Chapter 208

Chapter 208: Great Change, Ghost King Youye

Above the once-calm Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, the scattered black dots and lines in the sky suddenly began to glow with an eerie black light, accompanied by thunderous roars.

This abrupt change startled everyone within the ruins.

Everyone had assumed the heavenly tribulation Zhang Yang triggered had already ended. The explosion had left debris that fused with the ruins, altering the restrictions and extending them to the eighth level of the Ascending to Heaven realm.

People had believed that was the extent of it.

Yet today, without any warning, another sudden change had begun.

Zhang Yang recalled the final blow he had struck during his Ascending to Heaven calamity.

That was when the first ancestor of the Ghostly Divine Platform—the Ten-Thousand-Meter Ghost King—had appeared, intent on taking his life.

The Ten-Thousand-Meter Ghost King had been part of the heavenly tribulation.

Now, with the remnants of that tribulation showing signs of movement, could it be related to the Ghostly Divine Platform?

He also remembered the Golden Roc’s warning.

Zhang Yang strongly suspected that the Golden Roc—or those from the Ten Thousand Demons Holy Land in the Eastern Domain—had glimpsed something beyond ordinary comprehension.

The fact that they had specifically warned him to be cautious of the Ghostly Divine Platform was no coincidence.

The unfolding developments were aligning exactly as he had anticipated.

In the high sky, after the black dots and lines erupted with light, a terrifying and profound power seemed to awaken, as though another heavenly tribulation was imminent.

Moments later, the black lights began to swell dramatically.

Initially, these remnants had been far away, but as the black light surged, they began to merge, forming a solid surface.

When the gathered fragments reached a significant quantity, they unexpectedly coalesced into a long face—one that resembled a donkey’s.

It was the face of Ghost King Youye!

The current ruler among the saints, the one who controlled the Ghostly Divine Platform.

As soon as Ghost King Youye’s face appeared, it triggered a commotion like a roaring mountain and a surging sea.

Too many people recognized him.

Before Chi Zhenyi had emerged, he had been like a colossal mountain pressing down on the Southern Region—who would not fear him? Even saints had been wary, if not outright terrified.

"Does the Ghostly Divine Platform intend to let the saints enter the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins?"

"What is the Ghostly Divine Platform planning?"

"Where is the power of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins? Why doesn’t it stop this? If the saints from the Ghostly Divine Platform get involved, how can we possibly compete for holy treasures and the path of sainthood?"

“Damn it, what is happening?”

“The Ghost King Youye is here!”

Panic and fear spread rapidly.

Even Zhang Yang felt an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Yuluan’s face turned pale—she knew that if the Ghostly Divine Platform truly intervened, they would seize the first opportunity to eliminate Zhang Yang.

At that moment, Zhang Yang forcefully stimulated his half-awakened bloodline, allowing the Shattered Heavenly Realm to surface. He attempted to channel his blood qi into the ground, hoping it might awaken a holy corpse.

The invincibility of Ghost King Youye was something no other saint could contend with.

Unless it was Chi Zhenyi or the mysterious, powerful holy corpse of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.

At present, he could not think of a third option.

After Ghost King Youye’s long face appeared, it became clear that he was using some kind of secret technique. His lips parted, and a humming sound echoed across the heavens and the earth, piercingly sharp, jolting those in deep seclusion awake.

Then, the black light in the sky surged violently, spreading madly in all directions.

"Is he trying to devour the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins?"

"Does he intend to bring the entire ruins under his control?"

Many were filled with suspicion and dread.

Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes and frowned—this development did not bode well.

The Daybreak Phoenix Ruins fell into an uproar; countless voices rose in protest against the Ghostly Divine Platform’s interference.

Ghost King Youye rarely responded to such outbursts, but this time, he sneered. "The Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, a forbidden place for all saints—if this saint can intervene, it is thanks to Zhang Yang of the Vast Forest. If he had not undergone tribulation, merging the remnants of the heavenly tribulation into the ruins—if he had not led the holy corpse to slaughter within the Ghostly Divine Platform—how could this saint have discovered a means to interfere?"

"You all—whether from a holy land, the Eastern Domain, or the Western Desert—once you enter the Southern Region, you follow its rules. And the rules of the Southern Region are dictated by the Ghostly Divine Platform. The rules of the Ghostly Divine Platform are dictated by this saint."

