"Could this be a predicament deliberately set by the heavens?"
Under the night sky, Ye Chen raised his head to look upward, where only the brilliant starry river shone, untouched by the mundane world.
His cultivation journey had been too smooth recently. Ever since entering the Ancient Emperor Realm, he had been advancing steadily. In just a few short years, he had risen from a Demi-Saint to the Seventh Heaven of the Saint Vault realm, with his actual combat power reaching the Reincarnation realm. He could even battle a Heavenly King, or even kill one, by relying on the Chaos secret technique he had comprehended.
It could be said that his path had been smooth sailing all along, lacking the corresponding tempering. He had gained power too quickly.
Now, shackles of law bound his body. Perhaps this was an alternative trial bestowed by the heavens, forcing him to re-experience and sense more fundamental power, to become even stronger.
After understanding all this, Ye Chen's worries vanished completely, and a faint smile appeared on his face. He no longer sat in meditation and contemplation in the quiet courtyard arranged for him by the Barbarian Tribe's higher-ups. Instead, he decided to enter the Million Mountains, to integrate with nature, to perceive and contemplate the heavens and earth, to comprehend the source, and to seek other methods to break the shackles of law.
As the sun rose in the east, Ye Chen appeared early at the entrance of the mountain stronghold.
A group of warriors had already gathered in front of the stronghold's gate, mostly young and robust individuals. Outstanding members of the younger generation like Manzi and Yezi were among them, preparing to set out to hunt ancient beasts in the Million Mountains.
Every half month, the Barbarian Tribe would dispatch a hunting team to the Million Mountains to hunt for food and exchange for necessary supplies in the city.
"Elder, could I go as well?"
Ye Chen's sudden appearance surprised many in the stronghold. When they heard his request, they were even more dumbfounded.
Because Ye Chen actually wanted to join the hunting team and enter the Million Mountains.
Wang Man naturally did not dare to refuse. On the contrary, many people were filled with excitement, curious about this mysterious Divine Spirit, Sir Qian, and how powerful his strength truly was.
But he was certainly not weak; otherwise, how could he remain unharmed after being struck by countless lightning bolts and collapsing a mountain?
Thus, Ye Chen followed a group of Barbarian Tribe warriors out of the stronghold, heading deep into the Million Mountains to hunt.
They were all young and robust warriors of the Barbarian Tribe, having lived for generations in the wild mountains and forests. Not only were they born tall, burly, and immensely strong, but they also moved through the mountain forests with ease and grace, more agile than monkeys. Treacherous terrain like jagged rocks and steep cliffs could not hinder their progress.
Naturally, many had reached the Demigod realm and could already fly through the air. The elder, Wang Man, was one of the few powerful figures in the Barbarian Tribe, a cultivator at the Divine Transformation Realm, and could be considered a formidable expert in his own right.
"I say, Qian, are you really a Divine Spirit? That day, I watched with my own eyes as you fell from the Nine Heavens, got struck by lightning and remained unharmed, and even crashed through a mountain," Manzi spoke up in the group. He was an outstanding member of the Barbarian Tribe's younger generation, the most burly among them, standing about a zhang tall, his entire body brimming with strength capable of uprooting mountains and rivers, truly possessing immense power.
His voice was loud, like thunder, and everyone heard it. Wang Man, the elder leading the way, merely turned a blind eye to Manzi's address of the Divine Spirit, as he was happy to see the younger generation of his tribe becoming familiar with the Divine Spirit.
The other warriors were also very curious and looked at Ye Chen.
Since arriving at the Barbarian Tribe stronghold three months ago, Ye Chen had not solely focused on breaking the shackles of law. He had also learned enough information about this continent.
The Ancient Emperor Continent was not a primordial continent ruled by endless demonic beasts, ancient beasts, and ferocious beasts as one might imagine. That was only the outer region of the Ancient Emperor Continent. In the central region of the continent, it was still governed by humans.
However, compared to the vast territories occupied by the demon race and beast race, the domain ruled by humans was much smaller, occupying only about thirty percent of the Ancient Emperor Continent, mostly located in the central region.
The Barbarian Tribe was once a very powerful race, renowned throughout the Ancient Emperor Continent, leaving a significant mark in history. Although they had declined considerably now, they still retained many important ancient records, such as historical accounts from the past.
According to those ancient texts, Ye Chen learned that in the more distant ancient era, humans actually occupied over eighty percent of the vast territory of the Ancient Emperor Continent. They were once extremely prosperous and glorious, with countless experts emerging like a forest of talent. Other races had to avoid their edge, and some even submitted and became vassals.
Moreover, in the ancient era of the Ancient Emperor Continent, anyone born there would be blessed by heaven and earth, nourished by the spiritual energy of the Ancient Emperor Continent. Almost everyone was born with immense strength, and those with outstanding talent could even uproot mountains and rivers.
That era was also one where numerous Divine Spirits stood tall, with Divine Spirits appearing in the world. They established a glorious Age of Divine Spirits, the most powerful era in the history of the Ancient Emperor Continent, reaching the peak of prosperity.
For example, the ancestors of the Barbarian Tribe in the ancient era were once a peerless Heavenly God, known as the Barbarian God, one of the overlords of the ancient era who dominated the Ancient Emperor Continent. They had even waged war in the Forbidden Sea beyond the continent, also referred to as the Chaotic Sea in the context of the Ancient Divine Continent.
Thus, the Barbarian Tribe had a glorious ancient history of achievements and had survived through all these years.
The Ancient Emperor Continent in that era was incredibly powerful, beyond imagination, with numerous Divine Spirits rising and heroes contending for supremacy, simply incomparable.
However, it did not last long, as later, the most terrifying and shocking great war in the history of the Ancient Emperor Continent erupted.
The reason was unknown, suspected to be a battle for supremacy among the Divine Spirits vying for the position of ruler of the Ancient Emperor Continent.
It is only known that the war affected a vast area, with countless participants from the Ancient Emperor Continent, not only humans but also experts from other races. Divine Spirits from various races appeared in the world, nearly sinking the entire Ancient Emperor Continent.
After the war, casualties were countless, blood stained thousands of miles, and the land was devastated for tens of thousands of miles. From then on, the prosperous situation of the Age of Divine Spirits never returned, and a long period of decline ensued.
It was also that war that caused humans to retreat from their position as the undisputed overlords of the Ancient Emperor Continent, even withdrawing from over half of the continent's territory, returning to the central region to recuperate, leading to the current situation.
However, even though it was only thirty percent of the territory, the Ancient Emperor Continent's domain was far more vast than that of the Ancient Divine Continent. In fact, even just thirty percent of its territory was twice the size of the Ancient Divine Continent.
Humans, no matter where they are, display remarkable brilliance, and the Ancient Emperor Continent was no exception.
Their ability to survive to this day is the best proof.
Apart from the most inviolable core region of the Ancient Emperor Continent, a hundred nations rose in the human domain, and ten thousand sects flourished.
There could be thirty-six empires and seventy-two Ancient Kingdoms.