Ye Chen harbored no suspicion; with his supreme skill and boldness, he had nothing to fear. He walked side by side with the other, soon arriving at the Imperial Hall.
The Imperial Hall was vast and layered. The Emperor Blood Pool was located within one of these halls, sealed within by the Jiuyan Great Emperor. Yet, with his keen perception, Ye Chen sensed surging waves of overwhelming blood energy long before truly approaching. If not for the seals, the sheer intensity of that blood energy could undoubtedly inundate the entire boundless expanse of the Emperor Realm.
The hall was aptly named the Emperor Blood Hall, housing a pool of Emperor Blood—an Emperor Blood Pool spanning a hundred zhang in area.
Naturally, the pool could not be entirely composed of Emperor Blood. It contained a stream of Emperor Dao True Blood, while the rest was legendary Divine Spring water that had gradually been stained red over the long ages, having been infused with a trace of the Emperor Dao True Blood.
Even so, its effects were incredible. Even a Quasi-Sovereign entering it could temper their physical body to a significant degree, with remarkable results.
Of course, the most profound aspect was undoubtedly that stream of Emperor Dao True Blood within the pool. It was said to be about the size of a fist, hidden within the hundred-zhang expanse of the Emperor Blood Pool. Yet, throughout countless eons, generation after generation of imperial clan geniuses had undergone baptism within, never managing to obtain this stream of Emperor Dao True Blood.
Over the long ages, however, some imperial clan geniuses had been fortunate enough to obtain a trace of the Emperor Dao True Blood. From then on, their bloodlines underwent transformation, far surpassing other clansmen and approaching the purity of bloodlines within five generations of the imperial clan's founding—truly astonishing. This brought about remarkable changes, altering their destinies.
Upon seeing the Emperor Blood Pool, Ye Chen naturally sensed the presence of that stream of Emperor Dao True Blood. However, even he could not immediately pinpoint its exact location, though he paid it little mind.
He lightly tapped his glabella. A sphere of dawn-like light emerged, within which the faint silhouette of a handsome figure could be seen sitting cross-legged. Then, a male body of perfect golden proportions appeared, merging with this illusory figure.
This person was naturally Yan Wushuang.
His physical body had also been reconstructed by Ye Chen. Now, form and spirit reunited, he was placed within the Emperor Blood Pool.
Seeing this, the Tianxuan Ancient Ancestor frowned slightly, for Yan Wushuang's injuries were far more severe than he had imagined. His soul was shattered, his true spirit reduced to mere fragments. Even with the Emperor Blood Pool's legendary ability to revive the dead and regenerate flesh and bone, it was uncertain whether true resurrection was possible.
After all, Yan Wushuang himself was at the God King level, his cultivation profound. The difficulty of reviving him was countless times greater than that of an ordinary clansman.
Of course, since the Emperor Blood Pool contained the Jiuyan Great Emperor's Emperor Dao True Blood and Yan Wushuang was a descendant of the Jiuyan Clan, there might be some possibility.
Visibly, from the moment Yan Wushuang's body entered the Emperor Blood Pool, streams of blood energy continuously flowed into it, beginning the baptism and transformation.
The characteristics of the bloodline also subtly stabilized Yan Wushuang's remnant soul somewhat, though it could not recover fully.
Seeing this, Ye Chen understood: what was likely needed was that stream of Emperor Dao True Blood.
After a moment of contemplation, Ye Chen opened his Heaven's Gaze, piercing through layers of illusion.
Having achieved Monarch through physical body ascension, he had unlocked more of his body's divine treasures. Naturally, his Heaven's Gaze had also advanced. This was merely a stream of Emperor Dao True Blood, not hidden by an ancient Great Emperor. How could it evade Ye Chen's perception? In an instant, he discovered the hidden location of that stream.
"Emperor Dao True Blood, found you!"
Whoosh—
His five fingers spread open. Instantly, that stream of Emperor Dao True Blood within the Emperor Blood Pool was immobilized.
"Emperor Dao True Blood!" The Tianxuan Ancient Ancestor exclaimed, a flicker of covetousness in his eyes. If he could obtain this stream, it would undoubtedly change his current physical condition. At the very least, it could infuse his withered body with considerable blood energy, allowing him to live for a much longer time.
However, his actions halted immediately, for at that moment, Ye Chen looked at him. His gaze was faint, devoid of any emotion, yet it made the Ancient Ancestor tremble with fear. Only then did he remember that this was a supreme Monarch.
