Chapter 2410: The Saintess's Defeat?

Blood-colored mist swirled ethereally as Hong Yan fought on. The conquest of the Di Dao was brutally intense; each time the Nü Sheng Ti shed blood, the hearts of the people trembled, fearing that the peerless woman would meet her end in the Da Dao Tai Shang Heaven, all because her opponent was an Emperor.

The saying "a starving camel is still larger than a horse" fit Wan E Mo Di perfectly. In this clash between the weakest Emperor and the strongest below that level, he held the upper hand, but only just. Time and again, he severely wounded Hong Yan, yet he couldn't destroy her completely—in fact, there were moments when she counterattacked.

Who said women were inferior to men? When the Nü Sheng Ti went berserk, even supreme beings were left bloodied.

The terror of a Great Emperor was no exaggeration, and the might of the Nü Sheng Ti was no illusion. In single combat, she could batter an Emperor until blood and bones flew everywhere, a testament to Hong Yan's dominance.

"She can endure and fight—truly worthy of being a Sheng Ti," Long Cang Jie sighed.

"I feel it deeply," Sheng Zun said, taking a deep breath as he recalled the past. When he had dueled the Nü Sheng Ti one-on-one, she had beaten him to the point of doubting his existence. She was incredibly strong.

Di Ji showed a self-deprecating smile. As a woman herself, she was far from matching the Nü Sheng Ti.

If even they felt this way, the other Quasi-Emperors had no choice but to accept it. They couldn't deny the truth: the Sheng Ti lineage could stand shoulder to shoulder with Emperors. It wasn't just talk—invincible in their realm, unbeatable by anyone.

"If it were us facing an Emperor alone, we'd have been turned to ash by now."

Zhan Wang shook his head with a laugh. Even this fiercely dominant ruler showed a moment of gloom. He didn't need to spar with the Nü Sheng Ti to know he'd lose miserably; there was no avoiding defeat.

The eyes of the Quasi-Emperors held a glimmer of hope. Unable to achieve the Dao themselves, they wished for Hong Yan to advance. A world with two fully realized Sheng Ti would be a golden age, forever etched in the annals of the Zhutian.

Thud!

As they spoke, the Nü Sheng Ti bled again, her brow pierced by a finger from Wan E Mo Di. Emperor Dao principles invaded, transforming into dark demonic patterns etched onto her yuan shen, laden with evil power intent on destroying her true form. Her radiant golden blood sprayed forth, each drop strikingly vivid.

Fortunately, the Shen Long Shield protected her yuan shen; otherwise, she might have been killed outright.

"Die! Die!"

Wan E Mo Di cackled menacingly, surging forward with overwhelming murderous aura. His face twisted in grotesque madness, his laughter echoing through the skies, more thunderous than lightning itself. Countless Zhutian cultivators were shaken to the point of their bodies disintegrating; even the older generations struggled against that demonic laugh, their minds faltering.

This Emperor had truly gone mad, attacking without regard for cost, giving Hong Yan no chance to breathe. He lunged in relentlessly, each Emperor Dao immortal technique capable of destroying heavens and earth.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Hong Yan suffered repeated wounds, retreating steadily, unable to withstand the Emperor's assault. At this rate, she might meet her end, suppressed by an Emperor with little hope of turning the tide. Though infinitely close to full realization, she hadn't quite reached it yet—the gap to Di Huang was like night and day.

Her retreat made the hearts of the Zhutian people leap into their throats, their bodies tense as they watched intently, fearing a single blink might mean Hong Yan's demise in the Tai Shang Heaven. Yet, they also yearned for the Nü Sheng Ti to defy the heavens, to truly rise to the supreme ranks through rebirth.

"If the Nü Sheng Ti can't hold on, will the Emperor intervene?" Chu Jiang Wang whispered.

"Most likely."

"You all don't understand the Emperor at all," Qin Guang Wang said, stroking his beard with a grave tone. "In a life-and-death pact, if he saves her, it would tarnish the Sheng Ti lineage's reputation."

The Yama lords fell silent, turning their gazes toward the vast expanse, toward Di Huang.

Di Huang stood quietly, remaining a mere observer from start to finish. In the life-and-death pact he had set, he wouldn't interfere regardless of the outcome. The best scenario was the Sheng Ti destroying the Emperor; if the Emperor destroyed the Sheng Ti, he would let Wan E Mo Di go, provided he truly succeeded in killing Hong Yan.

In his view, that wouldn't be the end result. Ye Chen had faith in Hong Yan, and so did he. If she couldn't overcome this trial, it would disgrace the Sheng Ti's prestige.

"The Sheng Ti is unbeatable in the world, beating Wan E until he's like a dog."

In such grand spectacles, the talents of the Zhutian were never absent. Unable to reach the Tai Shang Heaven, they shouted encouragement for Hong Yan, their voices roaring like ocean waves, shaking the heavens and moving the spirits.

They were the real die-hards.

After all, they were cursing an actual Emperor, a genuine supreme being. Throughout history, those who dared to curse Emperors were all fierce individuals, but ones like them, openly and boldly, were rare. They were constantly illustrating a simple truth: anyone can curse.

Compared to Hong Yan, Wan E Mo Di was utterly alone.

This unfortunate Great Emperor usually demanded grandeur, but this time, he had no supporters and had to endure the barrage, his head buzzing. He half-wished he could descend and slap each of them silly—who asked them to run their mouths? He was an Emperor, after all—was this kind of abuse appropriate?

It was appropriate!

That would be the Zhutian's response. Not only appropriate, but they cursed even louder. Even if Wan E Mo Di had backers, they'd still retort against him. The Zhutian's skill in cursing was unmatched, a fact proven countless times.

However, this time, their support seemed ineffective.

