Since ancient times until now, how many great sects have turned to ash and vanished into the long river of history—no one can say. The flowing years and rolling dust have swallowed countless stories, forgotten numberless storms and tempests—the unmatched beauties who toppled cities with a smile, the supremely majestic Great Emperors who stood without rival. All of them are buried in the past.

What is called “immortal” has an expiration date. There is no true eternity. Even the Great Emperors of the human race have long since perished.

Some ancient holy grounds and even flourishing divine dynasties have all been swallowed up beneath the vast starry sky, in the dust of ageless years.

And yet—one person, alone, facing a supreme great sect, breaking through and devastating a sacred ground—this was a rarity since ancient times. Did this mean a great sect was heading toward its decline?

“Truly unbelievable. The Yin-Yang Sect is still very powerful—yet its city was destroyed by a single cultivator who has only just entered the Immortal Platform Secret Realm!”

“The Sacred Body attacked the Yin-Yang Sect alone and nearly succeeded, leaving behind a landscape of broken walls and crumbling ruins!”

The moment the news broke, the Central State was shaken. This was an inconceivable piece of news. No matter how powerful Ye Fan was, he should not have been capable of handling an entire great sect.

And yet the facts were laid out plainly before everyone. Half of the Yin-Yang Divine City had collapsed. Smoke and dust choked the sky—a ruin of devastation—almost entirely leveled.

“How can this be? The Sacred Body can fight half-step Mighty Ones, but there is no way he could match those Elders!”

“He laid down a divine formation with his source arts, nearly sacrificing the Yin-Yang Divine City whole—almost burned to ash by the primordial dragon energy!”

As the details spread, every great faction was shaken to its core. The profound arts left by the ancient source-heaven master could be called divine—comparable to the ancient scriptures cultivated by the human race, seizing the creative forces of the world.

One person single-handedly challenging a great sect, escaping unscathed, and half-destroying an ancient divine city—this stunned all the powerful figures of the Central State. Many great sects could no longer remain seated.

If Ye Fan were struck by a whim and came to assault their sects—what then? Source arts were miraculous and beyond compare. Looking at it now, the dragon energy of the Central State was effectively his combat power, and could be transformed into his primary battlefield.

The great factions of the Central State had no choice but to mobilize, summoning powerful dragon-finding geomancers to reinforce their own mountain gates—to prevent being exploited.

“The rise of the Sacred Body seems unstoppable.” Those of the older generation sighed.

And among the younger generation, many were left somewhat dazed upon receiving the news. The Yao Guang Sacred Son fell into a long silence—one person assaulting a great sect left him speechless for a long time.

“What sheer ferocity—beyond expectation!” A young ascetic monk from the Western Desert, from an ancient temple, who bore the reputation of being an incarnation of the Buddha, marveled in the same way.

The Southern Demon also emerged from seclusion because of this matter—gazing south, lost in thought for a while. That source arts could be so mysterious and yet wield such great power astonished him.

The Central State’s second most beautiful woman, Princess Moon Spirit, stared blankly. The method Ye Fan had used was truly terrifying—destroying the Yin-Yang Divine City in a single stroke was like something out of a fairytale.

“If he becomes a true source-heaven master—would he be able to directly assault my Nine Li Divine Dynasty…?”

All the great factions were filled with wariness. If Ye Fan were to grow further, never mind his combat power—his source arts alone were enough to make people apprehensive beyond measure.

In this battle, people also witnessed the terrifying power of the Yin-Yang Ancient Mirror. It had awakened from beneath the earth’s dragon veins, risen into the sky—and with a single surge, had stilled everything and steadied the foundations.

Many who had witnessed it firsthand were horrified. The mere wisp of energy it emitted was enough to annihilate any enemy and erase a Holy Lord with no effort at all.

“This ancient holy weapon has existed in the world for more than two hundred thousand years. It once slew divine spirits from beyond the domain. How powerful is its divine capacity? It is impossible to fathom!”

The Central State was awash in discussion. Ye Fan himself was very calm. Having escaped the Yin-Yang Divine City unscathed, he returned to the Extraordinary Scholar’s Mansion, where he encountered several old friends.

Many of them stared at him as though looking at a ghost. Challenging an entire great sect alone and still achieving such results—it was nothing short of a miracle.

Among the familiar faces, one was missing—the most lively and animated little moon of the Ji Family, Ji Ziyue, was no longer here. She had been summoned back to her family due to urgent matters.

“Lately, the Ji Family’s threshold has been worn down by visitors—quite a few great factions have gone to propose marriage.”

“Ji Haoyue—what constitution does your sister have, exactly? How has she alarmed even several great divine dynasties into rushing over to make proposals?”

The Ji Family’s Divine King Body did not respond. He was very composed—his face betraying no ripple of emotion, his eyes deep and unfathomable. He stood to one side by himself, gazing toward the distant sky, not knowing what he was contemplating.

