Chapter 843: Departure

The underground palace fell silent once more.

After a while, Hao Tian Xuan Hai rushed in and nodded solemnly at Hao Tian Xuan Zhen.

"Line up and enter quickly, but don't panic," Hao Tian Xuan Zhen quickly composed himself. As the head of the family, he couldn't let anything faze him at this critical juncture; he had to be responsible for his clan.

"Understood." Hao Tian Xuan Hai hurried out.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen had already taken out the Gui Ming Mask and gently placed it on his face.

Seeing this, Hao Tian Xuan Zhen gave a self-mocking smile. Ye Chen wearing the mask meant he didn't want to be recognized by more people in the Hao Tian family, which essentially indicated he still hadn't accepted them.

Soon, a flood of people poured into the underground palace, with some noise, but overall, it remained orderly.

"Enter the Yu Men quickly." Hao Tian Xuan Zhen's voice was firm and authoritative, carrying the dignity of a family head. He offered no further explanation—there simply wasn't time.

With the family head's order, the Hao Tian family members dared not disobey and filed into the Yu Men one by one.

Notably, before entering, everyone instinctively glanced at Ye Chen. Seeing his white hair draped over his shoulders and the mask on his face, they all paused in surprise, scratching their heads in bewilderment.

"Hurry, hurry, go faster." Hao Tian Xuan Hai urged repeatedly, his tone urgent, for the Shi Xue Dian army could attack at any moment. If they set up a barrier to block the transmission Yu Men, no one would escape.

Fortunately, the Hao Tian family moved swiftly.

Fortunately, the escape Yu Men left by their ancestors was reliable, with a sturdy spatial channel capable of supporting the entire clan's transfer.

"Shi Yue, don't cause trouble—get in quickly."

"You all go first." In the crowd, Hao Tian Shi Yue had just reached the edge of the Yu Men but stepped back, clenching her jade-like hands as she stood beside Ye Chen. She wanted to look at him but didn't dare; at that moment, she wished there were no blood ties between them, so she could freely take his arm without hesitation.

Yet, fate played its tricks—her beloved was her half-sibling, a regret that would last a lifetime.

"Get in quickly; the Shi Xue Dian army could arrive any second." Ye Chen said calmly.

"I'll wait a bit." Hao Tian Shi Yue bit her lip, and in this crisis, she felt the white-haired young man beside her was especially warm.

"Go in." Ye Chen flicked his sleeve and abruptly pushed Hao Tian Shi Yue into the transmission Yu Men.

"Hurry, hurry." Hao Tian Xuan Hai continued to shout urgently.

"Uncle, what's going on? I haven't even woken up yet."

"No time for chatter." Hao Tian Xuan Hai kicked a chubby boy, still rubbing his sleepy eyes, straight into the Yu Men.

Perhaps because of Hao Tian Xuan Hai's urgency and the grave expressions on Hao Tian Xuan Zhen and the others, the Hao Tian family members felt an ominous premonition, subconsciously quickening their steps.

"Third Uncle, stop hesitating." Amid the moving crowd, Hao Tian Xuan Hai stood beside Hao Tian Jing Shan.

As for Hao Tian Jing Shan, he stood straight and dignified, exuding authority. "I'm not leaving. The mountain-protecting barrier needs someone to control it. We might still buy you time for the evacuation."

"Old age has caught up; I can't run anymore." As he spoke, more than a dozen elderly figures appeared behind him, all from his generation, frail and aged.

"Everyone, we will return one day. Please enter the Yu Men quickly." Hao Tian Xuan Zhen said hastily.

"No need for more words; our minds are made up." Hao Tian Jing Shan stroked his beard, adopting a resolute, ready-to-die demeanor.

But as soon as he finished, he felt a hand grab his collar.

Then, his feet left the ground.

Finally, he was thrown entirely into the transmission Yu Men.

Damn it!

A furious curse echoed from inside the Yu Men.

Hao Tian Xuan Zhen and Hao Tian Xuan Hai turned with expressions of sheer astonishment toward Ye Chen, for it was he who had thrown Hao Tian Jing Shan in.

Ye Chen ignored their reactions completely. In his bold style, he grabbed one elder after another and tossed them all into the Yu Men.

After finishing, he stood there like a statue, as if nothing had happened.

In truth, compared to Hao Tian Xuan Zhen's gentle persuasion, Ye Chen's method was far more effective. The remaining elders became remarkably self-aware—one by one, they walked in voluntarily, figuring it was better than being thrown.

"I must say, Xuan Zhen, your son is quite fierce!" Hao Tian Xuan Hai coughed dryly as he glanced at Ye Chen.

"It's effective, at least." Hao Tian Xuan Zhen felt a bit embarrassed. After all, those thrown in were from his father's generation, and Ye Chen's audacity left him, as the father, feeling rather humiliated.

"They've arrived." While the two exchanged quiet words, Ye Chen looked up, as if seeing through the underground palace to the Shi Xue Dian army that had already arrived.

"Shi Xue Dian, what a massive force." Hao Tian Xuan Zhen said coldly.

"Hurry, hurry." Hao Tian Xuan Hai followed Ye Chen's lead, waving his hand to send the remaining Hao Tian family members into the Yu Men. But before he knew it, someone pushed him from behind, and he tumbled in as well.

