"I will find you."
Ye Chen spoke softly, then turned and left, striding away from the starry sky. With a single step, the stars shifted, and he soon directly entered the Eighteenth Pass.
Boom—
Without a doubt, Ye Chen's appearance attracted countless gazes, stirring up the entire ancient city of the Eighteenth Pass.
Because of everything that had happened during this period, Ye Chen had been mythologized, becoming the focus of the world—a seed-level figure with the potential to become the overlord of the Ultimate Ancient Path.
Moreover, basically everyone believed that as long as Ye Chen did not encounter any mishaps, he would inevitably reach that level of existence, not to be underestimated.
Sun God's Son, Sheng Tian, and the other young generation's supremes of the Undying lineage now looked at Ye Chen with a few more traces of awe in their eyes.
Even though they were all young generation's supremes, they understood that the distance between them was already insurmountable. The other party was destined to become the strongest existence, the overlord of the Ancient Path, someone whom even young generation's supremes could only look up to, unable to reach.
Ye Chen's appearance soon led to a summons from the Guardian Great Ability of this pass. Among them were several other Guardian Great Abilities of the Ultimate Ancient Path, who had specifically waited for Ye Chen's return.
"My apologies for keeping you seniors waiting," Ye Chen said, cupping his fists in apology to Nine Phoenix Great Ability and the other Guardian Great Abilities. Yet, precisely because of this, it made these guardians view Ye Chen in an even more favorable light.
If others had reached Ye Chen's level, they would likely have become arrogant and aloof long ago. How could they be so amiable?
"Young friend, you are too modest," the several Guardian Great Abilities naturally did not put on airs either.
"May I ask why you seniors have summoned this junior?" Ye Chen got straight to the point.
"Young friend, we feel that your cultivation is already sufficiently powerful, not quite suitable for the first thirty passes. Therefore, we few hope to directly send you to the Thirty-First Pass. What is your opinion..." Their meaning was very clear: the cultivation Ye Chen had currently displayed was simply too powerful. Although he was still only at the peak of the Heavenly King realm, his true combat power far exceeded the scope of this level; even ordinary Great Powers could be suppressed and slain.
It could be said that basically, the first thirty passes were no longer suitable for a supreme existence like Ye Chen to linger in. Otherwise, his prolonged stay would have a terrifying impact on the other Ancient Path trial-takers, imperceptibly affecting their Dao hearts as they vied for supremacy.
One person suppressing all trial-takers of the heavens, achieving only one person's success, was not what the Ultimate Ancient Path desired.
This was also why overlords of the Ultimate Ancient Path could not casually return. The Guardian Great Abilities of the Ancient Path did not wish for the appearance of such heaven-defying existences to affect the rise of the Heaven's Pride prodigies from the various ancient universes.
"So that's how it is," Ye Chen nodded. "But are others treated the same way?"
Hearing this, Nine Phoenix Great Ability and the other guardians smiled bitterly. "Of course not. Only Ancient Path trial-takers who are sufficiently monstrous and powerful will be selected by us to directly cross the numerous Trial Ancient Passes and be sent deeper in. Ordinary Ancient Path trial-takers, even young generation's supremes, do not have this qualification."
Without a doubt, such selection had extremely high limitations; those not monstrous and powerful enough could not be chosen.
Even ordinary young generation's supremes could not be treated this way.
"Although I understand the difficulties you seniors face, for this junior, this seems somewhat unfair," Ye Chen chuckled lightly. With his cultivation, he could absolutely sweep through the first thirty passes, charging through each Trial Ancient Pass and seizing the vast majority of precious cultivation resources.
It could be said that in the first thirty passes of the Ultimate Ancient Path, he, Ye Chen, was an invincible existence under the heavens, slaying gods if they blocked him, slaying buddhas if they stood in his way. Unless they were supreme Heaven's Pride of the same Emperor's Son level, none could stop him.
Yet now, precisely because of his peerless power and monstrous talent, these Guardian Great Abilities had no choice but to step forward, wanting to make him cross so many Trial Ancient Passes and directly send him to the Thirty-First Pass.
For the Ultimate Ancient Path, balance was indeed needed, but for him, it was somewhat unfair.
After all, no matter what, he was an Ancient Path trial-taker.
Nine Phoenix Great Ability and the group of Guardian Great Abilities exchanged glances, showing slight bitterness and some helplessness. Nine Phoenix Great Ability spoke: "Young friend, rest assured. Regarding this point, our Ultimate Ancient Path has discussed it and will provide you with corresponding compensation."
"Oh?" Ye Chen let out a slightly surprised sound, looking at Nine Phoenix Great Ability and the others with interest, wanting to know just what that compensation was.
He saw Nine Phoenix Great Ability open a dimensional space, within which were piled mountains of various treasures, their radiance dazzling, starlight shimmering. From it, he took out a treasure box and handed it over.
Ye Chen looked at the several Guardian Great Abilities, feeling somewhat strange in his heart. Did these guardians intend to dismiss him like this?
"Young friend, please open it and see," Nine Phoenix Great Ability chuckled lightly, his tone filled with a different kind of confidence.
Ye Chen took it and opened it. Unexpectedly, no dazzling light emanated from within. Inside the brocade box was only an invitation, lying quietly within, clearly visible with special Dao patterns interwoven upon it.
On the invitation, a large tripod with three legs and two ears appeared, faintly discernible, vivid and lifelike, and imperceptibly accompanied by a faint fragrance.
This was not the scent of flowers, nor the fragrance of a woman, but a special aroma that made Ye Chen tremble. His expression immediately turned grave, not daring to be careless. He pinched the invitation with his index and middle fingers and opened it.
Boom—
The moment the invitation was opened, a vast world instantly assailed their faces, a myriad of phenomena, astonishing and awe-inspiring.
Yet all of this quickly dissipated, replaced by that ancient, simple tripod with three legs and two ears, which materialized, accompanied by stars as if carrying an ancient starry realm. That special fragrance became even clearer and richer, assailing their faces, as if instantly filling the place with a pure scent.
"This is—Alchemy fragrance!?"
Ye Chen's eyes erupted with blazing radiance. He quickly recognized it: the ancient tripod was accompanied by Alchemy fragrance, the scent of medicinal pills.
And what was even more important were the stars manifested outside the ancient tripod. In truth, each was a medicinal pill, with all seven colors—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple—present, flowing with special multicolored light, accompanied by various medicinal fragrances of different hues.
This medicinal fragrance now even took form: there were heavenly dragons, immortal phoenixes, Kun Pengs, Qiong Qis, Zhu Yans... one after another, Chaos Holy Spirits materialized, coiling around in all directions.
"Alchemy Canon!"
The moment the great tripod appeared, a vague, indistinct voice seemed to echo within the hall, deafening to the ears.