Chapter 2191: The Heavens Prepare for War

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Within the dim Lingyu, the rumbling echoed through heaven and earth.

Sheng Zun fought Nü Sheng Ti in a different space. Wei Mian Zhi Zi battled Zao Hua Shen Wang in the void. Tian Zhi confronted Can E Mo Jun in the sky.

The three battles were world-shaking.

It was evident that Wei Mian Zhi Zi was at a disadvantage, unable to match Zao Hua Shen Wang, or more precisely, Zao Hua Shen Wang who was empowered by Hua Tian Mo. He struggled against the onslaught, his domineering divine body covered in deep blood gashes. Each wound was impossible to erase.

Sheng Zun's situation was no better.

He had once almost become an emperor, but ultimately, he was only at the peak of Zhun Di, not a true emperor.

Nü Sheng Ti was also a peak Zhun Di, infinitely close to achieving full completion, and her Sheng Ti was unmatched at that level – this was a fact, not an exaggeration. She had once battered Sheng Zun's divine body to the point of explosion.

Just as Ye Chen had thought, opponents like Nü Sheng Ti and Zao Hua Shen Wang could only be matched by Hong Chen and Liu Dao. Yi Lei against Yi Lei for a truly epic confrontation.

After all, under certain circumstances, either Hong Chen or Liu Dao could slaughter an emperor.

Ah!

Roars echoed endlessly in the sky above.

That was Can E Mo Jun, who had bled more than once. The once arrogant demon lord had been beaten senseless by Tian Zhi, losing all sense of direction. A mighty demon lord, reduced to being suppressed by a mere Great Saint, drove him to frenzied rage.

As proven, output wasn't just about roaring. No matter how loud the cries, he still couldn't win.

Tian Zhi, a genuine Great Saint at the emperor's child level, wielded an imperial weapon and exuded the unparalleled grace of a young female emperor. Every strike was an imperial Dao immortal technique, unmatched in attack.

With Wei Mian Zhi Zi and Sheng Zun both suppressed, she, as an imperial descendant, had turned the tide in her favor.

The fourth battle was at Ye Chen's location.

The tenth emperor of Da Chu, bearing the glory of the Huang Gu Sheng Ti, charged forward in isolation.

Kill!

The people under Hua Tian Mo's influence didn't recognize the Huang Gu Sheng Ti, nor did they know who they were. Their minds were clouded by the Tian Mo origin, turning them into killing puppets as they surged toward Ye Chen in overwhelming numbers.

From a bird's-eye view, it was like a vast black ocean, devouring inch by inch of the world.

In comparison, Ye Chen was like a mere grain of sand, insignificant and barely visible.

He didn't engage in direct combat and couldn't kill those under Hua Tian Mo's control. He only needed to destroy the Qing Tian Mo Zhu, and they would all return to normal. After all, they were still forces of the Zhutian.

However, just because he held back didn't mean they would. Divine abilities, secret techniques, and magical treasures rained down without limit, each one a deadly killing art.

Ye Chen moved like a divine ray, weaving through the attacks and evading one fatal strike after another. His target was clear: the Qing Tian Mo Zhu at the edge of the sky. Destroying it would resolve this catastrophe.

This great battle was all observed by Ming Di and Di Huang.

The two supreme beings focused on the Qing Tian Mo Zhu. Though it was damaged, it harbored a terrifying existence, even more dreadful than Zao Hua Shen Wang and Nü Sheng Ti. Even if Ye Chen managed to reach it, he might not succeed in destroying it.

Unfortunately, separated by the human and underworld realms and bound by laws, they couldn't peer through the Qing Tian Mo Zhu. They only knew that the fearsome entity inside was likely connected to the Tian Mo domain's Tian Di – perhaps Tian Di's remnant soul or imperial body. Either way, it was beyond what Ye Chen could handle now.

The supreme beings' expressions grew extremely grave. Anything linked to Tian Di carried immense significance.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Under the watchful eyes of the two supreme beings, the battle in the Lingyu domain intensified.

Aside from Tian Zhi, both Ye Chen and the other two – Sheng Zun – were covered in fresh blood.

None of them were at their worst; things only got worse.

Ye Chen, charging alone, held back in his attacks, but those under Hua Tian Mo's influence were fiercely aggressive. Though their minds were obscured, they hadn't forgotten their secret techniques and divine abilities. They sealed off the heavens repeatedly, trying to erase Ye Chen, forcing him to fight his way through a path bathed in his own sacred blood.

The people in the Lingyu domain not under Hua Tian Mo's control were also fighting desperately, adhering to a principle of sealing without killing. Their battles against those influenced by Hua Tian Mo resulted in extremely heavy casualties.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The massive commotion in the Lingyu domain rippled across the myriad domains of Zhutian.

Countless people looked up in an instant, gazing blankly at the void, hearing the faint rumbles but unable to trace their source.

"Has Tian Mo invaded again?" Voices of surprise came from the five forbidden zones of Xuan Huang, especially from the Tian Zhu Di Mie station, where eyes flickered with uncertainty. Even they couldn't pinpoint the rumbles' origin, only sensing a heart-pounding premonition, as if a world-shaking demon god was about to awaken.

