Chen Changsheng, the hidden observer, watched the chaos unfold. "My karma is now inextricably linked to Ye Chen," he murmured, calculating the optimal moment to intervene. Should he make a move? And if so, when?
The Supreme Secret Art: Star Shift tore through the firmament, shaking the very foundations of the world. The Grand Dao Sect members were forcibly ripped away by the power of the Great Emperor formation patterns. The entire region fell into a deathly silence. The major hegemonic powers were stunned. The Heavenly Net Temple had paid an outrageous price to ambush the Grand Dao Sect! Two Six-star Great Emperors to eliminate Elder Mu and the Peak Masters, and a Five-star Great Emperor to slaughter the younger talents like Ye Chen! Plus, two corners of Great Emperor formation patterns! What an extravagant move! Against a Five-star Great Emperor, Ye Chen and his companions were undoubtedly dead. Elder Mu, facing two Six-star Great Emperors and unable to borrow the Grand Dao Sect's authority, would also be annihilated.
A storm of shock raged in the hearts of the onlookers. The Grand Dao Sect contingent was likely to be completely wiped out here.
A Yao Family Great Emperor looked on in disbelief. "Has the Heavenly Net Temple gone completely insane?" Yao Huanhuan stood frozen, her slender waist trembling, still reeling from the shock. She had planned to approach Ye Chen for alchemy advice, but the Heavenly Net Temple had descended like a thunderbolt, snatching them away. The Yao Family Great Emperor immediately swept his sleeve, bringing his family's prodigies onto a pill furnace. "Go! Return to the Yao Family! This place is too dangerous!" Nan Chen of Cangmu Academy sneered. "Excellent! The Heavenly Net Temple killed Ye Chen. That's a relief!" Chu Yuan of the Supreme Profound Sect nodded. "If there are no surprises, Ye Chen is dead. And there won't be any surprises."
Elsewhere, Qin Wang, who had been hiding, cautiously emerged and immediately sent a message to the Qin Family Elders. The Qin Family Old Ancestor, Qin Wuyang, who had been waiting, quickly arrived and whisked him away. This was the Qin Family's sole surviving prodigy from the Secret Realm! Damn the Grand Dao Sect!
In an instant, the other hegemonic powers also tore open the void and vanished.
***
Millions of miles away, far from the Secret Realm near the Heavenly Blade Gate, a terrifying spatial fluctuation erupted. Brilliant formation patterns lit up the sky like a shower of celestial fireworks. The power of the Great Emperor formation patterns instantly pulverized a hundred miles of mountains, evaporated rivers, and ripped the earth apart. Ye Chen, Liu Xuan, and the others were violently thrown from the sky, momentarily disoriented.
"Senior Brothers and Sister! Be careful!" Ye Chen roared, instantly snapping back to reality. His overwhelming martial will surged, and he shouted, warning the others.
In the next moment, Fang Yan, Luo Lingkong, and the other disciples managed to stabilize themselves in the air.
At that moment, Luo Yangtian, clad in black robes, appeared with three low-star Great Emperors. He instantly sealed the surrounding space with countless restrictive formations.
Ye Chen slowly stepped in front of the group, a powerful force pushing Liu Xuan and Luo Lingkong back several yards. He said gravely, "Let me handle this!"
Luo Yangtian let out a sneer, his voice laced with venom. "A firefly daring to challenge the sun and moon! Ye Chen, I won't let you die easily! I will make you taste endless, delightful... torment!"
With that, Luo Yangtian's Emperor-level pressure surged toward Ye Chen. With every step, Great Emperor Dao patterns condensed into illusory steps beneath his feet, and the space around him twisted, punctuated by sonic booms. The three low-star Great Emperors wisely retreated ten thousand feet away. They knew their Hall Master needed to vent his rage and bloodlust. Besides, dealing with a few Profound Venerates didn't require their assistance.
Luo Yangtian stared intently at Ye Chen, completely ignoring Liu Xuan and the others. He wanted to torture Ye Chen now! Immediately! Right now!
But Ye Chen didn't retreat; he advanced. A divine rainbow surged beneath his feet, his white robes billowing. His terrifying martial will, the Invincible Stance, swept out like a tidal wave. His body shone brightly as his Martial Dao Furnace roared to life. At this moment, Ye Chen's Willpower was pushed to its limit!
So what if he was a Five-star Great Emperor?
Fight!
