Traveling through the void of the plane was far faster than normal, especially aboard a divine ship. In just three hours, they had traversed a vast distance of three hundred thousand li, appearing in the great desert lands of the Western Region.
The Western Region of the continent was arid, dominated by deserts. Vast stretches of sand, each spanning thousands of li, almost completely connected, forming the expansive and boundless Western Desert spanning hundreds of thousands of li.
The land was a sea of crimson sand, perpetually scorching hot. The closer one got to the desert's center, the more intense the heat became, as if standing in the heart of a furnace, enduring the constant burning and roasting of flames. Even a Martial God would find it difficult to withstand the relentless high temperatures.
Because the cross-realm channel from the otherworld was constructed within this desert, the main forces of the entire Tian Du Continent were now concentrated here.
The divine ship soared over the desert. From afar, a massive spatial black hole, a thousand zhang wide, appeared in the sky above the desert lands. It was dark and profound, emanating an oppressive aura.
Even from a distance, it made one's heart tremble. This was the stable cross-realm spatial channel established by the otherworldly powerhouses, connecting the Tian Du Continent to the myriad realms. It continuously radiated terrifying fluctuations, opposing and canceling out the foundational power of the Tian Du Continent, remaining stable and unbroken.
Ye Chen stood atop the divine ship, gazing solemnly at the cross-realm channel. Such a method was absolutely not something a Saint Realm expert could accomplish. It was likely the work of an invincible Heavenly King who had surpassed the Saint Realm, and they had paid a great price to maintain the channel's stability.
The other Martial God powerhouses on the ship felt their hearts tremble even more, as the aura emanating from the cross-realm channel alone filled them with dread.
The divine ship swiftly traversed the sky. In a distant land at the horizon, they discovered an other-dimensional space. Numerous powerful auras flickered within it, surges of vigorous blood energy roiled tumultuously. Among them, several strands were like great dragons, soaring into the nine layers of clouds—these were the blood energies of several Saint Realm Divine Spirits.
This was an other-dimensional space specially opened by several of Tian Du's Divine Spirits within the desert. Its purpose was to avoid the desert's scorching heat while allowing them to monitor the cross-realm channel, standing guard and always prepared for battle.
The divine ship glided through the air. Because it bore the divine power imprints of several Divine Spirits, it easily entered the other-dimensional space without obstruction.
The scene before them abruptly changed. It was no longer the scorching desert of endless crimson sand, but a landscape treasure land brimming with dense spiritual energy. Spiritual energy surged, and within it stood numerous powerful figures. There were also fearsome great demonic beasts soaring through the air, their blood energy churning tumultuously. The divine ship's entry naturally attracted the attention of many.
However, when they saw the young figure standing on the ship, everyone's gaze focused slightly. It was actually Ye Chen, the number one figure among the younger generation of the current Tian Du Continent!
Hadn't Ye Chen entered the King's Ancient Path along with the other Ancient Talents and top prodigies? How had he returned after just a few short days?
Before their confusion could settle, several supremely powerful dao fluctuations appeared. Several lofty leaders of the Slaying the Heavens Alliance—Supreme Divine Spirits—had arrived.
The many powerhouses were shocked. They hadn't expected Ye Chen to receive such high-level treatment, to be personally received by several supreme Divine Spirits. Even the sealed ancestors of super forces couldn't receive such treatment.
Several supreme ancient auras of Divine Spirits descended. Great Sage Hong Tian appeared, landing on the divine ship. Looking at Ye Chen, he was naturally very surprised. "Little Friend Ye Chen, how have you returned so early? It's only been a few days."
Ye Chen smiled slightly. "Not early. The King's Ancient Path has been traversed to its very end. I have seized all its fortunes and successfully returned."
"So fast!?"
Even though the several Divine Spirits knew of Ye Chen's peerless strength and that he might truly be capable of completing the King's Ancient Path, they never imagined it would be this fast. Only a few days had passed, and he had completely finished it.
Ye Chen said, "Seniors, let us speak further. It's not convenient to talk here."
"Good, follow me."
Great Sage Hong Tian nodded. After the many Martial Gods on the ship paid their respects to him with grand bows, they quickly disembarked with the war supplies, leaving only Ye Chen to follow the Great Sage. They headed towards a palace treasure hall suspended in the distant sky.
This was an ancient Divine Spirit hall, usually the secluded cultivation ground of several lofty ancient Divine Spirit ancestors, inaccessible to anyone.
At this moment, the Martial God Hall Master, the Old Academy Head, the ancient ancestors of the three great empires, Great Sage Hong Tian, and others had gathered together. They looked at Ye Chen and said, "Little friend, please inform us about the matters on the King's Ancient Path. What fortunes lie at its end?"
Ye Chen did not beat around the bush. He smiled slightly, his tone meaningful. "Through darkness, brightness appears; at the path's end, one sees the myriad realms!"
A simple sentence, yet it exploded like thunder beside the ears of the several Divine Spirits, startling and captivating them!
The meaning was simple and clear: the final point of the King's Ancient Path led to the legendary myriad realms.
