The Soul Forbidden Hall Master snorted coldly. "Battle Saint King, this Hall Master knows you once reached the end of the ancient path hundreds of years ago and suppressed countless Heaven's Pride overlords across two great ancient paths. But back then, you were merely at the Quasi-Monarch level. Only a few centuries have passed since then. Even with the arrival of the Golden Age, it's impossible for you to become an Ancient Monarch in such a short span of mere centuries."
As he spoke, a terrifying monarchial heavenly might erupted from his body, like the master of the heavens or a ruler of the starry sky, suppressing the vast cosmos.
Under this monarchial heavenly might, the three Quasi-Monarchs and nine Divine Kings beside him paled into insignificance!
He was an Ancient Monarch; his words carried the most weight.
A Quasi-Monarch might seem not far from an Ancient Monarch, but only upon truly reaching that step would one understand the immense gap. It was divided into four major realms: Initial, Middle, Late, and Great Perfection. Only then was one a true Ancient Monarch.
Moreover, becoming an Ancient Monarch was not so easy. Even a Great Perfection Monarch required an accumulation over long years, condensing monarch rules one after another, to have the greatest chance of successful advancement.
A few centuries were neither short nor long, especially for cultivators—it was but a fleeting moment.
To attempt to break through to Ancient Monarch within a few centuries was undoubtedly a fool's dream. Even the most monstrous Heaven's Pride genius was no exception.
"Oh, is that so?"
A faint arc lifted at the corner of Ye Chen's mouth. Immediately, a majestic heavenly might, transcendent above the Quasi-Monarch level, bloomed from his body and, at an astonishing speed, enveloped this vast starry domain.
"Monarchial heavenly might? Impossible!"
The Soul Forbidden Hall Master's expression changed drastically. The other Soul Forbidden Hall experts beside him also turned pale.
"Nothing is impossible. And even if you are a monarch, so what? As fellow monarchs, I am far, far stronger than you!"
Boom—
As his words fell, the monarchial heavenly might on Ye Chen's body surged upward at a shocking pace, rapidly expanding and exploding forth, shaking the entire starry sky like an ancient Great Emperor awakening from a long slumber.
Under this supreme, invincible monarchial heavenly might, the monarchial heavenly might emanating from the Soul Forbidden Hall Master immediately receded like a tide, unable to maintain itself, utterly collapsing.
Both were Ancient Monarchs, but compared to Ye Chen, the Soul Forbidden Hall Master's monarchial heavenly might was as weak as an ant,not worth a single blow / utterly weak.
"A super monarch? No, a peerless Sovereign! You've actually become a peerless Sovereign!"
The Soul Forbidden Hall Master was utterly terrified. Peerless Sovereigns were all monarchs of the Eighth Heaven or above, their strength surpassing ordinary monarchs by an immeasurable degree.
He could hardly imagine that the young junior who was merely a young Supreme back then, after just a few short centuries, had not only become an Ancient Monarch but had also progressed so far on the monarch's path that even he, a veteran monarch, could not hope to match him.
"A peerless Sovereign, you say?"
Ye Chen gave a light laugh, offering no explanation. He stepped forward and swept out a palm. With a thunderous roar, boundless power proliferated, manifesting dense, countless monarch rules—over a million of them, a truly awe-inspiring sight—transforming into a torrential flood that surged forth.
"No—"
The Soul Forbidden Hall Master and the other Soul Forbidden Hall experts screamed in terror, but they could not stop it. Under the deluge of monarch rules, they could not hold out for even a moment before being utterly annihilated.
Ye Chen opened his mouth and swallowed. The Soul Forbidden Hall Master's form, spirit, and internal origin world were all devoured, absorbed by his own origin universe.
At this level, although a monarch's great world didn't offer much substantial benefit, even a mosquito's leg was still meat. Expanding it a bit was better than nothing.
