Within the origin ancestral temple of the Alien Ancient Universe, the two figures stood side by side, thus forcibly destroying Ye Chen's certain-kill strike aimed at the seven giants of the alien race.
Ye Chen's expression changed drastically, not only because of Shidai's intervention, but also because of the strike from the chaotic figure beside Shidai.
That figure, shrouded in billions of layers of ancient chaotic qi, obscuring the heavens, treading upon the River of Time, holding an Emperor's sword, stood shoulder to shoulder with Shidai—the most terrifying hidden hand in history—gazing distantly at him.
Even through the ancient chaotic qi, Ye Chen could see the complex look in the other's eyes.
What made Ye Chen's expression change the most was that this chaotic figure gave him an inexplicable sense of palpitation.
Was this the one that had made him and his two sons feel such agitation?
Who exactly was it?
Especially since the other was treading upon the River of Time, as if not belonging to this era, which made him think of many possibilities. Could it be someone arriving from the Blood-Stained Future? Was it the supremely peerless future version of himself, or had the future Ye Junlin crossed time to arrive?
But hadn't the Blood-Stained Future been sealed off? How could anyone come from there?
Just as Ye Chen was momentarily lost in thought, Aoyuan had already arrived, attacking Ye Chen from a distance.
Thus, the two Half-Step Overlords began a great battle within the Chaos Sea, its impact immeasurably vast.
Ye Chen's expression was icy. Unable to understand the truth, this time, he had to know it.
Whether it was his future self or the future Ye Junlin, crossing time back to this era, why would they seek out Shidai, stand side by side with him, and even stop his own attack?
There must be a monumental reason.
"Aoyuan, get out of my way if you don't want to die!"
Ye Chen roared, his body radiating unparalleled immortal light. The power of a Half-Step Overlord in the Immortal Dao erupted, surging through the Chaos Sea, causing all sides to change expression. Only then did they remember that the new Half-Step Overlord who had recently emerged in the Primordial Immortal Realm was none other than the Chaos Heavenly Emperor.
Not only had the Chaos Heavenly Emperor been reborn and returned, but he had also achieved the Dao Fruit of a Half-Step Overlord in the Immortal Dao. What an astonishing achievement! Throughout all ages, no one had ever simultaneously attained the Half-Step Overlord fruit in both the Divine Dao and the Immortal Dao, for it was far too difficult.
The Chaos Heavenly Emperor could be said to possess dual Half-Step Overlord Dao Fruits, and should also be the most powerful Half-Step Overlord in history, right?
What was surprising, however, was that they could all sense the boundless, majestic power of the Immortal Dao emanating from the Chaos Heavenly Emperor, yet the aura of the Divine Dao was minuscule. They were both shocked and curious: why wasn't the Chaos Heavenly Emperor utilizing his Divine Dao Half-Step Overlord power?
But how could they know that it wasn't that Ye Chen didn't want to use it, but that he couldn't. The Dao Fruit of his Divine Dao Half-Step Overlord was being used to nourish his Origin Universe, to allow it to evolve into a true Ancient Chaos Universe. Only after the evolution succeeded could he regain control of it.
Otherwise, with Ye Chen possessing dual Half-Step Overlord Dao Fruits, killing Aoyuan, this alien Half-Step Overlord, might not have been impossible.
"That's right. Since my Divine Dao Half-Step Overlord Dao Fruit can nourish the Origin Universe, why can't my Immortal Dao Half-Step Overlord Dao Fruit do the same?"
Even while battling Aoyuan, Ye Chen could spare a thought to ponder this question.
Using Divine Dao power to nourish the Origin Universe meant that once the Origin Universe was completely perfected, it might only allow beings to cultivate the Divine Dao.
But if Immortal Dao power were used to nourish it, achieving unity of Immortal and Divine, would it allow future born beings to innately cultivate both the Immortal and Divine Daos?
It had to be said, this was a viable path worth exploring.
But for now, Ye Chen couldn't test it, because he still needed to use the power of his Immortal Dao Half-Step Overlord Dao Fruit to deal with Aoyuan.
