"Congratulations, Great Elder."
At this moment, the two Great Truth realm half-step Overlords, Desolate God Venerable and Hua God Ancestor, led a group forward to offer their congratulations to the Heaven-Mending Clan.
The Great Elder stroked his beard with a smile, also quite pleased. "If not for Fellow Daoist Ye's help this time, my Heaven-Mending Clan would not have found it so easy to defeat the Wanxuan Heavenly Race."
Even this Great Elder, a Great Truth realm half-step Overlord, showed extraordinary respect towards Ye Chen, his words carrying not the slightest hint of arrogance. On the contrary, he addressed him as an equal.
In the cultivation world, those who achieve more are teachers; the strong are revered.
Because the Great Elder knew that such a Taixu Supreme was incredibly heaven-defying. His true combat power was absolutely sufficient to battle a peak Great Truth realm expert. He could no longer be viewed merely as a Taixu Realm cultivator.
Moreover, being able to nurture such a Taixu Supreme meant his background was inevitably extraordinary, not as he claimed—without any background. He was simply unwilling to speak of it.
For such a Taixu Supreme, the Heaven-Mending Clan had to receive him with the utmost ceremony.
"Senior, we meet again!" At this moment, Supreme Hua Ming stepped forward, respectfully bowing to Ye Chen.
Ye Chen recognized him and gave a slight nod. "So it's you."
Beside him, Hua God Ancestor looked slightly surprised. "Hua Ming, you know Fellow Daoist Ye?"
Supreme Hua Ming smiled bitterly. "I dare not say I know him. It's just that I once offended the senior. Fortunately, the senior was magnanimous, so nothing came of it."
He recounted the incident in detail, causing the powerhouses of the Taihua Family to feel waves of lingering fear. This fellow had actually offended this Taixu Supreme.
It truly was thanks to the Taixu Supreme's magnanimity that nothing happened. Otherwise, even if he killed Supreme Hua Ming, the Taihua Family, though furious, would have nothing to say.
Supreme Hua Ming sighed with emotion. "It was precisely thanks to the senior's teaching that day. There is always a higher sky, a greater man beyond man. One cannot be too arrogant."
Hua God Ancestor said to Ye Chen, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ye, for teaching my clan's junior."
Ye Chen waved his hand. "God Ancestor, you are too polite."
Desolate God Venerable looked at Ye Chen, his admiration unconcealed. "Fellow Daoist Ye's physical body is peerless. Even within my Desolate Heavenly Race, few can compare."
At this time, Ye Chen also saw Desolate God Venerable, Desolate Heaven, and the others. Regarding Desolate God Venerable, although he was already a Taixu Supreme, he increasingly sensed the terror of this Desolate Heavenly Race's Great Truth realm half-step Overlord. His physical body was similarly terrifyingly extreme.
However, the supreme existence he once had to look up to in the Boundless Domain could now, to a certain extent, be addressed as an equal.
As for Desolate Heaven, once arrogant and domineering, he had even sent someone to persuade Ye Chen to become his follower.
Now, over ten thousand years had passed. Although he had reached the Monarch level, and it was evident he had stepped into the Eternal Domain while still a Monarch, now possessing Eternal Monarch combat power capable of peak duels with Supremes...
the gap between him and Ye Chen was vast. Even if he broke through in the future, he would at most reach the Tongtian Realm, and would need to cultivate for many years to possess combat power at the level of a Tongtian List King, let alone compare to a Taixu Supreme like Ye Chen who crushed Taixu Kings. He had already been left far behind.
Life is a great dream of a hundred thousand years. Since their parting during seclusion back then, the distance between them had grown ever wider.
As for the Twelve War Gods, they had been left so far behind it was difficult to even see his back.
Desolate Heaven was lost in a daze. The person he could once look down upon had now reached a level where he could sit as an equal with his father's generation.
Ye Chen looked at Desolate God Venerable, still quite modest. "God Venerable flatters me. The Desolate Heavenly Race's physical body is peerless throughout the ages. I have merely been fortunate enough to cultivate a relatively powerful physical body."
Desolate God Venerable knew Ye Chen was being modest. He smiled. This Taixu Supreme showed none of the domineering, overwhelming force from the Heaven-Mending Battle Stage earlier, appearing instead quite peaceful. He valued Ye Chen's temperament even more, believing a future Heavenly Venerate was not beyond expectation.
He said, "Fellow Daoist Ye, if you have the chance, you can come to the Desolate Heavenly Race. My Desolate Heavenly Race welcomes your arrival."
Ye Chen agreed readily. He was also quite looking forward to this Eternal Heavenly Race, the Desolate Heavenly Race.
After all, it was rumored that Desolate Heavenly Venerate was one of the few supreme Heavenly Venerates in the world who had proven the Dao to Eternity through his physical body. The members of this Eternal Heavenly Race were all supreme physical body cultivators. Even someone like Desolate Heaven, who cultivated both form and spirit, had trained his physical body to an unimaginable height, not to be underestimated.
Desolate God Venerable looked at his son Desolate Heaven's desolate expression, patted his shoulder, and transmitted a message: "Although he has already been crowned King and Supreme within the Taixu Realm, it does not necessarily indicate his final achievement. You are a clansman highly regarded by the Desolate Heavenly Race. Even the Ancestor has praised you somewhat. After returning, strive to reach the Tongtian Realm as soon as possible. Perhaps you can receive personal guidance from the Ancestor. In that case, your future achievements will not be much inferior to this Ye Chen, and you may even have hope of surpassing him."
Hearing this, Desolate Heaven's eyes lit up.
Yes, he was a clansman of the Desolate Heavenly Race. Although he had never seen Desolate Heavenly Venerate's true form, Desolate Heavenly Venerate had praised him once or twice and even sent a message: as long as Desolate Heaven achieved the Tongtian Realm one day, Desolate Heavenly Venerate would accept him as a nominal disciple for guidance.
As long as he met Desolate Heavenly Venerate's requirements, becoming a direct disciple was not impossible.
It must be known that in this world, even those on the Origin Six Great Lists had few who could be accepted as disciples by a supreme Heavenly Venerate.
This included the sons of Heavenly Venerates as well.
Supreme Heavenly Venerates were quite particular about accepting disciples.
