Chapter 2529: Stealing Heaven Technique

Chapter 2529: Tou Tian Shu

At night, in a remote and desolate mountain hollow where not even birds ventured, the campfire blazed brightly.

Over the fire, a large iron pot hung on a rack, stewing a mouthwatering meat dish. Ye Chen was showcasing his culinary skills once again, stirring the pot with a ladle in one hand while adding seasonings with the other. The meat soup filled the air with an irresistible aroma.

Perhaps it was an occupational habit, as he had pulled out some specialties from Da Chu several times, but after glancing at the three companions, he steadily put them away.

This situation clearly wasn't right for bringing out specialties.

"Your dan techniques are unparalleled, your talents are monstrous, your combat power defies the heavens, and now even your cooking is this masterful—you really are good at everything!" Hua Shan Shen Nü said with a laugh, already eager to ladle out a bowl of the meat soup to taste.

"So, don't stick with that Kun Lun boy anymore. Come with me instead." As Ye Chen spoke, he tossed another medicinal herb into the pot.

Hua Shan Shen Nü didn't mind the teasing; it wasn't the first time, and she was used to it by now.

"How about teaching me that secret technique of yours?" Ye Chen said cheerfully.

"Call me 'sister' and let's hear it," Hua Shan Shen Nü replied with a playful smile.

"Looks like I need to give you a little poke." Ye Chen casually picked up the Ding Hai Shen Zhen.

"You're shameless." Hua Shan Shen Nü shot him a fierce glare, then finally waved her hand and produced a secret scroll.

Ye Chen didn't stand on ceremony and took it with a grin.

"Tou Tian Shu."

As he opened the scroll, he saw these three characters etched with bold, powerful strokes, infused with profound and mysterious insights that he immediately sensed.

He truly was a prodigy, multitasking effortlessly—he studied the technique while stirring the meat soup with the ladle, and from time to time, he added more seasonings. His movements flowed seamlessly without any awkwardness.

"It's indeed a technique that seizes heaven's fortunes."

Ye Chen marveled as he read. His own small world belonged to the spatial domain, and this Tou Tian Shu was a spatial-type immortal art. It could bypass the barriers of a small world to steal treasures from within, but only if the target was in a sealed state.

After comprehending the secret technique, Ye Chen felt a pang in his heart.

What a great secret art! But he had learned it too late. If he had mastered it earlier, who knows how many treasures he could have acquired? Just thinking about it made his heart ache—he had missed out on so many hidden treasures!

At that thought, he glanced at Hua Shan Shen Nü, his expression darkening a bit.

Hua Shan Shen Nü cleared her throat innocently. Heaven and earth could bear witness—I only just learned it myself not long ago.

Beside her, Hua Shan Zhen Ren and Hua Shan Xian Zi were both sitting cross-legged, having finished their midnight healing session with their breaths now steady.

Overhearing the playful banter between the two, they opened their eyes and smiled warmly. They had originally hoped to play matchmaker, thinking a fine goddess like her should stay within their own circle. But alas, the two didn't click, and instead, it benefited the Kun Lun Shen Zi.

Still, Ye Chen had stolen the Di Yun from Kun Lun, which really brought honor to Hua Shan. Even though the goddess had been swayed away, at least they gained the Di Yun, which eased their minds a little.

It was only after finishing a pot of meat soup that they got down to the real business.

The so-called real business was, of course, the treasures in the small worlds of the various Zhun Di. With full bellies and nothing else to do, they needed something to occupy themselves—there were so many Zhun Di treasures, after all; they might as well bring them out and show them off.

With a casual wave of his hand, Ye Chen released the yuan shen of several hundred Zhun Di.

"Hua Shan Dao You, spare us, spare us!"

As soon as the Zhun Di appeared, they wailed for mercy. Though in yuan shen form, their divine bodies twisted in agony, their eyes filled with terror, as if half their bodies had already plunged into the depths of Jiu You.

Hua Shan Zhen Ren said nothing, simply rising and scanning the group of Zhun Di.

Earlier, these Zhun Di had all worn black robes and used secret techniques to conceal their origins, so he hadn't been sure who they were. Now, in their yuan shen state, he could see clearly—there were so many familiar faces!

"This world is truly laughable."

Hua Shan Xian Zi was also observing them, her anger turning to a bitter laugh. She recognized most of them—great demons from the scattered immortal realms, great immortals from the upper immortal realms, longtime friends, and even sworn allies. Others she wasn't particularly close to, but they had always kept to their own sides. Seeing them now truly opened her eyes; they were all wolves in sheep's clothing.

