The Ultimate Ancient Path was located in the central territory of the cosmic Star Sky, traversing several important star domains.
To travel from the desolate borders of the universe to the central territory was a distance spanning fully half the universe; hundreds of millions of miles were insufficient to describe it.
However, both were existences worthy of being called overlords of the Star Sky, truly capable of reaching heaven and earth. With each step, the stars shifted, crossing endless star domains as they rushed toward the center of the universe at a heaven-defying speed.
Yet Ye Chen still felt it was too slow. He feared unexpected incidents, for he was the catalyst for all of this. Moreover, he had always held favorable feelings toward the Ultimate Ancient Path and did not wish for any mishaps to befall it.
"Fellow Daoist, enter my Chaos Halo!"
Ye Chen suddenly spoke. The Ice-Fire Monarch was slightly startled but complied, entering the Chaos Halo that manifested on the former's body surface.
"Let's go!"
The ten Immortal King Feather Swords behind him, resembling sacred wings, trembled slightly. Countless ancient and profound Dao patterns emerged, faintly encircled by what seemed like the River of Time.
Whoosh—
In an instant, the two transformed into a stream of nine-colored immortal light, traversing the Star Sky at a shocking speed that would leave even peak Sovereigns dumbfounded, traveling at their utmost velocity.
Their target: the Ultimate Ancient Path, half a universe away!
Meanwhile, at the Ultimate Ancient Path, located half a universe away beyond infinite star domains, on one of its important battlefields.
What met the eye were Trial Ancient Passes collapsing and disintegrating in the Star Sky.
Numerous Soul-Restraining Halls were also exploding.
Both the Ultimate Ancient Path side and the alien race side had suffered heavy casualties, with many powerhouses falling. Blood stained vast stretches of star domains, a truly shocking sight.
"Ah—, Soul-Restraining Hall!"
From a half-collapsed Trial Ancient Pass, a Divine King covered in blood shot into the sky, his aura peerless. He summoned numerous stars to intercept a Soul-Restraining Hall as massive as a star.
Whoosh—
The Soul-Restraining Hall was wreathed in demonic mist, and thick Soul-Restraining Divine Chains shot out, shattering stars one after another. Divine King-level figures also attacked, engaging in fierce combat.
This was but one scene. Deeper in the Star Sky, there were clashes between Quasi-Monarchs, and even life-and-death battles between Ancient Monarchs.
The great war had lasted for two months. Both sides had suffered the fall of Ancient Monarchs, with heavy casualties that made the myriad races of the universe tremble with fear.
Both the Ultimate Ancient Path and the Soul-Restraining Hall possessed the power to annihilate Star Sky paramount forces that possessed Ancient Monarchs, their foundations astonishingly profound.
"Ah—"
A mournful cry rang out. Many Guardians and trial geniuses of the Ultimate Ancient Path watched as a venerable, prestigious Quasi-Monarch elder bled out in the Star Sky. Many wept bitterly, but even more soared into the sky to join the battle.
"Heh heh, the Ultimate Ancient Path dares to challenge the dignity of my Soul-Restraining Hall? Today, we shall execute another Quasi-Monarch!"
A Quasi-Monarch emerged from the Soul-Restraining Hall. He did not appear old, being in his middle years, with vital energy and blood so powerful they could drown the Star Sky. His divine soul was supremely strong, his form and spirit both at their peak, surpassing the Ultimate Ancient Path's Quasi-Monarch elder in power.
He was actually a Star-Devouring Beast in human form, belonging to one of the Star Beast races. Having become a Quasi-Monarch, it was enough to prove his extreme strength. Within the Star Beast race, he could be considered a titanic existence.
In human form, he appeared exceptionally towering and burly, like a small mountain. In a direct and forceful collision with the Ultimate Ancient Path's Quasi-Monarch elder, the latter coughed blood and was wounded.
"Has the Star Beast race also joined the Soul-Restraining Hall's alliance?"
"That's the Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord, a Quasi-Monarch of the Star-Devouring Beast race. It's said he's at the Great Perfection stage of Quasi-Monarch, almost ready to take that final step into the ranks of Ancient Monarchs!"
"Ah—, our Ultimate Ancient Path's Senior Azure Robe has lived for far too long. Even as a Quasi-Monarch, he's nearing his Great Limit. Without breaking through to Ancient Monarch, he'll eventually pass away from old age. With his vital energy so depleted, how can he be a match for the Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord?"
The Guardians and trial geniuses of the Ultimate Ancient Path wept in sorrow. Even if he was no match, even if this battle would likely cost him his life, the Azure Robed Daoist still charged forward fearlessly, completely unafraid of death.
The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord's imposing demeanor was intimidating. With each attack, he sent the Azure Robed Daoist flying and coughing blood. He sneered coldly, "Old man, you're aged and frail. Even at your peak, you were only at the late-stage Quasi-Monarch level. I, however, am a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch, with ninety percent of my inner world transformed into a true world. How could you possibly be my opponent?"
As he spoke, he released the phantom of his inner world, ninety percent in world form, crushing forward. Stars in the Star Sky shattered one after another, unable to withstand the pressure of this world.
"To hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening is acceptable!"
The Azure Robed Daoist appeared very calm. Even as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, a transcendent brilliance shone within him.
The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord sneered, saying no more, but unleashed even more terrifying attacks that spanned the sky, causing the Azure Robed Daoist to cough blood continuously, his essence, energy, and spirit growing weaker.
At this stage, nearing his Great Limit, every drop of blood was precious. Such continuous loss hastened the approach of his end.
