Beyond the Domains.
In the shattered, boundless starry sky, absolute nothingness reigned.
Countless star domains had vanished—not merely shattered, but fundamentally and utterly annihilated, not even dust remaining. Only a figure, its form barely human, lay sprawled in the void of the starry sky.
The terrifying aura of a heavenly tribulation still lingered, with flashes of lightning and peals of thunder containing an aura of Dao-destruction that would make even a half-step Overlord of the Tai Zhen Realm tremble with fear. It was unknown how many tens of thousands of years it would take for this aura to completely dissipate.
Suddenly, a vast and majestic presence appeared within this void of the starry sky.
It was a Supreme Realm Overlord who had long been paying attention to the tribulation aura here. The heavenly tribulation had been far too terrifying, so much so that he hadn't dared to approach.
Now that the tribulation had vanished, he finally dared to gradually draw near.
When he saw the figure lying in the absolute void of the starry sky, his powerful Supreme Realm divine sense swept over it, sensing whether it was still alive.
The life aura was extremely faint.
Seeing this, the Supreme Realm Overlord felt a surge of joy. Without much hesitation, he immediately made his move.
Because he knew the one who had undergone the tribulation was incomparably powerful, likely a newly-advanced Supreme Realm Overlord. Now, they were probably on the brink of death, their flesh and blood containing unimaginable divine energy. If he could absorb it, it would likely be of incalculable use even for a Supreme Realm Overlord like himself.
Suddenly, that humanoid figure stood up. From its bloodied, mangled face, a pair of eyes coldly looked toward the Supreme Realm Overlord. A blood-red fist, covered in wounds so deep the bone was visible, swung out, smashing toward him.
Boom—
The Supreme Realm Overlord only felt an endless sense of threat. In an instant, his figure was as if struck by lightning, sent flying backward by the punch for hundreds of millions of miles, coughing up mouthfuls of blood.
He found it hard to believe. A Supreme Realm Overlord like him, who could be considered a dominant figure roaming unhindered throughout the entire Thirty-Three Celestial Domains, a member of the overlord ranks at the pinnacle of the heavens in the era when Heavenly Venerates did not appear and Great Venerables remained hidden—such a being had actually been severely injured by a single punch.
Just how terrifying was this tribulation-taker?
Was he really just a newly-advanced Supreme Realm Overlord?
Unfortunately, he had misunderstood Ye Chen.
Ye Chen slowly stood up. Having just undergone the tribulation, his body was very weak. But even so, a tiger's might does not vanish even in death.
He coldly stared at the Supreme Realm Overlord. His flesh was shattered, bloodied and mangled, his injuries severe, yet his entire person still exuded a terrifying, awe-inspiring might that could overawe the heavens.
"A tiger's might does not vanish even in death, but in my view, you're mostly just putting on a brave front."
The Supreme Realm Overlord was very rational. Even though he had been injured by Ye Chen's punch, he did not immediately retreat. On the contrary, he could see that the latter was now fierce in appearance but weak within, utterly frail.
After all, the terror of that heavenly tribulation had made even him feel despair.
No matter how powerful this peerless expert before him was, after enduring ten days and ten nights of a peerless heavenly tribulation, he was bound to be extremely weak.
If he could seize this opportunity to kill this peerless expert, he might very well obtain endless divine treasures.
This Supreme Realm Overlord had cultivated for endless eons. Although he wished to impact the supreme Heavenly Position, he felt it was too difficult. Without the corresponding accumulation, rashly impacting the supreme Heavenly Position would undoubtedly lead to death, without even the possibility of becoming a Great Venerable.
But if he killed other experts of the same level and absorbed their life force and various cultivation resources, there might not be no hope of advancing a step further.
"Are you treating me as prey?" Ye Chen looked at the Supreme Realm Overlord. Naturally, he could see the other's purpose, and his expression couldn't help but turn cold.
Even though he was severely injured and extremely weak after the tribulation, did they really think he was someone to be bullied at will?
He forcibly gathered a mouthful of vital essence. Rumble— Instantly, all the injuries on the surface of his body healed in a flash.
His entire person recovered to the majestic, prime-of-life appearance. His eyes were like the suns of a Heavenly Venerate, profound and unfathomable as they stared at this Supreme Realm Overlord. With a sudden roar, he raised his fist and smashed it over.
Boom—
The Tai Zhen Realm cultivation he had obtained through bitter cultivation and breakthroughs over three hundred thousand years within the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool erupted completely at this moment.
This punch was unprecedented.
The endless starry sky directly collapsed and annihilated.
The Supreme Realm Overlord only felt an endless sense of crisis rushing toward him. This Supreme Realm Overlord who had roamed the world for endless eons, dominating for many years, revealed such a look of terror for the first time.
Boom—
He simply couldn't withstand it. His head was directly smashed apart.
His Supreme Soul was torn open.
He was directly severely wounded.
Of course, a Supreme Realm Overlord couldn't be killed so easily. He was merely severely wounded. After rapidly reforming, he didn't dare harbor any further covetous thoughts, immediately turning to flee.
He fled as fast as he possibly could.
Because he had an inexplicable, special feeling: if the other party fought with all their might, the other might die from their severe injuries, but he himself would undoubtedly perish as well.
Heaven-Mending City.
Within the Heaven-Mending Hall, the Heaven-Mending City Lord was sitting and chatting with the Cangtian Overlord.
The two were talking and laughing, occasionally discussing some interesting matters.
However, the Heaven-Mending City Lord kept glancing beyond the domains. His perception of the world beyond the domains had never been cut off, and he also sensed that Ye Chen was in crisis, being attacked by a Supreme Realm Overlord.
At first, he was frowning, but when he sensed exactly which Supreme Realm Overlord had made the move, he quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Hopeless Taishang was indeed a generation's overlord who roamed unhindered throughout the Thirty-Three Celestial Domains.
But he couldn't be considered an especially powerful overlord. With Ye Chen's abilities, the Heaven-Mending City Lord believed avoiding disaster wouldn't be a problem.
And indeed, that was the case. Ye Chen, with a tiger's might not vanishing even in death, intimidated the other into retreat, which also made him sigh in relief.
He looked toward the Cangtian Overlord, only to see the other's expression unchanged. The Heaven-Mending City Lord couldn't help but feel a slight sinking in his heart.
He could be sure that the Cangtian Overlord's appearance was mostly because of Ye Chen, but what was the ultimate purpose?
The Heaven-Mending City Lord didn't believe the Cangtian Overlord would deal with Ye Chen for no reason.
The Cangtian Overlord suddenly said with a smile, "That's not necessarily true..."
The Heaven-Mending City Lord's heart immediately tightened, and he looked toward the starry sky again.
Although Ye Chen had intimidated the other into retreat, he was severely wounded and naturally unsuitable for pursuit at this stage. Earlier, he had merely forcibly gathered a mouthful of vital essence and acted with all his strength.
Now that the great enemy had retreated, his momentum dissipated, and he immediately coughed up large mouthfuls of blood. His seemingly healed flesh body instantly became riddled with cracks, countless porcelain-like fissures crisscrossing his entire body.
If not for Ye Chen maintaining it with his powerful will, his flesh body, no matter how strong, would have exploded after unleashing that strike.
"The injuries are too severe. Recovering immediately is the most important thing right now."
Ye Chen sat cross-legged in the starry sky and began to absorb energy.
Rumble—
With a great roar, instantly, the endless starry sky saw countless streams of stellar force drawn over, transforming into dazzling rivers of light that completely submerged him.
Ye Chen was absorbing the power of the radiant starlight to recover from his injuries.
His injuries were truly too severe. Over ten days and ten nights, he had engaged in life-and-death battles with numerous supreme Heavenly Venerates from ancient and modern times. Even after reaching the Tai Zhen Realm, with his life force increasing countless times, he now felt a severe depletion.
He was currently in his most vulnerable state.
