Amidst the shattered star ruins, Ye Chen stood alone.
Ye Chen also revealed a faint smile, gently clenching his fist, causing the entire starry sky to tremble.
In that moment, it was as if he had become the supreme ruler of this vast starry expanse, possessing a unique sense of control.
Looking again at the origin universe within his body, the Five Tribulation Divine King realm had grown to a diameter of ten thousand zhang, which could already be considered quite vast.
But now—
A diameter of a thousand li!
That's right, it had transformed in an instant from a diameter of ten thousand zhang to a span of a thousand li.
Because the Chaos Small Universe had already completed its initial and most sluggish embryonic transformation process. From then on, with each advancement in realm, the small universe would expand significantly. By now, it was no longer appropriate to measure it in "zhang," but rather in "li"!
A Chaos Small Universe with a diameter of over a thousand li, though compared to the origin worlds of Divine Kings which often spanned over ten million li in area—its diameter being only one ten-thousandth and its area merely a tiny fraction—was a true chaos universe. Each growth could derive sufficiently powerful universe power, far surpassing the power of heavens and worlds by an immeasurable degree.
The universe power contained within a thousand-li diameter Chaos Small Universe, even if only half could be mobilized, was an immeasurably terrifying force.
Ye Chen smiled faintly, then raised his head to look. What lay before him was not the starry sky, but a hazy, brand-new heaven and earth, and also a mysterious path.
He was on this path. Ahead on the road, he could vaguely see a brand-new realm standing before him.
Though it remained distant, seemingly within sight yet beyond reach, at least it was not like before, where he couldn't even see it.
He could sense the terrifying aspects of that realm. Even if he could only feel the faint wisps of aura emanating from it, it was enough to make the mortal world tremble—
The Sovereign realm!
Having cultivated for several hundred years, he could finally gaze upon the Sovereign realm from afar.
The day he would become an Ancient Monarch was within sight!
Ye Chen looked towards the Heavenly Roc Demon Monarch.
Facing the present Ye Chen, the Heavenly Roc Demon Monarch was more solemn than ever before.
If the Battle Saint King before undergoing tribulation, though possessing a strong realm, was still far inferior when facing a Quasi-Monarch like himself. Then, after enduring the Fourfold Divine King Tribulation and absorbing a sufficient amount of Great Dao essence, both his form and spirit would have undergone an immeasurable enhancement.
He had a feeling that facing the current Battle Saint King might be no less challenging than facing an equal Quasi-Monarch.
"Nine Tribulation Divine King?" the Heavenly Roc Demon Monarch spoke.
"Correct."
Ye Chen smiled. After seventeen years of seclusion, he had finally achieved Nine Tribulations!
Now, calling him a peerless Divine King was already insufficient; calling him a pinnacle Divine King was most fitting.
Having endured the Ninefold Divine King Tribulation, he now stood at the very peak of the Divine King realm. One more step, and he would be a Quasi-Monarch.
And after Quasi-Monarch, came the Ancient Monarch.
Unfortunately, he was still not a true Ancient Monarch, nor could he possess the true, heaven-defying abilities of an Ancient Monarch.
During the tribulation, he had also attempted multiple times to force his way into the Monarch domain, but unfortunately, he had not succeeded.
As powerful as he was, confident that he now stood at the peak of Nine Tribulations, no less than a true Quasi-Monarch, it was only at this moment that he realized just how vast the distance was between himself and an Ancient Monarch.
Quasi-Monarch was one hurdle; Ancient Monarch was a heavenly chasm.
With his capabilities, as powerful as an invincible Divine King like the Nine Tribulation Chaos Divine King, he should theoretically be able to leap across at least four minor realms.
But before the heavenly chasm of the Ancient Monarch, everything was blocked. Even the Quasi-Monarch realm was an indescribably vast chasm, far greater than the gap between the Sixth and Seventh Tribulations.
With his abilities, he could only cross the Divine King barrier, feeling he could rival a Quasi-Monarch, but he would certainly not be much stronger than a Quasi-Monarch.
This puzzled him greatly; he didn't understand why.
