The pace of Ye Jingyu’s advance halted upon seeing the imposing man before him, who possessed a cascade of purple hair but whose features remained unsettlingly indistinct. The Bā Yuán Lì within him churned relentlessly, the Heavenly Sovereign Blade manifested in his right hand, and even the Eastern Emperor Bell, residing within his Sea of Consciousness, hinted at a violent emergence.

Though Black Nether Tyrant remained motionless, the sensation he imparted was akin to an entire planet plummeting directly downward; the pressure was immense, demanding his utmost caution.

Black Nether Tyrant still made no move, merely standing there, a faint, almost illusory smile gracing his vaguely defined face. Ye Jingyu was perplexed; how could he sense a smile when he couldn't clearly perceive the man's features? The feeling was strange, yet undeniably uncanny.

Meanwhile, not far off, the flames surrounding Yan Senxu intensified, causing the white Li Fire and the purple Flame of Destruction to gradually dim. While both were extreme manifestations of flame, ranking among the highest tiers in the Three Realms, their quantity was simply too scarce to sustain the confrontation for long.

Medusa and Zhan Bulasi*William regarded Yan Senxu with unconcealed displeasure, yet neither made a move to intervene. While both despised the prospect of the Flame Demon Clan birthing another Demon King, they were even more hesitant to antagonize Black Nether Tyrant. After all, he had existed for eons, and the true extent of his hidden powers remained an absolute mystery within the Demon Realm.

Watching the Li Fire and the Flame of Destruction being steadily consumed, Ye Jingyu grew increasingly anxious. He had, after all, seized the Fire Spirit Pearl from Yan Senxu—regardless of his original intent, the pearl was now fully absorbed. While he might currently disregard Yan Senxu, should the latter successfully ascend to the rank of Demon King, it would spell disaster. Even if Ye Jingyu himself were unafraid, what protection remained for those beside him?

He certainly wouldn't act with the detached arrogance of Demon Kings like Black Nether Tyrant, who upheld their status by rarely acting rashly. If Yan Senxu targeted his companions, who among them could possibly resist?

With a shing sound, patience vanished. Gripping his blade with both hands, Ye Jingyu surged forward, cleaving directly toward Black Nether Tyrant. A blinding streak of blade-light instantly flared, arriving before Black Nether Tyrant in a flash.

Black Nether Tyrant retained his subtle smile and casually waved a hand. The blinding blade-light shattered instantly, its accompanying blade aura dissolving into nothingness beyond the main strike.

But Ye Jingyu’s second strike was already incoming, fiercer, faster, and more precise than the first. It reached Black Nether Tyrant’s brow almost instantaneously. Black Nether Tyrant merely raised his right hand slightly and flicked his finger; the second blade-light fractured once more.

Through Ye Jingyu’s third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh strikes, Black Nether Tyrant had not shifted his posture once, deflecting nearly every assault with a mere finger-flick, seemingly without effort.

Just as Ye Jingyu prepared his eighth strike, Black Nether Tyrant, perhaps growing impatient, made to snatch at the incoming blade-light.

At that moment, the lunar disc embedded between Ye Jingyu’s brows suddenly shimmered with silver light, sweeping toward Black Nether Tyrant. Immediately, the space surrounding the Tyrant began to fracture and collapse inward. Violent spatial energies erupted, a colossal force pressing down upon Black Nether Tyrant.

Black Nether Tyrant’s perpetually serene expression wavered slightly. He clearly hadn't anticipated such devastating power residing in a mere glance from Ye Jingyu—power potent enough to injure an expert at the Demon King level. However, his change was momentary.

Without any discernible preparatory movement, he merely swung his fist forward with casual ease. The might of Ye Jingyu’s Eye of Reincarnation was instantly pulverized. No massive explosion was heard, yet everyone present felt a dizzying numbness in their eardrums—the sound of collapsing space being violently obliterated had exceeded the threshold of audible impact. Had anyone present possessed less profound cultivation, they would have been reduced to dust.

Ye Jingyu had already closed the distance, the Eastern Emperor Bell having materialized silently in his right hand, swung downward toward Black Nether Tyrant as if wielding a massive sledgehammer.

Black Nether Tyrant, initially only mildly surprised by Ye Jingyu’s strength, was rendered utterly speechless when the Eastern Emperor Bell was summoned. The ancient aura emanating from the artifact stunned him speechless.

The palm strike he had been directing at Ye Jingyu snapped back abruptly. His usually steady posture broke as he retreated rapidly backward, employing esoteric skill to narrowly evade the assault from the Eastern Emperor Bell. Sweat now beaded across his forehead.

“You… you… where did you acquire this thing?” Black Nether Tyrant’s voice betrayed a tremor, whether from excitement or sheer terror, it was impossible to tell.

Seeing the eternally composed Black Nether Tyrant so unhinged, Medusa and Zhan Bulasi exchanged confused glances, their gazes involuntarily drawn to the dull, greenish ancient bell in Ye Jingyu’s hand. Though the Eastern Emperor Bell appeared devoid of luster, anything capable of causing such a reaction in Black Nether Tyrant was assuredly no ordinary item.

Ye Jingyu paid no heed to the Tyrant’s shock, nor did he deign to answer. Seeing that the artifact instilled fear in his opponent, he tossed the bell upward with one hand, sending it hurtling toward Black Nether Tyrant.

Faced with the rapidly approaching Eastern Emperor Bell, Black Nether Tyrant finally managed to regain a measure of composure.

“Hmph. Even possessing such a great treasure, how can your current cultivation level utilize it? Tell me its origin swiftly, and I will spare your life!” Black Nether Tyrant’s voice was now laced with killing intent; he was clearly obsessed with the bell’s lineage.

Ye Jingyu, however, ignored the prattling, continuing to maneuver the Eastern Emperor Bell for the strike. If he didn't fear Eastern Emperor Taiyi himself, why would he fear a mere Demon King?

“Overestimating your capabilities…” Seeing that Ye Jingyu utterly disregarded him, Black Nether Tyrant finally flared with true rage. Purple flames erupted around his palm, and he slammed his hand directly toward the Eastern Emperor Bell.

With a soft weng sound, Black Nether Tyrant’s palm struck the bell heavily. The ensuing massive clang sent Medusa and Zhan Bulasi reeling, spots dancing before their eyes, while deep fissures spiderwebbed across the ground. The purple flames rapidly enveloped the Eastern Emperor Bell, seemingly attempting to sever all connection between it and Ye Jingyu…

Sensing Black Nether Tyrant's intent, a wave of shock and fury washed over Ye Jingyu. This was his ultimate safeguard; he would never allow it to be seized…