Thunder rumbled overhead, and dark clouds shrouded the land for ten thousand miles.
The two figures transformed into streaks of black and golden-yellow aurora, their swords and arms clashing as they ascended into the raging thunder.
After dozens of exchanges, the battle conjured grand cosmic phenomena, yet neither could gain the upper hand.
The Ye family's powerhouses watched in stunned disbelief.
"How can that demonic scoundrel be on par with the Young Master?"
"Don't worry, the Young Master is surely toying with him, not using his true strength yet."
Elder Liu's gaze flickered. As a half-step immortal, he could see that both combatants were pushing themselves to their absolute limits.
"I never expected such a prodigy to exist. It's a shame he fell to the demonic path. His aura is too bizarre, and he's a mortal enemy of Ye Yu. Otherwise...!"
Elder Liu shook his head, his decision made regardless of the outcome.
Nalan Yong must die.
If he could not be controlled, then he must be eradicated.
Liu Yan'er, not understanding the complexities, could only watch Ye Yu with concern for his safety.
"Rest assured, if Ye Yu is outmatched, I will intervene."
Elder Liu clasped his hands behind his back, showing no fear of Nalan Yong.
...
Mu Changqing wore a faint smile. He was indifferent to the outcome of this duel.
Nalan Yong was merely a puppet he had casually supported. Just as there could be only one Nalan Yong in the world, there could also be millions.
Everything was subject to his whim.
He acted as he pleased, following his heart.
At this moment, Ye Yu felt a surge of urgency. After one exchange, they hovered a few miles apart amidst the rolling thunder.
"Damn it! I am the Son of Destiny, in harmony with the Great Dao, blessed by all things in heaven and earth, yet I cannot defeat this demonic scoundrel."
Anxiety gnawed at Ye Yu. With a roar, he unleashed his trump card.
He channeled the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and an ancient phenomenon descended. A golden divine dragon, ten thousand feet long, roared from the endless void, hovering directly above Ye Yu.
"I am destined by heaven, what can you do to fight me? Go, tear him apart."
Ye Yu bellowed, and the divine dragon behind him, with its four claws, ripped through the rolling thunder and charged.
"The inheritance of the ancient divine dragon? Interesting."
Mu Changqing murmured, making no move to intervene.
Upon seeing this, Nalan Yong's body was enveloped in demonic energy that spread for ten thousand miles, drawing the life force from all things. This energy coalesced into a divine-demonic phantom, which roared at the heavens.
The immense phantom's arms pressed down on the divine dragon's head, raining blows upon it.
The two clashed once more, black light and gold intertwining, fighting until the heavens were dark and the sun and moon were obscured.
Bang!
Ye Yu's golden sword pierced Nalan Yong's body, while Nalan Yong's black dragon claws similarly tore through Ye Yu's flesh.
Splat!
Blood splattered, and both combatants, now severely wounded, knelt in the void.
Suddenly, the sky shifted, and the power of nature descended. Streaks of seven-colored spiritual energy rained down from the heavens, entering Ye Yu's body.
His exhaustion and wounds were healed, restoring him to his peak condition.
"Oh, you're interfering? How am I supposed to play? Get lost."
Mu Changqing's expression soured. The power of nature, by healing Ye Yu, had disrupted his enjoyment.
A cold shout echoed, and the seven-colored natural energy rapidly receded, daring not to interfere further.
Mu Changqing's finger flicked, and within a million miles, all life force withered, transforming into torrents of spiritual energy that surged into Nalan Yong's body.
The intervention of natural forces to aid the Son of Destiny was precisely why such figures were difficult to kill.
The villain, no matter how much they pursued, would always escape certain death and find greater opportunities.
Mu Changqing was displeased. The saying that heaven and earth are impartial and treat all things as straw dogs was utter nonsense.
Seeing Ye Yu recover so quickly, Nalan Yong had begun to despair.
In the next moment, countless streams of spiritual energy, imbued with an indescribable power, surged towards him.
