Man should kill; kill without mercy. The tyrant of yesteryear stands proud, blood staining the very peak. Since antiquity, who has not faced death? How many lifetimes end in vain? Slaughtering millions, daring to be the paramount among heroes! — Forbidden City: A Duel of Fates — Yang Yi’s Memoirs (End).

“Kept you waiting?” A chilling smile touched Ye Han’s lips. “Indeed, Yang Yi. You have made me wait too long. Years ago, I watched your Black God Syndicate rise. Years later, I watch your Black God Syndicate face off against me in an earth-shattering confrontation. This battle truly kept me waiting!”

“And have we not waited long enough now?” Yang Yi’s smile differed from Ye Han’s; his was soft, yet possessed a distinct, roguish flavor. Undeniably, this was his signature grin.

Both men paused after delivering their lines, still smiling, their eyes locked. Uninformed bystanders might have assumed they were imbeciles, but those in the know were already circulating their internal energy to sustain themselves, for the air between them was beginning to noticeably warm.

A current of rising heat flowed continuously between Yang Yi and Ye Han. Ye Han, however, seemed to sense something and sneered, “It seems you truly are not of the Heavenly Dragon lineage, otherwise you wouldn't lack the secret cultivation methods.”

“Heh, has that disappointed you?” Yang Yi chuckled faintly, urging his internal energy forth in a wild surge.

“While your strength has reached the mid-stage Grandmaster level, and your Grandmaster Domain must surely be cultivated to the sixth level, do you truly believe you can face me alone?”

“It seems I underestimated you!”

“Wrong. It’s not just an appearance. I genuinely underestimated you. My strength is late-stage Grandmaster; though not yet at the peak, I possess the secret cultivation method. My Qi obeys my command! Furthermore, a sixth-level Grandmaster Domain is child’s play for me.”

“Is that so?” Yang Yi let out a deep, cold laugh. He did not doubt Ye Han’s words.

Xiu’er, standing nearby, suddenly stepped forward, a trace of composure mingling with the smile on her face. “Husband, let Xiu’er lend you her strength. Let us see if he still dares to claim Qi is at his command.”

“Xiu’er, you…!” Yang Yi hesitated, but seeing Xiu’er nod at him with resolute seriousness, he felt a deep sense of helplessness. Regarding the confrontation with Ye Han tonight, if possible, he never wanted Xiu’er involved. However, Ye Han’s current strength clearly surpassed his own by a vast margin; there was simply no other way tonight.

“Husband, didn’t you tell Xiu’er something?” Xiu’er pursed her lips, glancing at Yang Yi. “Husband, you and Ye Han are different in one respect!”

“Hahaha, Yang Yi, it seems you’ve truly married a good wife. To stand by you unyieldingly at a moment like this—a woman with such resolve is rare in this age.” Ye Han’s laughter was cold; he was intensely jealous. Not jealous of Xiu’er’s unparalleled beauty, but intensely jealous that such an unmatched woman chose to remain at Yang Yi’s side at this very juncture.

“Hmph, you flatter me,” Yang Yi snorted coldly. He certainly didn't believe Ye Han’s blessing was genuine; it felt more like a thinly veiled mockery.

“Before we begin, I must ask, which family’s daughter is this, so divinely beautiful she seems a celestial being?”

“The family I belong to I will not name, but I am Zhuge Xiu, Yang Yi’s wife!” As Xiu’er finished speaking, before Ye Han could utter a word, she shot forward in a swift stride.

Seeing this, both Yang Yi and Ye Han shouted, “Get back!”

Upon hearing this, the surrounding individuals quickly retreated, putting a good ten meters of distance between themselves and the fighters. Yet, even from that distance, they could still feel the air growing hot due to the release of the Grandmaster Domains.

They stood as if watching a spectacle from the best seats, their eyes wide and fixed intently on the scene ahead, unwilling to miss a single fraction of what was unfolding.

Xiu’er’s true strength had always been a source of deep curiosity for Yang Yi. But the moment she engaged Ye Han, he was shocked to discover just how powerful his 'borrowed' wife truly was. Putting aside the fact that she was late-stage Grandmaster, consider her Grandmaster Domain alone. As Yang Yi pressed forward, he realized that in their three-way tussle, all three had released their Domains for self-protection. When his own Domain brushed past Xiu’er’s, the intensity of the heat was almost unbearable.

Inevitably, it became a two-on-one battle. Yang Yi alone was uncertain he could claim Ye Han’s life, but with Xiu’er joining him, and the instantaneous, profound understanding between them, they managed to force Ye Han into a constant retreat.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Xiu’er launched a fist strike, carrying a thick, searing current of energy. Yang Yi followed with a sweeping Thousand Troops, augmenting it with his own internal force. Ye Han’s gaze was ice-cold. Although his arrogance led him to believe he was too strong to be defeated, at this moment he knew he lacked even the time to counterattack.

The movements were swift, blending genuine strikes with feints. Watching Yang Yi and Xiu’er relentlessly push him back, Ye Han felt a chilling dread, which even caused his own Domain to slowly cool down. Simultaneously, the corner of his mouth curved upward slightly.

