Ye Yu and Xu Nanqiao were shocked to find themselves back at the very spot where they had first met Tang Tianjia. Only this time, Tang Tianjiaâs face was half mangled into a bloody blur, and his right hand was shattered and incomplete. It was clear that the recent
Fragmented Sword Demon-Slaying Art
had dealt him tremendous harm.
But Ye Yu couldn't understand how that brat had managed to pull them back. They had already reached the exit to the Demon Realm passageâa single step from happily returning to the Demon Realm and ending this ascent to Heaven with a perfect finale. So why had it reset now? Was this the power of the Immortal Emperor? It seemed a bit excessive!
In Ye Yuâs mind, Xu Nanqiaoâs inner voice transmitted:
â
Starsâ Shift
pulled us back here. But itâs fineâlet me run again, then you deal with him once more. This time it should work:
Starsâ Shift
/N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ can only be cast on the same target once every thirty days; he canât pull us back again!â
Hearing this, Ye Yu forced a smile at Xu Nanqiao. As they say, people really do smile when theyâre speechless!
The
Fragmented Sword Demon-Slaying Art
thrives on surprise. He had just shattered Tang Tianjiaâs true Immortal Swordâdid he really expect the Immortal Emperor to casually produce another sword for him to destroy? Did Tang Tianjia think Immortal Emperorsâ brains were mush?
Tang Tianjia shouted, âDo you really think Immortal Emperorsâ minds are mush?â then charged at Ye Yu. Raging, he added, âDamn you, bastard! How dare you ruin my Immortal Sword Peach Blossom! I swear Iâll forsake immortality if I donât kill you!â
But instead of raising a hand to defend, Ye Yu grabbed Xu Nanqiao and tossed her northward.
âThis time, remember to run faster!â he called.
In the next instant, Xu Nanqiao had been flung a thousand li away, disappearing from sight. Standing alone, she realized Ye Yu wasnât sacrificing her but securing her a path to survival.
Meanwhile, Tang Tianjia shaped his hand into a sword stance, expecting to slice Ye Yu in twoâbut he only managed to inflict a thin cut on Ye Yuâs shoulder. What kind of being was this early-stage Demon Lord, with such a formidable physique?
Ye Yu glanced at the wound, frowned, and tore off his beggarâs robe. Instantly, purple demonic runes spread from his arm across his body, and the shoulder wound healed within two breaths, as if it had never existed.
âWhy canât you just let me leave the Heavenly Realm in peace? Then weâd both be better off,â he muttered.
His eyes then glowed red. Frankly, if he could escape, Ye Yu would have runâhe only wanted to quietly reach the Demon Emperor Realm and break his highest dreamed-of cultivation record. But Tang Tianjiaâs relentless pursuit had exhausted his patience, and he refused to flee any longer. He wanted to test an Immortal Emperorâs true firepower.
Of course, this wasnât a resignation to death but a gamble. Though Tang Tianjia was an Immortal Emperor, he was gravely wounded, and Ye Yu refused to believe he had no chance.
With that resolve, Ye Yu stepped forward and drew the
Hellfire World-Scorching Halberd
. A roaring inferno erupted, enveloping ten thousand li in blazing red.
Tang Tianjiaâs eyes widened. Ye Yu even wielded a demonic weapon! If this kid survived and reached the Demon Emperor Realm, he would become the Heavenly Realmâs number one enemy.
Tang Tianjia summoned every ounce of focus and reached for a spare Immortal Sword in his storage ringâbut then hesitated. His face hurt too much. Fine, no sword. So what?
He formed a sword stance with one hand, and countless sword qi converged. Sword shadows flickered, and the air echoed with their cries.
Yet Ye Yu paid no heed to those displays; he gazed skyward. He could clearly feel the Heavenly Realmâs power gathering behind Tang Tianjiaâs sword shadows. So this was an Immortal Emperorâs true strengthâable to command the forces of Heaven and Earth! Pure cheating!
But there was no turning back now. Even if Tang Tianjia could marshal Heaven and Earth, Ye Yu wanted a proper battleâto taste what it felt like to slay an Immortal Emperor!
Clutching his halberd, Ye Yu charged. The moment Hellfire met the endless sword qi, the world shook. Auspicious clouds scattered across ten thousand li.
Both fighters grew more awed at each otherâs strength with every clash. Indeed, the realms of Immortal Emperor and half-step Immortal Emperor were entirely different. With his sword intent alone, Tang Tianjia could easily dominate Ye Yuâand with an Immortal Sword at full power, the fight would have ended long ago.
As Tang Tianjiaâs sword intent swelled and victory began to tip in his favor, Ye Yu steeled his heart and unleashed the
Heavenly Demon World-Annihilating Art
. When his colossal demonic form appeared, even Tang Tianjiaâs eyelids twitched in shock. The supreme body-refining method of the Demon Realm combined with the prime art of the Demon Worldâthis was far more than one plus one!
Relying on his immense physique, Ye Yu abandoned all defense and closed in for the kill. Tang Tianjia retaliated with his strongest strike,
Scorching Sun Demon-Sweeping Strike
. As he raised his left hand, a sword shadow stretched ten thousand zhang, and the blazing sun above lent it a golden glow as it cleaved down at Ye Yu.
Moments later, when the world settled, Ye Yu lay unconscious, his body returned to normal size, and a gruesome sword scar marred his chest, refusing to heal. Tang Tianjiaâs aura had vanished entirely from the Heavenly Realm.
At that moment, a figure appeared before the gravely wounded Ye Yu, eyes gleaming as he looked upon him.