Chapter 2835: Ye Ling?

Chapter 2835: Ye Ling?

“It’s not dead.”

Ye Chen gripped the small fragment tightly, his expression exceptionally grim. He had been deceived by the Zhu Xian Jian once again. Had he not accidentally sensed the spirit within the fragment, he would still be completely unaware.

Now the question was, where exactly was it hiding, and was it biding its time for revenge? At that instant, a layer of gloom settled over his mind. He knew better than anyone the cunning methods of the Zhu Xian Jian. Open attacks were easy to defend against, but hidden threats were not. Over endless ages, it had caused countless bloody disasters, making it impossible to guard against every angle.

“Boss?”

Seeing Ye Chen’s silence, the Hun Dun Ding called out to him.

“Guard Heng Yue and awaken Yao Chi.”

As Ye Chen spoke, he stepped by step toward the misty realm.

“No one is allowed to leave the Zhutian Gate.”

“Those outside must return to Da Chu immediately.”

Ye Chen’s words echoed boundlessly through the heavens and earth, resolute and forceful, with no hint of jest. They carried the majesty of an emperor and the power of a half-step great accomplishment.

The people of Heng Yue were astonished. Those meditating on the clouds were the first to rise, and even those deep in slumber were jolted awake, all turning their gazes toward the vast sky and Ye Chen.

“What’s going on?”

Everyone who heard it exchanged puzzled glances.

How many years had it been since Ye Chen had made such a grand move or issued commands to all of Da Chu as an emperor? Judging by his expression and tone, it was clear something serious had happened. Those who knew Ye Chen well felt an ominous premonition.

Ye Chen said nothing more and began forming seals with one hand.

Immediately, beams of light shot up into the sky, piercing through heaven and earth—these were the protective barriers of Da Chu. In addition, various Di Qi hovered in the air, one after another.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

In just three moments, figures materialized in the void around him, without exception, all at the Zhun Di peak level. Over ninety percent were at the ultimate peak realm. Among them were the divine generals, emperors, sword gods, holy venerables, and Di Ji—they were all there, each frowning as they looked at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen extended his hand, revealing the small fragment in his palm.

The Zhun Di saw it and narrowed their eyes in unison. They could clearly detect the spirit hidden within the fragment—it was the spirit of the Zhu Xian Jian. The presence of a spirit meant the Zhu Xian Jian was still alive.

“How is that possible?”

“I clearly saw it being obliterated by Ruoxi with a single palm.”

“Has it come back to life?”

The voices were chaotic, and the Zhun Di’s expressions were far from pleased. Evidently, they had all been tricked. That damned immortal sword possessed otherworldly schemes, capable of creating illusions to deceive the world. Its purpose was obvious: to lull everyone into believing it was destroyed, allowing it to continue its schemes in the shadows.

“Where the hell do we even find it?”

Tian Lao rubbed his brow, having just enjoyed a few peaceful days of sleep, only to be told the Zhu Xian Jian was still alive. This was no pleasant surprise. From now on, he probably wouldn’t dare close his eyes to rest easily again.

“Anywhere is possible.”

Fu Ya took a deep breath.

There was no disputing that. The Zhu Xian Jian’s ability to hide was just as extraordinary. It could be concealed in Da Chu, or even right beside them.

“Could it be in the Tian Zun Yi Ji?”

“The Tian Zun Yi Ji?”

Ye Chen suddenly turned his head, his brows furrowing once more.

“The emperor’s path anomaly caused it to open early.”

Ren Wang explained.

Whoosh!

Ye Chen vanished in an instant. From the moment he awoke, he had sensed that Ye Fan and the others were no longer on Jade Maiden Peak. Now, hearing about the opening of the Tian Zun Yi Ji, a terrible premonition surged within him. Without needing to ask, he knew Ye Fan and Yang Lan had gone to the legacy site. Not just them—the new generation from the heavens was likely there too. If the Zhu Xian Jian was truly seeking revenge, the Tian Zun Yi Ji would be its first battlefield, where it could wipe out the heavens’ young prodigies. Most importantly, Ye Fan and Yang Lan were in the legacy site. If the Zhu Xian Jian knew, it would undoubtedly go there and strike at his family first.

