Leaving Seclusion, Going Home

In a beautiful valley, flowers adorned the banks and a stream babbled gently. Suddenly, a pitch-black vortex appeared in the air above the valley. It expanded at tremendous speed, emitting a low hum. A young man stepped out of the vortex and warily surveyed his surroundings.

Only after confirming there was no danger did the young man descend.

"Finally... I'm out."

The young man let out a long breath, as if releasing all the pent-up heaviness in his chest. He contentedly stretched his limbs as the valley's light softly fell over him, immersing himself completely in this hard-won freedom and peace.

The young man was Chen Yu, who had just emerged from the trial grounds. At first, he had chatted with his friends in the group to pass the time. Later, in order to get out sooner, he devoted himself entirely to cultivation.

He first spent several months cultivating to the peak of the Other Shore, ready to step into the Dao Palace realm at any time.

Afterward, he did not continue cultivating for a breakthrough. Instead, he challenged the stages at the Other Shore realm. The gatekeepers were at the same realm as him, but their combat experience was exceptionally rich. At first, Chen Yu had been beaten so badly by the gatekeepers that he could not fight back at all. He could only endure the beatings and absorb their experience, gradually turning it into his own.

After that, Chen Yu's life became very simple. He took beatings while gaining experience. By then, Chen Yu even dared to boast shamelessly—at the Other Shore realm, I am invincible. Do as you please.

After clearing the ninth stage, that mysterious rune entered Chen Yu's Bitter Sea. It was a reward from the Great Emperor, as well as his trump card for preserving his life.

The reward bestowed by the Great Emperor was anything but ordinary. If he fully activated that mysterious rune, he could destroy an ordinary holy land with a flick of his hand.

That at least comforted his wounded heart. If there had been no reward, or if the reward had failed to satisfy him, he would definitely have written it down in his little ledger and settled the score later.

Opening the Chat Group, Chen Yu first browsed through the chat history to see what everyone had been discussing.

As a result, he found quite a few complaints from Xiao Yan in the chat logs. Because of the incident between him and the Daoist master, the others did not dare go to Ye Fan's side for training, so they formed a group and went to Xiao Yan's world instead.

When Yan Lingji and the others appeared beside Xiao Yan, his little sister Xuner became unsettled and stuck to Xiao Yan's side every step of the way. Xiao Yan had been quite happy at first, but once Yan Lingji and the others became good friends with Gu Xuner, his nightmare began. After that, Xiao Yan's complaints started appearing in the group chat.

What left Chen Yu most speechless was Li Xingyun. He was living an exceptionally comfortable life now. After becoming emperor, he had taken Lin Xuan, Ji Ruxue, and other beauties into his harem to spread the family line. In his words, "Old Li's family only has one surviving heir, so the most important task now is carrying on the bloodline." No one could refute that.

Then there was Han Li, who still had not said a single word. His caution was a little excessive.

[Chen Yu: Everyone, I'm out of seclusion.]

[Xiao Yan: Congratulations, congratulations. The story's over—time to scatter flowers.]

[Ye Fan: Congratulations on mastering your divine art.]

[Chen Yu: Huohuo, I want to go train on your side too. It sounds pretty interesting.]

[Xiao Yan: Sorry, you're not welcome here.]

[Chen Yu: How long was I in seclusion this time?]

[Ye Fan: Two years.]

Chen Yu was startled. He had been in seclusion for so long, yet he had not felt it at all.

[Chen Yu: Huohuo, isn't your three-year agreement about to begin?]

[Xiao Yan: Heh heh, it's already over.]

[Chen Yu: ??? Why didn't you call the group members over to cheer you on?]

[Xiao Yan: There was no need. I alone was enough.]

[Chen Yu: @Yan Lingji, @Huang Rong, what did you tell Huohuo's little sister Xuner? Huohuo doesn't even want to hang out with us anymore.]

[Yan Lingji: Why didn't you @Lu Xueqi?]

[Lu Xueqi: ?]

[Yan Lingji: We were just making friends normally.]

[Huang Rong: That's right, we were just making friends normally. We didn't say anything else.]

[Xiao Yan: As if I'd believe that crap.]

Xiao Yan glared at the Chat Group with an indignant expression.

They had said nothing? Who were they trying to fool?

His little sister Xuner was no longer the gentle, considerate Xuner she used to be.

He wanted his old little sister Xuner back.

[Ye Fan: Brother Chen, I'm at Northern Region Stone Village. Do you want to come over?]

[Chen Yu: Not yet. I've been away for quite a while, so I want to go home first.]

[Xiao Yan: You're all alone anyway. What's the point of going back? Just have fun out there and spread your big family across the myriad worlds.]

[Chen Yu: Huohuo, I didn't provoke you.]

[Ye Fan: He isn't targeting you. He's targeting everyone in the group.]

[Chen Yu: ...]

Douluo Continent.

Sunset Forest.

Chen Yu's figure appeared inside a cave. He pushed aside the stone blocking the entrance, and blinding sunlight streamed into the cave.

"I'm back—"

Walking out of the cave, Chen Yu looked up at the sky and flung his arms wide, as though he wanted to embrace the entire heavens.

To Chen Yu, Douluo Continent was his home. Furthermore, when he had broken through from the Divine Bridge to the Other Shore, the illusion he experienced had included both his past life and Douluo Continent.

In the illusion, he had once again experienced his parents' meticulous love and care. Now that he had returned to Douluo Continent, his feelings were naturally different.

Chen Yu's shout just now had been loud enough to alarm not only the nearby Soul Beasts, but also the Poison Douluo.

The Poison Douluo landed before Chen Yu and asked coldly, "Kid, was that you shouting just now?"

Chen Yu nodded, a trace of confusion appearing in his eyes. Why did the Poison Douluo seem somewhat excited? Even though his voice was cold and emotionless.

"Kid, there's something going on at my home that requires your help. Come with me."

Without waiting for Chen Yu's response, the Poison Douluo flashed to his side, grabbed his shoulder with one hand, and took him into the air.

Chen Yu did not resist. He wanted to see what the Poison Douluo was planning.

The Poison Douluo brought Chen Yu to a cavern spanning nearly a thousand square meters.

"Kid, tell me. Why are the people from Spirit Hall searching all over the continent for you?"

Spirit Hall?

That had to be because of Qian Renxue.

Chen Yu stood calmly where he was and smiled. "That has nothing to do with Your Excellency Poison Douluo, does it? Or does Your Excellency Poison Douluo have some ulterior motive?"

A savage glint flashed through the Poison Douluo's eyes. He was a Titled Douluo—was this kid really not afraid?

"I have laid Poison Miasma outside this place. Without my guidance, no one else dares enter. Therefore, no one will ever know what happens here."

The implication was obvious. Speak honestly, or this would be his burial ground.

"In that case, then please die, Your Excellency Poison Douluo."

Chen Yu could not be bothered to waste words with the Poison Douluo. An old man already deeply poisoned actually dared set his sights on him. He truly did not know the difference between life and death.

His hands rapidly formed seals, and a Black Seal appeared above the Poison Douluo's head. The Poison Douluo was immobilized on the spot, unable to move. He could only watch helplessly as the seal descended.

The Poison Douluo's eyes nearly split apart as he roared, "No... I won't..."

Before he could finish, the Black Seal mercilessly crushed his entire body into dust. Not even a soul bone remained. Thus, the life of a Titled Douluo came to an end.

Thus, the Poison Douluo, renowned throughout the continent, died.