Chapter 1632: Two Courts Duel

A decade in one's life, especially for a mortal, could turn a hero's hair white and wrinkle a beauty's face, leaving them to lament the passage of time.

"The Divine Court has repeatedly encroached upon our territory. What is your intention? Withdraw at once!" A man in golden feathered robes exuded an ineffable majesty.

In the cold expanse of the universe, vast armies stood in confrontation. Countless troops, like mountains and seas, were arrayed along the banks of the River of Chaos. Their iron armor gleamed, and the cold light from their Dao swords was dazzling.

"Who are you?" a burly man wielding a pair of halberds roared from the opposite side. He stood over twenty feet tall, with bulging muscles and arms several times thicker than an ordinary person's thighs. He had azure hair and eyes like brass bells, presenting an extremely fierce demeanor.

"I am the Great Peng King of the Celestial Court!" The man in golden feathered robes had a robust physique. His brows were like two long swords, possessing an indescribable heroic spirit, and his eyes shone like golden lamps.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Divine Court gasped. For many years, the Great Peng King's name had resonated across the starry sky, and he was a nightmare for all in the Divine Court.

The Great Peng King's Fist, which he created, was immensely powerful and crushing. With a single strike, it could shatter star rivers, and the sun, moon, and stars would tremble with his every punch. He was boundlessly powerful, a being who had already been crowned king in a domain, truly carving out a fearsome reputation. He had slain many Divine Court troops, and numerous Great Saints were no match for him. He had never suffered a defeat.

"Great Peng King, a crowned king, excellent. Let me see how strong you truly are. Don't let your reputation be undeserved!" The burly man with azure hair sneered, advancing with his dual halberds.

He hailed from a desolate ancient domain ruled by the Divine Court. This was his first time on this battlefield, and naturally, he was unconvinced. He harbored strong animosity towards the Celestial Court's established kings, intending to defeat each of them.

"All who have spoken such words to me are dead!" The Great Peng King stood with his hands clasped behind his back, appearing ruthless. His entire body was enveloped in a blazing golden light, and his eyes became even more intimidating.

"Just a mere peng bird, yet you dare to claim kingship over a domain and command life-bearing stars. Come and face your death!" The burly man roared, and instantly, wisps of white smoke—chaotic energy—billowed from his mouth and nose. His entire body radiated precious light, and his combat power surged astonishingly.

*Whoosh!* The dual halberds ripped through the sky, their cold, eerie blades seeming to cleave the very universe. He charged forward like a war god, with Dao laws surging around him. Runes spread out like ripples, and numerous nearby meteorites exploded.

As for the armies on both sides, they had already retreated far back, fearing being caught in the crossfire. The burly man was too powerful, possessing immense brute force. When he wielded his weapons, everything shattered into dust.

The Great Peng King's move was simple: he turned sideways and advanced, not retreating. His palm brushed against the halberd blade, striking it like a giant hammer, causing the dual halberds to hum and vibrate, almost shattering.

The burly man with azure hair felt his heart tremble. What appeared to be a casual strike had numbed his arm. The one proclaimed a Divine King of the Celestial Court was indeed terrifying, causing a warning to surge in his heart and his eyelids to twitch.

The two fought fiercely. The over twenty-foot-tall giant's entire body emitted wisps of black smoke, like infernal ghost flames, becoming increasingly powerful.

However, the Great Peng King remained unconcerned. His golden feathered robes fluttered, and his long golden hair was like a torch. His aura was even more oppressive than a mountain.

"Kill!" With a cry of "Kill!", the Great Peng King transformed his palm into a fist. Golden light burst from his entire body, his fist, in particular, radiating brilliantly. Waves of power surged, shaking the eight directions!

*Crack!* The pair of halberds vibrated, dense cracks appeared all over them, and then they shattered into pieces, exploding in the universe.

The Great Peng King's fist surged forward relentlessly. While shattering the dual halberds, it also smashed into the burly man's body. His originally over twenty-foot-tall, imposing physique now flew horizontally like a puppet, with a massive bloody hole appearing in his chest and abdomen.

A torrential rain of blood poured down. The burly man shattered, destroyed by the Great Peng King's fist, without any suspense.

