The impending opening of the Mythological Relic was known within the Light Imperial Domain, but it did not cause too much disruption; everything proceeded as usual.
Only the younger generation of Heaven's Pride talents, spurred by the Mythological Relic, cultivated with increasing diligence. Their figures could be faintly glimpsed in many secret cultivation grounds.
They all hoped that on the day the Mythological Relic opened, they could vie for the legacies of the Ancient Emperors, or even that priceless Heaven-Defying Immortal Treasure, to be the first to ascend to the realm of the Ancient Monarchs, achieve the position of an invincible Sovereign, and command the ten heavenly ancient domains.
At the same time, several figures were currently suspended in the sky above the Imperial City.
Especially the two graceful figures, one azure and one golden, at the center were particularly eye-catching. Both were so captivating that they could stir the mortal world; every glance and movement was utterly alluring, causing the countless young Heaven's Pride talents secretly peeking from below to feel their heartbeats quicken many times over.
These two women were naturally Yu Qing and A Beinu.
Beside them were several familiar figures: Will, the Corpse-Devouring Insect Emperor, and the Old Divine King Tongtian. They all looked towards the highest point of the heavens, towards the stars beyond the domain, where intense fluctuations of the Great Dao had been continuously spreading during this period.
That was precisely where Ye Chen was in seclusion.
Ever since eight years ago, when Ye Chen reached a bottleneck in his cultivation and could not advance a single step further, unable to break into the Eighth Heaven realm, he had begun his closed-door cultivation.
However, no one had expected that this seclusion would last a full eight years.
For many cultivators, a mere eight years of seclusion was nothing at all. Even for Great Powers, seclusion lasting hundreds or thousands of years was a common occurrence, given their long lifespans. A mere eight years was but a snap of the fingers.
Yet, for the Strongest Young Supreme, it held extraordinary significance. Such a peerless Heaven's Pride cultivating for one year was equivalent to others cultivating for decades or even a century. Eight years was already a sufficiently long time.
Moreover, it was related to the imminent opening of the Mythological Relic, where more than one Ancient Emperor's legacy would appear, including a shortcut to becoming an Ancient Monarch more quickly. They could not allow others to get there first.
The saying goes, 'the early bird catches the worm; the latecomer suffers.' Will and the others naturally did not wish for that Heaven-Defying Immortal Treasure to be obtained by others first.
However, during this period, waves of intense Great Dao fluctuations continuously emanated from the starry sky beyond the domain.
Clearly, this was a sign that Ye Chen was about to emerge from seclusion.
Yet, after waiting another half a month, the fluctuations spreading from the starry sky grew even more intense. Within the desolate starry sky of the shattered Emperor World, many dim and broken stars began to tremble.
Below, on the land of the Light Imperial Domain, anyone at the Great Power level could sense the terrifying pressure continuously emanating from beyond the domain.
The intensity of that pressure was enough to make their hearts race with fear. Only when facing a supreme expert of the Divine King Realm in the past had they truly felt such a sensation.
Very few people within the Light Imperial Domain were aware that Ye Chen was in seclusion within the starry sky. Therefore, many believed that perhaps another supreme expert of the Divine King Realm was about to be born within the Light Imperial Domain, feeling genuine joy from the depths of their hearts.
Boom—
In the starry sky beyond the domain, a star that had been dormant for many years suddenly exploded, shattering into countless fragments. From within emerged a majestic figure with an emperor's bearing, his hair flowing like dragons.
Ye Chen had emerged from seclusion!
Whoosh—
In just a few steps, Ye Chen traversed the vast expanse of space and descended upon the heavens above the Imperial City. As the Chaos Ancient Qi dispersed, his entire body gradually radiated an unfathomable pressure.
Divine might like a prison!
Even the five Divine Kings, including Tianya Divine King and Qinghuang Divine King, sensed a trace of threat from Ye Chen.
It was evident that the current Ye Chen was stronger than before his seclusion, having achieved a significant breakthrough.
"Yue!"
The two women were the first to rush forward, arriving at Ye Chen's side.
Ye Chen took their delicate hands and slowly descended from the sky.
The Corpse-Devouring Insect Emperor exclaimed in surprise: "Damn, Little Moon, it seems you've made a huge breakthrough."
Beside him, Will also nodded.
"Battle Saint King, what is your current cultivation level?" Tianya Divine King couldn't help but ask.
Ye Chen stated directly: "Mid-stage Great Power Eighth Heaven."
Although he had been in seclusion for eight years, each level within the Great Power realm was a world of its own. Advancing even a single level was extremely difficult, even for Ye Chen, a Chaos Young Supreme.
Now, being able to successfully break through to the Eighth Heaven and advance to the mid-stage could truly be considered a fortunate achievement.
Otherwise, if he had been stuck at a certain bottleneck, he might have been unable to break through for a lifetime.
"Only Great Power Eighth Heaven? Why do I feel a pressure comparable to a Divine King expert?" Several Divine Kings were astonished, clearly finding it somewhat hard to believe.
Even A Beinu, also at Great Power Eighth Heaven and a Strongest Young Supreme, did not give off such an intense feeling.
Ye Chen smiled slightly. He was originally a Chaos Young Supreme, absolutely invincible within the same realm, a cut above even the Strongest Young Supreme, so naturally, he was even more powerful.
Previously, at the late-stage Seventh Heaven, he could already battle Divine King experts by relying on his Chaos secret techniques. Now, he believed that even without those Chaos secret techniques, he was confident enough to truly face off against experts of the Divine King Realm.
Great Power Eighth Heaven filled every limb and bone of his body with power far greater than before. Now, having initially grasped this formidable strength, a fighting spirit boiled within his heart. He looked at Tianya Divine King and said, "Senior Tianya, this junior hopes to spar with you."
Tianya Divine King was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter: "Hahahaha, excellent! I also want to see just how strong you are now, little friend."
Whoosh whoosh—
The two figures shot straight up into the sky, vanishing into the lofty, unreachable heights of the heavens, into the dimly lit starry sky beyond the domain.
Tianya Divine King said, "Haha, little friend, I won't go easy on you. I'll suppress my cultivation to the level of a One-Tribulation Divine King."
Ye Chen also smiled and said, "Good!"
Boom—
A supreme-level Divine King battle erupted directly within the starry sky.
Boom boom boom—
Below, on the land of the Emperor World, countless people were startled. One by one, they raised their heads to look at the highest point of the heavens, sensing the extremely terrifying fluctuations—fluctuations at the Divine King level.
One of them was recognized by everyone; it was none other than Tianya Divine King, one of the five Divine Kings of the Light Imperial Domain.
The other person, however, was enveloped in dazzling light, making it difficult for a moment to discern who it was.
"A major event! A Divine King has invaded our Light Imperial Domain!"
"Who in the world dares to be so bold? Don't they know our Light Imperial Domain has more than one Divine King?"
"Quickly report to the other Divine King Lords! Let's join forces and slay the invading Divine King!"
Few within the Light Imperial Domain were panicked, because they all knew just how powerful the Light Imperial Domain was, possessing several Divine King experts. Moreover, the Lord of the Light Imperial Domain could manipulate the vast power of the Emperor World; even an Ancient Monarch would be suppressed within this Emperor World.
Some even projected everything happening beyond the domain down as a sky screen.
Yet, they were all filled with curiosity: who dared to invade the Light Imperial Domain? Could it be an alien Divine King?
Suddenly, someone exclaimed in shock: "No, it's not an invader! It's the Battle Saint King!"