Back in the Tian Du Continent, there weren't many Saints, but there were still over ten. If one were to ask which Saint was most familiar with Ye Chen, it would be none other than Great Sage Hong Tian.
Back in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range, when they first met, Great Sage Hong Tian had been thoroughly extorted by Ye Chen at the time.
However, Great Sage Hong Tian's desperate protection during the Slaying the Heavens War had left a very favorable impression on him. Now, hearing news of him, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel tense.
"How is Senior Hong Tian?" Ye Chen asked, feeling both nervous and afraid of hearing bad news.
The Martial God Hall Master shook his head. "Unclear. After that battle, Hong Tian vanished completely. We have no news of him. I'm afraid he has already..."
He didn't finish, but the implication was clear: nine times out of ten, he had fallen.
Ye Chen clenched his fist tightly, then let it relax weakly. Had such a venerable old man truly fallen just like that?
Discussing the current state of the other Slaying the Heavens Alliance powerhouses painted a bleak picture. Of the former Saints and Divine Spirits, less than half remained. Of the dozen or so Saints, only five had survived.
Of the former ancestors of the great supreme powers, aside from the ancestor of the Jiuhua Empire and Great Sage Hong Tian, the others had survived, leading the remaining members of the Slaying the Heavens Alliance in a desperate flight for survival.
Naturally, fleeing didn't mean they hadn't considered leaving the Tian Du Continent and escaping to the myriad realms, which would also have purified the demonic nature within their origin.
But the various major forces stationed at the Jie Men had long been prepared, possessing secret treasures capable of detecting living beings from the Tian Du Continent. They simply couldn't escape.
Once, a Saint from the Tian Du Continent led a portion of the Slaying the Heavens Alliance remnants in a desperate charge towards the Jie Men. But before they could truly leave, they were discovered by the Saints stationed there by the various forces. A swift and merciless slaughter ensued, obliterating them within the Jie Men passageway, along with over a dozen Slaying the Heavens Alliance powerhouses.
It was precisely because of this that the Slaying the Heavens Alliance had been forced to flee time and again over the years, constantly evading the pursuit of the Myriad Domains' powerhouses.
They had even fled to the Trial Heaven and Earth, a fragmentary world refined by the Academy Head of the Tian Du Academy. But facing the numerous Saints from the Myriad Domains, they were ultimately outnumbered. That world was also shattered even further during the great battle.
Almost all the Slaying the Heavens Alliance powerhouses were severely wounded, even the various Saints were no exception.
If not for the indirect protection of the Tian Du Continent's origin, which sheltered them as its native living beings over these years, their situation would have been even more dire, with far fewer survivors.
Ye Chen hadn't realized the Slaying the Heavens Alliance powerhouses were living in such hardship. He let out a long sigh and looked at the Martial God Hall Master and the others, speaking softly, "From now on, you no longer need to flee. Here, no one dares to pursue you. I guarantee it."
The Martial God Hall Master stared blankly at Ye Chen. This Saint, who had fought for twelve years, faced enemy after enemy, and battled across the heavens without ever retreating an inch, was now trembling. It was from excitement. He asked in a trembling voice, "Is that true?"
It wasn't just him; even the other Slaying the Heavens Alliance powerhouses couldn't help but tremble, looking at Ye Chen with excitement. After over a decade of fleeing, was it finally ending today?
Ye Chen nodded emphatically. "True. I can guarantee it with my life. Please believe me."
The Martial God Hall Master very much wanted to nod. But after looking at the equally excited Slaying the Heavens Alliance powerhouses beside him, a shadow of gloom passed through his eyes. The others seemed to understand something as well; their excitement faded, replaced by dimness.
The leading Martial God Hall Master shook his head. "Ye Chen, we appreciate your kindness, but we cannot."
The other Slaying the Heavens Alliance powerhouses also fell silent.
Ye Chen was taken aback, and the many Heavenly Gate elders were also astonished.
"Why?"
The Martial God Hall Master couldn't help but sigh deeply. "To be honest, we very much wish to stop fleeing. But we cannot implicate you. The various major forces of the Myriad Domains are immensely powerful. Although you have eight Saints and you yourself are very strong, it's not enough to contend against the various major forces of the myriad realms. If you truly shelter us, it will likely bring disaster upon you."
"We are very grateful for your rescue today. But I think we should all leave. We don't wish to bring you trouble."
Although they were excited, they still had their wits about them, deeply aware of the strength of the Myriad Domains' various forces. They were simply not opponents one could contend with. Otherwise, over the years, the many powerhouses of the Slaying the Heavens Alliance wouldn't have been forced to hide and flee like stray dogs, in such a wretched state.
Hearing this, Ye Chen smiled. The other Heavenly Gate elders also smiled. Ye Chen said, "Are you all worried that my Heavenly Gate cannot contend against the various major forces?"
The Martial God Hall Master nodded. "Ye Chen, you are still young and possess extraordinary potential. Leave this place quickly. Leave before those people find out. Otherwise, today's events will bring disaster upon you."
"You are now the hope of our Tian Du Continent, along with the other young geniuses. Only when you grow up in the future will you eventually lead our Tian Du Continent to rise again. I believe that day will come. But you are not yet strong enough to contend against those people now. Leave quickly."
With that, the Martial God Hall Master and all the Slaying the Heavens Alliance powerhouses stood up to leave. But Ye Chen stopped them, a faint smile playing on his lips. Instead of answering, he asked a question in return: "Everyone, may I ask, what is the most powerful existence among the various major forces in the myriad realms today?"
Though surprised by Ye Chen's sudden question, the Martial God Hall Master still answered: "Heavenly Kings. Although no one on the Tian Du Continent has reached this step before, perhaps only the ancient ancestor who opened up this world reached and surpassed it. But they have already transcended the Saint Treasury Realm, undergone the most mysterious Samsara, reincarnated, and struggle through the crossing of the mortal world."
"As far as I know, the strength of a Heavenly King is enough to suppress all the powerhouses of our Slaying the Heavens Alliance with one hand. There are five of them on the Tian Du Continent. If not for these Heavenly Kings always remaining aloof and transcendent, all of us in the Slaying the Heavens Alliance would have been killed long ago. We couldn't have clung to survival until this day."
To say they clung to survival was no exaggeration.
Heavenly Kings were too powerful, so powerful that they filled everyone with despair.
It was precisely because of this that they chose to leave Ye Chen and the others. Otherwise, provoking a Heavenly King would mean certain death for Ye Chen, no matter how strong he was.
But at this moment, Ye Chen suddenly laughed, a brilliant smile on his face. "Heavenly Kings? They have them..."
"We have them too..."
A figure slowly walked into the hall. It was an exceptionally handsome youth, wearing a smile. But as the youth appeared, an overwhelming, tsunami-like aura slowly emanated from him. The space in the hall instantly solidified.
A Heavenly King!