In the Beast Continent, the capital of the Myriad Beasts Kingdom.
Once an incredibly prosperous capital, it had now become a ruin, engulfed in flames.
Zhou Wen stood alone in the sky, coldly watching the heavily injured Tian Xing and Dragon Emperor below. He said indifferently, "Speak. Where are Ye Ling and Ji Ning? I can grant you a swift death."
"Damn... damn it..."
Tian Xing spat out a mouthful of black blood, fixing her gaze on Zhou Wen in the air, her expression extremely grim.
The strength Zhou Wen displayed was beyond her imagination. Even with the Dragon Emperor by her side, they were no match for him.
"Dragon Emperor, I'm truly sorry for being a burden to you this time..." Tian Xing pursed her lips, expressing her apologies to the Dragon Emperor while she still had breath.
Now, Ye Ling had suddenly disappeared without a trace. The World-Ending Spiritual Fire and the Myriad Poison Beasts were protecting most of the citizens as they fled the Myriad Beasts City, making it impossible for them to return.
If nothing unexpected happened, she and the Dragon Emperor would both die here.
"There's no need for apologies. This was my own choice. You saved my son, and that has fulfilled my lifelong wish. Even if I die here today, I have no regrets," the Dragon Emperor said with a smile, his eyes showing no fear of death whatsoever.
"Chu Chu... I can finally come to see you..."
The Dragon Emperor muttered to himself, rising from the ruins and blocking in front of Tian Xing.
Seeing the Dragon Emperor's back, Tian Xing's pupils contracted slightly, and she exclaimed in shock, "Dragon Emperor, what are you doing?"
"My son still needs protection in this world. We cannot both die here. Tian Xing... I will self-destruct in a moment. Use this opportunity to escape."
The Dragon Emperor spoke with a look of utter disregard for death, unhesitatingly beginning to burn his life essence.
"Dragon Emperor!" Tian Xing cried out again in surprise. She hadn't expected the Dragon Emperor to initiate self-destruction so directly!
"Hurry and go! Don't let my sacrifice be in vain!"
The Dragon Emperor roared sternly, channeling his remaining strength to strike Tian Xing, sending her flying away. His own body began to rapidly expand, on the verge of exploding!
Witnessing all this from high in the sky, Zhou Wen made no move to stop the Dragon Emperor's self-destruction. Instead, a faint smile played on his lips as he mocked, "Hmph... Truly naive. Do you think this self-destruction of yours can even harm me?"
"None of you will escape!"
Zhou Wen laughed heartily, then immediately set up a barrier around the Dragon Emperor, suppressing him within the ruins of the Myriad Beasts City. He then moved at extreme speed towards Tian Xing!
"Don't underestimate me!"
Seeing Zhou Wen fly past him, the Dragon Emperor roared sternly, transforming into a colossal golden dragon and instantly coiling around Zhou Wen!
"What is this!" Zhou Wen's pupils contracted slightly as he found himself entangled by the dragon.
The Dragon Emperor, having transformed into a dragon, stared at Zhou Wen and said in a deep voice, "I am a descendant of the ancient Dragon Emperor, possessing the blood of the Ancestral Dragon. Do you think you can shake me off as you please?"
"Today, you shall perish with me!"
The Dragon Emperor roared, golden light erupting from between his scales. An incredibly potent energy rapidly formed within the Dragon Emperor's body, about to be unleashed.
Zhou Wen felt that terrifying power, and a look of horror finally appeared in his eyes.
"This... this bastard... he still had such power hidden!" Zhou Wen, unable to pursue Tian Xing, began to struggle with all his might to break free from the Dragon Emperor's restraint, attempting to distance himself.
Under Zhou Wen's immense power, the Dragon Emperor's massive body was torn apart, golden blood splashing across the sky.
However, no matter how quickly Zhou Wen tore at the Dragon Emperor's body, he couldn't match the speed of the Dragon Emperor's self-destruction. Zhou Wen could only watch helplessly as he was about to be consumed by the Dragon Emperor's power!
In desperation, Zhou Wen had to abandon his efforts to break free from the Dragon Emperor's embrace and instead focused on defense.
"This might severely injure me... but at least I can save my life. Tian Xing... you just wait, I will find you again sooner or later!" Zhou Wen gritted his teeth, covering himself with a layer of scorching magma.
BOOM!!!
At that moment, the Dragon Emperor exploded completely. The Ancestral Dragon's blood rapidly burned away, and its terrifying explosive force instantly engulfed the Beast Continent, Witch Continent, and Dao Continent.
