A dark yellow Dao Star.
This was a Dao Star of the Earth Great Dao, and moreover, a high-level eighth-grade Earth Dark Star. It possessed terrifying gravity no less than that of an eighth-grade Dark Gold Dao Star, reaching a staggering thousandfold magnitude.
On such a dark yellow Dao Star with thousandfold gravity, there were very few cultivators—one could count them on one's fingers.
Here, a massive figure stood up, towering ten thousand zhang tall. Its entire body flowed with resplendent golden light, resisting the fearsome earth gravity. Rings of earth radiance bloomed around it.
Clearly, it was extremely proficient in the Earth Great Dao, having reached a shocking level where it could effortlessly neutralize the earth gravity.
It unconsciously emitted waves of power that shook the entire eighth-grade Earth Dark Star, causing an ancient Divine King in another part of the star to prostrate in worship, revealing a fervent gaze.
For this was a Quasi-Monarch, a being beyond the Divine King level. Even within the Imperial Star Secret Realm, it possessed heaven-defying power, one of the supreme peak experts who dominated the rise and fall of the Supreme Ancient Domain.
As the ten-thousand-zhang-tall Quasi-Monarch raised its eyes, its gaze could pierce through the endless starry void, reflecting everything happening on the seventh-grade Dark Gold Dao Star. It could see the golden peerless Divine Sword, like the one that cleaved heaven and earth, floating and sinking, and the world-surpassing power that transcended the Divine King level.
A trace of surprise flickered in its enormous eyes, its voice rumbling like layers of heavenly thunder rolling across the firmament: "I never expected someone to successfully cultivate a Metal Monarch Rule on a seventh-grade Dark Gold Dao Star. Truly worthy of congratulations. I just wonder which Quasi-Monarch fellow Daoist from our Supreme Ancient Domain it is? Is it Lord Xu Tian? Lord Qing Tian? Or perhaps one of the others? But it seems none of them cultivate the Metal Great Dao to such an extremely high level?"
However, it soon revealed a hint of joy: "No matter which Quasi-Monarch fellow Daoist it is, they are still from our Supreme Ancient Domain. It's a pity that even we Quasi-Monarchs cannot project across the starry void within this Imperial Star Secret Realm. Rashly going over might disturb their Dao comprehension. We can only watch from afar and inquire properly after leaving the secret realm someday."
Immediately after, its eyes closed once more, continuing its cultivation. Waves of supreme earth power emanated from its body, harmonizing with the eighth-grade Earth Dark Star...
At the same time, powerful auras manifested one after another on other high-grade Dao Stars. Other Quasi-Monarchs were also stirred, but that was all—they didn't pay excessive attention.
At this moment, Ye Chen looked at the Metal Monarch Rule floating before him. All its might was completely internalized, transforming into a golden peerless Divine Sword—so magnificent, yet so majestic.
Even with its power internalized, it could still make one's mind tremble and crack. Divine Kings who saw it would feel their hearts quake.
Ye Chen swept a glance over the scarred seventh-grade Dark Gold Dao Star, noting that over half of the Metal Great Dao power within the Dao Star had been consumed to finally allow the Metal Divine King Spirit to successfully advance into a Metal Monarch Rule. One could imagine the difficulty of condensing a Monarch Rule here.
Fortunately, now, combined with the two Metal Monarch Rules he had condensed during his previous time as a Quasi-Monarch, he had a total of three.
Although it took considerable effort to condense this one Metal Monarch Rule, from start to finish, it only took a mere five days—truly quite gratifying.
One must know how difficult it is to condense a single Metal Monarch Rule. Even for an Ancient Monarch, whose condensation speed is far faster than a Quasi-Monarch's, it would be impossible to condense one in just five days.
Only the Supreme One's Supreme Secret Realm possessed such difficulty.
"What a pity. Merely condensing the first Metal Monarch Rule consumed nearly half the power of this seventh-grade Dark Gold Dao Star. There's absolutely no way to condense a second one here. I can only head to an eighth-grade Dark Gold Dao Star, hoping it will give me some pleasant surprises." Ye Chen sighed softly. Condensing just one Monarch Rule, even if it only took a month, was still insufficient for him.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, he turned his head, looking into the distance. About three hundred li away, a tall figure was clearly visible, but it was covered in blood—purple blood, carrying a fearsome divine nature. It was Zi Cangyu.
The moment the Metal Monarch Rule took form, its terrifying sharp radiance had wounded even his seventh-layer Cangtian Divine Body, leaving him drenched in purple blood.
Yet his figure still stood proudly. He gazed at the chaotic light figure before him, which manifested like a golden peerless Divine Sword, with unconcealed fervor—a gaze of reverence and admiration for a supreme powerhouse.
This being, capable of devouring half the Metal Great Dao power of a seventh-grade Dark Gold Dao Star to refine the Dao, was undoubtedly a world-surpassing expert far surpassing the Cangtian Divine King ancestor within his sect.
If he could receive guidance from such a supreme powerhouse, or even follow by their side and be accepted as a disciple, surpassing the Divine King level in the future might not be impossible.
Immediately, Zi Cangyu bowed respectfully from afar, speaking loudly: "Zi Cangyu of the Cangtian Divine Sect pays his respects to the senior!"
However, beneath the chaotic light, Ye Chen's expression held a trace of iciness. His cold gaze solidified, landing on Zi Cangyu, making the latter instantly feel a chill run through his entire body. Even his peak seventh-layer Cangtian Divine Body sensed that terrifying icy sensation. He didn't understand why this supreme senior, who surpassed the Divine King ancestor, was looking at him so coldly.
Could it be a test?
Zi Cangyu dared not be negligent, maintaining his bowing posture, motionless.
"Senior? Weren't you the one who said before that I had offended your Cangtian Divine Sect and would surely die? Have you forgotten already?" Suddenly, a voice emerged from the chaotic light, carrying a youthful vigor and also a hint of mockery, causing Zi Cangyu to freeze momentarily.
Then, when he saw the familiar figure and familiar face after the chaotic light dissipated, his entire body shuddered, and boundless waves surged in his heart.
It was him! It was actually him!
That fellow with the faint moon mark between his brows who had threatened his certain death at the Heavenly Palace Divine Hall—he was actually that supremely fearsome Dao-refiner!
Zi Cangyu couldn't help but tremble in his heart. At the same time, boundless terror surfaced. It seemed he had never imagined that the so-called cowardly scoundrel from the Yun Tian Sect—who had merely dared to set foot on a first-grade Dark Gold Dao Star and was only at the fifth level of the Heavenly King realm—whom he had offended at the Heavenly Palace Divine Hall, was actually such a world-surpassing expert.
Ye Chen revealed a mocking smile: "I remember you're called Zi Cangyu, right?"
"Yes, senior," Zi Cangyu said fearfully.
"Didn't you say that offending the Cangtian Divine Sect would definitely make me die?" Ye Chen added another sentence lightly.
Hearing this, Zi Cangyu immediately lowered his head even further, filled with panic and terror, hurriedly saying: "This junior wouldn't dare. It was this junior's mistake. I beg senior for forgiveness."
"Heh, you threatened my life, and now you're asking me for forgiveness? Don't you find that utterly laughable?"
A light laugh, filled with cold mockery.