Chapter 2518: Find Help

The Tài Shān Shén Nǚ smiled bitterly and sighed, leaving behind her Běn Mìng Qì and the Zào Huà Shén Guǒ before departing in disappointment. Yè Chén had shown mercy, and she had indeed been defeated.

The Tài Shān elder's face darkened with anger, his expression so gloomy it was frightening. How could this be the outcome? His sect's Shén Zǐ had lost, and now his Shén Nǚ had lost as well. They couldn't even defeat a gravely injured small stone, not only losing their treasures but also shaming the Tài Shān name.

Little did he know the terror of Yè Chén. Not just your Shén Zǐ—even if you went up to fight him at the same level, Yè Chén would still overpower you without fail. The title of Great Chǔ Emperor wasn't just for show.

"Monster."

The spectators had uttered these two words countless times. Once again, in the midst of the slaughter, only these words could truly describe Yè Chén. This small stone was just too damn heaven-defying.

"Thank you, senior, for the gift."

Yè Chén collected the Běn Mìng Qì and carefully stowed away the Zào Huà Shén Guǒ.

These two battles had yielded quite the harvest.

With the treasures in hand, he turned and walked away, as if to say he had earned enough and wouldn't fight anymore. In reality, this was a tactical retreat to lure others in. Surely, someone would step up, unwilling to let him take these treasures. More importantly, with his heavy injuries, people would come to pick off the weak.

"You're leaving just like that?"

As expected, Qīng Líng's laughter suddenly rang out, echoing strangely.

To be precise, it wasn't an echo—it was two people speaking at once.

Before the words even faded, two graceful figures descended gracefully. One was the Héng Shān Shén Nǚ, and the other was the Héng Shān Shén Nǚ. Both had received instructions from their sect leaders and surprisingly took the stage together. At first glance, it seemed planned, but it was actually a coincidence. They both coveted the Dào Jīng, and their actions happened simultaneously, bringing them together.

Yè Chén's eyes darted back and forth, glancing at the Héng Shān Shén Nǚ and then the Héng Shān Shén Nǚ, his expression odd. Normally, Shén Zǐ led the charge while Shén Nǚ followed, but these two sects were different—the Shén Nǚ were rushing ahead.

However, when he saw the nature of the two sects' Shén Zǐ, he instantly understood.

The Héng Shān Shén Zǐ and the Héng Shān Shén Zǐ were both listless after fighting over a thousand rounds, temporarily unable to continue. They sat cross-legged, desperately recovering their strength. It seemed they both thought they could still salvage the situation and return to the fight later.

Sending the Shén Nǚ first was just a way to buy time.

"Little brother, you don't mind if we both come at you together, do you?"

The Héng Shān Shén Nǚ tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled seductively, her beautiful eyes fluttering with a captivating charm. She had been called a wretch by the Sōng Shān Shén Zǐ earlier and beaten badly, but now she was full of energy.

"If it's for bed, I wouldn't mind at all."

Yè Chén replied with a grin.

"Hey." His words made the two Shén Zǐ from the major sects explode with rage on the spot. One in black robes and one in white, they were the lovers of the Héng Shān and Héng Shān Shén Nǚ. How could they tolerate their beloveds being flirted with?

In a flash, the two Shén Zǐ leaped onto the stage. Who cared about the Wǔ Yuè Duel anymore? This was about defending honor, and even sects not part of Wǔ Yuè could join the chaos.

Well, then. What started as two Shén Nǚ had turned into four: two pairs, neatly blocking Yè Chén on the battle platform. Whether the Shén Zǐ or the Shén Nǚ, their eyes burned with fury.

"By the looks of it, he's just another fool." Many people sighed in admiration, quite enjoying Yè Chén's remark. Without thinking, he had provoked two more Shén Zǐ. They were clearly out for blood.

Too many glanced at the Huà Shān Zhēn Rén, their eyes full of implication: Your disciple is this outstanding—surely it's because of your guidance.

The Huà Shān Zhēn Rén coughed awkwardly and said nothing.

The Kūn Lún Zhǎng Jiào rubbed his brow. How had this year's Huà Shān Duel gone so off track? It was supposed to be a contest of dao, but it had turned into a series of gambling battles with stakes.

Gambling battles were one thing, but there were unexpected twists, like group fights. It barely resembled a proper duel anymore. If the ancestors could see this, they'd surely be pleased.

"So, either apologize, or leave the Dào Jīng. Your choice."

"And how dare you flirt with my wife."

On the stage, the two Shén Zǐ were shouting aggressively, both fiercely protective. Their tempers were flaring, and they had already drawn their weapons. Today, no one could stop them—they had to beat Yè Chén.

"Reeled in two more big fish." Yè Chén thought to himself, eyeing the two new Shén Zǐ. He wasn't the one who started the flirting—it was them who came on to him first.

And his words were carefully chosen. For the sake of treasures, he didn't mind losing face.

As it turned out, his move had been a success.

"Four against one—you can find helpers, you know."

Tài Yī said leisurely.

"And Huà Shān isn't short on people."

Tài Yī took a bite of a spirit fruit.

Looking over at Huà Shān, it was quite the scene.

The Huà Shān Zhēn Rén was leisurely sipping wine; the Huà Shān Xiān Zǐ was quietly drinking tea; and the other Huà Shān Xiān Zǐ was the most elegant, holding a small mirror and fixing her disheveled hair. In the mirror, Yè Chén's face was still quite pleasing to look at. As for helping in the fight, that was out of the question—it would be too embarrassing, especially since he had brought it on himself with his big mouth.

As for the Huà Shān Shén Zǐ, forget it. His face had been twisted in a grimace from the start. Asking him to help would be lucky if he didn't stab someone in the back.