This shouldn't be the case. Not just him, but even other strongest young supremes possessed the ability to leap across at least three minor realms, capable of crossing the Monarch barrier to rival true Ancient Monarchs.
But now he was blocked. No matter how powerful, he was only a Quasi-Monarch.
He felt puzzled, thinking it differed from what he had previously understood, yet he wasn't entirely clear.
For now, he could only bury this doubt deep in his heart, to be asked of the human race's Ancient Monarchs another day.
Ye Chen did not immediately engage in battle. Instead, he looked towards the Heaven-Fall Mausoleum, which had been moved billions of li away. The Nine Yin and Nine Yang continued to envelop the Heaven-Fall Mausoleum, moving it outside the Emperor Realm.
He believed it wouldn't be long, perhaps half a day, before it completely left the Emperor Realm, to be contested by the myriad races of the heavens. For the human race to contend for it again would be countless times more difficult.
"We cannot let the Heaven-Fall Mausoleum be moved any further," Ye Chen frowned.
The Heavenly Roc Demon Monarch sneered, "Battle Saint King, though you have now become a Nine Tribulation Divine King today, perhaps enough to rival a Quasi-Monarch, wanting to stop the Nine Yin and Nine Yang Grand Array from moving the Heaven-Fall Mausoleum is still impossible. Moreover, it also depends on whether this lord is willing."
"Heavenly Roc Absolute Kill!"
Boom—
As his words fell, an immense, boundless Heavenly Roc phantom appeared, yet it appeared incredibly solid. Its entire body radiated the supreme aura of a Quasi-Monarch, as if it were a real Heavenly Roc. This was clearly the Heavenly Roc Demon Monarch's Quasi-Monarch dharma manifestation, transforming his own Heavenly Roc form into an immeasurable dharma manifestation possessing power not inferior to a Quasi-Monarch, like another self.
The Heavenly Roc flapped its wings, distorting the void as if space-time were reversing, striking towards Ye Chen with lightning speed and overwhelming force.
In less than an instant, it arrived before Ye Chen. The star domain exploded as it struck before Ye Chen with the force of a thunderbolt.
This was true Quasi-Monarch power, far stronger than that of a Divine King by many times. Even a Nine Tribulation Divine King would be shattered and blasted apart by a single strike.
Unfortunately, Ye Chen was no ordinary Divine King. Even though he was still a Divine King, he was the most powerful Nine Tribulation Chaos Divine King!
Facing this strike that he would have been utterly unable to resist before undergoing the tribulation, the corner of his mouth lifted into a smile.
"A strike from a Quasi-Monarch dharma manifestation is nothing more than this."
With a whoosh, Ye Chen shot into the sky. Without using any divine abilities, he relied on his supreme Chaos Saint Body for a violent strike, directly clashing head-on with the Heavenly Roc dharma manifestation.
Boom—
A vast expanse of the star domain collapsed downwards, an astonishing sight.
Ye Chen's figure shuddered. Upon collision, his Chaos Saint Body trembled, dissolving all the force.
Meanwhile, the immense, colossal body of the Heavenly Roc dharma manifestation was sent tumbling back into the starry space, crushing numerous stars.
However, the Heavenly Roc dharma manifestation was, after all, the Heavenly Roc Demon Monarch's dharma manifestation, rivaling a Quasi-Monarch. It had no major issues; with a shudder, it stabilized and charged forward again.
At the same time, the Heavenly Roc Demon Monarch also charged to attack.
"No time to tangle with you."
True Dragon Soaring Heaven Technique!
Ye Chen shouted. Behind him, a gigantic Heavenly Dragon evolved, stretching for tens of thousands of li, meandering through the starry space where stars seemed tiny. It exuded a pure True Dragon aura, as if a pure-blooded True Dragon had descended, its dragon might peerless and overwhelming.
Moreover, it seemed more like a Chaos True Dragon than a pure-blooded True Dragon, carrying infinite ancient chaos energy that inundated the star domain.
Roar—
With a dragon roar, the True Dragon fiercely attacked, colliding with the peerless Heavenly Roc whose wings covered the starry sky.