"Chen Ye, get in quickly." Hao Tian Xuan Zhen urgently turned to Ye Chen.

"You go first; I'll follow soon." Ye Chen pushed Hao Tian Xuan Zhen into the Yu Men.

Then, he separated a Qi Hua San Qing clone and tossed out over a hundred Ling Fu before turning to step into the transmission Yu Men himself.

Boom!

As soon as he entered, deafening explosions erupted outside.

The Shi Xue Dian army had reached the Hao Tian family's barrier outskirts, a black mass of figures like an ocean, rapidly encircling them. Nine void attack formations were arrayed in the sky, rapidly activating their power.

"Set up the barrier; don't let them escape via the transmission array." An ethereal and icy voice echoed through the heavens.

From afar, it was a man in blood-red armor with blood-red hair, a terrifying sight.

This man was no ordinary figure; he was Xue Qiong, the lord of the Shi Xue Dian's ninth branch hall, commanding an entire hall's army and wielding considerable power as a regional overlord.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

As Xue Qiong's words fell, nine dark pillars shot up from all sides of the Hao Tian family, merging into a massive barrier. This barrier targeted transmission arrays specifically, disrupting surrounding space and isolating channels—a standard tactic in sieges.

"My lord, it seems like there's no one inside!" A Shi Xue Dian commander exclaimed in shock.

"How can you see through the mountain-protecting barrier? That's absurd." Xue Qiong snapped coldly.

"You're right, my lord."

"What is the meaning of this, Shi Xue Dian?" From within the Hao Tian family, Ye Chen's clone appeared, shouting angrily in Hao Tian Xuan Zhen's voice at the outside—to buy time, of course.

"What meaning?" Xue Qiong sneered. "Hao Tian Xuan Zhen, at this point, are you still playing dumb? Ye Chen killed my Shi Xue Dian elder—isn't that reason enough?"

"The person he killed has nothing to do with the Hao Tian family." Ye Chen's clone shouted back angrily.

"Everyone in Da Chu knows Ye Chen is your son. The principle of a son's debts being paid by the father—surely you understand that!" Xue Qiong chuckled darkly. "Hao Tian Xuan Zhen, if you're smart, open the barrier and surrender. Maybe I'll show mercy and give you a quick end. Otherwise, heh heh heh."

"This is Bei Zhen Cang Yuan, not your Zhong Tong Da Di." Ye Chen's clone snorted coldly. "If it comes to a fight, it's unclear who will win."

"Oh?" Xue Qiong reclined on his throne, eyeing the Hao Tian family with interest. "You might not know this, but the Yuan family and Yin Yang family have already submitted to Shi Xue Dian. So, don't count on their help."

"Damn it?" Ye Chen's clone feigned outrage, his acting spot-on.

"So, will you come out and surrender, or will we break in?" Xue Qiong laughed sinisterly, his eyes flickering with a lecherous glint. "I've heard your three daughters are each as beautiful as immortals. If they serve me well today, everything could be negotiable."

At those words, a sharp chill flashed in Ye Chen's clone's eyes.

But to keep up the act, he lowered his stance. "Fellow Daoist, could you give us time to consider?"

"Hao Tian Xuan Zhen, you don't have the leverage to negotiate with me." Xue Qiong idly twirled the ring on his thumb, his laughter cold and cruel.

"I need to give my clan an answer, and besides, with the Hao Tian family surrounded, you're not afraid we'll run, are you?"

"Run? What a joke." Xue Qiong smirked playfully. "I'll give you three minutes to convince your people."

"That's only fair." Ye Chen's clone curled his lips into a cold smile.

Meanwhile, in a stretch of mountain ranges, the Hao Tian family members had all emerged from the transmission Yu Men.

"Head west from here, toward the mortal world." Ye Chen handed a map to Hao Tian Xuan Zhen. "In Xi Yuan Kingdom, people from Yan Huang will meet you. Travel secretly through the mountains, and remember to avoid ancient cities with cultivators. Absolutely do not use the transmission arrays there."

"The mortal world?" The Hao Tian family members were stunned.

"Though we've withdrawn, that doesn't mean we're out of danger." Ye Chen said slowly. "Shi Xue Dian has dominated Bei Chu for nearly a millennium with deep roots. To evade their surveillance, we must pass through the mortal world."

"Going via the mortal world— that's quite the plan." Hao Tian Xuan Hai sighed in admiration. "Shi Xue Dian's people would never expect us to retreat this way."

"You're not coming with us?" Hao Tian Xuan Zhen looked at Ye Chen anxiously.

"You go ahead; I'll catch up later."

"But..."

"Trust me and leave quickly." Ye Chen rarely smiled. "Without ties holding me back, I can act freely. Besides, I've prepared a feast for Shi Xue Dian."

Though Ye Chen smiled, Hao Tian Xuan Zhen clenched his fists tightly.

He knew exactly what Ye Chen intended—to delay alone. Even with Ye Chen's formidable strength, facing an entire Shi Xue Dian army was unimaginably risky.

"Xuan Hai, lead the clan away." Hao Tian Xuan Zhen said firmly.

"This..."

"You're the family head; you must take responsibility for the clan." Before Hao Tian Xuan Hai could respond, Ye Chen interrupted, staring straight at Hao Tian Xuan Zhen. "Understand that the path ahead is full of dangers. The Hao Tian family needs you to lead them through."