Chapter 2840: I Didn't Mean To

"My son!"

"Zhu Xian Jian, you truly deserve to die!"

"It's my fault for harming you!"

In the ruins at night, the air was filled with cries of grief and roars of anger. Veterans and cultivators from the outside world arrived in waves, searching through the bodies and finding their own descendants, holding them as they wept bitterly.

"How many have been killed?"

The peak experts also arrived, witnessing horrific scenes of bloodshed along the way. Over ninety percent of the victims were the younger generation, with less than ten percent being elders. There was no need to ask who was responsible—it had to be that damned Zhu Xian Jian. Ironically, they had all been deceived for so long, only realizing the truth today.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The rumbling from the depths grew even stronger.

Gazing into the distant sky, Ye Ling was still fleeing desperately, as if she wouldn't stop until the end of the world. The Zhu Xian Jian in her hand trembled slightly, its immortal light now almost gone.

"Give me your life!"

Ye Fan roared fiercely, swinging a sword that formed an immortal river, splitting the heavens and earth, tearing apart the universe. It was enhanced with bloodline power, a devastating strike that crushed everything in its path.

"You cannot destroy me."

Ye Ling sneered wickedly, shattering the void and vanishing in an instant.

Boom!

In mere moments, she was flung out again, struck by a golden hand, and before she could steady herself, another sword struck, nearly splitting her in two.

It was Ye Chen and Ji Ning Shuang who had arrived. He came from the south, she from the north, trapping Ye Ling in the void from front and back, their killing intent making the heavens lose their color.

"Ling'er?"

"Ling'er?"

Ye Chen and Ji Ning Shuang spoke in unison, only now realizing that the one controlled by Zhu Xian Jian was Ye Ling. That damned Zhu Xian Jian had touched their raw nerves once again.

"Ye Chen, I've been waiting for you."

Ye Ling laughed sinisterly, though her fear was unmistakable. Zhu Xian Jian was stubbornly defiant, clearly terrified yet still putting on an evil facade full of provocation, as if saying: Your daughter-in-law was killed by me, and the people in the ruins were slain by me too. Do you like this gift?

Boom! Boom!

Ye Chen said nothing, but the heavens rumbled with thunder and lightning, unable to bear his pressure or killing intent. The void froze inch by inch with ice, and his once profound, radiant golden eyes were now dyed crimson with crisscrossing blood veins.

"It was me who killed them, all of them."

"What can you do to me?"

Ye Ling laughed maniacally, her cruelty bordering on deranged.

Ye Chen stepped forward, shattering the universe, and launched an attack. His golden hand covered the sky, descending with palm prints etched in seal scripts, its power dominating heaven and earth.

Zhu Xian Jian dared not confront it directly, its form turning illusory to dodge the strike, then shattering the void once more. All it could do was flee, especially in its current weakened state—it couldn't even defeat Ye Fan, let alone the half-step great accomplishment of the Ancient Holy Body. Escaping was the only option.

"Kill!"

Ye Fan roared, about to charge forward.

Ji Ning Shuang acted first, sealing Ye Fan with a finger and drawing him into her small world. She then ascended to the heavens, waving her hand to sever the void, forcing Ye Ling back.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The battle erupted again, shaking the heavens and destroying the earth.

Ye Chen's attacks were unparalleled, and Ji Ning Shuang's were no less so. They pinned Zhu Xian Jian firmly in the void, blocking every attempt to escape and pressing the assault relentlessly.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Zhu Xian Jian hummed, its foundations incredibly deep and resilient. Even without its immortal light, it thrashed about wildly, desperately trying to flee.

"The Holy Body has arrived."

The emperor's descendants rushed over, breathing a sigh of relief. They knew full well the strength of Ye Chen and Ji Ning Shuang—together, they should have no trouble subduing Zhu Xian Jian.

"Seal the heavens and earth."

The peak experts also arrived, shouting thunderously. Before their words faded, various ultimate emperor weapons rose into the sky like rounds of suns, radiating brilliant emperor light. The ultimate heavenly sounds resonated, and the ultimate laws interconnected, sealing the heavens and earth in that region. No matter what, they couldn't let Zhu Xian Jian escape again.

"No need to join the fight; just guard the four directions."

Ren Wang snorted coldly, stepping into the battle himself despite his limited combat prowess.

"It actually controlled Ye Ling."

"When was she controlled?"

The quasi-emperors looked grim, casting spells as they gazed at the sky. They had been completely deceived from the start. Perhaps during the time in Great Chu, Zhu Xian Jian had already hidden inside Ye Ling's body, fooling everyone.

The scene in the void was truly heartbreaking.

In the past, Zhu Xian Jian had once controlled Chu Xuan, causing a massacre at the Gates of All Heavens. By a twist of fate, she had died under Ye Chen's sword. The current situation was eerily similar—once again, it targeted Ye Chen's family, creating far too much bloodshed. That damned Zhu Xian Jian seemed to have a vendetta specifically against Ye Chen's household.

