Chapter 2698: Duel with the Supreme

In the Celestial Realm (Tianjie).

The Immortal Extermination Heavenly Emperor Array (Zhai Xian Tian Huang Zhen) had been broken, and the Azure Heaven Demonic Pillar (Qing Tian Mo Zhu) destroyed. Warm sunlight once again bathed the world, its gentle rays bringing warmth and light. With a peak Great Emperor (Da Di) standing guard, a sense of security prevailed for all. Even if the opponent had an Emperor, they could still hold the line.

Gazing into the distance, crowds of people filled the skies and covered the earth like tides and seas.

Everyone looked up, staring into the vast heavens, watching the Dao Dao Supreme Heaven (Dao Da Shang Tian).

"Ninth Heaven (Jiuchong Tian) against a Great Emperor, there's no chance of winning at all!"

Tai Yi muttered to himself, his brows furrowed. Ye Chen was strong, no doubt, but a Great Emperor was no joke. Anyone who became an Emperor, whether a Heavenly Demon (Tian Mo) or a Zhutian person, was defying the heavens.

"Even if he's outmatched, we still have our own Emperor in the Celestial Realm! He won't just stand by."

Tai Bai laughed, completely at ease. With a peak Great Emperor defending them, how could a Heavenly Demon's Emperor possibly destroy the Zhutian's Desolate Ancient Sacred Body (Huang Gu Sheng Ti)?

"It's hard to say!" Si Ming took a deep breath and glanced sideways at Dao Ancestor (Dao Zu). An Emperor was the supreme being, always keeping their word as law.

"No way! That's the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body." The great demons and great devils all raised their eyebrows. "If a Sacred Body like that is destroyed, what a loss it would be!"

"I believe in the words of the Emperor." Asura Heavenly Venerate (Xiu Luo Tian Zun) said leisurely.

It wasn't just him; Mount Hua True Person (Hua Shan Zhen Ren), Four Peaks Sect Master (Si Yue Zhang Jiao), Kunlun Sect Master (Kun Lun Zhang Jiao), and others felt the same. Looking at Dao Ancestor's expression, it seemed he might really stand by and do nothing.

"Though we have grudges against you, we hope you can win."

The remaining old Immortal Venerates (Xian Zun) of the Heavenly Court (Tian Ting) murmured to themselves. Having survived mountains of corpses and seas of blood, they had seen through the mortal world and could distinguish right from wrong. In times of war, they stood united against external threats.

"The Holy Lord (Sheng Zhu) will win."

Compared to the immortals, demons, and devils, the eyes of the Great Chu (Da Chu) reincarnated people were more resolute than ever. They held a unique faith in Great Chu's emperor, the Heavenly Court's Holy Lord, and the man named Ye Chen. In the past, he had defied the heavens to slaughter an Emperor, and today, he could do it again.

"Little junior brother, what do you think?"

Grand Supreme Elder (Tai Shang Lao Jun) stroked his beard, referring to the Chaos Body (Hun Dun Ti) with those words.

"Win, and live; lose, and perish."

Chaos Body said leisurely. As he gazed at the Dao Dao Supreme Heaven, his expression was slightly dazed, filled with hope. On the battlefield of the Emperor Dao (Di Dao), he also wanted to step in and fight an Emperor—that would be the ultimate fortune. Only by battling an Emperor could one truly temper a fighting state of mind.

Unfortunately, he wasn't a Sacred Body and didn't have the privilege to stand equal with an Emperor. He might surpass Ye Chen, but he wasn't a match for an Emperor. He couldn't slaughter an Emperor, but Ye Chen perhaps could.

The Dao had its deficiencies, and the heavenly way cycled on—this might be the legendary case of one thing overcoming another.

Lao Jun took a deep breath, and Primordial Heavenly Venerate (Yuan Shi Tian Zun) and Master of the Heavenly Tong (Tong Tian Jiao Zhu) stroked their beards in silence, occasionally glancing at Dao Ancestor. Their master, they understood a bit; if he said he wouldn't intervene, he absolutely wouldn't.

Yet, they still didn't understand—where did Dao Ancestor's confidence in Ye Chen come from? His expectations for that young Sacred Body were too high.

That was an Emperor, after all! Even without the Demonic Pillar's support and suppressed in the Celestial Realm, it was still a genuine Supreme Being (Zhi Zun). To slaughter an Emperor, at least half-step to Great Accomplishment (Da Cheng) was needed.

As for a Ninth Heaven Sacred Body wanting to extinguish an Emperor, the possibility was infinitely close to zero.

