The entire Ancient Secret Realm fell utterly silent in that moment.
The terrifying pressure brought by the awakening of the Ancient Supreme Remnant had already crushed all creation. But the instant the Mysterious Shadow atop the altar struck, all the surging baleful energy and turbulent power seemed to encounter the force of their natural enemy, freezing rigidly in midair.
Two utterly different, terrifying forces sealed off every escape route, one on either side.
On the left was the world-ending divine art condensed by the Ancient Supreme Remnant. A pitch-black torrent of energy roared and churned, interwoven with the killing intent of countless ages. Every wisp of energy carried the domineering power to crush the Heavens and annihilate souls. Its blood-red pupils fixed on Lin Chen, greed and murderous intent intertwining as it yearned to devour his Dragon Soul Origin completely in an instant.
On the right was the Mysterious Shadow's outstretched black palm. It made no earth-shaking display, released no world-shattering pressure. It seemed unremarkable, yet carried a force of deathly stillness that transcended time and desolated countless ages. This power silently enveloped the surroundings. It seemed gentle, yet sealed off every form of movement across the entire space—teleportation, escape arts, everything—trapping Lin Chen, Son Goku, and Vegeta within a tiny area.
Lin Chen's blood and energy churned throughout his body. His overtaxed frame was wracked with waves of tearing pain, yet his eyes remained as sharp as blades against his pale face.
He could clearly sense the forces on either side, and a storm raged in his heart.
The Ancient Supreme Remnant's power was pure destruction and domination, the killing laws of a top ancient powerhouse: savage, violent, and unconstrained. It was the visible, tangible might of world-ending destruction.
But the power spreading from the Mysterious Shadow's palm was strange beyond compare.
Especially when that aura, of the same origin as the Dragon Ball's primordial source, lingered around him. The dormant Dragon Soul within his body began to tremble uncontrollably, and the seven-colored light of its origin spilled out on its own, as though it had encountered its born ruler.
This feeling was far more than simple suppression.
It was a return to the source, a submission—a supreme force of suppression standing above the Dragon Ball's primordial source of the Heavens!
"So that's how it is..." Lin Chen's throat tightened, and all his doubts suddenly clicked into place.
Ever since entering the secret realm, every disturbance, every act of surveillance, every attempt to draw out the primordial source of his Dragon Ball had never been the work of the Ancient Supreme.
The Ancient Supreme Remnant, sealed away for countless ages, had merely been a pawn deliberately released by the Mysterious Shadow—a whetstone to force him to unleash his Dragon Soul again and again, exhaust his source, and fully awaken the power of his reincarnation.
The Mysterious Shadow had never made a move, not because it feared the Supreme's pressure, nor because it was unable to interfere. It had been waiting.
Waiting for him to break the seal that had endured for countless ages, waiting for him to draw out the full power of the Dragon Ball's source, waiting for him to exhaust his strength and fall into a desperate situation—then it could reap the rewards.
What meticulous scheming. What terrifying patience.
A game laid out ages ago, with every link interlocking and every step a killing move, manipulating him, the reincarnation of the Dragon Ball, as though he were in the palm of its hand.
"Lin Chen!"
Son Goku fought through his grievous injuries. His azure Super Saiyan aura flickered precariously, yet he still gritted his teeth and stepped in front of Lin Chen. Several bones in his body were shattered, and blood dripped continuously from the corner of his mouth. There was not a trace of fear in his golden eyes, only the resolve to protect his friend to the death.
"These two bastards—one wants to take your Dragon Soul, and the other's intentions are unknown, but clearly sinister. Even if I have to die today, I'll keep you safe!"
Vegeta's proud figure moved up beside him, his deep-blue battle aura surging once more. Though his palms were split, his shoulder guards shattered, and his meridians riddled with cracks, he still pushed his Domain Lord strength to its limit. He clenched his fists, and the space around him caved in slightly under the pressure of his immense energy. His cold gaze swept over the two powerful foes, his brows filled with the unyielding pride of the Saiyan Prince.
"Spare me the pointless talk." Vegeta's voice was hard, his resolve to fight to the bitter end unmistakable. "Supreme or Mysterious Shadow, if you want to kill us and seize our treasure, you'll have to step over our corpses first."
The two stood on either side of Lin Chen, whose strength was spent. Though they were gravely wounded and the gap in their realms was like the distance between heaven and earth, neither showed the slightest intention of retreating.
The surviving cultivators and alien powerhouses slumped among the ruins, staring at the absurd and despairing scene before them, their faces utterly ashen.
Two supreme beings had attacked at once, suppressing a peak Domain Lord and two badly wounded Super Saiyan powerhouses. This was no battle—it was a one-sided slaughter.
