The majestic and boundless Heavenly Pass continued to tremble violently, teetering on the brink as if it might truly collapse at any moment, a sight that made one's heart pound with fear and awe, further highlighting the terrifying power of the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body.
If this continued, there was a real possibility that this magnificent Immortal Heavenly Pass might be shattered.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ye Chen kept attacking. The Great Emperor Reincarnation Body swung its fists, punch after punch, each blow containing the true might of an Emperor-level physical body, causing the Immortal Heavenly Pass to tremble incessantly. Many upon it could no longer stand firmly, feeling as if they were about to truly fall.
Beyond the Ninth Heavenly Pass, a vast and magnificent metropolis sprawled across the land. Usually peaceful, the billions of beings living there were now all startled, each looking up in shock at the towering Immortal Heavenly Pass standing before them.
The Immortal Heavenly Pass, which had stood for endless eons, was actually shaking. What was happening?
Could it be?
Suddenly, countless people remembered a long-circulated legend, one that filled everyone with terror as if it were the apocalypse, inescapable, destined to bury and annihilate everything.
The eight Immortal Heavenly Passes ahead had been destroyed for this very reason.
Everyone was terrified that, in the end, it would be like the previous eight Immortal Heavenly Passes—completely annihilated, vanishing eternally from the world.
"No, I don't want to be destroyed!"
"The Heavenly Pass is being shaken, the apocalypse that destroyed the eight Heavenly Passes seems to be upon us. We must stop it!"
"Please call upon the slumbering Ancient Ancestor, let him awaken from his deepest sleep!"
"Yes, call upon the Ancient Ancestor, ask him to revive and block it!"
In the vast metropolis, united in purpose, everyone reached the same decision: to call upon the slumbering Ancient Ancestor, asking him to revive and ward off the coming apocalypse. This was precisely the reason the Ancient Ancestor slumbered, not present in the world.
"Ancient Ancestor who slumbers from the Primordial Times, ancestor who wholeheartedly protects the entire clan, today the Heavenly Pass faces calamity. The apocalypse that destroyed the eight Heavenly Passes is upon us. Please revive and block the coming apocalypse."
As the legend went, billions of clansmen, united in purpose, each had a strand of light shoot up from the crown of their heads. These gathered together, transforming into a vast ocean that converged at the very center of the metropolis before sinking into it.
Not long after, a massive pillar of light suddenly shot into the sky, thicker than a mountain range, standing tall, connecting heaven and earth. Along with it came a terrifying aura that swept across the heavens, as if a myth from the Primordial Times was awakening.
The intensity of this aura was simply unparalleled.
Upon the Heavenly Pass, the many powerhouses were greatly shocked. "This fluctuation... Could it be the Ancient Ancestor is reviving?"
"This is bad. We've actually disturbed the Ancient Ancestor. The clansmen in the city must think the apocalypse is here."
"The peerless, matchless Ancient Ancestor is reviving. The clansmen's call... Now, even if we try to stop it, it's probably useless."
"Damn it. I never expected we'd end up disturbing the Ancient Ancestor's revival. This is indeed a fault, but let's see how to handle it now."
Outside the Heavenly Pass, Ye Chen, who was assaulting the pass, also keenly sensed the majestic aura originating from the other side of the Immortal Heavenly Pass. It was definitely at the level of an Ancient Monarch. However, how powerful it was, separated by an Immortal Heavenly Pass, he could only vaguely sense, not fully grasp.
The majestic Immortal Heavenly Pass also trembled slightly, subjected to immense pressure. From within that towering pillar of light, a figure of imposing stature appeared. His true features were unclear, only that he was strong and majestic, like the Heavenly Pass itself, capable of propping up the world on the other side.
"Ancient Ancestor!"
In the metropolis, the billions of clansmen who had been calling out all knelt down in worship, showing utmost sincerity, gazing fervently at the supreme figure of the Ancient Ancestor above.
"Has this day finally arrived as well? It is my mission!" The Ancient Ancestor seemed to let out a soft sigh. Then, his figure moved. He glanced around at the countless kneeling clansmen and, in one step, arrived upon the Heavenly Pass. The heavenly might of a Monarch spread wantonly, reaching through heaven and earth. Many Divine Kings and Great Powers respectfully performed bows of great ceremony.
"We pay our respects to the Ancient Ancestor!"
Ye Chen stopped his attacks. He saw the burly figure above, standing one and a half zhang tall, bare-chested, with a robust and powerfully built physique. Each strand of muscle seemed transformed from a True Dragon, flowing with a bronze-like luster, making the very heavens and earth seem unable to bear his presence, as if they might collapse at any moment.
Immediately, Ye Chen's expression turned grave.
A Body Refiner!
The Ancient Monarch before him was definitely a Body Refiner.
If it were an ordinary Ancient Monarch, even with powerful Monarch laws, Ye Chen would fear nothing, confident with the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body. However, an Ancient Monarch who was a Body Refiner was even stronger than an ordinary Ancient Monarch, just like the Overlord Monarch.
An Ancient Monarch of the Body Refinement Path did not need to rely on Monarch Dao laws. The battle body cultivated through this path alone was basically enough to physically contend with Monarch battle weapons.
Take the most powerful Body Refinement lineage in the Chaos Sea, the Battle Saints—they could shatter Dao weapons and artifacts of the same rank with their bare hands. One could imagine how fearsome the Body Refinement Path was.
Precisely because of this, upon realizing that this Ancient Monarch, cast as if from ancient bronze, was of the Body Refinement Path, even with the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body, Ye Chen's expression changed. Such an Ancient Monarch would be far more difficult to deal with than imagined.
Upon the Immortal Heavenly Pass, the majestic, burly Ancient Monarch, resembling a wild man, held an ordinary-looking spiked club. He looked down at Ye Chen's Great Emperor Reincarnation Body below, yet held no trace of underestimation. On the contrary, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
"It's not the apocalypse that destroyed the eight Heavenly Passes? Just one person?"
Because, as a Body Refiner himself, he also sensed the physical body of the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body below. That seemingly boy-like physique harbored unparalleled physical power.
This level of physical power even made him feel a sense of pressure.
It was precisely because he was a Body Refiner that he could perceive this; others would find it difficult to sense.
The Ancient Monarch, solid as diamond, spoke up, his voice ringing loud like a great bell: "Are you the one who wishes to assault the pass?"
Ye Chen, neither alarmed nor fearful, replied calmly, "Yes!"
"Hahahaha, good, good! I never expected to awaken and immediately encounter a fine opponent like you. You must be a Body Refiner as well, right? Let us have a good fight, satisfy this itch for combat!" The Ancient Monarch let out a hearty laugh, leaped down from the Immortal Heavenly Pass, and with a whoosh, descended.
The other powerhouses on the Heavenly Pass wanted to stop him but it was already too late.
Immediately, a venerable old Divine King spoke gravely: "Quickly prepare to open the Heavenly Gate! Once His Majesty returns, open it immediately, and prepare to deploy the Forbidden Weapon!"
"Yes!"
The other powerhouses all assented in unison. This Monarch Ancient Ancestor must not come to harm.