Chapter 626: Bitter Battle
"Boom!"
The black ancient war chariot crashed into that great star. This was a clash of king-level divine weapons, unleashing a wave of destructive fluctuations.
Below, the withered land that had long turned into desert instantly became a sea of magma, surging like an ocean, crashing into the high heavens and scattering the clouds.
It was like an apocalypse. The terrible disaster caused by the confrontation of powerful king-level divine weapons was beyond imagination, something no mortal power could resist.
In that instant, the black dragon chariot and the star stuck together, trembling incessantly. Dark light and starlight overflowed in all directions, shattering the void and destroying all things.
Ye Fan stood within the Golden Taiji Circle, swinging the God-Slaying Whip thousands of times. It danced like an azure dragon, shredding the sky.
Hua Yunfei fought back with all his might. His Phoenix Wing Halberd clanged loudly, sparks flying everywhere. It transformed into a divine phoenix crying out to the nine heavens, the void itself torn and battered by its power.
"Pfft!"
Hua Yunfei coughed up a mouthful of five-colored blood, blooming like a divine flower, flowing with enchanting radiance. The blood contained divine power as he retreated backward.
"Not good!"
Ye Fan sensed something was terribly wrong. He had been tricked. The originally unstable temple in the sky suddenly solidified, descending like an eternal imperial weapon, exuding overwhelming pressure.
Hua Yunfei had used himself as bait, certain that Ye Fan couldn't kill him, setting the stage for Li Xiaoman's killing blow. The plan was to severely wound the enemy, using the great star to trap the ancient war chariot, preventing it from moving an inch.
This was a magnificent golden temple, flowing with divine light. Every brick, every tile, every stone step shimmered with radiance, incredibly sacred and majestic, like the birthplace of a deity.
It weighed billions of jun, enough to crush heaven and earth. No physical body could withstand it. It pressed down toward Ye Fan, forcing him to leave the dragon chariot, or else he would surely be crushed into meat paste.
"Boom!"
The earth sank as if it were the end of the world. Mountains on the distant horizon collapsed one after another, dust and smoke shooting into the sky—a terrifying scene.
Ye Fan tried several times but couldn't move the black war chariot. It was inseparable from that great star, unable to be wielded; the king-level weapon soul couldn't strike out.
He had no choice but to activate the Battle Character Art, unleashing a blaze of brilliant light to forcefully clash with the golden temple. The Golden Taiji Circle shone resplendently, its radiance flooding heaven and earth.
Ye Fan exerted all his strength, striking toward the high heavens. The sound was deafening, his divine power surging like an ocean tide.
He finally blocked the golden ancient temple, nearly shattering it. The golden walls cracked, the temple gate fell down, and golden light flowed and cascaded like water.
"Boom!"
Ye Fan evolved the Golden Taiji Circle, charging upward. He finally blasted the golden temple apart, sending its fragments flying in all directions. With one punch, mountains crumbled and the sky split.
Li Xiaoman cried out loudly, her hair flying wildly. Several large mouthfuls of blood sprayed from her lips as her body flew backward. A large chunk of her Lotus Battle Armor shattered, its luster dimming.
Hua Yunfei made his move. The Great Dao Vase above his head released ten thousand strands of dark light, thread by thread, multiplying his Soaring Immortal Force as he once again intercepted Ye Fan.
Ye Fan was blocked and had to stop to fight. This was a super powerful enemy, not to be underestimated, and he missed an opportunity to pursue Li Xiaoman.
In the sky, Li Xiaoman halted her figure, chanting an ancient scripture. Her entire body became crystalline, emitting a divine light that formed a golden ancient diagram. It evolved into an ancient temple, very mysterious.
Dao sounds, Zen chants, and sacrificial hymns seemed to come from ancient times, converging together to forge a brand-new golden temple, making it even more enigmatic.
The two king-level divine weapons were locked together. While Ye Fan and Hua Yunfei fought fiercely, Li Xiaoman attacked again, using her eerie power to strike.
