Chapter 530: In the Name of the Holy Lord

Boom! Rumble!

The void in all directions was compressed by the powerful aura, causing a deep, rumbling sound.

Upon seeing Zhong Li leading the Di Huang army to block the southern escape route, the purple-robed elder from Shi Xue Dian and Zhong Mu from Xuan Huang instantly paled.

At that moment, they woke from their delusion. The so-called Di Huang alliance was fundamentally part of the Yan Huang faction all along. They had been completely deceived, and ironically, not long ago, they had even secretly rejoiced over Di Huang's fierce attacks. Now, it was clear they had been the biggest joke from the very beginning.

"Zhong Li, what do you mean by this?" Zhong Mu, the Holy Lord of Xuan Huang, roared in fury, his voice shaking the heavens and earth.

"I was born a person of Yan Huang, and in death, I will be a ghost of Yan Huang." The voice of the Di Huang Holy Lord rang out firmly and resoundingly, like thunder echoing endlessly through the world.

"You..." Zhong Mu was at a loss for words, his face flushing with rage. Zhong Li's statement left him completely speechless. He had never expected Zhong Li to pull such a move, catching him entirely off guard.

"Zhong Li, my friend, what benefits did Yan Huang offer you? Shi Xue Dian will double them." The purple-robed elder from Shi Xue Dian attempted to entice him with benefits.

He saw the situation clearly: if Di Huang truly sided with Yan Huang, they would be utterly defeated today. But if Di Huang joined them, the outcome would be entirely different.

"Xue Tu, are you still trying to sow discord in Yan Huang?" A ethereal voice sounded as Zhong Jiang was the first to step out from the void.

"Zhong Jiang." Xue Tu, the purple-robed elder, narrowed his eyes, a flash of cold light shooting from them.

Ignoring Xue Tu's glare, Zhong Jiang turned to Zhong Mu of Di Huang, his expression unusually cold. "Zhong Mu, it's never too late to correct your mistakes. Turn back now! You are still my sixth junior brother and still the Jin Zun of Yan Huang."

"Hmph!" Zhong Jiang's words were met with a cold snort from Zhong Mu. "The victor writes history—why pretend to be virtuous?"

"We are all from the same lineage. Why must it come to this?"

"Enough talk."

"Very well, then don't blame us for disregarding our fellow disciples." Hong Chen Xue stepped out from the void, her expression incredibly cold. She was utterly disappointed in Zhong Mu for colluding with Shi Xue Dian.

On the other side, the Su Jia Lao Zu also emerged, linking his aura with Zhong Jiang, Hong Chen Xue, and Zhong Li, causing the void in all directions to rumble violently.

Seeing this, Xue Tu of Shi Xue Dian's face darkened further. He spoke gravely, "Everyone, both sides have four Quasi-Tian Jing experts. If we truly go to war, even if we lose, Yan Huang will suffer heavy casualties. Why not sit down and talk this out properly?"

"There's no need for that." A cold laugh echoed as Ye Chen, wearing a Gui Ming mask, slowly walked out. He trod on a golden star river, with a vast starry sky hovering above his head, his entire body radiating golden light that shone brilliantly in the dark night.

"Qin Yu?" Xue Tu and many experts from Shi Xue Dian recognized Ye Chen by his Gui Ming mask and the character for enmity on his forehead.

"Kill!" Ye Chen snorted coldly. "Leave no one from Shi Xue Dian alive."

Immediately, nearly half of the slaughter formations and void killing arrays targeted the barrier where Shi Xue Dian was located.

"Kill!" The Su Jia Lao Zu, along with the experts from Yan Huang, Ren Huang, and Di Huang, launched their attacks. Some activated killing arrays, others manipulated formation diagrams, and still others combined forces to unleash powerful spiritual artifacts, all pressing down on Shi Xue Dian's side.

Boom! Rumble!

The void trembled, the heavens and earth lost their color, and countless divine abilities converged like a roaring river, engulfing Shi Xue Dian's army.

"Kill!" Xue Tu of Shi Xue Dian roared, being the first to summon his terrifying killing weapon and madly assaulting the surrounding barrier.