Everyone was in an uproar, completely stunned. The Divine Court's forces, in particular, were terrified. This burly man was incredibly powerful, having been revered as a patriarch in his own domain, capable of competing on the One True Path, but he had been recruited by the Divine Court and had stopped short of going. They never imagined such a powerful figure would be directly blasted apart by the man in golden feathered robes.

"It's terrifying! This Great Peng King's Fist is truly invincible! It can easily slay even a Supreme Great Saint!"

"Unbelievably powerful! If no Quasi-Emperors emerge, who else can contend with him? Truly worthy of being a Divine King of the Celestial Court! He can truly rule as a sovereign in a domain!"

People were shocked. The Celestial Court's crowned king in golden feathered robes was too powerful, simply irresistible, making everyone's hearts pound with fear and tremble with dread.

Legend has it that the Great Peng King's Fist bears the shadow of the Heavenly Emperor's Fist. Back then, this Golden Peng stood on the shoulders of Sacred Body Ye Fan, gaining inspiration, and both achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

When someone recounted this past event, everyone frowned. If this fist art was already invincible, giving an unparalleled oppressive aura, what would the true Heavenly Emperor's Fist be like? Everyone's heart trembled.

"Charge!" With a wave of the Great Peng King's hand, the Celestial Soldiers and Generals surged forward from behind, a vast, dark wave rushing into the attack. He led the charge, and blood and shattered weapons flew everywhere.

In another star domain, a great battle was also underway. The Dragon-Horse, the first being in the Celestial Court to crown himself king and command a domain, showed no panic when facing encirclement. He directly set up the Eightfold Killing Array Platforms, sweeping all before him.

This was a gift from his mischievous friend, the Black Emperor, who had studied it for many years, restoring it into a Great Emperor Killing Array. Although it was only a fragment, it was astonishingly terrifying.

This star domain was engulfed in a storm of blood and gore. The Dragon-Horse counterattacked with surging might. He directly galloped across the starry sky, employing the "Movement Character Art" and the Celestial Court's great killing techniques, assassinating the supreme expert leading the enemy.

Even though the enemy had deployed all their masters, and this was an encirclement campaign, the death of their leading Great Saint caused their forces to utterly collapse. The Dragon-Horse then led his army in a counterattack, thoroughly cleansing the Divine Court's various units.

In the Ziwei Star Domain, Yan Yixi and Li Tian faced immense pressure. This was because the Divine Court had always coveted this place, a renowned Imperial Star, which had now become a territory actually controlled by the Celestial Court.

This time, an unparalleled expert attacked, wielding a divine artifact bestowed by the Divine Court Master, personally forged by a Quasi-Emperor!

This place became one of the most crucial and terrifying battlefields. The situation was extremely critical. The Quasi-Emperor artifact radiated overwhelming power, suppressing everything. Its terror was boundless.

None could withstand it!

No one had anticipated that the Divine Court would be so fierce this time. With the exception of the Emperor Lord, most of their forces had been deployed. They truly intended to annihilate the Celestial Court in one fell swoop.

In the past, the Human Emperor had once entered and governed the Ziwei Star Domain, then reigned over the universe, looking down on the eight directions, leaving behind countless legends.

This time, the attack was too fierce. Yan Yixi and Li Tian both suffered severe injuries. They were isolated and outnumbered; although they had integrated many forces from this domain, they still couldn't compare to the Divine Court.

The main force of the Divine Court arrived. There were many Great Saints visible, and it was unknown if there were more hidden. The Quasi-Emperor divine sword floated, irresistible, cleaving down one cold light after another.

*Crack!* Finally, the Divine Maiden Furnace was destroyed. Its exterior cracked, and fragments fell off, piling up.

Yan Yixi and Li Tian's faces were pale; they could no longer hold on. Their weapons were struck by a ray of Quasi-Emperor light, and even their primordial spirits were wounded.

"The Ziwei Star Domain is conquered!" A Great Saint sneered, holding the Quasi-Emperor sword, standing proudly beneath the vast sky. He pointed it from afar at the two fellow disciples of the Human Desire Path, about to deliver the killing blow.

