The Ultimate Ancient Path consisted of one Trial Ancient Pass after another, and the further one progressed, the more difficult the trials at these passes became.
However, none of this applied to Ye Chen. He was an exception, transcending the norm. In just half a month, he had directly stormed through seven Trial Ancient Passes. More than half of that time was spent meeting the Great Powers guarding the passes, opening the Trial Worlds, and teleporting from within those Trial Worlds. Otherwise, with Ye Chen's world-shattering, peerless combat power, it wouldn't have taken so long.
Even so, his prestige spread far and wide across the Ultimate Ancient Path, growing even more formidable.
Yet Ye Chen paid no heed to all this. His goal was simply to reach the very end of the Ultimate Ancient Path as quickly as possible to reunite with his wife and children.
On the sixteenth day of his journey, Ye Chen descended upon the thirty-ninth pass. The moment he appeared, he became the focus of attention for everyone in this Trial Ancient Pass, especially the dark golden divine halo shimmering around him, which had become his distinctive mark.
"The Battle Saint King has finally arrived!"
"Even the invincible Battle Saint King has descended. Perhaps even the other Minor Overlords of this Trial Ancient Pass will feel threatened."
"That shouldn't be the case. Although the Battle Saint King is powerful, he's merely at the First Heaven of the Great Power realm. How could he contend with the other Minor Overlords?"
"Don't underestimate the Battle Saint King. His combat power defies common logic."
"Don't forget, in the previous few Trial Ancient Passes, the Battle Saint King swept through them all in just half a month. Could any of us have managed that?"
Discussions buzzed within the Trial Ancient Pass, countless gazes falling upon Ye Chen, who had just arrived, carrying a peculiar meaning.
Ancient Path Minor Overlords?
Ye Chen was slightly surprised but didn't pay it much mind. After descending, he headed straight for the mansion of the Great Power guarding this pass.
This time, however, he returned empty-handed. The Great Power responsible for guarding this pass had temporarily left, and no one else could open the Trial World.
He would have to wait a few days in this pass.
Ye Chen nodded slightly. The relentless pace of storming through passes over the past half-month, which had included several terrifying bloody battles—though he had ultimately crushed through them all with absolute, overwhelming force—had left him somewhat weary. He truly did need a good rest.
"Nine Snakes, keep watch here," Ye Chen said.
"Yes, Master," replied the burly man transformed from the nine-headed serpent, standing like an iron tower within Ye Chen's mansion, exuding an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance, preventing any troublemakers from disturbing Ye Chen's rest.
The thirty-ninth pass was more prosperous and bustling than any of the previous Trial Ancient Passes, gathering numerous trial-takers of the Ancient Path, all of them elites. Quite a few had even stepped into the Great Power realm, including young generation's supremes, and even Supreme Heavenly Prides who had been in the Great Power realm for many years. They were extremely powerful, acting as overlords within the Trial Ancient Pass, commanding the allegiance of various factions.
Even Ye Chen, while present, sensed several exceptionally powerful auras of the Great Dao coiling within the Trial Ancient Pass. So formidable were they that even he felt a hint of threat. They were far stronger than the dwarf young generation's supreme Fei Tuo and Dan Yang, and they weren't newly ascended to the Great Power realm either—they were at least at the Third Heaven, surprisingly powerful.
Ye Chen nodded. No wonder they dared to call themselves Ancient Path Minor Overlords. Such cultivation was indeed formidable, and being Supreme Heavenly Prides of the tenth heaven, their combat power naturally surpassed that of ordinary peers by several minor levels.
Naturally, Ye Chen felt no fear. He didn't even fear the true Nine Ancient Path Overlords, let alone these.
During his few days of recuperation in the thirty-ninth pass, Ye Chen focused intently on the miniature chaos universe within his body. Since the World Tree had taken root, the repair speed had increased significantly, and it had become much more stable. Whenever he had a moment's respite, he would divert his spirit to evolve the miniature chaos universe.
This wasn't just for the final outcome; during the evolution process, he gained profound insights into chaos, deepening his mastery over it. He gained new realizations almost every moment, making his entire being seem increasingly unfathomable.
Although he was still only at the First Heaven of the Great Power realm, advancing to the Second Heaven wouldn't be too difficult. At his current cultivation speed, it would only take a few months.
While Ye Chen was in quiet cultivation, it wasn't long before five streaks of light were seen streaking across the distant sky like lightning. They finally transformed into five figures who descended from the heavens and landed before Ye Chen's mansion.
"Is this the residence of the Battle Saint King?"
The figure at the center of the five was a young man dressed in red robes, exceptionally handsome and transcendent, wearing a jade crown and clad in brocade feather garments. He was also a powerful Ancient Path Heaven's Pride, a Great Power, who spoke directly.
The burly man transformed from Nine Snakes looked at the five. "Who are you?"
The red-robed Heaven's Pride wore an arrogant expression, his hands clasped behind his back, and said coldly, "You don't need to know who we are. Just inform the Battle Saint King that our master wishes to see him. Have him come out quickly and follow us to pay homage to our master. If he's late, he won't be able to bear the consequences."
The red-robed Heaven's Pride spoke with a lofty, condescending tone, completely disregarding others. This contemptuous attitude caused Nine Snakes' face to darken instantly. "My master is not someone you can see whenever you please. Leave."
