Qian Xun's seclusion lasted a full century.
During these hundred years, Qian Xun tempered his body with ten clumps of Emperor Dao True Blood. It must be said that each clump of Emperor Dao True Blood contained the essence of an Emperor's Dao and life force, along with their unique Supreme Emperor Laws, making them incomparably precious.
Even a single drop would hold an unparalleled allure for an Ancient Sovereign, allowing them to comprehend the power of the Emperor Dao realm and extend their lifespan.
Let alone ten clumps, each the size of a fist—they were absolutely priceless.
If released, not only Ancient Sovereigns, but even Monarchs would go mad for them, and even Supreme Ones would be tempted to fight over them, as they could comprehend the Emperor Dao of other Supreme Ones.
Moreover, Emperor Dao True Blood possessed infinite wondrous uses.
During the tempering process, even Qian Xun's Monarch-level Battle Sacred Body could not withstand it. The refinement of each clump of Emperor Dao True Blood kept him in a state of being utterly shattered, as if an Ancient Great Emperor was attacking him at every moment.
Yet, this also brought immense benefits. As the Emperor Dao True Blood tore apart his flesh and sacred bones, it also imperceptibly fused into them, gradually making Qian Xun's Battle Sacred Body even more powerful.
As time passed, clump after clump of Emperor Dao True Blood was rapidly consumed.
Qian Xun's Battle Sacred Body strengthened slowly but steadily.
After all, his Battle Sacred Body had already reached the Monarch level, though his cultivation realm had not. Therefore, making it even stronger was extremely difficult.
To have reached this point was already quite an achievement.
A century later, all ten clumps of Emperor Dao True Blood were completely exhausted.
Qian Xun emerged from seclusion.
Boom—
The moment he emerged, the starry sky collapsed.
His physical body was too powerful; the cosmos could not contain it. Even though he deliberately restrained the might of his Battle Sacred Body, the mere wisp of power he inadvertently released was enough to cause the endless starry sky to crumble.
Monarchs from all sides were shocked, and even Supreme Ones were alerted, gazing into the depths of the starry sky at Qian Xun, who stood proudly amidst the shattered void, astonishing them.
Qian Xun's physical body was now far beyond the simple Monarch-level physique of a century ago. With this body alone, he could absolutely suppress and kill a Monarch, and it might not be impossible for him to contend with an Eternal Monarch like the Taichu Emperor.
Of course, 'contending' here meant he could put up a fight, a barely passable one, not a peak-level duel.
It was similar to how the Taichu Emperor could only contend with an Ancient Great Emperor.
Even so, it was enough to shock the world.
After all, Qian Xun was not an Eternal Sovereign. For him to be this powerful was truly unbelievable.
Silently, Ye Chen appeared before him. No matter how powerful the might of Qian Xun's Battle Sacred Body was, capable of shattering the starry sky, all that imposing aura naturally dissipated into nothingness upon reaching the former.
"Very good. Your Battle Sacred Body has reached its absolute limit, with no further room for improvement unless you become a Monarch or an Eternal Sovereign," Ye Chen praised appreciatively. Such a powerful Battle Sacred Body—within the Battle Saint lineage, probably only the Battle Saint Ancestor and the Sovereign of Formlessness could have achieved this during their Ancient Sovereign eras.
Of course, he had achieved it too, but strictly speaking, he had now transcended beyond that system, so he didn't count.
Qian Xun sighed softly. "Yet I still cannot step onto the Path of Eternity, cannot prove my Eternal Sovereign body."
Becoming an Eternal Sovereign was too difficult. Even after refining ten clumps of Emperor Dao True Blood and spending a century tempering his true body to advance further, he still could not succeed.
Ye Chen nodded. "At this point, if you wish to become an Eternal Sovereign, I'm afraid the only way is to kill a Supreme One and refine their essence, spirit, indestructible Emperor body, and Emperor Dao origin."
Back then, that was how the Sovereign of Formlessness became an Eternal Sovereign.