However, at this very moment, a terrifying fluctuation suddenly spread forth. From within the shattered Divine Maiden Furnace, a dazzling immortal glow erupted. A small furnace rose, radiating brilliant light.

It was only the size of a baby's fist, crystalline and brilliant. Wisps of Imperial might emanated from it, shaking the mortal realm!

"What? Is that...?" Everyone in the Divine Court trembled.

*Buzz!* The small furnace vibrated, and a shocking beam of light tore through the universe. It transformed into a ray of immortal light and surged upward, directly snapping the Quasi-Emperor sword with a *crack*, causing it to shatter.

Everyone in the Divine Court was horrified. What kind of weapon was this? The Quasi-Emperor sword forged by the Emperor Lord was terrifying. It had clearly shattered the Divine Maiden Furnace, so how could a smaller one fly out from within?

"Ah..." A Great Saint screamed. As the small furnace approached, he was crushed into a bloody pulp, pressed flat by the cascading light. How astonishing was this!?

"This is an artifact nearing the level of a Great Emperor battle weapon. It's much stronger than ordinary Quasi-Emperor artifacts, almost having transformed into an Imperial Weapon. How can this be?!"

The Divine Court forces were terrified and retreated rapidly. But it was too late. Li Tian and Yan Yixi exchanged glances, took control of the furnace, and began to slaughter in all directions, sweeping across the starry sky, leaving behind endless blood and bones.

Only today did they understand the ultimate secret of the Divine Maiden Furnace. It truly deserved to be a weapon personally forged by Emperor Hengyu for his friend, the Human Desire Dao Ancestor. His intentions were profound; inside, it actually contained a Quasi-Emperor weapon, which would automatically emerge in times of danger. In normal times, it would prevent the wielder of the Divine Maiden Furnace from relying too much on this weapon.

"The Divine Court actually mobilized such a massive force, unseen in three hundred years! How dare they launch a sneak attack? This Emperor has arrived!" The big black dog galloped furiously from another domain, with the Celestial Court's scepter floating above its head, and a frightening glint in its eyes.

Behind it, Duan De also arrived. He had been invited by the Celestial Court forces because the pressure they faced this time was too great.

No one had expected the Divine Court to mobilize so many forces, seemingly intent on annihilating the Celestial Court in one swift blow. This was one of the main battlefields.

When they arrived, they found the Ziwei Star Domain unharmed. A Quasi-Emperor Furnace floated there, leaving them all dumbfounded.

"Oh no, quick, head towards the Savage Star!" the Black Emperor cried out. "The Divine Court's most terrifying army is heading there! The Savage cannot hold them back!"

Everyone's expression changed. The Savage Star had a secret array that led to the Celestial Court's headquarters. If it were breached, the consequences would be unimaginable.

At this moment, not only them, but also the Dragon-Horse, Great Peng King, Huahua, and forces from the Buddhist Domain they guarded, all dispatched their troops to rescue the Savage Star.

When they arrived, they saw endless blood and bones. In this part of the universe, there were severed limbs and countless corpses. Blood had thoroughly stained the area red, creating a scene like hell.

Everyone's heart sank, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread!

"Could it be that Dongfang Ye and the others have all fallen in battle?" Fear gripped everyone.

After arriving at the vital stronghold on the Savage Star, the scene in the mountains left everyone stunned. They were at a loss for words.

The Savage was busy, personally barbecuing. He had killed too many; the invading Divine Court comprised numerous races, every kind imaginable. Now, he was preparing a grand feast.

Nearby, the Human Demon Elder was feasting, being served very comfortably. No one knew how much roasted meat he had devoured.

"How is Grand Ancestor's meal?" Dongfang Ye asked. This time, they had relied entirely on the Human Demon. The Divine Court's main force had attacked, and if the Human Demon, Dongfang Taiyi, hadn't suddenly appeared, this place would surely have been flattened. There would have been no one to stop the immense divine army.

The Human Demon's arrival completely changed everything. Those people could not descend upon this star, not even Great Saints. After the battle, they all became food for the Human Demon Elder.

"It tastes good. I'm almost full," the Human Demon said, burping.

People were shocked. All the non-human races in the army had been eaten by him!

