The Legendary Son-in-law of the Emperor Chapter 1717: 1714: Encounter

Hong Ba abruptly rose to his feet, utterly stunned: “Senior, is it really you?!”

Disbelief surged through Hong Ba.

He'd long suspected Ye Xuan of being a reincarnated being, one of those reincarnators.

Yet, as the proverb states, true powerhouses scorn reincarnators.

In their eyes, a genuine reincarnator forges a second life through personal prowess, not cheap tricks.

Having ascended to the Great Saint Realm, Hong Ba held the authority to disdain such beings.

Thus, his initial words served as a caution to Ye Xuan.

But Ye Xuan's single reply instantly stirred the buried memory within his soul's core!

That year, already a Heaven and Earth Great Sage, he roamed countless worlds, only to stumble into peril on one expedition.

A horrifying Great Saint Realm beast from beyond the domain ambushed him, leaving him teetering on death's edge.

Yet in that dire instant, a enigmatic senior appeared, vanquishing the beast with a casual finger flick, rescuing him, and simply inquired, “Are you a descendant of Hong Yuan?”

Precisely so.

Hong Ba was a direct descendant of War Demon Hong Yuan, the founding ancestor of the Emperor Immortal Sect!

Likewise, Hong Ba bore the mantle of a War Demon Inheritor.

During their past encounter, Ye Xuan had immediately detected the War Demon Inheritance Hong Ba cultivated, prompting his intervention.

This very War Demon Inheritance was what Ye Xuan had bestowed upon Hong Yuan long ago.

The Emperor Immortal Sect had preserved this War Demon lineage throughout history.

However, after the cataclysm nine thousand years prior, with the Sect's decline, the Demon Slaying Inheritance fell into disuse.

Not from lack of desire, but because the path was lost.

The lineage had been broken.

“Never did I imagine reuniting with senior in this generation, and under these circumstances.”

Hong Ba's aged eyes reddened, brimming with deep emotion.

Back then, he stood in his prime; now, years had weathered him.

Encountering his rescuer once more was beyond all expectation.

He'd believed their paths would never cross again in his lifetime, yet fate arranged this reunion.

“Good to see you returned.” Ye Xuan gave a faint nod, sparing few words on the topic.

“Then, the force that pulled the Emperor Immortal Sect from ruin must be you, senior. You're not just my personal savior, Hong Ba's, but the Sect's as well!”

Hong Ba dropped to his knees at once, hands clasped: “Benefactor, accept my three kowtows!”

With that, he bowed his head three times to Ye Xuan.

It was inconceivable for a Great Saint Realm titan to kneel and kowtow so sincerely.

Yet, considering the man was the Undying Night Emperor, it all felt fitting.

Ye Xuan allowed Hong Ba's gesture without interference, receiving it with composure.

To be precise, though Hong Yuan wasn't his formal disciple, he ranked as a protégé, akin to half a disciple, making Grandmaster an apt title for Ye Xuan.

Once the bows concluded, Hong Ba rose and resumed his seat, thrilled as he declared, “No wonder the Fierce Sun Heavenly Sect’s Xuanzu protected the Emperor Immortal Sect; it was senior's arrangement, splendid, splendid!”

Even as he spoke, Hong Ba poured tea for Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan accepted the cup, took a gentle sip, then spoke measuredly, “I recall that nine thousand years ago, the Emperor Immortal Sect boasted more than just you in the Great Saint Realm.”

Ye Xuan's words caused Hong Ba's face to tighten, his joy fading into a chill: “Even if there were, they're nothing but cowards without spine.”

In those days, as Zhongxuan Mountain's guardian, the Emperor Immortal Sect ranked among Daozhou's premier Great Emperor Immortal Sects, outshining even Heaven Suppressing Ancient Sect, its dominance unchallenged.

Back then, nearly three hundred powerhouses had ascended to the Heavenly Domain, spanning Great Venerate Realm and Supreme Realm alone.

Yet now, only around thirty survive.

From Supreme Realm down to Great Saint Realm, they yielded one after another.

Some bent the knee to Emperor Mu, others to the Empress.

In the Heavenly Domain, refusal meant relentless persecution.

Don't let their current Lower Realm status as elites deceive you; up there, they faced constant hounding and resource starvation. Over nine thousand years, their cultivation should've advanced, but instead, it regressed...

Reunited with his savior, Hong Ba poured out his heart, revealing these truths to Ye Xuan bit by bit.

“Though we've retreated to the Lower Realm, in just six or seven years, Heavenly Dao suppression will vanish completely, letting the Double Emperors' reach blanket All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds. Then, I fear there'll be no foothold left for the Emperor Immortal Sect…”

Hong Ba lamented deeply, voicing his deepest worry.

“The most absurd part? The Emperor Immortal Sect doesn't even possess what the Double Emperors crave!”

Fury blazed in Hong Ba's words.

Ye Xuan stayed serene, silent.

He'd known all along what the Double Emperors hunted in the Emperor Immortal Sect.

They sought traces of any power he'd left behind to probe his physique.

Such power did linger in the Emperor Immortal Sect.

None other than the Immortal Profound Power.

Yet only Ye Xuan could wield it.

Not even the Double Emperors.

Even presented outright, they'd remain blind to it.

The Heaven Suppressing Ancient Sect endured parallel torments.

Still, it weathered them better than the Emperor Immortal Sect.

After all, both Emperors paid lip service to originating from Heaven Suppressing Ancient Sect.

In reality, one hailed from Ancient Great World Eternal Mountain, the other from Cloud Mountain Great World Cloud Clan—both Ye Xuan's creations.

They shared no ties with Heaven Suppressing Ancient Sect.

That Sect's elites remained trapped in the Heavenly Domain, essentially confined.

Even today, descent to the Lower Realm eludes them.

As for why Emperor Immortal Sect members could descend...

Eyes on the fretful elder, Ye Xuan murmured, “Upon your descent to the Lower Realm, did any from the Double Emperors approach you?”

Hong Ba shook his head faintly: “No such encounter. When the Heavenly Domain Gate opened, I braced for obstruction, but it proceeded without a hitch.”

Ye Xuan narrowed his gaze: “Have you considered that among the loyalists who stayed, some may have secretly aligned with the Double Emperors?”

Ye Xuan brought up the Wuming Sword Sage.

Hong Ba hesitated upon hearing it: “Frankly, I suspect hidden traitors too, but pinpointing them eludes me.”

“Does senior have a solution?”

Hope flickered in Hong Ba's eyes toward Ye Xuan.

Setting down his teacup, Ye Xuan replied evenly: “Order all Heavenly Domain descendants to steer clear of Emperor Immortal Sect matters, offering no interference whatsoever.”

Hong Ba parted his lips, deeming the order harsh, yet Ye Xuan's cool stare made him clench his jaw: “Very well, I'll follow senior's lead.”

Ye Xuan cared little for traitors among the Lower Realm arrivals; once Heavenly Dao suppression lifted fully, all would come to light.

For now, their non-interference in Sect affairs sufficed.