Soul-Restraining Hall!
They had made contact back at the very first checkpoint of the Ultimate Ancient Path. This was a bizarre and powerful mysterious force that stood in opposition to the Ultimate Ancient Path, its depths unfathomable.
Back then, the Soul-Restraining Hall had even dared to assault the Ultimate Ancient Path itself, once shattering multiple trial checkpoints ahead on the Path, causing heavy casualties and forcing the Ultimate Ancient Path's higher-ups to wage a terrible war against them.
It could be said that the Soul-Restraining Hall's strength was in no way inferior to the Ultimate Ancient Path's, possessing true Ancient Sovereigns presiding over it—and not just one.
Even now, Ye Chen still did not fully understand the Soul-Restraining Hall, still feeling it was profoundly unfathomable.
Ye Chen hadn't expected to encounter experts from the Soul-Restraining Hall here.
His heart sank immediately. The Soul-Restraining Hall hadn't just infiltrated the Ultimate Ancient Path; they had even infiltrated and invaded the Ultimate Ancient Path's final destination—the Ultimate Ancient Domain.
It had to be said, the Soul-Restraining Hall was truly terrifying.
"Hehehe—Battle Saint King, how delightful to see you."
The leading Quasi-Monarch of the Soul-Restraining Hall spoke. He was a powerhouse concealed beneath black robes, his true features unclear. Only two faint, deep green ghostly flames flickered within his hood, like those of a death god.
But there was no doubt about his strength—he had reached the Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch level.
Anyone swept by thoseghostly green gazes, even other Quasi-Monarchs, would feel their soul turn icy cold.
Ye Chen frowned. "But I'm not very happy to see you lingering ghosts."
The Soul-Restraining Hall was an evil force. Back then, they had wantonly captured many Heaven's Pride trial-takers from the Ultimate Ancient Path. First, to seize their physical bodies—after all, anyone who could come to the Ultimate Ancient Path to undergo trials was a true Heaven's Pride from their respective Chaos Ancient Universe.
Second, for their souls.
Thus, Ye Chen's impression of the Soul-Restraining Hall was very poor.
Not to mention they had clashed several times in the past.
The Soul-Restraining Hall's Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch didn't care in the slightest, continuing with his sinister chuckle. "As expected of the Battle Saint King, truly as domineering and arrogant as the rumors say, and indeed powerful—a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch. Looking across the entire Ultimate Ancient Path, you could be called the Path's Number One Heaven's Pride!"
Number One Heaven's Pride!?
The expressions of the numerous Path Heaven's Pride on the scene changed slightly, but they had to admit that the current Battle Saint King truly had the qualifications to be called the Ultimate Ancient Path's Number One Heaven's Pride, its strongest.
Ye Chen said solemnly, "I'm going to kill them. Are you going to stop me?"
"Hehehe, my apologies. Those three are important clients of our Soul-Restraining Hall. I can't let you kill them." The Soul-Restraining Hall's Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch chuckled sinisterly. "Allow me to introduce myself. This old one is Tian Yin. You may also address me as the Third Hall Master of the Earth Hall."
"Third Hall Master of the Earth Hall!?"
Upon hearing this, exclamations of shock arose from both the Moon Hall and the forces of the three Ancient Path Overlords. They were clearly astonished by the identity of the Third Hall Master of the Earth Hall. Many even revealed expressions of extreme terror, as if beholding the most dreadful of beings.
It must be known that the Soul-Restraining Hall, as a force opposing the Ultimate Ancient Path, had an extremely strict hierarchy.
The numerous Soul-Restraining Halls were divided into four major grades: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow.
Among them, to serve as Hall Master of a Yellow-grade Soul-Restraining Hall, one must be a Great Power.
To serve as Hall Master of a Mystic-grade Soul-Restraining Hall, one must be a God King.
The Earth Hall grade required a Quasi-Monarch.
The highest grade, Heaven Hall, required an Ancient Sovereign.
Moreover, each grade of Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow Soul-Restraining Halls had a strength ranking among its Hall Masters.
Generally, the higher the rank, the greater the strength.
Tian Yin was ranked third among all Earth Hall Hall Masters, hailed as the Third Hall Master, which was enough to prove his terrifying power.
After all, a colossal force like the Soul-Restraining Hall possessed far more than just a handful of Quasi-Monarchs, as evidenced by the seven Quasi-Monarchs who had just appeared.