If he could be accepted as a disciple by Desolate Heavenly Venerate, he would surely soar to the heavens in the future. At the very least, his achievement would be that of a Taishang, and he would have greater hope than other Taishang of ascending to the supreme Heavenly position.
Now, even if Ye Chen had become a Taixu Realm giant, even a Taixu Supreme, faster than him, in the future he might not necessarily be much inferior.
...
In the Taixu Realm battle, Ye Chen, with his absolutely invincible strength, crushed the Wanxuan Heavenly Race's Taixu King Wansheng, becoming the greatest winner.
The world called him Taixu Supreme.
Without a doubt, with Ye Chen's strength, if he were to charge the Taixu List, he would succeed immediately and have great hope of reaching first place, suppressing all other Taixu Kings on the list.
The emergence of such a Taixu Supreme and such a domineering Taixu battle would, as expected, spread throughout the Heaven-Mending Domain, even the Thirty-Three Heavenly Domains, in a short time.
After all, the appearance of a Taixu Supreme, especially in this golden great era of charging for the supreme Heavenly position, would inevitably attract the attention of all.
Ye Chen was unaware of this, because at this moment, he had already been warmly received by the Heaven-Mending Clan into the Heaven-Mending Traveling Palace. The Heaven-Mending City Lord, the number one figure of the Heaven-Mending Clan, also appeared.
"Little Friend Ye is a heaven-sent prodigy, able to reign supreme and be invincible within the Taixu Realm." After learning the details, the Heaven-Mending City Lord was also amazed. He greatly admired such a heaven-sent Supreme. However, upon hearing that his name actually matched the true name of that supreme Heavenly Venerate from the Chaos Celestial Court, he was also startled.
Ye Chen looked at the Heaven-Mending City Lord and suddenly said, "City Lord, to be frank with you, upon seeing you, I have a sense of déjà vu."
The Heaven-Mending City Lord was startled but did not doubt Ye Chen's words, because such a Taixu Supreme had no need to flatter a Taishang. If he wished, even a supreme Heavenly Venerate would likely be willing to accept him as a direct disciple. In the future, he would have greater hope of proving the Dao to Eternity than ordinary Taixu List Kings.
"Could this be fate?" the Heaven-Mending City Lord couldn't help but sigh.
That was all he could say.
Here, Mi Tian Young Master said, "Father, your child once promised Brother Ye that if he defeated Wansheng, he would be allowed to cultivate within the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool..."
At the time, it was actually his own decision, not approved by the other high-level members of the Heaven-Mending Clan.
Hearing this, many of the Heaven-Mending Clan's top giants frowned.
Although Ye Chen had rendered great service to the Heaven-Mending Clan this time, the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool was no trivial matter. It was a priceless treasure left by the Heaven-Mending Venerate for his descendants, containing the true blood of a Heavenly Venerate. It could allow later generations to undergo baptism and tempering, transcending their former selves and transforming like a silkworm into a butterfly.
Now, such a tremendous, heaven-defying opportunity was to be given to an outsider.
After a brief silence, the Heaven-Mending City Lord agreed. "Very well. Since my Heaven-Mending Clan made a promise, we should naturally fulfill it."
"Clan Leader!"
The giants of the Heaven-Mending Clan were greatly surprised and wanted to stop him.
But the Heaven-Mending City Lord said firmly, "No need to persuade me. This matter will proceed as decided."
The Heaven-Mending Clan's many giants could only reluctantly agree.
Watching the departing figures of Mi Tian Young Master and Ye Chen, the Heaven-Mending City Lord looked at the high-level members of the Heaven-Mending Clan beside him and sighed. "Your vision is ultimately still somewhat short-sighted. Although the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool is an extremely precious inheritance cultivation ground for our Heaven-Mending Clan, this Ye Chen, as a Taixu Supreme, do you truly believe he has no connection whatsoever to a supreme Heavenly Venerate?"
Hearing this, the Heaven-Mending Clan's high-level members looked at their Clan Leader in great surprise. Thinking carefully, they all felt a chill of fear upon deeper consideration.
How could a Taixu Supreme appear in this world without reason?
Those who could reign supreme and be invincible on the Origin Six Great Lists—which of them would be easy to deal with? Especially on the Taixu List, second only to the Taishang List and the Great Truth List.
In this era where the sons of Heavenly Venerates were emerging one after another, few could reign supreme and be invincible on the Six Great Lists.
...
Not long after, Mi Tian Young Master brought Ye Chen and the Ancient True Dragon into the Heaven-Mending Realm.
The Heaven-Mending Realm was vast and boundless, accessible only through special passages of Heaven-Mending City.
It had once shattered along with the fall of the Heaven-Mending Venerate and the Heaven-Mending Clan being targeted by several Eternal Heavenly Races, almost completely annihilated.
But it had not been completely destroyed. The Heaven-Mending Clan had recovered it, and it was rumored they had invited the Chaos Heavenly Emperor to take action, repairing it to a certain extent. It was countless times larger than the Martial Arts Universe.
Over the past hundred thousand years of gradual reconstruction by the Heaven-Mending Clan, the Heaven-Mending Realm had regained a certain level of prosperity.
This Eternal Heaven Realm retained many traces of Heavenly Venerates.
Some places even had Heavenly Venerate blood spilled, which to this day had not dissipated, remaining fresh and flawless, exuding a terrifying Heavenly might that prevented outsiders from setting foot there.
Led by Mi Tian Young Master, Ye Chen briefly toured the Heaven-Mending Realm, witnessing its various extraordinary aspects.
The Heaven-Mending Realm was truly boundless and vast, far larger than the Southern Wilderness or the Boundless Domain.
Over a hundred thousand years of recuperation and attracting many external powerhouses to join had led to the current strength of the Heaven-Mending Clan.
Over a hundred thousand years of reproduction within the Heaven-Mending Realm, the population had already exceeded ten billion.
Of course, those who truly counted as clansmen were not many, not exceeding a hundred thousand. The rest were merely descendants with an extremely thin trace of Heavenly Venerate bloodline.