Boom—
Suddenly, from deep within the starry sky, an extremely terrifying power appeared.
A Supreme Realm Overlord!
Another Supreme Realm Overlord had appeared, launching a fierce sneak attack on Ye Chen.
It was too fast, impossible to dodge!
Pfft—
Ye Chen spat blood, staining the starry sky.
In his current state, he had no strength to resist.
Moreover, the other's speed was simply too fast!
The attack unleashed by that Supreme Realm Overlord instantly pierced through his body, creating a bloody hole that went straight through, spilling out sheets of blood.
The Heaven-Mending City Lord's expression changed. He was about to rise, but the Cangtian Overlord's figure moved slightly, precisely blocking his path, and said with a faint smile, "City Lord, why don't we play a game of chess instead?"
"And if I refuse?"
The Heaven-Mending City Lord's gaze was cold and stern as he stared at him.
"Perfect. I've always wanted to spar with you, City Lord. I've heard you inherited the legacy of the Heaven-Mending Venerate. I'd very much like to know just how strong the current City Lord is." The Cangtian Overlord's smile remained undiminished, yet it exuded an overbearing aura that looked down upon the heavens.
The two Supreme Realm Overlords confronted each other within the ancient hall of the Heavenly Race. Instantly, a terrifying storm of multicolored Great Dao power spread out, shaking the entire Heaven-Mending City and startling the vast area for hundreds of billions of miles around.
The entire Heaven-Mending City was shaken. What was happening within the Heaven-Mending Hall to cause such a terrifying disturbance?
Was the Heaven-Mending City Lord going to war with the Cangtian Overlord?
...
"Who is it?"
Ye Chen rarely showed shock and anger, but he was helpless. He was truly too weak right now.
Especially since, after the first Supreme Realm Overlord's sneak attack, which he had repelled by forcibly gathering a mouthful of vital essence for an all-out strike, he hadn't expected a second one to come.
Now, wanting to unleash such a strike again was far too difficult.
"As expected, you are in an extremely weak state. It's just that Hopeless is a coward, scared off by you." The second Supreme Realm Overlord who launched the sneak attack sneered, seeing through Ye Chen's weakness.
Ye Chen saw the figure of that Supreme Realm Overlord, hidden deep within the starry sky.
At that level, second only to Heavenly Venerates and Great Venerables, they were usually overlord-level existences who reigned supreme in the land of origin.
He hadn't expected his situation to be so miserable. Having just barely succeeded in his tribulation, he was repeatedly targeted by Supreme Realm Overlords wanting to assassinate him.
This was simply a desperate situation.
Ye Chen coldly stared at the Supreme Realm Overlord, imprinting that figure in his heart. Once he smoothly passed this trial, he would definitely seek him out for trouble and take revenge for today's assassination attempt.
"Still thinking of remembering me for future revenge?" The Supreme Realm Overlord sneered. "You're thinking too much. Today, you will undoubtedly die. Your physical body is very strong. I want it!"
The mysterious Supreme Realm Overlord attacked with lightning speed. His terrifying, peerless attacks wildly annihilated the starry sky land stretching who knew how many billions of miles, continuously bombarding Ye Chen, not giving him the slightest chance to escape.
Yet, he ultimately underestimated Ye Chen's vitality. Once again, when Ye Chen was blasted until his entire body was covered in blood and nearly exploded, Ye Chen's life force proved tenacious. He ultimately held on, tore through the starry sky, and rushed toward an infinitely distant place, drawing upon the radiant starlight power to envelop himself, madly absorbing it.
Every cell in his body seemed like a starving man who had long been parched, frantically devouring the starlight power.
However, the time Ye Chen could be given was simply not much.
The next moment, the radiant starlight was cut off. The Supreme Realm Overlord caught up, forcefully severed it, and attacked Ye Chen again, making him spit blood and spill quite a bit of it.
Ye Chen turned and fled without looking back.
That Supreme Realm Overlord gave chase.
Thus, this continued over a dozen times. Ye Chen was never able to shake off the pursuit of that mysterious Supreme Realm Overlord.
During this period, although Ye Chen clashed head-on with this mysterious Supreme Realm Overlord twice, meeting absolute fists with his own and slightly blocking the attacks, he also paid a huge price—blood spurted, and he nearly exploded once.
Because this mysterious Supreme Realm Overlord was far stronger than the first one.
And he was also far too weak. If not for having stepped into the Tai Zhen Realm level, with all aspects greatly enhanced, if it were his self from three hundred thousand years ago, he would undoubtedly be dead.
This Supreme Realm Overlord chasing him wasn't much inferior to the Supreme Realm Calamity Executor who had acted in the Sky-Splitting Abyss.
However, Ye Chen finally managed to escape into the outer lands of another Eternal Celestial Domain.
This time, he entered the Desolate Heaven Domain.
The Desolate Heaven Domain was vaster than the Heaven-Mending Domain, and whether on the land or in the star domains it occupied, the rules of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth were more intense and active.
Especially since the Desolate Heaven Domain was very special, actually giving Ye Chen a sense of a Dao-less aura.
That's right, Dao-less.
Expelling the rules of the myriad Daos, leaving only the pure power of Heaven and Earth.
Ye Chen's expression showed delight. It was said the Desolate Heavenly Venerate was a supreme Heavenly Venerate who had proven the Dao through his physical body to eternity. Like him, he purely cultivated his physical body and reached the ultimate extreme, becoming a Physical Body Heavenly Venerate.
Perhaps precisely because of this, the Desolate Heaven Domain was a paradise for cultivators who purely cultivated the physical body, greatly suppressing other cultivators who practiced the myriad Daos and magical power.
The mysterious Supreme Realm Overlord chased in. As soon as he entered, he frowned. "He actually came to the Desolate Heaven Domain. This is a bit troublesome. The Desolate Heaven Domain forbids magic and is Dao-less."
Then, he looked at Ye Chen, his body continuously releasing a terrifying imposing manner, and sneered, "Although the Desolate Heaven Domain forbids magic and is Dao-less, Supreme Realm beings like us have long cultivated our own origin Great Dao and possess origin universes. Even the Desolate Heaven Domain can only slightly suppress us; it won't have much effect."
Rumble—
He attacked horizontally again.
Ye Chen's figure flickered and tore through the void, disappearing.
Indeed, no matter how much the Desolate Heaven Domain forbade magic and was Dao-less, it couldn't have much effect on experts above the Supreme One Realm. Because Supreme Ones had already proven their own origin Dao, containing endless divine power within. The Desolate Heaven Domain's prohibition of magic and Dao-less nature could at most affect their ability to borrow the power of Heaven and Earth's myriad Daos from the outside; they themselves still possessed endless power.
But for Ye Chen, it was enough.
As long as that Supreme Realm Overlord couldn't borrow the external power of Heaven and Earth's myriad Daos, he would lose a portion of his strength, greatly reducing the threat to Ye Chen.
...
At the edge of the Desolate Heaven Domain's starry sky.
Silently and without a trace, several terrifying figures appeared, clad in black robes, with profound and unfathomable auras surrounding them, isolating them from the perception of the Heavenly Secrets.
They stared at Ye Chen's figure who knows how many billions of miles away, deeply frowning.
"We cannot set foot in the Desolate Heaven Domain. Once we do, the Desolate Heavenly Venerate will definitely discover us immediately."
"Within this Desolate Heaven Domain, even if the Heavenly Venerate behind us acts to shield the Heavenly Secrets, it will dissipate here, exposing our traces."
"We can only see if Juechen can kill this Ye Chen. If he kills him, naturally best. If he can't kill him, we can only say Juechen is too useless. But no matter what, we absolutely cannot let this Ye Chen grow. By now, he has likely already become a Tai Zhen Supreme One, with combat power not inferior to the Supreme Realm, even stronger than some ordinary Supreme Realm beings."
