Damn Chen Yi is still chasing me

In an unknown void somewhere.

"Bastard!"

"That damned Chen Yi is still chasing me!"

Wuji's Primordial Dao Trace avatar was speeding through the void, leaving time and space far behind.

Right behind him, a pitch-black halberd tore through all obstacles, and further back was Chen Yi, gripping the Eternal Coffin!

Neither space nor time could hinder his advance—he clung tightly to Wuji's avatar, relentless in pursuit.

"Immortal Emperor, don’t be in such a hurry to leave! Let’s chat!"

"Damn it! Since when does a mighty Immortal Emperor only know how to run?"

"Why are you running so fast? Wait for me, I can’t keep up!"

"Just kidding, I can still chase you!"

"Better not let me catch you—if I do, hehehe..."

As he gave chase, Chen Yi bombarded Wuji with willpower strong enough to pierce through the ages, using the most shameless taunts to provoke the fleeing avatar.

"There’s nothing to discuss between us!"

"Want to catch me? Then come and try!"

"Even while bearing the weight of Ling Xiao’s Dao resonance, even as just a will-bound avatar, I remain peerless in this world!"

Wuji’s gaze was icy as he responded with equally sharp willpower.

Truth be told, he had expected Chen Yi to be fast—but not this fast!

Of course, this "fast" wasn’t about speed, but reaction time.

He knew full well that Chen Yi had been lying in wait within the Celestial Pivot Star Domain, ready to reel in his prey. Yet, he had no intention of being entangled by this ill-omened man right away. So, he distorted the force fields outside the star domain, attempting to locate Ling Xiao’s traces through the fragments of the Primordial Bell of Patterns hidden within the Eternal Coffin.

Admittedly, the plan had gone smoothly—too smoothly, in fact.

He couldn’t sense Chen Yi’s presence, and Chen Yi hadn’t lifted a finger to stop him, as if he truly weren’t in the Celestial Pivot Star Domain at all, letting Wuji do as he pleased.

That made no sense.

He was certain Chen Yi was there, merely concealed by some extraordinary means that blocked detection.

So why wasn’t he interfering? Why let Wuji investigate Ling Xiao undisturbed?

There was only one answer: Chen Yi was playing the long game, letting Wuji take the bait so he could reel him in later.

This lower realm was Ling Xiao’s domain—but also his. He wasn’t afraid of Wuji in the slightest. In fact, he seemed eager to skin this "dragon crossing the river" alive!

Hah! How utterly arrogant!

Realizing this, Wuji felt no panic. He even took his time examining the traces of Ling Xiao left on Lu Guan before calmly turning to leave.

But if nothing unexpected happened… then the unexpected arrived.

Wuji truly hadn’t anticipated Chen Yi’s reflexes to be this sharp. The moment he left, the man was hot on his heels, not even bothering to pretend anymore, charging straight at him without hesitation!

Such sharp senses—was he made of sensitive nerves or something?

No choice. Now that he’d been locked onto, Wuji decided to toy with him a bit, testing just how capable this avatar of his was. Previously, he’d only used puppet substitutes, separated by layers of safety measures, making the feedback dull and numb, far from the real thing.

But now, with his Primordial Dao Trace avatar personally in play—though still with precautions—the feedback was instant, the sensations vivid. The safety measures might as well not exist!

"Hmm… as expected of the greatest variable. Such pure energy—untouched by karma, unbound by fate. It seems absorbing the power of divine retribution has elevated him beyond orthodox laws, turning him into a twisted anomaly, a man-made abomination of reversed rules..."

"The innate anomaly ‘Enlightenment’ had fatal flaws, but the artificial anomaly ‘Yi’ might just fill those gaps, achieving a flawless form..."

"But that’s precisely his greatest weakness!"

"Flawless and unconstrained, yet strength has limits—none may defy heaven!"

"The myriad realms are an ocean, its countless beings the seaweed, cultivators the swimming fish, and the supreme Immortal Emperors the gods of the deep. But Chen Yi? He’s shed his gills, cast off the Dao. No matter how strong he is, at best he can stir up a few whirlpools and waves. Does he truly think he can overturn the sea? He’s strayed from the path—what hope does he have against me?"

"Hah! A mere anomaly like ‘Yi’ is nothing to fear. He’s just a stepping stone on my path to becoming the Chaos Sovereign!"

Back in the Wuji Divine Palace, Wuji’s true form finally relaxed.

Fear stemmed from the unknown. Before this, his understanding of Chen Yi had been sparse, mostly gleaned from the sentience of the Creation Disk—scraps of information with little real value.

So when Chen Yi repeatedly jumped out to confront him, packing a punch without revealing how he did it—wasn’t that terrifying?

That was why Wuji had been wary, keeping his distance, observing from afar.

But now? Now he knew exactly what Chen Yi was. With his essence laid bare, what was there to fear?

So what if he was strong?

So what if his blows hurt?

At most, he could bully a few whales and sharks in the water. Did he really think he could challenge the ruler of the entire ocean?

How laughably delusional!

In fact, Wuji was certain that even if this anomaly ‘Yi’ wielded one—no, even two—unknown Chaos Treasures, he’d still be no match for him!

With that thought, Wuji lost all interest in continuing this childish game. His voice dripped with disdain as he sneered:

"Enough, enough. I really don’t have time to humor you. Go play by yourself."

Before the words fully faded—

With a thought, he commanded his Primordial Avatar to plunge into the River of Time, simultaneously laying a temporal trap behind him to block Chen Yi’s pursuit.

After all, as he’d said—‘Yi’ was fast, but not in speed!

If Wuji wanted to leave, there was no way "Little Yi" could stop him, let alone catch up!

Yet what he didn’t know was—

The moment he entered the River of Time, the corners of Chen Yi’s lips curled into a faint, inscrutable smile.

"Finally took the bait..."

"Getting you to willingly lead me to Ling Xiao was harder than I thought."