Divine haloes descended upon the world in an instant, layer upon layer, reaching a total of nine. They resembled vast, mysterious worlds descending to the mortal realm, or gateways to unknown, mystical realms, from which a majestic aura overflowed.
Ye Chen was enveloped by the nine divine haloes, with immortal radiance flowing around him, making him appear like a peerless Immortal King, supremely powerful and sacred.
"This..." Wang Ming and Wang Shan were both shocked. This method seemed identical to the manifestation of the Immortal True King's ultimate rival, the Yuan Yao Divine King, in the present era.
When had Ye Chen actually mastered such a peerless divine technique?
"Wait, there's a difference," Wang Shan frowned, discerning the discrepancy. "The Yuan Yao Divine King's technique is a peerless offensive divine art, impervious to all methods, integrating offense and defense, and is extremely powerful. Although Qian Yue's seems similar, it feels more mysterious upon closer inspection. I sense a resonance with the nine heavens of the human body." He understood the distinction; the two were different, merely appearing similar.
Boom—
Above the nine layers, a tenth divine halo faintly appeared, elusive and ethereal, mysterious and transcendent. The previous nine divine haloes instantly dimmed, all yielding to it. An arcane and profound aura of the Great Dao flowed out, majestic and radiant.
Instantly, Wang Shan was stunned. Although the tenth divine halo remained faint and elusive, as if it might collapse and vanish at any moment, it was unmistakably the divine halo of the Tenth Heaven, identical to what he had seen in his previous life.
After a long while, Wang Shan sighed softly, finally understanding. He whispered, "No wonder you have such confidence. It turns out you already have some certainty of achieving the Tenth Heaven."
The Tenth Heaven had already taken its initial form, presenting a genuine opportunity. Moreover, Ye Chen had succeeded in his previous life and possessed relevant experience, so achieving it in this life wouldn't be too difficult.
To others, this might be astonishing, but Ye Chen himself was a legendary figure, so it was hardly surprising.
More importantly, an incredibly powerful aura of the Great Dao was now flowing from Ye Chen's body. He was clearly only at the Demigod ninth heaven, yet that aura far surpassed it, even exceeding that of a King.
"True King?"
Wang Shan shook his head. Although stronger than an ordinary King, it wasn't quite at the True King level; something felt lacking.
Ye Chen said, "My current realm should be at the Half-Step True King level."
This was his accurate assessment of his own strength. Previously, when he clashed with the Seventeenth Elder of the Scarlet God Valley, he had momentarily ascended to the True King level through various secret techniques, becoming more than twice as powerful as a King, which was terrifying.
This also demonstrated the invincible bearing of an Immortal True King, capable of withstanding a strike from a Demi-Saint without perishing.
Although Ye Chen possessed an extremely high comprehension of dao techniques due to his past life, his cultivation time in this life was ultimately too short—only a few years. Much of his power hadn't been fully integrated.
Furthermore, every Immortal True King was exceptionally extraordinary. Even at the same realm, they were absolutely terrifying, not much inferior to his past self. Although Ye Chen was powerful now, he was still somewhat lacking overall.
This wasn't due to dao techniques alone but also the factor of his treasure body.
Those who could achieve the status of Immortal True King had each surpassed their limits, cultivating every aspect to the extreme before undergoing Extreme Sublimation, thereby breaking the shackles of a King and attaining True Kinghood.
Thus, their mastery of dao techniques was incredibly proficient and effortless. Moreover, their treasure bodies were extremely powerful; even when facing his past self at his peak as a Supreme One, their treasure bodies wouldn't fall behind much. That kind of physique was extremely robust, not much weaker than the Battle Sacred Body. This was one of the main reasons Ye Chen hadn't yet reached the True King level.
Although Ye Chen's treasure body had undergone Extreme Sublimation through the combination of his perfected Human Yuan Golden Body and the Tyrant Heaven Refining Saint Art, it still fell short compared to the invincible bodies of True Kings.
This was the greatest difference. In ordinary combat, he would suffer greatly. Unexpectedly, Ye Chen, who had always prided himself, was also lacking in terms of his treasure body.
Ye Chen retracted the nine divine haloes around him, returning to calmness. Then he said, "Wang Ming, I'd like to know if there are places where Kings frequently gather or participate. I want to hunt Kings."
Only Ye Chen could utter such words—hunting Kings. Few in the world could accomplish such a feat.
Wang Ming pondered briefly before saying, "If possible, I think you could participate in a Domain War!"
"Master!" Upon hearing this, Wang Shan immediately changed color. He understood Domain Wars quite deeply. Not to mention others, even someone as powerful as a Saint like him couldn't guarantee absolute safety. It was a terrifying purgatory where countless cultivators perished.
Ya Ya also paled, unable to hold back a gasp. "Uncle Wang, you absolutely cannot let Daddy participate in a Domain War! It's too dangerous. Daddy is only at the Demigod realm right now."
