"Where's the madman?"
This left everyone bewildered. Generally, once a challenger was killed, they would automatically exit the combat space, and their primordial spirit form would be reconstructed within the Martial Arts Divine Stone space.
But Ye Chen did not.
Visibly, his shattered body continued to churn within the sea of blood, not immediately reforming. Instead, his disintegrated form scattered throughout this Blood Realm world, astonishing everyone.
Could it be that defeat against a Heavenly King-level Imprint meant true death? Otherwise, why wouldn't Ye Chen exit and reconstruct his primordial spirit form?
Many were puzzled. The Ancient Divine Palace had never mentioned this; past challengers seemed to have revived.
What was going on?
The Sun God, Yuan Yao Divine King, and the Primordial Demon God all showed surprise and confusion. Moreover, they didn't believe Ye Chen could be killed so easily. This Battle Saint King possessed undying divine techniques, capable of instantly reforming his body, making him extremely difficult to kill.
Not only were others confused, but even the Blood-clad Heavenly King was somewhat taken aback. He sensed that the Blood Realm divine ability he had directly opened seemed to have absorbed that young generation's supreme's golden flesh, holy bones, causing even the color of the Blood Realm to begin shimmering with faint golden threads.
The Blood Realm divine ability seemed to have grown stronger—a good development. Yet, for some reason, the Blood-clad Heavenly King felt something was amiss!
Boom—
Suddenly, the entire Blood Realm trembled, no longer under the Blood-clad Heavenly King's control. It reversed direction, rushing back toward him, opening a massive maw that swallowed the somewhat unprepared Blood-clad Heavenly King.
What happened!?
Everyone's eyes widened. They saw the entire Blood Realm boiling. Those crimson mountain peaks suddenly went out of control, charging toward the Blood-clad Heavenly King. Countless thick bolts of crimson lightning surged and roared across the sky, exploding heaven and earth.
The sea of blood surged to the heavens, overwhelming everything as it also rushed to crash against the Blood-clad Heavenly King.
Even within the blood sea, billions of blood souls soared skyward, merging with the sea to attack the Blood-clad Heavenly King.
What in the world was happening? Why had the Blood Realm suddenly turned traitor and attacked the Blood-clad Heavenly King?
Everything happened so suddenly, beyond everyone's expectations.
Only those Immortal True Kings, their eyes blazing with light, all understood—it was the Battle Saint King.
He had not been killed, nor had he reformed his body. Instead, he had integrated his shattered form into this Blood Realm, seeking to control it and turn it against the Blood-clad Heavenly King.
It had to be said, this was a mad method, because it was utterly insane.
This was the Blood-clad Heavenly King's Blood Realm divine ability, a minor world he had manifested, over which he held absolute control. Yet, the Battle Saint King, still unable to break through the Heavenly King barrier to truly contend with him, was using this method to attack.
Wasn't he afraid of being completely refined into the Blood Realm, forever unable to break free?
No one knew. Moreover, this was Ye Chen's bold attempt—to defy the heavens, merge with the Blood Realm world, become its master, thereby shattering the Heavenly King barrier and defeating the Blood-clad Heavenly King with his own true strength.
Ten thousand crimson divine peaks shattered the heavens, accompanied by countless crimson lightning bolts roaring and intertwining in the sky. The mournful, foul-wind-laden sea of blood poured down in cataclysmic destruction. Every single attack from the Blood Realm surged toward the Blood-clad Heavenly King.
The Blood-clad Heavenly King was momentarily stunned but soon understood, shaking his head with a wry smile.
Was this using one's own method against them?
He had to admit, he somewhat admired Ye Chen for thinking of such a method, and the action was extremely risky.
He directly expanded a crimson defensive barrier around himself, woven entirely from the most powerful and terrifying Dao talisman patterns. None of the Blood Realm's attacks could break his defense.
Clad in blood-red robes, he stood firm in the void, bathed in bloody light, appearing both demonic and supremely confident.
This was the true bearing of a Heavenly King—able to look down upon the world, fearless of all.
"Excellent, truly excellent. To be able to transform and merge oneself with the world, taking control of my Blood Realm world. Your age, your combat power, your realm, your cultivation, your battle experience—everything indicates you are a peerless, monstrous talent. Looking throughout the ages of my Ancient Divine Continent, no one can compare to you. Not a single person."
The Blood-clad Heavenly King sighed from the depths of his heart, also with a trace of regret. Such a figure should have been a lifelong rival. He had never encountered one in his lifetime. Only after death, only as a combat Imprint left within the Martial Arts Divine Stone space, did he finally meet one.
Ultimately, he was the Blood-clad Heavenly King, yet not the Blood-clad Heavenly King. He merely possessed the memories and battle experience of the true Blood-clad Heavenly King, with a bit more vitality. He wasn't even a remnant soul, sustained by the Martial Arts Divine Stone space. Once he left, he would completely turn to ashes.
His praise left almost all spectators dumbfounded. What an incredibly high evaluation—throughout the ages of the Ancient Divine Continent, no one could compare.
Didn't that mean this madman Ye Chen possessed unparalleled potential surpassing even a Heavenly King?
"No, the Blood-clad Heavenly King is mistaken. In this generation, my Ancient Divine Palace's Senior Brother Changsheng's talent is peerless in the world, number one throughout history. Can this madman compare to my Senior Brother Gu Changsheng?"
A Heaven's Pride disciple of the Ancient Divine Palace spoke up. He believed the Blood-clad Heavenly King didn't know Gu Changsheng, hence the evaluation, as he had never met him.
He believed Gu Changsheng was stronger than Ye Chen.
Many nodded in agreement, thinking of that Gu Changsheng. No one in the Ancient Divine Palace failed to be amazed by his brilliance. Two years ago, he was already stronger than an ordinary Saint Lord. Now, cultivating one year equivalent to decades or centuries for others, he was likely even more formidable.
"Is Gu Changsheng that strong?" Suddenly, someone spoke with a disdainful tone, angering the numerous Ancient Divine Palace elders and disciples. He was the Ancient Divine Palace's greatest pride, entrusted with the hope of surpassing the Heavenly King level.
But upon seeing the speaker, they all shut their mouths.
For the speaker was none other than the Sun God—a divine figure as radiant and brilliant as his name, as young as the Ancient Divine Palace disciples, yet a super young Heaven's Pride who had defeated a Saint Lord-level figure two years ago.
His strength was recognized by all; at the very least, he was a super Heaven's Pride comparable to Gu Changsheng.
"Do you think this madman is even stronger than Senior Brother Gu Changsheng?" an Ancient Divine Palace disciple couldn't help but retort. In their eyes, Gu Changsheng's strength was innate. They felt he could at most be matched, not surpassed.
"But he lost!"