At this moment, the tall man was instructing several outstanding descendants of the Chaos Heavenly Mansion in their cultivation, among them was Qian Xun, who was practicing the Dao of Battle.
The tall man saw through some of the flaws at a glance. Every time he spoke, he hit the nail on the head, giving Qian Xun profound insights. After a long while, Qian Xun bowed slightly to the tall man. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Kunxu. I have benefited greatly."
This person was precisely Kunxu Great Venerable.
In truth, he had arrived here half a year ago and had been residing in this Chaos Pure Land world, instructing Qian Xun, Qian Wentian, Ye Wudao, and others.
Having an Ancient Great Venerable personally guide them naturally allowed the group to gain immense benefits.
Kunxu Great Venerable shook his head, revealing a look of admiration. "Although I have offered some guidance, it ultimately comes down to your own innate talent. Truly worthy of being the offspring of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor. Your talents are far too heaven-defying. Each of you possesses the aptitude of a Heavenly Venerate, no less than I was in my youth. Given time, you may very well become the second or third Supreme Heavenly Venerate."
This was not an empty compliment.
Given Kunxu Heavenly Venerate's status, position, and cultivation, ordinary peerless geniuses, even Taishang realm overlords, were beneath his notice.
In terms of both talent and cultivation, Kunxu Great Venerable dared to claim he was second to none in his prime, hailed as one of the most likely to impact the Supreme Heavenly Venerate realm.
Because his origins were far from simple.
If not for certain events, he might very well have had the chance to become a true Supreme Heavenly Venerate.
After the session of guidance, Qian Xun thanked Kunxu Great Venerable and then said, "Senior, Father has not yet emerged from seclusion. If you are not in a hurry, you may return and wait. Once Father emerges, I will notify you immediately."
Kunxu Great Venerable shook his head and chuckled lightly. "Having waited so many years, a little more time makes no difference."
Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly, revealing a hint of joy. "It seems there is no need to wait any longer. He has emerged."
Silently and without a trace, Ye Chen's figure appeared before the group.
"Father!"
"Grandfather!"
Qian Xun, Ye Wudao, Qian Wentian, and the others called out to Ye Chen, also pleasantly surprised that he would appear at this moment.
Ye Chen smiled and nodded slightly at the three, then looked at Kunxu Great Venerable. "Kunxu, what brings you here?"
Seeing Ye Chen appear in person, Kunxu Great Venerable, though he had prepared himself somewhat, still felt a bit nervous now. He opened his mouth several times, words caught in his throat, before finally mustering his courage. He stepped before Ye Chen and spoke in a slightly trembling voice, "Your Majesty, Chaos Heavenly Emperor, I have come this time hoping to... to see the remains of my Heavenly Father?"
At this moment, he felt helpless and somewhat aggrieved.
A dignified Ancient Great Venerable, standing at the absolute peak of the world, capable of even challenging a Supreme Heavenly Venerate.
Now, his Heavenly Father's corpse was within the Chaos Heavenly Mansion, yet he could only make such a request.
But there was no other way, because the Chaos Heavenly Emperor was a Supreme Heavenly Venerate, his strength far surpassing his own.
On the other hand, there was also the camaraderie of having fought side by side, and it was the Chaos Heavenly Emperor who had forcibly retrieved it from Taiyuan Heavenly Venerate.
In the past, even if he knew, he would have had no way to see it.
Because he knew Taiyuan Heavenly Venerate would never allow him to see it. Moreover, if he dared to barge into the Taiyuan Heavenly Domain, Taiyuan Heavenly Venerate would seize the chance to attack him, eliminating a potential threat like him, a Great Venerable.
Now, he could only come to the Chaos Heavenly Mansion, hoping to catch a glimpse of his Heavenly Father's remains.
Ye Chen knew that Kunlun Heavenly Venerate was Kunxu Great Venerable's Heavenly Father.
He also understood Kunxu Great Venerable's helplessness.
To see his father's remains again, he had to make a request.
Even the Kunlun Heavenly Race had been annihilated, leaving him alone in the world, helplessly separated from his Heavenly Father's corpse.
Ye Chen looked at this Ancient Great Venerable making a request and said, "There is no need for a request. Kunlun Heavenly Venerate is your Heavenly Father; you may see him at any time. If you are willing, you may join the Chaos Heavenly Mansion and swear an oath to never betray it. In return, Kunlun Heavenly Venerate's remains will be returned to you. How about it?"
Regarding Kunlun Heavenly Venerate's corpse, Ye Chen had already gained seventy to eighty percent of its insights.
