Everyone in the council hall had their mouths slightly agape, unable to believe the monstrous description they had just heard from the Hall Master's lips. One of them swallowed hard, unable to restrain himself. “Hall Master, no matter how strong this person is, surely he can’t be more powerful than you? After all, you stand at the pinnacle of the continent's pyramid. Only the rulers of the Nine Great Empires, those who control the Void Artifacts, can surpass you. But they would never launch a sneak attack on us; that would incite a war between the Empires and our Divine Hall—too costly. Besides, the invasion from the Dark Great World is due in a million years…”

“Certainly not them.” The Earth Hall Master tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingers. “All members of the Elder Council, receive this order: You are to proceed immediately to the border defenses of Mount Rock God. With the Second Elder, Senluo, leading, the rest of you are to assist him in activating the [Source of Earth] Divine Formation to repel the enemy.”

Eleven figures rose instantly from their seats by the table, bowing respectfully. “As commanded.”

“Hall Master, why is the First Elder absent?” A slender youth in a long white robe looked at the Earth Hall Master’s expression with some confusion. He couldn’t understand why the First Elder, who appeared at every important occasion, was missing today.

“The First Elder has other duties. You need not concern yourselves. Go now.” The Earth Hall Master maintained a faint smile throughout, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

“The rest of you enter the [Crouching Earth Array] and remain ready for combat. Additionally, the six Marshals of the Ministry of War are to lead their respective soldiers, mobilizing all troops and warships for long-range coordination.”

“Yes, as commanded.”

Without a single question after receiving their orders, everyone departed the council hall. In an instant, the Hall Master was left alone. The solitary lamplight illuminated his gold armor, radiating a magnificent sheen.

“So, the headless ancient corpses plaguing the Ancient Continent lately are finally coming here as well…” The Earth Hall Master gazed into the distant, inky sky, a slow smile creeping onto his lips. “Looking at this, ‘Project U’ has finally been initiated. After so many years, are they attempting to drench the Ancient Era in blood once more…?”

Heavenly Monarch Divine Province, Border Defense Line.

Across the vast, sweeping expanse of land, windswept sand revealed the roots buried beneath the soil. The air vibrated with a subtle frequency, and buzzing flies circled relentlessly, feasting upon the scattered limbs and remains visible everywhere on the ground.

The immense earth was dyed the color of a scarlet cloth by spilled blood, piled high with countless corpses—human and various fierce beasts alike. Broken claws, scattered scales, headless torsos, intestines, viscera, and bones adorned the ground like a depiction of hell, sickening to behold.

A soft ‘thwump’ echoed from the distant horizon, and a sharp, minute black speck rapidly tore through the void, flashing across the sky like a bolt of lightning to hover above this land. It was a ship entirely black, covered in worm-like dark carvings. Inside the cabin, Ye Chen and Bai Yijun stared at the dense carpet of bodies below, feeling a prickle of fear up their spines, their pupils contracting sharply. It was easy to imagine the ferocious battle that had taken place here!

Ye Chen stood frozen for a moment before suddenly realizing, “Bad!” He hastily called out to Xiao Zhongsheng, urging the Heavenly Dao Divine Ark to accelerate towards the Heavenly Monarch Divine Province, tearing through the air like the tip of a sharp, tricky blade, arriving above the Divine Province’s sky.

As they breached the Divine Province, the Heavenly Dao Divine Ark’s system automatically detected a dense network of information layered across the sky, capable of capturing any intrusion by outsiders.

However, the Ark’s anti-detection system was supremely powerful, allowing it to seamlessly ‘infiltrate.’ Ye Chen peered down through the viewport. Below the gaps in the fog-like clouds, the land appeared completely unscathed, showing no signs of the smoke and fire of war. He relaxed slightly, waved a hand, and commanded, “Descend.”

Xiao Zhongsheng gently pressed a virtual control key. The engines in the hatch emitted the sound of a turning suction pump, and the vessel suddenly plunged downward, burrowing into the clouds until it hung above the central city.

“Who!” From the center of the city, a figure suddenly shot forth—a man encased in cyan armor, powerfully built, with skin the pale blue of pigment deliberately applied. His face was etched with sharp killing intent, his ice-like eyes as keen as knives. But upon seeing the sail of the Heavenly Dao Divine Ark, he paused abruptly, then gasped in astonishment, his mouth slightly open, “Emperor Ye?”

Ye Chen, holding Bai Yijun’s small hand, stepped out of the open hatch and approached the man in cyan armor with a smile. “Are you the Wind God Witch among the Twelve Ancestral Witches?” He smiled, his internal tension easing slightly. If the Twelve Ancestral Witches were well, it meant the clan itself was not in grave danger.

“Indeed.” The Wind God Witch glanced at Ye Chen twice more before turning around. “Follow me. Since you have returned to the clan, why didn’t you notify anyone? Nuwa is waiting for you.”

