As Fang Zhentian’s palm swept toward him, Ye Jingyu’s feet shifted in a blur, his Star Steps weaving erratically, instantly carrying his body hundreds of zhang away. Yet, inexplicably, Fang Zhentian’s strike still arrived before him.

“Your speed is certainly fast, but you are now within my Domain Field. Every move you make is under my control, so escape is impossible. Just surrender obediently. Don't worry, I won't kill you. Your body is a rare Starlight Physique; I will hand you over to those perverts for proper research!” A mocking smile spread across Fang Zhentian’s face as his massive hand relentlessly slapped down.

Ye Jingyu was startled. What was a Domain Field? Was it similar to the legendary domain existence? Like how Xi Yang once used that peculiar power to force the Ling family members to involuntarily burn their vital blood?

While shocked, the Heavenly Sovereign Blade was already held horizontally before his chest, intending to block the incoming slap...

“Clang…” A sharp, crisp sound, like two metallic weapons colliding, jolted Ye Jingyu, causing a numbness to spread through both arms. A fissure even cracked open in the web between his thumb and forefinger. His body was thrown backward violently, smashing through seven or eight large trees before finally slamming heavily into an ancient giant tree requiring dozens of people to embrace. He stopped only after imprinting a huge character into the trunk.

His internal energy churned violently, and a mouthful of blood erupted. Fortunately, his physical body was powerful enough; otherwise, anyone else hit with such force would have been utterly pulverized.

He extracted himself from the tree, covered in wood chips. The interior of that massive tree had actually been shaken into powder by the force of the blow.

This was Ye Jingyu’s first direct confrontation with a Venerable-rank master, and his first time truly feeling the immense power of such an expert. This was strength he currently stood no chance against.

Even after advancing significantly through intimacy with Xi Yang, he had yet to condense the Flame Golden Core. Although he could utilize the power of flame, he couldn't fuse the power of flame, lightning, and starlight together to achieve the effect where one plus one plus one vastly exceeded three.

It could be said that the reason Ye Jingyu could leap across three cultivation realms every time he condensed a new Golden Core wasn't due to a massive increase in his inherent strength, but because each new elemental energy he gained exponentially amplified the fused power.

It was similar to sulfur and oxygen; if separated, neither held much potency, but when oxygen was introduced, sulfur could explode, unleashing tremendous destructive power.

This was the true measure of his strength. Therefore, as long as he could not condense his third True Core, he would never be able to defeat a master of the Ninth Heaven head-on.

However, after being tempered by the Li Fire, his body had grown substantially stronger, enough to withstand the ordinary assaults of a Seventh Heaven master, and even ignore the attacks of some Sixth Heaven experts. But at most, he could only rely on his physical strength against Seventh Heaven masters. As for the Eastern Emperor Bell, the Heaven Overturning Seal, and the black tattered banner he had just seized—only the Eastern Emperor Bell was marginally usable; he couldn't employ the other two artifacts at all.

Even counting the Eastern Emperor Bell, he stood no chance against a master above the Eighth Heaven, let alone a Martial Venerable.

Watching Fang Zhentian walk toward him step by measured step, Ye Jingyu truly didn't know what to do. He couldn't fight, and he couldn't flee. Was he truly destined to die here this time?

“Aren’t you curious why I appeared on the Ancient Splendor Continent?” Just as Fang Zhentian was closing in, Ye Jingyu suddenly spoke.

“Isn't it because that unfilial son of yours, Lord Fang, invited you?” Fang Zhentian sneered.

“That’s right, he invited me, but besides killing a few of his sons, he also introduced me to someone!” Ye Jingyu needed to stall for time; he absolutely did not want to die here.

“Who?” Fang Zhentian frowned. Did he have other allies on the Ancient Splendor Continent?

“The Patriarch of the Feng Family, Feng Yan!” Seeing that Fang Zhentian’s interest was piqued, Ye Jingyu continued speaking while his eyes darted around, frantically calculating an escape route.

“Oh? That old fellow. Are you finished talking now?” Fang Zhentian nodded, indicating he understood.

“Huh? Aren’t you curious what he wanted to talk to me about?” Ye Jingyu was momentarily stunned. Looking at Fang Zhentian’s composure, it seemed he had no intention of asking further?

“Heh heh, what else could it be? Nothing more than trying to recruit you. Your potential is limitless. If not for the irreconcilable conflict between us, I would never bother you. But since this conflict is destined, you must die!” Fang Zhentian scoffed and once again brought down a palm strike, aiming directly for the crown of Ye Jingyu’s head.

Ye Jingyu swung the Heavenly Sovereign Blade, and a flash of blade light shot out, aiming to cleave Fang Zhentian’s incoming palm print, while his own body swiftly veered to the side.

“Kacha…” The sharp blade gleam was shattered by Fang Zhentian’s single strike. The immense force pulverized the ground where Ye Jingyu had just stood, turning the surrounding trees into wood shavings that flew everywhere. In moments, a vacuum zone with a diameter of several hundred meters emerged at the scene.

This was merely the residual power of one casual strike from Fang Zhentian. Ye Jingyu, having retreated hundreds of zhang, broke out in a cold sweat. The gap between them was not trivial, nor was it something courage alone could bridge. Unless the Heaven Overturning Seal recovered, or the Eastern Emperor Bell was in its prime, he could only rely on a full-speed retreat!

Having made up his mind, Ye Jingyu’s figure flashed, and he bolted into the jungle. Flying directly now would certainly fail to shake off Fang Zhentian, given the insidious nature of that strange Domain Field. Before understanding the field’s structure, he needed to use the terrain to bog the man down.

In just a few breaths, Ye Jingyu reached deep into the forest. He completely concealed his aura, not even daring to stir a single trace of starlight power, relying purely on his physical strength to run, pressing deeper and deeper into the dense woods…

After dodging that palm strike and seeing Ye Jingyu plunge into the depths of the forest, a playful smile—the smile of a cat toying with a mouse—spread across Fang Zhentian’s face. He unleashed his colossal divine sense, but after only a moment, his expression shifted drastically, for he discovered his divine sense was being interfered with by some force…

(Two more chapters remaining; five releases today!)