Ye Chen desperately wanted to dodge this staff strike, but the Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell was simply too fearsome, seemingly not inferior to the mysterious being riding the rotting old horse.
This single staff strike contained the Great Derivation Dao, transforming into countless divine staffs. Each one was as thick as a sky-pillar, covering every inch of space deep within the earth and locking onto Ye Chen's aura.
Ye Chen had the intention to evade, but found it difficult to achieve.
The Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell was too terrifying, sealing space-time and harboring a power unfathomable even to gods and ghosts.
It could slay a Divine King with its staff!
Once upon a time, Ye Chen's combat power could rival a Divine King's; he had even slain a One Tribulation God King. How high-spirited he had been then, with few rivals among the younger generation. But now, there were terrifying living beings here that could easily kill a Divine King.
"Die!"
The cold voice of the Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell rang out. The myriad staff shadows suddenly condensed into one, but it became even more terrifying, aimed squarely at his head, leaving no room for evasion.
At this moment, Ye Chen let out a long roar, his black hair exploding like countless flying dragons. Swinging his Immortal Saint Fist, he condensed a Supreme Fist Seal and shouted with a Dao voice that exploded: "Five Elements Defy Heaven and Earth!"
His five fingers represented the Five Elemental Origin Great Daos—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—connected to the five viscera within his body. A dazzling five-colored divine light flowed out, containing the profound mysteries of the Five Elements Dao. At its center was a Chaos Divine Pearl, soaring skyward to clash fiercely with the half-broken stone staff.
Boom—
The heavens collapsed and the earth shattered; the seas dried up and the rocks crumbled.
The entire depths of the earth trembled violently, torn open by countless terrifying fissures. However, with a single stomp from the Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell, all the cracks were suppressed before they could spread, lest they alert the powerful beings above.
Ye Chen's fist shattered, his right arm fractured. He was sent flying backward, plunging deeper into the earth, blood continuously trickling from the corner of his mouth.
This Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell was far more powerful than the Ancient Hua Divine King and Dark Dragon Divine King he had faced in the past. Even though Ye Chen firmly believed that few One Tribulation God Kings would be his match now, he still couldn't withstand that single strike of the Great Derivation Dao staff technique and was directly severely wounded.
One could imagine just how terrifying a living being this Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell was.
Rumble—
The Saint Body Regeneration Art within Ye Chen's body automatically activated. It was precisely because of his Chaos Saint Body, superior to ordinary Divine King physiques, that the consequence wasn't his entire body shattering. An ordinary One Tribulation God King would likely be gravely wounded, on the brink of death, or even perish.
Hum—
At this moment, the Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell attacked again. It was still the half-broken stone staff, still the myriad layers of staff shadows, still sealing space-time, and still smashing toward Ye Chen's crown. It seemed determined to kill Ye Chen.
"Hmph!"
Ye Chen snorted coldly. His divine sense swept the depths of the earth, finding no other figures.
At this moment, he opened his inner world. The Great Emperor Reincarnation Body, resembling a seven-year-old boy, calmly stepped out from the Chaos Small Universe. Its entire body was crisscrossed with dense, intricate cracks, as if it would shutter at a touch.
But now, the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body merely raised a tender, small hand upward to meet the half-broken stone staff formed from the convergence of countless staff shadows.
Hum—
There was no earth-shattering collision, only the ordinary, faint sound of catching a staff.
To the naked eye, that half-broken divine staff, which could easily severely wound Ye Chen, was effortlessly caught in that small hand.
Looking at the emerged Great Emperor Reincarnation Body, Ye Chen sighed slightly. This was a step he was unwilling to take.
Because the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body was currently one of his deepest trump cards, not something he wished to expose.
Secondly, the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body was injured and couldn't be used lightly, lest its physical wounds worsen further.
The Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell seemed startled. The faint ghost fire flickering within its skull flashed repeatedly. It then tried to retrieve the stone staff.
However, the stone staff remained motionless in the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body's hand; it couldn't pull it back.
The Ghost Ape exerted force. A violent strength, enough to make an ordinary Divine King's heart palpitate, surged forth. The depths of the earth trembled and tore continuously, yet it still couldn't retrieve the staff.
Finally, the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body released its grip, then slapped the half-broken stone staff. More cracks appeared on the staff as it flew back. The Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell caught it, but as if struck by an unbearable, immense force, it was sent flying backward.
Swish—
The Great Emperor Reincarnation Body also shot forward like lightning, charging straight toward the Life Essence.
"Who are you? This is forbidden ground; you cannot trespass!" The Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell truly shouted for the first time, with a trace of panic. However, its staff techniques were endless, evolving from the numbers of the Great Derivation, enveloping all directions.
This was a terrifying attack, one that even the current Ye Chen couldn't break through.
Yet the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body could. Without any flashy techniques, it employed the simplest method: one force breaking ten thousand techniques. A simple, tender fist punched out, instantly causing the heavens to collapse and the earth to shatter, everything heading toward absolute annihilation.
Countless staff shadows directly shattered. The Great Emperor Reincarnation Body, as if transcending everything, directly descended before the Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell. Another fist, a fist capable of crushing all ages, landed on its body, sweeping it away.
The already tattered, mostly missing turtle shell now appeared even more dilapidated. Several slightly larger fragments of the shell splintered off.
Swish—
Having successfully bypassed the Ghost Ape's obstruction, the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body directly plunged into the Life Essence.
Once inside the ten-zhang-radius area of Life Essence, the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body immediately felt what could be described as an endless and vast life force, continuously surging from all directions. It poured into its body through every tiny pore on its surface.
The many cracks on its body, which had been difficult to heal, were now slowly mending at a visible rate after entering the Life Essence.
This was true healing, including the many crack injuries within its body as well.
However, precisely because of this, it required expending a significant amount of valuable Life Essence. The massive ten-zhang-radius Life Essence was visibly draining at an astonishing speed.
In just a few breaths, it had shrunk by a tiny circle.
The Ghost Ape carrying the tattered turtle shell seemed greatly alarmed. The ghost fire in its skull suddenly blazed much brighter. It stared at the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body continuously devouring and recovering within the Life Essence, filled with killing intent. Yet, at this moment, it approached the Life Essence several times but ultimately did not break in, as if harboring concerns, apprehensions, and reverence.
This point made Ye Chen somewhat suspicious.
Could there be another supreme treasure within the Life Essence?
The Great Emperor Reincarnation Body, connected heart and mind, also looked into the Life Essence.