The golden temple pressed down, its gates wide open, possessing a heaven-swallowing force that forcibly drew Ye Fan inside. This temple was powerful and terrifying, suppressing all living beings.
At this moment, Ye Fan's entire body ached as if he were being refined within. All kinds of ancient divine sounds rang out together, as if three thousand divine monks were chanting scriptures in unison.
If he hadn't created the Golden Taiji Circle, which kept all techniques from touching him, he would have been in grave danger this time. This was a terrifying refinement, attempting to dissolve him within the golden temple.
Ye Fan steadied his mind, evolving the Taiji Circle, uniting heaven and man, the Dao acting naturally. Every strike contained the profound principles of heaven and earth, tearing open the temple walls as he walked out step by step.
However, at that moment, a chilling aura seeped through. Within the golden temple, light flickered, and the corpses of countless golden Arhats lay scattered about.
Additionally, there were some Bodhisattva corpses, their seven-colored divine blood flowing, making the temple eerie and mysterious, terrifying beyond measure.
At the same time, a golden figure approached step by step. Golden Arhats and Bodhisattvas lay dead at its feet, as if a deity were walking forth from ancient times.
It seemed both right before his eyes and far beyond the horizon, impossible to grasp its original aura, unclear to see. Only a terrible power surged forth.
"Familiar, but I don't know who..." Countless doubts filled Ye Fan's heart, but he had no time to ponder. Killing the enemy was the priority now.
"Boom!"
Overwhelming divine might rushed forward. Within this golden temple, that figure was like a sovereign, destroying all living beings. Even Bodhisattvas couldn't contend with it.
Ye Fan's mind nearly shattered. A wisp of golden blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He muttered to himself, "These aren't real. They're just a divine power Li Xiaoman borrowed, a replay of the past. They don't have that kind of might now!"
"Swish!"
He opened his Source Heaven Divine Eye, seeing through illusions, gazing directly at the origin. The so-called golden temple, the golden Arhats, the Bodhisattvas—all were woven from golden laws. Even that sovereign figure was the same, not a physical entity, but a wisp of divine will taking form.
"Hmph!"
Ye Fan snorted coldly. The small golden lake between his brows blazed with intense light. A small golden figure stepped out, identical to him, also like a deity.
Having weathered many heavenly tribulations, his divine will was incredibly powerful. He used it to attack the laws themselves—a special kind of duel.
Ye Fan activated the All Secret, cycling it continuously. Soon, it triggered successfully. The golden figure emerging from between his brows instantly became ten times stronger, charging forward like a deity.
The golden figure formed from powerful divine will opened its divine eyes, clearly seeing every law, continuously dismantling the ancient temple.
Ahead, that golden figure charged forward like a god or demon. This was the temple's sovereign, a manifestation of a divine will, its power astonishing.
The two clashed fiercely, erupting with terrifying fluctuations of mental force. Wherever they passed, the void collapsed, unable to withstand it.
Ye Fan was shocked. What kind of power had Li Xiaoman borrowed? This divine will was so terrifying. If he hadn't triggered the All Secret, he would likely have met his end.
After all, his divine will was extremely formidable. Even when he was still a minor cultivator, it had suppressed many people, let alone now.
Yet now, he still needed the tenfold boost of the All Secret to suppress this god-like existence within the temple. Their battle shook the golden temple's walls, shattering them into pieces.
In the end, the golden figure from Ye Fan's brow was stronger, grinding down that existence until it vanished in a flash.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion rang out. All the Zen chants, sacrificial hymns, and other sounds disappeared. The golden figure from Ye Fan's brow punched through the ancient temple, destroying it completely.
Not far away, Li Xiaoman cried out in alarm, coughing up blood. She nearly fell from the sky as a golden divine light merged into her body.
On the other side, Hua Yunfei could no longer suppress the black ancient war chariot. He withdrew his star and retreated.
Ye Fan stood on the dragon chariot. Light flashed between his brows as the golden figure merged back in. He held the God-Slaying Whip, staring coldly at his two great enemies.
