Because here, Ye Chen had once seen several Chaos Primordial Stones years ago and had kept them in mind ever since, wondering if they had been cut open by now.
Although the Dan Emperor Clan had once had grievances with him, the kindness of the Alchemy Emperor could not be forgotten in the end. The Alchemy Emperor had even assisted him on the Origin Ancient Path, so he felt he should look after the clan a little.
"Who goes there? This is the Dan Emperor Clan. Unrelated persons are not permitted to approach!"
The Starry Sky Ancient City stood on the passageway connecting the Dan Emperor Realm to the outside world, serving as a formidable ancient pass for defense. A powerful expert from the Dan Emperor Clan stationed there shouted sternly.
Ye Chen naturally did not announce that he was the Dan Emperor Clan's First Guest Elder. His attitude remained relatively cold. "I am the Human Race's Battle Saint King. I demand entry into the Dan Emperor Realm!"
"The Battle Saint King? Our clan's First Guest Elder? Quickly open the gates! Invite him in!"
"What nonsense are you talking? He hasn't been that for many years now."
"Back then, our Dan Emperor Clan and the Battle Saint King parted ways after a disagreement. Now, the Battle Saint King is most likely here seeking revenge. Do not open the gates!"
The Dan Emperor Clan experts guarding the ancient pass stopped them, fearing that the Battle Saint King would attack the clan. After all, after the Battle Saint King left the Ultimate Ancient Path back then, he entered the Supreme Ancient Path, fought his way to its very end, became invincible on both ancient paths, his prestige unparalleled and his combat power astonishing. As members of the Dan Emperor Clan, they naturally knew all this intelligence.
Now, seeing the Battle Saint King appear, they naturally suspected he had come for revenge.
Especially among them was Dan Wutian, the very gatekeeper who had tried to extort Ye Chen's Emperor Body when Ye Chen was being hunted by various major forces across the Great Universe. He was utterly terrified and absolutely dared not let the latter enter, fearing that once inside, Ye Chen would immediately attack him.
"Fine, very good. If not for the fact that I paid my respects to Senior Alchemy Emperor on the Origin Ancient Path and received his grace, wishing to repay some of that favor, do you all truly think I would want to enter the Dan Emperor Realm? Hah!"
Ye Chen gave a cold laugh and turned to leave.
Since the Dan Emperor Clan was acting this way, he naturally wouldn't press his warm face against their cold rear.
"Saint King, young friend, please wait!"
Suddenly, an aged voice rang out. An elderly figure appeared on the ancient pass, trembling and tottering as if on the verge of collapse. Yet, his appearance made all the Dan Emperor Clan experts, including Dan Wutian, treat him with utmost respect, not daring to overstep in the slightest.
It was the Dan Emperor Clan Monarch from back then.
He had appeared in person.
"Ancestor!"
Seeing the newcomer, all the Dan Emperor Clan experts were greatly shocked, especially Dan Wutian, whose heart pounded with fear. The clan's Monarch ancestor had actually appeared personally.
Ye Chen stopped and gave a slight nod towards this Dan Emperor Clan Monarch.
"How dare you! Upon seeing our clan's Monarch ancestor, why do you not immediately bow!" Dan Wutian hurriedly shouted at this moment, demanding Ye Chen pay his respects.
"Wutian, shut your mouth!" The Dan Emperor Clan Monarch's expression changed, and he hurriedly said to Ye Chen, "Young friend, please do not take offense!"
Dan Wutian was horrified. The clan's Ancient Monarch was actually showing such respect to the Battle Saint King.
"Noisy!"
Ye Chen swept a glance at Dan Wutian and uttered a light exclamation. Without any warning, Dan Wutian's body shattered into pieces, and even his soul exploded, perishing on the spot with no chance of survival.
On the ancient pass, the Dan Emperor Clan experts felt their hearts pounding with fear. Dan Wutian had been a peak Great Power, yet before the Battle Saint King, a single light utterance had annihilated him both physically and spiritually. What kind of method was that?
Had the Battle Saint King already become an Ancient Monarch?
