Chapter 1893: Interrogation

"God Ye, one of the Ten Revered Ones, apologized to me?"

Liu Guifen couldn't fully process it for a long time.

Ever since he obtained the Dao Ancestor's legacy from that emerald dagger, even overpowering Emperor Potian and soul-slashing Night Supreme had not stirred his heart as much as God Ye's simple spoken apology did now.

Liu Guifen truly realized that he was different now.

"I've... become stronger..."

Before, Liu Guifen wouldn't even dare to dream of being on par with the Ten Revered Ones, as he was an old man who had failed to pass the preliminary selections for five consecutive terms. But now, not only had God Ye apologized to him, Liu Guifen even had hope of exploring the Ancestral God's fortune within the Upside-Down Buddha Pagoda alongside him!

"Stay calm, stay calm..."

"Everything is just beginning; there's no rush."

"To think I, Liu Guifen, wasted half my life only to achieve great things late in life. 'Emperor Guifen' is just a stepping stone; my true dream is to become 'Dao Ancestor Guifen'!"

Dao Ancestor!

Before that title, the Ten Revered Ones were mere fleeting clouds. Across the long river of history, only the Ten Ancestors like Demon Ancestor and Su Yin were truly worthy of standing beside him.

But, of course, that was a matter for later.

When Liu Guifen finally recovered his senses, Aunt Xiang had already crushed the Elephant-World Spider Lotus Crystal and applied it to the scar where God Ye's hand had been severed.

"Sizzle, sizzle..."

Inside the boudoir, the rapid regeneration of flesh and blood was clearly audible. Watching God Ye's body rapidly coalesce, starting from a single hand, growing into an arm, then a chest, neck, abdomen, and even the lower body beginning to form...

"Turn around, all of you!"

Aunt Xiang, intensely possessive, commanded while simultaneously conjuring a golden, ethereal mist with a wave of her hand to conceal God Ye's robust and powerful physique. At the same time, she promptly retrieved a set of brown short clothes from her spatial ring, ready to dress God Ye within the mist.

Lei Xi'er had already looked away. Heavenly Human Five Decays showed no interest in God Ye's physical form. Before turning away, Liu Guifen secretly snuck a glance, vaguely discerning the exaggerated contours of a chest and thigh muscles through the hazy golden mist.

His mind trembled.

This perfect physique was terrifying just to behold. If he were to punch someone, wouldn't their intestines just explode?!

"Rustle, rustle..."

Dressing was swift; Aunt Xiang expertly finished clothing God Ye. As soon as the golden mist in the room dispersed, Liu Guifen immediately turned his head to look, afraid of missing anything.

"What a tall, strong man!"

The bald giant, clad in practical short clothes, had a chiseled, exceptionally resolute face. He appeared to be over two meters tall, a full head and a half taller than Aunt Xiang. Aunt Xiang was already very tall. Yet, when she leaned against him, she only reached his thick chest, appearing remarkably petite. With his large hand encircling her waist, she looked utterly delicate, a true beauty and the beast.

"Boss God Ye!"

Liu Guifen dared not stare, bowing his head respectfully.

With his left arm around Xiang'er's waist, God Ye conjured a heavy iron staff into his right hand. It was double-headed, gilt-edged, and wrapped with dark brown straps in the middle.

"Whoosh! Whoosh, whoosh!"

The wind roared, and space distorted. Wielding the Overlord, God Ye performed several staff twirls with exhilarating fluidity. He then gently rested the iron staff on the ground without damaging the floor, and the deafening rush of wind in the room finally ceased.

"My strength... it's surging back..."

This was God Ye!

This was the Overlord!

Liu Guifen felt a chill run down his spine at the sound of the wind, and he hastily clasped his fists again, proclaiming, "Congratulations, Boss God Ye, on your full recovery and further advancement in strength! You have hope of becoming an Ancestral God!"

"Hmm."

God Ye kicked a wooden stool, sending it scraping across the floor. "This place is humble, not as luxurious as North Street, but please make do."

"Not at all, not at all!"