"Madman, you're just a madman."

Mysterious Emperor (Xuan Di) grumbled.

Mysterious Emperor's phantom was the one who understood Dao Ancestor best and was absolutely certain that even if the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body were destroyed, Hong Jun wouldn't lift a finger. In other words, once Ye Chen entered that Dao Dao Supreme Heaven, there were only two possibilities: either slaughter the Great Emperor or be exterminated by the Emperor.

Dao Ancestor stood gracefully, saying nothing, only quietly watching Supreme Heaven (Tai Shang Tian). Without external help, there was no precedent in history for a Ninth Heaven to slaughter an Emperor. However, he firmly believed Ye Chen would set this precedent, unrelated to the Emperor Venerate's (Di Zun) reincarnation. He simply had an unshakeable faith in that young Sacred Body.

So, he wouldn't intervene, even if Ye Chen walked into the gates of death.

Boom! Rumbling!

On the battlefield of the Emperor Dao, dark clouds gathered, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring.

In the east, Ye Chen stood firmly, his feet on the Golden Immortal Sea (Jin Xian Hai), his head under the Vast Sky (Hao Yu Xing Tian). Immortal light enveloped him, and his Qi and blood surged. His Desolate Ancient Sacred Body was like molten gold, like a brilliant sun, its radiance shining upon the world. Chaotic Dao principles wound around him, accompanied by visions of all things and profound Dao Heavenly Sound (Dao Tian Yin) echoing through the nine heavens and ten earths.

He stood in the Chaos Great Realm (Hun Dun Da Jie), like an ancient war god guarding the end of time, overlooking the four seas and eight wastelands.

In the west, Scarlet Night Demon Emperor (Chi Ye Mo Di) grinned ferociously, stepping on the Demonic Fiend Blood Sea (Mo Sha Xue Hai), his Emperor Might (Di Wei) overwhelming. Ultimate Dao laws were etched with destruction, and his Emperor Dao visions showed stars crumbling and suns collapsing, all in a cycle of reincarnation. His pure Emperor Dao divine power was endless.

He stood in the Ignorant Demon Land (Wu Wang Mo Tu), with mountains of corpses and seas of blood behind him, perfectly embodying his Emperor Dao. His path to emperorship had been one of defying the heavens, paved with the blood and bones of living beings.

Ye Chen's expression was indifferent, without joy or sorrow, anger or hate.

Even facing an Emperor, he held an unwavering belief in victory. He wasn't afraid of tempering and longed for it. He was grateful to Dao Ancestor and to this life-or-death tribulation. He wanted to slaughter the Emperor, defy the heavens for another rebirth, and create an immortal legend for the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body lineage.

In an instant, he unleashed his full combat power, activating the Great Wheel of Reincarnation Heavenly Secret (Da Lun Hui Tian Zang) and the Sacred Dao Immortal Secret (Sheng Dao Xian Zang), elevating his power to its peak since cultivating. Every pore on his body emitted Sacred Body essence, making him like a blazing golden flame.

"Overestimating yourself."

Chi Ye Mo Di smirked slightly, stepping forward to shatter the Qian Kun (Qian Kun - roughly means the universe), instantly closing in.

Ye Chen's expression turned stern as he threw a punch.

But Chi Ye Mo Di was ruthless, clashing with his Emperor Body directly. One palm ripped open Ye Chen's chest, the Emperor Might domineeringly destroying his internal organs, severing his meridians, and shattering his Sacred Bones (Sheng Gu) one by one. Fragments of bones, mixed with dazzling golden blood, scattered across the Dao Dao Supreme Heaven.

Gulp!

This scene made the immortals swallow hard in secret. The gap was just too wide.

In just one exchange, that powerful Sacred Body had been torn apart. At this rate, forget slaughtering the Emperor—if he could withstand the Emperor's attacks, it would be a miracle.

Ye Chen gritted his teeth and fled into the sky, soaring straight to the nine heavens to fully regenerate his Sacred Body.

His recovery ability was incredibly dominant, enhanced by the Great Wheel of Reincarnation Heavenly Birth (Da Lun Hui Tian Sheng) and Sacred Dao Returning Heaven (Sheng Dao Hui Tian), forcefully healing his wounds, recasting his organs and meridians, and reconnecting his fractured Sacred Bones. The most troublesome part was still the Emperor Dao killing intent.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Chi Ye Mo Di sneered, stepping into the misty heights and slamming down a palm that could destroy heaven and earth. To him, a mere Ninth Heaven Sacred Body was no different from an ant.

