Chapter 2990

On the dim Taigu Road, roaring sounds echoed through the heavens and earth.

In the west, the Tian Ting Female Emperor faced off alone against Sheng Mo Can Zhu in a fierce battle. Blood rained down like beams of light, staining the sky, and looking up, one could see vague flashes of lightning and thunder outlining scenes of destruction. The two blood-soaked figures were strikingly vivid, their attacks carrying the essence of doomsday.

The universe of the Taigu Road was already in chaos.

If the fighters had been ordinary Heavenly Emperors or those below, most would have been swept away by mysterious forces in all directions.

However, the Tian Ting Female Emperor and Sheng Mo Can Zhu were no ordinary Heavenly Emperors.

Both possessed combat power at the Zhun Huang Di level, and the universe of the Taigu Road could not shake them.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Amid the thunderous roars, the battlefield grew even more massive, a peak-versus-peak clash that shattered the heavens and destroyed the earth.

"The Female Emperor is truly peerless in elegance."

The Zhutian Shen Jiang murmured, staring in a daze. Even in her weakened state, she had held out for so long against the attacks of a Heavenly Emperor at his peak like Sheng Mo Can Zhu. While others grew weaker with time, she grew stronger with each exchange.

"Eternity is indeed an immortal power."

Hou Yi sighed inwardly. The Female Emperor had passed her moment of weakness, sustained by eternity to forge an unyielding form. Her divine power recovered far faster than that of any ordinary emperor, shattering the limits of his astonishment.

"This old man calculates that the Female Emperor is building up for a big move," Ren Wang said, stroking his beard.

It wasn't just him; the Zhutian Shen Jiang and even the various great emperors thought the same.

And they were right.

The Tian Ting Female Emperor was indeed gathering her strength, amassing the power to cripple a Heavenly Emperor like Sheng Mo Can Zhu in a single strike. The condition was that Sheng Mo Can Zhu must not enter his Xue Ji Xian Jie state, and Ye Chen's side had to hold out. In a one-on-one fight, she was confident she could destroy Can Zhu, but if it became two against one, she would be the one defeated.

"Still not finished?"

Sheng Mo Can Zhu snorted coldly, sending a message to Di Sha, his tone laced with impatience.

Pfft!

In response, a golden spray of blood erupted in the eastern sky.

It was Ye Chen, spitting blood in the void.

Di Sha fared no better; he had struck Ye Chen with a palm but taken a hit from Ye Chen's Di Dao Xian Fa in return.

Ah!

Di Sha roared, instantly activating his Xue Ji Xian Jie, his surging demonic energy rolling like a torrent.

"You're not playing fair," Ye Chen scolded, turning and fleeing.

"Where do you think you're going?" Di Sha growled through gritted teeth, chasing after him in an instant. He formed a demonic blade from blood energy and slashed Ye Chen down.

Ye Chen, the Great Emperor, got up and scrambled away in a panic.

Of course, it was all an act. His original intent to stall for time remained unchanged, and it was necessary to show some vulnerability. If he pushed Di Sha too far, that guy might resort to shameless tactics, leading to total loss.

"You're far from it."

Di Sha's sinister laugh was unrestrained. Ye Chen's repeated shows of weakness made him feel invincible, nearly euphoric. As for Sheng Mo Can Zhu's call, he ignored it completely. Compared to teaming up to destroy the Tian Ting Female Emperor, he was more focused on this opportunity. As long as he defeated the Sheng Ti Supreme at the same level, he could advance.

"Then come on!"

Ye Chen roared, gripping his immortal staff and charging upward with a do-or-die stance.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The battle's commotion was still immense. This was a performance, the time to showcase his acting skills. Ye Chen kept showing weakness, whether by being shameless or using cunning tricks, all to create an illusion for Di Sha. He had to make the opponent feel superior and give him hope of victory.

His acting was masterful, truly at the level of a film emperor.

Di Sha, after Ye Chen's repeated bleeding, became even more arrogant, completely deceived.

"Still not finished?"

Sheng Mo Can Zhu's message came again, truly impatient now. Are you there to fight or flirt? A Heavenly Emperor at the peak going after a mere Great Emperor—does it really take this long?