"If he advances another step and enters the Supreme Realm, he will likely also be a Supreme Realm Supreme One, not inferior to that Hun Wuji. One Hun Wuji is already troublesome enough; we cannot have a second Hun Wuji!"
...
"He has already entered the Desolate Heaven Domain."
The Heaven-Mending City Lord saw the direction where Ye Chen had disappeared, an area that shielded the perception of Supreme Realm Overlords like him.
The Desolate Heaven Domain was a very special Eternal Celestial Domain that greatly weakened divine sense.
But he quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Because under the influence of the Desolate Heaven Domain's prohibition of magic and Dao-less nature, it was actually somewhat advantageous for Ye Chen.
The Heaven-Mending City Lord's gaze was like blazing lightning as he looked at the Cangtian Overlord. "Who sent you?"
The Cangtian Overlord's expression remained unchanged. He didn't answer, instead looking toward the direction of the Desolate Heaven Domain.
He actually hoped that Ye Chen could escape this calamity.
...
Taking advantage of the Desolate Heaven Domain's prohibition of magic and Dao-less influence, Ye Chen greatly lengthened the distance of the other's pursuit.
Boom—
Suddenly, a special river of light was drawn over from a distant part of the starry sky.
When Ye Chen absorbed it, instantly, his injuries recovered somewhat, and faint traces of an indestructible intent appeared on his body.
He looked over and saw an incomparably huge sun, spanning the depths of the starry sky, so enormous it was unimaginable, containing endless, majestic Heavenly Dao power.
Even separated by infinite distance, it still appeared so massive.
Ye Chen knew this was the Desolate Heavenly Venerate's Heavenly Venerate Sun.
All living Heavenly Venerates had their Heavenly Venerate Suns manifest in the world.
He hadn't expected to be able to absorb the power of the Desolate Heavenly Venerate's Heavenly Venerate Sun, which contained wisps of Heavenly Venerate majestic power. Undoubtedly, it was of great use for his own recovery.
With the supplement of power from the Desolate Heavenly Venerate's Heavenly Venerate Sun, Ye Chen's injuries immediately began to recover at an astonishing speed.
Thus, after sitting cross-legged and absorbing for half a day, his injuries had recovered significantly.
At this moment, his eyes moved, looking toward the distant starry sky.
Boom—
That Supreme Realm Overlord once again chased over, tearing through that part of the starry sky and walking out. He looked at Ye Chen and spoke, "Fellow Daoist, you don't need to flee anymore. Stay obediently. As long as you hand over your physical body to me, I promise I can find you a brand new body. How about it?"
"Not how about it. Rather, I have my eye on your physical body."
Having recovered considerably, Ye Chen no longer fled. His tiger-like eyes fixed on the Supreme Realm Overlord, seeing a peerless figure shrouded in endless mists of law. He actively stepped forward.
"No longer running?" The mysterious Supreme Realm Overlord also showed a pleased expression. He wasn't worried about Ye Chen recovering. In such a short time, how could he recover? The time needed for absorption in the past was much longer.
"Kill!"
Ye Chen took the initiative to attack. His Tai Zhen Realm physical body erupted, and an unprecedented, peerless power surged out from the deepest part of his body, then accompanied his fist as it smashed toward the mysterious Supreme Realm Overlord.
In an instant, the heavens collapsed and the earth split, the starry sky disintegrated.
Blood blossomed—some Ye Chen's, some the mysterious Supreme Realm Overlord's.
The latter was staggering back, each step leaving a bloody footprint. He looked at Ye Chen in shock, seemingly unable to believe how he had recovered so much in just half a day.
Moreover, what was even more shocking was how Ye Chen's power could be so strong. Even if one purely cultivated the physical body and reached the Tai Zhen Realm, it shouldn't be so terrifying.
This simply didn't conform to reason.
However, how could he know that Ye Chen had been invincible among his peers even in the Tai Xu Realm? Then, after three hundred thousand years of continuous tempering and strengthening from a drop of true blood the size of an infant's fist and a wisp of Heavenly Venerate origin left by the Heaven-Mending Venerate—what kind of heaven-defying opportunity was that?
Even a pig, under such an opportunity, would become a peerless expert, let alone Ye Chen.
Now, his physical body was probably directly at the level of a Tai Zhen Supreme One.
Just how strong was a Tai Zhen Supreme One, especially a Physical Body Tai Zhen Supreme One? Crossing a major realm to engage in a peak battle with a Supreme Realm Overlord was absolutely not a problem.
To a certain extent, it could be said Ye Chen's physical body was his strongest weapon. In a direct clash, the physical body of a Supreme Realm Overlord couldn't possibly be Ye Chen's match.
And this was while Ye Chen was severely injured after the tribulation; otherwise, it would be even more terrifying.
Ye Chen also saw blood, but for him, it wasn't a very serious injury. However, as he looked at the Supreme Realm Overlord before him, his eyes filled with killing intent.
To have forced him to this point, nearly causing his death—how could he let him go?
Moreover, he was currently severely wounded, his origin depleted. With ordinary rest, who knew how many years it would take to fully recover.
If he refined a Supreme Realm Overlord, it would undoubtedly greatly shorten the recovery time.
Just in time, this Supreme Realm Overlord had actively delivered himself to his door. Ye Chen would simply accept him.
Boom—
Ye Chen's eyes flashed with cold lightning as he launched a fierce attack on the Supreme Realm Overlord.
Simple and direct—just swinging his fist.
Boom—
Ye Chen's eyes flashed with cold lightning as he launched a fierce assault against the Supreme Realm Overlord.
Simple and direct, he just swung his fists.
Punch after punch was unleashed, each strike carrying the full force of a Tai Zhen Supreme One, collapsing the starry sky, annihilating epochs of time and space, terrifying beyond belief.
Even a powerhouse as mighty as that Supreme Realm Overlord was now spilling blood, looking at Ye Chen with horror.
The Supreme battle armor that had been nurtured over endless ages now bore deep fist imprints. In some places, it had even been pierced through, leaving behind terrifying bloody holes.
Pfft—
The Supreme Realm Overlord was vomiting blood, unable to withstand such heavy blows.
But being able to become a Supreme Realm Overlord, he was naturally no ordinary individual, having reached the pinnacle in all aspects. Therefore, he showed no fear whatsoever, directly brandishing his Supreme Realm battle weapon to clash head-on with Ye Chen.
The universe and starry sky were collapsing. A peak-level battle at the Supreme Realm erupted in the outer starry sky, terrifying beyond measure. Countless stars exploded, heading towards absolute extinction.
In this world, there was simply nothing that could withstand the slaughter between these two.
Such a large-scale Supreme Realm-level battle naturally alarmed countless cultivators within the Desolate Heaven Domain, their gazes turning towards the outer realms.
Within the Desolate Heaven Domain existed the largest number of pure body cultivators in the Origin Land, including some who had attained the Dao through their physique like the Ruins Desert Great Emperor, reaching the level of Supreme Ones, and even physical giants. At this moment, they all raised their heads to look at the outer realms, witnessing firsthand that earth-shattering Supreme-level battle.
In the outer starry sky, an extremely terrifying storm of multicolored Great Dao raged across an area spanning who knows how many billions of miles, with endless stars exploding.
A battle between Supreme Realm Overlords was naturally shocking, a rare sight in the world.
But especially, many pure body cultivation powerhouses were astonished to see that the one fighting against the Supreme Realm expert on the other side was actually a supreme pure body cultivator, with a peerless physique that suppressed billions of Supreme rules, shattering the vacuum, fighting a Supreme Realm Overlord to a standstill. How utterly thrilling was this!
Desolate Heaven Realm.
The Desolate Heaven Clan was naturally alarmed as well. Powerful figures emerged one after another, gazing into the depths of the starry sky where the shocking battle erupted.
A battle at the Supreme Realm level was something even an Eternal Heavenly Race like this could not ignore.
Even among Eternal Heavenly Venerates, supreme powerhouses of this level were few and far between.
