Chapter 198: Profound Helplessness

"Ye Wuque…… He's actually Ye Wuque?!"

In Jin Wudi's eyes, which were full of wildness, his earlier arrogance and dissatisfaction had long been replaced by shock and disbelief.

He stared fixedly at the calmly standing black‑robed figure, his throat feeling a little dry.

Although he had never seen him in person, the name Ye Wuque had, in recent times, been far from unknown in Boundless Heaven, and even throughout the younger generation of the Upper Three Heavens!

Especially the recent news that the three mighty war generals under Southern Emperor Ye Xuanji's command were slain with a casual strike by him!

This news swept across many Heavenly Pride circles like a storm, causing countless people to look askance.

Southern Emperor Ye Xuanji—what kind of figure is he?

And how could his war generals be ordinary opponents?

To be able to slay them with a casual gesture, his power has already reached a terrifying level that makes his peers look up in awe!

They never imagined that the final competitor they had to face would actually be this infamous, renowned killer!

A Tu's hand, gripping the broken long blade, had whitened knuckles from overexertion, but what he felt now was not fighting spirit, but a deep sense of helplessness.

His fierce blade intent, before that just‑now appearing imperial phantom that overwhelmed heaven and earth, seemed so tiny and ridiculous.

Competing for a spot against such a monster?

This is practically a joke.

Recalling their own undisguised mockery and dissatisfaction just moments ago, Jin Wudi and A Tu felt a hot flush spread across their faces, and a strong sense of lingering fear welled up in their hearts.

If they had known earlier it was Ye Wuque, how could they dare show even the slightest disrespect?

Now they only feel relieved that those words were never spoken to his face; otherwise the consequences would be unthinkable.

Even Mu Qingli, who had always been cool and composed, showed a hard‑to‑hide strange hue on her peerless visage veiled by black gauze.

In her clear, ice‑lake‑like beautiful eyes, strange lights flickered as her gaze fell on Ye Wuque, as if she wanted to see through him inside and out.

"So it's him…… Ye Wuque…… No wonder he possesses such world‑shocking physical strength……"

She murmured in her heart; her previously tranquil mind‑lake, like an ancient well, actually rippled faintly because of that name.

After quite a while, the plaza's frozen‑like atmosphere was finally broken by Ye Wuque's calm voice.

His gaze swept over the three people with complex expressions, finally landing on Jin Wudi and A Tu; his tone remained unchanged, yet carried an undeniable absolute confidence:

"No need to waste time—you three, come at me together."

Together?

If they had heard those words just a moment earlier, Jin Wudi and A Tu would surely have taken it as a great humiliation and lashed out in fury.

But now, their faces first showed a hint of bitterness, then they felt…… it was only natural.

Facing Ye Wuque, who could slay Southern Emperor's war generals with a casual gesture and provoke such terrifying phenomena, their joining forces might be the only way to retain at least a semblance of dignity.

Jin Wudi took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, clasped his fists, and said in a low voice:

"Brother Ye, your renowned fame rings like thunder in my ears!"

"Since it's so…… pardon my offense!"

He no longer hesitated; the ancient battle blood in his body surged and boiled!

Boom—!

A violent, ferocious aura shot up to the heavens; the golden battle armor on his body burst forth with blinding divine light, the barbaric ancient totems on it seeming to come alive, issuing roars!

He turned himself into a golden meteor, his fist gathering the terrifying power to shatter stars, like a revived primeval barbaric god, he charged ferociously at Ye Wuque.

This was his ultimate strike, holding nothing back!

Almost at the same moment, A Tu also moved!

The broken long blade on his back emitted a piercing, mournful clang, as if the accumulated grudges and killing intent of myriad ages erupted all at once!

"Slash!"

He hoarsely roared, man and blade becoming one, turning into a grayish haze of blade light that seemed able to sever causality and cleave reincarnation!

Wherever the blade light passed, even the void was sliced open with fine black cracks; that unstoppable, life‑forsaking blade intent made even the onlookers of the Dou Tian Shu twitch slightly.

Two peerlessly powerful attacks, one from the left, one from the right, carrying the force to destroy heaven and earth, instantly engulfed Ye Wuque's figure!

Yet, facing their combined strike, Ye Wuque didn't even move a single step.

He simply stood there calmly, as if the incoming attack were not a deadly blow but a gentle breeze brushing his face.

He didn't even…… assume a defensive posture!