Liu Guifen grabbed the wooden stool, repeatedly expressing gratitude, and dared not sit down first. Aunt Xiang's boudoir felt a bit cramped with five people, but who could usually even enter this place? Just being allowed into God Ye's practice room was a huge honor. "Thank you, Boss God Ye, for the seat!"

God Ye frowned.

He was still unaccustomed to dealing with such overly polite people. With a glance, after appearing, he merely nodded to the two and introduced them: "The Lei family, Lei Xi'er; Yama, Heavenly Human Five Decays."

What a concise introduction!

Liu Guifen thought to himself that he had gathered more information just by observing than God Ye had provided, yet he dared not be rude. "Greetings to both fellow Daoists."

Lei Xi'er gave a slight nod. Heavenly Human Five Decays, however, spoke up abruptly just as Liu Guifen turned to show his respect: "Liu Guifen!"

"Hmm?"

Liu Guifen subconsciously looked up, his gaze meeting theirs. At the same moment, his mind was flooded with chaotic frequencies, and all sorts of jarring noises erupted:

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

"Warning! Warning! Warning!"

"Alert: Do not make eye contact. Beware of the Three-Dislike Pupils..."

Liu Guifen could no longer hear the rest of the message. By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late. His brain spasmed. His vision turned grayscale, and three gray specks enlarged in mid-air, then swirled and flowed into his pupils. Liu Guifen's body twitched, and he froze, becoming like a puppet.

Heavenly Human Five Decays had been waiting for a long time. In front of Lei Xi'er, he rarely used the Lei family's pupils, trying to avoid agitating the young girl. But no matter how Heavenly Human Five Decays observed Liu Guifen, he truly couldn't decipher the intention behind his gift or what he planned afterwards. Only when God Ye willingly consumed the Elephant-World Spider Lotus Crystal, and everything was set, did Heavenly Human Five Decays choose to step forward.

There was naturally a suspicion of belated intervention. But the truth was, a wild horse like God Ye hardly needed any such belated interventions. Heavenly Human Five Decays wasn't acting for God Ye, nor did he wish to alter anyone's fate. He merely wanted to learn a bit more, hoping it might assist their subsequent actions.

Beneath the orange mask, the Three-Dislike Pupils were as profound as an abyss, capable of sweeping away a person's mind. He spoke in a deep voice:

"Liu Guifen, who sent you here?"

Liu Guifen's limbs stiffened, and he convulsed as he weakly replied:

"I... came... myself..."

God Ye's brow furrowed. He stepped half a pace forward, his mouth just beginning to open. Aunt Xiang's left hand was still casually caressing his chest, while her right hand, with two fingers pressed together, slipped into God Ye's mouth. She grumbled:

"Blockhead, let him ask!"

God Ye lowered his head and gently bit her fingers as a warning. Aunt Xiang puffed out her chest, glaring back defiantly, her expression fierce. God Ye ignored her, looking back at Heavenly Human Five Decays, still wanting to speak. Aunt Xiang, with two fingers, pinched his tongue and gave a slight tug, easily controlling God Ye and preventing him from speaking further.

"What is your relationship with the Five Great Saint Emperor Clans?"

Heavenly Human Five Decays' question was well-placed. Even Xu Xiaoshou couldn't produce the Elephant-World Spider Lotus Crystal, implying that its sources were clearly limited.

"No... relation..."

Then, essentially, only one possibility remained.

"Do you know Dao Qiongcang?"

The Dao Hall Master, during his thirty years in power, had gathered treasures from all five domains. If even he hadn't produced the Elephant-World Spider Lotus Crystal, then the answer could only be related to the Ancestral Gods.

"I don't... know him..."

Very good, it concerns the Ancestral Gods! Heavenly Human Five Decays stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Holy Demon Medicine Ghoul, A, B, C, D, E. Which Ancestral God have you contacted? Answer with the corresponding number."

Liu Guifen convulsed even more violently, foam spilling from the corners of his mouth. God Ye spit out Aunt Xiang's fingers, then pinched her cheek, gently pushing her head aside. He couldn't watch any longer.

