NOVPUBAfter a moment of contemplation, Ye Chen calmed his mind and resumed absorbing the divine liquid power from the "Divine Transformation Pool."
In the blink of an eye, the final three days passed quietly.
The month-long exploration of the fourth layer of Heavenly God Mountain came to an official end.
The entire one-year journey through Heavenly God Mountain also concluded completely!
As the final moment arrived, the five individuals still inside the "Divine Transformation Pool," including Ye Chen, were abruptly propelled out by a tremendous force, ascending from within the pool.
The five figures in flight immediately caught the attention of over a hundred challengers already gathered at the exit.
When the onlookers realized that among the five who had entered the "Divine Transformation Pool," two had ascended to become Superior Heavenly Divine Venerables, one had progressed to the Middle Heavenly Divine Venerable level, and another had attained the Lower Heavenly Divine Venerable rank—producing a total of four individuals at the Heavenly Divine Venerable level—the crowd was overwhelmed with extreme envy and awe toward these four cultivators.
All the while, the crowd's attention keenly focused on Ye Chen.
Though Ye Chen's realm at that moment fell short compared to the other four who had emerged from the "Divine Transformation Pool," merely at the Upper God King level,
everyone could perceive an otherworldly aura emanating from Ye Chen.
It was an aura seemingly transcendent, as if surpassing the presence of everyone else in the scene!
Although this extraordinary aura quickly withdrew into Ye Chen's body after his exit from the "Divine Transformation Pool," the brief glimpse left no doubt in everyone's minds: despite Ye Chen not experiencing a significant breakthrough in realm, his true harvest was likely greater than anyone could imagine!
"Senior Brother Ye Chen!"
"Senior Brother Ye Chen!"
The four Heavenly Divine Venerables standing beside Ye Chen were equally astonished as they turned their gazes toward him.
These four individuals had entered Heavenly God Mountain alongside Ye Chen, and even though they had now ascended to the Heavenly Divine Venerable level, they still addressed Ye Chen with utmost respect as "Senior Brother," not daring to show the slightest sense of superiority.
Because all four of them had noticed something unusual about Ye Chen's "Divine Transformation Pool."
After the four of them emerged, the respective pools they had drawn power from still shimmered with divine light, indicating that the minor fraction—barely one-thousandth—of divine energy they had absorbed had hardly affected their pools.
However, they saw that Ye Chen's "Divine Transformation Pool" had nearly been depleted of its divine liquid and power—an astonishing ninety-nine percent had vanished!
This meant that Ye Chen had absorbed ninety-nine percent of the divine liquid and power from his pool!
Moreover, Ye Chen's pool was ranked first, more precious than the pools they had accessed.
Under such circumstances, for Ye Chen to deplete ninety-nine percent of that supreme pool's divine liquid and power—
this was simply jaw-dropping for the four onlookers!
They had only absorbed a fraction of the weaker divine liquid and power, yet their realms had advanced this dramatically.
They couldn't fathom what Ye Chen had done with the immense amount of power he had absorbed, given that his realm had only advanced one step. What had the rest of that boundless energy been transformed into?
"Could it be that the transcendent aura that just flashed from Senior Brother Ye Chen's body is the result of the additional divine power absorbed from the 'Divine Transformation Pool'?"
"This transcendent aura—I've never sensed anything like it, not even from Sovereigns!"
"It feels like the essence of life itself, or perhaps a higher-tier existence beyond this universe!"
The four speculated silently in their hearts.
Amidst murmurs of discussion, Ye Chen nodded slightly toward the four individuals beside him and then looked toward the others at the exit.
In the crowd, Ye Chen saw Hua Xuelian and the Ancient Emperor of the Yan Clan.
"Daoist Hua Xuelian, Senior Ancient Emperor, did you make it into the top thirty?" Ye Chen asked them aloud.
Though there were over a hundred people gathered near the exit, only the top thirty were granted the right to leave Heavenly God Mountain, and Ye Chen was genuinely concerned about their chances of leaving.
However, their smiles in response eased Ye Chen's worries.
Hua Xuelian laughed and said, "Brother Ye Chen, I was the seventh to arrive at the exit. Though it's a pity I didn't enter the 'Divine Transformation Pool,' I did earn the qualification to leave Heavenly God Mountain."
