Chapter 2662: Kindred Spirits

In front of the immortal mountain’s grand hall, Yin Yang finally closed his eyes. Even in death, he refused to spare a glance for Yu Di. He hated his eighth imperial brother, and he hated his father, the emperor, just as much.

But none of that mattered anymore. Be it man or beast, all would turn into a handful of yellow earth in the end.

"Yang'er."

Yu Di's aged body trembled violently as he softly called out, tears streaming down his face. One moment, the pain had torn at his heart; the next, rage had shattered his insides.

And now, it was regret.

He should have regretted choosing Yin Ming as the ruler, thinking Yin Ming could carry on his lifelong wishes. Little did he know it would plant the seeds of disaster.

The immortal venerables all stepped forward, their eyes filled with sorrow.

They had no idea what Yin Yang had endured to hate his father enough to stab him with a sword. They only knew that Yu Di's past decision had been terribly wrong.

If Yin Yang had been made the ruler, the Heavenly Court would likely still be at peace, its glory enduring. It wouldn't have provoked Ye Chen, nor would there be this mountain of corpses and sea of blood.

A bloody wind blew, turning Yu Di's hair completely white.

Perhaps only in this moment did he truly become a father, looking at the mortal world through a father's eyes for the first time. Sadly, it was all too late.

Ah!

The immortal venerables sighed in their hearts, their sorrow deepening. Yu Di's two children: the third imperial son had taken his own life, and the eighth imperial son was still being flayed alive. One tragedy more harrowing than the last.

"Father, save me."

Yin Ming's howls were piercing and full of agony. He was not yet dead, still surrounded by Ye Chen's three clones, who carved at him like sculpting wood—one slice for flesh, one for bone. It was true lingchi torture.

The immortal venerables who had rushed out wanted to save him, but that area was a forbidden zone, guarded by a god of slaughter wielding a bloodstained iron staff. No one could enter, and they could only watch as he was flayed alive.

Yu Di finally rose, took Yin Yang's sword, and stepped out of the immortal mountain. He wasn't going to kill Ye Chen; instead, he headed toward Yin Ming.

Though Yin Yang was dead, as a father, he needed the truth. He wanted to see exactly what evil deeds his eighth imperial son had committed.

"Your Majesty." The immortal venerables all followed.

Yu Di acted as if he hadn't heard, his vision blurred by tears.

Ye Chen glanced over but did not stop him.

Because he didn't stop him, someone finally entered that so-called forbidden zone—the sword-wielding Yu Di, his face expressionless as he approached Yin Ming.

"Father, save me."

Seeing Yu Di, Yin Ming wailed through his tears.

By now, he no longer looked human, his body drenched in blood, exposed bones gleaming like a corpse gnawed by fierce ghosts—gruesome and terrifying.

Yu Di said nothing, placing one hand on Yin Ming's crown and performing a soul search forbidden art.

Ah!

Yin Ming's howls grew even more shrill. His already mangled face twisted in pain, blood flowing from his seven orifices, his sea of consciousness roaring as his skull threatened to burst.

Yu Di showed no mercy, his soul search power overwhelming.

In the end, he saw the truth he sought: his eighth imperial son had implanted a terrible curse seal on Bi Xia and used Yin Yang as a puppet.

Tears welled in Yu Di's eyes once more. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed Yin Yang had lived like a dog. No wonder he harbored such hatred.

Thud!

Yu Di's sword pierced Yin Ming's chest.

"F-Father."

Yin Ming's eyes bulged as he clutched his chest and staggered back, unable to believe that the one wielding the sword was his own father.

"You should never have toyed with your imperial brother." Yu Di roared, veins of crimson bloodshot lines etching his eyes.

"It was him—he wouldn't listen." Yin Ming shrieked.

"Rebellious son." Yu Di swung his sword again, striking Yin Ming down.

Ha ha ha!

Yin Ming struggled to his feet, no longer howling in rage. He had become a madman, like his former third imperial brother. His laughter carried a touch of madness.

As he laughed, his laughter suddenly stopped. He lunged forward, impaling himself on Yu Di's sword, which pierced straight through his origin soul.