His body also healed rapidly, becoming even more formidable than before.
"It's Master intervening."
Nalan Yong rejoiced, then sneered at Ye Yu, and lunged forward, vowing to crush him under his foot.
Ye Yu's heart was filled with bewilderment.
He was accustomed to the assistance of the Great Dao and nature, but Nalan Yong's sudden recovery confused him.
"Is Nalan Yong also a Son of Destiny? Impossible! He's a demonic scoundrel. What right does he have? What is he?"
Ye Yu roared, his Dao heart becoming chaotic, losing its former composure and confidence.
Below, Elder Liu's brow furrowed deeply. He was not surprised by this strange turn of events.
Sons of Destiny often received unintentional aid from the Great Dao.
However, Nalan Yong also receiving assistance left him utterly astonished.
"Could Nalan Yong also be a Son of Destiny?"
"Ancestor, what happened?"
Liu Yan'er, seeing Elder Liu's grim expression, inquired curiously.
"Ye Yu... might be defeated. Nalan Yong is not only powerful, but his Dao heart is no less than Ye Yu's.
And Ye Yu's Dao heart is in disarray. Did I make a mistake?"
Elder Liu seemed to be answering Liu Yan'er's question while also speaking to himself.
Rumble!
Amidst the rolling thunder, the demonic phantom tore the golden divine dragon apart, roaring at the heavens and drawing down the combined might of celestial thunder and divine punishment.
Under the overwhelming thunder, Nalan Yong unleashed a furious blow, sending Ye Yu plummeting from the sky. He crashed into the ground, creating a pit several yards wide.
Nalan Yong slowly descended, his body exuding an evil, bizarre aura. He placed a foot on Ye Yu, pinning him down.
"Son of Destiny, nothing more."
Ye Yu's eyes were glazed over, his Dao heart in turmoil.
He could not accept this outcome. Ever since his clan was destroyed, he had never been defeated in the same realm.
Even when fighting across different cultivation levels, he could easily win.
All the prodigies of the same generation in the entire Yun Yu Realm had been trampled under his feet.
And today, he was defeated. Defeated by someone he had once disdained, a vanquished foe.
Such a blow shattered his Dao heart, rendering him incapable of acceptance.
The Ye family's powerhouses, after their initial shock, were filled with disbelief.
How could the one destined by heaven be defeated and trampled underfoot by a demonic scoundrel?
"Bastard! Kill him and save the Young Master!"
Ye Wuyou reacted quickly and gave the order.
Numerous Ye family powerhouses transformed into streaks of light, charging towards Nalan Yong.
Nalan Yong pressed down harder with his foot, crushing Ye Yu further into the dirt, leaving him in a pathetic state.
Seeing the Ye family powerhouses charging, he remained unfazed.
With Mu Changqing watching his back, why would he fear a mere Ye Yu?
He turned and ascended, his demonic energy coalescing into a hundred-foot phantom. With a single move, he sent the Ye family powerhouses flying, smashing them into the Ye family compound.
Thick dust billowed, and the entire ancient Ye family was reduced to ruins.
"Damn demonic scoundrel!"
Ye Wuyou snarled, his Ming Dao realm cultivation erupting, his terrifying spiritual energy sweeping across the heavens.
Bang!
The two exchanged a palm strike across the void. The thunderclouds in the vast expanse dissipated, the clash ending in a stalemate.
"Hahaha, the ancient Ye family, nothing more than this."
Nalan Yong hovered in the sky, a smug expression on his face, and declared arrogantly.
Just then, an even more terrifying aura emanated from the depths of the Ye family. The peak Ming Dao realm ancestor was alerted.
"Evil demons, how dare you act so presumptuously in my Ye family, you seek death!"
The voice arrived first, followed by a hunched figure appearing in the sky.
He raised his hand, condensing hundreds of feet of spiritual energy into a solid palm, which slammed Nalan Yong down from the sky, smashing him violently onto the ground.