Chen Tian's words fell on deaf ears before the gatekeeper of the Heavenly Dao. His duty was to prevent forbidden individuals from entering the Heavenly Dao ruins. If Chen Tian did not leave, he would resort to special measures. Chen Tian knew this battle was unavoidable. Directly activating his state, empowered by the system, Chen Tian was not blown away by the aura this time. This was the system's first time helping Chen Tian. Of course, the system did not unleash its full power; the system dared not. Its level was too low. According to the system, if its true level were exposed, it, something from outside the universe, would be instantly crushed by the consciousness of the universe, causing the entire system to collapse.
Without the system, Chen Tian would revert to his original state, his strength reduced to that of a mortal, starting anew. If Chen Tian had completed more missions, his strength would have recovered faster, and the system's level would not be so low. Upon learning this, Chen Tian felt a trace of pity for the system. This system genuinely considered Chen Tian's well-being. Chen Tian's body pulsed with a special power, a power that further annoyed the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper because this aura did not belong to the universe; it was a power from beyond.
The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper attacked directly. Despite its colossal size, its movements were as fast as Chen Tian's. Chen Tian unleashed his speed and swung his fists, each collision landing with a solid thud. Chen Tian found himself at a disadvantage. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper Chen Tian faced was composed of Heavenly Dao power. No matter how strong Chen Tian's body was, it could not compare to a body formed from the convergence of the world's peak power. However, Chen Tian retreated a few steps before the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's fists, then slowly stood his ground, unmoving. He unleashed his full power, knowing that to enter the Heavenly Dao ruins, he must use all his strength.
Hesitation would do him no good. Chen Tian understood this clearly. He gathered various powers, combined with Heavenly Dao power, and faced the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's fists without fear. Chen Tian's stance was firm, his fists clenched tightly. As he swung his fists, the entire space collapsed. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper saw the power mixed within Chen Tian's punch and cursed, "This damned fellow, how does he command so much power? Even forbidden individuals cannot master multiple energies so proficiently!"
Among the forbidden individuals he had encountered, Chen Tian was undoubtedly the most powerful. If Chen Tian eventually went to that place, he would surely have a foothold. Unfortunately, he had offended the Heavenly Dao today and must die here, regardless of the circumstances. This was the rule of the Heavenly Dao. Facing Chen Tian's fists, the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's massive body seemed like a target. The disadvantage of being so large was that it was too easy to hit. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's body was covered with a layer of armor that materialized almost instantly. Chen Tian's punches landed on the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper, only to produce a resounding clang.
Chen Tian's arm trembled slightly. This armor's defense was incredibly strong. It made sense; it was Heavenly Dao armor, so its defense would naturally be formidable. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper swung its left fist, launching a direct assault. Chen Tian dodged several times with aerial flips, evading consecutive attacks. Seeing that Chen Tian was difficult to deal with, the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper retracted its armor. As it retracted, its entire form shrank considerably, becoming roughly Chen Tian's size. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper clenched its fist and grumbled, "This body is too small; it's truly stifling."
"Kid, you won't have any chance from now on."
The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper transformed its body into human size, revealing a power even more terrifying than before. Chen Tian was undeterred; this was close to his objective. The first step to entering the Heavenly Dao ruins was to make the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper transform into human form and match Chen Tian's stature. Otherwise, Chen Tian would truly have no way to enter the Heavenly Dao ruins. The method provided by the system was this sole option. If the opponent maintained its colossal size, Chen Tian would indeed have no recourse.
However, by transforming into human form, it brought him closer to his objective. If Chen Tian followed the system's instructions, the success rate would be high. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper and Chen Tian met each other's gaze, sparks flying. As their eyes locked, two beams of light shot from Chen Tian's eyes. Elemental light beams surged towards the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's eyes widened, and a barrier materialized directly in front of him. The light beams struck the barrier but could not shake it. The semi-shield-shaped barrier pushed forward, and Chen Tian's head was forced back as the light beams were suppressed. Chen Tian stopped the light beams, stepped forward, and moved left and right, constantly advancing.
The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper stepped forward, and the next moment, a series of impact sounds echoed. In this special space, no figures could be seen; Chen Tian and the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper moved too fast for the naked eye to capture. Only intermittent collisions could be heard. When they reappeared, neither had sustained any injuries. Chen Tian and the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper were essentially in a stalemate, neither having inflicted damage on the other.
