Primordial Era: I am a treasure trove, full of magical treasures.

"Ye Chen, a rogue cultivator and mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal, instantly killed Lin Xuan, a core disciple of the Qingyun Sect and a late-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal, in one move!"

"Not only that! In the second round, he defeated the eldest son of the Beiming family, a peak Taiyi Golden Immortal, in a single move!"

"The third round was even more outrageous—three peak Taiyi Golden Immortals attacked him, but he stood still without moving, and his protective true energy alone sent all three of them flying!"

"A prodigy! This is absolutely a genius of monstrous talent!"

In an instant, the name "Ye Chen" became the hottest topic in the Cangxuan Realm. Major forces dispatched spies to try and find out the origins of this suddenly appearing rogue cultivator. However, no matter how hard they investigated, they could only find a blank—as if this person had sprung from a rock.

The more mysterious it is, the more mysterious it seems.

The more mysterious something is, the more attention it attracts.

When the news reached the Central Continent Divine Emperor Palace, even the Divine Emperor, whose face had already recovered from the swelling, could no longer remain seated.

"The rogue cultivator Ye Chen?" The Divine Emperor sat on his high throne, toying with a warm jade slip in his hand. The jade slip contained all of Ye Chen's battle footage. He watched it three times in succession, his brows furrowing more and more deeply.

"Mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal, terrifying physical body... His comprehension of the laws is even more profound and frightening, completely unlike what a Taiyi Golden Immortal should be at..." The Divine Emperor put down the jade slip, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. "Moreover, his fighting style is very strange—he clearly has the strength to crush his opponents, yet he only injures them without killing them each time."

The black-robed scout standing below bowed and said, "Your Majesty has discerning eyes. I have also tested him many times, but this person usually lives a secluded life, only venturing out for competitions or in seclusion, never associating with anyone, and his past is completely innocent..."

The Emperor finished the sentence for him: "Living in seclusion."

A brief silence fell over the hall.

The Divine Emperor leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the giant mural on the dome of the main hall depicting "Ancestor Cangxuan creating the world," a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"Which one is it?" he suddenly asked, his voice a little hoarse.

The black-robed spy was taken aback: "Your Majesty refers to...?"

"A genius." The God-Emperor's voice was soft, as if he were talking to himself. "How many geniuses have I met now?"

The black-robed scout lowered his head, not daring to answer.

The God Emperor didn't need his answer. He remembered it clearly—every thousand years since he ascended to the throne, he would personally receive a group of top geniuses selected from the four continents, and then personally escort them into the depths of the temple, to the presence of that "ancestor".

For the first time, he was full of hope, thinking that those geniuses could really gain the favor of the ancestors and become the guardians of the Cangxuan Realm.

The second time, he began to feel uneasy because he discovered that those geniuses who entered the temple never came out again.

The third time, the fourth time... the tenth time...

He had lost count of how many geniuses he had sent in. He only remembered that every time he sent those young and vibrant faces into the depths of the temple, he would silently say to himself—

"sorry."

The reason he has survived until now is not because of his strength or talent, but simply because he is obedient enough.

He never questioned any decision made by his ancestor, never disobeyed any order from his ancestor, and never showed any dissatisfaction. Like a perfect puppet, he diligently managed the Cangxuan Realm and diligently searched for those young and delicious "geniuses" for his ancestor.

He knew that he was only alive because his ancestors still needed an obedient slave.

Once he loses his usefulness, or if he poses even the slightest threat to the ancestor, his fate will be no better than that of the geniuses sent to the temple.

"Enough, better to die than to die myself." The Divine Emperor withdrew his thoughts and waved his hand. "Issue my decree—Ye Chen, a rogue cultivator from the Eastern Continent, possesses exceptional talent and is hereby granted exemption from the final exam. Three days later, I will personally receive him at the Divine Emperor's Palace in the Central Continent."

"Yes!" The black-robed scout bowed and accepted the order, then vanished from the hall in a flash.

The Emperor sat alone in the empty hall, gazing at the mural on the dome, remaining silent for a long time.

Three days later, in the Central Continent, at the Divine Emperor's Palace.

Today, the Divine Emperor's Palace is exceptionally solemn and dignified.

On both sides of the main hall stood numerous civil and military officials from the Cangxuan Realm—heads of major families, regional governors from the four continents, and renowned elders. All eyes were fixed on the young man in the center of the hall, dressed in a simple blue robe.

Ye Chen stood in the center of the hall, his expression calm, as if the scrutinizing gazes and whispered discussions around him were irrelevant. He even had the leisure to examine the hall's decorations—hmm, this pillar is made of good material, and that plaque is crafted from top-grade innate spiritual materials, but unfortunately the carving is a bit lacking…

"His Majesty the Divine Emperor has arrived!"

With a loud announcement from the attendant, the Emperor slowly walked out from the rear hall, ascended the throne, and sat upright on the nine steps.

Today he was dressed in a dark gold imperial robe and wore a twelve-tassel crown. His face was majestic, and his gaze was like lightning. He looked down at the young man in blue in the hall, his eyes filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and a hint of...pity.

