Chapter 2628: Brace Yourselves

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Tai Shan was in complete chaos, with figures flying everywhere. Every time someone fell, they would crash through a mountain peak or a palace, sending rocks, bricks, tiles, and copper pillars scattering through the air.

"Is he a god?"

The Tai Shan disciples were all pale, their faces devoid of color. It had been years since anyone dared to cause such a disturbance in their sect, and incredibly, it was just one person, single-handedly turning the entire Tai Shan sect upside down.

"What a familiar silhouette."

Tai Shan Shen Zi murmured, and Tai Shan Shen Nv felt the same way. The figure in the black robe seemed strangely familiar, as if they had seen him somewhere before.

"Too outrageous."

A few Tai Shan elders stood on the outskirts, each letting out sighs of amazement. Though they gripped their killing swords, they didn't charge forward, content to watch the spectacle.

They weren't truly part of the Tai Shan sect; they belonged to Hua Shan and were essentially spies planted in Tai Shan. As spies, they weren't foolish enough to rush in. Instead, they used their eyes to etch the scenes into their memories.

Someone was wreaking havoc in Tai Shan!

This news had to be sent back to their sect quickly, so the old folks at Hua Shan could join in the schadenfreude. Let's see you Tai Shan act so wickedly now, attacking our Hua Shan like that. Look, you've brought this upon yourselves!

Boom! Bang! Boom!

While they were reveling, more Tai Shan experts were defeated. Dozens of them were sent flying — the Great Elder smashed into the Tai Shan grand hall; the Second Elder crushed a towering mountain peak; the Third Elder's body exploded; the Fourth Elder's primordial spirit was destroyed; and the Fifth Elder's physical form...

The scene was beyond disastrous. Over a thousand quasi-emperors were being utterly dominated by Ye Chen alone, each one defeated in utter defeat.

"Destroy him for me!"

The hall masters and various commanders arrived, ascending to the skies together. At the same time, they summoned their life-bound artifacts — copper furnaces, immortal swords, divine blades, spirit mirrors, treasure seals... So many artifacts filled the air, each glowing with colorful light like brilliant stars.

Boom!

The void trembled, unable to withstand the pressure of the artifacts.

"Break!"

Ye Chen snorted coldly and drew his wolf-tooth club, thrusting it skyward with a roar.

Pound! Clang! Bang! Crack!

What followed were sounds like these. He was truly domineering, smashing one artifact per swing. Those so-called treasures were fragile before him, exploding one after another, their fragments scattering everywhere.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Every time an artifact shattered, its owner spat blood from the backlash and plummeted from the sky. The already ruined mountain peaks and halls suffered even more, collapsing into ruins.

"How... how is this possible?" Tai Shan Zhang Jiao's eyes were filled with terror, his retreating figure stumbling as his face turned deathly pale.

"My friend, no need to hide anymore."

Ye Chen laughed brightly, but his brilliant smile looked chilling to Tai Shan Zhang Jiao.

"You insignificant pest, how dare you cause trouble in my Tai Shan?" Whether from rage or fear, Tai Shan Zhang Jiao charged forward, striking with a palm that channeled emperor essence, infused with destructive power.

Ye Chen sneered and advanced instead of retreating, clenching his fist to merge nine paths and eight desolations, enhancing it with his own dao principles and emperor essence. His punch tore through the cosmos.

Puff!

Tai Shan Zhang Jiao vomited blood and was flung backward. Before he could steady himself, Ye Chen, like a ghost, was already upon him, still laughing brightly.

Tai Shan Zhang Jiao's expression changed as he tried to escape into the sky.

But it was too late. From Ye Chen's brow, a divine scar emerged, ruthlessly devastating his primordial spirit. His sea of consciousness buzzed, and his vision went black.

When he regained consciousness, over a hundred seals had been placed on him, locking his magical power and primordial spirit, leaving him as good as useless.

"Damn it!"

The Tai Shan experts roared in anger. More figures swarmed from all directions, crowding the skies and mountain peaks, surrounding Ye Chen tightly. Their auras linked, creating a torrent of killing intent.

Beyond that, the Tai Shan emperor essence was drawn by the Great Elder, transforming into an immortal sword imbued with imperial divine might, which even made Ye Chen wary.

"All of you, stand firm. My sword doesn't discriminate."

Ye Chen chuckled, his dao sword already resting on Tai Shan Zhang Jiao's shoulder. With a single thought, he could send him to the afterlife. Holding the sect leader hostage gave him ample confidence.

His move worked perfectly, startling the experts into freezing. Though they encircled Ye Chen, each had their own schemes. Not everyone cared about Tai Shan Zhang Jiao's safety.

For instance, those from opposing factions within Tai Shan harbored hopes, wishing Ye Chen would strike and end the sect leader's life on the spot.

That way, they could legitimately vie for the position. A change in Tai Shan's leadership would be a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.

Some elders even flashed cold glints in their eyes — not toward Ye Chen, but toward Tai Shan Zhang Jiao. They could barely contain themselves, ready to strike and eliminate him.

"My Tai Shan has no grudge against you. Why do this?"

Tai Shan Zhang Jiao bellowed, showing his unyielding spirit even in captivity, his anger boiling over.

"Senior, you haven't even looked to see who I am. How can you say there's no grudge?"

