The three black-robed men knelt down together, not daring to breathe.

Young Master Chen looked completely innocent, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

However, at this moment, he was not allowed to explain and could only play along.

He walked slowly to the three men and said seriously, "You've made a mistake."

The black-robed men were extremely frightened, "Yes, Your Majesty, we made a mistake."

Chen Weichen used the fan handle to lift the leader's face and looked into his eyes. Seeing the man's truly respectful and fearful expression, he began to play along.

He made a "tsk" sound, smiling ambiguously, "Have you seen me before?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Twenty years ago, when you were crowned emperor at Xingluo Abyss, I caught a glimpse of you from afar."

Chen Weichen continued leisurely, "Heavenly Eye?"

The black-robed man turned deathly pale, "I used the Heavenly Eye to blaspheme Your Majesty and peek at your fate. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Chen Weichen released him, his voice indifferent, "It's understandable."

The black-robed man repeatedly bowed his head, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chen Weichen walked back to his original spot, "You may go."

The black-robed men felt greatly relieved. Without even checking the children of the next few households, they grabbed the old man's eldest grandson and fled, completely lacking the immortal demeanor they had when they arrived.

Seeing the three of them leave, the old man who had sent the child to the village entrance and was earnestly instructing his grandson, was suddenly at a loss, "Why are the lords in such a hurry?"

Seeing the three of them flee, Chen Weichen immediately distanced himself to prove his innocence, "They mistook me. I have nothing to do with that damned Demon Emperor."

Ye Jiuya let out a light "hmm" as they walked back.

Chen Weichen was still uneasy, "Do you believe me?"

Ye Jiuya, "I personally guard the Heavenly River. In the past twenty years, no demon has ever crossed it."

Chen Weichen felt relieved.

He also felt a bit melancholic, "Demons cultivate against the Heavenly Dao, so their fate is extremely miserable. It seems my fate has reached an unprecedented low point. Without cultivating the demonic path, I can be compared to the Demon Emperor. Brother Ye, do you think I should change to cultivating the demonic dao instead?"

Ye Jiuya, "You already possess immortal bones."

Chen Weichen muttered "That's true" dejectedly, tossed the fan on the wooden table, and lay down on the bed. "However," he added, "if I'm already like this without cultivating the demonic path, I'm afraid if I did, heavenly lightning would immediately strike me down and I would join your Emperor Yan."

Ye Jiuya looked at Chen Weichen.

He was thinking, just what kind of reason could make a person so unacceptable to the world?

There were precedents of souls reincarnating and being reborn, but even though they also sacrificed a lot, there had never been such a price.

The Buddhist and Daoist cultivation of three lifetimes or ten lifetimes of reincarnation not only would not incur the wrath of heaven, but would accumulate merits and virtues.

He didn't fully understand the past events.

He only knew that person had requested to be executed by the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavens sent down tens of thousands of shocking lightning bolts, turning him to ashes and scattering his soul.

If he had originally left himself a way out, would that be considered going against the Heavenly Dao?

If in his previous life he had acted against the Heavenly Dao and then avoided reincarnation to be reborn as a human, would that invite such hostility from the Heavenly Dao?

The Sword Pavilion guarded the Heavenly River, protected the immortal families, and respected the Heavenly Dao. He originally had not considered this possibility, but Chi Juntian's obvious enmity towards the Heavenly Dao on the cliff of Guixu made him have to think more.

Could it be that the person in front of him was not coincidentally possessed by fragments of that soul, but was originally the complete Three Ethereal Souls and Seven Corporeal Souls of that person?

He looked at the suave and elegant appearance of the person on the bed, the casual smile on the corners of his mouth, and was stunned for a moment.

--They were clearly two completely different people.

They were even two diametrically opposed people.

Chen Weichen met Ye Jiuya's gaze in midair.

He slightly closed his eyes, feeling a bit down, "You're thinking about him again."

He sat up, took the cold white long sword, and gently stroked it. "You say it's the heartless dao, but your heart is filled with Emperor Yan," he said. "In the end, is it really heartless? Have you been moved?"

He looked at Ye Jiuya, extremely close, reaching out his hand, wanting to touch this person's cold and soft ink-black hair.

Just as he was about to touch it, his fingertips paused, then withdrew, his eyes lost and dejected.

"Ye Jiuya, I often wonder, if I were him, would I be able to do this?" He closed his eyes and turned away. "I'm going crazy," he muttered.

"Perhaps you originally were," Ye Jiuya's voice sounded from behind him, "You just don't know it yourself."

Chen Weichen shook his head, his voice trying hard to suppress some unspeakable sadness, "I'm not. Please don't say that anymore."

The atmosphere between them that had originally eased somewhat became stiff and cold again.

That night, neither of them slept.

The room was unlit. Ye Jiuya was by the window, while Chen Weichen leaned against the desk, resting his cheek on his hand. With his eyes half-closed and his figure immersed in the night, he carried a trace of melancholy that was absent during the day.

How much of this melancholy was real and how much was fake was unknown.

They were waiting for someone.

Given the panicked state of the black-robed men, it was certain they couldn't control themselves and would go tell their master.

After all, the Demon Emperor was different from a mortal emperor. How could he go out incognito? Upon hearing the news, Marquis Youshui would certainly come.

And Chen Weichen, with that fate comparable to the Demon Emperor, was useless to himself, but in the demon realm, it was proof of supreme cultivation. Although his own abilities were mediocre, he could use this to take a risky move and scheme against the tiger for its skin.

Late at night, when the moon reached its zenith, the door creaked open.

The moonlight shone in, casting a slender and graceful shadow, revealing a corner of a woman's skirt.

"Your Majesty graces us with your presence. May I ask for what purpose?" The voice was soft but not coquettish, truly mesmerizing.

It was a woman wearing deep purple clothes.

Upon seeing Chen Weichen's appearance clearly, she paused almost imperceptibly, "You..."

Chen Weichen smiled, "Me?"

Marquis Youshui said, "You look much younger than back then."

Chen Weichen slightly raised his eyes, looking at her casually, "Do I look like the Demon Emperor?"

Marquis Youshui assessed the situation and lowered her head respectfully, "This lord..."

Chen Weichen lightly stroked the sword in his hand, the gesture full of threatening intent. The sword energy was desolate and cold, carrying an oppressive and chilling might, making one tremble with fear.

Marquis Youshui lightly shuddered, "Do you want the marquis position?" In the Demon Realm, the succession of lords is determined through a battle of life and death. Marquis Youshui, seeing that Chen Weichen's fortune was almost on par with the Demon Emperor's, knew that she stood no chance against him.

Chen Weichen spoke with a cold voice, "I have no need for your title as Marquis."

Marquis Youshui let out a sigh of relief, "Then what do you want, sir?"

Chen Weichen asked, "Where is the Nine Nether Heavenly Spring located?"

Marquis Youshui obediently replied, "Above the Xingluo Abyss, within the Demon Emperor's Palace."