"You seem to have misunderstood something. The Human Sovereign Pagoda is mine, not so-called humanity's. Don't drag all that useless moralizing into this. I will not hand over the Human Sovereign Pagoda, is that clear?"
These words made his stance perfectly clear, severing any connection to the human race.
This enraged many human powerhouses. This Qian was practically a traitor to his own kind, disregarding humanity to utter such words.
Even the powerhouses from the other two races were astonished, clearly not expecting Ye Chen to say something so shocking.
Among those present, only the Peacock King and Imperial Wuming remained expressionless. One knew Ye Chen's true identity, while the other knew Ye Chen came from outside the Ancient Emperor Realm.
Ye Chen felt the same. The so-called humans here were merely those of the Ancient Emperor Continent, a tiny fraction of humanity in the vast cosmos. What did they represent?
The humans of the myriad realms were the true human race, for their population and territory were countless times greater than those of the Ancient Emperor Continent.
Even they had no right to demand Ye Chen hand over the Human Sovereign Pagoda, let alone the insignificant humans of the Ancient Emperor Continent, who thought they could use so-called human righteousness to force him to surrender it. It was pure delusion.
Moreover, this kind of moral coercion was what Ye Chen despised most.
How could he possibly hand it over?
The Mountain Range Beast Venerable laughed heartily. "Tongxuan Wang, you've truly miscalculated."
Tongxuan Wang's expression shifted repeatedly, darkening. "Ye Chen, do you truly intend to abandon humanity and selfishly hoard such a supreme treasure of the human race? Aren't you afraid the human Divine Spirits from the Nine Heavens will descend to the mortal world and deal with you?"
Ye Chen turned to face him. In an instant, his aura surged dramatically, shattering the heavens as he pressed forward, speaking with icy indifference. "At this point, stop using this so-called human righteousness. You just want the Human Sovereign Pagoda for yourself, so cut the nonsense. If you were truly sincere, you wouldn't act this way. You should have invited me into the human Domain with sincerity and hospitality, without coveting the Human Sovereign Pagoda, and nothing would have happened."
"If humanity faces trouble, I, as a member, will naturally act. But now, trying to morally coerce me into handing over the Human Sovereign Pagoda? Get as far away from me as you can."
"Don't think I'm afraid. At worst, we start the war now. Back then, over ten Heavenly Kings besieged me, and I still fought my way out, even killing one along the way. Do you think I'd fear a so-called Samsara-level powerhouse who isn't even a Heavenly King now? That I wouldn't dare kill you?"
"Even if you are human, so what? I'll kill you without hesitation. I've slain plenty of wolves in sheep's clothing like you."
His calm words were filled with a domineering, peerless aura, shaking everyone present to the core.
Besieged by over ten Divine Spirit-level Heavenly Kings, surviving, and even killing one along the way.
What kind of concept was that? Such combat power could only be achieved by a Heavenly King, or even a super powerhouse at the Heavenly King realm.
Had this Qian truly accomplished that? Or was he telling an outrageous lie?
Many were suspicious and uncertain, but Qian's peerless demeanor made it hard to discern the truth. Imperial Wuming's eyes flickered intensely, for he knew Ye Chen had indeed done it, something even he found hard to believe.
The Peacock King laughed heartily. He naturally believed Ye Chen's words were absolutely true. This was the forceful and domineering nature befitting the invincible Battle Saint King, peerless in the world.
"Killed a Heavenly King!?"
Undeniably, Tongxuan Wang's face paled greatly. Compared to having his scheme to use human righteousness to seize this supreme Chaos Supreme Treasure exposed to his face, this news was undoubtedly more heart-shaking.
Because for a Samsara-level powerhouse, a Heavenly King was a truly lofty, invincible existence. Yet this mysterious Qian had escaped a siege by over ten Heavenly Kings and killed one among them.
He didn't believe it. For not even a Heavenly King, let alone a supreme powerhouse, could achieve such a feat. It would be certain death.
Immediately, he concluded Ye Chen was merely lying.
"What a fine Qian you are. Do you think I'll believe your tall tales? Since you refuse to appreciate a favor and choose punishment over reward..."
Tongxuan Wang's supreme powerhouse aura suddenly intensified manyfold, suppressing the ninth heaven with terrifying, boundless might. The void continuously tore open, one massive, dark, deep spatial rift after another appearing across every inch of the sky.
"What are you? Just a shameless old ghost."
Ye Chen then turned to look at the Mountain Range Beast Venerable, saying coldly, "Old ghost, stop watching covetously from the shadows. If you have the guts, come fight now, a battle to the death. Do you dare?"
The many Saints were astonished. Qian was too forceful. Provoking the human supreme powerhouse Tongxuan Wang wasn't enough; he was also provoking the Mountain Range Beast Venerable.
Boom—
The Mountain Range Beast Venerable erupted with a powerful supreme powerhouse aura once more, sweeping across the sky. At this moment, the two supreme powerhouses actually stood together.
Ye Chen showed no fear. Moreover, the Peacock King stood by his side, causing the expressions of the two supreme powerholders to change slightly. Tongxuan Wang shouted, "Peacock King, this is a matter among us humans. It has nothing to do with you. Leave if you don't want trouble."
The Peacock King sneered coldly. "Humanity, my ass. You shameless Tongxuan Wang can team up with the old monster Mountain Range to act, but I can't help my brother? How laughable."
Clearly, the Peacock King's actions made the situation even more tense.
"Hahaha—" Ye Chen laughed heartily, his black hair dancing wildly, sharp and filled with boundless heroic spirit. "Peacock King, it's been a long time since we fought side by side like this, brother."
"Indeed, many years have passed. In the blink of an eye, decades have gone by. Back when we fought together, you and I were still in the Demigod King era." The Peacock King also laughed heartily. He was usually cold and ruthless, only showing such expression before true life-and-death brothers.
Fighting alongside an old comrade filled his heart with boundless heroic spirit longing to be unleashed.
Two young supreme powerhouses, both considered very young in years, now standing shoulder to shoulder again after decades apart was already a rare sight.
"Let's fight."
Ye Chen had only one sentence, already launching a forceful attack. His entire person shot into the sky, swiftly closing in to engage at his limit.
No more words. What was called forceful, what was called domineering, Ye Chen displayed it all.
He raised a single arm, brilliant golden blood radiance blooming, shattering the nine layers of clouds, sweeping across the six directions and eight wildernesses, shaking the nine layers of the firmament.
His attack simultaneously targeted both the Mountain Range Beast Venerable and Tongxuan Wang, the two Samsara-level supreme powerhouses, without discrimination.