"This sealed barrier entrance, which you all have been unable to breach for countless ages... based on the energy signature I sensed when I broke through, if the Time Realm didn't sense it, then what use is it?" Ye Chen mused aloud, subtly observing Mik's reaction. In truth, he knew that with his Heavenly Dao Scripture compressing energy by a billion times, the breakthrough would generate an immeasurable energy signature. He had a seventy percent chance of alerting the Time Realm, causing the energy deluge of promotion to descend and cleanse his body for a complete transformation.

Hearing Ye Chen, Mik's frown briefly tightened before smoothing out. He smiled and said, "I thought it was something serious. What you speak of is indeed a tricky problem. However, to ensure your breakthrough's sensory reading is powerful enough, I will pass on some special secret arts to you during the process, which will greatly amplify the energy signature during your ascent!"

"There are such secret arts?" Ye Chen's heart hammered against his ribs.

Mik chuckled.

Divine Mountain, Underground Tunnels.

In the dark tunnel, the elder in the blue robe led the way forward. Scattered footsteps echoed like raindrops hitting a lake surface, sending ripples expanding into the air.

Layer upon layer of stairs wound downward, leading toward the mysterious, dark end. Not long after, they reached the bottommost flight of stairs, and before them lay a long, pitch-black corridor, illuminated by the faint glow of bronze lamps mounted on the walls.

Everyone passed through, their silhouettes cast upon the walls, sweeping by in streaks. When they reached the end of the inky corridor, their view suddenly opened up. A soft, tender halo of light descended from above, pouring down like a curtain of rain, revealing a massive, egg-shaped, silver-white energy shield before them.

Silver threads of light drifted off this ovoid energy shell. The shield resembled a colossal egg, towering a thousand zhang high and stretching for immeasurable lengths, situated within a vast, magnificent crystal chamber reminiscent of a glacier. The surrounding walls were layered with sheet ice, releasing a deep blue radiance that reflected the enormous egg-shaped energy shield.

The ten Snow Servants trailing behind the blue-robed elder emerged from the dark corridor. Upon seeing the massive ovoid shield, their pupils involuntarily contracted, and sheer awe spread across their faces.

In that moment of shock, no one noticed a flash of white light darting past in the distant darkness of the corridor, vanishing as if lurking unseen in a corner.

The blue-robed elder's expression grew solemn. He approached the egg-shaped shield. Near a corner of the energy shell, a faint, blood-red light seemed to flicker.

The eight Emissaries behind him flinched and recoiled slightly upon seeing this coral-like crimson light, displaying apprehension and vigilance.

The blue-robed elder reached this corner, paused before the blood-red glow, bowed slightly, and spoke with reverence, "Great Emissary, I have brought you food."

"Food?" A deep, unsettling voice resonated from behind the crimson light. The sound alone was like the sinister growl of a venomous beast, making their scalps tingle. "Where is it?"

The ten Snow Servants near the dark corridor all showed subtle changes in expression, their brows knitting together as they stared silently.

The blue-robed elder smiled faintly. "This time, I specially selected ten strong provisions for you; they will surely be delicious." As he spoke, he felt an intense urge to vomit in his heart.

From the crimson light before him, a shadowy figure suddenly materialized like a phantom. His robust physique was imbued with the strength of an ancient war god. Faint red light shimmered beneath his bronze skin, possessing an indescribable, eerie crimson hue. He was disheveled, like a wild man from the mountains, standing barefoot on the ice. Between his loose black hair, a pair of blood-red eyes were visible, sweeping over the eight Emissaries and ten Snow Servants along the corridor with a harsh glare. The malevolent aura surging from him instantly intensified severalfold, like a hurricane.

"Good!" he rumbled deeply in his throat. Then, under the horrified gaze of the eight Emissaries, he flashed out swiftly, soaring like an eagle behind them, appearing before two of the Snow Servants. These two were starkly contrasting young men: one resolute and strong, the other graceful and soft, both Two-Seal Snow Servants with astonishing cultivation. Yet, before they could react or unleash their inner power to evade, the strange, hulking man was suddenly beside them. Startled, they instinctively tried to mobilize their strength to dodge.

Just then, the burly man placed his hands on their shoulders, his fingers pressing lightly like sharp talons. A crisp sound of fracturing bone echoed, like dough being rolled flat—a series of faint kaka sounds. Then, the red light in the hulking man's eyes blazed forth like searchlights, fiendishly demonic. Opening his mouth lined with yellowed teeth, he lunged for their necks, tearing off a large chunk of flesh and chewing it vigorously.

The eight Emissaries spun around to witness this horrifying spectacle. Their faces twitched, their eyes filled with terror, as if a distant memory had resurfaced. Their limbs froze stiffly with cold dread. Watching the Snow Servants they had painstakingly cultivated stare back with eyes full of panic, despair, and sorrow twisted their hearts like a blade.

