After Lin Chen's figure vanished into the void, a heart-quaking sense of reverence still lingered above the God-Burying Abyss, which had collapsed into a chaotic void. The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor, the East Sea Great Emperor, and the Devil Abyss Great Emperor, three beings who stood at the pinnacle of the heavens, remained bowed, not daring to straighten for a long time, as though that white-robed figure still stood before them and had never left.
Only after half an hour did the three Great Emperors slowly straighten. They exchanged glances, each seeing unconcealable shock and wild joy in the others' eyes.
"The Supreme One... actually agreed to attend the Eternal Dao Gathering!" Even the Heaven-Burning Great Emperor's voice trembled slightly. As one of the foremost Great Emperors of All Heavens and Myriad Worlds, he had long mastered keeping joy and anger off his face, yet now he could not suppress his excitement.
The Eternal Dao Gathering was the oldest, most prestigious gathering with the greatest number of powerful cultivators in All Heavens and Myriad Worlds. Held once every ten thousand years, it brought together all the geniuses of the myriad races, holy land ancestors, Half-Emperors, and even Great Emperors.
Past Eternal Dao Gatherings had involved nothing more than geniuses vying for supremacy, holy lands competing, and Great Emperors discussing the Dao, contending for fortuitous opportunities from High Antiquity and inheritances of Dao lineages.
But this time was different!
Because that supreme, unsurpassed being would descend!
That invincible being who had emerged after sleeping in the God-Burying Abyss for a hundred thousand years, who could casually annihilate an age-old forbidden ground, and whose presence stood above Great Emperors, would attend the Eternal Dao Gathering in person!
This alone could drive all of All Heavens and Myriad Worlds mad, making this Eternal Dao Gathering the grandest, most breathtaking, most impossible-to-replicate gathering since time immemorial!
"Daoist Zixu."
The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor suddenly spoke, his gaze settling on Daoist Zixu, who still lay limp on the ground. His tone held a trace of unprecedented gentleness.
Given the Heaven-Burning Great Emperor's status, even if the leader of the Mystic Heaven Holy Land came in person, he might not spare him a second glance, much less speak to him first.
Yet now, he actually showed Daoist Zixu a measure of courtesy!
All because Daoist Zixu had successfully invited that Supreme One!
Daoist Zixu shuddered all over, hastily struggled to his feet, and bowed respectfully. "This junior is here!"
"You have rendered a great service." The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor spoke slowly, his voice carrying in every direction. "At the Eternal Dao Gathering three days from now, your Mystic Heaven Holy Land shall take the foremost honored guest seats, standing on equal footing with our three Emperor Realms!"
An uproar erupted!
His words shocked everyone present!
The foremost honored guest seats, on equal footing with the three Emperor Realms!
What an honor!
The Mystic Heaven Holy Land was merely an upper-middle-ranking holy land among All Heavens and Myriad Worlds. At previous Eternal Dao Gatherings, it could only occupy ordinary seats and did not even qualify to sit near the honored guests.
Yet now, because of a single invitation from Daoist Zixu, the Mystic Heaven Holy Land had leaped straight into the ranks of the gathering's most exalted powers, above countless holy lands and races!
All of this was because of that unsurpassed Supreme One!
Standing nearby, Bai Zixuan and Su Qingyue were already dumbstruck. Their reverence for Lin Chen once again rose to its utmost height.
They had originally thought entering the God-Burying Abyss was a disaster that meant certain death. Who could have imagined it would become the greatest fortuitous opportunity for the Mystic Heaven Holy Land's rise!
"This junior... this junior thanks the Heaven-Burning Great Emperor!" Daoist Zixu trembled all over with excitement and hastily bowed. His gratitude toward Lin Chen had long since passed beyond words.
He knew very well that all this glory came from that young man whose white robes surpassed snow.
Without Lin Chen, the Mystic Heaven Holy Land would still be that unremarkable, middling holy land, and he, Daoist Zixu, would still be that Half-Emperor who did not even have the right to speak before a Great Emperor.
