"Little fellow, have you forgotten me?"
Ye Chen gently pushed his palm forward. Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, Huang Hu's towering, massive body was sent flying with a thunderous crash, directly smashing into a tall divine mountain within the inner academy, causing half of it to collapse with a rumbling roar.
The entire scene fell silent, the others even more shocked and terrified.
Huang Hu was sent flying!?
This was a fantastical event, something unbelievable.
Even if Huang Hu seemed completely off-guard, he was, after all, a Great Power, and an extraordinary one at that. To be sent flying like this was an utterly inconceivable event.
Boom—
Amidst the shattered mountain rocks, Huang Hu shot into the sky, reappearing in the void. Yet, there was not a trace of anger on his face, only thick, intense joy. "Could it be, you are—"
Zhang Fan also looked over, his face equally filled with delight. "You really are—"
He didn't finish the latter half of the sentence, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Seeing the two, known as the Twin Stars of the Huang Ancient Kingdom, with such expressions, everyone was astonished. Just who was this person?
Ye Chen gave a faint smile. "That's right, it's me."
"Senior!"
Immediately, Zhang Fan and Huang Hu knelt in the void, kowtowing to Ye Chen. There was not a hint of falseness, only utmost sincerity, stunning everyone present.
At that moment, a terrifying thought surfaced in everyone's minds.
Who was he?
To make the Ancient Kingdom's Twin Stars kowtow so sincerely—even a Divine King couldn't achieve that, could they?
Ye Chen gestured with a hand in the void, helping the two rise. Huang Hu was both excited and restrained. "Senior, when did you emerge from seclusion?"
A hundred years ago, after resolving all the remnants of the alien race, Ye Chen had entered seclusion.
This seclusion had lasted a full one hundred and fifty years.
No one in the world knew the exact date of his emergence, not even the Mistress of the Heavenly Kingdom or the Young Master.
Ye Chen said, "I emerged not long ago. Sensing something in my heart, I came to the Huang Ancient Kingdom. I didn't expect to appear right here at the Kuzhou Academy. It's a kind of fate. The person from the Heaven Realm I met upon awakening back then was also from Kuzhou Academy, wasn't he?"
His words carried a hint of sighing sentiment. Fate was always so miraculous.
Recalling the events of that time, Zhang Fan couldn't help but smile.
If not for that encounter back then, he would likely still be an ordinary person. Forget being the number one of Kuzhou Academy and a contemporary Heavenly King now, he might not even have succeeded in reaching the Saint Treasury Realm.
It could be said that the events of that day had astonishingly changed his destiny.
After chatting with Huang Hu and Zhang Fan for a few moments here, Ye Chen said, "Time is getting late. Come to the Heavenly Kingdom when you have the chance."
"We will definitely go, Senior."
The two hurriedly replied, though a flicker in their eyes seemed to indicate hesitation, which surprised Ye Chen. "Is there something else?"
Huang Hu said, "We dare not hide it from you, Senior. The Cosmic Realm is in trouble!"
"In trouble?"
Ye Chen initially didn't pay much mind, but seeing the grave expressions on Huang Hu and Zhang Fan's faces—both knew his identity and wouldn't speak without cause—he realized something major must have happened, something capable of shaking the entire Eight Realms of the Myriad Worlds.
Immediately, he reached out and grasped, plucking a Heaven's Heart Imprint from the void and merging it into his brow.
This technique directly shocked the Great Power realm Elder of Kuzhou Academy. "Plucking a Heaven's Heart Imprint... even ancient Divine Kings would find such a feat difficult, let alone performing it so effortlessly and naturally. Just which supreme figure is this person?"
His mind raced, flashing through the appearances of many supreme existences of the present era, yet none matched the young man before him.
The only somewhat similar person was Dou Zhan Jun Wang Qian Xun, the son of the Heaven Realm Ruler. However, from what he understood, Qian Xun was currently fighting the alien race on the frontier of the Cosmic Realm.
As for Ye Chen, the Heaven Realm Ruler, this Elder didn't even dare to think in that direction.
What kind of transcendent figure was that? The number one person of the present era, a peerless existence who dominated the rise and fall of the entire Eight Realms of the Myriad Worlds. Even that peerless Sovereign Huang Xu, who later returned to the Huang Ancient Kingdom, paled in comparison.
Moreover, it was rumored he was in seclusion, a seclusion that had lasted over one hundred and fifty years with no news of his emergence, even amidst the alien turmoil in the Cosmic Realm.
Thus, while suspicions abounded, none connected it to Ye Chen.
This was also due to the change in Ye Chen's aura and intangible methods altering the world's perception of him. Unless one was extremely familiar with him, it was impossible to recognize him as Ye Chen.
At that moment, the instant Ye Chen's divine sense merged with the Heaven's Heart Imprint, all the events of the world—not just the Primordial Heaven Realm, but everything across the Eight Realms of the Myriad Worlds over the past one hundred and fifty years—transformed into vast streams of information, flowing into his heart.
"The alien race!"
