A simple sentence, yet it completely transformed the situation on the scene.
Myriad Stars Supreme Elder's expression changed drastically. "You... you're not Senior Brother. Who are you? Why are you holding Senior Brother's Qingtian Axe!"
That was undoubtedly the Qingtian Axe. Myriad Stars Supreme Elder had seen it since childhood; how could he be mistaken?
The newcomer swung the Qingtian Axe, effortlessly shattering the void, and said indifferently, "You mean this Qingtian Axe? Naturally, it is this venerable one's trophy."
The Qingtian Axe had long since shattered in that battle, but who was he? With supreme means, he had simply repaired it, restoring it to completeness. It still possessed the terrifying might of a Great Venerable's ancient weapon.
"Trophy?"
Myriad Stars Supreme Elder and the others looked horrified, quickly understanding. "You are that Newly Ascended Great Venerable?"
If he was that Newly Ascended Great Venerable, then what about Senior Brother?
The chaotic radiance dispersed, revealing Ye Chen's true face, causing everyone present to change color dramatically.
Some were overjoyed, others filled with dread.
"Senior!"
Heaven-Mending City Lord, Ten Tribulations Emperor Heavenly Lord, and others were both shocked and elated. They never expected the person appearing here to be Senior Ye Chen.
Because they all believed that if Ye Chen was the Newly Ascended Great Venerable, his chances of victory in a battle against an Ancient Great Venerable like Qingtian Great Venerable were minuscule, almost impossible.
Yet, Ye Chen's return indicated one thing.
He had won, and Qingtian Great Venerable had lost.
In the Heaven-Burial Abyss, the Ancient Great Venerable observing this place, from within that impenetrable domain, seemed to let out a sound of sucking in cold air, tinged with astonishment: "Unbelievable. Qingtian actually lost, and that Newly Ascended Great Venerable emerged victorious."
Simultaneously, the gazes of other Ancient Great Venerables instantly pierced through the vast sky, landing on Heaven-Mending City, and they were all equally shocked.
They could hardly believe that Qingtian Great Venerable, an Ancient Great Venerable wielding the Heavenly Seal, had actually been defeated.
They knew that even they had no confidence in defeating Qingtian Great Venerable while he held the Heavenly Seal. Moreover, Qingtian Great Venerable had condensed a Pseudo-Heavenly Venerable Sun, possessing infinite divine power. Even facing a Supreme Heavenly Venerate, he had the power to fight.
Just who was this Newly Ascended Great Venerable, to be so powerful as to defeat Qingtian Great Venerable?
And with Qingtian Great Venerable defeated, the Qingtian Axe had fallen into this Newly Ascended Great Venerable's hands.
What had become of Qingtian Great Venerable now?
"Qingtian actually lost?"
From within an ancient Eternal Heavenly Race, from the eternally enduring Heavenly Venerate Mountain, a voice emerged, like a heavenly sound, causing billions upon billions of clan members to prostrate in worship.
They were immensely excited, for they all knew it was a Supreme Heavenly Venerate awakening.
At the same time, another voice sounded: "Heavenly Father, just who is that Newly Ascended Great Venerable?"
The ancient Supreme Heavenly Venerate wanted to look towards Heaven-Mending City's direction, but infinite heavenly secrets were blocked. He instead looked towards the Pangu Celestial Domain and said, "Another Heavenly Venerate has acted, shielding the heavenly secrets. That Newly Ascended Great Venerable seems to have a great origin."
With the means of a Supreme Heavenly Venerate, even if heavenly secrets were blocked, he could forcefully pierce through with supreme methods.
But doing so would offend that Supreme Heavenly Venerate who had returned to his heavenly position in the Pangu Celestial Domain.
He was unwilling to offend that Supreme Heavenly Venerate over such a minor matter.
Even if that Newly Ascended Great Venerable could defeat Qingtian Great Venerable, he was ultimately just a Great Venerable. In the eyes of a Supreme Heavenly Venerate, he was merely a powerful young dragon, far from threatening their lives.
Unless multiple Ancient Great Venerables joined forces could they achieve that.
...
