Suddenly, a sigh broke the silence.
It came from the Chaos Hegemon. He had always been forceful, peerlessly domineering, especially after subduing the Four Sacred Beasts within the Supreme Secret Realm, his hegemon's majesty was even more pronounced.
Although the strengths of the various Ancient Path Overlords were almost on par, the many powerhouses faintly felt that the Chaos Hegemon was somewhat stronger than quite a few of the Ancient Path Overlords.
Now, he took the initiative to break the silence. Was he about to engage in battle?
Indeed—
"I shall fight you!"
The Chaos Hegemon rose to his full height, his body submerged in ancient Chaos Qi, autonomously evolving the Ten Thousand Daos. He was majestic like a Chaos Sovereign, enveloped in an invincible radiance as he looked at Ye Chen and said, "Since ancient times, two Chaos cannot meet. In this world, there can only be one Chaos."
Everyone was astonished. Such words clearly indicated that the Chaos Hegemon intended a life-and-death battle with the Battle Saint King.
Recalling now, the Battle Saint King was also a cultivator of the Chaos Great Dao, and it was obvious that he had now reached profound and unfathomable heights, attaining an inconceivable realm of creation. Although the Chaos Hegemon was strong, he could not possibly be a match for the Battle Saint King.
For him to still seek a decisive battle at this moment was clearly because he knew he was no match, hoping for one final, dignified peak battle.
Ye Chen looked at him deeply and said, "You know that currently, you are no match for me at all. I can give you a chance to reach your peak before battling me."
Since ancient times, two Chaos cannot meet; only one Chaos can exist in the world.
When encountering another Chaos cultivator, it could only be a life-and-death battle between them, to devour the other's Chaos.
Chaos could not prove the Dao and become an Emperor, but by devouring other Chaos cultivators to enhance one's own Chaos Dao Fruit, there might perhaps be a sliver of opportunity.
Ye Chen valued talent. It was not easy for the Chaos Hegemon to cultivate to this step, to reach the Ancient Monarch realm as a Chaos Monarch, and to be peerlessly powerful was even more difficult.
Given the opportunity, he hoped to have a peak battle with the Chaos Hegemon, not now when he was strong and the other weak, with the advantage he currently held being anything but ordinary.
Of course, this was also due to his absolute confidence, his firm belief in his own invincibility, believing that no matter to what extent the Chaos Hegemon grew, he could still slay him.
Hearing this, the Chaos Hegemon's eyes shot out blazing beams of light, as if they could evolve into Chaos suns, illuminating the two great ancient domains. His aura rapidly climbed, reaching an entirely new height, as he said, "Unnecessary. You and I were destined to battle. Back then, I was no match, I admit it. I have cultivated bitterly for several hundred years, reaching the Ancient Monarch realm, yet not only have I not caught up to you, the gap has grown even larger."
"I know it will inevitably be like this in the future as well—I cannot catch up to you. I can only have this life-and-death battle now."
"Make your move! Let me have one final, dignified battle!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!—
Around him, phantom images of the rules of the myriad Daos of the heavens appeared, along with ten thousand layers of world heavens and earths, as if recreating heaven and earth, evolving myriad realms, mastering the Ten Thousand Daos.
The Chaos Great Dao was evolved by him to its extreme, transcendently powerful.
Above his head, a great bell appeared. Its entire body was forged from Chaos Immortal Gold—it had actually been refined from nine types of Chaos Immortal Gold, similar to Ye Chen's Chaos Great Cauldron. It was hailed as the Chaos Immortal Bell, inscribed with the most terrifying runes and Dao principles, far surpassing ordinary Sovereign Immortal Weapons.
The Chaos Immortal Bell shone with the nine-colored radiance of Immortal Gold, dazzling and magnificent, then the nine colors transformed into Chaos light.
At this moment, the Chaos Hegemon's aura was displayed without reservation, spreading out, causing every Ancient Path Overlord to tremble and reveal expressions of shock.
