Chapter 2514: Catching the Big Fish

The desperate screams of the Songshan Shenzi had long since faded away.

He knelt on the battle platform, his body forming a perfect Chinese character "大" (dà), twitching uncontrollably as foam mixed with blood dribbled from his mouth. His entire form was drenched in gore.

He had passed out. In the moment before losing consciousness, a look of utter bewilderment was etched on his face – how had the fight ended so abruptly? He hadn't even gotten to use his many immortal techniques.

Ye Chen calmly reached out and took the Songshan Shenzi's lifebound weapon, tucking it into his storage bag without a second thought. The golden mace, forged from special divine iron, was a rare and priceless essence of artifacts, irreplaceable.

Only then did he send the Songshan Shenzi off the platform.

The Songshan Palm Teach's face contorted in extreme dismay. The Fengtian Baota was shattered, his Shenzi crippled, and his lifebound artifact seized – this battle was a catastrophic loss for the Songshan Sect.

"It's your own pit you dug – who's to blame?"

Niu Mowang chuckled gleefully, his words unfiltered and direct. He had long held a grudge against the Songshan Palm Teach and was eager to mock him.

One had to admit, Niu Mowang had voiced what everyone else was thinking.

After all, it was their own fault! The little stone figure had been minding his own business, sitting quietly, when they insisted on picking a fight and trying to win Ye Chen's Dao Jing. Now, they had been thoroughly outplayed, turning a strong hand into utter ruin. It wasn't just a loss – it was a spectacular defeat.

The Songshan Sect's actions perfectly illustrated what it meant to fail spectacularly after overreaching.

The Songshan Palm Teach clutched his chest, an old mouthful of blood brewing inside him, unsure whether to spit it out or swallow it down. All his careful schemes to seize the Dao Jing had led to this embarrassing mess.

"This little stone figure still has some real power."

"Truly a monster – he actually shattered the Songshan Sect's Fengtian Baota."

"The one recognized by the Dao Jing is indeed extraordinary."

After glancing at the Songshan Palm Teach, the onlookers turned their eyes back to the battle platform, no longer underestimating Ye Chen. To defeat a Shenzi of the same level required overwhelming cultivation.

"Does anyone else want to fight?"

Ye Chen smiled as he scanned the surroundings, paying special attention to the Shenzi and Shennü from the various sects. As he spoke, he deliberately staggered a little, forcing out a mouthful of fresh blood to make everyone think he was seriously injured. It was all an act of feigned weakness, baiting bigger fish to take the hook.

Sure enough, someone stepped onto the platform – it was the Songshan Shennü.

At this sight, all eyes shifted back to the Songshan Palm Teach. No need to guess; it was clearly his order. Since the Shenzi had failed, they were sending the Shennü instead – to claim the Huashan Dao Jing and salvage their reputation. Most importantly, with Ye Chen already heavily wounded and not at his peak, this was a golden opportunity to strike. For the sake of the Dao Jing, they had thrown shame to the wind.

Kunlun Zhenxian cleared his throat and glanced at the Kunlun Palm Teach.

The Kunlun Palm Teach stroked his beard, showing no intention to intervene. This edition of the Wuyue Duel was destined to be different from previous ones – let the younger generation fight it out.

Meanwhile, the Huashan Zhenren and Huashan Shennü were already silently mourning for the Songshan Shennü.

They knew Ye Chen well, unlike the outsiders. He was just pretending, still at his peak, fishing for opponents. If things continued like this, the Shenzi and Shennü from the other four sects would likely end up getting beaten one by one. Their little stone figure had the capability to do it.

On the platform, the Songshan Shennü stood gracefully, not wanting to come up but compelled by the Palm Teach's direct command. For the sake of the Songshan Sect's honor and to retrieve the Shenzi's lifebound weapon, she had no choice.

Ye Chen wiped the blood from his mouth, his gaze on the Songshan Shennü feeling a bit odd.

She was quite beautiful, but her eyes had a slight squint, and ever since she stepped up, she had been looking at him sideways, making him feel looked down upon.

So, he rolled his eyes and squinted his own eyes, staring back at her sideways.

The Huashan Shennü couldn't help but cover her mouth and stifle a laugh – Ye Chen was just too amusing.

Under the watchful eyes of all, the Kunlun Palm Teach sent out another beam of immortal light, sealing the Songshan Shennü's cultivation to match the level for fair combat. No cheating allowed – just like with their Shenzi.

"Want to add a wager?"

Ye Chen blew on his iron staff and wiped it with his sleeve.

"My Shenzi's lifebound weapon and your Dao Jing."

The Songshan Shennü smiled.

"You've got quite the appetite – what's your stake?"

"My lifebound weapon, plus a Songshan rare treasure."

The Songshan Shennü waved her hand, and a sealed treasure box appeared in her palm. Through the gaps, the scent of medicinal herbs wafted out.

Ye Chen's eyes flashed with a sharp glint.

"Manduo Xian Cao."

It wasn't just him – many sect leaders reacted the same way.

Including the Kunlun Palm Teach and Huashan Zhenren, whose eyes also sparkled with surprise. They could tell what was in the box: an absolute treasure, as rare as the Xianling Flower.

"This wager is getting serious."

"The Songshan Palm Teach is really bold, using such an immortal herb as a bet."

"In his eyes, reputation might be more important."

Murmurs of admiration rose from all sides, with many secretly giving the Songshan Palm Teach a thumbs-up. He was clearly going all out to challenge Huashan, even wagering a Songshan treasure.

"These two items should be enough."

The Songshan Shennü spoke with a light smile, her squinting eyes making it seem like she was talking to Ye Chen, but her gaze was actually on the Kunlun Shenzi.

"Of course, they're enough."

