Villain: After Slacking Off, The Protagonist Collapse

As they gazed at the Immortal Purple Gold Tower hovering in the void, the onlookers' eyes turned red with envy, even the Great Saints unable to contain their desire. This was undoubtedly an embryonic Emperor Weapon.

It required nothing more than the Dao to temper it over time. Moreover, as a rare soul-based divine weapon, it possessed both exceptional offensive and defensive soul attributes. With this single weapon, one could essentially ignore most soul-based attacks and defenses, embodying both power and resilience.

"No wonder the Holy Son of Primordial willingly discarded his Emperor Weapon—who would need one when they had an Immortal Purple Gold Tower like this?"

"The Primordial Holy Land has truly indulged their Holy Son. This level of luxury is astounding!"

"When did the Primordial Holy Land come across such a massive block of Immortal Purple Gold, and they're dedicating it all to a single person? And the entire Holy Land agreed to this?"

"Comparing oneself to others is truly disheartening. I've lived over two thousand years and never glimpsed even a fragment of Immortal God Metal, yet here he is with a full block crafted into a divine weapon!"

"This tower is at least the size of a human head, perhaps even larger!"

"It's too extravagant!"

"Ye Tian is doomed. In terms of physical resilience, the Holy Son of Primordial has already achieved a perfected Primordial Dao Physique. Forget Saint Kings—even Great Saints may struggle to break his body. The only chance to injure or kill him would be through soul attacks."

"But now, with the Immortal Purple Gold Tower in place, his soul is protected even more securely than his physical body. At this level, there's no way to harm him."

The emergence of the Immortal Purple Gold Tower left everyone filled with envy and awe. If not for their respect for the Primordial Holy Land's authority, many would have attempted to seize it right then.

The Immortal God Metal was a treasure beyond value, and Jiang Chen's Immortal Purple Gold Tower—crafted entirely from this material and refined by a master smith—was incomparable. Even a Quasi-Emperor Weapon could hardly match it; it was, without a doubt, an embryonic Emperor Weapon, second only to true Emperor Weapons.

If put on the market, all factions would likely risk their lives to claim it. With this tower, everyone looked at Ye Tian with a hint of pity. Though Jiang Chen's cultivation was lower, his Hunyuan Dao Physique was perfected, rendering his physical body indestructible and capable of withstanding Sacred Weapons.

There was no way Ye Tian could destroy it. His only chance had been a soul-based attack, but now, with the Immortal Purple Gold Tower protecting Jiang Chen's soul, all his options were closed.

"Immortal Purple Gold Tower…" Ye Changhe's face froze, his previously calm expression giving way to shock.

The tower's presence had destroyed any chance of victory for Ye Tian. If Ye Tian lost, not only would the Ye Family's reputation suffer, but they'd also lose the three Quasi-Emperor Weapons, the Eternal Token, and ten billion Divine Sources.

The very thought of it shattered Ye Changhe's composure. These losses, though not enough to bankrupt the Ye Family, would significantly impact their foundation.

"It's over." Huang Qingtian's gaze was calm but filled with a complex emotion.

With the appearance of the Immortal Purple Gold Tower, the outcome of the battle was already decided. Ye Tian had no chance.

The young prodigies of the ancient imperial clans fell silent, understanding as well that this was the end. Ye Tian had lost his last opportunity.

Almost simultaneously, in the battlefield of the void, the Immortal Purple Gold Tower shot forward, emitting a rich, noble purple aura as it swept across the battleground. Purple mist surged, engulfing Ye Tian.

Desperately, Ye Tian unleashed every technique and secret art he knew, his attacks driving back the purple mist, barely holding it at bay. But before he could feel any relief—

*Clang!*

A sudden sword cry echoed through the heavens and earth. In a flash, a streak of sword light, imbued with purple aura, sliced through countless layers of void and struck Ye Tian directly.

*Boom!*

Ye Tian's soul shattered, and countless strands of purple mist surged forward like a black hole, devouring every fragment of his soul in an instant.

*Crack!*

With Ye Tian's demise, the battlefield in the void disintegrated completely.