Several Desolate Heaven Clan Taishang experts stepped out, looking towards the outer starry sky.
Beside them were other Desolate Heaven Clan powerhouses, including Desolate God Venerate and Desolate Heaven, father and son, who gazed at the starry sky, utterly shocked.
"That's—Ye Chen!?"
Desolate God Venerate and Desolate Heaven, father and son, were greatly surprised, recognizing the identity of that supreme physical powerhouse fighting the Supreme Realm Overlord, staring in a daze.
For three hundred thousand years, they had heard no news of him. Who would have thought that upon his first appearance, it would already be in such a situation.
Especially when they saw that Ye Chen, who back then had only suppressed the Taixu King Wansheng of the Wanxuan Heavenly Race, was now actually able to fight a Supreme Realm Overlord to a standstill, erupting in a peak-level Supreme Realm battle in the outer starry sky.
Desolate Heaven clenched his fist tightly.
Over the past three hundred thousand years, he had constantly cultivated and broken through, finally shattering his shackles to become a Tongtian Realm giant. Furthermore, he had received an audience with the Desolate Heavenly Venerate Ancient Ancestor, who personally accepted him as a nominal disciple, guiding his cultivation. In recent years, his progress had also been by leaps and bounds, becoming a Tongtian King listed on the rankings.
Moreover, he cultivated both physique and Dao techniques. The Desolate Heavenly Venerate had specially invited an Ancient Great Venerable to serve as his Dao technique master, guiding his cultivation in the Dao.
It could be said that Desolate Heaven's cultivation conditions were uniquely favorable, peerless in the world, cultivating both form and spirit. He had great hope of advancing further within the Tongtian Realm, becoming an invincible Tongtian Supreme One who could sweep the Tongtian Rankings.
On this foundation, Desolate Heaven was also full of confidence, believing that one day he could catch up to Ye Chen and defeat him within the Taixu Realm, becoming a well-deserved Taixu Supreme One.
But now, looking at this, he felt endless gloom.
Because in three hundred thousand years, while he had progressed, the other party had also been advancing by leaps and bounds. That opponent who was once evenly matched with him had now stepped into a whole new domain, capable of contending with a Supreme Realm Overlord.
In just three hundred thousand years, had Ye Chen also become a Taishang?
Desolate God Venerate, a veteran Tai Zhen Realm half-step Overlord, let out a long sigh and said, "This Ye Chen is truly heaven-defying. Throughout the ages, even the young period of the former Supreme Heavenly Venerates cannot compare. It's hard to imagine that in just three hundred thousand years, he can already oppose a Supreme Realm Overlord. I wonder how long it will take for him to prove the Dao and attain the position of Eternal Heavenly Venerate. Half an epoch? Or a full epoch?"
Without a doubt, Ye Chen's monstrous cultivation speed stunned everyone.
As for the Twelve War Gods under Desolate Heaven, they were also cultivating within the Desolate Heaven Clan now, having stepped into the Supreme One Realm, becoming Jietian Realm Supreme Ones. Even the top three War Gods from back then had reached the Heaven-Mending Realm level, called quasi-giants.
But compared to Desolate Heaven, there was still a world of difference, let alone Ye Chen, who was already far beyond their reach.
The Desolate Heaven Clan had several physical Taishang experts, terrifying beyond compare. Looking at Ye Chen fighting the Supreme Realm Overlord in the outer realms, they also revealed looks of admiration: "What a powerful physique! A physical Taishang? No, a physical Tai Zhen. But this physique is outrageously strong..."
Throughout the many epochs the Desolate Heaven Clan had existed, from the Era of Myriad Heavens through the most terrifying Twilight of the Heavens period, few had been seen who could cultivate their physique to such a level within the Tai Zhen Realm.
The son of the Desolate Heavenly Venerate, inheriting the absolute physical Heavenly Venerate bloodline of the Desolate Heavenly Venerate, had also not reached this step within the Tai Zhen Realm. Only the Desolate Heavenly Venerate and the Desolate Heavenly Venerate's master, Desolate Ruins, had been absolutely invincible in physique within the Tai Zhen Realm.
Just who was this Ye Chen?
Moreover, it was said this person's name was the same as the true name of that peerless Celestial Emperor from the Chaos Heavenly Mansion. Was there some connection...
Boom—
The battle armor exploded. The powerful armor on the Supreme Realm Overlord's body finally could no longer hold on, shattered into fragments by Ye Chen, turning into countless sparks.
Many crashed into the Supreme Realm Overlord's body, splattering blood.
Some also crashed into Ye Chen's body, but they embedded themselves shallowly, only on the surface, unable to penetrate deeply.
Ye Chen's physique was ultimately terrifyingly boundless. Even if not at its peak, it was still indestructible and immortal.
Finally, after who knows how many rounds of fierce combat.
Accompanied by a mournful, drawn-out roar, the Supreme Realm Overlord could no longer hold on. His various defenses were forcefully blasted apart one by one by Ye Chen, ultimately exploding, with endless blood light flooding who knows how many starfields.
Ye Chen frantically absorbed. The vitality of a Supreme Realm Overlord could be said to be supreme in the current era, his blood qi containing that matchless life force.
He devoured the immeasurable blood qi of the Supreme Realm Overlord, recovering a significant amount in an instant.
In contrast, the Supreme Realm Overlord directly weakened considerably, looking at Ye Chen with shock and fury, never expecting this guy to be so unscrupulous.
But there was nothing he could do, for the victor is king, the loser a bandit.
Thus, the balance began to be broken.
Having devoured a considerable amount of the Supreme Realm Overlord's blood qi, Ye Chen immediately recovered a good deal of his vitality. Conversely, the Supreme Realm Overlord, lacking much of his blood qi, fell into a weakened disadvantage.
In the subsequent fierce battle, Ye Chen once again blasted apart this Supreme Realm Overlord, frantically devouring his blood qi once more.
This scenario repeated itself time and time again.
After cycling through this twelve times, that Supreme Realm Overlord had weakened who knows how much and finally could no longer endure, actively begging for mercy: "Fellow Daoist, this seat is willing to pay any price. Please spare this seat."
"I am unwilling."
Ye Chen's mouth was stained with blood, but it wasn't his—it was the other party's blood qi, much of it essence blood, which had allowed him to recover greatly. At this moment, he looked at his opponent like a delicious prey, also filled with endless killing intent.
If he hadn't fled to the Desolate Heaven Domain, received the baptism of power from the Desolate Heavenly Venerate's Celestial Sun to recover somewhat, and utilized the influence of the Desolate Heaven Domain's lawless, Dao-less environment to somewhat reverse the situation, otherwise, the one facing death now would likely be himself.
How could Ye Chen let this person go?
"Fellow Daoist, do not force this seat. Otherwise, this seat might as well self-destruct, dragging you to death with me," the Supreme Realm Overlord's expression changed as he issued this threat.
However, Ye Chen remained unmoved, saying coldly, "In that case, hurry up and self-destruct."
He simply didn't believe the other party would self-destruct. If he were going to, he would have done so long ago.
Moreover, those who could become Supreme Realm Overlords had lived for endless ages and were also peerless overlords of the Origin Land, enjoying endless power and authority. Generally speaking, they cherished their lives greatly. Why would they easily self-destruct?
Ye Chen was betting that this Supreme Realm Overlord simply didn't dare to self-destruct.
In fact, it was just as he thought. In the ensuing battle, although the Supreme Realm Overlord threatened to self-destruct multiple times, he never did.
Finally, after being blasted apart for the thirty-fourth time, that Supreme Realm Overlord had weakened to the absolute extreme, feeling not the slightest hope of survival. He looked despairingly at Ye Chen striding closer, endless memories rising in his heart.
He deeply regretted why he had come to hunt Ye Chen in the first place.
Now, it had turned out well—the hunt unsuccessful, and instead, the other party had succeeded in hunting him.