"You elders are all from the same roots—why must you turn on each other so fiercely?"

Hua Shan Shen Nü's laughter was laced with sorrow and indignation. Among them were people from other factions, but also from Hua Shan itself. Was the struggle for the sect leader position really this brutal? Was the authority of the leader so important that they would team up with outsiders to slaughter their own?

Ye Chen held a wine flask, remaining silent.

The three of them could spot many acquaintances, and so could he. He had met quite a few at the Hua Shan Dao Debates and seen others during the Wu Yue Du Fa. It was a real mix of dragons and fish, belonging to countless factions. He wasn't surprised to find people from Hua Shan, and it made sense that some were from Tian Ting.

"It's all because of Tian Ting Ba Tai Zi—he instigated us."

"Junior brother, for old times' sake, spare our lives. We won't rebel again."

"Zhen Ren, have mercy!"

The yuan shen of the several hundred Zhun Di were more pathetic than the last, desperate only to survive, with no thought for their dignity.

Hua Shan Zhen Ren still said nothing, silently turning his back. He felt an unprecedented weariness; this murky world had disappointed him utterly.

As the leader of Hua Shan, he wouldn't interfere in their fates—whether they lived or died was entirely up to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen understood his implication. He tossed aside the wine flask and cast the Tou Tian Shu. For each one he passed, he extracted the treasures from their small worlds, such as their life-bound weapons, heavenly stones, and pills, taking them all.

It had to be said, the Tou Tian Shu was incredibly effective—one grab and it was spot-on.

"Young friend, spare us!"

The pleas of the Zhun Di now carried a sobbing tone. They no longer begged Hua Shan Zhen Ren but stared fearfully at Ye Chen, knowing their lives were in the hands of this little stone spirit.

"If you had known this day would come, why did you act as you did back then?"

That was Ye Chen's cold reply, his expression indifferent, his words stern and authoritative.

He stood amid the group of Zhun Di.

Then, a dark vortex appeared, centered on him and spreading outward—it was the Tun Tian Mi Fa.

Clearly, he intended to devour their yuan shen.

Screams erupted, piercing and harrowing. Any Zhun Di yuan shen that touched the vortex was swallowed whole, their divine consciousness erased, leaving only pure yuan shen power as nourishment for Ye Chen's own yuan shen.

Hua Shan Xian Zi frowned as she watched, and Hua Shan Shen Nü felt a shiver—this was the first time they realized Ye Chen knew such a sinister secret art, one that devoured others' yuan shen for his own use.

Not just them, even Hua Shan Zhen Ren felt a chill; Ye Chen might seem like a lively character on the surface, but he was truly a formidable force.

Amid the wails, Ye Chen continued devouring.

Throughout, his expression never changed—he was like an icy god of death, harvesting lives. In this chaotic world, one had to be ruthless to stand firm; showing mercy to enemies was the same as being cruel to oneself.

Perhaps from devouring so many, his cultivation began to loosen.

With a soft pop, accompanied by a beam of light shooting into the sky, he broke through from the Sheng Wang Jing straight to the Da Sheng Jing.

"This..."

The three of them stared in astonishment—how could a breakthrough happen so casually, like it was a joke?

But the next scene left them even more baffled. Ye Chen, who had just advanced to Da Sheng Jing, actually regressed his cultivation back to Sheng Wang Jing.

It gave the impression that his realm had risen too quickly and needed to be pulled back down.

This was truly amusing.

All three stroked their chins, feeling that for Ye Chen, a cultivator's realm was just for show.

The screams eventually faded away.

Of the several hundred Zhun Di yuan shen, all except those from Hua Shan had been completely devoured. As Ye Chen had said, if they had known this day would come, why act as they did? What should have been a perfect ambush had turned into a total wipeout; any regrets could only be felt on the road to the underworld.

As for sparing the Hua Shan members, it wasn't out of kindness but to avoid tipping their hand.

At their level, how could the elders of Hua Shan not have yuan shen jade plaques? Letting them live was a way to lure the enemy.

Ye Chen stretched his neck comfortably and exhaled a turbid breath. As for lowering his cultivation, there was a reason for it—his advancement had been too rapid, and he needed to solidify his foundational essence.

When they looked at Hua Shan Zhen Ren and the others, their eyes on Ye Chen were like gazing at a monster. What on earth was this guy? Everything about him was so bizarre, and everything he did upended the norms.