Chapter 1549: Rampage
"That voice... could it be...?"
Everyone turned their heads in all directions, trying to find the source of the voice. And a figure like a god or an immortal, along with a name that had long been mythologized, appeared in the minds of every single person.
"Yunyang... Sword Master..." Qingxuan Zhenren said with difficulty, hope suddenly flashing in his eyes. But thinking of Yun Che's terrifying strength, this hope immediately dimmed by several degrees.
They had all experienced the power of Yunyang Sword Master before. In the Eastern Domain, he was absolutely an invincible existence. But Yun Che's strength was too fearsome. Based on their understanding, even Yunyang Sword Master would almost certainly be no match for him.
Unless...
Yun Che, who is he really, and why has he come here... Is the Eastern Domain truly going to prostrate itself at his feet from now on?
When this voice appeared, Yun Che showed no reaction at all. He said in a low, cold tone: "You've finally decided to show yourself."
"Yun Che," the voice—neither elderly but thick with profound vicissitude—sighed. "Our Nine Sects have never had any enmity with you. Why must you push so hard? If you insist on going against the Way like this, even if you aren't destroyed by men, you will be punished by Heaven... Stop while you can."
"Heaven... punishment?" Yun Che laughed. These words might have served as a warning or deterrent to others, but to him, they were nothing more than an absurd joke. He slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing toward the north, his voice as deep as an abyss: "Get the hell out here."
At that moment, a figure materialized in the northern sky. A middle-aged man, dressed in plain, dustless robes, with a broadsword strapped to his back. In the Northern Divine Region, where dark profound force was the core power and gloom was the main tone, the sword he carried was a pure, gleaming white.
"Yunyang Sword Master... It's Yunyang Sword Master!"
Thunderous shouts erupted like a storm, and the name of the number one figure in the Eastern Domain echoed through the air.
Yunyang Sword Master—the current Sword Master of Yunyang Sword Domain, the foremost of the Nine Great Sects in the Eastern Domain—was undeniably and unshakably the strongest person in the entire Eastern Domain!
Everyone was convinced he couldn't possibly be present today, and there were rumors that he had been in seclusion all this time. No one expected him to appear in person. More likely, he had been concealed on the sidelines from the very beginning.
Facing this number one figure of the Eastern Domain, Yun Che slowly extended one finger: "You have only one chance. Submit, or die!"
Under Yun Che's words, the boiling noise suddenly cooled down. Yunyang Sword Master was indeed unmatched in power. If he had appeared from the start, no one would have thought Yun Che could defeat him.
But having personally witnessed Yun Che's strength, which was practically like a god or demon, they couldn't help but think of a chilling possibility... Yunyang Sword Master might not be his opponent either.
And facing Yunyang Sword Master, Yun Che's attitude was exactly the same as before.
"It seems further words are useless." Yunyang Sword Master raised his arm and grasped the sword hilt. The pure white great sword rose silently. Without any visible movement, a pitch-black sword aura dozens of feet long burst forth from the sword tip.
At the same time, the airflow, space, and vision all twisted violently. Everyone clearly felt that the trembling space, which had been silent, suddenly seemed to contain billions of invisible swords, ready at a single thought to annihilate every living being, even the entire heaven and earth.
The dark sword might that instantly enveloped the sky made all profound practitioners hold their breath, and the Divine Kings of the eight great sects all changed color simultaneously.
"Th-this is...?"
Being in the same Eastern Domain and belonging to the same Nine Great Sects, they knew Yunyang Sword Master best. But the sword might displayed before them far exceeded their understanding. Immediately, they recalled a certain rumor, and their expressions shifted again.
"Could it be... that Yunyang Sword Master has broken through!?"
"Divine King Realm... Level 10!" Yanyang Tower's master shouted excitedly. Their eyes, once full of fear and despair, suddenly blazed with intense, unusual light.
Yunyang Sword Master's breakthrough was not just creating a new myth for the Eastern Domain; it was a hope that shone countless times brighter under the current crisis!
