Eternal Holy Emperor

As their memories merged, Ye Chen, even as a former Supreme figure from his previous life, couldn't help but inhale sharply upon understanding this fact.

A thirteen-year-old Innate Expert, what an exceptionally monstrous talent that must be.

Usually, even geniuses with commendable talent would need to surpass the age of twenty to reach the Innate Realm, and these individuals were already the celebrated talents of the entire Tiandu Continent.

A thirteen-year-old Innate Expert... perhaps not the first in the history of the Tiandu Continent, but it was almost without precedent.

And this was merely the son of a city lord from an average medium-sized kingdom, without the massive cultivation resources from ancient Holy Lands that even the greatest nations found disturbing, yet he accomplished this purely on his own efforts; such talent undeniably matched the description of monstrously gifted.

The past "him" had been such an astonishing genius, yet why had he awakened as only at the Acquired Third Realm?

This was the most peculiar and baffling point.

With the continuous integration of memories, Ye Chen gradually uncovered all the reasons. At the age of fourteen, the "him" who was then known as the most outstanding genius in Xiafeng Country, participated in what was known as the peak grand assembly of the young generation on the Tiandu Continent—the Trial of the King's Ancient Road.

That was a trial path only the most outstanding geniuses with extraordinary talent were qualified to partake in.

The "Ye Chen" of that time had qualified, but he encountered a lifetime adversary, supremely talented and powerful, who shattered Ye Chen's Dantian, ruined years of hard-earned cultivation, and ousted him from the Ancient Road.

The Dantian is a cultivator's main storage location for power. Once broken, all one's strength is lost irrevocably, except if, as the legends say, a Heavenly God intervenes or an Immortal Pill is consumed.

Regrettably, the "him" back then wasn't so fortunate. Nearly all his cultivation was wasted, with only a trace of power remaining inside his body, leaving him at the miserable state of Acquired Third Realm, unable to advance any further ever again.

Since then, Ye Chen fell from the brilliant pedestal of genius, never to recover, becoming a cripple scorned and abandoned by the world.

Such a blow was enough to drive anyone to madness. Even though "he" originally had a strong disposition, he couldn't withstand the blow and thereafter fell into degradation, never regaining his former brilliance as a proud child of the heavens.

The suicide a while ago partly stemmed from these reasons.

"So there was such a past," Ye Chen sighed deeply, as he roughly understood the cause and effect.

Once a peerless genius revered by thousands, he fell into ruin on the King's Ancient Road after being ambushed. His cultivation completely wasted, years of progress dissipated in an instant, turning him into a cripple.

Plus, the sneering and disdain from the public, the fall from heaven to hell, the shock of these merged memories allowed him to experience that extreme pain, a suffering few in the world would ever have to endure.

No wonder the "him" before awakening in this lifetime had sunken into degradation.

It was precisely at that time that Yang Yi appeared.

The "Ye Chen" back then was devastated, unable to withstand the blow, had crazily rushed out to the lakeside outside the city, knelt on the ground and cried bitterly to the heavens, questioning why he was dealt such a fate.

He was in so much pain that he wanted to throw himself into the lake to end his life.

Right at that moment, a graceful and charming figure appeared. With jet-black hair flowing like a waterfall, beautiful and lovely in a simple white dress, she approached like a fairy.

Yang Yi had appeared. At sixteen, she was beautiful and graceful. Despite her youth, she possessed a maturity beyond her years. She slowly approached the then "Ye Chen," gently embraced him, comforting him, lighting up his entire dim world.

People most appreciate those who lend a hand when they are down on their luck. Moreover, Ye Chen was at the bloom of youth, his heart just beginning to stir, and for the beautiful and graceful Yang Yi—he fell in love at first sight!

Although he knew the cause and effect, knew that "Ye Chen" was no longer the dazzling favored son of heaven, Yang Yi showed no aversion or disgust. On the contrary, she often cared for "Ye Chen," continuously comforting him in a soft and gentle voice, urging him not to despair, saying even if the whole world abandoned him, she never would.

Thus, the initial feelings of "Ye Chen" in this life began.

The two of them came together, disregarding gossip. The young princess of the Yang family always kept "Ye Chen" close to her heart, causing countless young talents in the city to envy bitterly. They became "Ye Chen's" only, making vows of eternal love.

In "Ye Chen's" mind at that time, Yang Yi was the most beautiful and kindest woman in the world. No other woman could compare, not even one in ten thousand.

Privately, "Ye Chen" treated Yang Yi as his future wife, being incredibly kind to her, willing to do anything for her, just to elicit a smile from his beloved, nothing more.

The two of them, hand in hand, fingers tightly interlocked, were the envy of those around them.

Back then, "Ye Chen" naively thought their love would last a lifetime, but unfortunately, though dreams are beautiful, reality is cruel—all was shattered two years later.

It turned out that the so-called vows were nothing but lies, and two years later, Yang Yi finally revealed her true motive—the Spirit Clearing Pill.

