With the void unstable, Dao laws could not manifest, and divine abilities could not be inscribed. Without ultimate power to break through this confinement, Yu was now Unaffected by All Laws!
"Is this the physical strength of the Heavenly Horned Ant Clan? Truly unrivaled beneath the heavens! No wonder even the True Dragon conceded defeat in the Dao of strength! Without an attack pushed to the utmost, one cannot even approach her!"
A True Immortal from the Immortal Domain spoke. He came from the Primordial Chaos Clan, whose Primordial Chaos Immortal King was renowned far and wide, a peerless king!
"You flatter us! The Heavenly Horned Ant Clan certainly has its unique strengths, but young friend Ao Zun is also quite formidable. He has a promising future in the Immortal Dao!"
A True Immortal from the Nine Heavens spoke. He was also an old man, named Peng Yang. He praised Ao Zun and called him a young friend, believing that he would surely join the ranks of immortals in the Immortal Dao in the future and already treating him as a fellow Daoist.
Both sides gave the other face!
"Great Dao Divine Fist, break!"
Yu swung her divine fist, bearing the power to annihilate everything.
Unwilling to fall behind, Ao Zun unleashed his precious art with all his might, cleaving through chaos! Divine light broke through the blockade of extreme Dao divine power, crossed the distorted void, and slashed toward Yu, only to be stopped by her divine fist.
Both froze for a moment. Clearly, the other's invincible divine art and Extreme Dao divine fist had exceeded their expectations!
As expected of an Immortal King's secret art!
As expected of strength pushed to its utmost!
Both inwardly praised the other!
Then the two clashed again! For a time, neither could gain the upper hand!
"Lin Yue, what do you think the outcome of this battle will be?"
Yan sat beside Lin Yue, half a body-length behind him, and asked!
"His strength and talent rank highly among his peers even in a great realm like the Immortal Domain. In terms of combat prowess alone, he may not be much weaker than either of you! Unfortunately, once this becomes a prolonged battle, the outcome is already clear! After all, your bodies really are monstrous!"
"Why does that sound like you're praising yourself?"
The Heavenly Horned Ant Clan's physical strength was truly shocking beyond belief. Had Lin Yue not cultivated the human body divine treasuries, pursuing the utmost limits from the Blood Moving Realm onward, and finally cultivated and comprehended half of the Indestructible Scripture, he might not have surpassed the Heavenly Horned Ant in physical strength even now!
Unless an opponent could shatter their bodies in a short time with extreme Dao divine power, as He Wushuang could, the outcome would be beyond doubt. Especially in a one-on-one battle like this, Ao Zun's defeat had been sealed the moment he attacked!
The old Heavenly Horned Ant had fought his way out of an encirclement of three kings and numerous undying beings. His endurance needed no explanation. This was another manifestation of strength pushed to its utmost!
Just after Yan spoke, Qi Yuan on the Immortal Domain's side stopped watching the battle. Instead, he looked at Lin Yue, seated in front of Yan, and his heart jolted!
Why was there another young man I hadn't noticed? I was only watching the Heavenly Horned Ants just now!
He was a handsome young man, perhaps twenty-three or twenty-four, excessively young. His long black hair fell loose to his waist, his sword-like brows were sharp, and his half-lidded eyes seemed to conceal the Divine Universes, dark yet glimmering with spiritual light! He sat cross-legged there without giving off the slightest aura!
Qi Yuan had assumed he was an unimportant young prodigy from the Nine Heavens, never expecting him to be so terrifying!
Qi Yuan's brows twitched violently. What kind of young man was this, whom even he, someone on the verge of entering the immortal path, could not sense? Could he be some senior? Moreover, the Heavenly Horned Ant siblings seemed to subtly defer to him!
Chapter 36: The King of the Younger Generation
Just as Qi Yuan was lost in thought, a thunderous roar erupted from the arena.
Yu forced Ao Zun back with a punch. Every movement of her powerful body carried overwhelming might, without the slightest sign of exhaustion!
Across from her, Ao Zun's aura had begun to falter. The Extreme Dao divine radiance around him rippled faintly, and his attacks no longer possessed their initial power. Yet collisions of divine power like these were merely ordinary attacks for the Heavenly Horned Ant Clan.
