However, after that battle of yore, the Zhou Tian Battle Stage was nearly completely shattered. It was later personally repaired by the Zhou Tian Ancestral God and left within the Zhoutian Clan to serve as a martial arts stage.
Subsequently, the Zhou Tian Battle Stage also became an extremely renowned martial arts stage within the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain. Many super-powerful experts whose fame shook the ancient and modern eras had duelled here, including no small number of Nine Tribulation Divine Kings. It flourished for a time, only gradually fading from the world's sight in recent eras.
The last duel was a battle between two Nine Tribulation Divine Kings a hundred thousand years ago, a match that could be called a peerless battle. It shook the entire Ten Heavens Ancient Domain and drew countless powerhouses to spectate.
After that Divine King battle, the Zhou Tian Battle Stage never appeared in the mortal world again.
Who would have thought that now, during the millennial Zhou Tian Grand Ceremony, the Zhou Tian Battle Stage would reappear in the world, stirring the blood of many.
Every time the Zhou Tian Battle Stage emerges, it almost always signifies a duel between supreme powerhouses.
Now was precisely such a time.
A prodigy Great Power suspected to be at the Eighth Heaven level, confronting an elderly Great Power from the Brah Emperor Clan who was also at the Eighth Heaven.
The Zhoutian Clan Leader said, "You two, the Zhou Tian Battle Stage is open. You may ascend to exchange blows, but I hope you will stop at the appropriate point."
Naturally, this was merely a formality.
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor and the elderly Great Power of the Brah Emperor Clan successively charged onto the Zhou Tian Battle Stage. The stage was vast; it had once fused with the Zhou Tian Ancestral God's origin world. Even though that had been separated later, it still contained an immensely large inner world space, sufficient to allow even Divine King-level powerhouses to fight with near-abandon.
The stage was mottled with battle scars. Every inch might have witnessed a generation's world-renowned supreme powerhouse bleed, or even perish, here. It was a legendary battle stage.
The two stood facing each other.
Zhou Yun said to Ye Chen, "Fellow Daoist Qian, if you have Dragon Fellow Daoist concede now, our Zhoutian Clan can still mediate and prevent things from completely turning antagonistic."
Ye Chen knew Zhou Yun meant well, but he shook his head. They were already completely opposed to the alien races; how could they concede to ease tensions? It was a fight to the death.
"You—"
Zhou Yun was annoyed. That was an Eighth Heaven Great Power! Even if the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor was an Eighth Heaven Great Power, it wouldn't work. That elderly Great Power had remained at the Eighth Heaven for many years. How could an ordinary Eighth Heaven Great Power possibly fight him? That was courting death.
The elderly Great Power of the Brah Emperor Clan smiled faintly. "Junior, your courage is commendable, daring to truly step forward for battle. This old man appreciates it. Remember this old man's name—Brahman Yun!"
Upon hearing this, the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor chuckled. "Brahman Yun, is it? Implying the Brah Emperor Clan is destined to fall. Not a bad name. This lord likes it."
The powerhouses of the Brah Emperor Clan all darkened their expressions. This was already offending them to the death, a feud of life and death.
Brahman Yun's expression also sank slightly. He said coldly, "A junior who's all talk. This old man will give you a lesson you'll remember for life today."
"Having lived so many years, you shouldn't keep on living. Hurry up and return to the heavens," the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor retorted.
Whoosh—
The elderly Great Power made his move. He was an elderly Great Power who had lived for seventy to eighty thousand years, his Dao techniques profound and unfathomable, terrifying beyond measure. A simple slap contained unimaginable, world-shaking divine might. Surging demonic light instantly flooded the entire battle stage world, sweeping forth with streaks of bloody lightning.
Under such demonic might, even a super Great Power would tremble and shudder.
Yet the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor shot forward with a whoosh, plunging into the demonic light.
"Courting death!"
"Truly foolish! He should have dodged!"
