According to the meaning of that clan elder, before the true family grand competition officially began, the activation of the Emperor's bloodline for all members of the branch families would be conducted here.
The stone stele in the square was said to have been left behind by a Great Power-level ancestor of the Ye Family in the past. It possessed the law power to activate the Emperor's bloodline. Therefore, as long as the activation was performed here, it would be much more convenient.
Beside the stele were ten Dao platforms. One only needed to sit cross-legged on a platform and place their palm on the stele. The stele would then autonomously sense and unlock the seals within the clansmen's bodies, reviving the Emperor's bloodline power.
"Ye Nantian, Ye Jiushuang, Ye Wei..." The clan elder spoke, reading out the names of clansmen from various branches one by one, having them step forward and sit cross-legged on the Dao platforms in silence, each placing their palm on the stele.
*Buzz—*
Almost the instant their palms made contact, the stone stele suddenly erupted with dazzling radiance, containing the pressure of a Great Power. One strand after another shot forth, directly entering the bodies of the ten clansmen on the platforms.
*Boom—*
Visibly, the Emperor's bloodline power within these ten clansmen boiled and was directly revived. Their entire auras instantly grew significantly stronger.
However, clansmen of the Tiandu branch like Ye Ao and Ye Zhengyang clearly sensed that although these clansmen had activated their Emperor's bloodline power and their auras had grown much stronger, the degree of improvement didn't seem as high as theirs. At the very least, it was a whole level lower.
This puzzled them. Even if they weren't from the same branch, theoretically, the bloodline power within their bodies should all be very thin and shouldn't differ too much. Why was there such a large gap upon activation?
Ye Chen's gaze turned profound. His Heaven's Eye was opening, with boundless great Dao talismans manifesting, capable of piercing through illusions.
Just now, during the activation of the Emperor's bloodline power, he had clearly seen that for these branch clansmen, at an imperceptible level, half of the activated Emperor's bloodline power was silently devoured by the stele, sinking into its deepest depths.
If it were anyone else, it might have gone unnoticed. But for Ye Chen, it was crystal clear. He saw everything distinctly.
"So that's how it is."
At this moment, the corner of Ye Chen's mouth slowly curled into a cold arc. He finally understood why Ye Gucheng had told him that the Emperor's bloodline power of these branch clansmen would be transferred. This was what he meant—being absorbed and accumulated by the stele, condensed into a truly powerful and pure Emperor's bloodline.
Was this meant to be bestowed upon a certain Heaven's Pride, to create a peerless monstrous talent?
He did not inform anyone about this matter, not even his own parents. He only told them to act normally later; he would handle concealing everything.
Moreover, Ye Chen's gaze subtly grew fervent—directed at the accumulated Emperor's bloodline power within the stele.
Naturally, he possessed the Battle Sacred Body. The power of his Battle Saint blood was originally not inferior to a true Emperor's bloodline. Furthermore, he cultivated the Dao of Chaos and would eventually transform his own body into the invincible Chaos Body, which even an Emperor's son's battle physique could not match.
However, this accumulated Emperor's bloodline power had unimaginable great uses. Perhaps, given the opportunity, he could also create an unimaginable peerless genius.
Moreover, as he researched Chaos true blood, perhaps the vast amount of Emperor's bloodline power accumulated within the stele would be of great use to him.
Time passed. Soon, it was the turn of the clansmen from the Tiandu branch to activate their Emperor's bloodline power. They were called forward one by one by the Ye Family clan elder.
"Go up. Remember to press your palms closely against the stele," the clan elder spoke. Ye Chen noticed a flicker in his gaze, as if it contained a different meaning.
Trying to play tricks again? Ye Chen shook his head. Any trick would inevitably appear utterly feeble before his eyes.
Ten people from the Tiandu branch, including the strongest like Ye Ao, the three elders, and Ye Zhengyang, were called up first. When they followed instructions and touched the stele, the stele immediately emitted circles of mysterious, radiant light, enveloping everyone. A strand of law swiftly rushed into the ten bodies, intending to break the seals.
To avoid detection by the Ye Family, Ye Chen had long simulated seals for everyone, which could affect judgment. Therefore, these ten strands of law easily broke the seals within the group. At this moment, they quickly covered their bodies, actually beginning to glow. A special devouring force emerged, intending to swallow all the Emperor's bloodline power within the ten individuals.
