Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

In the room, Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a turbid breath.

A sharp, cold glint flashed through his eyes, which were as brilliant as a field of stars.

After days of relentless cultivation, he had consumed numerous Spiritual Objects and Spirit Pills, such as the Coagulated Vermillion Jade Fruit and the Five Elements Pill. Aided by the dragon and phoenix Jade Pendant from Hongyu Pill Venerable, Ye Chen had finally reached the Peak of the Primordial Mansion Realm.

He was finally just a single step away from the Divinity Transformation Realm!

But this was a step he could not take lightly.

After all, when he broke through to the Divinity Transformation Realm, Ye Chen would have to forge a foundation of a kind rarely seen in ages.

The only way Ye Chen could think of to forge such a powerful foundation was by using the Peaches of Immortality—the first-place prize at the Peach Blossom Banquet.

Ye Chen slowly rose to his feet. His bones and tendons crackled, releasing waves of surging, astonishing power.

'If I were to face a true Divine Might Realm expert now, would I be able to put up a fight?'

Ye Chen muttered to himself.

When he had first broken through to the Primordial Mansion Realm, he was confident he could suppress any Cultivator below the Divine Might Realm.

Now, having broken through nine minor realms in succession, his strength had changed so drastically that it was on a completely different level.

Suddenly, he sensed something and looked to the side.

The Crimson Nether Flame Prison Carving had become a massive orb of light, its body enveloped in blazing Flame.

Within the ethereal Flame, the silhouette of the Crimson Nether Flame Prison Carving flickered in and out of view.

From a distance, the illusory figure already appeared somewhat human.

'Is it about to successfully transform into a human form?'

A smile touched Ye Chen's lips.

He was eager to see what the Crimson Nether Flame Prison Carving would look like after its transformation was complete.

In the empty room, there was no one but him and the Crimson Nether Flame Prison Carving.

As for Jie Ling, he had let her return to her own room a few days prior, when he decided to enter seclusion to reach the Peak of Primordial Mansion Realm.

He had considered recalling her to the Imprisoned Dragon Grotto Heaven, but she seemed reluctant, so he didn't force the issue.

Just then, a knock came from the door.

Ye Chen went and opened the door.

A wave of heat billowed out. If not for the numerous Defense Arrays in place, the light from the Crimson Nether Flame Prison Carving's transformation would have been enough to illuminate the entire floor.

Outside stood a pretty young woman dressed in a maid's uniform. She looked charming and was likely an attendant for this floor.

"Yes?" Ye Chen asked casually.

He had thought it might be Mo Tianyun or one of the others, but it was someone he didn't recognize.

"Hello, sir. Someone asked me to give you this letter."

The attendant handed the envelope to Ye Chen and then scurried away.

'A letter?'

Ye Chen was puzzled.

'Who would send me a letter at a time like this?'

'Everyone's on the Cloud Mist Tower Ship. If they have something to say, why not say it to my face?'

'Unless... they don't dare to face me?'

At that thought, Ye Chen had a good idea of who sent it.

His expression turned cold. He shut the door before opening the envelope and examining the letter inside.

"We will be waiting for young friend Ye Chen's arrival five hundred li outside the northern outskirts of Flame City."

"You have two days. We will not wait."

"If we do not see young friend Ye Chen within two days, that female companion of yours can forget about leaving here alive!"

...

The letter was signed: the Xu family.

Ye Chen skimmed the letter.

An almost imperceptible killing intent flickered across his cold expression.

'So they finally couldn't hold back any longer?'

'But using Jie Ling to threaten me... isn't that just ridiculous?'

Ye Chen shook his head with a small, derisive laugh.

Jie Ling was a Spirit Body from within the Imprisoned Dragon Grotto Heaven.

As long as she was within a certain range, he could recall her to the Imprisoned Dragon Grotto Heaven with a single thought.

The Xu family's methods were clearly insufficient to completely control her and sever her connection to the Imprisoned Dragon Grotto Heaven.

Without a doubt, Jie Ling had fallen into the hands of the Xu family.

Jie Ling had previously mentioned to Ye Chen that she'd noticed someone watching her from the shadows.

As a Spirit Body, her perception was incredibly sharp, at times even keener than Ye Chen's.

Even back then, they had guessed that the people plotting against Ye Chen might target her.

But when Ye Chen decided to enter seclusion, Jie Ling refused to return to the Imprisoned Dragon Grotto Heaven.

Instead, she told him that if those people tried to capture her as a threat, she could use it as an opportunity to help him pinpoint their location.

That's right—as the master of the Imprisoned Dragon Grotto Heaven, Ye Chen could sense Jie Ling's location.

Then, with her help, Ye Chen could annihilate all those who sought to harm him!

'Oh, Xu family... I spared you before, not wiping you out completely, simply to see if I could lure a bigger fish out of hiding.'

'I hope you won't disappoint me.'

Ye Chen snorted.

When he was targeted by assassins from the Valley of Death, he had guessed they were hired by the Xu family.

He had simply remained indifferent.

His plan was simply to lure the snake from its hole and then catch them all in one net.

Clearly, after about ten days of silence, they could no longer sit still.

They saw Ye Chen as the prey, but in his eyes, they were the ones being hunted.

Ye Chen glanced at the transforming Crimson Nether Flame Prison Carving. Not wanting to disturb it, he clasped his hands behind his back, left the room, and shot off the Cloud Mist Tower Ship.

The Cloud Mist Tower Ship was currently docked in a spacious square outside Flame City.

Flame City was, of course, the capital of Yan Province.

Ye Chen stood outside Flame City, pausing to gaze at the view. He couldn't help but be struck by its sheer magnificence.

The first thing he saw was a majestic and imposing sight.

Flame City was like a colossal dragon coiled upon the plains, its body winding beyond the horizon.

The massive city gates stood tens of meters high, like a small mountain forged entirely from Profound Gold. Even an ordinary Cultivator would be unable to budge them.

'Speaking of which, I'm very close to fully repairing the Profound Armor Combat Puppet.'

'The Cloud Mist Tower Ship is docking here for three days anyway. Since I have time to kill, I might as well head into Flame City and see if I can find the materials I need.'

A glint in his eye, Ye Chen had already made up his mind.

Flame City was far larger, more prosperous, and livelier than the cities back in Lei Province.

It was an incredibly wealthy city, meaning there were surely many rare treasures, not often seen, circulating in its markets.

Since he had made the trip, it would be best not to leave empty-handed.