ISWI Chapter 1235-1241 (Patreon)

Chapter 1235: The Great Luo Battle!

Ye Chen watched the Heavenly Emperor vanish so cleanly and decisively with a somewhat strained expression. Capable was capable; incapable was incapable. From the Golden Core stage all the way to the present Golden Immortal realm, something had gone wrong every single time. If it truly was impossible, the Heavenly Emperor could simply admit defeat. Then Ye Chen would stop dwelling on the matter.

As the Heavenly Emperor disappeared, the once magnificent and splendid living-being battlefield slowly faded away. Ye Chen's Golden Immortal tribulation thus ended in an anticlimactic fashion.

In the distance, the watching Tianzhang Monk, Xie Linyuan, and the others had originally been curious about the great battle between Ye Chen and the Heavenly Emperor. They wanted to know who would prove stronger if the two fought at the same realm. In the end, however, no fight occurred at all. The two instead appeared especially familiar with each other. After a few cordial exchanges, the Heavenly Emperor's imprint had actively dispersed without the slightest intention of making a move.

According to the records of the Heavenly Emperor's terror, had he truly acted, Ye Chen would inevitably have hovered between life and death, and this living-being battlefield would have transformed into a life-and-death struggle.

Yet the Heavenly Emperor had shown no intention of striking whatsoever. If anyone claimed there was no hidden arrangement behind this, even a ghost would refuse to believe it. Rumors had long circulated outside that Ye Chen might be the Heavenly Emperor's own son. Now it was confirmed. It was indeed so.

Xie Linyuan immediately felt a lightness in his heart. Although his own background was extraordinary, Ye Chen was the Heavenly Emperor's blood son. Even if his own father, old ancestor, and master were added together, they still could not compare to the Heavenly Emperor.

Therefore, it was not that he himself was inferior to Ye Chen, but that his father, old ancestor, and master were inferior to the Heavenly Emperor. Being surpassed by Ye Chen in the future was only natural.

The Tianzhang Monk was also surprised. Beyond the surprise, however, he felt a touch of amusement. It was fortunate the Heavenly Emperor did not know that Ye Chen had been furiously emptying the treasures of the Heavenly Emperor's treasury for the sake of women.

Otherwise, such behavior of a son selling off his father's fields without heartache would prompt even a doting Heavenly Emperor to properly discipline this blood son. Yet this was also good. Only under such circumstances did he himself still have the chance to continue harvesting Ye Chen hard.

The Golden Immortal tribulation had already ended. It was the perfect time to exchange. Yet looking at Xie Linyuan beside him, the Tianzhang Monk frowned slightly. He decided to wait a little longer. He would deliver the goods only after this fellow finished seeking death and left. Otherwise, it would be rather embarrassing with the victim standing right there.

The Zhao Tianxing brothers had also arrived. Seeing the outsider Xie Linyuan, however, they did not rush over to shear Ye Chen's wool either. They did not wish outsiders to learn of such benefits. Thus, several of them quietly watched Xie Linyuan.

Seeing that the Tianzhang Monk truly had not acted, the smile on Xie Linyuan's face grew even richer. Master Tianzhang was truly giving him face. He himself must also seize this opportunity and use his eight-hundredfold compression to crush the newly broken-through Ye Chen. After this battle, he would stop and never fight Ye Chen again.

Thus Xie Linyuan immediately flew toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen finished his tribulation and sensed the changes after his breakthrough, a smile appearing on his face. After breaking through to the Golden Immortal realm of the fourth heaven, his strength had once again surged dramatically.

The most important change, however, was the Qilin Crystal-Casting Immortal King Pill that had been refined into his body in the process. The golden Immortal King Pill continuously circulated, absorbing the Primordial Chaos immortal power within him.

When it released the power again, the immortal force had become even more brilliantly golden while shrinking to only half its original volume. The process was completely automatic and required no attention from Ye Chen whatsoever.

Once the immortal power had been compressed once, the cycle would begin anew for a second compression. If ordinary cultivators learned of this, their eyes would turn red with envy. After all, cultivators compressed their immortal power through their own diligent effort. Even with treasures, the items served only as aids; the actual steps of compression still demanded one's full and wholehearted focus.

Most Golden Immortal cultivators spent nearly every moment in bitter cultivation, pouring their time into compressing immortal power. Ye Chen needed none of that mental effort. The Qilin Crystal-Casting Immortal King Pill operated entirely on its own. He needed only sit back and enjoy the results.

Because Ye Chen's foundation was far too profound and his immortal power far too vast, and because Primordial Chaos immortal power was incomparable to ordinary immortal force—possessing at least a hundredfold difference—the compression efficiency of the Qilin Crystal-Casting Immortal King Pill was affected. It was estimated that at least a full month would be required to complete the first total compression of his immortal power.

Ye Chen did not consider this slow. After all, if each compression doubled the ratio, the beginning would be slow, yet the process would accelerate later. If his upper limit were ten thousandfold, it would take only fourteen months to reach. If the limit were a hundred thousandfold, only seventeen months would be needed. Even a millionfold would require merely twenty months. Reality might not prove so ideal; as the compression ratio rose, the efficiency might slow.

Still, it would not take too long. Adding the final crystallization stage, Ye Chen estimated that in roughly two and a half to three years he would reach the peak of the Golden Immortal realm and be ready to attempt the breakthrough to Great Luo. Such speed was absolutely terrifying.

Ye Chen looked toward Yan Ruyu with satisfaction, his eyes gentle. After a brief embrace, the first matter he attended to was gift-giving. The divine light above Ye Chen's head descended another length while the divine pillar above Yan Ruyu's head rose correspondingly. Immediately afterward, Ye Chen sensed something and turned his gaze. He saw Xie Linyuan approaching with imposing momentum and a face full of confidence.

At the sight of Xie Linyuan, Ye Chen smiled. Little Xie had arrived. The efficiency of treasure collection on his side would undoubtedly rise even higher. "Little Xie is here. I happen to have a task to entrust to you."

Xie Linyuan's expression immediately turned displeased at the words. Ye Chen's background was higher than his own, so his talent was higher; that much Xie Linyuan could understand. Yet right now the advantage lay with him. An eight-hundredfold ratio would form an unbridgeable chasm that Ye Chen could not cross. This would also be the sole opportunity in his lifetime to defeat Ye Chen.

