Emerging from the gloom were a full eighteen colossal eyes. Nine enormous heads rose proudly from the black mist, each one far more massive than a mountain range.
It was unmistakably a Nine-headed Great Serpent, with horns upon its heads, showing signs of transforming into a dragon. Its aura was terrifyingly excessive, making even the mountains before it seem insignificant.
The moment its immense demonic form appeared, a terrifying, unimaginably vast demonic energy surged forth, shaking this stretch of heaven and earth. The void trembled and cracked, and the myriad mountains and ravines of the Dan Ruins Ancient Realm quaked, a terror beyond measure.
"So it's a Nine-headed Great Serpent with dragon blood flowing through its veins," Ye Chen mused aloud, looking down from his commanding height.
One of the massive serpent heads slowly rose to an even greater height, looking down upon Ye Chen, who seemed as insignificant as an ant before it. A cold voice rumbled forth: "To think that after all these years, someone would dare to trespass into this venerable one's territory. Did the elders of your Dan Emperor Clan not teach you that even the Dan Ruins Ancient Realm is not a place to wander into recklessly?"
Clearly, the Nine-headed Great Serpent had mistaken Ye Chen for a junior of the Dan Emperor Clan.
Ye Chen shook his head. "You are mistaken. I am not a junior of the Dan Emperor Clan. I am here primarily to participate in the Alchemy Competition of the Dan Ceremony. Moreover, I have no intention of trespassing into your territory. It's just that this Crimson Flame Grass happens to be one of the main ingredients for my alchemy, and its medicinal age is sufficient. I hope you would be willing to make a transaction with me. Naturally, I will provide you with adequate compensation."
Upon hearing this, that massive serpent head suddenly lowered. Eyes like lakes stared grimly at Ye Chen as a foul, stinking breath billowed out. A low, thunderous voice slowly echoed: "Oh? What kind of compensation can you offer?"
"Divine weapons, pills, spiritual sources, divine materials for artifact forging, formation arrays... all are possible," Ye Chen said directly, opening a space within his body. Inside, Great Dao Treasures were piled up like mountains, all gleaming brilliantly, shimmering with blazing treasure light. Even the Nine-headed Great Serpent immediately widened its eyes in shock and awe.
Clearly, even it had never expected that a mere junior at the Heavenly King peak level would possess so many Great Dao Treasures, each one a priceless treasure of immense value, truly unimaginable.
Suddenly, a thick greed flashed in the serpent head's eyes. It opened its abyssal, blood-red maw, and a rumbling sound echoed ceaselessly: "In that case, hand yourself over to this venerable one."
Boom—
The blood-red maw opened wide, directly swallowing towards Ye Chen.
However, Ye Chen had long since sensed it. With a whoosh, his entire person instantly shifted sideways, evading the Nine-headed Great Serpent's devouring strike.
Roar—
The Nine-headed Great Serpent roared, its cry carrying a powerful draconic majesty that shook the heavens and earth. The mountains in all directions trembled, clouds scattered, and the terror it unleashed was beyond measure, drawing attention from all quarters. Many people's expressions changed immediately.
Clearly, this was an unimaginably ferocious beast, far beyond what ordinary Great Powers could compare to.
Boom—
One of the serpent heads reared up, opening its abyssal maw. From within, it spewed forth a pillar of fire that reached the heavens—an endless torrent of blazing flames that incinerated the All Heavens, directly causing everything to collapse and burn, shattering the heavens completely.
But who was Ye Chen? He was the Battle Saint King, a supreme and invincible existence. He immediately snorted coldly and took decisive action, slapping down with a palm. It was so vast it blotted out the sun and sky, covering the vast heavens, casting a sprawling, pitch-black shadow upon the earth that enveloped the expansive land, blocking all the flames.
The terrifying flames could incinerate everything; even the vast heavens seemed on the verge of being burned and collapsing. Yet, they could not harm Ye Chen's palm in the slightest. This left the many powerful experts watching from afar utterly dumbfounded, awestruck by the Battle Saint King's extraordinary prowess.
However, the other eight massive heads of the Nine-headed Great Serpent also reared up. One by one, they opened their mouths and spewed forth blazing divine radiance. Among them was a bone-chilling blue light, an earth-like heavy yellow light, a vibrant green light full of vitality, a black light that corroded everything...
Each serpent head represented a different attribute of the Great Dao. With all nine heads emerging, they represented nine Great Dao attributes akin to Chaos Immortal Gold, capable of tearing apart everything, directly shredding and pulverizing all.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
Nine pillars of divine radiance reaching the heavens comprehensively bombarded Ye Chen's sky-covering palm.
Even Ye Chen couldn't help but slightly tense his expression. Within, primordial Chaos Qi surged and coiled. He unleashed a supreme divine ability, directly manifesting a vast, boundless Star Sky that collided with the nine pillars of divine radiance, erupting in a deafening explosion.
The profound and boundless Star Sky directly neutralized and annihilated the vast majority of the attacks. The remaining attacks, though still formidable, could not cause Ye Chen much harm. His Chaos-infused great palm was sufficient to withstand everything.
Boom—
Simultaneously, Ye Chen descended from the sky. With a shake of his fist, a full one hundred and eight divine radiance heavenly dragons soared forth, each a thousand zhang long, then charged towards the Nine-headed Great Serpent, initiating a fierce battle.
As powerful as the Nine-headed Great Serpent was, facing this move from Ye Chen, it was helpless, temporarily trapped and unable to break free.
Meanwhile, Ye Chen landed on the cliff. Gazing at the dazzling, enchanting Crimson Flame Grass swaying before him, a blazing flame seemed to ignite within his eyes, flickering and leaping continuously—so eye-catching, so intense, so captivating.
With a swish, Ye Chen directly severed the entire cliff along with the grass and its roots, transferring it into his own Chaos Great Cauldron. There, primordial Chaos Qi surged tumultuously. The Crimson Flame Grass within swayed and shone even more brilliantly, taking root and beginning to absorb the primordial Chaos Qi.
Chaos was the origin of all things. No matter how rich and pure the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, it could never compare to the purity of primordial Chaos Qi. These Heaven and Earth Treasures naturally delighted in it, inherently preferring to take root in Chaos, which was also more suitable for their growth.
Roar—
At this moment, the Nine-headed Great Serpent finally broke free and returned. Seeing the Crimson Flame Grass it had protected for so many years being taken by Ye Chen just like that, it was filled with rage. A vast voice boomed forth: "Junior, you seek death!"
It charged directly at Ye Chen. All nine massive heads spewed forth divine might capable of tearing apart heaven and earth—another nine pillars of divine radiance, even more terrifying this time, shattering everything as they blasted directly at Ye Chen. Caught off guard, his entire person was sent flying.
However, Ye Chen possessed the Chaos Saint Body, supreme and peerless, not even comparable to ancient immortal weapons. Moreover, with primordial Chaos Qi protecting his body, he only suffered a slight trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth.
"Just now, you were unwilling to make a transaction and deliberately coveted the treasures on my person. Now you turn around and say I seek death? It is you who seeks death!"
Stabilizing his body mid-air, Ye Chen looked coldly at the Nine-headed Great Serpent and slapped out with a palm—it was the Heaven-Shaking Hand!