Chapter 1560: Chapter 84: Return of the Mother Empress

Home is home.

Even after returning from enduring storms, the warmth and tenderness of home remain.

The words are still warm.

The smiles are still pure.

No matter how the world changes, no matter how many ages pass in the red dust, whether it’s Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City or King City of the Elf Domain.

When family members are together, no matter where in the world, it feels like home.

One can feel the warmth of togetherness, of family love and romance.

Hou Chen was surrounded by family, receiving warm inquiries, and his heart was moved time and again.

Again and again, he hoped that such a time would never pass.

Even the current Qian Luoshui and Lin Xuefei were very concerned about Hou Chen.

This scene also made Zhou Yan quite gratified.

And time, thus flowed in such a warm environment.

The sky gradually darkened.

Hou Chen and Zhou Sisi went alone to the depths of the Elf Domain Sea, while Zhou Yan, Fei Ya, Jiang Yuning, Mu Qingyan, and Qian Luoshui stayed behind.

They all had something to say to Zhou Yan.

It’s just that, there was not much opportunity to speak these days.

Mu Qingyan, Fei Ya and Jiang Yuning staying behind was something Zhou Yan could understand, but with Qian Luoshui, Zhou Yan’s feelings were quite complicated.

However, Qian Luoshui didn’t consider what Zhou Yan was thinking, instead, her gaze remained fixedly on Zhou Yan, unwavering.

Zhou Yan felt quite uneasy being stared at like this by Qian Luoshui, and he smiled somewhat bitterly, then approached Qian Luoshui.

Qian Luoshui, however, didn’t avoid Zhou Yan, and suddenly said, "Zhou Yan, back in the depths of the Sky Breaking Array Map, at the place of the Broken Heaven Secret Realm, the Heavenly Sacrificial Altar, you saw it, right?"

Qian Luoshui stared straight into Zhou Yan’s eyes, seemingly very eager to confirm this answer.

Zhou Yan understood immediately and realized Qian Luoshui had probably guessed it. Because for some reason, just returning to the Heavenly Sacrificial Altar would reveal the truth.

Zhou Yan nodded and said, "Yes."

"What were you thinking at the time?"

"Please tell me honestly, this is very important to me. Though I know I’m just a seed in the virtual world meant for your revival, now that I’ve arrived in this harsh reality with you, I must make some of my own decisions."

Qian Luoshui spoke with great seriousness.

When a woman is serious, she becomes very charming.

And a woman like Qian Luoshui naturally carries an even greater charm.

But Zhou Yan no longer had time.

Spending time with family was both a release for Hou Chen and a release for himself.

Although, without a series of responsibilities, he even wished to sleep with all his women and enjoy the pleasures of passion.

But in the end, he was willing but unable.

"Originally, I resented you because some of your methods were truly ruthless, even though for some reason I was insignificant at the time, but... if I had a daughter and chose a reliable home for her and she responded like this, I would be very disappointed."

"But... when I saw that strong, cold woman secretly shedding tears, that resentment could no longer gather.

When the nature of resentment changes, it naturally becomes another extreme."

"This is love, love born from pity."

"Of course, there are indeed many women around me. My love seems cheap. But I have made the best decision and will not let down anyone who loves me."

"I have cultivated to the extreme of the Natural Form of Tao and possess thirteen King’s Marks, so I can manifest thirteen independent selves!

"Just like the zodiac animals back home, having corresponding types, forming corresponding independent selves."

"At that time, you can choose which one you like."

"Let’s grow old together, promising eternal happiness throughout lifetimes."

"Of course, that’s if we still have a future."

Zhou Yan said with a bitter smile and a sigh.

While speaking, he reached out to gently touch Qian Luoshui’s face.

At this distance, if Qian Luoshui felt any dissatisfaction or aversion, Zhou Yan would not be able to touch her.

But at that moment, Qian Luoshui extended her arm, white and jade-like, her slender fair hand gently grasping Zhou Yan’s hand, then placing it on her own face.

"Husband, when you were not here, I communicated a lot with my sisters and resolved many inner conflicts, thus my heart began to worry about you." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Knowing your past sorrows and pains, knowing your burdens, reflecting on my past, I was filled with deep regret."

"I’ve never regretted anything in my life, but once some things are regretted, it cuts deeply into the spirit and stings painfully at the heart."

"The reason I ask about your feelings is just to know if you love me, I’ll stay. If not, I’ll leave and will not trouble you."

"I know that due to your promise, you would never deliberately forsake me. But now I realize, even without the promise, without the past, you would still treat me well. It’s just a pity that I realized it too late. If I had strived with you from the beginning, things might be much better now."

Qian Luoshui’s voice was filled with a sense of tragic self-reproach.

But Zhou Yan suddenly reached out and gently pressed her cold and cool lips.

"Luo Shui, all these things don’t need to be on your mind anymore. Moreover, right and wrong aren’t so simple. Without those things back then, how could our feelings be so deep now?"