"There is no need to thank me." The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor waved a hand and said evenly, "The one you should thank is that unsurpassed Supreme One. At the Eternal Dao Gathering three days from now, be sure to know your place. Do not overstep in the slightest, much less disturb the Supreme One. Otherwise, never mind your Mystic Heaven Holy Land-even I could not protect you!"
"This junior understands! This junior will keep it firmly in mind!" Daoist Zixu nodded hastily, not daring to show the slightest negligence.
"Enough." The East Sea Great Emperor stepped forward, looked toward the distant Ancient Dao Mountain, and spoke slowly. "Only three days remain until the Eternal Dao Gathering begins. We must return to our respective territories at once and set everything in order, welcoming the Supreme One's arrival with the highest honors!"
"At the same time, spread the news of the Supreme One's impending attendance at the Eternal Dao Gathering throughout All Heavens and Myriad Worlds!"
The Devil Abyss Great Emperor nodded as well, a trace of anticipation appearing on his cold, sinister face. "Exactly! Let all of All Heavens and Myriad Worlds know that the unsurpassed Supreme One who slept for a hundred thousand years will appear at the Eternal Dao Gathering! Let every power, every genius, and every powerful cultivator prepare in advance to welcome him with the utmost reverence!"
The three Great Emperors immediately made their decision and lingered no longer.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three imperial figures spanning heaven and earth soared into the sky. Taking the dozen or so Half-Emperors and several dozen Holy Lords and Saint Kings behind them, they became streaks of light that shot off in every direction, spreading the news of Lin Chen's impending attendance at the Eternal Dao Gathering throughout All Heavens and Myriad Worlds as quickly as possible.
Only Daoist Zixu, Bai Zixuan, and Su Qingyue remained.
"Supreme Elder, we... we've really risen!" Bai Zixuan exclaimed excitedly, his tone filled with disbelief.
Once, he had been the Mystic Heaven Holy Land's foremost genius, proud and arrogant, with no one worthy of his notice. But after witnessing Lin Chen's invincibility, his pride had been utterly crushed, leaving only endless reverence and yearning.
Now he only wanted to see that Supreme One from afar at the Eternal Dao Gathering three days later. Even a single glance from him would be enough to benefit him for life.
Brilliant light likewise flickered through Su Qingyue's beautiful eyes. That figure, white-robed as snow and utterly serene, kept appearing in her mind.
That young man had neither earth-shaking imposing might nor the arrogance of one who looked down upon the world. Yet merely by standing there, he made the Great Emperors of the Heavens bow and the powerful cultivators of myriad races revere him. What bearing, what a realm!
"Return to the Mystic Heaven Holy Land immediately!" Daoist Zixu drew a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and said gravely, "Send down the order. Assemble every core disciple, elder, and the leader of the holy land, and prepare to attend the Eternal Dao Gathering with the highest honors! From today onward, everyone in the Mystic Heaven Holy Land must remember that Supreme One's appearance. When traveling the heavens in the future, anything connected to him must be treated respectfully, without the slightest offense!"
"Yes!"
Bai Zixuan and Su Qingyue answered in unison. The three lingered no longer, turning into a streak of light that shot toward the Mystic Heaven Holy Land.
Over the next three days, all of All Heavens and Myriad Worlds erupted!
"Have you heard? The Eternal Dao Gathering begins in three days, and an unsurpassed Supreme One will attend in person!"
"An unsurpassed Supreme One? What Supreme One? Has some Great Emperor awakened after sleeping for countless ages?"
"What Great Emperor? That being is far more terrifying than a Great Emperor! He emerged from the God-Burying Abyss, the foremost forbidden ground of the heavens, and with a casual wave completely annihilated it, turning it into a chaotic void!"
"Heavens! The God-Burying Abyss was annihilated? That's the foremost forbidden ground, where even Great Emperors don't dare tread lightly!"
"Not only that! Even the Heaven-Burning Great Emperor, the East Sea Great Emperor, and the Devil Abyss Great Emperor could only bow before that being with utter respect!"
