"Finished the repairs?"
Seeing Ye Tian and Protector Feng descend from the stairwell, the Right Elder fixed his single eye on Ye Tian.
Ye Tian remained neither humble nor arrogant: "As entrusted by the Right Elder, the formation has been fully repaired."
The Right Elder, clad in black armor, skeptically retrieved the jade pendant from his waist.
He noticed the small dot representing the energy-charging formation had lit up again.
The Right Elder grinned savagely, baring his teeth as he patted Ye Tian's shoulder: "Not bad. I'll remember this merit of yours."
"Of course, and you too."
The Right Elder narrowed his eyes at Feng.
"Then I'll thank the Right Elder in advance." Feng was overjoyed, never expecting the credit to include him.
This was truly a huge windfall.
Boom—
The ground trembled once more.
Ye Tian feigned surprise: "Has the battle outside not ended yet?"
The Right Elder shot Ye Tian a disdainful glance: "A battle between Super Douluos isn't so easily concluded."
"Such a grand spectacle is something we may never witness again in our lifetimes!"
Ye Tian wore an expression of awe.
"Watching a battle between Super Douluos would undoubtedly be immensely beneficial for low-level soul masters like us."
Feng chuckled oddly and patted Ye Tian's shoulder: "Brother Ye, don't tell me you plan to leave the altar to watch the battle between our King and Bo Saixi?"
"Even the slightest ripple from such a clash would be enough to finish us off."
"It's best not to get too involved."
"Protector Feng's reminder is noted, but I know my limits." Ye Tian pressed his hand down slightly.
The bombs were already planted.
The timed formation had been activated.
If he stayed here any longer, wouldn't he just be burying himself with these evil soul masters?
"Let him go! We evil soul masters have always pursued power and freedom. Little Ye's desire to grow stronger is far more commendable than yours." The Right Elder clasped his hands behind his back and smirked.
With that, the Right Elder waved his hand, opening a gap in the defensive formation.
He coolly glanced at Ye Tian: "Hurry up and leave."
Ye Tian nodded slightly, gave a brief bow, and stepped out of the altar.
Watching Ye Tian's departing figure, Feng's face betrayed a hint of urgency.
He whispered: "Right Elder, Little Ye is a rare talent. Wouldn't it be a pity if he died outside the altar?"
The Right Elder, hands still behind his back, let out a sinister chuckle: "Talent? What talent?"
He spoke meaningfully: "This formation was repaired through my hard work! What does it have to do with Little Ye?"
"He's just a small fry. What right does he have to claim merit?" The Right Elder's voice turned icy: "You'd better keep your mouth shut!"
Hearing the Right Elder's stern warning, Feng trembled with fear.
He never expected the Right Elder to outright steal the credit.
It seemed Ye Tian's contribution was anything but minor.
A shame.
None of this concerned Ye Tian anymore.
Feng hastily pledged his loyalty, bowing obsequiously: "Right Elder, rest assured! I saw nothing!"
"Good." The Right Elder patted Feng's shoulder: "After our King ascends to godhood, I'll recommend you for the long-vacant position of Left Elder."
...
...
Only after putting hundreds of meters between himself and the altar did Ye Tian finally stop.
He looked up toward the eastern valley.
Two colossal martial soul avatars, each dozens of meters tall, were locked in fierce combat.
One was a bat with nine grotesque heads.
The other was an ethereal figure resembling a celestial maiden.
With every movement, they stirred tsunamis of soul power.
"Hah! A worthy opponent indeed!"
After hundreds of exchanges, Tang Chen suddenly disengaged, his face brimming with arrogance, though his eyes remained wary.
Bo Saixi was evenly matched with him—neither could gain the upper hand.
Continuing the fight was pointless.
Bo Saixi's graceful figure hovered mid-air, her right hand gripping a staff as her beautiful eyes narrowed.
"Humph! You neither-human-nor-ghost creature, occupying my old friend's body. If you can't win, surrender now and die!"
"I admit my soul power is nearly depleted. But—"
Tang Chen's tone shifted: "You must be at your limit too, no?"
A smirk curled his lips.
"If you still had strength, would you be wasting time bantering with me?"
Bo Saixi's expression remained calm. She hadn't expected the Nine-Headed Bat to see through her so easily.
Nor had she anticipated it would be so formidable.
After a hundred exchanges, Bo Saixi even began to doubt herself.
