In the primordial age, several “Primates” could pluck stars and seize the moon — their methods transcendent and beyond imagination. All were creatures that defied the very heavens.

Now, from the Monkey’s power, people could infer even a sliver of the old Battle Saint Primate’s combat ability — and this Monkey had been sealed for a million years, his cultivation spanning only a little over twenty years.

How terrifying, then, would that Battle Saint Primate be — one who had lived for an immeasurable count of ages? Likely, he could reach to the ends of the nine heavens, descend into the nine depths below, refine stars, breathe in and out the sun itself — nothing beyond his reach.

The Monkey’s fighting spirit had been fully ignited. He absolutely refused to withdraw. Swinging his black iron staff, he battled Wang Teng with force enough to crack the sky. His fire-gold eyes blazed, the fur across his body turning golden-yellow, flickering with light.

Ye Fan could do nothing about it. The Monkey’s nature was what it was — more words would be useless. There was simply no pulling him away. Until he had beaten his enemy into a pulp of flesh, the black iron staff would not rest.

One had to say — Wang Teng was truly immensely powerful. With one Celestial Emperor’s sword, he withstood the black iron staff blow after blow. Every form of primal law was brought to bear at once — both offense and defense. Not a sign of defeat was visible.

Hum!

His pupils were terrifying. Every time they blinked, heaven and earth rang out together — like the great Dao scriptures resonating.

With each opening and closing of his eyes, it was as though a star field came into being — fathomless, immeasurable. In the flicker of an instant, it was as though an eternity of ancient heavens had passed through ten thousand millennia.

This was the Martial Dao Heavenly Eye!

Every movement, every technique, every secret art — within his gaze, nothing held any secret. He could see through to the very source of things. No matter how fast the action, within his sight it was no faster than a crawling snail.

Even the leaders of various factions had not achieved the Heavenly Eye — yet he had cultivated it. This was one expression of witnessing the Dao on the cultivation path, a qualitative leap of the highest order.

Some people, even upon becoming sages, could not achieve the Heavenly Eye. It was an extraordinarily rare transcendence of the physical body — there were very few in the world who could possess it.

Each time Wang Teng’s pupils opened and closed, a terrifyingly powerful force would flow from them — like a great grinding wheel capable of pulverizing a person. The Martial Dao Heavenly Eye’s beams of light could shatter and extinguish all things.

Clang, clang…

The Monkey’s black iron staff swung about, striking these beams of light. Sparks flew everywhere with each blow — heavy as billions of units of weight, like the collision of cosmic stars.

From a distance, everyone was frightened. The Martial Dao Heavenly Eye was this fearsome, its force this overwhelming — comparable even to the Monkey’s innate divine power.

“Not only can it see through the source of all things directly, slowing all speed to a crawl within its sight — it also possesses this terrifying attacking force. Who could withstand it?”

No one was not shaken to the core. The Holy Masters of the Eastern Desolation, the Sovereign Lords of the Central Continent, the Divine Monks of the Western Desert, the Demon Masters of the Southern Ridge — all were moved, their hearts full of wariness.

Among the younger generation — Ji Haoyue, the Holy Maiden of Jade Lake, the princes and princesses of the great divine dynasties, the demon women of the Southern Ridge — all drew sharp intakes of breath.

Hum!

The void trembled like a painting being shaken. Nine ancient characters shot out from within Wang Teng’s pupils, branded into the air above. The Martial Dao Heavenly Eye’s radiance was hair-raising, releasing a terrifying aura.

It seemed as though it would grind this entire world into nothing. Those eyes flickered with uncertain light — like star fields being born and collapsing — as the nine ancient characters turned, carrying with them the breath of heaven’s first creation.

The gaze struck outward. It sent the black iron staff flying high — nearly punching through the clouds. Had it been any other weapon, it would have been reduced to powder long since. But this was the ferocious weapon from which a divine being had been born.

The terrifying force, the world-grinding laws beyond compare — these were the nine characters left behind by an ancient Great Emperor, possessing a primal power that defied all reason.

The black iron staff in the Monkey’s hand nearly flew free. He let out a great roar, the golden fur across his body standing straight on end — only then did he manage to stabilize it, having barely escaped taking a severe blow.

Whoosh!

Two sharp beams of light shot out. The Monkey’s golden eyes were also terrifying — he too had the Heavenly Eye, inherited from birth, passed down from the old Battle Saint Primate.