Boom—
In a single thought, Ye Chen directly took control of several Realm Domains, utilizing the ability of a Chaos Controller to command the power of the Chaos Sea within these domains. The Chaos Sea was hishome ground / domain of advantage. Combined with his Immortal Dao Half-Step Overlord power, he suppressed Aoyuan.
Even someone as powerful as Aoyuan suffered terrible suppression. His expression shifted slightly, as if these several Realm Domains had transformed into great mountains pressing down upon him, including his soul, imposing significant restrictions!
"Smash!"
Ye Chen shouted lightly. The Chaos Great Cauldron shone with the most extreme brilliance, as if burning. Billions of chaotic flames, every inch as blazing as an immortal sun, contained the destructive divine might capable of piercing through an Ancient Chaos Universe. A mere touch was enough to annihilate Giants of All Ages. It descended from the sky, smashing heavily towards Aoyuan.
Aoyuan's face changed dramatically. In just a million years, this Chaos Heavenly Emperor had not only been reborn but had become even stronger than before.
He didn't dare be negligent in the slightest. On one hand, he called for other Half-Step Overlords to come reinforce him; on the other, he raised his own peerless war weapon, erupting with billions of strands of Dao principles, shattering the Chaos Sea, collapsing Realm Domains, actively meeting the attack.
Boom—
A vast expanse of the Chaos Sea, as immense as a Realm Domain, was directly emptied. This was the terror of the clash between two Half-Step Overlords. If it had landed within an Ancient Chaos Universe, it would inevitably cause the collapse of the Upper Realm, the annihilation of ten thousand worlds, the great destruction of heavenly stars, and other terrifying scenes, no less severe than the Mythical Great Destruction of the Pangu Universe in the past.
Aoyuan's figure was sent flying; he was naturally no match for Ye Chen.
His chest caved in, and copious amounts of blood spurted out.
Ye Chen did not press his advantage, for he deeply understood how difficult it was to kill a Half-Step Overlord. Even with his current strength, it would be extremely hard, and would only waste time.
He summoned the Chaos Great Cauldron back, directly striking horizontally at the seven giants of the alien race. On another front, his true self pointed distantly at the Alien Ancient Universe, or more accurately, at Shidai and that chaotic figure treading upon the River of Time within the universe's origin. His expression was exceptionally cold and sharp.
This time, even if Shidai or that chaotic figure treading upon the River of Time made a move, he was confident he could block it.
"Chaos Heavenly Emperor, this Sovereign never imagined you were still alive!"
Silently and without a trace, two other terrifyingly powerful figures also appeared within the Chaos Sea, blocking the Chaos Great Cauldron. They were none other than the other two alien Half-Step Overlords who had once besieged Ye Chen. They met again after a span of a hundred years.
"It's you two. I didn't expect you all to come!"
Ye Chen swept a cold gaze over the three alien Half-Step Overlords, including Aoyuan. Seeing the seven alien giants once again escape disaster, dragging the Tianjue Ancient Universe back towards the Alien Ancient Universe, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
To go so far as to mobilize three Half-Step Overlords just to drag the Tianjue Ancient Universe back—what purpose did the Alien Ancient Universe have in mind?
No matter how Ye Chen thought about it, he couldn't possibly figure it out.
Of course, he couldn't be bothered to think about it. He would simply ask with force.
"You may be strong, but you are still no match for the three of us!"
One of the alien Half-Step Overlords spoke indifferently.
"Fighting one against three is indeed somewhat strenuous. But back then, even with you all plus the Demon Daoist I killed, you still couldn't kill me. What ability do you have now to kill me?" Ye Chen spoke with indifference, not caring in the slightest about the threats from the three alien Half-Step Overlords. To be honest, facing the three of them, he had to admit the pressure was immense. Even at his current level, it would be difficult for him to be a match for three Half-Step Overlords.
But truly killing him would be an extremely difficult matter.
Even if Shidai made a move, it wouldn't work. Ye Chen believed that once Shidai dared to act, the Heavenly Emperor would certainly not sit idly by.