Chapter 2074: The Two Wretched Protectors

"Damn it — is this baldy Yu even reliable or not?" The gold-robed protector was growing increasingly uncertain.

In theory, this should have been the perfect time for him to arrive and help. But no matter how long they waited, there was no word at all.

Not only did the bald cultivator fail to show, but the crimson glow and scorching waves seemed to grow ever more wild.

In just a few breaths, the sky-obscuring crimson radiance had filled every inch of surrounding void, and the boiling heat waves transformed into surging crests that crashed toward them relentlessly.

In an instant, it was as though the two brothers had been thrown into a furnace, swallowed whole by the boundless inferno.

This sudden turn of events caused both protectors' expressions to change drastically.

"How did this happen?"

By the time he recovered and looked up, the Vermilion Bird divine beast's dharma form had grown to an inconceivable size, high in the void, blotting out the sky. Its presence was like a blazing sun hanging in the expanse, pouring its radiance directly down upon the two brothers. The terrifying scorching waves sprayed forth ceaselessly, growing denser with each burst, forming an interwoven net of fire.

Seeing this, Divine Sovereign Kasyapa knew that Jiang Chen's side had already finished off the bald cultivator. He chuckled, flickered his dharma form, and withdrew from the battlefield.

The two protectors were far too busy with their own survival to care about Kasyapa pulling out.

The two brothers stumbled and staggered, desperately fending off the Vermilion Bird's frenzied attacks.

"Brother, I think we've been duped! That bastard Yu was slacking off the entire time!" The silver-robed protector gritted his teeth. The Vermilion Bird had not only failed to be restrained — it had trapped the two of them instead.

Jiang Chen laughed from the void: "Gentlemen, as they say, the wise man knows the times. Your companion has already defected to my Eternal Sacred Land. Heaven cherishes all living things. If you two would abandon darkness for the light and pledge yourselves to me as loyal servants, not only will you survive — your prospects will far surpass being dogs under that old fool Guangdu."

Jiang Chen's tone was light, tinged with mockery.

Hearing this, the two were instantly furious. "Boy, who do you think you are, daring to try recruiting us brothers? We have been loyal to Lord Guangdu our entire lives — our devotion is witnessed by heaven and earth!"

Jiang Chen scoffed: "I don't know what nonsense he's been feeding you to make you so devoted. But tell me — has it done you any good? Your very lives are at stake right now. Do you think he'll come save you?"

"You're just trying to scare us. Do you think a mere True Spirit can keep the two of us here?" Though the gold-robed protector had a hint of gravity in his eyes, there was little genuine fear.

Clearly, he did not dread the situation before him.

The two brothers exchanged a glance, as though sharing some unspoken understanding. They crossed their hands and activated hand seals, preparing to invoke some secret technique.

Divine Sovereign Kasyapa's eyes flashed sharply. "Be on guard! They're about to use a secret technique to escape! Each of us seals off one side of the void — break their technique!"

Kasyapa wielded formidable means. With a sweep of his arms, he sketched ring after ring of spatial prisons, continuously reinforcing the surrounding void.

The Vermilion Bird gave its all as well, spraying out scorching currents without pause, forcing the two protectors to expend even more strength to deal with its onslaught.

Jiang Chen, meanwhile, pointed continuously across the void. Spatial runes surged from every direction, erecting yet another layer of defense.

At the same time, he summoned with a wave of his hand, and a golden bell rose into golden clouds, pressing down layer by layer.

The ancient runes on the bell's four walls pulsed and danced, radiating a bewildering, otherworldly aura. That archaic quality made the golden bell appear all the more sacred and imposing.

"Ancient Golden Bell — brilliant heavenly might — suppress them!" Jiang Chen moved with blinding speed. Without waiting for the two brothers' technique to fully manifest, he slammed the suppression down.

"Heavenly Fire that burns the world to scorched earth — burn, burn, burn!" The Vermilion Bird spewed true fire in rapid succession, rolling up vast waves of flame that surged forward.