Chapter 2409: Dead End

Under the watchful eyes of all, the ethereal realm above saw no further massive battles, yet the thunderous roars continued unabated, all emanating from Da Dao Tai Shang Tian. Only two figures remained: Nü Sheng Ti and Wan E Mo Di.

One stood to the east, the other to the west, facing off across the heavens. One exuded surging demonic energy, with imperial might soaring to the skies; the other shone with radiant gold, an epitome of unparalleled elegance—like a demon god on one side, and a supreme female war goddess on the other.

"Destroy her, and I will spare your life," Di Huang said indifferently, his words echoing like ancient thunder that shook the eternal immortal vault. He was not a great emperor, yet he carried an aura surpassing that of emperors.

This statement was directed at Wan E Mo Di.

Yet, it left the people of the myriad realms baffled. Was Da Cheng Sheng Ti seeking personal revenge?

The so-called personal grudge referred, of course, to the events in the Ling Domain years ago, where, because of Nü Sheng Ti, countless lives were lost. In that war, Nü Sheng Ti had aided the heavenly demons—was this now a settling of old scores?

Clearly, the answer was no.

Who was Di Huang? A Da Cheng Sheng Ti from ancient times, who had battled the Five Emperors in the past and slain a peak great emperor in later eras—a true supreme being. If he wanted to destroy Nü Sheng Ti, a single palm strike would suffice. At his level, he would not resort to such tricks; there must be deeper intent.

And that deeper intent was crystal clear to the quasi-emperors present, especially to Ye Chen.

The emperor-slaying battle was Nü Sheng Ti's destined opportunity, her chance to advance to Da Cheng.

Thus, this conquest had to be fought by her alone.

This was also why Di Huang had ordered Shen Jiang and the others to withdraw—it was unfortunate that none of the quasi-emperors showed signs of breakthrough, while Hong Yan did. So, she was the one to be elevated.

Ah!

Shen Jiang and the other quasi-emperors could not help but sigh.

"We lack not opportunity, but the right era," Chu Huang said with a helpless laugh.

The deeper meaning in his words was understood by all the peak quasi-emperors present.

Earlier, they had already slain one Chi An Mo Di, and with the emperor dead, the opportunity still had not arrived—that was the best proof. Even if they slew Wan E Mo Di now, the outcome would be the same.

In contrast, Hong Yan and the Six Paths were eager to fight.

The quasi-emperors understood Di Huang's implication, but the two in a state of confusion did not. Some subconscious drive urged them to use Wan E Mo Di to prove their dao.

Unfortunately, Di Huang would not leave such a chance for them. Without signs of breakthrough, what good would slaying Wan E Mo Di do? It would only deny them the emperor's throne and block Hong Yan's path.

And so, the two were sealed, with Di Huang as the one who imposed the seal.

"A man of your word," a grotesque laugh echoed from Da Dao Tai Shang Tian.

Wan E Mo Di had reformed his imperial body, his face twisted like that of a malevolent ghost, unconditionally believing Di Huang's words. A supreme being who had slain a peak great emperor surely had honor.

Thus, he held hope of surviving.

After all, his opponent was neither an emperor-level figure nor a Da Cheng Sheng Ti, but merely a peak quasi-emperor. So what if she was an Huang Gu Sheng Ti? Without reaching Da Cheng, she was nothing but an ant.

Hong Yan remained silent, her expression aloof as an ancient sacred mark etched itself on her forehead—the exclusive mark of the Sheng Ti. Her aura climbed steadily, her combat power instantly peaking. She unleashed her sacred dao visions, with supreme dao principles swirling around her, faintly visible. Listening closely, one could hear the sounds of the great dao.

Di Huang's words had essentially forced her onto a dead end: either slay the emperor and achieve nirvana, or be utterly destroyed. Only by fighting an emperor could she carve out a clear path through the heavens.

Kill!

Wan E Mo Di launched his attack, his step shattering the celestial heights as he thrust out a palm, summoning a sea of imperial demonic energy.

The surging demonic aura swallowed the heavens and earth, inscribed with the emperor's divine principles. Every thread and strand felt as heavy as mountains, carrying destructive force capable of instantly crushing an ordinary peak quasi-emperor.

Nü Sheng Ti moved as well, her single hand weaving dao laws. With a flick of her jade finger, she traced a splendid immortal river, breaking through the sea of imperial demonic energy.

Exterminate!

Wan E Mo Di vanished in an instant, thrusting a finger toward Hong Yan's forehead, carrying divine might that pierced all, ignoring the physical body and targeting the primordial spirit—a true imperial killing strike.

