Chen Tian mimicked Xie Tun Tian's movements. Chen Tian's technique was the same as Xie Tun Tian's; as the creator of this move, how could Chen Tian not know how to use it? However, Chen Tian's execution of the move still differed from Xie Tun Tian's. While their actions were identical, the power of their techniques varied. Chen Tian, no longer the creator of the Xie Ling race in this life, drew upon the energy of heaven and earth to fuel this move.
Xie Tun Tian, on the other hand, utilized the corrupt spirit energy, which made his technique several times more potent than Chen Tian's. However, Chen Tian was aware of this disadvantage and had prepared a countermeasure. Both Chen Tian and Xie Tun Tian raised their arms high, charging their power. Chen Tian was faster in his charge; after all, Xie Tun Tian needed to control a great deal of corrupt spirit energy, while Chen Tian only needed to mobilize the power of heaven and earth. The energy of heaven and earth existed in the void, though it was minuscule. Chen Tian's move further diminished the already scarce and ethereal energy of the void.
The entire void seemed to fall silent, as if an boundless darkness had enveloped the figures of both combatants. Within the darkness, only black space remained, and the locations of Chen Tian and Xie Tun Tian were entirely indiscernible. Suddenly, streaks of light flashed like a galactic war, their constant intersection creating energy fluctuations that illuminated the surrounding void. Numerous beams of light shot out from behind Chen Tian and Xie Tun Tian, attacking from all directions – above, below, left, right, southeast, and northwest. Chen Tian and Xie Tun Tian defended themselves with light shields around them, resulting in an intense and stalemated battle.
This was undoubtedly a clash of titans. Both Chen Tian and Xie Tun Tian unleashed their full power, engaging in simultaneous offense and defense. The current contest was a test of who would falter first. Xie Tun Tian had not anticipated that Chen Tian's technique at this moment would possess comparable power to his own. Indeed, one could not underestimate him. Xie Tun Tian raised his arm, and the light behind him coalesced into a long sword, which then shattered into countless sword fragments. These sword fragments flew out under Xie Tun Tian's control, swarming towards Chen Tian.
Chen Tian slammed his arm down, and light formed into eight directional shields, which wrapped around him. The sword fragments attacked Chen Tian from all sides, but his protective shields held firm. No matter how many light swords attacked, Chen Tian's rotating shields protected him. The light swords struck the shields, but the shields remained unharmed. Seeing this, Xie Tun Tian lowered both arms, and all the light swords merged into a colossal, world-shattering sword. The shields around Chen Tian coalesced into a circular energy dome. As Xie Tun Tian lowered his arms, the light sword struck Chen Tian's energy dome.
The light sword and the energy dome collided for a long time until cracks finally appeared on both. It was a race to see whether the light sword would shatter first or the energy dome would break.
Chen Tian's lips curled into a smile as he channeled all his strength into the energy dome. The cracks on the dome instantly repaired themselves. The energy used by the dome previously was not Chen Tian's own power; the energy of heaven and earth weakened over time. Chen Tian now infused his own strength to reinforce the dome.
The collision between the energy dome and the light sword ended with the light sword shattering, a victory for Chen Tian.
Xie Tun Tian was displeased to see Chen Tian break his move. He could accept defeat to anyone else, but not to Chen Tian.
Xie Tun Tian's intense desire not to lose to Chen Tian actually caused his power to surge. Chen Tian observed this, wondering if emotions could truly enhance one's strength.
It seemed Xie Tun Tian had indeed changed over the past few thousand years; at least, he now understood emotions.
"You must die here today, even if it means we both perish."
"Try me."
Chen Tian's faint smile showed no fear of Xie Tun Tian, as he had already deciphered most of Xie Tun Tian's techniques.
It was time for Chen Tian to unleash his full power. He had been holding back until now, which would undoubtedly enrage Xie Tun Tian if he knew. Xie Tun Tian had used almost all his tricks, yet Chen Tian had not even attacked with his full might, implying Chen Tian still had hidden trump cards and secret techniques.
Terrifying, there was no other way to describe it. However, Xie Tun Tian remained unaware. Chen Tian and Xie Tun Tian stared at each other. Xie Tun Tian's aura was significantly stronger than Chen Tian's. The influence of emotions had boosted Xie Tun Tian's strength by at least thirty percent. This thirty percent was not to be underestimated; Chen Tian found himself at a disadvantage in the battle.
Both figures moved almost simultaneously. Chen Tian clutched his twin blades, while Xie Tun Tian swung his long spear. A crescent moon met a blade's glow, and they collided with a thunderous roar. Energy waves spread, causing the void to tremble. Chen Tian's power and Xie Tun Tian's combined force exceeded the boundaries of the void, and the void began to collapse bit by bit.
