["Brother Yu," the words made Ye Yu's thoughts whirl.]
[It had been a long time since anyone called him that.]
[Turning around, he saw it was the long-absent Shi Aotian.]
[At this moment, although his appearance hadn't changed, there was a hint less of innocence in his eyes.]
[Ye Yu punched Shi Aotian in the chest.]
[Laughing and scolding, You bastard, where have you been all these years?]
[Shi Aotian was pushed back by the blow, but he didn't show any anger.]
[He only felt an immense sense of familiarity.]
[Calling out "Brother Yu" again, he then recounted his experiences over these years.]
[Over a hundred years ago, after Shi Aotian and Ye Yu killed the grandson of the former Sect Master of Mystic Yin Sect, they faced a furious pursuit.]
[Although Ye Yu claimed they split up because their targets were too big, in reality, Shi Aotian knew very well it was because of his own inadequate strength.]
[Ye Yu was already at the peak of Divine Transformation realm.]
[At that time, Shi Aotian was only in the late stages of Nascent Soul.]
[Following Ye Yu around, he was nothing but a burden.]
[From that moment on, Shi Aotian felt the importance of strength for the first time.]
[So he found a place to seclude himself and cultivate, planning to quickly break through to Divine Transformation realm, then come out to assist Ye Yu.]
[But what Shi Aotian hadn't expected was that after he broke through to the Divine Transformation realm in seclusion, everything had changed.]
[Ye Yu had killed the Sect Master of Mystic Yin Sect and taken his place.]
[Transforming from an obscure wandering cultivator into the hottest figure in the East Sea Continent.]
[Such a huge change made Shi Aotian both happy for Ye Yu and deeply self-reproachful.]
[We promised to be brothers, sharing prosperity and adversity.]
[But at this critical moment, he was still like he was in his youth.]
[Ye Yu dealt with all the dangers himself, and only then did Shi Aotian timidly show up.]
[Shi Aotian didn't want things to continue like this.]
[What he wanted was to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ye Yu in battle, to truly become a helpful brother.]
[Not someone who had to hide away whenever something happened.]
[So, Shi Aotian decisively ventured into the Southern Barbarian Continent to strive, planning to establish himself and then return to find Ye Yu.]
[As a result, this trip to the Southern Barbarian Continent wasn't in vain at all.]
[There, Shi Aotian had an incredible encounter during his adventure.]
[His cultivation soared.]
[This gave him full confidence upon his return.]
[Pausing here, Shi Aotian's lips curled slightly upwards:]
[Brother Yu, I'm now a mid-stage Tribulation Crossing cultivator. Pretty impressive, right? From now on, I'll protect you.]
[Ye Yu smiled and nodded.]
[Shi Aotian continued, Brother Yu, what cultivation stage are you now? Why can't I see through your cultivation? Could it be that you're wearing some kind of concealment artifact?]
[Ye Yu calmly replied, I'm at the peak of Tribulation Crossing realm.]
[Just these few simple words struck Shi Aotian deeply once again.]
[At that moment, in the great hall, a certain man's confidence shattered into pieces.]
[Pieces that couldn't be pieced back together.]
[Shi Aotian began scratching his head frantically, pondering over what could possibly be wrong.]
[He and Ye Yu were born on the same day of extreme yin.]
[Calculating the years, they were both just over two hundred years old.]
[Under normal circumstances, at this age, one should be struggling between the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages.]
[If you can reach the Nascent Soul Realm, you are already a genius in the eyes of others. ]
[Reaching the Divine Transformation realm would make one a dragon among men.]
[At over two hundred years old, to achieve the Tribulation Crossing realm, Shi Aotian had to admit, though not absolutely unprecedented, it was certainly a unique feat in a millennium.]
[This was why Shi Aotian felt so inflated.]
[However, the one who walked with dominance across the Southern Barbarian Continent, found himself unable to lift his head in front of Ye Yu.]
[Over two hundred years old and at the peak of the Tribulation Crossing realm, isn't this pure bullying?]
