Chapter 2936: Gatekeeper General

"You insignificant Saint Body, how dare you attack me?"

Lunhui Longye's roar shook the cosmos, fully displaying the might of an emperor.

However, in the next instant, his imposing aura was completely extinguished. Ye Chen's palm appeared deceptively ordinary, yet it concealed world-shattering divine power, with faintly visible seal characters etched upon it, embodying forbidden forces that merged samsara, spacetime, time, and space.

Lunhui Longye's expression changed abruptly. He had no intention of blocking the attack at first, planning to withstand it with his Heavenly Emperor body, thinking that the assault from a mere Saint Body wasn't worth his effort—he could stand there and let it happen.

But upon closer inspection, the descending palm seemed no joke; its force carried destructive power.

In the end, he made his move, raising his hands towards the sky.

Thud! Crack! Bang!

A series of sharp sounds followed one after another.

Ye Chen's palm struck down, forcing Lunhui Longye to spit blood, shattering his arm bones, and with a bang, he knelt halfway in the starry sky.

Gulp!

The sight made cultivators from all heavens swallow hard.

That was a Heavenly Emperor! Even suppressed in the various heavens and not at his peak strength, he was still a supreme Heavenly Emperor level figure, yet Ye Chen's single palm had pressed him to his knees. Just how terrifying was the Saint Body?

Not only the common people, but even the Donghuang Nüdi was stunned.

After a hundred years, her Ye Chen had grown so fearsome, casually suppressing a Heavenly Emperor with such dominance.

The expressions of the Tian and Ming emperors were more composed, though not without shock.

Ye Chen, that old monster, grew more overbearing with age. If it came to a real fight, neither of them would be his match. He could accomplish what they could, like pressing a Heavenly Emperor to his knees with one palm.

"How... how is this possible?"

The nine Heavenly Demon Emperors who had just emerged from the Qingtian Mozhu were all frozen in place. Their originally sinister, grinning faces turned pale at the sight—one of their Heavenly Emperors had been forced to kneel.

The Heavenly Demon soldiers who followed fared no better, their expressions filled with dread. They had thought invading the various heavens would be a feast, but the scene before them was the complete opposite of their expectations.

"I am a Heavenly Emperor."

Lunhui Longye howled fiercely, surging with emperor dao divine power to regenerate his arms, forcibly standing up against Ye Chen's palm.

Ye Chen said nothing, pressing his palm down again.

Thud! Crack! Bang!

The earlier sounds repeated.

Lunhui Longye tried to rise but was once more forced to his knees, his arm bones exploding with a boom, blood spraying wildly.

This time, he did not get up.

Ye Chen's palm was too powerful, pulverizing his emperor body inch by inch. His emperor bones and blood were being dissolved into samsara, and his emperor dao origin was being forcefully broken down by spacetime and time.

Ah...!

The Heavenly Emperor's roar echoed through the three realms.

Unfortunately, it was useless.

Seal!

Ye Chen spoke calmly, using time to form chains, spacetime to create seals, and samsara to build a cage, forcefully sealing Lunhui Longye's emperor dao primordial spirit. He couldn't destroy it completely—that was a person from his Dachu, after all.

Silence fell, for with the Heavenly Emperor suppressed, the entire world grew quiet. Whether the cultivators of the various heavens or the Heavenly Demon soldiers, all were stunned, staring in disbelief at that astonishing scene.

The mindset of the people from the various heavens was basically the same.

History often repeats itself in shocking ways.

Hundreds of years ago, the Dizu annihilated the Heilian Nüdi with one palm.

Hundreds of years later, Ye Chen suppressed a Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Demon with one palm.

The various heavens had truly risen. The great emperors from the outer domains were no match, and even a Heavenly Emperor was not enough—one was annihilated, one was sealed. Such unprecedented feats against the heavens.

As for the nine Heavenly Demon Emperors and soldiers, they were retreating, their bodies trembling with fear. With the Heavenly Emperor sealed, what was the point of fighting? Better to head home for safety.

As they retreated, they turned and fled back into the Mozhu.

A strange sight unfolded.

The Heavenly Demons who had entered the Mozhu reemerged the next instant, exiting exactly as they had entered.

It wasn't their choice—they were affected by a terrifying force.

They were walking forward but moving backward instead.

It was Ye Chen, using heaven-defying laws to invert space. With a Heavenly Emperor level figure sealed, did these underlings really think they could escape?

"This is even more effective than Shrinking the Earth into Inches."

The Zaohua Shenwang sighed in admiration. No need to chase them; they came out on their own. The laws of space were truly a powerful thing.

"Once your equal, now only someone to look up to."

The Hunluan Ti, Mingjue, Baizhi, Chenyi, Kuiniu, and others murmured, gazing blankly at that white-clothed, white-haired, white-bearded figure. Though aged and decrepit, he was heaven-defying.

