The Ancient Divine Continent, he had finally returned.
Decades had passed since his departure.
When he left, although Ye Chen was strong, he was merely comparable to a Samsara-level supreme powerhouse. But now, disregarding factors like World Power, Faith Power, and Wish Power, Ye Chen was already a Peerless Heavenly King, having progressed to a sufficiently profound level on this path of the Heavenly King.
In just a few short decades, he had reached this step. This cultivation speed was enough to shock the world, rare throughout the ages.
Even in the Mythical Era, it would have been absolutely uncommon.
Gazing at the magnificent and familiar Ancient Divine Continent from the deck of the Great Power-level divine ship, the nine Heavenly Kings of the imperial dynasties and the other powerhouses stood at the bow, filled with sighs, complex emotions, and some worry.
Although they had successfully returned, they did not know how their respective imperial dynasties and ancient nations were faring after these decades.
After all, they had all left back then, and their respective imperial dynasties were likely under the control of the Ancient Divine Palace. They hoped nothing had gone wrong.
"Your Highness, please allow us to return to our imperial dynasties," the powerhouses from the nine great imperial dynasties all requested.
Ye Chen naturally agreed and gave them corresponding communication jade tokens. If any unexpected events occurred, they were to crush the tokens immediately, and he would rush to their aid at once.
Finally, the powerhouses from the nine great imperial dynasties departed one after another, leaving only Ye Chen alone. He stored away the Great Power-level divine ship and entered the Ancient Divine Continent by himself.
However, he did not head straight for the Ancient Divine Palace. Instead, he chose another direction—the Demon God Ruins.
In the past, the first place he appeared after leaving the ancient city of Dark Night was the Demon God Ruins, one of the Forbidden Zones of Life on the Ancient Divine Continent, feared by the world. Yet, it was there that he underwent his tribulation and fully became a Saint.
Now, revisiting the old haunt, the most powerful existence—the Ruins Sovereign—had left, entering the Primordial Immortal Realm. Only the guardian old knight remained.
But it was still a place to be feared, always a Forbidden Zone of Life on the Ancient Divine Continent. After all, the historical record of a human Heavenly King being nailed to death before a cliff fifty thousand years ago served as a constant warning to the world not to rashly set foot within.
Ye Chen entered the Demon God Ruins, stepping in with ease and naturally releasing his own cultivation aura—
Heavenly King!
Moreover, Ye Chen was a Peerless Heavenly King, far stronger than ordinary Heavenly Kings. A majestic pressure radiated from him, causing the numerous demonic beasts along the way in the Demon God Ruins to involuntarily submit.
Many of the great demonic beasts were greatly startled upon seeing the visitor's true face, clearly recognizing Ye Chen's identity.
After all, Ye Chen had undergone his tribulation here decades ago and had even stirred the supreme existence—the Ruins Sovereign—in the end.
They simply never imagined that the young man who had transcended tribulation to become a Saint back then had, in the short span of a few decades, achieved the status of a peerless, matchless Peerless Heavenly King, leaving them awestruck.
Naturally, no living being dared to obstruct Ye Chen's advance.
Unimpeded all the way, Ye Chen entered the deepest part of the Demon God Ruins. There lay a vast expanse of palaces, mostly ancient and dilapidated, permeated with an immortal aura. Various traces indicated that this place had once been glorious.
The old knight appeared, not riding his lame horse nor holding his broken battle spear. Like an ordinary old man, he came before Ye Chen, nodded woodenly, and invited him into the hall.
Now, the old knight had, in a way, inherited everything from the Ruins Sovereign, becoming the new master here. However, he had not truly taken up residence, always maintaining the stance of a guardian protecting this place.
"Senior, why do this? The Ruins Sovereign senior has already entered the Immortal Realm. You should cast off these shackles and not continue guarding here. Why not follow this junior and, one day, leave the Ancient Emperor Realm to travel the myriad realms? That world is vaster than the Ancient Emperor Realm, with many more wondrous places. Perhaps you could use this opportunity to break through." Ye Chen tried to persuade him. He truly did not wish to see an ancient Great Sage buried here; it would be a regret.
An ancient Great Sage was like a great roc; they should spread their wings and soar in the vast heavens and earth, not be confined to such an ancient realm.
Moreover, every ancient Great Sage was an important combat force. It might seem that Ye Chen was now comparable to an ancient Great Sage, but in a prolonged, fierce battle, his chances of defeat were high.
After all, he consumed power gathered from all living beings, which would eventually be completely depleted. But an ancient Great Sage's cultivation could penetrate heaven and earth, drawing vast divine energy from the infinite void.
Unless it was a giant-level existence like the Heavenly Gate's Gate Lord, whose cultivation far surpassed that of ordinary Great Powers, defeating, let alone killing, an ancient Great Sage was truly difficult.
The old knight shook his head woodenly. "This old man appreciates your kindness, young friend. But this old man has no desire for contention, nor does he wish to leave this place. This old man's life was bestowed by the master; his entire life belongs to the master. Now, the master has only left temporarily. One day, he will surely return here. This old man is certain the master will return and does not wish this place to be damaged."
Seeing this, Ye Chen sighed softly, knowing the old knight's mind was made up. He did not press further, though he felt some regret.
"Senior, this junior has some questions he would like to ask."
He changed the subject, inquiring about matters related to the dark world within the Chaotic Sea.
Because the old knight was, after all, an existence who had lived in this world for who knows how many years and had long followed a supreme being like the Ruins Sovereign. He might know some secrets about the dark world.
"The terrifying existence bound within the dark world!?"
Hearing this, the old knight's expression clearly changed, as if he knew something, which made Ye Chen rather expectant.
After a long while, the old knight finally spoke. "I only heard the master mention that during the Primordial battle, although they joined forces to suppress and kill the alien race's Emperors and Sovereigns, transforming them into the fortune of a great era, to be precise, an accident occurred in that battle. They nearly failed because a terrifying existence had appeared, almost allowing the alien race's Emperor and Sovereign to survive. That likely refers to it."
Unfortunately, even the old knight was not very clear. The Ruins Sovereign had only mentioned it briefly, and the old knight dared not ask more, so he only knew these fragments of information.
But it could be confirmed that this terrifying existence was extraordinary, related to the Primordial battle. It might even have been jointly sealed in that dark world afterward by the Human Sovereign and the other three great existences.
Finally, Ye Chen left. He did not enter the ancient hall of the Demon God Ruins for a tour, knowing the old knight would not permit it and unwilling to force the issue.
After leaving the Demon God Ruins, Ye Chen entered the human race's territory and received news from the nine imperial dynasty Heavenly Kings—
The Ancient Divine Palace had usurped the authority of the nine great imperial dynasties, completely unifying the Ancient Divine Continent.
Now, within the nine great imperial dynasties, there were powerhouses from the Ancient Divine Palace. Some imperial dynasties even had Heavenly Kings present, confronting the imperial dynasty Heavenly Kings. It was highly likely that a Heavenly King-level battle would erupt, affecting the imperial capitals.
Ye Chen gazed toward the central region of the Ancient Divine Continent, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Still playing these games, unwilling to withdraw even now?"