Elder Xia Hao led the many tribesmen back, even piloting an extraordinary moon-white divine ship, immediately startling many members of the Xia Sang Tribe. They came out one after another to watch, pointing and whispering, utterly amazed.
Even the tribe's chieftain and several other elders were startled, emerging one by one to look at everything in shock.
"Xia Hao, this—"
Everyone was astonished. Not only had everyone returned safely from this trip, but they had also brought back an extraordinary divine ship—a Heavenly King-level divine ship, even equipped with terrifying divine energy cannons capable of resisting Heavenly Kings. For the entire Xia Sang Tribe, this was absolutely a heavyweight treasure.
But where on earth had they gotten it from?
"Chieftain, elders, all of this is thanks to the help of Young Friends Ye Chen and the others—" Elder Xia Hao explained the events. Because they were fellow humans, and because they had previously allowed them on board, and because the tribespeople were simple and honest, Ye Chen felt quite favorable towards them. Thus, they had grown much closer, and Elder Xia Hao no longer referred to them as 'young master' or 'young lady' but as 'young friends'.
After hearing Elder Xia Hao's explanation, the members of the Xia Sang Tribe were all greatly surprised, especially the chieftain at the forefront. As the tribe's top expert at the sixth level of the Saint Vault realm, he still could not sense the cultivation auras of Ye Chen and the others.
This could only mean that these few, though seemingly young, far surpassed the entire Xia Sang Tribe in cultivation realm.
Especially the leading young man with a faint crescent moon mark on his brow. He appeared to be no more than twenty, and his entire body lacked any cultivation aura, like an ordinary mortal from the mundane world.
Yet, before this young man, even he, the chieftain at the sixth level of the Saint Vault realm, felt a trace of intangible oppressive pressure.
This pressure could not be considered particularly intense; it was even far less than that from those at the seventh, eighth, or ninth levels of the Saint Vault realm he had encountered in the past.
However, it was precisely this trace of pressure that made his body and mind tremble—a trembling he had never experienced even when facing some top-tier Heavenly King experts in the past.
It was as if this handsome youth was a deity descended from the Ninth Heaven, an intangible, vast divine majesty radiating from him, demanding the submission of all living beings in the world.
From the other three, they also felt such oppressive pressure, even slightly stronger than from the young man before them. But this did not mean the young man with the moon mark was inferior to the other three. On the contrary, from the threads of reverence hidden deep within the gazes the other three cast towards this young man, one could see that this young man's cultivation was likely superior to the other three.
This group of four was led by this young man with the crescent moon mark on his brow.
After all, the Xia Sang Chieftain was also a powerhouse who had lived for over a thousand years. Though not comparable to those true old monsters from the depths of the Ten Heavens Realm who lived for tens of thousands of years, his vision was still quite sharp, able to see through many things.
These four were probably comparable to those supreme prodigies of the myriad races from the depths of the Ten Heavens Realm.
Especially after hearing about Ye Chen's actions—how he had sent the Bone Fury Heavenly King flying with a flick of his finger and wiped out all the Bone Heaven Demon Clan experts, including Ou Zhitian, with a raise of his hand—they were even more convinced of the group's terrifying prowess.
Super Heavenly King—this was the minimum.
Because the power to shatter the void could only be achieved by Super Heavenly Kings.
Though they did not know exactly who these young prodigies of extraordinary strength were or what their origins were, the tribespeople of the Xia Sang Tribe were simple and honest. They were very grateful to Ye Chen and the other three for saving Xia Hao and the others, specially vacating a rather luxurious and comfortable mansion for Ye Chen and his companions to rest in. They also presented some of the tribe's delicious food, rare delicacies, and fine wine, hosting a banquet to express their gratitude.
After the banquet, Ye Chen directly sought out the Xia Sang Chieftain. Because he was a benefactor and because the chieftain was aware of Ye Chen's group's cultivation, the chieftain readily agreed to the request. Together with several tribal elders, he provided answers to some of Ye Chen's questions.
Some more critical questions, perhaps unknown to the younger generation like Xia Miao'er, would certainly be better understood by the chieftain and the elders.
"Seniors, we were all taken by our master to a secret realm deep within the Primordial Divine Sea to cultivate and grow up since childhood, so we are unclear about much information from the outside world. This time, our master sent us out to gain experience, even to compete with the prodigies of the myriad races. However, regarding the current situation in the Ten Heavens Realm, our master did not answer, intending for us to find the answers ourselves." Ye Chen had long prepared an explanation for their origins, one that had always proven effective, rarely arousing suspicion.
Sure enough, the Xia Sang Chieftain and elders like Xia Hao nodded in agreement. After all, the Ten Heavens Realm was vast, and among the myriad races, there were some super-powerful experts who disliked contention and lived in seclusion under assumed names. Ye Chen and the others possessed extraordinary cultivation at such a young age. If not taught by those reclusive experts, how many of the younger generation could reach this step?
"Young friends, please ask away. We will answer all we know!" the Xia Sang Chieftain said straightforwardly.