A Level 10 Divine King—that was a realm only one step away from a Divine Sovereign! There was absolutely no reason it couldn't punish this Yun Che, who dared to trample the Eastern Domain!
At this moment, feeling the peak sword might from Yunyang Sword Master, the Divine Kings who had been prostrate on the ground almost wept with joy. This breakthrough that created a myth was like a redemption bestowed by Heaven's blessing in their time of need!
"If I hadn't completed my breakthrough, I would definitely not be your opponent," Yunyang Sword Master said slowly. As he spoke, the dark sword might covering heaven and earth flowed silently, as if it would tear Yun Che apart at any moment. "It seems this is also Heaven's will."
"Heh, just you?" Yun Che said expressionlessly. "It seems you've chosen 'die'!"
"Alone, I might be able to defeat you easily, but to keep you here would be difficult." Yunyang Sword Master's every word was as heavy as a mountain, leaving no room for doubt. "Your temperament is fierce and ruthless, and you are too young. If you manage to escape, it would undoubtedly be a disaster. So, I invited another fellow cultivator to join me."
Another... fellow cultivator?
Yunyang Sword Master's words stunned everyone. Only Mingxiao's eyes flickered with a rather excited gleam.
At that moment, the eastern sky suddenly darkened.
Countless floating profound boats and profound ships suddenly sank as if pressed by ten thousand mountains. A massive, sky-obscuring shadow slowly approached. In an instant, the entire dome seemed to press down violently, making everyone's chest feel suffocating and on the verge of splitting.
"Ming... Mingpeng!"
They looked up at the sky, utterly shocked. The enormous black shadow that blotted out the heavens, the massive black wings stretching dozens of miles—it was unmistakably a Mingpeng!
The Mingpeng clan was well-known throughout the Eastern Domain. But none of them—not even the various sect masters or supreme elders—had ever seen a Mingpeng true form so huge, spanning a hundred miles!
Even more terrifying was the oppressive pressure descending upon the world, which was in no way inferior to Yunyang Sword Master's dark sword might!
At the summit of Hanju Peak, facing the sky-covering shadow, Mingxiao knelt heavily, prostrating himself and knocking his head. A clear roar reached everyone's ears: "Unworthy descendant Mingxiao humbly welcomes the Ancestor!"
The word "Ancestor" caused all the shocked profound practitioners to instantly open their mouths wide, as if hearing the voice of a god or demon.
"Ming... Mingpeng Ancestor!?" Many people trembled as they spoke.
The lifespan of a Mingpeng far exceeds that of a human, which is a major reason for the Mingpeng clan's long prosperity. But from a long time ago, there were often rumors that the Mingpeng Ancestor was still alive... But rumors were just rumors; few truly investigated or believed them.
But today, when the Nine Great Sects faced an unprecedented catastrophe, they actually saw a hundred-mile Mingpeng with their own eyes and heard Mingxiao kneel and shout "Ancestor."
The Mingpeng Ancestor really hadn't died, and this terrifying pressure, completely on par with Yunyang Sword Master's, proved that his strength was also at Level 10 Divine King!
And quite possibly, he was a Level 10 Divine King who surpassed even Yunyang Sword Master!
In other words, even before Yunyang Sword Master, the Eastern Domain had already had a Level 10 Divine King! He had simply been cultivating in seclusion, becoming the guardian ancestor of the Mingpeng clan... In truth, he was the true number one figure of the Eastern Domain and the first Level 10 Divine King!
And it was clear that Yunyang Sword Master had always known of the Mingpeng Ancestor's existence and that they shared a not-inconsiderable friendship.
The Supreme Elder of Cry Soul Sect, the Master of Moonfall Temple, the Lord of Yanyang Tower, the Blood Hand Poison Lord, the Sect Master of Black Fiend Sect, the Demon Lord of Yaksha, Qingxuan Zhenren... they all stood frozen, then did their utmost to bow, half excited, half reverent, shouting: "We welcome the Mingpeng Ancestor."