Xie Linyuan therefore spoke with surging battle intent. "Ye Chen, spare the idle talk. Previously, because of various considerations, I never truly fought you. Now I am different. Inside the secret realm, I have obtained enormous improvement. Today I will make you…"

Xie Linyuan's words were only halfway finished when a deep rumbling vibration transmitted from afar. Terrifying aftershocks arrived from an extreme distance, carrying the might of Great Luo and causing everyone's expression to change. Great Luo existences were fighting.

Although the battlefield was unimaginably far away—beyond the reach of their divine senses—they could clearly feel the residual waves of the great battle. Moreover, judging from the power contained in those waves, the combatants numbered more than two.

Multiple Great Luo were engaged in a chaotic melee. Within this secret realm, the only Great Luo-level existences were three: He Ziling of the He Clan, Gongsun Jin of the Gongsun Clan, and Li Ren, the son of Yazi. For the three of them to clash, some extraordinary treasure must have appeared to draw their competitive desire.

Curiosity appeared on everyone's faces. Some even felt the urge to go watch the excitement. Soon, however, they frowned slightly. The sounds of battle were growing louder and louder, indicating that the combatants were continuously drawing closer to this location. Heavy expressions settled on the faces of the crowd. Ye Chen alone smiled.

Chapter 1236: Ye Chen, You Cannot Die!

Sensing the battlefield drawing ever closer and the aftershocks growing ever stronger, the crowd frowned. Even though everyone present was a top-tier prodigy, they still held wariness toward Great Luo existences. Moreover, the Great Luo who could enter the secret realm were all under three thousand years of age and likewise top-tier prodigies.

Great Luo Golden Immortals held a respected status even within the Immortal Realm and possessed extraordinary power. They could condense the power of an immortal domain and turn it to their own use, enhancing themselves.

In battle, they could release the boundaries of an immortal domain that covered a vast area. Within it, they received enhancement and guaranteed combat strength, while enemies found themselves restricted at every turn and unable to move freely.

Because they condensed their own immortal domains, every movement of a Great Luo Golden Immortal could trigger heavenly phenomena—falling stars and inverted celestial rivers. It could be said that only upon reaching this realm did one truly possess the power to destroy heaven and earth within the Immortal Realm. If caught in the aftermath of a battle between such existences, even they would find it troublesome. Therefore, everyone frowned as they observed the situation.

Xie Linyuan in particular could not help grinding his teeth when he recalled what the three had done to him earlier. Those three had gone too far. Once he himself achieved the Great Luo realm, he would certainly make them pay the price.

At this moment, the great battle entered the range of everyone's divine sense. The Tianzhang Monk raised an eyebrow slightly. "There are actually four fighting? Has someone else broken through to Great Luo as well?"

When Xie Linyuan detected the fourth aura, an ordinary-looking figure immediately appeared in his mind: Wang Bin of the Wang Clan. It was definitely that fellow. He possessed combat strength at the Great Luo level. All four of them had fought him before. Xie Linyuan understood their terror better than anyone and could not help feeling worry for Ye Chen. Any one of the four stood head and shoulders above the rest inside this secret realm.

The divine pillar above Ye Chen's head towered to a frightening height. If the four saw it, they would clearly never let Ye Chen go. Not only would they plunder his resources, but they would also, because of his identity as the Heavenly Emperor's successor, directly strike him down and eliminate him completely.

Ye Chen could not die. The goddess would be heartbroken. Xie Linyuan immediately spoke. "Ye Chen, leave this place for now. The combat strength of those four is far too terrifying, and the forces they belong to all hold old grudges against the Heavenly Emperor. If they see you, they will certainly eradicate the root."

The Tianzhang Monk found the words somewhat strange. What was wrong with this Xie Linyuan? Just moments ago he had been about to challenge Ye Chen to a fight, yet now he was showing concern for him. The relationship between the two was truly peculiar.

Ye Chen, however, laughed at once upon hearing this. "All of them hold grudges against the Heavenly Emperor? That is truly wonderful!"

Anyone who could achieve the Great Luo realm within three thousand years needed no discussion of talent; they were absolute top-tier. How could Ye Chen possibly miss origin essence of such quality?

Seeing that Ye Chen showed no intention of leaving while the four continued their chaotic battle and drew steadily closer within the range of divine sense, Xie Linyuan grew increasingly anxious. Soon, however, he detected a treasure continuously flickering as it flew toward their location.

Xie Linyuan immediately understood why the battlefield kept shifting. Clearly, that item was the treasure that had triggered the four-way battle. None of the four had yet obtained it, which was why the fight continued.

Seeing that Ye Chen still refused to leave, Xie Linyuan felt somewhat irritated yet could only remain and wait. After all, he was no longer the same as before. His immortal power compression ratio had already reached eight hundredfold. Standing in front of Ye Chen, he might still be able to buy the man a slim chance of survival.

Ye Chen would not leave, so Yan Ruyu naturally would not leave either. The Tianzhang Monk, Zhao Tianxing, and the others still thought of shearing more wool and were likewise unwilling to depart.

Moreover, they had witnessed Ye Chen displaying divine might before. At the mid-stage Profound Immortal realm, he had killed Golden Immortals as easily as slaughtering dogs, causing them to fall one after another. Now that Ye Chen had reached the Golden Immortal realm, what about facing Great Luo?

Even if it was not as easy as killing Golden Immortals, it should not prove too difficult either. After all, they had just confirmed solid evidence that Ye Chen was the Heavenly Emperor's own son. As the blood son of that legendary existence, a Golden Immortal slaughtering Great Luo was truly not impossible.

Thus even as the Great Luo battlefield drew near, everyone remained quietly in place, waiting in silence.

In this manner, half a day later, a flickering gray divine light came roaring over. It continuously shuttled through the void. Each time it dove into the emptiness, it vanished without a trace, leaving not the slightest aura behind. When it next appeared, it had already traversed tens of millions of miles.

The several people present all widened their eyes in astonishment. Clearly this was the supreme treasure that had stirred the hearts of the Great Luo. What exactly was it? Their gazes could not penetrate the gray mist, leaving them especially curious.

What no one expected was that the supreme treasure shrouded in hazy gray light was continuously approaching them without the slightest attempt to dodge or evade. This left everyone wearing expressions of shock. It was well known that the treasures within the Chaos Secret Realm had all nurtured spiritual divine light and would actively avoid cultivators. For one to charge straight forward without hiding from people was truly unprecedented.

The Zhao Tianxing brothers, however, found nothing strange about it. They had witnessed this scene many times. The two actively retreated to clear a path for the gray treasure. Although the Tianzhang Monk had never seen such a sight, treasures had always belonged to those of virtue.