Ye Chen smiled. The Manduo Xian Cao wasn't just any immortal herb – it was a key ingredient for refining the Return Soul Pill, long extinct across the realms with no substitutes.

The Songshan Shennü said nothing more, putting away the treasure box and gently closing her eyes.

In the next instant, she abruptly opened them. Her squinting eyes straightened, overflowing with immortal light and profound Dao essence, carrying an irresistible, mind-disrupting force.

Ye Chen's mind went blank for a moment, pulled into some strange realm.

Or rather, an illusion. The Songshan Shennü had cast an illusion technique on him, and it was quite advanced – similar to Yinian Huaikai, capable of ensnaring someone without even meeting her gaze.

On the platform, Ye Chen stood with a vacant expression, his eyes hollow, his hands limp at his sides, even dropping the iron staff from his grip, like an emotionless puppet.

In contrast, the Songshan Shennü had summoned an immortal sword and was advancing step by step toward him. She was confident in her illusion technique – Ye Chen's mind was trapped.

This scene made the onlookers sit up straight once again.

"If he can't break the illusion, he's done for."

Taibai said, hands clasped behind his back.

The Huashan Shennü frowned slightly, well aware of how terrifying the Songshan Shennü's illusions were. Even if she were caught in it, she'd need to pay a price to escape. She didn't know how Ye Chen would fare – he might lose badly.

Compared to her, the Huashan Zhenren remained calm and composed. Don't underestimate their Huashan little stone figure – he had plenty of tricks. For a prodigy recognized by the Dao Jing, would illusions even work?

As they spoke, the Songshan Shennü had already closed in, raising her resonant immortal sword.

In that moment, the Songshan Palm Teach held his breath. One swing, and victory would be theirs – not only reclaiming the lifebound weapon and Dao Jing but also restoring the Songshan Sect's face.

Unfortunately, wishes were one thing; reality was another.

The Songshan Shennü did swing her sword, but Ye Chen dodged it effortlessly. That's right – he was already awake, or perhaps had been all along. Her illusion had no effect on him.

"You..."

The Songshan Shennü was shocked and quickly retreated.

But Ye Chen was faster, condensing thousands of secret techniques into a single finger pointed at her brow. The power was devastating; if it hit, it would pierce her primordial spirit and sea of consciousness – a fatal strike.

The Songshan Shennü didn't dare stop, fleeing backward continuously.

Ye Chen's finger hovered just three inches from her brow. Though it hadn't touched her yet, the killing intent alone had split her brow open, stabbing at her primordial spirit and true form. She felt as if she had fallen into Jiu You, her whole body icy and numb, as though death was beckoning.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two streaked like divine light and immortal radiance across the vast platform, one retreating and one pursuing, maintaining the same posture throughout. The Songshan Shennü couldn't afford a moment's hesitation – a single lapse would mean instant defeat. Ye Chen's finger was too terrifying.

The crowd held their breath, not wanting to miss a thing.

The Songshan Palm Teach had even stood up, caught off guard by the turn of events. He didn't know how Ye Chen had broken the illusion, but he knew that if that finger landed, it would end his Shennü.

Under everyone's gaze, the Songshan Shennü backed up to the edge of the platform.

With the imperial barrier sealing the area, she had nowhere left to go unless she broke through.

In that same instant, Ye Chen's finger arrived.

However, when it was just an inch from her brow, it suddenly stopped. A soft voice echoed in her ear:

"Shennü, you've lost."

A few breaths later, the Songshan Shennü snapped out of it, her face pale, her body still chilled. She had indeed lost – if Ye Chen hadn't held back, her soul would have scattered.

"Defeated."

The Songshan Shennü gave a bitter laugh, handing over her lifebound weapon and the Manduo Xian Cao before turning abruptly and leaving the platform.

The Songshan Palm Teach slumped back into his chair, his old face indescribable. His Shenzi had lost, forfeiting the Fengtian Baota and lifebound weapon; now, sending the Shennü for revenge had resulted in an even swifter defeat, losing two more treasures without regaining anything.

In this Wuyue Duel, the Songshan Sect had been utterly crushed.

The onlookers were still reeling, many not fully processing what had happened.

The battle had been strangely brief – the Songshan Shennü had only used one move, and Ye Chen had only used one in return. The difference was that Ye Chen had broken her illusion, while she hadn't evaded his finger. The fight had been decided in a single exchange.

The Songshan Sect's Shenzi and Shennü both felt awkward – they were proud talents of a major sect, masters of many imperial immortal techniques, yet in battles against Ye Chen, they hadn't even gotten to use them.

"Does anyone else want to fight?"

Ye Chen's voice rang out again, his smile as bright as the Huashan Shennü's, his eyes twinkling as he looked at the Shenzi and Shennü from the various sects.

No sooner had he spoken than another figure ascended – it was the Taishan Shenzi, landing with a thunderous boom that made the entire platform rumble. He was a formidable Shenzi, his aura overwhelming, his vital energy vast as the sea, his brilliant eyes embodying terrifying Dao essence.

"I'll wager my lifebound weapon against your Dao Jing."

The Taishan Shenzi declared firmly.

"Deal."

Ye Chen laughed. Hey, another big fish on the hook.

As soon as he finished, he spat out blood – completely unexpected, his steps staggering as he struggled to stay upright, his flushed face turning deathly pale in an instant.

This time, he wasn't faking it – he was really in trouble.

Looking inward at his divine body, he found a mysterious and terrifying force at work, rampaging through him, tearing at his origins and dissolving his essence. It was incredibly aggressive, intent on devouring him, with fresh blood staining his entire form.

"Tianren Wushuai."

The Huashan Zhenren shot to his feet, and the Kunlun Palm Teach did the same, both narrowing their eyes. They could see that Ye Chen's condition wasn't from injury – it was the onset of Tianren Wushuai.