The Ultimate Ancient Path was the competitive ground for all the outstanding Heaven's Pride and prodigies of the younger generation across the entire Chaos Sea. Even after several hundred years had passed, that competition among geniuses had yet to conclude. On the contrary, as time went on and with the arrival of the Golden Age, more and more Heaven's Pride from various Ancient Chaos Universes had joined in succession.
The entire Ultimate Ancient Path grew increasingly prosperous.
Whoosh—
Ye Chen appeared at the location of the First Pass. However, due to the calamity caused by the Soul-Restraining Hall in the past, it had become ruins, and a new First Pass had been rebuilt.
Heaven's Pride emerged in great numbers. Watching those Heaven's Pride burning with fervor, like a hundred boats racing on a river, competing and dueling for glory, Ye Chen felt a pang of nostalgia.
Hundreds of years had passed since his departure. Although he was still very young—absolutely, utterly young by the standards of the vast lifespan possessed at this level—his experience rivaled that of those ancient fossils who had lived for countless millennia. His state of mind had also aged considerably, his gaze profound, carrying a sense of melancholy rarely seen among young Heaven's Pride.
"Hmm?"
He sensed a familiar fluctuation at the First Pass location. It was the Soul-Restraining Hall, the place where he had nearly been imprisoned back then.
Hundreds of years had passed. Who knew how many Heaven's Pride and prodigies from the Ultimate Ancient Path the Soul-Restraining Hall had plundered? They were all Heaven's chosen ones from various Ancient Chaos Universes, their souls imprisoned and their physical bodies sold off. This was a great scourge upon the Ultimate Ancient Path.
Clearly, over these years, the Guardian forces behind the Ultimate Ancient Path had remained locked in bitter conflict with the Soul-Restraining Hall. Although the Soul-Restraining Hall had been severely wounded back then, this ancient faction that had endured for countless millennia had never been truly eradicated.
"Oh? Divine Kings have appeared as well."
Ye Chen uttered in surprise. Truly, this was the Golden Age. Only a few hundred years had passed. Back then, mighty ones were scarce on the Ultimate Ancient Path. Now, the Soul-Restraining Hall stationed here even had a Divine King present. Of course, the First Pass also had a Divine King stationed, who surprisingly belonged to a clan from the former Zhoutian City.
They had likely been invited to become Guardians of the Ultimate Ancient Path.
The saying goes, 'A gentleman's revenge is never too late.' Having been an enemy of the Soul-Restraining Hall back then, how could Ye Chen not seek revenge now?
Silently and without a trace, he entered a highly concealed location in the void outside the First Pass where the Soul-Restraining Hall was situated.
Numerous Formation Arrays were deployed here, making it difficult even for a Divine King to detect. Unfortunately, they were far too obvious before the present Ye Chen. Under his Heaven's Gaze, he saw through them at a glance.
He smiled faintly, without any thought of sneaking around. He openly entered the starfield where the Soul-Restraining Hall was located. With a tearing sound, his supreme Chaos Saint Body directly pierced through all the powerful Formation Arrays, arriving before the ancient hall of the Soul-Restraining Hall.
"Who goes there?"
The piercing of the various Formation Arrays immediately alarmed all the powerhouses within this Soul-Restraining Hall. They emerged one after another, including the stationed Divine King powerhouse. A powerful Divine King might spread out, accompanied by a dignified voice that slowly echoed: "Which Fellow Daoist honors us with your presence? If you have words, we can speak slowly."
The Soul-Restraining Hall Divine King stationed here appeared calm and composed on the surface, but inwardly he was utterly shocked. He understood better than anyone else just how astonishing the various Formation Arrays deployed outside were. Even if a true Divine King came, it would be absolutely impossible to pierce through and enter so effortlessly.
Who exactly was this man before him, whose elegance surpassed even that of a banished immortal, flawless and perfect?
However, looking at his face, there was a faint sense of familiarity.