This sight left the onlookers with meaningful expressions.

It was as if Yè Chén wasn't really from Huà Shān, and his life or death had nothing to do with them. The Huà Shān group seemed to be declaring to everyone: Fight on—beat him to death.

"Poor kid, no doubt about it." Many old folks said gravely, speaking the truth.

"He's running—that guy's running!"

Someone shouted suddenly.

The guy in question was, of course, Yè Chén, pretending to be outmatched and bolting away.

"Where do you think you're going?"

The black-robed Shén Zǐ cursed and leaped after him in a single step, wielding a golden whip and swinging it down toward Yè Chén's back.

But Yè Chén was faster. He spun around swiftly, and before the whip could land, a Shén Shāng divine light shot out, striking perfectly. The once-arrogant black-robed Shén Zǐ went dark-eyed, staggered, and nearly plummeted from the sky.

Yè Chén, ever the gentleman, followed up with a strike that sent him tumbling down.

"You!" The Héng Shān Shén Nǚ was furious and slashed with her sword.

Yè Chén shifted in a flash, tracing array patterns in his palm and pressing them onto the Héng Shān Shén Nǚ's back, sealing her powers before gently sending her off the stage. He hadn't used brute force—there was no real grudge, so he showed some pity for the fairer sex.

"Suppress!"

In a split second, the white-robed Shén Zǐ charged in, controlling a massive treasure seal as heavy as a mountain.

But he soon followed suit. Yè Chén swung his staff, shattering the seal and making him spit blood. Before the Shén Zǐ could steady himself, another solid hit landed.

The last one, the Héng Shān Shén Nǚ, didn't fare much better. She took a Shén Shāng strike, wobbled unsteadily, and fell from the sky. As soon as she got up, a divine talisman from above sealed her completely.

In that instant, the venue fell deathly silent.

Everyone's mouths hung open in stunned disbelief. In just three or five moments, it was all over? Two Shén Zǐ and two Shén Nǚ—one pair knocked out cold, the other sealed. The defeat was faster than anyone expected.

Not just them—even the sect leaders of the four sects were dumbfounded. Were their Shén Zǐ and Shén Nǚ that weak? A four-on-one setup, and they lost so decisively, without even making a splash.

The most shocked were the two conscious Shén Nǚ on the stage.

Yè Chén's speed was too fast, his movements elusive and ghostly. They didn't even know what hit them before they were sealed. And this sealing technique was incredibly domineering—even with their strength, they couldn't break it.

Even though they weren't at their peak, this defeat was still too quick. Yè Chén's combat power had clearly surpassed the Shèng Wáng level.

"He's been hiding his strength." Bì Xiá Xiān Zǐ murmured, finally seeing through it.

"This kind of plot is straight out of the legendary 'play weak to eat strong.'" Jiāo Lóng Wáng said thoughtfully.

"You little stone, you've got quite the repertoire." Niú Mó Wáng chuckled.

"I wonder how strong he is at his peak." Tài Yī sighed.

It wasn't just him—the spectators were all quietly speculating. If he were uninjured, using his own body and full power, how terrifying would that be? He was probably unbeatable at the same level.

"This acting skill is top-notch." The Kūn Lún Shén Zǐ clicked his tongue in amazement. Even the densest person could see it now—Yè Chén had been feigning weakness from the start, putting on a show the whole time. His goal was clear: lure in big fish and snag treasures.

"In terms of same-level combat, he's absolutely not beneath you."

The Kūn Lún Zhǎng Jiào took a deep breath.

"Don't overestimate me—I couldn't beat him."

The Kūn Lún Shén Zǐ coughed dryly. There was an unspoken understanding among experts, and he had it with Yè Chén. If they were both suppressed to the Shèng Wáng realm, he'd lose badly too. Defeating two Shén Zǐ and two Shén Nǚ in just a few moments was something he couldn't do—especially when injured and not using his own body.

Under everyone's gaze, Yè Chén used a gentle force to send the Héng Shān and Héng Shān Shén Nǚ off the stage, while the two dazed Shén Zǐ were tossed down one in each hand.

What they all had in common was that their Běn Mìng Qì had been taken.

From this point, he didn't need to keep up the act. Any more pretending, and no one would believe it. Everyone here wasn't stupid—tricking them once or twice was fine, but a third time would just mean they had issues.

Even so, he casually asked,

"Is there anyone else who wants to fight?"

No one answered. With such ferocity, who the hell would dare go up? Just to deliver treasures?

Looking at the four mountain sect leaders, none of them spoke. The only Shén Zǐ who hadn't fought—the Héng Shān and Héng Shān ones—weren't moving either. Even at their peak, they might not beat Yè Chén, let alone in their wounded state. Going up now would be asking for a beating, not a fight.

Seeing no one step forward, Yè Chén dusted off his hands and headed down from the stage, pockets full of magical tools and two types of alchemy materials. His harvest was plentiful, and his acting had fooled everyone spectacularly.

The four mountain sect leaders' faces turned black with anger, while the Huà Shān Zhēn Rén straightened his back proudly. Sure, Huà Shān was out of the Wǔ Yuè Duel, but it seemed their little stone had turned the tables spectacularly and even walked away with a bunch of treasures.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Sī Mìng Xīng Jūn clicked his tongue. It was just as the Rén Wáng had said—wherever Yè Chén went, things got lively. A proper Wǔ Yuè Duel, and now the four sects' Shén Zǐ and Shén Nǚ were nearly all defeated. The one who wasn't even qualified to participate had become the biggest winner.

Not just the Wǔ Yuè sects—even the host Kūn Lún sect felt awkward about it.

This year's Wǔ Yuè Duel was just too absurd.