Chen Tian's lack of injuries was due to the system's energy covering his entire body, making it difficult for the Heavenly Dao power to harm him. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's lack of injuries was because its Heavenly Dao armor, after being compressed, became even harder. This made Chen Tian extremely frustrated. He had to break through the opponent's defense first. How could he enter the Heavenly Dao ruins without breaking through the opponent's defense? Chen Tian's expression turned serious as he prepared to use his true techniques to shatter the Heavenly Dao armor.
The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper saw Chen Tian's expression and knew what he was thinking. However, he showed no fear. As long as he wore his armor, he was invincible. He knew this clearly. This Heavenly Dao armor was not something ordinary people could break, nor could even forbidden individuals. Chen Tian spread his palm, five-colored light on the left and nine-colored light on the right. His eyes glowed with a black pupil in the left and a white pupil in the right. Five Elements power, Nine-Colored power – these energies were driven by Chen Tian. To simultaneously control so many energies was taxing even for Chen Tian.
Sweat dripped from his forehead. Chen Tian pushed the energy to its maximum before fusing them. Such a crazy act could only be done by Chen Tian. Chen Tian's actions stunned the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper, who thought, "This guy is a complete lunatic! Driving so many energies, top-tier energies at that, and at their maximum for fusion. If his concentration wavers, the resulting explosion will annihilate him. Even I fear these energies."
The energies converged and condensed in Chen Tian's hands. A chaotic, colored sphere appeared above Chen Tian's head. This was chaotic energy. Upon seeing this, the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper retreated a step. The energy exerted pressure. "Without Xuanhuang, Chaos reigns. All things, even the Heavenly Dao, are derived from Chaos. Without Chaos, there is no Heavenly Dao. Heavenly Dao power must submit to Chaos. Chaos is the creator of all."
Chen Tian gathered the energy. Who knew a portion of the chaotic origin within his body split off to condense the energy into chaotic energy. Chen Tian threw the sphere above his head directly at the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper was unable to move, losing control of its body under the pressure of the chaotic energy.
As the sphere reached the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper, Chen Tian's sphere engulfed it. A loud explosion resounded. Chen Tian stood quietly to the side as a massive, chaotic mushroom cloud rose. From within the mushroom cloud, a figure flew out – it was the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper. At this moment, the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's armor gradually disintegrated, and it sustained some injuries. Chen Tian had not unleashed his full power but had targeted the Heavenly Dao power. Otherwise, with this move, the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper would have transformed into its gate form.
That would be very disadvantageous for Chen Tian. If it transformed into a great gate, Chen Tian would be completely unable to enter the Heavenly Dao ruins. It had to survive. At the last moment, Chen Tian restrained his energy considerably. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's armor was shattered, and it was impossible to recondense it. Recondensing it would require using the Heavenly Dao power within the Heavenly Dao ruins, which would damage the ruins. That was the resting place of past Heavenly Dao masters, and his responsibility was not to destroy the Heavenly Dao ruins.
"Kid, I must admit you have some ability, but guarding the Heavenly Dao ruins is my responsibility and mission. I will absolutely not let you enter."
The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's expression was resolute. Chen Tian appreciated that look and sighed, shaking his head, "I merely wish to save this world. Why must it be so difficult?"
Chen Tian did not reveal his true intention. Reviving the Heavenly Dao was something the universe would not permit. How could Chen Tian tell the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper his goal for entering? The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper produced a long sword from its hand, seven feet in length. This seven-foot sword was the same giant sword from before, merely compressed into a long sword. Its appearance was completely different. Fortunately, Chen Tian adapted quickly, having experienced countless battles.
Chen Tian summoned dual sabers in his hands, their energy condensing into solid form. In this round, if Chen Tian could inflict a scratch on the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's back, his objective would be achieved. Chen Tian and the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper stared at each other, neither moving. Silently, the sound of clanging echoed between them, yet neither had made a visible movement. Their actions were so swift that time itself seemed unable to perceive them.