No one would survive this secret realm today.
High above, the Ancient Supreme Remnant's blood-red pupils, each spanning a hundred feet, narrowed slightly. It seemed to have noticed the strangeness of the Shadow beside it.
Its remnant memories stretching back countless ages held no record of this power. Yet the aura of desolate ages emanating from its opponent had stirred a trace of instinctive wariness even in the Ancient Supreme.
Its hoarse, ancient rumble once more resounded through heaven and earth, carrying the authority and bewilderment of a Supreme: "Who... dares obstruct this venerable one?"
The seal that had endured for countless ages was broken, and it had returned to the world. It should have ruled the Heavens, devoured the Dragon Soul, and restored itself to its peak. Yet this insignificant, nameless Shadow dared stand as its equal and block its great fortune.
Faced with the Ancient Supreme Remnant's demand, the Mysterious Shadow showed no sign of emotion.
Its dark figure was hidden within the shadows of the void, its face impossible to make out. Only its deep, icy eyes remained visible, indifferently glancing at the enraged Ancient Supreme Remnant.
No voice rang out. No attack erupted.
Yet that light, casual glance caused the Ancient Supreme Remnant, which had just been raging with violence and overwhelming all creation, to suddenly still. The churning black baleful energy around it froze, and the light of its condensed world-ending divine art dimmed at once. The supreme authority of the Ancient Supreme was forcibly suppressed!
In that moment, the entire scene fell silent.
Everyone's heart clenched, and a chill that came from the soul swept through them.
The Ancient Supreme Remnant, which had once dominated the ancient world and suppressed myriad realms, had been intimidated by a single glance from the Mysterious Shadow?
Just how terrifying was this Shadow's strength?
Seizing the brief moment when the Ancient Supreme Remnant faltered, Lin Chen drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the surging blood and pain within him.
He knew this was his only chance to catch his breath—and his only chance to turn the tables.
Caught between two desperate situations with nowhere to retreat and nowhere to hide, waiting to die was the stupidest choice.
He quickly marshaled every last remnant of his Dragon Soul Origin. The Dragon Ball Fragment floating before him trembled faintly, its seven-colored light slowly circulating as it gradually repaired his damaged meridians and nourished his exhausted body.
At the same time, his gaze swept rapidly across the scene, his mind racing as he sorted through the situation.
His two enemies each had their own reasons to hesitate.
The Ancient Supreme Remnant wanted his Dragon Soul Origin and Dragon Ball Fragment. Its goal was simple: break free of the constraints of its remnant soul, rebuild its body, and return to the peak of the Ancient Supreme.
The Mysterious Shadow's intentions were unknown, and its strength unfathomable. It wielded a strange power that surpassed the Dragon Ball's source and had schemed patiently across countless ages. Its cunning and methods far exceeded those of the bloodthirsty, savage Ancient Supreme Remnant.
More importantly, the two supreme beings were not allies.
The Shadow had intimidated the Supreme, and the Supreme feared the Shadow. Though both appeared to have their sights set on him, they were actually restraining one another, each on guard against the other.
That was the one opening in this deadly impasse!
"You two, keep the Ancient Supreme Remnant occupied. Don't fight it head-on—just buy me a little time!" Lin Chen lowered his voice and spoke rapidly to Son Goku and Vegeta, his gaze utterly resolute. "This Shadow's goal probably isn't as simple as killing me. It fears the Supreme, and the Supreme fears it. They don't answer to each other, so there must be a rift between them!"
Son Goku paused for an instant, then immediately understood. He nodded firmly. "All right! Leave it to us!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, his dim aura flared once more. His exhausted potential was forcibly ignited by his unbreakable will, and azure-gold light shot skyward. Even as his injuries worsened, he would fight again!
Vegeta's gaze was sharp as he prepared to fight again. "Buy time? Easy. But make sure you seize the chance to escape. Don't throw your life away for nothing."
The instant he finished speaking, the Ancient Supreme Remnant broke free of its momentary suppression, its blood-red baleful aura surging once more!
To be suppressed by a nameless Shadow was an unprecedented humiliation for the proud Ancient Supreme. It stopped paying attention to the Mysterious Shadow beside it and once more fixed all its murderous intent on Lin Chen. Its condensed world-ending divine art crashed down in a torrent!
The pitch-black torrent of energy tore through the void, bearing down from above with enough force to crush everything. It was several times more powerful than its previous attack—a true Supreme's killing move!
"Take this!"
Son Goku roared, charging forward. He held nothing back. Bringing his hands together, he gathered his surging Super Saiyan energy, and a wave of light woven from gold and azure formed once more.