Now, he had no path of survival left.
"Ah—! I, Overlord Juechen, have dominated the world for endless ages, yet today I have fallen to such a state—!" The Supreme Realm Overlord who called himself Overlord Juechen let out a mournful, drawn-out roar. Looking at Ye Chen striding over like a peerless king coming to reap his life, he fell into complete despair, and an endless sense of determination also rose in his heart—he would perish together with this person.
Boom—
But it was already too late. Having devoured enough of his essence blood, Ye Chen had recovered most of his strength, growing stronger the more he fought.
He threw a punch, carrying a powerful will that suppressed past, present, and future, to the extent that Overlord Juechen's determined state of mind, intent on self-destruction, was suppressed, unable to successfully self-destruct.
The next moment, Overlord Juechen completely exploded.
This time, he was never able to reconstitute himself again. His Supreme Realm origin, along with large amounts of Supreme essence blood and fragments of his Supreme soul, were all directly devoured by Ye Chen opening his mouth.
Gulp—
Having devoured everything of a Supreme Realm Overlord, Ye Chen sat down cross-legged and began refining.
He knew that Overlord Juechen had not completely perished yet and required a long period of refinement.
Within his physique, raging Chaos light flames immediately ignited, burning all the fragments of Overlord Juechen's Supreme soul.
Vast and mighty soul power surged forth, nourishing Ye Chen's own divine soul, allowing it to grow significantly.
The continuous refinement of the Supreme essence blood and Supreme origin allowed Ye Chen's injuries to recover greatly.
At the same time, the power of other Celestial Suns was also drawn over, submerging him.
Thus, the speed of his injury recovery accelerated rapidly.
"This power of the Celestial Sun feels very familiar, and it's very similar to my own Dao-proving concept. It should belong to that Supreme Heavenly Venerate of the Chaos Heavenly Mansion..." Ye Chen murmured to himself. He knew that Chaos Celestial Emperor had proven the Dao of Eternity through Chaos. Chaos power was peerless, and Chaos was the origin of all things in the world, all-encompassing.
Therefore, it was very similar to his own concept of proving the Dao of Eternity through physique: 'The sea accepts all rivers, tolerance leads to greatness.'
With the power of various Celestial Suns added to his body, Ye Chen's injuries rapidly recovered. The bones and tendons throughout his body crackled, his aura climbing level by level.
At the edge of the Desolate Heaven Domain starry sky.
Several supreme powerhouses shrouded in black robes, their forms ethereal and indistinct, watched as Ye Chen forcefully suppressed and killed Overlord Juechen, falling silent.
After a long while, one of them spoke: "Although Juechen is not one of our Calamity Executors, he was still a Taishang. Yet he couldn't even kill Ye Chen, a physical Tai Zhen. It seems this person truly is invincible among Tai Zhen Supreme Ones. Moreover, three hundred thousand years ago, when our Calamity Executors infiltrated the Heaven-Mending Realm, he was only a Taixu Supreme One. A single Taishang expert taking action nearly killed him. Who would have thought that in just three hundred thousand years, he has advanced another step, becoming invincible in Tai Zhen."
"Although, according to intelligence, this Ye Chen most likely entered the Celestial Venerate Blood Pool left by the Heaven-Mending Venerate to cultivate, perhaps even obtaining unknown Celestial Venerate opportunities, but to become a Tai Zhen Supreme One in just three hundred thousand years... this cultivation speed is truly too astonishing, unprecedented. Perhaps within an epoch—no, perhaps not even half an epoch—he will also become invincible among Supreme Ones, like that Hun Wuji."
"This lad has clearly stated he will not join our Calamity Organization. Since that's the case, he must be eliminated as soon as possible. If even Taishang experts find it difficult to kill him, then we must invite a Great Venerable to take action."
"With a Great Venerable taking action, he will undoubtedly die. Even the Heaven-Mending Clan won't be able to protect him!"
As they spoke, they had already made a decision. A strand of heavenly secret information vanished.
While Ye Chen was recuperating.
Having devoured Overlord Juechen, his injuries immediately recovered significantly.
Suddenly, the heavens shook and the earth quaked. The endless starry sky trembled.
However, this time, Ye Chen felt a sense of heart-pounding terror.
Because the starry sky shook violently. An endless, terrifying aura, even surpassing that of Overlord Juechen, spread out, sweeping across the entire Desolate Heaven Domain starry sky.
An indescribably terrifying figure appeared in the starry sky. A light capable of splitting apart the entire endless starry sky of the Desolate Heaven Domain suddenly appeared, slashing towards Ye Chen.
Even Ye Chen, who could suppress and kill Overlord Juechen, at this moment felt a massive, heaven-and-earth difference in power, like when he was in the Taixu Realm facing the Supreme Realm Calamity Executor from the Heaven-Rending Abyss, but now it was even more heart-pounding.
An Ancient Great Venerable!
Legendary existences who stood above the Supreme Realm, called flawed Celestial Venerables.
It was said that such existences, although not true Supreme Heavenly Venerates, had already condensed a virtual Celestial Sun, possessing a portion of Supreme Heavenly Venerate might, far surpassing Supreme Realm Overlords.
Moreover, Ye Chen sensed a familiar aura.
It was the aura of a Calamity Executor.
Among the Calamity Executors, an existence at the Ancient Great Venerable level had personally taken action, wanting to kill him.
Ye Chen wanted to shift sideways to avoid this strike. Even though the pressure of that Calamity Executor Great Venerable locked onto him, as an invincible Tai Zhen Supreme One, his physique shone with radiance, forcibly breaking the absolute confinement of the Great Venerable's might, allowing him to move with difficulty.
This caused the Calamity Executor Great Venerable to let out a slight sound of surprise, but he didn't take it to heart. Even achieving this step would only earn the Great Venerable's praise, nothing more. It still didn't constitute the power to resist.
Even Supreme Kings on the Supreme Rankings, before an Ancient Great Venerable, still did not possess the power to contend. If a Great Venerable wanted to kill them, they still could!
Suddenly, the Calamity Executor Great Venerable's gaze changed, looking towards the Desolate Heaven Realm.
"Calamity Executors, you bunch of rats hiding your heads and tails, finally willing to show yourselves?"
An unimaginably gigantic hammer smashed out from the Desolate Heaven Realm, spinning continuously in the air, directly shattering the Great Venerable's might and crashing towards that strike that split apart the entire heavenly domain's starry sky.
Boom—
That was a collision at the Great Venerable level, incomparably terrifying.
This collision created an unprecedented storm, shaking the entire heavenly domain's starry sky and also blowing Ye Chen away.
After shattering that supreme Great Venerable strike that shook the Desolate Heaven Domain starry sky, the giant hammer did not stop. Still carrying terrifying destructive power, it spun rapidly as it blasted towards the Calamity Executor Great Venerable.
The Calamity Executor Great Venerable unleashed a supreme divine ability. Endless power converged, and a sky-propping palm imprint slapped over, blocking that hammer that shattered everything.
His gaze did not fall on Ye Chen, who had been blown away, but rather on that majestic figure striding out from the Desolate Heaven Realm. Beneath his black robe, his expression darkened: "Desolate Ruins!"
Desolate Ruins, master of the Desolate Heavenly Venerate, also known as an invincible Supreme One.
Never expected this old fellow to appear personally.
A magnificent figure strode past the blown-away Ye Chen, instantly entering the starry sky to face that Calamity Executor Great Venerable, exceptionally excited. He grabbed that intact giant hammer and madly smashed it towards the Calamity Executor Great Venerable, laughing heartily: "Hahaha, well met! This old man has long wanted to kill a Great Venerable, especially a Calamity Executor. Killing you, no one will blame this old man!"
Although Desolate Ruins was only at the Supreme Realm, the Calamity Executor Great Venerable did not dare be the slightest bit careless, because this old fellow was a Supreme One, possessing terrifying power absolutely surpassing the Supreme Realm, with a physique terrifying beyond bounds.
