From within the ancient ring, an aged figure drifted out. Clad in white robes, with kind eyebrows and benevolent eyes, he presented a gentle and amiable appearance. His hair was as white as snow, and he was looking at Ye Chen with a mild gaze.
Ye Chen was dumbfounded. Although he had considered that this ancient ring might be some kind of precious treasure, he never imagined that a person would actually float out of it.
No, it should be the manifestation of a Primordial Spirit or a Divine Soul Body, because this old man had no physical form.
However, the sudden appearance of this old man truly gave Ye Chen a fright. To think that buying an ancient ring from a street stall would result in a person emerging.
Yet, his expression also turned grave. The ability to lodge one's Primordial Spirit or Divine Soul Body into another object proved this person's extraordinary nature, and absolutely no ordinary individual at that.
The Primordial Spirit is a higher level of spiritual power evolution; only by reaching the Martial God realm and above can one condense it.
And the Divine Soul Body exists even above the Primordial Spirit.
But generally speaking, a Primordial Spirit capable of separating from its fleshly shell represents the immense power of that person in life. Because ordinary Primordial Spirits, once separated from their fleshly shells, lack the nourishment of the body's qi and blood and the stability of the physical form, making them easily dissipate into heaven and earth—unless they have reached a certain level of power.
As for Divine Soul Bodies, they transcend Primordial Spirits. Those capable of condensing a Divine Soul are invariably among the top-tier figures standing at the pinnacle across the myriad realms.
Could this mysterious old man before him also be...
He couldn't help but stare deeply at the old man, his eyes flickering incessantly. Had he truly awakened a terrifying, peerless figure?
Seeing Ye Chen calm down so quickly after the initial surprise of his appearance slightly startled the white-robed elder. This level of composure was somewhat monstrous.
An ordinary person, even those old monsters who had cultivated for many years, would likely be shocked by his sudden appearance. Yet, this youth's demeanor was far too composed and natural.
"Little fellow, your temperament is quite good. Seeing this old man appear so suddenly, you can still manage to keep a straight face. Among your peers, you're probably among the very best," the white-robed elder said.
Ye Chen smiled but said nothing. However, the white-robed elder's next sentence left him utterly dumbfounded—
"Little fellow, do you want to become a peerless powerhouse? If so, become this old man's disciple!"
Looking at the white-robed elder with his kind and benevolent appearance speaking such earnest words, Ye Chen felt both amused and exasperated. He actually wanted to take him as a disciple.
For an ordinary person, this would likely be a great opportunity. After all, the elder's very existence spoke volumes. In life, he was definitely a super powerhouse. Even if only a soul body remained, he was still a master-level figure with rich experience who could guide anyone to become a true powerhouse.
Unfortunately, Ye Chen in his previous life was also a young generation's supreme powerhouse, possessing immense knowledge and experience, enough to be a teacher to others himself. Naturally, he didn't need someone else to instruct him.
Still, he couldn't help but ask, "Old sir, may I ask who you are?"
"Who am I?" The old man stroked his long, white beard, chuckling with a rather immortal and transcendent air that commanded respect. "I've long forgotten my title. Now I only remember my surname is Yan. Although I've ended up in this state, neither human nor ghost, I can still teach a disciple. By the way, your blood is quite good. It actually managed to awaken this old man. Thank you for your blood."
Ye Chen suddenly understood. So that's why it was so easy to awaken such a mysterious person from the ancient ring—it was because of his Sacred Body bloodline. However, facing the white-robed elder's offer to take him as a disciple, he still shook his head. "Apologies, Elder Yan. This junior already has a master."
His master, in both his previous life and this one, was only one person—that old man who had passed away. No one could replace him.
Elder Yan was immediately taken aback. He wanted to take a disciple and was actually refused? This was truly a first.
He knew countless people across the world wished to become his disciple but couldn't succeed. Now that he had taken the initiative to offer, he was actually rejected, leaving him somewhat incredulous.
He couldn't help but ask, "Little fellow, are you truly unwilling to become this old man's disciple? Do you know who I am?"
"Who are you?"
"I am—" Elder Yan suddenly stopped, then hurriedly changed the subject, as if there was something taboo. He then patted his chest earnestly and said, "Little fellow, I can't guarantee anything else, but as long as you agree to become this old man's disciple, I can swear to the heavens that I will ensure you become a peerless powerhouse of a generation. Who is your master? Let me go talk to him. We can't let him ruin your life for nothing."
What kind of person was he? Merely through the blood, he could sense Ye Chen's own potential. He was absolutely a rare talent with great promise.
Especially sensing the special nature of the blood within Ye Chen's body, which faintly contained a mysterious and powerful force, like an ancient true dragon lying dormant. Once awakened and revived, the potential within this youth before him would be unleashed, and his future achievements would be limitless. This was also one of the aspects he valued most.
Therefore, he also held Ye Chen in high regard, hoping to take him as a disciple and nurture a peerless powerhouse.
