The Trial Star Sky was vast and expansive, far more so than other trial realms.
Suddenly, the entire starry expanse trembled. At that moment, a massive star abruptly surged forth, crashing toward the side where numerous Ancient Path Trial-Takers were gathered.
"Seeking death!"
Among them, an Ancient Path Trial-Taker who considered himself sufficiently powerful soared into the sky, unleashing a brilliant divine radiance, intending to shatter this star. However, he met with the most dreadful consequence.
For the star was indestructible; it actually devoured all of that Ancient Path Trial-Taker's attacks, completely absorbing them. Its entire body began to glow, accompanied by a rumbling roar. Countless holes, large and small, rapidly appeared on its surface, from which streams of pitch-black torrents flew out, occupying the Star Sky.
"Not good, it's the Insect Race!"
"An Insect Race Mother Queen is hidden here, and it's been disturbed! Everyone, be careful!"
"It's an Insect Race nest, and it's enormous!"
"Run!"
The many Ancient Path Trial-Takers were instantly alarmed. This was no ordinary star at all, but a Star Nest, a colossal nest belonging to the Insect Race.
It must be said that the Insect Race was a powerful race, not only within the Sealed Universe but also in other ancient universes and even the Chaos Sea—this race's traces could be found.
Moreover, this Star Sky held far more than just one Star Nest; there were a full eighteen of them. Each was equally massive, having completely transformed into a gigantic Star Nest, covered with countless holes of various sizes, from which swarms of Insect Warriors surged forth.
*Buzz—*
At that moment, countless Insect Warriors charged out, rushing toward these Ancient Path Trial-Takers, transforming into a fearsome torrent ready to assault!
*Boom—*
Visible to the naked eye, within the trial secret realm of the Star Sky, those Insect Race Star Nests spewed forth boundless, pitch-black Insect Warriors. There were attack types covered in spikes, defensive types as massive as mountains, as well as agile types, spell-casting types... a comprehensive array, now blotting out the sky and earth as they charged toward the Ancient Path Trial-Takers in the Star Sky.
Among them were not a few Heavenly King-level Insect Warriors. Not an overwhelming number, but certainly not few—at least three hundred or more, each one larger than a mountain range.
This was sufficient to prove the fearsome nature of the Insect Race, capable of nurturing so many Heavenly King-level Insect Warriors.
However, it was clear that the Insect Race Mother Queens were at least at the Heavenly King level or above, possibly even Great Powers. Moreover, these Insect Race Heavenly King warriors lacked strong independent intellect; they were controlled by the Mother Queens. Thus, strictly speaking, they couldn't be considered complete Heavenly Kings, but they still possessed most of the combat power of the Heavenly King realm, remaining terrifying nonetheless.
"Star Nests, is it?"
Yet, all of this posed no threat to Ye Chen whatsoever, and he didn't even need to lift a finger. The Nine-headed Great Serpent directly manifested its fearsome true form, nearly as massive as a star, carrying Ye Chen as it charged into the fray. Its Great Power aura was released, repelling countless Insect Warriors before they could even approach.
Its nine colossal serpent heads spewed forth nine beams of Great Dao light. Wherever they passed, the nine terrifying Great Dao beams annihilated everything, completely obliterating countless Insect Warriors. Brilliant flames spread through the void, extremely eye-catching.
Without a doubt, before absolute combat power, all tactics of overwhelming numbers were futile. Ye Chen had once said this when confronting an Insect Race Mother Queen in the Forbidden Deadly Domain, and it applied here as well.
Ye Chen gazed into the distance. Similarly, the three Ancient Path minor Overlords, led by the three Gong brothers, pushed forward relentlessly. No matter how the Insect Warriors blotted the sky and covered the earth, their endless numbers could not reach them.
Moreover, the five Ancient Path Talents, including Chi Tianwang, also took action, slaughtering vast swathes of Insect Warriors.
