The Soul-Restraining Hall had brought many powerhouses, with no fewer than twenty Heavenly Kings alone. However, both the divine kingdom and the Ancient Path Trial-Takers were sufficiently powerful. Joining forces, they charged forward, engaging the Soul-Restraining Hall's many experts in battle, and instead gained the upper hand, pressing them back.
Among the six Great Power-level battles, the most intense was naturally the one between Ye Chen and the Void Realm Great Power. Both were super-powerful beings stronger than ordinary Great Powers, and their clash at this moment was even more terrifying, nearly shattering everything and pulverizing the heavens.
The Void Realm Great Power was formidable, undoubtedly the strongest present, but he felt a mix of fury and helplessness. Ye Chen was truly powerful. Although his own Dao techniques were far superior, he couldn't truly capture him. Truly worthy of being a Chaos Young Supreme, he was too monstrously talented to be subdued.
Moreover, that Heaven-Supporting Azure Ox Halberd made him wary. After all, it was the peerless battle weapon of that era's King of Kings, Qin Wuxiang. The other party clearly hadn't fully awakened it for some reason. There was also the Sovereign Immortal Heavenly Saber that could traverse the void. If the battle dragged on, other powerhouses from the Ultimate Ancient Path might arrive, which would be even more disadvantageous for the Soul-Restraining Hall. If an old monster-level Invincible Sovereign descended, it would be a dead end.
"We admit defeat today. Let's go!"
In the end, the Void Realm Great Power ceased fighting, tearing through the void with the Soul-Restraining Hall's many experts and rushing into a spatial gate.
"Want to leave? Fine. But since you've come, you should leave something behind."
At the last moment, Ye Chen snorted coldly. He slapped the Chaos Cauldron, violently smashing it toward the spatial gate, causing it to explode directly. Vast swathes of primordial Chaos Qi spread out, intertwining with chaotic light and ancient Chaos Qi, surging in all directions, inundating the six directions and eight desolations, obliterating everything.
Visible to the naked eye, the spatial gate collapsed. The primordial Chaos Qi flooded into the spatial channel, annihilating large groups of Soul-Restraining Hall experts within, utterly destroying their forms and spirits. Several ancient Great Sages groaned.
"Damn you, Battle Saint King! You're seeking death!"
A fearsome roar came from there, but everything vanished. The spatial gate was destroyed. The Soul-Restraining Hall experts, trapped within the spatial channel, couldn't turn back immediately and could only roar in fury.
Ye Chen sneered. The Chaos Cauldron flew back, continuously bobbing above his head, hanging down wisps of primordial Chaos Qi, making Ye Chen appear even more transcendent and causing everyone, including the Guardian Great Ability and the divine kingdom ancestor, to feel awe.
Truly worthy of being the successor of the Battle Saint lineage, inheriting this lineage's forcefulness and domineering aura, utterly fearless.
Especially the Guardian Great Ability, who gave a bitter smile. He felt this Battle Saint King might become a second Wuxiang Sovereign, equally forceful and invincible.
However, matters had basically reached this point and could not be pursued further.
The trial naturally ended early, and they could not proceed to the Third Pass. All Ancient Path Trial-Takers were escorted back to the Second Pass.
The divine kingdom ancestor also ceased questioning the death of the divine kingdom's lord. Instead, at this critical moment, feeling his own strength insufficient, he actively sought cooperation with the Guardian Great Ability in case the Soul-Restraining Hall Great Powers attacked again. Both sides reached a cooperative agreement.
Upon returning to the Second Pass, the first action was to activate the Second Pass ancient city's protective formation. Even if several ancient Great Sages arrived together, they couldn't breach it immediately. It was currently the safest place.
Everyone was alarmed. The Soul-Restraining Hall's large-scale operation this time likely had a wide reach. When the Guardian Great Ability returned, he inquired about the situation at other trial ancient gates, but for a long time received no reply, causing his heart to sink with a bad premonition.
Not long after, the Guardian Great Ability finally received a reply, and the result made his heart sink completely.
Just as the three Soul-Restraining Hall Great Powers had said, the first ten passes of the Ultimate Ancient Path were comprehensively attacked. The Soul-Restraining Hall was making its move. This ancient and mysterious terrifying force had almost emptied its nest, with numerous powerhouses fully attacking the first ten passes. Among them, there seemed to be traces of old monster-level mysterious Hall Masters appearing several times, all terrifyingly powerful, as those Hall Masters were genuine Ancient Monarchs.
It could be said that this time, the Ultimate Ancient Path suffered heavy losses under the Soul-Restraining Hall's comprehensive assault. The first ten passes were basically shattered. Countless Ancient Path Trial-Takers were captured, and many powerhouses guarding the Ultimate Ancient Path were killed. Among them, several Guardian Great Abilities fell, their blood staining the Star Sky. The casualties were heavy and tragic.
The Ultimate Ancient Path's many powerhouses were furious, detesting the Soul-Restraining Hall's shamelessness in suddenly launching such a fearsome attack, and targeting a full ten trial ancient gates at once, with far-reaching impact. Even the Ultimate Ancient Path's powerhouses were caught off guard and taken by surprise.
Basically, apart from the Second Pass, the other nine trial ancient gates suffered massive damage. The Guardian Great Ability of the First Pass, the Moon-Worshipping Tower Master, also fell, perishing between heaven and earth.
Afterwards, the powerhouses stationed at the rear of the Ultimate Ancient Path were enraged. Especially among them, Invincible Ones personally charged back from the rear, their auras overwhelming the heavens, personally pursuing and killing Soul-Restraining Hall experts, even slaying three Soul-Restraining Hall Great Powers. It was rumored they even clashed with Soul-Restraining Hall Hall Masters deep in the Star Sky, shattering endless stars, destroying many star domains, turning heaven and earth upside down with immense impact.
Moreover, the great war between the Ultimate Ancient Path and the Soul-Restraining Hall lasted a long time. Both sides deployed Ancient Monarch-level Invincible Ones, confronting each other multiple times, engaging in battles that caused considerable destruction, affecting countless star domains and greatly impacting the Ultimate Ancient Path's trials.
The ancient path was severed, difficult to continue. Basically, all Ancient Path Trial-Takers at the Second Pass could only temporarily remain in the city pass, as they could not advance and had no path to travel for now. Unless an Invincible One returned to personally reconnect the path, even a Guardian Great Ability couldn't do it.
Because the Star Sky was too vast, too expansive. Once on the road, if one got lost, it was highly possible to be lost forever, never to return.
After that battle, Ye Chen entered a period of weakness. He rested and recuperated within the Second Pass for a full month before recovering his essence, energy, and spirit, reaching the peak.
However, he had completely stabilized at the seventh level of the Heavenly King realm and fully digested the insights from the Rong Tian Sovereign's legacy.
As he said, he didn't cultivate it directly but used it as nourishment for his Chaos Dao Canon, allowing him to travel further on the Chaos path. When his eyes opened and closed, terrifying scenes of a Chaos Sea churning could be seen, truly awe-inspiring.
Having recovered to his peak, Ye Chen bid farewell to the Guardian Great Ability, intending to set out on his own.