Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 433: Chapter 402: Strength Determines Interests

’Yu Yunko?’

Chen Che’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Meng Qianxun at his side was equally surprised.

Neither of them understood why Yu Yunko—a famed genius, a clan leader, and someone who had previously tried to recruit them—would appear here. Had she followed them? Was she here for the Undersea Palace? Or did she have some other agenda...?

The already oppressive seabed grew even more desolate and silent.

Before the Spiritual Boat, Lu Qinglian and her husband, Meng Changtu, and Chen Xi stared with utmost vigilance at the seven Golden Core Cultivators who had suddenly appeared. They felt an oppressive aura from the imposing woman in the lead—clad in Body-Binding Black Armor with a Ring-Headed Saber on her back—that was several times stronger than what they had felt from Dan Xuanzi.

Simply by standing there, she seemed like an immovable mountain.

The hairs on their bodies stood on end, and they sensed an unprecedented threat.

”Clan Leader Yu.”

Chen Che stepped forward, blocking Yu Yunko’s scrutinizing gaze from Meng Changtu and the others. He gave a slight fist-and-palm salute.

Amidst the ruins, Yu Yunko leaned forward, resting an elbow on her knee. From her higher vantage point, she sized up the Valley Master with great interest. He appeared polite, but she could tell he was ready to strike at the slightest provocation. She let out a frank laugh.

”It seems you and I are fated to meet, Valley Master Chen. I never expected we would see each other again in the abyssal depths of the sea.”

”Indeed.”

Chen Che gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable as he spoke.

”This is the third time.”

”Oh?”

Yu Yunko’s brow twitched in surprise. ’So he’s referring to when I was observing his fight.’

’I know more than just that you were watching.’

’I also know one of you wanted to make a move on me.’

Chen Che didn’t dwell on the matter, instead changing the subject directly. ”Why are you here, Clan Leader Yu?”

”Who wouldn’t be curious about the Undersea Palace that the Star-Picking Sect and the Primordial Sect are exploring together? I came to see if I could pick up some scraps.”

Yu Yunko chuckled softly.

”I arrived seven days before you; my camp is nearby. A moment ago, I saw a Spiritual Boat descending from the sky and came to have a look. If it had been anyone else, I would have simply eliminated them. I just didn’t expect it to be you, Valley Master Chen.”

Her voice was clear and melodious, almost like a songbird’s.

However, her last few words made everyone present break out in a cold sweat. Chen Che seized on the key point. ”Have others entered besides us?” he asked.

”What a question!”

A Golden Core Cultivator behind Yu Yunko, cradling a Golden Saber, cut in. ”With a bizarre celestial phenomenon like the Black Tortoise Calm Sea, of course people are going to come check it out.”

Clan Leader Yu glanced back at him, and the Golden Saber Golden Core immediately lowered his head and fell silent.

Chen Che’s eyebrows rose slightly at the sight.

Clearly, Yu Yunko’s position as clan leader was no empty title; within her clan, her word was law.

”His name is Yu Yunfei, my younger brother. He reached Core Formation a year ago, and it’s given him an arrogant attitude. I hope you’ll forgive him, Valley Master Chen.”

Yu Yunko first introduced the speaker before continuing her explanation.

”That’s right. Before you arrived, Valley Master Chen, several waves of Golden Core Cultivators had already broken in—twelve in total. We eliminated all of them. Just as my brother said, the anomaly in the Black Tortoise Calm Sea will always attract Golden Cores who want to investigate.”

Chen Che nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Yu Yunfei.

’Two prodigies in one clan.’

Yu Yunko had reached Core Formation before the age of forty. Her brother was slightly less remarkable but had also achieved it before forty. This not only proved how incredibly talented the two were but also demonstrated the profound depth of the Yu Clan’s heritage.

”So, what are your intentions, Clan Leader Yu?”

Chen Che’s gaze flickered.

”Let’s not just stand around...”

