somewhat disordered Hidden Dragon Mountain, Ye Qingchen couldn't help but sigh silently in his heart.

Back then.

When he was still in Taotian Palace, the Sea of Zhou, Lu Yanwu, Lin Shifei, and Zheng Jiuling would often manage Hidden Dragon Mountain for him. It was untouched by the mundane, and Spiritual Qi was abundant within the mountain. Despite the array formations' intricacies, much Spiritual Qi would still leak out.

If not properly maintained, in just a few months, Hidden Dragon Mountain could turn into a primordial forest.

Looking from afar now.

He saw the mountain filled with enormous ancient trees towering skyward, as if supporting this heaven and earth.

"Fine, since I'm here, I might as well go back and take a look!"

"Once I start the battle with Taotian Palace, life may never be as leisurely as it is today!"

Ye Qingchen reflected deeply.

Moreover, though the Thirty-Six Sects had their own conflicts, they had existed for thousands of years with deep private ties. One slight movement could affect them all. Once he acted against Taotian Palace, it was impossible for the other sects to stand by idly.

When he returned.

He specifically checked on Zhou Hai, Lu Yanwu, and Lin Shifei.

Zhou Hai had entered the realm of Human Immortal, becoming an honored guest in a small city. Ye Qingchen found him chatting and joking with others. Lin Shifei reverted to his mundane ways; naturally talented, once he left Taotian Palace, he could only return to the ordinary. As for Lu Yanwu, since their separation, she hadn't returned to Taotian Palace either, devoting herself day and night to her cultivation.

Ye Qingchen did not disturb them.

Only Zheng Jiuling, the old man, discovered Ye Qingchen's return to Southern Heaven and obstinately followed him. However, Ye Qingchen dismissed him casually. He was now deep in turmoil, carrying a vendetta as vast as the sea of blood, and ordinary people who got too entangled with him would soon find themselves in peril.

"Once I resolve matters in Southern Heaven, I'll head to the Extreme North... Qing'Er should also have reached the Earth Immortal, so she can leave the Ice and Snow Divine Palace!"

Ye Qingchen thought as he walked towards Hidden Dragon Mountain.

He still remembered, in the spring pool of Hidden Dragon Mountain, there seemed to be something present. He had intended to explore it before, but due to insufficient strength, it was shelved. Now, with his return, he could finally investigate what it truly was.

As he pondered, Ye Qingchen arrived at the foot of Hidden Dragon Mountain. Just as he was about to ascend, a sudden shout, accompanied by the clanging sound of weapons being drawn, came from the side:

"Who are you?"

"Daring to trespass Hidden Dragon Mountain?"

Ye Qingchen looked up and saw a young girl, bright and beautiful as a flower, protected in the center by others, with guards around her eyeing him coldly like knives.