Boom——
The River of Time trembled violently as Great Emperor Hantian descended, riding the Immortal-Slaying Ship, his aura vast and mighty, releasing the most astonishing battle might.
"Aoyuan, it's been many years. Let me see what progress you've made!"
Great Emperor Hantian addressed an alien Half-Step Overlord. The latter was named Aoyuan. Because he had existed for far too long, only the Primordial Giants of the first generation knew a thing or two about him. He belonged to the same era as Mo Daozi, born in the early days of the Chaos Sea.
At this moment, Great Emperor Hantian took the initiative, charging towards Aoyuan.
The alien Half-Step Overlord Aoyuan said coldly, "Very well. Let this seat see how much power remains in this stubborn obsession of yours that refuses to fade."
A great battle erupted as Great Emperor Hantian faced Aoyuan.
Immediately, Ye Chen's pressure lessened considerably. Although he still had to contend with three alien Half-Step Overlords, including Mo Daozi who was struggling incessantly within him, it was still better than facing four.
Great Emperor Hantian was extremely powerful. At his peak, he was a being not inferior to Mo Daozi. He had once dominated the Chaos Sea across several epochs, with only later rising figures like the Divine Emperor and the Battle Saint Ancestor able to rival him.
Now, although only an obsession remained, he was still formidable. Moreover, fighting with the Immortal-Slaying Ship and the Eight Desolations Ancient Universe made his combat power truly earth-shattering.
Under the terrifying intensity of this peak-level battle, the River of Time boiled, its turmoil affecting all sides.
Great Emperor Hantian reigned supreme over the heavens, unleashing divine abilities that shook the past and dazzled the present, causing upheaval everywhere. Even Aoyuan, also a Half-Step Overlord, suffered immense impacts. Having already been severely wounded from his previous battle with Ye Chen, he now showed signs of being forced into retreat.
However, Aoyuan was no ordinary figure after all. A Half-Step Overlord who had roamed across Ten Thousand Ancient Times, how could he be weak? He quickly adjusted his energy, the power around his body boiling. Demonic light manifested, each mote condensed from billions of demonic runes, coalescing into a dark demonic star, about the size of an ordinary celestial body. For the Ten Thousand Ancient physiques of Half-Step Overlords, which could casually shatter Chaos Ancient Universes, it was truly as insignificant as dust.
Yet, the moment this demonic star appeared, it effortlessly traversed the countless temporal barriers of the River of Time, arriving before Great Emperor Hantian, accompanied by Aoyuan's resonant shout: "Nirvana Demon Star!"
This demonic star contained Aoyuan's Dao of Nirvana, powerful enough to cause a Major World to collapse completely.
Great Emperor Hantian's expression turned grave. He uttered softly, "Expel the Heavens!"
Expel the Heavens—it could banish the myriad heavens! It was a Space-Time Emperor Art!
Instantly, billions of layers of space-time manifested before him, each layer existing in a different dimension, densely packed and countless, blocking the path of the Nirvana Demon Star.
The Nirvana Demon Star bloomed with infinite dark demonic light, containing the most terrifying corrosive power. Even a Primordial Giant struck by it would likely perish.
However, the billions of spatial and temporal dimensions appeared, decomposing and weakening all that boundless nirvanic demonic light until the Nirvana Demon Star was completely neutralized.
"As expected of one who has mastered the Space-Time Dao, second only to the Space-Time Great Emperor," Aoyuan sighed lightly, forced to acknowledge Great Emperor Hantian's capability. If Great Emperor Hantian had not taken a different Emperor Dao path to become a Giant, his ultimate achievements in this aspect might not have been much inferior to the Space-Time Great Emperor's.
"A pity. You, who are merely a remnant obsession, are destined not to be this seat's match. Perhaps the you at your absolute peak in the past could have contended for a while."
Aoyuan's voice turned cold as he charged forward again, this time unleashing even more terrifying power.
Great Emperor Hantian's expression remained unchanged as he continued the battle.
The two fought inextricably on the River of Time, all manner of Forbidden Divine Abilities appearing with a mere lift of their hands.
After all, at their level, they were true taboo existences, and the power they wielded was unimaginable.
But unfortunately, Great Emperor Hantian was ultimately just an obsession, not his true self, and could not endure in this world indefinitely.
Later on, his figure gradually grew faint and illusory. His majestic, robust body began to show signs of decay. His jet-black hair gradually turned withered and yellow. His supreme power was fading. He could only sigh helplessly: "After all, it is not my true self. I cannot truly endure, nor can I exact revenge."
His sole remaining obsession's fundamental purpose was only to avenge the Eight Desolations Ancient Universe.
Alas, it was destined to fail!
Not to mention being just an obsession; even at his absolute peak and prime in the past, it would have been utterly impossible.
Even so, Aoyuan was covered in blood. This obsession of Great Emperor Hantian was powerful, and in the end, it burned everything of the Eight Desolations Ancient Universe, causing Aoyuan's Ten Thousand Ancient body to collapse several times, leaving him with indelible, severe wounds.
It also significantly reduced Ye Chen's pressure.
"Fellow Daoist, the rest is up to you!"
Great Emperor Hantian glanced at Ye Chen one last time. Then, his entire being, along with the Immortal-Slaying Ship and the shattered remnants of the Eight Desolations Ancient Universe, completely faded into illusion and vanished.
Only a faint, illusory beam of light traversed the River of Time and finally merged into Ye Chen's body, transforming into a Great Dao Mark.
Ye Chen instantly comprehended everything within this Great Dao Mark. He understood—this was Great Emperor Hantian's final Great Dao Mark, recording the Forbidden Divine Ability he had created: 'Piercing Through Past and Present'.
Great Emperor Hantian had imparted 'Piercing Through Past and Present' to him.
This was likely the last mark Great Emperor Hantian had left in this world.
Ye Chen smiled bitterly. Even if he had mastered a Half-Step Overlord's Forbidden Divine Ability, what use was it? Given the current situation, it offered him little to no help.
He also understood why it wasn't given to the sole survivor of the Eight Desolations Ancient Universe—Gai Lun.
Because Gai Lun wasn't strong enough. A so-called Great Perfection Emperor Realm Supreme was, in the eyes of Ten Thousand Ancient Giants, merely a young dragon that had just grown. If a Half-Step Overlord-level Forbidden Divine Ability like this were imparted to Gai Lun, it would only make him a coveted target for all sides.
"If I survive one day, I will return this Great Dao Mark to Gai Lun," Ye Chen sighed inwardly.
"Cough—"
Aoyuan, covered in blood, was also coughing up blood incessantly.
Great Emperor Hantian's final obsession had perished, but it had also severely wounded him, diminishing his combat power below its peak. This caused his expression to darken. He snorted coldly, "Great Emperor Hantian, a fellow who should have passed away long ago, managed to wound this seat so severely. He truly died with regrets. But today, he is completely extinguished. At least his name will be remembered for ages."
"However, Chaos Heavenly Emperor, with Great Emperor Hantian dead, only you remain. The Battle Saint Ancestor, Tai Sheng Huang, the Human Emperor, and the Defying War Lord are all unable to assist. How will you withstand this killing situation?"
Aoyuan mocked. The Battle Saint Ancestor and the others were indeed powerful, but they were currently held back and couldn't extricate themselves for the time being.
Under the internal and external assault of four Half-Step Overlords, even the strongest individual would inevitably perish.
Boom——
An even more intense battle erupted once more. The various Giants fell silent.
Today would likely be the day the newly advanced Half-Step Overlord, the Chaos Heavenly Emperor, met his end.
His situation was far too dire. Few had ever faced such hardship.