A cry that spanned centuries rang out across the firmament. Two figures, one black and one gold, flashed from the distant horizon, colliding with a thunderous impact!

All sound in the world seemed to vanish. The century appeared frozen in that single moment! Then, an earth-shattering explosion erupted. The rampaging shockwave caused the entire Genius Peak, towering nine light-years high, to tremble faintly. Stones tumbled down, and numerous reporters stationed on the peak were instantly annihilated—their minds exploding from the blast. Even those with formidable strength, those who had reached the level of deities, exerted their full power yet still had their very souls scattered. The miniature recording devices, cameras, and the like held in their hands were utterly destroyed; only a few cameras managed to survive, continuing to capture the scenes unfolding in the sky.

Across the major nations of the Ancient World, those gathered before their televisions instantly saw their screens go black, displaying a 'No Signal' message. Some who were watching a crucial moment banged their chests and stomped their feet in furious exasperation. Others, more pragmatic, quickly scrambled through channels, cycling through thousands before finally locating a single station still broadcasting, tears of relief welling in their eyes.

In the void above the Genius Peak, the nearly transparent space buckled and tore under the energy shockwave, ripped into tattered shreds that were horrifying to behold.

Whoosh! A figure was sent reeling back—it was the Vice Hall Master of Light, who crashed disgracefully before Shen Shuang. His armor was smeared with golden blood, a lock of his golden hair violently shorn, and cracks spiderwebbed across his breastplate. The long spear in his hand was shattered into pieces, with only the section gripped by his palm remaining intact.

On the other side, the figure of Hei Xue retreated a few graceful steps. Her black robes were extensively shredded, and her wide black hood was ripped away, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty. Cascades of smooth, raven-black hair framed skin as white and smooth as fine jade. Her nose was exquisite, and her dark eyes held an air of cold, merciless disdain, like a queen reigning from on high.

Ye Chen suddenly felt a sharp pinch at his waist. Looking down, he saw the beautiful figure who had collapsed into his embrace flushing deeply, an angry trace in her voice: "Don't stare blankly."

Ye Chen smiled faintly. "Even after a full cosmetic overhaul, she wouldn't possess one-thousandth of your beauty."

Bai Yijun’s cheeks reddened. Though she knew he was jesting, her heart swelled with happiness. She slowly rose from his embrace, then took his hand, standing intimately by his side like a gentle, devoted wife.

At that moment, Hei Xue gazed at the Vice Hall Master of Light, moved, adhering to the principle of striking a downed foe while they are weak. She raised a finger and pointed; countless energy symbols materialized in the surrounding space, gathering furiously at the tip of her slender digit. With a roar, they pierced the void, aimed directly at the Vice Hall Master of Light’s forehead!

The Vice Hall Master of Light watched the increasingly close, emotionless face drawing near. A wave of bitterness and sorrow washed over him, yet he felt no regret. He closed his eyes peacefully, even wondering in his final moments, If I die, will she feel a pang of sorrow for me?

Just a tiny flicker?

Thwack!

A sharp impact sound suddenly rang out, immediately followed by a refreshing breeze across his face. The Vice Hall Master of Light blinked in surprise, opening his eyes to see a tall, slender figure standing before him. The figure was clad in white robes embroidered with golden patterns. Long black hair flowed down to the waist, and a noble, crown-like circlet rested on their head. In hand was a long, white-gold divine staff, topped by a clear white crystal that emitted a soft luminescence.

"H-Hall Master..." The Vice Hall Master of Light and Shen Shuang were utterly stunned.

In their understanding, the Hall Master of the Brightness Temple rarely ventured out. Even for the handsome man who served as Vice Hall Master, seeing the Hall Master was a rarity; usually, commands were delivered via correspondence. The Vice Hall Master of Light had never imagined that the Hall Master would appear at such a critical juncture!

Seeing this beautiful, noble figure exuding an aura of sacred purity, the complexions of everyone present shifted!

One of the ten strongest individuals on the Ancient Continent!

Ye Chen’s expression remained calm; he merely watched. Having exposed the Tiandao Jing, he had anticipated the arrival of such a powerful entity and was not surprised.

Not far away, Bai Tian’s eyes flickered as he observed the Hall Master of Light without comment.

The Hall Master of Light stood at the center of the fray. This beautiful woman seemed to have gathered all the goodness and beauty of heaven and earth; anyone who looked upon her could only utter two words: Perfect. Her slender arms, white as lotus roots, gripped the sacred scepter. Her demeanor was placid, her gaze as tranquil as still water, dotted with points of light like distant stars—a single look into those bright, beautiful eyes could make one’s heart pound. Her snowy skin possessed a soft, gentle radiance that forbade any thought of desecration.

Ye Chen spared only a brief glance, not lingering. In terms of pure appearance, the beautiful woman beside him was far more exquisite; her facial structure, her eyes, her skin—none could be matched by others. Moreover, she possessed a unique temperament, one that felt beautiful and utterly real.

