Fifth?
Ye Chen stared in surprise at an ancient stele outside the continent, arriving at this answer.
This stele, its age unknown, appeared extremely ancient. The characters inscribed upon it were not the ancient script of the myriad realms, nor were they from the Mythical Era. Yet, he could understand them because they carried a special divine sense fluctuation that allowed for comprehension.
However, the meaning of "Fifth" left him puzzled.
On his shoulder, Yiyi blinked her pitch-black eyes, gazing intently at the ancient script on the stele, muttering: "Why do these two characters feel so familiar, as if I've seen them before?"
Ye Chen jolted, turning to inquire, but Yiyi just fluttered her big eyes, looking confused. She tilted her head, unable to remember.
He did not leave immediately. After consulting the two little beasts, he charged forward.
The ancient continent existed within an inner world, similar to the kind of world the Tian Du Continent once resided in. It had special, sturdy barriers, but they could not stop Ye Chen. He was too powerful, and with some effort, he entered.
The moment he landed, Ye Chen was instantly enveloped by the unique world containing this ancient continent, sensing the various special, primordial auras within.
More importantly, here, Ye Chen actually felt a scene of the Great Dao being complete. The Ten Heavens within his body resonated in unison, and all his divine power felt as if it were boiling.
This sensation had only been experienced in the Void Heaven Domain and within the ancient world of the Tai Sheng Imperial Clan. So, what place was this?
Furthermore, the environment here did not quite match the myriad realms. Ye Chen always felt as if he were in another universe. Although it could make the Ten Heavens within him resonate, there was a peculiar sense of unfamiliarity.
Ye Chen traversed it on foot. Although filled with all sorts of terrifying dangers, Ye Chen, as a Heavenly King, was unafraid. He strode forward, his aura perfectly merging with the world, making it difficult for other ancient ferocious beasts and exotic birds to detect his presence. He walked across this continent, conducting a special investigation.
He wanted to understand what this mysterious world truly was. Bordering the mysterious Forbidden Land of Peril, yet inhabited by so many ancient exotic beasts and divine birds—many of which seemed like extinct species—and discovered to exist without the ferocity and bloodlust that filled the Forbidden Land of Peril.
Within the wild forests, crimson-scaled Tyrannosaurs roamed the earth, roaring.
Terrifying exotic birds soared into the sky. Everything made this ancient continent appear so wild and powerful.
Roar—
During this time, the Golden Little Divine Dragon deliberately let out a roar. Accompanied by the dragon's cry, the wild forests for tens of thousands of li around instantly fell into silence. All beasts trembled and prostrated, unable to withstand the True Dragon's majesty.
Yiyi on the other side also wanted to roar, but what came out were only babbling sounds with no influence whatsoever, making the Golden Little Divine Dragon on the other side want to laugh in a draconic manner.
Soon, both little beasts left Ye Chen, charging into the wild forests under the noble pretext of—
Adventure!
Ye Chen was not worried because both little beasts were extraordinary. Even a Heavenly King would find it difficult to harm them. Moreover, he had specifically left divine sense imprints on them. If anything happened, he would arrive immediately.
Having fought in the Forbidden Land of Peril for too long, it was time to let these two little beasts with their optimistic disposition go play.
As for him, he proceeded alone.
During this time, Ye Chen discovered that although this ancient continent was vast and inhabited by various powerful exotic beasts and birds, civilization also existed. One ancient city after another was scattered across this ancient continent, and among them were cities capable of floating in the sky.
Within them lived numerous Cultivators from ancient clans. Although most took human form, their origins were not hard to discern: the Tyrannosaur Clan, Dwarf Clan, Angel Race, Roc Clan, Rakshasa Clan, Giant Clan, and even the human race. He even saw the Golden Crows and the alien race, surprising Ye Chen.
The alien race was naturally not a single clan but a powerful, prosperous alliance formed from many major clans. Among them were strong clans resembling demons, clans covered in red fur, and other powerful clans.
The alien race was merely a collective term for the powerful beings from the alien universe that caused the great destruction of the Mythical Era.
Through understanding, he also learned that the alien race on this ancient continent could even be considered one of the top powerful clans, one that few dared to provoke. They were extraordinary.
