Chapter 2304: Another Opportunity

Kill!

The chaotic Hong Huang army roared in unison, obeying the command of their clan emperor as they surged toward the Nan Chu city walls. They ignored Jian Feidao and Hong Chen, focusing solely on breaching that mighty fortress, then trampling the Great Chu and slaughtering all living beings in the heavens to quench their fury and unleash their savage bloodlust.

Fight!

The people of Zhu Tian shouted back, their cries shaking the nine skies. They threw themselves into the fray, shedding blood and forgetting life and death, holding the Nan Chu walls with unyielding resolve as ancestors and descendants alike fought on relentlessly.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Explosions erupted as Hong Huang soldiers scaled the walls like swarms of ants, dark and endless. As soon as one wave was cut down, another charged up. The Zhu Tian defenders were the same, with one falling and another taking their place, both sides driven to madness in a fight to the death.

The war was brutally fierce, leaving the Nan Chu walls in ruins. Watchtowers collapsed one after another, with shattered bricks, tiles, and fragments of exploded mystical weapons all stained with blood. Piles of corpses stacked up on and around the walls, truly forming mountains of bones.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The battle on the walls raged on, while behind the Hong Huang army, a sea of blood mist surged.

There, Hong Chen and Jian Feidao clashed, though they were as insignificant as ants, they created a cataclysmic formation. The terrifying aftershocks formed layers of annihilating halos that spread endlessly across the eight directions.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Blood flowers bloomed brilliantly wherever the halos passed, claiming countless Hong Huang lives. Even ordinary Zhun Di dared not approach rashly, knowing only peak Zhun Di could stand a chance.

It was clear that Jian Feidao's combat prowess was a step below Hong Chen's. His peak sword path seemed utterly insignificant in Hong Chen's eyes. Hong Chen's attacks appeared deceptively simple, yet they shattered the heavens and destroyed the earth, more dreadful than any emperor dao immortal law, striking Jian Feidao down repeatedly.

Such a sight even made Nu Shengti frown upon witnessing it.

Hong Chen had no domineering bloodline or battle will; he was merely a dazed wanderer. Yet this lifeless shell possessed such terrifying power.

"Ye Chen, how powerful will you become in the future?"

Nu Shengti murmured to herself.

At that moment, without needing Ye Chen to explain, she had guessed the secret. The so-called Hong Chen was the future Ye Chen, and the so-called Liu Dao was the future Hong Chen. Both had reversed time and space. Their fearsome strength came from their comprehension of the supreme great dao, which transcended the world—at least, Hong Chen towered above Jian Feidao.

She did not know the reason behind Hong Chen and the Liu Dao reversing time, but it surely involved ancient secrets, and those secrets were undoubtedly linked to Xiao Ruoxi. She could guess two or three parts of it.

Puff!

As she murmured, Jian Feidao spat blood, pierced by a single finger from Hong Chen. Before he could steady himself, Hong Huang Zhun Di arrived, unleashing a storm of sword light, blade shadows, palm strikes, and killing formations that engulfed him. Even the mighty Jian Feidao, the sword god of Zhu Tian, nearly met his end there.

Fortunately, his foundation was strong enough. He employed a heaven-defying escape technique and soared into the sky.

Hong Chen said nothing and pursued relentlessly, like a shadow.

The Hong Huang Zhun Di snorted coldly and closed in from all sides. They did not know the grudge between Hong Chen and Jian Feidao, nor Hong Chen's connection to Ye Chen, but they knew this dazed figure was extraordinarily powerful. Since he was hunting Jian Feidao, the Hong Huang forces were more than happy to let it happen.

Jian Feidao remained expressionless, avoiding direct confrontation and relying on his profound escape techniques to protect himself.

As the disciple of Di Zun, he was far more than just talk. His deceptive skills were masterful, using the heaven-shifting earth-changing divine ability with exquisite precision, tricking one Hong Huang Zhun Di after another. Since even he was no match for Hong Chen alone, the Hong Huang forces fared even worse, mostly being instantly slain by Hong Chen.

Thinking of Hong Chen, Jian Feidao felt deeply astonished—his state of mind was no weaker than the Liu Dao. In a one-on-one fight in this era, only Nu Shengti might rival him, and even then, the outcome was uncertain.

As they spoke of it, Hong Chen arrived again, his hand covering the sky like a mountain.

Puff!

A dazzling blood flower burst forth as a Hong Huang Zhun Di was instantly crushed into mist, his body and primordial spirit both obliterated. He died in confusion, not even knowing what hit him.

This was all thanks to Jian Feidao, who, in the instant Hong Chen's palm struck, had swapped their spaces. Though Jian Feidao escaped, that Hong Huang Zhun Di was doomed.

The Hong Huang Zhun Di were furious, sending countless Zhun Di weapons soaring to seal the space.

However, they could not seal Jian Feidao, nor Hong Chen. At their level, without ultimate emperor artifacts, no one could confine them—no matter how many Zhun Di weapons there were, it was futile.

"Dao, do not force it."

On the Nan Chu walls, Donghuang Taixin, locked in battle with a Hong Huang Zhun Di, sent a faint message. Her clear and beautiful eyes were filled with worry.

