Chapter 2588: Capture Him for Me

Boom! Rumble!

Outside the Tian Lao, the buzz of voices was endless, shaking the heavens and earth. The heavenly soldiers and generals linked their auras, radiating a thick air of malice that oppressed the universe.

"Got it, Yin Ming's one step ahead again."

The immortal lords who arrived later saw this and sighed.

They had also come to capture Ye Chen, but no one dared to step forward. Anyone who crossed that line would face Yin Ming's attack. As the ruler of the Tian Jie, with a single command from him, who could withstand it?

The sight of several million heavenly soldiers and generals made even their scalps tingle.

Ah!

Too many veteran immortal lords sighed. With Ye Chen trapped here, they had no hope left. In this situation, who would dare to snatch him from Yin Ming? With several million troops standing by, there was no way to compete.

"This time, he's definitely dead."

"Even if Ye Chen is strong, he can't stand against several million heavenly soldiers and generals. This is a dead end."

"No chance of turning the tables."

Spectators from the immortal realm arrived one after another. There were many peaks around, and they all stood on the summits, hands clasped behind their backs, watching with sighs, gasps of amazement, regrets, and laments that shook their hearts.

Unless something unexpected happened, Ye Chen would meet his end in front of the Tian Lao.

"I say, we should just leave!"

On a distant small hill, Jiao Long Wang had just landed and, seeing this scene, felt an urge to turn and run.

Like him, the usually boastful Niu Mo Wang and the rowdy great demons and devils were all cowed, without a shred of bravado.

With several million troops, a single wave could be overwhelmingly painful.

In front of the Tian Lao, Ye Chen stood quietly.

Now, behind him was the Tian Lao and several hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals; in front, blocking his way, were several million more. He was caught right in the middle.

"You actually managed to escape from the Tian Lao. I truly underestimated you," Yin Ming said with a sinister laugh, casually stretching his neck, his expression full of mockery and cruelty.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—you're quite exceptional at that," Ye Chen replied with a smile.

"So, are you still going to fight like a cornered beast?" Yin Ming asked, eyeing Ye Chen with a laugh.

"I told you, I'll play a big game of chess with you."

Ye Chen spoke calmly, brushing the dust from his shoulder. His words were flat, and even though he was surrounded, he remained composed.

"What a big game of chess."

Before Yin Ming could order an attack, a sinister laugh rang out.

The immortal lords had arrived, and Dan Shen was among them. He swept in with overwhelming demonic energy, striding on rolling black clouds, his hair disheveled and his eyes blood-red.

In this form, if anyone said he wasn't a demon, even demons wouldn't believe it.

Now, all three players in this game were present.

Dan Shen ignored Yin Ming and stared only at Ye Chen, grinding his teeth with rage, his eyes full of savagery and ferocity.

It was this stone spirit who had plotted against him, swallowed the Emperor Path Divine Pill he had painstakingly refined, and ruined all his plans.

Since he began cultivating, he had never hated anyone this much.

"Please, Your Majesty, capture him for me. I will surely reward you handsomely."

Dan Shen turned his gaze from Ye Chen to Yin Ming.

"Dan Shen, he was in your Dan Shen Palace, under your people; but once he left, he wasn't yours anymore."

Yin Ming chuckled, finally rising from his dragon throne. He stood on the jade carriage, hands clasped behind his back, smiling casually. Though he wasn't wearing imperial robes, he exuded an aura of dominance over the eight directions.

He was the true master of the heavenly court.

Joking aside, that was Ye Chen—the one who had swallowed the Emperor Path Divine Pill. Did Yin Ming just hand him over like that? Was this a game? He had mobilized several million troops; was it for a leisurely outing? It was your fault for not keeping him secure—who else could be blamed?

Now that the treasure was lost, whoever picked it up owned it. And you want me to help you retrieve it? How thick is your face!

Besides, that was originally my prize—you just had to snatch it.

If you can snatch, why can't I?

Dan Shen's face grew even more ferocious. He had truly underestimated this eighth prince; he was just like his father, the Jade Emperor, always scheming and never giving face to anyone at critical moments.

All around, silence fell, especially among the spectators, who clasped their hands behind their backs again.

One was the lord of the Dan Shen Palace, the other the ruler of the heavenly court—they were putting on their own show.

Ye Chen, too, played his part as one of the many spectators.

In a three-way game, when two played, the third became the observer.

And at that moment, he was the observer.

"My dear subject, I'll give you an opportunity," Yin Ming said again, glancing at Dan Shen with a smile. "If you can take him down, you can take him away."

"Easy enough."

Dan Shen, whose face had been ferocious, suddenly laughed upon hearing this.

He laughed heartily, and Yin Ming laughed even more heartily.

He was still scheming, waiting for Dan Shen and Ye Chen to fight to mutual exhaustion.

Or rather, he preferred not to be in the game but to be the observer.

As the ruler, watching tigers fight from the mountains was what he should do.

This was the art of emperors—the Jade Emperor played it masterfully, and so did he.

This was also the pleasure, the pleasure of emperors.

Ye Chen glanced at Yin Ming; he understood that guy's intentions better than anyone. Even if Dan Shen captured him, Yin Ming wouldn't let him go. Those several million troops weren't just for show.

To snatch someone, you needed the capability.

Unfortunately, Dan Shen was now obsessed with his Emperor Path Divine Pill, his mind clouded by anger and desire, losing the wisdom he once had. What seemed like a gift from Yin Ming was actually being used as a pawn by him.