For such descendants, that thin trace of Heavenly Venerate bloodline was usually almost invisible. They needed to continuously cultivate through their own efforts, constantly activating and strengthening the Heavenly Venerate bloodline within their bodies. Only after reaching the standards set by the Heaven-Mending Clan and passing extremely strict audits would they qualify to become true clansmen.
Naturally, the audit to become a Heaven-Mending Clan clansman was very strict. Even many powerful descendants at the Heavenly King level had not succeeded.
Otherwise, among the over ten billion descendants, the true clansmen numbered only about a hundred thousand.
The billions of descendants within the realm all took becoming a clansman as their ultimate goal, constantly striving.
After all, for such descendants, once they became a Heaven-Mending Clan clansman, it meant completely leaping over the dragon gate, ascending to the heavens in a single step.
However, the current Heaven-Mending Realm was no longer the Heaven-Mending Realm of old.
During the Twilight of the Heavens, the Heaven-Mending Venerate fell, and this Eternal Heaven Realm also collapsed. Later, thanks to the intervention of that supreme Heavenly Venerate from the Chaos Celestial Court for repairs, and after over a hundred thousand years of reconstruction, it had recovered to its current appearance.
But compared to the Heaven-Mending Realm of the Zhutian Era, it was still incomparable.
Under Mi Tian Young Master's guidance, Ye Chen essentially took a tour, truly comprehending the boundless vastness of the Heaven-Mending Realm and the many places marked by Heavenly Venerates. He even observed, from an infinite distance, places marked by Heavenly Venerate battles, gaining much.
However, the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool was not something that could be opened just because one wanted to. It required waiting for a certain time, as this was the true important ground of the Heaven-Mending Clan.
Therefore, Mi Tian Young Master temporarily arranged for Ye Chen to rest in a hall.
Ye Chen was not in a hurry either. Now that he had become a Taixu Supreme, he was quite patient.
The Heaven-Mending Clan also had some extraordinary cultivation grounds. Given Ye Chen's current status within the clan, he was qualified to go and cultivate there.
Of course, for him now, ordinary cultivation grounds were not of much use, but they could allow the Ancient True Dragon to cultivate a bit.
Having witnessed Ye Chen's terrifying strength and the high evaluation of him from the outside world, the Ancient True Dragon now felt increasing awe and worship. He knew that even the master of the relic secret realm, the Zhen Tian War God who was on the Taixu List of the Zhutian Era, was no longer a match for this master.
Therefore, the Ancient True Dragon also cultivated diligently, hoping to one day catch up to his master's footsteps.
Boom—
Boom—
Boom—
...
Just as Ye Chen was waiting, several uninvited guests arrived.
They were several Taixu Realm giants of the Heaven-Mending Clan, both clansmen and guest elders, all drawn by his fame.
Clearly, they were all shocked by the incident of Ye Chen's battle against the Wanxuan Heavenly Race's Taixu King Wansheng in Heaven-Mending City, where he crushed his opponent and was ultimately called Taixu Supreme. It was so earth-shattering that his fame had already resounded throughout the Thirty-Three Heavenly Domains.
As a result, countless powerhouses across the Thirty-Three Heavenly Domains were closely watching.
Especially the various Kings on the Taixu List were all shocked. Within the Taixu Realm, a peerless Supreme figure who swept through the same realm invincibly had emerged?
This was not the Supreme Realm, but being absolutely supreme and invincible within the same realm.
In the vast world, how many could achieve this?
Therefore, these several Taixu Realm giants of the Heaven-Mending Clan were curious. Drawn by his fame, they wanted to see what kind of person this guest elder, called Taixu Supreme, really was.
Within the divine hall, Ye Chen naturally could not refuse. He came out to receive the several Taixu Realm giants of the Heaven-Mending Clan.
"Our sudden visit today, we ask Fellow Daoist Ye not to take offense."
When the several Taixu Realm giants saw Ye Chen appear, they immediately spoke with some apology. At the same time, they silently observed Ye Chen, wanting to know if Ye Chen truly deserved to be called Taixu Supreme, absolutely invincible within this realm, as the rumors said.
"It's no trouble. Fellow Daoists, please enter." Ye Chen invited them in, and they drank tea and conversed together within the divine hall.
Because they were all from the Heaven-Mending Clan, their words were quite polite to each other.
After quite some time, finally, a venerable ancestor-level figure of the Heaven-Mending Clan couldn't help but speak. "Fellow Daoist Ye, we heard that you reign supreme and are invincible within the Taixu Realm. Is that true?"
He had naturally heard of Ye Chen from other clansmen, but regarding the invincible title of Taixu Supreme, he still found it somewhat hard to believe, because it was too difficult.
A Taixu King might be somewhat believable, but a Taixu Supreme represented truly invincible strength. Even among the sons of Heavenly Venerates in the current era, none could achieve it.
Ye Chen smiled. "That's just rumors from the outside world."
However, the pupils of the several Taixu Realm giants suddenly contracted sharply, because although Ye Chen did not admit it, he also did not deny it.
Could it be that he truly was a Taixu Supreme?
Suddenly, they all could distinctly feel a sensation from Ye Chen before them that made them tremble.
Without a doubt, this Ye Chen before them was far stronger than them. Otherwise, he could not give them such a trembling feeling.
The rumors were mostly true. This Ye Chen was already a Taixu Supreme.
At this moment, a guest elder of the Heaven-Mending Clan, a veteran giant famous for many years, said to Ye Chen seriously, "Fellow Daoist Ye, we wish to spar and compare notes."
Ye Chen could tell that this Taixu Realm guest elder sincerely wanted to spar, his eyes burning with intense fighting spirit, not a deliberate provocation.
After a moment of contemplation, Ye Chen still nodded.
The two stood on opposite sides of the divine hall. At this time, that guest elder manifested a vast, boundless world to facilitate better sparring.
Before that Heaven-Mending Clan guest elder could even make a move, Ye Chen actively entered it, looked at the guest elder, and said, "Fellow Daoist, for this spar, I will only throw one punch. Watch carefully."
The Heaven-Mending Clan guest elder couldn't help but feel furious inside. Even if this Ye Chen was truly invincible within Taixu, he couldn't possibly defeat him in one move.
It must be known that he had also sparred with Kings on the Taixu List and could fight for twenty or thirty rounds. Even a Taixu Supreme could not defeat him in one move.
