My gorgeous wife Chapter 1944 - 1913: Living in a World of One’s Own Making

A contingent of individuals embarked on a journey towards the Four Emperors' Territory, their path guided by Li Chen.

Flight within the Ancient Battle Realm presented immense peril, not only due to the prevalence of peculiar secret realms and aerial restrictions but also the inherent danger posed by ferocious native creatures. A careless encounter with creatures soaring above could easily incite their wrath.

Compounding the danger, the Ancient Battle Realm was now populated by individuals from the other Three Realms and the Destroyers, rendering flight akin to being a conspicuous target.

Only those with unshakeable confidence in their formidable strength dared to traverse the skies ostentatiously. Such an individual was the Purple Armored Immortal Emperor, Purple Inscription, whom Li Chen had previously bested.

However, that was a singular instance of such blatant display, and further opportunities were unlikely to arise.

Throughout their journey, Li Chen employed the Wind and Thunder Law, significantly accelerating their progress while minimizing energy expenditure.

This specialized technique was something Li Chen had acquired during his time in the Immortal Domain.

Since discovering the profound mutation of his True Yuan, even immortal techniques had become accessible. It was plausible that in antiquity, these cultivation systems were not so disparate, and his Yuan Force was merely a restoration facilitated by the Seven Realms Tome.

Regardless of their specific origin, the Wind and Thunder Law stood among the paramount techniques for achieving speed. When Li Chen, with his exceptional control, ingeniously fused this technique, its effectiveness was amplified.

Attached to the group, the sensation was akin to having powerful thrusters beneath their feet, propelling them forward at astonishing speeds with minimal strain.

This remarkable feat further solidified the group's immense admiration for Li Chen.

The Red Dust Heavenly King indeed lived up to his formidable reputation, capable of intercepting an army from the Demon Realm alongside figures like General Dao Lan!

Li Chen, finding the attention tiresome, chose to remain detached from their accolades. In his current predicament, his primary focus was on maintaining the lowest possible profile, deeming such fame superficial.

While others might not grasp his motivations, Li Chen was acutely aware of his circumstances.

The Immortal Emperor he had defeated was a recent ascension; during their clash, Bai Tianyi had crucially shielded him from the full brunt of the domain's pressure, without which the outcome might have been drastically different.

Li Chen could still contend with those at the Seventh Rank Heaven Venerable and Immortal Venerable levels, but upon reaching the Realm of Shen Tian, his challenges escalated significantly.

In his present state, countless powerhouses within the Ancient Battle Realm possessed the ability to annihilate him with ease!

Even when comparing himself to other Immortal Emperors, Li Chen doubted his ability to match the Cat Emperor, who had once taken the fall for him in the Immortal Domain.

After all, disparities in strength existed even among those of the same rank.

Minor differences might be insignificant, but vast chasms, like the one separating Li Chen from ordinary Kuotian Realm Kings, were undeniable.

Indeed, the gulf between Li Chen and regular non-King martial artists of the Kuotian Realm was immense!

Immeasurable!

Observing Li Changkong and Li Bihai by his side, Li Chen felt a profound urge to inquire about Xiaoxiao and their well-being in the Borderland Realm. Yet, he hesitated, the words caught in his throat.

His relationship with the Li Family was undeniably complex.

Had Li Changkong and the others merely been ordinary Heaven Realm martial artists, Li Chen would have spoken freely. However, the added layer of familial connection made such open conversation exceedingly difficult.

"Having any difficulties?" Yang Xin perceived Li Chen's conflicted emotions and softly transmitted her inquiry.

Li Chen cast a glance at Yang Xin, remained silent for a moment, and then conveyed his inner thoughts.

Yang Xin was indeed a receptive listener.

She, too, seemed to comprehend the nuances of his feelings.

As anticipated, shortly after Li Chen shared his concerns, Yang Xin approached Li Changkong and the others, ostensibly to ask about their situation.

Li Chen found it challenging to voice his inquiries, but Yang Xin did not share this same reticence.

Yang Xin's disposition was exceptionally gentle.

So gentle, in fact, that it bordered on the unusual...

Li Chen remained outwardly unexpressive, yet an unsettling feeling about Yang Xin stirred within him.

However, pinpointing the exact nature of this disquiet proved elusive.

This young woman appeared to inhabit a reality of her own making.

Within this constructed world resided her life, Li Chen, and all those she held dear and wished for.

But... these were merely phantoms.

This was not a mere conjecture on Li Chen's part; it was a truth he had long ago uncovered.

Yang Xin's mother had, in reality, passed away. This information had been obtained by Li Chen's associates shortly after Yang Xin's departure from the Main World.

Furthermore, Li Chen harbored a strong conviction that Yang Xin was fully aware of this fact.

This certainty stemmed from intelligence gathered by his operatives, revealing that Yang Xin's presence in Kunlun was not by chance but the result of forceful coercion.

Yet, after more than a decade, upon encountering Yang Xin once more, she appeared unchanged, yet harbored a subconscious belief that her mother was still alive and a desire to return to her?

Li Chen sensed Yang Xin's unusual demeanor at that moment, yet instead of confronting it directly, he offered her words of comfort.

Initially, Li Chen hypothesized that Yang Xin's memory had been tampered with by an external force.

However, as time unfolded, Li Chen came to understand that this was not the case.

Within Yang Xin's consciousness, a hazy mist seemed to obscure her perception of the truth, allowing her to recall a fabricated reality where all was well. She believed she had merely been brought to the Immortal Domain for cultivation. This mist, Li Chen realized, originated from Yang Xin herself.

"Perhaps, this is for the best," Li Chen murmured, a subtle ache settling in his heart as he watched Yang Xin depart.

What immense burden would compel someone to engage in such profound self-deception, shrouded in such feigned tranquility?

Li Chen harbored a deep aversion to self-deception. During his solitary cultivation sessions, when past events surfaced in his mind, his heart would invariably contract with a wrenching pain.

While some individuals might choose to retreat from harsh realities, Li Chen opted for a more brutal method: allowing the wounds to fester and tear open. His rationale was that perhaps, with the passage of time, the agony would become a familiar companion.

Yet, even after all these years, this pain remained an unwelcome acquaintance.

Yang Xin's predicament demanded attention, and Li Chen resolved to address it once the current matters were settled.

He recognized that with Yang Xin's current state of mind, her chances of successfully overcoming the heart demon tribulation during her soul realm advancement would be exceedingly slim.

"The heart demon tribulation..."

Li Chen gazed at his hands, then surveyed the individuals gathered around him.

After enduring so many years, he was finally on the cusp of ascending to the ranks of a Heaven Venerable powerhouse.

It was possible he could have advanced his cultivation to the Peak of Kuotian Realm and faced the tribulation sooner, but he had refrained from doing so.

The reason was simple: a lack of confidence in confronting the inevitable heart demon tribulation that accompanied soul realm advancement.