Within the Buddhist sect, strength was linked to virtue, so the Tianzhang Monk also stepped back of his own accord. As for Xie Linyuan, the mere thought of the four men's strength filled his heart with fear. How could there be any good outcome after taking a treasure that belonged to them? He therefore also made way. Yan Ruyu naturally did not move either.

Thus the group watched as the gray treasure light charged directly toward Ye Chen. The Zhao Tianxing brothers wore expressions that said they had expected exactly this. The Tianzhang Monk was merely curious about what kind of treasure could drive the Great Luo into a chaotic free-for-all.

Only Xie Linyuan immediately showed anxiety. "Ye Chen, quickly release the treasure and throw it in another direction! If those four see it, they will certainly strike first and slap you to death. After all, they are mutually restraining one another and cannot spare a hand to collect the treasure, yet its owner can only be one of the four of them. If an outsider touches it, it will be taken as a provocation. They will abandon their melee and kill you first!"

Ye Chen, whose palm had already touched the treasure light, only grew brighter-eyed at the words. Without the slightest hesitation, he directly grasped it in his hand. Instantly, the gray treasure light dispersed. The divine light above Ye Chen's head surged upward by a full third and transformed into a deep purple.

Not only the others but even Ye Chen's own eyes widened at that moment. He still held numerous treasures in his possession that he had not yet had the chance to gift to Yan Ruyu. His accumulation was already beyond imagination. Under such circumstances, merely obtaining one new treasure had caused the divine pillar to surge by a third? What level of treasure was this?

Ye Chen's interest was piqued. He immediately raised his hand to examine it. Hmm, he did not recognize it. In the end, Ye Chen still suffered from advancing too quickly and possessing too little knowledge. Although Ye Chen did not recognize it, the Tianzhang Monk and the others widened their eyes in that instant.

"A Great Luo Dao Fruit! It is actually a Great Luo Dao Fruit!"

"No wonder the four Great Luo are fighting over it. This Chaos Secret Realm has actually nurtured a Great Luo Dao Fruit. It is truly inconceivable…"

"Ye Chen, that is a Great Luo Dao Fruit. Its preciousness exceeds your imagination. Quickly put it down. It will truly get people killed!"

Chapter 1237: Ye Chen, You Are Playing with Fire!

Everyone present exclaimed in astonishment. Xie Linyuan in particular was already shouting as though the object were something that claimed lives.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "A Great Luo Dao Fruit?"

He lowered his head and carefully examined it. The so-called Great Luo Dao Fruit in his hand resembled a lotus seed, yet it was larger, about the size of a fist. A halo of light naturally circulated around it, as though it were a living thing that had condensed the laws of heaven and earth.

It appeared to consist of three layers. The outermost layer seemed like a shell of crystal, carrying a glass-like texture and emitting a faint golden radiance that was not mere brilliance but countless divine patterns. In the middle lay something resembling liquid, filled with innumerable bubbles.

When Ye Chen examined them carefully, he could see that within the bubbles were countless miniature worlds—some starry skies, some domains of fire, some spirit realms—constantly rising and sinking, constantly being born and destroyed.

At the very core was a fruit kernel the size of a grain of rice. The kernel was pure purple and continuously radiated a halo that seemed immortal, protecting the Great Luo Dao Fruit and rendering it extremely resilient and difficult to obliterate.

So this was a Great Luo Dao Fruit. Ye Chen briefly recalled the descriptions he had once read. A Great Luo Dao Fruit formed with a strand of Great Luo Purple Qi as its core, gradually absorbing laws until it finally became a fruit.

Great Luo Purple Qi was born and nurtured by heaven and earth and was precious beyond imagination. One could easily guess how valuable a Great Luo Dao Fruit must be. The benefits of the fruit itself were far too numerous. A peak Golden Immortal cultivator who refined one could directly step into the Great Luo realm.

Moreover, every Great Luo Dao Fruit carried a complete law. The immortal domain condensed by a Great Luo immortal—its effects, its enhancing power, and more—was intimately connected to that law. The thicker the law a cultivator mastered, the more formidable the immortal domain became.

For a Great Luo Golden Immortal to break through to a higher realm, it was necessary to comprehend one complete law. In other words, obtaining a Great Luo Dao Fruit and fully refining it was equivalent to being able to leap directly over the Great Luo realm.

Of course, many prodigies of the Immortal Realm were in no hurry to break through the Great Luo realm. Instead, they accumulated strength at this stage and attempted to master multiple complete laws in preparation for eventually comprehending the three thousand great daos. After all, laws were subordinate to the great daos. Fully mastering one law would grant a greater advantage when later comprehending the related great dao.

Although the increase in probability was not large—merely reducing the difficulty of comprehending a great dao from one in a hundred million to one in ten million—for every immortal who set the Immortal King realm as their goal, it remained an enormous improvement that could not be missed.

No wonder the Great Luo inside the secret realm were beating one another's brains out. This concerned an entire complete law.

Ye Chen carefully sensed it for a moment and then smiled. This particular Great Luo Dao Fruit contained the law of space. If he gifted it away, would it not directly complete the full set of three thousand laws? Judging by the current feedback ratios of the female cultivators around him, it should not only produce three thousand Dao Fruits of different laws but leave a considerable surplus as well—quite a large surplus.

At that thought, Ye Chen could not help sighing. At the Golden Immortal realm, relying on the Qilin Crystal-Casting Immortal King Pill, he was already defying the heavens and accumulating countless times more than everyone else. When he later reached the Great Luo realm, it would still be the same. How were the other immortals supposed to live? Combat strength was truly collapsing.

Ye Chen was still pondering, yet he had not the slightest intention of giving it up. On the contrary, he held the Dao Fruit carefully in both hands and stroked it with genuine interest, looking for all the world as though he already regarded it as his own.

The sight left Xie Linyuan especially anxious. A Great Luo Dao Fruit was far too precious. To immortals, it was more important than their own parents. Ye Chen was taking it so openly and flagrantly that he was practically poking the entire nest of Great Luo. The four would spare no cost to kill him and seize the fruit.

At that moment, the four combatants arrived. Chaos shattered and was driven away. The battlefield that belonged to the four was left completely empty; nothing remained. Such was the might of Great Luo—capable of destroying almost everything.

Everyone immediately looked over. The first was a white-robed man of elegant bearing. Behind him, the divine form of a white crane surged, and an immortal domain enveloped his body, flowing with divine light. The crowd instantly recognized him: He Ziling, the top prodigy of this generation of the He Clan.

