"You actually obtained the Mountain and River Bell?" Tan Junhao cried out in disbelief.
Since he recognized the Mountain and River Bell, how could he not know of its origin? It was said to be a primordial treasure from the Primordial Era, passed down since ancient times. It had always resided within the Primitive Ancient Land, and even the powerful Sacred Spirits within that land had been powerless against it, unable to subdue it.
Tens of thousands of years ago, an Emperor Realm cultivator had entered the Primitive Ancient Land and, through sheer serendipity, earned the Mountain and River Bell's recognition, bringing it out from within.
Within a century, this Third Stage Emperor Realm powerhouse had glimpsed the Great Dao and ascended to the rank of Great Emperor.
That person was the legendary Emperor Yuanding.
In that era, Emperor Yuanding, wielding the Mountain and River Bell, had been an absolute powerhouse—undoubtedly ranked among the top three of all the Great Emperors. Unfortunately, he was slain by the Heaven-Devouring Great Emperor during the War of the Emperors, and since then, the whereabouts of this primordial treasure had become unknown.
Rumors held that it had been left behind in the Shattered Star Sea. Yet despite the sea's countless openings over tens of thousands of years, no one had ever been fortunate enough to find it.
Tan Junhao had never imagined that after tens of thousands of years, this treasure would once again radiate its astonishing brilliance in Yang Kai's hands.
The Shattered Star Sea had opened only a few years ago. It seemed this Yang fellow must have ventured inside and obtained the Mountain and River Bell there.
In his possession was the World Crystal, a treasure capable of creating its own miniature world. There was also the Ageless Tree, a supreme treasure of heaven and earth. And now the Mountain and River Bell had appeared in his hands as well...
Any one of these treasures would be an extraordinary blessing for any ordinary person, yet all of them had converged in a single individual!
Was this guy even human?
What manner of heaven-defying fortune and destiny would it require to sweep all of these treasures into one's grasp?
Tan Junhao's eye twitched, and a trace of fear crept into his heart. No matter how he looked at it, Yang Kai was no ordinary First Stage Emperor Realm cultivator. Setting aside his terrifying combat strength that defied all reason, even such fortune was not something an ordinary person could possess. Beings like these carried great destinies with them—they invariably forged paths that billions of warriors could never walk, cutting through thorns and standing at the very pinnacle of the martial Dao.
Such beings could not be wiped out by minor setbacks.
Had it truly been wise to tear off the mask with him and escalate things to this point?
His hesitation lasted only an instant. Tan Junhao's expression hardened into one of grim resolve and savage determination. Now they were mortal enemies—between them, one would die and the other would live. There was no possibility of reconciliation.
If he could cut down this Yang fellow here and now, then all of these treasures would become his. At that point, breaking through his bottleneck and advancing to the rank of Great Emperor would not be a fool's dream.
He might even be able to seize his fortune.
"Foolish!" Tan Junhao regarded Yang Kai with a face full of mockery. "If you had used the Mountain and River Bell against this old man, I might have shown some restraint. But to actually deploy it to save those very enemies who had just drawn their blades against you—what utter soft-heartedness."
The Mountain and River Bell's reputation was simply too great. It was, after all, a primordial treasure and the natal Emperor Treasure of Emperor Yuanding. Had Yang Kai turned it against Tan Junhao, the latter would have been forced to tread extremely carefully, for he had no idea what kind of power it wielded. But now the bell was standing guard over those twenty-odd Emperor Realm cultivators, meaning it could no longer be brought to bear in combat.
Tan Junhao found himself greatly relieved.
"Give to receive, give to receive," Yang Kai replied with an easy smile, his tone dripping with contempt. "What does a fossil like you know?"
For Yang Kai, he would far rather face a single Third Stage Emperor Realm cultivator than contend with the combined siege of over a dozen First and Second Stage Emperor Realm opponents. The former was admittedly dangerous, but it carried no lingering concerns. The latter, even if he managed to slaughter them all, would still leave Tan Junhao to deal with. By deploying the Mountain and River Bell to eliminate Tan Junhao's allies outright, he had already come out far ahead.
"Without the Mountain and River Bell, what makes you think you can fight me!" Tan Junhao bellowed, his aura surging violently. The overwhelming Emperor Might rolled forth like churning rivers and surging seas, unstoppable and domineering.
Yang Kai answered with a contemptuous smirk: "Dealing with you doesn't require the Mountain and River Bell."
Tan Junhao flew into a rage. "Insolent brat!"
A mere First Stage Emperor Realm whelp daring to look down on him—it was unforgivable.
Yang Kai raised his hand, the Million Sword leveled at Tan Junhao, and gritted his teeth as he declared: "Old dog Tan, I had no grudge against you in the past and no enmity with you in the present. Yet you conspired to slaughter thousands upon thousands of the Thousand Leaves Sect and abducted my friend. Today, I will kill you!"
Tan Junhao scoffed repeatedly, his voice laced with disdain. "You want to kill me? That depends on whether you have the ability."
The words had barely left his mouth when both hands thrust forward. An enormous five-colored light blade, as though it would tear heaven and earth asunder, slowly coalesced and slashed straight toward Yang Kai.
Yang Kai brought the Million Sword crashing down. Channeling his Emperor Yuan, a ribbon-like blade of sword light soared upward to meet it head-on.
A thunderous boom shook the world. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth churned violently as the colossal sword beam and the five-colored light blade simultaneously shattered, dissolving into sparkling motes of light that faded into the air between them.
At the same instant, Tan Junhao lunged forward, his palms conjuring a sky full of afterimages that shrouded Yang Kai.
The Million Sword's intent erupted in full. Yang Kai swung his blade to meet the assault, his movements broad and sweeping.
In the blink of an eye, the two were locked in furious combat. Emperor Yuan collided with Emperor Yuan in brutal exchange, figures tumbling and weaving as they flashed back and forth across the battlefield.
A rapid flurry of clanging rang out, like steel striking steel. Wielding the Million Sword's might against Tan Junhao barehanded, Yang Kai found himself unable to gain even the slightest advantage. On the contrary, the sheer density and purity of his opponent's Emperor Yuan was pressing him back, forcing him into a slight disadvantage.