Chapter 2152: Taotie Attacks

Chapter 2152: Tuo Wu Invades

Night had quietly fallen. Yao Chi Holy Land, bathed in moonlight, retained its dreamy allure. This immortal mountain was steeped in the legends of the Female Emperor, each one a myth in itself.

Under the moonlit sky, Yao Chi Holy Land was far from peaceful. From elders to disciples, everyone was bustling about, fortifying defenses and activating spell formations, with source stones piled up like mountains.

The oppressive atmosphere of an impending war had enveloped Yao Chi Holy Land.

Or perhaps, the entire Xuan Huang Continent was shrouded in the scent of battle. All major forces were actively preparing, with Emperor Dao domain gates already set up, ready for teleportation at any moment.

"Old friend, something feels off!"

In Tian Xu, Tian Zhu gazed out from a high vantage point.

"From the looks of it, the Hong Huang clans must be getting impatient," Di Mie said meaningfully. "If they're daring to start a war, their fated ones have likely all returned."

Tian Zhu took a deep breath, his eyes filled with worry, sensing that a great catastrophe was on the way.

As they spoke, a section of the void outside the mountain suddenly twisted, and a woman emerged, cloaked in black robes that obscured her features, revealing only a pair of eerily quiet eyes.

This woman, upon closer inspection, was unmistakably the Female Sheng Ti.

Tian Zhu and Di Mie both spotted her and frowned.

"Where did this Female Sheng Ti come from?"

The Female Sheng Ti remained silent in the face of their scrutiny.

Her eyes flickered with a demonic light as she stared intently at Tian Xu, peering deep into it, as if she could see through the illusions and uncover an ancient secret.

Tian Zhu and Di Mie moved together, stepping out of Tian Xu and heading straight for the Female Sheng Ti. In the world, all Sheng Ti were male cultivators, so the sudden appearance of a female one warranted capturing her for study.

The Female Sheng Ti didn't even glance at them sideways; she merely waved her hand casually.

Tian Zhu and Di Mie were sent flying back awkwardly, crashing exactly as they had come, smashing a mountain peak in Tian Xu to rubble. These two peak-level Quasi-Emperors were defeated in a single encounter, utterly humiliated.

"So strong—could it be a fully realized Sheng Ti?" Tian Zhu exclaimed in shock.

"I can't tell her cultivation level." Amid the flying debris, Di Mie crawled out, covered in dust and with his aged body cracked in several places. If not for his toughness, he would have been reduced to pulp.

Outside the mountain, the Female Sheng Ti advanced, heading straight for Tian Xu with a ghostly grace, her steps light and elegant, as if treading on the river of time. From start to finish, her gaze was fixed only on Tian Xu.

Tian Zhu and Di Mie snorted coldly, soaring into the sky and each summoning their Emperor Weapons.

However, before they could attack, the Female Sheng Ti halted, her eyes filled with wariness—not toward Tian Zhu or Di Mie, but toward the mysterious presence in Tian Xu.

Then, she began retreating step by step until she turned and left.

Tian Zhu and Di Mie gave chase, but she had already vanished. Di Mie scratched his head, looking bewildered. "How could there be a Female Sheng Ti? The Heavenly Kings never mentioned it! Judging by her strength, she's even more powerful than the Six Paths. Could she really be a fully realized Sheng Ti, on par with an emperor?"

He was baffled, and Tian Zhu was just as confused, his mind full of questions.

While they puzzled over it, Di Huang, watching from afar, furrowed his brow in bewilderment. He had peered into Tian Xu multiple times before and found no clues. What exactly was the Female Sheng Ti afraid of? Could there truly be a terrifying entity hidden in the depths of Tian Xu?

Unbidden, Di Huang turned his gaze to Ming Di, hoping for a clear answer.

"Only a Great Emperor is qualified to know," Ming Di replied calmly, offering no answer and instead shrouding Di Huang in another layer of mystery that couldn't be dispelled.

Di Huang chuckled and shook his head. Even a fully realized Sheng Ti wasn't qualified to know—how awkward.

In the dead of night, atop a mountain peak, someone stood quietly, having already sent a message to the various heavens about going to war with the Tuo Wu clan. They couldn't afford to leave out Da Chu; if war was coming, then let it come.

On the opposite peak, Chen Yi was practicing his swordplay. Though his movements were slow, they were infused with profound Dao insights, leaving Ye Chen momentarily entranced. As the female emperor's own brother, Chen Yi was no ordinary figure.

Ye Chen withdrew his gaze and once again offered up Yan Luo's blood.

Unfortunately, he still couldn't connect to the underworld; the isolation persisted.

Boom!

A thunderous rumble echoed through the sky, shattering the night's tranquility.

Immediately, a massive gate materialized, radiating Emperor light in all directions—it was an Emperor Dao domain gate. Before anyone appeared, the aura of the Hong Huang rolled in, accompanied by enormous beasts, all in their Tuo Wu forms, causing the void to tremble with their bloodthirsty and savage energy that swept across the entire heavens.

The Tuo Wu clan's army had arrived, a dark mass stretching endlessly.

Centered on Yao Chi Immortal Mountain, Tuo Wu beasts filled the skies and blanketed the earth. From their vantage point, the Tuo Wu army resembled a vast ocean, with Yao Chi Holy Land like a small island on the verge of being swallowed.

"The Tuo Wu clan." Passing cultivators' expressions changed drastically. The Tuo Wu clan's grand formation had drawn even distant cultivators, shocking all sides.

"Such a massive force—are they planning to annihilate Yao Chi?"

"Or are they here for a scenic tour?"

"Damn it, they didn't help against the heavenly demons' invasion, and now they're causing trouble."

"Yao Chi Holy Land is in grave danger!"