Another was fierce beyond compare, killing intent boiling as though he were an ancient ferocious beast. A dragon domain surrounded him in which endless true dragons danced wildly, making him appear like the lord of true dragons. This was Li Ren, the son of Immortal King Yazi.

There was also one whose aura did not seem particularly arrogant yet carried the confident air of one who already held victory in hand. Without question, this was Gongsun Jin, the one with the highest cultivation.

Besides them stood an ordinary-looking man. Everyone recognized his identity and showed surprise in their eyes. This was the new prodigy the Wang Clan had pushed forward after Wang Xuanji and Wang Teng's immortal paths had been severed.

At the time, everyone had taken a glance yet paid little attention, regarding him as merely a helpless choice of the Wang Clan. No one had expected that this Wang Bin actually possessed the qualifications to contend with them for a Dao Fruit. It was truly astonishing.

The four were still locked in chaotic battle, yet the moment they sensed the treasure had been taken by someone else, the intensity of their fighting lessened. Upon arriving, they all looked toward Ye Chen at once, wanting to know who was so tired of living that he dared dream of reaping the fisherman's profit.

When the four clearly saw Ye Chen's identity, they all raised their eyebrows slightly.

"So it is you. As expected, you were the one who broke through to the Golden Immortal realm. I will let you live a little longer and keep my treasure safe for me!"

He Ziling gave a disdainful cold laugh and continued attacking. He had always been striking at all three rather than focusing on one, carrying the intention of suppressing all three of them.

Li Ren looked at Ye Chen and revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "You holding the Great Luo Dao Fruit is actually most convenient. When the time comes, we can settle everything together."

He likewise withdrew his gaze and continued concentrating on the great battle.

Gongsun Jin said nothing. He merely swept a glance over Ye Chen and then over Xie Linyuan, his eyes calm and without the slightest expectation.

Only Wang Bin, who was Wang Xuanji in disguise, looked at Ye Chen a few extra times. She frowned slightly. Because she was unwilling to expose her identity, she had been holding back throughout the fight. Yet Ye Chen had only just broken through to the Golden Immortal realm and already dared to take the Great Luo Dao Fruit that everyone was watching. It was simply courting death.

No one understood better than Wang Xuanji just how powerful a Great Luo was. Mastering rules already placed one in an entirely different realm, completely distinct from Golden Immortals.

Wang Xuanji raised a hand to block the divine lights launched by He Ziling and Li Ren while shaking out green radiance to protect herself so that she would not be enveloped and suppressed by the two immortal domains.

At the same time, she spoke to Ye Chen with ease. "Ye Chen, you are playing with fire! That Great Luo Dao Fruit is not something you can touch. Release it of your own accord and leave this place; otherwise, you will bring a fatal disaster upon yourself!"

Wang Xuanji's words left the Tianzhang Monk and the others showing surprise. By rights, this Wang Bin should be Ye Chen's mortal enemy. Yet at this moment he was actively offering a warning. What did that mean? Could it be that he coveted the Heavenly Emperor's treasury and therefore wanted Ye Chen to flee far away so that he could later kill him alone and monopolize the treasury?

Chapter 1238: Wang Xuanji? Not Familiar!

The crowd was somewhat curious about why Ye Chen knew Wang Bin. The relationship between the two also struck them as strange. Ye Chen, of course, already knew Wang Xuanji's true identity. He felt no particular interest in the lofty tone Wang Xuanji had resumed ever since obtaining the World Tree. He merely regarded her as a larger version of Li Feihuang.

There was indeed a measure of goodwill in Wang Xuanji's words, yet Ye Chen did not need it. Most importantly, if Wang Xuanji's attitude did not change, there would be no critical feedback. Even though Wang Xuanji now possessed a full six-hundred-thousandfold ratio that placed her above worldly concerns, without the additional multiplier, the feedback would still fall short of his aunt's one-hundred-fifty-thousandfold return. Therefore, Ye Chen simply ignored her. He quietly stroked the Great Luo Dao Fruit in his hands and sat calmly in place.

Seeing this scene, Wang Xuanji immediately frowned. She knew that during his time in the lower realms, Ye Chen had cultivated an invincible will. Yet this was not the lower realms. The prodigies of the Immortal Realm were powerful far beyond imagination.

At the same time, the gap between major realms had grown increasingly absurd. Under such circumstances, Ye Chen was still responding to the prodigies of the Immortal Realm with the same attitude he had held in the lower realms. It was truly unwise. Had it been anyone else, she would naturally have been too lazy to interfere. If they wished to die, they could simply die. Yet Ye Chen…

Recalling the various events of the past, Wang Xuanji's heart ultimately softened for a moment. What could she do? Of course, she would choose to protect Ye Chen. She therefore raised a hand and used a peculiar power to isolate the battlefield space so that the surroundings would remain unaffected.

The other three looked at Ye Chen's performance, and each gave a cold laugh. Through Xie Linyuan, they had already learned the depth of Ye Chen's strength. Even if he had now broken through to the Golden Immortal realm, how much could he improve? Once they settled their own contest, it would be the hour of Ye Chen's death. Thus, they all withdrew their attention and began concentrating fully on their opponents.

Inside the battlefield, the several combatants fought fiercely. The Tianzhang Monk and the others watched seriously, filled with mixed emotions. Gongsun Jin's accompanying Innate Li Fire was a supreme cultivation treasure. Combined with the fact that after entering the Great Luo realm, Gongsun Jin cultivated only the law of fire, his cultivation stood the highest. Yet in pure combat strength, he did not far surpass the other three.

He Ziling was imposing and grand. Although only at the early stage of Great Luo, he struck at all three with every raise of his hand. His white crane divine form enveloped him, placing him in an invincible position.

As for Li Ren, the son of Yazi, his killing aura was astonishing and his physical body powerful. Moreover, he possessed a strong desire for revenge. Whoever struck him would immediately find the muzzle of his attacks turned upon them without the slightest hesitation. His style was that he would not suffer even the smallest loss.

Yet the most surprising of all was still Wang Bin. Clearly, only at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, he nevertheless held his own in such a great battle without falling behind in the slightest. He appeared especially effortless and ethereal. This talent was frighteningly powerful. It left people wondering just what the situation was with the Wang Clan. Why did top-tier prodigies continue to emerge one after another without end?

The four fought until the sky darkened and the earth dimmed. More and more people were drawn over to watch from afar, filled with endless emotion. Ye Chen himself, however, held little interest in the mutual pecking of small fry. Instead, he conversed softly with Yan Ruyu. The two appeared especially intimate.

