Chapter 37: Children, I will help you cut out the memories

The beginning, middle, and end all blurred together.

In short, after a series of vague memories, Luo Chen rediscovered his courage and strength.

“This Young Master won’t fall here!”

With a roar, he burned his essence blood, forcibly tapping into his latent potential.

In an instant, he became a blur, charging out of the ruin.

The beastly shadow roared behind him but couldn’t keep up. As Luo Chen reached the exit, it dissolved into black mist, scattering with the wind.

Safe at last, he collapsed, gasping for air.

Looking at the sky, he laughed: “Hahaha! I’m the protagonist! Surviving disaster means great fortune awaits!”

“Hahahaha…”

His laughter brought tears, as if all his bad luck had been washed away.

Until Luo Yuanshan slowly emerged from the ruin’s exit.

Luo Chen: ?

He blinked, closed his eyes, blinked again.

Confirming it wasn’t a hallucination, his smile faded as he stood.

He glared at Luo Yuanshan, voice grim: “How did you get out?”

Hearing the question, Luo Yuanshan stopped, beating his chest with a tragic expression: “Young Master, I’m useless—!”

Luo Chen: ?

Luo Yuanshan sighed, continuing: “In the chamber, Skinny Ghost, the Su duo, and I teamed up against Luo Jiutian…

But he was too strong. One against four, snap—the Su team was gone!”

His eyes reddened: “Skinny Ghost burned his essence blood to save me, holding him off so I could escape…”

Luo Chen’s expression was complex.

He’d thought the four could at least match Luo Jiutian, not get crushed one-sidedly.

“Then how—”

Before he finished, Luo Yuanshan cut in: “I fled through a passage. The traps were broken, no resistance—I just… walked out.”

“…”

Luo Chen was silent for three full breaths, blood surging, nearly spitting it out.

He’d fled for his life, dodging traps and burning essence blood to survive.

And this guy… strolled out?

His head buzzed, fists clenching unconsciously.

He wanted to spear Luo Yuanshan to vent his rage.

If this fool had helped even a little, he wouldn’t have been chased like a dog.

But before he could act, Luo Yuanshan dropped to his knees with a thud.

“Please punish me, Young Master!” His voice boomed, sincere. “In the chamber, I failed to distract the beast—my fault!”

Luo Chen sneered, suppressing his anger: “You know you messed up?”

“I know!” Luo Yuanshan bowed lower. “I’ve failed the Luo family, Young Master, and this very earth—”

“Shut up!” Luo Chen, fed up, kicked him over. “Is this an apology or a speech?”

Luo Yuanshan rolled half a circle, then knelt again, posture more proper.

Luo Chen glared, unloading his pent-up fury:

“Do you know I was chased like a dog?!”

“Do you know I nearly ended up a totem on a wall?!”

“Do you know I burned almost all my essence blood to escape?!”

Luo Yuanshan nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, I deserve death, I’m a bastard, I’m not human!”

“I didn’t say you’re not human!” Luo Chen roared. “I said you’re not a competent one!”

Luo Yuanshan’s eyes lit up: “So I still qualify as human!”

“Shut up.”

“Yes!”

Luo Chen pointed, trembling with rage, then took a deep breath, swallowing his curses.

“Forget it, I won’t bother with you.”

“I’m eternally grateful!”

“I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself.”

“I’d go through fire for Young Master!”

“Good!” Luo Chen sat cross-legged. “I’m badly injured and need to meditate. Guard me—eyes open, attack anyone who approaches.”

“Understood!”

At the ruin’s exit, one meditated, one stood guard, the scene oddly normal.

…

Elsewhere, above the secret realm.

A spiritual sword sliced through the air, carrying two figures toward the central region.

Luo Jiutian and Su Wan’er stood on the sword.

Or rather, Su Wan’er controlled it, while Luo Jiutian was just a passenger.

But this passenger’s experience wasn’t ordinary.

During the flight, Su Wan’er would speed up abruptly, stop suddenly, or carve an S-shaped curve.

Not to dodge danger, but to see when Luo Jiutian would lose balance and “accidentally” fall into her.

Her plan failed.

Luo Jiutian stood steadier than her, not even blinking, as if he’d predicted her antics.

Su Wan’er puffed her cheeks, unconvinced.

Even with her Nascent Soul cultivation, at such speeds, most would’ve fallen, but Luo Jiutian was unfazed.

“Nine Heavens Brother, can’t you play along?” she finally grumbled, turning to him.

He smiled faintly, not responding.

He wouldn’t tell her that, in a simulation, he’d ridden a Deity Transformation cultivator’s sword multiple times as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. That speed was thrilling—this was nothing.

Seeing him ignore her, Su Wan’er muttered: “…No fun.”

Then—

[Ding! Host has forced the Chosen One ‘Luo Chen’ to burn substantial essence blood, severely damaging his foundation, converting destiny points…]

[Current Blue Star return countdown: 291 years.]

[9 years deducted, remaining: 282 years.]

Luo Jiutian nearly laughed aloud at the prompt.

Su Wan’er noticed, turning back: “Did you just snicker?”

“No,” he coughed, straight-faced. “Just thought of something funny.”

“Bad brother!” She pouted. “You were teasing me, weren’t you?”

Luo Jiutian: “…”

She grew angrier, lightly punching him: “Your lips twitched—I saw it!”

He considered explaining but let it go.

Soon, a towering ancient tree came into view, its branches blotting the sky, roots sprawling, awe-inspiring.

The central region was here.