Thus, with a light shout, a virtual Celestial Sun appeared behind him, transmitting endless divine power, breaking the influence of the Desolate Heaven Domain's lawless, Dao-less environment. A terrifying strike was unleashed, colliding with the giant hammer, and he coldly spat out: "Originally, I only wanted to kill that junior. But just as well, Desolate Ruins, you've come too. I'll slaughter you together."
Desolate Ruins, a Supreme One, had great hope of becoming the fourth Supreme Heavenly Venerate in heaven and earth to prove the Dao of Eternity through physique.
His threat was even greater than Ye Chen's.
The collision between these two was far more terrifying than the clash between Ye Chen and Overlord Juechen.
The outer starry sky of the entire Eternal Heavenly Domain was severely affected, evenaffect to the starry sky lands of other Eternal Heavenly Domains.
One could imagine how powerful existences of their level were.
But all these fluctuations were sealed within the outer starry sky land of the Desolate Heaven Domain, as if blocked by an invisible, overwhelming power.
Celestial Venerate Mountain.
Desolate Heaven looked suspiciously at the several Desolate Heaven Clan Taishang experts and said, "Will Master not take action?"
One of the Desolate Heaven Clan Taishang experts was the son of the Desolate Heavenly Venerate. He was similarly tall and majestic, like a giant. Looking at the fierce battle in the outer starry sky, he said, "Heavenly Father is not not taking action, but rather a Calamity Heavenly Venerate from the Calamity Organization has taken action to restrain him. Otherwise, Grand Master wouldn't need to take action. Heavenly Father could suppress and kill that Calamity Executor Great Venerable with a single slap."
For a Calamity Executor Great Venerable to dare kill into the Desolate Heaven Domain, how could he not have complete preparations? Naturally, a Heavenly Venerate-level Calamity Executor had taken action to restrain them. And this type of Heavenly Venerate-level Calamity Executor was also called a Calamity Heavenly Venerate.
A Supreme Heavenly Venerate who carries out tribulations on behalf of heaven, a Calamity Heavenly Venerate!
That level of confrontation was even more astonishing, having already reached a level they could not see.
Ye Chen fell from the outer starry sky down to the world beneath the starry sky, immediately searching for a desolate, uninhabited place to heal his injuries.
The great battle beyond the starry sky was of a level he currently could not participate in.
But he could tell it was incomparably fierce, capable of destroying endless star seas with the slightest move, far surpassing his battle with Overlord Juechen.
At this moment, he finally knew that within the Supreme Realm, there existed such peerless, invincible existences capable of contending with Ancient Great Venerables.
Boom—
A full month passed before Ye Chen completely recovered, standing once more within the world of the Desolate Heaven Domain. His entire body erupted with an infinite, imposing might that could make the myriad heavens and stars tremble.
At this moment, he could feel his own power, transcending the endless strength of the past. With every move, he could almost raise a hand to suppress and kill a Tai Zhen Realm half-step Overlord. Even facing a Supreme Realm Overlord, he had absolute confidence in suppressing, even killing them.
No longer needing to struggle as hard as before.
"This... is this the power of my physique achieving the Tai Zhen Realm? The current me likely possesses at least the combat power of a Tai Zhen Supreme One..."
Ye Chen didn't fully understand his own power, not knowing its limits.
But after completing his tribulation, even in a severely wounded state, a forced full-power strike could still injure a Supreme Realm Overlord.
He had even, while fleeing, forcibly killed a Supreme Realm Overlord.
And that wasn't even his peak state at full strength.
Now, this was!
After fully recovering, Ye Chen looked towards the location of the Desolate Heaven Realm—that was the Desolate Heaven Clan.
Ye Chen's figure flickered, instantly tearing through the void as he vanished.
When he reappeared, he was before the Desolate Heaven Realm.
A short while later, the Desolate Heaven Realm opened, and a Desolate Heaven Clan Taishang emerged. Tall and imposing, like a wild man, his exposed muscles bulged like coiled dragons, yet they were incomparably terrifying. To Ye Chen, he felt no less formidable than his own Tai Zhen Supreme One physique.
"So strong!"
Ye Chen marveled. Truly worthy of the Desolate Heaven Clan; even a casually emerging Taishang possessed such a terrifying physique.
One must know that his own physique had reached this step only after countless temperings over three hundred thousand years with the Heavenly Venerate's true blood and a wisp of Heavenly Venerate origin from the Heaven-Mending Heavenly Venerate.
The Desolate Heaven Clan Taishang, named Huang Qiu, with disheveled long hair, grinned at Ye Chen, showing his teeth. "Fellow Daoist, Ancestor Huang Xu said you need not mind. His purpose was merely to kill those Calamity Executors from the Calamity Organization. Whether you are a pure body cultivator or not, he would have intervened."
"Moreover, because of you, Fellow Daoist, one Calamity Executor Great Venerable and several Calamity Executor Taishang were slain. That counts as heavy casualties."
Ye Chen was surprised and doubtful. "Senior Huang Xu is truly worthy of being a Taishang Supreme One, to have slain so many powerful Calamity Executors, even an Ancient Great Venerable was killed."
Huang Qiu shook his head. "Although Ancestor is strong, he is ultimately still beneath a Heavenly Venerate. Being able to contend with an Ancient Great Venerable is already formidable. Killing an Ancient Great Venerable is too difficult. It was the Heavenly Venerate Progenitor who made the kill."
Ye Chen was stunned for a moment, then sighed.
The Supreme Heavenly Venerate, truly worthy of the 'Supreme' title. While confronting the Calamity Heavenly Venerate, he could still slay one Calamity Executor Great Venerable and several Calamity Executor Taishang.
"Even so, I must still thank Senior Huang Xu for his intervention." Ye Chen spoke and was about to bow in thanks, but Huang Qiu quickly stopped him. "Fellow Daoist is too polite. Ancestor said he does not need your thanks; he cannot bear it."
Ye Chen was slightly taken aback, somewhat puzzled. If it were someone like the Chi Tian Emperor Progenitor, a giant of the Tongtian Realm who couldn't bear it, that would be one thing. But Huang Xu was a Taishang Supreme One comparable to an Ancient Great Venerable. Why couldn't he bear it?
But Huang Qiu didn't elaborate further, inviting Ye Chen to visit the Desolate Heaven Clan within the Desolate Heaven Realm. Ye Chen politely declined, saying he would visit another time, as he needed to return to the Heaven-Mending Clan now.
After seeing Ye Chen off, Huang Qiu muttered to himself, puzzled. "Why did Ancestor say he couldn't bear it? He is the teacher of a Heavenly Venerate..."
Ye Chen continuously shattered the void, traversing the vast skies. After multiple spatial jumps, he finally returned to the Heaven-Mending Domain.
The next moment, he arrived at Heaven-Mending City.
When Ye Chen entered a divine hall within the Heaven-Mending Palace, Mitian Shaozun was inside. Seeing Ye Chen appear, he was greatly startled, then overjoyed. "Brother Ye, you've emerged from seclusion?"
Although Ye Chen had emerged over a month ago, the Heaven-Mending City Lord and the two elders guarding the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool hadn't informed others, so Mitian Shaozun didn't know Ye Chen had already emerged.
Ye Chen nodded with a faint smile. "Over a month ago, I emerged. But my injuries from the tribulation were too severe, so I spent over a month recuperating in the Desolate Heaven Domain before returning."
"Tribulation? You broke through to Tai Zhen?" Mitian Shaozun was dumbfounded. Hearing this, how could he not know that Ye Chen had likely broken through again.
Ye Chen nodded, smiling. "After thirty thousand years of seclusion in the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool, I was fortunate to succeed in breaking through."
"..." At this moment, Mitian Shaozun didn't know what to say.
