Time passed in the blink of an eye, and three years had already gone by since Ye Chen entered seclusion.
During these three years, Moon Hall maintained a thriving state of development, with its overall strength increasing by a full twofold.
Even without including the forces that came from the Supreme Ancient Domain, Moon Hall alone possessed a total of sixty-five Divine King experts—more than double the number of any other Ancient Path Overlord force.
And this was after strict selection; otherwise, the number of Divine King experts would have been even greater.
After all, the Ultimate Ancient Domain originally had over a hundred super forces with Divine Kings, just like the Supreme Ancient Domain.
Moreover, many Divine Kings had sealed themselves away in past eras, choosing to emerge in this current age.
Nearly half of the Divine King experts in the Ultimate Ancient Domain hoped to join Moon Hall, largely because they saw in Ye Chen the hope of seizing the final "Ultimate."
Just like in the Supreme Ancient Domain, if one assisted a genius of the Ancient Path in seizing the "Ultimate," the assistant would also receive rich rewards from the Supreme One.
The sheer number of Divine King experts was astonishing, but what truly shook the Ultimate Ancient Domain was that three local Quasi-Monarchs from the Ultimate Ancient Domain personally visited Moon Hall. According to some speculation, these three Quasi-Monarchs were likely to join Moon Hall.
Although the news had not yet been confirmed, it still caused a great stir throughout the Ultimate Ancient Domain.
It must be noted that ever since the Nine Ancient Path Overlords established themselves in the Ultimate Ancient Domain, these Quasi-Monarchs had never joined any Ancient Path Overlord force.
Even though the Nine Ancient Path Overlords had personally invited them many times, not a single Quasi-Monarch had ever truly joined these Overlord forces. Each remained aloof, wandering beyond the mortal world, as if the ultimate struggle for supremacy had nothing to do with them.
Regarding this, the Nine Ancient Path Overlords had never forced the issue.
It was just unexpected that this time, the local Quasi-Monarchs of the Ultimate Ancient Domain, whom even the most enthusiastic invitations from the Nine Ancient Path Overlords could not persuade, had personally come knocking, suspected of joining Moon Hall.
"Moon Hall is truly going to become the number one among the Nine Ancient Path Overlord forces!"
"Even Quasi-Monarchs are personally coming to join Moon Hall. The Battle Saint King truly lives up to his reputation as the number one Ancient Path Overlord!"
The world sighed in admiration. The more this happened, the more one could feel the Battle Saint King's unparalleled greatness. Otherwise, with the pride of these Quasi-Monarchs, how could they easily join an Ancient Path Overlord force?
Yet, how many truly knew that on the battlefield between the two domains, Ye Chen had carved out an invincible reputation, sweeping across all directions, thoroughly shocking these three local Quasi-Monarchs of the Ultimate Ancient Domain who had witnessed everything with their own eyes?
Upon learning that three Ancient Path Overlords had been defeated and their Overlord forces existed in name only, and realizing that the Battle Saint King's momentum had already been established, they chose to join Moon Hall at this time.
The Goddess was naturally very pleased with the arrival of the three Quasi-Monarchs and personally went out to welcome them.
"The esteemed arrival of the three Quasi-Monarchs brings boundless honor to my Moon Hall," the Goddess said with a light laugh, her divine radiance shimmering, setting off her peerless beauty.
Toward Ancient Path Overlords, these three Quasi-Monarchs had always been generally polite, but at this moment, they were exceptionally enthusiastic, clasping their fists toward the Goddess: "We are honored by Goddess-sama's personal reception."
The Goddess personally welcomed the three Quasi-Monarchs into the hall.
Inside the central Moon Hall, most of Moon Hall's high-ranking members had already gathered.
Seeing that the Earth Lord, Void Sky Monarch, and the other five Quasi-Monarchs from the Supreme Ancient Domain were also present in the hall, the three visitors couldn't help but smile wryly, their admiration for the Battle Saint King's capabilities growing even deeper from the bottom of their hearts.
They were slightly disappointed not to see the Battle Saint King appear, but upon learning he was in seclusion, they felt not the slightest dissatisfaction. On the contrary, their respect grew even stronger.