If not for the worry that taking action might bring unnecessary trouble for Ye Chen, Nine Snakes would have already attacked. How could he tolerate these noisy Ancient Path Heaven's Prides?
"It's him, the Red Heaven King. Why has he come? Does he want to see the Battle Saint King?"
"It's not the Red Heaven King who wants to see the Battle Saint King. Perhaps it's those behind them who wish to see him."
"Could it be them?"
Within the Trial Ancient Pass, many were drawn to watch, recognizing the true identity of the red-robed Heaven's Pride leading the five.
The Red Heaven King was a prestigious Ancient Path Heaven's Pride. Although not a Supreme Heavenly Pride, he was still a Great Power-level Heaven's Pride, a formidable existence capable of dominating a region on the Ultimate Ancient Path.
However, what made other Ancient Path Heaven's Prides even more apprehensive wasn't just this. More importantly, the Red Heaven King and the others were followers of the Ancient Path Minor Overlords.
The Ancient Path Minor Overlords, while not among the Nine Ancient Path Overlords like Taiyi, Chaos Overlord, Goddess, or Heaven-Defying Warrior, were still terrifying enough to earn the title of 'Minor Overlord.' Otherwise, ordinary Ancient Path Heaven's Prides wouldn't dare claim such a title.
Even young generation's supremes wouldn't lightly adopt such a moniker.
"Hmph, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Our master is one of the Gong Family's Three Minor Overlords of the Ancient Path, an invincible existence who dominates the Ultimate Ancient Path. How dare you refuse to pay homage? Are you trying to provoke our master?" The red-robed Heaven's Pride, the Red Heaven King, snorted coldly, his gaze icy as he revealed their origins to intimidate Nine Snakes.
"Hurry up and have the Battle Saint King come out and follow us to pay homage to our master. If he's late and our master takes offense, any so-called Battle Saint King will be suppressed with a mere wave of his hand, perishing body and soul," another person spoke up, equally arrogant, completely looking down on Ye Chen.
In their eyes, their master, the Gong Family's Three Minor Overlords and the other Ancient Path Minor Overlords, were the strongest, most invincible existences. Any Battle Saint King paled in comparison.
Being summoned by an Ancient Path Minor Overlord should be the greatest honor for the Battle Saint King.
Nine Snakes was also angered. What Ancient Path Minor Overlords? He'd never even heard of them. He had personally witnessed his master's invincible combat power, how he alone had repelled five alien Emperors—even if he had used the heavenly tribulation, not even the Nine Ancient Path Overlords could achieve such a feat. How dare these so-called Minor Overlords act so arrogantly?
"Hmph, I think it's you who are seeking death," Nine Snakes retorted angrily. Even a clay figurine has a temper, let alone him. If he weren't following Ye Chen, back in the Danxu Ancient World, he was a regional overlord, accustomed to being domineering. How could he possibly fear them? He said coldly, "What Ancient Path Minor Overlords? What nonsense are they? If you don't leave now, don't blame me for being impolite. I'll beat you until even your parents won't recognize you."
"You—!"
The Red Heaven King and the other four Ancient Path Heaven's Prides hadn't expected Nine Snakes, upon hearing the title of the Gong Family's Three Minor Overlords, not to show fear but instead to try to drive them away. After a moment of shock, they felt even more cold fury, sensing their dignity had been challenged.
The commotion outside the mansion also roused Ye Chen from his deep cultivation. His mind returned, and he sent a mental message: "Nine Snakes, what's happening?"
"Master, there are a few people who want to see you, but they're very rude. I stopped them. They seem to be followers of several Ancient Path Minor Overlords within the pass," Nine Snakes respectfully replied via mental message.
Ye Chen frowned slightly but ended his quiet cultivation. Walking out of the mansion, he saw several powerful figures standing before the gate, each extraordinary and distinguished, all powerful Ancient Path Heaven's Prides, the cream of the crop. Yet at this moment, they wore arrogant, haughty expressions, confronting the burly man transformed from the nine-headed serpent. Their auras clashed, almost coming to blows.
"Who are you?" Ye Chen asked.
"So you're the Battle Saint King? Your cultivation isn't bad, having reached the Great Power realm. But that's about it. Our master wants to see you. Hurry up and go. However, this gatekeeper has quite the nerve, daring to provoke us. As punishment, you should casually cripple his cultivation."
Upon seeing Ye Chen, the Red Heaven King spoke directly, his tone exceedingly arrogant, his nose practically turned up to the sky. He looked down on Ye Chen from a superior position, not placing him in his eyes at all, directly ordering Ye Chen to go pay homage to his master and cripple Nine Snakes' cultivation.
Although they had heard of Ye Chen's reputation as the Battle Saint King, they mostly considered it exaggerated. Now, facing him directly, although he was also a Supreme Heavenly Pride in the Great Power realm, he was only at the First Heaven. How powerful could he really be?
His master had entered the Great Power realm many years ago, far from being a simple newcomer.
"Nine Snakes!" Ye Chen's brows furrowed slightly.
"Master, your command!" Nine Snakes replied respectfully.
"Sweep them out the door. If they resist, cripple or kill them as you see fit," Ye Chen said lightly, yet his words caused the expressions of the five Ancient Path Heaven's Prides to change drastically.