Chapter 2655: Emperor Battles Heaven Venerate

"Your life."

Tian Zun's words, like Yin Ming's earlier, were ice-cold and bleak, brimming with demonic power, scattering one's mind upon hearing them.

Ye Chen stood still, listening without speaking.

He didn't need to ask to understand the implication—it must be Yin Ming using Yue Xin as leverage, forcing Tian Zun to kill him and exchange his life for hers.

Buzz!

Xiu Luo Tian Zun moved instantly, stepping forward and shattering the Ling Xiao, slashing down with a knife through the air. A ten-thousand-zhang blade of light manifested instantly, splitting the heavens and earth, cracking the universe.

Ye Chen soared into the sky and fled, dodging the Ling Tian blade light, unwilling to clash directly with Tian Zun. In a direct fight, he was far from being Tian Zun's match at the moment.

This was because he was at the third level of Zhun Di.

Tian Zun, however, was at the peak of Zhun Di, and not just any peak, differing by six small realms—a head-on battle would mean certain death, with his combat power still a level below.

Boom!

Accompanied by a thunderous roar, a majestic mountain was cleaved in half by Tian Zun's knife, sending rubble flying everywhere, though the strike did not hit Ye Chen.

Glancing again, Ye Chen had already employed immortal arts, shifting positions three or five times as he raced toward the Ling Xiao Bao Dian, clearly fleeing and avoiding a direct confrontation with Tian Zun.

He wasn't afraid of death, but if he had to die, it needed to count for something. He couldn't fall to Tian Zun's hand without first killing a few old dogs of the Heavenly Court.

Naturally, he had his own strategy.

He knew Yin Ming well—even if Tian Zun killed him, Yin Ming wouldn't release Yue Xin. That man was even more cruel and tyrannical than his father, the Jade Emperor.

Though their situation was precarious, it wasn't without a chance to reverse it. Fighting Xiu Luo Tian Zun required choosing the right battlefield, such as the Ling Xiao Bao Dian.

Some matters were better handled through discussion, but that approach was useless.

Others needed to be done amid the chaos to be effective.

For instance, rescuing Yue Xin or capturing the Heavenly Court ruler—as long as he had enough distance, everything could happen in a flash, making it all the more promising.

Boom! Rumble!

The skies shook violently, with vast expanses of space collapsing.

Ahead, Ye Chen streaked like a divine light, flying and evading all the way.

Behind, Tian Zun hurtled like a demonic light, pursuing and attacking relentlessly, unleashing full-force strikes without mercy, aiming to kill.

One ahead and one behind, their disturbance was immense.

The overpowering aura of the two was too strong; wherever they passed, mountains crumbled one by one, and countless floating palaces were shattered.

"He's really here."

Some Tian Jiang arrived to scout and, upon seeing the chase, hurriedly turned back, needing to report quickly to make necessary preparations.

"Look, he's come."

No need for the report—Yin Ming had already spotted it. He was sitting on the dragon chair, and at the sight of the rolling clouds in the distance, he leaped up abruptly. He was like a mischievous child, full of excitement, eager to dance.

"He really dares to come!"

"One Xiu Luo Tian Zun and one future head of Hua Shan, both entering the dragon's lair and tiger's den for a minor fairy. Is Yue Xin that important?"

"I'm afraid neither of them can return."

The assembled immortals all stretched on tiptoe to gaze into the distance, their sighs, tsks, and exclamations echoing nonstop. Today's spectacle was truly beyond expectation—two supreme ruthless figures had come to the Heavenly Court to die for a lowly Xing Jun.

"Holy Lord, Tian Zun, leave!"

Yue Xin burst into tears again, a wave of unprecedented warmth flooding her heart. It was worry, but also profound emotion from the depths of her soul, with tears flowing uncontrollably.

Whether in her past life or this one, she was merely a minor character. When had she ever experienced such honor? A great Chu Sovereign and a Xiu Luo Tian Zun, both charging into the Heavenly Court to save her.

In this life, with this scene, what more could she desire?

Boom! Bang! Boom!

In her blurred vision, Ye Chen's figure gradually came into view.

Following him was Xiu Luo Tian Zun, gripping a blood-dripping divine knife, chasing and attacking all the way, like a frenzied demon god intent on taking Ye Chen's life.

"They've come, they've come."

Yin Ming laughed wildly, actually jumping up, his excitement bordering on the perverse, itching to run over and give Ye Chen and Tian Zun a massive hug.

