Ye Chen was naturally not an ancient Great Sage, but with several special powers augmenting him, he could be said to be not the slightest bit weaker than a true ancient Great Sage.
From a commanding height, he looked down upon the Ancient Divine Palace Master. Majestic divine energy surged around him. Without speaking a word, he simply pointed a single finger. The finger rapidly enlarged, transforming into an incomparably massive pillar-like finger that rumbled forth to crush everything.
This was the Annihilating World Finger, releasing a divine might of great terror that overshadowed the entire world of the Ancient Divine Palace, causing countless people to tremble uncontrollably. Even Heavenly Kings shuddered—what a truly fearsome strike.
"Ah—"
The Ancient Divine Palace Master roared, his jade crown shattering, his black hair wildly dancing as he fully unleashed his cultivation. He was a super Heavenly King of the Seventh Heaven, immensely powerful, far stronger than other Heavenly Kings.
Yet such strength was insufficient before Ye Chen; it fell far short. That single finger possessed power rivaling an ancient Great Sage. The moment it descended, it instantly shattered his layered defenses, sending him flying away. He crashed through a Heavenly King Mountain, his entire body nearly exploding on impact.
The Ancient Divine Palace Master was indeed strong. Though covered in blood, his flesh torn, and countless bones fractured, he still managed to endure it.
Ye Chen intended to strike again, but from the Ancient Immortal Hall atop the Ancient Divine Mountain, an equally world-shaking Great Power-level divine might surged forth, overwhelming the heavens and earth. A great hand entwined with supreme Dao marks stretched out, severing the world and intercepting his attack.
Faintly, one could see a peerless figure there that commanded the submission of all living beings, a presence that would make all heavens tremble.
"Gu Changsheng!"
Ye Chen turned to face the direction of the Ancient Immortal Hall, coldly uttering a name.
Great Power Gu Changsheng had finally made an appearance, intervening from the Ancient Immortal Hall to block Ye Chen's attack.
"Gu Changsheng, have you finally deigned to show yourself?"
He spoke coldly, looking towards that place, directly naming the Great Power without the slightest reservation.
"Venerable One!"
Within the world of the Ancient Divine Palace, everyone, including several Heavenly Kings, bowed in reverence and submission towards that direction, showing great awe.
For he was the only ancient Great Sage of the Ancient Divine Palace still existing in the world after the Primordial Ancient God, a being of true profound attainment who transcended Heavenly Kings.
Though Heavenly Kings were rare in the world, throughout the ages the vast Ancient Divine Palace had accumulated quite a few. Yet, among ancient Great Sages existing in the present, there was only this one, a testament to his lofty status as the true number one figure within the Ancient Divine Palace.
Only Ye Chen stood alone, gazing from afar at the Ancient Immortal Hall, confronting the Ancient Divine Palace's peerless Great Power.
Naturally, Gu Changsheng's appearance made Ye Chen even more solemn. The three powers within him surged tumultuously, his aura vast and majestic. Facing a true ancient Great Sage, he had never been careless. Powerful as he was now, he dared not claim certain victory.
"Battle Saint King, has your resentment been appeased?"
A majestic voice emanated from the Ancient Immortal Hall. It was Gu Changsheng speaking.
This left many within the Ancient Divine Palace dumbfounded. Great Power Gu Changsheng did not continue to attack or even stop the Battle Saint King. Instead, he was asking if the other's resentment had been eliminated.
It was unbelievable. Could it be that even a Great Power was wary of the Battle Saint King?
Ye Chen looked over, frowning slightly. "Are you saying that the reason you never intervened—allowing those Ancient Divine Palace experts from the nine great imperial dynasties to be killed by me, allowing the Ancient Divine City's protective heavenly curtain to be broken, and just now, the life and death of a Heavenly King and the injury I inflicted upon the Palace Master—was all merely to let me vent my resentment?"
"Correct."
Gu Changsheng spoke, as if stating something perfectly natural, causing the eyes of the powerhouses within the Ancient Divine Palace to widen.
A Great Power of his stature had made such a great sacrifice, allowing the Battle Saint King to slaughter the Ancient Divine Palace's experts and even be attacked at their doorstep, not stopping even the execution of a Heavenly King—all to let him resolve his resentment.
It was truly hard to believe.
Even Ye Chen was somewhat surprised and suspicious. A Great Power was actually yielding to him like this? He had anticipated a difficult, great battle.
"Gu Changsheng, what is the meaning of this?" Ye Chen asked directly.
"I do not wish to be your enemy," Gu Changsheng replied very directly, his voice calm and placid, as if stating the most ordinary of facts. Yet it caused an uproar among the Ancient Divine Palace's powerhouses.
Just how terrifying was the Battle Saint King, to make a Great Power unwilling to be his enemy, to yield? It was truly unbelievable.
Even the Ancient Divine Palace Master and the several Heavenly Kings were stunned, somewhat unable to believe these were the words of Great Power Gu Changsheng.
Ye Chen frowned. The situation had taken an unexpected turn.
"Venerable One, why is this? The enemy has attacked our doorstep. We should strike forcefully, execute him here, and prove our Ancient Divine Palace's invincible might. You are an ancient Great Power. Surely you are not worried about being unable to subdue a mere junior?" A Heavenly King urgently spoke up, utterly unwilling to accept this reality. For the Ancient Divine Palace, which had dominated the Ancient Divine Continent for countless years, to yield was far too shameful.
Ye Chen did not speak. He waited at ease, wanting to see Gu Changsheng's reaction.
"Noisy!"
Gu Changsheng spoke, but it was to reprimand that Heavenly King, leaving everyone truly bewildered. This was unprecedented.
It also made people shudder in fear. The Battle Saint King truly made even a Great Power this wary.
At the same time, the Ancient Divine Palace Master urgently transmitted a message via voice transmission, informing the several Heavenly Kings and Elder Xuan about the situation on the other side of the Chaotic Sea, on the Ancient Emperor Continent.
Upon learning all the inside information, the several Heavenly Kings immediately turned deathly pale, looking at Ye Chen with shock and awe.
They found it utterly unbelievable that this young junior before them had not only successfully led a ship of people across the perilous Chaotic Sea but had also established such great achievements on the other side's Ancient Emperor Continent—founding a supreme great sect, becoming revered across the continent, challenging imperial clans, rivaling ancient Great Sages, and having several ancient Great Sages as allies.
It had to be said that such a Battle Saint King was indeed not to be provoked. Even though his allied great sect was far away on the other side of the Ancient Emperor Continent, they did not believe the Chaotic Sea could hinder the crossing of ancient Great Sages.
If a true war broke out, it would be absolutely devastating for the entire Ancient Divine Palace, potentially even wiping out their legacy completely. This was the most terrifying scenario, and one none wished to see.
Though Great Power Gu Changsheng seemed somewhat yielding, his choice was correct. For the sake of the entire Ancient Divine Palace's legacy, not confronting the other head-on was the wisest course.
Ye Chen now understood, yet grew even more solemn. For Gu Changsheng seemed to be avoiding his sharp edge, appearing somewhat yielding, but he was a formidable figure who knew when to advance and when to retreat, not to be underestimated—more fearsome than imagined.
"Battle Saint King, please enter the Ancient Immortal Hall for discussions."
Gu Changsheng invited Ye Chen into the Ancient Immortal Hall. Naturally, Ye Chen, skilled and bold, took a single step and arrived directly before the Ancient Immortal Hall, then strode inside.