“Let’s go.”

More than half of the ultimate peak experts followed suit.

“What’s happening in the dead of night?”

Many people stood on small hills, gazing into the distance.

“There must be something big.”

“Quick, recall all personnel outside.”

“Don’t go out anytime soon.”

The leaders of various sects issued these orders.

Under the night sky, the atmosphere in Da Chu grew tense.

“Beauty, wake up.”

On Jade Maiden Peak, the Hun Dun Ding, Hun Dun Huo, and the others hovered in front of Ji Ningshuang’s bed, calling out repeatedly. These were tasks assigned by their master, and they had to complete them.

However, Ji Ningshuang was in the midst of comprehending the Dao in her dreams, so their calls went unheard. She slept peacefully. For this reason, the Hun Dun Ding even bumped into her.

Unfortunately, there was still no response.

“What’s happened?”

Nan Ming Yu Shu and the others furrowed their brows slightly; they had also been awakened by Ye Chen’s words. They could see what the Hun Dun Ding and its companions were doing. It must be on Ye Chen’s orders, and for him to wake Ji Ningshuang from her Dao comprehension state, something major must have occurred.

“Wait, the Zhu Xian Jian is still alive?”

“Is that real?”

Shocked voices came from the directions of Xuan Huang Dalu and You Ming Dalu, stirring up panic. Having received the message from Da Chu, a shadow of gloom instantly fell over them.

Many elders rushed toward the legacy site, as their juniors were still inside. If the Zhu Xian Jian entered and caused chaos, it could wipe them out completely.

The Tian Zun Yi Ji was dim and lightless.

In the night, miserable screams echoed one after another, sending chills through the new generation of the heavens. The hidden killer moved like a ghost, appearing and disappearing without a trace.

“Who is it? Exactly who?”

On the peak of an eastern mountain, the Lie Huo Zhan Ti cursed under his breath, his radiant eyes gleaming with icy menace. This feeling of being stalked in the dark was infuriating. They couldn’t get out, and they couldn’t find the attacker, leaving him seething with frustration.

Compared to him, Zhang Zifan on a nearby peak was more restrained, his deep eyes scanning the surroundings. The two seemed to be a team, searching for clues along the way.

“Come out if you dare—fight me one-on-one!”

The Lie Huo Zhan Ti kept cursing. Finally, he glanced around and turned to descend the mountain.

But before his foot could land, a seven-colored immortal sword slashed out from the side, without any warning. The sword carried the divine power of annihilation in that deadly strike.

Splash!

Blood splattered as the Lie Huo Zhan Ti’s arm was severed on the spot. If not for using a shifting secret technique in that critical moment, his head would have been the one chopped off.

Even so, his situation was dire. After losing his arm, the sword didn’t stop; it thrust straight for his brow, targeting his primordial spirit directly and ignoring his physical body.

The Lie Huo Zhan Ti’s eyes bulged, veins of blood spreading across them. Before the sword even reached him, his primordial spirit throbbed with pain, and his entire form felt as if it had fallen into the nine underworlds—cold and lifeless. One foot was already in the gates of hell. If struck, he would surely die—it was a sword of absolute killing.

Break!

In a flash, Zhang Zifan arrived, striking at the void with a palm to force out the hidden assailant and save the Lie Huo Zhan Ti from his fatal crisis.

Only then did the Lie Huo Zhan Ti have a chance to catch his breath, staggering back and nearly collapsing. He spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood, his face deathly pale. A terrifying killing intent still rampaged through his body, threatening to devour him.

“Ye Ling?”

“Zhu Xian Jian?”