Now trapped inside the barrier, they could only endure the attacks passively. To escape alive, they had to break through it first; otherwise, even with his Quasi-Tian Jing cultivation, he would likely be worn down to death.

Pfft! Pfft!

Shi Xue Dian's army fell in droves, turning into bloody mist. They had to both bombard the barrier and defend against the incoming attacks, suffering massive losses right from the start.

Ye Chen ignored all of this and turned his gaze to Zhong Mu of Di Huang, speaking calmly, "In the name of the Yan Huang Holy Lord, I give you one last chance. Surrender, and you may live. Resist, and you will die."

At these words, Zhong Mu let out a cold laugh, his eyes blood-red as he summoned his natal spiritual artifact. "Do you think I'm the type to fear death?"

Ye Chen's expression remained indifferent as he shifted his gaze from Zhong Mu to the experts of Xuan Huang. He said lightly, "What about all of you? Will you surrender or continue to resist?"

Ye Chen's words instantly stirred unrest among the Xuan Huang army.

"He's the ninety-ninth generation Holy Lord of Yan Huang—who should we follow?"

"Fight to the death if we have to. What's the big deal?"

"Nonsense! We're originally from Yan Huang. We've been fighting for centuries—haven't you had enough?"

"But the Holy Lord..."

Murmurs of discussion rose like waves, with many hesitating and others wavering, unsure whom to obey. This uncertainty threw the once-mighty Xuan Huang army into chaos.

"Noise!" Seeing morale plummet, Zhong Mu bellowed furiously, "I am the Holy Lord of Xuan Huang! Are you all rebelling?"

"Rebelling?" As soon as Zhong Mu finished speaking, Ye Chen snorted coldly. "Zhong Mu, you're the one rebelling!"

With that, Ye Chen raised his hand, revealing the glowing Xuan Cang Jade Ring. "This is a sacred artifact of Yan Huang. Whoever wears this ring is the Yan Huang Holy Lord. By ancestral decree, all of Yan Huang must honor the Holy Lord. You act arbitrarily, hoard troops for yourself, and even collude with Shi Xue Dian to attack Yan Huang. This alone is enough to condemn you to death."

"You..." Zhong Mu was once again speechless, his face burning with shame.

Even during Zhong Yan's time as Holy Lord, he had been discontent, let alone with a junior like Ye Chen in the role.

But now, the hierarchy was clear: the wearer of the Xuan Cang Jade Ring was the true Yan Huang Holy Lord. Ye Chen's words were irrefutable—he represented the orthodox authority, while Zhong Mu was branded a traitor to Yan Huang, whether in the eyes of Yan Huang or Xuan Huang.

As a Yan Huang elder, one of the revered ones, and a direct disciple of Hong Chen, he had no words to refute.

"I'll give you one final chance." Ye Chen looked back at the Xuan Huang army, standing like a sovereign overlooking the world, his tone commanding. "Surrender now, and you remain part of Yan Huang. I will overlook your past errors. But if you persist in resistance, this Xuan Long Mountain will be your grave, and you will die bearing the infamy of traitors."

Ye Chen's words once again agitated the Xuan Huang army.

"I... I surrender. I want to go home." Immediately, a white-haired elder threw down his weapon.

"You're asking for death!" Zhong Mu raged at the sight and struck out with a palm, sending the white-haired elder flying with blood and broken bones, nearly destroying his soul on the spot.

At this, Hong Chen Xue charged into the barrier, rushing straight at Zhong Mu and unleashing powerful divine abilities without holding back. She was utterly disillusioned with her sixth senior brother.

Boom! Bang! Pound!

Zhong Mu howled like a madman, engaging Hong Chen Xue in a fierce battle high in the void.

"Come out, now!" Zhong Jiang also entered the barrier, sharply commanding the Xuan Huang forces.

At his words, more from Xuan Huang discarded their weapons and fled from the barrier.

"I surrender too. I want to go home."

"I don't want to be branded a traitor."

"We've fought for centuries—I'm exhausted. Why must kin turn on kin so harshly?"