"How is this possible!?"
Even with Ye Chen's typically unflappable nature, he couldn't help but feel a tempest of shock surge within his heart at this sight.
Naturally, it was because everything before him was simply too astonishing.
That was the revived Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd, a weapon not inferior to a Supreme Emperor's weapon. Even mighty Ancient Sovereigns like Sovereign Xuelan and Sovereign Yan would absolutely not dare to face it head-on, nor could they emerge completely unscathed. Yet, all of this had been accomplished by the hands of this decrepit, seemingly ancient recluse.
Just who was he?
"Ancestor... could it be that he has truly stepped into that supreme domain?"
Compared to Ye Chen's astonishment, the Guardian Great Abilities like Nine Phoenix Great Ability and the others felt an unparalleled surge of joy amidst their shock.
However, in stark contrast to the tempestuous emotions of everyone present, the ancient recluse remained utterly calm. His aged hand took the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd from Ye Chen's grasp before Ye Chen could even react, and it landed in his palm.
Ye Chen's expression changed drastically. With the Chaos Great Cauldron hovering above his head, he could only retreat rapidly. The space within his body churned and boiled violently, ready to summon the Six-Layered Reincarnation Coffin at any moment to protect himself.
Yet, the ancient recluse no longer looked at Ye Chen. His turbid gaze fell upon the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd. His withered hand gently stroked it, as if speaking to himself: "Primordial Battle Body, have you forgotten me?"
What!?
It felt like another blow to the head. Ye Chen was even more shocked. The origins of this ancient recluse guarding the Void Divine Hall seemed far more terrifying than imagined. Moreover, judging by his words, he seemed to have had dealings with the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd in the past.
But hadn't the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd been in the Sealed Universe for countless years? How could this ancient recluse have seen it?
Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Ye Chen widened his eyes. Could this ancient recluse be—
As the ancient recluse's words fell, the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd no longer surged with Emperor's might. It turned inwards, becoming restrained, and seemed to tremble and hum softly, as if conversing with the ancient recluse.
At this moment, Ye Chen moved to the side of the Guardian Great Abilities like Nine Phoenix Great Ability and transmitted a voice message: "Seniors, who is this old senior?"
Nine Phoenix Great Ability, however, shook his head. "Don't ask us. Even we don't know the origins of this ancestor. We only know he is an ancestor ancient beyond description. From the little information we have gathered, the ancestor once competed for supremacy on the Ultimate Ancient Path in the past, but we don't know which epoch he competed in."
Although the information was minuscule, Ye Chen's heart had already formed a startling conjecture, one he was now almost certain of.
Meanwhile, after a brief, low exchange with the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd, the ancient recluse gently tossed the halberd, which had now retracted into the form of a bronze great halberd, back into Ye Chen's hand. He spoke with a somewhat meaningful tone: "I never expected the successor of the Battle Saint Lineage in this generation to be so remarkable. The Tenth Heaven of Myth, a Chaos young generation's supreme, transcending even the Battle Saint Body... truly extraordinary, not much inferior to Qin Wuxiang of old."
This was undoubtedly high praise, causing the several Guardian Great Abilities to feel shocked.
Although over the years, the Battle Saint King had often been hailed as the second Sovereign of Formlessness, whether this was truly the case still required testing.
But who was this ancient recluse before them? An existence ancient beyond measure and terrifyingly powerful, one who rarely spoke. For him to praise the Battle Saint King like this spoke volumes.
After all, who was the Sovereign of Formlessness?
A peerless existence from the previous epoch who completely swept through the Ultimate Ancient Path. He alone fought until no one on the entire Ultimate Ancient Path dared claim supremacy, reigning supreme and unmatched on the ancient path. Later, he became the most powerful Sovereign in history, hailed as the number one under the Great Emperors, an existence capable of challenging an Emperor Supreme.
To use such a Supreme One as a benchmark for the Battle Saint King was enough to illustrate the Battle Saint King's peerless, monstrous talent. Especially coming from the mouth of an ancestor like this, it carried even more weight.
Ye Chen received the Primordial Battle Body Great Halberd, immediately storing it away, and respectfully cupped his fists in a bow. "Thank you for your praise, old senior. This junior does not dare to presume."
"Heh, you are quite humble. That fellow Qin Wuxiang, back in the day, was an exceedingly arrogant man. But then again, he certainly had the qualifications for that arrogance." The old fellow shook his head, seeming to recall certain past events with a sigh of lament.
Hearing this, Ye Chen became even more certain of the thought in his heart.
However, the other Guardian Great Abilities like Nine Phoenix Great Ability could only smile wryly. This ancestor didn't know—the Battle Saint King was hardly humble. When arrogant, he was no less so than that Sovereign of Formlessness. It was just that he remained respectful and humble in the face of the older generation.
"What is your name?" the ancient recluse asked.
"Ye Chen," Ye Chen answered honestly.
"Ye Chen? It seems rather ordinary, yet within that ordinariness lies the extraordinary. You are like a golden carp. A golden carp is no mere pond dweller; encountering wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon." With a few words, the ancient recluse offered his evaluation, yet inadvertently also hinted at Ye Chen's origins.
Whether in this life or his previous one, Ye Chen's origins could be considered ordinary. Even as a branch member of the imperial clan Ye Family, his imperial bloodline was so thin it was negligible. How could one speak of extraordinariness?
Yet, step by step, hadn't he continuously distinguished himself, transcending the ordinary, never fading into the crowd?
"However, as a successor of the Battle Saint Lineage, I see Qin Wuxiang's shadow in you." The ancient recluse suddenly sighed softly, his gaze growing somewhat misty as if reminiscing, then turning profound again. "After so many tens of thousands of years, I have finally seen someone from your lineage set foot on the Ultimate Ancient Path again. This old man hopes you will not bring disgrace to the prestige of this lineage."
"This junior would never dare to diminish the prestige of his ancestors!" Ye Chen replied loudly, his words ringing with conviction.
Even without the ancient recluse saying so, Ye Chen would never dare to do such a thing.
The ancient recluse said no more. He merely patted Ye Chen's shoulder a few times with his palm. The pats were heavy, almost enough to make even Ye Chen's Chaos Saint Body crack under the strain. Yet, Ye Chen also sensed no malice from the ancient recluse. It was as if he was passing on some significant responsibility to Ye Chen.
"Take him inside," the ancient recluse said to the others before leaving. Then, turning to Ye Chen, he added, "And—if you encounter trouble or calamity in the future, silently chant 'Cang Xiong' three times. Everything will be resolved."
Leaving behind these profound words, the ancient recluse turned and vanished, so silently that no one present could detect how he left or where he went.
Ye Chen silently committed the two words "Cang Xiong" to heart, understanding that this was likely the ancient recluse's name. Perhaps he would lend a hand if Ye Chen ever faced dire straits.
Yet, Ye Chen's heart felt heavy. This was a kindness from an ancestor, granted because of the Sovereign of Formlessness. He hoped he would never have to use it, preferring instead to carve out a bright and clear future for himself through his own strength.