Chapter 1524: Guardian, Dog-Beating Stick

Amidst the roaring crowd, Yaozu Shenzi bellowed, "Today, I will kill you," and charged forward with his sword, launching a fierce attack.

"Then it will be a fight to the death," Xiao Chen snorted coldly. "The blood debt of Li Chuan will be repaid in blood."

With that simple exchange, the battle erupted once more, soaring into the Xu Tian.

This was a peak showdown between a human prodigy and a demonic genius.

Yaozu Shenzi was ferocious, unleashing secret arts one after another, causing the heavens to shatter and the earth to crack.

Xiao Chen was even more dominant, his combat style overbearing and his attacks unmatched.

The battle's fluctuations were too immense, forcing the surrounding cultivators to retreat, fearing they would be caught in the aftermath.

"What place is this Li Chuan that the Zhan Ti mentioned?" someone asked in confusion, not understanding.

"Li Chuan is the Zhan Ti's homeland," explained someone in the know. "Earlier, the Yaozu third prince passed through and took a liking to a woman from Li Chuan. She refused him and was brutally killed by the third prince."

"The Zhan Ti, who had returned from his trials, was furious and killed the Yaozu third prince."

"Then Yaozu Shenzi, in his rage, couldn't find the Zhan Ti, so he led his forces and wiped out Li Chuan entirely."

"So that's how the grudge started! No wonder," someone sighed, feeling sorrow for Li Chuan.

"So he's carrying a blood debt as well." Ye Chen overheard every word, his eyes filled with a cold glint.

"Die!" High in the Xu Tian, Yaozu Shenzi activated a forbidden divine ability, gripping the sun, moon, and universe in his hand. He fused it with his own Dao principles and struck with a palm like a mountain or peak, collapsing the misty Xu Tian.

Xiao Chen said nothing, responding only with his most powerful attack—a heaven-defying punch that shattered the palm print.

As the palm print broke, Yaozu Shenzi was injured, stumbling back step by step and spitting out blood wildly. Before he could steady himself, Xiao Chen struck like a ghost, slamming a palm that left him drenched in blood and shattered bones.

Yaozu Shenzi roared, a demonic light flashing from his brow as he shot out a killing sword aimed at Xiao Chen's primordial spirit.

The Zhan Ti lived up to its name, countering with his divine power and striking a palm that split Yaozu Shenzi's divine body apart.

What followed was a bloody scene, so gruesome that onlookers could hardly bear to watch.

Though Yaozu Shenzi was strong, he couldn't withstand the Zhan Ti's assaults.

His divine abilities and secret arts were like mere decorations against the Zhan Ti, his divine body exploding repeatedly as demonic blood rained down. Every drop was startling, drawing gasps from the crowd.

"I'd only heard of it before, but seeing it now, the Zhan Ti is truly overbearing and unmatched," people exclaimed in amazement. The young female cultivators gazed at Xiao Chen with glistening eyes, seeing him as a peerless hero.

"Yaozu Shenzi has fully fused his origin and divine repository, yet he's still being overpowered by the Zhan Ti."

"The Xuan Huang realm is teeming with talent—it's no exaggeration. The Zhan Ti already carries the might of the ancient sacred bodies."

"His talent surpasses even that of past lives." Ye Chen smiled with satisfaction, impressed by Xiao Chen's combat prowess.

"How long will you all just watch?" Yaozu Shenzi's eyes were savage as he roared to the heavens. Reduced to a mangled form, he couldn't defeat the Zhan Ti and was summoning powerful allies to join the fight and destroy him together.

"What a waste," Feng Huang Shenzi sneered, stepping forward and forming the supreme Phoenix Seal with his hands.

At the same time, Ye Chen moved even faster, his figure elusive as he blocked Feng Huang Shenzi's path. His voice was casual: "This is a one-on-one fight between them. Don't interfere—just watch."

"And who do you think you are to stop me?" Feng Huang Shenzi scoffed, redirecting the Phoenix Seal that was meant for the Zhan Ti straight toward Ye Chen. It howled through the air with overwhelming power, collapsing the Xu Tian along its path.