But at this moment, Ye Chen merely pointed a single finger.
Boom—
The manifested vast world suddenly collapsed. At the same time, the figure of the Heaven-Mending Clan guest elder was sent flying, sprinkling a shower of blood here.
Defeated!
Defeated in one move!
The several Taixu Realm giants' hearts suddenly trembled in shock. They looked at Ye Chen in disbelief. He was actually so invincible!
Was this the strength of being invincible within Taixu?
"Our apologies, we have disturbed you."
At this time, their words became much more polite. They even began using honorifics for Ye Chen.
But they believed Ye Chen deserved such honorifics. His strength made them revere and fear him.
After the several Heaven-Mending Clan guest elders left, not long after, Mi Tian Young Master appeared, smiling. "They all doubted Brother Ye's strength, believing you couldn't be considered a Taixu Supreme. But just now I saw them leave dejected and lost. Clearly, they were all subdued by Brother Ye's peerless combat power."
Ye Chen shook his head, not saying much.
As the impact of the Heaven-Mending City battle grew larger, from various places across the Thirty-Three Heavenly Domains, more Kings from the Taixu List personally came, filled with infinite fighting spirit, hoping to battle Ye Chen, the legendary Taixu Supreme.
Among them, there was no small effect of the Wanxuan Heavenly Race adding fuel to the fire.
The Wanxuan Heavenly Race failed to recruit Ye Chen and naturally did not want to see a Taixu Supreme with Heavenly Venerate potential completely join the Heaven-Mending Clan. Therefore, they wanted to kill him with praise, not letting him remain in the spotlight.
However, Ye Chen had entered the Heaven-Mending Realm. The Heaven-Mending Clan, as one of the current Eternal Heavenly Races, even if the most declined, itsheritage / foundation was still incomparable to ordinary forces. No one could enter the Heaven-Mending Realm, and thus could not harass Ye Chen.
Thus, they waited for about ten years.
During this period, important figures from within the Heaven-Mending Clan came to visit Ye Chen one after another. Even the Heaven-Mending Young City Lord had come, briefly sparring with him.
Afterwards, this Heaven-Mending Young City Lord sighed, saying that in a real battle, he was far from Ye Chen's match.
Naturally, Ye Chen was not always in the divine hall. Now he possessed considerable authority within the Heaven-Mending Clan, so he often went to various places in the Heaven-Mending Realm marked by Heavenly Venerates to comprehend up close, also gaining some insights.
Sky-Splitting Abyss.
A place within the Heaven-Mending Realm where Heavenly Venerates once battled. As the name implied, Heavenly Venerates had fought here, leaving behind a terrifying abyss billions of miles long and millions of miles wide, which still remained to this day.
Blood dyed the abyss red. It was said that Heavenly Venerate blood had been spilled here, and multiple Taishang realm Overlords who followed had been buried here.
On this day, Ye Chen specifically came here to observe, to comprehend up close, hoping to capture the aura of the supreme Heavenly Venerate battle from the past, which would be of great help to his cultivation.
Even after more than two chaotic epochs, an immeasurably long span of time, the Sky-Splitting Abyss still radiated an immensely oppressive aura. Even for a Supreme One, approaching it was extremely difficult.
Ye Chen, relying on his invincible Taixu Supreme physique, drew near the Sky-Splitting Abyss. Looking down from above at this colossal chasm, he instantly felt a terrifying will capable of splitting the heavens surging forth, impacting his physical body to a certain degree.
Yet he withstood it, his body ringing with metallic clangs as if struck by invisible, peerless divine weapons.
He was certain this Heaven-Splitting Will was potent enough to potentially shatter an ordinary Tongtian Realm Overlord into dust.
Ye Chen understood that within the Sky-Splitting Abyss lay a wisp of a Heavenly Venerate's will. Even after endless ages, it still lingered in this scarred land.
He couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Truly worthy of being the supreme, peerless existence throughout the ages. A mere wisp of will left by a Heavenly Venerate, isolated for endless eons, remained terrifying to this extent.
He sat cross-legged before the Sky-Splitting Abyss, actively subjecting himself to the baptism of this residual wisp of Heavenly Venerate will. It had a certain tempering and strengthening effect on his physique.
By now, Ye Chen's physical body had already reached an extremely high level. Even Desolate God Venerable, hailing from the Desolate Heaven Clan, had once remarked that his own physique might not be much stronger than Ye Chen's.
It must be noted that Desolate God Venerable was a half-step Overlord of the Great Truth Realm, while Ye Chen was merely in the Taixu Realm. The former was also of the Desolate Heaven Clan, inheriting the invincible physical bloodline of the Desolate Heavenly Venerate, possessing innate physical prowess where few in the same realm could compare.
This showed just how difficult it was for Ye Chen's physique to grow stronger.
In the blink of an eye, Ye Chen had endured the oppressive pressure of the Heavenly Venerate's residual will before the Sky-Splitting Abyss for a full century. His physique did receive some tempering. While the strengthening wasn't substantial, even the slightest, most incremental evolution was astonishing.
"Although the effect is minimal, it's better than nothing. It's certainly better than idly waiting for the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool," Ye Chen murmured to himself. The Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool was an extremely important inheritance cultivation site for the Heaven-Mending Clan, and he was an outsider. Even with the permission of the Heaven-Mending City Lord, who was also the clan patriarch, he needed to wait for a period.
However, Mi Tian Shaozun had informed him it would be soon.
Just as Ye Chen prepared to turn and leave the Sky-Splitting Abyss, his gaze suddenly sharpened. He saw several figures silently appear within the abyss, standing in mid-air, watching him from a distance.
Anyone capable of traversing the Sky-Splitting Abyss like this, enduring the Heaven-Splitting Will, was clearly no ordinary individual.
These figures looked at Ye Chen. They wore black robes, appearing very mysterious. The material of their robes was extraordinary, making it difficult to see their true faces.
Ye Chen frowned. These individuals gave him an ominous feeling; they didn't seem like members of the Heaven-Mending Clan.
At that moment, one of them spoke, his gaze fixed on Ye Chen. "Ye Chen, you are invincible in the Taixu Realm, a pure physique cultivator with the potential to attain the Eternal Heavenly Position through your body. Would you be willing to join 'Calamity'? 'Calamity' can grant you a greater hope of becoming a Heavenly Venerate through physique attainment!"