"He…… he couldn't possibly be intending to take it head‑on, could he?!"

A absurd thought flashed through Jin Wudi's mind.

The next moment, the answer was revealed!

Dong——!!

Clang——!!

Like a great bell being struck, and also like divine iron clashing!

Jin Wudi's fist, capable of shattering vast stars, landed solidly on Ye Wuque's chest!

A Tu's fierce blade light also ruthlessly slashed Ye Wuque's shoulder!

The imagined scene of flesh and blood flying did not occur.

What came was a dull, heavy thud as if striking the eternal Chaos Divine Iron, together with the sharp, ear‑piercing ring of the blade cutting against supreme immortal gold!

Ye Wuque's black robe swayed slightly, his figure remaining unmoving.

The skin exposed on his body showed a warm, jade‑like luster, yet also harbored an indescribable toughness.

Jin Wudi and A Tu's all‑out attacks couldn't even leave a single white mark on his skin!

"This is impossible!!"

Jin Wudi's eyes widened as he felt the recoil force traveling up his fist—a power vast as the sea, boundless and majestic, carrying an emperor‑like dignity that brooked no infringement!

Pfft!

Wow!

Almost at the same moment, Jin Wudi and A Tu, as if struck by lightning, turned deathly pale instantly, and a mouthful of blood spurted out uncontrollably.

They felt that all their strength, like a mud ox sinking into the sea, was then repelled back by an even more terrifying, overbearing force with crushing force!

The two were like kites with severed strings, their bodies flung uncontrollably backward, tracing two sorry arcs in the air before crashing heavily onto the plaza ground tens of thousands of zhang away, rolling over a dozen times before barely stopping, struggling to rise, only to cough a few times, blood staining the ground before them.

Defeated!

And a crushing defeat!

Their joint strongest strike not only failed to shake Ye Wuque in the slightest, but was instead instantly severely wounded by the recoil from his unfathomably profound fleshly body!

The entire plaza once again fell into dead silence.

All the Holy War Heavenly Ape clan juniors who witnessed this scene gaped, emitting unconscious huh-huh sounds from their throats, their gazes toward Ye Wuque as if looking up at a supreme deity walking the mortal realm!

Although War Prince and Fight Heaven Pivot had anticipated this, seeing Ye Wuque so effortlessly crush two extraordinary Heavenly Pride individuals left them still shocked to the core.

Little Hero also felt a flash of excitement in his eyes, sharing in the honor.

Ye Wuque calmly watched the struggling Jin Wudi and A Tu rise, and said lightly:

"I accept your concession."

Upon hearing this, their faces grew more bitter, yet they could no longer muster even a hint of resentment.

The gap was too great, great enough to inspire despair.

They struggled to their feet, bowed deeply to Ye Wuque, their tone filled with reverence and admiration:

"Brother Ye, your divine might blankets the world; we… are utterly convinced!"

Afterward, according to the rules, they still had a chance to contend with War Prince for the theoretically possible second spot.

However, after clashing with War Prince, they once again felt profound helplessness.

Although War Prince was not as monstrous as Ye Wuque, his strength still far surpassed theirs, and he likewise easily defeated them.

Thus, the ownership of the two spots was now beyond doubt.

Just then, Mu Qingli, who had not yet made a move, stepped forward with light lotus steps.

Her clear, cold beautiful eyes fell upon Ye Wuque, her voice like jade beads dropping onto a plate—crisp and tinged with a unique magnetism:

"Lord Ye, your strength reaches the heavens; Qingli knows she is no match for you… this time… I concede."

She paused slightly, the light in her eyes behind the black gauze seeming deeper, carrying a hint of faint regret, but more so a determination, and she spoke softly:

"What a pity…… I couldn't spar with you, my lord. However……"

She lowered her voice, as if carrying some special meaning: "I will not give up…… perhaps…… we might meet again in the Myriad Beast Assembly……"

Having said that, she gave Ye Wuque a deep look, as if seeking to etch his silhouette into her heart, then she lingered no more, her body turning into a hazy black stream of light, like a startled swan gliding away, vanishing at the edge of the plaza.

Jin Wudi and A Tu exchanged a bitter smile, also again clasped their fists toward Ye Wuque and War Prince, hearts full of complex admiration, then turned and left.

They knew that the waters of the Wasteland Heavens were far deeper than they imagined, and the Myriad Beast Assembly would surely stir up an unimaginable storm because of this man's arrival.