Chapter 2654: Like a Dog

"Ye Chen's life."

Yin Ming's words were tinged with a mocking and playful cruelty, carrying a supreme authority that echoed through the heavens and earth, resonating with an almost magical quality.

"No." Yue Xin's eyes welled up with tears, blurring her vision as she looked pleadingly at Shura Tianzun.

The implication was clear: Yin Ming wanted Shura Tianzun to kill Ye Chen. She was just a minor immortal; her life or death didn't matter. But she didn't want to drag her family and loved ones into this before her end.

Shura Tianzun's brow furrowed, his eyes flashing with cold light, and the divine blade in his hand buzzed and trembled.

"What do you say, Tianzun?" Yin Ming chuckled darkly, smirking at Shura Tianzun with a playful curl of his lips, clearly enjoying the moment.

Shura Tianzun glanced at Yue Xin but said nothing. Abruptly, he turned and strode forward, blade in hand, his surging killing intent rolling like tidal waves.

It was unclear whether his killing intent was directed at Yin Ming or Ye Chen.

A Tianzun from the Shura Realm was in an indescribable state of mind.

This scene today reminded him of events in the original universe. Once, a vicious demon had captured a woman and forced him to kill—to kill someone named Zhao Yun.

That woman was Zhao Yun's wife.

And he had fallen in love with someone he shouldn't have.

That day, he still took up his divine blade, unleashing torrential killing intent as he attacked Zhao Yun with his peak strength and deadly techniques.

He didn't know if he was right or wrong; he only knew that for that woman, he would do anything—even oppose the world or bear eternal infamy.

Love was such a strange thing. Even a supreme Tianzun who dominated the heavens couldn't escape this destined tribulation. It was the same in the original universe, and now in the myriad domains, it was the same again. Yue Xin wasn't her, yet she carried his emotions. For that pitiful and ridiculous warmth, he was about to let history repeat itself.

"No." Yue Xin screamed hoarsely, as if she had foreseen Shura Tianzun's decision to kill her loved one. But no matter how she called out, she couldn't summon back that demonic figure.

"My empress, on this joyous day of my wedding, how unseemly to cry like this." Yin Ming's lips curved slightly as he transformed the dagger in his hand into a handkerchief. The lofty ruler of the Heavenly Court suddenly seemed like a tender husband, gently wiping the tears from his empress's cheeks.

"Get away."

Yue Xin's cry came from the depths of her soul, her tears freezing into icy shards in that instant. Her hatred for Yin Ming now surpassed even her hatred for the Heavenly Demon, tearing at her very core.

Yin Ming showed no anger, continuing to wipe her tears carefully, as if treating her like a delicate work of art, afraid of damaging it.

"Your Majesty, such a rare opportunity—why let him go like that?" An elderly Xian Jun glanced at the departing Shura Tianzun and then at Yin Ming.

"Don't rush; the real show is just beginning."

"What if he doesn't return?"

"He will come back." Yin Ming laughed with a sly, excited glint in his eyes, his savagery and cunning barely contained as his exhilaration bordered on madness.

The elderly Xian Jun fell silent and stepped back.

The immortals of the Heavenly Court all sighed. They had come for a wedding ceremony, only to witness this unexpected drama, evoking a sense of pity.

They feared Shura Tianzun greatly, but now, that fear mixed with awe. What tremendous courage to come alone like this.

As for Yin Ming, their reverence had turned to fear. He was the ruler of the Heavenly Court, yet also a demon in human skin, making their hearts tremble.

"Will Tianzun really kill Ye Chen?"

"It's hard to say!"

"To save Yue Xin, he has to kill Ye Chen."

"But even if he kills Ye Chen, he might not save her."

The immortals whispered among themselves, gazing toward Nan Tian Men where thunderous booms shook the air. Even from afar, they could see the dense shadows and the blood mist shrouding the sky—the battle must be fierce.

As they said, the war was brutally bloody.

The alliance of scattered immortals was at a clear disadvantage. Not only had they failed to breach Nan Tian Men, but they had suffered heavy casualties, with heaps of bodies piling up.

"Damn it."

Niu Mo Wang's curses rang out loudly, his eyes blazing with fury and his teeth grinding in frustration, yet he couldn't break through—the Heavenly Court's defenses were too strong.

"Stop fighting." The Kunlun Sect Leader sent out a message to all sides. Anyone could see that the Heavenly Court was conserving its strength; continuing would lead to total annihilation.

The alliance understood his words, but they were all bloodthirsty now, with no intention of stopping, charging forward with reckless abandon.

