Chapter 680: Laying the Foundation

Let you go? Impossible, this is the Heavenly Venerable's order; I cannot disobey.

But out of brotherly affection, I will personally send you to Penglai.

Seeing my resolute attitude, Yuanshi fell into utter despair.

Don't even think of escaping; with me here, you cannot get away.

Furthermore, if I send you, you will at least stay alive until you reach Penglai; if anyone else sent you, you might die before arriving.

Yuanshi nodded, said no more, and I lifted him as we rushed toward Penglai.

The Yuanshi in my hand, at this moment his heart was like dead ashes, a picture of despair; lifted by me, he was like a lifeless object.

But I paid no heed to Yuanshi; once a person makes a choice, they must bear the consequences.

These consequences cannot be borne by another; how could I die in Yuanshi's stead?

Although they were once brothers, now times have changed.

What of brotherhood?

Take care of yourselves.

……

At this moment.

In the depths of chaos, Hongjun and Yang Mei finally ceased fleeing.

Their wounds were severe, and fearing Ye Qin's pursuit—though he did not chase—they had already fled for twelve years!

Pfft~!

Hongjun spat fresh blood again, sitting cross-legged in the chaos.

"Fellow Daoist Yang Mei, I never imagined we would end up like this." Hongjun gave a bitter smile.

Yang Mei also gave a bitter smile: "Back then, Pangu split us into grave injuries, nearly killing us; now his inheritor can also inflict grave injuries upon us."

"Ah!" Hongjun shook his head, then set aside his despondency, a flash of light crossing his eyes, "He has already used the power of Pangu twice; thereafter it is impossible."

"Hehe." Yang Mei chimed in with a laugh.

The two remained silent for a long time, then Hongjun spoke again: "These twelve years, I have glimpsed the world upon Heavenly Venerable Ye's body."

Yang Mei nodded, strange light flickering in his eyes: "I too have seen it; truly unbelievable, he actually opened up a world on the tiniest sphere of his flesh!"

Yang Mei did not know that it was a cell, merely calling it a sphere.

"Yes! Truly a stroke of divine genius!" Hongjun exclaimed, "This method of opening up a world is truly awe-inspiring! According to my estimates, theoretically he could open up every sphere in his physical body into worlds!"

"If such a day truly comes..." Hongjun's eyes grew bewildered, unable to imagine how strong Ye Qin would be then.

"But the price we have paid for this is too great!" Yang Mei sighed.

"Yes, but it is all worth it; since he is unwilling to pass on the method of opening up worlds to us, we will comprehend it ourselves."

"Over twelve years, I finally came to see his world clearly; I counted and found there were as many as fifty! At the time I was astonished to the point of being heavenly, and I nearly had a lapse, allowing Heavenly Venerable Ye to catch an opening and strike me down with his sword."

"My Dao... is mistaken, but it is not too late; I still have time!" Hongjun raised his head, gazing toward the Honghuang direction.

"Mm! We will heal our wounds here in the chaos, and then emulate him in opening up worlds." Yang Mei said.

Hongjun nodded: "Although we provoked first, Heavenly Venerable Ye is truly ruthless; if this grudge is not avenged, I will not cease."

"Fellow Daoist Yang Mei, how about we form an alliance? Until we avenge our grudges and wipe away our hatred." Hongjun looked at Yang Mei and proposed.

Yang Mei nodded: "Very well, since Heavenly Venerable Ye has opened up fifty worlds before us, we can only join forces."

……

Not long after, these two wounded chatterboxes quieted down and began to heal their wounds.

Meanwhile, Ye Qin was still unaware that Patriarch Hongjun and Ancestor Yang Mei had already plotted to seek revenge on him.

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye a hundred years had passed.

During this long hundred years, the names of Hongjun and Yang Mei became a taboo that none dared mention.

In the Honghuang world, not a single living being dared to casually discuss these two existences.

In fact, during this hundred years, Honghuang indeed saw no trace of Hongjun and Yang Mei; they seemed to have vanished from the world.

But Ye Qin knew they had not disappeared; they were merely silently healing their wounds.

One day they will surely make a comeback.

Therefore, he must raise his Cultivation Level to the peak before their return, to ensure absolute safety!

That day, Ye Qin once again stepped into the chaos space.

His goal is to break through to the late-stage Mixed Yuan Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm!

Over the past hundred years, he has comprehended and mastered over five hundred Dao principles.

These Dao principles have been integrated by him into the worlds he opened up, making those fifty worlds ever more perfect.

Now he has accumulated strength, ready to open up more worlds.

Therefore, he came to the chaos space seeking a breakthrough.

Calling it cultivation is actually inaccurate, for he feels that as long as the timing is ripe, a breakthrough is a matter of course.