He had also cultivated in seclusion in the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool for many tens of thousands of years, only breaking through from the Heaven-Mending Realm to the Tongtian Realm. But this guy Ye Chen had just become a Tai Xu not long ago, then after thirty thousand years of seclusion in the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool, broke through again, stepping into the Tai Zhen Realm.
Was this even human?
This heaven-defying cultivation speed made him, hailed as one of the top cultivation geniuses of the Heaven-Mending Clan, a Heavenly Venerate seed entrusted with great hopes, feel a sense of despair.
Mitian Shaozun sighed, shaking his head. "Sometimes, I really don't want to talk to a monster like you."
Ye Chen laughed heartily, patting his shoulder.
Suddenly, his expression turned serious as he looked towards the direction of the Heaven-Mending Hall.
Because he clearly sensed two supreme auras of the Supreme Realm in confrontation.
One belonged to the Heaven-Mending City Lord; the other was unfamiliar, but it felt truly powerful, far stronger than the Juechen Overlord he had painstakingly killed.
Mitian Shaozun said with a grave expression, "A month ago, the Cangtian Overlord came to Heaven-Mending City. Then, Father remained in the Heaven-Mending Hall, never leaving. They confronted each other for a time."
A month ago—wasn't that just after he completed his tribulation?
At that time, the Heaven-Mending City Lord might have intended to rescue him when he was on the brink of death, but a peerless existence descended upon Heaven-Mending City, stopping the City Lord.
Ye Chen, being who he was, with his perceptive mind, guessed many things.
"Brother Mitian, stay here. I'm going to the Heaven-Mending Hall."
Ye Chen said this, and Mitian Shaozun grew anxious, hurriedly saying, "Brother Ye, the Cangtian Overlord is on the Taishang Ranking..."
Before he could finish, Ye Chen's figure had already vanished.
Heaven-Mending Hall.
The Heaven-Mending City Lord and the Cangtian Overlord were still in confrontation, though not as tense as at the beginning.
The two were playing chess.
However, with each move, a world would be born, with their respective Daos and techniques clashing and dueling within that world.
This was no longer just chess; it was a form of sparring!
Only, this kind of sparring was exceptionally profound and terrifying.
The Cangtian Overlord made a move, instantly giving birth to a terrifyingly peerless divine ability. Within the manifested great world, it pierced through the various mystical powers of law displayed by the Heaven-Mending City Lord. He said, "City Lord, how do you think that junior is faring now?"
A month ago, Ye Chen fled, leaving the Heaven-Mending Domain and entering the mysterious and unpredictable Desolate Heaven Domain. The Juechen Overlord gave chase, and all traces were lost.
The two peerless overlords within the Heaven-Mending Hall were unaware of the situation.
But the Heaven-Mending City Lord's expression was gloomy. Although Ye Chen was strong, he had suffered heavy injuries during the tribulation, and that Juechen Overlord was a veteran Supreme Realm Overlord, his cultivation surpassing even that Wuwang Taishang.
Therefore, although Ye Chen had fled the Heaven-Mending Domain, it was very likely he was in grave danger.
As for the various events that occurred in the starry skies of the Desolate Heaven Domain—the Calamity Executor Great Venerable personally appearing to assassinate Ye Chen—the other Eternal Domains were unaware.
Back then, the Calamity Heavenly Venerate had intervened, sealing the Desolate Heaven Domain and isolating it from external perception.
The Cangtian Overlord said, "City Lord, it's your turn."
On the chessboard, the white pieces controlled by the Heaven-Mending City Lord were also trapped in a checkmate deadlock. Was his fate similar to Ye Chen's?
*Crack—*
Suddenly, within the Heaven-Mending Hall, a tall, robust, and heroic figure appeared silently. His black hair cascaded like a waterfall as he arrived beside the Heaven-Mending City Lord, who showed a hint of pleasant surprise.
Ye Chen looked at the deadlock on the chessboard and smiled faintly. "City Lord, there is no such thing as a true deadlock in this world. With sufficient strength, even a deadlock cannot bind you."
*Bang—*
Ye Chen slapped down. The chessboard forged from Chaos Immortal Gold instantly shattered into pieces. The black pieces, forged from Abyssal Dark Gold, scattered across the floor, while only the white pieces forged from Sacred White Gold remained suspended in mid-air.
He raised his head to look at the Cangtian Overlord opposite him and smiled slightly. "Fellow Daoist, don't you agree?"
The Cangtian Overlord's expression finally turned grave. He looked deeply at Ye Chen. "This Sovereign didn't expect you to actually revive a deadlock."
Ye Chen said calmly, "Because I possess absolute strength."
If Ye Chen had said this in the past, the Cangtian Overlord certainly wouldn't have believed it. But now, having survived the pursuit of the Juechen Overlord...
This level of cultivation truly couldn't be considered insufficiently strong.
The Cangtian Overlord remained silent for a long moment before rising to his feet with a light sigh. "This Sovereign believes you."
Then, he turned to leave.
But Ye Chen's figure followed like a shadow, standing before the entrance of the Heaven-Mending Hall, blocking his path. "Fellow Daoist, on whose orders did you stop the City Lord from saving me?"
Now, having returned from his tribulation, having killed the Juechen Overlord to prove his Tai Zhen Supreme One status, and returned at his peak, this account naturally needed to be settled.
The Cangtian Overlord, with his nearly demonic purple eyes, looked at Ye Chen. An extremely terrifying Taishang aura naturally circulated around him as he spoke. "You are not yet qualified to know. Step aside. Do not provoke this Sovereign into taking action."
Although Ye Chen had managed to escape the Juechen Overlord, that was all. Before a Taishang King like him, Ye Chen was at most barely worthy of notice, still someone he could suppress with a casual hand.
Ye Chen laughed. Facing that overwhelming, boundless Taishang majesty, he stood firm as a mountain, coldly saying, "You are not yet qualified to make me step aside."
The same words, returned to the Cangtian Overlord.
The Cangtian Overlord's gaze instantly sharpened. His imposing aura suddenly surged dramatically. The entire Heaven-Mending Hall spontaneously manifested endless phenomena, pressuring his opponent. "Since that's the case, this Sovereign will see what qualifications a junior like you has to dare confront this Sovereign like this."
He strode forward, hand forming a seal. A Kunpeng spread its wings across the nine heavens, terrifyingly peerless, carrying the power of endless universes to crush forward—enough to kill an ordinary half-step Tai Zhen Realm Overlord.
Here, the Cangtian Overlord knew killing Ye Chen would be difficult, so he only wanted to teach him a lesson.
The Heaven-Mending City Lord didn't intervene to stop him; he knew it would be hard to kill Ye Chen this way.
Ye Chen raised a fist and shattered that Kunpeng seal, sneering. "Thinking a mere Taishang divine ability can repel me? You underestimate me, Ye, far too much."
*Boom—*
His figure shifted horizontally. In an instant, he was like an Ancient Great Venerable unleashed from a cage, swinging a fist to strike. A terrifyingly peerless physical strength erupted instantly, smashing towards the Cangtian Overlord's face.
The Cangtian Overlord's expression changed, immediately becoming grave as he slapped out a palm to meet that fist.
*Boom—*
The Heaven-Mending Hall trembled violently. Remnant Heavenly Venerate secret patterns appeared, resisting and containing the collision force of the two peerless powerhouses, preventing it from spreading and causing destruction.
Ye Chen swept his leg sideways, his thigh sweeping across like a thousand armies, striking horizontally at the Cangtian Overlord.
The Cangtian Overlord's expression had long turned grave. This junior was monstrously talented. That fist had caught him somewhat off guard. He immediately swept his own leg sideways in response.
*Boom—*
The two legs collided horizontally, both erupting with peerless strength.
Ye Chen's figure staggered back several steps. The Cangtian Overlord didn't retreat, but a wound appeared on his leg, flesh mangled.
It seemed Ye Chen was at a disadvantage, but in reality, he wasn't harmed in the slightest. On the contrary, the Cangtian Overlord had suffered a hidden loss.