Yu Yunko clapped her hands with a smile. Though reluctant, Yu Yunfei immediately set to work. A table laden with food and several jars of fine wine appeared before them.

”We’ve met three times, yet we’ve never shared a proper drink, Valley Master Chen. Though this place is nothing but Undersea Ruins now, it was once a Nascent Soul Cave Mansion. Allow me to make a humble offering with what’s available and host you for a drink. Will you do me the honor?”

With that, she sat down decisively.

Chen Che took a seat as well. Meng Changtu started to sit beside him, but the old man grabbed his arm and shook his head discreetly, his eyes flicking toward Yu Yunfei and the other Golden Core Cultivators.

The meaning was clear: he was not qualified to sit at this table.

”If it were anyone else, I would’ve simply eliminated them. But since it’s you, Valley Master Chen, we might as well discuss the possibility of an alliance. Our preliminary reconnaissance has revealed that these palace ruins are far larger than we imagined. Besides cultivators like us, there are also numerous Great Demons that were pulled in during the Spiritual Tide.”

Yu Yunko poured a cup of wine and pushed it toward Chen Che. ”So far, the most powerful Demon Beast we’ve discovered is a Mudskipper Shrimp at the Golden Core Great Perfection Realm...”

”Oh?”

Chen Che raised his cup, his eyes gazing toward the depths of the ruins. Unfortunately, the chaotic Spiritual Qi not only obscured his vision but also severely hampered his Divine Sense. ”An alliance is possible,” he said, ”but if we find anything, how will we divide the spoils?”

”A seventy-thirty split, of course! We get seven parts, you get three!” Yu Yunfei piped up again, speaking with great arrogance. ”That’s because we have more people and are stronger than you.”

Interestingly, Yu Yunko didn’t rebuke him this time.

”That’s not necessarily true,” Chen Xi snorted, his gaze sweeping over Yu Yunfei without a hint of mercy. ”Strength isn’t determined by boasting, it’s proven in battle.”

”I agree with that,” Yu Yunfei said, narrowing his eyes.

”What are your thoughts, Valley Master Chen?” Yu Yunko asked, raising an eyebrow slightly. ’Recruitment is one thing, but cooperation is another.’ If certain things weren’t agreed upon beforehand, settling accounts later could easily lead to a falling out.

”Strength will decide.”

Chen Che tapped his fingers on the table.

In truth, he was also quite keen to test their strength. ”I demand at least fifty percent!”

’It’s not even certain how much is left in these ruins. If they take seventy percent, what we get would be next to nothing. Even beyond that, if we have to cooperate again in the future, Jinyun Valley would be forced into a subordinate position.’

’So, a genuine contest of strength is necessary.’

”These ruins are still dangerous. If you and I fight and deplete our strength, it could jeopardize the rest of our expedition. My brother reached Core Formation just over a year ago, and the Chen Clan’s leader also reached it recently. Let the two of them spar. We’ll decide the split based on the outcome!”

”If you think that’s unfair, I can even suppress my strength by thirty percent,” Yu Yunfei added, patting the Golden Saber in his arms.

”That won’t be necessary!” Chen Xi’s eyes narrowed.

”In that case, the fight will end when a victor is clear.”

Chen Che nodded as well.

With the leaders on both sides in agreement, Chen Xi and Yu Yunfei exchanged a look. They walked off to the side in unison, stopping ten li away in a stretch of ruins filled with rubble and dilapidated walls. They stood a hundred zhang apart.

The two faced off, their auras deep and steady.

”Although my brother only reached Core Formation a short time ago, he is a Body Cultivator. His strength far exceeds that of other Cultivators at the Same Tier.” Yu Yunko had immense confidence in her family. She sipped her wine leisurely, offering a pointed reminder to Chen Che.

To this, Chen Che simply replied, ”Chen Xi’s strength is not to be underestimated either.”

Their conversation didn’t affect the two combatants in the arena. Although Yu Yunfei acted quite arrogantly, he didn’t underestimate Chen Xi in the slightest. On the contrary, he grew more and more focused. Every Cultivator who managed to reach Core Formation had been through life-or-death struggles to get there.

