"You are also a Battle Saint?"
When these words were spoken, even Ye Chen felt his lips go dry, for he already believed it ninety percent in his heart.
The remaining ten percent of uncertainty stemmed solely from the sheer impossibility of imagining that he would encounter another member of the Battle Saint Lineage here, and moreover, that Wushi Monarch before him was such a powerful Battle Saint, one who had even attained the position of an Ancient Monarch.
The once-declined Battle Saint Lineage had only just begun to slowly recover its former dazzling glory with Ye Chen's meteoric rise, yet this was only relative to the current epoch. Compared to the Mythical Epoch, there was still a vast, heaven-and-earth difference, a long distance yet to be covered.
Furthermore, this lineage essentially consisted of only him alone. Counting his son Qian Xun, that made only two. Perhaps they were powerful, but they were still far from being comparable to a true Emperor Clan or Immortal Clan.
However, with the addition of an Ancient Monarch, the prestige of the Battle Saint Lineage would undoubtedly be elevated countless times over.
One must understand, this was not a Divine King, but an Ancient Monarch who commanded the All Heavens, an existence hailed as a Cosmic Overlord. A Battle Saint of this level would force even other Ancient Monarchs to avoid his sharp edge.
Suddenly, Ye Chen thought of something. He felt the moment had arrived for the Battle Saint to fully bloom with invincible glory!
"What, you don't believe it?"
Wushi Monarch smiled, not blaming the other for his disbelief. With a *boom*, he erupted with a sky-full of blood energy, a mix of gold and crimson. Moreover, how powerful was the Battle Sacred Body at the Monarch level? That blood energy was strong enough to shock the Myriad Domains, vast enough to fill the thirty-three layers of the heavens, saturating the world.
The heavens and earth seemed to rise and fall, the All Heavens resonated. His body was like a blazing furnace erupting, his blood energy inundating the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, immeasurable.
The powerhouses on the Immortal Heavenly Pass all trembled and knelt down, submitting from the depths of their hearts. Even Divine Kings were no exception.
Monarchs are supreme, Battle Saints are peerless!
Even Ye Chen's Great Emperor Reincarnation Body felt a faint sense of pressure assailing his face.
This was a true Battle Saint. Ye Chen finally understood why the other was so powerful. A body-refining Monarch, and a Battle Sacred Body to boot. No wonder even his Great Emperor Reincarnation Body had only managed to gain a slight upper hand.
One must not forget that the true essence of the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body was transformed from a genuine Emperor-level physique. Even if it was only one-seventh, this physical power far surpassed the divine bodies of Ancient Monarchs, possessing Supreme-level physical strength. It was only natural that Wushi Monarch's Battle Sacred Body fell just short by a hair's breadth.
After all, not every Battle Saint was like the Sovereign of Formlessness, the King of Monarchs. Although the Sovereign of Formlessness before his fall was hailed as a Monarch, Ye Chen suspected he had likely reached the Emperor Lord realm. Otherwise, how could he, as a Monarch, contend against an Emperor?
Furthermore, from the mix of gold and crimson in Wushi Monarch's blood energy, one could tell it was not yet completely perfected and fully matured. Otherwise, all the golden blood energy would have transformed towards crimson.
Sensing that boundless Sacred Body blood energy, potent enough to make the stars of the All Heavens tremble, Ye Chen felt a resonance belonging to the same origin, a special sense of kinship emanating from the little figure possessing the Chaos Saint Soul. Taking a deep breath, Ye Chen suddenly half-knelt in the void: "Ye Chen, descendant of the Battle Saint Lineage, pays his respects to Patriarch Wushi Monarch!"
Witnessing this scene, not only were the powerhouses on the Immortal Heavenly Pass dumbfounded, but even Wushi Monarch was somewhat stunned. Ye Chen, who had just been a worthy opponent moments ago, was now bowing to him, and his words implied he was like many generations of descendants of the Battle Saint Lineage.
Wushi Monarch hurriedly helped up Ye Chen, who was performing the grand bowing ceremony while half-kneeling in the void. His large hand, almost larger than the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body itself, lifted the reincarnation body, saying, "Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this? You are also an Ancient Monarch. There is no need for such grand bows between us. We should treat each other as peers."
Ye Chen shook his head. "Patriarch Wushi, this junior's identity is that of the final descendant of the Battle Saint Lineage within the Sealed Realm Universe. You are the Patriarch, so this junior must perform the grand bow. Moreover, this is not this junior's original body, but a powerful physique obtained by chance."
"Oh?" Wushi Monarch was somewhat surprised and doubtful, then understanding dawned. No wonder Ye Chen's physique was so powerful while his soul was so weak. So that was the reason.
However, Wushi Monarch did not doubt Ye Chen's true identity, for he could sense from the little Chaos Saint Soul figure within Ye Chen the same Saint Soul origin power belonging to a Battle Saint. This could not be wrong. Someone not of the Battle Saint Lineage could not cultivate this, let alone hide it before him, the esteemed Wushi Monarch.
"I never imagined that after so many tens of thousands of years, I would still encounter a descendant of our Battle Saint Lineage, and such a rising star with great fortune at that. I am deeply pleased. Let us enter the pass and converse further."
Wushi Monarch was still overjoyed, laughing heartily. Although somewhat puzzled by the mystery of Ye Chen's Supreme-level physical power, he waved his large hand, ordering the powerhouses on the Immortal Heavenly Pass to open the gate.
As fellow members of the Battle Saint Lineage, he believed no traitor would emerge from this lineage.
The powerhouses guarding the Immortal Heavenly Pass were naturally also suspicious of Ye Chen's identity and the potential threat he posed to the pass, given his ability to cause a sensation at the Immortal Heavenly Pass and battle Wushi Monarch to such an extent. However, the majesty of the Ancient Ancestor Monarch was not to be challenged. Moreover, they believed that with Wushi Monarch present, along with the Forbidden Weapon, any disaster could be suppressed.
After who knows how many tens of thousands of years, the Immortal Heavenly Pass opened once more, a grand event witnessed by all in this prosperous age.
Countless people paid attention.
"We respectfully send off the Ancient Ancestor, returning triumphant!"
Countless voices rose in unison, echoing throughout this stretch of heaven and earth. Billions of living beings within the vast metropolis respectfully saw off Wushi Monarch's return, each looking at that majestic, upright figure with heartfelt fervor and worship.
Indeed, once the Ancient Ancestor Wushi emerged, all disasters were ultimately reversed.
However, at this moment, many also noticed the seven-year-old boy following behind Wushi Monarch. They were somewhat puzzled, wondering who this child was and why Wushi Monarch had brought him back.
If they knew that this very little boy was the instigator who had caused the sensation at the Immortal Heavenly Pass, forcing them to summon Wushi Monarch into the world, one wonders what shocked expressions they would have.
Following behind Wushi Monarch, Ye Chen beheld the prosperous and bustling vast metropolis, saw the billions of living beings, felt the immense vitality and spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and sensed the fluctuations of the myriad Daos. His heart trembled.
Indeed, beyond the Ninth Heavenly Pass lay a vast heaven and earth, stretching who knows how many tens of thousands of miles. However, it possessed a vitality absent from the previous eight passes, and billions of living beings resided here, resembling a true great world.
Yet, precisely this point made him increasingly puzzled about the lifelessness and the secret of the fall of the first eight passes.