Ye Chen suddenly sensed something amiss. Because in the Myriad Domains universe, the alien race was absolutely not tolerated. Once discovered, they would be utterly destroyed without mercy. Yet here they existed, and were even among the great clans dominating the rise and fall of this ancient continent. This shocked him, leaving him incredulous.
What was going on?
However, he did not act rashly. Instead, he fully integrated himself, observing, because this ancient continent was absolutely extraordinary.
He discovered that although various clans coexisted on the ancient continent, the alien race was among the most powerful, wielding great authority and dominating the rise and fall. But the human race had little authority and was weak, especially targeted by the alien race. Their status on the ancient continent was poor, often oppressed and targeted by the alien race.
Moreover, horrific incidents frequently occurred on the continent, with the alien race secretly involved or ancient exotic beasts launching attacks, subjecting them to various threats.
Many humans had been driven out of the major ancient cities, living in the wild forests like savages, unwelcome and constantly facing life-and-death crises.
If not for the rumor that a super-powerful Dominator on the ancient continent restrained the alien race from harming other clans and offered some protection to the human race, the entire human population on the ancient continent would likely have been expelled or slaughtered by the alien race.
Was the status of the human race really this bad?
Ye Chen's expression turned cold. He held great animosity towards the alien race but did not act rashly because this ancient continent was too unfamiliar, leading him to a certain speculation.
He was beginning to suspect the true origin of this ancient continent.
One day, walking on the streets of an ancient city, he discovered a pitiful little girl, only four or five years old, wearing tattered, ill-fitting clothes.
Even with many patches, the clothes remained ragged, with small wounds visible in several places. Her tender face was dirty, only a pair of bewildered, helpless, and pitiful pitch-black eyes visible. Standing on the street, she looked at the steaming buns in a bun shop, her big eyes blinking, filled with longing.
Finally, the little girl toddled forward on small feet, lifting her dirty little face, pleading pitifully: "Boss, could you give me two buns? I'm so hungry. I haven't eaten for several days."
The boss directly glared, waving his sleeve to sweep the little girl several meters away, covering her in dust, and cursed: "Get lost! It's you again, lowly human! Don't hinder my business!"
Although he didn't use any divine power, the little girl was still left injured.
On the street, Cultivators from various clans passed by, yet everyone remained silent. Not a single person stepped forward to help the little girl.
Seeing this, the little girl didn't cry or make a fuss. She just covered her scraped arm and silently left. That limping, small figure made Ye Chen's heart ache.
Whoosh—
Anger surged in Ye Chen's heart. In an instant, he appeared before this bun shop, staring coldly at the boss.
Although the shop boss, able to operate in the ancient city, was also a powerful Cultivator, under Ye Chen's icy gaze, he felt a bone-chilling cold, as if an ant being stared at by a dragon. His face turned pale, his entire body covered in cold sweat.
Only after a long time, when Ye Chen had left, did the bun shop boss recover, gasping for breath several times, also shocked that such a powerful figure had appeared among the human race.
Although he discovered several steamers of buns missing—all made from precious ingredients, including the flesh and blood of exotic beasts from the wild forests and Heaven and Earth Treasures, of extraordinary value—he dared not pursue the matter. It was likely that human youth who had taken them.
In an old, narrow alley, Ye Chen appeared, seeing the little girl from earlier limping along. That small, pitiful figure entered his sight.
Hearing footsteps, thinking the shop boss had chased her out, the little girl hurriedly crouched down, hugging herself, her small body trembling, pleading pitifully: "Boss, please spare me. I won't dare do it again."
Ye Chen's heart ached. What a pitiful little girl. Why must she endure all this at such a young age?
He walked up to the little girl, disregarding her dirtiness, picked her up, and handed over some freshly made buns, saying softly: "Hungry? Eat them all."
The little girl lifted her dirty little face to look at Ye Chen, then at the steaming buns in his hands. She swallowed hard, really wanting to eat them but also timidly hesitant, lowering her head and whispering: "Big brother, are these really for Qing Qing to eat?"
Qing Qing, was that the little girl's name?
Ye Chen felt even more heartache, nodding vigorously: "Yes, they're all for you."