Hong Yan ascended into the sky, dodging the imperial finger, and struck out with a palm that made Wan E Mo Di stagger.

Excellent!

Wan E Mo Di grinned menacingly, a demonic mark etching on his forehead as his imperial dao surged. Behind him materialized an ultimate demonic form, pitch-black and towering, radiating demonic light infused with imperial dao principles. The terrifying pressure caused Da Dao Tai Shang Tian to crumble inch by inch.

Boom!

Accompanied by a thunderous roar, Hong Yan on the opposite side also activated her external Ba Ti.

Her Ba Ti was quite striking, identical to her in appearance, also towering and standing tall, its aloof eyes seeming to pierce through the heavens and earth. It manifested dao essence and outlined destruction.

In an instant, both moved.

Wan E Mo Di charged from west to east, his ultimate demonic form roaring; Hong Yan advanced from east to west, her external Ba Ti launching an assault. Under the gaze of all, at the same moment, they delivered their strongest strikes.

Boom!

Their blows clashed head-on, yin and yang shattered, the heavens and earth collapsed, and waves of silent destruction spread.

Looking at the combatants, Wan E Mo Di's ultimate demonic form exploded, and Hong Yan's external Ba Ti dissipated. The battle was evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand, while Da Dao Tai Shang Tian continued to crumble relentlessly.

Kill!

Wan E Mo Di howled shrilly, charging with unmatched imperial might, his demonic aura rolling like a tide.

Fight!

Nü Sheng Ti's voice rang out firmly, advancing instead of retreating. With no weapons or tools, just her pair of jade hands—like Di Huang, she had not refined a life-bound artifact; her sacred body was the strongest divine weapon.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The battle erupted, shaking the great dao.

This duel between them held profound historical significance.

One was a suppressed entry-level great emperor; the other, a Sheng Ti infinitely close to Da Cheng—one the weakest among emperors, the other the strongest below emperors. They represented two extremes.

This could also be seen as a unique form of imperial dao conquest.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

The war was brutal, with blood raining down.

Wan E Mo Di fought desperately to survive, like a madman, launching frenzied attacks and unleashing imperial dao forbidden techniques without regard for cost. Every strike carried destructive visions, each one making Nü Sheng Ti spurt blood.

Survival was the emperor's obsession.

Hong Yan was the same; she sought nirvana and fought with all her might. Though the dao she cultivated was unknown, she possessed an invincible will to battle. As a woman, she was no less formidable than any man, like a female commander on the battlefield, a war goddess in Da Dao Tai Shang Tian, displaying magnificent prowess amid the emperor's assaults, battling through blood.

Nirvana was her conviction.

This war was not only a contest between a great emperor and a Sheng Ti but also a clash of obsession and conviction. If obsession won, the Sheng Ti would be destroyed; if conviction prevailed, the emperor would die. It was truly a fight to the death.

It was evident that Hong Yan was falling behind. Fighting the emperor alone, she was no match, her body covered in countless bloody gashes, each wound laced with imperial killing intent that voraciously consumed her vital energy.

Bathing in fresh blood, she fought on with great difficulty, nearly perishing several times.

At this rate, the outcome was predictable: she would die in battle, and Wan E Mo Di would be left crippled.

"Di Jun has truly backed her into a corner!" Chu Jiang Wang looked up, murmuring thoughtfully.

"This battle has been a fight to the death from the start," Qin Guang Wang said calmly. "Either die in combat or achieve nirvana. Only the opportunity between life and death can lead to a heaven-defying breakthrough."

"If Nü Sheng Ti dies in battle, that would be absurd," Chi Yang Zi grinned.

"Don't underestimate the Sheng Ti lineage—be it male or female, they all have boundless potential," Dong Huang Tai Xin said leisurely, glancing at Ye Chen as she spoke.

The tenth emperor of Da Chu was the best example, having slain emperors multiple times, each an act against the heavens. The Sheng Ti lineage was fierce, world-saving, and myth-creating. If Ye Chen could do it, and Di Huang could, there was no reason Hong Yan couldn't.

Ye Chen remained silent, merely watching quietly. For those of the Sheng Ti lineage, he held not only conviction but also obsession. Hong Yan would surely defy the heavens and slay the emperor; the dead end Di Huang had chosen for her was also a path to life. She would transform step by step and achieve Da Cheng against all odds.

"Feeling heartbroken?" Ren Wang glanced at Ye Chen.

"Yes," Ye Chen replied bluntly—but not for Nü Sheng Ti. It was for his collector's edition, which Ren Wang had swindled from him, trading it for a bootleg copy.