Chapter 1055: Unyielding

## Chapter 1056: Unyielding

A vast starry sea stretched out, with ancient stars, one after another, turning. Each was brimming with the imprints of life, grand and majestic, and together they looked like a collapsing star field.

A profound bell chime reverberated through the cosmos. Within this star field, the colossal star that had transformed into a sacred bell resonated, its Daoist sound spreading and sweeping across all directions.

Clearly visible ripples pulsed outwards. Wherever they passed, the star field became desolate, mountains crumbled, seas churned, and all things were annihilated.

However, Huang Xudao, Huo Qilinzi, and the others were no ordinary combatants. Each possessed profound cultivation and immense magical power, truly peerless prodigies of their generation!

They were all considered the "foremost individuals" of their respective eras, sealed until now only because of the Path to Immortality, allowing them to appear in the same generation. Otherwise, how could they have possibly met? The emergence of even one such figure was already a defiance of the natural order!

Although Huang Xudao's body remained indistinct, enveloped by the traces of the Grand Dao, his power was terrifying. His momentum was so overwhelming it could engulf mountains and rivers. With a single punch, the colossal bell formed from the ancient star instantly stopped vibrating, and all ripples were frozen in place.

A phoenix cry pierced the starry sea, grander even than the ancient bell's chime. Huang Xudao swung his arm, striking like a cosmic hurricane sweeping across the starry expanse. The sacred bell cracked, emitting an incredibly harsh shattering sound, and then exploded in the void.

Simultaneously, the continuous phoenix cry surged through the starry sea, causing ancient stars to explode one after another. The star field manifested by Ye Fan instantly dimmed over a vast area.

"Boom!"

Ye Fan and Huang Xudao clashed head-on in a direct confrontation. Both their bodies violently vibrated before they were sent flying backward, and the starlight dimmed considerably once more.

"Argh..."

Huo Qilinzi let out a long roar, his blue hair wildly disheveled. Despite his slender build, he resembled an ancient savage dragon, his surging vital energy overwhelming the heavens and earth as he unleashed the Grand Dao to suppress his opponent.

Ye Fan's other Dao body... his eyes were like two sharp knives. He, too, charged forward to meet the attack, his fists and fingers subtly aligning with the true meaning of the Six Paths.

The two engaged in intense combat, their physical bodies clashing, their Grand Daos confronting each other. It was a battle of innate power and acquired skill, a fierce, all-encompassing struggle that transformed them into two intertwined masses of light and Dao marks.

The two figures separated, leaving many ancient stars cracked and the star field dimmed. On the actual land, even greater devastation reigned. The battlefield had been pushed eight hundred li into the desolate lands, mountain ridges were broken, and main peaks were leveled, leaving nothing behind.

"Boom!"

The Saint Prince clashed fiercely with the Heavenly Sovereign Prince, both fighting with unbridled fury. The Black Iron Cudgel swept across all directions, crushing everything, while the Immortal Heavenly Blade cleaved through the nine heavens, emitting countless threads of Dao light in a continuous, fierce confrontation.

The Saint Prince coughed blood, his golden fur standing on end like a radiant golden war god. His fighting spirit surged to a boil; his entire body was engulfed in sacred light, showcasing unparalleled bravery, yet he sustained injuries in this fierce battle.

The Heavenly Sovereign Prince was no better off. His handsome face was flushed, and streaks of blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. The monkey's colossal cudgel, weighing billions of jun, made him struggle immensely.

The fathers of both were unparalleled legends: one, revered by all races, had emerged in the early primordial era; the other had ruled the ancient era and passed away at its end. They stood in distant opposition across time.

The battle between the Saint Prince and the Heavenly Sovereign Prince attracted even greater attention.

"The Saint Prince battling the Heavenly Sovereign Prince — this is an alternative continuation of the conflict between the Dou Zhan Saint Emperor and the Ancient Heavenly Sovereign! It's truly exhilarating!"

Many members of the ancient race felt their emotions surge. A considerable number were trembling with excitement, all clenching their fists as they watched the intense struggle.