It was no wonder he couldn't recognize him. Since becoming an Eternal Sovereign, Ye Chen had undergone a complete transformation, becoming flawless, as if he were the most perfect thing between heaven and earth. With such appearance and temperament, no one could compare, nor could anyone forget.
Naturally, his facial features still bore some resemblance to his past self, but they were far more perfect.
Ye Chen was as serene as an immortal, offering a faint smile: "The Soul-Restraining Hall and I are old friends. We had many dealings hundreds of years ago. It's impossible you'd forget me."
As he spoke, a wisp of ancient Chaos energy manifested between his fingers, overflowing with majestic radiance.
Witnessing this, the Soul-Restraining Hall Divine King immediately understood, though his expression changed drastically: "Battle Saint King!?"
As soon as these words were uttered, all the powerhouses of the Soul-Restraining Hall paled.
Although the Battle Saint King had suddenly disappeared from the Ultimate Ancient Path back then, many rumors later spread from the Ultimate Ancient Domain at the deepest part of the ancient path. They knew he had fought his way to the very end from another ancient path no less formidable than the Ultimate Ancient Path—the Supreme Ancient Path—and had dominated it, suppressing all the Heaven's Pride of both great ancient paths, becoming a truly invincible figure.
Yet, at that moment, he had left and vanished for hundreds of years.
No one expected that the Battle Saint King would suddenly return now and directly come to kill here.
"You guessed right. I didn't expect the Soul-Restraining Hall to still remember this humble Ye so well," Ye Chen said with a light laugh. However, that smile appeared utterly cold and ruthless in the eyes of the Soul-Restraining Hall powerhouses.
The Soul-Restraining Hall Divine King felt his scalp go numb. It was said that the Battle Saint King who left the ancient path back then was already invincible. Although it was unknown to what extent, he was likely among the top within the Divine King realm, or perhaps had even reached the Quasi-Monarch level above Divine King.
He forced himself to remain calm and said, "Battle Saint King, what brings you here in such grand fashion? If you entered unintentionally, I can take responsibility and let bygones be bygones. But if you seek trouble with our Soul-Restraining Hall, do not forget that even if you are at the peak of Divine King, even if you are a legendary Quasi-Monarch, you must not forget that our Soul-Restraining Hall has Ancient Monarchs standing guard, and not just one. They are absolutely not someone you can afford to provoke."
At this point, the Soul-Restraining Hall Divine King could only bring out the Ancient Monarchs guarding the hall as a threat.
Moreover, he secretly crushed a communication jade, immediately sending a message to the Quasi-Monarchs, and even the Ancient Monarchs within the hall to come. Otherwise, with just their group, they were no match for the Battle Saint King.
Hearing this, Ye Chen chuckled lightly, his smile ambiguous: "I believe you've already secretly messaged your Soul-Restraining Hall's Ancient Monarchs, haven't you?"
"What do you mean?" The Soul-Restraining Hall Divine King's expression changed, a sense of foreboding rising within him.
"Nothing much. If I didn't do this, how could I lure out more powerful Soul-Restraining Hall powerhouses, and even locate the true lair of your Soul-Restraining Hall?"
Ye Chen said with a smile.
The Soul-Restraining Hall powerhouses all paled. They had invited a wolf into their house!
"Since that's the case, I won't keep you any longer."
"Oh, and by the way, let me tell you one more thing—"
"Ancient Monarchs?"
"Over these years, the number of Ancient Monarchs who have died by my hand is no less than the fingers on both hands!"
Ye Chen's seemingly casual words fell like a thunderclap, exploding beside the ears of everyone in the Soul-Restraining Hall.
Before their expressions of horror could fully manifest, Ye Chen simply flicked his sleeve towards them.
Boom—
An immeasurably great power instantly erupted, then transformed into the most terrifying torrential force. With a speed faster than lightning, it flooded this Soul-Restraining Hall location in the blink of an eye.
Including the Divine King, over a thousand powerhouses from top to bottom had not even truly regained their senses. In the briefest instant between life and extinction, they were reduced to dust, their forms and spirits utterly annihilated.