The said Spirit Clearing Pill was an extraordinarily rare Treasure Pill, dearly acquired by the Ye Family, invaluable, able to bring one into a state of ethereal clarity, especially useful in breaking through from the Acquired to the Innate realm.

It also possessed miraculous effects for treating severe illnesses.

At that time, "Ye Chen" hesitated, as the Spirit Clearing Pill was critically important. However, Yang Yi, with her captivating face bathed in tears, cried to "Ye Chen" that her dearly loving mother was severely ill and on her deathbed, with all renowned doctors from various places unable to help. Now, the only hope to save her mother was the Spirit Clearing Pill; she had no choice but to plead with "Ye Chen."

With her tears like pear blossoms in the rain, she was exceptionally pitiable and compelling, claiming that she couldn't live if her mother died, thus pressuring "Ye Chen". She even said she would marry "Ye Chen" immediately if he could indeed bring the pill.

Caught in love, "Ye Chen" was blind, and ultimately unable to resist the beauty's offensive, his mind clouded by love. In the dead of night, he deceitfully bypassed the guards using his father's name, stole the Spirit Clearing Pill, and delivered it to Yang Yi.

Afterward, when his family found out, they naturally became furious. Even though his father was the Lord of Luofeng and the current Family Head, he couldn't protect him. The Elder Council punished "Ye Chen" severely, imprisoning him for half a month and torturing him severely to extract the whereabouts of the Spirit Clearing Pill, to which "Ye Chen" stubbornly refused to disclose.

In the end, after "Ye Chen" was released, he accidentally discovered that Yang Yi's mother was never ill; it was all a ploy to obtain the Spirit Clearing Pill from him to breakthrough from the Acquired to the Innate realm.

From beginning to end, Yang Yi had never truly liked him. It had all been a meticulous plan, which began from when Ye Chen was reduced from being hailed at the Genius Altar to a disabled person, all to get closer to him solely for the Spirit Clearing Pill.

After discovering all this, "Ye Chen" couldn't bear the heartbreak from being deceived by the one he deeply loved. In anguish, he returned to the small lake where he first met Yang Yi—the point of beginning and now the end—where he chose to jump into the lake and commit suicide, ending both his emotions and his life.

That was the cause and effect of everything.

After understanding this truth, Ye Chen shook his head and sighed to himself, realizing he was truly foolish. Yang Yi was a bright princess, held dearly in everyone's hearts; how could she ever genuinely like him, a discarded invalid? It was clear as day.

If anyone was to blame, it could only be said that "he" before his awakening was too naive, like a blank sheet of paper, too easily deceived.

Perhaps he should also thank Yang Yi, for if not for her, he wouldn't have awakened his memories of his past life, and might have spent this entire life as a worthless being.

The City Lord Mansion was vast, the largest mansion in Luofeng City. Led by Huan'er, they crossed through numerous back yards and pavilions, finally halting outside the solemn reception hall.

The hall was vast and splendidly decorated, resplendent with gold, teeming with people. At the uppermost, sat Ye Ao along with three indifferent-faced elders. They were the clan's elders, who held nearly as much power as the Family Head and sometimes decided on matters regarding the Ye Family.

On the other side, three men and a woman sat on rosewood chairs, extravagantly dressed with a "Yang" embroidered on their chests, unmistakably members of the Yangg Family.

Among the Yangg Family's three men—two elders and one young man—were key figures, with a table beside them piled with precious gifts.

On the chair at the far side, a girl clad in red, elegant and bright as a blooming flower, sat poised. Her face bearing a mix of purity and a hint of allure made her strikingly attractive.

Upon entering, Ye Chen's gaze immediately fell on her—Yang Yi!

She was the one who made him commit suicide for love in this life, and it was hard for Ye Chen to forget her face.

Yet, compared to the gentle tranquility in his memories, the current Yang Yi seemed much more enchanting, exuding a charm that captivated all.

Her presence drew the watchful eyes of many younger members of the Ye Family, filled with admiration and obsession.

No wonder she could make him of this life fall so deeply; with such beauty, the best in the entire Luofeng City, blending purity and allure, how could those young men under twenty, experiencing their first awakenings of love, resist her?

Before his awakening, he, too, had been drawn by this unique quality of the girl, falling deeply for her.

At this moment, Ye Ao, fury on his face, slammed the table and coldly commanded, "Someone, chase the Yangg Family out! We in the Ye Family, welcome no one from the Yangg Family!"

PS: In the text, "he" and "Ye Chen" represent Ye Chen before his awakening. This is to differentiate them.

Regarding the new book's current update schedule, it's temporarily two updates per day, one at noon and one around nine in the evening. There's not a rush of content yet, as chapters are still being stored, but there will be an explosive phase—those familiar with my style should know how crazy it can get once I start rolling, hehe.

Also, with the new book upload, I ask for recommendations, rewards, and reviews. Thank you, and I'll strive to make the new book even better for everyone!