Chapter 2516: Only Recognize These

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The sky above the battle platform was filled with thunderous explosions.

Ye Chen and Tai Shan Shenzi were locked in a fierce battle. With Ye Chen's masterful acting, he created an illusion for the spectators that neither could gain the upper hand. He occasionally unleashed a bit more force, surprising Tai Shan Shenzi just enough to keep things believable.

Tai Shan Shenzi fought wildly, unleashing one Emperor Dao Immortal Law after another.

By this point, not only the onlookers but even he himself was stunned. This seemingly frail Little Saint King was extraordinarily tough. Several times, Tai Shan Shenzi had nearly defeated him, but failed each time. Instead of overcoming Ye Chen, he ended up wounded repeatedly, as if his divine abilities were mere decorations against Ye Chen.

In reality, Tai Shan Shenzi was just a prop in this play.

To lure in bigger fish, Ye Chen had gone to great lengths. Uninjured himself, he still forced out mouthfuls of blood to put on a show for the world. His goal was to acquire the life-bound weapons of all the godsons and goddaughters, which required effort to pull off. He aimed to forge the Dinghai Shen Needle into a fearsome divine weapon, all in preparation for ascending to the Heavenly Court.

Kill!

Tai Shan Shenzi roared and charged from the skies, slamming down a palm infused with the might of Tai Shan.

Ye Chen showed no fear, surging upward against the heavens and once again demonstrating to the world what it meant to hold up the sky like a pillar. He pierced a bloody hole through Tai Shan Shenzi's massive overshadowing hand with his staff, sending Tai Shan Shenzi staggering.

Staggering once was one thing, but after that, he couldn't steady himself at all. Ye Chen seized him with the iron staff, chasing and smashing relentlessly. Every time Tai Shan Shenzi tried to counterattack, he was beaten back with a single strike.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

The scene grew gruesome, making the hearts of the onlookers skip beats. It wasn't just painful to watch; the scattering blood and bones falling from the sky were strikingly vivid.

Ah!

Tai Shan Shenzi's hair was disheveled, his roars shaking the heavens and earth.

But roaring alone didn't deliver any real output—it was useless. No matter how loudly he shouted, it couldn't stop Ye Chen's iron staff. Each strike drew blood, growing more dominant than the last. He was so disoriented that he couldn't tell directions anymore; all he saw was the staff buzzing through the air with incredible force.

"Good staff," Kunlun Shenzi murmured, stroking his chin. He was quite impressed with Ye Chen's Dinghai Shen Needle—it was brutally effective. In a same-level fight, getting hit by it would be painfully thrilling.

"Wait until his strength wanes, then go up," Kunlun Zhangjiao transmitted.

"I don't do things like taking advantage of someone's weakness," Kunlun Shenzi replied, wiping his wine gourd with his sleeve. He was joking—that was his wife's body up there. If he damaged it, she'd ban him from the bed, and who'd he complain to then?

Kunlun Zhangjiao took a deep breath and glanced sideways at Kunlun Shenzi, sizing him up from head to toe. You've done your share of taking advantage of others before—don't play innocent. If you don't want to fight, just say so. Why feed me these lines? How did I end up choosing you as Shenzi anyway?

Kunlun Shenzi shook his head carelessly, acting completely unreliable. Stare all you want; I'm not going up. Don't keep trying to scare me. When my cultivation reaches its peak, you'll be the first one I punch.

Boom!

As they spoke, Tai Shan Shenzi plummeted from the void again, smashing the previous crater even deeper. This time, he didn't get up—he'd been knocked unconscious.

"Another one down," Tai Bai sighed.

Tai Shan Zhangjiao's face darkened with fury. He never imagined his own Shenzi would lose, and to a heavily injured Little Saint King no less. It was a massive loss of face.

On the platform, Ye Chen had already taken Tai Shan Shenzi's life-bound weapon and casually flicked him off the stage.

Then came the blood-spitting act again. He put on another performance, coughing up mouthfuls of old blood, his face pale and bloodless. His once-vigorous vital energy was now feigned to be weak and fading. To lure the big fish and snag the treasures, he was essentially starting to harm himself.

"Defeating two godsons and one goddaughter in a row is something to be proud of."

"Though Hua Shan is out of the Wuyue Tournament, this freak Ye Chen has certainly made them the center of attention."

"The Hua Shan godsons and goddaughters might not measure up, but this little stone has shouldered the banner and upheld Hua Shan's reputation."

The crowd's comments were full of sighs, tongue-clicking, and praise for Ye Chen.

As expected, the one recognized by the Dao Jing wasn't just anyone.

"Is there anyone else who wants to fight?"

Ye Chen steadied himself, wiped the fresh blood from his mouth, and scanned the surroundings. He was particularly eyeing the Tai Shan faction and focusing on Tai Shan Shennü. Your Shenzi lost, so why don't you come up and offer some treasures too?

His words made the onlookers raise their eyebrows. He was already this injured and still wanted to fight?

Hua Shan Zhenren stroked his beard, speaking with a tone of deep concern. He knew Ye Chen well—this little stone was crafty. It seemed he wouldn't stop until he'd worn down the godsons and goddaughters of the other four sects. And that acting skill? It was downright divine.

"Don't mess around anymore; come down," Hua Shan Shennü transmitted. Though shocked by Ye Chen's strength, she was more worried about her own body getting damaged if he wasn't careful.

"Is there anyone else who wants to fight?"

Ye Chen ignored her, fully focused on snagging the treasures. Don't interrupt.

Sure enough, someone stepped up, and it was Tai Shan Shennü.

