When Ye Chen arrived at the Donghuang Sacred Hall in the east, the colossal hall stood as majestic as a mountain range, its imposing aura compelling one to kneel and bow in submission.
In fact, all who came to the Donghuang Sacred Hall would perform the three bows and nine kowtows, prostrating themselves in devout worship, as if paying homage to the Donghuang who had vanished for endless eons.
Donghuang held an exalted status in the Donghuang Domain, no less than the Immortal Ancestor who pioneered the immortal path. In the hearts of countless people, he was even more revered than the Immortal Ancestor.
Boom—
At that moment, an extravagantly luxurious carriage appeared in the sky, pulled by nine Divine King-level exotic beast kings, a sight of utmost grandeur and opulence.
"The Imperial Clan has arrived!"
Before the Donghuang Sacred Hall, the crowd exclaimed in astonishment, for a royal banner fluttered on that carriage, an ancient character 'Dong' swaying ceaselessly, emitting threads of imperial majesty. It was none other than the first Imperial Clan of the Donghuang Domain—the Donghuang Clan!
The carriage landed before the Donghuang Sacred Hall but did not charge inside. A group of figures disembarked, exactly ten in number, each at least a Divine King, with Quasi-Sovereigns and Ancient Monarchs among them. All were young, not exceeding ten thousand years of age.
The ten young supreme powerhouses of the Imperial Clan strode with dragon-like vigor and tiger-like steps. First, they paid respectful homage to the Donghuang Sacred Hall, then left the carriage behind and stepped into the Donghuang Sacred Hall.
"Are those the ten contemporary Heaven's Prides of the Donghuang Clan?"
"Exactly. I never expected all ten of the clan's strongest Heaven's Prides to appear together this time. Since their emergence, this is one of the rare occasions all ten have gathered. They've probably come to thoroughly comprehend that wisp of Immortal Venerable essence left behind by His Majesty Donghuang."
"But who knows which of them will be able to fully comprehend that wisp of Immortal Venerable essence left by His Majesty Donghuang."
The crowd was shocked. The identities of the arrivals were extraordinary—they were the famous ten Heaven's Prides who dominated the current era.
These ten individuals were renowned top-tier Heaven's Prides even across the vast Primordial Immortal Realm, for they were all Great Perfection Supreme Geniuses.
Among them were offspring of immortal paths, Heaven's Pride disciples taught by Supreme Immortals or even Quasi-Immortal Kings, and also peerless Heaven's Prides from the Donghuang Clan who inherited the rich Immortal Venerable bloodline. Each was exceptionally talented, rare in the world.
They were also revered as the ten strongest Heaven's Prides of the Donghuang Domain in this era, all with hopes of attaining the Dao and becoming immortals.
"Ten Great Perfection Supreme Geniuses. The Donghuang Clan truly lives up to being the number one power in the eastern Immortal World," Ye Chen remarked with slight surprise. Great Perfection Supreme Geniuses were no ordinary individuals. Only offspring of immortal paths or Supreme One descendants were born as Great Perfection Supreme Geniuses. For the outside world to produce one was not simple, fraught with many difficulties.
Let alone ten Great Perfection Supreme Geniuses gathering together—it was nearly inconceivable.
Even a major Immortal King clan at its most prosperous period would likely struggle to achieve this, unless the offspring of its various Supreme Immortals also gathered.
Ye Chen thought it was probably the case. Moreover, he sensed that half of the ten did not belong to this era but had been sealed away and released in this epoch.
A highly qualified Ancient Monarch exclaimed in amazement, "The Donghuang Clan is indeed the undisputed ruling clan of the eastern Immortal World. Back then, there were seven Immortal King existences who followed His Majesty Donghuang. But now, with ten Great Perfection Supreme Geniuses arriving together to comprehend the Immortal Stele, is it to cultivate a new Immortal King existence, or to summon the return of His Majesty Donghuang who vanished endless eons ago?"
Donghuang, the peerless Immortal Venerable One who existed since time immemorial, rose during the early days of the Primordial Immortal Realm, once dominating the entire Primordial Immortal Realm before leaving the center of the Immortal World and coming to the eastern Immortal World, leaving behind his legacy, which became the present Donghuang Clan.