Boom!

The sky roared as Ye Ling plummeted from the heavens.

"Seal!"

Ye Chen shouted coldly, summoning the Golden Divine Sea infused with emperor dao essence and the Holy Body's origin, surging down from the sky and instantly engulfing Ye Ling.

As soon as Ye Ling steadied herself, she was overturned by the crashing waves. The emperor dao essence wasn't the most terrifying part—what truly threatened it was the Holy Body's origin. Zhu Xian Jian feared that above all, as it was the one thing that could endanger its life. As the saying goes, all things have their counter; it and the Holy Body's origin were natural opposites.

"Seal!"

Ji Ning Shuang stood in the ninth heaven, pressing down with a palm from above.

"You all think you can seal me?"

Ye Ling scoffed, and the Zhu Xian Jian in her hand trembled as it unleashed a secret technique, instantly draining all of Ye Ling's origin to blood sacrifice and perform a heaven-defying art.

"Emperor Dao: Separation."

Ye Chen shouted firmly, using an emperor dao forbidden technique powered by his origin, enhanced with emperor essence, chaotic principles, and the power of reincarnation.

Buzz!

Accompanied by a deep hum, it truly separated.

But Zhu Xian Jian shattered the void and vanished once more.

Ye Chen's eyes turned blood red as he stepped forward to pursue it.

"Dammit."

The quasi-emperors snarled, having set up so many seals, yet still failing to stop Zhu Xian Jian. It was as if those emperor dao restrictions were mere decorations to it.

Zhu Xian Jian escaped, but Ye Ling fell from the sky. All her origin had been sacrificed by Zhu Xian Jian, stripping her of her Saint Spirit body and leaving her with ordinary bloodline. Dong Huang Tai Xin used a gentle force to steady her and lay her on the ground.

A breeze blew, and she awoke.

Opening her eyes, she saw a sea of people, with over eighty percent looking at her with eyes full of hatred and undisguised killing intent.

She trembled as she raised her hand, staring blankly at it stained with fresh blood—from Yang Lan, Tang San Shao, and the new generation of All Heavens descendants—all killed by her. She remembered every act of slaughter clearly; she was a demon who killed without batting an eye.

"I... I didn't mean it."

She burst into tears, her eyes blurred with them, looking at the crowd as she staggered backward. She was like a child who had made a mistake, or a madwoman mumbling to herself. Her words were choked and trembling, as if speaking to the world or just to herself. Her mind was slipping, and even her steps were unsteady, her hair turning strand by strand to snow white.

"Silly child, it's not your fault."

"Come here, to your aunt."

Yue Huang stepped forward, smiling as she extended her jade hand. Her smile was full of maternal warmth, afraid of startling or upsetting Ye Ling. That fragile girl was on the brink of a mental breakdown.

"I didn't mean it."

Yue Huang's approach only made Ye Ling retreat faster, her small body shaking as if terrified. She kept backing away, as if she wouldn't stop until she hit a wall.

Yue Huang hesitated, her heart aching. The Ye Ling now was nothing like the clever and mischievous girl of the past. Though the little troublemaker had been playful, her nature wasn't evil. But because of Zhu Xian Jian's wickedness, her mind had suffered devastating trauma, and she couldn't handle any more stimulation.

Yue Huang stopped in her tracks, and the others—Di Xuan, Dong Huang Tai Xin, Di Ji, Xie Mo, and Yao Chi Xian Mu—also halted midway, fearful that another step would drive the girl to true madness.

Ji Ning Shuang descended from the sky, landing behind Ye Ling.

Ye Ling whirled around and stumbled back again, as if fearing everything in the world. Tears clouded her eyes, and even her sobs trembled.

"Ninth Mother, I... I didn't mean it."

It was she who had killed Yang Lan.

It was she who had killed the one Ye Fan loved most.

"Ling'er, it's not your fault."

Ji Ning Shuang smiled gently, moving like a breeze to embrace the retreating Ye Ling. With a finger of immortal art, she tapped Ye Ling's forehead, sending her into a deep sleep.

Awake, it was the greatest torment for Ye Ling. A guilt like this would drown her mind, becoming a nightmare that repeatedly destroyed her spirit.

Ye Ling fell asleep and was taken into the small world, placed beside Ye Fan. Both hung in midair, their hair snow white, disheveled, and covered in blood. Their faces still bore expressions of extreme pain.

He suffered for the loss of his wife.

She suffered from the guilt of slaughter.

Ah!

The quasi-emperors sighed in sorrow. Ye Chen's two children had endured such tragedy, wounded and tormented beyond measure by that damned Zhu Xian Jian.

Yet, many still harbored hatred in their eyes, staring at Ji Ning Shuang—or more precisely, at Ye Ling in her small world. She was a female demon, her hands stained with the blood of their descendants.

