[”Brother Yu,” the words made Ye Yu’s thoughts whirl.]

[It had been a long time since anyone called him that.]

[Turning around, he saw it was the long-absent Shi Aotian.]

[At this moment, although his appearance hadn’t changed, there was a hint less of innocence in his eyes.]

[Ye Yu punched Shi Aotian in the chest.]

[Laughing and scolding, You bastard, where have you been all these years?]

[Shi Aotian was pushed back by the blow, but he didn’t show any anger.]

[He only felt an immense sense of familiarity.]

[Calling out “Brother Yu” again, he then recounted his experiences over these years.]

[Over a hundred years ago, after Shi Aotian and Ye Yu killed the grandson of the former Sect Master of Mystic Yin Sect, they faced a furious pursuit.]

[Although Ye Yu claimed they split up because their targets were too big, in reality, Shi Aotian knew very well it was because of his own inadequate strength.]

[Ye Yu was already at the peak of Divine Transformation realm.]

[At that time, Shi Aotian was only in the late stages of Nascent Soul.]

[Following Ye Yu around, he was nothing but a burden.]

[From that moment on, Shi Aotian felt the importance of strength for the first time.]

[So he found a place to seclude himself and cultivate, planning to quickly break through to Divine Transformation realm, then come out to assist Ye Yu.]

[But what Shi Aotian hadn’t expected was that after he broke through to the Divine Transformation realm in seclusion, everything had changed.]

[Ye Yu had killed the Sect Master of Mystic Yin Sect and taken his place.]

[Transforming from an obscure wandering cultivator into the hottest figure in the East Sea Continent.]

[Such a huge change made Shi Aotian both happy for Ye Yu and deeply self-reproachful.]

[We promised to be brothers, sharing prosperity and adversity.]

[But at this critical moment, he was still like he was in his youth.]

[Ye Yu dealt with all the dangers himself, and only then did Shi Aotian timidly show up.]

[Shi Aotian didn’t want things to continue like this.]

[What he wanted was to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ye Yu in battle, to truly become a helpful brother.]

[Not someone who had to hide away whenever something happened.]

[So, Shi Aotian decisively ventured into the Southern Barbarian Continent to strive, planning to establish himself and then return to find Ye Yu.]

[As a result, this trip to the Southern Barbarian Continent wasn’t in vain at all.]

[There, Shi Aotian had an incredible encounter during his adventure.]

[His cultivation soared.]

[This gave him full confidence upon his return.]

[Pausing here, Shi Aotian’s lips curled slightly upwards:]

[Brother Yu, I’m now a mid-stage Tribulation Crossing cultivator. Pretty impressive, right? From now on, I’ll protect you.]

[Ye Yu smiled and nodded.]

[Shi Aotian continued, Brother Yu, what cultivation stage are you now? Why can’t I see through your cultivation? Could it be that you’re wearing some kind of concealment artifact?]

[Ye Yu calmly replied, I’m at the peak of Tribulation Crossing realm.]

[Just these few simple words struck Shi Aotian deeply once again.]

[At that moment, in the great hall, a certain man’s confidence shattered into pieces.]

[Pieces that couldn’t be pieced back together.]

[Shi Aotian began scratching his head frantically, pondering over what could possibly be wrong.]

[He and Ye Yu were born on the same day of extreme yin.]

[Calculating the years, they were both just over two hundred years old.]

[Under normal circumstances, at this age, one should be struggling between the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages.]

[If you can reach the Nascent Soul Realm, you are already a genius in the eyes of others. ]

[Reaching the Divine Transformation realm would make one a dragon among men.]

[At over two hundred years old, to achieve the Tribulation Crossing realm, Shi Aotian had to admit, though not absolutely unprecedented, it was certainly a unique feat in a millennium.]

[This was why Shi Aotian felt so inflated.]

[However, the one who walked with dominance across the Southern Barbarian Continent, found himself unable to lift his head in front of Ye Yu.]

[Over two hundred years old and at the peak of the Tribulation Crossing realm, isn’t this pure bullying?]

