Perilous Enlightenment

"Is that little brat from the Jiang Family?"

"A cultivator at Four Extremities First Heaven challenging someone at Dao Palace First Heaven? Heh, the Jiang Clan really is becoming more and more promising!"

"I heard a rumor some time ago that a young genius of the Jiang Family was defeated by someone a Major Realm above him. Could that be him?"

The mighty figures mocked him without mercy, while the mighty figure stationed in Sacred City by the Jiang Clan berated him bitterly for failing to live up to expectations.

"One humiliation wasn't enough? You want to humiliate yourself again? Get down!"

Others might not know, but how could he not?

The last challenge had been a complete crushing defeat. Even if Jiang Yichen had cultivated a manifestation, he still did not think highly of him!

Besides, it was only natural for someone at Four Extremities to defeat someone at Dao Palace. Winning brought no glory, while losing would become huge news. There was no benefit at all!

Jiang Yichen had initially shrunk back, but their barrage of ridicule stirred his anger. "I lost, but I won't keep losing forever!"

Seeing Jiang Yichen actually withstand their pressure and refute them loudly, quite a few mighty figures regarded him in a new light, finding him rather bold!

Having said that, Jiang Yichen looked at Shen Ye. "I have cultivated an ancient manifestation and can fight against Transforming Dragon cultivators across realms. Even if you have stepped into the Eight Forbidden Domain, you are still no match for me! However, I will still give you a chance for a fair fight. We will battle with manifestations!"

The power of a manifestation was naturally related to one's cultivation, but it was comparatively less restricted by cultivation level.

Against an enemy without a manifestation, one could fight across an entire Major Realm.

But against an enemy who also possessed a manifestation, if the gap in their manifestations' grades was not great, one might not be able to suppress the other even with a full Major Realm's advantage!

"A battle of manifestations? You really have the nerve to say that!" Ji Haiyue exposed him mercilessly. "Have you ever seen anyone at Dao Palace First Heaven cultivate a manifestation?"

"Can't he? What a pity!" Jiang Yichen shook his head disappointedly, though the corners of his mouth curled upward slightly.

This was precisely the perfect solution he had come up with!

Only after cultivating through two or three secret realms could one manifest a Wheel and Sea manifestation and wield its immense power!

But how could manifestations be so easily cultivated? Even among Saint Son-level figures, there were plenty who had yet to cultivate one!

Even the Divine King Bodies of the Ji Family and his Jiang Family had only cultivated manifestations in their third secret realm. No matter how gifted the other party was, it was impossible for him to possess a manifestation at Dao Palace First Heaven!

That way, he would have an excuse to delay this duel.

Moreover, manifestations could be sublimated and advanced.

By the time the other party cultivated a manifestation, his own would have long since advanced to a higher level. When they fought then, his victory would be guaranteed!

Jiang Yichen clasped his hands behind his back. "Come fight me again once you have cultivated a manifestation!"

Shen Ye was silent for a moment. "My manifestation is extremely dangerous. I suggest you do not try it!"

Jiang Yichen nearly choked on his own saliva. "Cough... You really cultivated a manifestation?"

Shen Ye raised a brow. "What? Are you surprised?"

Jiang Yichen forced a smile. "Ha, haha, as expected of the formidable rival I value so highly. You truly haven't disappointed me!"

Ji Haiyue, standing among the crowd, twitched at the corner of his mouth. Had he just lost his position as formidable rival?

The mighty figures also became interested. They had originally held little interest in watching such a low-level battle.

But a pure battle of manifestations was rather interesting. Besides, they wanted to see what sort of manifestation someone at Dao Palace First Heaven could cultivate!

"Although a clash of manifestations weakens my advantage in cultivation, it also prevents us from engaging in physical combat!" Jiang Yichen's gaze was dark and sinister. All he feared was the other party's physique, comparable to that of a juvenile divine beast. In a contest of manifestations, he truly had nothing to fear. "In a fair fight, the advantage is mine!"