"The Heavenly Horned Ant Clan is truly heaven-defying once its members mature. I heard their previous clan leader could face kings before entering the king realm. While still in the Immortal Dao realm, he slaughtered the Foreign Realm's undying beings like chickens and dogs. A one-on-one battle may seem fair, but against this clan, one is at a disadvantage from the outset! Ao Zun's defeat is no injustice!"
A True Immortal from the Immortal Domain spoke, his words heavy with gravity!
There was another such being. After speaking, he glanced at Yan among the Nine Heavens' group opposite him. This young man also possessed unparalleled talent. If the siblings entered the Immortal Dao, the Nine Heavens would gain two more fighters with an Immortal King's combat prowess! Two such fighters appearing in a single era was simply unimaginable!
"Senior, you're deciding too soon. Ao Zun hasn't unleashed his full strength yet! He won't necessarily lose!" A prodigy spoke, believing Ao Zun still had a chance to win!
"Hmph, don't get smug. This isn't over! My clan has more divine abilities than these!"
Ao Zun steadied his blood and vital energy! He extended both hands toward the sky! Ten heavenly grottoes manifested behind him, terrifying precious arts stirring within them as though alive. Even chaos evolved anew beneath their might. The Great Dao transformed into countless sword wings, manifesting a Phenomenon in the void. Spiritual light flowed over the sword wings, shimmering with mystical radiance in myriad colors! This was caused by the flow of terrifying Divine Marks!
Beyond the heavenly grottoes behind Ao Zun, countless sword wings also sprouted, making him resemble an angel with innumerable divine wings! With a casual sweep of his hand, the sword wings flowed and sliced through chaos!
This was Immortal King Ao Sheng's ancestral art, already inscribed in his clan's bloodline. Now that it had fully manifested, even the formation laid down by an Immortal King was slashed open with cracks!
When the Immortal Dao does not appear, who can contend with him!
"This... this is astonishing! This fellow Daoist from the Immortal Domain actually opened ten heavenly grottoes, each nurturing a supreme ancient art! He means to defy the heavens!"
"As expected of one of the Immortal Domain's strongest prodigies. If we fought him, we couldn't resist at all!"
"Hmph, a petty trick! Watch me smash your lousy swords!"
Yu was utterly disdainful. Within her invincible aura, another indestructible will emanated. As it began to manifest, this distinctive will turned into Divine Marks that flowed across her entire body, stirring the winds and clouds of heaven and earth. The sword wings nearest her were crushed by its power.
"The Indestructible Scripture!"
Ao Jin murmured. She knew something of this unparalleled scripture!
All the Immortal Domain's prodigies frowned deeply!
"Arrogant! So what if you're a Heavenly Horned Ant? Before my clan's divine ability, you must fall!"
"Slash!"
Ao Zun roared furiously. His sword wings surrounded Yu like a storm and swept toward her.
"Break!"
Yu shouted. There was no flashy name, merely a Phenomenon formed from Indestructible Divine Runes and divine power pushed to its utmost!
Yet the divine ability shattered completely! The sword wings snapped in an instant, the ten heavenly grottoes were crushed, and the Phenomenon behind Ao Zun collapsed with a crash. He flew backward like a meteor, while Yu stood there entirely unharmed!
This was a king of the younger generation!
"Excellent!"
"Lady Heavenly Horned Ant is invincible!"
"He was already incredibly powerful. Unless an immortal appeared, no one could match him! Still, Lady Heavenly Horned Ant's talent is unparalleled. She couldn't possibly lose to someone in the same realm. This is how it should be-sweeping everything before her, without a single rival!"
Cheers rose from the Nine Heavens' side. They had long since made the Heavenly Horned Ant Clan an object of faith!
"It's not over! I can still fight! Who can grant me defeat? No one! Come at me again!"
After being sent flying by a punch, Ao Zun staggered and flew back, unwilling to accept defeat and eager to attack again.
"You're making a disgraceful spectacle! Ao Zun! Stand down!"
Ao Jin spoke with a look of disgust. A loss was a loss, and a win was a win. If word spread that Immortal King Ao Sheng's descendant could not accept defeat, the disgrace would only be greater!
"Yes!"
Ao Zun's eyes brimmed with defiance, but he did not dare argue!
