Soon, another half year passed.
By this time, all members of the Barbarian Tribe had their bloodline seals broken. After inheriting the Great Desolate Emperor Heaven Technique from the Mythological Era's Great Desolate Ancient Emperor and cultivating it, each of them advanced by leaps and bounds. The entire Barbarian Tribe had grown stronger by who knew how many times.
Even Great Powers had emerged one after another.
This was because in the past, several half-step Great Powers like the former Mantai had been sealed away, serving as the tribe's hidden foundation to avoid disaster. Unexpectedly, misfortune turned into blessing; with the breaking of the bloodline seals, they too stepped into the ranks of Great Powers.
A complete, ultimate sublimation.
In an instant, the Barbarian Tribe seemed to have returned to the glorious peak of the former Barbarian God Ancient Kingdom.
To a certain extent, it was now comparable to the Barbarian God Ancient Kingdom of old.
Seeing this, the Barbarian God King was immensely gratified, as if witnessing the return of the Barbarian God Ancient Kingdom he had once founded.
Every member of the Barbarian Tribe was ecstatic.
However, for now, they dared not revert to their original surname—Huang!
After all, they were still not strong enough. In the past, even a powerful force like the Desolate Ancient Hall had been utterly annihilated. How much more so now? Even with Ye Chen backing them from behind, they needed to keep a low profile.
The return of the Desolate Imperial Clan was no simple matter. Nor could they truly reclaim their former position just by having one Ancient Monarch. What was needed was the return of the entire clan's overall strength.
After all, no matter how one put it, Ye Chen was an outsider; he could not protect them forever.
By now, a full year had passed since the Barbarian Tribe's complete disappearance.
In the outside world, the Barbarian Tribe's inexplicable vanishing had sparked all sorts of speculation. There were even Great Powers who personally came to investigate, but unfortunately, none could find the slightest trace.
Everyone was puzzled. What had happened to the Barbarian Tribe to make it vanish into thin air?
It was at this moment that the Barbarian Tribe re-emerged.
The reappearance of the Barbarian Tribe in the mortal world shocked the Thirteen States of Eastern Victory and even shook the entire Qianwu Ancient Country.
A year ago, the Barbarian Tribe had vanished without a trace overnight. Even Great Powers who personally went to investigate found no clues.
A year later, it had actually reappeared in the mortal world.
What had happened during the past year?
But what was even more shocking than the Barbarian Tribe's return was that overwhelming blood energy.
Visible to the naked eye, from the deepest part of the Million Mountains in Sunset Province, the land of the Barbarian Tribe, terrifying streams of blood energy shot through the heavens, resembling terrifying giant dragons that shook the entire region.
Especially one particular blood energy that shook the Qianwu Ancient Country itself. Boundless blood energy was like a divine furnace overturned, burning the firmament, clearly visible throughout the entire ancient country.
Every faction was alarmed.
When had the Barbarian Tribe produced such a supreme powerhouse? That sky-blotting blood energy made every Great Power in the Qianwu Ancient Country tremble with fear.
Gazing towards the direction of the Million Mountains in Sunset Province, one could vaguely see a towering, majestic figure appear. Within the boundless blood energy, an overwhelming aura that suppressed the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths permeated, horrifying the imperial family in the royal capital of the Qianwu Ancient Country and alarming numerous Great Powers.
Even the Qianwu Ancient Country's founding ancestor, Divine King Qianwu, was jolted awake at once, staring in shock at the Barbarian Tribe's location. "That aura... is it an Ancient Divine King?"
The Barbarian Tribe's return was not hidden; they even displayed their terrifying aspect to the world.
"No, it's far stronger than an ordinary Divine King. I am far inferior. Could it be—"
"The Barbarian God King?"
Nearby ancient countries were also alarmed.
The revival of an Ancient Divine King shook multiple ancient countries, great sects, and holy lands in the surrounding area.
