Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

The battle was over, but to everyone's surprise, Ye Chen had suddenly flown into a rage!

An overwhelming aura erupted from his slender frame.

Even the Nine-Fingered Demon Slaughter, standing to the side, paled slightly as he stared at Ye Chen in disbelief.

But Ye Chen paid no mind to any of it. His eyes, blazing with fury, were locked onto the Great War Buddha.

His grip tightened unconsciously, and the cracks spiderwebbing across the Great War Buddha's body grew more numerous and distinct. It looked as if he might shatter at any moment!

"To think that you, who are always so composed, could make a face like that... How interesting..."

The Great War Buddha spoke with great difficulty, but despite the strain, his tone was laced with mockery.

"What in the world do you know?!"

Ye Chen spoke through gritted teeth, his body pulsing with killing intent.

The members of the Li family, who had just been subjugated, had already scrambled to a safe distance in terror.

No one knew what could have possibly provoked this young Demon God.

"Heh..."

The Great War Buddha sneered. "Believe me, your time is almost up."

"Don't dodge the question!"

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about the destruction of the Qin family!"

"..."

The Great War Buddha ignored him and continued, "Do you have any idea how terrifying our Abbot's true power is?"

"He once entered the Dragon Prison Cave! He is the founder of our Vajra Temple and its undisputed strongest expert!"

"Other factions have legacies stretching back centuries, while our Vajra Temple is still young."

"But in just a few short years, the Vajra Temple has grown into a titan in Lei Province, crushing the other, older factions to the point where they can barely breathe!"

"Ye Chen, you are strong! But the Abbot will avenge me!"

"Within the borders of Lei Province, no one he wants dead has ever escaped."

"Shut your mouth!" Ye Chen roared. "I want you to answer my question!"

His mind was in turmoil.

Ever since the Great War Buddha had spoken, he found it impossible to remain calm.

The story went that the Qin family had been annihilated after being caught in the crossfire of a conflict between Cultivator factions.

He and Qin Ruotong had been away from home at the time, and thus, had miraculously survived.

But the deaths of his adoptive parents had once plunged Ye Chen into despair.

After all, ever since the Qin family took him in, his adoptive parents had treated him as one of their own.

He and Qin Ruotong were as close as siblings.

Yet in the end, only he and Qin Ruotong survived. He had always believed it was a coincidence.

That was, until Luoxia at the gates of the Cold Wind Sect told him it was no coincidence.

Her words had haunted him ever since.

'If it wasn't a coincidence, did a Cultivator faction intentionally destroy the Qin family?'

'But the Qin family were just mortals. They had nothing that would attract the attention of Cultivators.'

'Why would a Cultivator faction target them?'

'Or... was the real target me? Or Qin Ruotong?'

These doubts swirled in Ye Chen's mind, a puzzle he could never solve.

Now that he had finally met someone who seemed to know the truth, a thousand questions burned within him, demanding to be asked, demanding answers.

"From the sound of it... was it you who destroyed the Qin family?"

Ye Chen glared at the Great War Buddha. "Why? Why would you do it!"

"The Qin family were only mortals! How could they possibly have offended you?!"

"..." The Great War Buddha was silent for a moment. A thick crack snaked down from his forehead, reaching all the way to his chest.

The crack slowly widened, and one could faintly glimpse his heart, still beating weakly inside.

After a moment of silence, he gave Ye Chen an eerie smile. "Take those questions with you to hell!"

"You'll never find out why in this lifetime! Soon, the Abbot will come for you!"

"His power is more terrifying than you can possibly imagine! Don't even think about resisting. Just lie down and wait to die..."

"I'll be waiting for you in hell! HAHAHA..."

BANG!

Ye Chen could no longer restrain himself and applied a sudden burst of force!

The Great War Buddha instantly burst into a pile of shattered fragments.

Another Primordial Mansion Realm Cultivator had fallen.

Ye Chen exhaled slowly, the sharp glint in his eyes disappearing.

His calm demeanor returned.

'The Abbot of the Vajra Temple...'

'Even if he doesn't come for me, I'll pay him a visit myself!'

Ye Chen's eyes glinted as he muttered to himself.

'Perhaps the Great War Buddha recognized me at some point as one of the survivors of the Qin family's destruction.'

'That must be why he said all that nonsense.'

'Of course, he might have just been trying to mess with my head.'

Ye Chen shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it.

'In any case, these questions will all be answered eventually.'

'As long as I'm strong enough, what truth can't be brought to light?'

'I just need to keep getting stronger. Strong enough to investigate what happened back then without fear of the consequences!'

Ye Chen surveyed his surroundings. The battlefield was a wreck, stained almost completely red with blood, and the thick stench of gore hung in the air.

Of the four Primordial Mansion Realm Cultivators who had been on the field, only the Li family's old ancestor remained.

"What is your name?" Ye Chen asked, looking calmly at the Li family's old ancestor.

"My name is Li Yunxiao!" the old ancestor replied respectfully. With the help of his family members, he had already recovered from some of his injuries.

The color was returning to his face.

Ye Chen nodded slightly. "This is for you."

With that, he flicked a finger toward Li Yunxiao's face.

A streak of black light shot out and flew straight into Li Yunxiao's mouth and nose.

Li Yunxiao's expression changed, but he didn't dare try to stop it. He asked in terror, "Lord Ye, th-this... what is this?"

"This is a Life and Death Curse."

"From now on, whether you live or die depends entirely on my whim."

Ye Chen replied calmly.

"What?!"

Hearing this, Li Yunxiao lost his composure.

'He put something like that inside me?'

'If Ye Chen wants me to live, I live. If he wants me to die, I die.'

'Doesn't that make me his puppet? What's the point of living like this?!'

Seeing Li Yunxiao's grim expression, Ye Chen remained unperturbed. "Relax. I won't order you around much. You just need to lend me a hand when I need it."

"F-Fine!" Li Yunxiao said through gritted teeth.

"Of course, don't think I'm making empty threats."

"I don't think you'll enjoy the effects of the Life and Death Curse."

As he spoke, Ye Chen activated it with a thought. Li Yunxiao suddenly clutched his chest, his face contorted in agony. "This... what is this?! Is this the Life and Death Curse?"

"That's right. This is just a little reminder."

Ye Chen nodded slightly. "Take your men and consolidate the Yan family's resources. I'll find you later."