Yao Guang the Holy Son, the Golden-Winged Little Peng King, and Yao Xi — all were the most extraordinary figures of the younger generation. They emerged from the Divine Furnace of Departing Flames, each radiating murderous intent that pierced the heavens.

They had been sealed within the divine furnace for several months, trapped in total darkness, suffering the agonizing torment of divine fire searing their very bones. For them, it was a tribulation unlike anything they had ever endured.

All of them were peerless geniuses. When had they ever experienced something like this? They were used to being held aloft like the moon surrounded by stars wherever they went, admired by all — and yet, for the very first time in their lives, they had been suppressed. What was worse, it had been done by a young cultivator whose cultivation was far beneath their own. The moment that thought crossed their minds, fury blazed within them and killing intent spread across the land.

“Each one is a breathtaking talent — their future achievements are beyond measure,” the Jiang Divine King said with a gentle nod.

The Golden-Winged Little Peng King had clearly already received a voice transmission and warning from the elder Peng King, yet his wild nature was not so easily tamed. In his right hand he held the Grand Wilderness Halberd — a weapon capable of crushing the very void — and he tilted it sideways toward the southern sky. With a sharp cry, he declared: “Divine King, I refuse to accept this!”

“What is it you refuse to accept?” the Divine King asked, seated calmly upon his throne in the great hall.

“Why do you shield him so, Elder? I wish to challenge him to a decisive battle. If I win, I will still spare his life — will you permit it?!” His golden hair flew in wild disarray as the Grand Wilderness Halberd suddenly dropped, pointing directly at Ye Fan from a distance. Boundless killing intent surged forth like towering waves crashing against the shore.

The Golden-Winged Little Peng King’s wild and untamable spirit — bold enough to speak such words while holding the Grand Wilderness Halberd before a peerless Divine King — earned quiet nods of approval from many elders present. They all agreed that he was unquestionably a figure of towering talent.

The Divine King showed no displeasure. Instead, a trace of admiration crossed his face as he said: “You may battle him — but only after he breaks through into the Four Extremes Secret Realm. Once he does, any member of the younger generation may challenge him to a duel to the death.”

The moment those words left the Divine King’s mouth, the crowd in the magnificent hall erupted in stunned uproar. For the Ancient Holy Body to break through into the Four Extremes Secret Realm — was that truly possible? Yet not a soul dared contradict him.

In the golden pupils of the Golden-Winged Little Peng King, killing intent blazed without restraint. He stared fixedly at Ye Fan, still wanting to say more — but at that moment, the elder Peng King made his move. He reached out a golden Roc-claw that in an instant blotted out heaven and earth, and snatched the young king away with a single grab.

With the peerless Divine King present, who would dare show disrespect? If he pushed too far and provoked the Divine King’s wrath, no one would be able to save him.

Yao Guang the Holy Son descended like a manifestation of the Sun God himself — even the strands of his hair were gilded with golden radiance. His bearing and divine grace were extraordinarily distinguished, as though he truly were a deity walking among mortals.

“Very well. I look forward to Brother Ye entering the Four Extremes Secret Realm, shattering the ancient curse, and letting the Ancient Holy Body shine brilliantly once more.” His expression was calm and serene. Surrounded by a hundred and eight divine rings, he seemed nearly indistinguishable from a true god.

Yao Guang the Holy Son returned to stand behind the Holy Lord of Yao Guang with composed ease. People were astonished to realize that the number of his divine rings now matched those of the Holy Lord of Yao Guang — though his were not yet quite as resplendent.

Yao Xi — her celestial beauty was without blemish and her face was a kingdom-toppling sight to behold. Between her brows, a flame-like radiance in the form of a divine figure flickered and pulsed, stunning even the elders present, all of whom revealed expressions of shock.

She too withdrew to one side, moving as though drifting through the corridors of the Broad Cold Palace, her robes untouched by a single mote of dust, her beauty surpassing the mortal world. Her phoenix eyes swept over Ye Fan with cold indifference, and she said nothing at all.

Once Ye Fan entered the Four Extremes Secret Realm, he would inevitably face the three most fearsome figures of the younger generation. In the not-too-distant future, a world-shaking battle was certain to come!

The Jiang Divine King spoke: “If one looks carefully, all three of you gained something from this misfortune. Within the Divine Furnace of Departing Flames, you each received a thread of a Great Emperor’s enlightenment.”

