Ye Chen paid no heed to the gazes of others. He sat cross-legged, the Human Sovereign Pagoda reviving and floating above his head, with streams of primordial Chaos Qi descending, submerging his true form to prevent anyone from attacking while he confronted the Great Power-level Imprint.
His divine soul surged from between his brows, entwined with wisps of primordial Chaos Qi, and plunged into the Martial Arts Divine Stone space.
Clearly visible, that Great Power-level Martial Arts Imprint hung like a sun at the very center of the martial arts space, radiating billions of zhang of light.
It even faintly emanated an unparalleled, ancient Great Power-level supreme pressure, forcing all surrounding martial arts Imprint light clusters to scatter. Even Heavenly King-level Martial Arts Imprints could not approach, creating a vacuum.
Previously, Ye Chen had always coveted the essence within this Great Power-level Martial Arts Imprint, but his strength was insufficient. Now that his power had reached the required level, it was naturally time to seize the spoils.
Whoosh—
He charged directly over, made contact with the Great Power-level Martial Arts Imprint, triggered the battle space, and entered another virtual realm.
Simultaneously, within the martial arts plaza, numerous powerhouses immediately entered the Martial Arts Divine Stone space, solely to spectate, to witness the Great Power-level Martial Arts Imprint that no one had challenged for who knew how many years.
Even several Heavenly Kings entered one after another. Though they were enemies of Ye Chen, they also wanted to know if this young, excessively monstrous genius could truly defeat a Great Power-level Martial Arts Imprint.
To their frustration, however, the battle space of the Great Power-level Martial Arts Imprint was not open; even Heavenly Kings could not enter.
This was a vast, boundless ancient starry land, indescribably expansive, as if it were a true starry sky. Massive stars dotted the space, slowly rotating, flowing with eternal, undying stellar radiance.
Deep within this ancient starry expanse, a majestic figure that made all heavenly stars tremble sat cross-legged, as if the very embodiment of the Great Dao. Countless Dao marks and divine principles cascaded down like waterfalls, veiling his form, making him appear hazy and indistinct.
Moreover, from his body emanated an aura of peerless, undying Great Dao, sweeping over like a tidal wave, rumbling as it enveloped the entire heaven and earth.
Without a doubt, this was an ancient Great Sage, immensely powerful, condensed with the stellar radiance of the heavens. Sensing Ye Chen's arrival, he opened his eyes—not dazzling, but profound—and slowly said, "Who knows how many years have passed. This year, I finally meet someone daring enough to challenge this seat."
The ancient Great Sage spoke, his voice shaking the entire vast starry sky. A terrifying, world-destroying aura spread from him, shocking to the core.
Ye Chen's expression also turned grave. After all, this was a genuine ancient Great Sage. Within this Martial Arts Divine Stone space, he could truly revive, possessing genuine Great Power-level divine might, not to be underestimated.
Moreover, Ye Chen felt a sense of oppression. Clearly, this ancient Great Sage was even more powerful than ordinary Great Powers.
Yet Ye Chen was not one to back down either. The supreme aura of his Battle Sacred Body erupted. Dazzling golden blood energy exploded forth like a million volcanoes erupting simultaneously, a raging, surging torrent that swept through this vast starry expanse.
Furthermore, wisps of primordial Chaos Qi clearly manifested on his body, and illusory ancient realms appeared, as if myriad worlds were being born upon him.
At this moment, Ye Chen resembled a golden War God descending to the mortal realm. Under the terrifying aura of his Saint Body, star after star in the sky trembled and fell.
It could be said that at this moment, he had almost transcended the Heavenly King realm. Using the Chaos secret techniques he had created to their limit, he elevated himself to a level not inferior to the Battle God Seal, perhaps even stronger.
Naturally, this was only temporary, possible due to the uniqueness of Chaos. Also, during that period, he had integrated the Battle God Seal into his Chaos secret techniques, gained the Great Saint Sovereign's insights into the Chaos Great Dao, and his own realm was sufficiently high, allowing him to elevate his Chaos secret techniques to an extreme sublimation once more.
However, he could not truly break into the Great Power realm. He merely pushed his own aura to its extreme, reaching the pinnacle of the Heavenly King realm, just a hair's breadth away from the true ancient Great Power realm.
But that hair's breadth difference was like the gap between heaven and earth.
Now, he could perhaps be called a Half-Step Great Power.
Although he could utilize World Power, Faith Power, and Prayer Power to also reach the Great Power realm, he wanted to test the true gap between himself and a genuine ancient Great Power.
Boom—
Simultaneously, a dazzling golden light shot out from Ye Chen's divine soul body, severing the nine heavens with a rumbling roar, containing immeasurable tribulation—it was the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd.
