Chapter 3126: Tearing Up the Ticket

Boom! Rumble!

The supreme beings descended, shaking the vast starry sky. The entire star domain was suppressed to the point of stagnation, rendering all concepts of heaven and earth, yin and yang, mere illusions.

The faces of the mortals turned pale, compelling them to kneel in submission. Anyone who had ventured into this star domain now regretted it deeply, wishing they had never come to watch the spectacle. If the supreme beings unleashed their fury, they would surely suffer. Now, they wanted to flee, but the overwhelming pressure of the gods had immobilized the entire domain, leaving them trapped and at constant risk of being crushed to oblivion. Their only fault was trespassing into the forbidden realm of the gods.

In the distance, that desolate star had been surrounded by the supreme beings. The terrifying divine pressure was grinding the ancient star to the brink of shattering.

"You brought the Tianzi, didn't you?"

Ye Chen's avatar yawned, breaking the silence with an air of composure unmatched by anyone else.

"Your audacity is truly remarkable."

Wu Tian Xue Zun chuckled darkly, his words laced with demonic undertones. Over ninety percent of the onlookers became dazed upon hearing it, their minds thrown into disarray.

"Enough talk. Hand over the Tianzi to ransom the hostage."

Ye Chen's avatar spoke casually.

"Very well."

Wu Tian Xue Zun's lips curved into a smirk, but that was all. Though he agreed verbally, he showed no intention of producing the Tianzi. It was merely a stall for time. As an avatar, it was linked to the original body, and through it, he could track the true form. All he needed was time. As for the Dun Jia Tianzi, not only did he not have it now, but even if he did, he wouldn't surrender it. The threat of a hostage meant nothing to him.

"Have you found it yet?"

He sent a message, inquiring of the supreme beings hidden in the void. None of them were idle.

"It will take time."

Responses came from the void, though each was accompanied by furrowed brows. The link between avatar and original body was real, but they couldn't pinpoint the location. The source they traced led only to a chaotic haze, impossible to identify.

"Truly a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers."

In a remote mountain hollow, Ye Chen sighed endlessly. Divine senses had indeed reached him. If not for his use of Zhou Tian to confuse their perceptions, he would have been discovered. Even so, he couldn't hold out much longer. Some methods worked once or twice, but over time, flaws would emerge. Moreover, the opposition included beings beyond his scrutiny. He wasn't even sure if there were other supreme beings lurking in the shadows, ones comparable to Meng Mo. This act of hostage-taking for ransom was indeed a risky move, where opportunities and dangers coexisted.

"Has Yue Shen arrived?"

The little old man asked quietly.

Ye Chen shook his head lightly. He hadn't detected Meng Mo or Yue Shen, unsure if they were hiding or hadn't come at all.

"That doesn't make sense!"

Shen Yun Suan frowned, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

"Not in Xian Jie?"

The little old man pondered aloud.

Nonsense.

Ye Chen instinctively lowered his gaze to the ground below. If not in Xian Jie, they couldn't be in Shen Jie either. Surely, they hadn't fled to the lower realms!

"My patience has its limits."

Ye Chen's avatar snorted coldly, fully committing to the act.

"Very well."

Wu Tian Xue Zun chuckled darkly again, repeating the same phrase. After speaking, he did nothing, merely evading the issue. He could delay as long as possible. The Dun Jia Tianzi was out of the question—he simply didn't believe Ye Chen would actually kill Huang Jin Shen.

Pfft!

No sooner had he spoken than destruction struck.

In that instant, Ye Chen's avatar obliterated everything, taking Huang Jin Shen with it in a burst of ashes. The two were connected through Zhou Tian, and if the avatar fell, the hostage would follow. Any further delay, and the original body would be found.

"Damn it."

Wu Tian Xue Zun snarled, his once smirking expression twisting into something grotesque.

The other supreme beings wore equally grim faces, all caught completely off guard.

The onlookers felt a tremor in their souls. A god! That was a god! Extinguished just like that, with such ruthless efficiency. What about the promised hostage situation? How did it turn into outright execution?

"If I didn't kill him, I'd be the one getting killed."

Ye Chen sneered, still hidden in the mountain hollow. He was certain that another two or three seconds of delay would have led to his discovery and a group assault. Being crippled would be the least of it.

Helplessly, he had to tear up the ticket.

Keeping Huang Jin Shen alive would only cause more trouble for Zhao Yun.

Boom!

Amid roars of anger, a sudden rumble echoed from the eastern starry sky, audible only to the supreme beings. A trace of Ye Chen's aura spread from within.

Naturally, this was a prearranged move by Ye Chen, still meant to confuse their senses and create chaos for hunting gods.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Wu Tian Xue Zun snorted coldly, stepping out and crossing the star domain in an instant. He slammed a palm down over that section of the sky. Like him, whether from outside or hidden in the void, a large group surged forward.

Unfortunately, they found nothing.

"Search! Search thoroughly for me."

Wu Tian Xue Zun roared in fury, seething with the humiliation of being deceived.

Immediately, the supreme beings dispersed, centering on that starry sky and spreading out in all directions to pursue.

Only then did the hostage star domain lift its restrictions. The spectators who had come to watch nearly collapsed, their robes soaked with sweat and their faces deathly pale. It felt as though they had brushed against the gates of the underworld. Fortunately, the gods hadn't vented their rage on them; otherwise, they would have all ended up on the road to the Yellow Springs.

