In the end, after being ruthlessly threatened by Ye Chen's expressionless face, Li Xuan had no choice but to agree to bring out the Mythical Crown.
With a swipe of his palm, space tore open. From a dark spatial rift, a divine crown drifted out, radiant with myriad colors, exceptionally dazzling.
The crown was noble and magnificent, in no way inferior to a True King's divine crown, yet it appeared even more unique. Embedded upon it were nine star gems, each a different color—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, black, and white—their hues identical to those of Chaos Immortal Gold.
The nine-colored divine radiance shimmered, infinitely beautiful and boundlessly noble, as if representing the most exalted divine crown in all the world.
However, when Ye Chen took a closer look, even his usually unperturbed face couldn't help but reveal a look of shock.
It wasn't for any other reason, but because he discovered that the nine gems embedded on this mysterious Mythical Crown were none other than nine different types of Chaos Immortal Gold.
Although each piece was only about half the size of an infant's fist, having nine types of Chaos Immortal Gold together was enough to astonish anyone in the world.
Each type of Chaos Immortal Gold was exceedingly rare, scarcely seen throughout the ages. Even during the Mythical Epoch, some Emperors and Sovereigns failed to obtain any, let alone possess all nine attributes. This was absolutely the most shocking find.
What origin did this Mythical Crown possess, to be embedded with nine great Chaos Immortal Golds?
Ye Chen was deeply shaken, his gaze unable to shift away in the slightest.
Nine golds, nine colors—the Mythical Crown. The moment it appeared, countless people throughout the entire Divine City were stunned, their eyes captivated by the crown's dazzling splendor and magnificence, gazing intently, unable to look away.
In the shadows, those few True King-level figures who had stealthily entered the Heaven and Earth Battle Stage but missed the chance to contend for the final first place had their eyes flash brilliantly, filled with astonishment.
Leaving aside the crown's origins, its material alone was enough to shock the world. Across the entire myriad realms, no one could possibly gather nine types of Chaos Immortal Gold, even if the quantities weren't large.
Needless to say, even without mentioning the undoubtedly world-shaking secrets contained within this Mythical Crown, its material alone was enough to stir anyone's heart—even ancient Great Sages would feel the same.
These Immortal True Kings were moved, eager to snatch it, strong fluctuations of intent radiating from them.
Wealth stirs men's hearts; even True Kings were no exception.
But at this moment, Ye Chen swept a glance over them, his expression filled with indifference, causing their hearts to tremble with apprehension, daring not to advance further.
Because this belonged to the Battle Saint King.
"So this is the legendary Mythical Crown? The Ancient Divine Palace truly has grand ambitions," Ye Chen remarked with admiration, reaching out to take the crown.
However, the Mythical Crown released its nine colors, intertwining to form a nine-colored halo that actually blocked his hand.
Ye Chen let out a sound of surprise.
Seeing this, Li Xuan revealed a faint smile. "Battle Saint King, the Mythical Crown is no ordinary object. It possesses spirit and will autonomously choose a suitable master. It goes to the destined, to the worthy."
His words carried a hint of mockery, indirectly implying that Ye Chen was neither destined nor worthy and should not obtain the Mythical Crown.
Ye Chen smiled as he looked at him, saying lightly, "In that case, no one in the entire Ancient Divine Palace is destined or worthy, right? Otherwise, over countless years, no one would have been able to obtain it."
Li Xuan's words caught in his throat. He felt anger but could do nothing.
Ye Chen no longer paid him any mind, a slight curve lifting the corner of his mouth. "Destined or worthy, what does it matter? In this world, whoever has the biggest fist is the Supreme One. Since this Mythical Crown is meant for me, it should submit, not resist."
He made a grasping motion in the air. A sphere of golden light flew out, enveloping the Mythical Crown and drawing it into his hand, where it hovered above his palm.
Then, brilliant golden radiance erupted from his fingers, boiling as it surged toward the Mythical Crown, seeking to seize it.
The sentient Mythical Crown immediately manifested dazzling nine-colored light, transforming into a nine-colored halo that directly blocked Ye Chen's hand from penetrating.
Ye Chen gave a soft humph, his strength suddenly increasing a notch. The very void seemed to crack under his grip as he attempted to use brute force to shatter the nine-colored halo.
But contrary to his expectations, the nine-colored halo was indeed stable enough; Ye Chen actually found it somewhat difficult to break. With this level of force, even a Saint Lord would be sent flying.
"Quite the trick indeed."
Ye Chen also didn't want to exert his full strength, lest he damage the Mythical Crown. He extended a finger and began inscribing in the void, stroke by stroke. Dao techniques flowed naturally, accompanied by brilliant golden light, as he inscribed an ancient character.
It was precisely that Emperor character—vast and majestic as the boundless Cang Tian, each stroke as if forged from immortal gold.
One character manifested the myriad Daos. Ye Chen pointed the Emperor character toward the Mythical Crown, not unleashing shocking divine might, but instead enacting the attributes of the myriad Daos, which fell upon the nine-colored halo.
As he expected, the nine-colored halo parted. Ye Chen was finally able to truly grasp this Mythical Crown, letting it hover in his palm.
Li Xuan's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected Ye Chen to break the nine-colored halo so easily. One must know that this Mythical Crown had been placed in the Ancient Divine Palace for many years, yet many were unable to truly touch it.
Holding the Mythical Crown, his eyes shimmered with strange light. But whether he probed with his divine sense or infused divine power, he felt nothing extraordinary—only the embedded nine immortal golds radiating their splendid colors.
Ye Chen was slightly taken aback. Was the greatest use of this Mythical Crown merely to be worn as a conspicuous tool?
To be honest, he really couldn't discern any special function. But now wasn't the right time; there were more important matters at hand.
With a flip of his palm, the Mythical Crown vanished into his brow. Unbeknownst to him, after the Mythical Crown entered, his own True King divine crown trembled slightly...
"Fellow Daoist Li Xuan, let's go. Take me to the Ancient Divine Palace to pay respects to the various Supreme Elders, and the Palace Master as well. It's time to reclaim my status as a successor," Ye Chen said.
Li Xuan nodded expressionlessly. "Battle Saint King, simply follow me."
Ye Chen looked toward the other figures in the void. "Everyone, since you're all here, you might as well show yourselves. You can't just watch me go in alone. The secrets lie within the Ancient Divine Palace, and the path of departure is there as well."
Space tore open. Figures emerged one after another—Feng Wu, Cang Jitian, Yuan Yao Divine King, Sun God... In total, seven people appeared, all those Immortal True Kings from the myriad realms who had unanimously decided before. Presently, aside from the Sea God King whose whereabouts were unknown, all had come.
Li Xuan's pupils contracted slightly, then he sighed inwardly and invited everyone into the Ancient Divine Hall. Only through the Ancient Divine Hall could one reach the Ancient Divine Palace, for here lay the main passage leading there.