Di Sha still didn't respond, surging with demonic energy and launching unmatched attacks.

At that moment, he had no time for Sheng Mo Can Zhu. His eyes were blood-red, dripping with madness. All he thought about was slaying Ye Chen at the same level; all he obsessed over was how to breakthrough to Zhun Huang Di. Everything else—the Sheng Ti, the Sheng Mo, the ancient Tian Ting Female Emperor—could go to hell.

"He's lost to his inner demons."

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, fighting, retreating, and fleeing as he went. Seeing the obsession in Di Sha's gaze, it was clear he had fallen into a demonic state. If he managed to slay Ye Chen at the same level, all would be well, and he could have a chance to impact Zhun Huang Di. But if he failed, this battle would become a lifelong shadow for Di Sha, forever barring him from Zhun Huang Di.

In the end, it was Di Sha's own overconfidence that did it. He believed he could slay Ye Chen at the same level.

Precisely because of that confidence, this obsession had taken root, viewing Ye Chen as a stepping stone for advancement.

"You can't destroy me."

Ye Chen sneered inwardly. He had said it before: to slay him at the same level, it would take a full-fledged Sheng Mo.

As for Di Sha, he still fell short in terms of cultivation at that level.

But Di Sha didn't see it that way. Feeling he had the upper hand, his arrogance knew no bounds.

With that mindset, how could Ye Chen not play along?

He spent even more time showing weakness, exposing flaws everywhere. As long as he didn't die, Di Sha could do as he pleased.

"Wake up—you're lost to your inner demons!"

Sheng Mo Can Zhu snorted coldly from the western heavens, glancing over with clear irritation. You're really something—I'm here duking it out with the Female Emperor, and you're over there dawdling.

His words only made Di Sha attack more fiercely.

After all, Sheng Mo Can Zhu was also a Heavenly Emperor at the peak, just one opportunity away from Zhun Huang Di. Who knows, he might come to snatch this chance too. Di Sha had to kill Ye Chen before that happened, to achieve a same-level slaying.

People are selfish, and Heavenly Emperor Sheng Mo are no exception.

It was all because that Zhun Huang Di position was too enticing, bewitching enough to make even Heavenly Emperors unable to resist.

In fact, Sheng Mo Can Zhu was already entertaining the idea of seizing the opportunity himself.

Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh at the sight. Compared to the Female Emperor, he was more like the hot commodity. Di Sha wanted to slay him at the same level for advancement, and Sheng Mo Can Zhu was thinking the same. These two Heavenly Emperor-level Sheng Mo were quite amusing.

For a moment, the Female Emperor glanced sideways at the scene.

She saw through Di Sha's thoughts perfectly. Trapped at the Heavenly Emperor peak for endless years, his desire to advance to Zhun Huang Di was imaginable. That ancient obsession had turned into a inner demon because of Ye Chen.

She had overestimated that Heavenly Emperor Sheng Mo.

Even a supreme's mindset wasn't flawless; greed and desire were the cracks. They were all vying for the advancement opportunity, completely forgetting their original intentions, even abandoning her as the main foe to go after a lesser target.

Unfortunately, Di Sha was destined for disappointment.

To put it bluntly, from the moment Di Sha activated his Xue Ji Xian Jie, he had lost that belief in being unbeatable at the same level. Not only could he not slay Ye Chen, but even if he did, he still wouldn't attain Zhun Huang Di.

"He is your opportunity, but also your calamity."

The Female Emperor said lightly, then withdrew her gaze. The "he" she referred to was Ye Chen. He might help Di Sha advance to Zhun Huang Di, but he could also drag that Heavenly Emperor-level Sheng Mo into eternal doom through his inner demons.

"Damned fool."

Sheng Mo Can Zhu snorted coldly, his face twisting with menace. He had never imagined that, with Di Sha's mindset, he would become so obsessed, viewing that minor Sheng Ti as his path to advancement. Did he ever consider it could be a calamity?

With that thought, he abandoned the Female Emperor and stepped across the void.

Since he couldn't pull Di Sha from his inner demons, he would just destroy Ye Chen and resolve everything.

Boom!

The Female Emperor was faster, transforming into eternity in an instant and blocking his path.

"Get out of my way!"

