Boom—
The crimson sands of the desolate wilderness churned violently, with layers of sand waves dozens to hundreds of zhang high crashing against the cloud-filled sky. The earth trembled, and two figures in the void were engaged in a rapid exchange of blows. In an instant, a series of terrifying collisions erupted, shaking heaven and earth and drawing all eyes.
A battle of this level did not resemble a duel between the younger generation at all, but rather a life-and-death struggle between veteran Martial Gods who had stood firm in that realm for many years. It was exceptionally fierce and fearsome.
Divine light surged in torrents as two streams of golden radiance clashed and vied against each other, each impact causing the void to tremble.
This attracted the attention of countless onlookers, for this would be an unprecedented duel, the pinnacle clash of the younger generation.
One was the Unrivaled King who dominated the Trial Path, before whom even the few Self-Proclaimed Kings had been forced to admit defeat and flee.
The other was a peerless prodigy from the Tianqi Empire. Although the vast majority did not know his true origins, the fact that a Heavenly God from that empire had proactively and respectfully addressed him as 'My Lord' was sufficient to prove the fearsomeness of this golden-armored youth. He was undoubtedly an extraordinary figure.
With these two pinnacle figures of the younger generation contending, it naturally drew the utmost attention.
Yang Shaoqi watched this earth-shattering battle with a complex expression. One was an ancient prodigy from an era long past, personally sealed by a Divine Spirit ancestor using an incredibly precious World's Heart fragment. A year ago, he had encountered Yang Wushuang. Back then, he too had been arrogant and unruly, believing himself invincible among his peers, and had challenged the other.
But the outcome had been miserable. He was utterly no match, easily defeated by his opponent, who became a nightmare-like existence for him.
The other was the Unrivaled King who had recently shattered his confidence, possessing matchless combat prowess.
Gazing at these two young prodigies who could make even him feel despair, Yang Shaoqi's eyes were filled with complexity.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
Ye Chen fought Yang Wushuang. In just the first exchange, they instantly traded dozens to hundreds of blows. Although they were all the most basic moves, they carried a wondrous power that transformed the ordinary into the miraculous, causing this primordial great desert to tremble as if it were about to be shattered.
In fact, the two did not engage in the life-and-death struggle everyone anticipated. After a series of collisions, they quickly disengaged and separated, not continuing the fight. This left many feeling regretful, for this was an unprecedented pinnacle battle of the younger generation.
Between Ye Chen's fingers and palm, a string of bright, poignant blood flowed, shimmering with golden light. Even a physique as powerful as the Human Yuan Golden Body had been wounded, which spoke volumes.
However, Yang Wushuang's fist also bore bright blood shimmering with crimson light, the skin at the base of his thumb split open.
Clearly, neither had gained a decisive upper hand in this clash. They were evenly matched, ending in a draw.
"You're not bad. Among the younger generation, you're the first to make me bleed," Yang Wushuang said. "But you should know, my blood does not flow in vain. You will pay a greater price for it." At this moment, the string of blood on his fist suddenly bloomed with a bewitching crimson radiance. Each drop of blood, like a blood diamond, was launched by him.
Boom!—
A string of over a dozen drops of blood, each imbued with divinity and containing truly formidable divine power, transformed into sharp divine spears mid-flight as they were shot out.
This made people's expressions change. Such blood spears possessed terrifying piercing power. Once launched, they could undoubtedly pierce through the defenses of a Martial God.
Yet Ye Chen coldly retorted, "Do you think my blood flows in vain?"
Clang!—
With a resonant ring, the golden blood flowing from Ye Chen's fingers and palm was clenched by him, transforming into heavenly swords. He too condensed blood into weapons, clashing against the blood spears.
After several thunderous clangs echoed in the void, golden and crimson light erupted. Both the blood spears and the golden swords shattered.
At this point, Yang Wushuang truly began to regard him seriously, his expression turning solemn. "Not bad. Being able to withstand one of my strikes is enough for you to be proud. However, you must understand that a true king is not someone you can match at your current level. If you can withstand my next strike, I can spare your life. My Tianqi Empire will not pursue the grievances between you and the Trial Path any further."
Delighted to have found a worthy opponent, Yang Wushuang formed hand seals. Suddenly, a sun appeared within his embrace, its dazzling light spanning billions of zhang, radiating vast divine majesty.
Sun Seal!
This was actually the supreme technique of the Tianqi Empire, the Sun Seal. This was not the first time Ye Chen had faced it; he was also proficient in this divine art. However, the divine majesty and terrifying power of the sun conjured by Yang Wushuang this time were far beyond what Yang Shaoqi or that former Checkpoint Master could muster. They were not on the same level.
The great sun hung in the sky, resembling a golden crow traversing heaven and earth. Its terrifying fluctuations shook the desert land for hundreds of miles around. Dust and sand billowed, the great desert like smoke.
Vast stretches of crimson sand directly melted into liquid, a testament to the immense temperature of this conjured sun, which turned large areas of the desert into flowing magma.
Yang Wushuang pushed the Sun Seal towards Ye Chen, his loud shout exploding: "I hear you also know my clan's Sun Seal. That is indeed somewhat interesting. I simply want to see just how capable you are?"
Streams and wisps of essence fire were exhaled by him, all of them flooding towards Ye Chen, blotting out the sky and covering the earth, boundless and limitless, pressing down upon the cloud-filled sky.
Wherever it passed, the crimson sand melted.
Ye Chen took a deep breath, his black hair suddenly standing on end. He activated a peerless divine art—not the Sun Seal, but the Great Dao Treasure Vessel Seal, which manifested and floated above his head. The vessel's mouth was aimed, but instead of spewing divine light, it became unfathomably deep, transforming into a black hole hanging in the sky, devouring the endless essence fire of the sun!
The Great Dao Treasure Vessel Seal was hailed as a true supreme divine ability of the myriad realms, mastered by only an extremely select few. Naturally, it was not as simple as an ordinary attack; it contained various ultimate mysteries.
Ye Chen could naturally evolve it to another level: Devour!
The vessel's mouth directly transformed into a rotating black hole, floating above Ye Chen's head, so deep it made one's heart palpitate with fear. Boundless devouring power erupted, continuously swallowing the streams and wisps of essence fire shot out by the great sun, drawing them in like a whale drinking from a hundred rivers.
"Hmm?" Yang Wushuang uttered a sound of surprise. Then, operating his divine skill, the Sun Seal erupted in full force. The endless essence fire directly transformed into a sky-spanning, blazing sea of fire, burning through the nine layers of the firmament as it descended layer by layer.
Within it, a true strand of Sun Essence Fire was even manifested. That was supreme Dao Fire, unbearably hot, capable of incinerating heaven and earth and piercing through the void.
This strand of Sun Essence Fire continuously rose and fell within the boundless sea of fire, as if intending to burn the entire cosmos. Accompanied by endless flames, it shot towards Ye Chen.