"Calamity?" Ye Chen frowned. He had never heard of this organization. Yet this mysterious group claimed it could give him a greater hope of becoming a physique-attainment Heavenly Venerate. What audacity.
However, he felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding towards this organization and directly refused. "My apologies, I have no wish to join any organization."
"You need not refuse immediately. We know you are unfamiliar with the Calamity Organization and thus feel resistance. The Calamity Organization is the organization of Calamity Executors. We are the Executors," the self-proclaimed Calamity Executor said. "The Origin Land, this very heaven and earth, will soon experience a Great Calamity that will cover the entire Origin Land. When that time comes, no living being will be spared; all will be destroyed by the calamity. Only by siding with, by joining the side of the Great Calamity, by becoming Calamity Executors, can one avoid the disaster of destruction."
Ye Chen's gaze sharpened.
The Great Calamity would annihilate the entire heaven and earth? Even the Origin Land would be destroyed?
He asked, "Heavenly Venerates are supreme and peerless. Would the Great Calamity destroy them too?"
The Calamity Executor replied, "Yes."
Ye Chen said, "I don't believe it."
"It's normal that you don't believe," the Calamity Executor said. "In fact, this vast heaven and earth has been destroyed countless times throughout the ages. In past history, there have been cultivation civilizations comparable to the present one, and naturally, other great existences rivaling the Heavenly Venerates have been born. But when the Great Calamity descends, everything is ultimately destroyed. None can escape."
These words clearly had a significant impact on Ye Chen.
Similar cultivation civilizations had been destroyed countless times? And in past history, great existences rivaling the Heavenly Venerates had been born, only to ultimately fall, their very traces vanishing, ceasing to exist?
But Ye Chen's heart was as firm as bedrock, unmoved. All this was merely the words of this so-called Calamity Organization. Without proof or evidence, how could he believe it?
Seeing Ye Chen's expression, the Calamity Organization members knew he did not believe. One said, "Actually, there is one matter we don't mind telling you. The occurrence of the Twilight of the Heavens in the past, while it was internal strife among the Heavenly Venerates, was in truth secretly instigated by our Calamity Organization. Now, although the Origin Land is in a Golden Age, with the Heavenly Venerates seeking to nurture a batch of new supreme Heavenly Venerates... in merely three epochs, it's difficult to even nurture one supreme Heavenly Venerate, let alone multiple. It's simply impossible."
"The Origin Land is destined to be destroyed once more. Only by joining the Calamity Organization, by becoming Calamity Executors, can one survive the Great Calamity and truly live on."
"You are a Taixu Supreme, possessing immense potential to attain the Heavenly Venerate position through your physique. The Great Venerable of our Calamity Organization thinks highly of you, which is why he specifically dispatched us to invite you to join."
Ye Chen looked deeply at these individuals. He knew the so-called Great Venerable referred to a Flawed Heavenly Venerate—inferior to a supreme Heavenly Venerate, yet surpassing the Taishang Realm, peerless and unmatched.
The fact that they could silently enter the Heaven-Mending Realm, filled with experts, without anyone knowing, was enough to demonstrate the formidable nature of this Calamity Organization.
Yet, Ye Chen remained unmoved. "My apologies, I have little interest in joining the Calamity Organization."
Hearing this, the several Calamity Organization members frowned. Ye Chen's repeated refusals prompted one to say, "Refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit? Since he is unwilling to join, we can only kill him. Otherwise, this youth might very well attain the physique Heavenly Venerate position within the next three epochs!"
Before coming, the Calamity Organization had conducted a detailed investigation on Ye Chen. They were shocked to discover his growth speed was alarmingly fast. According to their findings, his cultivation time to date was actually less than twenty thousand years.
What kind of terrifying cultivation speed was this?
Unimaginable!
To rise from an ordinary individual to a Taixu Supreme in less than twenty thousand years—even a supreme Heavenly Venerate in their youth could not have achieved this.
Generally, even supreme Heavenly Venerates in their youth dared not cultivate too quickly, fearing an unstable foundation.
A towering edifice rises from the ground; foundation is of utmost importance.
Yet this Ye Chen was rebelliously unimaginable, cultivating purely his physique, and his physique had already reached the Taixu Supreme level.
This destined that Ye Chen's foundation was not problematic. Otherwise, with an insufficient foundation, how could he have become a Taixu Supreme?
With such andefying heaven / heaven-defying cultivation speed, attaining physical eternity within three epochs was not impossible.
Precisely because of this, this Taixu Supreme Ye Chen must either be recruited for their own use or directly killed. This threat could not be allowed to fully mature.
Now, Ye Chen's attitude was clear—unwilling to join. Therefore, he could only be killed.
Boom—
One of the Calamity Executors made a move, attacking Ye Chen. Taixu Realm might surged tumultuously. He was actually a Taixu Realm Overlord. Knowing Ye Chen was a Taixu Supreme yet still daring to attack showed extreme confidence in his own abilities.
Simultaneously, the other two Taixu Realm Calamity Executors also attacked, surrounding Ye Chen from three sides.
Instantly, three peerless divine abilities assaulted him, reaching everywhere, completely sealing off every direction of escape.
Ye Chen could keenly sense these were no ordinary Taixu Realm Overlords. Even if they weren'tpeerless / supremekings on the Taixu Ranking, they were very close, belonging to the quasi-kinglevel. One even possessed strength comparable to a king on the Taixu Ranking.
It had to be said, this Calamity Organization was truly terrifying. Even the few Taixu Realm Calamity Executors they dispatched possessed quasi-king or even king-level cultivation.
If it were any other Taixu King, they might have been in trouble, facing grave danger.
However, this was Ye Chen.
Ye Chen's figure moved, instantly breaking free from the lock of the three Taixu Realm Calamity Executors, as if leaping beyond the Three Realms, outside the Five Elements.
All attacks failed!
"Impossible!"
The three Taixu Realm Calamity Executors were greatly shocked. They were no ordinary Taixu Realm Overlords but far stronger. Among them was even a ranked king. Yet, even with their combined power, they couldn't lock him down?
