NOVPUBKuang Meng was still in a daze as he flew back to Ye Chen's side.
"Ye Chen, did you save me?"
"Ye Chen, he… he actually suppressed the combined attacks of six Upper Immortal Divine Venerables?!"
"He possesses combat power that surpasses Immortal Divine Venerables!"
All along, Kuang Meng had believed that he was stronger than Ye Chen.
Along the way, he kept asserting that he would take care of Ye Chen.
Even when Ye Chen said he could seek medicine alone without any risks, claiming no one could harm him, Kuang Meng had thought Ye Chen was merely posturing to save face.
Now, Kuang Meng finally understood—Ye Chen wasn't exaggerating at all.
Ye Chen truly possessed strength that feared no one present!
"I, Kuang Meng, am the number one Divine King of Qi Yue Divine Nation, owning the power to defeat a Superior Heavenly Divine Venerable."
"But Ye Chen, he has the ability to overcome Upper Immortal Divine Venerables! He's infinitely stronger than I am!"
"Could such a powerful Divine King truly exist in the world?!"
Kuang Meng suddenly recalled something.
Back when they visited the Ten Thousand Spirits Medicine Pavilion to meet Cai Meng'er, she hadn't treated the recruited Martial Artists with any special regard—except Ye Chen. She had spoken to him specifically in private.
At the time, Kuang Meng and the others thought Cai Meng'er had been drawn to Ye Chen's demeanor.
Looking back now, it was likely that the young mistress of the Medicine Pavilion had already discerned Ye Chen's extraordinary nature!
"Ye Chen, aren't you just too incredible!"
After flying to Ye Chen's side, Kuang Meng stood dumbfounded for a long pause before finally speaking his first words to Ye Chen.
"Ye Chen!"
"Ye Chen!"
Not only Kuang Meng, but more than a dozen other team members also swarmed toward Ye Chen.
At that moment, they craved nothing more than to cling to Ye Chen's leg!
After all, anyone capable of suppressing six Upper Immortal Divine Venerables was someone they would naturally want to rely upon!
Of all the people present, the three Superior Heavenly Divine Venerables who had been standing beside Luo Shan earlier were the most embarrassed.
They had continuously ridiculed Ye Chen, accusing him of cowardice in battle.
Now, reflecting on the peculiar expressions Luo Shan and Qiudi had shown multiple times, they suddenly realized—it must have been Ye Chen who saved Luo Shan back then!
Ye Chen wasn't retreating out of fear; he possessed immense power but had simply chosen not to reveal himself earlier! 𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
Amid the awkwardness of the three Superior Heavenly Divine Venerables, Luo Shan and Qiudi finally spoke.
The two glanced at the trio and said, "Fellow Daoists, surely there are no more misconceptions about Ye Chen now."
"Ye Chen is not someone we can even compare ourselves to."
Under Luo Shan and Qiudi's reproach, the three Superior Heavenly Divine Venerables grew even more awkward. They cautiously addressed Ye Chen, saying, "Ye Chen, we misunderstood you earlier. We hope you will not hold it against us."
Looking at the respectful yet apprehensive expressions of the crowd, Ye Chen sighed inwardly.
He knew that after putting his strength on full display, these people would no longer treat him as a regular teammate.
"Fellow Daoists, there's no need for this," Ye Chen said aloud.
Kuang Meng, perceptive as ever, sensed that Ye Chen disliked the atmosphere and quickly changed the subject, asking, "Ye Chen, with your strength, why don't you simply retrieve the Divine Objects in the Sky-Piercing Divine Light and instead let the Immortal Divine Venerables continue their attempts?"
As Ye Chen and Kuang Meng conversed, others couldn't help but edge closer to Ye Chen.
Even the six Upper Immortal Divine Venerables that Ye Chen had suppressed earlier were silently listening in.
These individuals were equally curious as to why Ye Chen hadn't directly claimed the treasures.
Ye Chen lifted his gaze toward the crowd. He understood their doubts.
He then turned his eyes to the Sky-Piercing Divine Light, as well as the "Dark Origin Water" and "Fiery Red Cauldron" within it.
"It's not that I don't wish to claim the treasures, but I've long sensed that the Divine Light's protection is beyond my current capabilities. Even with my strongest techniques, I cannot pierce through the defenses of this Sky-Piercing Divine Light."
"We can only wait to see if the Divine Light changes further. Right now, it's simply impossible to acquire those two Divine Objects."
Ye Chen's words made the recruited Martial Artists once more turn their attention to the Sky-Piercing Divine Light.
"That Divine Light is this formidable?!"
"Could it be that only a powerful Sovereign can retrieve the treasures within?"
No one doubted Ye Chen's words.
Ye Chen's overwhelming strength had deeply shaken these people. They all knew that Ye Chen's power and insight far exceeded anyone else present!
After all, for a Divine King to achieve such combat prowess, one could only imagine what an extraordinary being Ye Chen must be!
The six Upper Immortal Divine Venerables finally realized that Ye Chen hadn't targeted them maliciously. He truly had acted to save the eighty-one auxiliary Martial Artists from burning their Essence Blood in vain.