"Ming'er."

Yu Di froze for a moment.

"Father, in the end, you and I are of the same kind." Yin Ming's forehead weakly pressed against Yu Di's chest. For the first time, he was this close to his father, his voice hoarse and laced with melancholy.

Time seemed to freeze in that instant.

The ruler of the Heavenly Court was destroyed, dying by his father's sword, collapsing into his emperor father's arms, drenched in crimson blood as he embarked on the road to the Yellow Springs.

Like Yin Yang, in his final moments, he carried resentment and hatred toward his father. As people of the same kind, he knew what his father intended.

The Heavenly Court's defeat, with mountains of corpses and rivers of blood, needed a scapegoat to bear the blame and another to rally its forces.

And he was that scapegoat.

The rumbling sounds across the heavens vanished in an instant as the battle halted. The Heavenly Court's strong warriors all turned to look, the bloody scene stinging their eyes.

Yu Di was in tears again. First Yin Yang, now Yin Ming—both his children had ended their lives before him, falling into his embrace.

"Forcing your own children to death—does it hurt?"

Ye Chen said calmly. He was the only one not looking at that scene. Or rather, he had foreseen this outcome.

The emperor of Da Chu had once experienced a reincarnation born into an imperial family, so Ye Chen understood. He knew Yin Ming and also understood Yu Di. From the moment Yu Di left the mountain, Yin Ming's death was sealed. Without Yin Ming's death, how could the people's outrage be appeased? Without it, where would the rallying cry come from? The child of the ruler—despised yet pitiful, always a potential sacrifice, with the killer being his own father.

Facts proved his guess was right.

Now, looking at the Heavenly Court's warriors, their eyes held more hatred and anger, all directed at him. That would be the source of their battle spirit.

Boom! Rumbling!

Thunderous booms shook the vast universe.

More armies arrived from all directions. From afar, they looked like dark masses, like four oceans surging to swallow the heavens and earth. Leading them were Yu Di's imperial sons, each clad in armor.

After so many years, Yu Di's eight children were finally gathered.

Unfortunately, the third and eighth were already dead.

Yu Di stood up, the turbid tears in his eyes vanishing in an instant. His gaze at Ye Chen turned icy cold, filled with grotesque resentment.

Buzz!

The God-Smiting Whip buzzed and flew out from the immortal venerable's body, soaring through the vast expanse and merging into Yu Di. Emperor's heavenly sounds echoed, emperor's dao principles entwined, and Yu Di's aura surged instantly. The surrounding space collapsed amid flashes of lightning and thunder, displaying apocalyptic visions.

"No rest until death."

Yu Di roared, his voice like thunder shaking the heavens, surging with overwhelming killing intent as he struck from across the vast cosmos, slamming a palm toward the one he loathed.

"I am a sinner, but so are you."

Ye Chen said indifferently, merging his nine paths and eight desolations in an instant. His combat power remained heaven-defying, his fist shattering Yu Di's palm seal and sending Yu Di flying with blood and bones scattered.

In contrast, Ye Chen bore no wounds.

Boom! Bang!

With a direct clash, the two shot one after the other into the vast void, like divine light and immortal radiance. The heavens collapsed in that moment.

Looking up, the void was divided into two realms.

In the east, Ye Chen upheld the chaotic great world, where mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees all pulsed with spirituality and magic. Chaotic dao principles flickered in and out, accompanied by demonic heavenly sounds. He stood within like a demon god, dominating the eight desolations.

In the west, Yu Di upheld the vast immortal domain, with towering mountains and winding rivers all formed from dao principles. Righteous energy billowed, heavy and oppressive, collapsing space, while emperor's immortal sounds resounded, carrying supreme dao insights. He stood within like an immortal king, overlooking the world.

Boom!

The two realms collided, destroying the cosmos.

A world-shaking battle erupted.

This fight between them held profound historical significance. He was the holy lord of the human realm's Heavenly Court, and he was the ruler of the heavenly realm's Heavenly Court. Both connected to the Heavenly Court, both founders of prosperous dynasties, now battling to the death.