Whoosh—
Ye Chen swiftly rushed into the manor. Immediately, he saw numerous charred corpses of commoners and even some cultivators scattered throughout the estate. Wisps of purple flames rose among them, making Ye Chen's heart stir even more.
Xialuo Monarch's true form was a purple flame divine bird resembling a three-legged golden crow, wreathed in boundless purple flames.
Moreover, these purple flames were quite peculiar. Unless seen with one's own eyes, even divine sense searches seemed to find nothing, as if it were all an illusion. Perhaps this was precisely how he had evaded the searches of the Divine Kings from the various imperial clans and Immortal Clans.
Everything seemed to indicate that the place where Xialuo Monarch had fallen was right here.
In an instant, Ye Chen's entire alertness was raised to its peak.
Facing a Sovereign of the Ancient Era, even one who was severely wounded and on the brink of death—a starved camel is still bigger than a horse—still possessed the might to slay Divine Kings. He dared not be the slightest bit careless.
Within his body, in the Chaos Small Universe, even the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body, covered in cracks, opened its eyes, standing ready.
He paced through this abandoned manor, simultaneously instructing Yu Qing and Old Divine King Tong Tian to stay far enough away, fearing an incident.
Soon, Ye Chen discovered a figure lying in the ruins at the westernmost side of the manor. It had dull, lusterless purple hair spread out on the ground.
Upon closer inspection, he was slightly taken aback. This was actually a youth, seemingly only around fifteen or sixteen years old, appearing young and handsome. His refined face still carried a trace of childishness. His body was stained with blood, and his once-magnificent robes were tattered.
There was a faint fluctuation of life from him.
Ye Chen carefully sensed for a good while, then shook his head. This youth carried a wisp of aura familiar to Xialuo Monarch, clearly a member of the Xialuo imperial family, very likely a direct descendant like a prince or similar. He had probably been separated and left behind while fleeing, severely wounded and fallen here.
Seeing this scene, Ye Chen let out a slightly regretful sigh. In the end, he still hadn't managed to find Xialuo Monarch. However, he still waved his hand, sending out a stream of Primordial Sacred Light infused with the power of the Divine King Rebirth Art, applying it to the purple-haired youth, rapidly healing the surface wounds on his body.
However, the purple-haired youth seemed to have suffered extremely severe injuries. Even this power of the Divine King Rebirth Art could not fully restore him; the healing of the internal injuries was minimal at best.
This somewhat surprised Ye Chen. What kind of severe injury had this youth suffered? With his current cultivation level unleashing the Divine King Rebirth Art, it still couldn't fully heal him. It was rather unbelievable.
But that was all. He shook his head and turned to leave. At this moment, it was impossible to harbor sympathy and take him along.
At that moment, the youth slowly awoke, opening his eyes. His gaze was not as clear and bright as that of an ordinary fifteen or sixteen-year-old; on the contrary, it appeared exceptionally profound and deep. He possessed a unique temperament, mature for his age. Seeing Ye Chen and sensing the aura on him, he immediately discerned, saying calmly, "Are you a Sinful Being from the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain?"
Seeing the youth's such calm expression, even Ye Chen was slightly taken aback. Such composure far surpassed countless peers. However, being born into an imperial family, most possessed such mature mindsets; it was not strange. He replied, "We are indeed from the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain, but we are not what you call Sinful Beings. That's just your term from the Mythical Emperor Domain."
The purple-haired youth said, "Having committed grave sins, causing the Mythical Emperor Domain to suffer endless calamities, the eight great empires destroyed, and now destroying the Xialuo Empire as well—if not Sinful Beings, then what are you?"
Sensing that this youth seemed convinced that people from the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain were Sinful Beings, Ye Chen opened his mouth but then shook his head with a wry smile. What need was there to explain thoroughly?
He said, "Think whatever you like. But aren't you worried that this so-called Sinful Being might kill you?"