"Keep summoning reinforcements." Jiao Long Wang sent messages repeatedly. It wasn't that they couldn't defeat the Heavenly Court; it was just that their forces weren't fully assembled yet. If they could form a true grand alliance like last time, no stronghold would be unbreakable.

Reinforcements did arrive, but they were few and far between.

Factions like the Four Sacred Mountains and many major sects were still hesitating. Resisting the Heavenly Court was one thing; attacking it was another. On the Heavenly Court's territory, even if they united again, they wouldn't gain any advantage.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The rumbling shook the heavens as the brutal battle grew even more intense. The alliance attacked desperately, while the Heavenly Court forces defended with unyielding resolve.

"Reinforcements have arrived!"

Someone shouted suddenly.

This cry made many turn instinctively.

There, they saw a white-haired youth wielding an iron staff, surging with killing intent as he crossed the Milky Way and charged straight toward them.

It was Ye Chen.

He had finally emerged from his Emperor's Insight state, only to hear the devastating news: his reincarnated Yue Xin had been captured by the Heavenly Court. The sovereign of Great Chu was furious beyond measure.

"It's my fault I brought this upon you."

Ye Chen's eyes were bloodshot, and his grip on the iron staff cracked audibly.

If he had known about the divine position's reverse summoning, he never would have returned it to her that day. This wouldn't have happened. If Yue Xin died because of this, he would never forgive himself.

"You finally show up?" Niu Mo Wang roared like ancient thunder.

"If you took any longer, the daylily would be wilted!" Jiao Long Wang's shout was equally thunderous. In such a grand battle, their main fighter arriving this late was unacceptable.

"What an eye-catching presence." Taiyi looked up, watching Ye Chen fly overhead, the killing intent pressing down so heavily that he nearly knelt.

"What powerful Emperor's Insight." Si Ming Xing Jun murmured, his heart trembling. Ye Chen's killing intent was overwhelming, and his Emperor's Insight was terrifying, making him want to kneel as well.

"This seclusion must have brought some great opportunity." Tai Bai planted his immortal sword in the ground and rolled up his sleeves, ready for an all-out fight.

Ye Chen said nothing, streaking like divine light into the Heavenly Court ranks, sweeping his staff to decimate thousands, sending countless Xian Jun and Tian Jiang to their graves.

"Kill!"

The alliance's morale soared. Though the reinforcements were just one person, he carried a certain belief. The future leader of Hua Shan Sect had a unique aura; as long as he was there, they could turn the tide. They believed it unconditionally.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Ye Chen led the charge, like a war god invincible, carving a bloody path single-handedly. From elderly Xian Zun to minor Xing Jun, no one could stand in his way—he was utterly dominant.

On the other side of Nan Tian Men, Yin Yang stood like a statue.

In his hand was a secret decree from Yin Ming, allowing Ye Chen to pass. Perhaps out of a fleeting conscience, upon seeing Ye Chen, he couldn't bring himself to issue the order. He knew that once Ye Chen passed Nan Tian Men, he would face the gates of the underworld.

"How did you get here, my empress?"

A voice came from behind him. When he turned, the many Xian Jun had already bowed in unison. The so-called empress was his wife: Bi Xia Xian Zi.

He had no idea how she had broken through the barrier.

Today, she was different from usual—her expression cold as ice, her killing intent surging, looking every bit like a female assassin that made hearts quiver.

She ignored the Xian Jun, walking quietly toward Yin Yang, her beautiful eyes filled with hatred. Only after breaking her seal and leaving the peach blossom forest had she learned what her Yin Yang had done.

"You're here." Yin Yang smiled warmly.

"I'm here." Bi Xia's lips parted slightly as she stopped in front of him. In the same instant, a dagger appeared in her hand, plunging it fiercely into his chest.

This scene was so sudden, without any warning—just a direct stab, swift and without hesitation, leaving the Xian Jun collectively stunned.

"Does it hurt?" Bi Xia asked coldly.

Yin Yang said nothing, only giving a weary smile, neither surprised nor in pain. The moment he saw Bi Xia, he had anticipated this.

"My empress!"

The Xian Jun snapped out of it and rushed forward, pulling Bi Xia away. What kind of plot was this? Were you trying to kill your own husband?

"You knew she was my disciple."

"Why did you harm her?"

"Just because he's the ruler and you're the subject?"

Bi Xia struggled violently, her suppressed emotions erupting like a madwoman, screaming with hatred as she glared at Yin Yang. Her eyes were full of tears, and she yearned to lunge forward for another stab, but the Xian Jun held her tightly, her once smooth hair now disheveled.