"Patriarch Hei, you have gone too far, haven't you?" The beautiful woman's voice was melodious and graceful, calming the violent impulses and negative emotions in everyone's hearts, replacing them only with warmth. "I will note this debt for today."

Hei Xue’s expression changed slightly. Facing this equally peerless woman, she coldly stated, "Suwen, the Hall Masters of the Ten Great Sacred Temples possess astonishing strength, but my Dark Clan is not some soft persimmon to be easily squeezed!"

"Is that so?" A faint smile touched the Hall Master of Light’s lips. The void, previously swirling with numerous black vortices, suddenly snapped back to its original state. The dense dark clouds dissipated, and sunlight streamed down from the heavens. Hei Xue, however, felt a chilling grip as she realized she was utterly immobilized, pinned down by a terrifying binding force.

She had no doubt that if this restrictive force were applied to the Genius Peak below, the mountain, nine light-years tall, would likely shatter into dust!

The Hall Master of Light smiled faintly and released her hold on Hei Xue. Without acknowledging Hei Xue’s displeased expression, she lowered her gaze to Ye Chen and the woman beside him, her starlit eyes crinkling as she smiled, "You are the inheritor of the Heavenly Dao?"

Ye Chen’s expression was unchanged as he nodded. "I am."

The Hall Master of Light regarded him closely, a barely perceptible flicker crossing her eyes. She smiled. "How did you discover the Tiandao Jing? By my estimation, you have lived for less than a thousand years, yet the Heavenly Dao perished millions of years ago. I wonder how he managed to pass the Tiandao Jing to you."

Ye Chen felt no surprise that she could discern his age. For someone of this caliber, lacking such basic insight would mean their reputation was undeserved. Between his time receiving the legacy at Tiandao Mountain and cultivating in the Demon God Palace, he indeed had not yet reached a millennium.

As the others watched Ye Chen with curiosity, eager for his answer, the man remained detached. "I have no obligation to tell you."

A blunt refusal!

The crowd froze, yet Bai Yijun, standing beside Ye Chen, felt a surge of delight and squeezed his hand tighter.

The first thought among the Beidou Six Stars was that this young man was courting death! This was the Hall Master of Light, a figure of immense standing, and Ye Chen dared to refuse her so directly—it was nothing short of outright provocation!

The Hall Master of Light’s eyes shifted slightly. She sighed softly. "You are very much like him; both utterly arrogant and incredibly self-assured." Her voice carried a faint note of sorrow.

The listeners gasped, especially the Beidou Six Stars, who stared wide-mouthed at the embodiment of perfection, the Goddess of Light. An unthinkable notion surfaced in their minds: Could she also have been the Heavenly Dao's paramour...?

Then, the Hall Master of Light lowered her head to look at Ye Chen, her gaze holding a measure of sincerity. "Will you tell me, please?"

The Vice Hall Master of Light and Shen Shuang standing behind her nearly spat blood, staring dumbfounded at the peerlessly beautiful figure, as if doubting their hearing. Shen Shuang, in particular, gazed blankly at the Hall Master, her red lips slightly parted, her mind momentarily blank.

Hearing the genuine pleading in her voice, a deep emotion stirred in Ye Chen’s heart. He almost spoke to agree, but a sudden thought arrested him, and he forced himself to shake his head. "That, I cannot say."

The Hall Master of Light sighed lightly. "Are you worried about exposing the Tiandao Divine Ark? I know that the Ark was not completely destroyed in the ancient war. My conjecture is that the intelligent system of the Ark guided your inheritance. What truly intrigues me is where you found the Tiandao Divine Ark?"

Seeing that she had guessed correctly, Ye Chen sighed inwardly. He understood that his petty secrets were impossible to hide from such an ancient and powerful figure. He finally stated, "I found it in the White Lotus Divine Continent."

The Hall Master of Light nodded slightly, biting lightly on her lower lip. Suddenly, she asked, "In that Tiandao Divine Ark, did he leave anything behind, or did he mention anything in the final words he left you?"

Ye Chen noticed a faint blush that crept across her snow-white cheeks as she asked this question, and a headache began to form. He couldn't help but wonder how much trouble his deceased master, the Heavenly Dao, had caused to attract so many exceptional women. He even began to suspect that his master wasn't killed over the Tiandao Jing, but out of sheer jealousy.

He shook his head and sighed. "He said nothing specific, only instructing me about cultivation matters."

Hearing this, the Hall Master of Light’s eyes immediately dimmed, and she fell silent. Hei Xue and Shen Shuang, standing nearby, also paused, then lowered their heads mutely. After a moment, Hei Xue bit her silver teeth and spat out fiercely, "That bastard!"

Swish, swish, swish...

Several breaking-air sounds approached from a distance. This time, there were many more sounds. A rising chorus of whistles came from the distant horizon, encircling the entire sky from all directions, like towering waves crashing inward.

Ye Chen’s expression shifted, and he looked up.