Chapter 590: Abandon

The hammer strike decides victory or defeat!

Within the arena, sound waves echoed, yet an eerie silence prevailed, as nearly all eyes converged on Li Yuan, who turned, hammer on shoulder, through the swirling dust.

This hammer strike, Li Yuan unleashed with all his might—its aura so intense it would make even a Grand Master pale—victory was self-evident.

"Is it over already?"

On the spectator stand, the Grand Masters of the Five Great Sects all showed signs of change—some stunned, some satisfied, others regretful they hadn't witnessed this clash between two peers.

For millennia, the most gifted prodigy, a divine-demon-level rising star, versus the reigning top martial sovereign—the world had held some anticipation for this battle.

But this… was no longer just a weak start and a weak finish…

Yet Li Yuan seemed oblivious—he paid no mind to the outcome of his hammer strike, only gazing through the scattered dust at Dong Ershisan.

His eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and the thought of his Spirit Puppet Heart made his heart ache.

This damned old bastard!

"What did you say?"

On the spectator stand, Dong Ershisan's face was as cold as water; the bird-headed creature beside him, flapping its wings, turned to stare at Li Yuan, every hair on its body standing on end, eyes filled with horror.

How dare you?

"I said—"

Li Dao-ye's anger was still burning, but before he could vent it, his heart lurched—he rose instantly without thought.

BOOM!

The arena, like a ruin, shook violently—as if a volcano that had built pressure for millennia was about to erupt.

A Grand Master's Threefold Unity cannot be killed unless shattered by a Divine Realm breakthrough—let alone a Divine Palace cultivator?

Li Yuan's full-power hammer strike decided victory, but he lacked the strength to obliterate a Divine Palace cultivator in one blow.

"Li Yuan!"

A tide of blade-light rolled outward as Wan Zhuli slowly rose; beneath his tattered robes, his body—forged by countless strikes—bloomed with divine markings,

like a black divine dragon winding through him, as a chilling blade intent surged upward.

Under that hammer blow, his bones and tendons shattered in many places, his inner armor's true qi crushed—but his Divine Palace had already formed, and with each breath, half his injuries healed.

Now, as he stood again, he felt no restraint from the Eight Directions Temple—his Spirit Form Divine Realm had fully revived.

"Elder!"

On the spectator stand, Yuan Qing Daoist's face changed—he instinctively summoned the Three-in-One Qi Pillar, but the next instant, as Dong Ershisan cast a glance, he froze in place.

"Old man?"

A cold voice echoed from the spectator stand.

ZOOM~

Invisible ripples spread, like a winter cold front, freezing all things—even the scattered dust seemed suspended midair.

'This old bastard is too fierce!'

Li Yuan's heart turned icy—he felt the surrounding void press against him like solid matter; even with his current physique and brute strength, he couldn't move, like a mosquito trapped in amber.

He could only watch helplessly as Dong Ershisan stepped forward, slowly, through the frozen stillness.

But he was merely startled by the old man's power—his heart held no fear.

In the past three years, he had listened too many times; the many rules Dong Ershisan deliberately concealed were all mentioned in his Listening—such as the Sitting Gate Puppet and the powerful one who built the Eight Directions Temple, both bound by the same 'rules' carved into the temple with divine markings.

Because of this rule, as long as the Eight Directions Temple stands, the Spirit Puppet cannot die.

And this rule, the Spirit Puppet itself cannot violate—that's why Dong Ershisan had asked Li Yuan if he agreed.

This is the rule.

WOOO~

As Li Yuan recalled the rules of the Eight Directions Temple, the invisible ripples had already engulfed everyone—even Wan Zhuli, sword drawn from the ruins, was frozen in place.

"Master Ershisan…"

The bird-headed creature flapped its wings over, trying to plead: "He didn't say anything wrong—it really does violate the rules…"

"Get lost!"

Dong Ershisan glanced at him.

"Yes sir!"

Giving Li Yuan a look of "I can't help you," the bird-headed creature fled in panic. WOOO~

As Dong Ershisan drew nearer, Li Yuan's chill deepened—he didn't believe the old man could defy the Eight Directions Temple's rules, but this aura, far beyond Divine Palace level, still sent shivers down his spine.

"You have great courage."

Hovering in midair, Dong Ershisan studied Li Yuan—this brat who dared insult him—was he truly the same groveling, fawning youth from before?

'No possession…'

As this thought crossed his mind, Dong Ershisan released his aura.

Li Yuan felt the pressure lift—he stretched his limbs, too lazy to answer, and pulled out the Eight Directions Temple token to leave.

"Wait!"

Dong Ershisan frowned.

"What? Can't I leave?"

Li Yuan's heart stirred slightly.

In the past three years, he'd dealt with Dong Ershisan often—but this old bastard was rigid, impervious to flattery; even Li Yuan, with his vast experience in coddling elders, couldn't sway him.

In one by one…

But now, he clearly sensed the old man's attitude had changed?

'Could he possibly enjoy being cursed…? No—he prefers those ruthless, ferocious geniuses who fight harder when faced with strength…'

Intrigued, Li Yuan's face showed no change.

"Since the Eight Directions Temple was forged, I have guarded its eastern gate. In all this time, I've seen countless challengers enter—many with greater talent and insight than you…"

Dong Ershisan, hands behind his back, spoke calmly: "Yet those who ultimately claim the Eastern Temple—talent and insight are secondary; mastery of killing is paramount.

With method but no Dao, one cannot achieve greatness; with Dao but no method, one cannot attain immortality…"

"… "

Li Yuan glanced at Wan Zhuli in the ruins—he understood.

Compared to cleverly climbing the mountain or sneaking into the temple, this old man preferred challengers who steadily fought their way in, blade in hand…

"Your talent and insight are excellent, but if you do not master the path of killing, even if you enter the temple, you won't last…"

Here, Dong Ershisan paused slightly: "I have no intention of making things difficult for you—I merely wished to give you more killing experience. Since you're unwilling…"

"Then forget it."

"Hm?"

The bird-headed creature nearby snapped its head back, stunned again—it couldn't believe those words came from its own Master Ershisan.

"Thank you, Elder, for your understanding."

Li Yuan was also surprised; he hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly bowed slightly.

Li Dao-ye's face was thick enough, but after just tearing into the old man with insults, turning around to bow and thank him—he still felt a bit embarrassed.

"Since you have no interest in the path of killing, I will no longer press you."

Dong Ershisan swept his sleeve and turned away, a trace of regret lingering in his heart.

He had seen many challengers with divine-demon-level potential—but those came only once every hundred thousand years, never guaranteed.

What a pity…

"Kid…"

The bird-headed creature flapped over, wanting to say something—but Dong Ershisan slapped it into the void:

"Go back to your Dao Soldier Tower!"

ZOOM~

Dong Ershisan reversed his palm—the arena shattered instantly, dissolving into divine light.

Li Yuan turned—Wan Zhuli's cold figure vanished into the flowing radiance.

(End of Chapter)