To gain deeper comprehension, even for him, a Supreme Heavenly Venerate, it was not something that could be accomplished in a short while.
It would be better to grant Kunxu Great Venerable this wish.
Although using Kunlun Heavenly Venerate's remains as an exchange to secure Kunxu Great Venerable's allegiance to the Chaos Heavenly Mansion might seem somewhat underhanded.
In reality, it was already a very good deal.
After all, this was the price Ye Chen had paid, nearly losing his life during his tribulation to ascend to Supreme Heavenly Venerate, to retrieve it from Taiyuan Heavenly Venerate.
Although the Chaos Heavenly Mansion had now risen, aside from him, its strongest members were only at the Taishang level.
Moreover, its foundation was still shallow.
If he were not present, the Chaos Heavenly Mansion would be in great danger if attacked by external forces.
After all, he could not be within the Chaos Heavenly Mansion at all times.
It needed a truly supreme, peak-level existence to guard it.
In this regard, even a Taishang was not quite suitable.
An Ancient Great Venerable was most appropriate.
If one day he was not at the Chaos Heavenly Mansion, even if a Supreme Heavenly Venerate attacked, an Ancient Great Venerable could hold them off for a time, buying enough time for his return.
Kunxu Great Venerable, with whom he had shared the camaraderie of battle, and with Kunlun Heavenly Venerate's remains within the Chaos Heavenly Mansion, was relatively the most suitable candidate.
Now it depended on whether Kunxu Great Venerable was willing to join the Chaos Heavenly Mansion. Ye Chen would not force this point.
Hearing this, Kunxu Great Venerable looked at Ye Chen with pleasant surprise and agreed without a second thought. "Your Majesty, I am willing."
Regarding the Chaos Heavenly Emperor, he held deep respect. So young, yet already a Supreme Heavenly Venerate.
Furthermore, they had the camaraderie of having fought side by side. Back then, it was Ye Chen who suppressed the four Great Venerables of the Heavenly Palace, allowing the many Ancient Great Venerables to catch their breath under the threat of two Supreme Heavenly Venerates. Otherwise, during the battle in the Endless Void, several Ancient Great Venerables might have fallen.
Now, he was willing to relinquish Kunlun Heavenly Venerate's remains, asking only for him to join the Chaos Heavenly Mansion.
For both public and private reasons, he could not refuse.
Immediately, Kunxu Great Venerable swore a Heavenly Dao oath, pledging eternal loyalty to the Chaos Heavenly Mansion, obedience to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor's commands, and to never commit any act of betrayal against the Chaos Heavenly Mansion.
Ye Chen sensed that from the unseen, the supreme Heavenly Dao descended an invisible restraint, transforming into a shackle of causality.
If Kunxu Great Venerable broke his vow, he would incur the causal tribulation of the Origin Heavenly Dao.
Even an Ancient Great Venerable could not withstand such a causal tribulation.
"Excellent." Ye Chen was also pleased. He immediately stood up and announced, "From this day forth, Kunxu Great Venerable shall be the Palace Master of the Kunlun Palace within my Chaos Heavenly Mansion!"
As his voice fell, the world was shaken!
Kunxu Great Venerable had joined the Chaos Heavenly Mansion!
Originally, although the Chaos Heavenly Mansion was powerful, it was ultimately propped up by the Chaos Heavenly Emperor alone. He was the Supreme Heavenly Venerate; he represented everything.
But if the Chaos Heavenly Emperor was not counted, the Chaos Heavenly Mansion fell far short of even the weakest Eternal Heavenly Race, whether in terms of Taishang realm power or foundational depth.
Now, with the addition of an Ancient Great Venerable—and Kunxu Great Venerable was one of the top-tier Great Venerables of the current era—his joining would directly elevate the overall strength of the entire Chaos Heavenly Mansion by an entire level.
Even if the Chaos Heavenly Emperor was absent, with Kunxu Great Venerable guarding it, it would not be an entity that other Eternal Heavenly Races or Heavenly Venerate-level forces could easily provoke.
Moreover, the world knew that the thirty-three ancient coffins the Chaos Heavenly Emperor had taken from Taiyuan Heavenly Venerate contained Kunlun Heavenly Venerate.
Kunxu Great Venerable's joining of the Chaos Heavenly Mansion was likely because of Kunlun Heavenly Venerate.
Kunlun Heavenly Venerate was Kunxu Great Venerable's father. Kunxu Great Venerable would likely be able to constantly contemplate Kunlun Heavenly Venerate's Eternal Heavenly Dao, perhaps leading to some breakthroughs, making him even stronger. One day, he might even reach the level of the Deathless Heavenly Venerate.