Chapter 3171: Combined

Boom!

A deafening roar echoed through the Shen Xu universe.

It was Wu Wang Mo Zun.

Responding to the summons, he unleashed a portion of his power, showering down rays of light that enveloped every god in Shen Xu. Without exception, they absorbed a fragment of the Qian Kun.

In that instant, Wu Wang Mo Zun's aura subtly diminished.

Simultaneously, the power of the Shen Xu gods surged.

Although it was the same Qian Kun, Wu Wang claimed ninety percent, leaving only ten percent for the other gods. They harbored no hope of capturing Ye Chen; their sole aim was to hold him back while Wu Wang seized Zhao Yun, then deal with Ye Chen afterward.

Alas, his plan was overly optimistic, and he had underestimated Zhao Yun. After more than eight hundred rounds, Wu Wang held the advantage but still couldn't subdue the eternal one.

Below, even after absorbing the Qian Kun, the gods were in utter disarray, akin to dogs being led on a wild chase by Ye Chen as he darted through the sky.

"It truly has no weaknesses."

Ye Chen muttered to himself, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Whether it was the Shen Xu Qian Kun or the hidden array patterns, he couldn't pinpoint their source. They seemed to materialize from nowhere, or perhaps his vision simply wasn't sharp enough.

As for the eternal power, though indestructible and inexhaustible, it couldn't shatter the Qian Kun or destroy the array patterns. If he possessed a supreme god's natal weapon, it might work—at the very least, it could lead them out.

"The gods of Gu Xu are indeed worthy of their reputation." Ye Chen spoke solemnly, his hands never ceasing their activity. He uprooted an entire sacred fruit tree, roots and all, and flung it into his personal world. Along the way, he also snatched up a nearby immortal stone.

Despite their enmity, Ye Chen harbored a deep respect for the Gu Xu gods. Putting everything else aside, the Shen Xu Qian Kun and array patterns were profoundly mysterious. Without exaggeration, he, at least, couldn't break them.

In the past, Shura Tian Zun and Yue Shen had entered Shen Xu, but in his estimation, they had only reached the outermost fringes. Had they truly set foot in this divine land, there was no way they could have escaped.

"You despicable wretch."

The white-haired old god roared in fury, clinging to Ye Chen like an unshakeable adhesive. Having absorbed a bit of Shen Xu's Qian Kun, he acted as though he were invincible.

"Keep cursing, I'll make you regret it."

Ye Chen, in the midst of his escape, abruptly turned back with a counterattack. His immortal staff hummed as he struck the old god, sending blood and bone fragments flying. Had the other gods not arrived in time, he would have followed up with another blow. What a pitiable old god—to have such a foul mouth!

After knocking down the old god, Ye Chen fled again, streaking like divine light into a grand hall.

Inside, there was a treasure.

It was an ancient bronze lamp, its flame flickering yet radiating brilliant light, illuminating the entire hall like a blazing sun. Among all the halls in Shen Xu, this one shone the brightest.

"Seal it off."

The gods arrived shortly thereafter, surrounding the area on all sides and casting seals to trap Ye Chen within the hall.

"The four great lineages couldn't seal me—do you think you can?" With a cold snort, Ye Chen entered and exited in less than a blink of an eye. He seized the ancient bronze lamp and burst forth forcefully, transforming his eternal power into a divine cauldron that suppressed the heavens.

In the sky above, gods fell in droves, unable to withstand the cauldron's might. Even the newly arrived white-haired old god staggered under the pressure.

By the time they regained their balance, Ye Chen had already escaped, darting into a divine mountain. With sheer dominance, he uprooted the entire massive mountain and carried it away.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Scenes like this played out repeatedly thereafter. The tenth emperor of Da Chu wasn't just a fighter—he was an expert thief, grabbing anything in sight without discrimination. Given enough time, he could strip Shen Xu bare of every treasure.

In perfect coordination, the two eternals worked together: Zhao Yun held Wu Wang Mo Zun at bay in the vast expanse, while Ye Chen hopped around below. Despite their numbers, the gods couldn't lay a hand on him and could only watch as one divine artifact after another vanished into Ye Chen's personal world. Once taken, it was gone for good—unless the thief ceased to be named Ye.

"Having such a successor brings me great comfort."

The supreme god's words were laden with depth, occasionally punctuated by a dry cough. In a way, he wasn't being entirely fair to Ye Chen and Zhao Yun. Though a supreme god had openly intervened, they hadn't joined forces to punish him, simply because they had all benefited. As for the mess that remained, whoever wanted to clean it up could—let them deal with the discomfort.

"Taishang, this is only this once."

Words like these had been uttered by the supreme gods several times already, their meaning clear: They had made an exception for you this time, but it doesn't mean they're indulging you. Dare to interfere again, and we will punish you.

In the chaotic void, no one responded, but the mists of chaos churned violently, hinting at either fury or unbridled killing intent. To save Wu Wang Mo Zun, the price paid had been devastatingly high.

Boom!

Deep within Shen Xu, another thunderous roar resounded as Ye Chen toppled an ancient hall. From its underground palace, he hauled out an ice coffin. He had never seen one before, but he had heard the empress mention it.

There existed coffins in the world that could nurture gods, even if only a corpse remained, offering a chance for resurrection. It was quite similar to the Nine Ming Coffin.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The gods arrived again, their steps collapsing the void. They didn't bother with seals this time, unleashing a barrage of attacks that filled the sky.

Unfortunately, before their assaults could land, Ye Chen had already escaped, sweeping his staff across eight directions and felling countless gods.