Ji Ning Shuang remained silent, her expression cold and emotionless. She gripped her dao sword and walked step by step. She would take Ye Ling home—that was Ye Chen's daughter and her daughter. Anyone who dared to stop her wouldn't mind a massacre, with the ground paved in corpses.

"The guilty have their own heads, and debts have their owners."

Ren Wang said calmly, his tone authoritative.

No one refuted this; even those filled with hatred sobered up. Yes, the guilty have their heads, and debts have their owners. Though Ye Ling had killed, the true culprit behind this disaster was that damned Zhu Xian Jian.

In the end, Ye Ling was also a victim.

Ji Ning Shuang left, walking farther and farther away.

Her back appeared weathered and forlorn, and even her indifferent eyes flickered with tears. Among those killed by Zhu Xian Jian were her own family—Ye Fan's wife, the one her child loved most. When Ye Fan awoke, the pain would be unimaginable; when little Ye Ling awoke, the guilt would be overwhelming. How would that sister and brother face the years ahead? This scar would never fully heal.

The emperor's descendants fell silent, slowly turning away and supporting one another as they staggered off. They had come seeking opportunities, but instead found disaster. If not for Tang San Shao and Ye Fan, most of them would have perished.

Many departed, the younger ones pale-faced and the elders hunched over. Most had lost their descendants and regretted ever sending them here.

"That damned Zhu Xian Jian."

The Five Divine Generals snorted coldly, their killing intent uncontrollable.

The peak experts said nothing, gazing into the vast sky, wondering where Zhu Xian Jian was. They only hoped Ye Chen could catch it and, even if he couldn't destroy it, at least severely wound it.

After a long while, they turned and left.

Only the Hun Dun Ti remained in the Tian Zun ruins, walking deeper in silence. As he went, he gradually vanished, merging into the universe.

Boom! Boom!

Deeper in the starry sky, faint rumbles could still be heard.

Those with sharp eyes knew it came from the black hole.

As they guessed, it was indeed from the black hole.

In the darkness, two divine lights chased one another—one rainbow-colored, the other golden; one fleeing, one pursuing. Their pressure made the black hole hum continuously.

It was Ye Chen and Zhu Xian Jian.

"You cannot destroy me."

Zhu Xian Jian buzzed incessantly, its words echoing. Though just a sword, one could imagine its expression—must be twisted and more terrifying than a malevolent ghost.

Ye Chen was silent, gripping his origin-formed dao sword and pursuing relentlessly. His eyes, dyed red with blood veins, locked onto Zhu Xian Jian. In this battle, even if he had to chase to the edge of the universe, he would make it pay a heavy price.

His killing intent terrified Zhu Xian Jian.

It fell silent, no longer provoking him, focusing solely on escape. Even its remaining rainbow light was sacrificed, desperate to break free in the shortest time possible.

"Stay!"

Ye Chen roared, striding across the dark universe, unleashing another golden hand that covered thousands of feet, heavy as a mountain, inscribed with principles and destruction.

Bang!

With that sound, Zhu Xian Jian was knocked down.

"Give me your life."

Ye Chen swung, his destructive sword striking true and cracking Zhu Xian Jian's blade, which was formed from origin and truly capable of breaking it.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In the darkness, such sounds echoed repeatedly.

Zhu Xian Jian wailed in agony, sent flying by Ye Chen's strikes—one sword creating a crack, another sending it eight thousand miles away. It couldn't stabilize at all. Ye Chen's killing intent surged, each sword more dominant than the last, sacrificing power without restraint to enhance the dao sword and Holy Body origin. He wouldn't stop until Zhu Xian Jian was destroyed.

"Dammit, dammit."

Zhu Xian Jian howled in rage, but no matter how it roared, it couldn't withstand Ye Chen's assault. It had no power to resist, reduced to a living target for him.

Crack!

At some point, a metallic fracture sounded.

Looking closely, Zhu Xian Jian had been severed, forcibly broken by Ye Chen into two halves, becoming a ruined broken sword.

Ye Chen waved his hand, collecting half of Zhu Xian Jian's blade and sealing it in his inner world. He swung his origin dao sword again, knocking Zhu Xian Jian down for the countless time.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Zhu Xian Jian was terrified; the remaining half of its blade was riddled with gaps. If it were a person, it would be covered in bloody wounds. Now, it truly felt the approach of death—Ye Chen had the power to end it.

"Blood debts must be repaid in blood."

Ye Chen bellowed, delivering his most dominant sword strike.

Zhu Xian Jian tried to flee, but Eternal Thought bound it, freezing the dark universe and halting time. In its weakened state, it couldn't break free.

"No! No! No!"

Its wails were piercing.

But at that moment, from the depths of the darkness, a pitch-black hand emerged, striking from an unknown distance and repelling Ye Chen, rescuing it.