Chapter 2403: Trash of a Fighter

In Da Chu, bathed in moonlight and accompanied by thunderous rumbles, a sense of serenity emerged once more. Nearly everyone had rushed off to join the battle, leaving the vast mountains and rivers eerily quiet.

Under the moon, the white-clothed woman returned to Tianxuan Gate. Just as before, she moved through effortlessly, her body enveloped in colorful immortal radiance, making her appear dreamlike wherever she went—like a phantom in the night. Her form flickered between ethereal and solid, her mysterious movement technique blurring the line between her true self and mere afterimages.

She landed gracefully in the small garden. But no sooner had she entered than a deafening boom sounded, and she was sent hurtling out in the next instant, crashing through over a dozen mountain peaks. The sight alone was painful to behold, let alone the injuries she sustained.

Emerging from the small garden with her was a towering figure. It was Liu Dao, his eyes hollow and his expression wooden, like a lifeless puppet. With the heavenly demons invading, he had not gone to fight; instead, he prioritized his duty above all else.

By sheer coincidence, the white-clothed woman had sneaked in to take Ruoxi, and he would not allow it. Without a word of preamble, he launched his attack, catching her completely off guard.

This scene was witnessed most clearly by Ming Di.

Just moments earlier, the white-clothed woman had descended from the sky, not even steady on her feet, her mocking smile barely forming—when she collided straight into Liu Dao's fist.

What a thrill!

Liu Dao's punch was no joke. It was fortunate that the white-clothed woman had fused with the Zhuxian Jian in her body; any ordinary peak Quasi-Emperor would have been obliterated by that single blow.

"Liu Dao."

Amid the scattering debris, the white-clothed woman steadied herself, her multicolored eyes filled with resentment.

She had underestimated Tianxuan Gate and Liu Dao. With her formidable perception, she had not even sensed his presence. If she had known, only a fool would have come seeking trouble.

This formidable opponent was far more dangerous than Yu Hua Xian Wang. She could hold her own against Yu Hua Xian Wang, but against the enigmatic Liu Dao, she stood no chance.

A grave miscalculation.

Across from her, Liu Dao did not press the attack. He stood like a statue, like a gate guardian, firmly planted before the small garden. He had set his boundaries—anyone who dared to cross them would face his wrath.

"Very well." The white-clothed woman sneered, her body gradually turning ethereal until it vanished completely.

Yet, she had not left. Instead, she headed to another part of Tianxuan Gate.

In a grove of peach blossom trees, she reappeared. Deep within the grove, sealed away, was a person identical in appearance to Liu Dao, lying motionless on a stone bed, as if he were an frozen statue.

This person was Hong Chen, still sealed in that place.

Her purpose was now clear: she could not defeat Liu Dao, but she could create a distraction for him, such as releasing Hong Chen's seal.

No wonder the Zhuxian Jian was so formidable—it could unravel even the seals laid by Di Huang. In just a few instants, it awakened the slumbering Hong Chen.

And in the moment Hong Chen stirred, she slipped into the void.

Hong Chen stepped down from the bed, his footstep shaking the ground. His eyes were empty, his expression wooden, as he moved with stiff strides directly toward Ruoxi's location—that was his mission.

The peaceful night was shattered by thunderous booms.

Liu Dao and Hong Chen, after two hundred years, clashed once again.

Neither possessed true consciousness, but both were driven by instinct. Liu Dao's mission was to protect Ruoxi, while Hong Chen's was to kill her—their purposes had always been polar opposites.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The roars echoed through the heavens, both fighters in a mindless state, their origins tied to Ye Chen. Both at the peak Quasi-Emperor level, their battle raged from Tianxuan Gate to the skies over Da Chu, with immense destruction: immortal mountains collapsed one after another.

"What... what is that?"

The juniors left guarding Da Chu gazed upward in horror, their faces pale. They were truly inexperienced, the strongest among them only at the Heavenly Realm, crushed by the oppressive aura of Liu Dao and Hong Chen until they could barely breathe. Even if they wanted to seek help, they had no idea whom to turn to.

"How interesting."

The white-clothed woman chuckled softly—it was actually the Zhuxian Jian laughing, watching the spectacle with great amusement.

This was her handiwork.

After one last glance, she turned and vanished in a single step, returning to the small garden.

Oh!

In that instant, Ming Di could not help but click his tongue.

Once again, the white-clothed woman was sent flying, this time even farther, dooming another dozen mountains as they crumbled in her path.

Bathed in the bright moonlight, a graceful figure slowly emerged from the small garden.

She was the epitome of elegance, her entire body shrouded in golden light, her vital energy surging. Every strand of golden aura radiating from her felt as heavy as a mountain. The ground where she stood seemed like the edge of eternity—visible yet impossibly distant, like a dream one could only admire.

This woman was quite impressive, aside from her slightly modest chest.

She was the Female Holy Body, known as Hong Yan. Having broken the Zhuxian curse, she had regained her original form and cultivation, reaching the peak Quasi-Emperor realm, infinitely close to full attainment.

Pfft!

In the empty sky, the white-clothed woman stabilized herself. Seeing that it was the Female Holy Body, she spat out a mouthful of blood—whether from injury or anger, it was hard to say, but her whole body ached.

Had she been cursed with bad luck? First Yu Hua Xian Wang, then Liu Dao, and now the Female Holy Body—one more formidable than the last. How could grabbing one person be harder than ascending to heaven?

"This person! Committing too many sins will bring retribution."

Before the Female Holy Body could attack, a leisurely voice suddenly rang out.

