It was said to be constructed, but in reality, it was itself an extremely ancient altar, belonging to the early days of the Primordial Immortal World. It held extraordinary significance at the time and was later obtained by Donghuang. Now, it had been built upon the foundation of the original ancient altar to become even more magnificent and solemn.
The ancient altar stood before the Immortal Venerable's Ancient Hall. Led by Taiyu Immortal King, a large group of important clansmen of the Donghuang Clan were gathered here. Naturally, Donghuang Yanran and several other Donghuang offspring who had long attained immortality also appeared, watching the ancient altar with nervous anticipation.
Taiyu Immortal King stood in mid-air, shrouded in immortal mist and veiled by immortal radiance, his true visage unclear.
Beside him was Ye Chen, motionless, not retreating a single step despite Taiyu Immortal King being an Immortal King. Instead, he stood shoulder to shoulder with him, causing dissatisfaction among many Donghuang clansmen.
This was a great disrespect.
It must be known that Taiyu Immortal King was the undisputed number one of the Donghuang Clan, not only in cultivation but also in status and authority. Even if the successive clan leaders of the Donghuang Clan were present, they would respectfully address him as Ancestor Immortal King, not daring to defy him.
Now, a mere outsider at the Heavenly King realm dared to stand side by side with Taiyu Immortal King. Where did he get such audacity?
The several Donghuang offspring merely frowned, because since their eldest brother Taiyu Immortal King had not spoken, they naturally would not speak either. Especially now, it was the perfect opportunity to call their father's immortal soul back; it was not the time to cause disruption. Even if they harbored resentment, they had to suppress it for the moment.
Taiyu Immortal King, however, glanced at Ye Chen with some surprise. Because he understood better than anyone that this Ye Chen, who appeared to be merely a Heavenly King on the surface, was far from simple. Even though he did not deliberately release his Immortal King might, the natural pressure he exuded could still prevent even a Supreme Immortal from approaching, let alone a mere Heavenly King—it should have been impossible for him to get close.
This could only mean one thing: this Ye Chen was very unusual, definitely not as simple as a surface-level Heavenly King. He must be a figure of great origin.
Of course, now was not the time for speculation, because the ancient altar had been successfully completed. They were about to call Donghuang's immortal soul back. Before that, all matters had to be set aside; they were secondary.
Taiyu Immortal King looked at Ye Chen and said, "Little friend, please offer a wisp of Immortal Venerable Essence."
"Agreed!" Ye Chen nodded, releasing his palm. A wisp of Immortal Venerable Essence in the shape of the Donghuang Bell hovered above the altar.
The ancient altar immediately erupted with boundless radiance, illuminating all directions.
*Dong—*
Within the Donghuang Palace, a bell tolled, stirring excitement among the billions of cultivators in Donghuang Holy City, who couldn't help but bow down and worship, for it was the true Donghuang Bell, truly ringing.
At the same time, Taiyu Immortal King extended a fair finger, its tip breaking the skin with a soft *pfft*. A string of Immortal King Blood dripped down, each drop crystal clear and flawless, containing unparalleled vitality of the Great Dao. It caused divine lotuses to bloom in the void, the Great Dao to resonate, divine demons to manifest, and various other extraordinary phenomena to appear.
All the powerful experts witnessing this within Donghuang Holy City couldn't help but have their eyes light up.
Immortal King Blood—that was the Great Dao blood of an Immortal King level. How precious! A single drop could bring an Ancient Monarch back from the dead, regenerate flesh from bones, and drastically increase lifespan. One could imagine.
Even Supreme Immortals regarded Immortal King Blood with extreme importance, even coveting it intensely.
Now, it wasn't just a drop, but a string—hundreds of drops fused together—flying out like this, emitting a special fragrance that broke through the barrier of the void and landed on the ancient altar.
This string of Immortal King Blood was enough to make Supreme Immortals covetous and go mad, and even Quasi-Immortal Kings would be extremely tempted.
*Boom boom boom boom boom boom—*
This string of Immortal King Blood transformed into billions of incredibly complex Great Dao runes—immortal characters—which then constructed an Immortal King grand formation, manifesting above the ancient altar.
"The Soul-Summoning Formation!"
