"It's Deputy Palace Master Honglan, the Great Power!"
Upon seeing this person, the powerful figures within the Tenfold Emperor Passes all exclaimed in shock, accompanied by excitement. The prisoner confined in the cage was none other than an important figure from the Tenfold Emperor Passes. No one had expected this particular important figure to still be alive, yet he was being disgracefully imprisoned by the alien race in a cage.
"The Deputy Palace Master of Myriad Domains?"
Upon learning the true identity of the imprisoned Great Power, even Ye Chen was somewhat stunned, but he quickly understood the truth.
Tens of thousands of years ago, the battlefield between the two realms, because the alien race had directly opened a path through the Chaos Sea, was also one of the main battlefields of the ancient Mythical Era's Great Cataclysm. Occasionally, supreme treasures left behind by powerful figures from that great war would appear.
At that time, a war treasure belonging to an ancient monarch from the Mythical Era's Great Cataclysm suddenly appeared, causing the powerful beings from the two ancient realms, who were usually engaged in minor skirmishes, to rush out in a frenzy to seize it.
Furthermore, although the alien race army was stationed there year-round, there were no ancient monarchs present at the time, so the Sealed Boundary Universe was unafraid and dispatched Great Powers to compete for it.
Unfortunately, there weren't many Great Powers guarding the Emperor Pass at the time, and that battlefield was closer to the alien race army's position. This caused some alien race Great Powers who were in secluded cultivation there to be awakened. A total of seven Great Powers came to compete.
The Sealed Boundary Universe side only had Honglan Great Power, the Deputy Palace Master of Myriad Domains Palace, and two other ancient Great Sages. During the struggle, seeing the situation turning unfavorable, they attempted to retreat back to the city.
However, they were intercepted. Honglan Great Power, being the strongest, covered the rear, fighting fiercely while allowing the other two Great Powers to retreat to the Emperor Pass to call for reinforcements. Yet, he himself ultimately fell into a dire predicament.
Later, the two Great Powers summoned other Great Powers to come to the rescue. Unfortunately, Honglan Great Power and several alien race Great Powers fought their way into the Chaos Sea and vanished without a trace ever since.
At the time, everyone believed Honglan Great Power could not escape calamity, causing great sorrow among many powerful figures in the Tenfold Emperor Passes. However, no one had imagined that he was still alive, not dead, but had been captured alive by alien race experts and imprisoned in this special cage.
One could imagine that Honglan Great Power must have suffered many hardships over these years; otherwise, he wouldn't be so emaciated, with his essence, energy, and spirit so weakened.
"Palace Master!"
Many powerful figures on the Tenth Emperor Pass were visibly agitated because Honglan Great Power was still alive—that was good. But now, being imprisoned in a cage filled the heroes on the Emperor Pass, and even the numerous Great Powers from the heavens, with rage.
"Alien race, release the Palace Master immediately!"
"If you don't release the Palace Master, don't blame us for being impolite!"
Many powerful figures on the Emperor Pass were filled with fury, their eyes bloodshot. Honglan Great Power had shown great kindness to many forces and powerful individuals in the past. Seeing him imprisoned like this now was truly infuriating.
"Back then, Honglan Great Power was considered powerful, slaying two of our realm's Great Powers single-handedly. It wasn't easy to capture him alive and imprison him. How could we simply release him just because you say so?" Blood Spirit King clearly held significant authority.
"What do you want?" a Great Power spoke.
"Open the Emperor Pass and allow the experts of our realm to enter," Blood Spirit King said.
"Impossible," the Great Powers from the various heavens naturally could not agree.
"Even if it means Honglan Great Power perishes, you still won't?" An alien race Great Power stepped forward, speaking with a threatening tone.
"Impossible!"
But the Great Powers from the various heavens on the Emperor Pass were resolute. The Tenth Emperor Pass was the strongest defensive line guarding the border of the Sealed Boundary Universe. How could they open it and let the wolf into the house?
Even the most foolish among them knew the consequences. Even if Honglan Great Power perished, they could not open it.
"Aren't you all very respectful of Honglan Great Power? Some of you were even saved by him. Are you really so heartless as to let Honglan Great Power die like this?" The alien race Great Power sneered coldly, continuing the threat.
Yet, no matter what, the Great Powers from the various heavens could not agree. This was an unchangeable principle. Once opened, allowing the alien race army to march straight in would be a true catastrophe.
"Fine. Since that's the case, we won't force the issue, but we also won't kill Honglan Great Power," the alien race Great Power said, which clearly took many by surprise.
"We can release Honglan Great Power," the alien race Great Power added.
"Really?" Many were overjoyed. If Honglan Great Power could survive, that would naturally be best.
"However, we have one condition," the alien race Great Power said.
