Half an hour later, nine Quasi-Monarch figures streaked across the sky within the Ancient World of the Aosheng Immortal Clan. They were the nine Quasi-Monarchs pursuing the Battle Saint King.
But when they saw the utter devastation throughout the Aosheng Immortal Clan's realm—the collapsed divine cities, countless casualties, with less than three or four out of ten experts surviving—they were dumbfounded.
They also saw the earth split open by countless enormous fissures, the spiritual energy depleted, with massive spiritual veins and ancestral veins all plundered.
They even saw the lofty Ancient Monarch, his face twisted with displeasure, and were completely stunned.
Good heavens, this Battle Saint King was truly ruthless enough to slaughter and plunder an entire Immortal Clan right before the eyes of their Ancient Monarch.
Yet, the most critical point was that the Immortal Clan's Ancient Monarch was bound by the agreement and unable to intervene.
"Damn it all, this Battle Saint King is simply a complete and utter madman!"
This was the nine Quasi-Monarchs' assessment of the Battle Saint King. They had seen madmen before, but never one so insane as to dare strike before an entire clan's Ancient Monarch.
"Gentlemen, you must kill the Battle Saint King, tear him to pieces. I will also offer generous rewards."
The Ancient Monarch of the Aosheng Immortal Clan spoke almost word by word, his voice gritted with teeth, filled with overwhelming killing intent that sent a chill through the nine Quasi-Monarchs. One could imagine just how much the Aosheng Immortal Clan's Ancient Monarch wanted the Battle Saint King dead.
"Your Majesty, rest assured. We will definitely kill the Battle Saint King."
The nine Quasi-Monarchs nodded gravely. Even if the other hadn't spoken, they were fully committed to this notion.
Otherwise, it would be their respective backing Emperor Clans and Immortal Clans next—something they could not allow to happen.
Meanwhile, countless tens of thousands of li away from the Aosheng Immortal Clan's Ancient World, Ye Chen stood within a bustling ancient city, having concealed his presence. In a luxurious tavern, he watched the gracefully dancing courtesans, raised a small cauldron to taste fine wine, sang to the drink, and revealed a satisfied expression.
Having forcefully barged into thirteen Ancient Worlds of Emperor Clans and Immortal Clans in succession, he had slain over one Divine King in nearly every clan he visited, devouring their origin inner worlds.
Now, after consecutively devouring the origin inner worlds of fifteen Divine Kings, the diameter of his Chaos Small Universe had reached a full ninety-eight thousand li, just two thousand li short of one hundred thousand li.
Once it reached one hundred thousand li, he felt an astonishing change would occur.
He was quite looking forward to this change.
However, even though it hadn't yet reached a diameter of one hundred thousand li, the current ninety-eight thousand li still emitted streams of dawn light that slightly enhanced his Chaos Saint Body and Chaos Saint Soul once more.
It wasn't a massive increase, but he was still continuously growing stronger.
Ye Chen greatly enjoyed this process of constantly increasing his strength.
He was also steadily approaching the tenth Divine King Tribulation.
He thought that as long as he continued like this, within half a year, he would accumulate enough to contend with the tenth Divine King Tribulation!
Then, in one vigorous effort, he would directly become a Quasi-Monarch. Perhaps the moment he stepped into that realm, he could rival the legendary Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch, sweeping through all, utterly invincible beneath the Monarchs!
At that stage, unless an Ancient Monarch appeared, even among Quasi-Monarchs, he would be enough to sweep through everything, peerless under heaven.
Ye Chen eagerly anticipated that moment's arrival!
"Hmm? They've caught up again?"
Ye Chen looked into the distance, sensing multiple Quasi-Monarch auras, and sighed: "I really wish I could round you all up right now. If I devoured the origin world-heavens of you nine Quasi-Monarchs, it would certainly advance my Chaos Small Universe further, reaching one hundred thousand li, or even surpassing it to a higher level."
"What a pity, I'm not at that stage yet. I can't disrupt the grand plan at hand."
Whoosh—
Ye Chen's figure vanished in an instant.