"Who exactly is this Supreme One? Why have we never heard of him?"
"No one knows. All we know is that he's a young man in white who slept in the God-Burying Abyss for a hundred thousand years, checked in for a hundred thousand years, and became invincible throughout the heavens the moment he emerged!"
"Checking in for a hundred thousand years, invincible upon emerging... to think such a legend was actually true!"
The news swept through every corner of All Heavens and Myriad Worlds as though it had grown wings.
From the mightiest Emperor Realms and holy lands to the most remote small towns and mortal domains, every cultivator and every living being was discussing that unsurpassed Supreme One who had emerged from the God-Burying Abyss.
Everyone anticipated the Eternal Dao Gathering three days later, eager to see with their own eyes that being said to be invincible throughout the heavens.
Countless powers set out for Ancient Dao Mountain ahead of time, hoping to secure a good position from which to behold the Supreme One's bearing up close.
Countless geniuses traveled day and night toward Ancient Dao Mountain. They wanted to see just what bearing that Supreme One, invincible upon emerging, possessed.
Countless ancestors, Half-Emperors, and even old monsters who had lived in seclusion for years emerged from seclusion and hurried toward Ancient Dao Mountain, solely to meet the Supreme One. If they received even a little guidance, it would benefit them for life.
For a time, within hundreds of millions of li of Ancient Dao Mountain, people flowed like tides, and powerful cultivators gathered like clouds.
Saint Kings and Holy Lords, rarely seen on ordinary days, could be found everywhere at Ancient Dao Mountain's foot. Half-Emperor-level cultivators also appeared from time to time, and even quite a few Great Emperor-level presences lay concealed around the mountain, awaiting the Eternal Dao Gathering's opening.
Ancient Dao Mountain became the center of all of All Heavens and Myriad Worlds!
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Eternal Dao Gathering officially began!
Ancient Dao Mountain stood in the central region of All Heavens and Myriad Worlds. It was a primordial divine mountain towering above the nine heavens, its mass rising into the clouds and piercing the highest skies. Dao patterns from High Antiquity covered its slopes, exuding a weighty, ancient presence.
At its summit lay an immensely spacious plaza called Myriad Dao Plaza, the venue of the Eternal Dao Gathering.
At the plaza's center stood an enormous stone platform, called the Dao Discussion Platform, where geniuses competed and Great Emperors discussed the Dao.
Countless seats surrounded the plaza, arranged according to the strength of each power and the rank of each attendee.
At the very front were the honored guest seats, which only Emperor Realms, top holy lands, and ancient races qualified to occupy. At their very center stood an exceptionally luxurious, spacious throne, carved entirely from chaos jade and inlaid with countless rare treasures of the heavens, exuding an unsurpassed presence.
This throne was the Supreme Seat that the three Great Emperors had prepared especially for Lin Chen!
Apart from that unsurpassed Supreme One, no one qualified to sit upon it!
At that moment, every seat in Myriad Dao Plaza was already occupied.
The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor, the East Sea Great Emperor, and the Devil Abyss Great Emperor, rulers of the three Emperor Realms, sat on either side of the honored guest section. Their eyes remained fixed on the plaza entrance, filled with respect and anticipation.
The Mystic Heaven Holy Land's place stood prominently among the honored guest seats, at the very forefront, even ahead of the three Emperor Realms. Daoist Zixu, Bai Zixuan, and Su Qingyue sat there, feeling the reverent gazes of countless surrounding powers, their hearts filled with glory and apprehension.
Countless geniuses from All Heavens and Myriad Worlds gathered together in the plaza.
There were favored children of the primordial Demon Race, whose true forms were divine beasts of High Antiquity, endowed with extraordinary talents and heaven-surging combat strength;
There were devil sons of the ancient Devil Race, bearing Devil Emperor inheritances, their Devil Qi surging to the heavens and their fearsome reputations resounding;
There were holy daughters and holy sons of holy lands, with unparalleled talents and profound cultivation, hailed as invincible among their peers;
There were young masters of secluded families, carrying supreme treasures, possessing deep foundations, and looking down upon all other heroes.