"This is a mixed stew, where powerful experts from various races—like flood dragons, divine tigers, and blood phoenixes—are boiled in a large pot. Then, we add our barbarian tribe's most special seasonings; the taste is delicious. This time, I've made you a pot of soup. Please try it quickly." Dongfang Ye diligently brought over a large cauldron. It was actually forged in imitation of Ye Fan's Myriad Manifestations Cauldron, and now served as a soup pot.

Everyone was speechless. Just a moment ago, they were worried. They never imagined such an outcome: the Divine Court's immense army had all become the Human Demon's prey and were now in his stomach.

This was simply too absurd.

In this battle, the Divine Court had mobilized countless troops with great fanfare, but it ended unexpectedly like this. While alarming, it also made people want to laugh.

This was the first major confrontation between the Divine Court and the Celestial Court. It was originally expected to be on an immense scale, but it turned out to be anti-climactic, with an outcome that defied everyone's expectations.

However, this incident served as a warning. The conflict between the two great factions was irreconcilable. It had reached a certain level of severity; otherwise, why would there be a conquest of this scale?

In the universe, the atmosphere grew tense. Since there had been a first major conquest, a second was inevitable. Perhaps it would not be long.

"The Celestial Court has gone too far, provoking the Divine Court and annihilating our army! Do they want full-scale war?"

"Divine Court, do you have no shame? You clearly tried to wipe us out, but were utterly defeated and sent retreating. Yet you still pretend to be the wronged party!"

Given what had happened, it was inevitable that there would be much clamor. The entire star domain was restless, filled with a palpable tension.

In the regions adjacent to the Divine Court and Celestial Court, there was unrest and some people fled, fearing being caught in the conflicts between the two great organizations.

It was at this moment that people suddenly realized how powerful the Celestial Court had become, daring to contend with the Divine Court.

In the past, the Divine Court Master had been very low-key. Perhaps feeling ashamed for not participating in the bloody battles against the Supremes, he had remained hidden. However, the expansion rate of their great sect had never diminished, and it had long become a colossal entity. Over the years, it had become fearsome.

No one had expected that after more than three hundred years, the Celestial Court had quietly grown to this extent, capable of fighting a battle against this colossal entity.

The adjacent regions of the two organizations were turbulent and restless. Everyone was watching, wondering how the two great organizations would finally confront each other.

The attention focused here even temporarily surpassed that on the One True Path, evidently becoming the most watched focal point at the moment.

"Ye Fan has emerged!"

"What? After sadly withdrawing from the Emperor Path and living in seclusion for ten years, he has appeared again?"

"Where is he?"

"He's headed towards the star domain adjacent to the Celestial Court and Divine Court!"

These messages spread everywhere like they had grown wings, instantly reaching all corners. They even entered the One True Path through special channels, stirring everyone's emotions.

Ye Fan had a hidden illness, a major problem, which prevented him from continuing on the Emperor Path, forcing him to withdraw. Yet, he remained an uncertain factor in some people's eyes. Regardless of his condition, if he appeared, strict precautions had to be taken.

A blood raven, thousands of feet long, flew across the universe. On its back stood several figures, one of whom was Ye Fan, who had been in seclusion for ten years, now appearing once more.

This was a giant city, located on a desolate star. This star had no life, being originally a dead star.

Yet, since ancient times, this giant city had been very prosperous, with people constantly coming and going. This was because it was located at the junction of several major star domains, making it a special place.

Many powerful cultivators frequented it, either exchanging scriptures, selling divine materials, or acquiring secret artifacts. From ancient times until now, it had never declined.

Even now, it remained the same. Although it was located between the Divine Court and Celestial Court, the number of powerful cultivators had not significantly decreased, and there were many native inhabitants.

"Ye Fan has arrived! On the other side, the Divine Court's immense army is pressing down, eyeing this place covetously. He really dares to show up!"

The Divine Court had amassed countless troops in the border region, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made people feel suffocated. Among them were supreme experts, some wielding Quasi-Emperor artifacts, and even a Vice-Patriarch of the Divine Court had descended.

It was under such pressure that Ye Fan appeared, hurrying to the frontier and showing himself in this giant city, causing hearts to tremble.

"What... what is he going to do? Is he going to confront the entire Divine Court army alone?!"