Subsequently, Donghuang also vanished from the mortal world endless eons ago. Multiple epochs had passed, yet no trace of him had appeared.
There had always been suspicions that Donghuang might have perished, but no evidence confirmed it.
Those who knew some inside information understood that even the Donghuang Clan itself did not know Donghuang's whereabouts. Many Donghuang clansmen even suspected whether Donghuang had perished as an immortal. Otherwise, why would Donghuang Taiyu, Donghuang's offspring who should have left for several epochs, return to Donghuang Sacred City? It seemed more like a form of garrisoning.
Of course, more people firmly believed Donghuang could not have perished as an immortal, for his cultivation suppressed all ages, with few rivals.
Throughout endless eons, even though Donghuang had never manifested, no one dared to invade the Donghuang Domain. The Donghuang Bell left behind by Donghuang had guarded the peerless Imperial Clan for multiple epochs, preventing great enemies from encroaching.
The ten Great Perfection Supreme Geniuses walked side by side into the Donghuang Sacred Hall, ascending the heavenly stairs toward the Immortal Stele that spanned heaven and earth.
Immediately after, Ye Chen also strode into the hall, immediately becoming the focus of attention as an anomaly, for he did not pay homage to the Donghuang Sacred Hall.
Instantly, someone spoke up to reprimand him: "Junior, this is the Donghuang Sacred Hall. Why do you not kneel and pay homage?"
"Facing the Donghuang Sacred Hall yet not kneeling in worship—do you not hold His Majesty Donghuang in regard?"
Many people spoke up, sternly condemning him.
The Donghuang Sacred Hall was an extremely sacred place. Even if a Supreme Immortal arrived in person, they would bow in respect to show reverence.
Now, a young man had come, yet he disregarded the dignity of the Donghuang Sacred Hall, showing neither respect nor reverence—it was simply an insult.
However, Ye Chen continued as he pleased, passing through the crowd and arriving before the entrance of the Donghuang Sacred Hall.
This angered even more people.
Even the two guards stationed before the entrance of the Donghuang Sacred Hall stepped forward, saying coldly, "Those who encounter the Donghuang Sacred Hall and do not kneel in worship shall be expelled!"
Boom—
Boom—
Two powerful auras surged mightily from the guards—they were actually Divine King-level supreme powerhouses. It was hard to imagine that super-powerful experts of such high realms were merely guards of the Donghuang Sacred Hall.
This also showed how much importance the Donghuang Clan placed on the Donghuang Sacred Hall!
Yet, Ye Chen remained motionless, merely sweeping a calm glance at the two.
The two Divine King-level guards immediately felt their minds go blank, their bodies stiffening, completely unable to move as if frozen in place, staring at Ye Chen in horror.
A mere glance had instantly rendered the two of them immobile—what kind of method was this?
This was definitely not something a Divine King could do. Even a Quasi-Sovereign would find it difficult. Could he be an Ancient Monarch?
However, they were not afraid. This was Donghuang Sacred City, the stronghold of the Donghuang Clan. Few dared to act arrogantly and recklessly here!
They immediately crushed a token, and an Ancient Monarch emerged at once, descending to this place and speaking with authority: "What happened?"
The two Divine Kings said solemnly, "Commander, someone shows disrespect to the Donghuang Sacred Hall, refusing to kneel and worship, disregarding our attempts to stop him, and charged inside. He is likely a Quasi-Sovereign or above."
The Ancient Monarch was a middle-aged Sovereign in his prime, extremely powerful, with blood energy like a sea. He turned sharply: "This Sovereign will see who dares to show such disrespect to the Donghuang Sacred Hall."
Ye Chen was completely unaware of all this. He passed through the layers of heavenly stairs and truly entered the Sacred Hall.
The Sacred Hall was spacious. Although many people had gathered, only one plain and unadorned stone stele stood in the center of the hall.
Moreover, the stele appeared ordinary and unremarkable, without a single stroke or character upon it—it was a wordless stele.
Yet, it was precisely this stele that contained a wisp of Immortal Venerable essence left behind by Donghuang. Once fully comprehended, one could become a direct disciple of Donghuang, a status no less noble than that of an Immortal King's son.
The ten Great Perfection Supreme Geniuses from the Donghuang Clan stood side by side, facing the Immortal Stele, clearly in the midst of comprehension.