The woman in purple was exceptionally beautiful, and her smile seemed to dim the sun and moon. Even within the Zui Baxian Hall, she was a striking sight, causing many to feel as if they were about to be lost in her presence.
By her side were seven others: one woman and six men.
The woman was also outstanding in appearance, with a delicate and charming aura, yet carried a hint of arrogance. Compared to the woman in purple, however, she seemed much dimmer.
The other six men were all exceedingly handsome, each possessing an extraordinary bearing. Their cultivation was also transcendent; they were the cream of the crop among Heaven's Prides. Despite their youth, they had all reached the Half-Step Divine King realm.
Some were even Divine Kings.
Judging by their life auras, they were all under five hundred years old at most.
To cultivate to the Half-Step Divine King, or even Divine King, realm within five hundred years could absolutely be called the elite among Heaven's Prides, comparable to the geniuses on the Ultimate Ancient Path.
Because of the peerlessly beautiful woman, however, these young Half-Step Divine Kings were frowning slightly as they looked at Ye Chen, a faint hostility evident in their gazes.
Clearly, these six male Heaven's Prides harbored feelings of admiration for the woman in purple.
Yet, all of them were extraordinary individuals. They merely concealed it well, not letting it show.
Ye Chen glanced up at her, feeling a slight stir of admiration, but that was all. Having several wives who could be called the most stunning throughout the ages, his immunity was naturally extraordinary. Moreover, his Dao heart was incredibly firm. He smiled faintly and said, "Please, have a seat."
Seeing Ye Chen's unperturbed expression, the woman in purple was slightly surprised.
It wasn't that she disliked his attitude; rather, she had always been quite confident in her own beauty.
Throughout her life, countless men had been captivated by her, including many young talents renowned across vast domains, even Divine Kings who commanded entire regions, and even Quasi-Monarchs who had felt moved by her.
Yet, her peerless beauty and aura could not stir the heart of this mysterious young man before her, which inevitably drew her attention.
She could tell that he wasn't putting on an act; he was truly calm and composed, treating her stunning beauty with equanimity.
Sitting down gracefully on the Dao cushion at Ye Chen's Dao table, the woman in purple smiled, revealing crystalline teeth, and introduced herself: "Fellow Daoist, allow me to introduce myself. I am Shangguan Ziqing of the Shangqing Sect."
As soon as these words were spoken, many exclamations of surprise arose within the hall.
"No wonder she looked so familiar! It's Shangguan Ziqing of the Shangqing Sect!"
"I never expected even her to come. She's the future leading figure of the Shangqing Sect, her importance surpassing even many Divine Kings."
"The Shangqing Sect is one of the top-tier forces in the Chaos God Emperor Domain. Their patriarch is an Ancient Monarch. The only super Heaven's Pride from the sect to rank within the top ten of the Era Great Power Ranking is Shangguan Ziqing."
"But then again, at such an important occasion, the Quasi-Monarch patriarch of the Shangqing Sect would surely bring Shangguan Ziqing to broaden her horizons. After all, Shangguan Ziqing is one of the most powerful Great Powers, ranked ninth on the Era Great Power Ranking. Her potential is boundless, hailed as the peerless Heaven's Pride with the greatest hope in the Shangqing Sect's history to prove the Dao and become an Emperor."
"She has cultivated for just over four hundred years, yet she is already at the peak of Great Power, even Half-Step Divine King. I hear her strength is no less than that of a true Divine King."
"Not only is Shangguan Ziqing immensely powerful, but her beauty is also considered one of the Ten Great Beauties of the Origin Ancient Path."
"With Shangguan Ziqing's strength, becoming a Divine King is only a matter of time, and her power is already on par with a true Divine King!"
...
Apart from the many Quasi-Monarchs toasting each other, the majority present were Divine Kings, Great Powers, Heavenly Kings, Saints, and others. Numerous fervent gazes turned toward Shangguan Ziqing.
The Era Rankings were highly authoritative lists on the Origin Ancient Path.
The Era Great Power Ranking essentially marked the most powerful group of Great Powers across the entire Origin Ancient Path.
Even across the entire Chaos Sea.
To rank within the top ten of the Era Great Power Ranking was enough to prove how stunning and remarkable Shangguan Ziqing was.
Hearing the many exclamations of awe within the Zui Baxian Hall, Ye Chen also glanced at Shangguan Ziqing with slight surprise. He recalled the figures on the Era Great Power Ranking he had seen back at Jianglan Pavilion. Indeed, this Shangguan Ziqing before him was one of them.
Moreover, with Ye Chen's vision, he could clearly see that Shangguan Ziqing was a Great Perfection Supreme Heaven's Pride, her Great Dao flawless and complete, in no way inferior to true Imperial Sons and Daughters or Immortal Dao descendants in any aspect.
To rank within the top ten of the Era Great Power Ranking on the Origin Ancient Path, where Imperial Sons and Daughters and Immortal Dao descendants also existed, she was indeed a formidable woman.
