"Greetings, Palace Master!"
"Any leads?"
"On what?"
"The orb!"
Chen Chang'an had sought out Luo Yiyi to inquire about the progress in locating the orb.
At his reminder, Luo Yiyi finally recalled what he was referring to.
"Palace Master, are you staying in the Luo Divine Palace just for that single orb?"
"Aren’t all men supposed to be lustful?"
"With so many beauties around, you remain unmoved?"
Luo Yiyi found it rather peculiar. Though Chen Chang'an resided in the Luo Divine Palace, he never interacted with the female disciples. Even with her and Hua Wulei, he treated them almost like air. Compared to Da Huang, the contrast couldn’t be starker.
"Too many women are noisy and troublesome."
Chen Chang'an wasn’t some saint immune to temptation, but he knew all too well that where there were women, there was trouble—and noise.
"Enough of that. Any concrete news about the orb?" Chen Chang'an pressed.
"It’s not that simple."
"According to the clues we’ve gathered, the orb may have once appeared in the Nine Nether Ravine."
"That place is the territory of the Nine Nether Emperor."
The Nine Nether Emperor?
Chen Chang'an had heard of him—from his master, Mu Yunyao, no less.
The Nine Nether Emperor was likely the oldest and most senior peak-level Great Emperor in the entire Tai Xuan Realm. Back when Mu Yunyao participated in the first Heaven-Earth-Man Rankings, the Nine Nether Emperor was already a peak Great Emperor.
Moreover, the Nine Nether Emperor and his Nine Nether Hall were the only ancient faction that hadn’t declined over time. The reason? Pure strength.
And since the Nine Nether Emperor kept to himself in the Nine Nether Ravine, adhering to the principle of "don’t provoke me, and I won’t provoke you," no one dared to trouble him.
"My master once said the Nine Nether Emperor’s strength ranks second in the Tai Xuan Realm."
"Second?"
"Who’s first?" Luo Yiyi asked curiously.
Chen Chang'an gave her a look of exasperation. Wasn’t the answer obvious?
"Oh, I see."
"It’s Senior Mu Yunyao," Luo Yiyi chuckled awkwardly.
"If my master acknowledges him as second, his strength is undoubtedly formidable."
"So, your people couldn’t dig up more information?"
"Then how did you learn the orb might be in the Nine Nether Ravine?" Chen Chang'an questioned.
"While the Nine Nether Ravine is insular and self-contained, outsiders do occasionally enter."
"We learned about the orb’s origins because the incident caused quite a stir back then."
"A simple inquiry revealed some details about the orb."
"However, its current whereabouts remain unknown," Luo Yiyi admitted helplessly.
"A stir? What incident?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"For some reason, despite having lived for so long, the Nine Nether Emperor suddenly took a young bride five thousand years ago."
"The event shook the entire Nine Nether Ravine, and all its prominent figures attended."
"During the celebration, someone gifted the Nine Nether Emperor an orb."
"It’s said he cherished it greatly and immediately gave it to his bride."
"The orb matches the description Senior Mu Yunyao provided."
Chen Chang'an frowned. Given to his bride? Didn’t that mean they’d found its location?
"So, the orb is currently in the bride’s possession?"
He didn’t care why the Nine Nether Emperor had married—he just needed the orb.
"It should’ve been, but... the Nine Nether Emperor’s bride died over a thousand years ago."
"Now, only the Nine Nether Emperor likely knows where the orb is."
"Our people..."
Before Luo Yiyi could finish, Chen Chang'an cut her off. Wasn’t this a waste of effort?
"If the Nine Nether Emperor knows, we’ll just ask him directly."
"Why have me wait?" Chen Chang'an asked, puzzled.
Did Luo Yiyi expect her disciples to investigate the Nine Nether Emperor himself?
"I suspect the Nine Nether Emperor might have buried the orb with his wife."
"I was planning..."
At this, Chen Chang'an’s expression darkened. Damn it, was Luo Yiyi seriously considering grave robbery?
This was absurd.
"Luo Yiyi, are you planning to dig up the Nine Nether Emperor’s wife’s tomb?" Chen Chang'an asked sharply.
"If we confirm the orb is buried there, yes."
Chen Chang'an felt a headache coming on. For a peak Great Emperor of her stature, how could she be so thoughtless?
"Are you sending your disciples to their deaths?"
"Luo Yiyi, you’re also a peak Great Emperor. If the Nine Nether Emperor loved his bride so much, do you think he wouldn’t set up defenses in her tomb?"
"Your people would be discovered the moment they stepped in."
"Then, your entire Luo Divine Palace would face the Nine Nether Emperor’s wrath."
"You could flee, being a peak Great Emperor. But what about them?"
"Death would be their only fate," Chen Chang'an said gravely.
"I... didn’t think that far. I just wanted to fulfill Senior’s request."
Luo Yiyi paled at his words. If things went south, she’d have committed a monumental blunder.
"But have you considered what to do if the orb really is there?"
Her next question gave Chen Chang'an pause. She had a point.
"Recall your people."
"I’ll go to the Nine Nether Ravine and speak with the Nine Nether Emperor myself."
"Courtesy before force."
All this wasted time had only amused Da Huang.
"You’re going personally?"
"The Nine Nether Emperor’s strength..."
"Never mind, I’d be useless there anyway."
Luo Yiyi initially worried but realized if even Chen Chang'an couldn’t handle it, she stood no chance.
"Then I’ll give you the location of our disciples’ outpost in the Nine Nether Ravine."
"You can consult them if needed."
"As for me... I’ll deal with the Tu Family first."
Chen Chang'an nodded, unconcerned about the Tu Family. With Luo Yiyi’s power, their ancestor was no match.
When Chen Chang'an returned, Da Huang’s eyes lit up.
"Brother! Big bro! Can you let me out now?"
Da Huang bounced around his cage, grinning eagerly.
"Da Huang, do you like it here?" Chen Chang'an teased.
"No! Not at all!"
"From now on, you’re my big bro, alright?"
"Hm?"
"From now on?"
"So before this, I wasn’t?"
"Never. It was the same before, it is now, and it will always be."
"Bro, hurry up and let me out! This place is so cramped, I’m about to suffocate in here."
Looking at Da Huang’s cheeky grin, Chen Chang'an chuckled and said, "I’m heading out. This trip might take a few months."
"Stay put and guard the house. Later, I’ll toss you a few bones—don’t worry, you won’t starve."
Huh?
Going away?
For months?
And he expects me to just sit here and watch the house?!
"Chen Chang'an, you’re even more of a dog than I am!"