"But I've been waiting for you for a long time."
A familiar voice suddenly rang out, causing the four great experts, including Yang Shaoqi, to feel the hairs on their bodies stand on end. They turned around to see that a person had appeared by the beach at some unknown time—it was Ye Chen. When had he arrived?
What was most infuriating, however, was that a towering tree had been transplanted onto the beach, blocking the scorching sunlight. Beneath it was a beach chair, and beside it a stone table. On the table, fresh spirit fruits were placed on plates, along with crystal-clear wine glasses filled with fragrant, fine wine.
Ye Chen lay on the beach chair, letting the gentle breeze brush over him, looking completely at ease as if on vacation. Compared to their utterly wretched state, he appeared far more carefree and dashing.
This bastard!
The four great experts were both terrified and furious. This guy was deliberately mocking them, intentionally putting on such a relaxed posture to contrast with their current sorry state.
But there was nothing they could do about it, because at this moment, the four great experts were even more frightened. They directly flew out, retreating a great distance away, facing him from afar. All four Martial God Dao Weapons were drawn, each radiating their most brilliant divine light, ready to fight at any moment.
Ye Chen casually picked up a spirit fruit and took a bite. The sweet flesh filled his mouth, and surging spiritual energy flowed through his heart, his yuan power swelling. He glanced at them and chuckled lightly, "Is it really necessary for you gentlemen to be so ready for battle? I haven't even made a move yet."
Li Sheng snorted coldly, "Ye Chen, spare us the nonsense. If you want to fight, then fight. We won't surrender."
Ye Chen nodded, "Good, you have courage. It's just a pity your strength is a bit lacking."
Boom—
As his words fell, Ye Chen suddenly struck. The clear lake exploded with layers of mist. Ye Chen manifested his dharma form, a massive hand that blotted out the sky and covered the earth, instantly enveloping the entire lake. It slammed down from above, with golden radiance swirling around it.
But the four great experts seemed to have been prepared. Their four Martial God Dao Weapons instantly awakened, clashing against the golden hand. The terrifying divine energy directly vaporized the entire lake into a sky full of mist, obscuring everything.
When the mist dissipated, the four great experts had long since fled. But Ye Chen wasn't worried. He smiled slightly, put away everything on the beach, took a step, and gave chase once more.
Afterwards, over the vast desert spanning hundreds of thousands of li, during two days of pursuit and flight, the two sides encountered each other more than a dozen times. Yet, with each clash, Ye Chen failed to capture the four great experts, allowing them to escape time and again.
However, each collision caused the four great experts to cough up blood and sustain injuries, adding wound upon wound. Clearly, even with four against one, they held no advantage whatsoever. On the contrary, they were at a disadvantage in the continuous confrontations.
This left the four both shocked and enraged, but more than anything, helpless. This young devil king was too powerful, truly comparable to the king-level talents sealed away since ancient times by the various super forces—utterly terrifying.
Yet they firmly believed that all of this would soon come to an end. At the destination, everything would be reversed. They would no longer fear Ye Chen; instead, Ye Chen would be the one to fear them.
Because there, super experts from the four super forces would be present, allowing them to fear nothing.
Moreover, Ye Chen had incurred public wrath. Having killed so many trial participants in the Divine Spirit's small world, the numerous forces on the Tian Du Continent would definitely not let him off easily. It could be predicted that he would be hunted across the entire land.
Boom—
Half a day later, deep within the desert, Ye Chen once again caught up with the four great experts. But this time, they were nearing their destination.
From afar, they could see a majestic, towering fortress standing at the edge of the great desert, spanning between heaven and earth. Its dark walls rose dozens of zhang high, like a massive horizontal mountain range—towering and unshakable.
"We're almost at the destination. As long as we hold out for these last few dozen li, it won't be a problem," Long Tenghua said, his eyes flickering with anticipation as he gazed at the distant fortress.
After four consecutive days of desperate flight, they were finally about to shake off this devil. This filled the four with immense excitement, nearly bringing them to tears.
It was unbelievable that experts as powerful as them—super experts who dominated the Trial Path and were known as 'those who delay proclaiming themselves kings'—needed to join forces and be pursued for such a long time. If this news spread across the Tian Du Continent, it would likely cause quite a stir. Ye Chen might even attract the attention of those ancient prodigies.
But this arduous journey was about to end, because the destination fortress was right before their eyes, seemingly within reach.
"Hahaha, soon, we're about to succeed!"
The other three great experts were filled with elation. Only a few dozen li remained before they could completely escape. How could they not be overjoyed?
Ye Chen quickly approached from the distant horizon. Seeing the four looking so happy, he smiled slightly and asked, "You gentlemen seem quite delighted. Is there something very happy going on?"
