Chapter 2825: Siege in the Chaos

Boom! Rumble!

In the vast starry sky, thunderclaps echoed endlessly.

After many years, the heavens were once again swept by a frenzy of Emperor Tribulations. It wasn't just anyone; all those who dared to face it were in the prime of their youth, but those actually drawing the tribulations were without exception from the older generations. They weren't rushing to their deaths; it was simply that their lifespans were nearing their end. Better to take a gamble than to wither away in old age.

Alas, the path to emperorship was cruel, and no one succeeded in proving the Dao.

"The timing isn't right."

Ren Wang walked through the stars, one hand holding the Bagua Pan, the other pinching his fingers in calculation, murmuring all the while. Whenever someone triggered an Emperor Tribulation, he was sure to be there, a faithful observer.

"The Emperor's Path is full of changes and uncertainties. What more can you deduce?"

At his side, Zao Hua Shen Wang glanced over.

"It's true, I can't deduce anything."

Ren Wang replied casually. The affairs of the future were no longer within the scope of the Zhoutian cycle, making divination ineffective. But there was still a certain intuition, possessed only by those of the Zhoutian lineage. The suppression of the Emperor's Path was indeed weakening, yet it wasn't yet time for an emperor to emerge. The destined opportunity for enlightenment remained hidden in the shadows.

At some point, the two came to a halt on a meteor. This stretch of starry sky was immensely vast, crowded with figures standing densely across the surrounding stars. They weren't gathering for a meeting; another was about to trigger an Emperor Tribulation, making a desperate final stand before death.

Gazing into the distance, there stood an old ape monkey, its fur pitch-black like upright steel needles. Amid the dark hair, white strands were unmistakable, much like the speckled white in its own hair. Its once-dominant aura now seemed slightly lacking, or rather, overshadowed by a thick veil of deathly energy. It, too, was approaching the end of its lifespan, having lived through countless ages and witnessed endless transformations of the seas and mountains.

"That one... who is it?"

Kui Niu glanced over and nudged Xiao Yuan Huang. They were both monkeys, so they might be relatives.

"Lie Huo Mo Yuan."

Xiao Yuan Huang took a deep breath, clearly recognizing it. He inherited ancient memories and had some knowledge of the ape lineages.

"So, the Mo Yuan still has a lineage surviving in the world."

Nan Di spoke, his tone laced with surprise. Though not of the ape clan, he had heard of their background. The first ape from the dawn of creation was known as the Hong Huang Zu Yuan. Over endless ages, it had branched into countless offshoots, with Lie Huo Mo Yuan and Dou Zhan Sheng Yuan being two of them—the most dominant branches, sharing blood ties. Unlike the Dou Zhan Sheng Yuan clan, this lineage had never produced an emperor. In the Hong Huang era, it became embroiled in conflicts and was rumored to have lost its inheritance entirely. Who would have thought one still lived?

"It must be the last of the Mo Yuan."

Zhu Que murmured softly, her beautiful eyes filled with sorrow.

Indeed, the atmosphere was sorrowful.

At the far end of the starry sky, the old Mo Yuan stood in silence. Its once upright form now appeared slightly hunched, and its once brilliant ape eyes were dim, coated with the dust of ages, exuding timeless weariness.

It was calm, or perhaps age had ground it into silence. Once, like Xiao Yuan Huang, it had been mischievous and playful. But after enduring the vast changes of time, both its passions and beliefs had been eroded away. It had learned to remain quiet, only occasionally glancing back at the long path behind it—a weary journey it didn't know how far it had traveled. Of the entire Mo Yuan clan, only it remained, solitary on this road, crawling forward like a dog. The glory of the past had faded into mere fleeting clouds. It was old now, unable to hold on any longer. In its final moments, it would use its aged, decrepit body to ram against that barrier. If it broke through, it would achieve emperorship; if not, it would turn to dust in history.

"Old monkey, I'm here to see you off."

Hao Mie Shen Wang Mu Liu Qing, Chi Mei Xie Shen Cang Lan, Tun Tian Mo Zun Mo Yuan, and Xian Zu Xian Wang Jiang Tai Xu all stood at a distance in the starry sky, quietly gazing over. It seemed they were old acquaintances, having fought and mutually respected each other in the past. The grudges from ancient times had, in this instant, dissolved into smoke.

The old Mo Yuan turned its head slightly, silently regarding the four. They were indeed old friends, but one was missing—who? Hong Lian Nu Di.

However, none of that mattered now. What was important was that it had to embark on that path. It might not reach the ultimate peak of the Dao, but it could very well be the end of its life.

Boom!

Suddenly, a thunderous roar shook the universe.

In the ethereal void above, tribulation clouds surged, and lightning rampaged. A pressure that made the entire cosmos tremble manifested abruptly. This was no ordinary Great Saint Tribulation or Quasi-Emperor Tribulation; it was the divine tribulation of the Emperor's Path. Every bolt of lightning carried destructive power, every flash reflected apocalyptic glory, pouring down like a waterfall of thunder.

The masses retreated, and even the peak experts were no exception.

The Emperor Tribulation was no ordinary calamity; its fluctuations far exceeded expectations. Even Sheng Zun and Di Ji, who had survived such tribulations before, dared not approach too closely. Only the Sixth Shen Jiang remained steadfast as a rock. He had once dared to wander into the tribulations of Di Zun, let alone those of the old Mo Yuan. To this day, no one knew where he drew his power to withstand the Emperor's Path lightning. Perhaps it was due to his origin; he himself was linked to an ancient lineage that, under specific conditions, could immunize against imperial might, including the divine tribulations of the Emperor's Path.

"Back, back, back."