This Kamehameha was not as grand as the last, but it contained every last bit of his strength. Even if he had to trade injury for injury, he would block the Supreme's strike!
Vegeta followed close behind, instantly appearing in midair. Blinding white light erupted from his palm as he unleashed the Final Flash once more. The two supreme techniques combined to meet the Ancient Supreme's pitch-black divine art head-on!
Rumble—
The earth-shaking collision once more tore through the sky above the secret realm.
A violent storm of energy swept wildly outward from the site of their clash. The ruined Ancient Altar was reduced to dust, the thick layers of the secret realm's earth split apart, and the pitch-black fissures in the abyss below widened again. The entire world trembled on the verge of collapse.
Even the two Super Saiyan killing moves seemed fragile before the Supreme's true divine art.
The golden and white light shattered inch by inch. The violent power of destruction pierced through their energy barrier in an instant and slammed into their bodies.
Pfft—
Son Goku and Vegeta both spat out great mouthfuls of blood. Their bodies flew like kites with snapped strings, crashing into the ground and sinking deep into the ruins. Their auras faded completely, and their strength dwindled to the point that they could no longer rise and fight.
The two Super Saiyan powerhouses had been utterly defeated!
Everyone present felt their hearts sink to the bottom.
The last line of defense had vanished completely.
High above, the Ancient Supreme Remnant's murderous intent soared. Its blood-red pupils fixed on Lin Chen, standing alone below, as the remaining power of its pitch-black destruction swept down with what was left of its momentum.
Lin Chen was now completely alone.
His strength was spent, his meridians damaged, and he had no one left at his side. He was utterly isolated.
The world-ending power of destruction was right before him, and the shadow of death enveloped him in an instant.
Just as everyone thought Lin Chen was doomed, the Mysterious Shadow hovering in the void finally moved in earnest.
Its long, dark hand pressed down slightly, and the Desolation Power that transcended countless ages suddenly erupted, silently blocking the Supreme's torrent of destruction.
The seemingly gentle palm descended, yet possessed supreme power capable of binding heaven and earth.
The Supreme's divine art, which had ravaged the void and seemed unstoppable, suddenly halted. Then it disintegrated layer by layer before everyone's eyes, finally vanishing into the void without leaving even a trace of its power upon Lin Chen.
The entire secret realm fell utterly silent.
The Ancient Supreme Remnant erupted in fury. Black mist roiled violently around it as baleful energy from countless ages shot skyward. Its supreme dignity had been thoroughly offended, and it abandoned all its wariness of the Shadow.
"You wretched junior! You dare obstruct this venerable one's path!"
Its furious roar shook the nine heavens and ten earths. Ancient golden runes lit up across the remnant's body. It unleashed the full depth of the Ancient Supreme's power, devouring all the spiritual energy and baleful forces within the secret realm. A terrifying force capable of collapsing the Heavens gathered at an incredible speed.
It would slay this strange Shadow first, then seize the Dragon Soul Origin!
The two supreme beings faced off completely. A great battle was about to erupt!
Yet Lin Chen, caught at the center of the storm and watching the two powerful enemies confront each other, felt no relief. His taut nerves only grew colder and heavier.
He had escaped the Supreme's killing blow, but had fallen completely under the Shadow's control.
That Desolation Power, of the same origin but far more advanced, had already wrapped itself around the Dragon Soul Origin within his body. Gentle yet domineering, it had sealed away all his power, leaving him unable to muster even a trace of strength.
He looked up at the Mysterious Shadow concealed in the darkness of the void, his gaze piercing through layers of black mist as though it could touch the unknown truth.
Just then, the Shadow that had lain dormant for countless ages finally spoke for the first time. Its ancient voice was hoarse and weathered, as if it had crossed an immeasurable stretch of time.
"The Dragon Ball's reincarnation, the cycle of countless ages... At last, I've waited until you were whole."
Its voice was gentle, yet carried an indifference that saw through everything.
Lin Chen's pupils contracted sharply. He was about to demand an explanation when he suddenly sensed a change within his body!
The Dragon Soul Origin that had slumbered inside him for ages was being uncontrollably drawn out and stripped away by the Shadow's power. Even more terrifyingly, countless unfamiliar fragments of memory, sealed deep in his mind, surged forth and burst open!
Those memories belonged neither to this life nor to the Dragon Ball's Heavens. They came from an even older, more desolate age—one unknown to him!
Looking at Lin Chen, whose body trembled faintly and whose eyes were filled with uncertainty and shock, the Shadow slowly revealed a secret that overturned everything he knew:
"You think you're the Dragon Ball's reincarnation, reborn in this life?"
"Ridiculous... You are a fragment of my own lost source, a remnant soul that has been missing for countless ages."
Before you continue