"That depends on whether you have the capability."
When saying this, the purple-haired youth's expression was utterly calm and indifferent, as if he didn't regard Ye Chen as a threat at all.
Ye Chen was speechless. He, the Battle Saint King, was actually being looked down upon. His authority really seemed insufficient.
But he couldn't be bothered to argue further with the purple-haired youth. He rose into the air: "You'd better leave quickly. As a member of the Xialuo imperial family, I will spare you, but that doesn't mean other so-called Sinful Beings you speak of will do the same."
Now it was the purple-haired youth's turn to be taken aback. "Aren't you here to hunt me down?"
"No, we have no interest in killing."
Ye Chen and the others' figures vanished, their voices echoing.
Only after traveling far away did Old Divine King Tong Tian shake his head slightly: "What a pity. If he weren't a living being from the Mythical Emperor Domain, this old man would have wanted to take this little fellow as a disciple. His mental state is extraordinary, and he doesn't seem like an ordinary imperial family disciple; he might be the crown prince, the future imperial heir of the Xialuo Empire."
Ye Chen smiled: "Senior Tong Tian, don't think too much. Although we harbor no ill intent, he doesn't see it that way. After all, it was the Ten Heavenly Realms Ancient Domain that destroyed the Xialuo Empire. He is a member of the Xialuo imperial family; this is an irreconcilable enmity he cannot forget. Keeping him by our side to nurture might create a future hidden danger."
Old Divine King Tong Tian nodded, feeling this was reasonable. He didn't want to raise a wolf cub that wouldn't stay loyal.
The purple-haired youth stared blankly in the direction Ye Chen and the others had left, a flicker of uncertainty in his profound gaze: "These Sinful Beings... seem not all of them are bad people..."
Then, his sharp gaze swept toward other areas of the Xialuo imperial capital where the imperial clan and Immortal Clan experts were wildly plundering, instantly turning many times colder and more sinister: "But the vast majority are. Today's enmity will be remembered. One day, it will be repaid tenfold."
Swoosh—
Silently, the purple-haired youth's figure vanished.
Next, all the imperial clans and Immortal Clans thoroughly plundered the Xialuo imperial capital, scraping out the unfathomable foundation accumulated by the Xialuo Empire over countless years. It could be called a treasury of countless divine treasures: all kinds of rare treasures, precious elixirs, divine materials for artifact forging, cultivation manuals, and more, too numerous to count.
Even the vast, magnificent imperial palace grounds, stretching continuously for thousands of li, were occupied by the various imperial clans and Immortal Clans, turned into a true stronghold.
Only the most regrettable thing was that the core Central Imperial Court could not be occupied.
There, the Faith Power accumulated by the Xialuo Empire over countless ages was stored, described as boundless and vast, more expansive than an ocean, submerging the entire Central Imperial Court area, spreading through the intangible void. Even the Divine Kings of the various imperial clans and Immortal Clans present were helpless against it.
Faith Power had always possessed infinite wondrous uses and belonged to the Xialuo Empire. Therefore, the many Divine Kings could not claim it for themselves. Moreover, fearing something might happen one day, all the Divine Kings joined forces, unleashing endless seals to completely seal away the infinite Faith Power within the Central Imperial Court.
With these layers upon layers of seals, even members of the Xialuo imperial family could not summon or utilize it, cut off from any connection.
Boom—
Deep in the night, the ancient heavenly stele that had followed Xialuo Monarch falling from the sky and sinking a vast stretch of land suddenly trembled. Mountains and valleys shook violently.
The many imperial clan and Immortal Clan Divine Kings, who had been fruitlessly searching for traces of Xialuo Monarch, were abruptly startled, soaring into the sky from the Xialuo imperial capital: "Xialuo Monarch is about to appear! Prepare to attack and slaughter!"
Below, all the talented prodigies of the imperial clans and Immortal Clans stood ready, not daring to be the slightest bit careless!