Understanding everything, even Ye Chen couldn't help but let his expression darken slightly.
He hadn't expected that during his seclusion, the alien race would once again invade the Eight Realms of the Myriad Worlds, with even an ancient Great Emperor attempting to descend.
Although they ultimately didn't truly descend, they had sent such a terrifying alien army, even more fearsome than the last time, with the number of Monarch-level powerers reaching a full three.
Such a number of Monarchs meant that even the current Eight Realms of the Myriad Worlds could only barely resist.
Naturally, he also understood why the Goddess and others hadn't called him out of seclusion.
Among those present, aside from the Great Power realm Elder, the others were all bewildered upon hearing Ye Chen's utterance of "alien race."
Clearly, knowledge of the alien race was limited to super-powerful beings at the Great Power realm and above. Zhang Fan knew only because of his special status.
This was intentional by the Heavenly Kingdom, to avoid causing excessive panic among the populace.
After all, the alien calamity of the past had ended only a little over a hundred years ago.
"Thank you."
Ye Chen nodded towards the two, expressing his gratitude.
"You honor us too much, Senior," the two hurriedly waved their hands.
Before leaving, Ye Chen glanced at Ziqiong. "Little girl, you have a kind heart, and your aptitude is not bad. You have the opportunity to come to the Heavenly Kingdom. If you can pass the trials and become a member of the Heavenly Kingdom, I believe your path will stretch much farther."
Hearing this, everyone looked at Ziqiong with envy.
Though they still didn't know Ye Chen's identity, seeing the respectful attitude of Huang Hu and Zhang Fan, they surmised his true identity was anything but simple, likely possessing a heaven-shaking background.
"Yes, Senior."
Ziqiong hurriedly agreed.
"We'll meet again if fate allows."
With a wave of his hand, Ye Chen's figure directly tore through the void and vanished.
Only after a long while did the Elders, including the Elder, and the other students of the inner academy look towards Huang Hu and Zhang Fan. The other students did the same, clearly wanting to know the visitor's identity.
Zhang Fan's expression turned solemn. "Esteemed Elders, fellow junior brothers and sisters, he is the Heaven Realm Ruler!"
The world fell into instant silence. Everyone present sucked in a sharp breath, their faces filled with incomparable shock.
The Heaven Realm Ruler!?
The one who suppressed the Eight Realms of the Myriad Worlds and ended the alien calamity!?
Their minds went blank. No matter what, they could never have imagined that the young, handsome man was actually the contemporary Heaven Realm Ruler, the Dou Zhan Sheng Wang hailed as the number one person in the Eight Realms of the Myriad Worlds!
It was a fantastical truth.
Especially those students who had questioned Ye Chen earlier felt their faces burn with shame for daring to question the Heaven Realm Ruler's guidance on Senior Sister Ziqiong's swordsmanship.
Given his status, forget Senior Sister Ziqiong, even a Primordial Sovereign might not necessarily be qualified to receive his guidance.
Senior Sister Ziqiong also felt a hint of regret. If she hadn't known Ye Chen's identity earlier, thinking him somewhat arrogant, now knowing the truth, she regretted it immensely.
If the Heaven Realm Ruler had guided her a little longer, all her confusions in the Sword Dao would likely have been swept away, perhaps even allowing her to step into an unprecedented realm of mastery.
Now, she could only be left with a trace of regret.
However, recalling the Heaven Realm Ruler's words before leaving ignited a resolve within her.
Join the Heavenly Kingdom.
The Heavenly Kingdom, the number one force suppressing all others in the present era, even surpassing the Heavenly Ruins, with no equal.
If she could join the Heavenly Kingdom, she would undoubtedly gain countless opportunities, with limitless future achievements.
Huang Hu clasped his fists towards Zhang Fan in farewell, saying seriously, "Brother Zhang Fan, we'll meet again when fate allows. I must also head to the Cosmic Realm now. Since Senior has emerged from seclusion, I believe the final battle will commence soon. With Senior's capabilities, I'm confident the alien race that descended to the lower realm this time will be driven back once more."
The many Elders and students were shocked. Only now did they learn that the alien race had descended to the lower realm again and was about to bring calamity upon the Eight Realms of the Myriad Worlds once more.
Yet, after a brief moment of panic, they quickly calmed down. Since the Heaven Realm Ruler Ye Chen had emerged from seclusion, as Huang Hu said, the alien calamity would surely be resolved.
They believed in Ye Chen!
Zhang Fan also said seriously, "Brother Tiger, wait for me. Take me along. I also wish to participate in the battle. Though my strength is still weak, Senior once bestowed upon me a single strand of hair, equivalent to a supreme treasure. I can fight even against a Great Power."
"In that case, this old man will join as well. Though merely a Great Power, I can still contribute some strength," the Elder said.
"Agreed." Huang Hu nodded, taking the two with him as they left for the capital. They needed to use the teleportation domain gate there to reach the Cosmic Realm faster; relying on void traversal alone would take an unknown amount of time.