Was this Taixu Supreme truly terrifying to this extent?
Boom—
Ye Chen's palms shot forward, delivering three slaps in succession.
ThreeReturn to Simplicity's palm strikes! Three peerless physical palm strikes!
The terrifying palm force directly pierced through the void, then, at an unreactable speed, traversed the sky in an instant, transforming into three blood-qi giant palms, each ten thousand miles in size, heavily smashing onto the three Taixu Realm Calamity Executors.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
As if struck by a palm from a supreme Heavenly Venerate, the three Taixu Realm Calamity Executors were thunderstruck.
Apart from the Taixu King, the other two quasi-king level Calamity Executors, being slightly weaker, instantly exploded mid-air, their bodies shattering into dust. Blood light sought to surge skyward but was directly blocked by an invisible barrier.
For Ye Chen, these Calamity Executors had long since employed extraordinary means to seal off the Sky-Splitting Abyss area, preventing any transmission to the outside.
This was to avoid the situation where, if Ye Chen was unwilling to join the Calamity Organization, they could directly kill him without the Heaven-Mending Clan's supreme experts knowing and coming to his aid.
However, they had severely underestimated theterror of such a Taixu Supreme.
The Taixu King-level Calamity Executor, though not shattered, had his black robe explode, his peerless divine armor shattering, revealing amangled and bloody body. He staggered back repeatedly, trails of blood staining the void, appearing utterlydisarray / wretched state.
This Taixu King Calamity Executor looked at Ye Chen in disbelief. He was, after all, a kingexistence on the Taixu Ranking, yet he was sonot worth a single blow / utterly weak.
Or was it that this Taixu Supreme'sterror had already transcended beyond the Taixu Ranking?
As Ye Chen prepared to continue his attack, a fourth Calamity Executor suddenly made a move.
He was actually a Great Truth Realm half-step Overlord. He too had severely underestimated the Taixu Supreme'sfearsome / terrifying. He hadn't expected three powerful Taixu Realm Calamity Executors to be sonot worth a single blow / utterly weak. Now, he had to personally intervene.
He arrived in an instant, like a wisp of smoke.
Raising his hand, endless Great Truth Realm laws surged forth, converging into myriad dharma forms, displaying thepeerless / supreme's might of the Great Truth Realm as he blasted towards Ye Chen, clearly intending to attack Ye Chen with a higher realm'sdimensional reduction strike.
Ye Chen showed no fear, raising a fist to strike horizontally against his opponent.
Boom—
The ten directions crumbled.
Ye Chen's figure was forced back several steps, but his opponent was similarly affected. In a direct confrontation, that Great Truth Realm half-step Overlord Calamity Executor couldn't gain the slightest upper hand.
"Indeed, this Taixu Supreme must be killed without fail. Otherwise, he will surely become a supreme Heavenly Venerate in the future!"
The Great Truth Realm Calamity Executor flashed with intense killing intent. A terrifying giant axe appeared in his hand, cleaving through the sky, carrying boundless Great Truth Realm power and laws, as if intending to split the entire Sky-Splitting Abyss in two, as it heavily smashed towards Ye Chen.
But Ye Chen's expression remained unchanged. A palm-blade sliced through the sky, clashing with the axe. Metallic clangs rang out; the palm-blade was undamaged, not falling behind in the slightest.
The Great Truth Realm Calamity Executor's revealed eyes held a trace ofastounded / horrified. This youth truly lived up to being a pure physique cultivator who had reached the Taixu Supreme level. With such a physique, he was truly invincible within the Taixu Realm.
Simultaneously, Ye Chen'sworld-defying (defying the world/transcending the ordinary)monstrous genius combat consciousness erupted. Although the attack methods of that Great Truth Realm half-step Overlord Calamity Executor wereprofound mysteriescountless times, Ye Chen saw through every trajectory, employing physical attack holy techniques to forcefully clash head-on.
Pfft—
Not long after, merely by the twelfth exchange, the Great Truth Realm half-step Overlord Calamity Executor's figure was sent flying. He spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his chest pierced by a terrifying fist-sized bloody hole—clearly heavily wounded by Ye Chen.
A terrifying force rampaged within the bloody hole, preventing the wound from healing.
The Great Truth Realm Calamity Executor looked at thecontinuously / remainedunperturbed, composed young figure opposite him inastounded / horrified, his eyes filled with disbelief.
A Taixu Supreme was already immenselyfearsome / terrifying. Even morefearsome / terrifying was that this Taixu Supreme also possessedpeerless / supremeterror's combat consciousness. The combination of the two resulted in even this Great Truth Realm half-step Overlord Calamity Executor being no match, quickly and severely wounded.
Ye Chen naturally wouldn'teasilylet off these Calamity Executors. He intended to press his advantage and kill all of them.
And he was confident he had the capability.
Boom—
Suddenly, Ye Chen felt an unprecedented sense ofsense of crisis erupting from the depths of the Sky-Splitting Abyss.
He saw everything before him being split apart.
The entire Sky-Splitting Abyss, the entire Heaven-Mending Realm, was cleaved by a single sword strike.
In reality, this was merely anPhenomenon Ye Chen witnessed, all because the sword radiance shooting out from the Sky-Splitting Abyss was tooterror.
Ye Chen had apremonition that if this sword radiance struck him, even with his Taixu Supreme physique, peerlessly strong, he would likely be split in two, unable to resist.
A Taishang Realm Overlord!
Such apeerless figure had made a move, striking at Ye Chen.
He was confident he could duel a peak Great Truth Realm half-step Overlord. However, facing a Taishang Realm Overlord, he was powerless.
The realm gap was too vast. One realm was like a world apart, let alone two major realms; the difference was immeasurablyvast.
Yet, he couldn't evade it at all.
Because it was too fast, and he was completely locked on.
Just as this heaven-splitting sword radiance was about to land on him, soundlessly, Ye Chen only felt the flow of time around him slow down.
The originally impossibly fast, unavoidable sword radiance before his eyes slowed downcountless times, becomingclearly visible.
His heartbeat accelerated, originating from within his body, from the deepest recesses of his soul, from an unfathomable, hidden corner. ASupremePower, seeminglyextremely familiar yetgrand and powerfulinconceivably huge, was quietly emerging.
