Seeing the Peak Great Power's stupefied expression, Ye Chen couldn't help but chuckle, a rare, genuinely happy smile spreading across his face. After all, witnessing this Peak Great Power who had chased him relentlessly for a full month being left speechless was a rare sight and something to be proud of.
The Peak Great Power couldn't help but shake his head in resignation. Looking at the Battle Saint King before him, a previously unseen glint of appreciation appeared in his eyes. He then spoke up, "Battle Saint King, you truly are a monstrous genius rarely seen in my lifetime. I'm afraid even those Imperial Sons and Daughters would fall somewhat short compared to you. Enough, enough—"
He suddenly let out a hearty laugh and took the initiative to say, "Battle Saint King, I shall address you as 'young friend' for now. This month of you fleeing and me chasing has tired us both—"
But the next moment, Ye Chen interrupted the Peak Great Power, grinning, "Hold on, old sir. When did this junior ever say he was tired? My energy is still brimming. I can keep running. You just keep chasing. It's a good opportunity for me to train myself and further solidify my Dao foundation."
The Peak Great Power was taken aback, then burst into laughter. "Good, good, good. You're young, full of vitality and stamina, naturally more enduring than an old man like me. But you must admit, as long as I wish it, I can keep chasing you without giving you a moment's rest, correct?"
Ye Chen nodded.
"In that case, let us make a wager. If you win, I will cease my pursuit. On the contrary, I will even protect you for a month. How about that?" the Peak Great Power proposed. "Of course, if you lose, you must hand over the Emperor's Body on you."
"No way—"
Ye Chen immediately refused, sneering coldly, "Old sir, you're thinking too much. Just keep chasing. This junior also wants to see how long you can keep it up. At worst, I'll return to the Ultimate Ancient Path. Do you dare set foot on the Ultimate Ancient Path then?"
The Peak Great Power was instantly rendered speechless. He had no retort for those words.
Soon, he changed his tune. "Very well. If you win, I will grant you one condition—any condition whatsoever. Even if you ask me to block an Ancient Monarch, I will do it. What do you think?"
"Oh?" Ye Chen let out a light sound of interest. Naturally, he was somewhat tempted, but he remained cautious and didn't agree immediately. "How do you propose we wager?"
"Simple. As long as you can remain undefeated against one-tenth of my power," the Peak Great Power stated.
"One-tenth of your power—" Ye Chen was slightly stunned. Even for a ninth-layer Peak Great Power like him, using only one-tenth of his power would likely only be comparable to a seventh-layer Super Great Power at most.
Yet he, Ye Chen, was at the fourth-layer peak, with combat power not inferior to an eighth-layer Super Great Power. Wasn't this Peak Great Power being a bit too confident?
However, as he looked at the Peak Great Power, a slow smile curled at the corner of Ye Chen's mouth.
Since it was a promise from a Peak Great Power, it was worth a gamble.
"Deal!"
Ye Chen agreed with heroic spirit soaring to the clouds!
"Come on!"
After both parties swore a Heavenly Dao oath, they approached each other closely for the first time, separated by less than a single li.
"Young friend, I forgot to introduce myself. You may call me Mystic Dao Elder!" the Peak Great Power spoke up, voluntarily revealing his title.
"So it's you."
Upon hearing the other's title, Ye Chen's expression immediately turned grave, his gaze filled with solemnity as he looked at him.
He naturally knew of the names of the top-tier powerhouses standing at the pinnacle of this Ancient Universe's pyramid.
The Mystic Dao Elder was one of them, a truly peerless figure standing at the very peak of that pyramid.
Legends about him had spread throughout the mortal world for tens of thousands of years. He was known as a legend tinged with regret.
Because the Mystic Dao Elder was also once a generation's Supreme Heavenly Pride on the Ultimate Ancient Path. He was a Heaven's Pride who set foot on the Ultimate Ancient Path 70,000 years ago. In those days, his fame was illustrious, resplendent and glorious throughout the entire Ancient Universe. He swept through the Ultimate Ancient Path, fighting his way to the very end, and was one of the most promising candidates to become the Supreme Young Paragon.
He was too monstrous, too legendary. From a mortal cultivating to the Great Power Peak in less than two hundred years—even those Imperial Sons and Daughters could hardly compare. Such a cultivation speed could be recorded in the annals of history.
And during that iteration of the Ultimate Ancient Path, he truly fought his way to the very end. Those who could rival him were the Supreme Heavenly Prides from various Ancient Universes of that era, and they were few in number. Although they couldn't be compared to the number of Supreme Heavenly Prides in this era's Ultimate Ancient Path, they were not to be underestimated.
When he left the Ultimate Ancient Path, he was already three hundred years old, having stood at the Great Power Peak for over a century.
Just as the world believed the Mystic Dao Elder had used that century to thoroughly solidify his Dao foundation and would impact the Ancient Monarch realm within the next few decades or century, even breaking into the Emperor's Dao realm within the next thousand years to become another Supreme Emperor in this Ancient Universe, dominating the myriad heavens and ushering in an era of unparalleled glory, reigning supreme for eternity...
Yet, no one could have imagined that the Mystic Dao Elder did not shatter the shackles of the Great Power realm to become an Ancient Monarch in a short time as the world expected. Instead, from then on, he completely halted before the Ancient Monarch realm, leaving behind a regret spanning ten thousand years.
Who would have thought this legendary, mythical figure would appear before him now, and in such a capacity.
"Mystic Dao Elder, a generation's Supreme Heavenly Pride, halted at the Great Power Peak for seventy thousand years. What a pity for such a Heaven's Pride." Even Ye Chen sighed lightly, but his mind was clear. This was most likely because the Mystic Dao Elder attempted his breakthrough too early, leading to an unstable Dao foundation.
To know that achieving the Great Power Peak in two hundred years—Ye Chen could have done it back then too. But he wouldn't recklessly rush his breakthrough for the sake of speed. He understood better than anyone what impact such rapid advancement would have on one's Dao foundation.
The Mystic Dao Elder was the best example: halted at the Great Power Peak for seventy thousand years, unable to advance a single step further for life.
"Heh, just an old waste who hasn't been able to advance a single step in seventy thousand years. Not worth mentioning," the Mystic Dao Elder was very open-minded about it, not burdened by worry. On the contrary, his gaze instantly blazed with boundless radiance, burning as he looked at Ye Chen. "Young friend, you are worthy of being called the most powerful Supreme Heavenly Pride. I, this old man, was also once a generation's Supreme Heavenly Pride. Now, in my capacity as a senior, let me see just how capable you, this Chaos Young Supreme, are—"
"Good!"
Ye Chen's blood also boiled with excitement. His black hair danced wildly, his spirit soaring. The battle blood within him surged with equal fervor.
The strongest Supreme Heavenly Pride from the Ultimate Ancient Path seventy thousand years ago, and the strongest Supreme Heavenly Pride from the Ultimate Ancient Path seventy thousand years later. The clash between the new and old strongest Supreme Heavenly Prides—who was stronger, who was weaker!