These people were all leading figures of the younger generation in All Heavens and Myriad Worlds. Every one had the strength to sweep across a region, and ordinarily, others clustered around them like stars around the moon.
Yet today, none showed the slightest trace of their usual pride. Each wore a respectful expression, eyes fixed on the plaza entrance as they awaited that unsurpassed Supreme One's arrival.
"Do you think that Supreme One will really come?"
"Of course! The three Great Emperors are all waiting in person. Since that Supreme One agreed, he'll definitely come!"
"I really want to see for myself what that Supreme One who checked in for a hundred thousand years and emerged invincible looks like!"
"I heard that Supreme One looks like an ordinary young man in white, without the slightest fluctuation of cultivation, yet he can make Great Emperors bow!"
"A young man in white? Without any cultivation? How is that possible!"
The many geniuses discussed in hushed voices, their eyes filled with anticipation and reverence.
Just then!
Hum!
The entire Myriad Dao Plaza suddenly trembled slightly!
An invisible force quietly spread. There was not the slightest pressure, nor any trace of a presence, yet every powerful cultivator in the plaza-whether genius, Holy Lord, Half-Emperor, or Great Emperor-instantly felt reverence rising from the depths of their soul!
The noisy plaza fell deathly silent in an instant!
A falling pin could have been heard!
Everyone abruptly raised their heads and looked toward the plaza entrance!
A white-robed figure slowly stepped out of the void and walked, step by step, toward the center of Myriad Dao Plaza.
It was none other than Lin Chen!
He still wore plain white robes, his long hair hanging loosely, his features handsome and his expression calm. His steps were light and unhurried. Each step stirred neither wind nor waves and released no fluctuations of Spiritual Qi. He looked like an utterly ordinary mortal youth.
Yet this seemingly ordinary young man instantly made every powerful cultivator throughout Myriad Dao Plaza hold their breath!
The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor, the East Sea Great Emperor, and the Devil Abyss Great Emperor immediately rose from their seats and bowed, their voices respectful to the utmost:
"We pay our respects to the Supreme One!"
Their mighty voices rang throughout Myriad Dao Plaza!
In the honored guest section, every Half-Emperor and Holy Lord-level cultivator rose in unison, prostrated themselves, and cried out:
"We pay our respects to the Supreme One!"
Across the plaza, countless geniuses from All Heavens and Myriad Worlds, no matter how proud or unruly they had been before, now shuddered all over and involuntarily bowed, their voices carrying a trace of trembling:
"We pay our respects to the Supreme One!"
"We pay our respects to the Supreme One!"
For a time, the countless powerful cultivators throughout Myriad Dao Plaza all bowed. Their reverent voices resounded through the nine heavens and echoed across all of Ancient Dao Mountain!
Such a spectacle had never before occurred in All Heavens and Myriad Worlds!
Great Emperors bowed, myriad races paid homage, and geniuses lowered their heads!
All of it was to welcome one man!
The unsurpassed Supreme One who had checked in for a hundred thousand years and emerged invincible-Lin Chen!
Lin Chen calmly swept his gaze over the gathering, wholly unmoved by the sight of the masses paying homage before him.
A hundred thousand years ago, he had already grown accustomed to the rise and fall of the heavens and the flourishing and decline of myriad worlds. In his eyes, these so-called powerful cultivators and geniuses before him were still insignificant ants.
He slowly stepped toward the Supreme Seat at the plaza's center.
His footsteps were light, yet each seemed to land upon everyone's heart, making all their heartbeats fall into rhythm with them.
No one dared raise their head or look at him directly. Everyone remained bowed, not even daring to breathe heavily.
Only after Lin Chen slowly sat upon the Supreme Seat did his calm voice ring out:
"You may all rise."
Those few simple words were like an imperial decree, making everyone feel as though they had received a grand pardon.
"Thank you, Supreme One!"