Ye Chen remained silent, manifesting a black war spear in his hand and wielding it like a staff. With a simple, unremarkable swing, he shattered the Phoenix Seal and sent Feng Huang Shenzi staggering back with a muffled grunt.

The onlookers were astonished, especially the various heavenly prodigies, who narrowed their eyes and stared at Ye Chen.

The fact that he could repel Feng Huang Shenzi in one strike led them to believe Ye Chen was another formidable genius.

Yet, with their keen insight, they couldn't see through Ye Chen—neither his appearance nor his bloodline.

"Another one who's a force to be reckoned with," Xiao Jiu Xian giggled, her bright eyes flickering with interest.

"I underestimated you," Feng Huang Shenzi snorted coldly, his aura surging as immortal light radiated from his body. Mysterious visions appeared, accompanied by the piercing cries of phoenixes and a torrent of surging vital energy.

He attacked again, thrusting out a palm that summoned a phoenix born from flames—a supreme divine ability.

Ye Chen still said nothing, swinging his staff in that same ordinary manner and smashing the fiery phoenix into nothingness.

He only broke Feng Huang Shenzi's technique and didn't press the attack, simply standing firm in the Xu Tian.

He was like a gatekeeper god, his role to guard and protect Xiao Chen, blocking any other major enemies to ensure a fair one-on-one duel. Anyone trying to interfere would have to get past him first.

Of course, he could have slain Yaozu Shenzi for Xiao Chen, but he didn't.

Xiao Chen and Yaozu Shenzi had an unending grudge, so Xiao Chen needed to finish him personally to vent his rage. That was a blood debt, and it had to be repaid in blood.

More importantly, even with his strength, Ye Chen couldn't kill Feng Huang Shenzi quickly.

"Be suppressed by this king!" Feng Huang Shenzi roared, shooting a brilliant divine light from his brow.

Upon closer inspection, the light carried a treasure seal wreathed in phoenix immortal energy like a cascading waterfall. Every strand was heavy, infused with annihilating killing intent—it was a great weapon of destruction.

Ye Chen's expression was calm as he swung his spear for the third time—plain yet domineering—shattering the treasure seal.

Feng Huang Shenzi was furious, his power skyrocketing as he wielded a crimson immortal sword and charged through the skies.

Yet, he was no match for Ye Chen. Every time he rushed in, he was sent flying back.

After several attempts, not only did he fail to breach Ye Chen's defenses, but he was beaten mercilessly with staff strikes. His phoenix divine body cracked, fresh blood spilling and staining the Xu Tian.

"Who is that guy?" Long Zu Shenzi and Wu Zu Shenzi scratched their heads. "He's incredibly strong."

"No need to say it—he's the Zhan Ti's ally," someone remarked with a sigh. "They're all top-tier fighters."

"The Xuan Huang realm is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers—it's no lie," Zhong Huang said with a faint smile.

"There's a familiar feeling about him," Bei Sheng murmured. "Those eyes—I feel like I've seen them before."

"Who is he?" Xiao Chen, in the midst of battling Yaozu Shenzi, glanced at Ye Chen. He was certain he had no such friend, yet here was someone stepping up for him so loyally.

In an instant, he turned his attention back and launched an attack, his palm splitting Yaozu Shenzi's divine body apart.

With someone holding off the major threats for him, he couldn't let that kindness go to waste and redoubled his efforts.

Yaozu Shenzi's situation grew even more desperate, vomiting blood continuously in the Xu Tian. His divine body healed repeatedly, only to be exploded again and again. The sky was filled with his blood, stark and vivid.

"Join me and kill them both!" he bellowed in madness, forced to summon other powerhouses. The Zhan Ti's strength far exceeded his expectations—he needed help.

"Agreed." Mo Zu Shenzi bared his sharp teeth and stepped forward, ascending to the heavens.

He targeted Xiao Chen, preferring the thunder Zhan Ti's bloodline over the mysterious Ye Chen. Killing the thunder Zhan Ti would also earn him a Yaozu reward—what could be better?

But his hopes were quickly dashed.

The moment he entered the Xu Tian, before he could make a move, Ye Chen appeared like a phantom and swung his staff, sending him tumbling away in a display of raw power.

