Lingjue Peak rose ten thousand zhang into the sky, its slopes covered layer upon layer with prohibitions. As the forbidden ground of
Along the narrow mountain path,
The Void King-class warship was anchored at the mountainside, ready to provide support at a moment's notice.
A peak ten thousand zhang high was nothing to the two of them. In barely half an hour, they had reached the summit.
A fierce wind swept across the mountaintop, their robes snapping and billowing in the gale.
"Grand Elder, someone's here to welcome us." Yang Kai's gaze locked instantly onto the old man and the middle-aged man standing ahead, and he flashed a grin.
Ye Xiyun narrowed her phoenix eyes, her expression complicated as she regarded the old man. "Qi Tianche!" she called out sharply.
"Senior Sister Ye!" The old man offered a gentle smile, warm and pleasant as a spring breeze, seemingly harmless in every way. "Junior Brother never imagined that someone of your temperament would ever return to Star Emperor Mountain."
"There are many things you never imagined, Junior Brother Qi. Are you prepared?"
"What preparation would Junior Brother need to make?" Qi Tianche asked with a mild smile.
"Prepared to fall here. I trust you've already settled your affairs!" Ye Xiyun let out a cold snort.
"Senior Sister needn't remind me — Junior Brother made those arrangements long ago. My disciple is right over there. Whether you die today or I do, he'll see to a proper burial." Qi Tianche gestured to one side, where
"Since that's the case, then your Senior Sister will see you on your way." Ye Xiyun nodded lightly.
"Heh, Junior Brother actually thinks the odds favor Senior Sister losing."
When words failed to find common ground, not a single extra syllove was needed. The moment these two senior and junior disciples laid eyes on each other, verbal daggers began flying as they launched their psychological assaults. Once the exchange of words concluded, the atmosphere turned heavy in an instant. Both their expressions became utterly grave as they stared at one another, regarding each other as the most formidable enemy of their lives.
In the next instant, both figures flickered and vanished from where they stood.
When they reappeared, they were separated by a full ten zhang.
An indescribable force erupted from both of them, sweeping toward the other.
In a flash, the space in that area began to warp and distort. The invisible power had almost solidified into something visible, and within that zone, some wondrous force surged back and forth as the spiritual energy and willpower of the senior and junior disciples merged and clashed against each other.
Yang Kai's eye twitched.
All three were shocked.
Mastery of Momentum — it had even touched upon the threshold of Domain. Both Ye Xiyun and Qi Tianche had reached this level.
And their first exchange was dead even!
Both Ye Xiyun and Qi Tianche showed looks of surprise. Neither had expected the other to have achieved such a feat.
But neither wasted a moment. The Erosion Bone Separating Fire Lamp was summoned forth by Ye Xiyun. Her slender fingers formed a seal, and blossoms of lamp flame, each harboring world-ending destructive power, blasted toward Qi Tianche — interspersed with one brilliant secret technique after another.
Qi Tianche naturally refused to show weakness. A golden-wheel-shaped Artifact hovered above his head like a miniature sun, spinning as it shot forth blinding beams of golden light that proved entirely equal to the Erosion Bone Separating Fire.
His lips chanted continuously, his hands forming extremely intricate seals as he unleashed everything he had, exchanging blow after blow with Ye Xiyun in a fierce and furious battle.
The Sun Moon Golden Wheel! Yang Kai's eyes lit up at the sight of the Artifact Qi Tianche had produced.
He recognized it only because Ye Xiyun had explained it to him earlier.
It was one of the two remaining Void King-class Artifacts of Star Emperor Mountain, of the highest grade. It had been forged by the Great Emperor of old, capable of absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and storing it within. When released against an enemy, its power was virtually limitless.
The Sun Moon Golden Wheel had two forms. What it displayed now was merely the first — releasing only the radiance of the great sun, scorching and fierce in its yang energy.
When it shifted to its second form, it would become a crescent moon, and the power it unleashed would turn utterly cold, cold enough to freeze a person's very soul.
In terms of raw power alone, the Sun Moon Golden Wheel actually surpassed the Erosion Bone Separating Fire Lamp. However, when it came to Artifacts, the greater the power, the more Saint Essence the wielder had to expend — that was an indisputable fact.
Both Ye Xiyun and Qi Tianche stood at the very apex of the Dark Star's warrior hierarchy. Even with a slight disparity in the Artifacts they used, determining a winner would take far more than a brief exchange.
Yang Kai was watching with rapt attention when his brow suddenly furrowed. He thrust a hand forward, and a purple shield materialized instantly, blocking the space in front of him.
BOOM—
Yang Kai's body jolted slightly, and his expression darkened.
He looked up to see Fang Peng standing there, sneering at him ceaselessly.
"Sect Master Fang, sneak attacks are rather poor form, aren't they? If you want a fight, just say the word — I'll gladly oblige!" Yang Kai snorted.
"Spare me the talk, brat. Since you've set foot on Star Emperor Mountain, forget about leaving alive. This place today shall be your burial ground!" Fang Peng roared.