"You are not qualified to remain here. Leave!"
Qing Gu Wang's simple, indifferent statement directly targeted Ye Chen.
Whoosh—
In an instant, the gazes of everyone present fell upon Ye Chen, filled with confusion. Why would a Strongest Prodigy like Qing Gu Wang target this unfamiliar-looking trial-taker on the ancient path?
However, they soon understood. Because Ye Chen's body carried none of the bloody aura.
Everyone present had earlier fought their way through a series of special bloody battles within the Trial World. Yet this person had not. Clearly, he had taken advantage from behind, not experiencing the truly fearsome intense battles, and had thus mixed in among the powerhouses, attempting to proceed to the second checkpoint.
Without a doubt, this disgusted many people. It felt as if he were reaping the fruits of others' labor, an act that was deeply displeasing to witness.
"Right, he didn't experience the bloody battles. He's just someone who took advantage. He's not qualified to stay here."
"We must drive such a shameless person back. He absolutely cannot remain here!"
For a moment, the nearly two hundred trial-takers on the Reception Divine Island were almost unanimous in wanting to expel Ye Chen. Such behavior of gaining without effort was simply too repulsive.
At this moment, Feng Wang stepped forward, positioning himself before Ye Chen. "He will not leave."
The other trial-takers looked at Ye Chen. Among them, several of the most powerful Strongest Prodigies gazed at him coldly. Even Mo Fei's eyes were filled with icy disdain. Clearly, someone who only knew how to take advantage and rely on Feng Wang was unworthy of being a trial-taker on the ancient path, only worthy of disgust.
Qing Gu Wang said coldly, "Feng Wang, although you are powerful, this person simply has no right to stay here. Either he leaves, or we suppress and seal him, then throw him back into the Trial World to fend for himself."
"If you want to drive him away, you'll have to step over my body first," Feng Wang's tone was equally icy, his three-foot azure blade pointed distantly at the other, utterly fearless.
In that instant, the atmosphere on the Reception Divine Island suddenly grew tense. Several of the strongest were in a standoff. If a battle erupted, it would be most disadvantageous for the other trial-takers.
"Fine! We'll let it pass this time!"
In the end, the other few still let the matter drop. Because Feng Wang was truly powerful. They were unwilling to start a battle here, nor did they wish to engage in a life-and-death struggle too early.
Ye Chen remained silent throughout, watching everything with indifference.
"My apologies, Saint King, for startling you," Feng Wang turned back and transmitted his voice, feeling somewhat apologetic.
Ye Chen shook his head slightly. "If they don't make a move, I don't care about them. If they truly dare to act, then everyone here will stay behind permanently."
His words were calm, yet they carried a chilling implication.
Feng Wang felt a chill run down his spine. Although he didn't know how strong the Battle Saint King was now, this Battle Saint King, who a century ago was hailed as the young generation's supreme of the myriad realms, would surely unleash earth-shattering power once he acted. It would likely be just as he said—everyone here would indeed stay behind permanently.
The Reception Divine Island shot up into the sky like lightning, finally leaving this Trial World and entering another vast expanse of starry sky.
However, leaving the Trial World did not mean immediately arriving at the second checkpoint. On the contrary, after the Reception Divine Island appeared in the starry sky, an ancient altar materialized there, standing amidst the stars, exuding an ancient aura. It was inscribed with numerous Dao talismans that intertwined and shimmered, transforming into a magnificent Heavenly Gate that stood tall, fully manifesting within the starry sky.
The gate of light opened, revealing a special spatial channel within that led to a mysterious unknown. All the trial-takers stepped into it. With a whoosh, their figures vanished, ultimately rushing toward the unknown.
It was a mysterious spatial channel, its destination unknown. Along the way, there was only darkness, nothing at all. It was as if they were traversing time itself; space and time seemed on the verge of turning chaotic.
Boom—
Meanwhile, Ye Chen had long since sat down cross-legged. Even now, he did not forget to refine the two spheres of divine radiance within his body, for they were crucial to his advancement to an ancient Great Sage.
Furthermore, within his glabella, he was still suppressing the divine souls of the two ancient Great Sages—the Slaughter Venerable and the Primordial Times Beast God—without truly refining them. When he chose to break through in the future, he could also completely refine them, allowing himself to undergo Extreme Sublimation.
Boom—
At this stage, the refinement speed of the Origin Power Sphere had increased manyfold. Wisps of primordial Chaos Qi were transformed into divine flames, continuously refining and thoroughly incinerating the sphere. The entire Origin Power Sphere had shrunk by a circle compared to before, yet it appeared even more refined. Large amounts of Black Aura evaporated, yet one could increasingly sense how potent and pure the divine power contained within the Origin Power Sphere was—many times stronger than the divine power of ordinary ancient Great Sages.
Thus, everyone silently and swiftly traversed the mysterious, dark channel.
Many began to enter a state of cultivation. After all, their consumption in the Trial World had indeed been significant.
The spatial transmission through the starry sky, from the first checkpoint to the second, was much slower than imagined. A full half-day had passed, yet they had not truly arrived at the second checkpoint.
Boom—
Not long after, the channel suddenly experienced a terrifying fluctuation. A massive star abruptly rushed into the channel, directly filling the entire channel space and swiftly flying toward these trial-takers. The most dreadful chaos erupted; vast fluctuations erupted, their intensity unimaginable.
What was happening?
Everyone was startled, somewhat astonished. However, the impact of a single star naturally wouldn't cause them panic. The Golden Giant even slapped out with a palm, directly reducing that star to ashes.
Boom—
Flames shot into the sky, utterly obliterating everything.
However, this was not truly the end. Because within the channel, stars were rapidly rushing over one after another, continuously and with overwhelming force, terrifying beyond imagination.
All the trial-takers quickly took action to intercept everything. Boundless flames howled and danced within, spreading in all directions.
Boom—
Suddenly, three terrifying divine ships appeared out of thin air, directly charging into and appearing within the spatial channel. They were immensely vast and magnificent. Numerous powerful auras erupted from within, and several terrifying Heavenly King-level auras swept forth, suppressing this expanse of heaven and earth.
"Everyone in the channel, surrender immediately! Do not resist, or you will be executed without mercy!"
A loud shout suddenly resounded!