Having slain thirteen Soul Forbidden Hall experts with a mere gesture, Ye Chen remained utterly unperturbed, just as before.
Suddenly, he turned to look into the distant starry sky, revealing a faint smile. "Since you've already arrived, Fellow Daoist, why hide? Why not come out for a chat?"
"Cosmic Heaven City Lord pays his respects to the Battle Saint King!"
The Cosmic Heaven City Lord emerged from his hidden spot in the starry sky, his scalp tingling. Having witnessed the previous scene, he didn't believe he could remain concealed.
His words carried a tone of respect!
"Why have you come, Fellow Daoist?" Ye Chen asked.
"This humble one came intending to slightly hinder the Soul Forbidden Hall experts from attacking the First Pass. I never imagined the Battle Saint King had already resolved the matter. Truly a peerless Heaven's Pride, putting us all to shame."
Facing the Battle Saint King, who could crush an Ancient Monarch with a mere gesture, the Cosmic Heaven City Lord's words were somewhat restrained.
Suddenly, Ye Chen smiled and cupped his fists. "In that case, I thank you for your good intentions, Fellow Daoist. Having someone as dutiful and responsible as you on the Ultimate Ancient Path is a great fortune."
He could tell the Cosmic Heaven City Lord was not lying.
"Fellow Daoist Battle Saint King truly lives up to being the number one Heaven's Pride of the Chaos Sea. In just a few short centuries, you've leaped to such a realm, truly leaving our generation in the dust, utterly ashamed."
After a long moment, the Cosmic Heaven City Lord let out a sigh, filled with complex emotions.
When this Battle Saint King first came to the Ultimate Ancient Path back then, although he was already monstrously talented and had even single-handedly stormed the Soul Forbidden Hall branch in Cosmic Heaven City to rescue many Ultimate Ancient Path Heaven's Pride talents...
Back then, he was merely a Heavenly King, not even a Great One.
At that time, he, the City Lord, was still someone the Battle Saint King had to look up to.
Yet, after just a few short centuries, he had displayed the most terrifying rate of advancement, instantly becoming a legendary, generation-defining existence who could crush Ancient Monarchs with a gesture and annihilate countless experts with a snap of his fingers.
Such methods, such a realm, forced this veteran expert who had been a Divine King for tens of thousands of years to sigh in acknowledgment that he was, after all, growing old. This era ultimately belonged to the young.
Ye Chen consoled him. "There's no need for such sighs, Fellow Daoist. With the arrival of the Golden Age, I believe you too can advance further and climb to higher realms."
"I hope so."
The Cosmic Heaven City Lord gave a bitter laugh. Where did he have any grand ambitions left now? They had all been shattered to pieces by the Battle Saint King.
"Fellow Daoist, would you be interested in accompanying me to the Soul Forbidden Hall's lair?"
Suddenly, Ye Chen pointed at the still-present black hole and smiled.
The Soul Forbidden Hall's lair?
The Cosmic Heaven City Lord was first startled. After a long moment, he finally relaxed. After some hesitation, he made a decision and laughed heartily. "Today, this humble one is willing to follow Fellow Daoist Battle Saint King to the Soul Forbidden Hall's lair and crush their arrogance a bit."
To be able to annihilate an Ancient Monarch with a mere gesture—such methods were not something an ordinary monarch could achieve. This showed just what level the Battle Saint King's cultivation had reached. Following by his side, even if they went to the Soul Forbidden Hall's lair, he couldn't guarantee they could sweep through and exterminate it completely, but escaping unscathed would not be a problem.
"Let's go."
With the Cosmic Heaven City Lord in tow, Ye Chen's figure whooshed into the black hole and vanished.
Half an hour later, a spatial gate opened above the First Pass. An Ancient Monarch from the Ultimate Ancient Path personally descended, followed by several Quasi-Monarchs and over a dozen Divine Kings—a formation of no ordinary strength. All of this was solely to deal with the Soul Forbidden Hall.