"When it comes to being the ultimate tyrant, it has to be Dachu's Tenth Emperor."

The cultivators of the various heavens sighed. Because of Ye Chen's presence, they had witnessed so many storms. Now, even nine emperors were like minor threats in a ditch—no one felt fear, only immense security.

"No! No!"

The Heavenly Demons' wails rang out. From great emperors to lowly soldiers, they screamed in agony, one after another being annihilated, turning to ash in waves, without any resistance.

The Heavenly Demon invasion was declared a failure once more.

Ye Chen stowed Lunhui Longye away and stepped onto the Qingtian Mozhu, sitting cross-legged at its top before closing his eyes. He seemed to be comprehending the dao, suppressing a Heavenly Emperor as if it were nothing.

The people of the various heavens coughed awkwardly, as did the Tian and Ming emperors.

You rascal, even more eccentric than the Dizu! Not destroying the Mozhu and instead meditating on it—who in the various heavens has ever done that?

Ye Chen sat like a rock, silent and still. Around him, laws swirled, visions manifested, and ethereal dao heavenly sounds echoed through the starry sky, stirring even the Nüdi's heart.

"He seems like a true immortal."

The Renwang stroked his beard, gazing from afar.

It wasn't just him; everyone felt the same.

In his white clothes, white hair, and white beard, he exuded an immortal aura, shrouded in ancient vicissitudes, both real and illusory. Though visible, he was untouchable, like a figure from a dream, seated on the river of time.

Gazing at him was like beholding the end of time, performing the eternal cycle of seas turning to fields and the world's desolation.

In that moment, too many people were lost in thought, including the Nüdi. He was more than an immortal—he was a living myth.

"If he abandoned his bloodline, he could achieve dao on the spot."

The Mingdi took a deep breath.

Unfortunately, that guy refused to bow to the heavens.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The Mozhu vibrated again, demonic energy surging forth, carrying countless Heavenly Demons in a tide of slaughter, tyranny, and sinister aura.

However, as soon as they emerged, they were dragged into illusions by Ye Chen's Meng Dao, becoming dazed and stagnant.

Ye Chen was comprehending the dao while searching. Since Lunhui Longye had reincarnated twice into the Tianmo domain, there might be other heroic souls.

After some searching, he found none.

Samsara laws descended, annihilating all the Heavenly Demons into ash.

Subsequently, every wave of Heavenly Demons met the same fate. A Heavenly Emperor wasn't enough; these naturally stood no chance. Centered on the Mozhu, the surrounding hundreds of li became a forbidden zone—any Heavenly Demon stepping out was destroyed by his samsara and spacetime.

"He's truly guarding the gate and fighting."

The Dongzhou Wuwang sighed in amazement. The classic strategy of waiting at ease—Ye Chen was the perfect example. Kill as many as come. The Mozhu was a passage, but now it had become the Heavenly Demons' gate to the underworld.

Ye Chen's luck held; he actually found more reincarnated souls: one from the Canglong clan, two from the Wuzu, and one from the Qilin clan.

Besides those four, he hadn't found a fifth yet.

"Do you think there might be a second Heavenly Emperor?"

"Don't say it, it's possible."

"From the looks of the Saint Body, he's preparing for a big one."

"You're right; he has the strength."

The people of the various heavens discussed eagerly, many holding memory crystals, ready to record the scenes. Such Heavenly Demon invasions were usually bloodbaths, but this time, everyone felt confident.

No Heavenly Emperor appeared, but another wave of nine great emperors did.

The moment they exited the Mozhu, they collectively frowned. Before they could react, they fell into the Meng Dao illusion—that was the gate to the underworld. Before regaining their senses, they were dissolved into nothingness by Ye Chen's samsara, dying without a hint of pain.

"One Heavenly Emperor and eighteen great emperors—tsk tsk tsk."

Kuiniu grinned. What emperor could match that record?

"Dear sister-in-law, want some souvenirs?"

The Xiao Yuan Huang was in high spirits, standing beside Yaochi, asking the question for what must have been the dozenth time.

Yaochi had a good temperament; otherwise, she might have slapped him out of the galaxy. That monkey was just asking for a beating.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The Mozhu's vibrations continued, with Heavenly Demon armies emerging at intervals, charging fiercely only to enter the underworld in groups. The people watched without much emotion—a Heavenly Emperor had been sealed, eighteen emperors annihilated; what else could shock them? Compared to before, this was just small fry.

For nine full days, Ye Chen did not move.

In those nine days, countless Heavenly Demons were slaughtered. Perhaps from killing so many, the demons emerging from the Mozhu grew fewer—this Qingtian Mozhu had its limits.

"An entire Heavenly Demon army, wiped out clean."

The people sighed in admiration. Having a great general guarding the gate was effective—kill as many as come, whether Heavenly Emperors or others. Ye Chen's method of waiting in ambush was masterful.