’In terms of experience, I might even be at a disadvantage.’

The frivolous look on his face vanished.

At this moment, the expressions of the onlookers tensed. The auras erupting from the two Golden Core Cultivators were so intense they seemed to press the surroundings into absolute silence.

Seeing that his opponent wasn’t intimidated by his aura, after a brief pause, Yu Yunfei finally couldn’t hold back and made his move. He lunged like a pouncing leopard, leaving a swift afterimage as he seemed to shrink the ground beneath him, appearing before Chen Xi in an instant.

He drew with his right hand, and the saber he held flashed like lightning in a swift, upward arc, slashing toward Chen Xi.

SCREEECH—

With a piercing sound, Chen Xi thrust out both palms, and two enormous Hundred-Eyed Marsh Dragons instantly materialized to circle him. These were Puppets he had obtained from Dan Xuanzi’s group of Golden Cores; puppetry was the Chen Clan’s inherited art.

During their time Crossing the Sea, Chen Xi had been performing Sacrificial Refinement on these Puppets. One of the circling Hundred-Eyed Marsh Dragons suddenly spun, its massive head swinging toward the attacker like a battering ram.

Far from retreating, Yu Yunfei advanced. He stomped forward, shaking the very ground and sending sand and stone flying. Bracing his hand against the spine of his saber, he met the Marsh Dragon’s sweeping attack head-on. He didn’t retreat a single step, but the ground behind him exploded, blasting up a wave of dust.

The two Marsh Dragons, however, were sent flying back several dozen zhang, their massive bodies tumbling across the ground.

But by then, Chen Xi had already raised his hand and pointed.

BOOM—

A flash of light, and a huge, winged bird descended from above, riding a fierce gale as its massive talons swooped down on Yu Yunfei.

CHIRP~

The Little Chick tilted its head, watching.

It was a common Golden-winged Giant Eagle, a massive creature and an aerial hegemon that lived in the Chu State region. However, after the Little Chick reached Core Formation, it had thrashed these eagles soundly, establishing the Primordial Sect’s aerial supremacy.

Although this eagle wasn’t weak, once made into a Puppet, it lost its natural agility, even if its ferocity remained.

Yu Yunfei rolled out of the way, dodging the talon strike.

The Giant Eagle beat its wings, about to take flight, but he had already shot out a hand and seized its talons.

”Up!”

With a furious roar, Yu Yunfei lifted the hundred-zhang Giant Eagle with a single hand. Spinning like a top, he swung the massive bird around like a pinwheel before suddenly letting go, flinging it through the air with incredible force.

With a tremendous crash, it slammed into one of the charging Hundred-Eyed Marsh Dragons, sending it tumbling away.

Just then, Yu Yunfei shot forward like a rampaging Fierce Beast and slammed directly into the other Hundred-Eyed Marsh Dragon. His savage posture made everyone’s eyes lock onto him.

The fighting style of a Body Cultivator was simply too ferocious; it was no exaggeration to call them a Demon Beast in human skin.

BANG!

With a deafening bang, the other Hundred-Eyed Marsh Dragon’s body emitted a series of sickening cracks and pops upon impact. Its internal frame had clearly shattered. The brutal collision sent it flying backward on the spot.

It soared over the onlookers’ heads before smashing heavily to the ground. It struggled for a moment but failed to get back up.

”Valley Master Chen, it appears we’ve won this contest,” Yu Yunko said with a soft laugh.

”Not necessarily.”

Chen Che replied impassively.

As they spoke, Yu Yunfei was already moving. With no more obstacles in his path, he appeared before Chen Xi in an instant. He swept his long saber out horizontally, a wide grin spreading across his face.

”It’s over!”

Before the words had even left his lips, Chen Xi spread his hands, and a Black Jade Divine Statue materialized behind him.

The very instant it appeared, it thrust a palm downward!