The moment those words fell, everyone was struck dumb. The magnificent hall fell into absolute silence, every soul frozen where they stood. A Great Emperor’s enlightenment — something beyond all price in this world!

“Is this true?” Some among the elder generation were trembling as they spoke.

The enlightenment of a Great Emperor was the thing cultivators dreamed of — a radiant path leading to the pinnacle of the Supreme Dao, a supreme spiritual imprint capable of elevating one to sainthood.

“Only a single thread,” said the Jiang Divine King, “but even that is enough for them to draw from for a lifetime.”

“What is the true origin of the Divine Furnace of Departing Flames?” Everyone was burning with bewilderment, desperate to know.

“It was a weapon used by the Great Emperor Hengyu in his early years. Though it is not a Supreme Sacred Weapon of the extreme Dao, it contains the Dao inscriptions of a Great Emperor,” the Jiang Divine King revealed the truth.

Everyone was struck speechless. The Divine Furnace of Departing Flames had actually been a weapon used by an ancient Great Emperor — it had accompanied him and borne witness to his growth. It was something that had truly defied all expectation.

Ye Fan was also deeply astonished. He finally understood why this furnace was always indestructible — it contained imperial inscriptions within, endowed with power beyond imagination. If that power could be fully unleashed, it would be enough to devastate heaven and earth.

The supreme sacred furnace of the Jiang Family had been forged in reference to this very furnace. After the Great Emperor Hengyu gathered the Crimson Phoenix Blood Gold, he had ventured deep into the Primal Fallen Sun Ridge and poured his heart and soul into forging this ultimate sacred object.

Tracing back to the source, the sacred furnace’s predecessor was the Divine Furnace of Departing Flames.

“The grievances between you have been resolved,” the Jiang Divine King said, then asked quite casually, “Are there any others?”

“There is…” Ye Fan started to speak but stopped himself.

“It doesn’t matter — whoever else there may be, release them all. I will mediate on your behalf,” the Divine King said.

Ye Fan firmly believed that no wall in this world was truly airtight — especially those Holy Lord-level figures, who all possessed heaven-defying secret techniques capable of tracing the truth through special means.

He thought it over and decided to seize this opportunity to shake off the entire burden he carried. He would let the Divine King shoulder it all for him at once, to avoid future calamity should it ever be exposed.

Whoosh!

A flash of light — and a golden ancient pagoda appeared, suspended in the void, radiating brilliant flowing radiance.

At a distance, Xu Tianxiong, the third-greatest outlaw of the Northern Region, was somewhat dazed. He had not expected his own grandson to be involved. This pagoda had been refined by his own hands — there was absolutely no mistaking it.

Xu Yuan had originally been suppressed by Tu Fei, and the ancient pagoda had been handed over to the Dark Emperor by Ye Fan. But Ye Fan had felt it was somewhat improper and feared it would implicate Tu Fei, so he had taken everything back.

Xu Tianxiong strode forward with great steps. Even the various Holy Lords showed a measure of wariness toward him — his rank was above even the mighty Azure Flood Dragon King, and the true depths of his power were unfathomable.

Whoosh!

A flash of light — Xu Yuan was released, returned to the light of day. The moment his eyes landed on Xu Tianxiong, he immediately cried out in alarm, then raised a finger to point at Ye Fan, who stood not far away.

Smack!

Xu Tianxiong struck him across the face with a slap, for he had just swept through his grandson’s sea of consciousness in a single instant and come to understand everything — this was entirely Xu Yuan’s own doing.

“Grandfather…” Xu Yuan cried out.

Nearby, Xu Heng — the greatest expert among the descendants of the Thirteen Outlaws — stepped forward and pulled his younger brother away, giving him no further chance to speak.

The Jiang Divine King offered no comment on this. His perception penetrated all worldly affairs; there was no need for him to mediate anything. He also knew full well that the Xu Family was in the wrong. He turned to Ye Fan and asked: “Are there others still sealed?”

Ye Fan was somewhat embarrassed. He opened his mouth as though to say something.

Quite a few people wanted to laugh — just looking at his expression made it obvious there were more. Just how many people had this young man sealed?

The Jiang Divine King was also mildly taken aback. “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “Release them.”

Without further words, Ye Fan moved swiftly this time. He released Li Rui — the alternate Holy Son of Yao Guang — from his seal and quickly retreated a step.

“Ye Fan…” Li Rui bellowed. Ignorant of the situation around him, he immediately surged forward intending to fight to the death.

A cold snort rang out from the Holy Lord of Yao Guang. A great hand reached out and seized him, sealing him on the spot.