Seeing this, Xiu’er cried out in alarm, “Husband! Be careful!”

Boom! Yang Yi’s punch slammed into Ye Han’s chest, and Xiu’er immediately leaped, delivering a horizontal flying kick to Ye Han’s waist. However, in the very next instant, both Yang Yi and Xiu’er realized their attacks had failed to connect; they were completely blocked by an invisible, profound Qi.

Whoosh—

Both Yang Yi and Xiu’er felt a colossal wave of Qi suddenly blast them apart, robbing them of any footing and sending their figures flying outward. Just as they tried to regain balance, Ye Han’s figure materialized before them. “Bang, bang!”

“Ugh!” Yang Yi and Xiu’er both felt a violent churning in their abdomens, a force so intense it threatened to shatter their internal organs.

“Hahahaha, hahahaha!” Ye Han roared with laughter, looking at the near-fallen Yang Yi. “Now do you understand? This is the gap in strength!”

Ptooey!!!

Yang Yi and Xiu’er lay half-sprawled on the ground, spitting up mouthfuls of blood.

The Six Paths of Reincarnation disciples nearby cried out, “Dragon Lord!”

Cough! Ye Han’s eyes suddenly widened, his face a mask of disbelief as he too coughed up a mouthful of blood, clutching his waist and chest, glaring at them. “You…!”

“Celebrating too soon is your fatal flaw!” Yang Yi struggled to his feet, helping Xiu’er up, and asked gently, “Xiu’er, are you alright?”

“Xiu’er is fine.” Xiu’er held her stomach, also rising with visible effort.

Cough, cough! Ye Han spat out two more streams of blood. His eyes were fiercely cold. Though he had bled, it didn't mean he was near defeat. Yang Yi and Xiu’er’s combined assault had only inflicted minor internal injuries, but Ye Han’s counterattack had gravely wounded them both; their Zhenqi was now running rampant, churning the already twisted meridians.

Whoosh! Seeing Yang Yi supporting Xiu’er as they stood, Ye Han instantly vanished, launching a punch.

Yang Yi’s gaze flickered in surprise. He instantly spun around, but Ye Han’s blow landed squarely on his back, sending him crashing down onto Xiu’er, who he had just helped up. Yang Yi, however, could not suppress it, letting out a spurt of bloody mist: “Puff!”

“Husband!” Xiu’er’s eyes snapped wide open as she stared at the blood Yang Yi expelled onto her front, horror etched on her face.

“Despicable cur! Attacking from behind!” Suddenly, a figure materialized beside Ye Han, unleashing a Tai Chi strike. Ye Han cried out, his entire body sent flying nearly two meters away.

“Husband, husband, husband!” Xiu’er patted Yang Yi’s face frantically, her voice laced with disbelief as she called out.

“Cough, cough!” Yang Yi coughed twice, more blood trailing from his mouth. His face was deathly pale. He managed to say, “I… I’m fine, you… don’t worry!”

“Yi’er!” Suddenly, an old man appeared. Seeing Yang Yi’s ashen face, he frowned deeply. He could clearly discern that Yang Yi had sustained severe internal injuries, with his vital organs on the verge of collapse. “You six, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and attack!”

“…Yes!” The Six Paths of Reincarnation disciples, hearing the old man’s voice, instantly flashed forward, their attack clearly aimed at Ye Han. However, Ye Han’s subordinates were not about to let them succeed easily. Thus, the Six Paths of Reincarnation clashed with Tian Si and his four companions. These six men had cultivated desperately since they witnessed Tian San during Yang Yi’s military training; now, all six were early-stage Grandmasters, though their Domains were not yet high, hovering between the third and fifth levels.

“Grandfather!” Yang Yi knew the newcomer was his grandfather, and called out with great effort.

“Yi’er, don't speak yet.” Yang Yitian looked at the deathly pale Yang Yi, sweat pouring down his face. He held one hand across his abdomen, channeling energy into it, and spoke to Xiu’er, “Turn him over!”

“Ah, yes!” Xiu’er finally snapped back to awareness and swiftly turned Yang Yi over.

Yang Yitian looked at Yang Yi and said, “My last punch should only keep Ye Han unconscious for a few minutes. In these few minutes, I will transfer my entire life’s cultivation to Yi’er, opening the six Xuan Mansion acupoints and converting the sixty years of foreign energy accumulated within him into pure internal force. If I haven’t finished by then, I rely on you to stall for time!”

Xiu’er looked at the elder before her, recognizing him as Yang Yi’s maternal grandfather, and nodded with solemn gravity, moving Yang Yi’s body slightly. Thump! Before the nearly breathless Yang Yi could speak, Yang Yitian struck him sharply on the abdomen, and with a spurt, a mouthful of black blood erupted from his lips.

“Cough, cough!” Ye Han seemed to be waking up, staggering to his feet with effort, his eyes blazing with bloody malice as he stared toward Yang Yi’s group.