"A Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch!?"
Even though he had vaguely guessed it in his heart, upon learning the truth, Ye Chen still couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air.
A Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch—a supreme Quasi-Monarch who could retreat unscathed even when facing an Ancient Monarch.
Ye Chen revealed a bitter smile. No wonder he was so overwhelmingly powerful.
At the same time, he felt a sense of relief. If the other party had acted merely out of appreciation, he would have been completely trapped there nine times out of ten. Unless he resorted to using his Great Emperor reincarnation body, but reaching that point would also break the agreement among the Ancient Monarchs of the All Heavens.
Although the human race remained fearless, Ye Chen's grand plan was not yet truly complete. Unless it was the final step, he truly did not wish to easily break the agreement.
"The outside world is too dangerous. I'd better return to the Emperor World as soon as possible."
After learning of the Haotian War God's strength, even if it was just a suspicion, caution dictated that he must be regarded as a Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch.
Ye Chen had originally thought that with his own strength, he could reign supreme and roam the world with pride in the absence of Ancient Monarchs. But now he realized it wasn't enough.
For now, just a late-stage Quasi-Monarch like Ghost Fiend was enough to pose a certain life-threatening danger to him, let alone hearing that there were even Great Perfection Quasi-Monarchs in pursuit, and most terrifying of all, the suspected Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch, the Haotian War God.
After a full three hours of travel, Ye Chen traversed hundreds of millions of li of territory, gradually approaching the Canglan Divine Sea and nearing the Human Imperial Realm.
Only then did he slowly let out a sigh of relief. Once he truly reached the Human Imperial Realm, he would be truly safe.
Suddenly, Ye Chen's pupils contracted sharply, and a chill ran down his spine.
He saw a small boat on the Canglan Divine Sea, drifting with the waves. A slovenly middle-aged man was sitting on the boat, silently fishing, appearing like an ordinary person who couldn't be more ordinary.
On the boat, the slovenly middle-aged man also saw Ye Chen. He picked up a worn wine gourd, took a swig, and grinned: "Young Friend, we meet again."
Ye Chen smiled bitterly. He hadn't expected the other party to be waiting silently right before the Human Imperial Realm.
He flew through the air and landed on the small boat.
The slovenly middle-aged man smiled: "Not running?"
"In front of Senior, how could I possibly escape over such a short distance?" Ye Chen shook his head, then cupped his fists: "This junior pays his respects to Senior Haotian War God."
The slovenly middle-aged man, Wu Hao, didn't seem the least bit surprised that Ye Chen knew his name. He chuckled lightly: "Just call me Wu Hao."
"This junior dares not."
Ye Chen shook his head. Although the Haotian War God before him was a peerless great enemy, a suspected Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch, he still held a certain degree of respect.
It was because the other party had spared him not long ago.
Otherwise, with his suspected Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch's peerless cultivation, capturing him would have been effortless.
Wu Hao took another sip of wine and smiled: "Getting this close to me, aren't you really worried I might attack you?"
"Since Senior said he would give this junior three days, this junior believes Senior's word. At the very least, Senior will not pursue or attack this junior within these three days. Otherwise, Senior wouldn't have spared this junior earlier." Ye Chen also sat down and took out a jug of immortal wine, handing it to Wu Hao.
Wu Hao didn't refuse. He opened the jug, and immediately, the aroma of wine soared into the sky. This aroma could even condense into one Great Dao rune after another, rising into the heavens.
He took a sip and exclaimed in admiration: "Excellent wine."
Ye Chen smiled: "This is the Auspicious Immortal Wine of the Ao Sheng Immortal Clan, brewed from rare fruits of countless worlds. It's said that even a Divine King can gain enlightenment-enhancing effects from a single sip."
"Auspicious Immortal Wine? I've heard of it. Where did you get this? I've heard that the Auspicious Immortal Wine is a treasured collection of the Ao Sheng Immortal Clan. Even Divine Kings of that clan find it difficult to taste a single sip."
"Looted it."
Ye Chen said nonchalantly.
One must not forget that during this period, he had attacked many imperial clans and immortal clans, naturally plundering some secret treasures obtained from these great clans.
Among them was the Auspicious Immortal Wine, extremely precious with enlightenment-enhancing effects. Even for Divine Kings, a single sip was something they couldn't bear to part with.
Wu Hao was taken aback, then laughed and shook his head. He took another sip of the Auspicious Immortal Wine: "These imperial clans and immortal clans are truly out of luck. Of all people to provoke, they had to provoke you. With your current strength, even an ordinary late-stage Quasi-Monarch would find it difficult to do anything to you."
Indeed, it was difficult to do anything.
Of course, facing a late-stage Quasi-Monarch, Ye Chen also found it hard to defeat them. Against figures like Ghost Fiend, without the aid of the Giant God Soldier, he would often have to flee in defeat.
There was also a huge gap between Quasi-Monarchs.
Ye Chen looked directly at Wu Hao and said straightforwardly: "So, Senior's purpose here is to prevent me from returning to the Emperor World?"
Wu Hao didn't conceal it, nodding: "Correct!"
Even if this was right before the Human Imperial Realm, so what? He was the Haotian War God. As long as Ancient Monarchs didn't intervene, he was invincible beneath the Monarchs. He feared not even if all the human Quasi-Monarchs came out.
Looking at Wu Hao's ordinary, plain face, Ye Chen sighed, then his expression also turned resolute: "In that case, this junior very much wishes to try breaking through Senior's blockade and returning to the Human Imperial Realm."
Boom—
An overwhelming imposing might erupted from his body, causing the previously calm and waveless Canglan Divine Sea to instantly become turbulent. The wind and clouds changed color, waves rolled, and towering, terrifying waves surged forth.
The small boat swayed unsteadily amidst the heavy waves, as if it might capsize at any moment.
A flicker of appreciation flashed in Wu Hao's seemingly somewhat dim eyes. Although he knew the probability of Ye Chen breaking through his blockade was less than one in ten thousand.
But if one wasn't even willing to try for that one-in-ten-thousand chance, it would be far too cowardly.
He smiled broadly: "Young Friend, I admire your courage. I, Wu Hao, said I would spare you for three days. So this time, I will only block, not capture. Therefore, feel free to use all your strength."
"Agreed!"
Ye Chen roared. His entire imposing might instantly began to climb rapidly, reaching an extremely terrifying height in a short time.
The entire Canglan Divine Sea exploded. The sky above was shrouded by endless dark clouds, with only chaotic light flashing. The myriad Daos of the All Heavens began to boil.
Nearly half of the Eighth Heavenly Realm Ancient Domain could clearly witness this scene in the Canglan Divine Sea.
Quasi-Monarchs of various races, who were once again searching for Ye Chen's traces in distant regions, were all startled. They gazed from afar, revealing looks of shock: "Not good! The Battle Saint King is at the Canglan Divine Sea. He's trying to return to the Human Imperial Realm?"
Boom— Boom—
Boom— …
Almost immediately, the other Quasi-Monarchs rushed towards the Canglan Divine Sea at their fastest speed. No matter what, they could not allow the Battle Saint King to successfully return to the Human Imperial Realm.