Of course, to him, that was all. His gaze merely flickered slightly before he smiled faintly and said, "Ye Chen."
"Ye Chen?" Shangguan Ziqing was slightly taken aback. The name felt vaguely familiar, but she couldn't recall where she had heard it. Her interest in Ye Chen deepened.
Sensing Shangguan Ziqing's curiosity toward Ye Chen, even though it was their first meeting, the other six peerless Heaven's Prides felt a sense of threat.
These six had been pursuing Shangguan Ziqing for a long time, and as super Heaven's Prides themselves, they had rarely seen Shangguan Ziqing show interest in any man.
At this moment, a tall, imposing man with golden hair stepped forward and said, "Fellow Daoist, I am Peng Jiuyou."
"Peng Jiuyou? The peerless Great Power ranked thirteenth on the Great Power Ranking!"
Another wave of exclamations swept through the Zui Baxian Hall.
Although Peng Jiuyou wasn't ranked in the top ten like Shangguan Ziqing, being thirteenth was enough to prove his strength, not far behind hers.
He was also a super Heaven's Pride of the Heavenly Roc clan, possessing a potent Kunpeng bloodline. In the future, if he progressed far enough, he could revive the Kunpeng bloodline and transform into a Nine Heavens Kunpeng.
In terms of strength alone, he was also a Half-Step Divine King, capable of rivaling a true Divine King.
"Chu Xiangyu!"
"Xia Shenyu!"
"Guan Jingtian!"
"Qiu Wei!"
"Xue Wuhen!"
The remaining five Heaven's Prides all announced their names, causing another stir within the Zui Baxian Hall.
Because each of these individuals was a super Heaven's Pride famous on the Era Great Power Ranking, all within the top twenty. Each possessed strength comparable to a true Divine King, even capable of slaying them against the odds.
Especially that Xue Wuhen, who was an actual Divine King.
Although he wasn't on the Era Divine King Ranking, it was known that he had risen from fifth place on the Era Great Power Ranking to become a Divine King less than a hundred years ago. He was now a Three Tribulation Divine King, which spoke volumes.
Within three thousand years, the world estimated that Xue Wuhen would break into the Era Divine King Ranking, and it wasn't impossible for him to even rank within the top ten over time.
It was evident that Xue Wuhen was absolutely a peerless Heaven's Pride brimming with potential.
The self-introductions of the six brought a sense of pressure to many Heaven's Prides who had come with their elders.
After all, the fame of these six was simply too great.
Even though there were many Heaven's Prides present who had come with their respective Quasi-Monarch elders, compared to these six, they all fell short.
Yet they noticed that Ye Chen, seated at the front, remained calm and composed, showing not the slightest tension at the appearance of these super Heaven's Prides. They couldn't help but sigh inwardly, increasingly convinced that Ye Chen was most likely Flame God's disciple. Otherwise, how could an ordinary person possess such a state of mind?
However, many secretly wondered: if he were Flame God's disciple, he certainly couldn't be a nobody. Yet why had they never seen his name on the Era Rankings for Saints, Heavenly Kings, Great Powers, or even Divine Kings?
As a disciple of Flame God, he must be a peerless Heaven's Pride, unlikely to be much inferior to Shangguan Ziqing and the others.
Yet he was unranked?
Could it be that he wasn't Flame God's disciple?
Everyone secretly speculated about Ye Chen's true identity.
But no matter what, they could never imagine that someone so low-key, with such restrained aura, was the number one on the Era Quasi-Monarch Ranking!
Ye Chen swept his gaze over these self-introduced super Heaven's Prides and smiled faintly. He could sense a faint hostility from them toward him. Perhaps this self-introduction was also a form of pressure directed at him.
Pressuring him, an ordinary Heaven's Pride, that he was unqualified to pursue Shangguan Ziqing.
Faced with such childish, youthful impulsiveness, Ye Chen merely smiled, feeling no resistance.
In fact, he felt a slight fondness for it.
Since leaving the Supreme Ancient Domain and the Ultimate Ancient Domain, he had essentially moved beyond the scope of the younger generation. After returning to the Sealed Universe, the enemies he faced were all renowned figures from the older generation.
This had led to him appearing vibrant on the surface but carrying a subtle sense of the older generation's vicissitudes.
Only by mingling with these younger generation figures could he recapture a faint sense of familiarity from the past, proving that he was still young.
The six super Heaven's Prides frowned as they watched Ye Chen's composed demeanor at the Dao table. None of them made a move, firstly because of the rules of the Zui Baxian Hall—no fighting was allowed.
The Zui Baxian Hall was part of the Zui Xian Lou, whose owner was extraordinary, with an immensely deep background. Even Quasi-Monarchs would never dare to cause trouble lightly.
Secondly, it was because of Flame God. Many suspected that Ye Chen was Flame God's disciple.
Though there was no concrete evidence.