Clearly, this was at Tai Shan Zhangjiao's instruction. As the winners of the Wuyue Tournament, they were losing face because of Ye Chen, and it infuriated them. Plus, they had to reclaim the Shenzi's life-bound weapon. With the Shenzi defeated, the Shennü had to step in and save their honor.

On the platform, Tai Shan Shennü stood gracefully. She was quite perceptive and didn't wait for Ye Chen to ask. She presented her stake: first, her own life-bound weapon; second, a secret scroll—more precisely, an Emperor Dao Immortal Law.

Ye Chen glanced at the life-bound weapon. Hmm, forged from immortal iron—definitely a treasure.

As for the secret scroll, he wasn't too interested. It was a movement technique, and not as profound as the Taixu Step. Naturally, he looked down on it. He had plenty of movement techniques already.

"I don't want the immortal law," Ye Chen shook his head. "Exchange it for something else."

His words amused Tai Shan Shennü, and everyone who heard them chuckled. You're turning down an Emperor Dao Immortal Law? How precious is that, and you're saying no?

At that thought, many glanced at Hua Shan Zhenren. Just how high are the standards of your little stone? He doesn't even want an Emperor Dao Immortal Law. Or does your sect have so many that there's no room for more?

Hua Shan Zhenren coughed awkwardly. Ye Chen might not want it, but he did. Hua Shan would take it! The ninth-level scripture pavilion still had plenty of space—more was always better.

"Are you despising my Tai Shan?"

Tai Shan Zhangjiao snorted coldly. Handing over that Emperor Dao Immortal Law had pained him greatly; it came at a high cost. For Ye Chen to reject it was like rejecting Tai Shan itself—a blatant insult.

"This junior wouldn't dare," Ye Chen said with a smile. He casually pulled out an ancient scroll and unfurled it. It was inscribed with ancient characters, a list of neatly written names—all medicinal herbs, precisely the materials needed to refine the Nine Turns Rejuvenation Pill.

"Nine Turns Rejuvenation Pill."

A Kunlun elder noticed and narrowed his eyes. Each of those materials was extremely rare, and not just rare—they were all for refining the Nine Turns Rejuvenation Pill. Others might not see it, but as Kunlun's top alchemist, he recognized it at a glance.

That was because he also had the pill formula for the Nine Turns Rejuvenation Pill. Over endless years, he'd been searching for these materials, hoping to refine that nine-marked pill in his lifetime.

The Kunlun elder stroked his beard and looked at Ye Chen with newfound respect.

Defeating the Hua Shan Immortal in alchemy showed how formidable Ye Chen's skills were. Perhaps Ye Chen, like him, was aiming to refine the Nine Turns Rejuvenation Pill. That would be interesting.

"What do you mean by this?" Tai Shan Zhangjiao glanced at the scroll.

"Does Tai Shan have these materials? Besides the life-bound weapon, I only recognize these," Ye Chen said with a smile. He then breathed on his iron staff and wiped it vigorously with his sleeve.

"What gives you the right to negotiate terms with me?" Tai Shan Zhangjiao demanded.

"I only recognize these—fight if you want, or don't."

"You—"

"Enough talk," Tai Shan Great Elder snapped coldly. With a flick of his hand, he sent a treasure box floating through the barrier into the air. Though sealed, a faint fruity aroma seeped through the cracks.

Inside was indeed an immortal fruit—a red one, the legendary Fortune God Fruit, a material for refining the Nine Turns Rejuvenation Pill.

Ye Chen's eyes lit up. Back when he was in the Hua Shan scripture pavilion, he'd learned that Tai Shan had the Fortune God Fruit. How could he not win it? His acting had been spot-on, and now they'd taken the bait.

Below, the Kunlun elder's eyes also gleamed. He needed this material too and had long known Tai Shan possessed it. He'd tried to obtain it several times without success. If Ye Chen won it now, that would be heartbreaking.

"It's actually the Fortune God Fruit. Tai Shan is showing real boldness."

"Using something so precious as a stake—such a waste."

"It would be perfect for an old man like me; it could extend my lifespan."

The surrounding cultivators stared with shining eyes, especially the elders whose lifespans were running out. That was a divine fruit, one that could replenish life essence. The entire Scatter Immortal Realm probably didn't have a second one.

"Junior sister, do you recognize what those are for? What kind of pill's materials?" Hua Shan Zhenren transmitted to Hua Shan Shennü.

As the sect leader, he had some suspicions. First, there was Hua Shan's Immortal Spirit Flower; then, Song Shan's Mandala Immortal Grass; and now, Tai Shan's Fortune God Fruit. Clearly, Ye Chen was collecting materials for alchemy, and they were of a high level.

"I've never heard of them," Hua Shan Shennü shook her head. She casually glanced at the Kunlun elder opposite her. From his expression, he seemed to know.

"Is that enough?" Tai Shan Zhangjiao asked, his face grim.

"Enough, of course it's enough," Ye Chen licked his lips. This Wuyue Tournament had been worth it—he'd gotten a Mandala Immortal Grass and now a Fortune God Fruit. Who knows, he might even gather all the materials for the Rejuvenation Pill right here in the Heavenly Realm. If he brought them all back, the evil demons would be overjoyed.

Tai Shan Shennü felt immense pressure. The stake this time was huge. If she lost, not only would her life-bound weapon be gone, but so would the Fortune God Fruit.

"Immortal, don't strike too hard," Ye Chen wiped the blood from his mouth, smiling brightly. Seeing the alchemy materials lifted his spirits more than seeing a beauty.

Tai Shan Shennü said nothing and vanished in an instant.

When she reappeared, it was in the void. She swept her hand toward Ye Chen, patterns of formations swirling in her palm. It wasn't a divine ability but a massive sealing array. While Tai Shan Shenzi specialized in defense, she excelled in formations, capable of both attack and protection.