Seeing this, Chen Tian and Xie Tun Tian decisively abandoned their attacks. Neither knew what lay beyond the void, and Chen Tian dared not venture into it for battle. Xie Tun Tian shared the same thought. They simultaneously retracted their power, both suffering the backlash. Chen Tian's formidable and tenacious nature brought Xie Tun Tian despair once again. In the previous collision, he had held the advantage, but Chen Tian was not weaker than him. Although he was stronger afterward, why couldn't he defeat Chen Tian?
Chen Tian seized the opportunity while Xie Tun Tian was lost in thought and attacked. With his twin blades in hand, two beams of light crossed and spun in a crisscross pattern, attacking. Chen Tian crossed his arms and spun his entire body into a drill, with the blades aimed directly at Xie Tun Tian. Xie Tun Tian, after a brief moment of stunned reaction, thrust his spear forward as the cross-shaped blades approached him. The spearhead collided with the blades, sending him retreating dozens of meters. Chen Tian's body spun into a drill, his arms extended and crossed, the twin blades rotating at high speed as they approached Xie Tun Tian.
Xie Tun Tian had just stabilized himself when Chen Tian's attack, executed with great speed, forced him to counterattack and defend. He horizontally placed his long spear in front of him, gripping both ends with all his might. Chen Tian's drill struck the center of Xie Tun Tian's spear. Sparks flew, and a loud noise erupted. Xie Tun Tian was forced to retreat continuously, his long spear showing a crack in the center. Xie Tun Tian was aghast; this was the Xie Ling Spear, and even a replica should not have been cracked by Chen Tian in his current state.
However, what came next was even more shocking. The Xie Ling Spear snapped into two pieces under the force of Chen Tian's twin-bladed drill. The residual energy from the break repelled both of them. Chen Tian stopped spinning, his face pale.
Seeing Chen Tian's condition, Xie Tun Tian said, "No wonder the Xie Ling Spear broke. But with you in this state, how much energy do you have left? It's mine, isn't it?"
The scales of victory seemed to tip towards Xie Tun Tian. Chen Tian, his face pale, remained silent. In the previous attack with the twin-bladed drill, Chen Tian had unleashed nearly seventy percent of his power to break the Xie Ling Spear, maintaining that power until the spear shattered.
As a result, Chen Tian had depleted most of his internal energy, leaving him with only thirty percent. Xie Tun Tian's energy remained vast and boundless, especially his recovery abilities, and even his energy regeneration speed was astonishingly potent. It was impossible for Chen Tian to sustain a prolonged battle.
Fortunately, Xie Tun Tian had exhausted his techniques. The subsequent battles would not be as perilous. Chen Tian did not believe Xie Tun Tian had any more tricks up his sleeve, as he would not have passed on too many techniques. Those techniques were exclusive to the Xie Ling race's own members. Teaching them to an outsider would be a transgression. If discovered, his status would be jeopardized.
The Elder Council would not act according to his wishes. The Elder Council was designed to operate according to the rules. As long as Chen Tian did not die in reincarnation, that rule would bind the entire Elder Council. The Elder Council was involved in high-level combat; even if the entire Xie Ling race were annihilated, as long as the higher-ups remained, they would not be considered completely extinct.
However, the Elder Council acted according to the rules. Therefore, the changes within the Xie Ling race were not within their jurisdiction. If no rules were broken, they would not intervene.
Otherwise, "Tian" would not have been able to seize control of the entire Xie Ling race so quickly. The Elder Council merely acted by its own rules and could not interfere in this matter.
Chen Tian felt for the first time that his own rule had been a well-designed one. However, it was precisely because of this that Chen Tian could guarantee that the Xie Ling race's Elder Council would not betray him. Even if others betrayed him, they would not, because without Chen Tian, they would never be free. If Chen Tian died, they would be unable to leave that place.
Xie Tun Tian was extremely displeased to find Chen Tian's power was comparable to his own. He craved greater power, and his current strength was insufficient to kill Chen Tian. This desire intensified rapidly, and something began to sprout and grow deep within his heart.
Xie Tun Tian felt the change within him. Suddenly, his aura exploded, his power increasing hundreds of times compared to before. Chen Tian, overwhelmed by this aura, was pinned down and unable to move. From Xie Tun Tian's aura, Chen Tian sensed a familiar presence; it was his aura. Damn it, he had personally intervened. Chen Tian had underestimated that individual's resolve to kill him!