"Ao Zun's strength places him among the strongest in our Immortal Domain, and he will surely enter the Immortal Dao in the future. Yet he still fell to that divine fist! The Heavenly Horned Ant Clan is truly blessed by heaven! They fully deserve their reputation for strength pushed to its utmost!"
A True Immortal named Mu Ren spoke.
"Indeed. Unless an immortal appears, they are invincible within the same realm. No wonder those demons of the Foreign Realm call this clan great fiends! They even resorted to despicable methods to surround and kill them. Their savage might is truly difficult to withstand!"
After Ao Zun left the arena, several Immortal Domain prodigies who had long been itching to fight stepped forward, all wishing to experience the Heavenly Horned Ant Clan's divine power! None were weaker than Ao Zun, but against a woman like Yu, all were defeated!
The faces of several True Immortals from the Immortal Domain began to turn ashen. Even a single victory would have been welcome, but against a Heavenly Horned Ant, resistance was all too difficult!
There was a reason the old Heavenly Horned Ant considered Yu and Yan the two children most likely to surpass him. They were no weaker than young Immortal Kings. Or perhaps, once the two could fight Immortal Kings head-on, people would no longer be surprised by today's results.
Kings had no rivals even in their youth!
"Qi Yuan, go up and try! Experiencing the Heavenly Horned Ant Clan's divine power will greatly benefit your path!"
The True Immortal who spoke was named Qi Yi, the strongest among the Immortal Domain's True Immortals present.
"Yes!"
As this silver-haired young man rose, everyone from the Immortal Domain breathed a sigh of relief! They had come with a purpose: to gain the upper hand in these exchanges and then seize the initiative! But the situation had exceeded their expectations! The Heavenly Horned Ant was too powerful. Facing her was like facing young kings of the Immortal Dao. Who dared speak of victory? Now they could only place their hopes in this silver-haired young man, hoping to salvage some dignity!
Though the others were all hailed as peerless prodigies who could enter the Immortal Dao in the future, becoming a king was truly too difficult. Even the Immortal Domain could not claim to produce them at will!
Yet this excessively young man named Qi Yuan was entirely different from the others! When he attained the Extreme Dao, he had nearly broken through the limiting barrier of five hundred years of age!
Though he was the youngest, he was also the strongest of the Immortal Domain's younger generation. His aura had long since returned to its pure, natural state, and the heavenly grottoes within him were nurturing immortal radiance, tempering a supreme foundation! He was hailed as the person most likely to become an Immortal King in this era of the Immortal Domain!
"I am Qi Yuan. I would like to experience your extreme Dao divine power, fellow Daoist!"
Qi Yuan addressed Yan! He knew that although Yu could still fight, the Immortal Domain's outstanding talents were no pushovers. After a succession of battles, she must have expended enormous strength, and he was unwilling to take such an advantage.
Yan was also itching to fight! He rose and stepped into the formation!
"Big sister, go down and rest!"
"You're not allowed to lose!"
Yu wore a haughty expression, even more arrogant than the Immortal Domain's prodigies!
At the center of the formation, the two young men faced each other, both utterly solemn!
Rumble...
A roar rang out from the formation as their figures crossed amid lightning!
Neither tested the other once they attacked. Intense Extreme Dao fluctuations thundered and collided within the formation, and for a time, neither could gain the upper hand.
"Who is this man? He's fought Lord Heavenly Horned Ant to this extent and still shows no sign of defeat! His talent truly is unparalleled!"
Those from the Nine Heavens watched Qi Yuan and Yan's sparring match, which resembled a bloody battle, in stunned disbelief. In their understanding, the Heavenly Horned Ants were invincible within the same realm and could have no rivals. Now a prodigy could actually contend with one. It was truly shocking!
"I heard he's one of the strongest prodigies from the Immortal Domain, someone certain to become an immortal patriarch in the future. Rumor has it his clan's ancestor is a supreme existence on par with Lord Wuzhong and Lord Reincarnation!" someone from the Nine Heavens murmured.
"S-so that's why! No wonder he can fight Lord Heavenly Horned Ant to this extent!"
In their eyes, it was acceptable for the descendant of an expert on par with Wuzhong and Reincarnation to achieve this!
