Chapter 3173: From Prosperity to Decline

Chapter 3173: From Prosperity to Decline

Buzz! Buzz!

The Shen Xu boundary hummed and trembled, not dissipating, but the massive hole in it was glaringly obvious, like an irremovable stain marring a breathtaking painting. Gazing at Shen Xu, the Xian Hai waves surged wildly, and the divine land's radiance dimmed. All because the universe now had a flaw, its foundations leaking away, and its fortunes ebbing with it.

"Is that it? Broken just like that?"

The onlookers stared in a daze, still not fully processing what had happened—Shen Xu had been struck with a defect by the eternals. "What a relief."

Many supremes, especially the older ones, crossed their arms and smirked. Let's see you act high and mighty now. "My heart is at ease."

Even the unreliable gods were grabbing handfuls of whatever they could. What could be said? With Shen Xu's universe flawed, it would gradually decline, never to regain its former glory. This created another prime spot for casual visitors. "Those two are the true gods!"

Most of the gods were still fixated on Ye Chen and Zhao Yun, whether young or old, all filled with awe. The eternals united—unrivaled in the world!

Pfft! Pfft!

As the gods watched, Ye Chen and Zhao Yun both spat blood. One staggered unsteadily, the other swayed, having finally broken through the boundary and escaped Shen Xu's Xian Hai. Their bodies were covered in bloody gashes—it was unclear if this was from the boundary's backlash, the eternal forces rebelling, or the killing array's effects, but their injuries were severe.

Fortunately, they had made it out alive.

Yue Shen and Di Xian appeared together, shielding the two. The way they looked at Ye Chen was full of gratitude—this had been a high-stakes gamble, and they had won. Ye Chen's luck was indeed defying heaven.

"You owe me a favor. You'll have to repay it one day."

Ye Chen coughed up blood.

"How about I find you another wife from the gods? There are plenty of talents in Shen Jie."

Zhao Yun was coughing blood too.

"Your Xiu Er is pretty good."

"Your Yao Chi is quite nice too. Want to swap?"

"Don't mess around. She's my actual wife."

The two bantered back and forth, like a comedy routine, never missing a chance to joke around no matter where they were.

"These two fools."

The gods shot them sidelong glances. Yue Shen's face had turned pitch black, with flames flickering in her beautiful eyes. If Ye Chen weren't so badly hurt, she'd have beaten him half to death. And Zhao Yun—had he learned nothing but this in five hundred years?

In contrast, Dong Huang Nu Di, still hidden in the void, remained composed. Her Ye Chen was always a handful, no matter where he went, and she was used to it. The entire universe was used to it.

"Damned scum, you all deserve to die!"

A roar of rage echoed as Wu Wang Mo Zun charged out, his red hair like it had been soaked in blood, his eyes bloodthirsty and savage. His once majestic face was now twisted in fury. He was like a demon god, sweeping forth with overwhelming killing intent, manifesting countless scenes of destruction.

"As if we were afraid you wouldn't come out."

Ye Chen snorted coldly and soared into the sky, with Zhao Yun following right behind.

In Shen Xu, you might be a dragon. Outside the forbidden zone, you're just a lowly worm.

And the facts proved it true. The moment Wu Wang Mo Zun left Shen Xu's Xian Hai, his power plummeted dramatically. Even his Wu Wang divine blade dulled significantly. The difference between fusing with the universe and not was like night and day.

Pfft! Pfft!

In a single clash, he was hammered. Zhao Yun slapped him across the face, sending him reeling, and before he could catch his breath, Ye Chen's foot connected, targeting Wu Wang Mo Zun's most vulnerable spot with brutal force.

"Just watching makes it hurt."

The spectating supremes clicked their tongues, feeling a chill in certain parts of their bodies.

"Lord Supreme!"

The gods of Shen Xu rushed out, barely managing to pull Wu Wang Mo Zun back by tapping into Shen Xu's universe.

"Kill! Kill them all for me!"

Wu Wang Mo Zun howled like a madman, desperate to charge out again, but the other supremes held him back firmly. If he went out there again, he might not return. Without Shen Xu's universe, he was no match for the eternals.

Ye Chen and Zhao Yun said nothing, just stood their ground.

Go on, keep cursing. If you come out again, we'll beat you all the way to the western heavens.

"Have the guts to come in!"

The Shen Xu gods roared in fury.

"Have the guts to come out!"

Ye Chen and Zhao Yun positioned themselves on either side of Xian Hai's edge, not backing down an inch.

"You're gods, but you won't fight?"

"A bunch of rats, and you have the nerve to call us out?"

"Enough talk—have the guts to come in!"

"Have the guts to come out. Let's fight one-on-one!"

This turned into a full-blown verbal battle, with one side inside Shen Xu's Xian Hai and the other at the vast edge of the cosmos. One side bellowed fiercely, the other shouted wildly, both unleashing a storm of insults.

Hilariously, the Shen Xu gods were utterly outmatched by the two.

When it came to verbal wars, the universe's talents could hold their own, and Zhao Yun from Shen Jie was a master who could take on a thousand. Together, they could make anyone question their existence.

"Are they even injured?"

The surrounding gods clicked their tongues in amazement. They had seen the two barely able to stand earlier, but now they were cursing up a storm—one leaping about, the other bounding everywhere. Most importantly, their presence was overwhelming.

"This is the first time I've seen Shen Xu get humiliated like this."