"Battle!"

Ye Chen roared, transforming the Chaos Cauldron (Hun Dun Ding) into an iron staff and thrusting it toward the sky.

Clang!

The sound of metal colliding was crisp.

Though Ye Chen's staff was domineering, it didn't pierce the Emperor's palm, only sparking bright flames.

However, this staff strike forcefully blocked the Emperor's palm.

"Interesting."

Chi Ye Mo Di chuckled eerily and added more force, etching dark seal scripts on his palm fingers that glowed with demonic light. The palm's power intensified, obliterating the Qian Kun and turning laws into illusions.

Crack! Crack!

The sound of bones breaking echoed from Ye Chen, his legs bending under the Emperor's palm. He didn't know how many Sacred Bones inside him had fractured, and his domineering Sacred Body split with numerous cracks, blood flowing out—dazzling yet painfully stark.

"Rise! Get up for me!"

Ye Chen roared, enduring the Emperor Dao pressure as he instantly activated his Hegemon Body Outer Form (Ba Ti Wai Xiang), boosting the staff's power and forcibly lifting the Emperor's palm seal.

Bang!

Chi Ye Mo Di grunted dully and staggered back a step, collapsing a swath of void.

Once steady, a hint of surprise appeared in his Emperor Eyes (Di Mou). This young Sacred Body was quite capable!

"Battle!"

Ye Chen shot up like a golden divine ray, smashing down from the heavens with a staff that dominated the sky and earth.

Chi Ye Mo Di's eyes were full of mockery as he flipped his hand and swung a palm.

Clang! Pfft!

Two sounds rang out in succession. Ye Chen was sent flying, coughing up blood, his iron staff buzzing, and even his hand bones exploding.

Before he could stabilize, a ghostly figure appeared before him—Chi Ye Mo Di had closed in, thrusting a finger of divine light straight at his brow.

Ye Chen instantly used Heavenly Dao (Tian Dao), escaping into a black hole.

In the same instant, he burst out from the black hole, now behind Chi Ye Mo Di, striking with a palm like a divine blade.

Blood light flashed, dazzling and piercing.

But the one wounded wasn't Chi Ye Mo Di—it was Ye Chen. His palm was incredibly powerful but missed, or rather, Chi Ye Mo Di's body techniques were too illusory, dodging in an instant and circling behind him. Ye Chen's palm strike failed, but the Emperor's palm blade hit him squarely.

When he reappeared, he was already thousands of feet away. It was only thanks to his deep foundation and quick escape that he wasn't split in half or exterminated by the Emperor.

"The Six Paths Wheel of Reincarnation Eye, how amusing."

Chi Ye Mo Di laughed mockingly and advanced through the sky, each step crushing a Qian Kun.

Ye Chen said nothing, focusing on erasing the Emperor Dao killing intent in his body.

This Emperor was stronger than he imagined. A supreme being who could break Emperor illusions wasn't just talk. In their exchanges so far, he hadn't gained any advantage.

Chaos Fire (Hun Dun Huo) emerged to aid in battle, turning into threads of flame that wandered over his wounds, helping heal them—especially his back, which had been struck by the Emperor's palm and now exposed his shining spine.

"Thank you for sparing my life, fellow Daoist."

Chi Ye Mo Di's laughter grew more demonic, echoing in the desolate void with an irresistible demonic power. These words were directed at Dao Ancestor Hong Jun. Finding a Ninth Heaven Sacred Body to fight him was basically like letting him go free.

"Destroy him, and you may live."

Dao Ancestor said indifferently, his expression calm and emotionless.

"Easy enough."

Chi Ye Mo Di smirked again, his Emperor Eyes filled with destruction as he advanced step by step, unhurried. He pondered whether to first twist off Ye Chen's head or rip off his arms.

As he walked, he suddenly took a hit.

The so-called hit was a bloody hole appearing on his Emperor Body—or more precisely, a finger-sized hole, clearly poked by someone.

And that someone was Ye Chen. From his earlier strike, he had left a Wheel of Reincarnation mark on the Emperor, using Flying Thunder God (Fei Lei Shen) to instantly close in and pierce with a finger that shattered everything.

Chi Ye Mo Di was stunned, bewildered as a hole was poked in him.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

In that moment, Ye Chen's fingers were incredibly effective, seizing the opportunity to poke relentlessly—one blood hole after another, each one precise and deadly.

The immortals watched with mouths agape; the Sacred Body's maneuvers were truly slick!