[Is there any justice in this world? Is there any law?]
[Doesn't anyone care?]
[Seeing Shi Aotian's devastated appearance, Ye Yu couldn't help but console him with a sentence.]
[Compared to others, you're already very impressive!]
[This sentence instantly broke Shi Aotian's defenses.]
[Was it praise, or was it mockery after all?]
[However, Shi Aotian was not a jealous person.]
[Today was just a failed attempt at showing off.]
[Anyway, in front of Ye Yu, he wasn't afraid of losing face.]
[Then, he took out a storage ring from his arms, bluntly stating that this was a collection of gifts he had gathered for Ye Yu over these many years.]
[Most of the items on it came from the Southern Barbarian Continent.]
[Of course, there were also things from the East Sea Continent.]
[Many were from renowned cultivators, and one from a sect called Burning Blossom Pavilion.]
[It was said that the Pavilion Master of Burning Blossom Pavilion was as beautiful as a celestial maiden.]
[Originally, Shi Aotian had planned to snatch her back as a wife for Ye Yu.]
[But upon meeting her, he found out that the Pavilion Master was quite plain-looking.]
[All those claims about her beauty were just exaggerated by her subordinates.]
[Shi Aotian was instantly furious.]
[Wasn't this false advertising?]
[He then made a few sarcastic remarks.]
[The Pavilion Master of Burning Blossom Pavilion was also quite sharp-tongued, and they immediately got into a heated argument.]
[It escalated to particularly dirty insults.]
[In a fit of rage, Shi Aotian slaughtered the entire Burning Blossom Pavilion.]
[Upon hearing this story, Ye Yu's expression turned incredibly strange.]
[So, Shi Aotian was the rumored "fierce dragon crossing the river" from the Southern Barbarian Continent as others said?]
[This is too ridiculous.]
[Afterward, Ye Yu conveyed Lan Lianyan's message to Shi Aotian and advised him to be more cautious recently.]
[Shi Aotian was utterly fearless, declaring his intention to wipe out these self-righteous orthodox sects.]
[A plan suddenly formed in Ye Yu's mind.]
[He immediately arranged for Shi Aotian to leave Mystic Yin Sect, diverting the attention of various sects like Flower Spirit Mountain outside.]
[Ye Yu himself would go to the Northern Desolate Continent to find someone.]
[Upon his return, the two would join forces to eliminate these righteous sects.]
[Shi Aotian readily agreed.]
[In reality, the main reason Ye Yu wanted to go to the Northern Desolate Continent was the prophecy from the Celestial Secrets Sect.]
[It had been bothering him all along.]
[The demon has a nemesis, and the nemesis is in the North.]
[Ye Yu truly wanted to see who this nemesis was.]
[Before leaving, Ye Yu still went to the Treasure Pavilion to bid farewell to Lan Lianyan after much deliberation.]
[He claimed Mystic Yin Sect had arranged for him to explore a secret realm. He might be away for a while.]
[He wouldn't be able to have dinner with her for a while.]
[Upon hearing this, Lan Lianyan was instantly saddened.]
[She urged Ye Yu to come back soon and to be careful in all things.]
[Ye Yu smiled faintly and tousled Lan Lianyan's hair.]
[In his heart, he couldn't help but think.]
[If she weren't an undercover agent, and truly was a disciple of Mystic Yin Sect, how great would that be?]
[Lan Lianyan stepped back abruptly, stating she was Ye Yu's senior. It was disrespectful to pat her head like that.]
[He would need to compensate with two roasted rabbits!]
[Ye Yu suddenly had black lines all over his head. ]
[He was about to leave, and she was using such a lame excuse to extort food? Indeed, a foodie's heart knows no sorrow or joy, only food.]
[Ten days later.]
[Ye Yu traveled a long distance to arrive at the Northern Desolate Continent.]
[True to its name, the land here was desolate.]
[But before Ye Yu could begin his exploration here, he suddenly felt a palpitation.]
[Thunder echoed in the sky.]
[Was it the Heavenly Tribulation? Was it finally coming?]