Chapter 1377: Father, You're Not Dead, Are You?

As soon as they stepped outside, Ye Guan let go of Diyi Jingzhao's hand. A fleeting sense of loss engulfed Diyi Jingzhao's heart, but she remained composed on the outside.

Ye Guan took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze against his skin.

He smiled and said, "Miss Jingzhao, let's take a walk."

Diyi Jingzhao glanced at him and nodded. "Alright."

Leaving the main hall, the two of them strolled through the newly built Guanxuan Academy.

Ye Guan observed his surroundings. He had to admit that the academy was impressive. Tens of thousands of buildings were arranged in an orderly fashion, and the vast space between them prevented any sense of congestion.

The materials used were lavish, making the entire academy appear magnificent and imposing. Although extravagant, Ye Guan understood that appearance mattered, especially in the early days of the academy.

A strong first impression was important, and he fully supported the investment.

Along the way, students frequently bowed in greeting, but all of them directed their respect toward Diyi Jingzhao and merely cast puzzled gazes at Ye Guan.

Diyi Jingzhao explained, "The academy has just been established, and these students are new here. They also haven't met you before."

"Your statue is still under construction," Diyi Jingzhao added, turning toward the distance.

Following her gaze, Ye Guan spotted a towering statue in the middle of the plaza. It stood tall and imposing, but its head was still missing. He chuckled and turned back to her.

"How many students are we going to accept for the first batch?" he asked.

"The current plan is twenty thousand students. Half of them will come from the Supreme Emperor Clans and the Immortal Clans, so I decided to place them directly into the advanced classes."

As they continued walking, she outlined her vision for the academy. Ye Guan listened attentively while staring at her with a thoughtful expression. His intense gaze made Diyi Jingzhao's heart skip a beat.

She quickly steadied herself, asking, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Ye Guan laughed heartily. "I've really found a treasure."

A blush spread across Diyi Jingzhao's face, and her heartbeat quickened. Realizing that many people were around, she hurriedly composed herself. No matter how much she tried to suppress it, her heart refused to calm down.

As they walked away, Ye Guan suddenly asked, "Miss Jingzhao, do you think I'll be able to unite the entire universe one day?"

Diyi Jingzhao looked at him without answering.

"Do you think I'm being arrogant?"

Diyi Jingzhao shook her head.

Ye Guan's smile faded slightly as he gazed up at the sky. In a quiet but resolute voice, he muttered, "One day, wherever I set foot, my Order will follow."

Diyi Jingzhao studied his handsome, confident face, and before she knew it, a warm flush crept up her cheeks.

"Are the Supreme Emperor Clans and the Immortal Clans cooperating as expected?"

Diyi Jingzhao smirked. "Would they dare not?"

"That's good to hear."

"Your next plan is focused on the Forbidden Wildlands, am I correct?"

"Yes, but I need to make sure that things are running smoothly here first."

"Under the temptation of Supreme Emperor Origin Essences, those clans are working hard. The Guanxuan Laws are spreading rapidly, and since it's a high-level cultivation method as well, people are eager to learn it themselves.

"More and more people are hoping to join the academy," Diyi Jingzhao added.

"You're handling both the academy and the Ten Desolate Universe. Don't overwork yourself," remarked Ye Guan.

Diyi Jingzhao glanced at him and calmly said, "You gave me a wisp of Supreme Emperor Origin Essence, so it's only right that I work for you."

Ye Guan frowned slightly. "That's all?"

"Why would there be more?" asked Diyi Jingzhao, casting a sidelong glance at him

Ye Guan's face darkened, and he quietly strode ahead.

Diyi Jingzhao's lips curled into a faint smile.

Ye Guan changed the subject, asking, "How's that gambler doing?"

Diyi Jingzhao asked, "Want to check on him?"

"Sure," Ye Guan said, nodding. "Let's go."

Without hesitation, Diyi Jingzhao grabbed his hand, and they vanished into thin air.

***

The Bitter Prison Mine was basically a prison run by the Diyi Clan, and it was meant for those who had committed serious offenses. They were either disgraced members of the clan or criminals from Diyi City.

Those sent here were considered the worst of the worst. It was the peak of summer, and the sun scorched the earth mercilessly. There wasn't a single breeze at all. The entire mine felt like a massive, suffocating furnace.