When asked about his master, Ye Chen immediately fell silent. This was a secret in his heart, impossible to tell anyone, especially a strange old man.
Moreover, he sensed that this old man before him was no ordinary person. Although only a phantom remained, he was still very powerful.
But at their first meeting, he couldn't place too much trust in this mysterious Elder Yan.
"Unwilling to say?" Elder Yan frowned and shook his head. "Little fellow, although this old man doesn't want to speak ill of your master, he might not be suitable as your teacher. Because your bloodline is extraordinary, harboring a very powerful force within you that needs to be revived. But you should be about twenty-six now, and only at the seventh level of Houtian. This level of cultivation is somewhat too poor."
"If you become this old man's disciple, I am confident I can fully revive the bloodline within your body."
"You must understand, once the bloodline within you is revived, your potential will also be unleashed along with it. It will allow you to achieve twice the result with half the effort on your cultivation path, enabling you to go much further."
Elder Yan persuasively explained. With his discerning eye, he had long seen through Ye Chen's cultivation level. Now, using the prospect of becoming a super powerhouse as bait, he was enticing Ye Chen to become his disciple.
Ye Chen suddenly said, "Old sir, do you know what bloodline this junior possesses?"
Elder Yan shook his head. "I'm not too sure, but your bloodline potential is very powerful. When I absorbed your blood, this old man could feel it."
Ye Chen suspected that this old man before him might know he possessed the Battle Sacred Body bloodline. He couldn't help but bite his finger, sprinkling a few drops of blood, and offered them for Elder Yan to see. "Old sir, please take a look."
Although Elder Yan was a phantom, he could still grasp the blood with his ethereal hand, suspending it before him. After examining it carefully for a moment, his expression drastically changed, and he looked at Ye Chen in shock. "Battle Sacred Blood? How is that possible? Could you be an Innate Sacred Body?"
He couldn't help but be astonished. Such a constitution was fundamentally impossible to exist. Since ancient times, the Battle Sacred Body had only ever been achieved through Houtian cultivation. This was an immutable fact throughout eternity.
Yet the faint golden radiance flowing deep within this drop of blood indicated the identity of the bloodline.
The blood, though seemingly ordinary and calm, faintly exuded an invincible, domineering aura—a special characteristic unique to Battle Sacred Blood.
Elder Yan couldn't help but draw a slight, sharp breath, looking at Ye Chen in amazement.
He originally thought the youth's bloodline was extraordinary, perhaps some powerful constitution from among the myriad realms. But he never expected it to be this extraordinary—an Innate Sacred Body.
Throughout history, every achiever of the Battle Sacred Body, once fully grown, inevitably became one of the strongest existences across the myriad realms.
And this youth before him was actually an Innate Sacred Body. Once he grew up, wouldn't he be even more astonishing?
Thinking of this, Elder Yan's gaze toward Ye Chen grew even more fervent. This was simply a natural, fine talent and quality, one that would be difficult to find many across the myriad realms who could compare.
Elder Yan looked at Ye Chen and said, "Young man, do you know what constitution you possess?"
However, Ye Chen's answer greatly surprised him: "I know. The Innate Sacred Body."
Elder Yan was immediately shocked. "How does a little fellow from a small town also know about the Battle Sacred Body?"
He couldn't help but be surprised. The Battle Sacred Body was known as a forbidden lineage across the myriad realms, once famous throughout them.
But such information was only for the true cultivation world. How could someone from a small town like this possibly know about it?
Ye Chen naturally couldn't reveal his secret of reincarnation and rebirth. He smiled and did not answer.
Elder Yan looked deeply at Ye Chen. This little fellow was probably even more extraordinary than he appeared.
Suddenly, a wave of greed rose within him. His eyes became blazingly hot, filled with possessiveness.
Although this was a promising talent who, once nurtured, would become a peerless genius, in his eyes, it was also an unparalleled treasure body, suitable for possession.
He had already slumbered within the ancient ring for many years. Although he had the intention to pass on all his lifetime learnings, if he could successfully possess this body, he might be able to control this Innate Sacred Body. It wasn't impossible for him to cultivate back to his former level in life, or even go further.
This desire was even more important than imparting his lifetime's knowledge, and he hardly concealed it.
Ye Chen clearly sensed it and immediately changed expression. "Old sir, what do you intend to do?"
"Little fellow, I'm sorry."
Elder Yan's expression slowly darkened. At this moment, he was no longer the transcendent, immortal figure from before. From his illusory form, a terrifying pressure slowly began to spread.
Wherever it passed, space itself twisted, extremely terrifying, as if a deity had descended to the mortal world.
If not for the pressure being confined to a limited range, Ye Chen absolutely believed that if it were fully released, the entire Luo Feng City would be unable to withstand it and would be annihilated in an instant.
This was the true might of this mysterious old man before him.
Elder Yan's gaze fell upon Ye Chen, filled with fervor and greed. His soft words made Ye Chen's heart sink completely: "Apologies. Your body, this old man will be taking it."