Chapter 536

Chapter 536: Secrets of the Past, the Heavenly Emperor Enters the Pavilion

"Junior Brother, shall I eliminate him for you?"

Xiao Ling’s killing intent stirred as his aura flowed, a divine technique already gathered in his palm.

With his cultivation, he could annihilate Lei Zhengyang in the blink of an eye.

"I will handle this."

The Second Young Master took a step forward, robes fluttering, and gazed calmly at the furious Lei Zhengyang. "Daoist friend, I grant you one chance to kill me."

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal paid no heed.

Though Lei Zhengyang once ranked twelfth on the Dao Lord ranking, within the same realm, the Nine Young Masters virtually crushed all cultivators beneath them.

Now, while Lei Zhengyang was a Dao Sovereign, so too was the Second Young Master.

"The show begins!"

Before their battle commenced, it drew the attention of many spectators. Both were top-tier Dao Sovereign prodigies within their cultivation realm—who would prevail?

"Lei Zhengyang only humiliates himself." A Dao Lord chuckled.

"The Nine Young Masters have stood invincible at the peak of their realm for ages. How could ordinary men ever challenge them?" Another shook his head. "Lei Zhengyang’s defeat will be devastating."

No one favored Lei Zhengyang.

Not even Ye Xu.

Though within the pavilion, he could perceive everything outside.

Lei Zhengyang’s strength paled far behind the Second Young Master’s.

Defeat was certain.

Boom!

Lei Zhengyang unleashed his full power. A great divine technique formed instantly as multiple thunder realms collapsed into his palm. Lightning crackled within his grip, and the Great Dao resonated thunderously.

He struck toward the Second Young Master, the Thunder Dao Realm unfurling around him. Thunder patterns writhed like dragons, coiling around the Second Young Master while devastating bolts of Divine Thunder rained down upon his form.

The Second Young Master stood unmovable as a mountain.

An emerald radiance gradually emanated from him, spreading like a barrier. Sword patterns shimmered across the glow as his Sword Intent Realm awakened. Every bolt of Divine Thunder shattered into nothingness upon contact with his sword light, failing to breach his defenses.

Victory and defeat became clear in their first exchange.

Whoosh!

The Second Young Master pointed two fingers like a sword. A streak of sword light flashed like a dragon, cleaving toward Lei Zhengyang.

A beam of green brilliance pierced the Thunder Dao Realm, shattering Lei Zhengyang’s divine technique and leaving a bloody sword mark upon his neck. A single drop of Dao blood spilled on the ground.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Lei Zhengyang was wounded in the very first move—this duel held no suspense.

"Had that sword struck a fraction closer, Lei Zhengyang would be dead." A Dao Sovereign solemnly discerned the truth. "The Second Young Master withheld his lethal intent."

"Precisely."

On the battlefield, Lei Zhengyang touched the sword mark. He could feel the thick warmth of his own blood.

He had exerted ninety percent of his strength, unleashing all he had ever mastered, yet it paled before the Second Young Master’s casual flick of his sword.

Lei Zhengyang’s expression hardened with resolve.

Some things must be done, even at the cost of one’s life.

“Taiji Divine Thunder Demon-Purging Formation!”

A roar tore from Lei Zhengyang’s throat as formation flags flew out from his Purple Palace—seventy-two in all, crackling with lightning and interwoven with thunder.

He formed hand seals, and the seventy-two flags plunged into the void. Within moments, a thousand-mile radius transformed into a sea of thunder. Primordial chaotic divine thunder roiled and crashed down with overwhelming fury.

The Second Young Master’s expression remained impassive.

Years ago, when he and the Eighth Young Master had severely wounded Luo Qianchen, there had been hidden reasons.

They had merely followed the Eldest Young Master’s suggestion to force Luo Qianchen to descend to the mortal realm. Otherwise, with the Second and Eighth Young Masters’ combined strength striking from the shadows, how could they have failed to kill her?

However, this affair was utterly concealed, never spoken of.

He had thought his actions went unnoticed. But the moment he saw the Celestial Lord of Fortune step out from the Celestial Lord’s Talisman, he realized he was but a pitiful wretch.

His every move had been under the gaze of the Celestial Lord of Fortune.

As for Lei Zhengyang, the Second Young Master saw no reason to enlighten him.

It was unnecessary.

The Second Young Master said lightly, “The lives within that three hundred sixty million miles are already tainted by the Blood Formation of the Ten Thousand Spirit Heavenly Demons. Eventually, they will lose their minds and turn into half-human, half-beast monsters. I killed them as a mercy.”

As he spoke, he took another step forward. With the fall of his foot, bursts of primordial divine thunder detonated, and an invisible wave of sword energy spread outward from beneath him in all directions.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Where the sword energy swept, the divine thunder was obliterated.

