Di Sheng spoke, his voice icy. "Chaos Heavenly Emperor, your courage is indeed great, even more audacious than the Battle Saint Ancestor. Even he in his time did not dare to act so recklessly."
The Battle Saint Ancestor, hailed as the number one in offensive power within the Chaos Sea, had once clashed with your Origin Saint Race, rising from the Supreme level all the way to the Half-Step Overlord realm, his dominance and imposing aura the very definition of the Battle Saint Ancestor.
Now, who would have thought the Chaos Heavenly Emperor would prove far more domineering and forceful than the Battle Saint Ancestor of old.
"Heh, back when I wasn't even a Half-Step Overlord, I forced my way into the Alien Race's Ancient Universe more than once. What of the Origin Saint Race? I can force my way in just the same!"
Ye Chen sneered, his tone forceful and brimming with arrogance.
Just as he said, back then he had forced his way into the Alien Race's Ancient Universe—a place no less formidable than the Origin Saint Race—more than once, even facing a supreme overlord like Shi Dai head-on.
At that time, his cultivation was not as powerful as it is now, let alone now, when he had even less to fear.
However, it was precisely because he was near the portal of this secret realm world that Ye Chen was fearless. Infinite chaotic radiance shimmered around his body, as if his entire form was burning, erupting with unparalleled chaotic brilliance that illuminated the entire secret realm world.
He charged directly toward the passage connecting the secret realm world to the Chaos Sea.
But how could the several Half-Step Overlords of the Origin Saint Race permit the Chaos Heavenly Emperor's departure? They arrived from all directions, fully intent on blocking his escape.
Among them, boundless Dao might erupted as the several Half-Step Overlords joined forces to deal with Ye Chen.
They were well aware of Ye Chen's prowess. Since he dared to force his way into their territory, they naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to fight him one-on-one.
Ye Chen, likewise, was not foolish enough to engage them in a head-on battle. He immediately dodged. The attacks of the several Half-Step Overlords instantly shook this secret realm world, which was no less vast than an Ancient Chaos Universe, sinking boundless stretches of land.
"Chaos Heavenly Emperor, aren't you hailed as invincible under the heavens? What's this? You dare to barge into our Origin Saint Race's secret realm world, yet you don't dare to fight head-on?" Thousand Mechanisms Heaven Ancestor mocked, deliberately taunting, using provocation to force Ye Chen into a direct confrontation.
"Many bullying the few. Your Origin Saint Race truly lives up to sharing the same pants as the Alien Race—both equally shameless and without face." A cold smile played on Ye Chen's lips. "Do you really think I'll be affected by such despicable tactics?"
He continuously evaded, having no intention of fighting the Origin Saint Race's Half-Step Overlords head-on. That would be pure suicide.
Especially since he was also secretly guarding against the Origin Saint Race's Ancestor. At the same time, he was somewhat curious: why hadn't that Overlord-level Ancestor made a move? If he personally intervened, Ye Chen admitted that even at his current strength, he would have little power to resist.
However, to counter the likely intervention of the Saint Race Ancestor, Ye Chen already had a plan in mind.
"Come then! Who dares to face me in a one-on-one peak battle? I, the Chaos Heavenly Emperor, shall suppress all, hailed as the most invincible in the Chaos Sea!"
Ye Chen's roar echoed throughout the endless secret realm worlds of the Origin Saint Race, his voice like heavenly thunder rumbling. He was actually the one initiating the challenge first. "Don't let me look down on you. If you have the guts, fight me one-on-one. What if I let you have one hand? I'll still suppress you all the same."
However, Thousand Mechanisms Heaven Ancestor said coldly, "Chaos Heavenly Emperor, this is our Origin Saint Race's secret realm world. Who wants to fight you one-on-one? Here, you are nothing but a prisoner sealed within."
Di Sheng and the other Saint Race Half-Step Overlords were equally ice-cold.
They had lived for endless eons, most of them even born in prehistoric times before the Chaos Sea was cleaved open, living in the Origin Land, watching the Chaos Sea change from one epoch to another like a fleeting panorama. Naturally, they saw through all the falsehoods of the world.
Ye Chen's words had no effect on them.
Their goal now was singular: to suppress the Chaos Heavenly Emperor, and if necessary, even kill him outright. They absolutely could not allow this calamitous seed to live on.
However, what they didn't anticipate was that Ye Chen's words were highly inflammatory.
The Origin Saint Race was the overlord race that once ruled the Chaos Sea. They even viewed the beings of the Chaos Sea as inferior lifeforms because they hailed from the Origin Land—the very place all beings of the Chaos Sea yearned for, to the point of giving rise to the Origin Ancient Path just to reach it.
Even though nearly all Saint Race members today were actually born within the Chaos Sea, they still believed their veins flowed with the noble blood of Origin.
As the Origin Saint Race that stood above all other races, how could they tolerate such questioning? Immediately, one Supreme after another, Quasi-Giants, and even Eternal Giants stepped forward, roaring, "We are willing to fight a one-on-one peak battle!"
Seeing this scene, the expressions of the several Saint Race Half-Step Overlords darkened. The Saint Race people were inherently extremely proud in their bones. How could they tolerate such provocation? Naturally, they were all enraged, falling for the provocation instead.
However, the Chaos Heavenly Emperor was a genuine Half-Step Overlord. His cultivation was so powerful that even they had little chance of victory in a one-on-one fight, let alone these Saint Race peak experts. Facing him would be a one-way trip to death.
Yet they also knew that if they didn't follow Ye Chen's demand for a one-on-one duel, it would likely deal a heavy blow to countless Saint Race members, shattering the pride in their bones and causing significant impact. This was absolutely not allowed.
"This Ancestor shall see if the Chaos Heavenly Emperor is truly as invincible as the legends say." Thousand Mechanisms Heaven Ancestor spoke, actively accepting the challenge, his expression now incomparably grave, not daring the slightest negligence.
As for Di Sheng and the other Saint Race Half-Step Overlords, they had already silently blocked all of Ye Chen's escape routes.
Ye Chen looked directly at Thousand Mechanisms Heaven Ancestor and sneered. "Your courage is commendable, daring to face me head-on."
"Enough talk. Make your move. Let this Ancestor see how much weight you truly carry." Thousand Mechanisms Heaven Ancestor roared. Above his head, a Heavenly Secrets Compass materialized—clearly his strongest Half-Step Overlord-level Dao Weapon.
He was hailed as Thousand Mechanisms Heaven Ancestor, most skilled in divining all Heavenly Secrets.
Within the vast Chaos Sea, aside from the five Supreme Overlords, none could escape his divinations.
Now, employing the Heavenly Secrets Compass, he manifested infinite Heavenly Secrets. Instantly, a mighty, majestic river appeared, as boundless and grand as the River of Time, sweeping down countless stars from beyond the heavens to envelop Ye Chen. "Chaos Heavenly Emperor, your fate shall be as the images projected by this Heavenly Secrets River."
On the Heavenly Secrets River, a peculiar scene appeared.
The scene showed only one person: Ye Chen.
Ye Chen sat alone upon the supreme imperial throne. Everything around him had perished: star domains collapsed, the myriad heavens shattered, all celestial stars decayed and extinguished. Even vast, boundless Ancient Chaos Universes had turned into broken fragments, drifting within the Chaos Sea.