The Desolate Barren Land was boundless, its vastness immeasurable.
Originally, this place was formed from the collapse of a Chaos Ancient Universe. Moreover, the participants back then were all true peerless powerhouses, led by the Progenitor of the Origin Saint Race, the Heavenly Emperor, Shidai, and the Immortal Ancestor. There were also multiple Half-Step Overlords, numerous Giants, and countless Supreme Beings whose numbers were unknown. It could be said that over eighty percent of all Supreme Beings or higher-level super powerhouses from the entire Chaos Sea back then had gathered here.
With so many super powerhouses gathered together, after an incredibly fearsome and brutal battle, the Desolate Barren Land was ultimately formed.
It was easy to imagine that the Desolate Barren Land was actually far more vast and boundless than a true Chaos Ancient Universe, so expansive it could rival a hundred domains in size, much larger than any Chaos Ancient Universe within the Chaos Sea.
The collapsed Chaos Ancient Universe could still be faintly discerned, along with endless world fragments and wreckage. One could even vaguely see the remains of some of the supreme powerhouses who participated in the battle back then. Each corpse was unimaginably massive, many comparable to a Primordial Chaos World, lying across this land of destruction, devoid of all life, silently narrating how terrifying that battle had been.
Of course, basically, even if there were remains left behind, due to the immense passage of time, they had long lost their original divine nature.
Countless eons had passed. The true supreme treasures within the Desolate Barren Land had basically all been divided up by the various Giants of the heavens back then.
And as epoch after epoch passed, throughout the ages, who knew how many supreme powerhouses had come here to search? Even some hidden treasures had been found one by one.
It could be said that by this epoch, the Desolate Barren Land basically had very few supreme treasures left.
Of course, this was limited only to areas of relatively low danger. In some extremely perilous regions, there was a high likelihood that true supreme treasures still remained.
Those kinds of regions were incomparably dangerous, basically formed from the clashes of supreme existences at the Giant level back then. Among them were not a few battlefields of Half-Step Overlords, or even Peerless Overlords.
Those kinds of places were true death zones. Even if a Giant came, a single misstep could lead to their demise within, making them exceptionally perilous.
Even so, because of the possible hidden supreme treasures, and because the battle scars of the supreme powerhouses from back then still lingered—even the Dao traces of fallen Half-Step Overlords and Peerless Overlords—for countless cultivators, this place was a priceless treasure trove where they could comprehend the supreme Great Dao.
Throughout the ages, countless powerhouses still risked a brush with death to come here seeking treasures, hoping to obtain heaven-defying opportunities.
With such relentless pursuit, in later eras, many supreme powerhouses had also achieved enlightenment and proved their Dao within the Desolate Barren Land.
Many of the famously renowned supreme Giants within the Chaos Sea rose to prominence precisely because of the Desolate Barren Land.
Even in this Blood-Stained Epoch, many top-tier powerhouses were still searching for opportunities within the Desolate Barren Land, hoping to grow powerful in the shortest time possible. Among them were no shortage of Supreme Beings, Quasi-Giants, and even supreme Giants.
The Shattered Heaven Ancient Domain was one of the perilous regions within the Desolate Barren Land, belonging to a relatively dangerous area. This was because during that ancient epoch, in that earth-shattering great battle, supreme Giants had fallen here—more than one.
Great Emperor Gu Tian was an Ancient Titan who had been within the Desolate Barren Land for over a million years, constantly searching for opportunities. He had finally found this place.
Because several Primordial Giants had fallen here, he had fortuitously discovered a cluster of Ten Thousand Ancient Origin left behind after a Primordial Giant's death. Moreover, this place contained the broken battle weapons left behind by three Giants from back then. Although the divine spirits within the weapons were basically extinguished and much of their divine nature had dissipated, they were still rare and precious supreme immortal materials that could greatly enhance his own battle weapon to the next level.
Facing the impending Blood-Stained Future, Great Emperor Gu Tian was willing to spare no expense to become stronger!
At this moment, he was within the Shattered Heaven Ancient Domain, refining the Primordial Giant's Ten Thousand Ancient Origin and tempering his battle weapon.
As time passed, Great Emperor Gu Tian was gradually growing stronger. That cluster of the Primordial Giant's Ten Thousand Ancient Origin was nearly intact, allowing him to gain insights into many Great Dao comprehensions at the Primordial level. He was faintly advancing towards the realm of a Primordial Giant.
"Hmm?"
During his cultivation, Great Emperor Gu Tian suddenly opened his emperor's eyes, scanning this Shattered Heaven Ancient Domain that was half a domain in size, as if searching for something.
However, after a sweep of investigation, as usual, there was no result whatsoever.