"This saint will overturn the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins and reshape it into the domain of the Ghostly Divine Platform. Who dares to defy me?"

His declaration was ruthless, brimming with absolute dominance.

Moreover, his words were a blatant mockery of the other major holy lands of the Southern Region—utter contempt disguised as authority.

The real question was: who dared to contradict him?

"Long Face, what are you up to now?"

Zhang Yang could no longer hold back. No matter what happened, he had to find a way to stop this first.

He soared into the sky, leaving Yuluan behind.

Facing Ghost King Youye alone.

Many within the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins saw him take action; even those who could not see him directly were paying close attention.

"Zhang Yang!"

"Ant!"

The fierce light in Ghost King Youye’s eyes could kill. The oppressive vacuum expanded, and he seemed on the verge of unleashing his Holy Might to annihilate Zhang Yang.

However, the power of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins remained formidable. The incoming force was instantly wiped away.

Even this attack seemed to provoke the ruins themselves.

The Daybreak Phoenix Luan, soaring freely like a sun in the sky, let out a piercing cry. Its brilliance surged, counteracting the spreading black light.

Ghost King Youye’s expression shifted. "Zhang Yang… ant, you can actually communicate with the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins? I underestimated you."

Zhang Yang’s mouth twitched. Communicating?

It was clearly the result of the force triggered by Ghost King Youye’s killing intent.

"Heh, as long as you know," Zhang Yang sneered. His con artist nature kicked in, and his heart filled with scorn. "Long Face, do you remember how we crossed paths twice in the Vast Forest? Do you recall how I dealt with you?"

Ghost King Youye’s long face darkened instantly.

His experiences in the Vast Forest had left him with deep-seated hatred. Since becoming king of the Ghostly Divine Platform, he had ruled the Southern Region like an overlord—who had ever dared to offend him?

The onlookers in the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins were shaken.

Had the two of them actually clashed before?

And under certain circumstances, had Zhang Yang actually prevailed?

Zhang Yang certainly wasn’t about to clarify that Ghost King Youye had only used the ghostly forbidden law to exert power from thousands of miles away—that it hadn’t been the strength of his true self.

As the king among saints, Ghost King Youye was even less likely to explain such matters to someone younger.

Thus, more people began to believe the idea.

"Ant, once this saint topples the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, I will come to kill you!" Ghost King Youye roared.

Zhang Yang sneered. "Come on, do you even know your own worth? Do you think others are clueless? Topple the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins? What a joke. The holy corpse has already been prepared… cough~ cough~" He suddenly covered his mouth and coughed twice before continuing, "If you have what it takes, please proceed. I won’t interfere; I never bully the elderly."

Ghost King Youye’s fierce eyes flashed with rage. He longed to tear Zhang Yang apart immediately.

But he couldn’t.

Due to his earlier actions, the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins were retaliating, and he strongly suspected that Zhang Yang could communicate with them—especially with that mysterious holy corpse.

Zhang Yang had just mentioned the holy corpse.

To be honest, Ghost King Youye felt a degree of apprehension toward it. After all, he was not at full strength here. If the holy corpse intervened, it could potentially deal devastating damage to him and significantly weaken the Ghostly Divine Platform’s resources.

He hesitated.

The brilliance of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins intensified, and the Daybreak Phoenix Luan let out a long cry, pushing back against the black light.

For a brief moment, they were at a stalemate.

Zhang Yang shouted, "Keep going! Hurry up! Give it your all! If you don’t dare, then you’re my grandson!"

A stunned silence fell over the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.

That was Ghost King Youye—the ruler of the Ghostly Divine Platform, the sovereign of the Southern Region.

Yet Zhang Yang was brazenly taunting him, showing not a trace of fear.

The cold light in Ghost King Youye’s fierce eyes flickered, reflecting the mountains and rivers of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, as though he sought to penetrate this land and uncover its deeper secrets.

Zhang Yang panicked inwardly.

If Ghost King Youye truly investigated, wouldn’t he discover the colossal lie—that Zhang Yang had no means to contact the holy corpse, nor any ability to communicate with the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins?

What to do?!

If his bluff was exposed, the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins would undoubtedly be overturned.

And then, he would surely die!

There was no Chi Zhenyi here to save him.

Ghost King Youye clearly did not take the Vast Forest’s rise to holy land status seriously.

Danger!

He absolutely could not let him see through the deception.