[Is there any justice in this world? Is there any law?]

[Doesn’t anyone care?]

[Seeing Shi Aotian’s devastated appearance, Ye Yu couldn’t help but console him with a sentence.]

[Compared to others, you’re already very impressive!]

[This sentence instantly broke Shi Aotian’s defenses.]

[Was it praise, or was it mockery after all?]

[However, Shi Aotian was not a jealous person.]

[Today was just a failed attempt at showing off.]

[Anyway, in front of Ye Yu, he wasn’t afraid of losing face.]

[Then, he took out a storage ring from his arms, bluntly stating that this was a collection of gifts he had gathered for Ye Yu over these many years.]

[Most of the items on it came from the Southern Barbarian Continent.]

[Of course, there were also things from the East Sea Continent.]

[Many were from renowned cultivators, and one from a sect called Burning Blossom Pavilion.]

[It was said that the Pavilion Master of Burning Blossom Pavilion was as beautiful as a celestial maiden.]

[Originally, Shi Aotian had planned to snatch her back as a wife for Ye Yu.]

[But upon meeting her, he found out that the Pavilion Master was quite plain-looking.]

[All those claims about her beauty were just exaggerated by her subordinates.]

[Shi Aotian was instantly furious.]

[Wasn’t this false advertising?]

[He then made a few sarcastic remarks.]

[The Pavilion Master of Burning Blossom Pavilion was also quite sharp-tongued, and they immediately got into a heated argument.]

[It escalated to particularly dirty insults.]

[In a fit of rage, Shi Aotian slaughtered the entire Burning Blossom Pavilion.]

[Upon hearing this story, Ye Yu’s expression turned incredibly strange.]

[So, Shi Aotian was the rumored “fierce dragon crossing the river” from the Southern Barbarian Continent as others said?]

[This is too ridiculous.]

[Afterward, Ye Yu conveyed Lan Lianyan’s message to Shi Aotian and advised him to be more cautious recently.]

[Shi Aotian was utterly fearless, declaring his intention to wipe out these self-righteous orthodox sects.]

[A plan suddenly formed in Ye Yu’s mind.]

[He immediately arranged for Shi Aotian to leave Mystic Yin Sect, diverting the attention of various sects like Flower Spirit Mountain outside.]

[Ye Yu himself would go to the Northern Desolate Continent to find someone.]

[Upon his return, the two would join forces to eliminate these righteous sects.]

[Shi Aotian readily agreed.]

[In reality, the main reason Ye Yu wanted to go to the Northern Desolate Continent was the prophecy from the Celestial Secrets Sect.]

[It had been bothering him all along.]

[The demon has a nemesis, and the nemesis is in the North.]

[Ye Yu truly wanted to see who this nemesis was.]

[Before leaving, Ye Yu still went to the Treasure Pavilion to bid farewell to Lan Lianyan after much deliberation.]

[He claimed Mystic Yin Sect had arranged for him to explore a secret realm. He might be away for a while.]

[He wouldn’t be able to have dinner with her for a while.]

[Upon hearing this, Lan Lianyan was instantly saddened.]

[She urged Ye Yu to come back soon and to be careful in all things.]

[Ye Yu smiled faintly and tousled Lan Lianyan’s hair.]

[In his heart, he couldn’t help but think.]

[If she weren’t an undercover agent, and truly was a disciple of Mystic Yin Sect, how great would that be?]

[Lan Lianyan stepped back abruptly, stating she was Ye Yu’s senior. It was disrespectful to pat her head like that.]

[He would need to compensate with two roasted rabbits!]

[Ye Yu suddenly had black lines all over his head. ]

[He was about to leave, and she was using such a lame excuse to extort food? Indeed, a foodie’s heart knows no sorrow or joy, only food.]

[Ten days later.]

[Ye Yu traveled a long distance to arrive at the Northern Desolate Continent.]

[True to its name, the land here was desolate.]

[But before Ye Yu could begin his exploration here, he suddenly felt a palpitation.]

[Thunder echoed in the sky.]

[Was it the Heavenly Tribulation? Was it finally coming?]