If he dared to covet the Emperor Dao True Blood before a Monarch—even if it belonged to the Jiuyan Imperial Clan—this formidable Monarch would likely turn hostile and strike without hesitation.
The Tianxuan Ancient Ancestor knew that even at his peak, he would be no match, let alone in his twilight years, with the sun setting on his life. It would be sheer suicide!
"Come out!"
Ye Chen reached out with his hand, intending to extract this stream of Emperor Dao True Blood. Yet, the True Blood trembled violently, erupting with billions of layers of radiant light.
In a daze, the heavens and earth changed color, space and time shifted. A majestic Great Emperor figure stood before them, suppressing all ages, overlooking past, present, and future. It was an ancient Great Emperor.
"Emperor Ancestor!"
Upon seeing this Great Emperor figure, the Tianxuan Ancient Ancestor immediately prostrated himself, speaking withexcitement and reverence: "Tianxuan pays respects to the Emperor Ancestor!"
That was the Jiuyan Great Emperor!
The Jiuyan Great Emperor stood with hands behind his back, wearing the Chaotian Crown, his aura swallowing the cosmos. So majestic and peerless, he looked at Ye Chen, exuding strands of supreme aura that suppressed all Daos: "Who are you? Why do you not pay your respects upon seeing This Emperor?"
Yet Ye Chen remained unmoving, calmly regarding the Jiuyan Great Emperor. Beside him, the Tianxuan Ancient Ancestor was incensed, shouting: "Battle Saint King, though you are a Monarch, before my clan's Emperor Ancestor, an ancient Great Emperor, you must swiftly perform the grand bow of respect!"
"A mere manifestation from a stream of Emperor Blood, not the true Great Emperor. How dare you demand I kneel and pay respects?" Ye Chen spoke indifferently, revealing the truth.
The Tianxuan Ancient Ancestor was startled, but upon truly sensing, he also discovered the truth. Indeed, it was so.
The Jiuyan Great Emperor before them possessed a Great Emperor's aura, but it was not overwhelmingly strong—only faint strands. It could not be the Jiuyan Great Emperor's true self, but ratherresembled more (more like / resembled more) an imprint he had left within the Emperor Dao True Blood.
"Moreover, even if you were the true Jiuyan Great Emperor, you would not be qualified to receive my respects," Ye Chen said coldly.
"Audacious! If This Emperor's true self were here, how would a mere Monarch like you dare not submit and pay respects?" The Jiuyan Great Emperor's imprint roared, his Emperor Dao aura shaking the world,intangible influence / imperceptibly activating the Jiuyan Imperial Clan's supreme Emperor Weapon. It transformed into ten thousand layers of Great Emperor aura, cascading down.
It was as if the true Jiuyan Great Emperor had descended. Under such might, the Tianxuan Ancient Ancestor trembled uncontrollably, his heart filled with terror, yet also rising with a sliver of delight.
What of the Battle Saint King?
What of a peerless Monarch?
Before a true ancient Great Emperor, they were still nothing. If they dared to be arrogant, they would be suppressed.
Ye Chen, however, smiled, appearing soindifferent: "My sworn brother is the Flame Emperor. My martial ancestor is the Battle Saint Ancestor. My space-time inheritance comes from the Space-Time Emperor. My alchemy inheritance comes from the Alchemy Emperor. My Heavenly Realm inheritance comes from the Heavenly Emperor. They are all colossi from antiquity, each counted among my teachers or friends."
"I ask you, a mere Great Emperor, not a colossus from antiquity—do you dare demand my respects?"
A mere Great Emperor?
His words held no trace of respect!
Yet, the Jiuyan Great Emperor's imprint changed expression, and the Tianxuan Ancient Ancestor was utterlyastonishment.
One after another, colossi from antiquity—and they all had such relationships with the Battle Saint King! Either sworn brothers or masters of his inheritances.
Any singleidentity presented would elevate the Battle Saint King's status to near parity with an ancient Great Emperor.
With so many, no wonder he dared to disregard the dignity of an ancient Great Emperor, daring toquestion whether they dared to demand his respects.
Before them, after all, was merely an imprint within the Jiuyan Great Emperor's True Blood, not his true self. And the true self, evidently aware of some of Ye Chen's related experiences, fell silent, saying: "So it is you. You are the Battle Saint King, the legendary Eternal Quasi-Sovereign. No,current you have likely already achieved the position of Eternal Sovereign."
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow: "You know of me?"
The Jiuyan Great Emperor said: "I am on the Primordial Path of Origins."