Leaving Kuzhou Academy, Ye Chen did not head directly to the Cosmic Realm. Instead, he arrived at the Luoshui Mountain Range.
The important reason for coming to the Huang Ancient Kingdom was that over the years, though the Heavenly Kingdom stood in the Central Region, the Little Divine Realm had also migrated into the Primordial Heaven Realm, located within the territory of the Huang Ancient Kingdom, deep within the former Luoshui Mountain Range.
Naturally, the Little Divine Realm, being so vast, did not manifest in the world but was hidden within the endless spatial turbulence of the Luoshui Mountain Range.
This place was still guarded by the former four Divine King-level Demon Kings. Ordinary people dared not enter.
In the past, Ye Chen had allowed the four Divine King-level beings to follow him, assisting the Huang Ancient Kingdom in expanding its territory and bestowing upon them some opportunities. Over two hundred years had passed, and they were now close to the Quasi-Sovereign level, though still some distance away.
Silently and without a trace, avoiding the detection of the four Divine King-level demonic beasts, Ye Chen returned, directly entering the Little Divine Realm.
Immediately, the Heaven's Will youth was startled. At first, his face was full of vigilance, a powerful aura akin to that of a Primordial Sovereign faintly emanating from him.
Soon, the vigilance dissipated, replaced by a look of delight.
Ye Chen smiled. This was because he hadn't concealed his aura. Otherwise, given his current state, even if he entered the Little Divine Realm, the Heaven's Will youth would never have detected him.
Pointing a finger, a strand of dawn light entered the Heaven's Will youth's brow—a wisp of origin from the Heavenly Dao Sun of the Primordial Heaven Realm.
The Primordial Heaven Realm, a super world within the Pangu Universe second only to the Myriad Domains, even larger than the Primordial Chaos World. A single wisp of its origin was enough to grant extraordinary fortune to a minor world origin like the Heaven's Will youth.
The Heaven's Will youth was overjoyed. Immediately disregarding all else, he sat cross-legged, silently contemplating the origin of the Primordial Heaven Realm.
As long as he comprehended this wisp of origin, it would be of immense benefit, perhaps even allowing him to advance further.
Ye Chen went straight to the Sky City within the Little Divine Realm, appearing before a side hall.
This place was heavily guarded by powerful experts of the Heavenly Kingdom, with several Quasi-Sovereign figures secretly stationed. It was truly a place where tigers and dragons lurked, with strict defenses.
Unfortunately, none could sense Ye Chen's arrival.
With a flicker of his figure, he entered the side hall. In the center of the luxurious and majestic hall, on a wide, soft bed, lay a beautiful figure, her eyes closed, her face serene.
It was Yaya. Yet, Ye Chen immediately sensed something special: Yaya's origin aura was extremely weak, and it was weakening continuously, moment by moment.
On her stunningly beautiful face, her eyes were tightly shut. Faint traces of darkness flickered at her brow, like dark runes or a curse, eroding her soul.
Ye Chen sensed strands of dark power, filled with absolute malevolence, clearly the curse power of the alien race. Moreover, the level of this power was extremely high, involving the Monarch level, and it was vicious.
"Monarch-level curse power!"
His eyes narrowed slightly. This Monarch-level curse power continuously eroded Yaya's soul. Otherwise, given Yaya's status as a Primordial Sovereign and a World Tree, ordinary curse power could never have injured her so severely.
What audacity from the alien race, to dare target his child like this. They were truly seeking death.
Invisibly, strands of killing intent leaked from him, capable of shattering heaven and earth, but they were quickly restrained.
This was only because Ye Chen controlled it immediately. Otherwise, the mere side hall would have exploded, affecting Yaya.
"Dad—"
Yaya, after all a Primordial Sovereign, was naturally startled awake. At first, she was extremely vigilant, but upon seeing it was Ye Chen, her face instantly lit up with delight. She tried to sit up but was utterly weak.
The alien Monarch's curse was too terrifying. Even the Goddess and the others had no temporary solution. Mixed Mountain Monarch could only suppress it temporarily, helpless, hoping to take Yaya back to the upper realm and ask a Great Emperor to expel the Monarch-level curse power.
Yaya's current state was very weak.
"Yaya!"
Ye Chen's heart ached as he reached out to stroke his daughter's face. "I'm sorry. It's Dad's fault. You've suffered."
"No—"
Yaya shook her head slightly.
"Alright, this might hurt a little. You'll need to bear with it."
Ye Chen said softly.
"Dad, you have a way?" Yaya widened her apricot eyes, looking at her father in surprise. This was curse power that even Mixed Mountain Monarch was somewhat helpless against.
"I have a way." Ye Chen chuckled lightly. The reason Mixed Mountain Monarch had no solution was largely because he wasn't specialized in this area. As the saying goes, every trade has its master. Moreover, Ye Chen was an alchemy grandmaster; how could he not have a corresponding method?
Of course, for now, alchemy wasn't necessary. Alchemy required considerable time, and the Cosmic Realm was fraught with crisis, leaving no time for it. Besides, he wasn't without other methods.