Boom—
Not long after, nine supremely powerful figures appeared in the sky above this bustling ancient city. Their overwhelming auras wantonly radiated, showing no regard for the countless people in the city who panicked in an instant. Even the Divine King guarding this ancient city fearfully approached, knowing these were nine Quasi-Monarchs, any one of whom could easily annihilate him.
"He's gone. He's no longer here!"
One Quasi-Monarch frowned, unable to detect the Battle Saint King's aura. There wasn't even the slightest trace left in the city.
They all knew the Battle Saint King was a Chaos cultivator who had reached the pinnacle Divine King level. Using Chaos Dao techniques to conceal his traces, even a true Quasi-Monarch couldn't deduce his location.
However, this time they had invited a figure of immense stature, one for whom nothing under heaven was beyond deduction.
"We ask Heaven-Gazing Divine Master to deduce the Battle Saint King's direction."
A Quasi-Monarch spoke, showing a hint of respect as he looked towards one of the nine Quasi-Monarchs—a figure clad in celestial master robes.
That was an expert skilled in deducing Heavenly Secrets, whose achievements had reached the Quasi-Monarch level. In the vastness of the world, there was arguably nothing he couldn't deduce.
He was known as the Heaven-Gazing Divine Master. Though a Quasi-Monarch, even Ancient Monarchs held Divine Masters in high regard, often treating them as equals.
The Heaven-Gazing Divine Master in celestial master robes was a kind-browed, benevolent elder with white hair and beard, possessing an immortal demeanor. He sighed lightly: "Battle Saint King, I apologize for this."
The Heaven-Gazing Divine Master's brow glowed, manifesting one complex Great Dao rune after another—so intricate that even Quasi-Monarchs might not comprehend them. They flew into the sky, transforming into a Fate Compass that rotated, emanating mysterious and unfathomable power.
That was deducing Heavenly Secrets, searching for Ye Chen's whereabouts.
Soon, the Fate Compass projected a light screen, within which a figure flickered faintly, rapidly tearing through the void to leave. It was Ye Chen.
"Found him! As expected of Heaven-Gazing Divine Master!"
The other eight Quasi-Monarchs were overjoyed. He had actually deduced the Battle Saint King's true location.
"It's still a bit lacking, only a blur. Allow this old man to exert more effort."
The Heaven-Gazing Divine Master gave a soft shout. From his brow flew forth thousands of dawn light rays carrying countless Great Dao runes into the Fate Compass above. Immediately, the projected light screen became increasingly clearer.
Far away, Ye Chen's heart sank. His perception was extremely sharp, and he suddenly felt as if he were being watched.
"Someone is trying to deduce my movements, and it's no ordinary Quasi-Monarch."
Ye Chen's expression turned grave. He abruptly performed a technique. Chaotic light blazed brilliantly, and one Chaos rune after another manifested, revolving around his body, grinding away all traces of himself to prevent deduction.
"The Battle Saint King is very powerful, and he's using the Chaos Great Dao to block my deduction."
Above the ancient city, the Heaven-Gazing Divine Master's expression turned grave, sensing the difficulty in the deduction process. The light screen, which had been growing clearer, suddenly became shrouded in a mist of ancient Chaos Qi, concealing everything.
The Heaven-Gazing Divine Master knew it was likely the Battle Saint King had sensed something and used Chaos Dao techniques to obscure all deduction.
Chaos Dao techniques possessed the wondrous function of shielding Heavenly Secrets.
"Heaven-Gazing Divine Master, can you still continue to deduce the Battle Saint King's direction?"
The eight Quasi-Monarchs all showed slight changes in expression. Even the Heaven-Gazing Divine Master was like this—could they still pursue the Battle Saint King?
"There's no other way. I can only use my trump card."
The Heaven-Gazing Divine Master suddenly produced a palm-sized white turtle shell in his hand, carved densely with endless, intricate runes that faintly seemed capable of deducing all Heavenly Secrets.
Moreover, the white turtle shell subtly emanated wisps of Quasi-Monarch might—quite extraordinary. Clearly, this was the shed carapace of a Quasi-Monarch expert, which the Heaven-Gazing Divine Master had obtained and turned into a supreme treasure for the art of deduction.