Clang, clang…

Heavenly Eyes clashing — light from the pupils like blades and swords, colliding together, radiance scattering in all directions, slicing heaven and earth apart. It was utterly frightening — and this was merely the force of two pairs of eyes.

“Nine ancient characters… so this is how they can be used…” Ye Fan rubbed his chin, pondering carefully. Could he also refine the nine ancient characters he had mastered into his eyes?

Regrettably, he had obtained only one scroll of the Dao Sutra, with no instruction on how to use the Emperor’s characters in such a way. Once refined into the eyes, who knew what might happen.

Moreover, it might not necessarily be the eyes at all — perhaps some other part of the body. Without a complete and unbroken ancient scripture, something always felt missing — there was no way to achieve full, unobstructed comprehension.

The Monkey’s fighting spirit surged. He launched another fierce assault, pressing the Northern Emperor back step by step. The Battle Saint Primate’s offspring possessed not only the way of force — he also had various Primate-level secret techniques at his disposal. The battle grew ever more intense.

“The Chaos Ancient Emperor’s holy techniques!”

The crowd cried out in shock. The more they watched, the more Wang Teng’s secret techniques resembled the legendary Chaos Scripture — their divine might unrivaled.

In a certain sense, this was a decisive battle between the Chaos Ancient Emperor and the Battle Saint Primate — fought through their inheritors.

The Monkey grew fiercer with each exchange. His innate talent was beyond compare — but the Chaos Scripture was also dreadfully powerful in Wang Teng’s hands, and there was no easy counter to it.

Ye Fan sent another silent message. He felt the Monkey would not lose — but killing the Northern Emperor would not be easy either. It would be better to let him draw upon the Qinling great dragon’s power to fight instead.

“No — I must finish him off with my own hands.” The Monkey’s temper had fully risen. He grew more ferocious with each exchange, his great staff whirling like a massive black pinwheel.

Everyone was speechless. These two were far too aggressive — competing with each other over who got to kill Wang Teng. And Wang Teng was the formidable Northern Emperor, rarely matched by anyone. How had he become their prey?

“Stop fighting — we’re about to miss our chance! The ancient great dragon of Qinling has begun to move!” Someone cried out in alarm.

It was common knowledge that the ancient cave of Qinling would move — it stayed in one location for a time, then relocated. It would never linger in a place indefinitely. This was precisely the reason no one had found it through all the ages.

“That’s right — earlier, when the Holy Body summoned the great dragon’s primal power, it disturbed the dragon lair. The lair has long since developed its own consciousness — it is about to leave.” A dragon-vein geomancer spoke the truth of the matter.

“What — quickly, get there! We cannot miss our chance!” Many people called out.

Yet the Monkey and Wang Teng stood in the way, their battle unceasing, blocking everyone. There was simply no way through.

“Please, you two — stop fighting! Otherwise we will miss the ancient immortal treasury!” Someone urged, genuinely hoping they would cease.

Ye Fan observed the terrain. His mind stirred — the great dragon was indeed moving. If they delayed further, the opportunity might truly slip away.

“Monkey elder brother, stop fighting. Whether one obtains the Immortal Transformation Pool or the dragon lair, either offers the hope of achieving the Dao. We must not miss this.”

Upon hearing those words, the Monkey gradually eased the intensity of his assault. Wang Teng also withdrew — he had no desire to fight to the death any further. Entering the Immortal Transformation Pool or the dragon lair was the most pressing matter.

Rumble, rumble…

The dragon vein shifted. The ancient cave at the root of the mountain gushed primal dragon energy. A dragon cry rang out to the thirty-three layers of heaven, as though filtering up from the vast and untamed primordial wilderness.

At that very instant, many figures rushed forward — the various sect masters, the great Holy Masters — all moving at once, not a single one hesitating.

The Northern Emperor did not move. His eyes were cold and without mercy, fixed upon Ye Fan’s group, standing tall upon the golden ancient war chariot, looking down upon all below with supreme disdain.

“I trust I haven’t arrived too late.” The Old Blind Man appeared. With a wave of his hand, he summoned Li Heishui and the others over, glanced at Wang Teng, and said: “You have yet to achieve emperorhood. If you dare harm any of my juniors, I will dare to go to the Northern Plains and slaughter your clansmen.”