"Since Senior is so forthright, this junior will not stand on ceremony." Ye Chen cupped his hands with a smile, then said seriously, "Senior, this junior has heard that among the 108 Ancient God Clans, aside from the Nine Clans and Eighteen Kingdoms, the other Ancient God Clans are from the outer realms, from the Immortal Ancient Clans. Is this true?"
Hearing this, the chieftain and the elders exchanged glances but did not conceal anything, also nodding seriously. The chieftain said, "What the young friend says is correct. These 81 Ancient God Clans and over two thousand of the 3,000 royal clans have only appeared in our Ten Heavens Realm in recent years, as powerful clans from the outer realms."
"Among them, the 81 Ancient God Clans are powerful, each almost on par with the original Nine Clans and Eighteen Kingdoms."
"And more importantly, the 81 Ancient God Clans, like the original Nine Clans and Eighteen Kingdoms, are descendants of deities, Ancient God Clans flowing with supreme divine blood. Therefore, they are merged with the original Nine Clans and Eighteen Kingdoms, collectively referred to as the current 108 Ancient God Clans."
Sure enough, Ye Chen's guess was correct. Among the 108 Ancient God Clans, aside from the Nine Clans and Eighteen Kingdoms, the other 81 Ancient God Clans—that is, the imperial clans—were from the outer realms, imperial clan and Immortal Clan forces from various Ancient Universes.
Moreover, the strength of these incoming imperial clans and Immortal Clans was even comparable to the Nine Clans and Eighteen Kingdoms that had dominated the Ten Heavens Realm for countless years.
This point was also quite important, confirming that the 81 imperial clans and Immortal Clans had entered from various Ancient Universes. However, this was also the point Ye Chen was most curious about.
Whether it was the Ultimate Ancient Path or the Supreme Ancient Path, the universe they were in strictly prohibited beings from other Chaos Ancient Universes, aside from the younger generation competing on the ancient paths, from setting foot there. So how had these imperial clans and Immortal Clans entered the Ten Heavens Realm?
Ye Chen's heart sank. He believed it was mostly related to the various Emperors' backup plans.
The other 2,200 royal clans among the 3,000 royal clans were the same.
The Xia Sang Chieftain also mentioned that with the successive entry of numerous imperial clans, Immortal Clans, and royal clans, the original situation of the 27 imperial clans like the Nine Clans and Eighteen Kingdoms dominating had been completely changed. The imperial clans of the various heavens competed for dominance over the vast Ten Heavens Realm, the 3,000 royal clans served as affiliated powerful clans of these imperial clans and Immortal Clans, and the myriad races became affiliated with the royal clans.
Currently, the entire Ten Heavens Realm still appeared to be in a state of flourishing myriad races.
Or, in a sense, it seemed even more flourishing.
"The arrival of the outer realm's Ancient God Clans and royal clans—who knows if it brings fortune or disaster to our Ten Heavens Realm, sigh—"
The chieftain and the elders sighed. For now, the outer realm Ancient God Clans, royal clans, and the original Nine Clans and Eighteen Kingdoms and 800 royal clans seemed to coexist peacefully. But who could know what immense, magnificent waves these suddenly appearing powerful clans from the outer realms would bring to the Ten Heavens Realm?
However, from the words of the Xia Sang Chieftain and elders, it was learned that the incoming imperial clans and Immortal Clans from the outer realms seemed to have come with a purpose. Upon arriving in the Ten Heavens Realm, they continuously dispatched experts to patrol the vast ancient realm, as if searching for some special thing, only recently abandoning this action.
Naturally, regarding this point, Ye Chen was clear—it was about the 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate.
When the imperial sons and daughters from the Ancient Universes of the various heavens entered the Supreme Ancient Path, wasn't it partly to retrieve the Emperor Dao treasures left by their fathers and partly to compete for this 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate jointly left by the various Emperors?
However, as of now, not a single imperial clan or Immortal Clan had found the location of the 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate.
"By the way, Young Friend Ye, do you know about the existence of the 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate?" the chieftain suddenly asked.
Yet these words made all four, including Ye Chen, jump in their hearts, looking at the Xia Sang Chieftain in shock.
They had previously thought the Xia Sang Tribe did not know the origin of the 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate, never expecting the other party to utter this term the next moment.
Ye Chen said seriously, "Senior, you know about the 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate?"
"I don't!" the Xia Sang Chieftain said bluntly. His answer disappointed Ye Chen and the others. Upon careful thought, it made sense—how could a small human tribe know the whereabouts of the 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate that even the imperial clans of the various heavens had fruitlessly pursued?
But it sounded like he had heard of the existence of the 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate.
The Xia Sang Chieftain, however, smiled slightly. "Young friends, there's no need to be disappointed too soon. Although we few old men don't know what this 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate exactly is, it's not that we don't know its whereabouts."
Ye Chen and the others immediately jolted, looking at the other party in shock. The location of the 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate, unknown even to the imperial clans and royal clans of the various heavens—their small Xia Sang Tribe actually knew it!?
"Regarding the whereabouts of the 'Supreme One' Immortal Fate, it's not just us who know. Perhaps more accurately, the entire myriad races of the Ten Heavens Realm know." The chieftain said, "Because it is at—"
"The Ten Heavenly Emperor Halls!"