Everyone cried out in unison before slowly straightening, though they kept their heads lowered, not daring to look directly at Lin Chen.
The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor approached cautiously and bowed. "Supreme One, the Eternal Dao Gathering has now begun. What instructions might you have?"
Seated upon the Supreme Seat, Lin Chen casually swept his gaze over the many geniuses in the plaza and asked evenly, "What is the purpose of the Eternal Dao Gathering?"
The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor hastily answered, "In answer to the Supreme One, the Eternal Dao Gathering is an event where the younger generation's geniuses from the myriad races of the heavens contend for supremacy, discuss the Dao, and compete. Fortuitous opportunities from High Antiquity and inheritances of Dao lineages also appear for the geniuses to vie over."
"Geniuses contending for supremacy?" A faint smile curled Lin Chen's lips. "Somewhat interesting."
He had checked in for a hundred thousand years. His strength had long since reached the limits of the heavens, leaving him invincible throughout the myriad worlds. Ordinarily, he had no interest even in making a move.
Now, watching these young geniuses contend and vie for brilliance stirred a trace of interest in him.
"In that case, carry on." Lin Chen waved a hand and said evenly, "Do not mind me. Do as you please."
"Yes! We obey the Supreme One's decree!" The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor hastily bowed in acknowledgment, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.
He had worried that Lin Chen would find it dull and leave outright. He had not expected the Supreme One to be willing to stay and watch.
For every genius present, this was an immense fortuitous opportunity!
If they could display their strength before the Supreme One and catch his eye, even a single word of praise would be enough to ascend to heaven in one step and roam unchallenged across the heavens!
The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor returned to his seat and announced loudly toward the Dao Discussion Platform at the plaza's center, "The contest of geniuses at the Eternal Dao Gathering begins now! Geniuses of the myriad races of the heavens may take the stage to discuss the Dao, compete, and display their brilliance!"
As his words fell!
Whoosh!
A figure instantly soared into the air and landed upon the Dao Discussion Platform.
It was a young man dressed in golden dragon robes, his face proud and his gaze haughty, the presence of the Primordial Dragon Clan surrounding him. He was none other than the Primordial Dragon Clan's young master-Ao Lie!
The Primordial Dragon Clan was one of the foremost races among the myriad races of the heavens, possessing noble bloodlines and formidable combat strength. Ao Lie was a Dragon Race genius seen only once in ten thousand years. Despite his youth, he had already reached the peak Saint King realm and was hailed as one of the younger generation's greatest geniuses.
Standing upon the Dao Discussion Platform, Ao Lie swept his gaze over the gathering, his proud voice ringing out. "Ao Lie of the Primordial Dragon Clan seeks instruction from the geniuses of the heavens! Who will fight me!"
His voice brimmed with confidence and defiance, while his eyes held a trace of anticipation.
He wanted to display his strength before this unsurpassed Supreme One and make the Supreme One remember his name!
The many geniuses in the plaza exchanged glances. Soon, a black-robed figure soared into the air and landed upon the Dao Discussion Platform.
This was the ancient Devil Race's devil son-Mo Wutian. Bearing a Devil Emperor's inheritance, he had likewise reached the peak Saint King realm, with heaven-surging combat strength and a resounding fearsome reputation.
"Mo Wutian of the Devil Race has come to face you!"
Mo Wutian's voice was cold and sinister. Devil Qi churned around him as he faced Ao Lie from a distance.
Boom!
Without a single wasted word, the two instantly clashed!
The power of the Saint King pinnacle erupted. On the Dao Discussion Platform, divine light clashed with Devil Qi, the deafening booms shaking the heavens. Even the void twisted under the blows as terrifying waves of power swept in every direction.
Their battle was spectacular, every move lethal, their combat prowess formidable. On any ordinary day, it would have left countless cultivators marveling.
But at that moment, almost no one in the plaza paid attention to the battle.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on Lin Chen, who sat on the Supreme Seat.
They wanted to see how this supreme sovereign would react to the battle.
