Who could accept this?
The many overlord-level figures who had come to the Divine City all secretly shook their heads. They were all heroes of their own regions, even leaders of great sects, ruling over vast territories with countless beings bowing before them.
Yet now they were to become subordinates, obeying another's commands. Who would be willing?
The overlord who spoke first voiced the thoughts of all the overlords present.
Behind Ye Chen, Elder Tianmei sneered as he watched this scene. He bore a grudge against Ye Chen; even though the other had become an Elder like himself, it changed nothing.
Only Ye Chen's expression remained unchanged. "You, or all of you, what do you want?"
Was this a compromise?
Many people looked at Ye Chen in surprise; this didn't seem like his usual style.
"I think we should each act independently, without interfering with each other. That would be best," that person said.
"Good, agreed," Ye Chen readily consented, causing everyone to be stunned. Even that overlord was dumbfounded, clearly unable to believe Ye Chen's swift agreement.
Then Ye Chen added, "From now on, you are no longer one of us. You may cross the Chaotic Sea alone, and I will place no restrictions on you. Furthermore, anyone else unwilling may also withdraw now. I will not hinder you in any way."
Shock!
The entire city was dumbfounded. That overlord's expression changed drastically. "Battle Saint King, what do you mean by this?"
"What do I mean?" Ye Chen glanced at him. "As you said, giving you no restrictions. The best way is to let you cross the Chaotic Sea yourself. Isn't that good?"
"You—" That overlord flushed red with anger, almost spitting blood.
He had painstakingly sought freedom, challenged the Battle Saint King, unwilling to be under another's command, yet he never expected the Battle Saint King to directly expel him. His efforts had come to naught.
He hurriedly explained, "Battle Saint King, you've misunderstood my meaning. I want us all to cross the Chaotic Sea together, but during that time, you cannot interfere with our freedom. That's all."
"Idiot." Ye Chen directly uttered a word that made the other want to vomit blood, leaving the entire city dumbfounded. No one expected the Battle Saint King to actually curse.
"You—" That overlord was so enraged he was about to roar, but in an instant, a terrifying aura spread out, emanating from the Battle Saint King. From a commanding height, he gazed down like a deity looking upon mortal ants, making the overlord tremble in body and soul.
"You, what are you, to think you're worthy of bargaining with me?"
Ye Chen spoke coldly, dismissive. Then his gaze transformed into the most blazing radiance, sweeping across the Divine City. His voice was more deafening than thunder from the Nine Heavens—
"I know you overlords are all very unwilling to accept my leadership, very resentful, and very reluctant to accept my rules and restrictions. But—you have only two choices."
"Either follow me aboard the ship, cross the Chaotic Sea together. I can guarantee your safe crossing to the greatest extent possible."
"Or cross on your own. Of course, you can also organize your own groups to cross. I will not oppose this, nor will I target you for it."
"But don't think you are anyone special. Overlord? Saint Lord? You think you can threaten me with that?"
"I've killed more Saint Lords than I can count on one hand. I fear not even Heavenly Kings. I've directly clashed with the Ancient Divine Palace's Palace Master and, through threat, obtained the status of an Elder of the Ancient Divine Palace. Do you think you can threaten me? I do not accept threats, and I do not mind strangling any source that could threaten me in its cradle. You can try."
With these words, the entire city fell into a deathly silence, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Though they didn't want to admit it, they had to acknowledge that the Battle Saint King was too forceful, and he had the qualification to be so, able to disregard all threats.
The overlords and Saint Lords of the world, he paid them no heed, nor could they threaten him.
He was the invincible Battle Saint King, an honored guest of the nine ancient imperial dynasties, and the most transcendent and powerful Elder of the Ancient Divine Palace. In the truest sense, his authority overshadowed the mortal world.
That overlord, whose name Ye Chen never even learned, felt utterly humiliated. Seeing that the Battle Saint King didn't even glance at him, he turned and left in even greater fury.
In the end, Ye Chen still didn't seriously look at him. He turned his gaze to the other overlords. "Is there anyone else who wishes to leave?"
Leave?
The overlords smiled bitterly. Though from the bottom of their hearts they were unwilling to follow another's command and leadership, if they wanted to cross the Chaotic Sea, aside from following the Battle Saint King, what other method was there?
Truly cross alone? If that were possible, throughout the ages, countless overlords would have already succeeded in crossing. Would they still be gathered here in the Divine City?
The scene was silent, utterly still.
Seeing that none of the gathered overlords wished to leave, Ye Chen stood in the sky above the Divine City, bathed in resplendent golden light, accompanied by the phantom images of holy spirits like the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. Divine lotuses also bloomed in the void. Like a Divine King looking down, he inspired awe and reverence.
His voice resounded above the Divine City, echoing for ten thousand miles: "I, the Battle Saint King, today gather the heroes of the world in the Divine City, assembling here to cross the Chaotic Sea with me and head to the most mysterious and alluring Ancient Emperor Continent."
"Legend says there are immortal herbs of eternal life, divine treasures left behind by deities of the Primordial Times, fruits that allow one to climb to the peak of the Great Dao, peerless immortals of breathtaking beauty, immortal existences that overlook the mortal world and gaze upon past and future, secrets of becoming an immortal, and Emperor inheritances..."
"That is the Ancient Emperor Continent, an ancient land filled with endless secrets throughout the ages, a mysterious place that countless ancestors have tirelessly sought for countless years. It is vaster than the Ancient Divine Continent, burying endless divine treasures and housing powerful ancient clans."
"It is a place to comprehend the Dao and seek immortality, a land of eternal life and immortality!"
Ye Chen was not an orator, but the illusory scenes his words painted were captivating, stirring people's blood.
"Today, I, the Battle Saint King, will lead you all from here to the Ancient Emperor Continent. The journey requires crossing the fearsome Chaotic Sea, filled with hardships, countless dangers, even life and death. But I also hope all of you can persevere, because please believe that once we cross, it will be the beginning of all that is wonderful."
"Eternal life and immortality? Climbing to the peak of the Great Dao? Comprehending the Dao and seeking immortality? Exploring the ruins of the Ancient Emperor Continent? Everything is possible!"
"Gentlemen, I boldly ask you this: Are you willing to join me in exploring a new world, heading to a new continent, pursuing all things wonderful?"
His voice fell with a crash. His gaze swept over everyone, stirring hearts and eliciting responses and cheers from countless people in the Divine City.
"We are willing!"
Waves of boiling blood energy erupted, countless blood energies soaring to the heavens, shaking the sky and earth, heart-shaking in its intensity.