The alien Sovereign's remnant soul couldn't believe it.
Back then, this brat had needed the bloodline resonance of the Battle Saint lineage's Great Power to barely fight him. After just a few hundred years, without relying on anything else, he could now easily inflict heavy damage?
Ye Chen said nothing, simply slapping out with a palm carrying billowing ancient Chaos energy.
This time, the alien Sovereign's remnant soul nearly scattered into nothingness, caught firmly in his grasp.
If not for wanting to inquire about the whereabouts of the Goddess's future body, Ye Chen's single palm would have been enough to annihilate such a remnant soul.
A Heaven-Defying Quasi-Monarch could retreat unscathed even from an Ancient Monarch, let alone him.
A ring of Chaos light manifested in his hand, imprisoning the alien Sovereign's remnant soul within. Looking down upon it, he demanded, "Speak. Where did the woman's body that was here all those years ago go?"
The alien Sovereign's remnant soul was terrified, never imagining that in just a few centuries, that puny Saint had grown to such a level.
"I don't know either. One day, she just suddenly vanished," the remnant soul said.
"Suddenly vanished?" Ye Chen's eyes instantly narrowed dangerously. "Do you think I'd believe that?"
"It's true! She disappeared suddenly. The River of Time appeared," the remnant soul hurriedly answered.
"The River of Time?"
Ye Chen's expression changed slightly. Keeping the remnant soul imprisoned, he cast the Time Reversal technique, enveloping the area to peer into the past.
With his current cultivation, even this place where a Sovereign had fallen held no fear; he could still perform the reversal.
Boom—
Suddenly, a thunderclap of ancient forbidden power resounded, causing Ye Chen's expression to darken. "This involves a Supreme One?"
He clearly sensed a mysterious force interfering, preventing him from smoothly performing the Time Reversal.
However, in that brief moment, he vaguely glimpsed a fragment of the past—truly seeing the appearance of the River of Time, and the Goddess's future body merging into it before vanishing.
"Young friend, this Sovereign has already told you the information. Could you release me?" the alien Sovereign's remnant soul pleaded, almost begging.
Boom—
His hand clenched violently, and the alien Sovereign's remnant soul scattered into nothingness.
Those not of our kind harbor different hearts. How could he release a tiger back to the mountains, especially an alien one?
Ye Chen tore apart the nine Demon Peaks with his bare hands, finding the alien Sovereign's Origin World, which had not decayed.
His Great Emperor Reincarnation Body within him grabbed it, pulling it into the Extinction Emperor World to be devoured later.
Within the Fallen Heaven Desolate Domain, Ye Chen found the Saint's remains of the fallen Great Power from the Battle Saint lineage. He respectfully placed them within his internal Origin Universe, to be stored in the Hall of Heroes within the Battle Saint Hall at a suitable time in the future.
As for the alien Sovereign's fleshly body, it had long since fused inseparably with this land over countless years, remaining a treasure trove for the alien race.
Worried that if the alien army invaded the center of the Myriad Domains in the future, this place might become their stronghold, Ye Chen immediately took action. A Chaos hand large enough to blot out the sky and sun descended, collapsing the numerous Demon Peaks and all the external killing array formations.
He transformed the Sun Seal into a heavenly sun, accompanied by his supreme and potent Chaos blood energy, setting the entire Fallen Heaven Desolate Domain ablaze, burning away all the demonic energy in rolling waves.
The Chaos Dao Fire was eternal and indestructible. One day, when the demonic energy here was completely gone, it would dissipate on its own.
With that, Ye Chen departed.
When Ye Chen and the others reappeared at the Dragon Phoenix Academy, it immediately caused a stir.
The grandest main gate opened. Within the academy, the Dragon Phoenix Academy Head, along with many renowned seniors, elders, and even ancient figures from past generations thought to have passed away, all emerged to welcome Ye Chen with the highest honors.
Such treatment was on par with that for an Ancient Monarch's arrival.