Moreover, many recognized him—that was the Barbarian God King who had once led the Barbarian Tribe to glorious heights, a Peerless God King ranked among the foremost of the Hundred Kingdoms' Divine King Ancient Ancestors in the Recent Ancient Era, a terrifying existence of monstrous strength.
Hailed as one of the overlords of the Recent Ancient Era.
Back then, if he hadn't violated the taboo of faith of the Heavenly Realm's Ruler, incurring heavenly punishment, how could he have passed away in the mortal world?
No one expected that he hadn't truly passed away back then, and now he had returned. No one could ignore this.
This was far more astonishing than Mantai's promotion to Great Power.
Especially those factions and individuals who had participated in the struggle for the body-tempering treasure scripture "Barbarian God King Technique" were all terrified.
How could they forget the imposing might with which the Barbarian God King dominated his era, suppressing the cosmos? In an age when the Seven Great Ten Thousand Ancient Inheritances did not emerge and old monsters remained in seclusion, he alone almost reigned supreme over half the world.
They had thought the Barbarian God King had passed away. Who would have imagined that after tens of thousands of years, this overlord of the Recent Ancient Era would return?
Recalling Mantai's recent promotion to Great Power, people had found it hard to understand how he managed it with only half of aincomplete / fragmentarytreasure tome. But now, with the Barbarian God King's revival, they understood—it was most likely due to the Barbarian God King.
That very day, the imperial family of the Qianwu Ancient Country, led by their Divine King Ancient Ancestor, directly went to the Barbarian Tribe.
On one hand, it was out of reverence for the Barbarian God King's former imposing might. On the other, it was to investigate the truth.
Although the Barbarian God King had revived, having endured that terrifying heavenly punishment back then, it wasn't certain he had truly recovered completely. Perhaps there were terrible hidden flaws.
If that were the case, there would be no need to fear too much.
But if he had truly recovered fully, he would be an existence even their own Ancient Divine King would revere.
How powerful was that Barbarian God King who dominated the Recent Ancient Era? Divine King Qianwu had witnessed it with his own eyes in his youth. In the previous era, he had even slaughtered Divine Kings—ferocious beyond measure.
In fact, many factions also sent envoys to investigate.
But when they truly stepped into Sunset Province, that surging, overwhelming, vigorous blood energy, that youthful yet towering physique—even Divine King Qianwu trembled.
Because the other party was truly that Peerless God King figure who had dominated nearly half the world in the past, and he had fully recovered.
At the very least, Divine King Qianwu could sense not the slightest flaw. That level of peak blood energy was like facing a sun—supremely powerful, supremely vigorous, difficult to confront.
This was the terrifying imposing might of the former Barbarian God King.
Even Divine King Qianwu's heart trembled with fear, let alone others. The Great Powers' faces turned pale.
Other factions were even more trembling with trepidation.
The Barbarian God King faced Ye Chen with respect, but facing Divine King Qianwu, he displayed the true imposing might of a Recent Ancient Era overlord, overwhelming enough to split seas.
He swept a glance at Divine King Qianwu, revealing a trace of surprise. "So it's you, that young man from back then."
Everyone present was horrified.
Divine King Qianwu was born in the late Recent Ancient Era, but by this era, his time in the world had long exceeded a hundred thousand years.
However, back in the days when the Barbarian God King dominated the Recent Ancient Era, Divine King Qianwu was indeed very young. At that time, he had just stepped into the Great Power realm, relatively speaking, indeed very young.
Though to be precise, the Barbarian God King was actually younger than Divine King Qianwu, because around sixty thousand years old, he was struck by heavenly punishment, severely injured, and sealed away.
Of course, during the Barbarian God King's era of dominance, Divine King Qianwu was indeed a young man. Though it felt awkward, calling him a young man wasn't entirely inappropriate.
Divine King Qianwu gave a bitter smile. The accomplished one is the teacher. He stepped forward and cupped his fists. "This junior Qianwu pays his respects to Senior Barbarian God King."
