Eternal Holy Emperor
Chapter 171 - 156: Domination

Chapter 171: Chapter 156: Domination

Ye Chen moved a massive bluestone weighing a hundred thousand catties to block the entire gate of the Twelfth Pass, and sat on top of the stone. For several days, he remained as still as a mountain, emitting a powerful qi that seemed like a Divine Mountain extending across the land, preventing the many trialists who followed from entering the Twelfth Pass.

The trialists were dumbfounded by Ye Chen’s actions, astonished and confused.

Ye Chen declared that anyone wishing to enter the Twelfth Pass must hand over three Identity Tokens as a toll, otherwise, they could not pass.

Robbery!

Blatant robbery!

God damn it, many trialists wanted to curse out loud, having seen shameless acts before but never anything as brazen as this. And this was from the invincible Young Martial God of the entire Trial Road—was there not even a hint of Martial God dignity?

But no one dared to curse aloud. As a Martial God of his generation, he had even forced the four Gate Masters off the Trial Road with his overpowering and tyrannical presence—who would dare to provoke this Young Martial God?

Yet in private, many had given him another title, the Young Great Demon King!

Right, this Young Martial God was akin to a Great Demon King, his shamelessness overwhelming as he forced trialists to hand over Identity Tokens, completely bullying the weak.

However, many trialists were powerless to do anything. If it were anyone else, even those qualified to be king among super experts wouldn’t dare to offend the masses like this, facing the possibility of collective retribution that could obliterate them.

But this person was Ye Chen, the Young Martial God, whose strength was evident for all to see—no one could touch him, not even those super experts aspiring to be kings.

Even the Twelfth Pass Master was somewhat at a loss for words, but since the Trial Road was a place where the strong preyed upon the weak and this was occurring before, not within the Twelfth Pass, there was nothing she could do about Ye Chen.

Moreover, even if she took action, she would not be Ye Chen’s opponent.

Many begrudgingly cursed their bad luck and painfully handed over three Identity Tokens as the toll, not holding any illusory hopes for a super expert to appear and defeat Ye Chen.

On the Trial Road, Ye Chen’s strength was undoubtedly the mightiest—who could possibly defeat him?

Before long, Ye Chen proclaimed another condition: one could pass without giving Identity Tokens, but they must agree to a term; otherwise, no one would be allowed through the Twelfth Pass, and he might even forcibly take all Identity Tokens.

This condition sparked great curiosity among everyone.

"Chase down and expel all trialists from Tianqi Empire and its Affiliated Countries from the Trial Road!"

Once these words were released, an uproar ensued, and many changed color. Was Ye Chen declaring war on Tianqi Empire?

However, people recalled how the trialists from Xiafeng Country had previously been hunted by the Tianqi Empire and had long held a grudge. This was simply an eye for an eye.

The news quickly spread throughout the entire Trial Road like an earthquake, astonishing numerous trialists and leaving them gobsmacked.

Ye Chen was a bit too domineering, wasn’t he?

"Ye Chen, you’re seeking death. Are you intentionally opposing my Tianqi Empire?"

In the Tenth Pass, a Top 100 trial participant shouted angrily, causing a stir in the forest as birds and beasts fled. His aura surged powerfully, gazing towards the Twelfth Pass with eyes full of resentment.

In other passes, several more were also shouting angrily. They were from the Tianqi Empire Royal Bloodline, each having been raised in high-status, strong, and lavishly trained since youth—at about twenty-one or twenty-two years old, they made it into the ranks of the Top 100 Trial Participants.

It was clear that each young member sent by the super forces was not to be trifled with. Not only were the strongest among them qualified super experts, but others had the credentials to be in the Top 100 Trial Participants as well.

That was the true power of super forces.

Normally each super force stood supremely powerful, looking down upon other trialists, and no one dared to provoke them. The death of the Eighth Prince had already filled them with rage. Now, they had not sought out Ye Chen, but rather were being targeted for assassination.

The trialists from the Tianqi Empire were thoroughly outraged. What did Ye Chen mean by this? Did he truly intend to annihilate them? Was he not afraid of seriously offending Tianqi Empire, which could seek terrifying retribution even beyond the Trial Road?

That would mean Xiafeng Country could be destroyed overnight.

Trialists from the Soaring Dragon Empire, Jiuhua Empire, and Martial God Temple took delight in their misfortune but also felt a chill—Ye Chen refrained from acting, but when he did, his moves were thunderous and ruthless, fearless in offending the super forces.

This further confirmed the rumors that a Supreme Divine was protecting him from behind, fearing nothing, so much that even super forces wouldn’t dare to offend this person.

At last, the Princes of Tianqi Empire were also enraged and declared that anyone who dared to take action, even if they were eliminated on the Trial Road, would face Tianqi Empire’s retaliation after leaving the Trial Road—anyone unafraid should just go ahead and strike.

As these words spread, a silence fell over the Trial Road, as the vast majority hesitated. Ye Chen might not fear Tianqi Empire, but that did not mean that others were not afraid. No one dared to hunt and kill.