"Yin Ming, I really overestimated you."

Ye Chen advanced through the sky, cursing from afar, and at the sight of that man's face, he could no longer contain his towering rage, desperate to flay him alive with a knife.

"Kill, kill him for me."

Yin Ming's laughter turned to a shriek; the moment before, he was the ruler, and the next, a rabid dog, howling hysterically.

No need for his command—Tian Zun's assault was already upon them.

Another Ling Tian knife strike, a ten-thousand-zhang blade light slicing through the heavens and earth, upending the universe. It was a peak attack from Tian Zun, enough to make even the old Xian Zun tremble.

Ye Chen took to the skies to evade, dodging the lethal blow, and with a flip of his hand, pressed a palm toward Xiu Luo Tian Zun. He had already reached the front of the Ling Xiao Bao Dian, no longer needing to flee—just make the chaos as grand as possible for the best opportunity.

Tian Zun threw a punch in return, shattering Ye Chen's palm print. Even with Ye Chen's deep foundation, he was forced to stagger back, fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Before he could steady himself, Tian Zun was on him again, a finger of divine light thrusting straight for his brow, bypassing the physical body to target the Yuan Shen, powerful enough to instantly eradicate a great Xian Zun.

Ye Chen's movements were elusive, narrowly avoiding it, and with a flip of his hand, he swung a staff, driving Tian Zun back.

Tian Zun's strength far exceeded expectations; he withstood the hit head-on without injury and sent Ye Chen flying with a knife. If not for his robust foundation, he might have been split apart by the Tian Clan. That opponent had been serious from the start.

Since Tian Zun was serious, Ye Chen held nothing back either. He unleashed his full power—if he couldn't overcome Tian Zun, there was no point in restraint. He had to fight for real to deceive the wretched Yin Ming and prepare for rescuing Yue Xin.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Deafening booms resounded through the heavens.

The two had battled their way into the skies, one like a war god striding atop a brilliant immortal sea, the other like a demon god backed by boundless demonic lands. It was a clash of individuals and a contest of dao. Every impact sent halos rippling across the eight desolations, vaporizing anyone nearby on the spot.

Gazing upward, visions intertwined with destruction, and fresh blood rained down like light, some from Ye Chen, some from Tian Zun, staining the high skies crimson.

The immortals watched with trembling Yuan Shen.

Today marked the first time they witnessed Ye Chen and Tian Zun in combat; both were supreme ruthless figures who had once wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace. Who could have imagined these two would fight to the death like this?

This was all courtesy of the Heavenly Court ruler.

It was he who had orchestrated this spectacle, relishing the sight of his two enemies battling, their blood spilling everywhere—that sensation was utterly delightful.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful."

Yin Ming laughed, baring his white teeth completely. As the ruler, this was the first time he felt such exhilaration. He was the king; only he had the right to dictate the fate of mountains and rivers.

In contrast, Yue Xin's cheeks streamed with tears—one for her kin, one for her lover. The scene she least wanted to see unfolded before her eyes.

Boom!

In the void, Ye Chen struck Tian Zun back with another palm.

In that moment, he quickly scanned the surroundings, focusing especially on the Ling Xiao Bao Dian. At first glance, it appeared clear without immortal light, but in reality, a barrier lay hidden within. Yin Ming was exceedingly cautious and must have set up defenses.

Beyond that, the Heavenly Court experts were extraordinarily numerous, all lurking in the shadows, mostly old Xian Zun, poised to strike at any time.

Buzz!

Tian Zun's divine knife descended again, dominating the heavens and earth.

"Just go through the motions, don't be so ruthless."

Ye Chen secretly transmitted, not holding back his curses for once.

"At least let me catch my breath! At this rate, before I can save Yue Xin, you'll kill me first. Acting too realistically is bad for the body."

"Do you have a grasp on it?"

Tian Zun replied briefly.

"Sixty percent."

With that simple exchange, Ye Chen ascended into the sky and withdrew once more.

Tian Zun followed immediately, a palm covering the sky and enveloping that stretch of universe, laws in disarray, forcing Ye Chen's figure to falter and nearly plunge from the void.

The ensuing battle remained fierce, but their positioning grew increasingly deliberate, drawing them ever closer to the Ling Xiao Bao Dian. To outsiders, it seemed mere coincidence in the fight, but in truth, it was intentional on both their parts.

Yin Ming sneered, as if aware of their intent, and once again approached Yue Xin's side, pressing a small dagger against her shoulder.