Chapter 2820: A Deal is Struck

The starry sky was vast and profound, stretching into endless depths.

On a hundred-zhang meteorite, Ye Chen sat as still as a stone statue, deeply immersed in enlightenment. Around him, strange phenomena manifested, and the sounds of the Great Dao echoed faintly through the cosmos.

Many onlookers gathered from all directions, with numerous people sitting cross-legged, listening to the Dao sounds of the Saint Body and entering their own states of enlightenment. After waiting so many days, there had to be some reward. The Saint Body's Dao sounds were profoundly mysterious—perhaps one could even find a stroke of fortune from them.

Indeed, some exceptional individuals showed it: Amid their enlightenment, many had expressions of clarity easing across their brows, and a few even achieved breakthroughs on the spot.

The scene was quite pleasing to the eye.

Centered on Ye Chen, layers of halos spread outward, carrying no offensive power, like a gentle spring breeze. Light rain fell, radiant colors burst forth, and strands of chaotic Dao essence intertwined, nourishing the surrounding life forms.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

From afar came another person: the big-bearded Yan Laodao, clicking his tongue in amazement. He was here to deliver thunder, carrying a bolt of true thunder. He didn't disturb Ye Chen, simply placed the thunder down, took a divine talisman, and turned to leave. Compared to staying here to listen and enlighten, he preferred to go exorcise demons and slay monsters.

Soon after, two figures arrived together: one was Dong Zhou Wu Wang, and the other was Ri Yue Shen Zi. They truly were a pair of good buddies, always showing up as a duo.

They didn't come empty-handed either—one gave a bolt of heavenly thunder, and the other offered a damaged true thunder.

"This guy's aura is still as eye-catching as ever."

"You just getting into the game today?"

"I've noticed that ever since you got married, you've turned into such a big shot!"

"If you've got the skills, go snag one yourself."

The two started bickering again, trading jabs as they walked off into the distance. They hadn't gone far before turning back as a team, apparently having delivered the thunder but forgotten to take a treasure. Each swiped an eight-pattern pill from Ye Chen. They had thought about drawing some blood from him too, but seeing him in deep enlightenment, they couldn't bring themselves to interrupt.

On the third day, someone from Xuan Huang arrived: Cang Long Huang, coming to the starry sky for his own enlightenment. At his peak realm, he could clearly sense the suppression of the Emperor Path weakening bit by bit, and he wanted to seize this era for a chance at greatness.

Upon seeing the emperor of Da Chu, the old man's face didn't look pleased—in fact, it darkened somewhat. His family's Long Jie had returned to Da Chu and ended up getting beaten.

What was wrong with looking at your wife? Did they have to chase and beat him across the entire starry sky?

Though he grumbled internally, he still left behind his thunder.

This thunder had accompanied him for nearly a thousand years, and now it was going to Ye Chen. This Saint Body needed to reach great completion as soon as possible, because at any moment in the future, someone in the heavens might attempt to cross the Emperor Tribulation. He would need to protect the Dao then—not just against the Hong Huang clans, but also against invasions from foreign domains. If this thunder could help form chaotic thunder, and if the chaotic thunder could aid Ye Chen in advancing to great completion, it would be a meritorious deed, a great blessing for the heavens.

On the fifth day, the lords of Kunlun Xu, Jiu Huang Tian, and Da Luo Zhu Tian arrived together, all bringing thunder, including one damaged divine thunder.

On the eighth day, Zhu Que Gong Zhu descended into this starry sky, delivering thunder on behalf of Zhu Que Queen. Since that year when she was brought back from Wu Lei City, the immortal had not appeared in the world again.

On the thirteenth day, Jiang Tai Gong showed up for a stroll. He didn't bring any thunder, but he swiped a Bagua Mirror from Ye Chen. This was noted by the Chaos Cauldron and Chaos Fire, and once their master awoke, they would have a chat with that fellow. Everyone else was trading thunder for treasures—how come he was so bold on his own?

From that day on, few people came.

Ye Chen remained seated for three full months.