The seventy-two formation flags trembled violently. Strands of divine patterns shattered, and Lei Zhengyang’s body convulsed wildly, swaying on the brink of collapse.

“That is no justification for your slaughter!” Lei Zhengyang snarled, like an enraged beast, his killing intent surging to its peak. The seventy-two flags rotated, converging into a supreme projection of his primordial spirit.

He activated his profound art. One hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds unfurled, his Dao fruit soared, and a torrent of mighty magic power poured into his primordial spirit. An aura of tyrannical force erupted, tearing through the heavens.

“Foolhardy overestimation!”

The Xuan Du Ancient Immortal sneered coldly.

Clang!

At that instant, a sharp ring echoed from the sword box on the Second Young Master’s back. The box opened a sliver, and a stream of azure sword energy shot out.

Whoosh!

The Second Young Master casually swiped down with his sword—utterly plain, without flourish.

Yet, the strike was unstoppable.

It cleaved through the Thunder Dao primordial spirit, shattered Lei Zhengyang’s one hundred and eight Great Dao Worlds, and destroyed his seventy-two formation flags, sweeping away all resistance like rotten kindling.

Lei Zhengyang’s meticulously woven attack crumbled into dust.

The Second Young Master sheathed his sword. “Within our cultivation realm, you are indeed strong. But my power has long transcended that level. Your wish to kill me… it is impossible, in this lifetime.”

Lei Zhengyang crumpled weakly to the ground.

His body was covered in cracks, grievously wounded.

"Today, I spare your life only because I owe you," Second Young Master declared. "If there’s a next time, you won’t leave alive beneath my sword."

"How noble of Second Young Master!"

Xuan Du Ancient Immortal, leaning on another’s influence, barked furiously, "How dare you challenge Second Young Master, you worthless wretch?"

"Why aren’t you scrambling away?"

Lei Zhengyang stood frozen.

His defeat had come too swiftly.

He’d believed that ascending to Dao Sovereign would grant him the right to face Second Young Master, yet the gap between them now seemed an impassable chasm, an unfathomable abyss.

Second Young Master’s eyes flickered briefly as he sighed inwardly.

Wasn’t he, too, just an insignificant ant?

Crack!

Lei Zhengyang clenched his fist, his eyes blazing with resentment. "One day, I will challenge you again to seek justice for the millions of innocent souls of my clan!"

"I shall await that day."

Second Young Master’s detached voice reached Lei Zhengyang’s ears without him even turning back.

The trio gradually receded into the distance.

Lei Zhengyang buried his despair, transforming into a lightning dragon that streaked toward the horizon.

"In the same realm, the gulf between ordinary geniuses and the Nine Young Masters is truly this immense?"

Beside a tavern window, Li Ruoyu sat in silence, watching the scene unfold.

He had already met Yi Tianxing.

On his return journey, he witnessed the battle between Lei Zhengyang and Second Young Master.

Only by seeing these top talents clash firsthand did he grasp the sheer might possessed by the Nine Young Masters of the Hongmeng Dao Realm!

"No wonder nobody dared challenge them while they topped the ranks—yet once they left the Dao Lord ranking, upstarts like Long You, the red-eyed youth, and Ji Wushuang emerged all at once."

Now, Li Ruoyu could only chuckle wryly at the thought.

In the absence of tigers, monkeys proclaim themselves king.

He drained his cup, paid the bill, and headed toward Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

His avatar had once made a pledge to Ye Xu: once his true self emerged from seclusion, he would visit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to fulfill it. Today was that day.

Moreover, Li Ruoyu had a question to pose to Ye Xu face-to-face.

Step by step, he ascended the jade steps and entered Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Master, Li Ruoyu requests an audience," he announced respectfully with a bow.

"Time flows swiftly indeed," Ye Xu mused pensively. "Once, Daoist friend was but a minor practitioner at the Three Yuan Proof stage. Now, after half a year in the Hongmeng Dao Realm, you stand at the Peak of Nine Tribulations Dao Lord."

"Master flatters me," Li Ruoyu replied. "In just half a year, Heaven’s Secret Pavilion has become a household name across the realm. Your skill truly commands my deepest admiration."

"Daoist friend, the way you speak now differs greatly from before," Ye Xu remarked with a faint, enigmatic smile.

Li Ruoyu stiffened in surprise.

How could he dare act as brashly before Ye Xu as he had in the lower realm?

Merely recalling it filled him with dread.

"A reckless youth’s folly—I beg Master not to hold it against me," Li Ruoyu chuckled awkwardly. "Today, I come to honor my old promise and conduct business with you."