"Impossible," the Great Powers from the various heavens refused outright, especially the City Lord of the Tenfold Emperor Passes, who had guarded the passes for many years. Opening the Emperor Pass was out of the question. This answer had been given many times.
"You misunderstand. We don't need you to open the Emperor Pass, only to engage in a life-and-death battle," the alien race Great Power said.
"Life-and-death battle?"
The Sealed Boundary Universe side clearly didn't quite understand what the alien race meant by a life-and-death battle.
"That's right, a life-and-death battle," the alien race Great Power said. "Simply put, both sides will send out experts of corresponding levels: Saint versus Saint, Heavenly King versus Heavenly King, Great Power versus Great Power. As long as you win two out of three matches, our race will release Honglan Great Power and will not launch an attack on the Emperor Pass for a hundred years."
"Be careful of a trap," a Great Power warned, especially the imperial clan Great Powers, who felt something was amiss. Why would the alien race be so accommodating?
Yet, they also wanted to rescue Honglan Great Power. After all, Honglan Great Power had shown great kindness to too many powerful individuals. They were unwilling to stand by and watch him die.
"Speak. What are the conditions? We don't believe your alien race would release the Palace Master for no reason," the ancient Great Sages on this side were well aware of the alien race's temperament; they wouldn't willingly release Honglan Great Power without cause.
"Clever," Blood Spirit King laughed, though no matter how one looked, it felt sinister. "Simple. If our race wins, hand over our Mogu Great Power!"
Over the years, although Honglan Great Power had been captured alive, the Sealed Boundary Universe side was not weak either. They had also made the alien race pay a heavy price, once devising a plan to lure an imperial clan Great Power of the alien race into the Emperor Pass, capturing and imprisoning him as well, all to obtain more information about the alien race.
Although that alien imperial clan Great Power was resolute and never revealed any information, his status and importance were no less than Honglan Great Power's.
"Agreed!" The City Lord of the First Emperor Pass consented. Honglan Great Power's status and importance were naturally higher than that of the alien imperial clan Great Power.
The City Lord of the Third Emperor Pass frowned. "How can we be sure your race will keep its word?"
Their greatest fear was that the alien race wouldn't fight fairly. That would be the biggest trouble.
The alien race Great Power merely snorted coldly. "You can choose not to believe, but Honglan Great Power will undoubtedly die."
Naturally, the alien race was confident and unafraid. They wouldn't swear any heavenly oaths, directly using Honglan Great Power's life to coerce.
Many on the Sealed Boundary Universe side had received Honglan Great Power's kindness, and Honglan Great Power was also a top-tier expert. If he could be rescued, it would have an indescribably immense effect on the Tenfold Emperor Passes.
"Agreed!"
Finally, the Great Powers from the various heavens agreed.
At this moment, Blood Spirit King stepped forward. "Excellent. Now, this king represents the Saint Vault level. Who dares to face this king in battle?"
Without a doubt, this was the Saint level. But Blood Spirit King's eeriness and power had been witnessed by many. He was absolutely a fearsome expert. Young Kings had died inexplicably. Who would dare be arrogant and careless? That would be seeking death.
In the end, a top prodigy among the Saint Vault Kings from the Emperor Pass left the pass and descended onto the battlefield. This was a top prodigy who had grown up within the Tenth Emperor Pass, extremely powerful, almost capable of reaching the next level—the True King rank.
He was stern, clad in purple radiant robes, with a jade crown binding his hair, as dazzling as the Purple Emperor Star, majestic and handsome. He carried a terrifying aura of slaughter, cultivated through years of experiencing various great battles. He had a special name—
Purple Heaven God.
It could be said that this was a top prodigy among Kings who had grown up within the Tenfold Emperor Passes. Each one was cultivated through countless battles, exceedingly powerful.
Purple Heaven God, though not a young True King, possessed combat experience no less rich than those of that level. His Dao weapons were a pair of maces, inscribed with special Dao patterns. The Great Powers on the Emperor Pass informed him of Blood Spirit King's sinister aspects, urging him to be extra careful to avoid an embarrassing defeat.
It must be said, Purple Heaven God was truly powerful. He charged over and engaged in a series of fearsome battles with Blood Spirit King.
He was formidable. His twin maces erupted with dazzling purple radiance that could illuminate past and present, incredibly eye-catching. Vast swathes of law Dao marks erupted, blasting forth as he confronted Blood Spirit King.
Even Ye Chen nodded slightly; this Purple Heaven God was indeed powerful.
However, a sinister blood light flashed rapidly, like thousands of blood needles dancing, whooshing forward, hidden within various Great Dao laws.
Yet, even without relying on these, Blood Spirit King was a remarkably powerful figure, even powerful to an extent beyond imagination.