"It must be in some domain." At Da Chu's Tian Xuan Gate, the peak Zhun Di gathered, all gazing into the ethereal void, trying to peer through it. However, none mastered the domain techniques, and with the concealment of the Zhei Xian Tian Di array, no one could see through the illusion.

"Could it be that Sheng Zun and Xi Chen found Zao Hua Shen Wang?" Tian Lao speculated.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Tian Jiu pondered. "If they found him, why not summon reinforcements? With Wei Mian Zhi Zi's abilities, he could easily open a passage."

"The fact that they haven't summoned aid proves one thing." Yue Huang murmured, "It's not that he doesn't want to open a passage; he can't."

Her words carried deep meaning, leaving the gathered Zhun Di with serious expressions.

In the past, Wei Mian Zhi Zi had broken through the Zhei Xian Tian Di array, yet now he hadn't called for help. The reasons were easy to imagine – perhaps another Zhei Xian Tian Di array, or maybe he had no chance to break through, or the enemies he faced were far beyond what people imagined.

These speculations weren't baseless; some domain must have undergone a shocking upheaval, even keeping Wei Mian Zhi Zi too occupied to act.

"Fu Ya, sound the war drums." Dong Huang Tai Xin ordered immediately. Her ominous premonition often became reality; she could sense the aura of Tian Mo. It was likely another invasion, requiring them to prepare actively and muster the full power of Zhutian to counter it.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

Soon, the resonant and prolonged war drums sounded from Da Chu, spreading infinitely across the stars.

Zhutian war drums?

Everyone who heard them ascended to the skies, their battle armor manifesting on their bodies. They knew the drums only sounded in times of great crisis for Zhutian, and every time they did, it involved Tian Mo. It might mean Tian Mo was attacking again.

In an instant, cultivators from Zhutian regrouped, even those in the midst of conflicts ceasing their fights. With a cold huff, they headed straight into the stars. Tian Mo was the true enemy; personal grudges could wait.

The grand scene, unseen for eight years, unfolded once more. Streams of figures streaked across the starry sky, forming armies of cultivators, standing ready. If Tian Mo attacked, they would rush to the battlefield without hesitation.

Though Tian Mo hadn't appeared, the oppressive sense of an impending war already enveloped all of Zhutian.

While the common people brimmed with towering battle intent, they couldn't hide their helplessness.

Eight years ago, Tian Mo's invasion had devastated Zhutian, compounded by the tribulation waves' hardships. Now, Zhutian was even weaker than before. Whether they could withstand Tian Mo's assault was uncertain. If another Tian Mo emperor descended, who would fight? Would there be another Yan Di imperial body? Another son of Yan Di?

As for the Hong Huang clan, they remained as reclusive as ever, showing no sign of joining the fight. Not only were they unprepared to participate, but they also seemed ready to watch the spectacle.

"Dammit, let's fight!" In contrast to Hong Huang, the fierce Da Chu was full of excitement, donning their old armor at the sound of the Zhutian war drums.

In such grand events, there were always those bold spirits standing in the void, shouting loudly. They might not win, but their momentum had to be strong.

And truth be told, this shameless bravado had been honed to perfection.

"Dad, where are you?" In the skies above Yu Nü Peak, Ye Ling pursed her lips, gazing into the void. Another catastrophe was coming, and her father was still absent.

Though her father wasn't there, not a single one of her mothers was missing. Each wore battle attire, like female generals, showing no less courage than men.

Their beautiful eyes were filled with unconcealable worry. Hearing the rumbles without knowing the source, they knew some domain must be in turmoil. Ye Chen had been gone for eight years now, and they feared he might become a permanent shadow. With the Zhutian war drums sounding, this ominous premonition grew even stronger.

"You are Zhutian's war god, and our husband."

In the dim night, the women's heartfelt prayers were filled with hope, wishing for his safe return. The pain of separation and potential loss was the cruelest of all.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

As Zhutian prepared for war, the Lingyu domain's battle raged on fiercely.

In the sky, Can E Mo Jun had been beaten half to death. With his three heads and six arms, only one head remained, barely connected to his neck by a strip of flesh, on the verge of rolling off.

And his six arms had all been severed by Tian Zhi.

While she boosted her own morale, Wei Mian Zhi Zi's side was far from optimistic – barely better than Can E Mo Jun. His body was covered in countless blood gashes, each wound laced with demonic malice and Zao Hua power, draining his vital energy. Not only did the wounds not heal, but they also spread outward.

In contrast, Zao Hua Shen Wang showed no substantial injuries. With a continuous supply of Tian Mo power combined with his Zao Hua abilities, he was as formidable as a demon god.

As for Sheng Zun in the different space, he was already in a pitiful state, his entire body a mess of bloody bones.

Yet, he was stubborn. Facing a Nü Sheng Ti infinitely close to full attainment, he had trapped her in the different space, preventing her escape. He was battered, but he lived up to his past imperial tribulation; someone who had nearly become an emperor had solid foundations.

"Get out of the way."

