The ultimate battle between overlord-level forces had concluded, with the Soul-Restraining Hall suffering devastating losses. In a sense, it could be considered a complete annihilation.
Although the First Emperor Envoy still lived, he had left wounded.
The Battle Saint King had achieved Body Ascension to Imperial Monarch, dominating the Star Sky and standing invincible before all races.
It was foreseeable that, should he wish it, this vast expanse of cosmic territory would fall under his rule, and even Star Sky Overlords would have to bow their heads in submission.
After this battle, some rejoiced while others despaired.
Having achieved physical body Emperorhood, Ye Chen could not say he was particularly happy, for his disciple Yan Wushuang had sacrificed herself, burning her Faith Power to save him.
This was a tragedy.
Though he had managed to preserve the last few sparks of her true spirit and some remnant soul fragments, they were incomplete, and reviving Yan Wushuang was currently impossible. For now, he could only let her slumber within his Chaos Supreme Soul, nurturing her back to strength over a long, long time.
Of course, he had also forged a mighty reputation. The entire Soul-Restraining Hall had been nearly wiped out by him alone, and eight of the Nine Emperor Envoys had been slain.
From now on, the Soul-Restraining Hall would be almost completely erased from history.
Naturally, as long as the First Emperor Envoy remained alive, the Soul-Restraining Hall was still a major threat.
Furthermore, the mysterious Weapon No. 1 and Weapon No. 0 had yet to appear, which also posed a great danger.
Ye Chen was quite tempted to directly charge into the Soul-Restraining Hall's headquarters world. When he had subdued the corresponding Soul-Restraining Hall Monarchs, he had also extracted a vague coordinate for the headquarters world. It wasn't precise, but within a general range, his Monarch-level abilities could surely locate it.
However, he had also learned a terrifying truth.
The Heaven Soul Great Emperor had not completely perished; he had been in a state of slumber all along.
The Soul-Restraining Hall's plans over several epochs had, by this Great Era, transformed directly into a resurrection plan dedicated solely to the Heaven Soul Great Emperor.
"The Heaven Soul Great Emperor hasn't fallen. That is indeed a calamitous threat," Ye Chen's gaze turned cold. Of course, he wasn't afraid. Over the years, even ancient colossi had failed to kill him, let alone a slumbering Great Emperor.
Now that he had achieved physical body Emperorhood, even without relying on his Great Emperor Reincarnation Body, he had the capital to face a Great Emperor and retreat unscathed.
Of course, as Cang Xiong had said, the Soul-Restraining Hall's headquarters world was extremely dangerous. Saying it was 'crouching tigers and hidden dragons' was an understatement. The First Emperor Envoy alone was a Monarch, and there were the mysterious Weapon No. 0 and Weapon No. 1. Especially Weapon No. 0, which he suspected was a terrifying existence not inferior to a Monarch.
Moreover, as the resurrection site for the Heaven Soul Great Emperor, he didn't believe the headquarters world would lack the Great Emperor's contingency plans for his return.
"I'm still a bit short. When I achieve Eternal Monarch status, I can come and investigate this Soul-Restraining Hall headquarters world. By then, I won't even fear the Heaven Soul Great Emperor."
Ye Chen possessed absolute confidence in this. An Eternal Monarch could already contend with a Supreme One, let alone someone like him who rivaled the Heavenly Emperor and the Primordial Ancestor in their youth. Once he achieved Eternal Monarch status, it likely wouldn't be a simple matter of contending; he could engage in peak-level battles like the Formless Monarch, and even overpowering them wasn't impossible.
"Very well, I'll let the Soul-Restraining Hall be for now. But now that I've attained Monarch status, it's time for some people to pay the price."
Ye Chen looked towards the Star Sky and spoke softly.
His figure moved, tearing through the void like a blazing bolt of lightning, vanishing in an instant.
Jiuyan Star Domain.
Originally the star domain where the Imperial Star of the Jiuyan Imperial Clan was located. On this day, the Imperial Star had vanished without a trace.
Even the star domain once ruled by the Jiuyan Imperial Clan lost all connection with the clan overnight.