Myriad Stars Supreme Elder also realized this, his face filled with disbelief. "Impossible! Senior Brother is peerless in the world, an Ancient Great Venerable, a Palace Lord who wields the Heavenly Seal and commands endless Faith Power. He is a powerhouse among Great Venerables. He couldn't possibly be defeated by a mere Newly Ascended Great Venerable."
Behind him, Myriad Gods Supreme Elder and the other Wanxuan Heavenly Race powerhouses turned deathly pale.
Ye Chen gripped the Qingtian Axe and said calmly, "Oh, you mean Qingtian? He did have some skill, forcing this venerable one to reveal his true means to kill him."
Qingtian Great Venerable could be considered, aside from the three Supreme Heavenly Venerates of that era, the person who posed the greatest threat to him. Whether it was his strength as an Ancient Great Venerable or the endless Faith Power he could mobilize by wielding the Heavenly Seal, neither was simple.
But who asked Qingtian Great Venerable to face him—a true Supreme Heavenly Venerate.
Hearing these words, Myriad Stars Supreme Elder and the others felt as if struck by lightning, their minds going blank. "You... you say you killed Senior Brother?"
"Correct. This venerable one killed him. He was strong, costing this venerable one great effort to slay. He was a formidable opponent."
Ye Chen offered a rare evaluation. Few people were worthy of such praise from him.
Although he was a Supreme Heavenly Venerate, he was also a sealed Heavenly Venerate, unable to exert his full power completely. Therefore, Qingtian Great Venerable could pose a certain threat to him.
Only by exerting his full strength could he kill Qingtian Great Venerable.
Of course, in truth, he hadn't completely killed him yet, because utterly destroying an Ancient Great Venerable was extremely difficult. Even a Supreme Heavenly Venerate at peak condition would need endless eons to gradually grind away his existence.
Qingtian Great Venerable's Great Venerable soul was suppressed by him, beginning the gradual erosion of everything.
Myriad Stars Supreme Elder and the other Wanxuan Heavenly Race powerhouses were utterly despairing.
Qingtian Great Venerable had actually lost, and been killed. What astonishing news this was! If it spread, it would surely shake the entire world.
That was a generation's Ancient Great Venerable, one of the five Palace Lords wielding the Heavenly Seal, defeated by a Newly Ascended Great Venerable. The terrifying impact this would cause was unknowable.
Moreover, Myriad Stars Supreme Elder and the others despaired even more. With Qingtian Great Venerable defeated, they had led their army here, laying siege to the city. Wasn't that provocation?
If Ye Chen grew angry, who could stop him?
Boom—
At that moment, Ye Chen made his move, swinging the Qingtian Axe.
The heavens crumbled and the earth split. The sky above Heaven-Mending City shattered, vast swathes of void collapsing, plunging into utter annihilation. No one could withstand it.
Myriad Stars Supreme Elder immediately swung his Eternal Stone Halberd to block.
Boom—
The Eternal Stone Halberd was directly sent flying, tumbling into the chaotic void beyond the heavens.
Myriad Stars Supreme Elder's figure was sent hurtling back, the arm holding the halberd unable to withstand the residual force and exploding.
Ye Chen swung the Qingtian Axe again.
Boom—
A large group of Wanxuan Heavenly Race supreme experts were annihilated, their forms and spirits extinguished.
Even several Heavenly Race overlords perished, including two Taizhen-level half-step overlords.
In an instant, the army of supreme experts the Wanxuan Heavenly Race had brought suffered over half casualties.
From just this one strike!
The onlookers shuddered.
This was the power of an Ancient Great Venerable. A simple strike could inflict countless casualties upon an army of Heavenly Race supreme experts so powerful it inspired despair.
Myriad Stars Supreme Elder, Myriad Gods Supreme Elder, and the other two Heavenly Race Supreme Elders were also struck by the attack, but they were overlords at the Supreme Elder realm. Moreover, that axe strike covered everyone, so they did not bear the brunt of the most terrifying impact.
Yet, they too despaired!
With Qingtian Great Venerable fallen, how could the Wanxuan Heavenly Race stop this Newly Ascended Great Venerable?