The earth shook and the mountains trembled; the heavens collapsed and the earth split.
Thick, massive cracks wantonly spread throughout the space of the Heaven and Earth Battle Stage.
The terrifying fluctuations of divine energy caused the entire Heaven and Earth Battle Stage to shake violently.
All of this was merely the result of the collision of two palms at the center of the arena.
Who was it that had intervened, blocking Gu Changsheng's strike?
Whoosh—
The distorted void returned to normal, and a tall, straight figure in white robes strode out from within. With black hair tied in a crown, sword-like brows and starry eyes, his bearing was majestic and handsome. It was Ye Chen.
It was he who had intercepted the palm strike Gu Changsheng had aimed at Tian Xu Crown Prince.
All eyes were upon him. Except for those within the Tian Xu Imperial Dynasty who knew the truth, everyone else was utterly dumbfounded.
However, when the experts from the nine great imperial dynasties saw Ye Chen's slightly altered yet extremely familiar figure, they immediately understood. It was the Battle Saint King. He had actually entered the fray as well.
No wonder he could block Gu Changsheng's attack.
But those outside the nine imperial dynasties could not immediately recognize Ye Chen's identity. They felt a vague familiarity, but more than that, they were struck dumb.
Even the other strongest Heaven's Prides were the same, because Ye Chen had actually blocked Gu Changsheng's attack just like that. One must know this was a palm strike capable of slaying a strongest Heaven's Pride, yet this person had blocked it with such calm and composure.
Was this yet another young invincible being not inferior to Gu Changsheng?
The faces of every strongest Heaven's Pride changed color. They recalled how they had previously used their auras to test whether he was qualified. Thinking back now, setting everything else aside, the mere fact that he could exchange a palm with Gu Changsheng, even if he had used other means, was enough to prove his strength surpassed theirs.
Especially Guhua Crown Prince, whose gaze held a trace of shock. Clearly, he had never imagined that this Ye Chen who followed his rival, Tian Xu Crown Prince, was actually such a terrifying super-figure. Perhaps he was not inferior to Gu Changsheng?
This thought was startling and felt impossible, yet it stubbornly refused to fade.
Gu Changsheng, who had been supremely confident and in control since he began, now also had a change in expression, looking somewhat solemnly at the Ye Chen before him.
Because he actually sensed a faint feeling of threat from him. This was a sensation he had only ever felt when facing those of the older generation, and it had been a long time since he last felt it. Yet today, he unexpectedly felt such a threat again.
Everything indicated that the person before him was strong, frighteningly strong. Otherwise, he could not possibly give him such a sense of threat.
"Who are you?" Gu Changsheng asked directly, getting straight to the point.
"Qian Yue, or Ye Chen," Ye Chen replied flatly. "You can also call me the Battle Saint King. After all, that's what people on this continent call me.
"So it's him, the legendary invincible Battle Saint King!"
When Ye Chen voluntarily revealed his identity, the entire Ancient Divine City quietly fell into a profound silence.
Because it was him, the invincible Battle Saint King.
In the current Ancient Divine Continent, who did not know of him, who had not heard of him?
Upon his first appearance, he single-handedly slew three Saint Lords and dozens of powerful Saints, silencing the entire world.
He once entered the Guhua Imperial Dynasty alone, was trapped within a triple Samsara-grade killing array by a great imperial dynasty, and even faced the combined forces of two other great imperial dynasties with nearly all their heritage deployed. It was a certain-death trap.
Yet this Battle Saint King still forcefully broke through it. He was never truly trapped. On the contrary, he openly used the power of the three great imperial dynasties to temper his body and refine his Dao, achieving an ultimate sublimation. In the end, he forcefully broke the array and emerged, a domineering figure who slaughtered all in his path.
He even provoked the Heavenly King ancestor of the Guhua Imperial Dynasty in the end, yet was not detained by that Heavenly King. Instead, he took many precious treasures from the Guhua Imperial Dynasty and left with ease.
He had also conversed closely with the Heavenly King ancestors of the nine great imperial dynasties and was revered as a distinguished guest by the current nine imperial dynasties...
He had only appeared on the Ancient Divine Continent for a few short months, yet he had already created one astonishing legend after another, shaking the entire Ancient Divine Continent. Who did not know of him, who had not heard of him?
And now, this legendary figure had actually appeared in the final battle, causing both shock and even greater anticipation.
Clearly, everyone wanted to see whether this Battle Saint King from the myriad realms was stronger, or whether the invincible successor of the Ancient Divine Palace was mightier.
However, not everyone was clear about Ye Chen's fearsome reputation. Those Heaven's Prides who had entered the Trial World did not know. They had just emerged and had not yet had time to learn, only knowing his former identity as the great demon.
Only a minority, like Tian Xu Crown Prince, who knew the inside story, were aware.
"So you are that Battle Saint King?" Gu Changsheng raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised. Clearly, even he had heard of Ye Chen's fame.
Ye Chen nodded.
"Do you want to protect him?" Gu Changsheng pointed at Tian Xu Crown Prince, but a hint of killing intent emerged. "You must understand, if you insist on protecting him, you are making an enemy of me, and moreover, an enemy of my Ancient Divine Palace."
Such a threat was something even the nine great imperial dynasties of the Ancient Divine Continent would not dare to accept.
