Immortality Starts With Investment Chapter 694: Oscar-worthy Acting

Ye Chen had already entered the immense sky battlefield. A powerful voice echoed through the heavens, booming, "Will the two of you completely seal the grand array, or permit entry to all cultivators at or below the Third Heaven of the Mahayana Realm?"

The Holy Prince stood to his full height, the enormous black iron staff now held loosely in one hand. He offered no response, clearly unconcerned with the possibility of being overwhelmed by numbers.

Ye Chen immediately shook his head. "There's no need to seal it. Allow entry…" If the array was sealed, how would the Holy Prince's esteemed friends arrive to present their tributes?

With his accord, cultivators from both the Victorious Fighting Ape clan and the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land came forward. Each faction held half of the array discs, and together they initiated the formation.

Suddenly, the entire sky battlefield shimmered with a gentle azure luminescence. Innumerable divine runes flowed like liquid rivers within the blue light. This was an ultimate world-severing array, preventing any expert above the Third Heaven of the Mahayana Realm from interfering. Short of a Quasi-Immortal directly intervening, the duel was completely secure.

Once all preparations were concluded, the spectators' pupils contracted in unison. Not a single person dared to look away.

The Holy Prince, heir to the Heavenly Emperor, had entered the fray alone this time, not even accompanied by a female companion. This clearly indicated he viewed the Holy Prince as a genuine adversary. It was possible this confrontation would be the most evenly matched battle since Ye Chen's ascent to prominence.

Within the sealed confines of the array.

The Holy Prince fixed his impassive gaze upon Ye Chen. "Did you bring my Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod?" His voice resonated like a colossal bronze bell, grand and commanding, imbued with an undeniable aura of invincibility.

Ye Chen offered a smile. His eyes drifted towards the stone stele that remained suspended above the monkey's head. The Holy Prince was a man of integrity; he had openly displayed the stele containing the Stasis Secret.

Naturally, Ye Chen felt compelled to reciprocate. With a simple gesture, the Compliant Golden-Hooped Rod materialized in his palm. A supreme Extreme Dao Weapon possessed its own sentience and will. The moment it detected the Holy Prince's aura, the staff vibrated intensely, as if longing to return to its rightful master.

Ye Chen swiftly applied the Armament Secret, instantly pacifying the staff. The Holy Prince paid this no further mind. For him, simply seeing the weapon signified the return of his clan's sacred artifact. He merely regarded Ye Chen coolly. "I had intended to spare your life, considering you are merely the Heavenly Emperor's descendant. It is regrettable that I could not have existed in the same era as the Heavenly Emperor himself. But it matters little. Upon my ascension to the Immortal Realm, should he still persist in life, I shall invariably surpass him…"

The instant these words were uttered, the expressions on the faces of the onlookers aboard the various ships became peculiar. The Holy Prince actually expressed regret about not being born in a time to contend with the Heavenly Emperor? Even among the assembled myriad races, many felt the monkey had become excessively arrogant. The Heavenly Emperor represented an eternal scar, imprinted upon the very souls of every non-human clan! Yet, this composed, almost casual display of hubris was still shockingly potent, causing hearts to tremble.

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Ye Chen's lips twitched. He found it difficult to suppress a chuckle. Who exactly were you trying to impress with that display?

However, Ye Chen's primary objective for this battle was to project an image of strength—sufficiently imposing to awe the world, yet not so overwhelmingly dominant that no challengers would dare to appear. Therefore, allowing the Holy Prince to indulge in a bit of posturing was perfectly acceptable.

With this strategy in mind, Ye Chen offered a thumbs-up with genuine enthusiasm. "You speak the absolute truth. Even if the Heavenly Emperor were to be reborn in the same cultivation realm, he would pale in comparison to you!"

The moment these words escaped his lips, the eyes of every spectator nearly protruded from their sockets. It was widely understood that the Heavenly Emperor heir rarely wasted words during combat, unless confronting a female cultivator. Consider the Firmament Overlord Body; despite clashing twice, Ye Chen had exchanged fewer than ten sentences in total. Now, he was openly provoking his opponent? It was evident that the Holy Prince had truly instilled a sense of threat in him.

The Holy Prince's countenance immediately darkened. He was not inclined towards trivial discourse. His earlier remarks stemmed solely from a fleeting regret pertaining to Ye Chen's lineage. Since the man was determined to court his own demise, then death it would be!

In the subsequent moment, the potent Victorious Fighting Ape blood coursing through his veins ignited. His intent to battle erupted like a volcanic explosion, ascending into the heavens. His golden fur stood on end, crackling with vibrant threads of lightning—an awe-inspiring and terrifying spectacle!

Though the Holy Prince possessed a towering, formidable physique, his speed was utterly astonishing. In the briefest moment, he stood directly before Ye Chen. His immense black iron staff sliced through the air, poised to shatter Ye Chen's skull with earth-shattering might.

The impact, when it came, felt as though the very heavens were rending. Even the formidable array designed to reinforce space groaned and tore open. This overwhelming destructive force caused the complexions of countless onlookers to blanch instantly.

It was evident that the Holy Prince had not unleashed his full capabilities in their prior engagement. This strike represented his genuine, unbridled power. Under such a singular staff assault, the vast majority of Third Heaven kings would undoubtedly be annihilated. Even weapons forged through Extreme Dao techniques might meet their shattering end.

Ye Chen observed the golden-furred, lightning-infused monkey hurtling towards him, resembling a Super Saiyan, his expression remaining utterly serene. He invoked the Battle Secret and countered the incoming blow with a staff of his own. He intentionally withheld the power of the Multiplier Secret. His concern was that if he were to inadvertently crush the Holy Prince with a single, decisive strike, Prince Lu Ya and the Little Peacock King might indeed falter and decline to participate.

Upon the collision of their staffs, a thunderous boom reverberated across the entire battlefield. The Holy Prince's demeanor shifted dramatically. The violent recoil propelled him backward a distance of one hundred meters. Golden blood trickled from the wounded flesh between his thumb and forefinger. His normally stern, thunderous countenance now bore a look of deep consternation. His physique—how incredibly dominant it was! Yet, in this direct confrontation of raw strength and power, he had somehow fallen short by a margin of three points?

The assembled crowd erupted in a cacophony of astonished murmurs. In a pure test of physical might, had the Holy Prince actually conceded ground? How could such a thing be conceivable?

As for Ye Chen, the initial impact felt negligible. However, it was imperative that he did not betray this fact. The appearance of a strenuous battle had to be maintained.

Employing what he considered an award-worthy performance, Ye Chen allowed himself to be flung backward an additional two hundred meters. He then directed a solemn, impressed gaze towards the Holy Prince, emitting a dramatic sigh. "The inherent physical prowess of the Victorious Fighting Ape clan is truly awe-inspiring. Even my sacred body falls just slightly short…"

Ye Chen genuinely believed his words conveyed sincere admiration. However, the instant his statement concluded, the expressions of every single spectator present became peculiar to behold.

The Holy Prince's sharp fangs ground together with an audible rasp. His physical strength escalated another degree. Unleashing a roar filled with murderous intent, he swung his colossal black staff and charged forward once more…