The Ji Family — an eternal and undying legacy, established by the hands of a human clan Great Emperor, flourishing without equal from ancient times to the present, a name no one dared provoke.

And yet, a single bell toll had shaken their entire clan to its core. The Wushi Bell — a name that resonated throughout the entire recorded history of the human clan — brought with it boundless pressure for all who heard it.

People could not understand it. Was not the Wushi Bell in the Ancient Emperor Mountain? How could it be ringing in the Southern Region? This was truly earth-shattering — no one’s color did not change.

“Before Heaven and Earth were divided, chaos swirled; vast and boundless, unseen by any. Since the Wushi broke through primal darkness, all creation emerged and was made clear.” From outside the Ji Family’s gates, an aged voice drifted in, chanting a verse of a Buddhist gatha as it approached from what seemed to be far away.

At the same time, the Wushi Bell rang out once more with a great peal. Its sound resounded through the ears, like the celestial music of the Grand Dao, captivating and awe-inspiring, reverberating across the entire vast sky, rolling in like a tide.

People were astonished. Had a reclusive master arrived? How could he dare speak this way? What was his background? Had he come specifically for the Ji Family?

“I am the last surviving successor of the Wushi lineage, having heard that in this age a Sacred Physique exists. I have come to meet them.” This aged voice was profound and resonant, like the toll of a great bell.

Many people were shaken to their souls. A successor of the Wushi Great Emperor? This was an identity frightening enough to make one lose all composure. How was it that the Wushi Scripture had a successor? Was this real or false? Everyone was thoroughly overwhelmed!

“The boundless sea becomes dust across ten thousand autumns; Dao transformed into white hair brings sorrow for long life. In a single dream, thousands of years pass; the immortal road is rugged — where does one wander?” Outside the Ji Family’s mountain gate, another verse of a gatha was recited.

The crowd was astonished. This truly seemed like a remarkable master. Otherwise, how could one possess such an atmosphere and depth of spirit? Many hearts were filled with shock and awe.

“Whoever comes must understand the Great Emperor’s formation patterns, otherwise they could not possibly break through our Ji Clan’s ancient formations with sound waves alone.” The Ji Family’s Holy Sovereign said in a measured tone.

Hearing him say this, people were all the more uncertain and unsettled — they were almost certain this was a reclusive master of the world who had received the Wushi lineage.

“Let’s go — let’s have a look.” One living fossil spoke.

Outside the palace, clouds and mist billowed and churned, rising past one’s knees. This was a suspended divine island floating in mid-air, planted all over with spirit grasses and sacred fungi, with many spirit birds soaring and circling — a place that seemed like the abode of immortals.

Everyone flew out, all wishing to behold this reclusive master. A great crowd arrived at the mountain gate.

In the distance, all manner of bell script was flickering across the ground — a vast and expansive ancient formation had sealed off the Ji Family’s mountain gate. This gave many people a start, for no matter how they looked at it, it appeared as if the one coming bore ill intent.

“I wonder which senior master has arrived — why do you block my Ji Family’s passage?” One Ji Family Elder asked.

“Nothing so grand as a senior master. I heard that someone was giving the Sacred Physique trouble, so I have come to make this trip.” The aged voice drifted over. At the same time, a slow, lingering bell tone reverberated through the ages, echoing from within the radiant and blazing ancient formation ahead.

There, everything was dazzling splendor — one simply could not see through it. One of the Ji Family’s living fossil figures furrowed his brow. With a single glance, he recognized a corner of Great Emperor formation patterns within it — an abyss of unfathomable depth.

Others were greatly alarmed. It appeared the one who had come was standing up for Ye Fan — and was willing to risk offending an ancient noble family to do so!

“A reclusive figure of this caliber is actually standing up for Ye Fan!”

“A reclusive powerhouse has come out of seclusion — and it’s for the sake of the Sacred Physique!”

Many people felt their hearts tighten, quietly congratulating themselves that they had not acted against Ye Fan.

“Sacred Physique, if you are present — I wish to take you as my disciple and pass down the Wushi Scripture. Thereafter I will set sail for the distant sea to prove my own Dao.” The aged voice was calm and unhurried.

The Wushi lineage?! Many people drew a sharp breath. What an extraordinary stroke of fortune — to be offered this transmission as a gift to the Sacred Physique. So many wanted to kill and take his place.

“Senior, we have not troubled the Sacred Physique at all — he is right here.” One of the Ji Family’s elder cultivators spoke up.

And at this moment, the Ji Family’s Holy Sovereign furrowed his brows. He sensed something was amiss and had noticed something.

Ye Fan stepped out, carrying the bronze coffin on his back. Half-consciously, he had already guessed at something. He activated his divine eyes and gazed ahead, attempting to peer into the truth of the matter.

“Big brother is alright.” Suddenly, a childish voice drifted over faintly.

“Shh — silence. I’ve used a divine formation, which can amplify sound infinitely.” Another voice, sly and uncouth, drifted over — bearing not the slightest resemblance to an accomplished master, and no longer aged at all.

Damn it — everyone knew at once that something was off. This was an impostor posing as a reclusive master.