However, Ye Chen had now forged a mighty reputation, sweeping through two ancient paths and returning in defiance of heaven, and had also averted the crisis at the Tenth Emperor Pass. His illustrious achievements for the entire Sealed Boundary Universe made such treatment normal.
"Young friend, it's been many years. You have reached the pinnacle, soon to stabilize as a Sovereign. Truly worthy of congratulations," the Dragon Phoenix Academy Head said with a smile, cupping his fists in congratulations. After all these years, he too had become a Divine King, his majesty greater than before—though the gap compared to Ye Chen was vast.
"You flatter me, senior," Ye Chen replied with a faint smile.
Many of the academy's renowned seniors, elders, and ancient figures nodded inwardly. If an ordinary person reached Ye Chen's lofty status, their tail would likely be held high long ago. Yet Ye Chen remained so humble and courteous, truly rare.
"Senior, this junior has another matter for coming here," Ye Chen said.
The Dragon Phoenix Academy Head stroked his long beard and laughed heartily. "Young friend, no need to say more. This old man understands. The Saint's remains of the Battle Saint lineage are located in a minor realm within the back mountains. No one dares to desecrate them. Young friend may proceed directly; no one will stop you."
"Excellent. Thank you for the trouble, senior," Ye Chen said, slightly relieved. He headed to the back mountains and respectfully retrieved all the Saint's remains of the Battle Saint lineage.
Ye Chen's arrival—the once-famous strongest Heaven's Pride of the younger generation, the Battle Saint King—thoroughly shook the entire Dragon Phoenix Academy. Naturally, countless Heaven's Prides and talents rushed to appear, eager to witness the peerless bearing of the once-invincible Battle Saint King.
The academy gathered Heaven's Prides from across the myriad realms, comparable to another famous cultivation institution—the Myriad Realms Academy.
Especially with the arrival of the Golden Age, every race had produced many Heaven's Prides. Saints and Heavenly Kings were common sights, and there were also top-tier Heaven's Prides at the Great Power realm.
Many possessed King qualifications, and True King qualifications were not few. There were even Supreme Heavenly Prides present, though naturally none were Great Perfection Supreme Heavenly Prides.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom—
Suddenly, five streaks of light shot across the distant sky, finally landing before Ye Chen and the others. They knelt down, their expressions fervent and respectful. "Disciples pay respects to our teacher!"
The arrivals were none other than the five nominal disciples Ye Chen had accepted after sparring with them at the Dragon Phoenix Academy years ago: Wheel Son, Hidden King, Kirin King, Joyful Divine Maiden, and Profound King. They had now become Great Powers, which was quite impressive.
"Rise."
Ye Chen's attitude was very gentle. Although they were nominal disciples, he had taken them in and then left them to their own devices at the Dragon Phoenix Academy while he headed for the Ultimate Ancient Path, parting for hundreds of years.
Feeling some guilt towards his five nominal disciples, upon meeting them now, he properly guided them and instructed them to prepare to formally follow him and begin campaigning across the heavens!
The five nominal disciples were overjoyed.
They knew well that following Ye Chen would be far better than staying at the Dragon Phoenix Academy.
It wasn't that the Dragon Phoenix Academy wasn't good enough—on the contrary, being one of the two most prestigious cultivation institutions in the myriad realms proved everything. Even Human Emperors had emerged from it throughout history.
But in the later stages, it naturally couldn't compare to being by Ye Chen's side.
Ye Chen and the others didn't leave immediately, staying briefly to chat and laugh with the Dragon Phoenix Academy Head and others as if they were peers.
All around, Dragon Phoenix Academy students crowded densely, but they deliberately left a spacious area in the center, not daring to disturb Ye Chen, the Academy Head, and the others.
"Ye Chen?"
Within the crowd, a handsome young man stared blankly at Ye Chen in the center. After parting at Tian Du Continent all those years ago, they were meeting again today.