The two remarks came from the Lie Huo Zhan Ti and Zhang Zifan respectively. The hidden attacker had been revealed, and both frowned at the sight—it was undoubtedly Ye Ling, wielding the Zhu Xian Jian. Or more accurately, the Zhu Xian Jian had taken control of Ye Ling. Over the past few days in the legacy site, the one slaughtering lives at will had been Ye Ling under the sword’s control.

“How is that possible?”

The Lie Huo Zhan Ti furrowed his brows deeply, staring fixedly at the Zhu Xian Jian. The elders had said it was destroyed, but clearly, that wasn’t the case. The Zhu Xian Jian was still alive, controlling Ye Ling and causing chaos.

Zhang Zifan remained silent, his expression grave. This fact far exceeded his expectations. Who would have thought the Zhu Xian Jian was still alive? And who would have imagined it had taken control of the Holy Body’s daughter? If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it.

“You’ve impressed me.”

Ye Ling sneered, ignoring the Lie Huo Zhan Ti and focusing only on Zhang Zifan. As fellow emperor-level figures, the Lie Huo Zhan Ti and Zhang Zifan were clearly not on the same level. Without Zhang Zifan’s palm strike, the Lie Huo Zhan Ti would have been killed outright.

“You’re quite the persistent ghost.”

Zhang Zifan said calmly, instantly unleashing his full combat power, his aura surging to its peak. An ancient divine pattern etched itself on his brow, likely activating a forbidden technique. Strands of his black hair turned snow white one by one.

He was all too aware of the Zhu Xian Jian’s power, especially combined with the Saint Spirit bloodline—it required a young emperor to contend with it. Even at full strength, he wasn’t its match. All he could do was buy time. In the Tian Zun Yi Ji, there weren’t just young emperors; besides Ye Fan, there were many emperor-level figures. Together, they might stand a chance, at least without being defeated so miserably.

Buzz!

The Lie Huo Zhan Ti regenerated his arm and gripped his divine blade, also unleashing his full power. His radiant eyes were filled with battle intent. After holding back for so long, he had finally found his target.

“Come on!”

With a roar, the Lie Huo Zhan Ti launched his attack, raising his divine blade overhead and slashing down. A massive blade light appeared, splitting the heavens and cracking the cosmos.

Ye Ling’s lips curled slightly as his body turned illusory in an instant, easily dodging the strike. He countered with a sword flip, sending the Lie Huo Zhan Ti flying. If not for the war body’s deep foundation, he might have been split in two, with fresh blood spraying across the vast void.

Seal!

Zhang Zifan arrived, thrusting a finger forward.

“This strike isn’t enough.”

Ye Ling laughed mockingly, his form like a ghost, dodging instantly and countering with another sword. Unfortunately, it missed Zhang Zifan, who evaded it and struck back with a palm from above.

Splash!

Blood splattered again. The one wounded wasn’t Ye Ling, but Zhang Zifan. He had dodged Ye Ling’s sword and thrown a palm, but it hit empty air because, in the previous moment, Ye Ling had circled behind him, slicing open his back and nearly splitting him in two.

The Lie Huo Zhan Ti charged in, his blade forcing Ye Ling back and pulling Zhang Zifan from the brink of death. At the same level and realm, Zhang Zifan was still no match.

“It’s ridiculously strong.”

The Lie Huo Zhan Ti snorted coldly, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Zifan. It wasn’t that they were weak; it was that the Zhu Xian Jian and Ye Ling were terrifying, especially the Zhu Xian Jian. Even two great accomplished Holy Bodies in the past hadn’t caught it, let alone the two of them.

“Ye Fan, come quickly.”

Zhang Zifan used a secret technique to send a message, calling for Ye Fan. In the Tian Zun Yi Ji, the only one who could fight the Zhu Xian Jian and Ye Ling was the Heavenly Tribulation Body. Emperor-level figures were no match; they needed a young emperor.

Unfortunately, his transmission was erased, as the entire space had been sealed by the Zhu Xian Jian, blocking all messages.