The spiritual encouragement meant little to the Nü Sheng Ti; instead, she fought even more fiercely. Her bloodstained sacred body was a shocking sight, and golden blood rain fell from the Da Dao Tai Shang Heaven, each drop of Hong Yan's fresh blood shining like pearls.

Ye Chen's expression remained calm as still water, while the Zhutian people watched in horror. His eyes, however, showed no ripples. He believed in the Sheng Ti and in Hong Yan; his conviction never wavered.

"Doesn't it hurt to see?" Ren Wang nudged Ye Chen again from the side.

This time, Ye Chen didn't reply. Instead, he handed Zi Xuan a jade slip. The jade slip was inscribed with exactly what Ren Wang had said earlier: I have Zi Xuan's collector's edition.

Zi Xuan read it and exploded on the spot.

In the end, the weak Ren Wang got beaten black and blue, collapsing without even knowing why, sprawled out in a perfect spread-eagle on the ground, out cold.

Da Chu's tenth emperor, ever perceptive, stepped aside and stood on Ren Wang's back, applying just the right amount of pressure with his feet, making Ren Wang's bones crackle. Those around them winced at the sight.

As the saying goes, it's easy to dodge an open attack but hard to guard against hidden ones. They weren't afraid of direct confrontation, but tricks like this jade slip were deadly effective.

Not to worry—this was just the first jade slip. Ye Chen would find time to send one to Di Huang too. The Sheng Ti were not only powerful fighters but also held grudges. Using pirated versions to scam him? Time to teach him a lesson.

Poor Ren Wang, with his heaven-predicting abilities, probably hadn't foreseen this. He should have stayed quiet! Why provoke Ye Chen? Now he was paying the price.

"The Nü Sheng Ti has lost."

In the midst of the chatter, someone murmured dazedly, their face pale as death.

No need for them to say it—the world could see.

Wan E Mo Di had deployed an Emperor Dao forbidden array, formed by ninety-nine copper pillars engraved with Emperor Dao principles and infused with imperial divine essence. It trapped Hong Yan in the Da Dao Tai Shang Heaven. Demonic energy surged wildly within, engulfing her in rolling waves that could swallow her at any moment.

This Emperor Dao forbidden array was world-shattering, not just for sealing but also for slaughter.

Hong Yan was in a pitiful state, casting spells repeatedly but failing to break the array. Instead, she was struck by its destructive force, her sacred body bleeding once more as her vital essence was relentlessly eroded. Time and again, she burst from the demonic blood sea, only to be swallowed back, struggling desperately but unable to escape.

"Die! Die!"

Wan E Mo Di laughed hideously, his fangs bared and gleaming with demonic light. In his eyes, once sealed by the Emperor Dao forbidden array, no one below Emperor level could break free. The Nü Sheng Ti's destruction was only a matter of time; without Emperor Dao power, she couldn't shatter this imperial formation.

"It's over, it's over."

The hearts of the people grew cold, even the Zhutian fierce ones looking grave. If it were them, they'd struggle to break such a high-level array—the Emperor Dao power was too overwhelming.

"Dad." Ye Ling turned to Ye Chen, her eyes full of hope, wishing he would speak up. As fellow Sheng Ti, Di Huang might give him face and intervene.

"The Sheng Ti is undefeated," Ye Chen smiled, saying only those four words.

He wouldn't beg for mercy. Not even if an Emperor pleaded—it wouldn't change Di Huang's intent. This wasn't about face; Di Huang was truly pushing Hong Yan to the brink.

Ye Ling bit her lip and looked toward the vast sky.

The scene in the Da Dao Tai Shang Heaven was too horrific to watch. The peerless queen was covered in fresh blood, fully suppressed and engulfed by the rolling demonic energy.

In that instant, everyone—including the Zhutian fierce ones—turned their eyes to Di Huang.

Di Huang said nothing, his expression coldly indifferent, devoid of emotion. He was an outsider in this, showing no sign of intervening. Even now, he still believed the Nü Sheng Ti could defy the heavens and rebirth. As long as she hadn't reached the final moment of destruction, infinite possibilities remained. In a life-and-death battle, one had to approach death to truly transform.

"Die! Die!"

In the midst of the profound silence, only Wan E Mo Di's howls echoed endlessly.

Desperate to survive and destroy the Nü Sheng Ti, the Emperor had gone berserk, his eyes blood-red with violent bloodlust. He kept Hong Yan trapped in the array, pouring in boundless Emperor Dao power.

As long as he killed her, he could live.

That was his obsession. For it, he abandoned his imperial pride, resorting to any means necessary. He cared only about the result, not the process—he just wanted to survive.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The rumbling from within the array gradually faded.

The Nü Sheng Ti stopped resisting, standing like a frozen statue, utterly still. Her aura plummeted, allowing the rolling demonic energy to engulf her and the Emperor Dao power to erase her. Even her golden immortal glow dimmed to near extinction, on the verge of her soul scattering.

Her expression was equally indifferent, showing no joy or sorrow.

Under the watchful eyes of the world, she gently closed her eyes. To the Zhutian, it seemed she had accepted defeat; to Wan E Mo Di, it meant she had given up, with no strength left to fight.

"Exterminate her."

Wan E Mo Di roared, sacrificing his origin and channeling more Emperor Dao power.

In an instant, the black demonic energy in the array turned into a sea, swallowing the Nü Sheng Ti again. All the world could see was darkness; no matter how hard they strained, they couldn't spot Hong Yan's figure.

"She's been destroyed."

Countless people murmured, their tense bodies going limp like deflated balloons.

But right then, a brilliant light shot up from the rolling demonic energy, piercing straight into the vast void and tearing a massive hole in the heavens of the Da Dao.

"What's that?"

The people looked up in unison, their dim eyes sparkling once more.