And Tian Yin's Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch level strength spoke for itself.
"Yue, be careful. The Third Hall Master of the Earth Hall of the Soul-Restraining Hall is no simple figure," the Goddess transmitted, her voice filled with deep apprehension. Clearly, she had had no small amount of contact with the Soul-Restraining Hall over the years.
Ye Chen naturally had some understanding as well. He hadn't expected the three Ancient Path Overlords to have called upon a super-powerhouse of the Third Hall Master's caliber for support.
But so what if he was the Third Hall Master? Ye Chen smiled casually. He was no ordinary Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch.
"Don't worry. Unless a Heaven Hall Hall Master comes, I'm not afraid even if the First Hall Master himself arrives," Ye Chen transmitted back to reassure his wife.
He looked at the Third Hall Master of the Earth Hall and asked knowingly, "So it's the Third Hall Master of the Earth Hall. To what do we owe the honor of your esteemed presence today?"
"Hehehe, Battle Saint King, let's speak plainly. This old one has come for the Supreme Divine Crown." The Third Hall Master of the Earth Hall chuckled sinisterly. However, when he looked at Ye Chen, there was also a peculiar, blazing heat in his gaze. "Of course, I also didn't expect the pleasant surprise of your arrival. A Chaos cultivator is precisely what our Soul-Restraining Hall needs. The stronger you are, the greater the help you will be to our Hall."
"Oh? So your Soul-Restraining Hall dares to set its sights on me as well," Ye Chen laughed coldly.
"Hehehe—Battle Saint King, even if you are a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch, it's useless. Today, you are destined to become the prey of our Soul-Restraining Hall." The Third Hall Master of the Earth Hall chuckled incessantly, his gaze sweeping over Qian Xun, Ya Ya, and Little Chen Xi with even greater fervor. "But don't worry. Your three children will follow you and become prey of our Soul-Restraining Hall as well, reunited from now on."
Following the Third Hall Master's order, the six Quasi-Monarchs of the Soul-Restraining Hall behind him charged forth, ranging from early-stage to late-stage Quasi-Monarchs, along with numerous God King powerhouses.
Clearly, the Soul-Restraining Hall had come prepared this time.
These Soul-Restraining Hall experts surrounded Ye Chen in the center, sealing off every corner to prevent his escape.
The Goddess and the others' expressions turned grim as they quickly moved to Ye Chen's side, ready to fight alongside him.
Ye Chen looked at the three Ancient Path Overlords and said coldly, "As part of the Ultimate Ancient Path, you actually collude with the Soul-Restraining Hall. You are truly a disgrace to the Path. If Sovereign Xue Lan and the other seniors find out, they will naturally expel you from the Ultimate Ancient Path."
Overlord Original Sin sneered coldly. "The victor is king, the loser a bandit. Today, you, Battle Saint King, are destined to become the Soul-Restraining Hall's prey. Once you are captured by them, and the remnants of the Moon Hall are taken, who will know of today's events?"
Overlord Primordial's expression was gloomy as he looked at the Soul-Restraining Hall, seemingly unwilling to cooperate.
Only Overlord Chaos remained coldly indifferent, watching everything unfold.
"Attack! Capture the Battle Saint King!"
"Yes!"
At the Third Hall Master's command, the numerous Soul-Restraining Hall experts moved against Ye Chen. The Third Hall Master himself also took action, his supreme cultivation at the Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch level erupting completely. The sky was filled with boundless black mist, accompanied by the sound of clinking chains.
"This is bad. Even the Battle Saint King's return is useless. Even a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch is useless. Is our Moon Hall doomed to perish?"
Despair filled the hearts of the many Moon Hall powerhouses.
Then they saw Ye Chen raise his head to look at the Third Hall Master of the Earth Hall, then at the three Ancient Path Overlords, and say indifferently, "Do you really think I returned alone?"
"What do you mean?"
Tian Yin and the three Ancient Path Overlords' hearts skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising within them.
"Of course, I called for reinforcements." Ye Chen gave a cold smile, flicking his finger to send a streak of light shooting like lightning toward the farthest reaches of the sky.
"Come forth!"
Boom—!
Boom—!
Boom—!
...
As Ye Chen's voice fell, from that distant horizon, suddenly, one earth-shaking aura after another erupted like thunder, then swept over with astonishing fluctuations.
Powerful reinforcements had arrived!