The sound shook the space. Chen Tian retreated a few steps, cracks appearing on his dual sabers. Facing the long sword condensed from Heavenly Dao power, Chen Tian was still somewhat strained. Energy covered his dual sabers, instantly restoring them to their original state. Chen Tian slashed left and right with his sabers, releasing blades of light. The cold gleam descended. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper swung its long sword, releasing sword light. The sword light formed from Heavenly Dao power collided with Chen Tian's saber light. This time, Chen Tian did not retreat; it was the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper who was forced back. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper still could not understand why it was at a disadvantage in this collision.
"How is this possible? What energy can oppose Heavenly Dao power? After all, Heavenly Dao power is the origin of all other energies. All energies will eventually be governed by the Heavenly Dao." Chen Tian's saber light contained a trace of chaotic aura. Chen Tian covered his saber light with the chaotic origin aura, causing the Heavenly Dao power to instantly become ineffective upon encountering the chaotic aura, even if it was just a trace.
This was why Chen Tian gained the upper hand. However, the chaotic aura only appeared when Chen Tian used it. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper had always assumed Chen Tian was using ordinary energy, as Chen Tian's hidden aura was so well concealed that even the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper might not detect it. Chen Tian pressed his advantage, knowing that if this method was effective, his plan would succeed. His dual sabers reached the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's back. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper reacted swiftly; Chen Tian's dual sabers struck its back, where a light shield condensed from Heavenly Dao power enveloped it. Chen Tian's dual sabers struck the light shield. The light shield held for a considerable time, showing cracks. However, this time was enough for the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper to react. It swung its long sword. Chen Tian bent his body, and the long sword passed over his eyes. Chen Tian somersaulted and regained his footing. He was somewhat surprised that he had failed this time.
The Heavenly Dao light shield that had protected the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper seemed even stronger now. Otherwise, Chen Tian's dual sabers would have already scratched the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's back. Unfortunately, with such a good opportunity, Chen Tian's mind constantly calculated, striving to deduce a way to enter the Heavenly Dao ruins once more. To enter the Heavenly Dao ruins, a scratch had to be inflicted on the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper.
"Kid, I didn't expect you to know this method either. Now that I know, you have no chance."
"We won't know unless we try."
Chen Tian did not argue. His actions just now spoke for themselves. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper now knew Chen Tian's intention, making it considerably more difficult to inflict a scratch. The method proposed by the system was to inflict a scratch on the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper. Chen Tian would then enter the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's body through the scratch. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper was a manifestation of the gate; entering its body meant entering the great gate. However, for others, the probability of death was one hundred percent. Chen Tian was different; he had the World Tree sapling within him, granting him the right to be resurrected once.
As long as a scratch was inflicted, Chen Tian was guaranteed to enter the Heavenly Dao ruins. Chen Tian was not afraid of the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper transforming into a gate. If it transformed into a gate, Chen Tian would directly draw his sword and channel the Heavenly Dao power within him. If it did not transform, Chen Tian would then draw his sword, and in that case, he could also enter the gate.
Regardless of the circumstances, the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper would face one outcome. Chen Tian believed the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper would not choose the second option. Transforming into its gate form would be simpler for Chen Tian, and it would not choose that option.
"Kid, you are forcing my hand."
The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper, driven to desperation, was covered in armor. The Heavenly Dao armor was even stronger than before, and the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's strength and aura continuously increased. Chen Tian had never seen such a surge in power. Had this fellow eaten something? The increase was so rapid that Chen Tian would not be a match if it continued.
"System, is there any way?"
"Host, there is no need to worry. The opponent is clearly desperate. As long as the host can withstand its attacks, it will fall into a weakened state when the time comes."
The system appeared and then vanished, as if fearing something.
Chen Tian touched his forehead. Withstanding the attacks required the strength to do so!
Who knew how long he would have to defend? Currently, the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's strength had surpassed Chen Tian's by a hundredfold.
Chen Tian's mind was racing, focusing on how to resist the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's onslaught. Since the system had spoken, he would defend until the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper entered a weakened state.
Many scenarios flashed through Chen Tian's mind. His calculation ability was at an unprecedented peak.
Soon, Chen Tian found a way. The Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's power surge stopped. The next moment, its figure vanished. Chen Tian flew out, repeatedly being struck and thrown in the air, sustaining numerous injuries.
Chen Tian could not detect the Heavenly Dao gatekeeper's attack location or even its presence. The gap in their strength was too vast.