The two clashed swiftly on the battlefield. Both were Saints, and at the seventh heaven Saint Master level, excessively powerful. The heavens shook and the earth quaked as all manner of law divine abilities were displayed, fighting to the point of cataclysm.
Suddenly, Ye Chen's pupils constricted. "Not good!"
Whether it was him or the Great Powers from the various heavens, their expressions changed at this moment because Blood Spirit King was about to unleash another fearsome move targeting his opponent.
The two collided with lightning speed, but soon, the surging purple light dimmed. Blood Spirit King pressed his advantage, his bloodline power powerful to an extent beyond imagination as he charged at Purple Heaven God.
After exactly three hundred and eighty-three exchanges, Purple Heaven God completely exploded, his body shattered to pieces, because everything was destroyed.
Blood Spirit King emerged victorious.
Purple Heaven God's death caused many powerful figures on the Emperor Pass to pale, while some others' eyes turned red. Purple Heaven God was absolutely a peerless Heaven's Pride guarding the Tenth Emperor Pass, extremely powerful, with the potential to aspire to become a Great Power in the future. He would have become an important member guarding the Tenfold Emperor Passes, a figure upon whom a powerful clan had placed great hopes. Yet, he was killed by Blood Spirit King, causing many to feel heartache.
It must be known that Purple Heaven God's importance was far greater than those young Kings killed earlier.
Blood Spirit King held another Ancient Return Talisman in his hand, looking at the powerful figures on the Emperor Pass with disdain. "Is this all the strength the experts of the Tenfold Emperor Passes have?"
"You—!"
This infuriated many Emperor Pass experts. Yet, this Blood Spirit King was indeed formidable, perhaps at the True King level. An expert of this rank would need to be found to confront him.
Blood Spirit King said, "If one Saint isn't enough, then send a few more. This king doesn't mind sweeping them all."
Such obvious provocation naturally angered the many experts on the Emperor Pass even more, especially the young prodigies. Seeing Purple Heaven God killed, their inner fury was stirred. One after another, they stepped forward to request battle, wanting to kill this arrogant Blood Spirit King.
"I'll go!" Boom—
A golden light suddenly descended upon that vast land. The figure was stern, heroic and imposing, with the majestic aura of a dragon and tiger.
Blood Spirit King looked coldly at the newcomer. "Daring to come alone? Scram. This king disdains killing you."
Boom—
The Heaven's Pride from the Emperor Pass who had descended said nothing. He merely raised a fist and shook it, blasting it out towards Blood Spirit King, accompanied by a surging, world-destroying divine might.
Blood Spirit King's expression changed instantly, sensing a terrifying threat. He immediately understood that the person before him was absolutely no ordinary, peerless great enemy. He hurriedly made a move to defend, unleashing a wave of blood light that surged to drown the ten directions. Swathes of law power rippled, naturally containing countless blood-colored hair needles shooting forward.
Yet, the Emperor Pass Heaven's Pride's expression remained unchanged. He activated a divine ability, executing the Sun Seal. A heavenly sun hung in the sky, vast and mighty. Boundless flames spread out, interwoven with golden light that flashed forth, blasting apart the blood light and even burning the countless hair needles within, causing Blood Spirit King's expression to change again.
He hadn't expected his opponent to see through his methods.
Boom—
However, Blood Spirit King was indeed a sufficiently powerful alien race True King, exceedingly formidable. He charged forth, now truly displaying his own techniques, far more powerful than before. Otherwise, he couldn't have successively killed several King-level figures from the Emperor Pass side.
Moreover, he had merely been concealing his methods earlier. Now was the true eruption of his techniques, excessively powerful. Surging blood light, accompanied by boundless dark light, boiled and surged as he charged forward.
Boom—
The golden light exploded. The Emperor Pass Heaven's Pride was peerlessly heroic. Although his face was shrouded in mist, he still appeared matchless, a supreme, world-destroying aura flashing into being.
Boom—
Despite being sufficiently powerful, Blood Spirit King was sent flying by this blow, coughing up large mouthfuls of blood, disbelief in his eyes.
If not for his divine body being strong enough, he would have been killed by this single strike. Just who was this opponent?
Not to mention him, even the experts on both sides of the Emperor Pass were shocked. When did such an invincible expert appear from within the Emperor Pass?
On the Emperor Pass, a cold smile appeared at the corner of Ye Chen's mouth as he murmured softly to himself, "Saint Vault? The alien race is best at these boring tricks. Life-and-death battle? True King? Hiding strength? Feigning weakness? Playing the pig to eat the tiger? What you can do, I can do too, and I'm more proficient than you!"
"The Ultimate Ancient Path could slay your realm's young supremes and defeat your realm's imperial sons. Today, I will similarly slay until no one in your alien race dares to utter a sound!"