Watching from within the great battle, Wang Xuanji could not help frowning and becoming distracted. In a moment of inattention, she was struck by Li Ren, who was in the middle of exacting revenge. Green light soon rose from Wang Xuanji's body and her flesh recovered as before.

She charged toward Li Ren, the divine light of the Primordial Spirit Sword Embryo condensed from the Soul-Quelling Decree continuously shooting forth. The battlefield became as chaotic as a pot of porridge.

A full week passed in the blink of an eye. The four fought with increasing ferocity and none retreated. All manner of top-tier paths and techniques emerged without end, leaving the onlookers filled with endless astonishment.

On Ye Chen's side, once the system cooldown ended, he raised a hand and gifted a treasure from the Chaos Secret Realm to his aunt.

Yan Ruyu truly had not expected Ye Chen to continue giving gifts even at such a critical juncture. Her expression showed some shock, yet she still raised her hand and accepted it.

Seeing that his aunt's mind was somewhat unsettled because of the nearby Great Luo battle, Ye Chen offered soft words of comfort. She quickly calmed, sat close against Ye Chen, and continued cultivating in peace to raise her strength.

Inside the battlefield, Wang Xuanji sensed the intimate posture between Ye Chen and Yan Ruyu and furrowed her brows tightly. She felt somewhat displeased. Although she had altered her appearance, it was normal that Ye Chen could not recognize her. Yet did Ye Chen not even feel curious about how she was doing or whether her cultivation had recovered? Now that he had encountered a member of the Wang Clan, why was there not the slightest probe or inquiry? Did Ye Chen care about her not at all?

Watching the doting manner in which Ye Chen treated Yan Ruyu only increased the dissatisfaction in Wang Xuanji's heart. She herself had never forgotten Ye Chen, yet Ye Chen seemed to have completely forgotten her. She could no longer restrain herself and actively transmitted a message. "Ye Chen, do you still remember Wang Xuanji beside the World Tree?"

Her heart was filled with anticipation as she carefully observed Ye Chen's expression. Yet she was disappointed. Ye Chen calmly raised his head, glanced at her once, and then closed his eyes again as though he had heard nothing, continuing to cultivate in peace.

Wang Xuanji was somewhat dumbfounded. Why did Ye Chen show not the slightest reaction? She immediately transmitted again. "Do you not wish to ask whether she smoothly returned to the Wang Clan or whether her cultivation has recovered?"

This time Ye Chen finally responded. Looking at Wang Xuanji, he transmitted flatly, "I do not know any Wang Xuanji. I have no idea what you are talking about."

On Ye Chen's side, seeing Wang Xuanji's present attitude, he knew that not a scrap of gratitude could be squeezed from her now. Under such circumstances, even if the other could not sit still and took the initiative to speak, he had not the slightest desire to become entangled with her. A six-hundred-thousandfold ratio that could not trigger critical feedback was not worth mentioning.

Ye Chen's cold and indifferent words struck Wang Xuanji like a bolt of lightning. He did not know Wang Xuanji? He had no idea what she was talking about? What kind of joke was this? For her sake, he had fought the Eight Crown Kings with all his strength and forcefully resisted the true immortals the Supreme Hall and the He Clan had sent to the lower realms. He had even been willing to give her the unique World Tree. It could be said he had poured out everything. How could he possibly not know her… What exactly was going on?

In that moment, Wang Xuanji's mind fell into complete chaos.

Top-tier existences could always seize an opportunity. Li Ren, He Ziling, and Gongsun Jin struck together. Terrifying divine abilities instantly submerged Wang Xuanji.

At that moment, green light spread across her body and blocked most of the attacks, yet it was still insufficient. She was sent flying backward, her entire body cracking inch by inch as she continuously coughed blood.

Strike while the enemy is ill and take their life. The three attacked in unison, intending to thoroughly eliminate Wang Xuanji first. The instant she was sent flying, endless vibrant green rose around her. Her entire figure vanished from the spot in a flash, dodging the subsequent bombardment from the three.

When she next appeared, she was already a million miles away. The injuries on her physical body rapidly repaired themselves. Her pupils, which had been thrown into complete disorder, also quickly recovered. She had already thought it through clearly. Ye Chen could not have forgotten her. Yet Ye Chen had claimed he did not know her. Such a contradiction left only one possibility…

Chapter 1239: Domineering! The Primordial Chaos Annihilation Finger!

It was obvious. Ye Chen trusted no one and was unwilling to leak even the slightest information related to his time in the lower realms. After all, Ye Chen knew that his Immortal Spirit Root had been dug out by someone.

At that thought, warmth filled Wang Xuanji's heart. Suddenly, everything became clear. Why Ye Chen had not come looking for her after entering the Immortal Realm, why he pretended not to know her—everything now had an explanation. All of Ye Chen's seemingly unreasonable actions had been silently protecting her.

In that moment, the gaze with which Wang Xuanji looked at Ye Chen turned especially gentle. She made up her mind. Even if it cost her everything, she would protect Ye Chen this time.

The next moment, Wang Xuanji charged back into the battlefield with explosive force.

The great battle continued. In the blink of an eye, a full month passed. The four kept slaughtering one another yet could not determine a victor. The onlookers had grown somewhat numb. Although the fighting was spectacular, it had simply gone on too long. Quite a few people therefore dispersed to search for opportunities and treasures.

The Tianzhang Monk and the Zhao Tianxing pair did not remain idle either. Whenever someone with a divine pillar above their head left, they quietly followed. Of course, it was not to rob them, but to exchange treasures for the treasures on their persons.

As for Ye Chen, he felt no urgency. In the span of this month, the Primordial Chaos immortal power within his body had completed a full compression and become golden and radiant. What surprised Ye Chen most was still the effect of the Qilin Crystal-Casting Immortal King Pill.

During the second compression, there was no slowing whatsoever despite the improvement in the quality of the immortal power. This clearly indicated that Ye Chen would not need too long to reach the perfection of the Golden Immortal realm. The realization left him in an excellent mood, and he grew even more tolerant toward the mutual pecking of the small fry before him.

Seeing that the system cooldown had ended, Ye Chen prepared to gift a treasure. He searched through his inner universe, considering which item would suit his aunt best. At that very moment, however, a change occurred on the battlefield.

Li Ren momentarily failed to notice and was sent flying out of the battlefield by a single palm from He Ziling. Just when everyone thought Li Ren would charge straight back, the eyes of Li Ren filled with bloodthirsty light as he rushed directly toward Ye Chen.

"Fighting for many days has produced no result. Since that is the case, I will stop. First kill this fellow and obtain the Great Luo Dao Fruit!"