To him, a breakthrough has never been a bottleneck.

As long as he wishes, he can cross realms at any time.

However, at his current realm, each step must be taken with caution.

Because each breakthrough means he is one step closer to that world-ending Heavenly Tribulation!

That is a deadly calamity; he must ensure he reaches perfection in each realm before daring to take that step.

This is taking responsibility for his own life.

The chaos qi began to surge tumultuously, Ye Qin like an endless black hole frantically devouring the surrounding chaos qi.

Each time, the chaos qi around his entire body would be completely sucked away in an extremely short time.

Then, as a result, the chaotic Qi around him grew thin, while the chaotic Qi elsewhere surged like a tide.

This is the reason the chaotic Qi rages!

With Ye Qin as the center, the entire chaotic space seemed to form a huge vortex, with chaotic Qi continuously pouring toward him!

Boom!

Ten years later, he finally absorbed enough chaotic Qi; his dantian expanded, increasing a hundredfold over its original size!

He succeeded! He entered the late stage of the Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal Realm!

Afterward, he spent another fifty years filling his dantian with chaotic Qi, then began to open up new worlds.

One, five, ten… twenty, one hundred!

This time, he opened up a full one hundred new worlds in one go!

Adding the worlds he had opened before, he now possesses a total of one hundred fifty worlds!

He carefully sensed these worlds and found that these one hundred fifty worlds exactly meet his chaotic Qi consumption during battle!

This means he can fight continuously without needing to draw chaotic Qi from the outside.

Because the chaotic Qi generated by these one hundred fifty worlds is sufficient to sustain his combat needs!

What's more surprising is that when these one hundred fifty worlds are used simultaneously, they produce a special effect!

The over five hundred Dao principles he integrated into the worlds attach to the chaotic Qi, so each of his moves contains the power of those over five hundred Dao principles!

Moreover, the Dao principles of each world are identical to those he himself has mastered.

Put another way, this is equivalent to having over one hundred fifty versions of him fighting simultaneously!

Is this the marvel of opening up worlds?

Ye Qin fell into thought, if this calculation were truly accurate……

Then, if one day every cell in his body could open up a world, each of his strikes would be equivalent to hundreds of billions of him fighting at once!

In other words, when he throws a punch, the Dao principles and power in his fist will be amplified by hundreds of billions of times!

Thinking of this, Ye Qin couldn't help but feel shocked.

If such a day truly comes, what does he have to fear in a battle against the Great Dao?

Ye Qin's heart surged with excitement; he never imagined that a single flash of inspiration back then would let him advance further and further on this path, with a promising future!

But at the same time, he felt a hint of fear, for the apocalyptic Heavenly Tribulation above his head was growing ever more terrifying.

He did not know whether he could survive this great tribulation.

Yet this fear only strengthened his resolve.

The so-called apocalyptic Heavenly Tribulation is actually the fear of the Great Dao! The stronger the tribulation, the more it shows the Great Dao fears Ye Qin!

This further proves that the path Ye Qin walks is correct.

He gazed into the depths of chaos, having heard that the Great Dao is everywhere yet has never truly manifested.

Perhaps the Great Dao is not a living being, but the consciousness of this boundless chaotic space! Ye Qin suddenly had a thought.

Of course, this is merely his speculation; as for the true nature, he does not know.

"Husband, the commotion you're causing is getting bigger and bigger."

Ye Qin was still pondering when a voice came from behind him—it was Hou Tu.

He came to his senses, waved at Hou Tu, and she sat down beside him.

He then lay down, resting his head in Hou Tu's embrace, quietly enjoying this rare tranquility.

"Husband, I'm so scared…"

Hou Tu gently stroked Ye Qin's face and hair with her hand, voicing her true inner feelings.

"What's wrong?" Ye Qin asked.

"This tribulation is growing stronger and stronger; I have no confidence. If you…"

Ye Qin fell silent; he also didn't know how to comfort Hou Tu.

"Husband, I have a request." Hou Tu said.

Ye Qin lifted his head and glanced at Hou Tu; he saw her gazing at him affectionately, tears glimmering in her eyes.

He reached out and touched Hou Tu's head, saying, "I promise you, I will agree to whatever you say."

"Pass on to me your method of opening up worlds." Hou Tu said.

Ye Qin's arm stiffened, and he fell silent for a moment.

"Pass it on to me. If one day you can't bear it, I also want to die alongside you beneath the apocalyptic Heavenly Tribulation. Without you, I truly wouldn't know what to do."

Ye Qin was moved; he sat up, pulled Hou Tu tightly into his arms, and gently patted her back with his palm.

"I can't bear to." he said.