On the tenth day, Ye Chen finally rose, stepping away step by step, while the Qingtian Mozhu behind him collapsed with a boom.

Ye Chen left, and the Donghuang Nüdi followed, vanishing into the distant stars under the reverent gazes of the people.

Those nine days had unfolded a myth.

Though the hero was in his twilight, his legend was eternal.

Back in Dachu, Ye Chen used Dao Hua Wanqian and Ni Shi Lunhui to eliminate the Heavenly Demon bloodline and memories from the reincarnated souls.

As for Lunhui Longye, he was powerless to help.

That was because Lunhui Longye was a genuine Heavenly Emperor, his memories an indestructible imprint. With Ye Chen's current cultivation, he couldn't remove the bloodline memories. Perhaps if he achieved dao as an emperor, it might be possible.

"Can he... come back?"

Dongfang Yuling and Murong Miaoxin were both there, their eyes tearful.

Lin Shuhua was present too—Lunhui Longye was her master.

"He can."

Ye Chen smiled, using a great divine ability to destroy Lunhui Longye's primordial spirit, leaving only a wisp of soul, which he fully sealed. His answer lacked full conviction—a Heavenly Emperor level Heavenly Demon could be killed or annihilated, but altering bloodline memories was beyond him.

The two women took that wisp and left, tears streaming down their faces.

Yünü Peak fell back into tranquility.

Under that old tree, Ye Chen sat quietly carving wood, his white hair and beard gently stirred by the night wind.

Ye Ling still held her small duster, able to brush the dust from Ye Chen's shoulders but unable to erase his age. His father's lifespan was nearly exhausted, with only two hundred years left.

That night, he ascended Yünü Peak again.

This time, he did not return for ten years. He hadn't comprehended the dao; he was just gazing at the Emperor Dao Gate. For nearly a thousand years, he still didn't know what was missing.

There were four words only he understood: Qiong Tu Molu.

He had reached the end. His comprehension of the dao had long surpassed the Donghuang Nüdi, but that path remained broken. He desperately wanted to extend it but didn't know how to pave the way—no one could guide him.

"Does the Huanggu Saint Body lineage truly cannot achieve dao as an emperor?"

Many passersby could see Ye Chen's aged back through the layers of mountains, clearly beyond the emperor level—why couldn't he achieve it? With his strength, he could have long ago.

"Can he even achieve dao? I'm almost at my limit."

Mingjue murmured softly. Ye Chen had white clothes and hair; he was no different. Back in the year, fighting the emperor's blood, he had also sacrificed his lifespan. Though not as much as Ye Chen, for him, it was nearly all.

These years, without life-extending pills, he would have already died of old age.

It wasn't just him—Baizhi, Xiao Yuan Huang, Kuiniu, Sword God, Sword Zun... so many others had little lifespan left.

Ah!

Accompanied by a sigh, Mingjue turned and entered a stone gate. He could hold on no longer; he needed to self-seal.

Like him, many had fallen into slumber, using this method to preserve their pitiful lifespans, hoping that upon waking, there might be ways to extend life—at least until the later generations rose.

In plain terms, it was barely clinging to life.

Not everyone could live that way.

Those below the emperor could self-seal, but great emperors could not, for an emperor's emperor dao origin, divine power, dao roots, primordial spirit, and laws would erode the seal. It simply couldn't be contained.

Emperors disdained such a method of clinging to life.

The Daozu and Mingdi were exceptions, due to their missions—the Tian and Ming realms needed them alive, and those realms had divine powers to aid their sealing. As for Ruoxi, she was an exception among exceptions, having long transcended the great emperor realm and comprehended eternity.

"Come to the Tian realm! I will seal you."

The Daozu spoke leisurely, sending a message to Ye Chen. With little lifespan left, they could try another way to live, buying time. Perhaps in the future, they could figure out what the Emperor Dao Gate lacked.

At Yünü Peak's summit, Ye Chen did not move.

More accurately, he had changed forms again. His flowing white hair turned black, the white beard vanished, shedding his Saint Body bloodline. After several hundred years, he transformed back into the Xianwu Dizu.

Boom! Boom!

Peaceful Dachu was peaceful no longer, as ultimate emperor might spread infinitely, drawing many to gather.

"You rascal, causing trouble again."

The Mingdi rubbed his brow, and the Daozu couldn't help but cough.

It was clear Ye Chen had passively entered samsara, which would consume his lifespan—like last time, directly losing a hundred years.

No need to ask; this time was likely the same. Already low on lifespan, Ye Chen couldn't afford more strain.

The Dizu said nothing, only gazing up at the ethereal Emperor Dao Gate. He had emerged from samsara to examine the Saint Body's Emperor Dao Gate.

"Senior, what exactly is missing from the Emperor Dao Gate?"

Yaochi had manifested, her eyes full of hope as she asked the Dizu.