The universe was shaken. Without a doubt, everyone understood the truth behind the Jiuyan Imperial Clan's disappearance.
They were afraid the Battle Saint King would come for revenge!
On this day, Ye Chen's true body descended upon this star domain. Seeing no trace of the Imperial Star, he understood the Jiuyan Imperial Clan's intention, a cold sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Do you really think you can hide so easily from a Monarch?"
His divine sense was immensely powerful, instantly enveloping the boundless expanse of the starry territory, reaching everywhere without limit. Everything became clearly visible within his divine sense.
Soon, he detected traces. With a swipe of his hand, he tore open the Star Sky, appearing within the endless spatial turbulence, sensing the Jiuyan Imperial Clan's Emperor World hidden deep within.
His figure moved, charging towards it.
Emperor World. The entire Jiuyan Imperial Clan was in a somber mood.
Yan Wushuang's death and the Nine Mysteries Monarch's erroneous decision had plunged the entire Jiuyan Imperial Clan into an unprecedented predicament.
Facing the attention of a Monarch was something no one in the world would willingly endure.
But they also believed that with the Emperor World concealed, even a powerful Monarch would find it difficult to locate.
Boom—
Suddenly, the Emperor World trembled. A terrifying spatial rift, spanning hundreds of millions of miles, appeared in the sky above, stretching across the entire Emperor World like a dreadful abyss.
A majestic figure stood atop the spatial rift, lofty and aloof, looking down upon the entire Emperor World.
"The Battle Saint King!?"
Everyone's expressions changed!
Immediately, the Jiuyan Imperial Clan's heritage foundations awakened one by one. The imperial clan had more than just the Nine Mysteries Monarch; there were other Ancient Monarchs in slumber, all forced to awaken and emerge at this moment. Their Sovereign heavenly might spread across the Emperor World's sky in layer upon layer.
Even the Supreme Emperor Weapon autonomously awakened.
The presence of a Monarch posed a massive threat, causing the Supreme Emperor Weapon to stir.
"Who dares trespass upon my Jiuyan Imperial Clan!"
A cold voice echoed from within the Jiuyan Imperial Clan's imperial hall, its Sovereign heavenly might surpassing that of the other three awakened imperial clan Monarchs. It clearly belonged to the ranks of a Star Sky Overlord.
Evidently, the Jiuyan Imperial Clan was not lacking in such Star Sky Overlords. However, generally speaking, these were the highest-level heritage foundations, only awakened during existential crises threatening the clan's extinction, not easily roused.
Now awakened, this figure soared into the sky, decrepit and aged, with a frail body, much like Cang Xiong. Clearly, these were imperial clan Monarchs whose blood energy had dried up and lifespans were nearly exhausted.
Upon reflection, this was reasonable. Generally, Star Sky Overlords in their prime, with vigorous blood energy and a sliver of hope to impact Monarch status or even prove their Dao to become a Great Emperor, would not be easily sealed away as clan heritage.
"Ancient Ancestor Tianxuan!"
The Jiuyan Imperial Clan members immediately performed grand bows of respect, even the Nine Mysteries Monarch was no exception. For this imperial clan Star Sky Overlord was even more astonishing than imagined. He was an Ancient Monarch from the era when the Jiuyan Great Emperor still walked the world, having once followed the Jiuyan Great Emperor in conquest, much like the Nine Emperor Envoys, possessing immense power.
His seniority was extremely high.
"Hmph!"
Ye Chen's cold snort suddenly exploded like heavenly thunder, shaking the entire Emperor World, causing even that Star Sky Overlord, Ancient Ancestor Tianxuan, to change expression, his eyes widening in shock. "A... a Monarch!"
He couldn't help but panic. That was a Monarch, a peerless figure with one foot already in the Emperor's Dao domain. However, what puzzled him was why such a being would suddenly appear at the Jiuyan Imperial Clan's Emperor World, and judging by his expression, he seemed extremely impatient and held a trace of disgust. This made Ancient Ancestor Tianxuan somewhat flustered.
"Esteemed Monarch, this old one dares to ask, what has happened?"
Ancient Ancestor Tianxuan was unaware of the grievances; he had only been startled awake and emerged at this moment.