Chapter 1458: Pretty Sassy

Amidst the thunderous roars, Jinwu Taizi launched relentless attacks, employing the *Shasheng Dashu* without holding back.

Kongque Shengzhu frowned deeply. Jinwu Taizi's every move was aimed at taking lives. Although Xiao Yuan Huang had been reckless earlier, teaching him a lesson to curb his arrogance should suffice. Did they really need to go so far as to make him pay with his life? This was not what he wished to see.

While silently contemplating, he remained poised to intervene at any moment. Besides Ye Chen, even considering Xiao Yuan Huang, his identity was quite special; he had the Douzhan Shengyuan clan behind him. If something went wrong with Xiao Yuan Huang at the Kongque family, the Yuan Huang would erupt in rage, and that clan was filled with madmen—it would be terrifying.

In an instant, two figures plummeted from the sky, crashing to the ground almost simultaneously.

There was no need to guess; it was Ye Chen and Xiao Yuan Huang. They both smashed into deep craters, then staggered to their feet and coughed up blood one after another, their bodies battered and covered in wounds, with fresh blood gushing out.

By now, they had gone through thirty-seven rounds, and both Ye Chen and Xiao Yuan Huang were injured. It wasn't that they were too weak; it was simply that Jinwu Taizi was too strong, and their cultivation levels were at a disadvantage, with that half-step difference creating an insurmountable gap.

In contrast, Jinwu Taizi stood high in the sky, like a sun illuminating the world, radiating countless divine rays.

Compared to Ye Chen and Xiao Yuan Huang, he appeared utterly composed, without a single wound on him—or rather, from the start of the fight until now, neither Ye Chen nor Xiao Yuan Huang had managed to land a single hit on him.

"Boring."

Jinwu Taizi smiled faintly, his words carrying a majestic echo through the heavens. He raised his hand once more, his palm covering the entire sky, intent on suppressing the two with this single strike.

"That guy is like a beast!"

Gazing at the palm descending from above, Xiao Yuan Huang cursed.

"Jinwu Taizi, a saint-level figure from the Jinwu clan—don't underestimate him."

Ye Chen twisted his neck forcefully.

"There are still three rounds left. Today, I'll make sure he enjoys himself to the fullest."

"Why didn't we just do this from the start?"

Xiao Yuan Huang pouted, activating a secret technique to heal his wounds. His vital energy surged again, rising like flames, exuding a dominating aura.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Jinwu Taizi's palm came crashing down, infused with devastating power.

But Ye Chen and Xiao Yuan Huang stood there like two spears, neither resisting nor dodging. They simply tilted their heads back, staring with wide eyes, as if nothing was wrong.

The onlookers were stunned, unsure what these two were up to. Had they been scared stiff?

Then, just as the palm was only three inches away from them, Ye Chen and Xiao Yuan Huang suddenly vanished. Even more bizarrely, Jinwu Taizi appeared in the exact spot where they had been standing.

*Yitian Huandi*?

Many of the veteran experts present narrowed their eyes sharply, as if recognizing the secret technique.

They saw through it, and so did Jinwu Taizi. His expression changed instantly as he tried to escape, but it was too late. His own palm, which he had unleashed without intending to give them any chance, wouldn't stop just because positions had swapped.

At such a close distance, even Jinwu Taizi couldn't dodge it. He took the full force of the strike, and ironically, it was his own palm—infused with various divine abilities and incredibly dominating.

As the younger cultivators stood in shock, the older experts instinctively covered their eyes, unable to bear watching.

A thunderous boom erupted, shaking the heavens and earth, leaving a massive palm print etched into the ground.

Jinwu Taizi was in a sorry state, his body drenched in blood and utterly disheveled.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. The veteran experts understood it clearly, but the younger disciples of the Kongque family were still baffled, clueless about what had just occurred or how he had been struck.

"Kill!"

Jinwu Taizi roared in fury, soaring into the sky with disheveled hair and a ferocious expression, like a demon. As the prince of the Jinwu clan, he was used to being above all others—when had he ever suffered such humiliation? His killing intent toward Ye Chen and Xiao Yuan Huang had reached an uncontrollable peak.

"This move was cool enough."

Watching the raging Jinwu Taizi, Xiao Yuan Huang said with a serious face,"I think we need to show him another wave."

"Don't chatter—keep going."

Ye Chen bared two rows of white teeth, grinning slyly.

"Got it."

Xiao Yuan Huang smirked, retreating instantly and channeling his magical power into his iron staff. Lightning crackled along the staff, making it hum and tremble as ancient divine patterns on it awakened.

At the same time, Ye Chen formed seals with one hand, unleashing spatial forces that rampaged with overwhelming power.

Ha!