The atmosphere had changed again, completely and utterly changed.
They had watched helplessly as Yun Che was sealed into the Taiyin Ghost Cauldron, watched as he trampled the seven Divine Kings like stray dogs. But in the blink of an eye, Yunyang Sword Master, who had broken through to Level 10 Divine King, appeared, along with a terrifying figure who had been hidden for ages.
Yunyang Sword Master, Mingpeng Ancestor... two Level 10 Divine Kings!
A level of power never seen before in the Eastern Domain—and today, two of them appeared simultaneously!
Two Level 10 Divine Kings—no matter how strong Yun Che was, he couldn't possibly resist!
The situation, from a crushing defeat, had completely reversed.
"Yun... Che..."
From the dome of the sky came the voice of the Mingpeng Ancestor. Every word carried a threat that shook the world, each syllable causing space to ripple: "If you had only come seeking the Dao, this old man would never have appeared. But with such methods and ambition, you are unforgivable."
"The Eastern Wasteland Realm is not a place for you to run wild. You press step by step, wanting to trample this Eastern Domain under your feet. Then don't blame us for burying your bones here forever."
"Further words are useless," Yunyang Sword Master said indifferently. "Let's begin."
His white sword leveled in the air, his entire aura changed instantly. His eyes gleaming with sword light, he floated high like an emperor overlooking the world. Yun Che and all living beings present seemed like ants in his eyes. The bearing and majesty of the Eastern Domain's number one figure were revealed completely in that single moment.
"This sword is named 'Yunyang,'" Yunyang Sword Master said slowly. "My Yunyang Sword Domain is named after it. In its lifetime, it has slain nearly a thousand Divine Kings! Today, it will drink the blood of another Divine King!"
Chi!
With a shift in momentum, a sword ray slashed down, drawing a ten-thousand-foot white rainbow across heaven and earth. At the same time, countless sword energies shot down like roaming dragons, bringing with them tearing, ear-splitting cries of the void.
Yun Che turned his body, black light coiling around him. Facing the slashing sword ray, he punched out, without any profound technique, unleashing pure dark profound force from his fist to meet the sword.
Kaa!!
With a thunderous explosion like the end of the world, the ten-thousand-foot white light collapsed in midair with violent tremors. But it did not dissipate. Instead, driven by the sword energy, it turned into countless small, destructive sword lights, madly stabbing toward Yun Che.
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
The sword energy and sword light fell like a torrential rain, all dispersed by Yun Che's protective profound energy.
Yunyang Sword Master's eyes shone with unusual light. With a slight gesture, several thousand sword astras—some as pale as snow, some as dark as an abyss—appeared out of thin air in the void and stabbed toward Yun Che in the same instant.
Sword energy, sword light, sword astras—three types of sword might were activated simultaneously, each one powerful enough to change the color of wind and clouds. At this moment, countless dumbfounded profound practitioners witnessed firsthand what it meant to be the number one figure in the sword path and profound path of the Eastern Domain!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The sword astras struck his body, each one sending up a hundred-foot burst of white or black light. Yun Che's expression did not change, but his protective profound force began to twist and surge violently, then developed increasingly deep depressions and cracks.
The various sect masters and supreme elders of the eight sects were swept far away by the residual sword energy. Feeling the sword might from Yunyang Sword Master, their hearts churned with tumultuous waves... This was a Level 10 Divine King, the peak divine king power just below a Half-step Divine Sovereign!
Sreeech!
With an extremely piercing sound, Yun Che's protective profound force was finally torn apart. A sword astra flew past his ear, cutting off several strands of his pitch-black hair.
At the same time, the sky suddenly churned with wind and clouds.
The Mingpeng Ancestor moved. His two wings, spanning a full hundred miles, slammed down violently. Instantly, a dark storm descended from the heavens, covering Yun Che, who was already completely suppressed by sword energy, light, and astras.
In an instant, the space where Yun Che stood turned into a pitch-black vortex.
"Senior Yun!" Dongfang Hanwei cried out in horror, her heart and soul nearly shattered.