Voices exclaimed from all directions, recognizing the origin of this Immortal King grand formation. It was the legendary Soul-Summoning Formation, said to be capable of summoning back the immortal soul of even a fallen Supreme Immortal who had been lost in the River of Time, possessing unimaginable effects.
Clearly, the Donghuang Clan wanted to use this to summon Donghuang's immortal soul, which was lost elsewhere.
"However, to summon Donghuang's immortal soul back, not only is the descendant's Dao blood needed, but preferably Essence Blood to achieve the best effect," an elderly supreme powerhouse frowned and said. Although Immortal King Blood was extraordinary, it felt somewhat lacking for summoning Donghuang back.
Naturally, Taiyu Immortal King also knew this. The wound on his fingertip did not close, and then ten drops of blood flew out. Each drop was countless times more brilliant and crystalline than the previous Immortal King Blood, also containing the most powerful vitality and a trace of the Immortal King's origin, making them exceptionally extraordinary.
"Immortal King Essence Blood!"
Exclamations rose from all sides, accompanied by shock. Even Supreme Immortals revealed a gleam in their eyes, their hearts stirred, wishing they could rush forward and seize it.
Immortal King Essence Blood contained the essence of an Immortal King's Great Dao, even harboring a trace of the Immortal King's origin. Even an Immortal King did not possess much Immortal King Essence Blood. Offering ten drops directly caused Taiyu Immortal King's complexion to pale slightly.
This showed that the loss of ten drops of Immortal King Essence Blood also inflicted some damage on Taiyu Immortal King.
*Boom boom boom boom boom boom—*
The ten drops of Immortal King Essence Blood flew onto the Soul-Summoning Formation. Instantly, the formation erupted with infinite, dazzling light, illuminating all surrounding areas.
Among them, several drops of Immortal King Essence Blood emitted boundless blood radiance, enough to drown out vast stretches of starry space. Everything was suppressed.
The ritual to summon Donghuang's immortal soul sounded complex, but in reality, it was quite simple: it only required the blood of Donghuang's descendants and a wisp of Immortal Venerable Essence as a medium.
*Rumble—*
On this day, Donghuang Holy City trembled greatly. Infinite Great Dao runes emerged from the ancient altar, densely covering the void, interweaving in the air to form a mysterious, sky-piercing crimson-gold Heavenly Gate.
The Heavenly Gate was mysterious, vaguely seeming to connect to an unpredictable, unknown mysterious region beyond the world's knowledge.
The Chaos Sea was truly too vast and endless, boundless. Not to mention Sovereigns, even Immortal Kings and Eternal Giants—supreme existences of that level—would not dare claim in their entire lifetimes that they could explore every corner of the Chaos Sea.
Donghuang's lost immortal soul was suspected to be in that mysterious, unknowable region.
There was even a rumor that it was most likely in the legendary Eternal Unknown Land.
Back then, even powerful figures like Tai Sheng Huang and the Battle Saint Ancestor actively entered the Eternal Unknown Land and only managed to return successfully thanks to the reception of the Time-Space Emperor.
Now, to summon Donghuang's immortal soul, suspected to be lost in the Eternal Unknown Land, required the Essence Blood of his offspring as a guide. The stronger the offspring, the more accurately it could guide Donghuang's return.
Moreover, a wisp of his own Immortal Venerable Essence would transform into a sky-piercing bridge, traversing the endless void, piercing through all illusions, allowing Donghuang's immortal soul to cross back.
On the Soul-Summoning Formation, Taiyu Immortal King's Immortal King Blood and Immortal King Essence Blood began to burn, transforming into the Heavenly Gate, piercing through to that mysterious unknown land where Donghuang's immortal soul was lost.
Among them, ten drops of Immortal King Essence Blood manifested, imprinting themselves across past and present, immensely powerful. Now, they shone in mutual reflection, illuminating a blazing Immortal King light pillar that shot into the Heavenly Gate, carving out a special path.
*Hum—*
At the same time, the Donghuang Bell transformed from the Immortal Venerable Essence flew out, casting immortal light behind the Heavenly Gate. Then, it dissolved into nothingness, constructing a special immortal Dao bridge that spanned the unknown land, officially beginning to receive Donghuang.
However, this action also created a tremendous crisis.
The sky-piercing bridge pierced through the Chaos Sea, officially opening up an unknown region of the Chaos Sea.