Boom—
Suddenly, strands of sacred flame appeared on the Azure Robed Daoist's body. Seeing this, everyone on the Ultimate Ancient Path felt sorrow, for that was the fire of Dao dissipation, indicating the Azure Robed Daoist was beyond saving and about to dissipate into the Dao.
The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord also looked at him with some wariness. This fire of Dao dissipation from someone of the same realm was not something he dared to touch. If it attached to him, the slightest carelessness could cause him to dissipate as well.
"Allow this old man to release the last embers of his life on the battlefield!"
The Azure Robed Daoist remained calm, as if death were liberation, and charged toward the Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord.
"Old man, how dare you!"
The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord roared, transforming his voice into layers of invisible sonic ripples that exploded outward. He also employed supreme means to prevent the Azure Robed Daoist from getting close and dissipating.
Boom—
The Azure Robed Daoist exploded. Burning himself in Dao dissipation, he shattered his form and spirit, dealing a heavy blow to the Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord.
Blood continuously spilled. The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord's aura dropped significantly, clearly having suffered considerable damage. He cursed angrily, "Damnable old man, even in death you couldn't forget to dissipate and self-destruct."
"Senior Azure Robe!"
Many on the Ultimate Ancient Path wept bitterly. The Azure Robed Daoist had not hesitated to advance his Great Limit, dissipating into the Dao in an attempt to drag the Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord down with him. Unfortunately, he had failed.
The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord was too strong—a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch, only a step away from Ancient Monarch. Once he crossed that threshold, he would be a universe-shaking overlord.
"That old ghost Azure Robe dared to wound me like this. Today, I shall make all the Trial Ancient Passes of the Ultimate Ancient Path pay with their lives!"
The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord snorted coldly, manifesting his divine ability. Massive stars materialized in the Star Sky, rotating slowly and emanating powerful stellar might before crashing down from the heavens toward the seven Trial Ancient Passes below.
These seven Trial Ancient Passes each had Divine Kings guarding them. But without Quasi-Monarchs stepping forward, who could contend?
Under the Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord's attack, as the numerous stars descended, the Divine Kings of the seven Trial Ancient Passes coughed blood and were sent flying. Some Great Abilities were even pulverized.
Under a Quasi-Monarch's assault, Divine Kings were far from being a match.
"Perish!"
The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord extended a giant hand, transforming it into a colossal claw—the claw of his true Star-Devouring Beast form. It blotted out the sky, far larger than any star, crashing down toward the seven Trial Ancient Passes below, covering an area encompassing an entire star domain. It was a truly astonishing sight.
The powerhouses of the seven Trial Ancient Passes all felt despair. The other Quasi-Monarchs of the Ultimate Ancient Path were also unable to assist, similarly restrained by the Soul-Restraining Hall's Quasi-Monarchs.
"Come, let us self-destruct and buy some time for these youngsters."
Seven Divine Kings of the Ancient Path shot into the sky, their gazes resolute. This caused the geniuses of the Ancient Path to grieve. They would self-destruct without hesitation to buy time—selfless and noble. Such were the Guardians of the Ancient Path.
"Self-destruct?"
The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord's eyes flashed with a chilling light as he fixed his gaze on the seven Divine Kings. In an instant, under his boundless Quasi-Monarch pressure, mixed with faint threads of Sovereign heavenly might, space-time wasrestrained, rendering the seven Divine Kings immobile and unable to self-destruct.
Such a method was beyond imagination.
The seven Divine Kings felt utter despair. They couldn't even self-destruct, unworthy of being called Divine Kings.
"All of you, die for me."
With a light shout, the Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord's gaze turned countless times colder. As his Star-Devouring Beast claw swept down, the first Ancient Path Divine King exploded, his form and spirit disintegrating into nothingness.
Immediately after, the second Ancient Path Divine King was pulverized, and the third also perished.
In the blink of an eye, three Divine Kings were crushed like insects, their forms and spirits utterly annihilated.
Such was the terrifying strength of a Great Perfection Quasi-Monarch.
The remaining four Divine Kings spared no effort, burning their forms and spirits to break free even slightly, attempting to self-destruct.
"Useless. I am most proficient in the Dao of Space-Time; few in the world can surpass me." The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord sneered coldly as if looking at a group of ants, full of mockery. Mere Divine Kings—in his eyes, they couldn't even accomplish the simplest self-destruction.
This was strength, absolute, overwhelming strength!
"Oh? You say few in the world can surpass you? What if it's me?"
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the Star Sky.
Hum—
Silently, everything within this vast expanse of Star Sky came to a standstill.
Whether it was the various powerhouses of the Ultimate Ancient Path, the remaining four Divine Kings, or even the Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord—all were frozen, unable to move a muscle!
Two figures appeared in this Star Sky. One of them was flawless, supremely divine and sacred.
Behind him were ten wings, flowing with resplendent, blazing nine-colored immortal light, like an Immortal King descending to the mortal realm, transcending the red dust.
He looked indifferently at the Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord and said calmly, "Your strength is quite weak, but your tone is anything but small."
The Sun-Extinguishing Star Lord's expression changed drastically in horror, for he discovered that space-time had stopped and wasrestrained. Even with his utmost proficiency in the Dao of Space-Time, he could not break free.
How was this possible? Even many Ancient Monarchs could hardly compare to his attainments in the Dao of Space-Time.
Just who was this person before him?
Even the various powerhouses of the Ultimate Ancient Path were greatly puzzled, both shocked and bewildered, for they did not know whether these two sudden arrivals were friend or foe.
This person was naturally Ye Chen.