Douluo Continent: The Ruler of Time, Reigning Supreme

Chapter 193 The Fallen Ice Emperor

The next morning, Yin Chen said goodbye to his roommate Xie Huan Yue at the dormitory entrance.

"I have to go home and help out at the restaurant. Be careful on your way."

Xie Huanyue patted Yin Chen on the shoulder. His family lived in Shrek City, and his parents ran a restaurant there.

"Okay, have a great holiday."

Yin Chen smiled and agreed.

After saying goodbye to his roommates, he walked straight to the girls' dormitory building.

Not long after, three beautiful figures emerged together; they were Ye Guyi and the Lan sisters, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo.

"Silver Dust".

As soon as Ye Guyi saw him, she jogged over, her face showing a hint of sullen complaint:
"Gu Yue is so unfair. She left last night without even saying goodbye. When we meet again, I'll make her bleed a lot."

Yin Chen chuckled. He knew very well that Ye Guyi's talk of a massive hemorrhage was nothing more than an attempt to extort a large meal from Gu Yuena.

The four chatted and laughed as they passed through the academy in the early morning and arrived at the bustling city gate.

Just then, Ye Guyi's eyes suddenly lit up. She pointed to a figure standing quietly in a corner not far away and said to Yin Chen and the others:
"That's my teacher, she came to pick me up."

Looking in the direction she pointed, one could see that the person was shrouded in a wide black robe, his aura restrained, out of place with the surrounding noise, like a solitary shadow.

Ye Guyi pulled them over, then affectionately took the arm of the man in black robes and introduced Yin Chen and the other two to him.

"I've met senior."

Yin Chen and the Lan sisters bowed slightly and greeted each other in unison.

"Well, hello."

A voice came from beneath the black robe, clear and melodious, yet carrying a mature quality that made it impossible to discern the speaker's age.

"Xiao Guyi often mentions you to me. Thank you for taking care of her at the academy."

Just then, in Yin Chen's mind, the voice of the Ice Emperor rang out with unprecedented vigilance:
"Yin Chen, be careful, this person... I can't see through her at all."

In the modern room conjured up in the sea of ​​the spirit, however, lies a completely different scene.

Ishtar, dressed in a silk nightgown, lay lazily on the soft sofa like a cat, engrossed in watching a melodramatic soap opera playing on the huge screen on the wall.

Hearing Hyotei's exclamation, she didn't even turn her head, and lazily said:
"Relax, he's much smarter than you think."

Hyotei was taken aback. Seeing Istar's nonchalant expression, most of the tension in their hearts dissipated.

Indeed, if even a true deity has no worries, then I am indeed worrying for nothing.

Thinking this, she sat down without any qualms, grabbed a handful of potato chips from the coffee table and started crunching them down. She also picked up a bottle of chilled soda and stared intently at the screen with Ishtar.

The novelties and dramas of the human world are truly fascinating.

Yin Chen was speechless as he sensed the decadent daily lives of the two reclusive girls in the Sea of ​​Spirit.

He felt like he was ruining these two.

Happiness has become so simple ever since they discovered the rich array of entertainment options he remembered.

Relying on his memory and imagination, he can perfectly reproduce all kinds of novels, TV series, movies and anime he has seen in his previous life here. Even details that he himself has forgotten can be dug out from the depths of his soul by Ishtar.

Of course, he still placed strict restrictions on some memories.

For example, those shady bookmarks in your browser from your past life—if they were ever discovered, it would be an instant social death.

He can't let his aloof facade crumble in front of them.

Outside, Yin Chen composed himself and bid a simple farewell to Qian Renxue, the black-robed woman whom Ye Guyi called his teacher.

They watched as Ye Guyi linked arms with Qian Renxue, and the two quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Afterwards, Yin Chen led the Lan sisters to a carriage waiting by the roadside. The carriage was understated in style, but both the materials used and the Star Luo royal emblem branded on the carriage body revealed its extraordinary status.

The three boarded the carriage, and as the wheels slowly rolled, they embarked on their journey back to Xingluo City.

The wheels rolled on, and the horses' hooves clattered.

After several days of travel, the magnificent city that stands majestically in the center of the continent—Star Luo City—finally revealed its imposing outline at the edge of the horizon.

In stark contrast to the academy atmosphere of Shrek City, everything here exudes the majesty and prosperity of the heart of the empire, with streets as wide as rivers and a constant flow of people.

The carriage passed through the heavy city gate and traveled smoothly inside the city.

Yin Chen first followed the address and safely escorted Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo back to their home.

After a polite farewell and holiday wishes, the carriage turned around and headed towards his own residence—Tingxuexuan.

In front of Tingxuexuan, an old plum tree stands tall and gnarled in the winter.

Under the tree, an elderly man dressed in simple gray clothes stood quietly, his hands behind his back, looking out at the end of the street from time to time.

The cold wind whipped at the corner of his clothes, but he was completely unaware; his unwavering devotion to waiting was self-evident.

When the carriage came to a stop, Yin Chen lifted the curtain and immediately saw that familiar figure.

"Uncle Grey".

He quickly got out of the car, a warm feeling welling up in his heart, which then turned into a hint of reproach.

"It's so cold outside, why are you waiting at the door? What if you catch a cold?"

Uncle Grey turned around, and a chrysanthemum-like smile immediately bloomed on his aged face, his eyes filled with undisguised joy and excitement.

"Master, you are back."

He looked Yin Chen up and down. Although it had been almost a year since they last met, the young man in front of him had grown much taller and his temperament had become more calm and reserved. But he would never mistake the look in his eyes.

"My old bones aren't that useless."

Uncle Grey waved his hand with a smile.

"Besides, this old servant is still a Soul Master, and this bit of cold energy can't do anything to me."

"That's not OK."

Yin Chen stepped forward and took his arm, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"I'm still counting on you to stay strong and healthy in your old age and stay with me for a few more years."

He supported Uncle Gray, feeling the slightly thin touch under his arm, and silently made a decision in his heart.

He wanted Grey to live a healthy life, until the day he had enough power, until the moment he truly touched the realm of the gods.

At that time, he will give Gray a choice—an opportunity to step into eternity.

Of course, that's just one option.

Yin Chen understood the cruelty of time better than anyone else.

As the master of time, he knew that immortality was not necessarily a blessing for mortals.

When friends and family turn to dust one by one, and the familiar world becomes unrecognizable, that ancient loneliness is enough to wear down even the most resilient soul.

Time is the most ruthless force, and even gods will grow weary over the long years.

Only those souls who can truly endure this wear and tear and find meaning in endless solitude are qualified to talk about immortality.

Otherwise, immortality would be nothing more than a magnificent but long curse.

(End of this chapter)