Nü Sheng Ti snorted coldly and struck out with a massive realm.

"Such a fiery temper, and no one dares to marry you." Sheng Zun smirked, slashing through the realm with his sword. Even half-crippled, he couldn't resist a bit of teasing.

It was a good thing he couldn't beat her; if he could, it wouldn't just be teasing.

Not to boast, but he could strip someone naked.

However, that remark was truly unwise, completely infuriating Nü Sheng Ti.

After that, he never stood steady again, especially his face, which received special attention.

The mighty Sheng Zun, a ruthless one who had survived an imperial tribulation, was beaten to the point of doubting his life.

Kill!

In the Lingyu domain, shouts of killing overlapped wave after wave. Those under Hua Tian Mo's influence were like demons on a rampage, slaughtering wildly.

The uninfluenced people were the most tragic, falling in droves into pools of blood, their corpses piling into mountains and their blood flowing into rivers. The dim heavens and earth were stained with a scarlet hue. This wasn't hell, but it was worse than hell, filled with the wails of the masses.

Their eyes would occasionally glance toward the horizon, hoping that Huang Gu Sheng Ti Ye Chen could once again defy the heavens and destroy that damned Qing Tian Mo Zhu.

And Da Chu's tenth emperor didn't disappoint. Dragging his blood-soaked body, he had fought his way to the base of the Qing Tian Mo Zhu.

"Blood debts paid in blood." Still those words, full of grief and rage, Ye Chen raised his shattered imperial sword and unleashed a brilliant immortal river, slashing toward the Qing Tian Mo Zhu.

Boom!

The demon pillar hummed but didn't collapse.

Ye Chen's eyes blazed like torches, his vital energy surging as he burned his true essence to the extreme, fully reviving the imperial might of the shattered sword and brewing an even more dominant strike.

However, before he could strike, the demon pillar hummed again.

A vortex manifested on it, swallowing everything in sight.

Insignificant as an ant, Ye Chen couldn't resist and was instantly sucked into the demon pillar.

In that moment, Ming Di and Di Huang finally saw clearly, catching sight of a pair of massive eyes lurking deep in the rolling demonic mist. Those eyes were threaded with blood vessels, but as they evolved, the irises and pupils vanished, turning murky and chaotic – truly eyes of chaos.

"The remnant soul of Tian Mo Tian Di, possessing chaos eyes," Ming Di frowned.

Di Huang said nothing, staring fixedly at the Qing Tian Mo Zhu. The vortex had dissipated, and Ye Chen's figure was gone. Even Ming Di couldn't see through it, let alone him.

Ye Chen felt his consciousness drifting, icy cold, as if falling into Jiu You.

Once he stabilized, he saw that he was in a dark world, devoid of light, only filled with surging demonic malice and black fog carrying the wails of vengeful ghosts, disrupting one's mind.

This scene was familiar; he had traced it multiple times through the Tian Mo origin and seen exactly this. The root of why Zhutian people harbored Tian Mo origins lay here.

Ye Chen stood firm, staring straight into the depths without glancing aside.

As expected, a pair of eyes vaguely manifested, identical to what he had deduced, except they had become chaos eyes.

He wasn't unfamiliar with those chaos eyes; he had been observed by them more than once, never imagining they were hidden in the Qing Tian Mo Zhu.

Under his gaze, the chaos eyes transformed into a illusory figure, like a Yuan Shen state. Its features were unclear, but it possessed chaos eyes, with visions of destruction evolving in its pupils – stars extinguishing, suns collapsing, all things reflecting apocalyptic light, cycling through destruction and rebirth, making one feel as if a whole world existed in those eyes.

Though illusory, its pressure made Ye Chen tremble. It surpassed the imperial Dao, and under its stare, any glance could obliterate him a thousand times over. Standing before it, he didn't even qualify to look up.

"The remnant soul of Tian Di?" Ye Chen's soul quaked, his face pale and bloodless, the sword slipping from his grasp unnoticed.

Even as a remnant soul, it towered above great emperors. A mere minor Sheng Ti like him had nothing to fight it with.

"No harm in asking after all this time." The remnant soul of Tian Mo Tian Di chuckled eerily. Though just a faint phrase, it boomed like eternal thunder, shattering ancient immortal vaults. He was like the heavens; his words inspired no defiance, only an urge to kneel.

Pfft!

Ye Chen spat blood, his Sheng Ti shaken to the brink of explosion. Even with the Shen Long Shield's protection, his Yuan Shen nearly shattered, his mind on the verge of collapse in an instant.

Yet, at that moment, a mysterious power awakened deep in his soul, infused with profound wheel of reincarnation force.

This power came abruptly and dominantly, entering his Sheng Ti and replacing his consciousness.

His aura changed instantly, like that of an emperor. Extreme Dao imperial might spread infinitely from his body, dispersing the surging demonic malice. His eyes turned a chaotic haze – not chaos eyes, but the chaotic Dao. Like the remnant soul of Tian Mo Tian Di, all things evolved in his pupils, cycling through destruction and rebirth repeatedly.

"No harm in asking after all this time." Ye Chen said indifferently, his voice ancient and desolate.