The colossal shockwave that violently exploded outward swept past like countless arcs of lightning, bathing the entire world in a stark purple hue. The sharp, blinding glare of the lightning seared every eye, rendering vision useless.

The man in the green shirt’s expression suddenly shifted; his face grew grim as he stared coldly at the lightning, remaining utterly silent.

The surging, roiling electrical energy abruptly recoiled in all directions, as if flung back by some unseen force. The remaining arcs of electricity settled upon Ye Chen’s body like feathers, and then, slowly, before the astonished gaze of everyone present, they began to permeate his flesh, vanishing entirely.

Absorbed?

Nuwa and the others were momentarily stunned.

It must be understood that this was no ordinary lightning; it was the primal force of Thunder, imbued with the potent power of the fundamental Laws!

Ye Chen looked up at the green-shirted man, stating coldly, “Killing you would be as easy as turning over my hand! The purpose for my coming here today is fulfilled; I shall take my leave now!” With a slight nod toward Nuwa and the others, he strode forward.

Yue Ling and Zhuge Fan followed close behind, their hearts filled with awe. Only they had clearly seen how, after entering Ye Chen’s body, that lightning had traveled straight down through the soles of his feet and disappeared without a trace into the earth.

As Ye Chen now moved, his imposing aura was as unstoppable as a rampaging beast. The green-shirted man frowned deeply, fixing his gaze upon Ye Chen. Standing behind him were several figures whose auras were as powerful as Nuwa’s group—deep and unfathomable as the ocean. Their posture suggested they were arrayed to support the man in green; clearly, they looked to him as their leader.

When Hao Tian and the others saw that Ye Chen was unharmed, they collectively breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, even if Ye Chen had truly slain the True Person of the Ten Pavilions, their allegiance remained with Ye Chen. After all, they had known the True Person of the Ten Pavilions for only a short time, whereas Ye Chen had been a constant presence in their lives for much longer.

Once emotion enters the equation, the lines between right and wrong often blur.

Now, as Ye Chen advanced, not a single one of the dozen or so figures floating in the air dared to obstruct him; they all parted ways to let him pass.

“Stop!” the green-shirted man suddenly commanded.

Ye Chen halted but did not turn around. He remained silent, yet the latent hostility radiating from him suddenly intensified. A torrent of killing intent surged outward, instantly saturating the entire City Lord’s Mansion, causing Nuwa and the others to feel a prickling sense of terror.

The green-shirted man’s gaze was sharp as lightning as he looked at Ye Chen coldly. “Don’t assume there is no one here who can handle you! Seventh Brother, don’t just stand there watching the show—make a move!” This last part was clearly directed at someone else.

“Oh dear…” A languid voice drifted down from the air. “I was hoping to watch the fun a bit longer. Not only does this kid possess the primal law of the Wind element, but he also understands the profound mysteries of controlling the Earth, allowing him to borrow the soil to ground your electricity. You are fundamentally countered by him.”

Ye Chen’s pupils contracted slightly, and he whipped his head around to look. Beside the green-shirted man, the void warped, and a handsome youth materialized. Dressed in luxurious brocade as if he were an esteemed young master, he sported two earrings and wild, windswept hair cascading over his shoulders. With red lips and white teeth, his smile was guileless, pure, and endearing.

Ye Chen stared, his brow knitting slowly. Undeniably, this youth had been present from the very beginning, yet Ye Chen had failed to sense him until this moment.

“Hi there!” the richly clad youth chirped at Ye Chen. “Looking at your power, you must have had some other extraordinary encounters. It’s just a shame you worried too much; if I were you, I’d have long since flown to the horizon.”

Ye Chen fixed him with a cold stare. “You intend to stop me?”

“Indeed.” The wealthy youth produced a folding fan from somewhere in the folds of his robes. He snapped it shut and used it to gently brush his flawless hair, sighing dramatically. “It’s truly vexing. I rarely intervene personally, but you don’t look like the type to yield easily. I’m genuinely worried…”

“Worried you might kill me?” Ye Chen stated flatly.

“How did you know?” The youth looked momentarily surprised.

Ye Chen maneuvered Zhuge Fan and Yue Ling behind him, declaring coldly, “I am pressed for time. Do not delay me.”

“Very well, I shall grant your wish,” the youth sighed. However, the playful irreverence on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a serious, icy sternness as he looked at Ye Chen. A fierce gale suddenly filled his robes, whipping them into a frenzy. A surging, blazing light erupted from his body, turning the entire sky into a colossal, searing furnace. Even Hao Tian and the others felt as if their bodies were catching fire, the pain unbearable.

“Firelight, blaze!”

The youth shaped his fingers into a seal, then brought his palms together and rubbed them. A tiny flame sparked into existence, artfully transferred to his fingertip. The purple light of the flame flickered precariously, seemingly ready to be extinguished by the slightest breeze. Yet, upon seeing this ember, Nuwa and the others displayed looks of sheer terror and dread.

Ye Chen’s expression grew grim. His ability to withstand the green-shirted man’s attack earlier was due to the Earth Profound Mystery—one of the twelve fundamental mysteries gifted to him by Mike—which he had managed to comprehend to about thirty or forty percent, allowing him to barely wield some power and funnel the enemy's lightning into the ground.