“I need to return to the Eastern Desolation—but the journey is far too great. An ordinary transmission array simply won’t do; it can’t span that distance.” Ye Fan worried over the problem.

“I’ll find a way for you.” Yao Yuekong said.

“Brother Ye Fan—are you truly going to the Eastern Desolation? I’ve heard a great battle is coming there. Even the primordial races have been stirred up, and all of them are heading toward the Ancient Emperor Mountain.” The barbarian was very excited, and stated that he would definitely go to the Eastern Desolation to participate before long.

“Perhaps before long, many people will be heading to the Eastern Desolation. Once the Purple Mountain is opened, there will certainly be fire and war without end.” Even the Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool spoke such words.

The storm clouds of the world gathered to the north. The Eastern Desolation had once again become the focus of everyone’s gaze. Everything surrounding the Wushi Great Emperor would inevitably stir up endless waves.

The sects and schools of the Central State were all watching closely. The previous time they had assaulted the Purple Mountain, they had suffered defeat and returned in disgrace. This time, not a single one made a rash move—all of them watched in quiet observation. The moment an opportunity arose, they would certainly surge forward in a great wave!

Ye Fan’s reappearance at the Extraordinary Scholar’s Mansion caused another stir. The kings all came out. The Sacred Body was undeniably the center of attention—every action he took brought great upheaval.

In this beautiful immortal land, young powerhouses from the five great domains had gathered in great numbers. Practitioners of every body type could be seen. All of them looked at him from the side with admiration and caution.

Among them were a few individually terrifying figures—while perhaps not equal to the Central Emperor or the Southern Demon, they were not far off. This place harbored hidden dragons and crouching tigers. In recent days, Ye Fan had sensed several terrifying gazes.

“Deep mountains harbor tigers and leopards; open fields bury qilins. True enough—there is never a shortage of powerful figures in this world.”

On a low hill, he encountered a young ascetic monk who maintained a vow of silence and cultivated in seclusion—from an obscure ancient temple in the Western Desert, yet extraordinarily powerful, his depths impossible to measure.

Beneath the night moon, he caught sight of a young member of the demon clan on a mountaintop—inhaling and exhaling moonlight—and at times, with each breath drawn in, swallowing the starlight of an entire sky, plunging the whole surrounding area into eternal darkness. It was deeply unsettling.

These people were very low-key—some hiding their strength, some holding it in patience—none had displayed their power before others. Ye Fan sensed them only because his source arts allowed him to grasp the pulse of this stretch of land.

Eight days later, Ye Fan set out again on a new journey. With Yao Yuekong’s help, he located the Heavenly Demon Palace’s ancient transmission array and was about to travel to the Eastern Desolation.

“Leaf, go ahead—I’ll be right behind you!” Pang Bo said, biting off another mouthful of the coffin plank as he spoke.

“I’m looking forward to the Eastern Desolation’s great battle. I will definitely go—I believe many people will appear at the Ancient Emperor Mountain!” The barbarian was eager for a fight; he was convinced that the Extraordinary Scholar’s Mansion would dispatch them there.

The Heavenly Demon Palace—one of the most powerful forces in the Eastern Desolation. In the ancient eras, its great demons were beyond counting: they seized stars, grabbed moons, and howled through the heavens. They could contend with the human race’s Great Emperors and even Sacred Bodies.

Even now, it could stand alongside any immortal legacy as an equal, and together with the Southern Ridge’s Demon Emperor Hall, it was known as the two supreme holy grounds of the demon race!

Borrowing the ancient transmission array that the Heavenly Demon Palace had left behind in the Central State, Ye Fan finally succeeded in crossing east, arriving once more upon the land of the Eastern Desolation—emerging into a stretch of primordial wilderness.

From a distance, he saw boundless palace halls towering into the canopy of the sky, wreathed in an endless haze of mist. That was the legendary Heavenly Demon Palace.

More than one hundred and thirty thousand years ago, this place had been the glorious source-land of the demon race. More than ten thousand years ago, even the Green Emperor had taken residence here, nearly building it into an ancient Heavenly Court—yet in the end, it had come to nothing.

There, a powerful aura of authority covered the sky and blanketed the earth—descending like an ancient celestial palace alighting on the mortal world, pressing down on the spirit until it was difficult to breathe.

Ye Fan did not linger. He used the Mysterious Jade Terrace to leave swiftly, heading east—deep into the boundless territory of the Eastern Desolation.

“Eastern Desolation—I’ve come back.” Half a month later, he had entered the central region—ancient cities in abundance, great sects standing like forest trees. This was the birthplace of the human race.

Not long after his arrival, he heard a rumor. The Northern Emperor Wang Teng had come to the Eastern Desolation not only for the Wushi Bell—he had also gone to the Ji Family to formally make a marriage proposal.

And he had done so with great ceremony and fanfare. Many important figures from the Wang Family of the Northern Plain had come in person, entering the ancient clan that had been founded by the Void Great Emperor himself, and were honored enough to ascend to the Void Hall.