But Ye Chen just smiled, raising his sword-like brows as he said, "Being your enemy is one thing, but how does that equate to being an enemy of the Ancient Divine Palace?"
"Because I am the successor of the Ancient Divine Palace," Gu Changsheng's voice carried a hint of gloom and mockery.
"You were before, but you won't be after," Ye Chen looked at Li Xuan. "Elder Li Xuan, if I win, I should also have the qualification to obtain the successor's identity, right? I remember you didn't specify that it must be someone from the young generation of the Ancient Divine Continent."
Silence! Utter silence throughout the arena!
Arrogant! Too arrogant!
Everyone stared dumbfounded at Ye Chen, who was actually this arrogant, practically declaring that he would surely win.
Not to mention others, even Gu Changsheng's expression turned much gloomier.
Because every display of strength he had shown so far was an invincible combat power supreme above all. Even these strongest Heaven's Prides were utterly weak before him, easily suppressed and slain with a mere raise of his hand. Yet this suddenly appearing Battle Saint King showed no fear, actually wanting to defeat him and obtain the successor identity of the Ancient Divine Palace.
Wasn't this too arrogant, too dismissive of him?
In truth, this couldn't be blamed on him, because he was completely unaware of Ye Chen's dealings with the three great imperial dynasties. Within the Ancient Divine Palace, he was a complete cultivation maniac, paying little attention to matters outside his window, which was why his cultivation was so terrifying.
Only Tian Xu Crown Prince was slightly stunned before remaining silent, because he recalled the Battle Saint King's casual finger, the meaning contained within it surpassing that of a Saint Lord. Perhaps he really could accomplish this.
However, the other strongest Heaven's Prides, who were unaware of Ye Chen's glorious achievements, were all shocked. Even though they had seen Ye Chen exchange a palm with Gu Changsheng earlier, they had not truly experienced his absolute strength. Instead, they were still in awe of Gu Changsheng's power.
Especially Guhua Crown Prince, who was a rival to Tian Xu Crown Prince and also somewhat at odds with Ye Chen, now sneered, "Tian Xu Crown Prince, your friend is spouting nonsense. He actually wants to defeat Gu Changsheng? Isn't that just seeking death?"
Other strongest Heaven's Prides friendly with Tian Xu Crown Prince also tried to persuade Ye Chen one after another, urging him not to be too arrogant and avoid bringing about his own demise.
They all believed that Ye Chen might have been able to withstand that palm strike by relying on some secret treasure, because they could not believe there was anyone else who could be evenly matched with Gu Changsheng.
Perhaps this was a case of sour grapes, unable to bear the thought of this suddenly appearing person being far more powerful than them.
After all, the appearance of one such person from the Ye family was already remarkable enough, let alone two. The blow to their pride was indeed significant.
Tian Xu Crown Prince swept his gaze over Guhua Crown Prince and the other strongest Heaven's Prides, his tone carrying a hint of mockery as he transmitted his voice to them: "You are mistaken. He is not my friend, not because he is unworthy, but because I am unworthy."
"You doubt his strength. I understand, because I thought the same at first. But after I was easily defeated by Sir with a single finger, and later returned to the imperial family and heard of Sir's previous achievements, I realized how foolish my initial thoughts were, and how foolish yours are now."
"Your respective forces may not have told you yet. While we were undergoing trials in the Trial World, Sir, that is, the Battle Saint King, was once trapped alone within the capital of the Guhua Imperial Dynasty, caught in a killing trap set by three great imperial dynasties."
"He alone faced the countless experts of the Guhua Imperial Dynasty, the Changhua Imperial Dynasty, and the Liuxia Imperial Dynasty, sealed and trapped within a triple Samsara-grade killing array."
"Think about the final outcome."
"Think Sir was surely doomed?"
"When you learn that the experts of the three great imperial dynasties were all deployed, Saint Lords appeared in double digits—Yang Wei, your Guhua Imperial Dynasty had the most, nearly exhausting its heritage, even summoning a Heavenly King ancestral weapon—what an immensely powerful force that was, almost invincible in the mortal world."
"But I tell you, the final result was that Sir merely used the power of the three great imperial dynasties to temper his body and refine his Dao, elevating his own cultivation. He rendered the forces of the three great imperial dynasties completely ineffective. On the contrary, he slew several Saint Lords, causing countless casualties. The triple Samsara-grade killing array could not hold him. In the end, he startled the Guhua Heavenly King into emerging, resulting only in negotiation, not battle. I think you will then understand that Sir's strength far exceeds our imagination."
Boom—
Like a bolt from the blue, Tian Xu Crown Prince's words left all the strongest Heaven's Prides dumbfounded, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at Ye Chen.
How was this possible?
They could hardly imagine such a fact. How could there be someone in the world capable of this? Even among the older generation, it would be hard to find such a person, let alone him being just a young junior.
At this moment, Li Xuan spoke: "It is permissible."
Gu Changsheng's gaze grew much more sinister: "Since you seek death, then today I will let you die a pain—"
Before the word "painful" could be fully uttered, an earth-shattering, terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Ye Chen's body, like an ancient dragon awakening from a slumber spanning endless years, shaking heaven and earth, moving gods to tears.
It overshadowed all the strongest Heaven's Prides, towered above heaven and earth, overlooked the myriad realms, setting him off like a deity, facing Gu Changsheng from afar.
At this moment, heaven and earth were silent!