In mere moments, the crowd scattered in a panic. Even as they fled far away, they couldn't help glancing back. Supreme beings were rarely seen, let alone witnessing one being destroyed. The legendary Huang Jin Shen had become mere dust of history. This day would be etched in the memories of the people.

Ye Chen also moved, lurking in the void and using Zhou Tian to conceal himself as he stealthily followed a supreme being. Since they had emerged, there was no going back.

That one's cultivation wasn't low—by Zhutian standards, a genuine Tian Di peak. But compared to Wu Tian Xue Zun, he fell short in experience.

"Shi Tian Mo Di?"

The little old man stroked his chin.

"It's him without a doubt."

Shen Yun Suan confirmed. "Before Zhao Yun ascended to godhood, he suffered a major defeat at his hands."

Clearly not a good sort.

That was the implication in Ye Chen's eyes.

Boom! Rumble!

The starry sky buzzed with the pressure from Shi Tian Mo Di, sweeping forth with torrents of demonic malice, accompanied by destructive visions. His blood-red hair flowed like fresh blood, and demonic heavenly sounds echoed through the heavens and earth. Too many who heard it were shaken to ashes. Such was the might of a god—mortals were like mere weeds, not even qualifying as ants in his presence.

Behind him, Ye Chen remained patient.

Though they were far from the other supreme beings, he still didn't strike, because another god lurked in the shadows. Shi Tian Mo Di and this one were likely a pair—the former in the open, the latter in hiding—for mutual support in case of trouble.

For a brief moment, Ye Chen glanced up slightly at the void, clearly spotting another supreme being whose form flickered between illusion and solidity. At first glance, it was like a distorted black shadow, with Dao essence and cultivation on par with Shi Tian Mo Di.

"An Hei Mo Jun."

Ye Chen murmured softly. He had never seen this one, but he knew the divine title. After being in this universe for so long, he had heard of many supreme beings. An Hei Mo Jun, as the name suggested, was a god who dwelled in darkness. Such supreme beings were usually masters of assassination, akin to assassins in the mortal world. Their instant destruction could even trouble a Zhun Huang Di.

His guess was correct.

An Hei Mo Jun was undoubtedly a formidable figure. In ancient times, he had nearly assassinated Zhao Yun—an event known in both Xian Jie and Shen Jie.

"I say, why don't you strike?"

The little old man hugged his wine jug, reminding him. Seeing Ye Chen strolling with hands behind his back, as if he had no intention of attacking, he feared the man had dozed off.

Ye Chen didn't respond. He would strike, but he needed the perfect timing—a single blow to eliminate Shi Tian Mo Di and take An Hei Mo Jun along with him, without causing too much commotion.

Ahead, a star river flowed.

Shi Tian Mo Di halted, his Di Dao Shen Shi sweeping across the heavens and earth without restraint.

Ye Chen didn't stop, his steps profound and mysterious, barely evading detection with Zhou Tian's cover.

"Who's there?"

Shi Tian Mo Di suddenly shouted.

In reality, it was a bluff. Ye Chen saw through it clearly and ignored it. These tricks were child's play to him. If he wanted to lure Ye Chen out, he was still short on skill.

Seeing no response, Shi Tian Mo Di continued onward. The bluff hadn't worked, or perhaps the one he sought wasn't in this starry sky.

"Who's there?"

After two or three steps, he abruptly turned again.

This time, it wasn't a bluff.

Ye Chen had arrived. The moment Shi Tian Mo Di turned, he collided with Ye Chen's small hand, which slapped his physical form to oblivion.

Clang!

In the same instant, a sword cry rang out.

It was An Hei Mo Jun, hidden in the void. The moment Shi Tian Mo Di was attacked, he thrust his sword forward. A Tian Di-level assassination wasn't a joke— the divine sword's power was devastating, carrying destructive might. Even Ye Chen, a Zhun Huang Di, felt a chill down his spine. It was mainly due to the principles An Hei Mo Jun cultivated, a path of destruction that could gravely wound him. Though it could weaken and bind, the harm was equally severe.

Clang!

In a flash, the divine sword arrived.

"Impressive power."

Ye Chen said flatly, his voice cold and desolate. He had anticipated this. Dodging instantly, he evaded the strike and circled behind An Hei Mo Jun, splitting his demonic form with a palm.

"How is that possible?"

An Hei Mo Jun was filled with disbelief. He hadn't expected Ye Chen to dodge the assassination and counterattack.

"Perish!"

Shi Tian Mo Di roared, demonic light erupting everywhere. Though reduced to a Yuan Shen state, his supreme aura remained undiminished. A thunder war spear appeared in his hand, piercing through the heavens. His expression was even darker than An Hei Mo Jun's—after all, he was a supreme being, and being slapped to pieces was humiliating. He had to leave a bloody hole in that foe, even if it meant being shameless.

Ye Chen didn't evade; he took the spear head-on. In the same moment, his small hand struck down. His palm was far more domineering than Shi Tian Mo Di's spear, nearly shattering the Yuan Shen to the point of soul scattering.

"Come in!"

The Hun Dun Ding emerged from the small realm, its mouth facing downward, instantly swallowing Shi Tian Mo Di's shattered Yuan Shen.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Ye Chen snorted coldly, stepping into the heavens, for An Hei Mo Jun was fleeing.

Assassins typically weren't skilled in direct combat, especially with his divine form destroyed by Ye Chen. What else could he do but run? He had underestimated Ye Chen— even bound, he was more terrifying than imagined. That so-called instant kill was worthless against him.