“The Ji clan received them without discourtesy—leading them into the Void Hall, built by the hands of an ancient Great Emperor himself. That alone is a form of acknowledgment. Could it be that the Eastern Desolation’s radiant divine moon is truly going to be wedded away to the Northern Plain?”

This was no small upheaval. No one knew how many pairs of eyes were watching. Many people were paying close attention, and especially the younger generation—all of them felt the need to show their own worth, unwilling to fall behind.

“Not long ago, Ji Ziyue was summoned back from the Central State—it most likely has something to do with this matter!” People immediately made the correct deduction.

“The powerful Northern Emperor, with his matchless potential—who even now can be compared to the Great Emperors of old in their youth, and exceeds them in some respects. At the very worst, he will one day become a saint. The Ji clan cannot help but be moved!”

Many young people in the Eastern Desolation were disheartened. To compete against the Northern Emperor was simply impossible—there was no such combat power, no imperial bones and foundations to match.

The Northern Emperor’s presence bore down on the younger generation of the Eastern Desolation, leaving them breathless. In recent months, wherever he passed, none could stand against him. He was spoken of in the same breath as the greatest Holy Lords, and every sect master treated him with full respect.

This was the power of strength. A young man who could contend with the greatest sect masters of the present day—capable of looking down on the entire Eastern Desolation and gazing with contempt at his peers—with no one daring to cross him.

“What a pity—Ji Haoyue is a Divine King Body, his strength unfathomable. But that is his sister’s marriage. He cannot intervene.”

“Doesn’t the Jiang clan also have a Divine King Body? One whose true combat strength has never been fully revealed—might he stir the world with a single move?”

“The Eastern Desolation’s two Divine King Bodies—neither is a match for the Northern Emperor, at least not right now. Making a move would be useless.”

People were disappointed to find that while the younger generation of the Eastern Desolation had produced many powerful figures, none could dominate the five domains as an undisputed “number one.” It was very difficult to compare with someone like the Central Emperor or the Southern Demon.

Many thought of it—perhaps only the Yao Guang Sacred Son could fight the Northern Emperor, for no one had ever truly known the depths of his power.

What a pity, though—he would certainly not make a move. According to rumor, he was cultivating a remarkable ability, and given his temperament, he would not force a confrontation until he was peerless beneath the heavens.

“Ten years from now, there will be one person in the Eastern Desolation who will certainly be able to fight the Northern Emperor—but that is someone the world cannot tolerate.” Someone said this, and many guessed at once: it had to be Hua Yunfei.

“Actually, there is one more person—have you all forgotten the Sacred Body? He has not yet fully grown, but he has already slain the Northern Emperor’s uncle and younger brother.”

“Indeed—he may very well return. He and the Northern Emperor are already in a mortal struggle. He will most likely appear!”

Ye Fan had only just returned when he heard a great deal of rumor and news. The Eastern Desolation was anything but calm. The primordial races of the Northern Domain were about to awaken, and the Ancient Emperor Mountain was sure to see endless waves of turmoil.

In these days, there was a powerful sense of oppression among the sects of the Northern Domain—some had faintly sensed the aura of a primordial ancestral king emerging, sending tremors through all who felt it.

“Wang Teng—you come to the Eastern Desolation, and you stir up this much turbulence…”

Only a few days later, news spread—the Sacred Body Ye Fan had returned, crossing the void to arrive again in the Eastern Desolation—and it sent many into discussion.

“Who spread this news? It’s now common knowledge—is someone trying to deal with me?” Ye Fan frowned. He had returned quietly; not many people should have known.

“My son Wang Teng is in the Eastern Desolation. Sacred Body—it would be best for you to hide away for the rest of your life. Never appear again. If you do—I will cut off every path for you, in heaven and underground!” These were the words shouted out by the patriarch of the Wang Family of the Northern Plain.

“The Wang Family of the Northern Plain is truly overbearing. They come to the Eastern Desolation to make marriage proposals, yet they act with such unbridled recklessness—do they truly believe they can command the entire world?”

“What can one say when you produce a son with the makings of a Great Emperor? They do have the right to say such things.”

“This is provoking the Sacred Body—disturbing his state of mind, preventing him from finding calm—trying to make him take action, so that Wang Teng can avenge his uncle and younger brother.”

People discussed the matter endlessly.

“Sacred Body—dare to come and stir up trouble in the Eastern Desolation, and I will obliterate you, body and soul, to the very last life. You will never be reborn!” The Wang Family’s people continued to issue warnings.

Against everyone’s expectations, Ye Fan did not hold back at all. He responded with remarkable forcefulness—alone, he cut into a massive Wang Family gambling-stone venue in the Eastern Desolation and killed every last person inside.

“The Sacred Body strikes back with force—stepping on the Wang Family’s face. This means a great battle is inevitable!” The crowd looked forward to what was to come.