Ye Chen's breakthrough did not stop at merely the first heaven realm.
In the next moment, he reached the Martial God second heaven level, an even more abundant aura spreading out, stirring the clouds and sky.
His aura soared into the heavens, spreading in all directions, powerful and terrifying, surpassing even ordinary second heaven Martial God experts. Martial God experts of the fourth heaven would change countenance upon sensing this Dao pressure.
"Martial God second heaven, breaking through two heavens at once. Ye Chen is truly somewhat extraordinary." Even the several Ancient Talents nodded in praise. Even looking across ancient and modern times, those who broke through to the Martial God realm and simultaneously advanced to the second heaven were exceedingly rare, and they themselves were among them.
This showed that Ye Chen's accumulation was already very high, which was why he could break through like this.
Moreover, for talents like them to break through to the second heaven was already extraordinary, because they were different from others—they were all figures invincible within the same realm, monstrous individuals capable of slaying enemies across realms and fighting immortals against the odds. The energy required to advance a single heaven was several times greater than that of ordinary people.
Ye Chen was clearly the same.
"Martial God second heaven, reaching this domain immediately upon breakthrough. The Ancient Talents of the past were no more than this." The elders of Tian Du Academy were shocked, also exclaiming in amazement. It was actually Martial God second heaven, something only monstrous talents could achieve.
"No, Ye Chen hasn't stopped. He seems to be continuing his breakthrough."
Immediately, the expressions of the academy elders and even the several Ancient Talents changed, because Ye Chen's aura did not cease, continuing to grow stronger, surpassing the previous level, still climbing higher and higher.
Visible to the naked eye, the divine light pillar shooting from the crown of Ye Chen's head grew stronger, more dazzling, more eye-catching, overshadowing heaven and earth. His aura did not stop, continuously swelling.
Within the divine light pillar, a terrifying pressure spread out, causing the numerous students below to tremble uncontrollably.
Soon, Ye Chen broke through once more, reaching Martial God third heaven, thoroughly shocking everyone.
Throughout history, those who reached Martial God second heaven immediately upon breakthrough were already rare enough to be called peerless geniuses, also monstrous talents. They themselves belonged to this category; even those Supreme Divine Spirits in their youth were no more than this.
But those like Ye Chen who reached third heaven or above immediately upon breakthrough were truly few, countable across ancient and modern times. This represented both talent and accumulation.
"Martial God third heaven. Ye Chen truly lives up to being the strongest monstrous talent in history. We are also somewhat inferior."
The five Ancient Talents couldn't help but marvel. Monstrous as they were, they had to admit Ye Chen's monstrousness. One must know that even at the same age, they had only just stepped into the Martial God realm, merely ascending to the second heaven step of the Martial God realm. Ye Chen had taken a step earlier than them, stepping onto the third heaven step.
"Three months of cultivation in the Sacred Land. It's said Ye Chen absorbed countless amounts of heaven and earth energy within the Sacred Land. Although advancing three heavens, the breakthrough is still expected. He has the ability to absorb enough quantity to break through," Yuan Jiu said.
Every student who had entered the Sacred Land for cultivation confirmed that Ye Chen had continuously absorbed vast amounts of heaven and earth energy within the Sacred Land. That was the purest heaven and earth energy, enough to allow even a Heavenly God to advance, let alone a mere Martial God.
But then the expressions of the few changed again, because at this moment, Ye Chen's aura was actually still continuously climbing, continuously breaking through, continuously growing stronger, surpassing the past.
That divine light pillar radiated an increasingly oppressive Dao pressure, rumbling and roaring with the heavens.
"What? Breaking through to third heaven is already monstrous enough. He actually hasn't stopped there. How can this Ye Chen break through so quickly?"
All the elders of Tian Du Academy, and even some ancient recluses who paid no heed to worldly affairs, were stirred, extending their divine senses to observe everything, shock appearing on their faces.
"Could it be..." Everyone thought of a certain speculation, unanimously concluding that Ye Chen was bound to reach the fourth heaven minor step.
Sure enough, with a boom, Ye Chen's aura swelled once more. His entire body shook, radiating beams of soaring light, completely standing firm on the fourth heaven step, truly the first person in ancient and modern times.
Even looking across the entire history of Tian Du Continent, Ye Chen was absolutely the first person to continuously climb to the fourth heaven minor step after breaking through the great Martial God realm.
The world was thoroughly shocked, especially the five Ancient Talents. They were considered the most dazzling monstrous talents in the history of their respective super forces, but compared to Ye Chen, they fell short by more than a notch.
Could this guy really be this monstrous?
Fortunately, Ye Chen's aura stopped growing. He did not continue to break through to the fifth heaven; otherwise, the expressions of the several Ancient Talents would have been very ugly.
But even so, their smiles were filled with bitterness, because for the first time, they felt the pressure others faced when confronting them in their own generation, pressure as immense as mountains.