"How about we switch?"

Zhao Yun sent a message, envious of how freely Ye Chen was robbing treasures. If it were up to him, he'd do it even more thoroughly.

"No switching."

Ye Chen replied casually, thoroughly enjoying himself. Why interrupt? Just focus on fighting Wu Wang Mo Zun—don't overthink it. Robbing treasures was a skill best left to him.

Zhao Yun glanced sideways, then soared upward, dodging Wu Wang's devastating strike and countering with a palm that collapsed the void.

"You won't escape."

Wu Wang Mo Zun had roared lines like this countless times, his expression twisted and ferocious, as if he wouldn't stop until he captured Zhao Yun alive.

As for his own treasures and divine mountains being plundered, he didn't care. To him, nothing compared to seizing the eternal one.

Regrettably, while he could defeat Zhao Yun, he lacked the power to capture him.

Zhao Yun knew this all too well. Without Shen Xu's Qian Kun and the supreme divine artifacts, he could have sent Wu Wang back to his origins.

"Open for me!"

Deep in Shen Xu, Ye Chen gripped the Yong Heng Immortal Sword and slashed at the void repeatedly. It was filled with array patterns, and if he could sever them, he might disrupt the Qian Kun.

Regrettably, no matter how powerful his attacks, the array patterns held firm, seeming even harder than divine weapons. Each strike echoed with a resounding clang.

However, his assault on the array patterns made the divine land unstable, causing it to tremble occasionally and unsettling the Qian Kun. Anyone who had absorbed the Qian Kun—whether Wu Wang Mo Zun or the gods of Shen Xu—let out a muffled groan.

"I understand now."

Ye Chen and Zhao Yun said in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized as they both looked up toward the highest peak of the void.

"Come on."

Again, in unison, Ye Chen and Zhao Yun moved like streaks of divine light, one from the left and one from the right, shooting straight into the vast heavens.

"Stay behind!"

Wu Wang Mo Zun howled, surging with overwhelming demonic energy, while the gods of Shen Xu raced like beams of light toward the void, tracing elegant arcs through the dim world.

Buzz! Buzz!

In the vast expanse, Ye Chen and Zhao Yun were no longer visible, only two suns—one in the east and one in the west—hanging in the sky, radiating divine glory. Every ray of light carried the color of eternity, illuminating the dark heavens. Ye Chen and Zhao Yun stood within their respective suns.

Under the watchful eyes of all, the two suns rapidly approached: one moving west to east, the other east to west; one indestructible and inexhaustible, the other undying and unextinguished. They merged into a single sun, bursting with even more brilliant light that pierced the heart and soul. Even Wu Wang Mo Zun couldn't help but shield his eyes, while weaker gods had their bodies obliterated on the spot, and some were instantly annihilated.

"Yong Heng fusion?"

The supreme gods murmured softly, their eyes momentarily dazzled by the radiant eternal light. Only then did they truly realize how terrifying the power woven by the two eternals was. That level of power could gravely wound a supreme god; if the two were strong enough, slaying one wouldn't be out of the question.

"Let's go."

From the brilliant eternal sun, Ye Chen and Zhao Yun's resolute voices rang out. Though the Yong Heng had fused, the two hadn't merged into one; rather, their eternals had combined, and they now shared the same sun.

With that, the eternal sun moved, bathed in eternal light as it charged toward the outside world, barreling straight ahead as if to force its way out of Shen Xu.

The Shen Xu Qian Kun wasn't without a weak point—it was the level of supreme god power.

While supreme divine weapons lacked that power, the fusion of two Yong Heng could achieve it.

This was the insight Ye Chen and Zhao Yun had gained after battling and observing for so long. It was their only way out.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Wu Wang Mo Zun roared, forming seals with one hand.

Immediately, the immortal sea outside Shen Xu churned with waves, and a wall of divine light rose to the sky. It was covered in array patterns and engraved with divine markings, dense and intricate enough to make even Ye Chen and Zhao Yun's eyes blur.

This wall blocked their path, extending from the highest peaks of the void to the deepest abyss, spanning the eastern, southern, western, and northern borders of Shen Xu.

Calling it a wall wasn't quite accurate; it was more like a barrier enclosing most of Shen Xu. To escape from within, they had to break it.

Gulp!

Shura Tian Zun, hidden outside Shen Xu, instinctively looked up. The barrier was unimaginably vast. Though it was a protective one, its might shook the entire universe. Forcing an attack would likely result in self-destruction.

"Is this the foundation of Shen Xu?"

Yue Shen murmured, utterly astonished. The barrier was not only enormous but also terrifying.

In the past, she and Kuang Ying Jie had been fortunate not to delve deeper into Shen Xu; otherwise, it wouldn't have been as simple as losing their godhood. Just this barrier alone was beyond their ability to break—it could trap gods to death.

"Shen Xu truly isn't to be underestimated. This is the first time I've seen such a massive protective barrier. The gods of Gu Xu from ancient times were indeed masterful."

"Though the barrier is strong, it needs a complete Qian Kun to support it, and Shen Xu has that."

"This is just the barrier—who knows how many more traps are inside? Entering would mean certain death."

"I'm more curious about who's causing chaos in Shen Xu, forcing them to activate such a barrier."

Discussions abounded among the gods stationed outside Shen Xu, all drawn here for the spectacle. And what a show it was.

"Break for me!"

Amid the discussions, a roar echoed across the universe. Ye Chen and Zhao Yun, within the same sun and with their Yong Heng fused, charged forth with world-shattering force, slamming into the barrier. Once it was broken, nothing could stop them.