"Lord Ye Chen!"
The six Upper Immortal Divine Venerables bowed deeply toward Ye Chen. "We were wrong earlier!"
"Had we known you foresaw issues with the Divine Light, we wouldn't have acted so recklessly!"
Seeing that Ye Chen had refrained from dealing with them harshly, the six quickly offered explanations.
Ye Chen waved his hand dismissively at them.
He then turned to all the recruited Martial Artists and said, "Judging by this Divine Light's current state, there likely won't be any changes for some time. We still have over three days left of the seven-day window to gather medicine. Those who wish to continue gathering herbs may do so; there's no need to stay here."
"Of course, if anyone wants to remain here to observe the Divine Light's changes, I wouldn't object either."
Kuang Meng asked Ye Chen, "Ye Chen, are you planning to leave or stay here?"
Ye Chen looked at the "Dark Origin Water" within the Divine Light for a few moments before replying, "I'm not too pressed about gathering herbs; I'll remain here."
"Then, I'll stay too!" Kuang Meng declared.
"Me too!"
"There are eight total regions to gather medicinal herbs. It doesn't matter if we don't collect more from the Dark Swamp Stars!"
"Figuring out what will happen with the Divine Light is far more crucial!"
"We might never encounter such a divine phenomenon again in our lives!"
Luo Shan, Qiudi, and others shared similar sentiments.
Eventually, only a small group chose to leave, while the majority decided to remain near the Divine Light to witness its changes.
Seeing that most people didn't want to leave, Ye Chen said little more. Instead, he simply warned, "This Sky-Piercing Divine Light could bring danger. If you choose to stay, be vigilant."
Xiaojiu had warned more than once that the "Fiery Red Cauldron" concealed great peril.
Ye Chen had been cautious all along and now issued a reminder to the others as well.
Hearing Ye Chen's warning, the remaining individuals adopted a more serious demeanor. After some contemplation, a few more chose to leave, while those who stayed remained on high alert for potential changes.
Time passed.
Unknowingly, more than half a day had gone by since the Sky-Piercing Divine Light appeared.
As the Light's presence neared a full day, Ye Chen's brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
Gradually, he began to sense something amiss.
Although the surrounding Dark Swamp Stars seemed unchanged, Ye Chen's intuition told him that something significant was on the horizon.
Even Xiaojiu started sensing the same unease.
When the Sky-Piercing Divine Light had fully manifested for a whole day, the unsettling premonition finally culminated. Ye Chen abruptly stood up from his meditative posture in Void Heaven.
He immediately turned his gaze toward the Divine Light.
At that moment, Ye Chen saw the "Fiery Red Cauldron" floating atop the "Dark Origin Water" within the Light suddenly tremble.
An extraordinary sound—like the tolling of a colossal bell—resonated from within the Divine Light.
This sound, grand and majestic, akin to the surging of immense rivers and seas, carried an enigmatic primeval aura, spreading across the heavens and earth.
Upon hearing this sound, Ye Chen felt a faint tremor within his "Stars Tower."
"This sound…"
Others near the Divine Light were also startled, rising from their meditative states as they noticed Ye Chen stand up.
Though the sound was inexplicably strange, it didn't harm anyone present.
However, just as everyone was bewildered by the sound, a sudden change occurred.
The distant heavens and the Dark Swamp Earth below seemed to be drawn by an inexplicable force. Suddenly, they both tore apart as if being slashed open!
The sky fractured, countless Void Rifts erupting!
The swampy earth churned and collapsed, forming gaping cracks!
Then, countless shadowy figures emerged—from the far horizons and the depths of the Dark Swamp alike.
When the recruited Martial Artists looked closer at the shadows, they were immediately horrified.
The figures, some tens of meters tall and others hundreds or even thousands, were unmistakably "Dark Ancient Demons"!
Previously, these creatures had only occasionally appeared while gathering Divine Medicine. No one could have expected that now, an endless horde of Dark Ancient Demons would suddenly surface!
In the next moment, their expressions turned even graver.
The newly emerged Dark Ancient Demons were numerous beyond calculation—likely numbering in the millions or tens of millions. Worse still, as soon as they spotted the recruited Martial Artists, they charged toward them in a frenzy.
These Demons ranged from True God level to God King, Earthly Divine Venerable, Heavenly Divine Venerable—and even Immortal Divine Venerable levels.
The sheer flood of Dark Ancient Demons left the Martial Artists utterly petrified!
"Heaven and earth are in chaos! The Demons are surging! They aim to slaughter us all?!"
"Are these Demons drawn here by the Sky-Piercing Divine Light?!"
Screaming in panic, the Martial Artists frantically fought to fend off the charging Dark Ancient Demons, all the while casting desperate, pleading glances at Ye Chen.
They knew full well they stood no chance against the onslaught, not even the six Upper Immortal Divine Venerables among them.
After all, they could see with their own eyes that there were countless Dark Ancient Demons at Upper Immortal Divine Venerable levels within the horde!