The Ice and Snow Mystery, which specifically countered flames, remained unmastered. Although all techniques ultimately converge, the gap in comprehension was still significant. And judging by the potency of this youth’s flame, it was easily a hundred times stronger than the green-shirted man’s thunder!

“Fire specializes in conquering Wind; the fiercer the Wind, the stronger the Fire rises!”

Ye Chen’s brow furrowed. He retracted the verdant primal power of the Wind from his palm, replacing it with a triad of glowing lights: a seven-colored radiance, a pure white light, and a black radiance. These three lights formed a continuously rotating triangle.

“Time, Light, Darkness!”

Ye Chen’s eyes narrowed to slits, flashing with a cold, razor-sharp glint as he fixed his gaze on the flame held between the youth’s fingers. His internal energy surged into his palms, causing the three forms of energy to intensify.

Two vastly different auras clashed in confrontation across the City Lord’s Mansion. This earth-shattering presence was felt clearly by every powerful entity throughout the entire Vault of Heaven City, across the entire Luotian Divine Land, and within the Imperial City of the Blazing God Empire below. They all felt as if a colossal mountain had been pressed upon them, making it difficult to draw breath.

Suddenly, a whistling sound cut through the distance, piercing the air and manifesting directly between Ye Chen and the richly clad youth. An immensely powerful yet ethereal aura flickered into existence, and in its wake, the purple flame on the youth’s fingertip, and the three streams of energy in Ye Chen’s palm, vanished utterly, as if extinguished.

Ye Chen’s gaze flickered as he turned toward the newcomer. The man was tall and slender, cloaked in snow-white garments. His flowing black hair gently danced in the soft breeze, and his entire being seemed immaculate, radiating an aura of purity, nobility, and elegance. There was no sign of overwhelming power; rather, he appeared utterly ordinary. Yet, the moment he appeared, the pervasive heat permeating the area was completely dispelled, replaced by a cool, refreshing energy that seeped into the very soul.

The richly clad youth and the green-shirted man couldn't help but change color upon seeing the white-robed young man, uttering almost in unison, “We pay our respects to the Second True Person of the Pavilions!”

Hearing this, Ye Chen was startled. Looking at this youth as white as snow, he realized this man was ranked second among the Ten Envoys of the Realm of Truth!

He had heard that any of the top three Envoys could effortlessly dispatch any of the messengers ranked from fourth to tenth.

“Hm,” the white-robed youth replied with detached indifference. “I just received word from the Supreme Lord: the True Person of the Ten Pavilions was not killed by him, but by the Bronze Supreme.”

The green-shirted man and the richly clad youth exchanged glances and fell silent.

When the Supreme Lord spoke personally, even if there were irrefutable evidence, they could only believe him—let alone in the absence of proof.

The white-robed youth turned to Ye Chen, his clear eyes, deep as a still pool, devoid of any emotion, and said, “You may leave.”

Ye Chen frowned, glanced at him one last time, and ultimately said nothing more. He turned and strode away, swiftly departing the City Lord’s Mansion with Yue Ling and the others.

Only after Ye Chen and his group had left did the richly clad youth finally blurt out, “Why did you let him go? Whether he killed the man or not, he is merely a junior who dared to speak to us insolently! He should have been taught a lesson!”

“You cannot teach him a lesson,” the white-robed youth glanced at him dismissively. “If pushed too far, he might even end up killing you.”

The richly clad youth stared at him, bewildered. He could not discern any expression on the youth’s face, which remained as tranquil as still water, but a shiver ran down his spine. He knew this man never lied.

Could it be that the boy truly possessed power so unfathomable?

He gazed toward the direction Ye Chen had departed, lost in contemplation for a long time.

Having left the Luotian Divine Land, Ye Chen led Yue Ling and the others in a direct downward flight. Upon seeing the vast Imperial Capital below, Ye Chen suddenly recalled something. He gestured, summoning the Demonic God Palace, then drew back with his hand. A tiny black dot was pulled out, rapidly enlarging until it settled gracefully before him.

“Stinky boy, you finally remembered to call this Princess out! I was suffocating from boredom!”

The moment the exquisite girl appeared, she pouted angrily. Her delicate nose wrinkled adorably, her watery eyes resembled pools of clear jade, and her fiery, waterfall-like red hair cascaded down to her slender waist. Her devastatingly beautiful face held a captivating charm; it was the Seventh Princess of the Blazing God Empire.

Ye Chen glanced at her. “From now on, do not follow me.”

The Seventh Princess paused, then suddenly sensed something. She looked back, instantly recognizing the Imperial Capital she had yearned for in her memories. Her body shook, and a surge of hot emotion flooded her heart. Her bright, liquid eyes misted over, two clear tears tracing paths down her cheeks. Realizing something, she instantly dashed toward the city, crying out, “Father! Father!”

Yue Ling shot Ye Chen a puzzled look, but Zhuge Fan was already chuckling. “Brother Ye, when did you manage to kidnap the Princess of the Blazing God Empire?”

Ye Chen tapped his head. “Stop letting your imagination run wild!”

Zhuge Fan stuck out his tongue, smiling without saying another word.

Yue Ling watched the two of them, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her heart.

“Let’s go,” Ye Chen turned, preparing to depart.

Just then, the voice of the Seventh Princess echoed from behind, “Hey, scoundrel, wait up—”

Ye Chen frowned, turning back. The Seventh Princess was flying back urgently, her charming cheeks flushed with a rosy glow, slightly breathless.