"That human cultivator is incredibly powerful, isn't he? He's actually managed to temporarily block three Ancient Princes by himself! Although he's bound to fall eventually, this still feels too unreal, truly astonishing!" Even respected elders of the ancient race were visibly moved.

From all directions, on every mountaintop, cultivators stretched endlessly, all observing the battle from a distance. Naturally, several prestigious human clans were also among the spectators.

With such a large crowd, a variety of opinions naturally emerged, as each individual held different views and understandings.

"This is a tragedy! What kind of people are they, to provoke the Heavenly Sovereign Prince and cause the destruction of so many sects, leading to the tragic deaths of countless innocent mortals in Yan Capital? They are truly sinners."

"Daoist Li, aren't you being overly sympathetic?" someone scoffed. "For all these years, the Heavenly Sovereign Prince has dominated the Eastern Barren. Has he killed too few humans, or destroyed too few inheritances? Everyone lives in fear, daring not to resist. Who isn't aware of his ruthless ambition? Now, when someone finally dares to challenge him, they're branded as sinners?"

"But he shouldn't implicate the innocent!" Daoist Li loudly retorted.

"A battlefield is neither a fairy tale nor child's play; it's always brutal, with lives inevitably lost. What do you mean by 'implicating the innocent'? The Heavenly Sovereign Prince has always regarded humanity as ants. Has he killed too few human masters over the years? And who is to blame for the casualties—should it be attributed to this group? Someone rises in resistance, and the Heavenly Sovereign Prince, in a fit of madness, massacres innocent mortals to vent his anger. Can the resistors truly be blamed for this? If that's the case, then all of humanity should remain silent and become compliant slaves; that would be for the best."

"Then he should have fought the Heavenly Sovereign Prince fairly and squarely, rather than resorting to such schemes. That would have appeared magnanimous and glorious, whereas this approach might implicate all of us," Daoist Li declared loudly.

"Fair and square? Magnanimous and glorious? Ridiculous!" someone retorted. "The Heavenly Sovereign Prince arrived with several Ancient Princes. Did he intend to fight alone? And with several unfathomable Half-Saints assisting him, should that human expert holding the dark gold spear go into battle like that, just to be surrounded and killed? No one can fight so many princes! What's more, it was the Heavenly Sovereign Prince who cowered, daring not to fight alone, yet somehow he's the one who appears magnanimous. Finally, a strong individual dares to challenge the Heavenly Sovereign Prince, only to be labeled a villain? What twisted logic!"

"But he still failed," another person nearby interjected. "The Heavenly Sovereign Prince broke through and escaped outside True Sage City. No real effect was achieved, so ultimately, it was ineffective."

"A battlefield isn't a fairy tale where one can always sing praises and achieve constant victory. Does daring to stand up and resist now make one wrong? For all these years, when the Heavenly Sovereign Prince rampaged across the land, slaughtering human experts, what were you all doing? Where were you? Weren't you all just indifferent spectators?"

"This humble Daoist trusts only his own eyes and focuses solely on results. He achieved no effect, which means it was useless and might implicate us!" Daoist Li reiterated.

Many fell silent for a moment. This statement was indeed true; the Heavenly Sovereign Prince had arrived with terrifying formation flags, all of which were expended in this battle.

"If these individuals had, as Daoist Li suggested, engaged in a glorious, hot-blooded battle, they would likely have been wiped out, becoming mere ashes pointlessly sacrificed by the formation flags. Knowing the Heavenly Sovereign Prince's temperament, they naturally had to fight strategically."

Many nodded. The Heavenly Sovereign Prince had never intended to fight alone; he had brought so many formidable helpers and laid a cunning trap. If these individuals had still insisted on fighting 'gloriously and magnanimously,' wouldn't that have been foolish?

If they hadn't preemptively deciphered the formation flags outside True Sage City, and the Heavenly Sovereign Prince had suddenly activated them during the battle, this group would certainly have been caught off guard, with some undoubtedly dying tragically and others finding themselves in desperate straits.

"This humble Daoist only looks at results. In the end, aren't they still fighting here?"