If an ordinary person reached the Battle Saint King's level, they would have long since become arrogant and neglected cultivation. Yet the Battle Saint King still cultivated diligently at all times. Such spirit was truly admirable.
"May I ask the purpose of the three Quasi-Monarchs' visit?"
After some conversation, the Goddess got straight to the point, even though she had already secretly received some news.
The three local Quasi-Monarchs of the Ultimate Ancient Domain exchanged glances, then clasped their fists and said solemnly: "To be frank with the Goddess, the three of us have come hoping to join Moon Hall and fight together!"
Although they had long guessed the purpose, hearing it spoken aloud still shocked many present.
The Goddess's eyes sparkled with a strange light. She sighed inwardly—her little brother was truly formidable, to have even these local Quasi-Monarchs who had never involved themselves in the struggles of the various forces on the Ultimate Ancient Path personally come requesting to join.
This was true strength.
For those wishing to join, Moon Hall had always maintained relatively strict vetting. Even Divine Kings were not exempt. Today, facing the request of three Quasi-Monarchs to join, they did not immediately grant permission, but would first understand their character.
Regarding this, the three Quasi-Monarchs of the Ultimate Ancient Domain felt somewhat displeased. However, after learning that Moon Hall had once had a traitor—a Quasi-Monarch at that—and that the current Moon Hall was not lacking in Quasi-Monarchs, they could only nod helplessly.
Finally, after a round of assessment, the three Quasi-Monarchs were allowed to join Moon Hall.
Moon Hall's overall strength rose once again.
After all, Quasi-Monarchs were truly super experts at the very pinnacle. The addition of three Quasi-Monarchs was comparable to adding dozens of Divine King experts.
Although three Quasi-Monarchs had joined, the Goddess was not the least bit afraid that these Quasi-Monarchs would try to seize control of Moon Hall.
Not to mention Ye Chen, she herself was no mere decorative vase. With her fearsome cultivation at the late-stage Quasi-Monarch realm, she dared to fight even the three Quasi-Monarchs before her.
Not to mention Yu Qing and the six Quasi-Monarch experts brought from the Supreme Ancient Domain.
If one counted another Quasi-Monarch currently in seclusion—Ruoxi—it could be said that Moon Hall's Quasi-Monarch level strength directly reached a total of twelve.
This number of Quasi-Monarchs almost accounted for more than half of all Quasi-Monarch experts in the entire Ultimate Ancient Domain, giving the other Ancient Path Overlord forces an unprecedented sense of pressure.
The title of the number one Ancient Path Overlord force was indeed extraordinary.
Due to the effect brought by the three local Quasi-Monarchs joining, even more experts joined Moon Hall, and Moon Hall began a new round of expansion.
It was almost foreseeable that Moon Hall would completely surpass the Ancient Path Overlord forces and truly become the number one Ancient Path force dominating the Ultimate Ancient Domain, the Eight Desolates Ancient Domain, and the Ultimate Ancient Path.
However, accompanying expansion, the rise of a supreme force often required undergoing terrifying tribulations as a baptism before it could truly grow.
The Goddess had a premonition that the three years of calm would soon be met with a storm-like ferocity...
Outside Moon God Mountain, the battlefield that had been devastated by the divine abilities and techniques three years ago had once again regained its vitality.
Moreover, because many experts had perished, and because Quasi-Monarchs with heaven-defying means had intervened, this region had become a land of opportunity.
Countless geniuses from the Ultimate Ancient Domain often came here to explore and train. Some even obtained the Divine King battle weapons of Divine King experts from the great battle years ago. Though damaged, or even just fragments, for many they were supreme treasures.
Over time, the domain near Moon Hall became the recently flourishing treasure-hunting ground on the Ultimate Ancient Path.
On this day, an infinite change suddenly occurred.
The clear, cloudless sky of ten thousand li abruptly transformed. Night descended, dark clouds gathered, carrying with them astonishing bolts of lightning.
Dark clouds pressed upon the city, threatening to crush it!