"Brother Heavenly Human."

Heavenly Human Five Decays remained impassive, quietly watching Liu Guifen struggle, awaiting an answer. The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Lei Xi'er glanced from side to side and subtly took half a step back.

"Brother Heavenly Human!"

God Ye's voice intensified, and the tension in the boudoir instantly became palpable.

"Xi'er, come here."

Aunt Xiang, shooed away, had no choice but to trot to the other side and pull the young girl close to protect her. What's the point of taking half a step back? Being caught in the middle is just waiting to die, isn't it?

"When his temper flares, it's usually hard to reason with him," Aunt Xiang whispered in Lei Xi'er's ear. "He's just that kind of person, too easily swayed."

"Mm."

Lei Xi'er responded softly. She had never seen God Ye get angry up close before; this person was just too... righteous!

"No... contact..."

Liu Guifen's answer was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Seeing that Heavenly Human Five Decays still wouldn't stop, God Ye growled, "Enough! That's enough, Heavenly Human Five Decays. We don't do things that way here!"

Heavenly Human Five Decays did not stop. He still controlled Liu Guifen, keeping him in the interrogation state. However, he also opened his Three-Dislike Pupils, and after turning his head, he stared intently at the big bald man on the other side. God Ye, wielding the Overlord, looked like a war god. He met the gaze with lowered eyes, completely unfazed by the Three-Dislike Pupils, not retreating an inch.

"Ugh!"

The opposite side stood firm. Heavenly Human Five Decays' mind wavered, and his body trembled violently. Of course, he harbored a testing intent, wanting to see if the legendary "Ghost Gate Pass, God-level prowess" was truly as mystical as claimed, and whether it could protect them both moving forward. But when his Three-Dislike Pupils truly met God Ye's gaze, he realized for the first time that beneath Saint Emperors and Ancestral Gods, someone's will could indeed be so unyielding.

The Mind-Twisting Pupil, for the first time, failed to instantly control a person!

God Ye did not retreat. Heavenly Human Five Decays also did not retreat. The two stared at each other, their gazes intertwining in the air, almost sparking.

"Senior Heavenly Human is also very strong..."

Lei Xi'er murmured softly. She, too, knew the temperament of those accompanying her and only hoped they wouldn't actually fight, as they were all on the same side.

God Ye's eyes trembled slightly, and three gray specks were reflected in his pupils, beginning to rotate at an extremely slow, yet accelerating, pace.

"He can't be controlled."

However, when it came to "confidence," Aunt Xiang truly yielded to no one. Since God Ye had returned, no matter how he had returned, and no matter what enemy stood opposite him, she possessed absolute, unyielding confidence.

Three-Dislike Pupils?

You can control anyone, but you're up against God Ye now!

Soon, the victor was clear. Beneath the orange mask, blood was faintly visible seeping from Heavenly Human Five Decays' eyes. Even then, he still couldn't control God Ye. Although God Ye held the Overlord, he was merely reacquainting himself with his old companion, certainly not intending to strike anyone with it. He calmly gazed at the orange-clad figure before him, staring at the grayscale world in his vision, and slowly said:

"With a clear conscience, I look up to heaven and down upon the earth. I, God Ye, born between heaven and earth, consult no one but my own heart."

He still stared at Heavenly Human Five Decays, but his hand pointed towards Liu Guifen, who was still convulsing and trembling:

"This person gave me the Elephant-World Spider Lotus Crystal. Whatever his intentions, it is useful to me, and that is enough. I despise betrayal, but I never fear it. Even if he turns against me in the future, as long as he treats me with 'sincerity' now, I will treat him with sincerity. Future matters are irrelevant to my present self—if things oppose me, I will cut them down; if time impedes me, I will sever it. Past and future cannot sway me, and neither can worries or anxieties, nor can people."

He paused, then a sharp glint burst from God Ye's eyes. The three flowing gray specks in his eyes completely shattered, and the orange-clad figure opposite him was jolted, staggering back repeatedly. Only then did God Ye grasp the Overlord and lightly plant it on the ground, speaking calmly:

"My path is thus: whoever helps me, I help; whoever obstructs me, I destroy."