Yet Lin Chen simply sat there quietly, his expression calm and his gaze indifferent, as though watching some inconsequential child's play.
Ao Lie and Mo Wutian ranked among the finest of the younger generation across the heavens, but in Lin Chen's eyes, their combat prowess was as insignificant as children scuffling.
On his very first day of checking in, he had obtained a perfected Chaos Dao Physique. Even a casual strike from him was billions upon billions of times stronger than an all-out blow from either of them!
A moment later.
Boom-!
With a tremendous crash, Ao Lie sent Mo Wutian flying with a punch. Mo Wutian spat black blood and fell off the Dao Discussion Platform, severely injured and defeated.
"I won!"
Ao Lie stood on the Dao Discussion Platform with his head high and chest out, looking smugly toward Lin Chen, hoping to gain even a trace of his approval.
But Lin Chen merely glanced at him before withdrawing his gaze, without any expression or words.
It was as though that battle had never been worthy of his notice.
The smugness on Ao Lie's face instantly froze, and disappointment swept through his heart.
He had fought with all his might to show his abilities before the sovereign, yet the sovereign had not spared him even a shred of attention.
Seeing this, the many geniuses in the plaza understood.
This supreme sovereign's standards were far, far too high!
The contests between so-called geniuses like them were nothing but children's scuffles in the sovereign's eyes, unworthy of mention!
Even so, countless geniuses continued to ascend the Dao Discussion Platform, one after another.
They refused to accept it. They wanted to try, wanted this sovereign to spare them another glance.
Next, genius after genius ascended the Dao Discussion Platform and fought fierce battles.
There were holy sons of holy lands, geniuses of the Demon Race, powerful members of the Devil Race, and young masters of hidden factions...
Every one of them stood at the peak of the younger generation, and every battle was breathtaking, shaking heaven and earth.
Yet Lin Chen remained calm throughout, not the slightest bit moved.
The combat prowess, talent, and fortuitous opportunities of these geniuses were unworthy of mention before the reserves he had accumulated over a hundred thousand years of checking in.
He had checked in to receive more Great Emperor inheritances than all these geniuses combined; the supreme Divine Abilities he had received through check-ins were stronger than the cultivation methods these geniuses displayed; any single supreme chaos treasure he had received through check-ins could drive these geniuses to slaughter one another in a frenzy.
Just then!
A cool, aloof figure slowly ascended the Dao Discussion Platform.
The woman wore a pink dress, her beauty exquisite, her figure graceful, and her bearing cool and aloof. She was none other than the holy maiden of the Mystic Heaven Holy Land-Su Qingyue!
Standing on the Dao Discussion Platform, Su Qingyue raised her beautiful eyes slightly and stole a glance at Lin Chen on the Supreme Seat. Her heartbeat involuntarily quickened.
She, too, wanted to display her abilities before Lin Chen.
"Su Qingyue of the Mystic Heaven Holy Land requests instruction from my fellow geniuses."
Su Qingyue's voice was gentle, yet the expressions of the many geniuses in the plaza instantly changed!
Everyone knew that Su Qingyue was the holy maiden of the Mystic Heaven Holy Land. For its meritorious service in inviting the sovereign, the three Great Emperors had awarded the Mystic Heaven Holy Land the foremost place among the honored guests, granting it an incomparably exalted status!
More importantly, Su Qingyue was one of the few people who had met the sovereign in person and shared the same space with him!
Who would dare fight her?
If they injured her and displeased the sovereign, their entire faction would be annihilated!
The many geniuses in the plaza, who had been eager to try, instantly fell silent as crows and sparrows in winter. No one dared step onto the platform to accept her challenge.
Standing on the Dao Discussion Platform and seeing that no one dared accept her challenge, Su Qingyue was slightly taken aback.
Just then, an arrogant voice suddenly rang out!
"A mere holy maiden of the Mystic Heaven Holy Land dares act so arrogantly here? I'll take you on!"
Whoosh!
A figure soared into the air and landed on the Dao Discussion Platform.
