The other human Imperial Sons and Daughters, along with the strongest young Supreme Ones, reacted immediately, attacking Yun Aotian.
However, in the next moment, Yun Aotian vanished completely, disappearing along with boundless faith power as he merged into Shen Rong's body.
At this moment, Shen Rong was still Shen Rong, yet his entire being had become eerily strange. A sinister smile slowly spread across his face: "Hehehe, do you still dare to attack now? If you do, this junior will perish along with me."
The human Heaven's Prides immediately halted their attacks. Continuing would injure Shen Rong.
"Yun Aotian, you have immense audacity to dare attack a human Imperial Son. I order you to leave Shen Rong's body immediately, or do not blame us for being ruthless," Di Wuming coldly shouted. The pressure of a peak Divine King erupted from him as he strode forward, closing in on Shen Rong.
The other human Imperial Sons and Daughters, along with Weier, the Corpse-Devouring Insect Emperor, Shanji, and others, surrounded Shen Rong in the center, their faces etched with terrifying coldness.
"Hehehe—do you truly dare to continue? Don't say I didn't warn you. Once you attack, he will be injured too." Shen Rong—or more accurately, Yun Aotian—cackled with sinister laughter, the sound gratingly unpleasant.
Precisely because of this, the human Heaven's Prides were hesitant, not daring to act rashly.
The Divine Kings from the other four Divine Dynasties were shocked by this sudden turn of events, clearly not expecting Yun Aotian to dare attack Shen Rong.
Boom—
A wave of terror surged forth, crashing towards Yun Aotian who occupied Shen Rong's body.
It was Ye Chen. He strode forward, directly confronting Yun Aotian.
Yun Aotian, using Shen Rong's body, struck out with a terrifying radiance, colliding with the attack. His figure was sent reeling back.
"Ye Chen, be careful. Shen Rong is still in there!" the others exclaimed in alarm.
"I'll be mindful," Ye Chen said. His eyes emitted sharp, cold glints like heavenly blades cleaving the sky. In an instant, he was before Yun Aotian, seeing before him a visage that flickered between Shen Rong's struggling expression and Yun Aotian's sinister, cackling grin.
"Do you truly think that by occupying my friend's body, you can act without restraint?"
He spoke coldly, his Quasi-Monarch of Chaos power manifesting, restraining this space. Even with Yun Aotian controlling Shen Rong's body, it was useless.
Shen Rong was only a super Divine King at the Eight Tribulations level, while Ye Chen was a Quasi-Monarch, holding absolute superiority. With a single thought, he could restrain a Divine King, rendering them immobile!
Yun Aotian remained unafraid, cackling incessantly: "Junior Ye Chen, although you are indeed powerful, this Emperor now occupies the body of junior Shen Rong, and even his divine soul has been suppressed. If you dare attack, this Emperor will kill junior Shen Rong immediately."
"Is that so?"
Yet Ye Chen's figure did not slow. He continued forward, step by step. The Quasi-Monarch of Chaos power radiating from him grew increasingly terrifying, causing the spatial passageway constructed by the Supreme teleportation platform to tremble violently, on the verge of collapse.
He arrived before Yun Aotian, standing right in front of him, and said, "'This Emperor'? Could it be that you are also a contingency left behind by one of the Supreme Ones from the ancient All Heavens?"
"Hehehe—you are indeed clever. This Emperor is one of those Supreme Great Emperors. However, this Emperor is not as foolish as that Primordial Prison Demon Emperor. Waiting idly for prey is the most foolish action. This Emperor prefers to take the initiative. Isn't seizing an Imperial Son's body just that? Indeed, it's powerful Supreme bloodline. Although not as good as you, a Chaos cultivator, it is sufficient to contend for the greatest Immortal Fate left by the Supreme Ones of the All Heavens."
"Who are you?" Ye Chen asked.
"The North Desolate Evil Emperor!" Yun Aotian did not conceal it.
"So it really is a Great Emperor. The name 'Great Emperor Divine King' is truly fitting. It seems you have occupied Yun Aotian's body for a long time. I never imagined that to achieve your goal, you, a Great Emperor, would stop at nothing, even willingly humbling yourself to address us as 'my lord' for so long. I wonder if having you, the North Desolate Evil Emperor, call me 'my lord' for a few days counts as a supreme honor." A mocking smile curled at the corner of Ye Chen's mouth.
Yun Aotian seemed not to mind, continuously cackling: "Victors are kings, losers are bandits. What does it matter if I address you as 'my lord'? As long as the ultimate goal is achieved."
The more he acted this way, the more Ye Chen felt the fearsomeness of this North Desolate Evil Emperor. As an ancient Great Emperor, his schemes ran deep. He was willing to cast aside face and speak humbly solely to achieve his goal—truly a terrifying Great Emperor who would stop at nothing.
"Enough, junior Ye Chen. This Emperor won't waste words with you. You'd best retreat immediately. This Emperor can promise that once the ultimate Immortal Fate is obtained, I will return junior Shen Rong's body," the North Desolate Evil Emperor said coldly. "If you dare attack, this Emperor will not hesitate to kill junior Shen Rong."
The threat in his words was unmistakable.
"North Desolate Evil Emperor, do you know who he is?" Ye Chen pointed at him, or more accurately, at Shen Rong's body.
"An Imperial Son, merely a Supreme offspring. Who else could he be?" the North Desolate Evil Emperor sneered.
"Correct, he is just an Imperial Son. His father is the Slaying Immortal Great Emperor. Have you heard of him?"
Upon hearing this, the North Desolate Evil Emperor's expression changed slightly: "The Slaying Immortal Great Emperor!?"
Although all Supreme Ones were peers, none necessarily weaker than another, there were always exceptions, such as the Slaying Immortal Great Emperor.
Although the Slaying Immortal Great Emperor was not yet at the level of the strongest Emperor or Immortal King, within the boundless Chaos Sea, he possessed world-shaking prestige—both for creating the Immortal Slaying Eight Styles and for once single-handedly charging into the Primordial Immortal Realm.
There was even a certain elusive legend that the reason the Slaying Immortal Great Emperor was called 'Slaying Immortal' was because he had truly slain a supreme immortal!
It could be said that the Slaying Immortal Great Emperor's combat power ranked among the foremost even among Supreme Ones.
But soon, the North Desolate Evil Emperor regained his composure and sneered: "So what if he is the Slaying Immortal Great Emperor's offspring? Even if the Slaying Immortal Great Emperor stood before this Emperor, I would not fear him."
"Is that so?" Ye Chen sneered, then suddenly shouted: "Shen Rong, act now! Summon the Emperor Treasure!"
Boom—
At this moment, a ring of Emperor Treasure radiance suddenly erupted from within Shen Rong's body. Vaguely, one could see Shen Rong's divine soul avatar being protected by the Emperor Treasure.
"Damn it! This junior Ye Chen was stalling for time, allowing junior Shen Rong to successfully awaken the Emperor Treasure to protect himself!" How could the North Desolate Evil Emperor not understand Ye Chen's intent now? But it was too late.
Simultaneously, Ye Chen had already stepped forward, attacking the North Desolate Evil Emperor.
"Junior, scram!"
The North Desolate Evil Emperor hurriedly manipulated Shen Rong's body to collide with Ye Chen.
Boom—
The moment of collision sent the North Desolate Evil Emperor flying backward, skin torn and flesh rent. Shen Rong's body nearly exploded.