Sheng Mo Can Zhu thundered, thrusting out a palm that formed a blood-soaked demonic realm, carrying the power to destroy heavens and earth.

The Female Emperor's expression was indifferent as she shattered it with a single palm.

She couldn't let him pass. Ye Chen could handle a Great Emperor at the peak, but a Heavenly Emperor Sheng Mo was another story.

"Do you think you can stop me?"

Sheng Mo Can Zhu roared, shaking the skies to collapse as thousands of laws reversed and the universe fell into disorder.

The Female Emperor said nothing, only blocking him relentlessly.

Indeed, a Heavenly Emperor at the peak like Sheng Mo Can Zhu was hard to stop if he wanted to leave, but she had to try her best.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Sheng Mo Can Zhu tried to escape, and the Female Emperor tried to stop him, their Heavenly Emperor-level clashes transcending the limits of order and laws.

"What's going on?"

The scene left the Shen Jiang stunned. Sheng Mo Can Zhu was clearly heading toward Ye Chen, which puzzled them. There was already a Heavenly Emperor Sheng Mo over there—why go help if he couldn't take down Ye Chen?

"I can't see."

Ren Wang stood on tiptoe, straining his eyes, but his vision was limited, unable to reach the eastern heavens.

"How could there be such a twist?"

Not just the Shen Jiang, even Hou Yi, as an emperor, couldn't help but be surprised. A Heavenly Emperor Sheng Mo against a Great Emperor Sheng Ti should be straightforward. No matter how brilliant Ye Chen was, he couldn't withstand a Heavenly Emperor-level Sheng Mo.

Boom!

As they watched, the sky collapsed with a thunderous boom, and Sheng Mo Can Zhu finally broke through the blockade.

The Female Emperor's face darkened as she pursued without pause.

Alas, Sheng Mo Can Zhu was a Heavenly Emperor-level Sheng Mo; in one step, he crossed endless void.

Pfft!

Ye Chen, still battling Di Sha, was sent flying hundreds of thousands of miles by Sheng Mo Can Zhu's palm.

Bang!

Another heavy sound—Ye Chen, sent flying, crashed into an invisible barrier. His sacred body shattered on impact, fracturing into pieces, and he staggered, barely able to stand.

"Damned bastard."

Ye Chen cursed under his breath, his breath uneven as he spat out a mouthful of blood. We were having a good fight, and you show up out of nowhere. This is the second time you've ambushed me.

"Damned bastard."

This roar came from Sheng Mo Di Sha, his twisted face full of resentment, directed at Sheng Mo Can Zhu. The Sheng Ti Supreme is my path to Zhun Huang Di—you're going to ruin it?

"You're lost to your inner demons—wake up now!"

Sheng Mo Can Zhu snapped coldly, ignoring Di Sha and attacking Ye Chen directly. Compared to snapping Di Sha out of it, destroying Ye Chen seemed more straightforward. Once that guy was wiped out, the world would be quiet, especially for Di Sha.

"You scum!"

Di Sha bellowed, instantly unsealing his cultivation and returning to Heavenly Emperor peak, unleashing a palm that dominated the universe.

This palm wasn't aimed at Ye Chen or the Female Emperor—it was for Sheng Mo Can Zhu.

Even faster than him was the Tian Ting Female Emperor, who had arrived in the previous instant, her crystalline jade hand devastating heavens and earth.

Streams of Di Dao blood light exploded twice in the void.

The pitiful Sheng Mo Can Zhu hadn't even struck Ye Chen before taking a palm from the Female Emperor. Before he could steady himself, he took another from Di Sha. His indestructible demonic body had bones and blood flying; he could accept a hit from the Female Emperor, but from his own ally? That left him baffled. Are you here to finish me off?

Baffled was exactly right.

After all, Di Sha was consumed by his inner demons, recognizing no kin. Anyone who dared ruin his advancement opportunity—be it Sheng Mo Can Zhu or even a full-fledged Sheng Mo—he'd strike without hesitation. Sheng Mo Can Zhu should have stuck to fighting the Tian Ting Female Emperor, but he came to interfere, and now Ye Chen, the one and only pioneering Sheng Ti, was in danger. Where else could he find another?