"Brother Heavenly Human, you should understand what I mean."

Heavenly Human Five Decays felt as if an ancient beast had slammed a claw into his chest, leaving him mentally exhausted and drained of vital energy. In the end, he had expended nearly seventy percent of his power, yet still couldn't control God Ye. This meant that even if he had managed to control him, getting him to say anything would have been as difficult as ascending to heaven.

This... was God Ye?

Any further standoff would truly lead to a confrontation with blades. Heavenly Human Five Decays decisively chose to retreat, apologizing, "It was I who was presumptuous."

"No!"

God Ye waved his hand and shook his head, his gaze fixed on the orange-clad figure. He was firm in his own path and never negated others' paths, stating earnestly:

"You are similar to Xu Xiaoshou and Dao Qiongcang. If they were here, they would undoubtedly use every means possible to get a clear answer. There is no right or wrong in this matter itself, Brother Heavenly Human, you need not apologize. It's just that as I said, East Street is under my jurisdiction, and everything here follows my word."

"When I say we don't do things this way here, it's just a literal statement. Brother Heavenly Human, you don't need to overthink it."

They were indeed two completely different types of people compared to Xu Xiaoshou... Heavenly Human Five Decays took a slight breath, absorbing all the spiritual energy around him, and completely recovered his state. He clasped his fists again:

"Understood."

Finally, he still wouldn't give up, staring at the still convulsing Liu Guifen: "May I ask one last question?"

God Ye shook his head firmly:

"No."

Once within my domain, all are kin. Since he has entered East Street and shown me kindness, no one can bully the weak in front of me.

"Yes, you can!"

From behind, Aunt Xiang suddenly slapped the table and declared, "Everyone take a step back. Block... God Ye, you also said he wasn't wrong. Since he has conceded one step, you should also respect him and concede one step. Senior Heavenly Human, ask your last question."

God Ye paused, turning his head to look.

"Why do you always contradict me?"

Aunt Xiang put her hands on her hips, jutted out her chin, and puffed out her chest, saying, "East Street is under your control, and you are under mine!"

Lei Xi'er's eyes curved in amusement.

Heavenly Human Five Decays was not foolish enough to let God Ye turn back to stop him. After getting Aunt Xiang's permission, he immediately asked:

"Liu Guifen, where did your suddenly acquired power come from?"

By the time God Ye turned back to try and stop him, it was already too late. Liu Guifen trembled like chaff, weakly replying, "I... obtained a... green dagger... in the Divine Ruins..."

A dagger?

The crucial question was asked!

Aunt Xiang, of course, belonged to the faction that wanted to know more. That's right, she was a "bad woman," full of cunning like Xu Xiaoshou and Dao Qiongcang. This was the only flaw in that blockhead God Ye: he was too straightforward and couldn't tolerate any deceit.

What 'last question'?!

I don't care about any of that! Heavenly Human Five Decays, hurry up and ask!

Aunt Xiang, in her sheer black dress, suddenly leaped from the tea table, hooking herself onto God Ye. He instinctively turned to support her hips, avoiding a potential fall. Aunt Xiang's trick succeeded, her eyes gleaming cunningly. Her long, slender legs wrapped around God Ye's sturdy waist like a constricting snake, and simultaneously, she pursed her red lips, directly sealing God Ye's mouth with a sealing technique. With a honey trap like this, how could such a great opportunity be missed?

Heavenly Human Five Decays understood immediately: "What dagger? What did you get from that dagger?"

Liu Guifen couldn't withstand it anymore. His body trembled, and his mouth opened...

"Get down!"

God Ye lightly but forcefully patted Aunt Xiang's backside. He opened his mouth to stop their outrageous behavior, but a nimble, fragrant tongue sealed it once more, almost choking him. The Overlord staff, unheld, stood upright beside them.

In the quiet room, Liu Guifen's indistinct answer soon followed:

"A... legacy..."