More and more people gathered, but no one dared approach. The Tuo Wu formation was simply too overwhelming and too close; a single backlash could kill them without a trace.

Glancing at Yao Chi Immortal Mountain, the elders of Yao Chi, led by their chief elder, were all clad in battle armor, ignoring the outside. From elders to disciples, no one feared the fight—they had all endured the trials of war.

"Faster than I expected," Chen Yi said lightly.

"A race with zero casualties—truly an impressive force," Ye Chen sighed, stunned by the Tuo Wu clan's lineup. Not to mention anything else, just the number of Quasi-Emperor-level Tuo Wu was enough to make one's scalp tingle. No wonder they were so arrogant; they had the capital for it.

Besides the Tuo Wu, there were affiliated forces that had submitted to them, like Hun Tian Zong.

Such a spectacle even made the Yao Chi elders' hearts quiver. Not even Yao Chi Holy Land in its pre-catastrophe days could have matched the Tuo Wu clan.

"Come out and pay for my son's life!"

The shout came from outside the mountain—it was the sect master of Hun Tian Zong. The Yang Ye who had been slain by Yao Xin during the day was his precious son.

Ye Chen couldn't help but want to laugh at those words. He didn't know whether to pity the Hun Tian Zong master or feel sorry for him; the Tuo Wu clan had used his son as bait, and he was completely unaware.

Naturally, Ye Chen felt no sympathy. Since they chose to align with the Hong Huang and become the Tuo Wu's dogs, they should be prepared to be cannon fodder. This path was one they had chosen themselves.

"Pay for my son's life!" The Hun Tian Zong master barked like a mad dog.

Yao Chi offered no response; talking to him was pointless.

"You massacred my Tuo Wu clansmen, and today, Yao Chi Holy Land must give this emperor an account!" Tuo Wu Huang snorted coldly, his voice like thunder shaking the nine heavens. As the emperor of his clan, he lounged leisurely on his throne, overlooking Yao Chi Immortal Mountain, his words cold and desolate, as if he were the ruler of the world and his decrees absolute law.

"But I wonder, what account does Tuo Wu Huang demand?" the Yao Chi elder replied calmly.

"Hand over the culprit and have your Yao Chi submit to my clan, and this matter will be settled." Tuo Wu Huang smirked sinisterly, his crimson eyes gleaming with cruelty and lust. To him, Yao Chi Holy Land, filled with women, was nothing but lowly playthings—a mere source of amusement.

"To be honest, we don't really like cowardly turtles," Ye Chen interjected before the Yao Chi elder could respond. The elder was a senior, and trash-talking would be beneath him, so this kind of verbal sparring was best left to the Da Chu sovereign. And he wasn't boasting—he could trash-talk Tuo Wu Huang until he doubted his own existence. Even the Shakyamuni Venerable, with his steadfast Buddhist heart, had been driven to tribulation by his words. A Sheng Ti's mouth was honed to perfection.

"Those who understand the times are wise—"

"Understand your sister."

"Relying on mere words—"

"Tuo Wu are all idiots."

"You—"

"Idiots, a bunch of idiots."

This was a bizarre exchange. Every time Tuo Wu Huang spoke, he couldn't finish a sentence—or rather, he was interrupted by Ye Chen before he could.

The onlookers from all sides wore strange expressions. How could Yao Chi Holy Land have a man like this—and such a crude one at that? His skill in verbal combat was unmatched; the mighty Tuo Wu Huang couldn't even get a full sentence out. What a ridiculous sight.

"Brother-in-law, you're awesome!" The fairy maidens of Yao Chi pumped their fists, holding back laughter as they cheered Ye Chen on. Keep going, keep trash-talking them!

"Low-key." Ye Chen said deeply, taking a swig of wine to soothe his throat, determined to curse Tuo Wu Huang to tears next time.

The Yao Chi elders exchanged meaningful glances.

Though Ye Chen's crude words weren't pleasant, they were quite satisfying to hear.

Facts proved that the Tenth Sovereign of Da Chu was indeed outstanding.

Facts also proved that every sect needed someone shameless to hold the line in a verbal battle. They might not win in a fight, but they had to dominate in spirit.

Clearly, Ye Chen was the perfect example.

With a Da Chu sovereign like this, it was no wonder the people of Da Chu were so vibrant—one and all, thick-skinned and exceptional, all shaped by Ye Chen.

Meanwhile, Tuo Wu Huang had risen from his throne, his playful demeanor gone, his face flushed with anger. He said nothing more, afraid that opening his mouth would just invite more interruptions.

He drew his killing sword and pointed it sharply at Yao Chi Immortal Mountain.

"Leave no one alive."

With his command, spell formations activated on all sides of the Tuo Wu army, their numbers beyond count. At the same moment, they unleashed beams of destructive divine light, bombarding Yao Chi Holy Land's protective barrier. Each beam carried world-ending power, scarring the space around it.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Deafening explosions echoed through the nine heavens, pounding against Yao Chi's barrier, which shook but held firm. After all, the barrier was personally set by the Yao Chi Female Emperor and guarded by an Emperor Weapon; how could mere formations break it?

"Sacrifice the Emperor Weapon!"

Tuo Wu Huang roared furiously, his eyes blood-red and gritted with resentment. At this point, he cared less about breaching Yao Chi and more about capturing that trash-talking bastard and making him suffer untold agony to vent his fury.

Buzz!

Following his order, an imperial glow shot into the sky, hovering in the void like a brilliant sun, its divine radiance illuminating the world. It was the Tuo Wu clan's Emperor Artifact, its ultimate Emperor might spreading out, collapsing the heavens and causing strands of supreme laws to descend, suppressing the eternal immortal vault.