Luo Yangtian's eyes, like dark stars, flickered with sinister light. He looked down at Ye Chen, treating him like an ant, and spoke with a mocking smile. "An ant trying to shake a giant tree—laughably overconfident! But since you have such an unyielding spirit, the torment will be less boring!"
"Kneel!" Luo Yangtian's voice boomed like thunder across the void.
At that moment, Yao Yan's voice sounded in Ye Chen's mind. "Chen'er, I will lend you my power! Use it to summon your Master! A Five-star Great Emperor is too strong, even with the Six-star Heaven-Devouring Cauldron, we cannot win!"
Ye Chen nodded.
In an instant, Ye Chen's aura skyrocketed!
Profound Venerate!
Profound Saint!
... Nine-star Quasi-Emperor!
Ye Chen swept his sleeve, his aura immense, and immediately summoned the Bone-Chilling Ghost Fire Seed. A chilling, yet fiercely burning, white lotus bloomed in the sky.
Next, Ye Chen summoned the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron, unlocking another seal. A vast, ancient power seemed to awaken within the cauldron. The engraved mountains, rivers, and ancient palace Dao patterns instantly activated, expanding to the size of mountains. The profound 'Dao and Essence' quickly filled the heavens!
"Desolate! Heaven! Art!"
Ye Chen channeled the power of a Nine-star Quasi-Emperor! He felt like an ant using a lever to move a star; without Elder Yao's protection, he couldn't possibly withstand the Quasi-Emperor power. The power of the Nine-star Quasi-Emperor, the Bone-Chilling Ghost Fire, and the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron all converged on Ye Chen. He unleashed the most terrifying, supreme killing strike he had ever attempted!
The power seemed to draw on the stars themselves, condensing the spiritual energy from dozens of miles around. Gale-force winds swept around him, and a brilliant divine light shone like a full moon. He struck directly at Luo Yangtian!
Boom! The strike was world-shattering!
Luo Yangtian's eyes flashed. He stood firm in the void, not moving an inch, a look of wild delight on his face. He simply waved his sleeve.
In the space of a breath, the sky was calm and the wind was light. The dozens of miles of heavenly storm instantly dissipated, and the darkened firmament returned to a clear, azure blue. Ye Chen's supreme attack was annihilated by Luo Yangtian's casual wave, as if it had never existed.
Utter defeat!
Ye Chen froze, stunned by the result. Liu Xuan and Luo Lingkong were also paralyzed, their scalps tingling with terror. That attack, in their eyes, should have surpassed the might of a One-star Great Emperor, yet Luo Yangtian had erased it with a flick of his wrist! Ye Chen and Luo Yangtian were not on the same level! It was a complete, overwhelming rout!
Despair washed over everyone from the Grand Dao Sect. A single star realm difference is a world unto itself! Even with the Nine-star Quasi-Emperor power and a Six-star Emperor Weapon, Ye Chen could not bridge the gap with a Five-star Great Emperor.
The world fell silent.
Luo Yangtian smiled playfully, then looked at the three low-star Great Emperors behind him. "It seems I was right to come! If I hadn't, there might have been an accident! But now, absolutely nothing will go wrong."
The three low-star Great Emperors nodded repeatedly, though internally, they were reeling. What was the deal with this Ye Chen? How could a mere Profound Venerate possess a Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire Seed and a Six-star Emperor Weapon? And he even had a Quasi-Emperor soul protecting him! If Luo Yangtian hadn't come, they really might have been defeated!
In the shadows, Chen Changsheng was still observing, murmuring in surprise, "Did the Grand Dao Sect give him these things, or was it Lu Xuan?"
At that moment, Luo Yangtian reached out his large hand and grabbed for Ye Chen.
It was as easy as picking up a trinket. Ye Chen's Heaven-Devouring Cauldron and Bone-Chilling Ghost Fire were instantly taken. Ye Chen couldn't even react fully! Like a gentle breeze, the Bone-Chilling Ghost Fire and the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron were gone from Ye Chen's grasp.
Ye Chen was dumbfounded. What... what was the point of fighting now?!
Luo Yangtian burst into laughter, holding the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron in his left hand and letting the Bone-Chilling Ghost Fire dance in his right palm. His mood soared. He looked at Ye Chen. "Ye Chen, honestly, before killing you, I never expected such a windfall. You truly are a treasure trove! Hahahaha!" This was a Six-star Emperor Weapon! And a Bone-Chilling Ghost Fire! Having acquired such supreme treasures, Luo Yangtian's heart pounded with excitement. Perhaps... the pain of losing his son wasn't so unbearable after all?