And not just half, but all of it.
"As expected. It's that lineage behind this, wanting to completely devour all the Emperor's bloodline power of our Tiandu branch?"
Ye Chen's thoughts shifted, yet his expression remained unchanged. He stamped his foot lightly. Ten golden lights sank into the earth, then flashed into the ten bodies. Within them, they successfully shattered the ten strands of law, allowing the ten individuals' auras to grow significantly stronger as usual.
This scene was witnessed by the clan elder, who appeared somewhat stunned, as if unable to believe why they had successfully activated the Emperor's bloodline power within their bodies.
Impossible. Wasn't it agreed to strip this branch of all its Emperor's bloodline power?
The clan elder was baffled but dared not speak out publicly. He immediately called another ten people forward. The same situation occurred. All clansmen of the Tiandu branch successfully revived the Emperor's bloodline power within their bodies without a single strand being transferred away.
Batch after batch followed, one after another, all with identical results. The clan elder racked his brains but couldn't understand what had happened or why such a situation arose.
Finally, he personally stepped forward, his divine sense covering the area. However, no matter how powerful his divine sense was, as long as Ye Chen intended to conceal it, the clan elder could not possibly detect it.
All of this greatly frustrated the clan elder. What exactly had happened? And the stele showed no signs of anything amiss either.
Finally, it was Ye Chen's turn. He went up with nine others, sitting cross-legged on a Dao platform, his palm touching the stele.
The moment of contact, a special strand of law appeared, flashing into his body.
Ye Chen paid it no mind, allowing this strand of law to search within his body for that thin strand of Emperor's bloodline power, envelop it, directly activate it, and then, unexpectedly, swiftly rush out and sink into the stele.
However, simultaneously, a strand of Ye Chen's divine sense also accompanied this strand of Emperor's bloodline power into the stele. After traversing endless darkness, at the very bottom of the stele's space, he suddenly discovered a peculiar space.
There was a vivid blood pool, containing a pool of crimson blood about three zhang in circumference, lying still. Yet, one could distinctly feel the terrifying energy contained within the blood pool. Every drop was immensely powerful, let alone an entire pool. Even a Heavenly King would feel a heart-palpitating sense of terror because the divine energy contained within was far too horrifying, exceeding imagination.
Clearly, this was the accumulated Emperor's bloodline power. Who knew how many clansmen's bloodline power had been accumulated to reach this scale? It was truly shocking.
Above the blood pool, a black-robed figure sat cross-legged in mid-air. Although the figure appeared somewhat illusory, it suddenly opened its eyes at this moment. Powerful, startling thunder flashed, illuminating this dark stele space. Its voice shook the entire space: "Who is it?"
In the dark stele space, Ye Chen's figure condensed, accompanied by the strand of Emperor's bloodline that had been devoured from his body, descending into this space. Looking at the old man above the blood pool, he revealed a cold smile: "I never expected that the prestigious Peerless Imperial Clan would engage in such shady dealings behind the scenes. Summoning scattered branches to return and activate their Emperor's bloodline power, only to have most of it devoured imperceptibly. What a despicable method."
Hearing this, the illusory black-robed old man's expression immediately changed, then darkened. A powerful great Dao pressure surged from his body, like raging waves. He looked coldly at Ye Chen and said, "To think you discovered it. Quite impressive. However, your courage is not small either, daring to enter this space and be discovered by this old man. Aren't you afraid of death?"
The black-robed old man stood up. A truly earth-shattering, powerful pressure suddenly erupted from him, becoming supremely fearsome. It caused the blood pool to boil, blood light soaring skyward. The blood energy actually seemed vaster than an ocean, rumbling with long roars.
"Afraid of death?" Ye Chen's expression remained unperturbed. "Are you going to kill me?"
"Correct. If you hadn't entered, it might have been fine. But the secret here cannot be discovered by outsiders. Anyone who discovers it, unless they are an important figure of our clan, dies!"
As the word "die" fell, the black-robed old man directly made his move, displaying formidable power. In this stele space, he turned his hand to summon clouds and turned his palm to bring rain. A destructive light appeared, tearing through the void, slashing toward Ye Chen.