Even at her peak, she might only manage a draw against the Nine-Headed Bat.
Tang Chen spoke again:
"Moreover, Tang Chen and I are already one! There's no question of possession!"
"Otherwise, no matter how strong I was, how could I possess a Transcendent Douluo?"
"Our fusion was consensual!"
"Only the human consciousness is currently suppressed by me!"
"And that's all thanks to you—my once-beloved!"
"When were you ever my beloved?!" Bo Saixi's gaze was icy, her face frosty.
This was nothing like the Tang Chen she knew.
Hearing her denial, flames of fury flickered in Tang Chen's eyes.
He was on the verge of inheriting a god's mantle.
Once a god, he would rule the continent.
When that day came, he would crush Bo Saixi beneath his feet!
Bo Saixi's keen perception instantly caught the fury in Tang Chen's eyes.
Her own eyes slowly lifted.
"Not punishing you today doesn't mean I'm letting you go."
Her words made it clear she was abandoning further combat.
In truth, Bo Saixi had her own calculations.
She had brought Ye Tian here.
If she fought Tang Chen to the death, killing him would be ideal.
But what if both sides suffered heavy losses?
In that scenario, Tang Chen's numerical advantage would prevail.
With her strength, she could retreat forcibly.
But Ye Tian would surely be doomed.
Thus, the temporary plan was to withdraw first.
And seek another opportunity later.
"Don't let the door hit you on the way out!" Tang Chen mocked coldly.
Bo Saixi was nothing special.
"That bastard got off easy!" Bo Saixi gritted her teeth, fists clenched tightly.
She then transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the sky.
But she didn't leave Blood Valley. Instead, she concealed her spiritual aura and hid in the forest.
Arriving at the prearranged rendezvous point,
Bo Saixi found Ye Tian lying low, resting.
Staring at his handsome profile, she couldn't help but chuckle.
The commotion from her battle with Tang Chen had been earth-shaking, yet Ye Tian had managed to nap.
How carefree.
She clasped her hands behind her back and approached quietly.
Leaning down, she studied Ye Tian.
Just then, Ye Tian suddenly turned his head.
Their eyes met less than ten centimeters apart.
Bo Saixi froze.
She lightly raised her hand, her right foot pivoting awkwardly as a faint smile touched her lips: "Even asleep, you're alert."
"I wasn't sleeping!" Ye Tian laughed wryly: "I was listening to your battle with Tang Chen through the ground."
The shockwaves from a Titled Douluo-level battle spread outward, vibrating through the earth.
By attuning to these vibrations, one could gauge the battle's intensity.
Ye Tian brushed the dust off his hands and looked up at Bo Saixi: "No wonder I stopped hearing the clashes—the fight must be over."
Bo Saixi sighed softly: "I never expected Tang Chen to be so strong."
"It seems this trip was for nothing."
"Not necessarily." Ye Tian smiled.
"Oh? Did you discover something?" Bo Saixi was puzzled.
Had Ye Tian found a weakness to exploit against Tang Chen?
If so, she might have a chance if she struck again.
"No. While you were fighting, I planted rocket warheads inside the altar."
"You've got nerves of steel!" Bo Saixi flicked Ye Tian's forehead, her face full of concern.
"Don't you know how dangerous that was?"
Ye Tian remained unflappable: "The most dangerous place is the safest."
"While you were fighting, I was completely untouched inside the altar."
"I don't know what to say to you." Bo Saixi massaged her temples.
She had thought Ye Tian was a cautious person.
But sometimes, his boldness was staggering.
To sneak into the evil soul masters' stronghold while she battled!
"Even if you planted powerful bombs, so what?"
"If the altar is destroyed, they can rebuild it."
"As long as Tang Chen lives, the evil soul masters will never disperse."
Ye Tian said calmly: "Don't underestimate the bombs."
"We should leave Blood Valley now, or we'll be caught in the blast."
"You're joking, right?" Bo Saixi's eyes widened as she pointed at the distant altar, barely visible through the clouds: "We're at least a kilometer away."
"And we'd still be affected?"
Ye Tian nodded gravely: "Nothing below the level of a Hyper Douluo will survive."
Bo Saixi was stunned.
It took her a long moment to recover.
"What kind of weapon is this bomb?"
"It can even threaten a Super Douluo?"
Bo Saixi had never heard of any weapon capable of threatening a Titled Douluo.