Li Ren's aura was far too overwhelming, as though a wolf god were shattering the endless void and opening a blood-filled maw to devour Ye Chen.

Wang Xuanji's expression changed. She immediately moved to rescue Ye Chen, yet she happened to be sealed by a divine technique and needed several thoughts' worth of time to break free.

He Ziling and Gongsun Jin reacted even faster. He Ziling gave a cold laugh and actually transformed into his true form. An indescribable Azure Sky White Crane whose wings, once spread, covered the heavens and earth, erupted outward, radiating an unspeakable might. With a single flap of its wings, it arrived above Ye Chen's head the next instant. Crane claws covered in endless golden divine patterns instantly descended toward Ye Chen.

Gongsun Jin's Innate Li Fire transformed into a divine bridge beneath his feet. With one step, he crossed the endless void. Both of his hands ignited with divine fire as he reached straight for Ye Chen. The speed of the three was far too great, their auras far too overwhelming, and their strikes showed not the slightest mercy. Clearly, while seizing the Great Luo Dao Fruit, they did not mind casually eliminating Ye Chen as well.

A Golden Immortal besieged by three top-tier Great Luo. The scene was truly perilous to the extreme. Everyone's expression changed. Xie Linyuan recalled the strength of the three and hesitated in his eyes. Yet the thought of Long Wu's face and figure made him grit his teeth. With a great sweep of his hand, endless power of reincarnation rolled forth and roared toward the three.

Wang Xuanji had by now also broken free of the restriction. Yet she was ultimately unwilling to expose her World Tree for fear of being detected and having her identity discerned. Without revealing her full strength, she was still half a step too slow, and an expression of reluctance appeared on her face.

Under the gazes of everyone present, Ye Chen smiled. Without many words, facing Li Ren, the son of Yazi, who had opened a blood-filled maw as though to devour everything, the corner of Ye Chen's mouth curved upward. He then pointed a single finger.

The finger strike was plain and ordinary, not even stirring much disturbance. Yet Li Ren's expression instantly changed. He sensed a tremendous crisis, one even more perilous than when he had been besieged by the three earlier. Li Ren's perception of danger far surpassed that of humans. He immediately turned to flee. It was too late, however.

When Ye Chen's ordinary finger descended, the Great Luo immortal domain that had constantly surrounded Li Ren exploded with a deafening roar. Li Ren's eyes widened. He had fought for so long without anyone managing to break his Great Luo immortal domain. How could Ye Chen shatter it with a single finger? How was this possible?

Li Ren soon had no time left for confusion. The next moment, he himself exploded with a thunderous blast. Everything was obliterated; nothing remained.

In that instant, the entire battlefield fell silent. Xie Linyuan's hands, which had been stirring the power of reincarnation, trembled. Wang Xuanji's charging figure came to a halt. He Ziling and Gongsun Jin stopped their movements without the slightest hesitation. Every face was filled with complete disbelief.

Li Ren had absolutely been one of the absolute top-tier existences among the contemporary prodigies of the Immortal Realm. He had been able to battle the other three for a full month. Even when besieged by the divine abilities of the three, his physical body had remained brilliant and powerful. The degree of his terror was easy to imagine. Yet such a top-tier existence had been obliterated by a single finger from Ye Chen? The shock in everyone's hearts surged to the extreme in that moment.

He Ziling and Gongsun Jin both looked toward Xie Linyuan at once, their eyes filled with anger and incredulity, as though asking, "This is the fifty-fifty draw with no clear victor that you spoke of?"

Xie Linyuan shuddered as well. He stared at Ye Chen and began to doubt his entire existence. Sensing the gazes of the two, he could not help lowering his head. He truly had not done it on purpose. At the time, he had simply not wanted to lose face, yet he had never expected Ye Chen to be this strong.

He Ziling and Gongsun Jin had no heart to dwell on the matter. Their hearts were filled with shock and fear. Having battled Li Ren for so long, they understood his strength better than anyone; it was absolutely not weak. Even if they surpassed Li Ren, it was only by a slight margin. Yet that same Li Ren had been pointed to death by Ye Chen with a single finger. What about them, then?

The Heavenly Emperor's own son had surpassed his predecessor and proved even more terrifying than the Heavenly Emperor of old. Once they left the secret realm, they must inform their elders and eradicate the root completely. Otherwise, when the Other Domain arrived in the future, they might truly encounter another Heavenly Emperor and once more suffer the fate of being driven back.

Both were exceptionally decisive. Endless Innate Li Fire boiled across Gongsun Jin's body until he nearly transformed into the essence of the Great Sun itself, like a blazing sun that scorched endless chaos as he roared away into the distance. He Ziling's true form spread both wings and blotted out the sky. With a flap of those wings, the rules of endless space boiled and carried him into the nine heavens above.

Ye Chen himself, at that moment, looked at his own finger and could not help shaking his head with regret. The divine ability of the Primordial Chaos Supreme Body was truly far too fierce. One finger left nothing behind. He could not continue using it…

Chapter 1240: Leaving a Path of Retreat for Himself!

Ye Chen looked at his own finger and could not help shaking his head. The strength of the Primordial Chaos Supreme Body was truly beyond imagination. Merely the first divine ability had already reached such a terrifying degree. It clearly possessed numerous functions—shattering Great Luo immortal domains, dispersing laws, severing all connections between a master and their immortal artifacts, and so on.

Yet when he used it, none of those effects even had time to activate before the person died… Even the origin essence and divine soul were gone. The opponent had been the son of Yazi; both his physical origin and divine soul were especially powerful. For everything to be obliterated like this was truly a pity.

Ye Chen gazed at his finger and silently made a decision. In the future, when facing enemies who were only a single major realm higher, he would never again use the Primordial Chaos Annihilation Finger. The Primordial Chaos Annihilation Finger should be reserved for those powerhouses whose cultivation far surpassed his own.

He leisurely shook his head and looked up, only to see He Ziling and Gongsun Jin fleeing. Both possessed extraordinary methods and had already reached an extremely great distance, escaping the coverage range of an ordinary Golden Immortal's yuan spirit. Yet they still remained within the range of Ye Chen's yuan spirit; the boundary was still extremely far away.

Ye Chen did not raise his hand. He merely stirred his divine sense slightly.

In a place extremely distant from Ye Chen, endless chaos power was mobilized. In a flash, it transformed into two cages that trapped the pair. The cages then flew directly toward Ye Chen.