"The ancient race masters are stronger than humans, and there are numerous Ancestral Kings. In Daoist Li's view... why bother fighting? From now on, perhaps we should just accept being slaves. Why go through this process? Everyone can just remain silent. Disintegrating the Immortal Heavenly Sovereign's formation flags and fighting step by step — none of it has any meaning. In Daoist Li's view, humanity shouldn't fight; it would be better to simply endure and submit to all the races."

Daoist Zhen spoke, asking, "Even so, after witnessing the Heavenly Sovereign Prince break through the formation and head south, causing countless massacres, why did they cower and not try to stop him?"

Many shook their heads, saying nothing. It was an obvious point: the Heavenly Sovereign Prince could open a domain gate with a mere raise of his hand. How could they stop him? As he traveled south, who could pinpoint his exact location?

It was already a miracle that this group could intercept the Heavenly Sovereign Prince so quickly. Had it not been for masters skilled in teleportation arrays, who tracked him through subtle clues, they would have been thrown off somewhere unknown.

"These are all just excuses! This group wants to crusade against the Heavenly Sovereign Prince from a moral high ground; how hypocritical!" Daoist Li declared.

Everyone shook their heads, feeling bewildered. What more was there to say when it was so clear? This group had been resisting the Heavenly Sovereign Prince from beginning to end. When had they ever sought excuses? They had always stood firm, fighting back every step of the way.

The great battle in the field grew increasingly fierce, and public discussions also intensified, with sharply opposing viewpoints and no one yielding.

Ye Fan, the Saint Prince, Huang Xudao, and the others, though deeply embroiled in the great battle, could still hear everything, as they all possessed the Divine Ear ability.

The Heavenly Sovereign Prince burst into laughter, then his expression turned utterly cold. He scanned Ye Fan and the others, a mocking look on his lips, as what he had predicted had indeed come true.

With so many mortals dead, sadness filled Ye Fan's heart. Yet, he faced the Heavenly Sovereign Prince’s provocation with calm, as he had long anticipated such an outcome.

They had previously provoked the Heavenly Sovereign Prince, and it had been remarkably effective, leading him into a certain-death trap. The Black Sovereign had set up four layers of Great Emperor Killing Formations to ensnare him. Who in the world could possibly resist that?

Their failure to kill the Heavenly Sovereign Prince this time was not due to an inadequate trap, but rather because the Heavenly Sovereign Prince's lineage possessed an incredibly profound foundation, leading to their ultimate shortfall.

Having fought to such an extent, even a Saint would have surely perished. It was fortunate that they had the Black Sovereign's grand formation to counteract him.

Otherwise, the Heavenly Sovereign Prince would have completely annihilated them this time. With so many terrifying formation flags unleashed, mountains and rivers would lose their light, the sun and moon would turn colorless—everyone would perish.

"Haha..."

The Heavenly Sovereign Prince let out a cold, mocking laugh, scanning Ye Fan and the others. He secretly transmitted a message with his divine sense, saying, "I truly can't bring myself to kill you anymore. Next time, I'll simply slaughter ten mortal cities. I won't even need to fight; your own human race will condemn you and label you as eternal sinners, haha..."

The battle in the field was world-shaking, and people in the distance were also arguing.

"Why did these people provoke the Heavenly Sovereign Prince for no reason? In the end, they've provoked his wrath, which will likely implicate us. They're just causing trouble."

"The ancient race is so powerful; can these people truly resist them? Why try to kill the Heavenly Sovereign Prince? It just inexplicably puts all of us in peril."

"You truly live hand-to-mouth. The Heavenly Sovereign Prince’s desire to exterminate humanity's lineages has never changed. If he were to become a Saint, the catastrophe would be unimaginable. Do you still have any backbone? This time, using the Saint Prince’s hand to have a Prince kill a Prince might be the only opportunity."

"If it weren't for these people, how would the Heavenly Sovereign Prince have been enraged? What effect can such resistance possibly achieve?"