"If Gui Xu Zhi Shen were still alive, he'd probably vomit blood."

"It's certain he'd be cursing too."

Discussions erupted everywhere, with mentions of Gui Xu Zhi Shen abound. He had left behind such a treasure trove for posterity, along with immense foundations, only for it to be hammered into submission. Even the boundary he set up had a massive hole punched in it. This was more than losing face—it was total humiliation.

"Have the guts to come in!"

"Have the guts to come out!"

On the other side, the insults continued. Ye Chen and Zhao Yun refused to enter Shen Xu, and the Shen Xu gods dared not emerge.

The scene was incredibly ironic.

Though Shen Xu's boundary was broken, its foundations remained, with countless gods and supremes who could still fight. Yet, they were cowed by just two, erasing the forbidden zone's fearsome reputation entirely.

Wu Wang Mo Zun had no idea how much blood he had spat by now.

The most frustrating part was his—there were only two eternals in the three realms, both once captured by him, and their refinement was just a matter of time. But mishaps kept occurring, turning his winning hand into a total mess.

"A bunch of rats!"

Figures like Kuang Ying Jie and Shen Long Dao Zun also blocked the way outside Shen Xu, cursing with flushed faces and thick necks, venting years of pent-up frustration. With the two eternals backing them, what was there to fear?

The Shen Xu gods couldn't hold their ground, and the verbal battle ended in defeat.

The onlookers grew restless, some rolling up their sleeves, eager to join in and throw in a few curses.

Not exaggerating, even the four supreme inheritances had such thoughts.

Shen Xu, that overbearing forbidden zone, finally had its day.

No one knew when the shouting finally stopped.

The Shen Xu gods retreated, each grinding their teeth in frustration. They had no choice—it was pointless to continue. They couldn't take Ye Chen and Zhao Yun inside Shen Xu, let alone now that the two were outside the forbidden zone.

In this battle, they had lost, and lost miserably.

Losing treasures was minor; the real issue was the flaw in their universe, and Wu Wang Mo Zun's path to the highest godhood was cut off.

All of this was courtesy of the eternals.

For them, this day was one to remember, marking Shen Xu's shift from prosperity to decline. In the years to come, they would have to focus on recovery and self-preservation, with no strength left for conquest. If possible, they would try to repair the boundary and restore the universe.

But the Shen Xu gods knew this was impossible, unless Gui Xu Zhi Shen returned to the world.

Pfft! Pfft!

At the edge of Shen Xu's Xian Hai, Ye Chen and Zhao Yun spat blood again. The cursing was fun, but their injuries were still severe.

Still, it was nothing serious.

As eternals, one was indestructible and inexhaustible, the other immortal and unkillable. Recovery was just a matter of time.

Under everyone's gaze, they withdrew.

Before leaving, Ye Chen and Zhao Yun scanned the surroundings. Whether the gods in plain sight or the supremes hidden in the shadows, none could escape their notice—all were hostile forces.

Just wait. Once we're healed, we'll deal with you one by one.

That was the meaning in their eyes, sending a chill through the gods. Being targeted by those two ruthless figures was a nightmare. If even Shen Xu had been defeated, what chance did the rest have?

"And you, just wait for us."

After glancing at the gods, the two cast a look toward Cang Miao, as if they could peer through the chaos to see the supreme god named Tai Shang. If not for his blatant interference, they wouldn't be in this state.

Boom! Boom!

Cang Miao rumbled, likely from Tai Shang's fury, shaking the entire universe and making all gods pale.

"Do you see us as mere decorations?"

The other supreme gods snorted coldly, their voices audible only to Tai Shang. They had jointly suppressed him once, and they wouldn't allow a second time unless he offered substantial benefits.

Only then did the chilling pressure fade away.

Without even looking, it was clear Tai Shang's face was utterly grim. He had brazenly intervened under the other supreme gods' watch, hoping to help Shen Xu turn the tide spectacularly. Instead, the defeat was even more crushing, and he had paid a heavy price for it.

If he had known, he would have stayed out of it.

Interfering once was bad enough, but now Shen Xu's universe was flawed, and the fortunes and foundations left by Gui Xu Zhi Shen would wane. His assistance had been anything but helpful.

"The grand spectacle has ended."

Ye Chen and his group drifted farther away, vanishing into the starry sky.

The onlookers still felt unsatisfied, lingering for a while before dispersing. Even as they walked far off, they couldn't help glancing back at the so-called Shen Xu—from this day, its glory was destined to fade.

Luo Hou said nothing and turned to leave.

The same went for Po Luo, Fo Zun, and Xian Zun, all hurrying away. They needed to quickly set up defenses—those two eternals would be coming for them soon. They couldn't end up like Shen Xu. If possible, they would seal themselves until Ye Chen left this universe.

"They've provoked the wrong people."

Countless gods trembled, mostly those who had opposed Yue Shen and her allies, having participated in ambushes on Zhao Yun and sieges on Ye Chen. Now that the two had joined forces, retribution was coming.

Each of them, without exception, would face a grim fate.

"Best to leave this trouble spot quickly."

Many supremes muttered to themselves, quietly exiting the starry sky. They slipped through the Shen Jie cracks to Xian Jie, then from Xian Jie to the lower realms, hiding in some remote corner without daring to show their heads.

"As for casual visits, we're the experts."

The old tricksters who stayed behind were already plotting their schemes, just waiting for the eternals to clash with the forbidden zones again.