Chapter 1343: Who Competes for Supremacy

Chapter 1345: Who Dares to Contend?

The ancient road is intensely competitive. Countless heroes have fallen and been buried in foreign lands. Yet, who would ever turn back, pause, or even glance at their graves? A pile of white bones draws no attention.

This is a blood-stained path, destined for cruelty and the solitude of the strong, ultimately leading to the glory of only one individual.

For years, people have grown accustomed to heroes falling in bloody battles. Only the clash between the Sacred Body and the Hegemonic Body stands apart, captivating the attention of all cities and stirring up a massive storm.

This is a legendary battle, worthy of the attention of every strong cultivator on the entire ancient starry road!

"What? The Peerless Hegemon is injured! This is his first severe injury in decades. It's almost... unbelievable." "This is truly astonishing; the young supreme, possessing Heaven-Dominant Blood, nearly... perished. It's simply incredible."

Ahead, a commotion erupted. Mountains collapsed, and the ancient tomb radiated wisps of imperial might. The Hegemon was flung out horizontally, his body covered in brilliant purple blood and countless wounds, nearly disintegrating.

No one had anticipated that the young supreme of the Heaven-Dominant Bloodline would be wounded on this ancient continent, adrift in the cosmos. Even his indestructible physique was nearly torn asunder.

A mysterious powerhouse within the ancient tomb issued a challenge. The Heaven-Dominant Body appeared, aiming to breach the entrance of the Great Emperor's tomb to seize a heaven-defying fortune. However, the internal array patterns suddenly revived, nearly obliterating him.

Everyone who witnessed this scene felt their hearts pound. After so many years, this was the Hegemon's first injury; he had always been invincible on the ancient path.

The Great Emperor's might was astounding. A surging chaotic mist rumbled forth, as if the Milky Way of the Nine Heavens had descended, completely engulfing the ancient tomb's entrance.

The Peerless Hegemon was struck down in this manner, merely grazed by the edge of an imperial pattern, yet the impact was so devastating. One can only imagine the true terror contained within.

"The Peerless Hegemon was too arrogant. Upon seeing someone enter the imperial tomb, he, believing himself invincible among the younger generation and the strongest supreme, forced his way in, only to encounter misfortune."

Everyone was deeply shaken. It wasn't that the Heaven-Dominant Body wasn't powerful enough, but rather that the majesty of an ancient Great Emperor could not be defiled. Suffering such severe injuries from assaulting a mausoleum was hardly surprising.

His purple Hegemon blood boiled, soaring into the sky. The Hegemon healed on the spot, possessing heaven-defying divine abilities. Blood marks on his body reversed, wounds instantly closed, and his essence, energy, and spirit rapidly surged.

That he could recover so rapidly after such severe injuries was truly astounding.

"That fellow in the tomb is truly difficult to handle. He must have activated the imperial patterns at the exit; otherwise, how could we have been fine after attacking for so long?" "Definitely. He can't be a decent person. Just by his stance, trying to recruit us as disciples, you can tell his shamelessness knows no bounds."

The five great masters conversed secretly. Having witnessed everything firsthand, they knew more than others and naturally understood the full details.

This ancient continent had been drifting through the cosmos for an unknown number of years, suspected to be the mausoleum of an ancient Great Emperor. The Hegemon's injury was nothing to be ashamed of.

In fact, over the years, a Human Race Great Saint, two ancient evil gods from other races, and a Saint Spirit have all successively perished on similar continents.

This further highlighted the extraordinary nature of the Heaven-Dominant Blood, revered as one of the supreme figures among the younger generation. It was indeed a heaven-defying power!

As the vast chaotic mist receded and the ancient Great Emperor's aura diminished, the Hegemon sat cross-legged atop an ancient peak, completely enveloped in purple energy. He appeared to have healed his injuries but remained seated.

Some speculated that his fundamental source might have been damaged.

Suddenly, a terrifying figure streaked across the sky, moving so fast that human eyes couldn't follow its trajectory. Time seemed to flow backward, and space itself warped.

"Boom!"

This blurry figure surged towards the Hegemon, unleashing a devastating punch of extreme power. The surrounding sky was shattered, and the river of time seemed to be rewinding!

The Hegemon's eyes snapped open, emitting two purple divine lightning bolts that ripped through space. He launched a punch, confronting the newcomer, and the entire vast sky was pulverized.

A blinding light erupted there, as if a sun had exploded, spreading into the cosmos and sweeping across the entire region, magnificent yet terrifying.

Everyone was stunned. This person was overwhelmingly powerful, daring to attack the Hegemon while he was healing. He had to be one of the young supremes; otherwise, how could he possibly dare to make such a move?

Even with injuries, the Heaven-Dominant Body was not someone ordinary people could contend with. Only those few individuals stood a chance.