Another figure materialized—a young boy with clear, handsome features.

This boy was no ordinary person; his Dao essence was perfectly natural, devoid of any cultivator's aura, having reached the state of returning to simplicity. His entire being exuded a power known as Zhou Tian.

Evidently, he was Ren Wang, and he had awakened as well.

No wonder tonight was so eventful: first the heavenly demons' invasion, then Di Huang's awakening, followed by Hong Chen's release, and now Hong Yan's return.

And now, even Ren Wang was lively and active—truly a night of endless surprises.

The white-clothed woman said nothing, completely ignoring Ren Wang.

By ignoring, she meant not even glancing at him. As the progenitor of Zhou Tian and a remnant soul of the supreme human emperor, his abilities were vast, but he was a classic Zhan Wu Zha—a weak fighter in battle.

Her gaze was fixed solely on the Female Holy Body.

To put it bluntly, without Hong Yan present, she could have slapped Ren Wang until he cried.

"After all these years, you still enjoy meddling with the bodies of the deceased."

Ren Wang sighed, unable to help but smirk. With the Female Holy Body standing guard, his posture was straight and confident. Without her, he would have fled faster than anyone.

Once again, he was ignored.

No matter how much he tried to insert himself into the scene, she simply looked down on him.

"Merge with me, and I will take you to the Taigu Honghuang." The white-clothed woman's lips parted slightly—it was the Zhuxian Jian speaking, addressing Hong Yan.

This was how it had tempted the Female Holy Body before.

"I can go to the Taigu Honghuang without your help." Hong Yan replied calmly, stepping forward and shattering the heavens with a wave of her hand. Did it really think she was a fool? Once bitten, twice shy. That Zhuxian curse had sealed her for twenty years—today, that needed to be settled.

Hong Yan's mind was sharper than ever these days.

After spending years at Jade Maiden Peak, she had gained much, especially from being around Ye Chen for so long. Her intelligence had sharpened through repeated setbacks, making her wits keener than before.

Not to boast, but Ye Chen could outmaneuver the Zhuxian Jian by miles when it came to trickery.

Boom!

The vast sky collapsed under the force of Hong Yan's palm.

The Zhuxian Jian dared not confront it directly and turned to flee, once again shattering the void.

Hong Yan did not pursue, for even she could not track where the Zhuxian Jian had escaped. In this era, while the Zhuxian Jian's combat power fell short of Di Huang's, its evasion techniques surpassed even a fully realized Holy Body. Those who knew its origins understood the secrets behind it.

As for the Zhuxian Jian's mood, it was likely one of frustration. It had come time and again, each visit bringing surprises, but in the end, it was always thwarted by some twist of fate.

"Next time you come, I'll kick you to death." Ren Wang cursed loudly.

Hong Yan said nothing, casting a sidelong glance at Ren Wang. You Zhan Wu Zha, what are you yelling about? If you're so capable, go chase it yourself! As a remnant soul of the human emperor, are you not embarrassed?

Ren Wang cleared his throat awkwardly.

Hong Yan turned her gaze away, looking toward the outskirts of Tianxuan Gate, where Hong Chen and Liu Dao were still locked in fierce combat. The two looked identical and matched in strength, neither able to gain the upper hand.

However, if it came to a real fight, whether Hong Chen or Liu Dao, neither would be her match.

The Holy Body was invincible at the same level—that was no myth. As a peak Quasi-Emperor, on par with them, in single combat against any other at that level, she would emerge victorious.

For some reason, seeing Hong Chen and Liu Dao's faces filled her with inexplicable irritation.

There was no helping it—who made them look exactly like that certain Ye Chen? Every time she saw that face, an urge to beat someone senseless welled up inside her.

"This beautiful night, may I invite the fairy to admire the moon with me?" Ren Wang said with a hearty laugh.

At his words, Hong Yan turned slightly, giving him another sidelong glance, sizing him up from head to toe and back again, until Ren Wang felt a chill run through him.

Not just Ren Wang—even Ming Di could feel the cool breeze.

The remnant soul of the human emperor was quite the character, always provoking the tough ones. With your boyish appearance, even if you ended up in bed with someone, they'd have no idea what to do.

Besides, this was a battlefield! Could he act with some decorum? The entire realm was at war, and here he was, flirting—serves you right for being a Zhan Wu Zha.

"Through the ages of heaven and earth, when the other shore flowers bloom, what does it signify?"

Hong Yan said lightly, her clear and piercing eyes fixed unswervingly on Ren Wang.

"The meaning of those eight characters, I will only tell Di Huang." Ren Wang brushed the dust off his shoulder.

Little did he know, summoning that courage took everything he had.

The one beside him was no pushover—a wrong word, and he'd get hammered.

Hong Yan fell silent and did not press further. Instead, she seized little Ruoxi and sealed her within her own small world. Ruoxi's importance was too great; keeping her here was safer than leaving her with anyone else.

After sealing Ruoxi, Hong Yan ascended into the heavens and vanished.

"Where are you going?" Ren Wang asked in a panic.

"To the Luo Sha Domain." Her faint voice echoed from the distant sky.

But those words made Ren Wang shiver all over.

The Female Holy Body was heading to join the battle—or more accurately, to find that certain young master.

Behind him, Ren Wang stroked his chin, piecing it all together clearly.

The legendary Zhan Wu Zha's deductive abilities were unmatched. Even now, his predictions from before the great calamity were mostly coming true, such as with Di Huang and the Female Holy Body, even the eight-character riddle falling within his Zhou Tian domain—a true act of seizing fate from the heavens.