In those three months, he never opened his eyes or moved a muscle; even dust had gathered on his shoulders. He was enlightening while also healing, and the hidden injuries to his primordial spirit were not yet fully mended.

In the haze, he seemed to glimpse that gate again—the gate to great completion—but it was only a fleeting vision. No matter how hard he strained his eyes, he couldn't see through it; all that remained was a vague mist. The path to great completion was still distant.

Boom!

It wasn't until the fourth month that the starry sky stirred with activity.

It was the Lie Huo Zhan Ti who had drawn the heavenly tribulation—a Great Saint level tribulation. He had advanced to Great Saint years ago but had suppressed it until now; it seemed he could hold it back no longer and had to take that step.

Quite a few onlookers rushed over.

From afar, they could see the sea of tribulation thunder.

However, the cultivators of the heavens hadn't come all this way just to watch the thunder—they were here for the Emperor Path Law Bodies, especially those from Emperor Path inheritances, who had basically sent representatives. Given Lie Huo Zhan Ti's talents, there was no reason he wouldn't attract Emperor Path Law Bodies, and likely more than one.

As they expected, in Lie Huo Zhan Ti's tribulation, there were Emperor Path Law Bodies, and indeed more than one—exactly four, all emperors from the Hong Huang clans.

"Definitely Emperor Son level."

Many elders stroked their beards, sighing with emotion.

"Old timer, how do you tell the difference between Emperor Son level and Young Emperor level?"

Quite a few juniors asked curiously.

"In a Great Saint tribulation, if there are no more than eight Emperor Path Law Bodies, it's Emperor Son level; if there are more than eight, it's Young Emperor level."

"If it's more than eight that counts, then isn't Ye Chen and Dong Shen Yao Chi basically at the absolute peak of Young Emperor level?"

"That makes sense, no issues there."

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Amid the discussions, Lie Huo Zhan Ti was already battling the four Emperor Path Law Bodies. It was a four-against-one setup, and the young war body fought with great difficulty, mostly fleeing. After all, not everyone was a heaven-defying freak like Ye Chen and Yao Chi.

Fortunately, he endured it.

By the time the tribulation ended, Lie Huo Zhan Ti was nearly destroyed, leaving only a tiny spark of light—his primordial spirit fire—which was collected by a supreme expert, likely from his own lineage.

Boom! Rumbling!

The starry sky remained lively, with thunderous roars echoing nonstop.

After Lie Huo Zhan Ti came Tai Yang and Tai Yin, a true couple duo, triggering their tribulations together in the same star domain—one in the east and one in the west. By the time people arrived, both were already in the thunder sea.

Buzz!

Piao Miao Laodao made a grand entrance, wielding the Kaitian Axe, which he had borrowed from Da Chu, and stood guard on one side to protect them. Anyone with ill intentions would face his thunderous wrath.

Besides him, there were many other experts hidden in the shadows, all invited by Piao Miao Laodao—they couldn't let the Hong Huang clans exploit any weaknesses, and the Tian Mo and E Mo were also lurking menacingly.

Like Lie Huo Zhan Ti, Tai Yin and Tai Yang had suppressed their tribulations, or more accurately, spent many years accumulating their Dao essence. Otherwise, they would likely already be at Great Saint peak by now.

As the saying goes, build a solid foundation for a powerful breakthrough—that described them perfectly.

After the thunder tribulation came even more terrifying divine punishments.

Tai Yang's body drew five Emperor Path Law Bodies: four from the Hong Huang clans and one from Tai Xu Long Di, which made the Dragon Lords among them feel a sense of nostalgia.

As for Tai Yin, it was slightly less impressive, drawing four, all emperors from ancient races.

For this, the clan emperors of those ancient races even came in person.

Boom! Boom!

Following them was Dao Yuan Shen Ti.

This one was even fiercer, attracting six Emperor Path Law Bodies: three from the Hong Huang emperors and the rest from Xuan Yuan Di, Lun Hui Di, and Wu Ji Da Di. It left the Emperor Sons watching with tears in their eyes.

Boom!