"How could you bear to watch me wash my face with tears every day because you're gone?" Hou Tu countered.

"I…" Ye Qin was at a loss for words.

"Pass it on to me! I wish to live and die with you! If you live, I live; if you die, I die with you!" Hou Tu declared firmly.

Ye Qin sighed, and finally told Hou Tu the method of opening up worlds.

Upon hearing it, Hou Tu broke into a delighted smile.

Looking at the happy Hou Tu, a hint of insight welled up in Ye Qin's heart.

Perhaps what she most wishes for is not to stand at home, watching Ye Qin venture into danger while worrying anxiously.

But to accompany Ye Qin at his side, facing together the storms to come, truly achieving shared life and death.

In the past, Ye Qin always hated letting his wives follow him into danger, thinking that as long as they lived well, that was his greatest hope.

Only now does he realize how selfish he has been, never considering their feelings.

At this moment, Ye Qin made a momentous decision. He rose to his feet, looked at the still-seated Hou Tu, and smiled as he said:

You cultivate here, I'll make a trip back to Honghuang.

Hou Tu nodded.

Ye Qin brought the Three Xiao and Nüwa back to Penglai Island in Honghuang, and then the group set out on a journey to Chaos Space. He made a major decision to pass his cultivation method to them, hoping they could fight side by side with him and grow together.

Perhaps he had been overly selfish before, not giving much thought to their feelings, but now he resolved to change.

"Lin Gege!" the Three Xiao looked at Ye Qin with tear-filled eyes, full of emotion. Yet Ye Qin's heart was filled with guilt.

Qiong Xiao sobbed, saying, "We thought we'd never have a chance to be with you again."

Bi Xiao took up the conversation: "Watching your cultivation level advance day by day, yet the time we spend together grows ever shorter. We know you bear a great responsibility, to uphold the entire Sect of the Cut, but we can only watch helplessly, unable to lend a hand."

Yun Xiao could no longer hold back her emotions, she flung herself into Ye Qin's embrace: "As it turns out, you never forgot us; you're still that Lin Gege."

Ye Qin tightly embraced Yun Xiao, one hand patting her back, the other stroking her soft hair: "Sorry, I once thought that as long as I protected you, you would be happy."

"Sorry, I was too selfish. But I promise, I won't be like that anymore."

Nüwa stood aside, watching silently, her heart full of envy. Her feelings for Ye Qin were far shallower than his deep bond with the Three Xiao and Hou Tu. Thus she merely stood in place, watching Ye Qin and the Three Xiao's intimate gestures.

Ye Qin noticed Nüwa's envy, smiled and waved at her. Nüwa felt a flicker of joy, but teased, "With so many people, can you even hold them all?"

Ye Qin feigned displeasure: "Bring a few more, I can still hold them all! Don't forget, I've mastered the Three Heads Six Arms Divine Ability!" Before his words faded, he suddenly felt a pinch at his waist—it was Hou Tu who had poked him, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Do you still want to find more?!" Hou Tu asked.

Ye Qin laughed embarrassedly, wondering why he couldn't keep his mouth shut. He quickly denied: "No, no, having you all is enough; I won't look for anyone else."

Hou Tu said solemnly: "Then quickly release them—since they're also your women, you can't keep them locked up in the Human Book Space."

Ye Qin then realized, hurriedly took out the Human Book, and released Chang'e and the others. Yet as soon as Chang'e appeared, she lunged at Ye Qin, looking ready to settle scores.

Ye Qin looked at Chang'e's furious face and inwardly smiled wryly: "This girl really is stubborn!"

"Alright, it's been so many years—why are you still holding such a grudge? Can't we stop this?" Ye Qin tried to ease the atmosphere.

Chang'e glared at him, fury blazing: "No! I want revenge!"

Ye Qin helplessly shook his head, then waved a hand, moving the "Golden House Hiding Beauty" palace built in Chaos Space over here. He led all his wives inside and shut the door.

Immediately, music sounded within the Golden House Hiding Beauty palace. Ye Qin deliberately confined Chang'e to a corner, then he and the others indulged in pleasure.

Half a month later, when the others had rested, Ye Qin finally released Chang'e's confinement. She rushed over to strike him, and Ye Qin, head aching, asked: "Tell me, how can you calm down?"

Chang'e stared blankly; for years she'd grown used to hitting Ye Qin whenever she saw him. But now Ye Qin asked her how to calm down, and she was at a loss.

However, after gazing at the "Living Spring Palace" for so long, her mind had already wandered. Thus she came up with a plan.

"Lie down! Let me have you! Remember, this time I'm the one grabbing you!" Chang'e assumed a queenly posture and shoved Ye Qin to the ground. (End of Chapter)