This supreme weapon passed down through the lineage of the Battle Saints had also followed Ye Chen's divine soul inside. Held in his grasp, it completely shed its bronze color, reverting to its Nine Tribulations Gold hue, its brilliant golden color illuminating the starry sky.
Combined, Ye Chen could be said to be not inferior to a true ancient Great Power, even without the aid of World Power, Faith Power, or Prayer Power.
He reigned supreme over the world, the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd pointing distantly at the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage, his aura climbing to its peak.
"Hmm? That is Huang's Primordial Battle Body." Although the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage was merely an Imprint, he recognized the Primordial Battle Body's origin. "You are indeed the successor of that lineage, inheriting its legacy. And you even cultivate the unparalleled Chaos Dao of past and present. Within the same realm, you are indeed unmatched. Pity your cultivation is lacking. If you had reached the Great Power realm before coming, there might have been hope. But not as you are now."
Ye Chen did not speak. He strode forward, brandishing the Primordial Battle Body to attack. Arguing was less effective than actual combat.
Boom—
Suddenly, Ye Chen's pupils contracted to pinpoints. Because at this moment, the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage moved, and with extreme speed that left Ye Chen somewhat unable to react.
As if the flow of time had stopped, the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage instantly appeared before Ye Chen, raising his hand and chopping down with a palm-blade.
Even without any manifestation of divine abilities or techniques, it was precisely this palm-blade that made Ye Chen feel an unprecedented, heaven-shaking crisis. Myriad Dao marks seemed to be contained within the palm-blade, chopping down directly from above.
Boom—
This starry sky directly collapsed. Countless stars were annihilated. It was truly terrifying.
The strength of this Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage exceeded all imagination.
Ye Chen let out a great shout, raising the Primordial Battle Body to meet the attack, colliding with the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage's palm-blade.
Boom—
Almost simultaneously, Ye Chen's entire body shook violently. Powerful as he was, he was sent flying, blasted from that starry expanse to the farthest reaches of the sky, crashing through and shattering star after star. The fireworks of exploding stars lit up the entire vast starry sky.
Moreover, blood trickled from the corner of Ye Chen's mouth. Even with the Primordial Battle Body's defense, a vast, mighty Great Dao force still transmitted through it, shaking Ye Chen's body. His Battle Sacred Body, stronger than that of ordinary Great Powers, actually could not withstand it.
If it were any other ancient Great Power, their form would likely have completely shattered.
The strength of this Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage far exceeded Ye Chen's imagination. Too powerful, even absurdly so.
Ye Chen had a feeling that even if he could utilize those three special powers to augment himself, he would still fall far short of defeating the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage before him.
While he was shocked, the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage moved again. His words were law; with every gesture, immeasurable principles accompanied him, striking out, capable of shattering and annihilating all.
Ye Chen stepped forward, executing the Boundary Traversal secret art. The innate divine form of the Immortal Phoenix Divine Wings manifested, combined with the Heavenly Roc movement technique, reaching extreme speed as he shifted tens of thousands of li away.
Boom—
That void directly collapsed, heaven falling and earth crumbling, annihilating everything.
But at this moment, Ye Chen suddenly felt his hair stand on end, sensing a bone-chilling, terrifying crisis emerging. Almost simultaneously, he shouted, unleashing his most terrifying Heaven-Creating Earth-Forging Fist. Accompanied by the manifestation of a great world and the explosion of primordial Chaos Qi, he directly punched toward his rear.
Boom—
All was annihilated. Everything seemed on the verge of ceasing to exist.
Ye Chen's figure rapidly retreated. In a daze, he saw the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage appear beside him. Unbeknownst to him, even he had difficulty detecting it—too ghostly.
Simultaneously, Ye Chen let out a light shout, raising the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd to strike out, accompanied by several wisps of monarchial heavenly might, shattering time and space.
But the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage was too fast. A single leap took him a hundred thousand li away, his speed not inferior to Ye Chen's, perhaps even faster, easily dodging this attack. He stood in the distance, his form enveloped and submerged by myriad Dao marks, his silhouette hazy and terrifying, making Ye Chen extremely wary.
It could be said that this Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage was even more terrifying than Gu Changsheng, an extremely fearsome existence within the Great Power realm.
To some extent, Ye Chen already suspected he could rival the Heaven's Gate Sect Master, both equally unfathomable.
Ye Chen took a deep breath, swallowing the stellar radiance of the heavenly stars into his body, adjusting his own state to its absolute peak. His aura suddenly climbed once more, reaching an extreme pinnacle.
He brandished the Primordial Battle Body to attack, executed the Battle Saint Art, and even displayed astonishing immortal speed. In an instant, he transcended the ordinary and logical, as if capable of reversing the river of time, charging toward the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage to unleash his most terrifying killing technique upon him.