Even these Divine Spirits, who had lived for at least a thousand years and experienced countless major events, having long cultivated a state of mind as tranquil as an ancient well, could not help but feel excited at this moment.
Transcending the Tian Du Continent and venturing to a new world had been the dream of generation after generation since ancient times. The successive efforts of ancestors, the ten-thousand-year preparations of the Slaying the Heavens Plan—their ultimate goal was nothing more than to break the confinement of this prison world, to rush out beyond the Tian Du Continent, and to venture into the vast and boundless myriad realms.
Although it had long been speculated that the end of the King's Ancient Path might have a path leading to the myriad realms, it had all been mere conjecture, never confirmed.
After all, for so many years, no one had truly reached the final point of the King's Ancient Path.
Now, with true confirmation, even Divine Spirits became excited. Even a steady figure like the Supreme Old Academy Head was no exception.
The dream of generations had finally come true. The path was right at the end of the King's Ancient Path. At the path's end, one sees the myriad realms!
"Little Friend Ye Chen, is this truly the case?" The ancient Divine Spirit ancestor of the Jiuhua Empire asked excitedly, unable to resist inquiring again. The other Divine Spirits also stared intently at Ye Chen.
They couldn't be blamed; they were simply too excited.
Ye Chen naturally understood their feelings. "Seniors, do not worry. This is indeed true. Not only I, but also Yuan Jiu, Brother Wushuang, and others have seen the myriad realms. We just haven't taken that final step out, worried that stepping out might mean never returning. So, we chose to temporarily retreat from the ancient path and return to inform you all. But the path is passable. Even if we cannot break the confinement of this prison world, we can still leave."
"Excellent, truly excellent! This way, the efforts of our Tian Du ancestors for generations will not have been in vain. To think that before we even engage in a life-and-death battle with the otherworldly beings, we find brightness through darkness and see the confirmed path. Little Friend Ye Chen, this is your merit alone. Your contribution is immense." Great Sage Hong Tian was both pleasantly surprised and sighing with emotion.
The several Divine Spirits did not deny it. If not for Ye Chen, even if the several Ancient Talents could reach the final point, it would likely require considerable time. Through the generations of young prodigies who trained on the King's Ancient Path and returned, they knew of the various difficulties within.
Only a peerless King-level figure of the younger generation like Ye Chen, possessing absolute god-slaying combat power, could sweep aside all obstacles and charge to the final point in the shortest time, seeing the myriad realms at the path's end!
Ye Chen shook his head. "I was merely fortunate. It was the efforts of generations, continuously clearing away various difficulties, that allowed me to lead them to the destination at the fastest speed."
This youth is extraordinary. Even at this stage, he remains so humble. Such temperament made the several Divine Spirits sigh with admiration.
"The end of the King's Ancient Path leads directly to the myriad realms. It can even break the prison of our Tian Du Continent, allowing us to leave at any time and venture into a broader world." The Supreme Old Academy Head sighed. Even after learning this news, he still hadn't been able to calm his emotions.
Not just him, even the other Saint Realm Divine Spirits were the same.
Generation after generation of continuous effort, spending who knows how many years, with generations of ancient Divine Spirits even crossing spatial storms to leave the continent, only to encounter attacks from otherworldly powerhouses, shedding blood at the borders, and transmitting back various important information, letting them understand the immense difficulties of breaking the prison.
Today, they finally saw the dawn, a true hope appearing, with no obstacles. They could leave immediately. No one could immediately calm such excited feelings.
Looking at the extremely excited expressions of the several Divine Spirits, Ye Chen suddenly sighed. No wonder they were so excited. Trapped in the Tian Du Continent for so many years, with generations of ancestors' efforts, waiting for tens of thousands of years to finally see hope—if it were him, he would be excited too.
However, even with the channel right before them, whether they could leave was also a problem.
As early as the first time the otherworld crossed over, he had briefly reunited with his past-life friend War King within the cross-realm channel and learned an important piece of information.
Beneath the Tian Du Continent was sealed a peerless great demon comparable to a Great Power. Long-term sealed, it was being worn down by the power of time. But over countless years, it had already broken free from some of the seals, releasing part of its demonic energy, which had long since contaminated the life essence of all beings on the Tian Du Continent.
Deep within the life essence of every person, every demonic beast, every living being, there was a trace of infected demonic energy, rooted there.
While within the Tian Du Continent, it was fine. Because this place was enveloped by various seals left behind by the September Great Power, suppressing the demonic energy within their bodies. But once they left the Tian Du Continent, the seals could no longer suppress it, and it would erupt. Even those as strong as Saint Realm Divine Spirits would transform into demons.
Generation after generation of Divine Spirits left the Tian Du Continent in ancient times. In the end, without exception, they all transformed into demons and were suppressed and killed by otherworldly powerhouses, shedding blood in the border wastelands.
The surveillance of the otherworldly powerhouses was one matter; the demonic energy infecting the beings of Tian Du within their bodies was another.
Demonic beings were not tolerated by the world.