Ancient Hua Imperial Capital.
Night had fallen. This ancient capital, one of the ten great cities of the Ancient Divine Continent, remained brilliantly lit even at night, as bright as day, with a constant stream of traffic and bustling crowds.
The Guhua Imperial Palace, the magnificent palace complex that had been severely damaged during the siege of the Battle Saint King by the three great imperial dynasties, had been largely restored over the past two years.
Palaces stood in clusters, pavilions rose tall, gradually restoring the majestic and imposing scene of its former glory.
The imperial palace was filled with countless experts and powerful figures, constantly guarding the safety of the court.
However, the deepest central treasure pavilion was the place where the Heavenly King ancestor of this great ancient imperial dynasty meditated in seclusion. Usually, even the current Sovereign dared not rashly disturb the Heavenly King ancestor's meditation.
During these two years, that deep, dark treasure pavilion, which should have been silent and pitch-black, had been radiating with light. The supreme Ancient Hua Heavenly King of the imperial dynasty had not been sleeping in self-seclusion as in the past but had remained in an awakened state.
For the Ancient Hua Heavenly King, this was not good. Being in an awakened state represented the passage of life; only by sleeping in self-seclusion could the passage of life be paused.
The powerful figures of the Guhua Imperial Dynasty all knew that over these two years, the Ancient Hua Heavenly King had been waiting for the Battle Saint King, waiting for him to emerge from the Ancient Divine Palace.
It seemed there was some unknown agreement between the two. The Ancient Hua Heavenly King had been patiently waiting all along.
But two full years had passed. Since entering the Ancient Divine Palace, the Battle Saint King had vanished without a trace, never appearing again. This caused everyone in the world to develop a bad premonition, believing it highly likely that the Battle Saint King had met with misfortune within the Ancient Divine Palace.
It wasn't just the Ancient Hua Heavenly King; the Heavenly King ancestors of the other nine great ancient imperial dynasties had also remained in an awakened state, waiting for the Battle Saint King, also due to a promise they had mutually made with him.
But two years had passed. Even the nine Heavenly King ancestors wore gloomy expressions. The Battle Saint King's prolonged absence gave them a sense of unease. Logically speaking, going to the Ancient Divine Palace to claim the status of a successor shouldn't take this long, no matter how distant.
Had the Battle Saint King truly met with misfortune?
But remembering the scene the Battle Saint King had displayed before them, they felt somewhat resolute. Even if the Ancient Divine Palace wanted to move against such a Battle Saint King, it would have to pay a tremendous price.
The nine great ancient imperial dynasties were also shrouded in a dark cloud. Because in the past, they had almost openly supported the Battle Saint King. If the Battle Saint King were to be strangled by the Ancient Divine Palace, although it would have a very negative impact on the Ancient Divine Palace's rule over the Ancient Divine Continent, it was equally true that if the Ancient Divine Palace were to launch a retaliatory war against the ancient imperial dynasties, the consequences would be devastating.
In the current Great Era, no one could rival the Ancient Divine Palace.
Many regretted that day, wondering why they had supported the Battle Saint King and made an enemy of the Ancient Divine Palace.
But the ultimate decision for all this originated from their respective Heavenly King ancestors; it was done under their instruction.
"Battle Saint King, two years have passed. Have you truly been strangled by the Ancient Divine Palace?" In the deepest part of the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty, the Tianxu Heavenly King looked towards the direction of the Divine City, a trace of worry arising within him.
"Should we take the initiative to go to the Ancient Divine Palace and inquire personally?" The Ancient Hua Heavenly King hesitated. Although he was virtually unmatched in the world, he had always dared not covet the Ancient Divine Palace, dared not rashly enter that place where tigers crouch and dragons hide.
Even if he mobilized the Heavenly King ancestors of the other imperial dynasties, they would likely harbor apprehensions, with few daring to accompany him.
Moreover, according to the original agreement, they could only set out when personally summoned by the Battle Saint King. Setting out rashly now would probably be unwise.
The Ancient Hua Heavenly King let out a faint sigh and was about to turn back when, at that very moment, his expression changed drastically.
With a flip of his hand, an ancient jade appeared, bursting forth with a vast radiance in his palm, causing his face to reveal joy as he couldn't help but say, "As expected of the Battle Saint King. He's indeed fine. Is he finally summoning us?"
Boom—
At this moment, from the deepest central treasure pavilion of the Guhua Imperial Palace, a powerful Heavenly King's might erupted, overwhelming the sky and covering the vast ancient imperial capital.
Within the ancient capital, living beings numbering in the tens of millions all trembled uncontrollably. Even powerful figures like Saints felt an instinctive tremor from within, a sense of submission, as they looked with horror towards the deepest part of the imperial palace.
The Heavenly King had emerged!
"Ancestor!"
"Ancestor!"
"Ancestor!" ...
Within the imperial palace, including the current Sovereign, one royal expert after another paid their respects, gazing with reverence at the awakened Ancient Hua Heavenly King. The ancestor gave a light laugh, filled with indescribable relief: "You all stay in the palace. I have matters to attend to outside."
Whoosh—
The Ancient Hua Heavenly King raised his hand and effortlessly tore through the void, disappearing into it, vanishing from the Ancient Hua imperial capital.
It wasn't just him alone. Almost at the same moment, the Heavenly King ancestors of the other eight great ancient imperial dynasties—the Guhua Imperial Dynasty, the Liuxia Imperial Dynasty, the Changhua Imperial Dynasty, and others—all set out.
Boom—
The Heavenly King ancestors of the nine great ancient imperial dynasties set out from their respective imperial palaces. Their supreme ancient Heavenly King might erupted, shaking the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Almost simultaneously, they departed from their respective imperial dynasties, taking a single step that carried them who knows how many miles away.
In just a short moment, the Heavenly King ancestors of the nine great imperial dynasties arrived together at the Divine City, unleashing world-shaking Heavenly King might that made all living beings submit.
The whole world was shocked, causing exclamations from everyone, though they didn't understand the reason.
Everyone in the city looked up in trepidation at the nine Heavenly King figures standing tall in the sky, all overwhelmingly powerful, making even Saint Lords look up with awe and reverence.
"Let's go!"
The next moment, the nine Heavenly Kings charged towards the Ancient Divine Hall.
Hearing this with trepidation, the people of the world keenly sensed that something earth-shattering was about to happen, something related to the Ancient Divine Palace.
The nine Heavenly Kings arrived together at the Ancient Divine Hall. The transmission ancient gate there had, at some unknown time, already opened. It wasn't the doing of the nine Heavenly Kings; it had opened on its own. They took a step forward, appearing within the ancient gate, and strode inside!
Boom—
At the same time, within the Ancient Divine Palace, Ye Chen stood alone in the void. Behind him, a spatial gate opened, and nine astonishing Heavenly King auras slowly spread from within, truly shaking heaven and earth, causing the entire world where the Ancient Divine Palace was located to tremble.
The whole world was shocked!
Within the Ancient Divine Palace, everyone was dumbfounded as they watched the nine Heavenly Kings arrive together behind the Battle Saint King.
One after another, the auras emanating from them were genuine Heavenly King realm auras, terrifyingly powerful. Gathered together, they were simply capable of destroying heaven and earth. In an instant, they overwhelmed the seven Heavenly King Xuan Elders of the Ancient Divine Palace.
This was what it meant to be invincible, what it meant to be forceful and domineering.
"Hmph, bullying the few with numbers?" Ye Chen gave a cold laugh. "Since that's the case, don't blame me for returning the favor in kind!"