Chapter 980: The First Battle

The First Battle

The Rakshasa clan sought to force Li Yi out by issuing a challenge, hoping to investigate the deaths of Li Tianwang and Manluo Princess; but Li Yi, too, wished to use this opportunity to put the matter of the Gui Xu Sea behind him.

Compared to the Rakshasa clan’s affairs, the matter of the Gui Xu Sea was far more serious—it involved the secret of the Purple Blood and the existence of Huaqing Emperor.

If these secrets were exposed, Li Yi would truly be trapped with no way to heaven and no escape from earth.

After all, being hunted by the Rakshasa clan was better than drawing the attention of every powerful being in the Heavenly Realm.

Suddenly.

Within the Realm of Life and Death, a golden bell suddenly rang out.

It was the signal to begin.

It also urged the two sides not to remain deadlocked in idle chatter—many powerful beings had no patience for the petty grievances between the Rakshasa clan and Li Yi; they only wanted to see rivers of blood.

Moreover, traveling on the World Boat was too dull; many hoped for some entertainment to pass the time.

The golden bell rang.

Chi Feng, the Rakshasa celestial general standing amid boundless malevolent energy nearby, vanished instantly from his spot, transforming into a crimson figure that surged forward at an terrifying speed.

The heavens and earth of this realm roared; terrifying power surged—ordinary celestial generals would surely have been paralyzed with fear by now.

“Die!”

With a roar, the old celestial general extended his claws, wielding Rakshasa energy as he slashed downward, aiming to tear off Li Yi’s head and end this tedious battle, washing away his clan’s shame and restoring its glory.

BOOM! But the next instant, that terrifying force was blocked—a far more dreadful power erupted within the Realm of Life and Death, absorbing the Rakshasa general’s strike.

Li Yi raised one arm and blocked the opponent’s iron-hard, unbreakable limb, a cold smile curling at his lips: “You think one blow can kill me? How arrogant.”

His arm shimmered with converging power, faintly revealing layers of dense dragon scales.

“True Dragon Force? Did I see that correctly? A human celestial general has mastered the True Dragon Force of the dragon clan?” Several powerful beings on the World Boats noticed this detail.

Many were stunned.

“Another prodigy? The True Dragon Force is notoriously hard to master—otherwise, the Dragon Palace’s Treasure Tower in Luoxi Kingdom wouldn’t have sold it; the True Dragon clan isn’t afraid of this technique spreading, because without True Dragon bloodline, other races’ cultivators gain half the results for double the effort, and even if they master it, they’re instantly defeated by True Dragon clan members who wield the same technique.”

“This Tai Yi is no ordinary man—he seems to have mastered the True Dragon Force perfectly, with an effortless, weightless grace.”

“I thought this fight would end quickly. Now I’m putting down my cultivation and watching closely.”

Their exchange immediately drew the interest of many heavenly realm cultivators.

They had no interest in battles with overwhelming disparities or weaklings, but if they could witness a celestial general-level prodigy clash, they paid close attention—because it would help their own future cultivation and combat.

Only by understanding the methods of the strong could one learn how to counter them.

“So what if he mastered the True Dragon Force? Our Rakshasa energy is no weaker.”

At that moment, General Chi Feng roared in fury, extending his other arm, which transformed into a crimson longsword that slashed toward Li Yi in an instant.

Without armor, this strike alone could pierce and tear his body apart.

But Li Yi let out a thunderous roar, his body momentarily becoming a True Dragon; with a single motion, he punched forward, as if a True Dragon extended its claw.

“Hm?”

General Chi Feng’s eyes narrowed sharply—the crimson swordlight shattered under the True Dragon’s claw, and the True Dragon Force clashed directly with his Rakshasa energy.

The explosive force violently hurled General Chi Feng backward.

“Die.”

Li Yi’s martial nature surged—he saw any enemy who retreated as already defeated.

He stepped forward, closing the distance to strike, moving like a True Dragon in lethal combat.

General Chi Feng was both shocked and enraged—he had survived countless battles, yet never encountered such a reckless opponent: one who seized advantage and immediately pressed in to kill, truly underestimating him.

“Rakshasa Carnage Art.”

General Chi Feng’s body glowed crimson as he activated a Rakshasa combat technique—his power surged violently, his mind consumed by bloodlust, only stopping when utterly exhausted, and prone to uncontrollable rage where even allies became targets.

But to kill Li Yi swiftly and restore his clan’s honor, he no longer cared.

“Too late.”

Li Yi roared, his True Dragon form shadowing and coiling around the enemy, claws extending, engulfing him with terrifying True Dragon Force—leaving no escape.

“Ahh!”

The Rakshasa celestial general barely endured a few strikes before letting out a piercing scream—he was ripped apart in an instant: one arm torn off, chest shattered, legs severed, limbs twisted and broken.

The True Dragon soared into the heavens, revealing Li Yi’s true form.

But the Rakshasa celestial general was gone—his body had been crushed into a mist of blood within less than a second.

“Has the Rakshasa celestial general been defeated?”

This sudden turn stunned every spectator.

