Chapter 112: An Unexplained Sense of Familiarity, Searching for Little Nannan

Chen Xing and the others entered the cave dwelling along with the sacred body.

After walking for a long while, they finally arrived at a grand hall. Inside, there was a high platform on which a woman clad in white sat cross-legged, deeply immersed in cultivation.

Chen Mi’s heart trembled upon seeing the mask on the woman’s face—a ghostly expression caught between a smile and tears. It felt as if there was some connection between herself and this woman. She was puzzled; she had never been to this world before, so why did she have such a strange feeling?

At the time, to fully enjoy playing with Chen Chen, she and her brother had agreed to temporarily seal their divine consciousnesses, forbidding themselves from opening them casually to preserve the element of surprise during their journey. Now, however, she could no longer understand the reasons behind this. This troubled Chen Mi greatly; she did not wish to go against her brother’s wishes.

Seeing her sister’s troubled expression, Chen Xing was momentarily taken aback and casually asked, “What’s wrong, Mi?”

Chen Mi quickly composed herself and smiled brightly at him. “Nothing at all, brother!”

Chen Xing paid no further mind and nodded. His gaze lingered on the woman atop the high platform—a woman of unparalleled talent and breathtaking beauty whose determination had driven her to transcend the limits of a mortal body, breaking through lifespan constraints to transcend five lifetimes. Her life was defined by a single word: ruthless. Such a woman was rare even among the myriad worlds Chen Xing had traversed.

Recalling the pitiful little girl Nan Nan, Chen Xing shook his head with a sigh. The world only knew of the ruthless great emperor’s cruelty, but who could understand the loneliness and longing in her heart?

She had always been hoping for her brother’s return, yearning for someone to cherish her. But countless years had passed, and that hope slowly grew cold. That was why she transformed her Dao fruit into little Nan Nan, hoping to place her longing onto the child, wishing that Nan Nan could live a splendid life in her stead.

But Chen Xing knew clearly that ever since the Empress severed the Dao fruit, he had often been clear-minded, yet mostly lost in confusion.

Meanwhile, the Dao fruit incarnate, little Nan Nan, wandered through various worlds under the starry sky, never once finding warmth.

Even when she later met Ye Fan, it was only amidst his bloody battles across the land—there was no peaceful life for her.

For some reason, thinking of little Nan Nan’s fate suddenly pierced Chen Xing’s heart like a sharp knife, causing unbearable pain.

He abruptly turned his head and gently asked little Chen Chen, “Sweetheart! Daddy will find a big sister for you to play with, alright?”

At his words, Chen Chen, who was eating snacks, lifted her head in surprise. “Daddy! Did you give Chen Chen a big sister here?” Her eyes were filled with caution, as if afraid someone would take her daddy away.

Chen Xing could only laugh and shake his head. Chen Mi covered her mouth, stifling a giggle.

Chen Xing explained, “There’s a poor big sister in this world who no one loves or cares for. No one even gives her food. Isn’t that pitiful?”

Chen Chen’s large eyes brimmed with tears as she said in a soft voice, “Big sister is so pitiful! Then Daddy, hurry and bring her back! Chen Chen will give her snacks!” She waved the snacks in her hand.

If any cultivator were present, they would be shocked to see the snacks—small crocodiles, roasted to a golden hue, their aroma mouthwatering. Yet, no matter how delicious, one could not ignore the faint saintly aura emanating from those little crocodiles. Though the saints of this world differed from those of ancient times, the aura was still enough to cause alarm.

Seeing her daughter agree, Chen Chen quickly stood and said to Chen Mi, “Let’s go! Let’s find that little girl first.”

Chen Mi had long heard her brother speak of matters in this world and naturally knew who the little girl was. She nodded.

Before leaving, both Chen Xing and Chen Mi glanced back at the woman on the platform, each harboring their own thoughts.

Chen Xing never considered helping the ruthless woman complete her Dao fruit immediately. After all, only by breaking through obstacles on her own could her cultivation be truly solid. He knew that eventually, this stubborn woman would ascend to the pinnacle of the world.

As for her brother, he decided to let this obsession linger for now—that was the key to this breathtaking woman’s success.

Meanwhile, Chen Mi silently vowed, “When I lift the seal, you will understand the connection between you and me. Just wait!”

After bidding farewell to the sacred body, Chen Xing instructed it not to reveal itself for now, promising it would deal a heavy blow to the dark forces in the future.

The sacred body pondered briefly, then nodded in agreement. It knew Chen Xing’s cultivation probably surpassed that of a great emperor, though it could not fathom what that truly meant. Since Chen Xing had said so, there must be a plan—it would simply wait.

Above the nine heavens, Chen Xing gazed at the vast cosmos, feeling a stir in his heart. He knew this universe was still the perfect world he had once visited.

It had been shattered by a great battle long ago, breaking the nine heavens and ten lands into countless planetary worlds. Even the immortal realms were left in ruins, severed from this world by a single sword strike from Shi Hao.

Soon, Chen Xing led his younger sister and the others to a place called Yan Capital, where they descended.

He knew that in the future, Ye Fan would first encounter little Nan Nan here, not far from this moment. He was certain the child was hidden somewhere within the city.

Chen Xing now regretted sealing their divine consciousnesses with his sister. Otherwise, a simple scan with their spiritual senses would have easily located the little girl.

Yet Chen Xing was not overly anxious. He knew no one could harm the little girl, so he could search patiently.

Walking the streets with his daughter and the others, Chen Xing observed the bustling crowd carefully.

Though he did not understand why, every time he thought of the pitiful little girl, his heart ached deeply. Sometimes he wanted to break the seal immediately and find her, but he always suppressed the impulse.

As they searched along the street, suddenly little Chen Chen, who had been walking quietly by Chen Xing’s side, darted toward the edge of the street unnoticed.

There, sitting on a stone with her head bowed, was a girl about four or five years old, dressed in tattered clothes. Her small shoes revealed dirty little toes, and she clutched her stomach in obvious hunger.

Just as the little girl tried to endure the pain, a childlike voice whispered near her ear, “Big sister, are you hungry? I have something delicious for you to eat!”

The little girl looked up and saw a slightly smaller, exquisitely delicate girl standing before her, holding out several oddly shaped but golden roasted treats emitting a tempting aroma. The little girl swallowed hard.

But when she noticed the little girl’s exquisite, fluffy dress, she lowered her head out of shyness, pulling her toes inward tightly, too embarrassed to accept the food.

As little Chen Chen wondered why the big sister wouldn’t take her snacks, a hoarse voice sounded beside them: “Sweetheart! Let’s take big sister home first, alright?”

Chen Chen turned to see her father, his eyes slightly reddened as he looked at her and the little girl.