The older generations made way, and the younger ones even more so. Many had already collapsed, unable to bear the invisible pressure. Their souls trembled, and their legs felt weak just standing.

Buzz!

Accompanied by a hum, the old Mo Yuan gripped an iron staff in its hand. As with most of the ape lineage, like Xiao Yuan Huang and Dou Zhan Sheng Huang, they favored staves.

War!

The still-standing old Mo Yuan let out a soul-shaking roar, stepping forth to shatter the heavens and charge straight into the nine skies. It sacrificed its remaining lifespan, dispelling all the deathly energy from its body. Its fur was now enveloped in dark, fierce flames. From afar, it no longer looked like a figure but a blazing inferno.

This roar stirred the hearts of all present, igniting their blood with battle fervor—an infectious will to fight.

A dominant lineage, and a fierce one at that, never submitting in a lifetime.

Sadly, it still failed. Even as the divine tribulation of the Emperor's Path dissipated, its form was nowhere to be seen. Only its desolate roar echoed endlessly through the stars, along with its bloodstained, broken iron staff, which plummeted into the void and smashed a star into explosive ruin.

Ah!

The older generations sighed, their expressions filled with sorrow.

Ah!

The younger ones sighed as well. Perhaps, one day in the future, they too would be forced onto that desperate path, vying for a sliver of hope.

Ah!

Sheng Yuan Huang sighed as he stepped forward, retrieving the broken iron staff from the scattering debris, intending to return it to their ancestral land. They shared the same ancestor, so they were close kin.

After that, for quite some time, tribulations continued unabated.

Without exception, all were from the older generations.

Without exception, none achieved emperorship.

"If I remember correctly, you're the one who's supposed to face a tribulation."

It was Ren Wang again, chattering as he walked.

Every time he spoke, Zao Hua Shen Wang shot him a sideways glance. This was the eight-hundredth time Fu Xi had nagged about it on their journey. You weakling, are you that eager to watch me undergo a tribulation? That desperate to see me get struck by lightning?

Ren Wang ignored it, his mouth still running.

"That kid, he's been gone for ten years now!"

The clever Zao Hua Shen Wang quickly changed the topic. The "kid" he referred to was, of course, Ye Chen. He had entered the black hole ten years ago and hadn't returned even once. Ten years in darkness must have been incredibly lonely for him.

Well, upon hearing this, Ren Wang stopped his nonsense. He tilted his head slightly upward, gazing into the distant void. Unfortunately, he couldn't see through the black hole. In the past, he could occasionally glimpse it, but ever since the changes in the Emperor's Path, it had become even more obscured, veiled by some mysterious force.

Speaking of Ye Chen, he was still in that same state, walking with heavy steps, aimlessly through the boundless darkness. With no goal and no end in sight, he trudged on in a muddled haze, like a walking corpse, until the end of time.

Time had once again worn down this Holy Body, leaving him disheveled and wretched. His hair was a mess, his face covered in stubble, and his shoulders dusted with grime, all signs of profound weariness.

From behind, there were two silhouettes. As they walked, they merged, then separated again. The two figures were similar, each carrying their own stories.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The Xian Wu Di Jian hummed, both calling out and issuing a warning.

Looking closely into the surrounding darkness, pairs of eerie, glowing eyes appeared—some from Tian Mo, some from E Mo. Ever since Ye Chen had fallen into his muddled state, they had been following him. Uncertain if he was truly lost in haze, they dared not strike directly, only trailing stealthily, watching from the shadows.

Ye Chen showed no reaction to this.

In his inner world, Tai Chu Shen Lei was also stirring. It had lingered in the black hole for who knew how many years and had witnessed countless horrors. Like the emperor sword, it could sense the dangers around them. It didn't matter if Ye Chen died, but as something within his inner world, it would be destroyed along with him—that was no joke. It wanted to emerge, but Ye Chen's seals were too strong, and his inner world was closed off, leaving it trapped inside. If it died like this, it might as well have fused with that heavenly thunder earlier, at least then it would still exist in the world.

Zheng!

In a certain instant, a sword cry rang out. A powerful Mo Jun could no longer hold back, launching a devastating sword strike directly at Ye Chen's origin soul. After observing for so long, it had finally confirmed that Ye Chen was in a muddled state. This was the perfect opportunity, not to be missed.

Keng!

The Mo Jun's sword struck like it had hit a steel plate, producing a crisp clang. It failed to harm Ye Chen.

It was the Xian Wu Di Jian acting on its own, drawing upon Ye Chen's power to revive its imperial might and form a suit of armor around him, primarily to protect his true body. A half-step fully realized Holy Body like him couldn't be extinguished so easily—that would be absurd.

"I'd like to see how long you can protect him."

The Mo Jun snorted coldly and slammed down a palm, unleashing a terrifying sealing array.

Immediately, the walking Ye Chen was immobilized, his raised foot frozen mid-air.

"Join forces and slay him!"

The Mo Jun howled, summoning a sea of demonic blood and malice to engulf Ye Chen.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

From the darkness, countless Tian Mo and E Mo emerged, including Mo Jun and Mo Jiang, brandishing artifacts and casting deadly techniques. Their attacks blanketed the area.

Clang! Pound! Keng!

Such sounds rang out incessantly as the assaults landed on Ye Chen. Even the armor formed by the emperor sword was battered and scarred. After all, Ye Chen was in a muddled state, lacking conscious awareness, and the sword was merely an imperial artifact without a wielder, unable to unleash its peak power. More crucially, the Tian Mo and E Mo were too numerous, and more kept arriving endlessly. It was a rare chance to eliminate this Holy Body and eliminate future threats.