The Ji Family members changed expression even more dramatically. The Ji Family’s Holy Sovereign had already been suspicious, and now he activated his divine might, drawing upon the Void Mirror’s power and directing its radiance downward.

Boom!

A sweep of clear brilliance descended from the ancient mirror — it could illuminate the true forms of all things and all living beings, and was even stronger than a demon-revealing mirror, capable of seeing through to the very source to distinguish truth from illusion.

Before them, all the dazzling divine radiance vanished, and everything within was plainly visible. A large black dog stood upright, carrying a little girl of two or three years old on its back, putting on an act of deception.

The dog was extraordinarily massive — comparable in size to a large bull. It was dressed in a pair of large flower-patterned shorts, and was the very embodiment of someone who dresses up as a person while remaining entirely a dog.

The little girl was carved from powder and jade — long eyelashes, large eyes blinking and fluttering, as exquisite as a small porcelain doll, adorable and well-behaved.

“It’s that legendary extreme-specimen dog — in the Northern Region, it nearly got Wang Teng killed in a trap.”

“It’s that contemptible dog that reeks of wickedness, everywhere proclaiming it’s collecting people as pets.”

Many people recognised the large black dog’s identity at a glance. Having seen it together with Ye Fan in the past, they immediately understood what was going on.

“Damn, this dog deserves a beating — swindling and deceiving, and having the nerve to do it right to the Ji Family’s face.”

The large black dog had carried Xiao Nannan here to save Ye Fan. Believing it had arrived too late and fearing Ye Fan was in danger, it had staged this little performance.

“Please forgive us, Holy Sovereign of the Ji Family.” Ye Fan spoke up.

Some people in the Ji Family looked quite unhappy, but none acted on it. Many eyes fixed upon the large black dog, then swept toward the ancient formation — and what they saw was the genuine article, a corner of true Emperor patterns!

Many things had happened not long before, and the Ji Clan had no wish to keep stirring up new waves of trouble. No one made an issue of it. Many people were puzzled as to why the Wushi Bell had sounded — the large black dog produced a piece of jade, which immediately began emitting a slow and lingering bell tone. Amplified by the divine formation, it was infinite in its resonance.

This was indeed the bell sound from the Purple Mountain, imprinted within a spirit stone by the dog. It could deceive even the Ji Family’s Holy Sovereign.

“Big brother — Nannan missed you.” The little one’s large eyes were rimmed with red. She stretched out two tiny hands and came running over. Nearly three years had passed without a meeting, yet she had not changed at all — not a bit of growing up.

Ye Fan smiled and tweaked her nose, stroking her head with fond indulgence, then settled her on top of his shoulders. The little girl was well-behaved and extraordinarily endearing.

“Boy, three years since we last met. I’ve been raising this child for you — it hasn’t been easy for me. What rare and precious treasures have you prepared for me? Dragon marrow — just give me a vat of that for starters. Divine Source — give me a few blocks at least.” The large black dog bared its teeth.

Pang Bo had been holding something in for years. He strode over at once. “You wretched dog — do you still remember me?”

“Who are you? I don’t know you!” The large black dog put on the expression of someone who had been mistaken for another.

“Damn it, I’ll kick you to death. You set up a lousy formation and ended up sending me an entire region off-course, dropping me into the Central Continent. I want to skin you alive!”

“You wretched dog — give Tu Fei back to me!” Li Heishui, Wu Zhongtian, and the others were also overcome with anger when they saw the large black dog.

“This bronze coffin — why does it look somewhat familiar to me? I think it might be something I lost.” The large black dog swiftly changed the subject, its copper-bell eyes opened as wide as they could go, fixed upon the ancient coffin.

Ye Fan did not linger in the Ji Family. He bid farewell to the Red Dragon Elder and the others who had come to his aid, then immediately departed together with Pang Bo, Li Heishui, the large black dog, and the rest. Ji Ziyue came with them as well.

Just a thousand miles outside the Ji Family, within a stretch of primitive mountain ranges, they set the bronze coffin down. At the large black dog’s fervent insistence, they prepared to open it and see what it contained.

“Are you sure about this, wretched dog?” Ye Fan was doubtful.

“I’m quite certain!” It spoke with an air of complete assurance, as if it had everything in hand. Then, as an afterthought, it added: “We’re not far from the Ji Family here. If something unexpected happens, they’ll come with the Void Mirror to suppress things — no need to worry too much.”

“Are you really up to this?” Pang Bo had developed a deep psychological wariness of this wretched dog ever since being teleported to the Central Continent. He felt it was far too unreliable for anything it tried to handle.

“When I handle things, you can rest easy!” The large black dog said.

“Rest easy, my foot.” Pang Bo wanted to bite it and gave it a slap right then and there.

“Bad dog — you mustn’t act recklessly. If this bronze coffin truly poses great danger, even our family’s ancient mirror might not be able to suppress it.” Ji Ziyue wrinkled her fine nose.

“Doggy, you have to be careful.” Xiao Nannan’s voice was soft and tender as she solemnly gave her warning.

