Chapter 1278: Starry Sky Ambush

Beyond the shattered Zang Hai, everything had become eerily silent, with no more thunderous sounds of battle.

"Da Luo Shen Zi has been defeated!"

Someone murmured softly, their voice faint, yet in this tranquil Xing Kong of Zang Hai, it rang out clearly.

Ye Chen stood firm in Zang Hai, like a god of slaughter, his killing intent surging like a tide.

He was injured as well, but most of his wounds weren't from Da Luo Shen Zi—they came from the Tian Qian. Even now, thunderbolts still rampaged across his Sheng Qu, ravaging his vital essence.

From all directions in the heavens, everyone gazed up at him—young cultivators in reverence, older ones in astonishment.

The Huang Gu Sheng Ti—he was the undefeated myth in his realm.

Zheng!

The profound silence was finally shattered by the resonant hum of a sword. From the shadows, a powerful expert struck at Ye Chen, unleashing a devastating divine light that locked onto him, a strike meant to kill.

Ye Chen's eyes flashed with cold light as he swiftly slashed out with his sword, destroying it.

Witnessing this, the spectators from all sides scattered in retreat.

Though Da Luo Shen Zi had been defeated, the matter was far from over. Ye Chen's victory over Da Luo Shen Zi was like a harsh slap to the face of Da Luo Jian Zong. Combined with his earlier humiliations of the sect, given Da Luo Jian Zong's temperament, how could they let him go? This was always meant to be an ambush targeting him.

The experts of Da Luo Jian Zong charged forward.

Two hundred thousand cultivators from Da Luo Jian Zong surged like a vast ocean, blanketing Zang Hai and filling the surrounding heavens. Their rolling killing intent pressed down, stirring massive waves in Zang Hai and making the Xing Kong tremble with a deep hum.

"Ah!"

Sighs echoed from all around, as people lamented that although Ye Chen had won the duel, he couldn't escape the clutches of Da Luo Jian Zong.

However, Ye Chen wasn't one to wait passively for death. With a single step, he shifted through space and seized the sunken Da Luo Shen Zi, pulling him close.

Just as in Hao Yang Gu Cheng, he placed the Chi Xiao Sword across Da Luo Shen Zi's shoulder. With a mere thought, Da Luo Shen Zi would turn to dust—he was still using him as a lifesaving trump card.

The Da Luo Jian Zong experts had arrived, with six Sheng Ren, over thirty Quasi-Sheng, and two hundred thousand cultivators sealing off every escape route. All around, Xu Tian Absolute Killing Arrays were set up, their divine power awakening, ready at any moment to obliterate Ye Chen. The formation was overwhelmingly grand.

"Release our Shen Zi."

A Sheng Ren from Da Luo Jian Zong roared in anger, his aged eyes filled with icy killing intent.

"I regret I cannot comply."

Ye Chen replied calmly.

"You're courting death."

The Sheng Ren exploded with fury, suddenly raising his killing sword, about to unleash a fatal strike.

"Then let's see if you can kill me first, or if I destroy him first."

As Ye Chen spoke, he casually tore off one of Da Luo Shen Zi's arms. "No point in talking more. If you want him alive, let me go. I'll say this only once—don't test my limits, esteemed predecessors."

"You won't escape."

Shouts of rage erupted from all sides, their voices like thunder.

"Is that so?"

Ye Chen's expression remained calm as he tore off Da Luo Shen Zi's remaining arm.

"You—"

"Let me go."

Ye Chen said coldly, reaching in and pulling out Da Luo Shen Zi's still-beating heart.

"How ruthless."

Watching the fresh blood gush from Da Luo Shen Zi's chest, the spectators felt their hearts pounding. Surrounded by two hundred thousand Da Luo Jian Zong cultivators, yet still so cold and merciless—Ye Chen's mindset was shocking. If it were them, they could never do such a thing.

Boom!

This stretch of Xing Kong shook again, due to the overwhelming killing intent from the Da Luo Jian Zong experts.

