Chapter 2591: The Senior Knows the Goods

As he spoke, countless people turned their heads, gazing toward Ye Chen.

Amid the scattering stones, Ye Chen staggered to his feet, a deep gash across his chest gushing blood, revealing bone and organs. Ji Mie Xian Zun's strike had been devastatingly powerful, nearly splitting him in two.

"Alright, I fought desperately to break out, only to be cut down again."

"To withstand Ji Mie Xian Zun's sword and survive—that's no ordinary resilience!"

"No matter how tough, it's pointless now. Today is destined to be his end."

"Hundreds of thousands of heavenly soldiers and generals, plus a legendary old Xian Zun—Yin Ming truly thinks highly of Ye Chen."

"Even in death, he can take pride."

The onlookers' eyes were filled with pity. They had hoped Ye Chen could escape, but with a figure like that intervening, it was impossible.

"No wonder Yin Ming was so composed—he had a backup plan."

The great demons and devils wore grim expressions, glancing toward Yin Ming.

That individual had remained calm and collected from the start, because everything was under his control. Even if Ye Chen slipped through the encirclement of hundreds of thousands of troops, he couldn't evade the hidden obstacles.

"There must be more Xian Zuns lurking in the shadows."

Jiao Long Wang narrowed his eyes, scanning the surroundings, sensing several obscure auras. Ji Mie Xian Zun was just one of them.

"Kill."

Seeing Ye Chen struck down, Dan Shen grew excited again, letting out a fierce roar as he prepared to charge.

Zheng!

Ji Mie Xian Zun raised his sword, blocking Dan Shen's path, signaling that he need not proceed.

"Dan Lao, I gave you a chance, but you couldn't seize it. Don't blame me."

Yin Ming chuckled darkly, finally speaking up.

"You."

Dan Shen's face twisted in rage, on the verge of exploding, but he was held back by the experts from Dan Shen Hall. They, too, had sensed the obscure auras hidden nearby—powerful beings on the same level as Ji Mie Xian Zun, though they hadn't revealed themselves yet.

Yin Ming's words were true. The opportunity had been offered, but if it was missed, they wouldn't allow any more interference. If Dan Shen truly opposed Yin Ming, a single command from him could wipe out Dan Shen Hall.

Yin Ming shifted his gaze, looking elsewhere, and smiled at Ye Chen. "How do you find today's spectacle?"

"Satisfactory, of course."

Ye Chen swayed unsteadily, barely able to stand, relying on his iron staff for support. Ji Mie Xian Zun had held back; otherwise, he would have been cleaved in half.

Even so, Ye Chen was in bad shape. The killing intent from the strike lingered, wreaking havoc inside him. Blood poured from his mouth, his face deathly pale, his aura utterly depleted. Only the Emperor Dao divine pill was keeping him upright.

"Holy Lord."

Yue Xin's call was choked with sobs, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears.

"It's fine."

Ye Chen managed a reassuring smile.

"You old fool, still alive?"

Si Ming, Tai Yi, and Tai Bai were eyeing Ji Mie Xian Zun. Having heard of his reputation, they knew that if not for his slaughter of the Demon Sovereign in the past, the demon lands wouldn't have fallen so easily.

Xiu Luo Tian Zun had already summoned his pagoda, placing one hand on Ye Chen's back to channel vast essence. He was helping suppress the killing intent. His deep eyes regarded Ji Mie Xian Zun with caution—even at full strength, he wasn't confident of defeating him, let alone in Ye Chen's current weakened state.

"With your seniority, resorting to an ambush—aren't you ashamed of what future generations will say?"

The Tian Zun snorted coldly, glaring at Ji Mie Xian Zun.

"The victor writes history; it's always been that way."

Ji Mie Xian Zun replied indifferently, his words ethereal and cold, carrying a mesmerizing power that made listeners feel disoriented.

Xiu Luo Tian Zun started to say more, but Ye Chen waved him off, sending him back into the pagoda. In their current situation, a weakened Xiu Luo Tian Zun couldn't be of help.

Ye Chen glanced at Ji Mie Xian Zun and subtly scanned the surroundings, clearly detecting those obscure auras. None of them were weaker than Ji Mie Xian Zun. He had always known the heavenly court's foundations were profound, so he felt no surprise.

"This gamble seems to be mine to win."

Yin Ming laughed, looking down at Ye Chen with even greater excitement than looking down on mortals. For he regarded Ye Chen as a true rival, and dominating a rival felt wonderfully satisfying.

"That remains to be seen."

Ye Chen smiled faintly, forming a seal with one hand.

