CHAPTER 1240: CHAPTER 1212: HEAVENLY GATE REALM

The banquet lasted all night, and everyone celebrated throughout. Except for a few who suppressed their True Qi and truly wanted to get drunk, many people returned to their normal state, as if they were not affected by yesterday’s emotions at all.

However, many people knew that they were more or less influenced by what Li Chen said yesterday.

Starting as a lowly small character, struggling to get to where he is now, how many people once fought alongside him? How many people shared drinks with him, and now, how many are still standing by his side?

Li Chen didn’t let everyone dwell too much on their past sorrows, he merely reminded them to cherish their friends and brothers while they still have the time.

Catherine stood next to Li Chen, silently watching him as he buried himself in processing the files.

She felt a sense of nostalgia in her heart.

A few years ago, Li Chen was also the King of the Netherworld, but at that time, their subordinates didn’t include so many rank strong. All they had were some battle-hardened veterans.

Leading a group of followers, this man, whose strength was not even at the Yellow Rank back then, was also fighting hard, striving for some unknown purpose to her.

Perhaps, at that time, he just wanted everyone to have a better life.

Moreover, even though he was the King of the Netherworld at that time, he never concerned himself with the messy affairs within the Palace of the Nether King, pushing everything onto her while he only focused on fighting.

But it’s been a few years, and that man from back then had matured to a point that even she found hard to believe.

If it were back then, she would never believe that this man could settle down to handle these trivial matters and files.

But now, Li Chen was doing exactly that.

What exactly brought about such a drastic change in him?

Catherine wasn’t quite sure, but in her speculation, it might have something to do with family, more or less.

Now, Li Chen is a man with a family.

Perhaps influenced by Li Chen, those brothers from back then also underwent some changes, more or less.

However, Catherine felt that she hadn’t changed.

She is still the same Catherine, silently doing what she ought to do in the Palace of the Nether King.

Sometimes, she also wondered why she made such a choice, but in the end, the answer surprised even herself.

Her family had long since passed away.

She’d been in the Palace of the Nether King for over a decade, and perhaps deep in her heart, she already considered it her home.

While beside Li Chen, the computer suddenly emitted a rhythmic sound, and its screen automatically lit up.

Li Chen turned to look, only to find that it was Elder Ji sending a message.

"Handle these files first," Li Chen handed the files in his hand to Catherine and suddenly smiled, "Actually, there’s no need for you to be like this. If it really gets too busy, you can find a few assistants to help out. Why do everything yourself?"

"Out of habit." Catherine smiled, then picked up the files and turned to leave the office.

"Indeed, it’s become a habit." Leaving Li Chen’s office, Catherine looked at the files in her hands, her gaze somewhat complicated.

"Some people, I’m also used to, it’s just..." In Catherine’s mind, a certain figure suddenly appeared.

That person always had a cold expression, holding a sword, seemingly indifferent to everything and everyone, as if nothing but the sword existed in his world.

Yet, when things happened, he always rushed to the front, shielding everyone behind him from the wind and rain, never allowing anyone to be hurt even a little bit, even if he ended up covered in wounds, he would still come to Li Chen’s side, saying, "I think I can definitely beat you next time."

Shaking her head, Catherine knew she was overthinking it. That person could never return.

She cast a complicated look back, then left the place.

...

"Elder Ji, what do you need?" Li Chen asked as he looked at the elder appearing on the screen.

"I do have some matters to discuss." Elder Ji’s eyebrows were slightly furrowed, appearing somewhat grave.

Li Chen slightly raised an eyebrow, initially intending to thank Elder Ji for the previous help from Hongmeng Pavilion, but seeing the grave expression, he refrained from speaking and waited for Elder Ji to continue.

"Li Chen, I heard you’re not planning to participate in this Martial Arts Conference?"

Hearing Elder Ji’s words, Li Chen’s expression turned peculiar.

This wasn’t the first time he’d heard this question; from different people’s mouths, he’d heard it several times already.

What exactly is it about this Martial Arts Conference that intrigues so many people to inquire?

"Originally, I wasn’t too interested in this Martial Arts Conference, but now it seems there’s something mysterious?" Li Chen voiced his doubt.

"There is indeed something mysterious." Elder Ji sighed lightly and then nodded.

"You’re aware of the ’Heaven’s Chosen’ matter, aren’t you?" Elder Ji asked.

"I know a bit." Li Chen nodded, "I’ve heard about it, but I think, as a Martial Artist, it’s better to remain rational. If becoming a Heaven-level expert were that simple, no one would need to cultivate anymore." Li Chen’s smile carried a hint of disdain.

"You’ve misunderstood something." Elder Ji saw Li Chen’s expression and could understand what he was thinking.

Shaking his head, Elder Ji slowly spoke, "Perhaps many people don’t know what ’Heaven’s Chosen’ is, but I know a little, and I can tell you."

Li Chen immediately assumed a listening posture. To be honest, he was indeed quite curious about ’Heaven’s Chosen,’ but rationality still prevailed over curiosity at the moment.

"The so-called ’Heaven’s Chosen’ is actually a ticket." Elder Ji’s voice carried a hint of an inexplicable meaning.

"A ticket?" Li Chen raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, a ticket to the ’Heavenly Gate Realm.’ And the Heavenly Gate Realm, you can view it as an Enchanted World, but relatively speaking, Heavenly Gate Realm is much more advanced than an Enchanted World. Hmm, perhaps calling it a minor world is more appropriate." Elder Ji said.

Upon hearing the term ’minor world,’ Li Chen felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

"It’s said that the outside world is unsuitable for cultivation, and the rules of the Enchanted World are somewhat incomplete, so it’s basically impossible for a Martial Artist to break through to Heaven level in either the outside world or the Enchanted World."

"To break through to become a Heaven-level expert, one must head to the ’Heavenly Gate Realm’! However, so far, none of the experts who went to the Heavenly Gate Realm have returned, and it’s unknown whether they succeeded or not."

Suddenly, Li Chen’s heart was vibrating.

Because he thought of a person, someone everyone said would never come back.

His father, Li Changcun!

Could he have gone to the Heavenly Gate Realm?!