"You, esteemed as a Heavenly King, dare not even engage me in battle?"
Ye Chen's words, spoken from a commanding height and filled with disdain, caused the Black Palace Heavenly King's expression to change drastically, his face flushing with rage. Was this a slight against him?
"Junior, you are far too arrogant. Do you not know the principle that one should conceal their edge, for what is too rigid is easily broken?" the Black Palace Heavenly King said coldly.
"Apologies, but against an opponent like you, it matters not," Ye Chen replied indifferently, his tone brimming with boundless confidence, even a strong sense of arrogance, as if he did not regard the Black Palace Heavenly King at all.
"You insolent junior—" The Black Palace Heavenly King was furious. But at that very moment, Ye Chen suddenly charged forward, directly traversing the starry void and descending before him. The Heavenly King was startled and hastily retreated.
However, Ye Chen clung to him like a shadow, not allowing him any chance to evade. He unleashed the Battle Saint Art, with divine abilities like the Heaven-Shaking Palm, Severing Heaven Finger, and Heaven-Suppressing Seal raining down continuously. Stars shattered and were obliterated under his attacks, displaying an unprecedented, fearsome power and an unstoppable, invincible might.
He was merely a young junior, yet he suppressed the renowned Black Palace Heavenly King, forcing him to retreat, not daring to face him head-on.
It could be seen that the Black Palace Heavenly King was already coughing up blood. In their clashes, he was no match, being forced back repeatedly and sustaining injuries.
In one close-quarters collision, he was even cleaved in two by Ye Chen, blood mist spraying as he was split apart, his Primordial Spirit dimming significantly.
If not for being a prominent figure of the imperial Ye Family, possessing numerous precious elixirs and secret healing arts, he truly would have been in mortal danger. However, he no longer dared to engage Ye Chen in close combat, continuously flying back.
This was unimaginable in the past. Heavenly Kings were supreme figures to whom even Saint Lords would bow deeply, and countless young geniuses aspired to reach such heights. Yet now, a top-tier figure considered a powerhouse even among Heavenly Kings was being suppressed by the Battle Saint King without any resistance, even cleaved in two—a scene rarely seen throughout the ages.
As he attacked, Ye Chen spoke indifferently, "Didn't you say I was too rigid and easily broken? Why do you keep retreating? Are you afraid?"
The Black Palace Heavenly King's veins bulged, but he could only let out a cold snort.
"Sword Opens Heaven and Earth, Sword Annihilates the World—One Sword to Open Heaven and Destroy Earth!"
The Black Palace Heavenly King roared, unleashing the sword path divine ability he had comprehended. His index and middle fingers merged into a sword finger, manifesting annihilating sword energy accompanied by dazzling sword radiance that pierced through the starry void, striking toward Ye Chen with extreme terror.
Visibly, stars in the sky exploded one after another.
Yet Ye Chen countered with the Spirit Rhinoceros Sword Finger. Sword radiance erupted massively, sweeping across the firmament and causing widespread, heaven-and-earth-destroying devastation.
Swish! Swish!
Simultaneously, the Black Palace Heavenly King activated a powerful secret art. Two incarnations appeared beside him, each exuding a formidable aura. Though not as strong as his true self, they were comparable to Heavenly Kings and also unleashed terrifying divine abilities, jointly attacking Ye Chen.
This region of the starry void directly descended into great destruction.
"Junior, though you are indeed powerful, do not think you are truly invincible under heaven. You must understand the principle that there is always a higher heaven beyond this one, and a man beyond a man. Today, this old man will make you understand this truth."
With his true self and two Heavenly King incarnations appearing, the Black Palace Heavenly King's power surged dramatically. He possessed an astonishing oppressive pressure, his strength rising significantly, and he actually began to suppress Ye Chen in turn.
The Black Palace Heavenly King divided his mind three ways. Each Heavenly King body released a powerful aura, accompanied by unique Great Dao laws that interconnected, influencing the starry void. They actually froze the entire expanse of space.
Ye Chen's originally supremely flourishing Great Dao aura was actually suppressed, unable to be fully released and dominate the starry void as before.
"This is the Black Palace Heavenly King's ultimate move, 'Three Parts Forbidden Heaven and Earth.' Once unleashed, it can imprison heaven and earth, seal Dao principles, and make the user the master of that domain."
Some top-tier figures recognized this divine ability of the Black Palace Heavenly King—Three Parts Forbidden Heaven and Earth. One body divided into three parts: the true self and two incarnations, mutually sensing each other, capable of influencing space-time. He had once used this to slay a genuine Heavenly King, earning fame throughout the Myriad Domains.
Within the Heavenly Heart Hall, the powerhouses exclaimed in shock. Some older-generation figures sighed with emotion, "Truly worthy of the renowned Black Palace Heavenly King. Having achieved the Heavenly King realm for millennia, he is a figure famed across the myriad realms. How could he not possess corresponding terrifying methods? Though the Battle Saint King is strong, he still falls somewhat short of defeating the Black Palace Heavenly King."
After all, he was a veteran Heavenly King and a super powerhouse among them. The Black Palace Heavenly King's strength could not be measured by ordinary reasoning.
The Ye Family powerhouses were all invigorated. Previously suppressed forcefully by the Battle Saint King, whether the younger generation or the older, they had been pressed to the point of losing their temper. They had even begun to fear the Black Palace Heavenly King would be suppressed. Now that the Black Palace Heavenly King displayed such an ultimate technique, they were naturally greatly excited.
Some among them even wished the Black Palace Heavenly King could directly execute the Battle Saint King.
"Is Little Chen alright?"
Though aware of Ye Chen's strength, hearing the exclamations of other powerhouses in the hall, how could his parents not worry?
Ye Zimei and the others felt the same.
However, the Primordial Female Saint Lord, the Goddess's Daughter, the Yaochi Saintess, Xi Immortal Maiden, and Yaya—these five women—remained utterly calm, puzzling others. Were they not worried about the Battle Saint King at all, or did they possess immense confidence in him?
Yaya tugged at her grandparents' hands and giggled, "Grandpa, Grandma, don't worry. Daddy is invincible. While this technique might harm Daddy, if it could kill him, those ancient Great Sages would have done so long ago."
What!?
The entire hall was shaken. Everyone stared at Yaya in shock and awe. Had the Battle Saint King actually fought against ancient Great Sages, and even they could not kill him?
In the starry void, Ye Chen stood firm, subjected to immense restraint. Boundless pressure bore down on him from all directions, pressing upon every inch of his body. The vast pressure seemed intent on squeezing his entire being until it exploded. Even the divine power within him was suppressed, making it difficult for him to move.
"So this is the so-called 'Three Parts Forbidden Heaven and Earth' technique? Indeed impressive, somewhat similar to the Six Directions Sealing Heaven Art, yet even more profound," Ye Chen nodded, sighing in admiration.
Indeed, every Heavenly King was extraordinary, especially a top-tier Heavenly King like the Black Palace Heavenly King, who surpassed imagination.
"Knowing now is too late. Prepare to die!"
The Black Palace Heavenly King divided the starry void into three parts, standing in three positions as if occupying the past, present, and future. There was a unique profundity that even startled Ye Chen, for this profundity faintly involved the passage of time.
Boom!
The three Heavenly King bodies attacked simultaneously, influencing space and even touching upon time itself, launching a comprehensive assault on Ye Chen that was unavoidable and unblockable.