The spectators were stunned, marveling at Ye Chen's combat strength as well as his agility and speed.

Mo Zu Shenzi halted his flight, blood dripping from his forehead. That sudden staff strike had caught him off guard, and his head was still ringing painfully.

Enraged, his demonic eyes turned red as he activated his demonization, demonic energy surging wildly.

Feng Huang Shenzi joined in, his hair disheveled and eyes fierce, invoking the forbidden laws of the Phoenix Clan.

The two attacked from both sides, unleashing deadly techniques. Having suffered losses, they aimed to take down Ye Chen together.

Ye Chen's eyes were as still as an ancient well. He wielded his war spear with broad, powerful strokes, facing the two alone. Far from being at a disadvantage, he sent the major godchildren flying through the air, adding more blood to the Xu Tian.

He held his ground in that section of the Xu Tian, his mission clear: prevent anyone from interfering with Xiao Chen's kill. It was about buying time, and he would strike without hesitation against any intruders.

His immense power only deepened the crowd's confusion as they tried to discern his true identity, but to no avail.

Feng Huang Shenzi and Mo Zu Shenzi fought in a wretched state, their fury driving them to attack recklessly.

Ye Chen countered while defending, handling the fight with ease.

Shen Zu Shenzi couldn't stand it any longer and snorted coldly, joining the battle. He used One Qi Transforms Three Purities, manifesting two clones. Whether the original or the clones, they all unleashed world-shaking divine abilities.

He had realized that to eliminate the thunder Zhan Ti, they had to break through Ye Chen's defenses first.

Another powerful enemy arrived, and Ye Chen showed no courtesy. He shifted in a single step, reaching one of Shen Zu Shenzi's clones and swinging his spear without a word, smashing it to pieces.

Damn!

The crowd was shocked—this strike was brutally effective, obliterating a clone just like that.

With a thud, Shen Zu Shenzi's second clone was also destroyed, dissolving into mist.

Shen Zu Shenzi was furious, instantly closing in with an unmatched sword strike that carved out a brilliant galaxy.

Ye Chen thrust his spear skyward, stirring winds and clouds, directly collapsing that galaxy.

At the same time, Mo Zu Shenzi and Feng Huang Shenzi charged in, but awkwardly enough, Ye Chen swept them away with a single staff strike each. Shen Zu Shenzi was flipped back along with them.

"Two strikes to destroy two clones, and a third to repel three major godchildren—this level of power is insane."

"Attack together! Attack together!" Yaozu Shenzi roared, now reduced to a bloody mess.

As he spoke, four figures leaped forward—Hun Zu Shenzi and Chi Mei Shenzi among them. They split into teams: one went for Xiao Chen, the other straight for Ye Chen, their killing intent soaring.

Ye Chen snorted coldly and swung his staff fiercely, repelling Hun Zu Shenzi and Chi Mei Shenzi.

Then, in a single stride, he crossed to the other side. The two attacking Xiao Chen hadn't even had a chance to show off before he sent them flying hundreds of yards.

"Kill!"

Feng Huang Shenzi and the others roared, no longer caring about Yaozu Shenzi and Xiao Chen. They all converged on Ye Chen—a total of seven major godchildren, each with blood-red eyes and gritted teeth.

Ye Chen fought with divine might, his war spear humming. He didn't use any secret techniques or divine abilities; every move was straightforward and dominating, strike after strike, each more ferocious than the last.

The scene that followed was too horrific to describe.

In this seven-against-one matchup, Ye Chen delivered an overwhelming victory.

The seven major godchildren charged in one by one and were knocked back one by one—no exceptions, one staff strike per target.

"Who the hell is this guy? Does he have to be this unstoppable?" Bai Hu Taizi scratched his head vigorously.

"Is that thing a 'one strike per dog' staff? Like a dog-beating stick?"

"He's never used a single secret art from start to finish—impossible to tell who he really is." Nan Di sighed. "This level of power is on par with ours, if not above. Absolutely dominating."

"You little monk, you must be able to see who that is!" Bei Sheng glanced at Xi Zun.

"Cannot say, cannot say." Xi Zun smiled and shook his head gently.