With Xiao Yuan Huang's loud shout, he swung the iron staff, but not at the Jinwu Taizi below—instead, straight at Ye Chen. This left many onlookers dumbfounded in an instant.

This operation baffled the Kongque family's young disciples, but the veteran experts grasped it immediately.

Ye Chen and Xiao Yuan Huang were planning to use *Yitian Huandi* again. If, in the next moment, Ye Chen swapped positions with Jinwu Taizi, then the one hit by Xiao Yuan Huang's staff wouldn't be Ye Chen—it would be Jinwu Taizi, and if timed perfectly, it would deal a heavy blow.

However, reality was harsh. Ye Chen did activate *Yitian Huandi*, but it was easily neutralized by a mysterious force within Jinwu Taizi.

In short, the *Yitian Huandi* failed this time. The one charging in was still Jinwu Taizi, and the one standing in the misty sky was still Ye Chen—their positions hadn't changed at all.

Ye Chen's expression turned priceless, his mouth twitching. Jinwu Taizi, however, grinned menacingly.

"After taking that loss once, did you really think I'd fall for it twice? You're underestimating me."

What?

Xiao Yuan Huang was stunned. His staff was already mid-swing, and now he saw that Ye Chen was still right there.

The staff was committed, and it was too late to pull back. More importantly, this swing was incredibly powerful—the most forceful one he'd ever delivered since birth.

As the Kongque family's young disciples stood there confused again, the veteran experts once more covered their eyes. Even Qian Shang Yue instinctively shielded her eyes, unable to watch.

Right before everyone's eyes, Ye Chen was sent flying—honestly, flying incredibly high, knocked straight into the clouds by Xiao Yuan Huang's dominating staff strike.

The whole scene fell silent for a second as everyone tilted their heads up, including Xiao Yuan Huang, who watched Ye Chen soar away, his mouth twitching more than ten times in that brief moment.

Was this the legendary case of attempted teamwork gone wrong? Everything had been planned perfectly, but how did it end with this surprise? That slick staff strike had accidentally taken out his own teammate.

Jinwu Taizi charged in, and Xiao Yuan Huang, still gazing at the sky, was sent flying on the spot.

Xiao Yuan Huang didn't fare much better than Ye Chen—he flew even higher, prompting another round of heads tilting below, especially among the young disciples, who had no idea what kind of fighting style these two were using.

Jinwu Taizi went berserk, unleashing divine rays one after another. Before Ye Chen and Xiao Yuan Huang even hit the ground, their bodies were pierced repeatedly, with blood raining down like light showers across the sky.

By the time they landed, they were both covered in blood, a sight that made onlookers swallow hard.

"You damn well better get it together."

Xiao Yuan Huang climbed up, his face as black as charcoal, cursing through gritted teeth before coughing up another mouthful of blood that sprayed far away.

Ye Chen said nothing, swaying in place with stars in his eyes. Xiao Yuan Huang's staff strike had been painfully exhilarating, and his head was still buzzing.

"The final round—I'll send you both to your deaths."

From high above, a cold roar echoed as Jinwu Taizi activated an unparalleled secret technique, turning the clear sky dark in an instant.

Countless immortal lights danced in the heavens, weaving together into a massive sun that burst with dazzling divine rays. Every ray pierced painfully into the soul, disrupting the mind.

The sun descended, shattering space along its path. Even before it fully landed, the flowers, grass, and trees below withered, and the babbling springs and rippling lakes dried up.

The world lost its color, leaving only that sun. Though it shone brightly, it was also one of annihilation; though scorching, it was ice-cold, like a hand of destruction.

The Kongque family elders couldn't help but frown, recognizing the technique, and they activated a protective barrier. If this continued, who knew how many Kongque disciples would suffer.

Both Xiao Yuan Huang and Ye Chen looked up. As his opponents, they had to admit Jinwu Taizi lived up to his title as the clan's prince—his methods were truly heaven-defying, terrifying enough to make even them shudder.

"Use *Yitian Huandi* to swap with that mountain over there."

Xiao Yuan Huang sent a mental message to Ye Chen."That guy's technique is too powerful. Even with both of us, we might not block it."

"The space in this area has been sealed by that sun—*Yitian Huandi* won't work."

Ye Chen replied calmly."After that loss, Jinwu Taizi won't give us another opening."

"Damn it, forcing me to go all out!"

Xiao Yuan Huang muttered under his breath, gripping his *Wujin* iron staff tightly and summoning his giant ape manifestation, ready to charge forward and shatter the sun.

"I didn't want others to know I'm the *Shengti*, but it looks like I can't hide it anymore."

Ye Chen shook his head helplessly, releasing his source seal. Golden vital energy surged forth, and the black robe covering him slowly dissipated, with the mask on his face turning to ash in an instant.