The Divine Spirit Ancient Hall was enveloped in a heavy silence, with no one speaking.
For them, the Tian Du Continent had long been like home. Generation after generation had lived on this fertile land for countless years, their life's imprint thoroughly branded upon this world.
If they allowed the beings from the alien realm to occupy the Tian Du Continent at will, it would be tantamount to letting them run rampant over their own homeland. No one was willing to accept that.
Yet someone said dejectedly, "Great Sage, we are unwilling, but the disparity between us and the enemy is too great. They are far too powerful, their strength far surpassing that of our Tian Du Continent. How can we fight? Do you truly wish for everyone to march to their deaths?"
This was his heartfelt sentiment, and the sentiment of countless others. Their homeland must not be destroyed, but the enemy was too strong, so strong it filled them with despair. How could they possibly fight?
The outcome of the battle could be easily foreseen—a path leading only to death. Why not evacuate everyone instead? Leaving their homeland behind was one thing, but survival was the most important.
This notion was rooted in everyone's heart. No one wished for their homeland to be destroyed, and even fewer wanted to die. The final destination of the King's Ancient Path was the only way out; survival was paramount.
Many agreed, but none dared voice these thoughts aloud, for they feared displeasing the several Divine Spirit Ancient Ancestors.
Ye Chen watched all this silently. He could understand their thinking. Homeland was important, but life was equally important. Some were willing to die defending their home, while others would rather abandon it to survive, because the alien realm's power was so overwhelming it drove one to despair. Why engage in futile resistance? Better to retreat and head to the true place of origin for the Ancient Ancestors—the myriad realms.
The several Divine Spirits watched with somber expressions, letting out a helpless, dejected sigh. The Supreme Old Academy Head spoke, "Everyone, if possible, we too would be willing to lead you away from the Tian Du Continent, to seek a peaceful region within the myriad realms to live and thrive. But you must not forget one thing: what kind of place is the King's Ancient Path? It only allows the younger generation to enter. How many among you are qualified to enter the King's Ancient Path?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present paled. Was this not cutting off their hope?
They had all forgotten that the King's Ancient Path had such an unchangeable rule. Even the several Supreme Divine Spirits present could not alter it. It was said to be a Trial Path personally opened by that Ancient Ancestor from the dawn of creation, a path for the younger generation to achieve Kinghood.
The Martial God Hall Master said, "This time, we must fight whether we want to or not. The true purpose of convening this meeting is to select a batch of truly promising seeds from the younger generation, to send them out via the King's Ancient Path, away from this world, to the myriad realms for training. They will be led by Young Friend Ye Chen, to return once they have fully matured and grown strong enough to help us resist the alien realm's power."
This was the true purpose of the grand assembly.
For some reason, losing the hope of leaving instead made many present breathe a sigh of relief, as if liberated.
"The prodigies of the younger generation heading to the King's Ancient Path this time are truly the strongest seeds. They must be sent out, especially Young Friend Ye Chen and the several Ancient Talents. Their potential is extraordinary; in the future, they can at least become peerless Divine Spirit powerhouses. Young Friend Ye Chen even has the chance to surpass that and become an invincible existence."
"The prodigies from the Heaven-tier Academy of Tian Du Academy are also seeds brimming with potential. Each one is a seed-level figure selected from the Tian Du Continent with immense potential. Becoming a Heavenly God is inevitable. Sent to the myriad realms, they might even have the potential to reach the Heavenly God realm."
"Can we bring more people? For instance, the heirs from the one hundred and eight kingdoms and the various first-rate forces. They all have the potential to become Martial Gods. Perhaps in the myriad realms, they too might have a chance to become Heavenly God realm powerhouses."
"Indeed. If possible, bring more seeds. Let them go to the new world of the myriad realms. Even if they cannot return strong enough for revenge, they can become the seeds of our Tian Du Continent, thriving in the myriad realms and continuing our hope."
One powerful figure after another at the assembly offered their suggestions, hoping to send more of the younger generation away, far from the Tian Du Continent soon to be engulfed in the flames of war.
They were the most precious hope, in the vibrant prime of youth, not yet fully grown, indispensable.
Watching all this, Ye Chen felt a pang of helpless sorrow. The flames of war were about to spread across the Tian Du Continent, bringing many partings of life and death. He didn't know how to face it.
Without informing anyone, he quietly left the meeting, letting the various powers select the future seeds.
With a single step, he left the other-dimensional space, appearing in the great desert of the Western Region. He looked up at the thousand-zhang-wide cross-realm spatial channel, which constantly released an endless, terrifying aura, pressing down on everyone's hearts like a towering mountain, almost suffocating them.
Vaguely, it seemed as if sinister gazes peered through the two-realm channel, falling upon this place, making hearts tremble.
This was the root of all evil, the cause for which they had no choice but to fight.
Ye Chen sighed softly. After all, he had not fully recovered and could not change anything. If he possessed the Supreme One power of his past life, he could at least intervene alongside old friends like the War King and other Kings, intervening to the greatest extent to spare the Tian Du Continent from the flames of war.
But currently, he was still lacking.
Whoosh—
He transformed into a golden meteor streaking across the desert, then directly pierced into the dimensional void, heading at top speed towards the Xia Feng Kingdom in the Southern Region. There lay his clan, his parents, his clansmen, everything he had possessed at the beginning of this life.
The flames of war were about to spread. He had to protect all this, at least to spare his parents and a few close clansmen like Ye Zimei from disaster.
One hour later, he tore through the spatial barrier from the dimensional void and appeared high above Luo Feng City.
Looking down from on high, he surveyed the entire thriving, bustling thousand-year-old ancient city.
Several years had passed, and Luo Feng City had truly changed greatly, expanding to more than twice its former size. It had clearly developed from a small town into a major city, even more prosperous.
All this was naturally due to Ye Chen's contributions. Now, he was at the peak of his power, his fame widespread—the number one among the younger generation, an honored guest of the various super forces, capable of slaying Heavenly Gods. All of this had caused the Ye family to rise with his success, growing increasingly powerful over time.
Ye Chen silently watched the bustling, lively Luo Feng City, unaffected by the events in the great desert of the Western Region. That was ultimately a battle only high-level powerhouses could participate in. For the common folk, most of whom were ordinary mortals, it was ultimately a distant matter. Even if beings from the alien realm crossed over, they would not attack these innocent mortals.
Ultimately, the true goal of the alien realm was only the demonic Great Power-level origin of the ancient great demon sealed deep within the earth by the September Great Power. The common folk lived and multiplied; they would not interfere. To some extent, some might even act to protect them, avoiding widespread slaughter.
Too much killing would instead incur heavenly retribution.
With a single step, Ye Chen soared through the air, heading towards the location of the Ye family.