He was a handsome young man dressed in white, his eyes arrogant and sacred radiance surrounding him. He was none other than Hao Tianyu, the holy son of one of the heavens' foremost holy lands-the Haotian Holy Land!
The Haotian Holy Land was one of the foremost holy lands across the heavens, with deep foundations far surpassing those of the Mystic Heaven Holy Land. Hao Tianyu was hailed as the foremost genius of the younger generation, his cultivation having reached the Half-Saint realm, making him even stronger than Ao Lie and Mo Wutian!
He had always been proud and arrogant, holding everyone beneath his notice. Even knowing that the Mystic Heaven Holy Land had ties to that sovereign, he still did not believe Su Qingyue deserved to be mentioned in the same breath as him.
He would defeat Su Qingyue and prove before the sovereign that he was the truly invincible member of the younger generation!
Standing opposite Su Qingyue, Hao Tianyu said arrogantly, "Su Qingyue, your Mystic Heaven Holy Land only has its current status because it basked in the sovereign's reflected glory. You yourself have no right to stand on this Dao Discussion Platform!"
"Today, I'll defeat you and show you what a true genius is!"
Su Qingyue's expression changed slightly. Her cultivation was only at the Saint King realm, a world apart from Hao Tianyu's Half-Saint realm. She was no match for him at all!
Seated among the honored guests, Daoist Zixu's expression changed drastically at the sight. He wanted to speak up and stop it, but he dared not disturb Lin Chen and could only fret inwardly.
Hao Tianyu sneered. Without wasting another word, he raised his hand and struck his palm toward Su Qingyue!
Half-Saint power poured forth with boundless might, ten times stronger than a Saint King's!
If that palm struck Su Qingyue, she would certainly suffer grievous injuries, or even perish, her Dao extinguished!
Su Qingyue's face turned deathly pale. She wanted to defend herself, only to discover that she could not move at all. She could only watch helplessly as that lethal palm descended toward her!
The expressions of the many geniuses in the plaza changed drastically. They wanted to intervene and save her, but fearing Hao Tianyu's status, they dared not act rashly.
The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor, the East Sea Great Emperor, and the Devil Abyss Great Emperor frowned slightly. They wanted to intervene, but dared not act at will before the sovereign, so they could only turn their gazes toward Lin Chen.
Everyone knew that only that sovereign could save Su Qingyue!
At that critical instant!
Lin Chen, who had been sitting quietly on the Supreme Seat with an indifferent expression, finally moved!
He did not rise, raise his hand, or even glance at the Dao Discussion Platform. He merely parted his lips and softly uttered a single word:
"Scram."
One simple word, without any imposing presence or pressure, so soft it was like a passing breeze.
Yet that single word!
Boom-!!!
An invisible, invincible will erupted in an instant!
This will targeted no person and no thing. It was merely a faint, insignificant trace of displeasure in Lin Chen's heart, naturally flowing forth.
Yet before this will!
Hao Tianyu, a Half-Saint, instantly froze. The arrogance and sneer on his face stiffened, replaced by utter terror and horror!
The force of his palm instantly shattered into nothingness!
His body seemed to be seized viciously by an invisible hand. He hurtled backward like a kite with its string cut and slammed into the ground of the plaza!
Boom!
With a tremendous crash, a huge, deep crater was smashed into the plaza's floor. Broken stones flew, and dust filled the air.
Hao Tianyu lay in the crater, every bone in his body shattered, blood pouring from his mouth. He was grievously injured, without even the strength to move, his eyes filled with boundless terror and despair!
He did not even know how he had been sent flying!
He had not even felt any power!
Just one word!
Just one lightly spoken word from the sovereign!
And he, a Half-Saint hailed as the foremost genius of the younger generation, had suffered a crushing defeat and grievous injuries!
This was the gap!
A gap that could not be crossed, imagined, or opposed!
Everyone in the plaza stared dumbfounded, their bodies stiff as they watched the scene blankly, their minds utterly empty!
One word!
Just one word!