His absolutely tyrannical physical strength—if one was even slightly careless, even a Taishang King like the Cangtian Overlord would suffer a hidden loss.
Ye Chen pressed his advantage, unleashing supreme physical offensive holy techniques to attack the Cangtian Overlord. The Cangtian Overlord was no weakling either; after all, he was a peerless Taishang King who had ascended the Taishang Ranking. Knowing the terror of Ye Chen's physique, he displayed his most proficient divine abilities and techniques, forcefully blasting forward.
In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged over a hundred moves.
Each move was enough to sink endless lands, yet they were suppressed within the Heaven-Mending Hall.
In the end, it was a draw; neither gained much advantage.
The Cangtian Overlord looked at Ye Chen before him with an extremely grave expression. How many years had passed? Only thirty thousand. Yet he had already reached a level where he could engage in a peak showdown with him, possessing combat power no less than that of those on the Taishang Ranking.
He spoke, "A Tai Zhen physique, and a Tai Zhen Supreme One at that. You truly make this Sovereign view you in a new light!"
On the other side, the Heaven-Mending City Lord was also greatly shocked.
He knew that over the thirty thousand years, Ye Chen had used the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool to break through. Once he stepped into the Tai Zhen Realm, his cultivation would inevitably advance by leaps and bounds. But he had expected Ye Chen to at most reach the level of a top-ranking king on the Tai Zhen Ranking. Although strong enough to escape from a Supreme Realm Overlord like the Juechen Overlord, he never imagined he would be this powerful—able to, with a Tai Zhen Realm body, engage in a peak showdown with the Cangtian Overlord, a Taishang King who had been on the ranking for years, and fight to this extent without falling behind.
What kind of world-shaking combat power was this? It left him deeply astonished.
"However, you should know that with your current strength, you cannot kill me." The Cangtian Overlord said. "You should still step aside."
"I indeed cannot kill you, but stopping you, even suppressing you, might not be a problem." Ye Chen stood blocking the hall entrance, looking at the Heaven-Mending City Lord. "City Lord, please lend me your aid."
The Heaven-Mending City Lord smiled. "It should be done!"
Not to mention Ye Chen's status within the Heaven-Mending Clan, just the fact that over these past days, the Cangtian Overlord had come to Heaven-Mending City, intercepting him and preventing him from leaving to rescue Ye Chen, had left thisEsteemed / Honorable Heaven-Mending Clan Patriarch feeling stifled and frustrated.
Seeing the Heaven-Mending City Lord communicating with the Heaven-Mending Hall, activating the residual Heavenly Venerate power of the Heaven-Mending Heavenly Venerate, the Cangtian Overlord's expression changed drastically. He said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist, what will it take to settle this matter?"
"Tell me the mastermind behind this, and give me one hundred drops of your origin essence blood." Ye Chen said. This Cangtian Overlord possessed the special Cang Tian Tyrant Body. It was said that in the various Heavenly Epochs, there was once an Ancient Great Venerable with this supreme constitution.
Even after stepping into the Supreme One domain, this constitution continued to exert powerful effects.
That Cang Tian Tyrant Body Great Venerable of the past nearly attained the Supreme Heavenly Position, becoming a Supreme Heavenly Venerate. Although he ultimately fell short, his constitution was extremely tyrannical, close to the Heavenly Dao. It could even attract part of the Heavenly Dao's power, giving him more Heavenly Dao power than other Ancient Great Venerables due to his near-Heaven attribute, making his combat power exceptionally powerful.
The path Ye Chen walked was the 'sea accepts all rivers, greatness lies in capacity' path of physical body proving eternity. The origin essence blood of this Cang Tian Tyrant Body would be of considerable use for his future path to proving the Dao.
The Cangtian Overlord's expression changed. Even for someone of his level, the origin essence blood of the Cang Tian Tyrant Body wasn't abundant. One hundred drops would definitely cause significant damage to his vitality. Moreover, it contained some of the ultimate secrets of the Cang Tian Tyrant Body—how could he allow that to leak out?
He immediately refused. "Impossible!"
Ye Chen didn't waste words, saying to the Heaven-Mending City Lord, "City Lord, seal the Heaven-Mending Hall and suppress him!"
"Good!"
The Heaven-Mending Hall closed. The Heaven-Mending City Lord even mobilized the power of the Heaven-Mending Hall to augment himself.
Ye Chen pressed forward aggressively.
The two blocked the Cangtian Overlord's escape route from front and back.
The Cangtian Overlord's expression turned ugly. He, aEsteemed / Honorable Taishang King who had roamed the Origin Land for endless eons, treated as an honored guest even by the various Eternal Heavenly Clans and Heavenly Venerate-level powers, now faced such a situation.
He had the intention to fight his way out, but seeing Ye Chen, fierce as a wolf or tiger, erupting with boundless blood energy that overshadowed the sun, moon, and stars, and seeing the Heaven-Mending City Lord resonating with the Heaven-Mending Hall, his heart sank.
Half an hour later, the Cangtian Overlord walked out of the Heaven-Mending Hall, his expression very unpleasant. "This Sovereign will remember this debt."
*Boom—*
His figure vanished.
Within the Heaven-Mending Hall, Ye Chen scoffed. "Remember it then. When I reach the Supreme Realm, suppressing you will be a mere hand gesture."
He had absolute confidence in this. Now, as a Tai Zhen Supreme One, he was no less than the Cangtian Overlord. Once he broke through, he would inevitably become a Taishang Supreme One as well. Suppressing the Cangtian Overlord wouldn't be a problem.
"Of course, there's also the Wanxuan Heavenly Clan. To actually invite a Taishang King and the Juechen Overlord and others to assassinate me—that's quite the grand gesture."
Ye Chen's eyes glinted with killing intent. This Wanxuan Heavenly Clan was quite focused on targeting him. This time, he didn't die during his tribulation breakthrough but nearly died because of the Wanxuan Heavenly Clan.
This debt naturally required repayment.
Then, he lowered his gaze to look at the full one hundred drops of eerily purple blood floating in his hand. Each drop of purple blood exuded a terrifying, heaven-shaking, earth-overturning power.
This was the origin essence blood of the Cangtian Overlord. In the end, he had obtained it.
The Heaven-Mending City Lord watched the departing figure of the Cangtian Overlord, then looked deeply at Ye Chen, somewhat pleasantly surprised, and couldn't help but say, "Congratulations to you."
Ye Chen clasped his fists. "Thank you, City Lord, for allowing me to cultivate in the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool for thirty thousand years, enabling me to smoothly break through."
The Heaven-Mending City Lord shook his head. "No, this is your own opportunity. Although the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool is of great use, such heaven-defying results are a first."
Moreover, he could sense that Ye Chen carried an aura similar to the Heaven-Mending Clan. He must have refined a considerable amount of the Heavenly Venerate blood within the pool. Although it was the Heavenly Venerate's true blood diluted countless times, it was still incomparably precious.
But for a Tai Xu Supreme One to break through and become Tai Zhen—wasn't that too heaven-defying?
The Heaven-Mending City Lord frowned. It was possible that after Ye Chen's cultivation session this time, the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool might become ordinary.
Suddenly, he remembered. A month ago, after Ye Chen completed his tribulation, the Juechen Overlord had blocked and pursued him.
Previously, he had only thought Ye Chen had narrowly escaped. But now, seeing this, it probably wasn't that simple. So he asked, "Fellow Daoist, what happened to the Juechen Overlord?"
"Killed." Ye Chen replied with casual ease.
The Heaven-Mending City Lord looked at him, eyes wide.
But remembering his terrifying combat power that allowed him to engage in a peak showdown with a Taishang King like the Cangtian Overlord, he was left speechless.
After a long moment, he sighed deeply. "Fellow Daoist Ye, you are truly invincible among Tai Zhen Supreme Ones!"