And those who had paid three Identity Tokens earlier were quite indignant, but now they considered themselves lucky, even relieved, for at least they didn’t have to hunt down the Trialists from the Tianqi Empire.

However, Ye Chen ignored everyone’s apprehension and sat directly on the bluestone, with a terrifying Demon Flood Dragon circling in the void, releasing a shocking Demon Power that forced everyone to retreat, not daring to come near.

"Lord Chen, I would like to pay three Identity Tokens to pass," said a Trialist unwilling to hunt down the Tianqi Empire’s Trialists, now begrudgingly paying three Identity Tokens.

Following that, many other Trialists stepped forward, having no choice but to choose this way under the circumstances. Paying three Identity Tokens was much better than offending the Tianqi Empire or being unable to pass at all.

But Ye Chen refused, saying indifferently, "The time has passed. Now, unless all the Tianqi Empire’s Trialists are eliminated, no one can pass the Twelfth Pass."

Everyone’s faces changed immediately; it was clear that Ye Chen wanted to push them into a corner. Now they were stuck, with no way forwards or back, utterly incapable of provoking either side.

"Lord Chen, please show us mercy. The Tianqi Empire is wealthy and powerful; we truly cannot afford to provoke them," the earlier-speaking Trialist pleaded.

"Please, Lord Chen, show us mercy!"

Many Trialists spoke out, begging Ye Chen not to trouble them, the innocents.

At that moment, a graceful figure in a Daoist robe appeared, treading on the void—it was Elder Nalan, the Twelfth Pass Master. Her lips parted gently as she said in a soft voice, "Ye Chen, as a king, you need a broad heart. Please do not trouble these innocent Trialists."

Ye Chen just shook his head. A king? He had been a Supreme, let alone just a young king of the Tiandu Continent. In the Heavenly and Myriads of Realms, he was hardly worth mentioning.

Yet, feeling that he might have been too harsh, he said, "Give me two days to consider."

The many Trialists instantly breathed a sigh of relief, finally seeing a glimmer of hope, grateful that the Twelfth Pass Master had spoken up for them. It was also because of the battle a few days prior, when the Twelfth Pass Master had not troubled Ye Chen and had even taken the initiative to protect him, that he had won Ye Chen’s favor.

"You may also pass by revealing their locations. As long as all the Trialists from the Tianqi Empire are eliminated, you can immediately pass."

Two days later, Ye Chen finally compromised, easing the tension for many. Although it was still somewhat offensive to the Tianqi Empire, it was at least not too excessive—they simply had to provide location information.

And at that time, the Trialists from the Tianqi Empire were like rats crossing the street on the Trial Road.

Although other Trialists were wary and dared not take action, geographic information was quickly mastered, and messages were swiftly delivered to Ye Chen in the Twelfth Pass.

Soon, Ye Chen made a move, leaving the Demon Flood Dragon stationed there while he took action personally.

"Quickly inform Lord Chen, the Sixteenth Prince is in the Tenth Pass’s Mo Mountain."

"Hurry, we mustn’t lose the Sixteenth Prince, or forget about passing."

In the Tenth Pass, within a thicket of dense woods, a figure was coldly surveying the shadows hidden among the trees—all Trialists who had come to grasp his location.

He was a Prince of the Tianqi Empire, ranked sixteenth, known as the Sixteenth Prince, and he was a strong contender among the Top 100 Trial Participants. In this period, he had also obtained forty-seven Identity Tokens, nearly qualifying to pass the trials.

But unexpectedly, Ye Chen had instructed all the Trialists from the previous twelve passes to search for them and provide geographic information, leaving them angry and helpless. They had always been in the position of hunters, never before had anyone dared to hunt them; this was a first.

It was a bitter pill to swallow because Ye Chen was simply too strong. Although it was rumored he had won against three Gate Masters through the use of Heavenly God Dao Soldiers, at least his Martial God Realm strength was confirmed. Despite being a Top 100 Trialist, he had the self-awareness to recognize that he was no match for Ye Chen.

Now, his only option was to flee, and the farther, the better, hopefully without these Trialists catching any trace of him.

He quickly left, and the Trialists were shocked they had been spotted, hastily pursuing him.

"We must not lose him; if we do, we can forget about passing."

All the Trialists took action without hesitation, fearing they would lose track of the Sixteenth Prince.

"Damn these guys," cursed the Sixteenth Prince angrily. These trackers stuck to him like glue, difficult to shake off, leaving him extremely frustrated.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

He casually shot out more than a dozen darts from the jungle, immediately causing several unlucky chasers to suffer, their screams ringing out incessantly.

Soon, he had rid himself of the trackers, leaving them far behind. But just as he thought he had gotten some distance, suddenly a tall, erect figure appeared before him, standing like an immovable mountain.

Ye Chen!

With a bitter smile, the Sixteenth Prince realized, in the end, he still couldn’t escape, leaving him feeling utterly helpless...