Many spectators shook their heads, considering the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor's action extremely foolish. Not only did he not avoid it, but he charged forward instead. Wasn't that suicidal behavior?
The three alien Emperor Clans sneered repeatedly.
No one favored the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor. Only Ye Chen, A Beinu, the six Royal Super Prodigies, and others remained unchanged in expression, for they all believed in the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
Terrifying roars echoed from within the demonic light, surging forth from time to time, causing the entire Zhou Tian Battle Stage to tremble, drawing all eyes.
"The fierce battle has begun! That kid indeed has some skill, able to fight even against an imperial clan super-elderly Great Power like Brahman Yun. Quite impressive."
"But that's about it. After all, he's an imperial clan Great Power. No matter how strong that kid is, he can't truly fight Brahman Yun."
Many did not believe the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor could truly confront an imperial clan elderly Great Power. It was impossible.
Roar—
Faintly, a dragon's roar that seemed to shake the nine layers of clouds resounded, vibrating the Zhou Tian Battle Stage. Immediately after, Brahman Yun's voice, carrying threads of shock and horror, rang out: "How is this possible? You are—"
His words cut off abruptly.
Simultaneously, the sounds of fierce combat collisions vanished. The Zhou Tian Battle Stage fell into silence, shrouded in demonic light, preventing the outside world from seeing anything within.
The powerhouses of the three alien Emperor Clans all changed expressions. For some reason, they felt an ominous premonition was about to unfold.
As the demonic light gradually dissipated and everyone looked toward the Zhou Tian Battle Stage, the clear scene slowly presented itself before the world. Accompanied by it were the sounds of countless people sucking in cold breaths.
"Impossible!"
"How could this happen?"
"Is this real?"
One after another, voices filled with disbelief rose and fell, saturated with shock.
On the Zhou Tian Battle Stage at this moment, one person stood, and one person lay fallen, blood staining the stage.
The one standing was the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor. His black hair still flowed loosely, his robes undamaged.
Before him, the elderly Great Power of the Brah Emperor Clan, Brahman Yun, had fallen. Blood dyed the stage for three thousand feet. His eyes were wide open, still bearing a look of shock in death, as if he himself could not believe what had happened, or as if he had seen the most terrifying thing, carrying threads of fear. A bloody hole had appeared in his glabella, and he had fallen forever.
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor, victorious!
An unbelievable outcome. Apart from Ye Chen and the others, no one would have believed the final result would be the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor's victory and the fall of the Brah Emperor Clan's elderly Great Power.
"Elder Yun!"
Numerous powerhouses of the Brah Emperor Clan rushed forward, landing before Brahman Yun, wanting to see if there was any chance of survival. But his glabella was pierced, his Niwan Palace shattered, and his soul infant naturally annihilated.
They glared furiously at the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor, each radiating terrifying auras, their eyes filled with killing intent, wishing they could tear the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor to pieces. "You shameless scoundrel! You couldn't possibly defeat Elder Yun! Tell us, what despicable means did you use to kill Elder Yun?"
The Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor sneered coldly. "Despicable? Shameless? Heh, it was just that old fossil overestimating himself."
"You killed Elder Yun! We'll make you pay with your life!"
A group of imperial clan Great Powers from the Brah Emperor Clan charged forward, intent on killing the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor.
Whoosh—
Ye Chen's figure flashed like lightning, appearing and plunging into the Zhou Tian Battle Stage. He positioned himself squarely before the Brah Emperor Clan powerhouses, suddenly erupting with an extremely terrifying aura that shook the entire Zhou Tian Battle Stage. He looked coldly at these Brah Emperor Clan powerhouses before him. "Whoever dares take another step forward, I'll kill them!"
As he spoke, the aura on his body climbed layer by layer, even penetrating the entire Zhou Tian Battle Stage, spreading outwards, to the extent of shaking the entire Zhou Tian City.
The entire city was shaken!