Every person present was wide-eyed with astonishment. Not only had Ye Fan suppressed the Yao Guang Holy Son and Holy Daughter — he had apparently captured even the alternate Holy Son as well. This was too ruthless. He had swept the entire nest clean in one go.

The expressions of those from the Yao Guang Holy Land turned quite unpleasant. This was hardly a matter of glory — Ye Fan had essentially become the common enemy of Yao Guang’s entire younger generation.

“Surely there can’t be more?” The Jiang Divine King asked offhandedly, not truly believing there would be.

Ye Fan awkwardly nodded, feeling somewhat sheepish even himself.

The others immediately felt the urge to spit out their food. There really were more — just how many people had this young man sealed? Many people’s mouths twitched involuntarily.

Even the Jiang Divine King was nearly at a loss for words. He couldn’t help but sweep his gaze over Ye Fan twice, genuinely caught off guard.

At a distance, An Miaoyi raised a hand to cover her mouth as she laughed softly, her eyes rippling with life — a sight of a thousand charms and ten thousand graces, beautiful enough to make nations fall at her feet.

The little white-robed novice nun blinked her big, wide eyes in bewilderment and stared at Ye Fan in an odd way. The small golden creature perched on her shoulder was delightfully animated, laughing so hard it rocked back and forth, mocking Ye Fan without restraint.

“Brother Gu he…” The Crown Prince of the Great Xia shook his head. He didn’t even know what to say.

Yao Yuekong laughed and said: “He ought to be addressed as Little Brother Ye now.”

This time, Ye Fan released over a dozen young women from his seal. All of them were wreathed in violet mist and blooming with purple radiance — clearly they all came from one Holy Land: the Purple Mansion.

“That should finally be all of it,” the Jiang Divine King murmured to himself, his voice carrying a trace of weary resignation. He truly did not understand how Ye Fan had managed to suppress so many people.

“I beg the Divine King’s forgiveness… there is still one more.” Ye Fan glanced guiltily up at the Divine King seated above.

“There is another one?!” The Jiang Divine King was so exasperated he was almost amused.

Others could no longer hold back — many burst into open laughter. All the various Holy Sons and Holy Daughters wore expressions of utter disbelief. This scoundrel had truly gone too far. Just how many people had he sealed?

“This fellow is terrible — he’s been suppressing this many people on his person all this time.” Ji Ziyue’s large eyes curved into crescent moons. She then shook Ji Haoyue’s arm and said: “Lucky for us, Brother wasn’t among them.”

Ji Haoyue was thoroughly at a loss for words. He shot his sister a glare.

This time, Ye Fan produced a purple-gold gourd. The moment he opened its mouth, Jiang Yichen tumbled out in a most wretched state.

Even a descendant of the Divine King had been suppressed — the members of the Jiang Family were all struck speechless. Many cultivators wanted to burst into laughter but forced themselves to suppress the impulse.

Jiang Yichen had no idea what was going on. The moment he came out and saw so many elders present, he immediately moved to turn on Ye Fan.

Jiang Yifei rushed forward and yanked him out of the crowd in haste, fearing the Divine King might, in a moment of fury, do away with such an unworthy descendant.

The Jiang Divine King fixed his gaze on Ye Fan. He was so thoroughly exasperated that he was almost amused — for he noticed that Ye Fan still wore that hesitant, half-speaking expression. He said: “Are you trying to tell me there is yet another?”

“Absolutely the last one!” Ye Fan was practically breaking into a sweat. For the first time in his life, he realized that suppressing so many people had caused him no small amount of grief as well.

Everyone was speechless, struggling to suppress their laughter, staring at him in unison.

The various Holy Sons and Holy Daughters exchanged glances with one another. They all felt that this scoundrel had an innate grudge against every Holy Land — he only ever suppressed Holy Sons or Holy Daughters. This time, they had no idea whose turn it would be.

Ye Fan withdrew a scroll painting that had been sealed within the Diamond Ring and launched it into the void. Within it, a young woman in purple robes appeared, hazy and indistinct, as though on the verge of ascending into immortality.

The moment the Mountain and River Painting appeared, many people cried out in shock. All the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters were deeply startled — this was a divine object left behind by the previous generation’s elder Holy Lord of the Purple Mansion, an artifact of matchless power.

“He actually forced the Purple Mist Immortal into the Mountain and River Painting!”