Ye Chen stood on the ground before the Trial Gate, having not only broken through the great Martial God realm but also consecutively advanced to the fourth heaven minor step. His aura was more than just one or two times stronger than before; it was vastly more powerful.
Even though he was only a fourth heaven Martial God, as the strongest monstrous talent in history, the aura Ye Chen radiated was far stronger than that of ordinary fourth heaven Martial Gods. His aura shook mountains, radiating an astonishing presence. In terms of realm aura alone, he was not inferior to a super Martial God.
This was the terrifying aspect of the strongest monstrous talent in history—invincible within the same realm.
And one must know that Ye Chen also cultivated the even more powerful treasure body, the Indestructible Golden Body. If his Martial God cultivation were combined with the Indestructible Golden Body, one could only imagine how terrifying it would be.
But Long Gu'ao shook his head: "Ye Chen's Dao technique strength should be roughly comparable to a seventh heaven super Martial God. But even if his form and spirit combine, and unite with the Indestructible Golden Body, at most he could rival an eighth heaven super Martial God. However, we are all peak Martial Gods, and with our strength, we can even fight Heavenly Gods. Ye Chen still falls short."
This was a fact. Even if his Dao technique and physical strength were each comparable to the seventh heaven super Martial God level, perfectly combined they could surpass the eighth heaven, even rival a ninth heaven peak Martial God, but at most it would be a challenge.
On the path of cultivation, the further one goes, the greater the gap between realms.
Moreover, they were Ancient Talents, with astonishing, peerless talent. They were also invincible within the same realm, capable of slaying enemies across realms. At the ninth heaven peak, they were virtually invincible beneath Heavenly Gods, even able to fight Heavenly Gods, and could retreat unscathed even if they couldn't win.
Ye Chen could not.
Wu Yunyan sighed lightly: "Don't speak like that. It's already quite impressive that Ye Chen could reach this step in just three short months. Let's not forget, he's only seventeen this year, while we are twenty-three. Think about our own strength at his age."
Hearing this, all the Ancient Talents sighed in silent unison. No matter how proud they were, no matter how dazzlingly talented, they had to admit that at the same age, they were far inferior to this young great demon king before them.
Now, they were merely relying on being born five or six years earlier than Ye Chen, along with the accumulation from their long existence over countless years, the sutras of Heavenly Gods, and enlightenment beside Divine Spirits, which gave them a lead.
Truth be told, they had no right to look down on Ye Chen, because Ye Chen was still too young. Both his growth space and potential were far greater than theirs.
"A monstrous talent consecutively breaking through four heavens... is this even human? But breaking through so quickly, isn't he afraid of leaving hidden dangers?"
Although they had stirred the highest-ranking ancient recluses of the academy, they frowned even as they were shocked. Such a frenzied breakthrough, even if it broke historical records, would inevitably leave some hidden dangers, which would be detrimental to the future.
On the path of cultivation, one should build a solid foundation step by step; only then can one walk further. Such a frenzied breakthrough would ultimately damage the Dao foundation, leaving considerable hidden dangers for the future cultivation path.
"Ye Chen, congratulations on your breakthrough, breaking through four heavens at once. You can be called the most monstrous talent in history." Long Gu'ao stepped forward to congratulate him, but then sighed: "But I must say, you were too rash in doing this. It's very bad for your Dao foundation, easily damaging it. It's not solid or firm at all. You should advance step by step, solidifying your Dao foundation."
The other Ancient Talents agreed. They themselves had stopped at Martial God peak within three months precisely to stabilize their Dao foundation. Otherwise, with their foundation, rushing to the Heavenly God realm wouldn't have been impossible.
But they deeply understood the importance of the Dao foundation, hence they chose not to break through further.
"Brother Ye, why do this? Although we are all somewhat stronger than you, we are after all ancients, with sufficient accumulation. You are still too young, your cultivation years too short. It's normal that you can't compare to us. There's no need to take such risks," Yang Wushuang also sighed.
This was the only contemporary who had gained the recognition of their several Ancient Talents. To catch up to them, he didn't hesitate to break through, shaking his Dao foundation. This was truly unwise.
To this, Ye Chen smiled. They understood, but how could he not understand as well? He shook his head and said, "You are all mistaken."
"Mistaken?"
The few were taken aback, somewhat puzzled.
Ye Chen said, "What you said, I actually understand. Moreover, I haven't shaken my Dao foundation; it will become even more stable."
"Brother Ye, what do you mean by that?" The several Ancient Talents felt strange. What exactly did this mean?
"You'll understand in a moment. But now is not the time for talk. Please step back. I need to deal with some tribulation; it might harm you."
Tribulation?
Everyone was stunned, somewhat puzzled. But at that moment, a terrifying, earth-shattering roar suddenly exploded across the entire world.
Boom—
An extremely dazzling bolt of clear sky lightning flashed into existence, shaking Tian Du Academy, even shaking Tian Du City, drawing the attention and gaze of countless people.
The heavenly tribulation had descended!