Chen Chang'an took a deep breath. If the Nine Nether Emperor's beloved wife had truly done something that forced the Nine Nether Emperor to personally execute her, the likelihood of the pearl being buried with her would be extremely low.
The most terrifying possibility was that the Nine Nether Emperor's wife had not valued the pearl at all, which could lead to its loss once again.
No matter what, Chen Chang'an had to hurry to the Nine Nether Hall. However... the Nine Nether Emperor was in seclusion, which posed a problem.
"You two, return to the Luo Shen Palace first. I'll handle matters in the Nine Nether Ravine alone."
Chen Chang'an glanced at the two women. Though their cultivation had reached the Supreme Realm, it still wasn't enough for what lay ahead.
This was a high-stakes game—one they couldn't participate in.
"Yes, Palace Master."
The disciples of the Luo Shen Palace didn't argue and immediately obeyed Chen Chang'an's orders. Before leaving, they informed him of the Nine Nether Hall's location.
Chen Chang'an exchanged a look with Da Huang and headed straight for the Nine Nether Hall.
"Halt!"
"The Nine Nether Hall does not receive guests. Turn back."
As soon as Chen Chang'an arrived at the gates of the Nine Nether Hall, he was stopped by its disciples.
"Has the Nine Nether Emperor emerged from seclusion?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"Whether he has or hasn't is none of your concern."
"If you value your life, get lost," the disciple coldly replied.
"Death?"
"I wouldn't mind it, but you'd need the ability to deliver it first," Chen Chang'an said with a faint smile.
"Arrogant!"
The disciple's expression darkened, and he immediately attacked—only to freeze in place under Chen Chang'an's gaze.
"You... just who are you?"
A single glance had such power. The disciple was horrified—this man's strength was far beyond what it seemed.
"Nine Nether Emperor!"
"Chen Chang'an, disciple of Mu Yunyao, requests an audience!"
Chen Chang'an's voice was soft, yet it pierced straight into the soul. Every person in the Nine Nether Hall heard him clearly.
"Audacious!"
"Who dares disturb the Hall Master's seclusion?"
"What nerve! Who is Mu Yunyao? Never heard of her. A mere disciple dares to make a scene at the Nine Nether Hall?"
The Nine Nether Hall had existed for far too long—it could be called the oldest power in the Tai Xuan Realm.
Thus, the hall was filled with experts, all genuine Great Emperors who had ascended through their own strength—unlike the inferior Dragon Emperor Palace.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of Great Emperors appeared before Chen Chang'an, glaring at him with fury.
"Truly worthy of being the oldest power in the Tai Xuan Realm. I didn’t expect so many Great Emperors."
"Still, I have no interest in fighting you. You're no match for me."
"Stay put. I believe your Hall Master will appear soon."
Chen Chang'an wasn't confident in himself—but in the name "Mu Yunyao." Others might not understand its weight, but the Nine Nether Emperor surely would.
"Hahaha!"
"What an arrogant brat."
"With just the first level of the Supreme Realm, you dare act so boldly?"
"What gives you the right?"
Just as the Nine Nether Hall's experts prepared to strike, the Nine Nether Emperor's voice suddenly rang out.
"Let him in."
Huh?
The Hall Master's voice?
He actually emerged from seclusion?
And wants to see this arrogant kid?
The Nine Nether Hall's members were stunned. None had expected this kid's words to carry such weight.
Mu Yunyao?
Was it because of Mu Yunyao?
Just who was Mu Yunyao, to make the Hall Master take her so seriously?
"I told you he'd appear."
Chen Chang'an smirked at the crowd, then walked into the Nine Nether Hall with Da Huang.
The Nine Nether Emperor had already emerged from seclusion but hadn't gone to the main hall. Instead, he waited in his private courtyard for Chen Chang'an's arrival.
When Chen Chang'an appeared, the Nine Nether Emperor scrutinized him carefully.
"Your master is Mu Yunyao?"
"A genius like her hasn't ascended to the higher realm yet?"
After a moment of observation, the Nine Nether Emperor asked curiously. He had no real interest in Chen Chang'an—in fact, he barely acknowledged him.
If not for the mention of Mu Yunyao, the Nine Nether Emperor would never have emerged to meet him.
"My master has her reasons for not ascending."
"Senior Nine Nether Emperor, aren't you also the oldest powerhouse in the Tai Xuan Realm?"
"You haven't ascended either," Chen Chang'an replied with a smile.
"What a sharp-tongued brat."
"Do you really think having Mu Yunyao as your master gives you the right to disrespect me?"
The Nine Nether Emperor's expression darkened, and an overwhelming aura erupted from his body.
In an instant, the pressure engulfed the entire Nine Nether Ravine. Everyone trembled in fear, and many dropped to their knees.
"What... what's happening? The Nine Nether Emperor emerged?"
"Why such terrifying pressure all of a sudden? Did someone provoke him?"
"Damn it, who’s the fool that dared to offend the Nine Nether Emperor?"
Fear and anger spread among the crowd—they were suffering for no reason. Those with weaker cultivation couldn't withstand the Nine Nether Emperor's might.
Some fainted, while others suffered minor injuries. The worst off were the Nine Nether Hall's members, who stood closest to the source of the pressure.
"Enough. This trick might work on others."
"But not on me."
Facing the Nine Nether Emperor's crushing aura, Chen Chang'an remained unfazed. He casually took a seat on a nearby chair.
This reaction stunned the Nine Nether Emperor.
As expected of someone Mu Yunyao—that monster—would willingly take as a disciple. This kid was anything but ordinary.
At just the first level of the Supreme Realm, he could ignore his pressure?
Had Mu Yunyao trained him specifically for this?
Hmm?
That dog!
When the Nine Nether Emperor noticed Da Huang, his eyes widened in shock—one he couldn't hide.
Chen Chang'an being unaffected was one thing... but even this dog moved freely?
The Nine Nether Emperor had lived for countless years and thought he'd seen it all.
But today?
This was truly an eye-opener.
Retracting his pressure, the Nine Nether Emperor regarded Chen Chang'an with newfound seriousness.
"Did your master send you to find me? What does she want?" he asked, frowning.
"My master didn't send me. I came on my own business."
"I heard that when you married, you gifted your beloved wife a pearl."
"Where is that pearl now?" Chen Chang'an asked.
At the mention of his wife, the Nine Nether Emperor's expression shifted.
"You're also here for the pearl?"
Huh?
What did he mean, "also"?
Did that imply...
"Was your beloved wife after the pearl as well?"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
iemie, male, Race: Moon. Hobby: Collecting anomalies. At first, he thought he possessed two systems: the Crimson Rainbow Moon and the Clear Cold Frost Moon. One day, he discovered that he himself could also become a system for others, holding the chessboard of fate. The Eighth Epoch, also known as the Eternal Moon Epoch. Humans, witches, elves, bloodline descendants, specters, demons, and spirits together compose a new history. Walking the path on behalf of the moon, before he knew it, Chen Miemie's footsteps were followed by all manner of strange and wondrous anomalies. As time passed, many titles circulated about him—The King in Yellow, Lord of Anomalies, Heart of the Eternal Moon, and more. "Me? I'm just a traveler who enjoys collecting interesting creatures," Chen Miemie said.
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”
