"Understood!"
The three disciples naturally understood their master's meaning. Although their cultivation had grown much stronger, merely secluded cultivation would take far too long to step into the Immortal King realm. Life-and-death battles were the best catalyst for breakthroughs.
Ye Chen had his three disciples leave seclusion.
This time, the Taiyu Immortal King Pass took the initiative to launch a campaign. The three peak Quasi-Immortal Kings—Wang Xiong, Jian Wuhen, and Shi Baitian—personally led troops to attack the main base camp of the alien race's ancient universe stationed on this battlefield.
This battle was destined to be fierce.
But Ye Chen did not participate, nor did he even observe it. He entrusted the entire affair to the Immortal Great Celestial Venerable for oversight, while he himself continued to comprehend the 'Immortal Method Compendium'.
Eight thousand years passed. His cultivation of the 'Immortal Method Compendium' had already granted him combat power at the level of an Extreme Realm Quasi-Immortal King.
Time flowed on, and another eighty thousand years went by.
During this period, Ye Chen finally elevated his Immortal Dao power to the Immortal King level. Cultivating to the Immortal King level via the 'Immortal Method Compendium' gave him an unprecedented depth of insight into the Immortal Dao.
Simultaneously, after eighty thousand years, through repeated campaigns against the alien armies—even personally battling alien overlords, fighting earth-shattering battles that annihilated three thousand great worlds—Wang Xiong, Jian Wuhen, and Shi Baitian finally achieved their breakthrough, becoming three Immortal Kings.
Due to the 'Immortal Method Compendium' and Ye Chen's personal guidance and instruction, the three of them quickly stabilized their Immortal King realm upon entering it, rivaling veteran Immortal Kings with astonishing combat power.
Naturally, this stirred up the Primordial Immortal Realm.
Under various circumstances, all three held grand banquets in the Immortal King City behind the Taiyu Immortal King Pass.
On this day, True Immortals from all sides arrived, Quasi-Immortal Kings gathered like clouds, and even several Immortal Kings and Immortal Venerable Ones came, smiling as they presented incredibly lavish congratulatory gifts.
After all, the Primordial Immortal Realm had gained three new Immortal Kings, a precious addition of combat power, especially in this era.
However, it also caused some surprise and suspicion: these three newly ascended Immortal Kings were all former disciples of that Chaos Heavenly Emperor. Since becoming his disciples, even though the Chaos Heavenly Emperor had fallen over a million years ago, their progress had been meteoric, far faster than when their Immortal King fathers were still alive. It was quite astonishing.
Of course, the three would never reveal Ye Chen's existence, merely brushing it off with a light smile. Though the Immortal Kings and Immortal Venerable Ones were very curious, they did not press the matter.
Not only did the three Immortal Kings have the backing of an extremely powerful Immortal Great Celestial Venerable—stronger than many Immortal Venerable Ones and Primordial Giants—but their affiliation with the Chaos Heavenly Mansion was also not to be underestimated.
Boom—
The Immortal King City trembled, radiating billions of rays of light as supremely powerful beings descended, and not just one.
The three Immortal Kings' faces lit up with joy as they personally went out to welcome them, for these were congratulations from the Pangu Universe. The leader of the delegation was even an acquaintance from the Chaos Heavenly Mansion—Qian Xun!
Seeing Qian Xun, the three Immortal Kings were overjoyed.
"It's the Divine Emperor of War."
Within the Immortal King City, the immortals and Quasi-Immortal Kings all showed deep reverence. Even the Immortal Kings and Immortal Venerable Ones revealed looks of surprise.
Divine Emperor of War was how the Chaos Sea referred to Qian Xun after he became a Giant. He was a generation's battle maniac, ceaseless in combat. In the mere million years since becoming a Giant, he had fought countless battles, challenging the entire Chaos Sea, no less formidable than the Battle Saint Ancestor of old. His combat power was world-shaking, capable of rivaling Primordial Giants and Immortal Venerable Ones, hence his title of Divine Emperor of War.
Anyone could see that the Divine Emperor of War had limitless potential; becoming a Primordial Giant in the future was inevitable.
"Congratulations, three junior brothers, on becoming Immortal Kings. These are our gifts."
Qian Xun was very happy. Even though the three were from the Primordial Immortal Realm, they were still members of the Chaos Heavenly Mansion lineage. Their ascension to Immortal King greatly increased the Chaos Heavenly Mansion's strength and influence.
Now, the Chaos Heavenly Mansion possessed multiple Giants and Immortal Kings, enough to be mentioned in the same breath as an ordinary Chaos Ancient Universe.
The only regret was that his father was not here.
Although the Chaos Heavenly Mansion lineage believed Ye Chen was not dead—indeed, Ye Chen's Chaos Saint Soul had even re-coagulated, its soul power no weaker than in life—the True Spirit was absent. Without this most crucial element, it could not be considered a true revival.
In a corner of the Immortal King Hall, Ye Chen also smiled.
A million years had passed. Qian Xun was now a Giant of his generation, having cultivated his Battle Saint Body to its utmost limit, with the light of time and space swirling around him, extraordinary.
Even among the myriad Ancient Giants and Immortal Kings, he was undoubtedly one of the very best.
The gifts Qian Xun brought were lavish, encompassing all kinds of immortal materials needed to forge Immortal King weapons, even including Emperor Pills and materials required to condense an Immortal King's cave abode—all treasures that would make Immortal Kings and Giants covetous.
"Senior Brother, you are too kind."
The three Immortal Kings were somewhat embarrassed but ultimately accepted the Chaos Heavenly Mansion's gifts. In a sense, these were gifts presented on Ye Chen's behalf.
Even though the real Ye Chen was right here.
After the banquet concluded, the various Immortal Kings and Immortal Venerable Ones departed, smiling and saying they should stay in touch more often in the future.
Naturally, others did not dare linger. In the end, only Qian Xun and the rest of the Chaos Heavenly Mansion party remained.
At this point, following Ye Chen's secret mental transmission, the three Immortal Kings guided Qian Xun to an important ancient cultivation hall. When Qian Xun saw the Immortal Great Celestial Venerable, his brow furrowed slightly. He sensed the Immortal Great Celestial Venerable's immense power and had heard the rumors—this was an extremely powerful Primordial Chaos Demon God whose physical body and realm had both reached the Primordial Giant level, making him a top-tier expert among Primordial Giants.
But why was this Immortal Great Celestial Venerable present in the three Immortal Kings' cultivation hall, seemingly waiting for him?
Naturally, he did not believe the three Immortal Kings would harm him; that was trust.
Just then, a figure shrouded in the phantom of a universe walked out, standing at the highest point of the ancient hall, looking at Qian Xun.
Qian Xun frowned. The purpose of the Immortal Great Celestial Venerable was still unclear, and now another mysterious, formidable figure had appeared. At the very least, even he could not penetrate the universe phantom to see that person's true face, indicating immense strength, at least at the Giant level.
Yet for some reason, Qian Xun faintly sensed a feeling of familiarity and a stirring from deep within his bloodline.
It felt as if he had encountered a closest kin.
Boom—
The three Immortal Kings closed the ancient hall's doors at this moment. Qian Xun's sword-like brows knitted together as he said solemnly, "Wang Xiong, Jian Wuhen, Shi Baitian, what is the meaning of this?"
Wang Xiong revealed a faint smile. "Don't worry. You'll know soon enough."
Just as Qian Xun was puzzled, the universe phantom around the figure in the center of the hall dissipated, revealing a true face filled with warmth. "Xun'er, it's been a long time."