“Let’s open it and have a look — I want to know what’s inside too.” The Monkey had come along as well. Since the moment he had glimpsed the Elder Holy Emperor’s corpse with his Heavenly Eye, his heart had been impossible to still.

This stretch of mountain ranges was extraordinarily quiet. The moment the bronze coffin was set down, almost every bird and beast fled — not a single one dared remain.

The Black Emperor inscribed formation patterns, intricate and complex, aligned in correspondence with the celestial stars. Ye Fan surveyed the terrain and made some arrangements of his own to guard against any unexpected occurrences.

Two hours later, they retreated far into the distance. Ye Fan used the Soldier Word Art to drive things forward, and then a metallic sound rang out — and the entire mountain range began to tremble.

The coffin lid was slowly lifted. The crowd fell back an untold number of miles, watching from the far sky.

Clang!

When Ye Fan had pushed the lid just past halfway open, he could endure no more. Even with the single corner of Great Emperor formation patterns inscribed by the Black Emperor pressing down, he still could not resist.

Moreover, he had wrapped his body in the Immortal Treasure from the Chaotic Dragon Nest and used the Myriad Things Mother Breath Cauldron as protection — and still his whole body was cracking open, his physical form nearly shattering.

“Boom!”

He gave one final push, then transformed into a shooting star as he flew back into the distance, putting as much space as he could between himself and the coffin. In the process, the eighteen Origin Heaven divine formations he had inscribed to protect himself had shattered to pieces — every last one.

A dull, heavy sound rang out. From the far end of the horizon, people watched as a boundless expanse of luminescent mist and rosy aurora surged up from within the ancient coffin.

“Quickly — activate that corner of the ancient Emperor formation!” The Monkey urged.

The Black Emperor moved. The divine patterns inscribed across the earth fully awakened, blazing with a blinding radiance, beginning to bind and seal the ancient coffin at the center, attempting to lock it in place and observe it clearly.

Yet what followed astonished everyone: all of this was utterly futile. The bronze coffin absorbed everything — it refined that entire corner of the ancient formation into Life Essence and swallowed it whole.

Boom!

Suddenly, this entire stretch of primitive mountain range crumbled to pieces. Every inch of space was ground to powder, shattered in a flash — then an endless surge of primordial chaos erupted outward.

“This is bad!” Ye Fan cried out. He drew all of them inside the cauldron, then used the Black Emperor’s pre-prepared jade platform to traverse the void, leaving this place.

Soundlessly, everything within a radius of a thousand miles was annihilated. Never mind the mountain ranges — not even dust remained. In their place, an immense and vast abyss had appeared, everything evaporated into nothingness.

Not far away, the Ji Family was seized with alarm. They swiftly shielded themselves with the ancient Void Mirror. The crowd flew into the sky and looked out toward the distant distance.

The bronze coffin swept away all before it and destroyed everything. Then, with a loud crash, it sealed itself shut, soared up into the sky, and flew off toward the south.

“It’s that bronze coffin!”

On this day, many people in the Southern Region witnessed the bronze coffin pass through the sky on its own, flying away of its own accord. Some attempted to stop it, but were turned to dust in the very first moment.

Ye Fan and the others chased from behind. The large black dog hung its head nearly to the ground. Pang Bo, Li Heishui, and the others took turns scolding it — it really did handle things in the most unreliable of ways.

Southern Region. Many great powers were alerted, and the Ji Family as the foremost among them also came chasing down from behind, seeking to understand what had happened.

Of course, Ye Fan and the others were at the very front of the pursuit, heading south at great speed, rapidly approaching a primordial forbidden land. The bronze coffin flew straight in.

Everyone halted. No one dared to enter. This was a place of certain death, a stretch of absolute peril — throughout all of history, it had swallowed the lives of countless supreme experts.

The bronze coffin had returned to the primordial forbidden land on its own. Both unexpected and perfectly natural at the same time. Ye Fan and the others all took to the high sky, gazing inward.

Among them, the Monkey possessed fiery golden eyes and was born with a Heavenly Eye — he could clearly see nine sacred mountains within. Ye Fan also had his divine eyes and could make out the general shape, peering intently.

Clang!

A resounding peal rang out, reverberating through the primordial forbidden land — shattering a silence of several hundred thousand or perhaps millions of years. The small coffin entered the great sarcophagus, and the sound was like a divine thunderbolt descending from the ninth heaven. The metallic resonance split through ten thousand miles of open sky.

Clatter, clatter!

Halfway up the mountain, nine enormous Dragon Corpses rose up. A dark, black radiance emanated from them, and iron chains clanked and rattled as they hauled the Ancient Bronze Coffin upward, flying toward the peaks of the nine sacred mountains.

“This…” Ye Fan’s heart was shaken. The Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin had stirred of its own accord.

Boom!

The Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin appeared above the pitch-black abyss formed by the nine sacred mountains surrounding it, suspended in the void. Suddenly, a breath-stopping aura surged upward from the depths of the abyss below — as if a human clan Great Emperor were awakening.

“Something has come up from below the primordial abyss!” Someone — it was unclear who — cried out in shock, having witnessed a scene that left them utterly stunned.