Compared to Xiao Ruoxi, she cared more for Jian Feidao. Her message was clear: she wanted him to abandon Xiao Ruoxi. Otherwise, Jian Feidao might be destroyed. After all, pursuing him were not only Hong Chen but also thousands of Hong Huang Zhun Di. Such a terrifying lineup could overwhelm even the sword god of Zhu Tian.

"No matter."

Jian Feidao smiled and shot upward like divine light.

Hong Chen followed like immortal light, chasing into the void.

Feeling quite confident, the Hong Huang Zhun Di swarmed after them, thousands strong, each believing their power was not insignificant and eager to join the chaos.

And indeed, they joined quite effectively.

The reason it was effective was that the battle was truly intense. Amid the rumbling, Hong Huang Zhun Di kept spitting blood and plummeting from the void, turning to ash before hitting the ground—one after another, whether struck down or colliding themselves, their deaths were gruesome.

Kill!

Fight!

Back at the Nan Chu walls, the two sides clashed in true bloodshed. It was Zhu Tian's defensive war, Hong Huang's siege, and a relentless war of attrition.

Compared to the northern flames of war, the southern Chu border remained eerily quiet.

Ye Chen was still there, sitting cross-legged like an ancient monk, his form dignified and serene, surrounded by faint dao manifestations—chaotic visions of all things sprouting and cycling through annihilation.

Yu Hua Xian Wang was also present, like a statue, standing silently.

At some point, a flicker of surprise appeared in the Xian Wang's indifferent eyes, his brows furrowing as he stared ahead. That space twisted, and a figure emerged, approaching slowly.

It was a woman in radiant seven-colored immortal robes, her garments fluttering like she had stepped out of a painting. Immortal light enveloped her entirely, even her strands of hair glowing with divine essence. She was no earthly being, a beauty as if from a dream, though standing nearby, she seemed even more distant than a fantasy.

Her face was exquisitely beautiful, yet her expression was wooden. Her bright eyes were clear but empty and devoid of emotion.

She resembled a puppet, a lifeless shell without feelings.

"Jiu Tian Xuan Nu."

The Xian Wang murmured, his brows knitting further, as if recognizing the approaching woman. She moved with graceful lotus steps, her form elegant and alluring, but in his memory, this woman had long perished.

The Xian Wang's eyes narrowed into slits.

After a moment's realization, he saw through the truth. This woman was indeed the Jiu Tian Xuan Nu from his memories and had truly died. Her reappearance was due to someone controlling her.

And that someone was Zhu Xian Jian.

Yet, he could not see Zhu Xian Jian—it was not inside Jiu Tian Xuan Nu's body but controlling her through secret methods. The purpose was clear: to have Jiu Tian Xuan Nu hold him back while Zhu Xian Jian went to destroy Ye Chen. If Ye Chen fell, Zhu Tian's war would be lost.

And his guess proved correct.

With a gentle breeze, Jiu Tian Xuan Nu finally attacked, stepping forth to shatter the heavens. Her crystalline jade hand struck from across the sky, her palm etched with ancient divine patterns infused with seven-colored immortal light—the mysterious power granted by Zhu Xian Jian. Before the palm even landed, the very fabric of space collapsed.

The Xian Wang remained silent, manifesting dao laws in his palm and thrusting out.

Their palms collided with a thunderous boom, instantly obliterating that patch of sky. Even the mighty Yu Hua Xian Wang was forced back half a step, his already furrowed brows growing heavier. He knew Jiu Tian Xuan Nu's strength well; alive, she was no match for him. Her current power came from Zhu Xian Jian's enhancement, elevating her above him.

Though Ye Chen was deep in enlightenment, he could still clearly see the scene.

The current Jiu Tian Xuan Nu was like the past Mu Liuqing, controlled by Zhu Xian Jian's magic. Had it not been for Zao Hua Shen Wang and the evil demon, he and Ren Wang would have been destroyed in that battle.

Without further thought, he manifested his Sheng Zhan Fa Shen.

"Boss, focus on your enlightenment."

The Fa Shen's voice rang out firmly as he instantly formed a dao sword and stood beside Ye Chen's true body, scanning all directions to guard against Zhu Xian Jian's sudden attack.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

In the skies, Yu Hua Xian Wang and Jiu Tian Xuan Nu were already battling. Both from the same era, they possessed world-shaking prowess, their strikes all emperor dao immortal laws. Each collision caused the heavens to crumble and the earth to split. It was fortunate the Xian Wang had set up formations around Ye Chen, or he would have been affected.

Zheng!

Amid the fierce fight, a sword's hum suddenly echoed—it was the damned Zhu Xian Jian, bursting from behind Ye Chen. It pierced like a rainbow, its tip wreathed in dark light, aimed straight at Ye Chen's primordial spirit.

The Fa Shen snorted coldly and flashed forward, slashing Zhu Xian Jian away with his sword.

Zhu Xian Jian was slippery; failing to land a killing blow, it vanished instantly, even evading the Fa Shen's detection. Open attacks were easy to dodge, but hidden ones were not—Zhu Xian Jian excelled at this.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of metal clashing rang out intermittently as Zhu Xian Jian struck stealthily and without warning, each time unleashing a lethal technique.

