My gorgeous wife Chapter 2042 - 2010: My Name Is Li Chen

Upon witnessing this visage, even Li Chen found himself momentarily taken aback.

"This is..."

Indeed, it was him, still himself, Li Chen. However, this was Yushi Realm Li Chen from many years past, the appearance he possessed as a mere youth.

"I had assumed only my cultivation was sealed, yet it seems even my physical form was tampered with," Li Chen remarked with a wry smile at his reflection. Little did he anticipate a return to this very form.

"This must be destiny," Li Chen mused, a soft sigh escaping his lips. He had long contemplated revisiting his past, but time, opportunity, and circumstance had never aligned. Fate, it seemed, had orchestrated his return through the Spirit Releasing Abyss of the Yushi Realm.

"Is this a trial?" Li Chen's lips curved into a subtle smile as he observed the approaching cruise ship, his gaze holding a depth that belied the casualness of the expression.

"Friend, why are you here all alone?" a voice boomed from the ship, amplified by a loudspeaker.

Li Chen looked towards the distant vessel. Unable to utilize his Yuan Force for sound transmission, he opted for hand gestures after a moment's thought, relying on his knowledge of sign language.

"The boat I was on capsized during the storm, so I swam here," Li Chen conveyed through his movements.

On the cruise ship, the captain and his crew exchanged intrigued glances. While a capsized boat was an understandable maritime incident, Li Chen's peculiar mode of arrival – astride a colossal whale – was met with skepticism. This anomaly prompted the captain to address Li Chen as 'friend' rather than 'child,' despite the latter's youthful appearance.

What further raised the captain's suspicion was Li Chen's attire, which seemed incongruous with his physique and, indeed, the current era. Even with the world transitioning into the Martial Arts Era, such archaic robes were seldom seen, sparking a thought: could he be from an ancient, hidden sect?

After conferring with his knowledgeable companions, who deemed the possibility plausible, they decided to bring Li Chen aboard. His unusual bearing suggested he wasn't a threat to ordinary passengers, and offering assistance could be a prudent way to build goodwill.

Despite the Nether King Group's vast influence as a global conglomerate, they maintained a surprisingly welcoming corporate culture.

"Come aboard."

As Li Chen was escorted onto the ship, he waved goodbye to the immense whale, which responded with a mournful call before swiftly departing.

The captain felt a measure of relief seeing the whale leave. Frankly, the colossal creature had instilled more apprehension in him than Li Chen himself. Its sheer size posed a significant threat, hinting at a power far from ordinary.

As for Li Chen... the captain scanned the young man, noting his dignified presence but observing a complete absence of True Qi, making him appear like any average adolescent. Yet, could an ordinary teenager command such a magnificent whale as transport?

The captain, a sun-weathered man of middle age, discreetly led Li Chen to a private cabin. "May I inquire where you hail from, friend?" he asked cautiously.

Li Chen responded with a subtle smile, his voice calm. "Linchuan."

Although Li Chen appeared to be merely an ordinary boy, devoid of any trace of True Qi, his instincts—honed from his time in the Palace of the Nether King—screamed that this youth was far from simple.

"Returning where?" Li Chen couldn't help but inquire.

"To the Xia State. After this current assignment, it's time for my retirement. I'm planning to head straight back to Linchuan from Xia State," the captain stated, a hint of sentiment coloring his tone.

"Retire? You seem quite young to me," Li Chen remarked with a smile.

"Young? For all you know, I'm nearly sixty," the captain chuckled, shaking his head. "Many years ago, I joined the Palace of the Nether King, and astonishingly, I remained there for decades. Now, the time has come to retire, find a peaceful spot to enjoy life, cultivate more, and perhaps extend my years by a bit."

"Sixty years." Gazing at the captain, Li Chen's eyes became undeniably complex.

Considering the passage of time, though Li Chen couldn't pinpoint the exact duration, hadn't it been many decades since he established the Palace of the Nether King?

He had been just a mere boy when he founded the Palace of the Nether King. In the blink of an eye, so much time had elapsed, and those original members of the Palace of the Nether King must be around this captain's age now.

During the nascent stages of the Palace of the Nether King, Li Chen was indeed quite young, but not every recruit had been as youthful as he was.

"Retirement sounds like a wonderful plan," Li Chen affirmed with a nod and a smile.

The captain smiled and shook his head. "Allow me to ask, if you don't mind, which sect in Linchuan does my friend hail from? Of course, I'm not prying. This is merely for registration purposes, so we can provide a proper explanation later."

The captain's choice of words was exceedingly cautious, careful not to offend Li Chen, yet subtly probing for details about Li Chen's background.

"A sect..." Li Chen mused for a moment. "Where I come from wouldn't typically be referred to as a sect."

"Very well." Noticing Li Chen's reluctance to elaborate, the captain did not pursue the matter further, merely stating, "Then I shall need to register your name, my friend?"

"Certainly." Li Chen nodded with a smile.

"My name is Li Chen."

The captain's hand, holding the pen, froze abruptly.