It was clear he had heard what the Northern Emperor had said earlier. As a living fossil-level figure, he would not ordinarily say such things — but today, Wang Teng had proclaimed he would kill Li Heishui, Wu Zhongtian, Liu Kou, and the others, and that had left him deeply displeased.

The Eastern Desolation’s sacred grounds — how mighty were they? Never had a Great Ability expert dared to strike at the great descendants of the Thirteen Bandits, for they all harbored their own reservations. Should the thirteen great bandits truly be driven to fury, they could slaughter all their disciples clean.

On the other side, the Crimson Dragon Daoist and the Peacock King appeared, standing beside Yan Ruyu. With a wave, they beckoned Pang Bo over.

The great demon Pang Bo held a special status among the demon clans — second only to Yan Ruyu in prestige, nominally acknowledged as the inheritor of the Azure Emperor’s legacy.

Wang Teng’s expression flickered. The golden ancient war chariot beneath his feet blazed brightly — ready at any moment to pierce the void and depart. Even someone as powerful as him had no answer to multiple living fossils at once.

These individuals — even one could injure him. Two could reduce his form and spirit to nothing. Living fossils were beyond speculation, their power an established reality.

Wang Teng’s pupils contracted. Without a word, he drove the golden ancient war chariot and charged into the depths of the immortal soil. Ye Fan, the Monkey, the Crimson Dragon, and the others could all threaten him.

“Monkey elder brother — do not go to the dragon lair. There is a terrifying creature in there that no one here can deal with.” Ye Fan sent a silent message.

“I can’t do that — I need the human world’s immortal pill from within the dragon lair. The Immortal Transformation Pool does not have it.” The Monkey leapt up and shot toward the ancient cave.

“Monkey elder brother! When I was in my hometown, you were the one I admired most. I never thought a being like you truly existed — we were both born from stones!” Pang Bo called after him.

The Monkey was momentarily speechless. He scratched his head, not knowing what Pang Bo meant by that, then shouldered his black iron staff and vanished in the blink of an eye.

The Crimson Dragon Daoist, the Peacock King, and the Old Blind Man gave Ye Fan a nod each, then set off in their own directions — all heading toward the dragon lair. Beings of their caliber, living fossils all, sought the dream-grade dragon marrow from within it to extend their lifespan.

Warned by Ye Fan, all of them nodded and disappeared in an instant. Yan Ruyu followed as well — bearing as she did the extreme Dao imperial weapon, she could be counted on to protect their lives.

Most of the elder generation had rushed for the ancient cave. The immortal treasures within were priceless to them — the undying divine pill, the dream-grade immortal marrow — things unseen in the world of men, yet now they had a lead.

Ye Fan, Pang Bo, Li Heishui, and their group rushed toward the Immortal Transformation Pool. Ji Haoyue had already rejoined the Ji Family members — but Ji Ziyue, like a little tail, had slipped away and followed Ye Fan’s group, never going to see the clan elders.

The Immortal Transformation Pool sat atop a great mountain’s peak. There, flowing light and overflowing color, misty clouds and swirling haze — it was breathtakingly dreamlike. The water of the pool gleamed like jade, and spiritual energy poured down in great surging waves, submerging the mountain entirely.

When they drew near, no one could fly. Everyone was stopped by a mysterious force, able only to make their way on foot. Even the leaders of the great factions were unable to soar — they had no choice but to climb the mountain step by step. The winding mountain path was full of people, every one of them an expert.

As Ye Fan walked along the mountain road, he saw many old acquaintances. The Holy Maiden of Jade Lake smiled warmly — beautiful enough to put a hundred flowers to shame — and joined their group.

“Brother Ye, it has been so long — I’ve come!” A figure in beast-hide clothing, skin bronzed like ancient copper, strode forward in long, powerful strides. In his hand he swung a wolf-fang great club. It was Dongfang Ye.

“Savage.” Pang Bo laughed and punched him in the shoulder. Of course he knew him — Dongfang Ye was well-known in the Hall of Extraordinary Individuals, for there had been one occasion where he nearly beat Wang Chong to death with that great club of his.

This time, the Central Continent’s third most beautiful woman, the Rain Butterfly Princess, had not come. Otherwise, the trio who had once plundered Duan De together would have been fully reunited. They all shared a laugh at the thought.

“I just saw that fat fellow a moment ago — I’d guess he’s made his way up here too.” Dongfang Ye said.