Hummm—!
However, just as the Dragon Emperor's self-destruction swept across the three continents, a peculiar sound echoed from high in the sky.
The next moment, time in the three continents was frozen, and then space began to rewind.
The exploding Dragon Emperor reverted to his original form.
"This is..."
Zhou Wen's expression changed slightly as he saw space and time flow backward around him. He quickly looked in the direction from which the power was emanating.
When he saw Ye Ling and Ji Ning emerge from a spatial rift, his pupils contracted sharply, and a tempestuous wave surged within his heart.
"Ye Ling? Ji Ning?"
"What exactly... did you go through?"
Zhou Wen looked at Ye Ling and Ji Ning in the sky with disbelief, his forehead covered in sweat. A sense of dread involuntarily arose within him.
The auras of Ye Ling and Ji Ning now far surpassed his own!
"It seems our little Zhou Wen is quite surprised!" Ye Ling smiled, looking at the shocked Zhou Wen, his eyes filled with undisguised amusement and mockery.
"Ye Ling!" The Dragon Emperor's eyes lit up with surprise upon seeing the powerful Ye Ling return. He immediately reverted to his human form.
"Get lost. Don't get in the way."
Ye Ling casually swatted the Dragon Emperor away, sending him to land in front of Zhou Wen. He looked at the terrified Zhou Wen and said with a light laugh, "How is it? Seeing me now, are you feeling surprised?"
Zhou Wen stared into Ye Ling's eyes, which were as deep as an abyss, and instinctively took two steps back, exclaiming in shock, "Are... are you really Ye Ling?"
He simply couldn't comprehend it. Ye Ling and Ji Ning had only been gone for a few days, yet their strength had changed so drastically!
What exactly had Ye Ling and Ji Ning experienced?
"Your question is very good!" Ye Ling smiled and patted Zhou Wen's face. "In a sense, I am still Ye Ling for now. Otherwise, I wouldn't have rushed back to kill you..."
"But soon, I won't be... I will be the Mandate of Heaven."
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Zhou Wen was stunned, unable to comprehend Ye Ling's words.
"Alas... the understanding of the foolish is always poor. It's a waste of my breath."
Ye Ling sighed slightly, then smiled at Zhou Wen again. "Let's change the topic. Kneel before me, kowtow three times, and call me Grandpa, and I'll let you go. How about that?"
"Ar-are you serious?" Zhou Wen asked in panic.
"Very serious." Ye Ling narrowed his eyes and smiled. "I never lie."
"Good!"
Upon receiving Ye Ling's answer, Zhou Wen knelt down without hesitation, kowtowed three times to Ye Ling, and declared loudly, "Grandpa, spare me! I know I was wrong!"
To Zhou Wen, dignity was not worth mentioning.
As long as he could live, he was willing to do anything.
"Aww! Good grandson!"
Ye Ling smiled, looking at Zhou Wen kneeling and kowtowing before him, his eyes filled with increasing amusement. "However, good grandson, Grandpa has something to tell you..."
"Grandpa, what do you want to tell your grandson?"
"Good grandson, Grandpa wants to tell you... that when Grandpa said 'I never lie,' that was a lie."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Zhou Wen's pupils contracted sharply. A very ominous premonition immediately surged within him.
The next moment, Zhou Wen, without hesitation, turned and fled into the distance.
*Chii!*
Unfortunately, before Zhou Wen could escape ten meters, a bloody hole suddenly appeared on his forehead, and his eyes rapidly lost focus.
*Thump!*
Zhou Wen fell straight to the ground, his soul rapidly withering, his aura quickly dissipating.
Ye Ling lightly blew on his smoking finger, walked up to Zhou Wen, and stepped on Zhou Wen's head, crushing it.
Blood splattered all over Ye Ling.
"Ants... should be crushed like this."
Ye Ling said calmly, kicking Zhou Wen's headless corpse aside.
Then, he turned to look at Ji Ning and said with a smile, "Ji Ning, I'm suddenly hungry again. Can you satisfy me?"
Seeing Ye Ling's smile, a trace of fear appeared in Ji Ning's eyes, and she instinctively took a step back.
She swallowed hard and nodded tremblingly, "I... I will definitely do my best to satisfy you, Master!"
Upon receiving Ji Ning's reply, Ye Ling's smile deepened. He said to Ji Ning, "I'm liking women like you, who still have their charm, more and more."
"Take off your clothes."