But Ye Chen wouldn't warn him. Whether they were players or observers didn't matter anymore—what mattered was breaking out.

And Dan Shen could be the trigger. In the midst of the fight, he might just slip away in the chaos.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the several million troops collectively withdrew, forming an encirclement around that stretch of heaven and earth.

In the shadows, barriers were set up to trap the universe, along with numerous Emperor Path killing formations and patterns, sealing it off completely.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Dan Shen moved, his face twisted in a sinister grin as he advanced through the sky. With each step, his aura climbed higher, creating a dramatic entrance. Dark clouds gathered above his head, inch by inch covering the universe, and his body grew heavier. Each step made the void rumble.

Wherever he went, the heavenly soldiers and generals made way for him.

The spectators around perked up instantly.

The lord of the Dan Shen Palace was about to duel the future leader of Hua Shan. As for who would win, it was hard to say.

But who won or lost didn't matter—what mattered was that the ruler of the heavenly court would be the final winner. Dan Shen couldn't see it, but as outsiders, they saw it clearly.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Ye Chen and Dan Shen would be the cicada and the mantis.

And Yin Ming was that little oriole.

Bang!

With a thunderous boom, Dan Shen planted his feet, his eyes on Ye Chen filled with menace. His laugh was sinister and savage.

Ye Chen's expression was much more indifferent, showing no joy or worry, no anger or hatred. Looking at Dan Shen now, he felt mostly pity. This old man was just another pathetic figure under the cruel laws.

"Can you do it? If not, I'll step in," Shura Tian Zun said, already rising in the tower, still far from his full strength.

"Yes."

Ye Chen replied with a single word. With his current power, though he couldn't defeat Dan Shen, he wouldn't be destroyed either.

Win or lose, it was all preparation for escape.

But before that, there was one treasure he needed to reclaim.

With a thought, an illusory scripture flew out from Yin Ming's body—it was his Hua Shan Dao Jing. It shot back like divine light, circling Ye Chen joyfully before finally merging into his body.

The onlookers were astonished. The scripture he had given away could actually be retrieved. Those with sharp eyes saw through it instantly.

The Hua Shan Dao Jing recognized Ye Chen as its master, creating an innate connection between them. No matter who he gave it to, with a single thought, he could take it back.

Earlier, before completely breaking ties with Yin Ming, he had left it with him.

Now, with the standoff in place, it was time to reclaim it.

"That guy probably thought about taking it back the moment he gave it away."

"If it were me, I'd take it back too—can't let the opponent benefit."

"This little stone spirit knows so many tricks!"

Discussions erupted from all sides, with many giving Ye Chen a thumbs-up. He had been scheming all along—was his head not hurting from it?

As for Yin Ming, standing on the jade carriage, he wasn't angry at all when the scripture was retrieved. Instead, a mocking smile played on his lips. Whether the scripture was taken or not meant nothing to him.

Today, Ye Chen couldn't escape his grasp.

"Kill!"

With a furious roar, Dan Shen launched his attack, soaring into the sky and stomping down, his foot collapsing the Ling Xiao realm. He flipped his hand and slammed down a palm, heavy as an eight-thousand-zhang mountain, crushing the universe with world-ending power.

Ye Chen snorted coldly, his iron staff buzzing as he thrust it upward like a pillar holding the sky.

Boom!

The palm and staff collided, producing a thunderous explosion.

Ye Chen staggered back, nearly falling from the void.

Dan Shen, however, stood firm, his power fully restored and surpassing Ye Chen's.

"Seal!"

Dan Shen uttered a cold command, laying out patterns that formed an immortal formation.

Unfortunately, the formation had no effect on Ye Chen. He instantly found its flaw and smashed an opening with his staff, countering with an Emperor Path Fu Xi strike.

"Break!"

Dan Shen wasn't to be outdone. With a hum that shattered the heavens, he forcefully broke the Emperor Path Fu Xi.

In that instant, Ye Chen charged in but collided with Dan Shen's palm, getting flung back. Before he could steady himself, a vast black demonic sea surged in, swallowing the heavens and earth with destructive thunder, collapsing the void inch by inch and engulfing him.

"Open!"

Ye Chen roared, tearing through the demonic sea and leaping out like a soaring dragon.

Buzz!

Dan Shen instantly closed in, thrusting a finger of divine light that pierced Ye Chen's chest, creating a gruesome bloody hole. The terrifying killing intent, laden with demonic energy, eroded Ye Chen's vitality, leaving the wound unhealed for a long time.

After taking a hit, Ye Chen naturally returned the favor, landing a solid staff strike on Dan Shen's forehead.

Wow! So satisfying!

Even with his profound dao body, Dan Shen's skull shattered, his divine sea buzzed, his head nearly exploded, and half his skull was smashed, splattering brain matter that made the immortal maidens retch.

"Good, very good."

Dan Shen laughed ferociously instead of raging—whether from excitement or savagery, who could tell? He had forgotten the pain and formed seals with one hand.

Buzz!

The void hummed, and an illusory alchemy furnace appeared, towering like a mountain and trapping Ye Chen inside. It was a secret divine ability with the power to refine and dissolve, capable of turning people into pills.

His goal was simple: to refine Ye Chen back into a pill.

"Break it quickly!"

Shura Tian Zun shouted. He had fought Dan Shen before and knew how fearsome this technique was. Back then, he had been suppressed this way and couldn't escape the damned furnace, even though it was illusory, it was incredibly tough.