On the continent, one fact was universally accepted:
Only a Titled Douluo could kill another Titled Douluo.
But today, Ye Tian had shattered that belief.
"You're not joking, are you? Lying to your elder sister isn't funny at all." Bo Saixi still couldn't quite believe it.
Ye Tian sighed: "Why would I lie?"
"If you don't believe me, just wait. There are less than twenty minutes until detonation."
Hearing this, Bo Saixi's expression turned solemn.
Ye Tian's demeanor didn't seem like a joke.
She took a deep breath and grabbed Ye Tian's arm: "Let's go. We'll talk later."
Ten minutes later.
Blood Valley was now just a faint outline in the distance.
Standing atop a mountain peak, gazing at the valley shrouded in mist,
Bo Saixi turned to Ye Tian with a smile: "I'm looking forward to your performance."
Ye Tian smiled faintly: "Don't worry, Sister Bo Saixi. This will be the most spectacular fireworks display you've ever seen."
...
Inside Blood Valley, Tang Chen had already dismissed his martial soul avatar.
He descended slowly from the sky, landing on the ground.
The armored Right Elder hurried forward and knelt: "Congratulations, my King, for repelling the enemy!"
Tang Chen ignored him, striding into the altar instead.
With a retch, he vomited several mouthfuls of blood.
"Damn it!" Tang Chen's veins bulged as he stared at the blood on the ground.
"My King, you're injured!" The Right Elder's eyes widened in disbelief.
The King was wounded?!
Just who was that woman?!
Tang Chen clutched his chest and sat cross-legged to recuperate.
"That woman is the Sea God's earthly emissary, immensely powerful."
"Perhaps out of lingering affection, she didn't unleash her full power as a Hyper Douluo."
"That's the only reason I survived!"
At this moment, Tang Chen—or rather, the Bat King—felt a surge of relief that he had kept his composure in front of Bo Saixi.
Had he revealed his parasitic nature,
Bo Saixi's temper would have ensured his demise in this valley.
"All thanks to my King's divine fortune!" The Right Elder's flattery knew no bounds.
He then reverently presented the altar-control jade pendant.
"By your grace, we repaired the formation damaged by Bo Saixi during your battle."
"Good." The Bat King's face was expressionless as he accepted the pendant: "You truly are my right hand, far more reliable than that traitor Black Veil."
"When I ascend to godhood, you shall join me in divinity."
The Right Elder was ecstatic but maintained his humble demeanor:
"This subordinate will follow you eternally!"
"Now, I have another critical task for you." The Bat King's gaze was impassive as he stared at the Right Elder.
The Right Elder bowed again.
"To serve my King, I would die a thousand deaths!"
The Bat King smiled: "No need for a thousand."
The Right Elder relaxed, thinking that as long as it wasn't a suicide mission, he'd do anything.
"One death… will suffice!" The Bat King's grin turned ghastly. As he spoke, his razor-sharp claws clamped around the Right Elder's throat.
The Right Elder's pupils contracted violently, but some strange toxin seemed to have paralyzed him.
He couldn't utter a word.
Only his eyes remained fixed on the Bat King in horror.
He couldn't believe it.
The Bat King would turn on him.
He had served the Bat King for decades!
The Bat King continued his eerie laughter: "Didn't you say you'd die for me without hesitation?"
"Now that I'm gravely injured, I need your blood to recover."
"What's wrong? Scared?"
"I… pledge… my life… to the King…"
The Right Elder's vitality drained rapidly.
His eyes slowly closed.
Never to open again.
The Bat King, meanwhile, opened his maw and sank his fangs into the Right Elder's neck.
He drank greedily.
After a long while, the Bat King let out a moan of pleasure.
His eyes were bloodshot.
"As expected of a powerhouse who followed me for decades."
"Such rich energy in your blood!"
"A shame that damned Black Veil isn't here, or my strength would have recovered by eighty percent!"
Just then—
Bzzzzzz!!!!
A deafening, high-pitched hum filled the air.
"What was that?!!"
The Bat King's acute hearing made him hyper-alert.
The sound sent his vigilance skyrocketing.
"Something terrible is coming!"
His sixth sense screamed at him like a tidal wave.
His scalp prickled.
"Run! Run! Run!"
Instantly, the Bat King mustered every ounce of strength to flee the altar.
But the next moment—
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Deafening explosions and flames reaching millions of degrees engulfed Blood Valley in an instant!
(End of Chapter)