The Ancient Emperor of the Yan Clan also exhaled deeply and said, "Ye Chen, I was incredibly fortunate this time—I made it as the twenty-ninth to reach the exit. If I had faced a more formidable killing entity inside the 'Myriad Blood Lantern,' I might never have escaped Heavenly God Mountain!"
Both Hua Xuelian and the Ancient Emperor of the Yan Clan had successfully secured their qualifications to leave Heavenly God Mountain.
Along with Ye Chen, twenty-eight others could also depart.
However, the remaining eighty or so individuals on the field weren't as fortunate and were overcome with despair.
Though they had survived the trial of the "Myriad Blood Lantern" and avoided death within it, they remained unable to claim one of the thirty spots needed to exit, ultimately becoming the final losers.
They attempted to rush toward the exit multiple times,
but the formidable power guarding the portal rebuffed them instantly, sending them hurtling back into the confines of Heavenly God Mountain.
These challengers understood with sorrow that they would never leave Heavenly God Mountain again and would soon turn into desiccated bones, perishing within its depths.
Observing their dejected, hopeless expressions, Ye Chen let out a long sigh.
Heavenly God Mountain.
A land of great fortune.
The thirty people who succeeded in escaping undoubtedly reaped incredible rewards, whether through realm advancements or acquiring treasures—progress within a single year that would be unimaginable in the outside world!
At the same time, Heavenly God Mountain was a land of immense slaughter.
Ye Chen reflected on how, at the journey's beginning, a staggering five hundred and thirty thousand had entered.
Yet so many perished facing the bloodlight killers on the first layer, countless more fell in the Sea of Mist on the second, while even powerhouses like Lin Shan and Mu Qingxue were trapped in the "Purple Ore Mystery Realm."
The trials of the "Life and Death Cavern World" on the third level and the "Myriad Blood Lantern" test of the fourth likewise eliminated innumerable challengers.
"This is the brutality of competition."
"Heavenly God Mountain offers immense fortune, but in the end, only a small fraction can seize it."
"The majority become mere cannon fodder."
"I pray the day never comes when I share their fate."
Ye Chen mused introspectively.
Though he had succeeded in this harrowing challenge, the crises surrounding the "Death Fruit" and "Three Great Undersea Killing Formations" during his journey instilled in him a sharp sense of urgency.
Ye Chen realized deeply that only by becoming even stronger could he prevent himself from becoming a name on the list of fallen challengers in the future.
As these thoughts swirled through Ye Chen's mind, the exit of "Heavenly God Mountain" began to radiate divine light.
This light, imbued with an indescribable sentience, enveloped Ye Chen and the other top thirty challengers before propelling them toward the exit.
Ye Chen only managed one final glance at those left behind before he, alongside Hua Xuelian, the Ancient Emperor of the Yan Clan, and others, was completely transported out of Heavenly God Mountain.
"They made it out!"
"They've emerged!"
As soon as Ye Chen exited Heavenly God Mountain, he heard the exclamations from the Sovereigns of the Five Great Divine Kingdoms waiting outside, followed by figures flying toward him swiftly.
"Ye Chen!"
Among the voices, he recognized those of Sovereign Jia Lan and Sovereign Tian Mei, their expressions brimming with excitement as they approached him.
"Ye Chen, it's such a relief to see you unharmed!" Sovereign Jia Lan rushed to Ye Chen's side, examining him from head to toe.
Meanwhile, Sovereign Tian Mei observed Ye Chen with a pleased smile and inwardly mused, "He's become an Upper God King? And the aura he radiates suggests a fundamental transformation in his very essence. Excellent—realm advancement isn't paramount in Heavenly God Mountain; the elevation of one's methods and insights is far more crucial!"
"Back when Li'er entered Heavenly God Mountain, she only emerged as an Upper God King, yet her gains far surpassed those who rose to the Heavenly Divine rank!"
Seeing Ye Chen safe brought immense relief to the two Sovereigns, who had been entrusted by the Northern Territory King and Sovereign Xuechen to oversee his well-being.
They shifted their attention to the surviving challengers from Wanmu Mountain Divine Kingdom, engaging them in conversation.
