Chen Chang'an Sets Off for the Jiuyou Gorge

"Sigh!"

"Sigh!"

"Sigh!"

"Enough already, damn it!"

"You've been sighing nonstop for half a month since we left."

"If you miss it that much, go back and live in your damn dog cage."

It had been half a month since they left the Luo Shen Palace, and Da Huang had been sighing the entire time by Chen Chang'an's side.

"Sigh... I thought I could handle it, but... I couldn't."

"My beloved ladies... have left me behind."

"Shut up! Are you seriously about to break into song now?"

"Where the hell did you even learn this crap?"

Looking at Da Huang's dramatic display, Chen Chang'an had the urge to kick him. For a dog, he sure acted way too human.

"You don’t get it. You really don’t."

"Sigh... You’re a man without love," Da Huang said with a melancholic expression.

"You can still go back now."

"I haven’t dismantled the dog cage yet."

Hearing this, Da Huang immediately switched to a fawning expression.

"Brother, what are you saying?"

"How could I ever bear to leave you?"

"Come on, let’s go to the broth—uh, I mean, Nine Nether Ravine," Da Huang said with a cheeky grin.

"Da Huang, if you keep acting like this, I’m putting a damn chain on you next time we go out."

A chain?

Da Huang scoffed at the idea. As if a mere chain could restrain him. What a joke.

Seeing his expression, Chen Chang'an smirked. "Did you forget about the restriction seals?"

"If I can put them on a dog cage, why not a chain?"

Oh shit!

How could he have forgotten?

Chen Chang'an had the ability to place restriction seals on any object.

"Brother, that’s just hurtful, you know?"

"We’re good pals, no need for that."

"Who’s your pal? Shut up and let’s get moving."

"Got it, brother! Wanna ride me?"

"Stop hanging out with Xuan Wudao. You’re getting way too damn sleazy."

Da Huang had always been a bit of a mess, but lately, he’d crossed into full-blown degeneracy.

He had zero dignity as a qilin—just acting more and more like a damn dog.

Had his soul rotted from staying in this form too long?

Achoo!

Meanwhile, in the forbidden grounds of the Wuji Sect, Xuan Wudao—currently serving his confinement—suddenly sneezed, which puzzled him.

"Strange. I’m already at the Deathless Realm. How can I still sneeze?"

"Maybe some brothel girl is missing me?"

"Ah, seems my charm still lingers."

"Too bad I’m stuck here."

Hm?

Someone’s here?

Xuan Wudao sensed the Sect Master of Wuji Sect approaching and frowned. What was this guy doing here?

"Junior Brother, how’ve you been holding up?"

"Everything good?"

Xuan Wudao shot him a look. "Great. Just great. Wanna join me for a while?"

"No thanks. I didn’t break any rules or visit brothels."

"You weren’t like this before. What happened?"

"Are you here just to annoy me?" Xuan Wudao snapped.

"I have a question."

"Spit it out."

"I heard Ye Zhiqiu’s master is someone named Chen Chang'an. Is he the same one you know?"

Ye Zhiqiu?

"You mean the one ranked second on the Human Ranking?" Xuan Wudao frowned.

"Exactly. Rumor says his master is Chen Chang'an, so I came to ask you."

"Hmm... Not sure. Chen Chang'an never mentioned it."

"Why?"

"Ye Zhiqiu is challenging Lin Daoyi, the sword prodigy of the Nine Heavens Sect. They invited me to watch."

Lin Daoyi?

"The Nine Heavens Sect has a sword prodigy? Never heard of him."

"Of course you haven’t. You’ve been gone for ages. Lin Daoyi’s a genius who emerged in the last century."

"His sword talent is exceptional, and the sect’s grooming him as their next leader."

"He’s only in his eighties but already at the Supreme Realm."

A Supreme Realm cultivator at eighty? That was impressive. No wonder they were investing in him.

In the Central Heaven Domain, reaching the Supreme Realm before a hundred was a major milestone. If someone achieved it, they were guaranteed to break through to the Deathless Realm before five hundred.

As for reaching the Emperor Realm? That depended on fate.

But freaks like Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu—ranked at the top of the Human Ranking—were once-in-a-millennium anomalies. Normal standards didn’t apply to them.

"So what’s this got to do with me?"

"I’m stuck here," Xuan Wudao said, confused.

"The Grand Elder said if Ye Zhiqiu really is Chen Chang'an’s disciple..."

"You’re coming with me. Just in case things go sideways, we’ll side with Ye Zhiqiu."

Wait.

No more confinement?

"Let’s go!"

"Huh? Where?"

"To the Nine Heavens Sect!"

"So Ye Zhiqiu is your Chen Chang'an’s disciple?"

"How the hell should I know? But probably. Who else could train such a monster?"

"We’ll find out when we get there."

For Xuan Wudao, this was a golden opportunity. Whether it was true or not, he’d make it true.

Besides, he had a strong feeling Ye Zhiqiu really was Chen Chang'an’s disciple.

Chen Chang'an rarely fought, but when he did, his swordplay was evident—though most couldn’t tell because he never needed a second strike.

Only those close to him, like Xuan Wudao, knew the truth.

---

Meanwhile, news of Ye Zhiqiu’s challenge against Lin Daoyi had spread like wildfire.

A Human Ranking prodigy at the Hollow Void Realm daring to challenge a Supreme Realm expert? It was unheard of.

"Lin Daoyi’s a genius in his own right. How’s he gonna feel being challenged by a kid in his twenties?"

"Probably pissed. But Ye Zhiqiu’s no ordinary kid—he’s second on the Human Ranking."

"Still, the gap in cultivation is huge. Isn’t this arrogance?"

"Totally. Does he think ranking second makes him invincible?"

The crowd buzzed with skepticism. No one believed Ye Zhiqiu stood a chance against the seasoned Lin Daoyi.

The Nine Heavens Sect was packed—some invited, others drawn by the spectacle.

The Sect Master of Wuji Sect and Xuan Wudao arrived early.

"Damn, so many people?" Xuan Wudao hadn’t expected this level of interest.

"Of course. Everyone wants to see what the Human Ranking’s second place is made of."

"Don’t forget, in just over two years, it will be time for the Earth Ranking battles."

"By observing Ye Zhiqiu’s strength, everyone can also gauge Chen Yunxuan’s limits," the Sect Master of Wuji Sect said with a smile.

"That brat—so many people have arrived, yet he’s still not here?"

"He’s coming!"