At this point, it was a life-or-death battle. Neither side wanted to back down; both wanted to eliminate the other.
Ye Fan frowned. Hua Yunfei alone was a great enemy, able to contend with him. Now, with Li Xiaoman possessing mysterious power added to the mix, this battle would likely be extremely bitter.
The void trembled. Above his head, the Primordial Qi Cauldron appeared, hanging upside down, emitting strands of Mother Qi of All Things. The God-Slaying Whip in his hand also shone brightly. He had to use all his strength.
"Could it be that as long as one cultivates this heavenly art, they can naturally use it?"
This battle was extremely bitter. They fought all the way until late at night, all suffering severe injuries, yet still no conclusion was reached.
Hua Yunfei could already fight Ye Fan on equal terms. Adding the powerful Li Xiaoman made it even more difficult. Even with the Primordial Qi Cauldron protecting him, Ye Fan couldn't kill them both.
By the end, Ye Fan was fighting with real fire. Li Xiaoman joining forces with someone else to kill him chilled his heart. He used every means to fight them both. Various divine phenomena emerged simultaneously: an endless golden divine sea surged, an azure lotus accompanied him, chaotic qi swirled, the Immortal King Overlooking the Nine Heavens appeared, and magnificent landscapes unfolded.
The Stride Secret, the Battle Character Art, and the All Secret were all activated simultaneously. Ye Fan stood within the Taiji Circle, evolving numerous divine phenomena. Light flickered between his brows as the golden divine consciousness formed a small figure that charged out.
The Primordial Qi Cauldron rose and fell, the God-Slaying Whip swung, the black dragon chariot charged—all means were fully displayed. This region of heaven and earth went into a frenzy.
Various divine phenomena emerged together, extremely terrifying, almost evolving into a single unique phenomenon. Unfortunately, it was too hazy to see clearly, but its power was unmatched!
At the same time, the powerful divine will, boosted by the All Secret, was equally terrifying. Hua Yunfei and Li Xiaoman were extremely wary, constantly dodging.
The Golden Taiji Circle had evolved to perfection. No technique could touch him, while his attacks never ceased, making him unstoppable.
"Boom!"
The void collapsed on a massive scale. Heaven and earth shook violently. In the latter half of the night, Hua Yunfei and Li Xiaoman both coughed up blood, suffering severe injuries.
By now, Hua Yunfei no longer dared to use the Phoenix Calamity Art. Otherwise, his origin would dry up, and he would surely fall.
Li Xiaoman's face was also pale from excessive blood loss. She had suffered severe trauma, her combat power diminished. The three hundred and sixty-five golden vortexes had dimmed, and the vase above her head was nearly shattered.
Ye Fan was naturally heavily injured as well, but his divine power never dried up. His combat strength didn't diminish. The more he fought, the braver he became, finally suppressing the two.
Ye Fan exerted all his ability, continuously evolving. His entire figure disappeared, becoming a complete Taiji diagram that he sent forth.
"Smack!"
Hua Yunfei flew backward like a scarecrow. His right shoulder and entire arm turned into meat paste. His sternum and other bones collapsed, with many bones cracked.
"Boom!"
From within the Taiji diagram, an azure lotus shot out, originating from Ye Fan's Sea of Suffering. It struck Li Xiaoman's body, nearly dispersing her three hundred and sixty-five golden vortexes, piercing through her chest.
"Even the two of you attacking together is nothing much!" Ye Fan was confident he could kill them both. However, he worried they might flee. If so, he would likely be unable to stop them, making it hard to kill them.
"The Sacred Body lives up to its reputation. In the future, I will surely harvest you, this divine medicine, and refine you in my cauldron!" Hua Yunfei spoke, then fled into the distance.
Li Xiaoman said nothing. Golden vortexes spun on her body's surface, rapidly healing her injuries. Her golden eyes flickered as she took one last look at Ye Fan, then turned and left.