The Protagonist Drowns, the End (Part Four)

Without looking back, Ye Chen shouted, "Get the Spirit Stone! Leave the rest to me!"

"Huh? You mean you think you can beat me?" Yan Feng laughed.

At the same time, A-Da rose to his feet, and the flames around him gradually faded.

"Kid... looks like your time is up." A-Da didn't understand why Ye Chen had withdrawn the flames.

But he knew that without them, Ye Chen was dead!

A-Da leaped out of the pit!

The flames had melted a pit around A-Da, turning the ice to steam that rose into the sky.

A-Da had stayed in the center and escaped the worst of it.

"Die!"

"Ye Chen! Die!"

A-Da raised his Spiked Club, while Yan Feng came at Ye Chen with a Flame Fist.

Ye Chen's eyes snapped open!

Scarlet Facial Markings appeared across his face!

Bang!!!

Ye Chen stopped the Spiked Club with his right hand and caught Yan Feng's Flame Fist with his left.

"Now let's have a real fight, fist against flesh!" The bright red markings on Ye Chen's face stood out clearly. (Facial Markings are bright red. If they look black on Hashirama during the Fourth War, that's an art-style issue. Look up their color yourself if you don't believe me.)

Yan Feng and A-Da froze in shock.

Ye Chen yanked both hands inward, dragging the two of them into each other with tremendous force.

They were both stunned. Since when had this guy gotten so strong?

Ye Chen sprang back. Yan Feng and A-Da exchanged a glance, then separated as well.

The three of them were enemies. Only one could survive.

But neither Yan Feng nor A-Da could gauge Ye Chen's strength now. They knew they had to kill him first.

This time, Ye Chen held the initiative.

He channeled his Spiritual Power.

Then he leaped up and drove a fist toward Yan Feng.

Of the two before him, Yan Feng was clearly the weaker one.

Why wouldn't he go for the easier target?

Yan Feng was furious that Ye Chen had chosen him first.

As he saw it, Ye Chen wasn't attacking him first out of hatred. Ye Chen thought he was weak.

At that thought, Yan Feng unleashed his Innate Ability again. "Flame Fist!"

This time, he released the full power of the Sixth Realm.

Ye Chen showed no fear and slammed his fist down.

Boom!

Flames burst outward.

"Ah!" Yan Feng's arm shattered under the force.

Their fists had collided, and Yan Feng, whose body was far less durable, had lost an arm in an instant.

Its bones were crushed, taking most of his fighting strength with it.

"Is that all, young master?" Ye Chen stood before Yan Feng, mockery written across his face.

Seeing Ye Chen apparently unguarded, A-Da swung his Spiked Club down at him.

Without looking back, Ye Chen raised an arm to block it. The spikes pierced straight through his arm.

Ye Chen frowned. His body was strong and healed quickly, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt!

"Your turn hasn't come yet."

Ye Chen grabbed the Spiked Club with his other hand. Once his right arm was free of it, he punched A-Da in the stomach.

The blow struck home. A-Da spat up bile and lost the ability to fight.

A Compass fell from his clothes. It was the one they had lost earlier.

Ye Chen picked it up. He might need it to get back.

"So you two were this weak." Ye Chen shook his head helplessly.

Just then, something else happened!

The entire Palace began to shake, and countless blocks of ice cracked apart.

"Ye Chen! I got the Spirit Stone!" Lan Lengshuang ran toward him.

Ye Chen glanced at her and nodded.

"Wait for me at the Portal. I'll kill Yan Feng, then come."

Lan Lengshuang froze and grabbed him. "No. We leave together!"

Ye Chen gently moved her hand away. "Don't worry. It'll be quick."

Seeing how determined he was, Lan Lengshuang gave him one more look, then ran toward the Palace exit.

The moment the Ice Spirit Stone was taken, the entire Palace seemed to lose its support. It teetered on the verge of collapse.

"Ye Chen, let's get out of here first..." Yan Feng was growing afraid.

"Let's leave first. I promise I won't bother you again!"

Kneeling on the ground and clutching his arm, Yan Feng begged Ye Chen for mercy.

"Oh? But I only want you dead."

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes.

"Ye Chen... I was wrong... I really was wrong. I shouldn't have attacked you. Please, let me go..."

"I can give you money. More money than you could spend in a lifetime..."

Ye Chen approached Yan Feng one step at a time, taking in every bit of his ugly desperation.

He gripped Ryūjin Jakka in his right hand, killing intent flaring in his eyes.

"Pine Torch!"

Ye Chen drew his blade, and a pillar of fire swallowed Yan Feng whole.

He drew and sheathed the blade in one fluid motion.

"Our score's settled. See you in the next life."

There was not a trace of pity in Ye Chen's eyes.

He turned to A-Da, who was kneeling nearby. "I won't kill you. Take care of yourself."

With that, he ran after Lan Lengshuang.

Halfway there, Ye Chen remembered something...

He hadn't taken Yan Feng's Storage Ring. That was a fortune down the drain!

But he didn't dwell on it. Escaping came first.

Because after the Ice Palace began to collapse, the whole world seemed to be falling apart.

As he ran across the glacier, broken ice lay everywhere.

Even the ice beneath his feet threatened to give way.

"Niece!"

Ye Chen was several times faster than Lan Lengshuang and caught up with her in no time.

Lan Lengshuang was overjoyed to see him.

"Ye Chen!"

Ye Chen reached her and immediately hoisted her over his shoulder.

Lan Lengshuang was about to speak, but Ye Chen picked up speed.

"No time! This whole place is coming down!"

Lan Lengshuang shut her mouth at once.

The cracks in the ice grew wider and wider.

Ye Chen grew anxious. What was he supposed to do?

They were still a long way from the Portal!

It was a race for their lives!

But a greater danger lay behind them. Ice dozens of meters thick shattered, and the Sea Beasts beneath it surged into a frenzy!

Under that sunless ice, countless Sea Beasts longed to break the surface and see the sunlight.

What emerged behind Ye Chen was a giant whale!

A Blue Whale Beast hundreds of meters long!

Ye Chen took one look and ran even faster.

Lan Lengshuang, slung over his shoulder, was too frightened to speak.

Just then, Ye Chen's foot slipped and he fell into the water. His grip loosened, and Lan Lengshuang slipped from his shoulder.

The bone-chilling cold jolted Ye Chen's nerves.

The icy seawater snapped Lan Lengshuang out of her terror.

Neither had time to brace themselves before seawater flooded their noses.

At the same time, a huge wave crashed over them. Ye Chen couldn't find anywhere to surface!

The ice had split open, but floating chunks covered the water above him. There was nowhere to lift his head and breathe!