The expressions of both men changed drastically. Without the slightest hesitation, they employed every last trump card they had hidden away, far more terrifying than during the earlier battle. Yet even when they poured forth their full strength, they could not shake the cages in the slightest. In a single instant, the two were shifted back before Ye Chen.

The gazes with which they looked at Ye Chen were filled with extreme reverence. This was truly too outrageous. Their cultivation was clearly far higher than Ye Chen's, yet before him they were like ants. They could not even break a single strand of his divine sense.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, this is a misunderstanding. My Gongsun Clan once received the Heavenly Emperor's grace, and I myself hold gratitude toward the Heavenly Emperor in my heart. My Gongsun Clan will absolutely fight the Other Domain to the very end in the future and stand together with Fellow Daoist Ye on the battlefield!"

Gongsun Jin was panicked and hoped to seek a slim chance of survival. Yet Ye Chen paid no attention. Having received the Heavenly Emperor's grace and still attacking him was the act of a wolf-hearted, dog-lunged traitor, making him even more deserving of death. Repaying kindness with enmity was more hateful than a simple turncoat.

A ray of destructive divine light gathered in Ye Chen's eyes. Sensing that absolute radiance capable of annihilating him, Gongsun Jin's entire body trembled. Seeing that pleas were useless, he switched to threats. "Ye Chen, if you kill me, the Immortal King, the old ancestor of my Gongsun Clan will never let it go. I am the most brilliant of this generation of the Gongsun Clan, the future of the Gongsun Clan. Killing me will sever the Gongsun Clan's future.

"The moment you leave the secret realm will be the hour of your death. Your Jade Pool Immortal Sect does not even possess an Immortal King, and the Heavenly Emperor's old friends from back then have either died or vanished. No one will be able to support you; they will only watch you die with open eyes. On the contrary, if you let me live… Li Ren's father, Yazi, is certain to seek revenge. You killed Li Ren, so his father will inevitably come to kill you. But if I live, I can…"

Gongsun Jin's words were not finished. The destructive divine light had already descended. Gongsun Jin exploded with a thunderous roar and could no longer speak.

Ye Chen collected Gongsun Jin's origin essence and divine soul; they were indeed extraordinary, far surpassing those of the Celestial Prince. At that thought, Ye Chen felt even more heartache over the portion he had lost. Fortunately, one still remained.

Ye Chen looked toward He Ziling. At that moment, the He Ziling inside the cage had already transformed into his true form. He had clearly recognized reality. In his true form, his combat strength was indeed greater, yet before Ye Chen, that slight enhancement held no meaning whatsoever.

He Ziling calmly regarded Ye Chen, white robes fluttering as he regained his composure. "Ye Chen, the Immortal Realm is destined for destruction. Although the major forces of the Immortal Realm are making a great deal of noise right now, it is nothing more than a struggle for survival. Your talent is remarkable, and you possess an Immortal Spirit Root.

"Most importantly, you are the Heavenly Emperor's successor. The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths have no need for trash, yet you are different; you hold sufficient value. If you pledge allegiance, it will be a tremendous blow to the entire Immortal Realm.

"I believe every major force of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths will extend an olive branch to you. Yet if you kill me, everything will change. Between you and the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths there will no longer be any room for maneuver. Ye Chen, you had best consider carefully whether you wish to personally close that sole path of survival."

He Ziling's voice was calm yet carried exceptional confidence. Ordinary forces within the Immortal Realm did not understand the terror of the Other Domain, yet the top-tier forces knew it with perfect clarity. They understood that the portion which had attacked the Immortal Realm years ago had been only a fraction of its strength.

In less than a thousand years, the Other Domain would truly pour forth in full force, and the Immortal Realm would have only the path of destruction remaining. If Ye Chen wished to live, he would have to lower his head. Once Ye Chen lowered his head even once, his invincible heart would be shattered, and he would be destined to fade into mediocrity among the masses. When that time came, He Ziling would personally kill him and wash away the humiliation.

Ye Chen, however, found the words amusing upon hearing them. Whether he pledged allegiance or not truly did not matter to him. After all, he held no real sense of belonging toward the Immortal Realm. If he could protect the people around him and take away all the disciples and elders of the Jade Pool Immortal Sect as well, then living in another place was not out of the question.

Yet to endure humiliation and beg for survival for the sake of surrender? That simply did not exist. In any case, his inner universe would remain unaffected even if the Immortal Realm was destroyed. There was no need to worry at all.

Therefore, the corner of Ye Chen's mouth curved into a cold smile. "Years ago, the Other Domain was beaten into panicked flight by the Heavenly Emperor. They closed the Emperor Pass, and even your old ancestor was too lazy to care, discarding him like a stray dog. Now you suddenly regard yourselves as important? You claim to be people of the Other Domain, yet do they even acknowledge you? Be careful they casually wipe out your He Clan along with everything else when the time comes!"

Hearing these words, He Ziling's expression instantly changed. If Ye Chen had merely insulted him, he would not have cared. Yet these words truly struck the fragile place in his heart. He feared that the He Clan of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths simply did not acknowledge them at all.

"You are talking nonsense! The divine blood of the Azure Sky White Crane flows through my veins. I am the purest member of the He Clan, unlike you bastard offspring of the Immortal Realm…"

He Ziling grew agitated and flew into a rage from shame.

Ye Chen enjoyed watching people break their composure, yet he was too lazy to look further. He raised his palm, prepared to collect the second portion of origin essence.

At that moment, however, Wang Xuanji, whose eyes in the distance were filled with disbelief, spoke. "Ye Chen, you cannot act against this person. You are indeed extraordinary, yet killing him will cut off your path of retreat. Listen to me and spare his life. Your future self will understand how correct today's decision is."

Wang Xuanji advised Ye Chen. After all, the Wang Clan would certainly surrender in the future, and she intended to take Ye Chen away. Yet if Ye Chen killed He Ziling, who knew whether the He Clan of the Other Domain would take issue with it. Under such circumstances, it was best for Ye Chen to stop and avoid forming a deadly enmity with the He Clan.

Hearing this, He Ziling immediately smiled. Yet Ye Chen paid no attention; the power of reincarnation was already rolling within his hand…

Chapter 1241: Origin Trap!

Ye Chen extended his hand, and a terrifying force of reincarnation rolled within his palm.

This action made He Ziling tremble slightly at once. His brows locked tight, yet he said nothing and simply stared hard at Ye Chen.

Wang Xuanji's eyes, meanwhile, already burned with anger.

Ye Chen was indeed powerful—absurdly so. But against a colossal force like the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, even his strength left him helpless.