Yet another sacrifice chosen by fate.

"So you are Ye Chen?" the Divine Emperor asked, his voice majestic and resounding, echoing throughout the hall.

Ye Chen bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant: "Ye Chen, a rogue cultivator, pays respects to His Majesty the Divine Emperor."

The Divine Emperor's gaze lingered on him for a moment, then he slowly nodded: "Indeed. I watched your competition in the Eastern Continent, and you are indeed exceptionally talented with limitless potential. With your aptitude, if you could receive guidance from a renowned master, achieving the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm in the future would not be difficult."

This wasn't just polite talk. The Divine Emperor genuinely felt that this young man's talent was the best he had ever seen—even surpassing his own at that age. If he weren't destined to become nourishment for the ancestor, he would have truly wanted to take this kid as a disciple and cultivate him properly.

Pity.

"Your Majesty flatters me." Ye Chen remained as calm and composed as ever, as if the Emperor's praise was nothing more than a passing breeze to him.

This humble yet assertive attitude only deepened the Emperor's regret.

"Ye Chen, I ask you—" The Divine Emperor leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharpening, "Are you willing to accept the ancestor's blessing and enter the Divine Temple for further study?"

coming.

All eyes in the hall were fixed on Ye Chen. Some were envious, some were jealous, some remained expressionless, and some sighed inwardly—but no one spoke.

Ye Chen raised his head and met the God Emperor's gaze.

Then he smiled.

That smile was gentle, friendly, and even carried a perfectly appropriate hint of gratitude.

"I am deeply honored by Your Majesty's favor."

Looking at that smile, the God Emperor suddenly felt a strange urge—he wanted to speak up and remind the young man what awaited him behind that door.

But he didn't.

He simply nodded slowly, his voice calm and unwavering: "Very good. Three days from now, I will personally escort you into the temple."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ye Chen bowed again.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the God Emperor personally led Ye Chen to the ancient temple in the deepest part of the Cangxuan Realm.

The temple stood majestically, constructed entirely of a jet-black stone, its surface covered with densely packed runes, exuding an ancient and oppressive aura. The temple doors were tightly shut, above which was carved a massive relief—a towering figure, wielding a long sword, carving out the world.

Ye Chen glanced at the relief and his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

They're quite good at patting themselves on the back.

The God Emperor stood in front of the temple gate, took a deep breath, and then turned around to look at Ye Chen.

"Ye Chen, this is all I can take you this far." The God Emperor's voice was somewhat hoarse. "After entering the temple, keep walking straight ahead until you reach the deepest part, and you will see the Ancestor."

The God-Emperor's voice echoed before the empty temple, trembling slightly. Ye Chen stood before the massive black stone gate, turning his head slightly to glance at the God-Emperor.

Then he smiled.

The smile was faint and subtle, the corners of his mouth just slightly upturned. But for some reason, the moment the God Emperor saw that smile, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head—there was no awe, no trepidation, no fear of the unknown fate in that smile, only a kind of... all-knowing understanding, as if he had seen through everything, and a hint of mischievous cunning.

The God Emperor opened his mouth, as if to say something, but Ye Chen had already turned his head, raised his hand, and gently pushed open the heavy black stone door.

"Creak—"

The stone gate slowly opened, revealing a deep and long passageway. Embedded in the walls on either side of the passageway were fist-sized luminous pearls, emitting a faint, cold light that illuminated the path ahead. From the depths of the passageway, faint, almost imperceptible breathing sounds could be heard, as if a slumbering beast awaited its prey in the darkness.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen stepped into the passageway.

Behind them, the heavy black stone door slowly closed with a muffled "boom," shutting out all light and sound from the outside world.

The passageway was very long, and it took Ye Chen about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before his view suddenly opened up.

This is a huge underground palace.

The hall was a thousand feet high, its dome inlaid with countless dazzling star stones, simulating a vast starry sky. The floor was paved with smooth, mirror-like obsidian, reflecting the starlight from the dome, as if one were walking on the Milky Way. In the very center of the hall stood a statue a hundred feet tall—a middle-aged man in a dark yellow Taoist robe, with a dignified face and an air of arrogance that looked down upon the world, none other than the Cangxuan Ancestor.

The statue's eyes are closed, as if it has fallen into an eternal sleep.

But Ye Chen knew that he was awake.

From the moment he stepped into the temple, those eyes had already opened in the darkness.

"Junior Ye Chen pays respects to the Ancestor." Ye Chen stood in front of the statue, bowed slightly, and spoke with a respectful and humble tone.

The statue remained silent for a moment.

Then, an aged yet majestic voice, as if transported from ancient times, slowly echoed through the hall: "You are the genius the God-Emperor spoke of?"

"I dare not call myself a genius, I only have a little talent." Ye Chen raised his head, a perfectly measured humble smile on his face. "It is my great honor to be summoned by the Ancestor."

The statue's eyes slowly opened.

Those were eyes so deep they seemed capable of swallowing all light. Within them, countless stars rose and fell, countless worlds cycled, as if containing all the mysteries since the beginning of chaos. Those eyes fell upon Ye Chen, scrutinizing him carefully from head to toe.