Qian Xun's sword-like brows rose. "Kill one of the suppressed alien Emperors?"
Back then, nine Supreme Ones were suppressed: one Quasi-Giant, five alien Emperors, and three Chaos Burial Ground Ancient Emperors.
Of course, the Sovereign of Formlessness was currently refining three alien Emperors, and the Taichu Emperor was refining two Burial Ground Ancient Emperors and one alien Emperor, leaving three Supreme Ones remaining.
Especially the Wanyan Emperor, who was a Quasi-Giant, was constantly suppressed by the Great Heavenly Venerate Cang Xiong; otherwise, even the World Tower would struggle to suppress such a Quasi-Giant.
Ye Chen, however, shook his head. "No, these belong to the Pangu Universe, not to us. We cannot refine them."
One Quasi-Giant, one alien Emperor, and one Burial Ground Ancient Emperor were constantly suppressed.
Although Ye Chen had performed great deeds for the Pangu Universe, and no one would say much if he killed, refined, or devoured them himself, using them for his son's cultivation would easily invite criticism from others.
Hearing this, Qian Xun naturally understood his father's predicament and would not make things difficult for him. He could only sigh softly. "In that case, I'll advance to Monarch."
With no further room for improvement, the only option was to advance to Monarch. Only then would there be some hope of becoming a legendary powerhouse on the Path of Eternity.
"There's no need for that. Your father will personally hunt a Supreme One for you to refine," Ye Chen said with a faint smile.
Qian Xun looked at his father in surprise, feeling excited.
Over three thousand years had passed. No one knew exactly how far his father had progressed, but the world unanimously believed that even if he wasn't a Quasi-Giant, he was close.
Now, after three thousand years, his father was finally going to take action.
Ye Chen prepared to make his move, to hunt an Ancient Great Emperor. The main consorts—the Goddess, Yi Wu, Chen'er—as well as children like Yaya, Chenxi, and Ye Jing, and old friends like the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor, Weil, Ye Cangqiong, the Peacock King, the Sun God, and the War King all learned of it. They were shocked but also filled with anticipation, following along.
Boom—
A heavenly path formed from Chaos Qi pierced through the myriad domains, reaching directly to Pangu Pass. The group followed Ye Chen, eager to witness just how much his strength had grown over the past three thousand years.
After all, three thousand years ago, when Ye Chen had first stepped into the Eternal Emperor realm, his imposing aura had surpassed even that of a Great Emperor, a Supreme Perfection Supreme One. Three thousand years later, no one knew how far he had progressed, but he was certainly even more powerful.
It was rumored that during these three thousand years, a Supreme One had personally visited the Chaos Heavenly Mansion to sit and discuss the Dao with Ye Chen, only to discover that Ye Chen's insights into the Great Dao were even more profound than his, an existence at the Ancient Great Emperor level.
Moreover, the faintly discernible aura Ye Chen emitted gave him the feeling of facing Quasi-Giants like the Golden Crow Emperor, the War Emperor, or the Divine Void Emperor.
Perhaps the current Battle Saint King was not inferior to a Quasi-Giant.
Of course, this was merely speculation.
If it were any other Supreme One, none would believe they could progress that far in a mere three thousand years.
After reaching the Supreme One level, advancing even a single step was incredibly difficult.
Countless Supreme Ones had spent untold tens of thousands of years, even one or two epochal eras, yet remained stuck at their original realm, with no hope of reaching Quasi-Giant, let alone becoming a Giant of All Ages.
Now, in just three thousand years, the Battle Saint King had advanced further, yet no one disbelieved it.
Because from a mere mortal martial artist to possessing peerless combat power surpassing that of an Ancient Great Emperor, the Battle Saint King had taken only a little over two thousand years.
If two thousand years could achieve such heights, then three thousand years—especially with the "Ultimate Supreme" immortal fate—was absolutely enough for further advancement.