Chen Tian, unable to move under Xie Tun Tian's oppressive aura, watched as Xie Tun Tian's attack lunged forward. Chen Tian had no ability to resist and could only await death. Xie Tun Tian's claw approached Chen Tian, growing larger by the moment. Under this claw, the entire void shattered, with cracks spreading across the void. Chen Tian closed his eyes, realizing his path had come to an end.
Just as Chen Tian despaired, Qing Yun's figure emerged from Chen Tian's body, forcefully severing their fusion. Chen Tian's body exploded before the colossal claw.
Qing Yun awoke and witnessed everything. Chen Tian had forcefully severed their fusion to prevent them from dying together, or so Qing Yun believed.
The reality was different. Amidst the explosion, a beam of light illuminated the void, causing it to shatter. The vast expanse of the universe unfolded. Xie Tun Tian had no idea what was happening.
How had the void turned into the universe? What was this boundless cosmos?
Chen Tian's figure slowly emerged from the light. With every step he took, the universe seemed to bow before him, as if kneeling. The starry sky lay beneath his feet, with the nebulae coalescing into a throne. Chen Tian was like the emperor of the universe.
His aura far surpassed Xie Tun Tian's. Chen Tian had not yet grasped the power within him when the system's voice sounded: 'Ding, emergency state activated. This state can only be used twice and lasts for one day.'
'Your host's strength will be elevated to the transcended level, meaning the level after completing the eleventh life. You will be an existence beyond the Heavenly Dao and the will of the universe.'
Chen Tian listened to the system's voice in his mind. Did the system have such a function? Chen Tian had never known. He had always had no concept of his strength after the eleventh life, which required enduring eleven cycles of reincarnation. The road was still long.
Now, the system had granted him the power of his eleventh life prematurely. With such power, Chen Tian's confidence was immense.
Even facing that individual, he had a fighting chance. Having just acquired immense power, Chen Tian was not yet familiar with it. Xie Tun Tian, looking at Chen Tian seated on the throne, saw Chen Tian as an existence beyond reach. He merely glanced up, and his entire body exploded without warning.
With Xie Tun Tian's existence, he was insufficient to gaze upon the power of the entire universe, let alone Chen Tian, who transcended the universe's limitations.
Xie Tun Tian's body exploded. Strangely, the corrupt spirit energy from his body did not dissipate. From his flesh and blood, a seed sprouted and absorbed all the flesh and blood. The seed quickly transformed into a figure. Chen Tian's gaze fell upon this scene.
The figure before him was all too familiar; it was his disciple: Tian!
It was incorrect to call him Tian; his true name was Zhou Tian.
Chen Tian spoke, 'My good disciple, your scheme is truly brilliant.'
'You flatter me. While you were away, I will make the Xie Ling race even more glorious.'
'You wish to become the next leader of the Xie Ling race? I can only say you are dreaming. I will personally annihilate the Xie Ling race.'
'No, you won't have the chance. I appeared here today to completely eliminate you.'
Zhou Tian's cold demeanor and emotionless eyes conveyed that he truly intended to kill Chen Tian.
'Then we will see how capable you are.'
Chen Tian slowly rose, and their auras clashed. They were surprisingly evenly matched. Chen Tian was still at his full power. Could this Zhou Tian have obtained some fortuitous encounter? However, after several reincarnations, countless eons had passed, and he was certainly more powerful than before. But this level of power was unnerving.
Even if Zhou Tian were immensely powerful, he should not be able to match Chen Tian equally.
'System, what's going on? Scan him for me.'
'Ding, scanning in progress.'
'Warning, warning. Detected cosmic power exceeding the limit. The opponent is at the same level as you and cannot be identified. Your current strength is too low to provide information.'
Chen Tian sensed danger from the system's voice. Zhou Tian was at the same level as him, an existence that transcended the universe.
What had happened during his reincarnation?
'No, something is not right. Your main body should not be able to descend here. This body is a clone!'
Chen Tian, realizing something, exclaimed it directly. Zhou Tian smiled, 'As expected of you, you're quick to notice. However, this clone possesses the full power of my main body. The clone residing in the Xie Ling race only has half the power of my main body. I'm telling you this to let you know that the entire Xie Ling race is already within my grasp. This universe will soon become my sustenance.'
Chen Tian's expression grew grim. This statement revealed that Zhou Tian was a practitioner from another universe. He had actually taken another universe's being as his disciple.
How had he not noticed it back then?
Chen Tian versus Zhou Tian, disciple versus master. A peak confrontation was about to unfold, transcended versus transcended.