Its target remained the enlightening Ye Chen.

The Fa Shen was diligent in his duty, guarding the dao path. Every time Zhu Xian Jian attacked, he arrived in the first instant to protect Ye Chen's true body, repelling it at all costs.

For this, he paid a price, struck several times and left bleeding.

"You cannot protect him."

A faint voice echoed through the void, shifting unpredictably from east to west, sounding like a woman's then a man's, carrying an irresistible demonic force.

In the next moment, Zhu Xian Jian struck again.

This time, it transformed into a illusory figure shrouded in seven-colored light. Her features were visible, her lips curving in an evil smile, her demonic eyes filled with terrifying power.

"Chu Xuan?"

The Fa Shen stared in shock.

"Like hell it's Chu Xuan—that's an illusion."

Ye Chen, still enlightening, snorted coldly.

Zheng!

Before Ye Chen finished speaking, Zhu Xian Jian attacked. It was indeed an illusion; the Chu Xuan shadow dissipated, revealing a seven-colored immortal sword that thrust forth in a deadly strike.

Puff!

The Fa Shen could not evade in time; in that brief moment of distraction, he was pierced by Zhu Xian Jian.

"You motherfucker."

The Fa Shen's eyes flashed with cold light as he gripped Zhu Xian Jian tightly with both hands, preventing it from withdrawing. He drew upon Ye Chen's true origin to enhance his sealing techniques, trapping Zhu Xian Jian inside his body to buy precious time for Ye Chen's enlightenment.

But he had underestimated Zhu Xian Jian; even with the Sheng Ti origin, it could not be contained.

Break!

With a faint command from the shadows, the Fa Shen's sacred body exploded and vanished instantly.

Puff!

Ye Chen, in enlightenment, spat out a mouthful of blood. Normally, the Fa Shen's destruction would not affect the true body, but since it was Zhu Xian Jian that struck, the damage transferred over. That damned sword was too mysterious.

Seizing this rare opportunity, Zhu Xian Jian thrust again, its speed surpassing lightning, faster than any flash. Even Ye Chen could not dodge in time; he was locked by the sword, and the reincarnation marks he had etched around him were isolated, preventing him from using Fei Lei Shen.

"Dammit."

Yu Hua Xian Wang, fighting Jiu Tian Xuan Nu, tried to break free and rescue him.

But Jiu Tian Xuan Nu would not allow it, blocking him firmly in the void.

Zheng!

Zhu Xian Jian's hum was piercing, painful to the soul. This strike was incredibly powerful.

Ye Chen's sacred body trembled violently, his eyes bulging as the sword's tip loomed larger in his vision, glowing with apocalyptic darkness. Before it even hit, he felt his primordial spirit on the verge of annihilation. In an instant—just one instant—he would be utterly destroyed by Zhu Xian Jian.

Yet, in that life-or-death moment, he achieved sudden enlightenment.

"How far apart are life and death?"

He pondered this in his heart, suddenly recalling the other shore flowers on the Huang Quan Road. The flowers represented life, the leaves death; flowers bloomed without leaves, leaves grew without flowers, and they never met across lifetimes.

Perhaps, there was once a moment when flower met leaf, life met death.

And that moment was eternity.

In this instant, he captured that eternity, born from a single thought.

His state of mind elevated instantly.

In a single thought, within his Chaos Dao, other shore flowers bloomed—one after another, each with both flower and leaf, crimson as fire, etching that eternal thought.

This instant became an eternal moment.

The thrusting Zhu Xian Jian halted just an inch from his brow.

Or rather, that sword was frozen in eternity.

"In the instant of life and death, a single thought's eternity—the law of time?"

Di Huang ventured tentatively, staring at the halted Zhu Xian Jian, even he, a fully realized Sheng Ti, felt astonished.

"As you said."

Ming Di took a sharp breath.

In the eyes of these two supreme beings, astonishment went beyond words. The law of time was profoundly mysterious, untouched even by a Dacheng Sheng Ti or a great emperor.

Yet, a mere Dasheng had comprehended a single thought's eternity in that moment.

"Truly against the heavens."

Di Huang murmured.

"His comprehension surpasses even his first life."

Di Huang sighed in amazement, beginning to doubt his own path. Having grasped the reincarnation law was not enough; now he added the time law. That little Sheng Ti walked no ordinary path; his Chaos Dao was filled with defying laws.

Bang!

As the two supreme beings marveled, Zhu Xian Jian was flung back.

At the same time, Ye Chen rose, his Chaos Great Realm blooming with crimson other shore flowers, each flickering with fiery light and granting life to all things within.

Buzz! Buzz!

A hundred zhang away, Zhu Xian Jian vibrated, its tremors mixed with anger and bewilderment. Even it did not know what had happened in that instant.

Equally puzzled was Yu Hua Xian Wang, still battling Jiu Tian Xuan Nu. He had thought Ye Chen would be slain, but this strange scene unfolded instead. As a peak Zhun Di of ultimate strength, even he could not discern what had occurred in that moment.