"In my memory, you were unyielding and upright. Now, you're more like..."

"More like a dog, right?"

Yin Yang chuckled self-mockingly, finishing the words she couldn't bear to say. Blood gushed from his chest, but he didn't care, only looking at her with warmth.

Bi Xia laughed too, her smile heartbreakingly beautiful.

Zheng!

A sword's hum rang out as Ye Chen arrived, his attack aimed at Yin Yang. The sword buzzed with Dao principles and Emperor's Insight, brimming with destructive power.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed in a flash, vivid and striking.

But the one pierced by Ye Chen's sword wasn't Yin Yang—it was Bi Xia. In that split second, she had used an immortal technique to shield him.

"Why bother?" Ye Chen said flatly.

"Ye Chen, please, spare him."

Blood poured from Bi Xia's mouth, her once clear eyes dimming rapidly. Ye Chen's sword was a devastating kill strike; even if Yin Yang had been hit, he wouldn't have survived.

Ye Chen was silent. He sheathed his sword without even glancing at Yin Yang and headed straight for Ling Xiao Bao Dian. From start to finish, he hadn't spared Yin Yang a look.

The Tian Bing, Tian Jiang, Xian Zun, and Xian Jun present dared not block his path. The Heavenly Court ruler had ordered that Ye Chen should not be stopped.

Ye Chen left, his killing intent billowing like a storm.

Behind him, Bi Xia slumped into Yin Yang's arms.

"Why were you so foolish?"

Yin Yang's face was streaked with bloody tears as he frantically channeled his essence to save her, but he couldn't halt the fading of her life force. Ye Chen's sword was too powerful, targeting both body and spirit; even an emperor might not reverse it.

"To be an ordinary couple... how wonderful that would be. You play the qin, and I dance."

Bi Xia's smile carried a touch of tenderness. Despite Yin Yang's despicability, she still loved him, willing to block that sword for him, even to shatter into pieces.

Yin Yang choked back sobs, tears blurring his vision.

An ordinary couple—what a beautiful dream, what an intimate wish.

Yet, for him, it was a laughable luxury.

No one knew that within Bi Xia's body was a curse seal—the Heavenly Court ruler's curse. With a single thought from Yin Ming, she would turn to ash.

That was why he had chosen to submit like a dog.

He had no choice: either Yue Xin died, or Bi Xia died.

The undefeated war god wasn't a perfect saint; he had desires, selfishness. He wanted the one he loved to live, to be an ordinary couple with her, holding her hand and growing old together.

But despite crawling like a dog and obeying like one, committing every evil deed for that supreme ruler, he still couldn't save her life.

"In the next life... we'll meet again."

Bi Xia closed her eyes, her spirit fire extinguishing.

"On the road to the underworld, you won't be alone."

Yin Yang held her tightly, his flowing black hair turning strand by strand to snow white. He aged rapidly, his back hunched.

"Your Highness."

The elderly Xian Jun rushed forward.

Yin Yang said nothing, staggering to his feet, barely able to stand. He gripped his bloodstained sword, step by unsteady step, heading toward Ling Xiao Bao Dian. His figure was desolate and lonely, his tear-filled eyes devoid of light.

The undefeated war god was now utterly despairing, ignoring the battle entirely. The heavens, the realms, the ruler, the prince—all became fleeting clouds the moment his wife closed her eyes.

He walked farther and farther, toward Ling Xiao Bao Dian, and toward the gates of the underworld. He was going to die, but before that, someone had to pay.

And that someone wasn't Ye Chen—it was his eighth imperial brother, the lofty ruler of the Heavenly Court. It was he who had planted the destructive curse in Bi Xia, toying with what should have been a beautiful love.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen streaked through the sky like divine light, his killing intent icy cold, freezing inch by inch of the heavens in his wake.

This time, he had no intention of returning. He would exhaust everything to destroy that scum Yin Ming and turn the Heavenly Court into a sea of blood and corpses.

He didn't know when he stopped, standing silently in the void, gazing into the distance.

There, demonic energy roiled, blotting out the sky and making the heavens rumble. A human form slowly emerged from the haze, revealing its true appearance—it was Shura Tianzun.

"Where is Yue Xin?"

Ye Chen asked, his brows slightly furrowed. Today's Tianzun was different from before; his killing intent was intense, and it was directed at him. Shura Tianzun wasn't controlled; he had his own will.

"She is fine." Tianzun didn't stop, advancing with his divine blade, his expression indifferent and emotionless. "I just need to borrow one thing from you to safely take her home."

"What thing?"

"Your life."