It had crushed the foremost genius of the younger generation!
This was the strength of that supreme sovereign!
This was the true might of checking in for a hundred thousand years and emerging invincible!
Deathly silence!
The entire Myriad Dao Plaza fell as silent as the grave!
Everyone stared wide-eyed at Lin Chen, who sat on the Supreme Seat with an expression as calm and unruffled as ever. Nothing remained in their hearts but boundless reverence and fear!
Su Qingyue stood on the Dao Discussion Platform, tears shimmering in her beautiful eyes as she gazed at Lin Chen's figure, her heart filled with gratitude and admiration.
The sovereign had saved her!
Daoist Zixu also let out a long breath of relief, his reverence for Lin Chen once again reaching its peak.
Seated on the Supreme Seat, Lin Chen glanced at Hao Tianyu in the crater, not a ripple stirring in his eyes, and spoke indifferently:
"Noisy."
That single word made everyone shudder. They hurriedly lowered their heads, not daring to make the slightest unusual movement.
Lin Chen withdrew his gaze and looked once more at Su Qingyue on the Dao Discussion Platform, his tone still flat. "Continue."
Su Qingyue hurriedly bowed, her voice trembling slightly. "Th-thank you, Sovereign!"
After what had just happened, not a single genius in the plaza dared step onto the platform to fight Su Qingyue.
Everyone was silent as cicadas in winter, without even the courage to raise their heads and glance at Lin Chen.
Hao Tianyu's fate was the clearest example!
For daring to act insolently before the sovereign, for daring to attack someone the sovereign cared about, there was only one outcome-a crushing defeat!
Seeing this, the Heaven-Burning Great Emperor hurriedly announced loudly, "The victor of this match is Su Qingyue of the Mystic Heaven Holy Land!"
His words fell, but the entire plaza remained deathly silent.
Seated on the Supreme Seat, Lin Chen frowned slightly at the deathly silence before him.
He had initially found it somewhat interesting, but now it had become dull.
He rose, his white robes fluttering, and swept his gaze over everyone before speaking indifferently:
"The Eternal Dao Gathering amounts to no more than this."
"The geniuses of the heavens are nothing special either."
"Boring. I'm leaving."
With those words, Lin Chen lingered no longer. His white robes swept out, and his figure instantly vanished without a trace from Myriad Dao Plaza, leaving only an invincible will reverberating above the entirety of Ancient Dao Mountain.
Only after Lin Chen's figure had completely disappeared did everyone in the plaza let out a long breath of relief. Drenched in cold sweat, they collapsed limply to the ground.
In that instant, they had felt that their lives and deaths rested on a single thought from Lin Chen!
The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor and the other two Great Emperors exchanged glances, each seeing helplessness and reverence in the others' eyes.
They had originally wanted to give the sovereign an enjoyable spectacle. They had never expected Hao Tianyu's recklessness to displease the sovereign and cause him to leave early.
Yet they dared not utter the slightest complaint.
That supreme sovereign was free to come and go. Throughout All Heavens and Myriad Worlds, no one could stop him, and no one could make him stay!
"Every one of you had better remember what happened today!" The Heaven-Burning Great Emperor took a deep breath, his stern voice carrying throughout the plaza. "The sovereign's dignity must not be violated! When traveling the heavens in the future, if you encounter the sovereign, you must treat him respectfully and must not cause the slightest offense!"
"Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!"
"Yes!"
Everyone present answered in unison, their voices filled with reverence.
By then, Lin Chen had long since left Ancient Dao Mountain and arrived in the void above the nine heavens.
He gazed down at the vast, boundless All Heavens and Myriad Worlds, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.
A hundred thousand years of check-ins, invincible upon emerging.
I could certainly take a good look around All Heavens and Myriad Worlds.
The journey ahead should be much more interesting.
His white robes fluttering, Lin Chen took a step, his figure vanishing into the void as he slowly traveled toward the distant reaches of All Heavens and Myriad Worlds.
His legend had only just begun.
His path of invincibility spanned the heavens and would never end!