173: Chapter 173 The strongest are always human.

Around the arena, everyone was dazed by what they saw.

"Is this... is this a battle of the Dao Palace Realm?"

"Too terrifying! This pressure—even someone in the Four Poles Secret Realm would fall if they came here!"

"These two simply cannot be measured by the Realms of normal people!"

Those Disciples' faces were pale, and some were even pressured by that aura until they couldn't catch their breath.

They had never imagined that a battle in the Dao Palace Realm could be terrifying to such an extent.

The Elders were also filled with shock.

They had lived for long years and seen countless prodigies, but they had never seen two Dao Palace Realm youths capable of such a battle.

That was no longer the power a Dao Palace Realm should have; it was a terror that transcended Realms.

The Holy Lord of the Ji Family watched the battle on the arena, his eyes full of excitement.

The Imperial Son is too strong. He gave up his Bloodline, yet he is stronger than when he possessed it. That understanding of combat, that control over power, that never-retreating will—this is the true Legacy of the Void Emperor. It is not the Bloodline, but the spirit.

He watched as Ji Zi took one of Ye Fan's punches head-on, his body swaying but not retreating a single step, and the pride in his heart nearly overflowed. Ancestor, do you see this? Your child is more outstanding than anyone else.

And when he saw that Ye Fan also did not retreat a step, similarly giving his all, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes. This youth is also not simple. The Ancient Desolate Saint Body truly lives up to its reputation.

Ji Haoyue stood beside his father, watching the battle on the arena, complex emotions surging in his heart.

The Imperial Son gave up his Emperor Blood, yet he can fight evenly with the Ancient Desolate Saint Body.

He relies not on talent, nor on Bloodline, but on his own will and power.

And what about him? He had always relied on his Divine Body, relied on his innate talent, but he had never considered that what is truly powerful has never been the Physique, but the person using the Physique.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. From today on, he would change.

He would no longer rely on his Divine Body or his talent; he would rely on his own strength to walk his own path.

Ji Ziyue's gaze followed Ye Fan the entire time. She saw him get hit by Ji Zi's palm, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, yet he did not retreat a step.

She saw him throw a punch, the golden fist-light illuminating the entire arena. She saw him covered in blood, yet his eyes still burned with an unyielding Battle Intent.

Her heart beat very fast. She didn't know what she was looking forward to, she just hoped—hoped that he could win.

As soon as this thought appeared, her face turned red. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at the arena anymore, but soon couldn't help but raise her head again to steal a glance at that golden figure.

On the arena, the battle between the two had entered a white-hot stage.

Ye Fan didn't know how many punches he had thrown; his fists were a bloody mess and his body was covered in wounds, but there was not the slightest hint of retreat in his eyes.

Ji Zi was similarly covered in injuries; his palms were trembling and blood spilled from his mouth, but he likewise did not retreat a single step.

The two looked at each other, both seeing the same things in each other's eyes—Battle Intent, respect, and a mutual understanding born of mutual appreciation.

"Ye Fan, you are very impressive," Ji Zi's voice was raspy, but it carried a sense of sincerity.

Ye Fan smiled. "You're not bad yourself."

The two rushed toward each other at the same time.

This punch and this palm both concentrated the entirety of their power.

BOOM—!!!

The massive sound shook the heavens, and the entire arena trembled violently. Dust and smoke filled the air, obscuring everyone's vision.

Inside the Undying Mountain.

A massive Void Water Mirror floated above the courtyard, clearly reflecting the scenes from the Ji Family's arena. Those dense collisions, that splashing blood, those two youths fighting a bloody battle—everything was captured in full view.

Chu Tianjiao sat beneath the ancient tea tree of enlightenment, holding a cup of enlightenment tea, his gaze fixed on the water mirror. A trace of a smile played on his lips, and his eyes were full of gratification.

"Not bad. Neither of these two children has disappointed me."

Xiao Nannan leaned against his side, watching that golden figure in the water mirror, her eyes full of heartache.

Big Brother is hurt again, but he hasn't fallen; he's still fighting. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly with a hint of pride. That was her Big Brother; no matter how many times he underwent Reincarnation, he was still that Xiao Shitou who never admitted defeat.

"Big Brother won't lose." Her voice was very soft, yet it carried an unquestionable firmness.

The Willow Deity sat cross-legged nearby, her gaze also fixed on the water mirror. She looked at Ji Zi, looking at that youth who had given up his Bloodline, and a hint of approval flashed in her eyes. Void Emperor, you have a good son.

She looked at Ye Fan, looking at that youth who was covered in blood yet still refused to fall, and a hint of tenderness flashed in her eyes. Xiao Shitou, no matter how many times you undergo Reincarnation, you are still that stubborn child.

The Ancient Kirin Emperor sat by the stone table, holding a teacup, also watching the water mirror. A smile was on his face, and his eyes were full of emotion.

"These two kids are fighting really well. To be able to produce such power at the Dao Palace Realm—what will happen once they reach the Four Poles or Dragon Transformation?"

He paused and looked at Chu Tianjiao. "Who do you think will win?"

Chu Tianjiao thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I don't know. Nor is it important."

He looked at those two youths in the water mirror who were covered in blood yet still refused to fall, his eyes full of gratification. "They have both won. They won against themselves."

Inside the Undying Mountain, everyone watched the images in the water mirror, watching the battle between the two youths.

...

On the arena, the two figures collided once again.

Ye Fan's fist carried a golden fist-light, like a small sun, smashing fiercely toward Ji Zi. Ji Zi did not dodge, meeting it with a palm; the palm print carried the profundity of the void and true power.

BOOM!

Amidst the thunderous sound, the two retreated simultaneously. Ye Fan's feet plowed two deep furrows into the arena, while Ji Zi's figure flipped in mid-air and landed steadily. Both were panting heavily, covered in blood, but the Battle Intent in their eyes had not diminished in the slightest.

Ye Fan looked at Ji Zi opposite him, a complex emotion surging in his heart. This youth who had given up his Emperor Blood was much stronger than he had imagined. Not just strong in power, but strong in will.

Ji Zi also looked at Ye Fan.

Blood spilled from his mouth and his palms were trembling, but his eyes were full of excitement.

He hadn't expected that the first Prodigy he encountered upon entering the world would be so strong.

The Ancient Desolate Saint Body truly lives up to its reputation. But he knew clearly in his heart that what is powerful has never been the Physique, but the person using the Physique. The words his father once said to him surfaced with incomparable clarity in his mind at this moment.

Memories came flooding back like a tide.

That was a very, very long time ago. So long ago that he himself thought he had forgotten, yet it turned out to have always been engraved in the depths of his Soul.

He was still very small, so small he could only look up at his father. The Void Emperor sat before him, his face weary but his eyes full of affection. That was one of his father's rare moments of leisure—no need to go to war, no need to shed blood, just quietly accompanying him.

"Child, the path you must walk in the future is different from your father's." The Void Emperor's voice was low and gentle. "Back then, your father had no choice and could only walk the path left by our ancestors. But you are different; you have a choice."