“The Holy Daughter of the Purple Mansion possesses the Innate Dao Fetus — she stands at the very apex of the younger generation’s most formidable experts, and even she was sealed!”

“Once the Innate Dao Fetus attains the rank of Holy Lord, her very body will merge with the Dao itself. No matter how overwhelming the power brought against her, the only outcome will be suppression. The further she advances, the more invincible she becomes.”

…

Whoosh!

The Holy Daughter of the Purple Mansion flew out. A face of breathtaking, soul-stopping beauty flashed for a moment before being enveloped once more in purple mist. She moved like an immortal skimming across water — her every motion suffused with the rhythm of the Dao.

This was the Innate Dao Fetus. Even in ordinary moments, she dwelled in a state near the wondrous union of heaven and man, and her every movement carried the divine resonance of the Great Dao.

“What a pity — the Innate Holy Body Dao Fetus hasn’t been born yet, and she’s already come out…” Li Heishui muttered from a corner.

Many people were petrified on the spot. Giving birth to an Innate Holy Body Dao Fetus — now that was truly a world-shaking piece of news!

Li Heishui, you bastard, are you trying to get me killed?! Ye Fan cursed inwardly and hurriedly clarified aloud: “Nothing has happened yet. No — there is nothing to it at all. I mean — that thought has never even crossed my mind!” He was only making things worse with every word.

Beside him, the face of the Holy Lord of the Purple Mansion immediately darkened. The Innate Dao Fetus was the pride of the Eastern Desolation’s future — he had absolutely no desire for anything to have occurred between her and the Holy Body.

Behind him, the Holy Son of the Purple Mansion’s expression turned even more grim and shadowed. From childhood, he had been overshadowed by the Holy Daughter — his cultivation had never been able to match hers. Now to hear news like this piled on top of that, his heart naturally blazed with fury.

The Holy Daughter of the Purple Mansion was by nature tranquil and serene, with a quality of one who had transcended the mundane. Yet at this moment she was visibly irritated: “What nonsense are you spouting!”

In the magnificent great hall, those present looked at one another, and many could not help but let smiles spread across their faces.

“In truth, such a union might be worth considering. It could well produce the most powerful constitution ever seen,” the Jiang Divine King suddenly said.

“This is…” All the Holy Lords were startled inwardly.

“If I am not mistaken, the Great Emperor Wushi may have been an Innate Holy Body Dao Fetus,” the Jiang Divine King stated.

Every person present was profoundly shaken. In all the world, who could possibly understand the Great Emperor Wushi better than the peerless Divine King? He had been trapped within the Purple Mountain for four thousand years — he must certainly have uncovered many hidden secrets.

Indeed, there was every possibility that he had obtained the mark and legacy of the Great Emperor Wushi.

Everyone wanted to know the imperial secrets of the Purple Mountain. In the present age, he alone understood them most clearly — yet no one dared press him on the matter now. The thirteen Holy Lord-level figures, the three peerless ancient monsters, and the Dark Night King had all served as cautionary examples.

The Jiang Divine King fixed his gaze on Ye Fan and said: “Do you wish to walk the path of the Great Emperor Wushi? The entire world will be your enemy — suppressing every king, overpowering every constitution, fighting your way to sainthood, and battling into the realm of a Great Emperor…”

The crowd was shaken. Had the Great Emperor Wushi truly fought his way to that realm through that path? The Divine King had once again touched upon the imperial secrets.

Ye Fan had made no small number of enemies among the Holy Lands. In the future, great battles against the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters were inevitable — and even a peerless Divine King could not protect him for a lifetime.

In truth, Ye Fan himself had been pondering something — just how long could the Divine King live? He had always felt that something was not quite right. For a white-robed Divine King to battle countless unparalleled powerhouses through a single night and emerge unscathed — it was extraordinary beyond measure, and it always gave him the feeling of a sunset blazing in all its beauty, yet already approaching its end.

“In the age after the Ancient Holy era, this land has changed. The Holy Body has fallen into decline, and it can never again reclaim its former supreme glory.” The Jiang Divine King fixed his gaze on Ye Fan. “I will give you ten million jin of source stones to aid you in breaking through into the Four Extremes Secret Realm. Whether you ultimately shatter the shackles — and how far you can walk in the end — depends entirely on you.”

The moment those words fell, the crowd erupted. They were profoundly, utterly shaken. The peerless Divine King was making his move — did he intend to forge a miracle?!

Some even speculated that he truly might not have much time left and that a series of grand actions were forthcoming in the near future.