Especially those from Da Luo Jian Zong who had been in Hao Yang Gu Cheng—they looked as twisted and demonic as ever.

Ye Chen was using Da Luo Shen Zi as leverage again, the scene eerily similar to before. Despite their massive forces, they were held at bay by one man, afraid to act recklessly, and even had to protect Ye Chen at all times. Because if anything happened to him, Da Luo Shen Zi would suffer the consequences.

"Retreat!"

In the end, a purple-haired Sheng Ren from Da Luo Jian Zong spoke, his voice cold as bone.

Da Luo Shen Zi was the most astonishing prodigy in Da Luo Jian Zong's history, bearing the sect's future on his shoulders. Even after losing to Ye Chen, he remained their Shen Zi—they couldn't afford any mishaps.

With a Sheng Ren's command, no one dared disobey.

The two hundred thousand cultivators parted to both sides, clearing a path for Ye Chen.

Ye Chen held Da Luo Shen Zi hostage, staying vigilant of his surroundings as he quickly made his way out.

This sight made the spectators' hearts race again. With Da Luo Jian Zong's forces, Ye Chen could be killed at any moment—a single misstep would mean eternal doom.

Once more under everyone's gaze, Ye Chen withdrew from Zang Hai.

The Da Luo Jian Zong experts surged forward like a tidal wave.

Their pursuit was relentless, forcing Ye Chen to turn and flee outright.

"Bastard!"

The Da Luo Jian Zong Sheng Ren were furious, their faces savage as they teleported after him, followed by over thirty Quasi-Sheng and then two hundred thousand cultivators, unleashing a sky-crushing killing intent.

The spectators also followed in droves, their hearts filled with a strange hope—that Ye Chen would kill Da Luo Shen Zi. If that scourge died, Bei Dou Xing Yu would know peace for many years. If left alive, this star domain would likely see more chaos and bloodshed.

Ye Chen streaked through the Xing Kong like a peerless divine light, his speed incredible.

How could he release Da Luo Shen Zi? If he did, that guy would just go back to causing havoc in Bei Dou Xing Yu, possibly capturing people from Da Chu's reincarnation cycle. Then Ye Chen would have to come rescue them again, replaying scenes even bloodier than today.

Such a Da Luo Shen Zi was a disaster waiting to happen—Ye Chen wouldn't bring trouble on himself.

"Stay!"

The Da Luo Jian Zong Sheng Ren were like divine lights themselves, incredibly fast, locking onto Ye Chen and pursuing relentlessly.

Ye Chen ignored them completely, madly unleashing Suo Di Cheng Cun. His escape speed was unmatched, leaving the Da Luo Jian Zong Sheng Ren nearly vomiting blood and the spectators stunned.

They'd seen fast escapes before, but never one this absurd—like he was cheating.

Their chase and flight turned this stretch of Xing Kong into a spectacle.

Boom! Bang!

Along the way, thunder boomed as the Da Luo Jian Zong Sheng Ren not only chased but also attacked continuously.

Though their divine abilities were domineering, they couldn't hit Ye Chen—he was just too fast. In the blink of an eye, he'd dart far away, outpacing even their pursuit, let alone their attacks.

"Summon more experts!"

The Da Luo Jian Zong Sheng Ren roared in anger, realizing they couldn't catch him. If they couldn't chase him down, they'd have to intercept him—they needed the sect's help to block his path ahead.

Soon, news from here reached Da Luo Jian Zong on Zi Wei Xing.

The high-ranking members of Da Luo Jian Zong were furious, with many figures soaring out from the immortal mountains—all Sheng Ren, each more powerful than the last, followed by numerous Quasi-Sheng. Their formation was formidable.

Boom!

In the Xing Kong, debris flew as the pursuit and escape continued, shattering a desolate star.

Ye Chen burst out and kept fleeing, his body like a ghostly immortal light, tracing a brilliant arc through the Xing Kong.