A slight smile touched Ye Chen’s lips. He followed the Wind God Witch and Bai Yijun into the central building of the city, inquiring about the situation along the way. “I saw many skeletal remains outside, and the bloodstains haven’t fully dried. Did the clan suffer an attack from those monsters earlier?”

“Not those monsters,” the Wind God Witch replied without turning back as they descended. “One might say, the true monster is singular.”

“One?” Ye Chen blinked in surprise.

The Wind God Witch didn't elaborate on Ye Chen’s confusion. He led Ye Chen and Bai Yijun to the base of a towering structure, then flashed away, vanishing into thin air.

As Ye Chen frowned slightly, a figure rushed out from the modern-looking building. Before Ye Chen could get a clear look, the figure lunged and enveloped him in a tight embrace. A familiar voice resonated near his ear, “I finally see you. I thought something ill had befallen you out there…”

“Brother Shao Hao.” Ye Chen pulled back from the embrace, looking at Shao Hao, who had grown noticeably thinner. The man’s formerly elegant black hair was now disheveled, his sharply chiseled jaw sported stubble, and his eye sockets were slightly sunken, as if he hadn't slept properly for days. Despite the smile on his face, the underlying exhaustion was hard to conceal.

“What happened?” Ye Chen gazed at him intently.

Shao Hao paused for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled. “Nothing much. Don't worry. Let’s go inside and talk. Empress Nuwa is waiting for you.”

Ye Chen and Bai Yijun followed him into the building. Along the way, they spotted more than a dozen hidden sentries and numerous traps. Finally, led by Shao Hao, they navigated through all the defenses and arrived at a room deep beneath the structure.

“There have been quite a few changes within the clan recently,” Shao Hao said while leading the way, his voice tinged with sorrow and loneliness, as if speaking to himself. “Just before you returned, the clan underwent a major trial. My father and Uncle Fuxi nearly perished. Thankfully, Great God Pangu saved them, but their physical bodies vanished. They are currently undergoing repair in gene pods.”

Ye Chen’s heart lurched. “Ancestor Fuxi and Ancestor Yellow Emperor nearly killed?” In his understanding, Fuxi and the Yellow Emperor were among the top tier of Peak Divine Emperors. Even if besieged by a dozen Peak Divine Emperors, they should have been able to escape if defeated, never falling into a situation where they were nearly killed.

“Yes,” Shao Hao said, his face shadowed. “At such a critical juncture, I proved utterly useless. I am too weak.”

Ye Chen sighed inwardly and patted his shoulder.

Presently, they walked through a long, echoing corridor and arrived in a brightly lit room. Shao Hao ushered Ye Chen and the other inside and then stationed himself at the doorway. “You two go ahead. I’ll wait here.”

Ye Chen said nothing more, leading Bai Yijun inside.

The moment they entered, the metal door behind them slowly closed. Ye Chen looked up. Before him sat a seat resembling a multi-colored river stone, upon which sat a gracefully composed woman, slender and fair-skinned, enveloped in a faint, starlit glow. She possessed a mesmerizing, soul-stealing charm that made it impossible to look away after just one glance.

Nuwa.

Ye Chen lowered his head. “Greetings, Ancestor.”

Bai Yijun stood beside him and nodded slightly in deference.

Nuwa smiled warmly at the pair. “Seeing you return safely puts my mind at ease.”

“Ancestor, why was I summoned back so urgently? Is there a matter requiring my attention?” Ye Chen kept his head bowed, his tone perfectly calm.

Nuwa’s star-clear eyes surveyed him. She sighed. “We sent the summons earlier because Fuxi divined a massive threat, hoping your return could lend us some strength. Now… the situation is even more troublesome. You must have seen the battlefield outside the Heavenly Monarch Divine Province, piled high with corpses. We encountered a great battle previously, forcing Great God Pangu to intervene personally.”

Ye Chen’s expression remained placid, though he nodded slightly, his mind growing tense. For Pangu to personally take action, could it be related to that severed hand?

“Pangu expended excessive energy during the battle and requires replenishment, otherwise, his energy supply will fail, and he won’t be able to fight,” Nuwa said, her delicate eyebrows misting ethereally above her brow bone—unutterably beautiful. “This time, we managed to capture a small monster from among the horde. Great God Pangu intends to consume it to restore his spent energy. However, this little thing is too powerful and has been sealed. If released, Pangu will need a lot of energy just to resist it. Therefore, we hope you can help suppress it.”

Ye Chen’s pupils constricted slightly, and he furrowed his brow. “Great God Pangu’s energy needs to be replenished in this manner?”

Nuwa caught the underlying implication. She gently brushed her forehead with her fair hand and chuckled. “I forgot to tell you, our Great God Pangu is not human.”

“…”

Hoo, just two chapters tonight. I need to adjust my state over the next few days. Hoo, going to eat now, I’m logging off. Will continue my research later.