Just moments ago, they’d seemed evenly matched—how had the Rakshasa general, after merely retreating one step, been instantly torn apart with no chance to resist?

He died too easily.

“It’s the True Dragon’s Celestial Combat Art—this human, Tai Yi, has fused it into his own body, turning it into his unique technique, and with the True Dragon Force mastered, this Rakshasa general didn’t die unjustly.”

“One step back, and the gap becomes clear—it wasn’t just a single misstep, but proof of insufficient strength. In life-or-death combat, a slight edge in power decides victory instantly.”

“The Rakshasa clan was careless. This human, Tai Yi, isn’t a soft target—he’s a celestial general-level prodigy. Too bad his realm is low; if he were a Tianwang, the Rakshasa wouldn’t dare be so bold.”

Amid rising murmurs and analyses, the first battle was over.

“Good. Very good.” Shenwei Tianwang, watching from afar, clapped and smiled.

To dispatch a seasoned veteran so cleanly proved Tai Yi’s exceptional talent—he was worth the bet, and Shenwei could tell Tai Yi still had reserves, hadn’t even pushed himself to the limit.

“Incredible.”

At this moment, Dragon Maiden Yuchang also felt awe.

She knew Li Yi had trained the True Dragon Combat Art for only a short time—yet now, in battle, it yielded such results. This meant Li Yi hadn’t merely entered the technique—he had truly mastered it.

“Jidu, go collect the payment from Rakshasa’s Yujue Tianwang. If he refuses to pay, there won’t be a second battle. Also, bring back two jin of Nine Heaven Divine Water—give it to that Dragon Maiden. This was won by Tai Yi with his life—it wasn’t easy.” Shenwei Tianwang smiled.

“Yes, Tianwang.”

Jidu accepted and quickly departed with four fellow celestial generals to the Rakshasa clan’s realm.

At this moment, all Rakshasa elites watching were grim and silent.

Others might not know Chi Feng’s strength, but they did.

As a Rakshasa celestial general who had survived a hundred battles, he possessed vast combat experience, mastery of Rakshasa energy and the Rakshasa Carnage Art—none among them dared claim they could defeat him with certainty.

Though Chi Feng hadn’t worn armor or wielded weapons, neither had his opponent—“We never expected this human celestial general to master the True Dragon Combat Art and cultivate True Dragon Force. We didn’t lose to humans—we lost to the True Dragon clan.”

Yujue Tianwang sighed lightly.

But his eyes burned with deeper killing intent; he then spoke: “You’ve all seen his strength. Who will fight the second battle?”

“Tianwang, I’ll cut him down.”

At this moment, a usually silent Rakshasa celestial general spoke up unexpectedly.

“Chi Commander?”

Other Rakshasa turned to him, surprised.

This Chi Commander was the Rakshasa clan’s designated trainer of Rakshasa celestial soldiers—he rarely fought, yet none dared ignore him; only a commander with sufficient authority and proven strength could train celestial soldiers.

Every Rakshasa celestial soldier who broke through to celestial general level sought to challenge Chi Commander—and all failed, including Rakshasa prodigies.

“Good, Chi Commander. Kill this human cultivator. The deaths of Li Tianwang and Manluo Princess have been investigated—there’s no need to spare him.” Yujue said.

Chi Commander nodded and immediately turned to leave.

But then, an unwelcome voice echoed through the realm: “Rakshasa clan, we’ve waited long enough. If you still wish to fight, settle your prior debts first—otherwise, you have no right to enter the Realm of Life and Death.”

At these words, dozens of emerald-green eyes fixed on Jidu, who had come to collect payment.

Fury mixed with Rakshasa energy surged through the realm.

“What? Are you trying to default on your debt?”

Jidu barked—he wasn’t afraid. If they dared attack, every Rakshasa in the realm would die with them.

Even Yujue Tianwang wouldn’t escape alive.

The Rakshasa were furious but dared not act.

The World Boats were under the Heavenly Sovereign’s authority—they couldn’t be provoked. Yet the arrogance of this man’s tone was unbearable.

“Here,” Yujue Tianwang waved his hand, sending several glowing treasures flying into Jidu’s grasp.

“That’s better.”

Jidu counted them, confirmed they were correct, then turned and left.

“Chi Commander, kill that human cultivator—don’t let him live another moment. Every hour he breathes is an insult to our Rakshasa clan.”

“Even Yujue Tianwang has been shamed—this human cultivator is truly hateful.”

“If he doesn’t die, I won’t sleep or eat in peace.”

Many Rakshasa voiced their fury, placing all hope on Chi Commander.

“Rest assured. That human cultivator will die.” Chi Commander spoke as little as ever, then vanished.

Meanwhile, after killing the Rakshasa celestial general, Li Yi did not leave.

He stood on an open patch of ground.

A divine light descended from the heavens, brimming with vast life essence and spiritual energy; merely being bathed in it restored Li Yi to peak condition instantly.

It was meant to ensure he faced the second battle in perfect condition.

Soon.

The gates of the Realm of Life and Death opened.

A crimson light, carrying overwhelming killing intent, surged inside.

(End of Chapter)