Boom!

The Xing Kong rumbled as the experts from Da Luo Jian Zong's main forces arrived, converging from all directions.

Ye Chen frowned, not expecting the Da Luo Jian Zong experts to arrive so quickly.

"Stay!"

A divine light shot from ahead—a purple-robed elder, a genuine Sheng Ren, with nine Quasi-Sheng following and a massive wave of Da Luo Jian Zong cultivators behind, like a surging tide.

Ye Chen's eyes turned icy cold as he advanced instead of retreating.

The purple-robed Sheng Ren performed a great shift, extending his withered hand to form a massive palm, grabbing at Ye Chen from the sky—but he didn't dare go for the kill, since Da Luo Shen Zi was still in Ye Chen's grasp.

"Get lost!"

Ye Chen shouted, punching through the massive hand and sending the Sheng Ren flying back.

The nine Da Luo Jian Zong Quasi-Sheng attacked, jointly activating a bronze furnace—a Sheng Bing specialized in sealing, not for killing Ye Chen, but to trap him.

"Seal!"

As the nine chanted, the bronze furnace released immortal light infused with sealing divine abilities.

Ye Chen flipped out Chi Xiao and slashed through the immortal light, leaping away like a beam of light.

"Stay!"

The Da Luo Jian Zong experts brought by the purple-robed Sheng Ren rushed in like a tide.

Ye Chen said nothing, gripping Chi Xiao and slashing out a stellar river. The oncoming Da Luo Jian Zong experts hadn't even unleashed their abilities before being sent tumbling, people and mounts in chaos. "If even Sheng Ren and Quasi-Sheng can't stop me, what makes you minions think you can block my path?"

He carved a bloody path through them and escaped once more, about to use Suo Di Cheng Cun again.

But then, a sword light slashed from ahead, as if traversing countless miles. It looked ordinary but was fused with myriad sword divine abilities, carrying destructive power.

Ye Chen's expression changed as he swung his sword to block, yet he was still sent flying over eight hundred zhang.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Xing Kong trembled with rhythmic booms, the sound of heavy footsteps. Perhaps due to the immense weight, each step made the Xing Kong quake violently.

In the distance, a figure approached through the void—a white-robed elder.

He was a Sheng Ren, and a powerful one at that. It was his distant sword strike that had sent Ye Chen flying. His terrifying Sheng Ren pressure now enveloped the Xing Kong, overwhelmingly strong.

Ye Chen, who had been flung back, stabilized himself and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"You won't escape!"

The white-robed elder halted, fixing his gaze on Ye Chen, his murky old eyes flickering with cold light. Though his words were soft, they carried an ethereal authority that brooked no defiance.

"Sheng Jing Yuan Man!"

Ye Chen looked at the white-robed elder with caution—he was the strongest Sheng Ren Ye Chen had ever faced, just a step away from Sheng Wang, absolutely formidable.

"Surround him!"

Shouts of rage echoed from all sides of the Xing Kong.

With the white-robed elder's blockade, the Da Luo Jian Zong experts caught up, forming a complete encirclement once more. The force was even greater now—over a dozen Sheng Ren, more than a hundred Quasi-Sheng, and nearly five hundred thousand cultivators, rolling in like an ocean and shrouding this vast Xing Kong.

The spectators from Zang Hai had followed as well.

Seeing this scene, many turned pale.

To hunt down a single Huang Jing cultivator, Da Luo Jian Zong had mobilized such a force—Ye Chen could hold his head high in pride.

"Release him!"

Roars of anger thundered from all directions in the Xing Kong, shaking the void.

Ye Chen wiped the blood from his mouth and scanned his surroundings. This lineup far exceeded what he could handle—escape was impossible. It was a dead end with no way out.

"You're forcing my hand!"

A frenzied glint flashed in Ye Chen's eyes.

In the shadows, a seal was undone—it was his unpurged Huang Jing Tian Jie.