Chapter 2524: The End of the Duel

In the midst of the bustling crowd, Kunlun Zhangjiao descended from the heavens.

As the host of the event, Kunlun Zhenxian once again stepped onto the battle platform. Perhaps due to a poor night's sleep, he let out a yawn, showing little interest in this delayed Wuyue Doufa. Whoever wins is fine, as long as it's clear in his mind—none could overshadow Ye Chen's glory.

"Fighters, take the stage."

Accompanied by a ethereal voice, Tai Shan Shenzi and Song Shan Shenzi appeared together.

These two Shenzi were quite intriguing; after stepping onto the platform, they didn't look at each other but instead glared at Hua Shan's Ye Chen, their fierce eyes filled with chilling menace. Returning to this place, they couldn't help but recall those absurd events.

Kunlun Zhenxian cleared his throat lightly and then turned to leave the stage, setting up a Di Dao barrier.

Only then did the two Shenzi retract their gazes and face each other from afar, both suppressing their anger toward Ye Chen and treating their opponent as if they were him. In this battle, they aimed to vent their fury on each other.

Fight!

With a resounding shout, both moved at once. Afraid that the world wouldn't know about their life-bound weapons, they revealed them immediately. The weapons, imbued with spirits, shone like immortal radiance and divine light, soaring into the sky to clash. The sound of metal colliding echoed endlessly.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The weapons clashed fiercely, and their masters fought with equal intensity, skipping any warm-up and unleashing Di Dao immortal techniques right away. One stood in the eastern sky, the other in the western firmament, bombarding each other with secret arts. Space shattered inch by inch, overturning yin and yang and disrupting the universe.

Many onlookers gazed upward, witnessing fresh blood raining down and staining the battle platform red.

However, though the battle scene was grand, the spectators' moods remained surprisingly calm, with no major waves. After witnessing Ye Chen's epic fights, these two in their little skirmish weren't all that impressive anymore.

The world might not favor them, but the two Shenzi took it very seriously. Having lost face in the Wuyue Doufa, they needed this fight to regain some honor, which was also the intention of their sect leaders. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to exchange for weapons from Ye Chen.

"It's quite evenly matched! Who wins is hard to say."

"Could drag on for three days and nights, ending in a draw—that would be ridiculous."

"With Ye Chen overshadowing everything, it doesn't really matter."

Discussions erupted like waves, one after another, speculating on the outcome while casually recounting Ye Chen's glorious deeds. His brilliance was unmatched by anyone.

Ye Chen sat steadily, occasionally glancing around.

In the shadows, too many people were watching him, most with ill intent. The tracking marks on him were planted by those individuals, and now that the Doufa was nearing its end, they were just waiting for him to leave the Xian Di.

"Kid, once you leave the Xian Di, don't wander off."

The Niu Mo Wang, sitting beside Ye Chen, kindly sent a message through divine sense. With so many eyes on him, he could sense the killing intent.

Even a great demon like him in the Sanxian Realm wasn't invincible; there were countless people he had to beware of. Many at his level were eyeing Ye Chen, possibly planning to kill and rob.

"Understood."

Ye Chen smiled, finding this old ox more agreeable by the moment.

As for those watching him, they'd better behave. If they provoked him too soon, he wouldn't mind a massacre. Once out of this Xian Di, he would be invincible, with realm suppression on his side—even if a Dao Zu came, he dared to fight.

Boom!

As they spoke, a thunderous rumble erupted. Song Shan Shenzi had fallen from the sky, smashing a deep pit into the battle platform, while Tai Shan Shenzi still stood firm in the firmament.

Fight!

Song Shan Shenzi let out a roar and charged out of the pit, killing his way back against the heavens.

What followed was a series of booms.

Not long after, Tai Shan Shenzi crashed down, shattering the platform.

Fight!

Tai Shan Shenzi activated his forbidden law, his combat power soaring and swallowing the eight directions.

He went up, and Song Shan Shenzi came down. When Song Shan Shenzi fought back, Tai Shan Shenzi was knocked down again. The two Shenzi had a peculiar rhythm and tacit understanding, alternating falls in over a dozen rounds, neither holding back as they fought like madmen.

This battle was indeed prolonged, starting from dawn, continuing through the blazing sun, and dragging on until the sunset. After over a thousand rounds, no victor emerged.

The spectators tsked more than once; fighting over a thousand rounds without a decisive outcome showed the strength of these two Shenzi. Precisely because of their strength, it highlighted Ye Chen's dominance even more.

Yet, all battles must end.

On the 1,500th round, both plummeted from the sky, one to the east and one to the west, creating two massive pits.

Many stood up, peering toward the platform.

However, after waiting a long time, neither rose. In fact, they had exhausted their strength and both fainted; even if awake, they were too weak to continue. Forget fighting—they could barely stand.

The delayed Wuyue Doufa ended in a draw between Tai Shan Shenzi and Song Shan Shenzi.

"Again, no clear winner."

Many people coughed awkwardly.

Glancing at the sect leaders of the two mountains, their faces were darker than ever, feeling an urge to spit blood. They had expected to claim first place, but after waiting all day, it was just a tie.

For a moment, people turned to Kunlun Zhangjiao, as if suggesting: Delay it a few more days?

Kunlun Zhangjiao rubbed his brow and waved it off. No more delays—another one might end in another tie. Everyone was busy; they didn't have time for this nonsense. A tie it was, then—tied for first in the Doufa.

"Nonsense."

Niu Mo Wang was the first to stand and leave, striding away. Jiao Long Wang grumbled as he followed, the great demon and great yao bickering all the way until they vanished.

"The show's over."