“Quickly hide those nine divine weapons. That fat fellow is no kind soul.” Ye Fan reminded Pang Bo.

“Don’t worry — the nine divine weapons have been refined and fused together with my Demon Emperor’s Nine Slashes. Even if he sees them, there’s nothing he can do.” Pang Bo said.

“No need to fear him.” Ji Ziyue’s great black eyes, lustrous as gems, spun about as she looked for Duan De. She puffed her cheeks in irritation: “If he dares show his face, our clan’s Holy Master won’t let him off. He’s too awful!”

Before leaving the Eastern Desolation, Duan De had paid a visit to the Ji Family’s ancestral burial grounds — and in the end had actually managed to open a Divine King’s great tomb, infuriating the Ji Family elders so much they had pursued him for hundreds of thousands of li. Yet in the end, he had still gotten away.

“That wretched fat man truly cannot win anyone’s goodwill.” Ye Fan laughed.

“Why have so many Holy Master-level figures come?” Li Heishui felt uneasy. These were Great Ability experts of unfathomable power — they would be very difficult to compete against.

Not all of the elder generation had rushed for the ancient dragon lair. Many had come toward the Immortal Transformation Pool — all of them dominant figures who held sway over vast territories.

“This time, the Divine Calculator deduced it. It is very different from before — which is why so many people have come.” The Holy Maiden of Jade Lake spoke. She was radiant and lovely in motion.

“That Divine Calculator is truly no simple figure.” Ye Fan had heard the name more than once and had long wanted to get his hands on that top disciple of his.

“Indeed very mysterious — precious few know anything of his origins.” The Holy Maiden of Jade Lake smiled — a smile to topple cities.

“Sister from Jade Lake, you are truly beautiful — almost as beautiful as me.” Ji Ziyue said, with a hint of mischief and no small amount of self-admiration, her great eyes curving into crescent moons.

“You are so self-absorbed.” Ye Fan flicked her on her smooth, jade-like forehead.

“It’s called confidence — there is a difference!” Ji Ziyue slapped his hand away, grinding her little pearlescent fangs, and gave him a grand, sweeping eye-roll.

The group was relaxed, approaching the mountain’s summit without urgency. All throughout the climb, no one dared do anything to them.

In this place, Ye Fan could draw upon the Qinling dragon source. He had just dared to go and kill the Northern Emperor moments ago — even the elder-generation figures gave him a wide berth, not daring to invite trouble.

At this moment, Ye Fan carried all the power of a Holy Body freshly come into its own. Wherever he passed, none dared to block his way.

“You wretched… your mother’s Holy Venerable!” From a distance, a rotund Daoist appeared, making his way up the mountain. He caught sight of Ye Fan and the savage man from far off, his eyes fixed on them.

Duan De nearly vomited blood. The last time, he had been stripped completely bare — even the shoes and socks he had used as hidden treasures had ended up on the savage man’s feet.

What stung most was that he had later even cooperated with the two of them — and only when Ye Fan deployed the nine divine weapons did he suddenly realize, with dawning horror, which scoundrel had robbed him.

“I, your Dao Master, am done with you!” Duan De ground his back molars.

Finally, Ye Fan and his group drew near the Immortal Transformation Pool. Its waters flowed with rosy clouds, mist and haze drifting up in great billows — utterly dreamlike and fantastical. The pool’s surface gleamed like jade, spiritual energy surging outward in great waves, submerging the entire mountain.

“Old friend, you’ve come as well.” In this place, Ye Fan caught sight of the Ailing Elder. He stepped forward to pay his respects.

Pang Bo and the others dared not be disrespectful either — they all went forward to greet him. They had heard Ye Fan speak of this person before, and understood this was in all likelihood an extraordinary unusual figure.

“Something is wrong — there is life in this immortal pool. Could it be that a creature like the Azure Emperor has been born within it again?” Several elder-generation figures were astonished.

Since ancient times, this lake had held far too many secrets. Treasures such as the green copper block were beyond counting within its depths — it was upon such materials that the Azure Emperor had been born.

Legend had it that in the primordial age, fragments of imperial weapons had sunk here. One could hardly imagine what divine objects might have accumulated to the present day.

From ancient times to now, precious few had ever successfully entered. This occasion was different — someone had deduced it — which was why so many heroes had gathered.