This wisp of universe origin from the Eight Desolates Ancient Universe, though not abundant, was still greatly beneficial to Ye Chen. Especially after comprehending and refining it, it held immense advantages for the growth of his origin universe.
Now, he directly merged it into his small universe's origin.
Boom—
The Chaos Small Universe instantly expanded by a significant margin, overflowing with even more potent universe power. Streaks of universe dawn light submerged into his limbs and bones.
Faintly visible, the Heavenly Dao Sun Power was suppressed yet further. Ye Chen could now mobilize more of his strength.
He estimated that, under the current suppression of the Heavenly Dao Sun Power, the maximum power he could likely wield could reach a level comparable to seven million Sovereign Rules—the peak level of an Eighth Heaven Sovereign. This was in no way inferior to when he entered the Ancient Heavenly Realm back then, perhaps even slightly stronger.
"Excellent. Being able to wield roughly seven million Sovereign Rules worth of power is quite good, enough to roam unhindered across the great universe." Ye Chen was quite satisfied with this result.
Moreover, his true trump cards were the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body, the Chaos Great Cauldron, the Emperor Star, and others.
At this moment, his gaze swept towards the Dan Emperor Clan's Old Monarch outside the Emperor Array. He smiled and said, "It's resolved. Fellow Daoist, you may enter now."
The Old Monarch hesitated for a moment before entering. He offered a bitter smile and cupped his fists towards Ye Chen. "Saint King Fellow Daoist, your cultivation is profound and miraculous. Although this old one has cultivated for many more years, I am far inferior to you."
Having truly witnessed Ye Chen's strength, the Old Monarch's attitude had subtly become more respectful. Even his form of address had changed to "you."
He harbored no resentment over the latter collecting the Heavenly Dao.
"Let's cut open the final Chaos Primordial Stone," Ye Chen said, his approach similarly simple and direct. Since the Chaos Primordial Stone that posed the greatest threat to him had been dealt with, the final one wouldn't pose too great a danger.
Crack—
Boom—
The Chaos Primordial Stone shattered, and from within, a millstone-sized stone fell out. It appeared plain and unadorned, yet faintly, almost imperceptibly, it emanated wisps of Chaos Qi. It also pulsed with waves of World Heaven and Earth fluctuations, as if containing a World Heaven and Earth within. However, Ye Chen could not sense any World Heaven and Earth inside.
"World Stone!"
The Dan Emperor Clan's Old Monarch exclaimed in surprise, recognizing the stone's origin. It was a World Stone.
A World Stone, as the name implied, was related to worlds.
However, unlike a World Heart, only sufficiently massive worlds could give birth to a World Stone. Its value was far more precious than a World Heart. It could accelerate a world's development and even provide immense assistance to the growth of an origin Emperor Realm or a Chaos Primordial Great World, allowing them to expand even more vastly.
Generally speaking, such World Stones only had a certain chance of appearing one or two after the extinction of a Chaos Primordial Great World or a Myriad Ancient Colossus Great World.
To put it bluntly, unless it was the origin world of a Myriad Ancient Colossus, even a Supreme One's world could not give birth to a World Stone—unless one attained the Supreme One Dao through the Space Dao.
Before them, this millstone-sized World Stone could be considered a peerless rarity, its value in no way inferior to a Supreme Emperor Weapon.
"World Stone? World Tree?"
Ye Chen was delighted. He naturally recognized it. He turned to look at the Old Monarch and said, "I want this World Stone."
Such a World Stone, if given to Yaya, could allow Yaya, a World Tree lifeform, to grow faster. In the future, the worlds condensed by the World Tree would be even more vast, stable, and powerful.
Legend had it that the reason the Space-Time Great Emperor, that World Ancestral Tree, was so powerful was partly due to being a World Tree and partly because he was rumored to have obtained a World Stone.
Therefore, Ye Chen was quite concerned about the World Stone. It concerned his own children—how could he not be concerned?
Hearing this, the Old Monarch's expression changed, for he detected a hint of demand in the other's words, not a request. The attitude was much more forceful.
"Battle Saint King, this—" The Old Monarch was very troubled. The World Stone's value was peerless; he could not make the decision.
Ye Chen said, "I won't bully you. Either the Immortal Death Emperor Medicine seedling or the World Stone. You can only choose one."
The Old Monarch's face darkened somewhat. Choose one?
Weren't all these Chaos Primordial Stones originally the Dan Emperor Clan's? Yet the Battle Saint King wanted to take one for himself. Moreover, he had suppressed and collected the previous Chaos Kong God and the Heavenly Dao's Resentment, and the Dan Emperor Clan hadn't uttered a single word of complaint.
Inside the Emperor Hall, the Dan Emperor Clan's many powerhouses also wore very unpleasant expressions. The Battle Saint King's behavior was somewhat unseemly.
At this moment, the Dan Emperor Clan's chieftain stepped forward, having opened the Emperor Array. He possessed an extraordinary, majestic bearing—a dignified middle-aged man who had become a God King powerhouse after the arrival of the Golden Age, growing increasingly unfathomable, though he couldn't be compared to Ye Chen.
This chieftain said solemnly, "Battle Saint King, although your cultivation is profound and miraculous, you should understand that all the Chaos Primordial Stones belong to my Dan Emperor Clan. You suppressed and collected the previous Chaos Kong God and Heavenly Dao's Resentment, and we said nothing. That was giving you ample face. But now, with such an opening demand, how is it any different from banditry?"
Simultaneously, several quasi-Sovereign level old antiques appeared, guarding the chieftain. Faint, decaying auras emanated from them—they were extremely ancient, nearing the limit of their lifespans.
They were the Dan Emperor Clan's foundational assets, but they were truly very aged. Especially for the Dan Emperor Clan, which mastered the highest levels of alchemy in the Chaos Sea, having consumed countless pills, unless they broke through realms or obtained Tenth Rank Emperor Pills, ordinary pills were already ineffective.
Within the Dan Emperor Clan, they undoubtedly held very high authority, no less than the chieftain. Now, they also spoke up one after another: "Battle Saint King, you are very strong. Even deep within my Dan Emperor Clan's heartland, we dare not claim we can suppress you. But we hope you will not act too impulsively."
Behind them, many Dan Emperor Clan powerhouses were very tense, their palms sweating. They had already quietly connected with the clan's supreme weapon—the Dan Emperor Cauldron.
Because speaking and reproaching the Battle Saint King like this was undoubtedly provocative.
One must know that the Battle Saint King was no longer that mere Great Ability junior from back then. His cultivation was profound and miraculous, having reached a level surpassing even the clan's Old Monarch. If he became angered, it was highly possible the entire Dan Emperor Clan would suffer a heavy blow, with significant casualties.
They had to prepare for the worst.
Hearing this, Ye Chen fell silent for a moment, then raised his head. He did not become angry, for he also knew he was being somewhat unreasonable. He sighed lightly. "My apologies. This World Stone is of too great use to me; I have no choice but to act this way. I know it will cost the Dan Emperor Clan some benefits. Since that's the case, how about a compromise? Give me the World Stone. In the future, I will repay the Dan Emperor Clan with a treasure of equivalent value, and I will owe your Dan Emperor Clan a favor. I can swear a Heavenly Dao oath."
It must be said, the price Ye Chen needed to pay was very high.
He rarely made promises, let alone offered favors. It was exceedingly rare.