It was as if they had returned to the most primitive ancient times of antiquity. There was no trace of human habitation, not a single cultivator to be seen. Instead, they witnessed terrifying ferocious beasts roaring and howling within the vast, untamed Million Mountains, their cries echoing through the clouds and shaking the earth in all directions.
Giant ancient elephants roamed, and heavenly serpents as thick as mountain ranges, with antennae on their heads, soared into the sky. They were not flood dragons, yet they were even mightier, showing signs of dragon transformation.
They also saw a cluster of mountains suddenly rise from the ground, sending dust and smoke soaring into the sky, blotting out the sun. Beneath these mountains was an enormous, unimaginably huge giant turtle that had slept for who knows how many years, so long that forests had grown all over its body. Even a Heavenly King could sense a dangerous aura from it.
However, the giant turtle carrying the mountains merely glanced at them slowly with its massive eyes. Then, its enormous claw tore through the void, and with a *whoosh*, it vanished into it.
"A Heavenly King!"
Everyone was startled.
They hadn't expected to encounter an existence of this level so soon after entering the Ancient Emperor Continent. In the Ancient Divine Continent, such beings were among the supreme, overlord-level existences.
The mysterious and untamed Ancient Emperor Continent was not as bustling and prosperous with human cultivators as imagined, but it was surprisingly powerful.
Because on this wild continent, many sufficiently powerful living beings survived, like that giant turtle carrying a range of mountains, or a thousand-mile demon dragon thicker than a mountain range—both were terrifying existences at the Heavenly King realm.
Just what kind of Ancient Emperor Continent was this? It was indeed mysterious, indeed extraordinary, but far more dangerous than imagined, many times over.
Without the thirteen Heavenly Kings present, the various overlords felt as if every step was difficult.
They didn't know if they might encounter a Heavenly King realm existence the next moment, a being whose single finger could crush them to dust, erasing them from existence.
Although they had a Great Power-level ancient ship and thirteen Heavenly Kings, they still advanced cautiously along the continent's interior, not daring to be too reckless, always careful to avoid triggering any real dangers.
After all, this was the Ancient Emperor Continent!
By the fifth day, the ancient ship had penetrated a full seven million li deep. Yet, the wilderness seen along the way hadn't diminished; instead, they encountered more and more powerful ancient beasts roaming the vast, endless land, as well as divine birds soaring through the ninth heaven.
Even the Huang Gu Demon Domain of the Ancient Divine Continent couldn't compare to the fearsomeness of the Ancient Emperor Continent.
Naturally, powerful living beings above the Saint Treasury Realm were never too numerous, and Heavenly King realm ancient beast overlords were ultimately not many. Aside from the demon dragon Heavenly King and the ancient turtle Heavenly King encountered initially, they hadn't met a third, which allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.
Along the journey, they also encountered some dangerous places, some born innately, others created later, all containing the bones of many powerful ancient beasts. Some even had Saint-level ancient beast kings fallen within.
They also discovered some battlefields, some ruined ancient city ruins with traces of human cultivators, but all were from too long ago, traceable back to the ancient era.
Even along the way, they found a million-li expanse of shattered land devoid of life, perpetually shrouded in gloomy leaden clouds with flashing thunder.
That was a Divine Battlefield, where supreme existences of the ancient Great Sages level had once fought, shaking heaven and earth. One of them had even fallen there, creating a terrifying forbidden land filled with infinite baleful aura, forming a veritable slaughterfield.
Even a Heavenly King entering it would, over time, become trapped within that slaughterfield. Countless ancient beast bones lay scattered within.
However, along the way, they managed to remain safe and sound. Otherwise, even a Great Power-level ancient ship entering that Divine War slaughterfield would likely find it difficult to escape.
The ancient ship continued sailing toward the deepest inland part of the Ancient Emperor Continent. Everyone believed that cultivators existed there, allowing them to learn the most comprehensive information about the Ancient Emperor Continent.
Night had deepened, the moonlight like water.
Throughout the journey, the various overlords had remained cautiously vigilant. Now, many of the strong had implemented a rotation system, with some on guard and others resting.
The Heavenly Kings were no exception. Although they were confident in the Great Power-level ancient ship, caution was the parent of safety.
They all worried that another Great Power-level slaughterfield forbidden land might appear.
That night, the First Elder took the initiative to invite Ye Chen for a confidential discussion regarding the Ancient Emperor Continent, but it was only for the internal knowledge of the Ancient Divine Palace; others were not permitted to know.
Ye Chen agreed without hesitation because the Ancient Divine Palace's understanding of the Ancient Emperor Continent wasn't as limited as imagined; they seemed to know quite a bit.
In the grand hall at the very center of the ancient ship, lights shone brightly. The four Heavenly King Xuan Elders were present, inviting Ye Chen to take a seat.
Ye Chen got straight to the point: "May I ask why the Elders have summoned me?"
The First Elder chuckled warmly, appearing very gentle. "The reason for inviting you this time is actually in the hope that Elder Battle Saint King can take out the Mythical Crown. This crown records some important secrets about the Ancient Emperor Continent. The Great Power old Palace Master who brought it back back then mentioned that only on the Ancient Emperor Continent, using a special method, can the important secrets recorded within the Mythical Crown be read. We hope to research it together here."
Ye Chen nodded. The Mythical Crown's origins were extraordinary; it was brought back from the Ancient Emperor Continent by an ancient Great Power Palace Master of the Ancient Divine Palace, so it made sense for it to contain secrets of that continent.
Moreover, he had studied the Mythical Crown several times before but achieved no results.
With a flip of his hand, the dazzling nine-colored Mythical Crown appeared, radiant and shining with the most brilliant light.
Nine types of Chaos Immortal Gold had forged this Mythical Crown. Even if it was merely a symbolic crown, if refined, it could become a top-tier Dao weapon, a prototype of a Supreme One's weapon.
Moreover, Ye Chen clearly sensed that after the Mythical Crown was taken out, a strange fluctuation emerged, as if a powerful Emperor's might was manifesting—something that hadn't appeared before. He was both startled and suspicious, about to investigate carefully when, from the corner of his eye, he noticed Elder Tianmei's expression suddenly turn into a cold sneer, accompanied by a terrifying killing intent as he charged over.
"Not good!"
Ye Chen's expression changed slightly. He reached out to grab the Mythical Crown, preparing to flash away like lightning.
But at the grand hall's entrance, the Third Heavenly King Elder appeared, blocking his path.
Almost simultaneously, the four Heavenly Kings within the hall released their powerful Heavenly King auras, but their effect was confined solely to the grand hall, not leaking out in the slightest.
With the void restrained, heaven and earth sealed, and under the Heavenly King's pressure, the entire space froze. Even Ye Chen felt his movements become difficult at this moment, each step a struggle.
Moreover, it was impossible to call for help from outside; no one else on the ancient ship could possibly detect the situation here.
A killing trap!