The Huoli Daming King knocked out the Zouwu, roughly slung it over his shoulder, and carried it back, proving even less useful than the previous Jiashi.
On the road, the group stopped to rest on an asteroid. He Li and Yan Li spoke in low voices.
Yan Li was somewhat reserved, always appearing shy when he spoke. It wasn't strange, thinking of someone you missed for a long time, your mind consumed by that person, a belly full of words wanting to be said, but upon meeting, not knowing where to begin. Brotherly affection was also like this.
He Li spoke more, occasionally inquiring about the Barbaric Ancient Era. Yan Li answered earnestly, afraid of missing anything.
They then discussed the spirit of the Banggu True God, slumbering within the river of time.
Yan Li's expression flickered, and he sighed, "The world is vast, with countless individuals of extraordinary talent. It was I who failed to recognize a true god. Yan Li was right; I shouldn't have underestimated Xia Kuduo."
Hearing Yan Li mention Xia Kuduo,
He Li fell silent for a moment, took out a bottle of wine from his sleeve, and began to drink. It was because that man liked to drink, and even more so, he liked to eat chocolate with wine. He said that chocolate was bitter and sweet, sticky in the mouth, and drinking wine added a touch of spicy flavor.
Now, Xia Kuduo was exiled to the river of time, impossible to find. His brilliance was like a meteor shower of extreme brilliance; the day he achieved God King status was the day he disappeared.
The God Race confronted the Desolate Race, with the ethereal, intangible, yet clearly felt river of time lying between them.
Lord of Time, Messenger of Time, Edict of Time, Yan Li of the Two Realms, Barbaric Ancient Era, New God Era...
Names, epochs, like mountains, piled up in He Li's heart.
Because all of these were related to him.
He was Yan Si of the Barbaric Ancient Era.
He was Xia Peishu of the New God Era, He Li of humanity.
He possessed the power of the Star God and the Demon God, having lost his three natures but capable of regrowing them, a deity.
He controlled the laws of time but was targeted by the Lord of Time and threatened by the Messenger of Time with the Edict of Time.
Yan Li, as the Messenger of Time called him, Cheng Xilin, was constantly searching for the Lord of Time.
All of these seemed to be intricately connected to him.
Thinking about it now, were the beast corpses in the sea of stars within his spiritual sea, constantly roaring, the corpses of the great demons, demon kings, and even supreme beings of the Demon Race?
He Li tilted his head back and took a swig of wine, his eyes narrowed, contemplating. Yan Li had placed the sea of stars into his spiritual sea.
Then, Xiao Bai appeared, inciting those beast corpses to stimulate the Demon God's power and nourish his body.
Furthermore, Xiao Bai and Yan Li were together.
If there wasn't some hidden secret within this, even a ghost wouldn't believe it.
However, Xiao Bai seemed to have been with him since Earth. During the Tokyo God War, when he was soaking in a hot spring at a hot spring inn, Xiao Bai was squatting on the wall watching him bathe, and later beat Xiao Lan several times.
This meant that Yan Li knew him from the very beginning, waiting to use him for something he couldn't accomplish. Therefore, he helped him obtain the Star God's power.
Therefore, when Xi Ling trapped him, he stood outside the Desolate God's power barrier and guided him.
Therefore, he knew Xia Kuduo and knew Xia Kuduo's true realm, and told Yan Li not to underestimate Xia Kuduo.
Thinking of this,
He Li dared not ponder further. Yan Li was like an invisible and mysterious wall blocking his path, shrouded in mist and impossible to see through.
"What are you thinking?"
Yan Li saw He Li's expression becoming colder and filled with fierce killing intent, and felt worried. He hesitated, then cautiously asked.
He Li was startled, then his frost-covered face broke into a bright smile. The rapid change in his expression caught Yan Li off guard. He smiled gently and said,
"Nothing, I was just thinking of Xia Kuduo. You know, he and I have a deep friendship. Although we weren't close buddies who had known each other for many years, it felt like we had known each other for years. How should I put it?
Love at first sight!
That's right, love at first sight.
He fulfilled his promise to me, so I thought, I can't let him down either. I should work hard, right?"
After He Li finished speaking with a smile, he took another drink.
"Cough, cough, cough... cough, cough, cough..."
He Li choked on the wine, coughing violently. Wine spilled from the corners of his mouth, and tears welled up from his coughing, his eyes turning red.
Yan Li nodded, seeming somewhat lost, and more so, sorrowful. When He Li fought Xi Ling, he had also gone, but he hadn't accomplished anything, merely holding off three old wastes of the Desolate Race. What he should have done, his responsibility, was done by Xia Kuduo.
Regardless of whether he was a match for those Barbaric Ancient True Gods, just that spirit of sacrificing his life, he was inferior to Xia Kuduo.
"He was more like your brother than I was," Yan Li muttered dejectedly.
He Li looked at Yan Li in astonishment upon hearing this, then smiled and took out another bottle of wine from his sleeve, handing it to Yan Li.