It could be said this was a terrifying strike. Even a true Saint Lord present would be killed instantly, with no chance of survival.
Because it already contained the supreme Heavenly King realm Dao mark laws, extremely terrifying, enough to tear heaven and earth.
Unfortunately, this was Ye Chen. Facing this strike, even though only a strand of divine sense had descended, he showed neither alarm nor fear. With a turn of his divine sense, he directly activated that strand of Emperor's bloodline power within him. Blood energy boiled, blocking the attack.
The black-robed old man glanced at Ye Chen with surprise, seemingly somewhat astonished that Ye Chen could execute such a method. But then, killing intent boiled over. He snorted coldly, "Not bad technique. But you dare to act relying on just a thin strand of bloodline power? Truly laughable. Prepare to die."
The black-robed old man attacked again, slapping out a palm that annihilated time and space, directly obliterating Ye Chen's strand of Emperor's bloodline power.
However, Ye Chen's expression remained unchanged because he had long known that this strand of Emperor's bloodline power was of little use. Naturally, as a precaution, he had other backup plans.
*Boom—*
Amidst a great roar, boundless golden light suddenly surged and erupted from within him, as if a hundred thousand volcanoes were erupting. Dazzling golden radiance completely illuminated this dark space, like a brilliant golden sun hanging in the sky, supremely dazzling and eye-catching.
At this moment, he was like a golden war god descending to the mortal realm. Moreover, an invincible Battle Saint will that soared to the heavens erupted from within him, suppressing the world.
Heaven-Shaking Palm!
Heaven shook and earth quaked. Ye Chen stepped forward and directly executed the Heaven-Shaking Palm from the Battle Saint Art. Carrying the vast will to shake the heavens, his palm descended, shattering heaven and earth as if to smash everything to pieces, utterly unstoppable, completely shattering everything apart.
"The Heaven-Shaking Palm!?"
The black-robed old man's expression changed drastically. He never expected Ye Chen to possess such a formidable method. He exclaimed in recognition, greatly shocked. This handsome young man before him was actually a Battle Saint from that invincible lineage.
He knew how abnormal people from that lineage were. Only one per generation, but each one was absolutely a peerless monstrous talent of the highest order in the world, powerful beyond description.
However, the black-robed old man was no ordinary figure either. He snorted coldly and also made his move.
"Sky-Shattering Palm!"
The black-robed old man shouted, slapping out a palm. Its meaning was similar to the Heaven-Shaking Palm, but it lacked that invincible will daring to shake the heavens. When the two collided, the void tore. Ye Chen's figure remained unmoved, while the old man was forced back several steps. His palm split open, several drops of blood flowing out, a shocking sight.
Although it was just a phantom, an imprint, a manifestation of law Dao marks, it was still so real, with blood appearing—a manifestation of Dao essence.
Outside, everyone was unable to see the battle occurring within the stele. But they all saw the stele suddenly radiate with special, fiery light, many times more intense, as if some astonishing transformation was taking place.
This puzzled everyone greatly. What exactly was happening inside?
Unfortunately, no one knew. The clan elder's expression changed slightly. He hurriedly rushed over, placed his hand on the stele, and sent out his divine sense, attempting to probe inside.
*Boom—*
Before his divine sense could fully enter, he discovered boundless, dazzling golden light suddenly erupting, accompanied by overwhelming, layered waves of energy that spread out, directly shattering and dispersing his divine sense.
*Pfft—*
With his divine sense dispersed, the clan elder was directly affected. He opened his mouth and vomited two mouthfuls of blood, his face pale. This left everyone dumbfounded. What had happened? Why had the clan elder vomited blood?
The clan elder had no time to attend to this. He directly took out a jade token from his sleeve and crushed it—a signal to notify important figures within the clan that a major event had occurred.
Not long after, several powerful figures descended upon the square. All were heavyweight figures of significant standing within the imperial clan, gathered here at this moment.
They looked at the clan elder and frowned, asking, "Ye Mugui, why have you contacted us? What has happened?"
"Several esteemed ones, please come quickly and examine the Bloodline Heaven Stele. There has been a startling change." The clan elder did not dare delay, recounting the previous events. This immediately caused the several clan great figures to change expressions one after another: "How could this be?"