The battle there was incredibly fierce, as if two primordial deities were clashing. The dazzling light completely engulfed the sky; nothing could be seen but vast waves of Dao power.

"Ah..."

A Saint King screamed, unable to retreat in time. He was swept by the blazing light wave, instantly severed in half, falling from the sky and staining it with his blood.

In the distance, everyone's hair stood on end. What kind of combat power was this?

The mysterious figure possessed unparalleled combat power, and the Peerless Hegemon was equally formidable. This was merely the aftershock of their fierce battle, yet it unleashed such terrifying power, capable of sweeping across an entire region!

From that place, an aura of an absolute overlord, one who could decimate all living beings and demand the worship of all spirits, emanated, causing hearts to tremble.

"A disguise. You are not injured." A divine voice echoed, instantly fading away into the dark cosmos, piercing the sky as it departed.

Boom!

The Hegemon then launched a devastating punch. His purple battle body tore through space, sending vast waves of power into the cold cosmos, making the star domain tremble with overwhelming might. He gave chase.

Everyone was shocked. The person who just appeared was undoubtedly one of the young supremes; otherwise, how could he possess such horrifying power, astounding everyone present?

"Who is he? He's far too powerful, attempting to use this opportunity to kill the Hegemon!" "Is it the Great Demon God Gu Huang, who sweeps across the cosmos, or Di Tian, who reigns over the path ahead?!"

This made everyone tremble. The two had departed, but the aftershocks of their battle still reverberated. Everyone felt incomparably inferior, and many people's bodies convulsed under such peerless divine might.

The various young supremes had never engaged in life-and-death battles before; they wouldn't typically act unless they could deliver a decisive blow. But finally, someone couldn't restrain themselves.

What made hearts pound even more fiercely was the revelation that the Hegemon had not been injured at all; it was all a disguise. He had anticipated an attack and wanted to see who harbored hostility towards him.

Boom!

Between heaven and earth, purple energy surged. The Hegemon stood there, black hair flowing, purple lightning flashing in his eyes. Like an ancient god, he exuded an aura capable of swallowing mountains and rivers, of being the sole sovereign of all creation.

He stepped down from the starry sky, as if a celestial god had descended, reappearing on this continent.

The Peerless Hegemon had always been invincible among trial-takers. This had been true in the past and remained so in the present; no one had ever been able to harm him.

Purple energy surged from him, falling in wisps like great waterfalls, sweeping across the vast land and engulfing the entire sky. It seemed as if nothing in this world could shake him; he gazed down upon all under heaven, dominating the eight directions.

He had not been injured; it was a deliberate disguise. When this astonishing truth was revealed, it served as the ultimate deterrent to all the heroes on this continent.

Had the Hegemon just intended to eliminate an opponent? Unfortunately, he did not succeed.

Who dares to contend on the ancient starry road? People's apprehension of him deepened. This individual, with Heaven-Dominant Blood flowing within him, was too incredibly formidable and irresistible.

This time, he turned and rushed towards the imperial tomb entrance once more, observing carefully, still preparing to attack and open it to seize the heaven-defying fortune.

"The Hegemon is too powerful. Such a display has simply crushed the hopes of others. Only a few young supremes can contend with him and continue their rivalry." "When will these few finally have a true battle?" "Soon. I believe after the battle between the Hegemon and the Sacred Body concludes, he will go all out to contend with the other young supremes and compete for the Imperial Path."

Before the imperial tomb, a calm slowly descended. Many cultivators on the ancient path retreated, not daring to disturb the Hegemon; his unparalleled dominance had just subdued everyone.

"Hey, you purple-blooded monster out there, are you tired of living? Why do you keep circling in front of me? If you have the guts, come in and fight me. Otherwise, quickly kneel and get out!"

As the Hegemon alone commanded the mountains and rivers, dominating this continent, the arrogant voice from earlier once again echoed from deep within the ancient tomb, showing complete disregard for the Heaven-Dominant Blood.

Everyone gasped in amazement. This individual was truly extraordinary.

Only the five great masters who had been there earlier grumbled inwardly, secretly despising this fellow. He was clearly trapped inside, unable to get out, waiting for others to open the way, yet he adopted such an arrogant posture.

"Does this guy have an innate sense of superiority? Is he constantly hypnotizing himself into believing he is invincible, that he is supreme?"

"No, that's not right. This person is most likely a true sworn brother of the Sacred Body. He's trying to infuriate the Hegemon, keep him here, and buy time for the Sacred Body from the Buried Emperor Star."

Once the five great masters reached this conclusion, they developed a slight respect for this brazen individual.

But the moment they recalled how shamelessly he had treated them, and that he even gnawed on coffin lids, this slightly improved image immediately collapsed. They still felt he wasn't a good sort.