"Thank you, big brother!" The little girl gave Ye Chen a grateful look. Although he repeatedly warned her to be careful of the heat, the little girl, having starved for many days, couldn't care too much. Her two dirty little hands grabbed the meat buns and she wolfed them down, her small mouth stuffed full yet still trying to cram more in.
The sight of her devouring the food made even someone as steadfast as Ye Chen feel heartache. He patted her back with one hand.
Because these meat buns were made from precious exotic beast meat and contained Heaven and Earth Treasures, they held powerful energy. The little girl couldn't possibly eat too many; they would literally burst her.
Ye Chen was helping her release the divine power within her body, storing it deep within, to be gradually released during future cultivation, greatly benefiting the little girl's training.
While eating, the little girl suddenly paused. Ye Chen asked softly: "Qing Qing, what's wrong?"
Qing Qing grabbed a meat bun much larger than her small hand and offered it: "Big brother, you eat too."
"Okay!" Ye Chen's eyes felt slightly moist. He took the meat bun, not minding the slightly black handprints on it, put it in his mouth, and took big bites, finishing it in two or three mouthfuls.
Ye Chen was very patient, letting her eat slowly. He also took out a jade bottle containing true nectar and jade liquor, exuding extraordinary spiritual energy that transformed into spiritual mist rising.
He poured out a small cup, letting the little girl drink. After one sip, she immediately exclaimed how delicious it was. Moreover, her body began to glow with radiant light, all her wounds starting to heal, the dust on her body scattering, revealing a beautiful, porcelain-doll-like appearance.
Although still dressed in ragged clothes, she now looked as cute as a little princess, very pitiable: "It's so delicious. Big brother, I don't need too much, just one sip is enough. You keep the rest."
"Don't worry, big brother has a lot. You can drink as much as you want."
"Mhm, mhm, thank you, big brother." The little girl nodded like a chick pecking at rice, eating and drinking, her entire body continuously glowing with radiant light. The spiritual energy was once again sealed within her body by Ye Chen.
"Then, can I save some buns and this very delicious water for Grandpa and Grandma?" the little girl suddenly spoke up softly. "Grandpa and the others have also been hungry for a long time, and Grandpa is injured. Qing Qing wants to bring some food for Grandpa and them."
Seeing Ye Chen not answering, she thought he was angry. Immediately lowering her small head in silence, her small hands grabbing the hem of her clothes, she timidly stepped back: "Big brother, I'm sorry. You gave Qing Qing buns to eat and very delicious things to drink. Qing Qing is already very satisfied. I shouldn't ask you for other things. I'm sorry."
Ye Chen felt his eyes grow moist. What a thoughtful little girl. He directly handed them to Qing Qing, taking out many more buns and stuffing them into her arms. Squatting down, he said softly: "No need to apologize. Big brother has plenty. You can take as much as you want."
"Really?" Qing Qing lifted her little face, her eyes sparkling, flashing with joy.
Ye Chen nodded heavily: "Really."
Finally, he bid farewell to Qing Qing. The little girl looked at Ye Chen very reluctantly, lightly biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth, whispering: "Big brother, will we be able to meet again in the future?"
"We will." Ye Chen nodded seriously. Watching little Qing Qing's figure gradually fade into the distance, he then turned and left.
He couldn't stay in this area forever. He still needed to head to the Emperor's Pass and would leave soon. He couldn't help too much; he had already done what he could.
Moreover, he needed to take action—action against the alien race, to resolve some hidden dangers for the human race. He also needed to understand the detailed information about this ancient continent to confirm the answer in his heart.
Boom—
Suddenly, a tremendous roar shook the entire ancient continent, startling the mortal world, allowing everyone to truly hear it.
"Is it finally coming?" In the city, Cultivators from various clans trembled in their hearts, speaking up as they gazed into the heavens, excitement appearing on their faces.
Ye Chen's eyes instantly shot forth astonishing beams of light as he gazed into the distant sky.
Because he saw terrifying pillars of light appearing there, descending from the heavens, standing tall between heaven and earth. Within them, terrifying experts were descending, as if deities of the myriad heavens were descending to the mortal realm!