Immediately, a hum resonated. With him at the center, the area within a hundred zhang turned into solid ground, while the thousand zhang beyond became a black hole, and beyond that, more land.

"Emperor Dao Black Shore?"

Voices of astonishment came from the shadows—likely the hidden old Xian Zuns.

"Still, the predecessors know their goods."

Ye Chen chuckled, collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion, blood still flowing from his mouth.

"You little one, you've truly underestimated you."

Murmurs echoed from all sides. Besides Ji Mie Xian Zun, three other old Xian Zuns emerged.

"Heavens! Dao Mie Xian Zun, Xu Mie Xian Zun, Tian Mie Xian Zun."

The crowd exclaimed in shock, hearts pounding.

Now, one in each direction—east, west, south, and north—all cloaked in black robes, their faces obscured, but their ancient eyes depths swirling with destructive essence.

"A fine Emperor Dao Black Shore."

"You're too kind, predecessors."

Ye Chen coughed up blood, his gaze dimming.

Surrounded by hundreds of thousands of troops, his figure seemed like a single grain in a vast warehouse, utterly isolated.

"What kind of divine ability is that?"

Many spectators stared in bewilderment, with numerous immortals instinctively retreating. The thousand-zhang black hole exerted a tremendous swallowing force, pulling in flying sand, broken weapons, weapon fragments, and even the corpses of heavenly soldiers and generals if they got too close, making them vanish without a trace.

"That's Emperor Dao Darkness, an absolute defense."

An old Xian Jun explained. "To eliminate Ye Chen, one must cross that black hole."

"So, just avoid it—can't we attack from a distance?"

"Are you out of your mind? If people can't get through, how could divine abilities or secret techniques?"

"Unless you also master black hole immortal arts."

There were plenty of well-informed individuals. Many old Xian Juns marveled, and even more licked their lips in envy, astonished that Ye Chen knew such a secret technique and coveting his Emperor Dao Darkness, which truly was an absolute defense.

"You've got some skills, kid!"

Si Ming and the other two clicked their tongues in unison.

"This technique is quite impressive."

Even Xiu Luo Tian Zun stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming.

"Is that a black hole?"

Tian Qing asked curiously.

As for Yue Xin and the Dragon King, they remained composed. Compared to Emperor Dao Darkness, Ye Chen's former Heavenly Dao was far more unpredictable. If Emperor Dao Darkness was absolute defense, then Heavenly Dao was the ultimate escape art.

"How intriguing, truly intriguing."

Yin Ming laughed again, unable to resist clapping. This opponent kept surprising him time and again, which thrilled him immensely. The more astonishing Ye Chen was, the more delighted he became.

Because he would be the one to crush this genius.

"Intermission—let me catch my breath first."

Ye Chen waved a hand, stuffing pills into his mouth. His condition was dire; although Emperor Dao Black Shore was profound, it required spiritual power to sustain. If his power ran out, the black hole would dissipate on its own.

"Rest your sister—get into the black hole quickly!"

Xiu Luo Tian Zun scolded. "Find a safe spot, then use this to escape the black hole. That could break the deadlock."

"It won't work."

Ye Chen shook his head, glancing at the ethereal void.

The heavenly realm was different from the mortal world; mysterious forces suppressed it. When he cast Emperor Dao Black Shore earlier, he had felt resistance, nearly failing.

Entering the black hole was easy, but whether he could exit was another matter.

Bringing memories through the calamity had its advantages, but also drawbacks.

The drawbacks meant that divine abilities and secret techniques—like One Thought Eternity or Emperor Dao Ethereal—faced resistance in the heavenly realm, unable to unleash their full power.

Beyond that, it affected his bloodline.

It seemed these Emperor Dao immortal arts recognized specific realms and origins. He had learned them in the various heavens and comprehended them with his sacred body bloodline, but in the heavenly realm with its different bloodline source, they were restricted.

Various factors caused many techniques to lose their effectiveness, such as Reverse World Reincarnation and Flying Thunder God, which worked sporadically.

"Wow, what the hell is that?"

As they spoke, Tai Bai suddenly cried out.

Ye Chen's train of thought was interrupted, and he instinctively looked over, his expression changing as he shakily stood up.

From the southeast, northwest, and other directions, immortal paths extended toward them—this was clearly another divine ability, ignoring the Emperor Dao Black Shore's black hole.

The casters were Ji Mie Xian Zun and his companions.

Evidently, they all mastered black hole secret techniques, and these immortal paths acted like bridges.

At that moment, the four old Xian Zuns had already stepped onto the paths, heading straight for him.