Of course, they also believed that although the Battle Saint King was monstrously heaven-defying, with only three thousand years of cultivation, while he might have made progress, it likely wasn't by much. Quasi-Giant was probably the limit.
Pangu Pass.
With the Great Heavenly Venerate Cang Xiong personally stationed here, it was virtually impregnable. Over the past three thousand years, the alien race and the Chaos Burial Ground had clearly realized that without Giants of All Ages taking action, breaching it was impossible, and they had essentially given up.
Though their armies had withdrawn, they remained nearby, constantly monitoring the movements of the Pangu Universe.
There were even alien Emperors watching intently.
Under the rules of the Giant Alliance Treaty, the alien Emperors had no fear, unafraid that the Great Heavenly Venerate Cang Xiong would attack them.
On this day, Ye Chen arrived at Pangu Pass with his entourage, causing a great commotion.
The invincible Battle Saint King had come. The cultivators guarding Pangu Pass were all invigorated and excited.
He was the deity and unattainable goal in the hearts of countless cultivators.
"Young Friend Ye."
The Great Heavenly Venerate Cang Xiong manifested his true body. The myriad Daos receded, his true form unseen, submerged in vast Supreme Emperor Laws.
"Senior."
Ye Chen and those beside him bowed in greeting.
The Great Heavenly Venerate Cang Xiong took a deep look at Ye Chen and exclaimed in admiration, "Three thousand years have passed, Young Friend Ye. You have grown even more powerful, surpassing your former self."
Who was he? A contemporary Giant of All Ages. In recent years, he had comprehended the Heavenly Emperor's Dao within the Heavenly Emperor's Purple Extreme Lingxiao Palace, accelerating the stabilization of his Giant realm, though there was still a distance to old-timer Giants like the Yuanchu Emperor Ancestor.
Other Supreme Ones might find it difficult to see through the current Ye Chen, but he could clearly sense Ye Chen's current formidable strength.
Ye Chen modestly said, "After three thousand years in seclusion, I have made some slight refinements."
"You kid, do you have to be so modest in front of me?" The Great Heavenly Venerate Cang Xiong shook his head helplessly, then looked at Qian Xun. Naturally, he knew how supremely powerful the latter's Battle Sacred Body was; killing a Monarch was definitely not a problem.
Ultimately, as a Giant of All Ages who could overlook all ages, he immediately understood Ye Chen's intent. "You want to kill a Supreme One so Young Friend Qian Xun can walk the Eternal Sovereign path like the Sovereign of Formlessness did in the past."
"Exactly. I intend to leave Pangu Pass and hunt an alien Emperor," Ye Chen said calmly, as if discussing something utterly unrelated.
Pangu Pass was thrown into an uproar. The Battle Saint King intended to hunt an alien Emperor—what audacity!
An Emperor, a Supreme Perfection Supreme One, an extreme Dao existence, could be said to be impervious to the erosion of time. In the eyes of the world, they already represented the pinnacle of cultivation.
Their power was enough to transcend time, even to cross temporal and spatial boundaries.
And now, the Battle Saint King had declared his intention to hunt an Ancient Great Emperor!
Without a doubt, this was shocking.
If word spread, it would surely shake the entire Pangu Universe.
The Great Heavenly Venerate Cang Xiong said, "You should know how much the alien race wants you dead. Once you leave Pangu Pass, those Giants of All Ages among the aliens might spare no cost, even disregarding the Giant Alliance Treaty to personally take action, just to eliminate you."
Ye Chen smiled. "Isn't that why I have you, Senior Cang Xiong? I remember you once said that if I were in trouble, I only needed to call your name three times, and you would come out to protect me."
"You kid—"
The Great Heavenly Venerate Cang Xiong shook his head with a hint of helplessness. "Go ahead. If any alien Giants dare appear, I'll hold them off for you."
"Thank you for the trouble, Senior."
Ye Chen smiled, then with a flicker of his figure, left Pangu Pass and entered the Chaos Sea.