On the other side, among the challengers from the other Four Great Divine Kingdoms, voices filled with disbelief came forth.
"Sima Liao didn't make it out?!"
The three Sovereigns from the Snow Desert Divine Kingdom were utterly shocked!
They had placed their highest hopes on Sima Liao and couldn't fathom how he, of all people, had failed to emerge from Heavenly God Mountain. The realization struck them like a hammer to the heart.
They cared little about the loss of other God Kings, but losing a prodigy like Sima Liao was absolutely unacceptable!
Similarly, the three Sovereigns of the Black Dragon Mountain Divine Kingdom exclaimed in alarm, "Lin Shan didn't make it out either?!"
"How could he possibly be trapped in Heavenly God Mountain? Could he have encountered some unprecedented crisis?"
Of the once-renowned figures from the other four Divine Kingdoms—Lin Shan, Sima Liao, and Hua Xuelian—only Hua Xuelian had safely returned, a conclusion so jarring the Sovereigns of the Four Great Divine Kingdoms struggled to process it.
In past expeditions through Heavenly God Mountain, rarely had the most outstanding combatants fallen at such an alarming rate.
The Sovereigns quickly turned to the surviving God Kings from their respective Divine Kingdoms, questioning them about the events transpiring within the mountain.
Upon learning that Lin Shan and Sima Liao had vanished alongside Ye Chen, and that none of the others knew the details of their fates,
the three Sovereigns from the Snow Desert Divine Kingdom locked their gazes onto Ye Chen. One of their Nine-Star Sovereigns could no longer contain his anger and demanded, "Ye Chen, explain everything about the situation that led to you, Sima Liao, and the others falling into danger. Leave nothing out!"
"Oh?" Hearing the commanding tone of the three Sovereigns, Ye Chen raised his eyebrows slightly.
Before Ye Chen could even respond, Sovereign Tian Mei and Sovereign Jia Lan stepped forward, shielding him and glancing sharply at the three Sovereigns from the Snow Desert Divine Kingdom. "Are you attempting to interrogate him?"
Sovereign Tian Mei then turned back to Ye Chen with a smile and said, "Ye Chen, you don't need to answer their questions if you don't wish to. I'd like to see how they intend to force you!"
Sovereign Tian Mei's words left the three Sovereigns from the Snow Desert Divine Kingdom fuming.
They hadn't expected her to guard Ye Chen so staunchly, to the point of disregarding their dignity as fellow Sovereigns.
And then, Ye Chen's next words made the three Sovereigns of the Snow Desert Divine Kingdom utterly livid.
Ye Chen said nonchalantly, "Sima Liao from the Snow Desert Divine Kingdom has long since died. As for how he died, if you have the ability, you can consult the entities within Heavenly God Mountain. I have no interest in discussing it further with you." 𝓷ℴ𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝒸𝓸𝓶
On the other hand, Ye Chen turned to the three worried Sovereigns from the Black Dragon Mountain Divine Kingdom and said sincerely, "Respected Seniors, Lin Shan is trapped in a secret ground within Heavenly God Mountain but is not in mortal danger. He still has a chance to escape in the future."
Having said this, Ye Chen ignored the three Snow Desert Divine Kingdom Sovereigns, visibly enraged and pale-faced from his dismissiveness, and focused his mind toward the Ice Snow Jade Pendant.
If the three Sovereigns from the Snow Desert Divine Kingdom had approached politely, Ye Chen might have shared some information with them.
However, their arrogant and domineering attitudes left him utterly disinclined to engage with them further.
Besides, Ye Chen was more eager to chat with Xiaojiu, whom he hadn't connected with in some time.
Why should he waste time on the haughty Sovereigns of the Snow Desert Divine Kingdom?
They truly thought they could do as they pleased on Wanmu Mountain Divine Kingdom's territory?
As Ye Chen's Divine Sense entered the Ice Snow Jade Pendant, he immediately heard Xiaojiu's voice: "Ye Chen, I saw the entire process of your journey through Heavenly God Mountain!"
"Ye Chen, you've obtained innumerable treasures this time, especially the ninety-eight 'Primordial Gold Divine Flowers' you collected from the medicinal garden on the first layer of Heavenly God Mountain. They will be immensely useful!"