Suddenly, Peng Jiuyou frowned as he looked at Ye Chen and said, "I sense a special aura of my Heavenly Roc clan on you."
Ye Chen glanced at Peng Jiuyou with slight surprise. This youth was only at the Half-Step Divine King stage, yet he could detect it.
It was likely because he cultivated the Kunpeng Great Universe Technique, the movement technique of the Primordial Kunpeng Progenitor, that this youth had noticed.
Xue Wuhen, dressed in snow-white robes that matched his name, was an elegant and handsome man who drew attention. He also sat down, cupping his hands toward Ye Chen with a faint smile. "Brother Ye, may I ask who your master is?"
The others also focused their attention.
Was Ye Chen truly Flame God's disciple?
Ye Chen shook his head slightly. "My master's name is unknown to you."
Indeed, his master, Gu Yuntong, was from the Sealed Universe and had never set foot on the Origin Ancient Path. How could these people know him?
Hearing this, everyone frowned even more. So he really wasn't Flame God's disciple. But then, who exactly was he?
Although not being Flame God's disciple relieved Xue Wuhen and the others, anyone personally brought here by Flame God, even if not a disciple, must have an extraordinary status.
Xue Wuhen spoke again: "Brother Ye, could you be from the Ye family of Monarch Ye Lintian in the Azure Vault Emperor Domain?"
After some thought, there were many families with the surname Ye in the Flame Emperor Domain, but only a few were truly notable. Among them, the Ye family of the Azure Vault Emperor Domain was the most powerful.
Ye Chen shook his head again. "I am not from that Ye family."
The several super Heaven's Prides frowned once more. Since he wasn't from that Ye family, where exactly did Ye Chen come from?
Ye Chen offered no explanation, merely smiling lightly as he sipped his wine alone.
Shangguan Ziqing's lavender-like purple eyes fell upon him. She activated her pupil technique, a rich purple light flashing within them, yet her heart stirred with fluctuation.
This was the Violet Extreme Pupil Technique. Although Shangguan Ziqing didn't wish to casually probe others, she was indeed quite interested in Ye Chen and couldn't help but use this nearly infallible Violet Extreme Pupil Technique to take a look.
Yet, under the scrutiny of the Violet Extreme Pupil Technique, Ye Chen appeared utterly ordinary, with not the slightest fluctuation. She could detect no trace of abnormality.
"A mortal?"
Shangguan Ziqing's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. She didn't believe Ye Chen was some ordinary person with no cultivation.
If she couldn't detect anything, it could only prove one thing.
The other party was definitely no ordinary individual.
Yet his name was unheard of on any of the Era Rankings, whether for Saints, Heavenly Kings, Great Powers, or Divine Kings.
He was likely one of those powerful individuals whose strength had reached a certain level but who remained unranked.
Ye Chen naturally sensed Shangguan Ziqing's Violet Extreme Pupil Technique. He merely smiled faintly, not angered, and drank another cup of fine wine, savoring its flavor.
Shangguan Ziqing smiled radiantly. "Brother Ye, may I ask where you are from?"
"What's the matter, beauty? Are you trying to pick me up?" Ye Chen suddenly spoke, teasing her.
Having spent so much time with super-powerful beings, Ye Chen had almost grown vicissitudinous. But now, being with Shangguan Ziqing, it stirred the youthful vigor within his heart, and he couldn't help but tease her.
As soon as these words were spoken, the seven people around him immediately changed expressions, especially the six super Heaven's Prides, all admirers of Shangguan Ziqing.
A faint, terrifying pressure emanated from them.
The hostility became quite apparent.
The other woman besides Shangguan Ziqing directly snorted coldly. "You surnamed Ye, you'd better watch your words. Sister Ziqing is not someone you can casually flirt with. Apologize to Sister Ziqing immediately."
Shangguan Ziqing was slightly taken aback, a hint of displeasure flickering across her face.
However, she didn't speak, instead watching Ye Chen. Having seen so many pursuers treat her with utmost courtesy, she found Ye Chen's casual teasing somewhat novel.
Ye Chen didn't even glance at the woman, continuing to tease Shangguan Ziqing. "Miss Ziqing, when a man pursues a woman, it's like climbing a mountain. When a woman pursues a man, it's like piercing a veil. If you pursue me, you might just succeed in picking me up right away."
"Enough, kid!"
The super Heaven's Pride named Guan Jingtian coldly shouted. His green eyes suddenly erupted with intimidating light as he looked at Ye Chen, employing a soul-shaking pupil technique.
An ordinary Great Power, even a Half-Step Divine King, facing Guan Jingtian's pupil technique would find their mind unsettled, even lost within the illusionary world conjured by the technique, struggling to break free.
Shangguan Ziqing didn't stop him, also wanting to know Ye Chen's true strength.
Ye Chen merely cast an indifferent glance at Guan Jingtian.
Boom—
Guan Jingtian was struck as if by lightning, falling backward with blood streaming from all seven orifices!