Nearly ten thousand prisoners toiled relentlessly within the mine. As a form of punishment, their cultivation base was sealed, reducing them to ordinary humans.

Ye Guan observed the scene from the shadows, and his gaze finally settled on Gu Chen.

In just half a month, Gu Chen had lost a shocking amount of weight. His upper body was bare, covered in dirt and sweat, with fresh whip marks across his back. His hands were blistered and bloody from wielding a heavy pickaxe.

Exhausted, he slowed his pace slightly.

Crack!

A whip lashed across his back, making him grimace in pain.

"Trying to slack off?!" a guard barked.

Gu Chen couldn't take it anymore. "Brother, even a donkey would drop dead if they were to work this hard."

The guard sneered. "Maybe you should've thought of that before borrowing money and refusing to pay it back. If you were debt-free, you wouldn't be here."

Gu Chen's heart sank. A while ago, he had borrowed money but failed to repay it in time. The debtor reported him to the Diyi Clan, and as a result, he was thrown into this hellish mine.

The moment he arrived, he realized that this place was nothing short of a nightmare.

The labor was endless. One month of work earned him just ten spiritual crystals, which was not even enough to buy an egg. At first, he had sworn he would pay off his debt through honest labor, but his defiance was met with brutal beatings. His pride was crushed out of him long ago.

He wasn't even human in the eyes of the guards here.

Crackle!

The whip landed on his back once more.

"Get back to work!" bellowed the guard.

Gnashing his teeth, Gu Chen endured the pain and resumed his work.

Eventually, the sun set, and the workday ended. Gu Chen threw down his pickaxe and bolted toward a distant tent. Thousands of others were also charging at the tent like madmen.

It was finally mealtime.

Here, food wasn't given but was fought for. Failure to grab some food meant going hungry for the night.

A moment later, Gu Chen emerged from the chaotic crowd, clutching half a bun in his hands. He grinned like a child, as this was a treasure in a place like this. He took a small bite and hurriedly stuffed the rest into his pants, savoring the tiny piece of bread in his mouth.

Just then, a young man approached him, glancing at the wounds on his back with concern. "Little Chen, are you alright?"

Gu Chen forced a smile. "I'm fine."

The young man frowned. "No, your wounds are reopening. If they get infected, things will get really bad."

Without another word, he ran off and returned with some unknown herbs. He chewed them into a paste and said, "This will sting a bit."

He carefully applied the mixture to Gu Chen's back.

Gu Chen winced, inhaling sharply.

"Bear with it," the young man said, working as fast as he could.

Once done, he dusted off his hands and grinned. "All set."

Gu Chen looked at him gratefully. "Thanks, Yun Zhen."

Yun Zhen was thrown into the mines around the same time as him. Apparently, he offended the wrong person and ended up here. Perhaps because they were of similar age, they quickly became close.

Yun Zhen helped him up with a smile. "No big deal. Come on, let's get some rest. We've got another long day tomorrow."

The two of them lived in nothing more than a tattered, makeshift tent right beside the mine.

After helping Gu Chen to the bed, Yun Zhen said, "Get some rest early."

With that, he lay down beside him and immediately fell asleep.

Here, they could only rest for four hours a day. Time for sleep was precious; every moment had to be cherished.

Gu Chen stared into the vast sky, lost in thought. Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes.

"Father... you're not dead, are you?" he muttered as tears streamed down his face.

Not wanting to disturb Yun Zhen, he bit down on his arm and trembled as he suppressed his sobbing.

He once lived a decent life. He was not an extraordinary genius, but he was living a comfortable life. After becoming a student of the Diyi Academy, he had a promising future ahead of him.

However, he became obsessed with gambling, hoping to strike it rich and change his fate.

He regretted it bitterly. Ever since he started gambling, his friends shunned him as if he were a plague. The woman who once loved him left him in utter disappointment. His parents, overwhelmed by despair, chose to die.

Everyone abandoned him, and he had ruined his life.

Gu Chen gazed blankly at the sky.

Even if he managed to escape... what would be the point of that?

He could never go back to how things were.

There was no future left for him. With a bleak face, Gu Chen pulled out a steamed bun from his chest pocket, dusted it off, and tucked it into Yun Zhen's coat.

Then, he reached for a sharp stone beside him and ruthlessly slashed his own left wrist. Blood gushed out, but Gu Chen didn't even wince as he stared skyward.

Perhaps this was the best ending for this wretched life of his...