"This old man believes their actions were somewhat excessive. They should have handled it calmly, remained detached, planned strategically, and won from a thousand miles away—that is the true mark of a hero."

"How exactly does one win from a thousand miles away?"

"Well..."

"Have you people already grown accustomed to the ancient race's domineering status? When an occasional resistor emerges, they're branded as wrong, as a heretic. If this continues, will we truly become numb?"

The Heavenly Sovereign Prince heard all of this clearly. Upon hearing it, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, his gaze growing even colder.

Ye Fan's heart remained calm. What he witnessed was nothing new; on the other side of the starry sky, such people and events were countless. When encountering a robbery, everyone avoided it; when someone attempted suicide, people gathered to watch, indifferent, even mocking. Examples from wartime were even more chilling—just a crowd of spectators, cold and numb.

In the field, the battle grew even more terrifying.

"These heavens shall heed my words, this earth shall honor my will! Saint Prince, by what right do you challenge me?" the Heavenly Sovereign Prince roared, his momentum continuously rising, his hair disheveled, and his pupils intimidating.

"Boom!"

He held the Heavenly Blade in his right hand, his left hand gesturing and drawing an arc toward the void. At the edge of the vast cosmos, thunder and lightning immediately erupted, divine winds raged, and chaotic energy surged!

In that moment, the entire desolate land was filled with a suffocating oppression. All cultivators were terrified, clearly witnessing a shower of meteorites descending from the sky.

Each meteorite was colossal, carving dazzling arcs of light as it descended from beyond the heavens, carrying an aura of world destruction. These extraterrestrial meteorites flew in swathes, their immense power causing all living beings to tremble.

The Heavenly Sovereign Prince’s methods defied the heavens; his words became law, his actions, rules. It was as if he intended to destroy the world. All the meteorites surged toward the Saint Prince, and the entire world quaked.

"Break!"

The Saint Prince appeared to be on the verge of merging with the Dao, unleashing vast swathes of Grand Dao trajectories to neutralize the attack, attempting to redirect the meteorites back beyond the domain. However, he failed. Left with no choice, he furiously struck the nine heavens with his Black Iron Cudgel, meeting the assault head-on.

"Clang!"

In front of the massive meteorites, the monkey's body seemed as tiny as a speck of dust, yet he still smashed one apart with a single blow, reducing the stellar fragment to a cloud of ashes.

However, the meteorites were incredibly dense and numerous, each enveloped in the radiance of the Grand Dao, their power surging and shocking the entire world.

The Saint Prince slashed horizontally and blocked vertically, each tremor of his arms unleashing power equivalent to billions of jun. However, even he found it difficult to withstand such an onslaught of meteorites imbued with the sacred power of the Grand Dao.

These were fragments of stars, descending with the divine might of the Grand Dao. How many in the world could withstand them? Only a physical body like the Saint Prince's could possibly contend with them.

The monkey coughed up large mouthfuls of blood, still severely wounded. As he destroyed the last stellar fragment, his body swayed violently.

"Buzz!"

Heaven and earth trembled. The Saint Prince opened his mouth and spat out a stream of golden light—this was primordial chaotic energy. His eyes widened with fury, and his golden hairs stood crystal-clear on end.

"What's the point of you standing up for these numb people?!" the Heavenly Sovereign Prince sneered. The meteorites hadn't even brought the monkey down, making him feel a bit uncertain; his opponent was not inferior to him in the slightest!

The monkey’s primordial chaotic energy surged forth. The Heavenly Sovereign Prince had to exert all his might to resist, but he was still repeatedly forced back, spitting blood with every step, staining the Immortal Heavenly Blade in his hand.

"Clang!"

The two of them clashed again in a life-and-death struggle, putting their lives on the line.

On the other side, Ye Fan's true body and Dao body jointly engaged the enemy, fighting with frenzy. Relying on their ultimate divine power, they held off the three Ancient Princes, preventing them from escaping. It was an extremely perilous battle, raging to a fever pitch.

In the distance, more and more people gathered, mostly from the great human noble clans, along with many members of the ancient race's royal lineages, all watching this heart-stirring battle.