Yet the Immortal Domain's prodigies frowned even more deeply. Seeing their leading figure, hailed as the one most likely to become an Immortal King, unable to gain the upper hand against one of the Nine Heavens' strongest races left them feeling somewhat humiliated!
In their eyes, it was already heaven-defying enough for a small realm like the Nine Heavens to have produced unparalleled kings like Immortal King Wuzhong and the Reincarnation Immortal King. Since those two had fallen, they no longer believed the Nine Heavens qualified to speak with them as equals. Though mature Heavenly Horned Ants could fight kings, their clan was not invincible.
Yet reality was now slapping them in the face. Could the Nine Heavens produce kings like Immortal King Wuzhong and the Reincarnation Immortal King again?
Chapter 37: The Strongest in the Immortal Domain
Within the formation, Qi Yuan was also unleashing his power to its utmost. Immortal light surpassing the Extreme Dao flickered throughout his body. These were Divine Marks on the verge of touching the Immortal Dao. Their battle had begun to leave the Extreme Dao behind, carrying the might of a clash about to enter the Immortal Dao! Without the suppression of the formation laid down by an Immortal King, the Divine City might already have been shattered!
This young man, the strongest Extreme Dao cultivator of the Immortal Domain's younger generation, was displaying the might of a supreme talent from such a great realm!
Yan's state in the arena also differed from Yu's earlier state. His eyes were crimson, a blood-red glow radiating heaven-piercing divine light. Domain power emanated from his body and spread beyond the formation, affecting the laws of heaven and earth. Lightning from the nine skies was drawn down, filling heaven and earth. His terrifying flesh suppressed the world, and his indestructible Divine Marks radiated endless divine brilliance. Ordinary precious arts were utterly useless.
A Heavenly Horned Ant unleashing his full power was horrifying!
Apart from Lin Yue, Yu, and a few supreme figures of the Immortal Dao, the Extreme Dao cultivators from both the Nine Heavens and the Immortal Domain had unconsciously risen to their feet. They stared at the two without blinking, afraid of missing any detail of such a clash!
"Hey, hey! Is he really that strong? He's forcing Yan to use his full strength. He seems powerful enough to stand alongside a demon lord like He Wushuang!"
Yu exclaimed in surprise. Though she had known the opponent was powerful, his performance had exceeded all her expectations! He, too, displayed the power to challenge anyone beneath the immortal realm. Another peerless talent!
With his eyes half-lidded, Lin Yue said, "I know something of this clan. It is a supreme ancient clan from the Immortal Domain, and its ancestor is a peerless king who can stand alongside Lord Wuzhong and the others! It is no surprise for a prodigy from this clan to possess such strength!"
After speaking, Lin Yue was also puzzled. Apart from their ancestor, he had never heard of anyone from this clan becoming a king! Could this be the butterfly effect?
"Is this the power hidden in the deepest reaches of the Heavenly Horned Ant Clan's bloodline?"
Ao Zun spoke, his face ashen. He had believed that even if he lost, the gap would not be too great. Now he felt deeply embarrassed!
"There are rumors that this is their clan's berserk transformation. Supposedly, once they use it, they gain ultimate power capable of breaking through their shackles. The clan regards it as its highest secret art, the utmost limit of strength! If we could obtain their precious blood to temper our bodies, we could climb another step beyond the hundred-foot pole. Heh heh!"
An Immortal Domain prodigy licked his lips and murmured, his eyes full of greed.
"As expected of a Heavenly Horned Ant. Though Qi Yuan has unparalleled talent and is the strongest of our clan's younger generation, defeating his opponent is truly too difficult!"
Qi Yi also voiced his praise. It was not that Qi Yuan was weak, but that the Heavenly Horned Ant was too strong. Or rather, both were immensely powerful. Facing either could be considered fighting a young Immortal King. No one dared claim victory!
Bang...!
Boom...!
One thunderous roar after another resounded within the formation!
"This is my final move. If you withstand it, fellow Daoist, I can only concede!"
Qi Yuan traced a sweep of primordial chaos. With a lift of his hand, he suppressed the scattered Extreme Dao divine light, forcing it to undergo a qualitative transformation! Ten heavenly grottoes manifested visions, beginning to nurture the radiance of the immortal path around his body!
Before you continue