Limitless Ascension: Strength Amid Adversity – Chapter 338

“Gatekeeper?”

Everyone was taken aback; they did not expect this answer at all.

Seeing Gou Buli’s proud expression, everyone’s faces turned strange.

Noticing that the atmosphere was off, Gou Buli began to panic a little and quickly explained,

“Hey, hey, hey, what’s wrong with being a gatekeeper? Is it embarrassing to be a gatekeeper for Empress Fuyao? Do you know how many members of the Tengu Tribe envied me for this nice gig back in the day?”

What Gou Buli said was true; being Empress Fuyao’s gatekeeper was considered an incredible achievement in the entirety of the Tengu Tribe at that time.

They even gave him a distinguished spot in the clan’s genealogy, showing just how influential this role was—something that would be remembered through the ages.

After all,

“You watch the dog, you look at the owner!”

Since one of their clan members became Empress Fuyao’s gatekeeper, hardly any force in the Kunlun Realm dared to provoke the Tengu Tribe!

During that time, the status and reputation of the Tengu Tribe reached its peak, and even many imperial clans felt wary!

This is the reason why Gou Buli still acts so proudly to this day.

True “Dog with Authority!”

“Let’s be real, being able to work near Empress Fuyao, even if it’s just as a gatekeeper, many would envy you, Senior Gou. I completely understand your feelings!” Canglang Jun sighed.

“Haha, little brother, you have a bright future!” Gou Buli beamed, as if he had found a kindred spirit, lifting his cup for a toast.

“Oh, no, Senior Gou, you’re exaggerating.”

Canglang Jun quickly lifted his cup, lowering it slightly below Gou Buli’s as they gently clinked them.

Yeah, that’s a nice touch.

If anyone were to ask him why he did that, Canglang Jun would simply answer a few words:

“Read more about ‘Emotional Intelligence’!”

Ye Junlin watched all this and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. It seemed that drinking culture had a long history in the cultivation world as well…

“Uh, I’m actually curious, just how strong is Empress Fuyao?” Li Wujie asked, chewing on some lamb.

Hearing this, Hong Qianye sat up a little straighter, his expression becoming serious.

He too was curious about this question!

Gou Buli chuckled, “Little brother, given that you are a cultivator of this era, let me enlighten you. The ancient period was the most glorious time for the Kunlun Realm, and Empress Fuyao is recognized as the strongest!”

“The strongest?”

Hearing this title, Li Wujie skeptically retorted, “No matter how strong Empress Fuyao is, can she match Ye Tian Emperor?”

As soon as these words left his mouth, the room fell silent.

Gou Buli almost doubted his own ears, uncertainly asking, “What did you say? Ye Tian Emperor?”

“Yeah, Ye Tian Emperor!” Li Wujie affirmed.

“Never heard of him.”

Gou Buli shook his head.

“Are you kidding me? What’s with your attitude?!” Li Wujie snapped, pointing at the Yellow-haired Old Man.

Gou Buli: “…”

The problem is, I truly have never heard of this Ye Tian Emperor you speak of!

“Little brother, do you remember this person?”

Gou Buli turned to Canglang Jun, asking.

Canglang Jun looked just as clueless, shaking his head like a bobblehead.

Seeing this, Li Wujie furiously exclaimed, “Ye Tian Emperor suppressed the Dark Rebellion and fought against the seven overlords of forbidden zones! Such great feats, and you guys don’t remember?”

The atmosphere tensed immediately.

Gou Buli’s inner thoughts were racing: “Why don’t I know about this? Could it be someone made it all up?”

But seeing Li Wujie getting riled up, Gou Buli, fearing further provocation, hurriedly nodded like a chick pecking at rice,

“Uh, yes, yes, yes!”

“I must’ve just had too much to drink and forgot about it, little brother, calm down, don’t be impulsive!”

Upon hearing this,

Li Wujie’s expression softened, and he coldly huffed, “Forgetting something like that, seems you really did drink too much.”

Then, he turned to Canglang Jun and asked sternly, “What about you? Do you remember?”

Canglang Jun was struck dumb, glancing over at the frantically signaling Gou Buli, and then managed a forced smile, cautiously saying, “I think… maybe… I sort of remember…”

“That’s more like it!”

Li Wujie directed his gaze back at Gou Buli once more, “Senior Gou, tell us, who’s stronger, Ye Tian Emperor or Empress Fuyao?”

Gou Buli silently cursed in his heart.

He felt Li Wujie was a bit off, insisting on comparing a nonexistent figure with Empress Fuyao.

Had it been before, he would’ve insisted that the so-called Ye Tian Emperor wasn’t fit to shine Empress Fuyao’s shoes, but now he had to bow his head in front of a dog, and he felt it was hard to speak lies against his conscience…

“Ahem, that ‘Ye Tian Emperor’ they mention is actually me.” Ye Junlin coughed lightly and smiled bitterly.

The rumors circulating about him had gone wildly out of hand, and since they posed no harm to him, he had let those below take them for granted.

But now, with Gou Buli being a follower of Empress Fuyao, a living relic of that old era, could such rumors go on?

In fact, Ye Junlin felt a bit awkward.

You see, when rumors grow rampant, standing up to clarify them doesn’t do much good, even for the actual person!

Now, encountering someone who knew the truth, this rumor could finally be put to rest!

“Uh, you’re Ye Tian Emperor?” Gou Buli appeared perplexed, suddenly recalling the shattered Void Mirror incident and the terrifying strength Ye Junlin had displayed.

His heart skipped a beat!

Canglang Jun quietly reminded, “Senior Gou, he has Nine-Grade Immortal Power…”

Boom!

Gou Buli’s head buzzed, his eyes widening like saucers.

Nine-Grade Immortal Power!

That was the supreme power only an Immortal Emperor was qualified to challenge; how could this young man possess it while merely at the Immortal King level?

“Senior Gou, hurry and say, is my Master stronger, or is Empress Fuyao stronger?” Li Wujie anxiously pressed, his face flushing red as if he was about to burst.

Previously, he had always thought Ye Junlin was invincible and firmly believed in Ye Junlin’s identity. Now that Empress Fuyao popped up, it ignited Li Wujie’s competitive spirit.

Thinking about the peculiarities about Ye Junlin, Gou Buli deliberated, and finally said frankly,

“In a certain sense, your Master is stronger!”

Hearing this, Li Wujie sighed in relief and showed a satisfied smile, “That’s good.”

Gou Buli realized he might’ve made a mistake. In the realm of Immortal Kings, Ye Junlin was indeed stronger than Empress Fuyao during her time.

But to everyone else, it sounded like something else.

He praised Empress Fuyao as being so strong, but who would have thought there was someone even stronger sitting right beside them?

“It’s actually true…” Lin Duxiu’s heart was deeply shaken.

Senior Ye’s identity was now set in stone!

“It looks like Liu Qingming was right,” Jiang Tianming murmured, his admiration for Ye Junlin growing.

What was supposed to be the rumor being debunked ended up taking a dramatic turn that left Ye Junlin dazed.

What the heck, this really works?

Meanwhile, amidst everyone enjoying food and drink,

In the dim, damp Heavenly Prison,

A disheveled young man, filthy and abandoned by the world, curled up weakly in a corner, helplessly murmuring,

“Please, let me out, I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe me…”