Sixfold Heaven Sovereign!
The Chaos Hegemon had unknowingly reached the Sixfold Heaven level, far stronger than Ancient Path Overlords like the Yuanchu Imperial Son and the others.
Each Sovereign realm was a world apart. At this level, he was sufficient to defeat the Yuanchu Imperial Son.
"So strong! Since obtaining a Supreme Divine Crown and mastering a Supreme Secret Realm, the Chaos Hegemon has been in seclusion all along. No one knew his true cultivation level, which was probably not inferior to the other Ancient Path Overlords. Who would have thought he had unknowingly reached the Sixfold Heaven realm? Truly terrifying. If not for the appearance of the Battle Saint King, he would likely have continued hiding, perhaps catching us off guard at a critical moment."
"Among the Ancient Path Overlords, he can absolutely be called their king!"
Tai Yi, Wu Dao, the Sin Overlord, Yu Wudi, and the other Ancient Path Overlords all wore gloomy expressions.
Chaos cultivators were indeed unfathomable, far more terrifying than they had imagined.
"Chaos cultivators are indeed different. Without Supreme bloodlines, but relying on the Chaos Great Dao to cultivate a Chaos Body, it is not inferior to any Supreme bloodline," the Great Sage Immortal Prince commented highly.
As the offspring of an Immortal King titan, he had largely relied on the power of his Immortal King bloodline to reach this step, possessing an innate, enormous advantage that did not diminish even at the Sovereign level, propelling rapid advancement.
But the Chaos Hegemon was not like this. The Chaos Body he cultivated was not inferior to any supreme physique, especially in the later stages, the fearsomeness of this Chaos Body became increasingly prominent. As fellow Ancient Monarchs and fellow Ancient Path Overlords, he was clearly stronger than the other Ancient Path Overlords.
Another example was the Battle Saint King, who could be called invincible.
Now, the meeting of two Chaos Bodies displayed the world-defying nature of Chaos cultivators.
"Sixfold Heaven Sovereign. You are indeed strong and possess great potential. You should not end like this. I can give you another chance now—have a life-and-death battle when you reach your peak period," Ye Chen continued. Such a supremely powerful Chaos Hegemon, having grown to this step with such difficulty, made him reluctant to strike and kill.
Chaos cultivators—an entire era might not see two or three born, and they often could not walk to the end.
The Chaos Hegemon, having cultivated for just over a thousand years, had already become a Sixfold Heaven Sovereign—absolutely monstrous.
If not for encountering Ye Chen, another Chaos cultivator, in this era, even if he could not prove the Dao and become an Emperor, he would still be able to contend with Supreme Ones, leaving behind illustrious fame that would be passed down for generations.
"No need. After today, there will be no more Chaos Hegemon. Please remember my name—Zhou Yuan!"
The Chaos Hegemon was very calm. At this moment, the Chaos mist dispersed, revealing a peaceful face without the slightest trace of majesty or domineering aura—only tranquility, with a smile that came from the heart appearing on his face.
It was as if this was the first time he had smiled like this in his life.
Only at this moment was his true name learned by others.
In the past, the world had always called him the Chaos Hegemon, revered from all directions, yet no one knew that this strongest hegemon, famous throughout the Ultimate Ancient Path, who fought to the very end and remained invincible and supreme, his true name was Zhou Yuan.
Now, only through this life-and-death battle with Ye Chen was it truly known.
"Zhou Yuan. A good name," Ye Chen said.
"Thank you."
"Very well. In our battle, I will face you with my true strength!"
"Fight!"
Boom!—
The Emperor Heaven Hall shook. The Chaos Hegemon erupted with full power, his aura surging violently, evolving the Ten Thousand Daos, giving birth to myriad realms, like a supreme sovereign. Grasping the Chaos Immortal Bell, he struck at Ye Chen with his strongest combat power.