No sooner had Dao Yuan Shen Ti's tribulation ended than Xian Tian Dao Ti stepped up, also with six Emperor Path Law Bodies. Ren Wang saw Ren Huang, Zi Xuan saw Dong Hua Nü Di, and the Dragon Lords who had just returned to Da Chu came again, because there was another Tai Xu Long Di.

Boom! Rumbling!

The starry sky quieted for just one or two days before another thunder tribulation arrived.

This time, it was Jiu You Mo Ti and Zi Fu Xian Ti, both with six Emperor Path Law Bodies, all from the Hong Huang.

Later, Xiao Man Wang and Di Zi Zhi came on the same day, one in the southern star domain and one in the northern starry sky, each with six Emperor Path Law Bodies, both fighting to near destruction.

After that, prodigies emerged one after another.

Someone as dominant as Zhang Zi Fan drew seven.

Four days later, Xiao Hei Pang Zi triggered his tribulation, but compared to the previous prodigies, he fell short, only attracting two Law Bodies: one Dou Zhan Sheng Huang and one Xian Yu Da Di. By the end, he was left with just a wisp of primordial spirit fire, barely escaping annihilation.

"This bunch of prodigies must have it all planned out!"

"Too bad none of them reached Young Emperor level."

"Don't rush—there's still Tian Sha, Tian Qian, and Sheng Ling Zhi Ti."

"I'm quite optimistic about the Saint Body family's three."

There were plenty of onlookers, and every tribulation drew a massive crowd. They witnessed the ferocity of the tribulations and, once again, the majesty of the emperors.

Ah!

The Nine Great Divine Generals sighed; they hadn't missed a single tribulation, yet they still hadn't seen Di Zun.

Boom! Rumbling!

On the second day after Tang San Shao's tribulation ended, Tian Sha Gu Xing's thunder tribulation began.

It was on this day that Ye Chen awoke from his enlightenment, leaving a clone and a Dharma body to continue exchanging thunder, while he headed to that starry sky. After all, she was his daughter-in-law—he had to protect her Dao.

When he arrived, Ji Ning Shuang was already there, holding an imperial sword. Though she seemed a bit dull, anyone with malicious intent would face her absolute kill.

Ye Chen's arrival further deterred all sides. With the two most dazzling Young Emperor level figures of the heavens standing guard, who would dare cause trouble?

"Five at minimum, no less."

"I thought at least six."

"Could be a Young Emperor level one."

Even before the tribulation was complete, people started speculating. At times like this, some old charlatans would stroke their beards and act like seasoned experts.

"Six."

Ye Chen murmured to himself. If he wasn't mistaken, there would be six. Tian Sha Gu Xing was strong, but far from reaching the Young Emperor level threshold—comprehending the Dao was crucial.

As he predicted, six Emperor Path Law Bodies appeared: Qing Di, You Ming Da Di, Wu Ji Da Di, Yu Kong Da Di, Hun Dun Da Di, and Hong Lian Nü Di.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The battle was incredibly fierce, with massive fluctuations.

The Saint Body family's daughter-in-law lived up to the Tian Sha's fame, enduring the thunder tribulation head-on. When the last Emperor Path Law Body dissipated, she was left with only a small flicker of primordial spirit fire, which Ji Ning Shuang collected into the Bao Lian Lamp.

The crowd didn't leave; instead, their eyes shone brighter, because Tian Qian Zhi Ti had arrived. It seemed he had just emerged from seclusion, with dark Tian Qian thunder tearing through the void, looking piercingly sharp—so much more extraordinary than before.

"This has the air of a Young Emperor level."

Ren Wang stroked his beard, his gaze profound.

He wasn't certain, and neither were Ye Chen and Ji Ning Shuang.

"Little junior brother, what do you think?"

Tong Tian Jiao Zhu chuckled, blending into the crowd to watch the tribulation. Though his insight wasn't enough, he knew it wouldn't be worse than Xiao Man Wang.

"Most likely it'll be Young Emperor level."

Hun Dun Ti smiled slightly. Among all the heavens' juniors, the one he favored most was Xiao Ye Fan. A tiger father sires no weak sons—he believed that was an absolute truth.