The remaining eight Snow Servants had never witnessed such savage brutality. Only after hearing the screams of their comrades did they recoil in shock, retreating hastily. They stared fearfully at this long-haired, man-demon, then instinctively glanced at the expressions of the eight Emissaries. Realizing the looks on their faces, a terrifying suspicion dawned in their minds.

Those who had reached this place were not ordinary in talent. They instantly realized the danger and bolted toward the dark corridor, desperate to escape.

The burly strongman turned his head. His blood-red gaze radiated terrifying light, his fierce eyes roaring like a wild beast. With a sound, his figure moved, chasing after them rapidly.

In the pitch-black corridor, desperate, terrified, and piercing screams immediately erupted...

Divine Mountain, Summit.

Silphigran reached out and held Zero back, her toes skimming the ground as she swiftly slid backward a thousand zhang. Planting her feet, she frowned up at the Bronze Sovereign hanging in the sky. Her slender hand involuntarily clenched, cold sweat beading in her palm.

The Bronze Sovereign paused above the peak, his gaze sweeping over the area until he spotted Silphigran. He smiled. "I didn't expect to encounter an Emissary of the Time Realm here. Wonderful. Judging by the World Power of the Time Realm enveloping you, you must be the First Emissary, correct?"

Silphigran stared back coldly. "Bronze Sovereign, I know what you seek. The corpse of the Goddess of Light lies below. Your appearance here ensures that the corpse belongs to you. I willingly withdraw from the contention." As she spoke, her hand kept Zero tightly shielded behind her back.

"It's right below, is it?" The Bronze Sovereign stroked his chin, then smiled faintly. "You don't need to withdraw. With your meager strength, vying for it would only make you cannon fodder. Before me, you are unworthy of even speaking of contention!"

Silphigran stared at him but said nothing. She knew he spoke the truth; before the Supreme Beings of the major worlds, Emissaries were merely objects to be slaughtered. The gap was as wide as the chasm between clouds and mud, utterly incomparable.

The Bronze Sovereign glanced over, his eyes falling on Xumite beside her. "Ah, a native of the Snow Domain. You really aren't very pleasing to the eye. Since you're ugly, disappear then." He lunged his palm out, and Xumite, standing next to Silphigran, was instantly filled with terror as he discovered his body would not obey him at all, unable to release even a shred of his powerful internal energy. His body slowly drifted upward toward the sky.

The Bronze Sovereign’s hand grasped the crown of his head, squeezing him like a rubber ball. His grip suddenly tightened, the intense pressure causing Xumite's skull to emit crisp crunching sounds. Brain matter and blood vessels were violently mashed together. He let out a scream of agony and piercing misery. Crimson blood began to seep from his eyes, ears, and nostrils. His eyeballs bulged outward, the blood vessels in them clearly visible. The sheer terror mingled with the pain on his face, contorting into an indescribably hideous sight.

The Bronze Sovereign still wore a smile. He used his other hand to seize Xumite's legs and rapidly began to knead them. In a short time, Xumite’s entire elongated body was crushed into a fist-sized ball of flesh. Blood, bone, and intestines were tightly compacted together, blood continuously oozing out, resembling a squashed soda can.

Once it was kneaded down to the size of a ping-pong ball, the Bronze Sovereign opened his mouth, tossed the little meatball in, and chewed with satisfaction. He swallowed it in one gulp, then extended his tongue to lick his lips, remarking like a gourmet tasting a delicacy, "The flavor is somewhat inferior to the humans from the Ancient World, but it has a cool sensation, like chilled fresh meat."

Silphigran’s dark pupils shrank to pinpricks. Cold sweat drenched her slender hands. If the Bronze Sovereign hadn't been before her, she would have desperately sought an empty corner to vomit violently.

The Bronze Sovereign looked at her with amused interest. "I wonder what a beauty like you tastes like? That little thing behind you seems to be merely an ordinary human. You actually brought him here; he must be your closest kin." He reached out a hand, and Zero’s body was seized by an invisible, transparent grip. His cheeks flushed red as he was unable to utter a sound. His feet kicked wildly in the air as he was drawn toward the Bronze Sovereign.

"Let him go!" Silphigran suddenly roared. Her eyes turned icy, sharp as a blade, piercing into the Bronze Sovereign's pupils. With a twist of her hand, the multicolored light in the air twisted and reversed. Zero’s body was suddenly freed and plummeted downward, landing softly upon an unseen cushion of mist, settling gently onto the ground.

Silphigran looked up at the Bronze Sovereign with icy resolve. "I respect you, but that doesn't mean I fear provoking you. If you wish to test me, I will see it through to the end!"

"The Emissary of the Time Realm is indeed extraordinary. To be able to distort time and space under my very nose—this capability is likely rare even among the past First Emissaries of your Time Realm." The Bronze Sovereign's smile became strangely sinister. "If I allowed you to leave and become a Supreme Being of the Time Realm in the future, I might even have to give you a wide berth. Therefore... now, I wish to taste you."