"Heaven-Dominant Body, do you yield?" A disdainful voice echoed from deep within the ancient tomb.

Upon hearing such a brazen challenge, everyone instantly broke into a sweat again. This individual's sense of superiority was far too strong; even before a true confrontation, he already placed himself in the Ninth Heaven, looking down on everything in the mortal world, completely disregarding the Hegemon.

In the following days, people continuously arrived, not to contend with the Hegemon, but to pay homage to the "Great God," eager to see and hear how arrogant and domineering the person in the tomb truly was. It was widely known that for decades, no one had ever dared to criticize the Hegemon in such a manner, or to disregard him completely. It was absolutely unprecedented.

For a time, the "Great God" stirred up the ancient road, and many were utterly prostrate in admiration. Regardless of his true strength, he was now undeniably considered a divine figure, the only formidable individual who dared to claim he would crush the Hegemon with a single finger and make him kneel in submission.

In any case, he was still alive and well, thriving within the ancient tomb.

"Hegemon, do you dare to fight me!" On this day, another challenge resounded from the starry sky. News came from a Human Race holy city: another individual was challenging the Hegemon.

People were in an uproar. What was happening? Why were individuals challenging the Heaven-Dominant Blood's status one after another, seeking to shake this young supreme's position? It was alarming.

Soon, people confirmed that this was a powerful expert from the Demon Race who had remarkably stepped onto the Human Race's ancient starry path. He also hailed from the Buried Emperor Star and was once revered as the Southern Demon.

"For a demon race to dare traverse the Human Race's ancient path, it requires immense courage. One wrong move, and he could become an enemy of the world, besieged and slain by all. This person is extraordinary." "I've heard he's about to leave the Human Race's ancient path, taken by an ancient demon onto another route, where he's highly valued. Perhaps he truly is a heaven-defying existence."

Many people discussed passionately how the confrontation between the Sacred Body and the Hegemonic Body had surprisingly caused so many ripples, one after another. People continuously stepped forward, all because of an impending fated battle.

"Are they all from the Buried Emperor Star? I might as well just kill them all!" The young supreme, with Heaven-Dominant Blood flowing within him, finally spoke, displaying peerless dominance, cold and ruthless.

In the Human Race's Fiftieth City, Ye Fan learned all of this. Recently, messengers had been arriving, bringing the latest rumors and sparking a heated discussion.

Ye Fan's heart swelled with emotion. He had received news of an old friend and was incredibly excited. He immediately stood up and had Liu Yun convey a message on his behalf.

"Tell Hun Zhan: if he's not afraid to fight, appear at once! If he wishes to live a few more years, disappear from the ancient path immediately, and from now on, stop putting on airs as a young supreme, or I will surely suppress and kill him!"

As soon as these words were uttered, they instantly caused a sensation and spread along the ancient path.

Ye Fan's words were not born of radical impulse; he was genuinely worried about Pang Bo in the ancient tomb, certain it was him, and feared that if the Hegemon truly opened the ancient tomb, Pang Bo might suffer misfortune.

The Reception Envoy appeared immediately, approaching him with an anxious expression. "A Dao Protector has stepped forward to suppress the Hegemon and make him retreat," he said. "Why are you issuing a challenge at this moment?"

"Let him come if he dares. Who's afraid of whom!" Ye Fan declared.

"He embarked on the ancient starry road earlier than you, and his cultivation is a level higher," the Reception Envoy warned sternly. "You absolutely must not fight him now."

"If he comes to contend with me at the same level, I will fight him fairly. But if he tries to suppress me with his cultivation level, then..."

"Then, what will you do?" the Reception Envoy asked.

"Then I will kill him by any means necessary!" Ye Fan stated with conviction.

The Reception Envoy was speechless.

"Lord Reception Envoy, what are you saying?" "Are you and that fellow in the tomb born from the same mother? Why are you both so arrogant? Do you think the Heaven-Dominant Blood is nothing, to be killed just like that?!" The Reception Envoy was truly flustered.

In contrast, Ye Fan was remarkably calm. "While killing him will be quite difficult, it's certainly worth a try," he said. "It's not impossible."

The Reception Envoy spoke solemnly: "How will you kill him? He has been a Saint King for many years. Powerful figures like Di Tian, terrifying ones like the Great Demon God, and invincible ones like the Human King haven't even been able to harm a single hair on him. All of them are supreme figures of the younger generation, their reputations spreading even to the ancient paths of other races, yet none have been able to defeat him. They are all wary of each other, and no one dares to make the first move."

Ye Fan calmly stated, "In a truly fair battle, I fear no one. But if he tries to suppress me with his cultivation level, even if there's no opportunity, I will create one to slay him. Should he dare to return, this star domain, where the Human Race's Fiftieth City is located, will be his final resting place."