At this point, all four were confident they could hold out until the final stage. They were no longer frightened or tense; instead, they laughed heartily, throwing their heads back, "Hahaha, Ye Chen, you're right. We really are very happy. Can you see that fortress at the end? Once we step inside, we will have successfully passed the trial. Moreover, there, super experts from our four super forces are waiting for our return. And at that time, your true death will arrive."
"That's right. Do you know that if word gets out to the Tian Du Continent that you've killed so many trial participants, countless forces across the entire continent will surely come to punish you. I can already imagine how utterly despairing your expression will be then. I'm really looking forward to that scene arriving quickly. I really want to see what your despairing face looks like," Wu Han added.
It was clear that they were all relaxed, without a trace of the tension of being pursued. On the contrary, they were mocking Ye Chen.
Ye Chen glanced at the fortress at the end, then turned his gaze back to the four great experts, smiling, "It seems all four of you are quite confident you can make it there, is that right?"
Yang Shaoqi sneered, "Ye Chen, do you still think at this point that you have enough confidence to stop the four of us from fleeing to the destination? Ridiculous. We must admit you are strong, but you're only a bit stronger than us. Working together, we have enough confidence to escape there. And then, it will be the sanctions of the various forces across the land against you."
"I hope that scene comes to pass," Ye Chen said indifferently. "But first, the key point is whether you can actually hold out until you get there."
Boom—
Ye Chen directly attacked. Golden blood yuan erupted, flooding the sky and earth, transforming into wave after wave of blood yuan tides that surged skyward, sweeping across the heavens. Moreover, tigers, lions, eagles, giant wolves, leopards, and other fearsome beasts formed through Xiantian manifestation charged forth, sweeping toward them.
"Flee!"
The four great experts were well aware of Ye Chen's strength. Resisting now was merely to buy time; fleeing to the destination was the most important.
The four transformed into four beams of light, charging fiercely toward the destination fortress.
"Thinking of leaving? Not so easy."
Ye Chen attacked from behind, launching an assault. Desert sand waves rolled in with a rumbling roar, and dust soared into the sky, bombarding the heavens.
The four great experts were forced to engage. The two sides fought fiercely, with vast stretches of the desert exploding, divine light surging and shaking the heavens.
The four great experts fought back with all their might, battling Ye Chen. All four Martial God Dao Weapons were awakened to their limits, continuously and violently blasting apart, exploding sand waves and sending dust rolling as they fought their way across.
Ye Chen attacked bravely, his entire body transforming into a Glazed Golden Body as he struck. Without using the Heavenly God Spear, he directly clashed with the four super Martial God Dao Weapons, striking them with clanging sounds and sending out dazzling sparks, nearly shaking the four weapons away.
Finally, under Ye Chen's terrifying attacks, even with the isolation of the Martial God Dao Weapons, the residual force still landed on the four, causing their bodies to nearly explode. All were injured and coughed up blood, immediately fleeing and charging toward the destination.
From the distant fortress, one could clearly sense the release of powerful blood energy fluctuations, one after another. Moreover, four auras were particularly strong, their blood energy soaring into the sky like vigorous divine dragons taking flight.
Those were all truly powerful Heavenly God realm experts. Clearly, the several super forces attached great importance, sending Heavenly God realm super experts into the trial world to stand guard and receive their young prodigies.
"Haha, Ye Chen, you've lost. The Heavenly God realm experts from our various forces have arrived. You are undoubtedly doomed," Yang Shaoqi said, coughing up blood while laughing maniacally, utterly crazed. It was as if he already saw hope right before his eyes, vaguely envisioning the scene of Ye Chen being struck down and slain by the Heavenly God realm experts. Everything was so close.
"But do you really think you can escape just like that?"
Ye Chen's cold voice came from behind. Then, heaven and earth exploded. A figure instantly moved at the utmost limit of the Martial God realm, like a golden lightning bolt flashing forth. He appeared in an instant, directly attacking. Waves of force swept over, causing the fleeing figures to shudder and slow down.
And at this moment, Ye Chen arrived before Yang Shaoqi. No longer toying with him, he slapped Yang Shaoqi away, and one of Yang Shaoqi's left arms directly shattered into a bloody mist—extremely bloody and utterly merciless.
Clearly, at this point, Ye Chen was truly going for the kill, holding nothing back.
"Flee!"
The others paid no heed to Yang Shaoqi, desperately fleeing toward the fortress.
"Ye Chen, we're about to reach the destination. Let go of Brother Yang immediately, or you will die a very painful death," Li Sheng shouted.
"That depends on whether you can actually reach it."
But Ye Chen remained unmoved. With one hand, he lifted Yang Shaoqi by the back of his neck like a chick, his face expressionless as he watched everything unfold. Seeing that the other three were less than a hundred zhang from the fortress, he still did not move.
The three great experts found it strange, but now was not the time to think too much. Escape was the priority.
Suddenly, a series of auras erupted. Shockingly, figures of trial participants charged out from in front of the fortress, blocking the path of the three great experts.
The situation had suddenly changed!