Jiang Chen stood atop the heavens, the Immortal Purple Gold Tower spinning above his head, radiating a luxurious purple glow. It added an air of majesty, making him look like an emperor reigning supreme, towering over all with an aura of unmatched authority.

In that moment, heaven and earth seemed to lose their brilliance; only Jiang Chen remained, an eternal figure.

The crowd fell silent.

The outcome had been anticipated, so they weren't overly surprised. The moment the Immortal Purple Gold Tower appeared, they had known Ye Tian had no chance.

With a sweep of his hand, Jiang Chen gathered the treasures floating in the void, confirming their authenticity before turning to the stunned Ye Changhe and giving him a mocking smile. "Thank you, Patriarch Ye, for the generous gifts. If there's another opportunity for a duel like this in the future, don't forget to visit the Primordial Holy Land!"

"I'm not greedy. Next time, just one Quasi-Emperor Weapon will do."

It was a truly ruthless taunt, one that struck at the heart. Countless beings couldn't help but wince at his words, feeling the sting in their hearts.

The Ye Family's losses were staggering: two generations of God Sons, a Great Saint, three Quasi-Emperor Weapons, and other treasures. Combined, these losses would shake the foundation of any faction.

Already reeling from the pain of such a loss, Ye Changhe now faced Jiang Chen's mockery, making it almost unbearable. If not for his self-control, Ye Changhe would have likely attacked Jiang Chen right then, striking him down in rage.

But he held back in the end, knowing that if he acted, it wouldn't be Jiang Chen who died—it would be him. The All Heaven Mirror loomed in the sky, suppressing the entire battlefield, while Mu Jianxue and the other experts from the Primordial Holy Land alliance watched intently. Any slight movement from him would seal his fate.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Ye Changhe tore through the void and vanished, his figure retreating swiftly.

Watching Ye Changhe's hasty departure, the various factions had mixed emotions. Many couldn't help but shake their heads. This was the fate one brought upon oneself.

Picking a fight with anyone would've been better than provoking the Holy Son of Primordial, wouldn't it? Now they've paid a heavy price.

"Even with such a huge advantage in realm, a peerless prodigy like Ye Tian was no match for him. The Holy Son of Primordial is truly terrifying!"

"As expected of the greatest prodigy in history! Most prodigies find it impossible to fight across realms by the time they reach this stage, yet the Holy Son of Primordial remains unaffected!"

"With the deaths of two generations of Holy Sons, the Ye Family has lost pillars that could have supported them for thousands of years!"

"The death of both Holy Sons will undoubtedly leave the Ye Family lacking future leaders."

"The impact is massive. If those two hadn't fallen, the Ye Family's strength would've soared in the years to come."

"Both Ye Tian and Ye Qing had the potential to reach the Quasi-Emperor level!"

"This is practically the premature loss of two Quasi-Emperors. And let's not forget the staggering cost they paid just to force a fight with the Holy Son of Primordial!"

"The Eternal Token is invaluable, though it only holds real value if one knows the location of the Eternal Emperor's secret realm. Setting that aside, the ten billion Divine Sources are substantial but manageable. However, losing three Quasi-Emperor Weapons—that's a blow no one would want to accept!"

"No matter which immortal faction you're talking about, giving up three Quasi-Emperor Weapons is painful enough to make them bleed!"

"The Ye Family probably didn't have that many to begin with, and now they've lost three!"

"What a disaster!"

With Ye Changhe's departure, the entire ancient city buzzed with discussion. Most were awed by Jiang Chen, who, as a Saint, had managed to kill a Saint King at the ninth level, and one who was an exceptional prodigy at that. Such a feat, in any era, would be an achievement of historic proportions.

Witnessing it firsthand was like watching history unfold. Many could already imagine boasting about it to future generations.

At the same time, the Ye Family's losses were the talk of the town. They were devastating. A Great Saint, two Holy Sons, and an array of priceless treasures—the impact was enough to shake the Ye Family to its core. It was a loss no immortal faction could take lightly.

Yet few felt pity for the Ye Family. This was a disaster of their own making. Had they not provoked the Primordial Holy Land, had they not forced a duel with the Holy Son of Primordial with the intent to kill him, none of this would've happened.

The saying held true: "Man can survive a natural disaster, but not one of his own making."