"Also, like with me and Holy Daughter Ning’er, with Goddess Mu Qingyan, and even with that Sky Saber Mantis Extraordinary Woman Fei Ya, haven’t we all had unforgettable experiences?"

"And if you are happy, then I am happy. If you are in pain, then I am sad. So remember, if you are well, then we all are well."

Zhou Yan spoke earnestly, his words exceptionally gentle.

These words were actually not only spoken to Qian Luoshui, but also to Mu Qingyan, Jiang Yuning, and Fei Ya.

"Yes, Luo Shui sister, now we should unite and handle the internal matters of the Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City well, resolving all disputes and contradictions, which would be the best help to our husband."

Jiang Yuning also spoke at this time.

Mu Qingyan, however, didn’t speak.

And after everyone finished speaking, she sighed softly, saying, "Husband, I stayed not because of emotional reasons, because I know that our feelings no longer need any words to explain."

"I stayed because I felt the Ancient Energy of life beginning to drain from the domain of Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City, and this way, the life in Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City... the weak ones, might turn into endless dried corpses again, drained of their Life Origin."

"Although it’s just a small sign now, the trend of this development is terrifying!"

Mu Qingyan was talking about a serious matter.

But she wasn’t deliberately targeting Jiang Yuning and others, rather this matter was more important than emotions.

Zhou Yan’s heart, warmed by emotion, immediately tensed in response to this situation.

His face hardened as he asked, "When did this happen?"

"It’s been happening for almost half a day now."

Mu Qingyan pondered and said.

Zhou Yan’s expression changed slightly again, and he began calculating immediately, but the result was evidently adverse.

"No, I must go find the Mother Empress once!"

Zhou Yan’s face immediately turned somewhat ugly.

He rarely showed this expression in front of his women because he would smile through anything—at least in front of his women.

But now, he didn’t even have time to conceal his emotions.

"Husband, I will go with you, the Mother Empress may have some scruples because of me! Otherwise, she might go crazy."

Mu Qingyan’s face also turned a bit colder as she mentioned the Mother Empress, even Zhou Yan could feel Mu Qingyan’s chilling murderous intent.

Zhou Yan knew that Mu Qingyan, Hou Chen, both had suffered greatly at the hands of the Mother Empress, inevitably harboring deep resentment.

And Zhou Yan himself was also once plotted against by the Mother Empress, sending Feng Zishuang and Zhou Lingyi as spies, destroying the Thunder Flame Monarch of his first life, forcing the Ten Thousand Immortals, Ten Thousand Buddhas, and even all the major Holy Spirits of the Human Clan to establish the Holy Spirit Land domain world, allowing Zhou Yan to live a second and even third life and regain himself.

One could say, Zhou Yan himself had suffered even more.

Now Zhou Yan going to see the Mother Empress, before learning the Evil Dragon Inheritance method, would likely be walking into the lion’s den, a very dangerous move.

But having decided, Zhou Yan would never change his initial determination.

"Qingyan, the Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City still needs you now. Also, please take care of Yanyan’s emotions, this daughter, I’ve truly wronged her."

"And my apprentice Liu Haoxin, and my other wives Long Xianyin and others, I don’t even have time to say a few words to them."

Zhou Yan said with a sigh.

Mu Qingyan gazed into Zhou Yan’s eyes, her look unwavering.

Zhou Yan’s tone remained unchanged, continuing, "Listen, it’ll be alright."

Zhou Yan said as he was about to leave immediately, but at this moment, Hou Chen brought Zhou Sisi through the Void Singularity, crossing over directly, and returned to Zhou Yan’s side.

"Father, I will teach you the Evil Dragon Inheritance method now, it’s not too difficult, and there’s no need to go find the Mother Empress, because she has already come, and she says she wants to watch you cultivate the Evil Dragon Inheritance, to see if you, as Feng Zishuang and Zhou Lingyi’s mother said, possess hope for the future."

Hou Chen did not hold back, revealing the entire situation at once.

Zhou Yan was astonished, and at this moment, large patches of golden leaves appeared in the Void, swirling, every piece fluttering like autumn leaves.

However, whether Mu Qingyan or Jiang Yuning and others, seeing these golden leaves, they all were extremely cautious.

"Sacrificial Heaven Ancient City, I have returned."

A cold yet emotionless voice, carried a inexplicable sense of nostalgia, heavy and desolate.

This was a puzzling voice.

It sounded full of emotion, but the words held a sense of emotionlessness.

"Yes, you have returned, but hoping this time doesn’t bring another city-destroying calamity!"

Mu Qingyan coldly stated.

"That isn’t my intention, for if some lives don’t perish, how could the Purple Emperor Star and Soul Burying Starfield, these vast plane galaxies be created? How could such immense lower spaces be established?"

The voice echoed everywhere, but the figure was not seen.

Until the voice nearly disappeared completely, the golden leaves in the Void then gathered together, forming a mask made of golden leaves.

Then, behind the mask, began to appear a transparent, seductive female figure.

The figure gradually solidified, soon, the full image of the Mother Empress, with a golden mask and light golden silk skirt, completely emerged.