Chapter 344 - 315: Three Pieces of News, Post-War Aftershocks

Chapter 344: Chapter 315: Three Pieces of News, Post-War Aftershocks

"Ancestor, are we really just leaving like this? The Grand Elder and Fifth Elder..."

Looking back and seeing that Chen Che and the others were no longer in sight, someone finally mustered the courage to ask.

Ye Yuanji’s face was grim. "Going all out to take them down with us would be simple," he rebuked. "But what would happen after the battle? Would we be left with a shattered family, at the mercy of others?"

He was the ancestor of a clan first, and a Cultivator second.

If he went all out, he could indeed kill all of them. But what then? Five Elders had already fallen; all of their top-tier combat power was lost. Were they to lose the core strength of their clan here as well?

"Our foundation is still intact. In a hundred years or so, we can produce a few more at Great Perfection. The worst-case scenario is simply splitting Yunzhou three ways."

Hearing this, everyone had mixed feelings.

Just half a month ago, the Ye Race had been in a position of boundless glory, dominating the Meng Family with the ferocity of a crouching tiger and leaving them gasping for breath. But in a matter of days, the tables had turned, and the family now had to accept the reality of sharing Yunzhou equally with their rival.

"As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood."

Ye Yuanji looked back at the clan’s elites and said meaningfully, "Remember, Realm is fundamental. Today, we took a step back because we are one Golden Core short. In the future, we can take a step forward when we have one Golden Core more."

"You must all remember the humiliation of today’s retreat. When your Cultivation is higher, you will reclaim our honor. If one of you becomes a Nascent Soul True Monarch, never mind dominating Yunzhou—even forcing the Primordial Sect to bow its head would not be difficult."

...

"To endure what must be endured... He is a truly deep and calculating man."

Watching them leave, Meng Changtu couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

Xiao Chan and Chen Xi both breathed a sigh of relief.

Just moments ago, they all thought another vicious battle was about to begin. To fight intensely against several Golden Core masters in a single day was truly harrowing.

"Changtu, you are mistaken."

Meng Qianxun looked at the clouds and said,

"He is merely being clever. If he were alone, it would be us who would have to retreat. Ye Yuanji simply wants to preserve the core strength of his clan. If it were me, I would have made the same choice."

"However, after suffering such an obvious loss, the Ye Family will have to be more restrained from now on."

Chen Che nodded slightly.

They weren’t worried about the other party going back on their word.

With the Ye Race having lost all its high-end combat power, it would be difficult for them to hold onto the territories that were originally within the Meng Family’s sphere of influence, unless Ye Yuanji personally stood guard.

But as a dignified Golden Core master, how could he be tied down by such trivial matters?

Rather than wait for the territories to be snatched back later, it was better to return them now and preserve the clan’s strength as much as possible.

"Let’s go."

Meng Qianxun flicked his sleeve and rode his Escape Light toward Jinyun Valley.

...

In just a few days, three shocking pieces of news swept through the Sixteen States.

Chen Che of Jinyun Valley had achieved Core Formation. What was once an ordinary Foundation Establishment Influence had suddenly risen a level, transforming into a Golden Core Influence. Those vassal families who chose to stay behind got the outcome they had hoped for, and naturally celebrated with lanterns, decorations, and jubilant cheers.

As for the families that had left, they were consumed by regret.

To seek refuge, they had moved almost overnight, in groups of hundreds or even thousands, and were still wandering without a place to settle. Many had even maliciously cursed Jinyun Valley, hoping it would be trampled flat soon, just to make themselves look smart for leaving.

But who would have thought this would be the outcome they’d see?

Watching Jinyun Valley prosper day by day while looking at their own miserable and desolate state, some felt regret, while others felt jealousy and hatred.

The Lü Family was one such case.

After leaving Jinyun Valley, they had traveled north without rest, day and night, fearing that Chen Che might go back on his word.

That night.

CRACK!

At night, a serpent of lightning tore across the sky.

Soon after, a heavy rain began to fall, extinguishing the nearby campfires. The clansmen had already set up felt tarps when the wind picked up. The travel-worn Lü Shiyong sat in the center, staring at the letter in his hand in utter astonishment.

"Chen Che reached Core Formation?"

"Should we go back to Jinyun Valley?"

Someone asked in a low voice.

"Can we even go back?" that person asked, dazed.

Lü Shiyong was filled with regret. Why hadn’t he just held on for a few more months? If he had, he would have seen the clouds part to reveal the moon. The clan’s Elders all looked toward him, hoping he would come up with a plan.

"What’s done is done. There’s no turning back."

Lü Shiyong let out a long sigh.

"In life, everyone makes mistakes. From now on, we just have to make sure we choose the right side. We will go to Lezhou and seek refuge with the Bai Family. The Bai Family is backed by True Master Duobao, an established Golden Core Influence..."

...

Of course, up to this point, things were still quite normal.

After all, Chen Che was a renowned genius of the Alchemy Dao. Many had already predicted he would achieve Core Formation sooner or later; it was only a matter of time.

The real source of everyone’s shock was the Ye Clan’s actions:

The Ye Race, which had been aggressively posturing as if to swallow the Meng Family whole, had suddenly retreated overnight like a receding tide. Not only did they spit out all the territory they had previously swallowed, but they also sealed their mountains for twenty years, vowing not to participate in external affairs.

The Meng Family, which had been in a precarious position, was suddenly brought back from the brink of disaster.

Such a stunning turn of events caught everyone by surprise. While everyone was still reeling in shock and doubt, an extremely confidential piece of news was leaked from the Ye Race: the newly ascended Golden Core True Master, Ye Juming, was suspected to have fallen at the hands of Valley Master Chen.