Immortals from the Upper Xian Realm, like Taiyi Taibai, Si Ming Xingjun, and Bixia Xianzi, also rose and departed on clouds, heading into the distance.

Once some left, it triggered a chain reaction. People got up in groups—three here, five there—each going their own way, leaving the vast Doufa venue increasingly empty.

It's worth noting that as each person left, they glanced at Ye Chen. In this Wuyue Doufa, few would remember the other sects' Shenzi or Shennu, but Ye Chen's name would spread across the four seas and eight wildernesses. Though unqualified to participate, he became the biggest winner.

Humph!

The leaders of the Four Mountains all snorted coldly, flicked their sleeves, and ascended to the heavens, their hearts filled with pent-up anger. Their gazes at Ye Chen were full of resentment—it was all because of him that everything was disrupted.

"Hua Shan's Dao friends, would you like to visit Kunlun for a while?"

Kunlun Zhangjiao said with a smile.

"We have urgent matters and cannot stay long."

Hua Shan Zhenren cupped his hands from afar, then turned and left. Hua Shan Xianzi and Hua Shan Shenzi followed, but Hua Shan Shennu glanced back at Kunlun Shenzi, her eyes full of reluctance.

As for Ye Chen, he gazed toward Kunlun, as if bidding farewell to his reincarnated acquaintance. He didn't know when he might return to the Xian Di. As he looked, his reincarnated acquaintance gazed back from afar.

"My words still hold. If you ever change your mind, you're welcome anytime."

Kunlun Zhangjiao smiled warmly, extending an olive branch to Ye Chen once more, even trying to poach him before leaving. This made Hua Shan Zhenren's face darken—what a lack of tact.

"I appreciate the senior's kindness."

Ye Chen replied with a smile, then suddenly turned and stepped into the domain gate with Hua Shan Shennu.

Ah!

Behind them, Kunlun Zhangjiao sighed. After years of trying to poach, this one was the hardest. He'd even offered imperial essence, yet Ye Chen remained unmoved—what a waste of talent!

"Old man, lend me some treasures. One day, I'll go to Hua Shan to propose marriage."

Kunlun Shenzi said, one hand holding a wine jug and the other scratching his ear, looking utterly carefree.

"Compared to their Shennu, as your master, I'd rather you bring Ye Chen back."

"Never mind, forget I said anything."

Kunlun Shenzi turned and left, his whole body covered in goosebumps, feeling nauseated. Just thinking about it made him want to vomit.

On their side, the Hua Shan domain gate channel had already exited the Fengshan Xian Di.

Hua Shan Zhenren and Hua Shan Xianzi remained leisurely, even brewing tea and contemplating the Dao in the channel. The rich tea aroma was invigorating, and they truly understood the path of self-cultivation.

Today's Hua Shan Shenzi was quieter than usual, sitting in meditation within the channel. Occasionally, a smirk played on his lips, full of mischief and amusement.

As for Hua Shan Shennu, she was quite elegant, holding a small mirror and fixing her hair. A faint blush lingered on her cheeks, adding a touch of feminine charm after a night of passion. She and Kunlun Shenzi were truly a perfect match.

Ye Chen sat with his back to the others, lost in thought.

In that moment, he suddenly let out a muffled groan, his expression turning pained.

It was the Tianren Five Decays tribulation, coming even more fiercely this time. In just two or three breaths, his flesh began to crack, his form aging rapidly. Strands of black hair fell with his blood, the tribulation's power impossible to suppress any longer.

"Pass the tribulation in peace."

Hua Shan Zhenren said gravely. Suppressing it too long would harm the root.

Besides, it couldn't be held back anymore.

Ye Chen said nothing, immediately sitting cross-legged and closing his eyes slightly, his mind clear. This was his first time facing the Tianren Five Decays, and he felt some panic—it was his own tribulation, with a high chance of destruction.

What followed was a terrifying sight.

His skin peeled away, and the sound of bones cracking echoed like firecrackers. His entire body was disintegrating, like a lush tree deprived of water, withering rapidly. His long hair fell in clumps, and his once-vigorous qi and blood were being extinguished. The power of the Tianren Five Decays was overwhelmingly dominant, invisible yet ruthlessly destroying Ye Chen.

The three watched quietly, their expressions indifferent. As quasi-emperors, they had all experienced such tribulations. No matter how dreadful the appearance, it was just a trial—survive it, and live; fail, and die.

"His Tianren Five Decays seems a bit different."

Hua Shan Shennu frowned.

"There's a hidden, mysterious power."

Hua Shan Xianzi pondered.

"And another kind of tribulation."

Hua Shan Zhenren narrowed his eyes, seeing more clearly. He didn't know what that tribulation was or where it came from—only that it was enigmatic.

As he spoke, the domain gate channel hummed and shook violently.

"How could this be?"

Hua Shan Shennu steadied herself and quickly waved her hand, pulling Ye Chen into a magical artifact. Hua Shan Zhenren and Xianzi both frowned—it was clear someone was attacking the channel.

With a eerie laugh, Hua Shan Shenzi vanished in an instant, impossible to trace in the channel. It was likely a secret technique, or more precisely, a body-engraved teleportation array that sent him away.

Before Hua Shan Zhenren could react, a dark sword light suddenly manifested, brimming with destructive force and overwhelming divine might. With a single strike, it severed the Di Dao domain gate channel.

"Go."

Hua Shan Zhenren summoned a layer of divine glow to protect Xianzi and Shennu, escaping the shattered channel.

They reappeared in a dim, desolate world, cold and lifeless.

"Hua Shan Dao friend, we've been waiting for you."

A sinister laugh echoed through the sky, filled with demonic power. Shadows filled the air, all cloaked in black robes, their faces obscured, only their cold eyes gleaming with eerie light.