Facing Ye Fan’s formidable challenge, the Crownless God Monarch declared, "I am no longer who I used to be. My current strength has grown enough to chill you to the bone!"
"And what if I join him?" another voice chimed in.
The Crownless God Monarch spun around to find the Seven-Colored Demon Empress. Although she had not yet fully refined the Demon Mountain’s Heart, her strength had grown to a terrifying degree. Ye Fan had planned this for a long time; now, she would fight by his side. At once, the Divine Generals under the Crownless God Monarch’s command tensed, as if confronting a formidable enemy.
However, the Crownless God Monarch simply shouted, "It seems you’ve gone to great lengths to deal with me. Good. Since you’re all here, you can stay forever!" He then charged toward Ye Fan, unleashing the Crownless Thirty-Six Transformations. Empowered by his increased strength, the technique had become terrifyingly potent, making the entire space tremble as if it were about to shatter.
BANG!
They exchanged a palm strike, and both were forced back. The Crownless God Monarch was shocked. He couldn’t believe Ye Fan was so powerful that even he, a Half-step Subcestor, had suffered a setback. Likewise, Ye Fan was surprised that the Crownless God Monarch had completely neutralized the power he had absorbed; the man had grown even stronger. If Ye Fan had arrived a moment later, the Crownless God Monarch might have already broken through to the Subcestor realm. After that, Ye Fan would have been no match for him. His timing was perfect.
As the two battled, the space around them fractured. The Seven-Colored Demon Empress was also engaged in combat, ruthlessly slaying the group of Divine Generals. Suddenly, the space shattered completely. Ye Fan and the Crownless God Monarch surged into the clouds for a terrifying peak showdown. Their battle was so fierce it seemed the very stars might crumble, with neither side yielding.
The Crownless God Monarch conjured the Crownless Four Symbols to fight Ye Fan. In response, the equally formidable Ye Fan used the Wanxiang Divine Shield to resist the massive phantoms. The phantoms of the Crownless Four Symbols were immense, but Ye Fan was certainly no weaker. While the Wanxiang Divine Shield was not as overbearing as the Crownless Four Symbols, which seemed ready to trample the world, it had long since surpassed the realm of simple tyranny. The shield was based not on brute force, but on the ultimate profound meaning of power itself.
Thus, when Ye Fan activated the Wanxiang Divine Shield, it unexpectedly overturned the Crownless Four Symbols, despite them towering over it. The phantoms crashed to the ground, splintering the mountains below. Ye Fan followed up with the Dragon Emperor’s Fist, shattering the Crownless Four Symbols completely. After their destruction, the Crownless God Monarch reconstituted them, panting heavily. Controlling such phantoms demanded immense stamina.
"Truly formidable," the Crownless God Monarch declared, catching his breath. "I didn’t expect your power to be even more terrifying. But I was merely toying with you just now. My true peak starts now!"
He wielded the Crownless Thirty-Six Transformations, displaying its unpredictably profound variations. This was the technique’s true essence: thirty-six changes, each concealing a lethal strike. Ye Fan used his Soul Altar Power to block the killing intent and struck back with his Dragon Emperor’s Power.
"Sky-breaking Fist!" Ye Fan roared, concentrating all his power into his fists. They seemed ready to shatter the world, leaving only ruins in their wake. Even the Crownless Thirty-Six Transformations seemed insignificant before his ultimate fist technique, shattering upon contact.
The Crownless God Monarch was astounded. He proclaimed, "To obey is the Heavenly Dao! To defy is to be an ant!"
Instantly, the Power of Heaven bore down. The Crownless God Monarch had merged himself with the Heavenly Dao. He was not controlling it, but summoning its power to eradicate Ye Fan. This was the Heavenly Dao; no one could withstand it. At least, that’s what the Crownless God Monarch thought. The lineage of Evil Gods had always conformed to the Heavenly Dao. Acting as its representatives to fight the Righteous Gods was a strategy the six Divine Monarchs of the past had proposed, but it had always ended in failure. After all, who would dare control the Heavenly Dao? But through constant evolution, the Crownless God Monarch had learned to communicate with it. Now, he would use its might to crush Ye Fan.
When the Power of Heaven descended, even the Seven-Colored Demon Empress, who was rushing to the rescue, could not withstand it.
After all, that was the heavens. Who would dare oppose it?
As long as one lived under the heavens, all things were subject to the Heavenly Dao’s control. The Crownless God Monarch laughed wildly, certain that Ye Fan was about to die.
The Heavenly Dao condensed into a Chaotic Giant Hand that swept down toward Ye Fan, intending to smash him to pieces. In response, Ye Fan rapidly gathered his power. A golden light radiated from his body; though it seemed small, it shot directly toward the immense hand.
As the Chaotic Giant Hand smashed down, the Seven-Colored Demon Empress was shaken. At that moment, she couldn’t feel Ye Fan’s power at all and began to panic. She frantically called his name, but there was no response.
From above, the Crownless God Monarch commanded the Heavenly Dao and sneered, "This is the price for opposing the heavens! The Heavenly Dao is master of all creation. How dare anything act with defiance before it!
"He’s just the first. Next, the Righteous Gods—and your lowly Demon Clan—will all perish under the power of the Heavenly Dao!"
He laughed hysterically.
Enraged, the Seven-Colored Demon Empress was about to unleash her Ziwei Power to resist the Heavenly Dao when she noticed the Chaotic Giant Hand seemed to be slowly rising.
"What is this?"
The Crownless God Monarch was terrified, while the Seven-Colored Demon Empress was filled with shock. Could it be... Ye Fan is going to defy the heavens?
Then, cracks spread across the Chaotic Giant Hand until it completely shattered. Bathed in golden light, Ye Fan flew into the sky, confronting the Heavenly Dao itself.
"The Heavenly Dao may be strong, but its power is greatly diminished when you wield it," Ye Fan declared. "It’s true that all things are controlled by the Heavenly Dao. But let me tell you, there are people in this world who are not only free from its control, but who actually defy it to achieve the status of a Supreme Sovereign!
"And I am one of those people!"
The Crownless God Monarch was aghast. He couldn’t believe it. To not conform to the Heavenly Dao is one thing, but to actively defy it... It’s unthinkable.
"You may not know what a Heaven-defying being is, but don’t worry," Ye Fan said. "You’re about to find out what a *true* Heaven-defying being is!"
With a great shout from Ye Fan, the last remnants of the Chaotic Giant Hand disintegrated. The ambient chaos in the sky had not yet dispersed, but at that moment, a single drop of Ye Fan’s blood fell from him. As this seemingly insignificant drop of blood touched the chaos above, the entire chaotic expanse crumbled.
"What? That’s impossible!"
The Crownless God Monarch was stupefied. He never imagined the chaos would simply crumble. He could distinctly feel it receding from him as the Power of Heaven rapidly weakened.
"This is impossible!" he roared.
In his mind, the heavens were an absolute force that no one could fight, but now, everything had exceeded his comprehension. The Heavenly Dao he had summoned seemed utterly pathetic before that single drop of blood—weak to the extreme.
Enraged and desperate, the Crownless God Monarch charged at Ye Fan. The power Ye Fan displayed had driven him to despair. A person who didn’t even fear the heavens... if he was allowed to keep growing, he would truly become a Heaven-defying being. Under Ye Fan’s unbelievable methods, the Power of Heaven dissipated completely. In that instant, overwhelming pressure crushed down upon the Crownless God Monarch.