Chapter 157: Hun Yan Strikes—Crushing!

At this moment, everyone's gaze froze.

Great Ascendant... killed the Quasi-Emperor.

This had been almost impossible in everyone's prior understanding, yet today it happened right before their eyes.

"I'm... not dreaming, right?"

"A Great Ascendant cultivator killed a Quasi-Emperor; someone tell me I'm dreaming."

"How can this be? It can't be!"

…

For a moment, many could not accept the result.

Great Ascendant killing a Quasi-Emperor is even more outrageous than defying Heaven.

Meanwhile, Yun Yun below was filled with joy.

"I never imagined that the little boy back then has now become a strong enough one to slay a Quasi-Emperor."

She said this in her heart, and a genuine smile appeared.

Yun Zhan and Gu Lan were also stunned by the scene, speechless.

"Old man, Great Ascendant killing a Quasi-Emperor—can that really be done?"

"Isn't it right in front of you now?"

Gu Lan's tone was a bit stunned; clearly he hadn't expected this outcome. He had thought the battle would end at most in mutual defeat, then Ye Chen would flee with Yun Yun. He didn't anticipate Ye Chen would directly kill Gu Sunfeng.

"But... I still feel like I'm dreaming."

"I also feel..."

…

At this moment, after killing Gu Sunfeng, Ye Chen's Heaven-Swallowing Devil Art autonomously absorbed Gu Sunfeng's cultivation, and Ye Chen's action was clean and swift, directly taking in Gu Sunfeng's cultivation.

If Gu Sunfeng's spirit and soul hadn't been annihilated, he would have tried to retrieve the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and imprison Gu Sunfeng's spirit within it.

The reason his absorption of Gu Sunfeng's cultivation was so clean was that two Quasi-Emperors were hidden in the shadows.

Ye Chen could sense that one Quasi-Emperor belonged to his Gu Sun family, the other did not, as their auras were completely different.

Nevertheless, this matched their foundation.

If there were three Quasi-Emperors, the Gu Sun family would already be a top-tier power.

The Yun Family's refusal to retaliate against the Gu Sun family's provocation was probably because their Quasi-Emperor's lifespan was ending, so they did not engage.

However, now was not the time for such thoughts; the two Quasi-Emperors stepped out from the shadows, their eyes blazing with anger, as if they wanted to tear Ye Chen apart piece by piece.

"Ye Chen, bold!"

"No guts, would I dare come?"

Ye Chen sneered back.

"You brat, courting death!"

The two Quasi-Emperors unleashed their aura, and Ye Chen would not be outdone; his Great Ascendant eighth layer cultivation erupted fully.

And now, he was still absorbing Gu Sunfeng's cultivation.

After absorbing Gu Sunfeng's cultivation, he would almost reach the Great Ascendant ninth layer; by then, those two Quasi-Emperors might not be his opponents. For now, he only needed to buy time.

"Hun Yan, can you help me buy time?"

"I could directly slay those two for you."

Hun Yan said, his tone so flat it seemed like he was doing something utterly ordinary.

"No need, I want to slay them myself; after all, I still need to perfect my Path of Balance."

"Fine, then I'll help you buy time."

After speaking, Hun Yan stepped out from Ye Chen's forehead, gradually forming into a blue‑robed man; the moment he emerged, the heavens and earth suddenly changed color!

The two Quasi-Emperors, upon sensing Hun Yan's aura, instantly changed expression.

"Good kid! To have a Quasi-Emperor accompany you, no wonder you have such courage."

One of the Quasi-Emperors said.

They also sensed that Hun Yan's aura was so powerful it could not belong to a Quasi-Emperor.

"What on earth is this guy's background!"

Both Quasi-Emperors were baffled; not only them, but also everyone under Xingkong was perplexed.

Ye Chen's battle power was overwhelming, and now a Quasi-Emperor stood by his side; by any measure, he does not look like a lone cultivator.

"Boundless Celestial Venerable, Quasi-Emperor Protector, no wonder this kid is so confident."

"You seem to have forgotten that his own strength is also great; besides, you are Great Ascendant cultivators—could you slay a Quasi-Emperor at the Great Ascendant stage? You can't, can you?"

"Indeed, the power he displayed just now still makes my heart race."

…

"Quasi-Emperor, that actually is a Quasi-Emperor!"

Yun Yun was utterly shocked by Ye Chen's deeds today: first displaying overwhelming power, then summoning a genuine Quasi-Emperor. This foundation is already comparable to a top‑tier force!

She felt exhilarated yet worried, for she understood the principle that a lone outstanding tree will be felled by the wind.

Yun Zhan and Gu Lan no longer wished to say much.

In their hearts there was only one thought: "This child surpasses even the dragon‑phoenix among men."

At this moment, within Xingkong, three Quasi-Emperors faced each other.

"Two of you, my youngster wants to spar with you, but he's at the critical breakthrough point, so for now you may not disturb him."

Hun Yan said unhurriedly, as if stating something completely ordinary, his tone exceedingly flat.

"Hmph, you are one Quasi-Emperor and we are two; the advantage is ours. On what grounds do you dare fight us!"

"Two ants, viewing the sky from a well."

Hunyan finished speaking, without further nonsense, directly charging at the two Quasi-Emperors; as he approached them, his eyes contained Chaos golden light, immensely terrifying.

And those two Quasi-Emperors also sensed the terrifying power in Hunyan's eyes, decisively choosing to evade.

If they were struck by this Chaos golden light of Hunyan's, they would either die or be crippled.

"Damn it, this kid exudes strangeness everywhere—first his overwhelming combat power, then he's a Quasi-Emperor; this kid definitely harbors a great secret unknown to us."

One of the Quasi-Emperors said gloomily; obviously, he had taken notice of Ye Chen.

However, their current difficulty is this Quasi-Emperor standing before them.

This Quasi-Emperor's strength is not inferior to theirs; indeed, it surpasses them.

Hunyan saw them dodge his Chaos golden light, feeling nothing; he was merely buying time for Ye Chen, and whether he could hit them was not his concern.

Whether wounding or crippling them, it actually makes little difference; if Ye Chen weren't testing his Dao fruit, he would have outright killed these two.

After all, his current strength is already infinitely close to that of a Great Emperor.

At this moment, Ye Chen was still fully absorbing Gu Sunfeng's Dao fruit, while Hunyan's figure surged again, arriving before the two Quasi-Emperors in an instant.

The terrifying power instantly swept over the two Quasi-Emperors; upon sensing Hunyan's terrifying power, they hastily joined forces to resist.

Hunyan's strike was just right—it didn't wound them, only sending them flying backward.

The two Quasi-Emperors were shocked; despite their combined effort, they could hardly match Hunyan, causing them to begin feeling despair.

And just then, Ye Chen's voice slowly sounded.

"All right, Hunyan, come back; I've finished absorbing."

As Ye Chen's voice fell, Hunyan instantly returned to the space between Ye Chen's brows; after Hunyan returned to Ye Chen's brow, Ye Chen's aura suddenly erupted.

His cultivation at this moment is Great Vehicle—nine layers!