"This feeling has been occurring more and more frequently lately, yet there's no result. Could it be because the Shattered Heaven Ancient Domain still retains a wisp of remnant thought from the Primordial Giant, causing me to feel as if I'm being watched?" Great Emperor Gu Tian murmured to himself.
Strangely, over these years, he had discovered that the Desolate Barren Land was undergoing a peculiar change. Often, he felt as if someone was secretly watching him from the shadows.
Yet, no matter how he investigated, there wasn't the slightest trace.
With his cultivation as an Ancient Titan, capable of dominating ordinary Chaos Ancient Universes, even a Primordial Giant shouldn't be able to completely evade his detection like this.
Therefore, he instinctively believed it was merely an illusion caused by him refining the Primordial Giant's origin.
As he continued refining the Primordial Giant's Ten Thousand Ancient Origin, a darkness was silently emerging, encroaching upon the entire Shattered Heaven Ancient Domain.
Yet, despite this obvious darkness approaching, Great Emperor Gu Tian, this Ancient Titan, remained completely unaware, still with his eyes closed as if nothing existed.
Finally, when Great Emperor Gu Tian noticed, the darkness had already completely submerged him. Even with his Ancient Titan-level cultivation, he was horrified to discover that his heaven-defying power, capable of overlooking past and present, was utterly useless at this moment, completely sealed within his body.
He watched helplessly as the darkness submerged him, even invading his body, his soul, and eroding his most fundamental true spirit.
In the end, he saw an aged figure slowly walking out from the darkness, looking at him emotionlessly and coldly saying, "Only Ancient Titan cultivation, a bit too weak. Unqualified to be a vessel. Become a servant instead..."
The darkness receded. The Shattered Heaven Ancient Domain remained. The Primordial Giant-level Ten Thousand Ancient Origin was still there. The fragments of the three Primordial Giants' battle weapons were also there. But an Ancient Titan had vanished without a trace, leaving not a single clue.
It was as if Great Emperor Gu Tian, this Ancient Titan, had never existed.
Similar events were happening in every corner of the Desolate Barren Land. One Supreme Being or higher existence after another was silently devoured by a mysterious darkness, then disappearing.
The entire Desolate Barren Land seemed to harbor a mysterious, unknown strangeness.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Terrifying figures descended within the Desolate Barren Land.
They were naturally Ye Chen and the others.
Based on the deduced location, after hunting down the Profound God Ancestor, the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will had come to the Desolate Barren Land.
The Desolate Barren Land, because it was the site of a great battle among many supreme powerhouses back then—even where several Peerless Overlords had fought—retained the most terrifying Dao principles that obliterated all heavenly secrets, making Deduction fundamentally impossible.
Whether it was Ye Chen or Qianji Tianzu, because their Deduction techniques had reached the ultimate level, and also because they utilized the faint traces left behind by the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will, they had managed to successfully deduce its location.
But upon arriving here, it was again difficult to pinpoint the true whereabouts of the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will.
Because this place contained the terrifying Dao principles left behind from the clashes of Peerless Overlords. If accidentally triggered, it might be equivalent to a strike from a Peerless Overlord.
Even for a Half-Step Overlord, this could be extremely troublesome.
"Where is the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will?"
Nitian Zhanzhu (Heaven-Defying Battle Lord) spoke, his eyes blazing with radiant light as he scanned the Desolate Barren Land.
Back then, following the Heavenly Emperor, he had also fought here, even slaying a supreme Giant of the Origin Saint Race, achieving glorious battle merits.
Regarding the Desolate Barren Land, Nitian Zhanzhu was quite familiar with many areas.
Donghuang and Tian'a Xianzhu (Heavenly Ah Immortal Lord) also showed familiarity. As one of the most ancient existences of the Primordial Immortal World, although the Immortal Ancestor, apart from the final battle, did not openly participate in other battles, they had participated in that war, fighting until heaven and earth shattered, extremely fearsome.
Ye Chen shook his head and said, "The Eternal Night Land is hiding here. Being able to deduce its general whereabouts is already very difficult. Trying to deduce its exact location is hard."
The three Half-Step Overlords didn't mind, naturally aware of the Desolate Barren Land'sspecial nature / unique properties.
Not long after, the four Half-Step Overlords from the Origin Saint Race and the Alien Ancient Universe also arrived. Scanning the vast, boundless Desolate Barren Land, they also clearly recalled some events from back then.
Nitian Zhanzhu sneered repeatedly: "Two forces that fought a life-and-death battle back then are now standing together. How laughable."
He was referring to the Origin Saint Race and the Alien Ancient Universe.
Back then, led by Shidai, the Alien Ancient Universe had fought a life-and-death battle against the Origin Saint Race.
However, whether it was Aoyuan or Qianji Tianzu and the others, they didn't care. Hatred is not eternal; onlyinterests are.