Ye Chen laughed, and his black robe slowly dissipated, revealing his true face.

"You're Ye Chen?"

The Tai Shan experts' pupils contracted, their expressions shifting dramatically. They all recognized Ye Chen's appearance; it was etched into their souls, impossible to erase.

"It's really him."

Tai Shan Shen Zi and Tai Shan Shen Nv were stunned. It was their first time seeing Ye Chen since the Wu Yue tournament, and they never imagined it would be under such an awkward, humiliating circumstance for Tai Shan.

"Our future sect leader is incredibly formidable!"

The Hua Shan spies felt a surge of excitement, their eyes full of admiration. Now that they knew it was Ye Chen, they weren't as shocked. Back in the day, even millions of Heavenly Court troops couldn't stop him, let alone now — he had the strength and the audacity.

Glancing at Tai Shan Zhang Jiao, his pale face was now slick with cold sweat, and he didn't dare move. Being held by Ye Chen meant there was definitely a grudge; Tai Shan's armies were still assaulting Hua Shan at that very moment.

He never expected Ye Chen to emerge from Bu Zhou Mountain and, instead of aiding Hua Shan, slip into Tai Shan for a direct assault. It was a complete surprise, catching him totally off guard.

"Senior, would it be convenient to withdraw your armies?"

Ye Chen chuckled casually, speaking as if he weren't surrounded.

"Impossible."

Tai Shan Zhang Jiao stood his ground, a man of pride, refusing to yield to such coercion despite his fear.

"If that's your stance, then this junior might have to take you out for some sunshine."

Ye Chen laughed again, stretching his neck leisurely.

In that moment, he considered killing Tai Shan Zhang Jiao on the spot, but if he did, escaping would be tough. He wasn't afraid of the Tai Shan experts; it was their emperor essence that made him cautious.

Besides, he had more to handle than just Tai Shan — there were still Song Shan, Heng Shan, and Heng Shan sects. Time was precious; he couldn't afford to linger.

With that in mind, he held Tai Shan Zhang Jiao and slowly made his way out.

As soon as they moved, Tai Shan experts rushed to block him.

Puff!

Ye Chen swung his sword, severing one of Tai Shan Zhang Jiao's arms without hesitation. Blood sprayed out, vivid and shocking.

"You..."

"Next time, it'll be his primordial spirit."

Ye Chen sneered, warily scanning the surroundings, afraid someone from the opposing faction might suddenly attack.

Even if he wanted to kill Tai Shan Zhang Jiao, it wasn't the place to do it. The sect leader's death wouldn't matter much, but Ye Chen would likely follow suit — the Tai Shan emperor essence was too terrifying.

As he thought, some were indeed plotting to strike.

They were all from the opposing faction, their eyes gleaming with murderous intent, swords humming as they planned to finish off Tai Shan Zhang Jiao in the chaos.

The sect leader's faction saw through this and quickly stepped in, protecting Ye Chen instead to safeguard their leader.

A path was cleared, and Ye Chen vanished like a divine rainbow, darting out of Tai Shan in a flash and heading straight for the outskirts.

"Chase!"

The Great Elder roared in fury and led the pursuit, followed by countless experts — some from the opposing faction, some from the sect leader's side, each with their own agendas.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

As soon as they left Tai Shan, explosions erupted. People were attacking, and not just a few.

Ye Chen was furious. He knew they wanted to kill Tai Shan Zhang Jiao, but couldn't they wait until he was safe? Killing the sect leader here would drag him down too.

"Save the sect leader!"

Shouts echoed from all sides, from people who had jumped out, each more eager than the last, chanting loudly. It sounded noble, but in reality, they were using deadly techniques to eliminate him.

"Outrageous!"

The Great Elder from the sect leader's faction bellowed all the way, seeing through the opposing side's schemes. This was an attempt on the sect leader's life!

"Kill! Save the sect leader!"

The Great Elder's cries were useless.

More people joined the attack, all under the pretense of rescuing the sect leader, but aiming to end his life. They acted with hidden motives, yet portrayed themselves as loyal ministers, the epitome of devotion.

"Damn it!"

The Great Elder thundered, leading a group to charge forward and protect Ye Chen.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The two factions clashed — one to protect, one to kill — turning the bloody battlefield into utter chaos.

"Kill! Save the sect leader!"

"Stop!"

Their roars echoed, each voice louder than the last. For the sake of power, certain factions had thrown shame to the wind.

"Get out of here!"

Ye Chen, with Tai Shan Zhang Jiao in one hand and the Ruyi Jingu Bang in the other, fought his way through, carving a bloody path that no one could block.

Like a divine light, his movement techniques disrupted the cosmos, his speed at its peak.

Once he crossed the city walls, he moved even faster, darting thousands of feet away and summoning an imperial domain gate, vanishing in an instant.

If anyone from Da Chu were here, they'd surely sigh.

Back in Da Chu, you kidnapped people stealthily.

Now, in the Heavenly Realm, you've really stepped up — storming straight into someone's territory to abduct, or rather, rob, and even plan to demand a ransom.

"Damn it!"

"Damn it!"

Behind him, angry shouts continued from both factions — one furious that the sect leader wasn't killed, the other raging that Ye Chen had escaped.