If he did not use his strongest killing technique, Ye Chen knew he could not oppose this Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage.
Moreover, another powerful figure shot out from his body—the Supreme Dao Body, entwined with primordial Chaos Qi, executing the Immortal-Slaying Style, transforming into a powerful Battle Immortal, and also manifesting a Human Sovereign Pagoda accompanied by primordial Chaos Qi.
Two Ye Chens attacked together, powerful to the utmost extreme.
Both also utilized the Five Elements Golden Realm. Endless golden Dao weapons blasted forth, transforming into dazzling golden meteors, continuously striking out, annihilating swathes of void, shattering all, extremely terrifying.
The two combined were not simply one plus one. Because they were the same person, and both wielded Supreme Imperial Weapons, it was equivalent to two ancient Great Sages attacking, perhaps even more fearsome.
Moreover, both the true body and the Dao body executed the Four Extremities Connecting to Saints Style. Four great sacred spirits manifested, accompanied by endless golden Dao weapons charging toward the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage. Endless golden blood energy also flooded the starry sky, attacking the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage from all directions.
The Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage's figure remained constantly veiled by cascading waterfalls of myriad Dao marks, unclear and indistinct. But at this moment, his aura suddenly became incomparably terrifying. He unleashed a world-shaking divine ability, boundless silver light flashed, carrying endless Great Dao runes and divine marks, instantly flooding all, actually shattering all killing techniques.
Even the Battle Saint Art—Ye Chen actually felt a strange sense of suppression. This was unprecedented.
Moreover, the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage's body actually also had hazy, gray Chaos mist spreading, setting him off as even more majestic and towering, making anyone who saw him feel a sense of helplessness to resist, truly too terrifying.
He was peerlessly invincible, killing toward Ye Chen, and unleashed a world-shaking divine ability. Among them was one of the Eight Immortal-Slaying Styles. Ye Chen had seen Shen Rong execute it before, and now it also appeared on the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage, clearly he had also mastered it.
Both the true body and the Supreme Dao Body were blasted away. Golden saintly blood splattered across the starry sky, shining brilliantly.
In a single exchange, Ye Chen was wounded. This only occurred when the gap was too great. Clearly, the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage's strength far surpassed Ye Chen's; otherwise, it would not be like this.
With a boom, Ye Chen operated the Saint Body Regeneration Art, immediately repairing his wounded body, continuously attacking, using the Primordial Battle Body and the Human Sovereign Pagoda to protect himself, colliding with the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage.
But even with the protection of two Supreme Imperial Weapons, it was insufficient. The Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage was too supremely powerful. Even though Ye Chen executed all his strongest means, at this moment, he was powerless to resist, the situation showing a one-sided tendency.
In the collisions, Ye Chen was covered in blood, appearing with deep wounds that reached the bone. His invincible Battle Sacred Body could not remain unbreakable and eternal.
Yet if not for the Battle Sacred Body being sufficiently powerful and tough, he would likely have been severed into a dozen pieces.
Ah—
Ye Chen roared, brandishing his undying saintly fists, punching out blow after blow—the Heaven-Creating Earth-Forging Fist. The imagery of heaven and earth creation manifested within these punches: Chaos opening up, all things being born... various phenomena of world creation manifested, unleashed through these punches.
Boom—
This heaven and earth collapsed on a large scale. The terrifying power of heaven and earth creation spread out, destroying swathes of void and heaven and earth, terrifying and immeasurable. It was, to date, Ye Chen's most powerful technique.
But the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage was also powerful, also throwing punches—the Eight Immortal-Slaying Styles, possessing the terrifying killing intent capable of annihilating immortal realms, not inferior to the Heaven-Creating Earth-Forging Fist.
After all, this was a forbidden divine ability created by the great emperor, the Immortal-Slaying Supreme One, already at its peak state. Ye Chen's Heaven-Creating Earth-Forging Fist was still being perfected.
The two collided. The starry sky greatly collapsed. Ye Chen and the Supreme Dao Body were both blasted away, both sent flying backward, blood splattering across the starry sky.
Only, the Ancient Divine Palace Great Sage's fist also split open. Blood mist sprayed, spreading—it was silver, staining the starry sky. But his figure stood firm as a mountain, just like this, withstanding Ye Chen's most terrifying attack.
And during this, he brandished another divine fist, directly striking out. This fist contained myriad Dao marks and divine principles, shimmering within, flowing with an aura of supreme and unparalleled majesty, as if a truly supreme and unparalleled ancient Great Emperor were throwing a punch. This heaven and earth seemed on the verge of collapsing for it.
Boom—
Swathes of starry sky continuously collapsed and shattered. Ye Chen exploded, his body shattered to pieces. Golden blood light shot up to the heavens, soaring into the starry sky.