The Barbarian God King nodded with some appreciation. "I never expected that after an era apart, you too have reached the Divine King level, and a Three Tribulations Divine King at that. Quite good."
Hearing this, Divine King Qianwu smiled bitterly. A dignified Divine King Ancient Ancestor being called 'quite good' was somewhat disheartening, but the other party was the famous Barbarian God King of the Recent Ancient Era, so he had the right to say so.
Then he stepped forward to offer congratulations. "Congratulations on your revival, Senior Barbarian God King. In days to come, you will surely fully restore the former posture of the Barbarian God Ancient Kingdom and display its past glory once more."
The Qianwu Ancient Country's imperial family could only feel bitter in their hearts. Because the Barbarian Tribe was located within the Qianwu Ancient Country, if the Barbarian God King intended to start reclaiming territory from the Qianwu Ancient Country, it was likely the Qianwu Ancient Country would not be spared.
Facing a Peerless God King like the Barbarian God King, Divine King Qianwu did not believe a single Qianwu Ancient Country could withstand him.
However, in his heart, he also hoped the Barbarian God King would not expand the ancient country. Unless absolutely necessary, they truly did not wish to face a Peerless God King like the Barbarian God King.
Unfortunately, that was impossible.
They heard the Barbarian God King say, "Young man, I never expected you to know my thoughts. You are right. Before long, the Barbarian God Ancient Kingdom will return to this Primordial Heaven Realm."
"In that case, I congratulate you, Senior. This junior has some matters to attend to and will visit you another day when there is an opportunity." Divine King Qianwu's expression changed slightly, then he restored his smile. Before long, he led the Qianwu Ancient Country's imperial family away.
It was also to prepare for the Barbarian Tribe's impending invasion.
The Qianwu Ancient Country was, after all, about to undergo a change of heaven.
The Barbarian God King smiled, understanding what was in Divine King Qianwu's heart.
Silently and without a trace, Ye Chen's figure appeared.
The Barbarian God King bowed respectfully, also with a hint of doubt. "Senior, is acting now a bit too fast, too sudden?"
Plotting against an ancient country, gathering faith—these were all matters of the utmost importance, not to be mishandled.
Although the Barbarian Tribe's current overall strength was almost comparable to that of the Barbarian God Ancient Kingdom in the Recent Ancient Era, wanting to re-establish an ancient country was ultimately no simple matter. It involved countless aspects and had wide-reaching implications.
For the Barbarian Tribe to start expanding territory immediately upon emerging was perhaps too hasty.
He feared that going too far would be as bad as not going far enough.
Ye Chen said slowly, "If we don't hurry, it will be too late."
That night, a piece of news shook the entire Qianwu Ancient Country and even multiple nearby ancient countries.
The Barbarian God King had completely revived, possessing the peerless battle strength to dominate the Recent Ancient Era, and was about to restore the Barbarian God Ancient Kingdom. The Qianwu Ancient Country was highly likely to change hands to the Barbarian Tribe.
Once this news spread, not only the Qianwu Ancient Country, not only multiple nearby ancient countries, but even all one hundred and seventeen ancient countries were shaken.
After all, this involved the imminent change of a ancient country's imperial authority, and moreover, it involved the Barbarian God King, an overlord of the Recent Ancient Era.
In secret, many ancient countries received requests for help from the Qianwu Ancient Country's imperial family.
But almost all refused. No ancient country was willing to offend a Recent Ancient Era overlord for the sake of the Qianwu Ancient Country.
Of course, several ancient countries secretly agreed, because they were the ancient countries that had participated in carving up the Barbarian God Ancient Kingdom in the past. Now, with the Barbarian God King's peak return, they felt a terrifying sense of threat and urgently hoped to ally together to oppose the Barbarian God King.
The next day, an even more shocking piece of news shook the world.
An ancient country had changed hands!