Yan Li stared blankly at the wine bottle, then at He Li, not understanding.
He Li grinned and said, "Who would dislike having more brothers?"
Yan Li's expression was complex. He forced a smile, took the bottle of wine, imitated He Li's manner, twisted open the cap, and tilted his head back, taking a large gulp. He had never drunk before; he was completely imitating He Li.
"Cough, cough, cough... cough, cough..."
"It's so spicy."
"Hahaha..." He Li patted Yan Li on the back and laughed heartily.
"Haha... Hahaha..." Yan Li also burst into laughter.
Many words didn't need to be spoken; a shared glance and a smile were all in the wine.
Returning to the central battlefield, He Li ignored Shentu and directly took Yan Li back to his residence.
Huai Xi came out to greet them and noticed Yan Li walking beside He Li, shoulder to shoulder. She frowned slightly, somewhat displeased. It wasn't because of the overwhelming bloody killing aura emanating from Yan Li, but because he walked shoulder to shoulder with He Li.
Now, whether it was Xia Yeqi or Xia Min'ao, they centered their movements around He Li, generally walking half a step behind him to show respect.
This wasn't intentional on He Li's part, but as events unfolded and the situation became clearer, the central figure was determined. He Li was the absolute leader.
This was deeply ingrained in Huai Xi's impression. The sudden appearance of someone walking shoulder to shoulder with He Li displeased her, so her gaze towards Yan Li was slightly unfriendly.
Before He Li got close, he smiled brightly at Huai Xi, quickened his steps, came before her, took her hand, and turning sideways, introduced her to Yan Li:
"Huai Xi, this is Yan Li, he is... my brother."
Yan Li was stunned, then immense joy surged through his heart.
Huai Xi was also stunned. He Li's brother? Did he have another brother?
However,
Huai Xi reacted quickly, feeling a bit embarrassed about her earlier unfriendly demeanor. She bowed slightly and paid her respects to Yan Li.
"Greetings, elder brother."
He Li grinned foolishly and said, "Brother, this is Huai Xi, my wife."
Yan Li stared blankly at He Li, "Wife?"
"Uh... that is... wife, partner, the woman who will bear my children."
"Oh, your wife."
Yan Li suddenly understood, then nodded at Huai Xi, forcing a smile that looked rather awkward. He didn't know how to smile, at least not politely. To cover his awkward smile, he quickly took out a stone tablet from the inner lining of his chest armor, engraved with blood-colored array patterns.
The stone tablet was about the size of a playing card, rectangular, very thin, and engraved with complex battle array patterns.
He handed the stone tablet to He Li and said, "This is the 'Yan Qi Tablet' left by our father's family. Later, I engraved arrays on it with my Blood Shadow劫杀 Battle Halberd. This 'Yan Qi Tablet' not only contains the sealed divine power of my Yan clan but also the divine artifact blood array left by the ancient clan elders. Since you have a wife, I will give it to your wife for self-defense. As the only remaining members of the Yan clan, we cannot produce any decent divine artifacts as betrothal gifts, so use this."
"Ah?!" Huai Xi was startled. Although she didn't know what a betrothal gift was or what the Yan clan or divine artifact blood array was, hearing the long introduction, she knew this item was extremely precious.
"No, I don't need this..."
He Li's eyes lit up, his smile bright and radiant. He grabbed the 'Yan Qi Tablet'.
"Good, big brother, I thank you on behalf of your sister-in-law."
Saying this,
He Li stuffed the 'Yan Qi Tablet' into his sleeve.
Yan Li was speechless. He grabbed He Li's wrist, pulled He Li's hand holding the 'Yan Qi Tablet', and snatched the 'Yan Qi Tablet' from his grasp.
"You scoundrel, you dare to pocket the betrothal gift for your wife? If outsiders knew, my Yan clan would lose all face."
Yan Li handed the 'Yan Qi Tablet' to Huai Xi.
Huai Xi was in a dilemma, unsure whether to accept it.
"Cough, cough..."
Huai Xi looked at He Li and found him looking up at the sky, but his eyes were glancing at the 'Yan Qi Tablet'.
Huai Xi pursed her lips into a smile, bowed deeply to Yan Li, accepted the 'Yan Qi Tablet',
"Thank you, elder brother."
"It's nothing. Our Yan clan is no longer as prosperous as it was, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for you. But don't worry, I will carve out a great fortune for Little Si, so you two won't be wronged or in hardship."
Yan Li's face was stern and serious. He had been very shy before, but with He Li calling him "brother" and Huai Xi calling him "elder brother," he immediately took on the role of He Li's elder family member. In his excitement, he even produced the betrothal gift.
He Li ignored all this, only thinking about the 'Yan Qi Tablet'.
Huai Xi winked at He Li, telling him not to worry.
He Li nodded subtly, his mouth splitting into a wide grin. He was truly happy today, having acquired another good treasure.
...