Disheng said, "Chaos Heavenly Emperor, where is the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will?"
Ye Chen remained silent. Although this was the Desolate Barren Land, one must not forget that he was the Supreme Controller of Chaos. Even the Desolate Barren Land could not escape the Dao of Chaos.
His Chaos Emperor's Willspread, containing the characteristics of Chaos. Even though the Desolate Barren Land contained many fearsome death zones, not lacking the battle sites of Peerless Overlords with theirlingering terrifying auras, they still could not completelyisolate / cut off his perception.
Of course, such perception wasquite difficult. Apart from the five invincible Overlords of the present era,I'm afraid / likely only he could achieve this step.
However, under such perception, he discovered manylingering traces ofeerie dark power.
Moreover, as his Chaos Emperor's Willspread, he even discovered that many powerhouses currently training within the Desolate Barren Land were being silently devoured by darkness.
"Have you discovered it?"
From the void, a cold, emotionless voice resounded within Ye Chen's Chaos Emperor's Will.
A trace of gravity appeared on Ye Chen's expression. The development of events was somewhat beyond his expectations.
"Chaos Heavenly Emperor, I am speaking to you," Disheng said, his tone slightly cold.
"Noisy!"
Nitian Zhanzhucoldly shouted, his eyesgushed withfearsome / terrifying's emperor radiance. His Heaven-Defying Battle Halberd pointed from afar as hecoldly said: "What are you? Just because you speak, he must respond?"
Disheng snorted coldly and spoke no more.
He knew that Nitian Zhanzhu and Douzhan Shengzu (Battle Saint Ancestor) were the same person, both incomparably overbearing. They would speak if they wanted, and if they didn't want to, they would directly show theircombative side,simply like battle maniacs who never ceased fighting.
Arguing with them was completely foolish behavior.
On this side, Qianji Tianzu was also deducing the whereabouts of the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will. However, within the Desolate Barren Land, he was greatly restricted. Even the Heavenly Secrets River manifested, yet he was still unable to truly deduce the exact location of the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will.
Ultimately, the restrictions of this Desolate Barren Land were simply too great.
Of course, there was also the factor of the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will itself, being a top-tier existence among Half-Step Overlords, far stronger than ordinary Half-Step Overlords.
On this side, Ye Chen's expression was quite grave. He raised his head and said, "Found it. Right there!"
Boom—
He directly took action, completely disregarding that this was the Desolate Barren Land, where the terrifying Dao principle power of Peerless Overlordslingering and could easily be triggered. He threw a punch, a universeillusion / phantommanifested, directlysmashed toward the sky above the Desolate Barren Land.
Boom—
Accompanied by a world-shaking roar, nearly half of the Desolate Barren Land trembled violently. The firmament was pierced,pierced through the Chaos Sea outside.
However, there was nothing?
Ye Chensneered coldly: "Still trying to hide at this point? You can'tdeceive me. Eternal Night Origin, come out!"
As he spoke, he swung his Chaos Saint Fist, punch after punch,pounded the firmament of this Desolate Barren Land.extremelyfrenzied / berserk's Half-Step Overlord power surged, tearing apart everything, making the other Half-Step Overlords feel hispeerless might, surpassing other Half-Step Overlords.
Suddenly, a sliver of darkness appeared in the firmament of the Desolate Barren Land. Then, this darkness rapidlyspread out at an unimaginable speed, eventually transforming the entire Desolate Barren Land into infinite darkness.
At the origin of the darkness, a majestic, towering figure appeared, with disheveled gray-white hair, a scholarly and elegant face that appeared aged, yet a bodymajestic as a mountain, deep as an abyss, lofty as a mountain.
Yet, precisely such a heroic figure, resembling a Saint Ancestor, had eyes that were completely crimson red. An aura of endless darkness emanated from his entire being, as if he were an Ancient Dark Ancestor.
When they saw this figure, all eight Half-Step Overlords present revealed grave expressions.
This person was the Profound God Ancestor.
But in the form of the Profound God Ancestor, he would absolutely not be so dark. Clearly, he had been completely corrupted by the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will.
Or, more accurately, he was the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will.
The Profound God Ancestor looked down from above,look down upon / gaze down atat the eight Half-Step Overlords, especially fixing his gaze on Ye Chen. His crimson eyesrevealed a strong, blazing intensity anddesire, as if he wanted to completely possess the latter, saying, "Chaos Heavenly Emperor, youAs expected / Indeed are the one most suitable to be this one's vessel!"
Vessel?
The expressions of the eight Half-Step Overlords darkened.
Clearly, both Half-Step Overlords—the Profound God Ancestor and the Profound God Ancestor—had become vessels for the Eternal Night Land's Origin Will.