The Great Power-level divine ship departed from the Imperial City, shooting straight through the firmament and entering the boundless starry void.
Upon reaching a desolate location deep within the starry sky, Ye Chen took out that letter and opened it. Ancient characters appeared one by one within, shimmering with seven-colored radiance before shooting off into the distance.
Boom—
A seven-colored gate of light materialized in the starry void with a resounding crash, connecting to another space.
To enter the location of the imperial clan, one had to step into the passageway of the seven-colored gate of light.
The imperial clan, the undisputed ruling clan of the Ancient Emperor Realm, did not exist in the world, nor was it on the Ancient Emperor Continent. It existed within another ancient heaven and earth.
Legend had it that after the ancient Great Emperor created the Ancient Emperor Realm in the past, he separately opened up a realm within a realm, created solely for the imperial clan.
After the group steered the Great Power-level divine ship into the seven-colored gate of light, they were assailed by a wave of rich and pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth, no less than that of the Demon God Hall, flowing in torrents.
At the end of the seven-colored gate of light, a majestic ancient pass appeared, spanning the very end of the passageway, blocking the path forward.
The ancient pass was enormous, constructed entirely from dark black giant stones. It bore many battle scars, even bloodstains, and had shattered Dao weapons and magical instruments embedded in it, never removed, remaining unchanged through the ages. It displayed the glorious battle achievements of the past, having endured the most fearsome wars without decaying.
The Great Power-level divine ship had long been put away. Ye Chen walked ahead alone, leading the Three Immortal Maidens, the Peacock King, and the others forward until they arrived before the ancient pass, intending to enter the imperial clan's ancient realm through it.
The pitch-black ancient pass was garrisoned by a vast army, each soldier powerful with vigorous blood energy, clad in sturdy battle armor and wielding sharp long spears, divine lances, and other weapons. The guard was strict, exuding a fierce aura of the Great Dao—an extremely powerful legion.
They stopped Ye Chen and the others. The two commanders at the lead were both Saint Lord-level figures, holding important posts at the ancient pass. They were powerful, their blood energy rumbling, their expressions cold and merciless. They declared this was the imperial clan's ancient realm; ordinary people must not rashly intrude, otherwise they would be regarded as enemies of the imperial clan, subject to fearsome attacks, even pursuit.
However, Ye Chen could clearly sense that within the ancient pass existed even more terrifying figures, and not just one or two.
It seemed the realm-within-a-realm where the imperial clan resided was not something one could enter casually; the guard was even quite strict.
Moreover, from their attitude, it was evident that even in the eyes of the numerous powerful experts garrisoning the ancient pass, their gazes towards Ye Chen held a somewhat disdainful air. They placed great importance on their own imperial clan bloodline identity, while maintaining a somewhat lofty attitude towards others.
"It was your clan who invited me here."
Ye Chen produced that letter in his hand, from which streams of resplendent light flowed. The two Saint Lord commanders immediately halted, for they could sense the immortal aura within the letter—it was personally written by that existence from their clan. Who would dare obstruct?
"So it is an honored guest arriving at our door. Please enter." The army commanders did not dare show the slightest arrogance, appearing very humble and courteous. They personally opened the grand gates of the majestic ancient pass, ushering Ye Chen's group into the imperial clan's ancient realm.
Ye Chen nodded and, together with the Goddess and the others, formally stepped into the imperial clan's ancient realm. It wasn't overwhelmingly vast, yet it spanned hundreds of thousands of li. Immortal mountains stood tall, Divine Islands floated, silver waterfalls cascaded, and there were even ancient cities suspended in the firmament. Everything appeared so dreamlike.
The land was a primeval, ancient region, with spiritual energy surging. The earth contained Ancestral Dragon veins and was inhabited by many ancient races, even some races that had been considered extinct.
Ten suns hung in the firmament, and the entire imperial clan's ancient realm exuded a special aura. Ye Chen's eyes flickered, sensing that the Tenth Heaven within his body seemed to be completely perfected and released, not bound by time in the slightest.
This feeling was as if all the myriad Daos of heaven and earth were in a state of great perfection, and even the Heavenly Dao was without flaw.
Ye Chen had experienced this feeling before—it was within the eyes of the supreme existence of the alien race, where the Mythical Epoch was manifested. That was an epoch era where the Tenth Heaven could truly be born.
And the imperial clan's ancient realm before him was akin to a miniature Mythical Epoch. He even felt the true sense of Heavenly Dao perfection; it had the potential to become the mythical domain of the Tenth Heaven.
But immediately after, Ye Chen shook his head again. He felt achieving the Tenth Heaven was too difficult. Although this was a small Mythical Epoch ancient realm evolved by the ancient Great Emperor, it was likely condensed for the Imperial Sons, allowing their Tenth Heaven to remain in a state of great perfection.
In the firmament, there was another glorious and magnificent immortal Divine City, not much inferior to the Central Imperial City, equally extraordinary.
The immortal ancient city was bustling with activity, filled with many powerful experts from the imperial clan's ancient realm and living beings from other powerful races in human form. He even saw some Dao weapons and magical instruments that had cultivated to a certain level and taken human form.
Today, the imperial clan's ancient realm was very lively, for the imperial clan's Crown Prince was hosting a grand feast, inviting many high-ranking and influential figures.
In the central region of the immortal ancient city, atop a treasure pavilion where only important figures could enter, streams of light could be seen streaking across the heavens and earth.
It was evident that supreme experts from the three major races—whether human, demon, or beast—were being invited in one after another.
Even some empire Sovereigns were invited in, all from empires with Heavenly King ancestors presiding.
There were even rumors that experts from the three mysterious forces—the Supreme Saint Upper Palace, the Sun God Dynasty, and the Dark Night Ancient Hall—had appeared and were invited in to discuss important matters of the feast together.
"Let's go."
Ye Chen and his group entered the immortal ancient city and headed straight for that cloud-rosy treasure pavilion in the central region. They saw only a grand ancient gate before the pavilion, carved with patterns of myriad spirits: True Dragons, Kunpeng, Golden Crows, Qiongqi, and one mythical era living being after another. Moreover, four powerful figures stood guard.
The Peacock King was greatly astonished: "They are Samsara-level supreme experts!?"
How extravagantly wealthy was this imperial clan, to actually have Samsara-level supreme experts serve as guards for the treasure pavilion?
"Wrong. They are not gatekeepers; they are responsible for safeguarding the security of the treasure pavilion. Even the imperial clan cannot have too many Samsara-level supreme experts. Because the treasure pavilion is very important, they are stationed here."
Who was Ye Chen? He saw through the truth at a glance. Even a powerful clan like the imperial clan could not have a large group of Samsara-level supreme experts; they were indispensable important figures, impossible to have too many of, even countable on one's fingers.
They would not appear guarding non-essential places.
The others all understood, enlightened.
Holding the letter, Ye Chen strode inside. The treasure pavilion was misty and dreamlike, with auspicious colors flowing. There were also stunning beauties shuttling about serving wine, and songs arose, immortal music hazy. Everything seemed so carefree and comfortable.
But the moment Ye Chen entered, everything changed. Everyone within the treasure pavilion looked at him simultaneously.