The two of them kept going round after round, each of which Ye Tian lost without even managing to harm Keith, making the disparity between their strengths even more obvious.
However, even after taking a beating that would have put any normal person in the Spirit Profound Realm in his grave, Ye Tian was still able to stand up each time, seemingly having endless endurance.
The flame on his body, which was orange at the start of their battle was now brighter in shade, almost golden, and strangely, the heat emanating from it had started falling.
Unbeknownst to the hopeful Child of Destiny, who thought that his opponent was too arrogant and overconfident, everything was still progressing as Keith wanted it to.
There was a reason why he had chosen this place to be a burial ground for Ye Tian, and that was that there were no eyes here, and what was about to happen next would have no witnesses other than the ones he was aware of.
Feigning to have become bored, he walked slowly towards the man who was about to get up on his feet again.
"You disappoint me yet again, Mr. Ye. It is time we end this." He said and then rushed at the man who was now up on his feet.
"Yes, it is time we end this." Ye Tian grinned at him, and just before Keith's fist could reach him, a blinding light erupted from his body, which was soon followed by an explosion that destroyed and erased everything in its path for hundreds of meters in radius.
*Boom*
An apocalyptic sound erupted, that travelled far in the cold desert.
Surrounded by the flakes of debris, which fell on the ground as if it was snow, Ye Tian panted heavily, supporting himself on his knees, seemingly not bothered by the excruciating heat in the immediate surroundings that had turned the sand particles around him into crystals.
He raised his head and looked around and then closed his eyes as relief washed over his heart. He had gambled it, utilising all his Aura in this explosion, and it had paid off.
He had managed to kill the man who looked down on him and believed that he was invincible, and the satisfaction and relief that came after the win lulled him to close his eyes and take some rest.
"Interesting little trick you used there, Mr. Ye."
His heart slowed down when he heard the amused voice, and then his tired body started trembling in fear and the chills that ran up his spine.
Despair washed over him, and he did not even dare to look behind him where Keith was standing.
Ye Tian knew that if he turned around, he would find his enemy standing there unscathed, and his heart could not take that blow now.
"How..." He weakly whispered.
"My apologies, but it is an answer you will never receive." Keith chuckled.
A tear dripped out of Ye Tian's left eye and rolled down his cheek. And this time, there was no flame on his body to erase the evidence of the pain that poured out of his eyes.
"I never stood a chance, did I?" He helplessly spoke, not really seeking an answer from him.
"Now you understand." Keith smiled at the fallen man, who had no hope left in his heart.
A hiccup escaped Ye Tian's mouth before his mind started getting numb, and the thing he saw before falling into his eternal rest was an Aura-coated hand holding onto his heart that was still pulsating.
{Ding! Congratulations Host on completing Main Quest 1! Ye Tian, the Child of Destiny has been killed.}
{You have devoured 575 Fate Points, received 1000 System Experience, and 1000 System Points.}
{The Final Reward of the Quest is being generated...}
Keith curiously looked at the light that suddenly surrounded Ye Tian's body, and a few seconds later, an Orb of White Flame escaped it and floated into his hand.
He curiously ran his hand around it, finding the heat a little too comforting, and then stored the orb inside the System Inventory.
Nine Yang Divine Physique, also called the Physique of Nine Divine Suns, was amongst the most Powerful Physiques in terms of the potential for destruction.
Unfortunately, it was useless to him as he could not possess a second Physique. The Divine Laws were quite strict about it. Besides, the Physique he possessed was much stronger than it. He had no need to replace it even if he could, but that was impossible too.
Keith knew that Divine Physiques could not be harvested from people even after killing them, and it made him more curious about the Laws that governed his System.
Shaking off his thoughts he summoned the Black Flames of Darkness, which soon engulfed Ye Tian's body and devoured it into nothingness.
When everything settled down, only the heat and smoke remained in the surroundings and Keith put his hands in his pockets and started walking in the direction he knew that his Shadow was anxiously waiting for him.
"System, can I give it to anyone I want?"
{Host can choose to give it to anyone he wants or sell it to the System for half its price.}
"How much would that be?"
{50 Billion System Points.}
Keith froze in his steps and his heart thumped hard against his chest. It was too much wealth, but he knew that it was only half the true value of the treasure that he possessed.
After all, once the seventh Sun of Nine Yang Divine Physique awakens, it was counted amongst the Supreme Physiques.
{Giving such a Powerful Physique to someone who has no affinity for it would kill that person sooner or later. The Host should keep it in mind.}
"Who amongst my ladies has the affinity for it?"
{Your mother has an affinity for it at 50%, and that is because she gave birth to you. None of your other wives and lovers has more than 10% affinity for it. It is suggested that the Host should give it to someone who has at least, 75% affinity for it because even if they survive, they might not be able to utilise its full potential ever.}
"Is there a way to increase their affinity for it?"
{If the Host Wishes to give the Nine Yang Divine Physique to his Mother, there is indeed a way to raise her affinity for it. And it would be raised to 99%, and once she has mastered it, it would eventually reach 100%. The System does not recommend giving it to anyone else.}
"How many System Points would it cost?"
{None.}
"And what will you do?"
{You will have to grant her a drop of your blood that contains a power that she has an affinity for.}
"Just like it was done for Minami?"
{Yes, Host. However, the drop of Blood and the Bloodline which you will grant your Mother is superior to that of your Minami. And this drop of blood can not be generated in your body again.}
"I would lose that Power?"
{No, Host. The Power originates from you. If you lose it, anyone to whom you have granted that Power would lose it as well.}
"There are no drawbacks other than never being able to generate another drop of this blood?"
{There are no other drawbacks.}
"Okay." He nodded to himself, having made up his mind, and then started rushing towards the place where his Shadow was waiting for him.
Even though he had survived Ye Tian's last attack, coming out unscathed, he had used more than half of his Aura Reserves to do it.
The power of the first Sun, which Ye Tian had still failed to fully utilize was still too destructive, and he was sure that no other person in the Spirit Profound Realm would have survived it.
He was still a little disappointed as he had prepared for much more, but it was what it was.
Keith had also gotten the answers he wanted from battling Ye Tian. He had been observing his stats, and he did not see any increase in his Cultivation Realm and strength whilst they battled.
Ye Tian had already received all the favours Destiny could bestow on him, and with his fallen Fate Value, there was no heaven-defying phenomenon coming to his rescue.
Since he had gotten rid of that nuisance now, he could focus most of his attention on his ladies for several months to come. Which he intended to do.
"Master!" Yingying rushed up to him as soon as he arrived by her side, and she entered his arms and hugged him tightly.
"Did you like the fireworks?" He playfully asked as he squeezed her against him, knowing well that she was scared after witnessing the explosion and must have been rattled by the shockwaves that followed.
"No." She honestly answered him.
How could she have enjoyed it when her heart was utterly restless for him? But now that she recalled the scene, she has to admit that it was quite a beautiful phenomenon.
The brilliant light had made it look like it was daytime and that soul-stirring sound of the explosion made her heart palpitate again, and this time, there was a hint of excitement too.
"Let's go. We are done here."
"Yes, Master." She nodded to him and then handed him the earpiece she was holding onto for him.
"Iris, inform the Headquarters that Ye Tian has been eliminated." He sent her a message and without waiting for a reply, turned the communication off.
He had kept his mother waiting long enough, and now he was going to make it up to her.