Both of them clearly understood the true fearsome nature of Domain Wars. It was not a place ordinary cultivators could participate in; it was a massive meat grinder, a burial ground for cultivators.
There was even a saying that the entire Domain War battlefield was formed from the piled bones of countless beings throughout history, becoming a vast, boundless battlefield.
"It's fine," Ye Chen said, looking at Wang Ming. "Wang Ming wouldn't harm me. If he says this, he must have his reasons. Go on, I want to understand what this so-called Domain War refers to."
Wang Ming handed him a Memory Jade, stating it contained all information about Domain Wars, including general knowledge and many important details only Saint Lord-level existences were qualified to know.
Ye Chen extended his divine sense to actively comprehend it.
A Domain War generally referred to collisions and battles between major domains, hence the name.
The reasons for Domain Wars often involved important territories, mineral resources, and conflicts between nations in border regions. Naturally, they also included struggles between the hidden controllers of major domains.
However, it wasn't limited to wars between just one or two major domains; that was merely the most basic scenario. Many domains shared borders, so conflicts involving more than five or six major domains could occur. There were even instances of collisions between dozens of major domains, forming a massive meat grinder for cultivators that had claimed countless lives.
Qingyang Domain was a relatively powerful major domain among the myriad realms, with a strong martial culture. Due to the fierce customs in its border regions and abundant mineral resources, it frequently engaged in battles with the five nearby major domains. Thus, once a Domain War erupted, it could be quite terrifying.
Collisions between six major domains had even resulted in the fall of genuine Saint Lord-level existences. In some historically fearsome Domain Wars, even invincible existences at the Heavenly King realm had perished, their blood staining the eight directions and six harmonies, shattering countless mountains and rivers, creating boundless terror.
Hence, Wang Shan and Ya Ya paled at the mention.
However, many young geniuses of the current era chose to participate in Domain Wars to temper themselves, including numerous Kings. Moreover, Domain Wars allowed for the accumulation of military merit, which could be exchanged for precious divine materials, including items like Star Blue Silver, Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Sand, and ancient exotic beast species.
Therefore, Ye Chen agreed and chose to leave in three months to participate in a Domain War.
No one could stop this decision, not even his closest daughter, Ya Ya, who fell silent, knowing that once her father decided something, it was difficult to change.
Yet she also understood that her father would never act recklessly; he had sufficient confidence.
Moreover, at this point, even if Ye Chen participated in a Domain War, he likely wouldn't face any real danger. Those terrifying Domain Wars where Heavenly King Invincibles had fallen referred only to the few most horrific wars throughout history, belonging to the most brutal and dark eras involving not just a few major domains but at least over a hundred, shaking the myriad realms with unparalleled terror.
Heavenly Kings had fought until every drop of blood in their bodies was drained, staining the six harmonies and eight directions.
Now, even in this most prosperous and glorious era, such a level of warfare was unlikely to occur.
Furthermore, Ye Chen's current background and influence were absolutely terrifying; he could summon hundreds with a single call. Wang Ming even specifically arranged for Wang Shan, a supreme powerhouse at the Saint Treasury Realm, to accompany Ye Chen and protect his safety, preventing him from being ambushed by higher-realm experts. He even gave Ye Chen a relevant token—the Black Sky Divine Token of the Eight Great Bandits of Black Sky, not the bounty Black Warrant. Possessing the Black Sky Divine Token allowed one to become one of the highest commanders in the Domain War border regions.
This was a privilege only Saint Lord-level existences possessed. Since Ye Chen held Wang Ming's Black Sky Divine Token, he effectively wielded his command authority, making it permissible.
For these reasons, Ye Chen was essentially fearless. As long as no truly terrifying Saint Lord-level existence took action, he could remain safe.
"Before the Domain War, I need to enter seclusion properly, digest my insights, and attempt a breakthrough."
This breakthrough naturally didn't refer to reaching the Divine Transformation Realm but rather undergoing another Extreme Sublimation on the foundation of a King, tempering his treasure body to become even stronger, reaching a higher level.
"Regarding battle bodies, I've studied your Battle Sacred Body before. It's too domineering, almost the strongest physique in the myriad realms, with few physiques in the world able to rival it," Wang Shan said, offering the cultivation scriptures and various experiences of his own Primordial Battle Body. Perhaps this could allow Ye Chen to undergo Extreme Sublimation on this foundation, elevating himself another level.
Ye Chen naturally didn't refuse and accepted them.
Moreover, Ya Ya had also entered seclusion, having obtained Old Yan's cultivation scriptures on the Space-Time Great Dao, which she needed to digest properly. Meanwhile, Ye Chen entered seclusion, attempting to break through to the True King realm above the King level.
Soon, Ye Chen sank into deep seclusion.