"Ye Chen, this is not the lower realm. This is the Immortal Realm, and one on the verge of collapse. You no longer possess the power to disregard everything as you did below."

Wang Xuanji spoke coldly.

Ye Chen paid her no heed and struck out with a single palm.

He Ziling still maintained his composure, fixing Ye Chen with an icy gaze. "Kill me, and you will regret it…"

The words had barely left his mouth when, before Ye Chen's palm could fall, He Ziling chose to explode on his own.

The cage imprisoning him thundered under the self-detonation, yet it held firm. Still, an illusory divine form of a white crane burst forth and charged straight at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, sensing no real danger.

Wang Xuanji's face changed at once. "Ye Chen, do not let that thing touch you…It is the blood curse of the He Clan…Once it nears any member of the He Clan, they will sense everything and know exactly whom you have killed. When that happens…"

She was clearly anxious.

Ye Chen only smiled at her words. Far from dodging, he actively reached out and touched the illusory white crane form.

In an instant, a white crane imprint appeared on his hand, then slowly faded away.

Wang Xuanji's brows twitched violently. She could not help gasping for breath, thoroughly furious.

She suspected Ye Chen simply had a rebellious streak. Whatever she said, he insisted on doing the opposite. Why else would he deliberately make contact with that white crane form?

Ye Chen himself was in excellent spirits.

He had always loved things like blood curses. Take the Holy Spirit Curse from before. He could have cleared it at any time, yet he deliberately kept it. Even when his constitution or cultivation improved and his body underwent a cleansing that purged all negative effects, he made sure to preserve it.

To him, such blood curses were origin traps. They automatically drew enemies in to deliver their origins. How could he refuse?

…

Ye Chen swept his large hand, and the force of reincarnation rolled forth. He fished out He Ziling's divine soul and origin, sending them into his inner world.

Then, in high spirits, he stretched lazily.

His gaze swept over Wang Xuanji. He could not be bothered with her and turned instead to his aunt. Gently taking her jade-like hand, he sensed her current aura and checked whether any shortcomings remained.

Within his inner cosmos, he selected the treasures best suited to her and carefully presented them.

His aunt was equally stunned, yet the gratitude in her hands remained undiminished. Critical hits and perfect strikes were maxed out.

As for why he did not give her a Great Luo Dao Fruit? There was simply no rush. He would wait until her Golden Immortal realm reached complete perfection before offering it.

And Wang Xuanji?

Given the things she had said earlier, Ye Chen knew better than to give her anything. If she somehow fed back six hundred thousand Great Luo Dao Fruits afterward, he would probably cry himself to death.

The entire scene fell silent.

No one had expected the dazzling, terrifying battle among Great Luo experts to end in such a manner. Three beings who ranked among the very top even within the Great Luo realm had died at the hands of Ye Chen, a mere early-stage Golden Immortal.

It was outrageous to the extreme. Even with Ye Chen's confirmed status as the Heavenly Emperor's own son, it remained absurd. After all, had the Heavenly Emperor himself ever been this fierce in his day? Had the student truly surpassed the master?

Every gaze was fixed upon Ye Chen as though upon a true deity.

The Tianzhang Monk only felt grateful that he had not courted death earlier and had chosen the broad, proper path instead.

As for Xie Linyuan, cold sweat covered his entire forehead.

He had once truly believed himself roughly equal to Ye Chen. Even now, he had thought himself slightly superior. In the end, he was nothing more than a complete clown.

At this moment, Xie Linyuan only felt relieved that he had not finished speaking those earlier words. Otherwise, he would already have been walking the path of reincarnation alongside He Ziling and the others.

Yet right afterward, worry rose unbidden in his heart. It was not concern for himself, but for Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's strength was a good thing. It made him more worthy of the goddess, ensured he would not hold her back in the future, and might even help her achieve the union of the Seven Extremes. But this time, Ye Chen had truly gone on a killing spree and overdone it.

The He Clan had Immortal Kings. The Gongsun Clan had Immortal Kings. And Yazi, one of the Ancestral Dragon's nine sons, needed no further description of his terror. Ye Chen had brazenly slaughtered all three. The Immortal Kings behind them would inevitably erupt in fury. What then, if they came to kill Ye Chen?

Ye Chen was the Heavenly Emperor's son, yet the Heavenly Emperor was already dead. As for the Jade Pool, Jade Moon Immortal Monarch counted for little and could never protect him. Ye Chen had no powerful backing at all. What would he do once he left the secret realm?

At this thought, worry filled Xie Linyuan's face. He looked deeply troubled.

…

Within the main hall of the Heavenly Secrets Hall, several Immortal Kings who had arrived had been invited by the Heavenly Secrets Immortal King to discuss the Dao. Here, numerous Immortal Monarchs sat cross-legged. The gathering of so many powerful beings caused the laws to grow indistinct and strange phenomena to arise, as though this place were a true immortal realm.

They were all waiting for the secret realm selection to conclude. To existences of their level, a single year meant nothing at all.

From time to time, an Immortal Monarch sighed, rose, and departed. They had sensed the death of their own prodigies. Such losses were not entirely unacceptable. In a trial of this caliber, deaths were inevitable. Their prodigies had come to compete for opportunities, and death could only be called fate.

Yet the faces of several present looked rather ugly.

The sect master of the Myriad Laws Immortal Sect wore an especially dark expression. He had placed high hopes on his top prodigy, Yu Xinghan, certain the youth would claim a place among the Ten Outstanding. Instead, the boy had fallen not long after entering the secret realm.

The sect master swept an angry gaze toward those seated at the highest positions. In his view, only those few at the Great Luo realm could have brought about Yu Xinghan's death. He waited here precisely to learn who had killed the youth, so that he might settle accounts later at leisure.

It was not only the sect master of the Myriad Laws Immortal Sect. Powerhouses from the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect and the Nine Nether Immortal Hall were likewise present. Their own top prodigies, Xiang Shan and Gai Jiuyou, had also fallen early. Both had been among the absolute peak of the Golden Immortal realm, with every hope of ranking among the Ten Outstanding, yet they had died so quickly. The bitterness in their hearts was extreme. They wanted to know who had been so ruthless.

After all, in a trial of this nature, everyone should have understood the unspoken rules. Top prodigies needed only to harvest the weak. Why insist on killing one another? Since someone had refused to abide by those rules, they had to clarify the situation. All of them had already informed their Immortal King ancestors. Should any unexpected development arise afterward, those ancestors would be able to extend their influence here at the first opportunity.

AN: The next update is in two days.