As thisSupremePower emerged, Ye Chen seemed to gain aspecial / peculiarsudden enlightenment, a natural understanding.
The moment thisSupremePower fully emerged, he would know the entire truth, including his own origins and the truth of the entire Origin Land.
But the next moment, thisSupremePower rapidly receded.
Simultaneously, the sealed void of the Sky-Splitting Abyss was torn open.
From an immeasurably distant beyond, from an unfathomable distance away, a river of blade light, equallyfearsome / terrifying, arrived.
Seemingly slow yetin reality fast, itspanning / straddling before Ye Chen, blocking thatpeerless / supreme sword radiance.
Boom—
The moment the twomighty power collided, heavencollapseearth splitting. Above the Sky-Splitting Abyss, layers ofextremelyfearsome / terrifying's destructive storm erupted,raging and spreading.
Ye Chen's figure was sent flying.
But he sustained no significant injury.
Before him, soundlessly, amajestic figure appeared. It was the Heaven-Mending City Lord.
Looking down from above, he gazed at the Sky-Splitting Abyss. "Calamity Executors of the Calamity Organization, the Heaven-Mending Clan is not a place for you to cause trouble."
As he spoke, the Heaven-Mending City Lord also acted. Wielding a large blade, he slashed thirty-three times consecutively towards the Sky-Splitting Abyss.
Each blade radiance stretched for who knows how many billions of miles, carrying unparalleled Taishang laws as they descended from above, crashing directly into the depths of the Sky-Splitting Abyss.
Theterrorimposing might / awe-inspiring power of a Taishang Realm Overlord was something others could only look up to, unable to match.
Within the Sky-Splitting Abyss, there was also a Taishang Realm Overlord-level Calamity Executor. He brandished apeerless / supremeDivine Sword, unleashingstreams ofpeerless / supreme sword radiances that collided with the Heaven-Mending City Lord'speerless / supreme blade radiances across the void.
With each collision,multicolored destructive storm erupted,affecteasily spanning hundredsQianhundreds of millionsliarea,boundlessly terrifying. Yet, they were contained within the sealedheaven and earth of the Sky-Splitting Abyss, notspread.
During the collisions, Ye Chen was naturally protected by the Heaven-Mending City Lord. As for those four Calamity Executors, under thefiercelycollision of the two Taishang Realm Overlords, they weredustturned to dust and vanished.
Even that Taishang Realm Overlord Calamity Executor couldn't protect the four of them.
Because the Heaven-Mending City Lord's attacks were too fast,giving no chance.
Moreover, the Heaven-Mending City Lord was no ordinary Taishang Realm Overlord. Hisprofound cultivation was even greater, more powerful.
"Heaven-Mending Clan, by obstructing my Calamity Organization's plans and killing my Calamity Organization's Executors, you will bring upon yourselvesannihilation of your clan," acold indifference voice emanated from the depths of the Sky-Splitting Abyss.
The Heaven-Mending City Lord's expression wascold and indifferent. "You should worry first about whether you can escape!"
Boom—
This was the Heaven-Mending Realm, thehome ground / domain of advantage of the Heaven-Mending Clan. As the clan patriarch, the Heaven-Mending City Lord directly drew upon themighty power of the Heaven-Mending Realm, augmenting himself. Wielding his large blade, he unleashed apeerless / supremestrike thatPierce Through Past and Present.
The deepest part of the Sky-Splitting Abyss wascompletely illuminated. The blade radiance annihilated all tangible and intangible matter.
Blood light surged skyward, then the deepest part of the Sky-Splitting Abyss fell completely silent.
However, the Heaven-Mending City Lord showed no hint of joy on his face, instead frowning. "He actually escaped."
Clearly, that Taishang Realm Calamity Executor had escaped,not killed.
The Heaven-Mending City Lord turned to look at Ye Chen, his expression softening slightly. "Are you unharmed?"
"I'm fine," Ye Chen said, having witnessed everything. He couldn't help but ask, "City Lord, what is the Calamity Organization?"
The Heaven-Mending City Lord sighed. "With your cultivation, within the next three epochs, you may very well attain the supreme Heavenly Position through your physique. And since you've already encountered them, telling you isdoesn't matter. The Calamity Organization consists oftraitors who have betrayed the entire era, betrayed the entire Origin Land, throwing themselves into the Great Calamity, acting on its behalf to eliminate obstacles during the calamity's progression."
"Members of the Calamity Organization are also called Calamity Executors. As the name implies, they execute calamities on behalf of the Great Calamity—Calamityheaven and earth,CalamityEra,Calamityeverything!"
"It's just that I never expected the Calamity Organization wouldtake the initiativeseek out you. Clearly, your potential is indeed formidable, strong enough to make even the Calamity Organization wary. They sought to recruit you. If you were unwilling to join, they would destroy you, not allowing you the chance to attain the Heavenly Venerate position and become an obstacle before the Great Calamity's descent."
Ye Chen nodded.
The Heaven-Mending City Lord looked into the Sky-Splitting Abyss, deeply frowning. "Although I knew that in another three epochs, the Great Calamity would descend and the Calamity Organization would act, I didn't expect theiraudacity to be so big, daring to come even into my Heaven-Mending Clan's territory. Fortunately, the strongest among the Calamity Executors who came this time was merely a Taishang. If a Great Venerable-level being had come, even my Heaven-Mending Clan would have beenhelpless."
As the clan leader of the Heaven-Mending Clan and one of the spokespersons of the contemporary Eternal Heavenly Races, he naturally knew many ancient secrets unknown to others. It was precisely because of this knowledge that he felt immense pressure.
The Heaven-Mending Clan was no longer what it once was. The strongest among them was him, and within the prestigious Eternal Heavenly Race, there was no stronger presence to hold the fort.
Then, the Heaven-Mending City Lord looked at Ye Chen and said, "Young friend Ye, you are already a Taixu Supreme and have drawn the attention of the Calamity Organization. Now you must rapidly increase your strength. This lord will order the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool to be opened with greater haste. I hope that after undergoing the baptism of the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool, you can grow stronger more quickly. If you can achieve the Heavenly Venerate realm through your physical body before the Great Calamity arrives, it would hold extremely significant meaning for our era."