"Hmm... Mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal, his physical body is well-developed, and his comprehension of the laws far surpasses that of others at the same level." Ancestor Cangxuan's voice carried a hint of satisfaction. "Indeed a good seedling. Much stronger than those useless trash you sent before."

Ye Chen smiled modestly: "You flatter me, Ancestor."

"However—" Ancestor Cangxuan changed the subject, his voice tinged with amusement, "How did you, a rogue cultivator, without a sect, without a master, manage to cultivate to such a level?"

Ye Chen sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly composed, still displaying his respectful demeanor: "Reporting to the Ancestor, many years ago I mistakenly entered a secret realm and received the inheritance of a senior. That senior called himself 'The Carefree Hermit,' and left behind a cultivation technique and some cultivation insights. It was with that technique that I have been exploring and cultivating until now."

"The Wandering Hermit?" Ancestor Cangxuan repeated the name, seemingly searching his memory for something, but clearly finding nothing. He was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Very well, everyone has their own destiny, and it is not appropriate for me to ask further."

"Ye Chen, do you know what entering this temple means?"

Ye Chen raised his head, his gaze meeting those deep eyes with composure: "This means that I will receive the blessing of the ancestor, and from now on I will soar to the heavens and become the most outstanding existence in the Cangxuan Realm."

"Hehehe..." Ancestor Cangxuan let out a low laugh, the sound echoing in the hall, carrying a hint of mockery, a hint of pity, and a hint of impatient greed. "Blessing? That's right, I will indeed bestow a blessing upon you—I will devour all your talent, your aptitude, your origin, turning them all into nourishment for my cultivation recovery! This is the greatest 'blessing' I will bestow upon you!"

Before the words were even finished, two blinding beams of light suddenly burst forth from the eyes of the hundred-foot-tall statue! A terrifying suction force erupted from the statue, enveloping Ye Chen entirely!

Ye Chen's body flew uncontrollably toward the statue!

The moment his body touched the surface of the statue, it seemed to merge into water, directly penetrating the hard stone shell and entering a dark and viscous space—the inner world of Ancestor Cangxuan!

All around was endless darkness, filled with the thick stench of blood and decay. Faintly visible in the depths of the darkness lay countless white bones—the remains of geniuses devoured by the Cangxuan Ancestor throughout countless eons past.

"Hahahaha! What pure essence! What a perfect physical body!" The voice of Ancestor Cangxuan echoed in the darkness, filled with mad joy. "Devouring you is more effective than devouring ten geniuses!"

In the darkness, countless scarlet tentacles wriggled like living creatures, surging towards Ye Chen from all directions, trying to completely envelop and devour him!

Standing in the darkness, Ye Chen watched the tentacles rushing towards him, and the respect and humility on his face finally faded away.

Instead, a bright smile appeared on her face.

"I say, aren't you getting excited too soon?"

The laughter of Ancestor Cangxuan abruptly stopped: "What did you say?"

Ye Chen did not answer.

He simply extended one finger and gently shook it.

Then--

Five extremely dazzling rays of light suddenly erupted from his body!

The light was red like raging flames, orange like molten gold, yellow like thick earth, green like life, and blue like the vast ocean! The five colors of light intertwined and reflected each other, illuminating the entire dark space as bright as day!

This kind of spiritual treasure is specially crafted by Xuanbao for self-destruction. It does not have any other shape, and most of them are plant-shaped. However, it has been upgraded to a genuine top-grade innate spiritual treasure.

Five top-grade innate spiritual treasures floated around the clone, radiating a vast and boundless pressure!

Ancestor Cangxuan's pupils suddenly contracted: "Top-grade innate spiritual treasures?! Five of them?! How could a Taiyi Golden Immortal like you possess so many top-grade innate spiritual treasures?!"

"Who told you I'm a Taiyi Golden Immortal?" Ye Chen grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Surprised? Unexpected? You didn't expect this, did you? You didn't swallow some genius, you swallowed a bomb."

In an instant, Ancestor Cangxuan realized what was happening, his face turning incredibly ugly: "You...your clone of a Grand Luo Golden Immortal?!"

"You guessed right, but unfortunately there's no reward." Ye Chen said with a smile, "However, I can give you a big gift—the self-destruction of five top-grade innate spiritual treasures. That should be enough to give you a hard time."

"No--!!!"

Ancestor Cangxuan let out a fierce roar, and countless tentacles surged towards Ye Chen, trying to suppress him and prevent the five top-grade innate spiritual treasures from self-destructing!

Now that he is inside the body, if several top-grade innate spiritual treasures were to self-destruct, he would be severely injured. Moreover, he was already seriously injured, and such an attack would definitely deplete his vital energy.

But it was too late.

Ye Chen spread his arms wide, as if embracing death, with his signature, irritating smile on his face.

"The explosion is Patrick Star."

The moment the words fell—

Five top-grade innate spiritual treasures detonated simultaneously!

"boom--!!!!!!!"