Only then did everyone understand why the Ye Race had given up the territory they had already conquered.

They also understood that Yunzhou was likely to remain in a three-way standoff for a long time to come.

As for the third piece of news, it was the death of Thousand Eyes True Master.

A great battle had occurred at the Imperial Mausoleum in Shuzhou. The disturbance was simply too great, and with Chen Yin having been prepared to perish with his foe by Crossing the Tribulation, it was impossible to keep it a secret. Many Cultivators had gone to Shuzhou to investigate early on.

That was how they learned that Chen Xi was the sole survivor among the Cultivators of the Great Chen Royal Family.

Many Loose Cultivators had originally coveted the Treasures left behind by Thousand Eyes, but upon seeing that Chen Xi was a guest at Jinyun Valley, they immediately gave up the idea. This did not, however, deter some of the established Golden Core Influences. Many True Masters were skeptical of the news and went to see for themselves.

Seeing the utter devastation of the Imperial Mausoleum, they were instantly eighty percent convinced of Thousand Eyes’ demise.

After all.

The Great Chen Royal Family were his Household Slaves, and they were Tributors to Thousand Eyes. Never mind that only Chen Xi was left; even if they were all wiped out, they would have had to obediently crawl out of their coffins to provide for Thousand Eyes’ continued Cultivation.

The fact that the Chen Clan was now completely ignoring the Imperial Mausoleum could only be explained by one thing: Thousand Eyes had fallen.

’Could it be that the deaths of Ye Juming and Thousand Eyes are related to Jinyun Valley and the Meng Family?’

Some people connected the three events.

After all.

Many people had seen this group leave directly from the Imperial Mausoleum.

But when they thought about the implications, it seemed unbelievable. It couldn’t be possible that Chen Che had killed both Ye Juming and Thousand Eyes right after achieving Core Formation. If that were true, it would be utterly terrifying.

Of course.

Regardless of whether the news was true or false, everyone was clear on one point:

Jinyun Valley and the Meng Family could no longer be suppressed.

...

While the outside world was in an uproar, Jinyun Valley was bustling with activity. Some time ago, during Meng Qianxun’s Core Formation ceremony, many influences had seen the Ye Family’s power and sided with them. Now that the east wind had prevailed over the west wind, they naturally had to come and apologize.

Chen Che had no patience for these fair-weather factions:

’Share the blessings, but run when there’s trouble? There’s no such good deal in this world.’

Besides.

Things were different now. He had reached the Golden Core realm, and the patriarchs of those Foundation Establishment Races no longer had the right to face him directly. From now on, he would only associate with True Masters of the same Realm. It was just like with Thousand Eyes True Master:

Without a summons, you couldn’t even get a meeting.

After handing these trivial matters over to Hu Yao, Chen Che went directly into seclusion.

Having fought several intense battles in a row, his mind and spirit were utterly exhausted. He would need to meditate for at least a few days to recover. In any case, he was already back in the valley, so Chen Che was in no hurry. He decided to wait until he was back in peak condition before absorbing Thousand Eyes’ Divine Statue.

As for Chen Xi.

She was temporarily staying at Jinyun Valley and would only return once the situation stabilized.

’With no one above to suppress her, as long as she can sort out the token, she’ll be another Golden Core...’

Chen Che had no intention of controlling Chen Xi.

Often, having too strong a desire for control is not a good thing. The harder you press, the harder the other person will resist.

One more ally.

It was always better than one more servant who might try to devour their master at any moment.

Over the next few days, Chen Che spent most of his time recuperating. Thinking of the form Thousand Eyes had taken when he fled, he made a special trip to see Zuo Yishan and ask about the peculiarities of Divine Dao Cultivators.

Zuo Yishan was very enthusiastic toward this student, the second from the 19th class to achieve Core Formation, and stated directly that such situations could indeed occur. Because Divine Dao Cultivators are Soul Bodies, to heal themselves, aside from self-recovery and Pills, they can also devour Souls.

However, if the devoured Soul is too powerful and cannot be absorbed in a short time, it will coexist with the Divine Dao Cultivator, forming a half-human, half-beast-like existence. If that Soul were to in turn devour the original self, then the being would be taken over by it.

Of course.

Ghost Cultivators, who also lack a physical body and exist as Soul Bodies, can experience the same thing.

The Great Dao has three thousand paths, and every path has its own unique tribulations.

’Thousand Eyes must have been injured in the past and was forced to devour the Soul of a Hundred-Eyed Marsh Dragon to heal... But at the time, limited by his strength, he couldn’t absorb it completely, which is why he formed that half-human, half-beast Soul Body.’

Chen Che had a sudden realization, finally understanding the origin of Thousand Eyes’ final form.

...

「Seven days later.」

Chen Che, who had been sitting cross-legged for a long time, suddenly opened his eyes. At this moment, his True Essence, physical strength, and Divine Soul had all been restored to their peak.

Meanwhile, Meng Qianxun, Meng Changtu, and Xiao Chan were still healing.

The reason they hadn’t returned to their clan was that they were still worried the Ye Clan might launch a sneak attack. One couldn’t take the Ye Clan’s declaration of sealing their mountains for twenty years at face value; if they found an opportunity, that so-called seclusion would instantly be meaningless.

Therefore, they had to avoid being caught alone.

After a moment of quiet contemplation, Chen Che waved his hand, and a two-to-three-zhang-tall Black Stone Divine Statue landed before him with a THUD.

Although he had already examined it many times.

But every time he looked at it, he could feel the statue’s strangeness.

’Now that Thousand Eyes is dead, it’s time to absorb this Divine Statue!’