At the same time, they were also furious. This was the Dan Emperor Clan's territory. How dare the Battle Saint King kill a Dan Emperor Clan expert here? Wasn't this slapping them in the face?
One must know that the Dan Emperor Clan was an imperial clan, possessing the supreme Alchemy Emperor and theheritage / foundation of an Emperor's Dao. They feared not even Ancient Monarchs; it wasn't as if they didn't have Ancient Monarchs themselves.
But what shocked them was that the Dan Emperor Clan's Old Monarch only frowned slightly, sighed once, then looked at Ye Chen and said, "Dan Wutian is dead. Has the Battle Saint King vented his anger?"
What?
The Old Monarch actually showed no intention of pursuing the matter at all?
They immediately felt their scalps go numb. Even the Old Monarch was tolerating the Battle Saint King to this extent. In the end, just what level of super powerhouse was this Battle Saint King that the clan treated him with such courtesy, allowing a clan Great Power like Dan Wutian to perish without the slightest pursuit? This was absolutely not simple.
Ye Chen nodded slightly, but his expression remained very aloof. "That's somewhat better. This Dan Wutian tried to extort me back then, shouted at me today, repeatedly opposed me to the point of life and death. Today, Fellow Daoist's action is acceptable. Otherwise, even bearing Senior Alchemy Emperor's repeated kindness, I would never set foot in the Dan Emperor Realm again."
"Yes, as long as the young friend has vented his anger, it is good." The Old Monarch breathed a sigh of relief, then barked an order to those around him. "Attendants! Quickly open the gates! Welcome the Battle Saint King inside with the highest protocol!"
While the Dan Emperor Clan experts were still bewildered, the gates of the city pass were already opened.
The Old Monarch personally led a group of Dan Emperor Clan high-level figures out to welcome him, including the imperial clan's Patriarch, several Quasi-Monarchs, and God Kings. These were former powerhouses who had gradually awakened within the Dan Emperor Clan over the years, serving asheritage / foundation. In this era, they had all chosen to break their seals and emerge.
This could be said to be an extremely high protocol. Even if other imperial clan Ancient Monarchs came, they would not receive such treatment.
"Battle Saint King, welcome to our Dan Realm."
The Old Monarch spoke, very pleased, and invited him inside.
The other Dan Emperor Clan members did not understand why the clan's Old Monarch was welcoming the Battle Saint King with such high protocol. Even if he was an Ancient Monarch, it shouldn't be like this. The Dan Emperor Clan was aEsteemed / Honorable imperial clan; why fear an Ancient Monarch?
But they dared not ask directly.
Ye Chen nodded. He had always held this Old Monarch in high regard. The incident back then was merely the doing of Dan Wutian and others. He had heard that when the incident occurred, the Old Monarch was not present. Later, upon learning of it, he had been furious and punished Dan Wutian, assigning him to guard the Dan Realm's gate.
"I came this time for those few Chaos Primordial Stones."
He got straight to the point. Back then, he had cut open several Chaos Primordial Stones, each revealing remarkable things: a Chaos Saint Spirit, and one that cut open a chaotic, blood-soaked universe.
The remaining few had not been cut open. This visit was precisely for those Chaos Primordial Stones.
Hearing this, the Dan Emperor Clan experts were all furious. Those Chaos Primordial Stones were of extremely high value. They had previously been cut open to reveal incredible treasures. The Dan Emperor Clan had always preserved them as key items, not cutting them open. Now, the Battle Saint King had come specifically to cut them open.
However, before they could speak, the Old Monarch breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That is excellent. Please, Fellow Daoist, cut them open."
In fact, only an Ancient Monarch like him knew that those few Chaos Primordial Stones were actually a kind of calamity, giving even him, this Old Monarch, a sense of threat.
One must know, Ancient Monarchs were incredibly powerful, hailed as Universe Overlords. Vast as the universe was, they could go almost anywhere. Unless it was a perilous land left by a Supreme One, or one of the few dangerous realms left over from the universe's creation that contained hazards capable of killing Ancient Monarchs, no other place could hold an Ancient Monarch.
But these few Chaos Primordial Stones had an extraordinary origin, making even him feel a sense of crisis.