Ye Chen said, "This junior will certainly strive hard!"
"You may return. This lord also needs to discuss these matters with the other Eternal Heavenly Races." The Heaven-Mending City Lord's figure vanished in an instant.
Ye Chen also returned to his own divine hall.
...
Three months later.
On this day, Miantian Shaozun came to the divine hall and said to Ye Chen, "Brother Ye, the time has come. You may proceed to the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool."
Hearing this, even with Ye Chen's current cultivation, he rarely revealed a trace of excitement.
After all, he was already a Taixu Supreme. He wondered if, with the aid of the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool, he could reach the Great Truth realm more quickly?
Ye Chen followed Miantian Shaozun to a towering, lofty divine mountain that seemed to scrape the heavens. The latter introduced, "This is my Heaven-Mending Clan's Heavenly Venerate Mountain. Generally, an Eternal Heavenly Race possesses four legacies left by Heavenly Venerates: the Heavenly Venerate Ancient City, the Heavenly Venerate Mountain, the Heavenly Venerate Ancient Weapon, and the Eternal Heaven Realm. This is the Heavenly Venerate Mountain. Generally speaking, living Heavenly Venerates reside within the Heavenly Venerate Mountains of the various Heavenly Race's Eternal Heaven Realms, remaining in seclusion."
The Heaven-Mending Clan's Heavenly Venerate Mountain was half-collapsed, yet it remained incomparably grand and majestic. Even Ye Chen, now a Taixu Supreme, still felt as insignificant as an ant.
Because one could see that the suns, moons, and stars of the myriad heavens all revolved around this Heavenly Venerate Mountain.
On the half-collapsed Heavenly Venerate Mountain, there were fresh crimson bloodstains that had not dissipated even after more than two Chaos Epochs—this was the site where a Heavenly Venerate had bled.
Along the way, Miantian Shaozun treated Ye Chen as an important figure, explaining the glorious history of the Heaven-Mending Clan to him as he led him into the Heavenly Venerate Mountain.
For the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool was located within the Heavenly Venerate Mountain.
Soon, the two arrived at a sealed ancient hall within the mountain deep inside the Heavenly Venerate Mountain. On either side of the ancient hall's great doors, two withered, skeletal old men sat cross-legged with their eyes closed. Their hair was white as snow, and terrifying fluctuations emanated from their bodies.
Great Truth realm!
Two Great Truth realm half-step Overlords were stationed here, guarding this ancient mountain hall.
Ye Chen felt a chill. Without a doubt, this was an absolute core location of the Heaven-Mending Clan; otherwise, two Great Truth realm half-step Overlords would not be stationed here.
Similarly, this was also one of the Heaven-Mending Clan's hidden reserves.
"Miantian pays respects to the two Ancestors."
Miantian Shaozun stepped forward and performed a respectful bowing ceremony to the two old men.
For although their cultivation was inferior to the Heaven-Mending City Lord's, their seniority was greater. Even he, a Shaozun, had to perform the rites of a junior, not daring to overstep in the slightest.
Miantian Shaozun stepped forward and took out a token given to him by the Heaven-Mending City Lord—the Heaven-Mending Token!
This was one of the few Heavenly Venerate Tokens left behind by the Heaven-Mending Heavenly Venerate in the past, and it was also one of the supreme tokens of the current Heaven-Mending Clan. Possessing this token allowed one to act on behalf of the clan leader.
Miantian Shaozun said, "Two Ancestors, today this descendant wishes to bring Brother Ye into the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool."
Upon hearing this, the two Great Truth realm half-step Overlord Ancestors opened their eyes, but they quickly received the corresponding message, learning that the person coming to enter the Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool was the guest who had helped the Heaven-Mending Clan defeat the Wanxuan Heavenly Race's Taixu King.
Regarding the enmity between the Heaven-Mending Clan and the Wanxuan Heavenly Race, the two Great Truth realm Ancestors were very clear.
They glanced at Miantian Shaozun, then their gazes fell upon Ye Chen, immediately revealing traces of astonishment.
For they could all see Ye Chen's extraordinariness.
So strong! He was not an ordinary Taixu realm cultivator at all; he even gave them faint threads of a threatening sensation.
"So that's how it is. Achieving the Taixu realm through the physical body—no wonder this old man senses boundless, sky-reaching blood energy emanating from you!"
One of the Great Truth realm Ancestors spoke, revealing a hint of admiration.
Achieving the Taixu realm through the physical body—how difficult that was.
"Two Ancestors, Brother Ye not only achieved the Taixu realm through his physical body, but he is also invincible within the Taixu realm. Earlier, he defeated the Wanxuan Heavenly Race's Taixu King, Wansheng, who is also the direct disciple of Taishang King Wanzhan," Miantian Shaozun added.
The expressions of the two Great Truth realm half-step Overlords changed abruptly.
They naturally knew what a Taixu Supreme was. Such a figure, though seemingly still in the Taixu realm, could absolutely fight against the heavens and contend with Great Truth realm half-step Overlords.
And their potential was far greater.
In other words, they were peers.
"So it is Fellow Daoist Ye. Since Fellow Daoist Ye assisted our Heaven-Mending Clan in defeating the challenger from the Wanxuan Heavenly Race, and the clan leader has also permitted it, you naturally may enter."
As they spoke, the expressions of the two Great Truth realm half-step Overlord Ancestors also became very gentle, addressing Ye Chen as an equal.
In the cultivation world, the strong were revered. The current Ye Chen naturally had the qualifications for them to treat him as an equal.
This made Miantian Shaozun purse his lips. He addressed Ye Chen as Brother Ye, and now the two Ancestors also addressed him as Fellow Daoist as an equal—the seniority was truly messy.
"Many thanks!" Ye Chen clasped his fists in gratitude.
"You're welcome!"
The hall doors opened.
Passing through the hall doors, they entered a mysterious world, vast and magnificent—an endless starry land.
Within the cosmic starry sky, stars numbered in the billions and beyond. At the center of the starry sky, there was a mysterious blood pool merely three zhang in length and width, appearing quite small.
Yet, as the blood pool floated there, it seemed as if the myriad stars all revolved around the blood pool—truly miraculous.
The Heavenly Venerate Blood Pool!