The other Ancient Path Talents naturally had no fear at all. Being able to reach the 39th checkpoint was sufficient to prove their strength, far beyond what ordinary Ancient Path Trial-Takers could compare to.
Within the Trial Star Sky, the great battle continued incessantly. Numerous Ancient Path Talents violently collided with the endless hordes of Insect Warriors, divine brilliance shining brilliantly, illuminating the Star Sky.
Yet, the Insect Warriors seemed endless, impossible to kill completely, impossible to exterminate entirely.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Ye Chen remembered the Insect Race Queen within his body.
Abenue—she was the one he had subdued back in the Chaotic Sea of the Ancient Emperor Realm. She possessed the bloodline of an Insect Race Monarch and had also devoured an alien Heavenly King, undergoing evolution. She had been in deep slumber within him all this time.
A century ago, during Ye Chen's Saint Sacrifice, he had thought the Insect Race Mother Queen Abenue had dissipated along with him. Yet, she had not perished, having entrusted herself to the deepest part of his indestructible divine soul's true spirit. Now, thinking back, it was likely due to the intervention of a Great Emperor.
He sliced open his internal space. With a rustle, a pale golden Insect Race Mother Queen emerged. Her entire form actually resembled a dragon, devoid of any demonic aura. On the contrary, she was filled with sacredness, having been baptized by his Saint Body's bloodline.
Moreover, Ye Chen's bloodline contained Dragon Origin. However, as he evolved into a Chaos Saint Body, the Dragon Origin had been concealed, yet its characteristics remained undiminished. This had also guided the Insect Race Mother Queen's evolution toward a True Dragon, now possessing a draconic appearance.
The Insect Race Mother Queen resembled a golden dragon, immensely huge, larger than a mountain range, lying across the Star Sky.
The instant she appeared, not only did the Nine-headed Great Serpent beneath Ye Chen feel a trace of pressure, but the countless Insect Warriors in the Star Sky also halted their movements. This was due to the majesty of the Insect Race Mother Queen.
It was the majesty of the life hierarchy, from top to bottom, unstoppable.
"This is—"
Everyone looked over, witnessing this scene with astonishment.
"Is it a True Dragon?"
"It doesn't look like a True Dragon. Perhaps a variant True Dragon, or a dragon beast with pure bloodline. Maybe it's a Golden Saint Dragon!"
Everyone was shocked, including the three Ancient Path minor Overlords who gazed over.
"A True Dragon? No, this is an Insect Race Mother Queen!" Gong Shenxue said softly, his eyes shining brilliantly. Well-traveled and knowledgeable, he ultimately recognized it.
Yet Gong Xuan and Gong Nanshan were astounded.
This Battle Saint King was truly extraordinary, actually possessing such an Insect Race Mother Queen.
Ye Chen paid no heed to the others. Looking at the colossal Insect Race Mother Queen Abenue before him, he could fully sense how powerful she had become. She had actually broken into the Great Power realm—simply unbelievable. Remember, long ago in the Chaotic Sea, she was on par with him, not even a Heavenly King.
Now, Abenue was immensely powerful, not inferior to the Nine-headed Great Serpent, perhaps even stronger, causing it to feel pressure—not only from bloodline but also from strength.
Clearly, over these years, as Ye Chen continuously surpassed limits, Abenue, entrusted to him, had also greatly improved, reaching this stage.
However, Abenue was still in deep slumber. Her form, larger than a mountain range, coiled in the Star Sky, emanating surging fluctuations that continuously spread.
Ye Chen formed hand seals, then shot out a beam of divine radiance that directly entered the center of the dragon head's brow. He uttered softly, "Awaken!"
*Swish—*
As the golden light entered, Mother Queen Abenue's entire body suddenly glowed, golden light flowing. Her aura grew much stronger, and she abruptly opened her eyes.
The moment they opened, those dark golden pupils were like glass, filled with iciness and an aloof, indifferent gaze from on high, looking down upon Ye Chen.