Di Hong's massive Spirit Ring energy surged into his body, pouring directly into the Atlas Divine Spear.
Inside the divine spear, a dim mark began to revive under the stimulation of Di Hong's energy; it was a chibi Red Gold Chaos Emperor River Bird that bore a striking resemblance to the phantom of Di Hong's Father. As the chibi red-gold pattern began to violently absorb the Spirit Ring energy.
A ripple of Spiritual Power from the mark became increasingly distinct until, finally, it fully awakened.
"Caw-cha--"
"Caw-cha--"
Two successive cries rang through the Spirit Space. One came from the future Di Hong, cheering for his own revival, while the other came from the contemporary Di Hong, who was furious to find his future self greeting him.
Within the Spirit Space, two beams of light condensed, revealing two Chaos Emperor River Birds that looked largely the same, though their markings differed slightly.
At this moment, Yun Ming also projected himself into the Spirit Space. Seeing that the future 'Di Hong' had awakened, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Long time no see, my friend."
Upon seeing Yun Ming arrive, the future 'Di Hong' first sensed his current body and cultivation status. After grasping some basic information, he spoke in greeting.
"Although it doesn't feel that way to me, it seems quite a few years have passed, Yun Ming!"
Yun Ming nodded at him and said.
"It has been quite a while."
As he spoke, Yun Ming caught sight of the contemporary Di Hong on the other side, and his initial joy dampened. He said to the future 'Di Hong'.
"Although I'd love to chat with you, there are more important matters at hand. This is you from twenty thousand years ago. He is the one who helped awaken you today, it's just that he is currently a bit..."
The future 'Di Hong' interrupted before Yun Ming could finish.
"No need to say more, Yun Ming. I already have a rough idea. Let me handle the rest."
Having realized the current time, even without knowing the specific sequence of events, he understood his current attitude from the emotions of his past self.
Hearing this, Yun Ming glanced at the two birds, nodded, and stepped back, leaving the stage to them.
Seeing that the two had finished talking, the contemporary Di Hong looked at the divine bird opposite him—who looked so much like him, yet possessed a different aura, feeling, and temperament—and spoke up.
"You are this Emperor?"
The future 'Di Hong' looked at his younger self, feeling a sense of nostalgia and melancholy.
"The genuine article."
The contemporary Di Hong recalled the fragments Yun Ming had given him earlier. After staring at the other for a few breaths, he shook his head in denial.
"No, you are not this Emperor. This Emperor never submits!"
The future 'Di Hong' felt a complex mix of emotions.
"So what do you want? Kill me?"
The contemporary Di Hong replied.
"Or you kill this Emperor!"
The future 'Di Hong' asked.
"Must it be this way? Is there no other choice?"
The contemporary Di Hong answered decisively.
"No choice."
With that, he transformed into a streak of light and charged toward his future self.
Yun Ming exclaimed in alarm.
"Di Hong!"
He then stirred the power within his body, intending to join forces with the future 'Di Hong' to suppress the other, but he was refused.
"Yun Ming, let me handle this myself!"
Following this, he spread his four wings and swiped a claw at his future self.
Two streaks of light, one red and one red-gold, with identical energy fluctuations, tore into each other within Yun Ming's Spirit Space. You give me a wing-strike, I give you a claw-swipe; every move was lethal, every clash intense.
The commotion here naturally could not be hidden from Yun Ming's other three Soul Spirits, who also manifested their forms. The future 'Ao Tian' watched the little red bird fighting his old companion, saying with suspicion and shock.
"They're really playing for keeps!"
Tian Ling was also incredibly surprised.
"Those two are quite hot-tempered!"
Although Tian Ling felt he used to be quite volatile himself, compared to these two, he was a mere amateur.
Yun Ming watched from the sidelines, feeling that the current situation was spiraling further and further out of control.
Crack--
The future 'Di Hong' blocked his past self's wing-blade with one claw. With a forceful squeeze, he snapped the wing bone, simultaneously using his four wings to dive downward while carrying Di Hong. Just before hitting the ground, he slammed him directly into the floor.
Boom--
The contemporary Di Hong's face was smashed directly into the ground of the Spirit Space.
Although both were Di Hong, there was a vast gap in their cultivation realms. Coupled with their close proximity, which allowed the future Di Hong to devour the origin of his other self even faster, and various other factors, the contemporary Di Hong was taken down in no time at all. Having finished this, the future Di Hong Ascended into the sky and looked down at his prone self below.
"Does it hurt?"
The contemporary Di Hong channeled his origin to restore his wings, though the red light on his body dimmed significantly in the process. He raised his eyes to look at himself in the sky.
"Such trivial pain is nothing to this Emperor."
The future Di Hong replied, "Then let's continue."
As he spoke, he dove down toward himself once more, slamming down with a pure white Sky Dome Emperor Seal. Even though the contemporary Di Hong sensed that the opponent's strength was far superior to his own, he still met the attack with a pitch-black Emperor Seal of his own.
The methods were different, but the result remained the same. Black still could not overcome white; he was crushed and defeated, and the contemporary Di Hong, who had just managed to Ascend, was slammed back into the earth by this strike. This time, his injuries were even more severe, and the sound of countless bones breaking echoed throughout his entire body.
Watching the increasingly weakened contemporary Di Hong, Yun Ming flashed over to the side of the future Di Hong and said.
"Do you really intend to kill him?!"
The future Di Hong lowered the claw he had raised once more and said to Yun Ming.
"That depends on him."
Below, the contemporary Di Hong used his origin to restore his body again and challenged the future Di Hong.
"Again!!"
Yun Ming looked at him and shouted loudly.
"Enough! If you keep fighting, you will really die!"
The contemporary Di Hong glanced at Yun Ming and roared back.
"Then let me die!"
With that, he launched another charge toward the future Di Hong. Seeing his fearless, death-defying demeanor, the future Di Hong sighed inwardly.
"Yun Ming, say no more. He will not accept your advice."
"It is time for this to end."
A golden Sun Wheel was rapidly condensing in his front claw. The contemporary Di Hong knew what that was, but he continued his charge, a Silver Moon light orb appearing in his own claw simultaneously.
Yun Ming raised his hand to stop them, but seeing both of them going all out with a death-defying resolve, he hesitated. The result of that hesitation was that the two closed the distance rapidly, their attacks colliding head-on!
Sun Shooting / Silver Moon Impact
BOOM—
The Martial Soul world began to tremble due to their collision, and Yun Ming mobilized the power of the Atlas Divine Spear to stabilize the space. Once the space was secure, Yun Ming dispersed the soul light, and at the site of the two birds' battle, only the future Di Hong remained, his aura growing increasingly powerful.
Seeing this, Yun Ming felt a heavy heart.
"Why?"
The future Di Hong replied with an enigmatic statement.
"Because Di Hong never submits! That includes you, and it also includes a future that does not align with his will."
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader