Chapter 2224: Big Move Brewing

Heaven has not forsaken me!

Han Jiang roared, carrying the might of thunder, shaking the eight wastelands. In an instant, he sacrificed an unknown amount of his lifespan and essence blood, forcibly healing and reshaping his blood-soaked body, while regathering his scattered combat power.

He had been defeated and was on the verge of perishing at Ye Chen's hands. But this sudden Tian Jie had given him a glimmer of hope. Thus, he was not yet defeated—in fact, far from it—and he even had a chance to turn the tables. Once he survived the Tian Jie, he would become a Quasi Emperor, surpassing the Great Saint level.

As a Quasi Emperor-level emperor's son ranked second in Hong Huang, he was confident he could suppress a Great Saint-level young emperor. Right now, his top priority was to preserve his life, no matter the excruciating cost, for this would be the most profound stroke on his path to defying the heavens.

Ye Chen stood in the void, not moving an inch. That's right—he simply watched, showing no sign of attacking.

"Damn it, fight!"

Xie Yun, who had retreated in a flash, couldn't help but curse. It wasn't just him; all the talents of Zhu Tian erupted in collective profanity. The Tian Jie was terrifying, but if they could eliminate Han Jiang before it fully descended, the tribulation would be irrelevant.

Yet, Ye Chen ignored the shouts from all sides, standing still without dodging, evading, or killing. It seemed he wanted to see Han Jiang's Tian Jie play out.

"This old man calculates that Ye Chen is waiting for Han Jiang's Tian Jie," Di Mie said meaningfully, also retreating.

"This old man calculates that Hong Huang is in for disaster," Tian Zhu said, stroking his beard with a grave expression.

No wonder they were from the forbidden zones—they saw through it all and understood Ye Chen's nature perfectly. Letting Han Jiang summon the Tian Jie was clearly him preparing a big move.

And the facts aligned with their predictions: Ye Chen was indeed preparing a big move, and that big move was Han Jiang's Tian Jie. Others feared Han Jiang's Tian Jie, but Ye Chen did not. As the Huang Gu Sheng Ti, he was the only bloodline in the world that could stand equal to an emperor, and that came with privileges. For instance, while no one else could withstand the Tian Jie of a Sheng Ti, Ye Chen could endure the tribulations of others.

In other words, Han Jiang's Tian Jie was useless against him. Since it was useless, he had plenty of options—like crossing the tribulation alongside Han Jiang to temper his Sheng Ti; or, for example, dragging Han Jiang back to the Hong Huang side for everyone to share the fun.

Thinking about it this way, it was undoubtedly a big move. Han Jiang, as the second-ranked emperor's son in Hong Huang, had formidable combat power and an even stronger bloodline, so his Tian Jie was something few in the world could withstand. Imagine bringing him to the Hong Huang people—what a grand spectacle that would be.

That was precisely why Ye Chen hadn't killed Han Jiang on the spot. Instead, he gave him time to summon the Tian Jie. What a waste it would be not to use such a perfect tribulation.

Han Jiang had no idea of Ye Chen's scheme. He swallowed a handful of pills and fled, fearing Ye Chen might strike him down before the Tian Jie arrived—that would be too embarrassing.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Ye Chen sneered, gripping his iron staff and chasing after him. The two streaked across the starry sky like divine lights, incredibly radiant.

"Retreat, retreat quickly!"

Shouts echoed through the heavens and earth. Not only the Hong Huang people but also those from Zhu Tian were yelling. The Tian Jie wasn't a joke, and Han Jiang's Tian Jie was even less so. Getting pulled into a passive tribulation would be absurd.

Boom! Boom!

The vast Wang Xuan Xing shook violently amid the rumbling, with mountains and peaks exploding one after another. This star, which had stood for countless ages, finally shattered before the Tian Jie's arrival, collapsing into fragments along with its legends.

As Wang Xuan Xing crumbled, Han Jiang's Tian Jie truly descended.

Boom!

Countless lightning bolts rained down like a galactic cascade, forming a sea of thunder that engulfed Han Jiang in his tribulation. The Tian Jie was indeed domineering; even with Han Jiang's strength, he was struck with blood and bones flying everywhere.

Ye Chen, also within the Tian Jie's range, was passively caught in it. However, compared to Han Jiang, he was faring much better—full of vitality, leaping about energetically. Not only did he avoid the lightning, but he even drew it to himself, using it to temper his Sheng Ti.

"You..." Han Jiang's face twisted into a grotesque expression upon seeing this.