Jiang Yichen regained his confidence. "Since I said we would battle with manifestations, then we will battle with manifestations. Come, let's go to the Martial Arts Arena!"

"There's no need to make it so troublesome." Shen Ye shook his head slightly. "With so many seniors here, are you still worried that our battle will damage the stone workshop?"

One mighty figure who enjoyed a good spectacle stepped forward. "Just fight. No aftershocks will leak out!"

Jiang Yichen took a deep breath, his eyes gradually turning blood-red as he looked at Shen Ye. "Watch closely. This is the manifestation I finally cultivated after you defeated me and I fell into the endless purgatory, enduring torment and agony day after day, tempered by blazing flames..."

He roared hysterically, as though venting all the grievance and pain he had endured these past days. "Purgatory Sea of Fire!"

A sea of fire emerged behind Jiang Yichen. Heat waves surged, blazing flames scorched the heavens, as though a gate leading to purgatory had opened, endless fire gushing forth from the void!

Near the center of the sea of fire, the flames were even black in color, containing an aura of destruction and violence. Even the void twisted, as though it were about to melt!

Some Saint Sons and Saintesses traveling through Sacred City had rushed over upon hearing the news. Even they could not help but look twice when they saw Jiang Yichen's manifestation.

"Even the third or fourth-ranked figures among the Jiang Family's younger generation possess such strength? The Ancient Desolate Families truly cannot be underestimated!"

"I wonder what sort of manifestation that Divine King Body of the Jiang Family will cultivate!"

"Purgatory Sea of Fire? Hmph! He must have cultivated it specifically to counter my Snow Dance Across the World manifestation!" Ji Haiyue snorted unhappily, then looked toward Shen Ye. "Eh? His is fire too?"

A sea of fire likewise surrounded Shen Ye, but it was not violent. Instead, it appeared gentle and sacred. At the center of the sea of fire, a wisp of flame transformed into a Dao lotus. A single glance at it stirred the urge to attain enlightenment and ascend as an immortal!

This was one of his manifestations—Golden Lotus Seeded in Fire!

Though he had lent out the immortal fire, the Heart Fire manifestation born when he opened the Heart Divine Treasury would not disappear because of it.

Shen Ye walked forward calmly and took the initiative to step into the sea of fire.

The flames around him gave a gentle flicker, then ceased struggling, seeming to be devoured and assimilated by the Purgatory Sea of Fire.

"This kind of flame dares compare itself to my Purgatory Sea of Fire?" Seeing this, Jiang Yichen was overjoyed and wanted nothing more than to burst into laughter on the spot!

Then, he suddenly felt as though the divine sounds of the Great Dao were chanting beside his ears. The evolution of the Heavenly Dao filled his vision, and countless Dao Rhymes surfaced within his heart!

"Could it be that because I defeated my inner demon and cleared my mind, I attained enlightenment?" Jiang Yichen was beside himself with joy. He even forgot to suppress Shen Ye, devoting himself wholeheartedly to comprehending the Dao!

The humiliation and mockery he had suffered these past days flashed through his mind one by one. Blood gradually filled Jiang Yichen's pupils as he threw back his head and roared, "My Great Dao is slaughter! Heaven births all things to nourish man, yet man has not a single virtue with which to repay Heaven—kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!"

"First kill kin and friends, then sever the clan, slaughter all heroes, and wipe out every living soul!"

The Jiang Family mighty expert's old face darkened. Had he misheard? This beast had said he wanted to exterminate the Jiang Family?

Feeling the teasing glances the surrounding mighty experts cast his way, the Jiang Family mighty expert's expression grew so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it. He shouted, "Jiang Yichen, wake up this instant!"

Who would have thought that Jiang Yichen would suddenly whirl around and point at him with arrogant, matchless disdain? "Old bastard, shut your mouth! Say one more word, and when I return, I'll slaughter your whole family!"

The Jiang Clan mighty expert trembled from rage, his vision going black. "You... you vile beast!"