Over thirty Great Powers stood facing off against this legendary figure from seventy thousand years ago.
They did not rashly attack, but instead encircled the Mystic Dao Elder. Their tone was quite measured, merely demanding the handover of the Battle Saint King. That was all. They would allow him and that mutant insect race Mother Queen to leave safely, and were even willing to swear a Heavenly Dao oath, never to go back on their word.
However, the Mystic Dao Elder unleashed an aura of a bygone era that sent shivers down the spines of all the Great Powers present. It swept across the vast starry sky, trembling the stars, as he coldly delivered a chilling statement: "If you want to fight, then fight. But you'd best be mentally prepared. If a battle breaks out, at the very least, half of you will remain here forever."
That simple sentence immediately made the over thirty Great Powers feel a chill run through their bodies.
Even though the other party had long since begun his descent from the peak of his prime, the declaration from such a Peak Great Power still made them not dare to be the slightest bit careless.
Fight? Or not fight?
The over thirty Great Powers, including eight Super Great Powers, all hesitated, unable to decide.
Yet, the Mystic Dao Elder paid no heed to any decision they might make, simply turning and leaving.
Without a doubt, this incident stirred up a huge commotion, spreading throughout the great universe, causing immense shock.
A Peak Great Power had actually stepped forward to actively help the Battle Saint King. Moreover, in this era of the No Monarch Decree where Ancient Monarchs did not appear, it made all sides wary.
Not long after, this ancient recluse Peak Great Power once brought Abenue to the outskirts of the Nine Colors Emperor Star.
In the end, he did not enter, merely locking gazes with the Longevity Sword God from a distance once. Their auras surged to their peak, and the two supreme Great Powers nearly erupted into a world-shaking battle.
The Jiuyan Imperial Clan remained vigilant. Clearly, the Mystic Dao Elder knew the Battle Saint King's true self was inside. However, he showed no fear. Not only was the heavenly curtain now shrouding the entire Nine Colors Emperor Star, and there was also the protection of the white-haired Longevity Sword God, but more importantly, this was the territory of the Jiuyan Imperial Clan. With an immortal Ancient Monarch presiding and a supreme Emperor Weapon guarding it, they feared no one who came!
This was the confidence of a proper immortal imperial clan.
"Senior Mystic Dao, Master, he—" Abenue said anxiously.
Because Ye Chen was in a state of enlightenment, focusing wholeheartedly and not letting the outside world distract him, he had voluntarily dispersed the divine power avatar he had left with the two of them. Therefore, neither of them knew Ye Chen's current situation.
Moreover, trapped on the Nine Colors Emperor Star, it was currently difficult to leave.
"No need to worry excessively. The Saint King is very strong, and he is currently in the midst of enlightenment and creation, proving he is in a critical state. It's best not to disturb him lightly, otherwise it might have an effect," said the Mystic Dao Elder. However, he did not leave either. Instead, he sat cross-legged outside the Nine Colors Emperor Star, overlooking it as if no one else was around, also to monitor the Longevity Sword God within the heavenly curtain.
If Ye Chen finished his enlightenment and wanted to leave, at the very least, he could restrain this Longevity Sword God.
The Jiuyan Imperial Clan clearly sensed his intention, and their expressions immediately turned ugly, yet they dared not drive him away.
Because the Mystic Dao Elder was merely sitting in the outer realms, had not taken action, and under the No Monarch Decree, even if there was an Ancient Monarch personally presiding within the clan, they could not easily act.
The Longevity Sword God, also stationed in the outer realms, had an indifferent expression, his gaze icy as he looked at the Mystic Dao Elder beyond the heavenly curtain. His voice was countless times colder than ten-thousand-year-old profound ice: "Mystic Dao, are you deliberately making an enemy of my Jiuyan Imperial Clan?"
Only the Longevity Sword God, also a Peak Great Power, dared to address the Mystic Dao Elder so directly by his title.
The Mystic Dao Elder stroked his long white beard, possessing a somewhat carefree, immortal-like elegance. He chuckled towards the Longevity Sword God: "Longevity old ghost, your words make me find it strange, odd. This old man is merely sitting here. First, I haven't taken action. Second, I haven't spoken. Yet you say I'm deliberately making an enemy of your Jiuyan Imperial Clan? When did your Jiuyan Imperial Clan become so overbearing? Do you truly think the entire ancient universe is the territory of your Jiuyan Imperial Clan? Or are you sincerely wanting to exchange a few moves with this old man? If you want something, just say it clearly. I'm not like those fools in your Jiuyan Imperial Clan; I can still understand a bit. Moreover, it's been tens of thousands of years since I've truly fought seriously. If the opponent is you, this old man wouldn't mind."
As he spoke, he slowly rose to his full height, moving his seemingly aged and decaying body. Yet, from him emanated an immeasurable pressure that could be described as shaking the nine heavens, slowly spreading out, trembling the stars, even shaking the heavenly curtain, causing the various Great Powers of the imperial clan within the curtain to change their expressions.
For a moment, it was as if an eternal giant god was awakening, capable of destroying star domains with a mere gesture.
Such a supreme Great Power, even if just casually joking, few dared to underestimate, let alone now when he was releasing his pressure, putting the entire Jiuyan Imperial Clan on high alert.
The imperial clan's Great Powers all looked to the Longevity Sword God; everything would be decided by this ancestor of the clan, second only to the Ancient Monarchs.
"No interest in wasting energy fighting you!"
The Longevity Sword God's expression remained aloof and emotionless, though a flicker of cold sharpness also flashed in his eyes.
In this situation, even he dared not easily start a battle with the other party.
Having stepped into the pinnacle of Great Power seventy thousand years ago, even if he had never been able to take that final step, no one dared to look down on him.
Unless it came to the last resort, he was unwilling to act lightly.
Perhaps more accurately, he himself lacked the confidence to defeat the other.
"Heh, is that so?" The Mystic Dao Elder chuckled, the vast and boundless pressure vanishing in an instant as if it had never existed. At this moment, he was like an ordinary old man, even taking out a chessboard with black and white pieces. He said to Abenue: "Play a couple of games with me. He won't be out for a while. It's no use just waiting idly. Let's play a game of chess to pass the time."
Abenue had no choice but to agree.
Seeing this, the group of Jiuyan Imperial Clan experts were both angry and helpless.
The Longevity Sword God snorted coldly but said nothing more.
However, while playing chess with Abenue, the Mystic Dao Elder cast his gaze towards the Nine Colors Emperor Star, thinking softly in his heart: "Saint King, when exactly will you appear? There are only five years left."
He had promised to protect the way for thirty years, but now twenty-five of those years had passed.
As for everything in the outer realms, Ye Chen, within the magma world, remained unaware. His eyes were focused intently. His left hand circulated one divine ability, his right hand another. They continuously collided with each other, bursting forth with brilliant celestial light, but all terrifying fluctuations dissipated, replaced by a sky full of dancing Dao runes, constantly spinning before disappearing one by one into his eyes.
His entire being increasingly possessed an unfathomable divine charm. His aura gradually rose. Twenty-five years had passed; it seemed he was also about to make another breakthrough during his enlightenment.