In that moment, he realized Ye Chen's intent: to borrow his Tian Jie to temper his Sheng Ti!

Distracted for an instant, a bolt of heavenly lightning struck him, sending him flying.

Before he could stop, Ye Chen was already there, flashing him a brilliant smile.

"Damn you." Han Jiang roared in fury, enduring the Tian Jie while fleeing desperately.

"Run? Where do you think you're running?" Ye Chen pursued relentlessly, swinging his staff to send Han Jiang flying with one strike.

Han Jiang spat blood and halted mid-flight amid the billions of thunderbolts.

Ye Chen was even faster, charging with his iron staff and striking again without a word.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The scene that followed was extremely bloody: Han Jiang, the emperor's son of his clan, was repeatedly battered by Ye Chen's staff in his own Tian Jie, unable to stay on his feet.

Moreover, Ye Chen directed each swing toward the Hong Huang side with precision.

"Bastards!"

The Hong Huang clan erupted in rage, scrambling to escape. They weren't afraid of Han Jiang or Ye Chen themselves, but of Han Jiang's Tian Jie—if those two came over, the tribulation would follow.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The bloody spectacle repeated: slower Hong Huang members suffered greatly. Once enveloped by the Tian Jie, they were forced into their own tribulations, with entire groups turning to ash under the heavens' wrath.

Heaven was fair in this regard—the passive tribulations matched their levels: Quasi Emperors faced Quasi Emperor tribulations, Great Saints faced Great Saint ones.

"Ah!"

Screams, roars, and howls filled the starry sky. The Hong Huang forces, like a dark ocean, were scattered by this Tian Jie. Heavenly realm experts fled, and even Quasi Emperors ran for their lives, none daring to resist Han Jiang's divine punishment.

"What does this mean?"

The Zhu Tian people, still retreating, exchanged glances.

Then, all the cultivators of Zhu Tian gave Ye Chen a thumbs-up. You're truly impressive—pit the Hong Huang even in retreat!

"Facts prove that whose Tian Jie it is doesn't matter; what matters is that the Huang Gu Sheng Ti can withstand it," the Wu Emperor said with a deep breath, thoroughly impressed by Ye Chen's maneuver.

"Pitting Hong Huang like this is a skill our seventh brother has mastered," Kui Niu grinned.

"Domineering." The emperor's sons clicked their tongues in amazement, sighing endlessly. They admitted they wouldn't dare wander in Han Jiang's Tian Jie like that—only a beast like Ye Chen would rampage through the devastating lightning.

"This is more than just turning the tide," a Quasi Emperor from Tian Xuan Gate laughed heartily. "Borrowing a Hong Huang emperor's son's Tian Jie to strike the Hong Huang clan—this move is pure genius."

"Brilliant!" The talents of Zhu Tian cheered, with a group of irreverent old Quasi Emperors joining in. They loved seeing the Hong Huang cluster together and even more loved watching them get struck by lightning. Let's see you cause chaos now, and cluster up again!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Under the watchful eyes of Zhu Tian, more Hong Huang members perished in the Tian Jie. Even Quasi Emperors struggled; one after another, they were sent flying, and those with weaker foundations never got up, utterly obliterated by the lightning.

This was all thanks to Ye Chen, swinging his staff like hitting a ball, with impeccable aim—straight toward the densest Hong Huang crowds.

"Ah!"

Han Jiang's roars even drowned out the thunder. This was his Tian Jie, yet it was being used to strike his own people, and Ye Chen kept bashing him, leaving him unsteady on his feet.

He had underestimated Ye Chen's true intention—it wasn't just about tempering his Sheng Ti; it was clearly about pitting Hong Huang. Countless Hong Huang clan members had met their end in his Tian Jie.

After today, he, as an emperor's son, would become a sinner to Hong Huang.

"Come on, where there are more people, let's go there."

"Don't worry, I'm holding back—won't kill you with one strike."

"Run? Where do you think you're running?"

In the Tian Jie, Ye Chen's shouts rang out loudly. Every word was accompanied by a staff swing. He didn't strike to kill, afraid a single blow might end Han Jiang—for if he died, the Tian Jie would vanish, and then what would he use to pit the Hong Huang?

Ye Chen stuck to this principle, wielding his iron staff with masterful skill.

"What a nature!"

Even the Ming Emperor of the underworld, Di Huang, and Daozu Hong Jun of the heavens couldn't help but sigh at this scene. They'd seen talents before, but never one like Ye Chen—who not only beat Han Jiang down in his own Tian Jie but also pitted Hong Huang along the way. Truly outstanding.