"Ha... haha!" Qingxuan Zhenren's eyes widened as he laughed in release. "Die! This is the fate of those who offend our Nine Great Sects!"
Boom!
Before Qingxuan Zhenren's roar had even faded, a burst of blazing fire suddenly exploded from within the black vortex. The fire tore through the dark whirlwind, and amidst the sky-filling cries of shock, Yun Che, his whole body ablaze, shot up into the sky, charging straight at Yunyang Sword Master. Using his palm as a sword, a shadow of the Celestial Wolf, carrying the roar that shook the sky, lunged toward Yunyang Sword Master.
"Well met!"
Yunyang Sword Master's expression did not change. He did not dodge or retreat. The "Yunyang Sword" in his hand turned from pale white to jet black. The shadow flickered slightly, unleashing myriad black rays that successively weakened the Celestial Wolf shadow. When it drew near, the remaining power was less than thirty percent, and Yunyang Sword Master cut it down with a single sword stroke, dispersing the wolf's might.
Just as Yun Che made his move, the sky darkened again. The Mingpeng Ancestor's massive wings descended a second time... But this time, an instant of absolute darkness suddenly appeared between heaven and earth. A fully hundred-mile-long dark hurricane descended from the sky, then contracted sharply as it fell, finally condensing into a mere hundred-foot-long dark wind blade that swept toward Yun Che like thunder.
A dark wind blade formed from a hundred-mile hurricane—it was impossible to imagine how this was achieved, nor how terrifying the power contained within it must be. It was enough to instantly sever ten thousand miles of the sky.
Yun Che was being heavily suppressed by Yunyang Sword Master's sword might, and had just made a move, leaving him unable to generate force in succession. In anyone's eyes, it would be extremely difficult for him to evade.
The dark wind blade closed in. Yun Che's gaze condensed, his body twisted slightly. The crimson flames on him burst forth, and he used Phoenix Wing Firmament to break through the air, forcibly breaking free of the dual pressure from both Yunyang Sword Master and the Mingpeng Ancestor.
Kraaaack—
The wind blade passed through, leaving a pitch-black spatial scar where Yun Che had been an instant earlier. The black scar in space continued to spread with the wind blade, reaching the horizon beyond where the eye could see, as if it had truly split the dome.
"Nice dodge."
From above came the Mingpeng Ancestor's voice, half approving, half surprised: "To forcibly break free of our combined suppression, you are indeed impressive enough. Unfortunately, you won't get a second chance like that."
From watching from afar earlier and the few exchanges just now, they had roughly gauged the limits of Yun Che's strength.
Yunyang Sword Master pointed his sword at Yun Che and said, not without regret: "If you were merely a passerby, you would have been an exciting and excellent opponent. But unfortunately, you are arrogant and wild, determined to be a mortal enemy. I can only keep you here forever."
Facing two Level 10 Divine Kings, although Yun Che appeared uninjured, anyone could see that he was at a clear disadvantage. Even his escape from the Mingpeng Ancestor's destructive wind blade just now was a matter of great luck.
Faced with Yunyang Sword Master and the Mingpeng Ancestor, who had clearly decided and were fully confident in annihilating him here, Yun Che's expression finally shifted slightly... The corner of his mouth twitched, curving into an incomparably mocking arc.
The long-sealed gates of the Evil God's Realm silently opened at this moment.
"Heaven... Shattering!"
Boom!
Like a muffled thunderclap, Yun Che's profound energy, which had been deathly still until now, violently expanded and rampaged in an instant, turning into a shocking blood-red color. This intermingled with the dark profound energy coiled around him, becoming a deep red-black.
Just the explosive burst of profound energy in that instant was like a billion-jun heavy hammer slamming fiercely into Yunyang Sword Master and the Mingpeng Ancestor. Their entire bodies shook violently. Sensing Yun Che's suddenly altered aura, their previous composure instantly turned into the terror of facing a nightmare, their bulging eyes nearly bursting.
"What... what!?"