Luo Yangtian examined the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron, sneering. "Ye Chen, do you have any other treasures? Bring them out for me to admire!"
Ye Chen replied coldly, "None left."
Luo Yangtian laughed heartily, looking at Ye Chen mockingly. "Then how will you deal with me now?"
Ye Chen's lips curled into a slight smile. "I called for help."
Hidden in the dark, Chen Changsheng frowned slightly. "Hmm? Was I discovered? Impossible." He still didn't feel it was the right time to act!
Suddenly, Ye Chen shouted into the void. "Master!!"
***
Grand Dao Sect. Azure Mystery Peak.
Lu Xuan had finished his meal and was lying on his recliner in his thatched hut, gazing at the clouds, his heart tranquil. Beside him, Ji Fuyao was still eating, absorbing the power of the Azure Nether Celestial Water.
Just then, the System's voice rang out.
"Ding! System limited-time quest issued! Within three days, rescue Ye Chen! Rescue Elder Mu and the Peak Masters! Annihilate the Heavenly Net Temple's branch!"
The moment the voice fell silent, Lu Xuan sat up from his recliner. The System quickly marked the locations of Ye Chen and Elder Mu in the Southern Wilds.
Lu Xuan's voice was cold. "Who dares touch my disciple!?"
Ji Fuyao tilted her snowy neck. "Master, what's wrong?"
Lu Xuan replied, "Your Junior Brother Ye Chen has run into some trouble. You keep eating, I'll be right back!"
Boom! Lu Xuan immediately activated the corner of the Supreme Great Emperor formation pattern. A profound, ancient spatial power surged around him. This corner of the Supreme Great Emperor formation pattern contained extremely mysterious 'Dao and Essence.' With a thought, Lu Xuan's figure vanished, transforming into a wisp of clear wind, disappearing before Ji Fuyao's eyes!
In the next instant, Lu Xuan descended upon Ye Chen's location.
At that very moment, Ye Chen was shouting into the void. "Master!!"
"Here. I'm here."
A man's voice, incredibly clear yet profoundly mysterious, reached the ears of everyone present.
Ye Chen paused, a look of delighted surprise on his face. It was his Master Lu Xuan's voice! He knew it instantly!
Ye Chen smiled. "My Master came. He really came."
Yao Yan sighed in relief, immediately withdrawing the power he had lent to Ye Chen. "Indeed, just as I said, as long as you call his name in the Southern Wilds, your Master will sense it!"
A massive wave of emotion surged in Ye Chen's heart. He had only tried it as a last resort! After all, he was clearly no match for Luo Yangtian! His Master had once said he wouldn't interfere in the younger generation's battles, but if anyone dared to bully the weak with superior strength, he would kill them! And now, his Master had appeared!
Liu Xuan, Luo Lingkong, and the others were all shocked, looking toward the depths of the void. Who was this newcomer? Could it be the mysterious senior backing Ye Chen and Ji Fuyao?
Luo Yangtian's face turned incredibly grim. Elder Mu and the Peak Masters had been teleported away by two Six-star Great Emperors, and the Grand Dao Sect was millions of miles away. How could anyone arrive so quickly? Furthermore, he had activated a Great Emperor formation pattern to seal the area. How could the Grand Dao Sect have discovered their location so fast? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Not far away, the three low-star Great Emperors were equally bewildered. "How could a Grand Dao Sect Great Emperor arrive at this moment?"
Crack! The void tore open! Space twisted!
Lu Xuan, clad in white robes, his clothes fluttering in the spatial winds, slowly stepped out of the rift. Profound 'Dao and Essence' flowed around him, and a brilliant divine light enveloped his body, completely obscuring his true appearance.
The three low-star Great Emperors asked in confusion, "Hall Master Luo, why can't I discern his cultivation realm?"
Luo Yangtian frowned deeply, channeling the Heaven-Devouring Cauldron in his left hand and the Bone-Chilling Ghost Fire in his right. His voice was icy. "I can't see his cultivation either! But don't panic! I am now so powerful that even I am terrified of myself! With a Six-star Emperor Weapon in hand, I can definitely fight a Six-star Great Emperor!"